She strikes a simple deal to save her grandfather. But dragons don’t make deals—they claim. And this one is fated to ruin her.
ALLIE
I was supposed to escape the shadiest district of Avari after graduation and start fresh.
Instead—
My mom was murdered.
My grandfather is in prison.
Our home’s about to be foreclosed.
And now I’ve made a deal with a dragon.
A savage, tattooed, seven-foot-tall dragon shifter, imprisoned in the same hellhole as Grandpa. I never meant to catch his eye—let alone offer myself as collateral. But I’m out of time, out of options, and he’s the only thing standing between my last living family and the monsters closing in.
The problem? He’s a monster too. And I can’t stop being drawn to him…like a moth to a flame that might just burn me alive.
KYON
My career as the dragon king’s enforcer went up in flames the day I was framed and thrown into the pit of Avari’s most secure prison. Loyalty means nothing to my father—only power does. Now I spend my days breaking bones and waiting for the next excuse to snap.
Until her.
Fierce and devastatingly beautiful, with perfect curves, pouty lips, and a braid I ache to wrap around my fist, Allie crashes into my world with the kind of courage that guts a man from the inside out. Her loyalty to her grandfather makes me crave something more than survival, and her rare gift might be my only way out.
She’s too young. Too untouched. And everything about her is a risk I should avoid.
But instead of walking away, I vow to claim her.
Only she doesn’t know the truth—that my family’s blood-soaked legacy is the reason her mother’s dead. And when that secret surfaces, it won’t be the guards or the prison walls that destroy me.
It’ll be losing her.
Cruelly Fated is book 1 in the interconnected standalone series Princes of Avari, in which powerful fae men discover they’d do anything for true love. Full of spicy scenes, yearning, and often groveling, E. G. Sparks will rip readers’ hearts out and string them along before rewarding MCs with a well-earned HEA.
E. G. Sparks is an award-winning dark fantasy romance author. Her debut novel, "Sky Ice," won the 2nd Place award in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards for the Fantasy category and was a Finalist in the 2024 Wishing Shelf Book Awards.
She delights in sharing fantasy worlds and making her heroines' lives difficult. When not in her writing cave, E. G. can be found hanging out with family and friends, traveling, gardening, doing yoga, and (you guessed it!) reading.
E. G. resides in sunny Florida with her husband, three beautiful daughters, two dogs, and a cat.
I really enjoyed the story and the characters. Kyon and Allie were both really likeable characters and It was nice for them to get a hea despite the ick to the age gap. They met while she was visiting her Grandpa in the slammer so that was a fun and unique start to the book too.
I took a .5 star off because there were some sentences that didn’t make sense and some plot points (how she found out what her father was) that were not explained. The cover is a great depiction of Kyon but the title of the book made little sense as it kinda felt like a bit of an instalove story.
I look forward to the rest of the books in this series 😊.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I seriously love all the books from this author! And this book is no different. This is a standalone, but part of a trilogy. It follows Allie who has been dealt a harder life being part of the lower fae population. When the latest disaster puts her grandfather in prison, she meets Kyon, son of the dragon king, held in the same prison as her grandfather. She strikes a deal with Kyon to keep her pops safe, but at what cost? Allie’s character really portrays a girl just turned 18, trying to be strong, still naive, second guessing so much, yet also so fierce and brave to try and make something for herself. Kyon is deliciously tough, but his gentleness comes in in regards to Allie. Their push and pull chemistry was lovely to read, their 🌶️ was grawl, very nicely written down🤤loved it!! Storyline flowed smooth and made me flip the pages! Side note , please tell more about Allie’s heritage!!! Would love to read about how it all happened🫣 Overal, a well deseved 5/5⭐️ for this awesome book Can’t wait to read more books of this author🥰 #arc #arcreview #arcreader #bookreview #bookrecs #booktok #bookgram #romantasy #cruellyfated #egsparks @E. G. Sparks Author
Wow—Cruelly Fated by E.G Sparks completely hooked me from the very first page. Allie and Kyon’s story is set in a richly built fantasy world that weaves in real-world issues, making the stakes feel even more intense and personal. This book is dark, romantic, and deliciously slow-burn, with that irresistible “touch her and die” energy done right.
The plot moves fast without feeling rushed, and I devoured the entire book in one day. Alongside the main romance, there’s a compelling secondary mystery that adds depth and tension, especially as Allie begins to realize that not everyone—and not every truth—is as black and white as she once believed. The twists kept me guessing, and I loved watching her growth as she navigates betrayal, trust, and fate.
The MMC is everything you want in a dark fantasy romance: broody, possessive, powerful, feared by all—and yes, a dragon shifter. The side characters were equally engaging, and I’m already desperate for their stories in future books.
If you love dark fantasy romance, slow-burn tension, powerful MMCs, and immersive world-building, Cruelly Fated is an absolute must-read. I cannot wait to see what E.G. Sparks delivers next.
I absolutely loved Cruelly Fated! From the very first chapter, it pulled me in and never let go. The writing is vivid and immersive, the pacing keeps you hooked without ever feeling rushed, and the worldbuilding strikes the perfect balance between gritty and magical.
The characters( Allie, valor and Alton) were unforgettable, complex, flawed, and full of tension that practically crackled off the page. The banter was sharp, the chemistry electric, and the emotional stakes had me invested from start to finish. And the twists? Let’s just say my jaw hit the floor more than once.
If you enjoy dragon shifters, high-stakes plots, and a mix of action, mystery, and slow-burn tension, this book is for you. It’s easily one of my favorite reads this year, and I cannot wait to continue the series!
I saw a clip of this book months ago and I was desperate to get my hands on it!
You best believe I dropped everything as soon as I saw I had received an ARC for it. Then I devoured it 😍
It has everything you would want from a romantasy, a compelling fantasy world with a love story you can get emotionally invested in.
Allie comes across as a sweet, forgiving FMC but she can hold her own. Kyron is so freaking hot, I mean just check out the cover 😍. He is a true alpha male, possessive and loyal. I just love that he is a dragon shifter, his whole personality just screams it.
Still some unanswered questions about Allie which I am intrigued to find out and also the other characters have already been set up so well for the next books.
Thank you so much to the author for letting me being an ARC read, this books is truly incredible and I couldn't put it down.
This was such an easy and enjoyable read – I’d give it a solid 4/5. It features the classic dragon/fae trope, with Allie (FMC) turning to Kyon—who’s in prison at the time—for help protecting her grandfather. What starts off as a simple transaction quickly grows into something much deeper.
I especially loved the dynamic between Allie, Kyon, and his friends; their banter and evolving relationship made the story really fun to read. After picking up a string of disappointing books, this one finally hit the mark.
That said, I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 because the writing style felt a little simple at times—though that might just be me being picky. Still, if you’re after a dragon romance with a possessive male lead and a strong, independent heroine, this book is definitely worth checking out!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Okay, I came for the dragon shifter. I stayed for the emotional damage, the spice, and the absolutely soul-scorching yearning between Kyon and Allie. This book wrecked me in the best possible way—and I already know I’m not recovering any time soon. Allie? She’s my kind of heroine—scrappy, smart, loyal to a fault, and so desperate to save what little she has left that she offers herself as collateral to an imprisoned dragon who could crush her without breaking a sweat. But Kyon? He doesn't crush—he claims. And I didn’t blame her for a second, because if that seven-foot-tall, inked-up, broken beast so much as looked at me? I’d hand him my soul on a silver platter and ask if he wanted dessert. Their connection is instant, but not shallow. This is a fated-mates, enemies-to-lovers, high-stakes, high-heat slow burn that explodes with tension. And when it burns? It burns—hot, messy, and with that edge of danger I crave. But beneath all that heat is a deep, aching tenderness. Kyon, the ruthless enforcer with nothing left to lose, suddenly finds everything he never knew he needed… in her. And the twist? Oh, Rebel was not ready. When the truth about her mother’s death comes crashing down, I screamed. I felt that betrayal in my bones. And Kyon’s guilt? His groveling? It tore me apart and stitched me back together with dragon-fire and desperation. E.G. Sparks doesn’t pull punches. She rips open your chest, throws in magic, lust, trauma, and hope—and somehow makes it all beautiful. I laughed, I ached, I nearly combusted—and by the end, I was begging for the next book. If you're into prison breaks, fated mates, tragic backstories, and dragons who fall hard for the one girl who was supposed to destroy them—read. this. Book.
I absolutely loved the characters and the story. The dynamic between the characters and the banter, I was entrapped. I couldn't put it down. The plot twists!!! Let's just say the way my jaw dropped.
I need more scenes with Valor. ASAP!!
All I can say is the storyline was executed beautifully and I personally thought the ending was done wonderfully.
I will be getting a physical copy once the book hits the shelves just so I can go reread and annotate my fav moments.
I really liked this book and honestly can’t wait for the next one. With lots of twists and turns Allie and Kyons story is one you need to hold onto your seat for. With our girls mysterious father figure and hidden family secrets, it seems like Allie is always being blindsided and left to deal with the fall out. Enter our main man Kyon. Not used to someone like Allie, he quickly becomes obsessed with our girly. But with him comes new challenges for them both. If you like PNR with a side of mystery, I promise this book will not disappoint.
The author has done an awesome job of writing a story that will keep you interested the whole way through. Her world building is fantastic and the characters are well thought out. There are many surprise twists in the plot line that will throw you for a loop. I did find Allie to be extremely naive and foolish. I do hope the author does a book for some of the side characters. Will definitely be looking for the next book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The world building is both rich and immersive, with a unique magic system. There's a whole cast of characters that leave you guessing who is a threat and who isn't. i was surprised with the plot twist of Torian's betrayal but not so shocked that Larry was just flat out creepy and had something to do with Allie's mom dying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I know this word is overused when talking about books, but truly, this book is unputdownable. The story stole my breath and my heart, I loved every single minute of it, the characters are fantastic, and the romance is mesmerizing. Romantasy at its best!
A review copy of this book was sent to me by the author. All of the above opinions are my own.
Really enjoyed this story! The world building is great, with its own magic system and fae ranking. I love the characters. Allie and Kyon have chemistry right from the start, I loved watching them grow and figure things out together. The banter was a lot of fun too. And the plot twist!!!! I didn't see that coming. Can't wait to read the next book.
Loved this book!!! Finished it in one day because I couldn’t put it down. It was beautifully written and kept you hooked. I’m usually pretty good at guessing what happens but I got surprised a few times. Can’t wait to read more about the other characters, specifically Valor😩 Kyon and Allie have my heart and I would definitely read more books about them.
Thoroughly enjoyed Allie and Kyon! I loved how their meeting/relationship started, that it was atypical. The hits just kept coming and I am so excited to see where it goes next! I have so many questions that I'm dying to have answered!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you to Booksirens and E.G. Sparks for trusting me with this free ARC! I had a lot of fun reading this book. I really loved the magic system in this book with the shifters and fae! There are some very cool characters and concepts within this system, but I was left with some questions. Hopefully some of those questions will be answered in the teased next book, which I am very excited to read!
As a criticism, I am not overly fond of the younger fmc and older mmc trope. At least this one isn't 100+ plus years difference but its a big enough gap with a pretty obvious difference in maturity level and life stage that some of their interactions felt a bit weird to me.
I really loved the interactions between the trio of Princes! They have great friendship chemistry and I hope we get to see more of that as these stories go on.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
So I started this at 10:00 and now finished it at 12:31 It was fucking amazing The light banter the plot I really want to know more about who her father is I’m kinda excited on how this series will go and omg the dragon shirt swoon worthy ughhhhh love love love
A brilliant new writer for me to stalk, yay!!! Dragon shifters are one of my fave books and this author didn't disappoint at all!! Action, drama, sass, spice and hot, hot passion! Must read! I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up! Not sure what kind of writing crack the author infused into this story but I agree with other reviewers, it was dang hard to set down.
Minor spoilers below
Kyon was a good, albeit typical, grumpy dragon shifter MMC. Tough, huge, will kill anyone who looks at his girl. Still, he had some nice complexities with his time in prison and volatile family dynamics. His battle between duty and what he really wants was a good one, but I struggled with some of the contradictory thoughts/events (ie: his father arranges to have him killed in prison and he basically says he’s done, but then later he’s bending over backwards to accommodate his father and family responsibilities. It was jarring how his loyalties kept shifting). I also felt his feelings were contradictory about Allie. His inner thoughts are all about how she’s everything and he’ll give up his princely life for her, but then later he’s sort of pulling back and saying she can’t be his mate because she’s not a dragon. It was like whiplash.
Allie was sweet, a bit naive and young (only 18), but strong in her convictions to survive. She’s hit with a lot of blows at once and she never gets whiny or entitled. His magic was pretty cool and I’m glad it came back later in the story (though it was a bit predictable how). I honestly loved her friendly dynamic with Valor and Rhalyn as much as her chemistry with Kyon.
Loved the friends and honestly sort of want their stories more than this one lol. A good short read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Family vengeance Fated mates Ancient magic Dragon shifters Spic/tension Possessive 7 ft tall MMC Touch her and ☠️ World building
I read this so quick! I love the characters, and the relationship development building 🔥 And the twist at the end! This is an interconnected standalone, but I wish there was more . That’s how much I loved it! I enjoyed this Author’s writing style as I’ve read night fury by EG sparks and I will definitely be on the look out for more books! I loved the world building, this fantasy world with a love story. I was hooked and emotionally invested. Ali, our FMC was drawn and can hold around but also sweet and forgiving. Kyron, our MMC is hot as heck, and Alpha male who is possessive and loyal. He’s a freaking dragon shifter who is 7 feet tall. 🥵 Boy does he act like a possessive dragon shifter I can just picture his voice deep in sexy. Torn between his battle for duty and what he wants. I couldn’t get enough! I was hooked and loved their chemistry I can’t wait for the next book and couple!
This book grabbed me from the very beginning! Fast-paced, exciting, and full of energy—I didn’t want to put it down. The story kept me hooked all the way through, and now I’m already counting down the days until the next book releases. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For what felt like months I had seen teasers of this on booktok and was so intrigued and couldn't wait for it to finally come out. Well it definitely didn't disappoint and I was hooked from the start. Everything flowed well from the world building to the characters and I loved the main characters. The only downfall I found was it wasn't long enough and still left some questions unanswered. Can not wait for the next book to see more of all the characters.
Please note: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
If you're anything like me...you're on booktok and have a TBR folder across multiple apps as well has a house full of TBR books!! Let me just say...move this one up your list to NEXT to read! I saw a TikTok about this book by the author and was captivated. Usually I would just save but I went to the author's page and watched every video she had. Then I did something that I never do, I messaged the author. Yeah I know, crazy right.
When this book came out, let me just say I read it all in one sitting and am planning to go back to it :)
The FMC is not an idiot and while she has been knocked down she definitely isn't staying there. The MMC is sooooo my type! Strong, somewhat of an idiot but mostly he's all in! I also liked that this book has other characters that I'm invested in and she will be writing about too. Overall, great read and highly recommend.
Woooooow. I ATE this book up. K & A's story had me feeling all the emotions. I loved the wild twists and how little details here and there throughout the book were all actually connected to something MUCH bigger. I only wish it was longer! I literally read this book in one day. once I started i couldn't put it down!
This was my first dragon shifter romance and I was not disappointed. Social class divides, touch her and you die, fated mates, spice spice and more spice
I definitely will be on the lookout for more from a new fav author of mine!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Loved the characters and the banter and the way she challenges him. Felt like I wanted the book to last longer or there to be a second book about them!
I really loved this book, the meeting of the characters had some spicy to hook you in and keep you hooked. The characters also drew me in pretty immediately and I love that in a book. My only wish is that I had the time to read the book from start to finish in one sitting, I was eating it up every time I sat down to read it. Couldn’t recommend more.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily