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Altered Parallel
Just do whatever good you can in the place you're at, and hope that others are doing the same wherever they are…
But what if I’m not… good?
Skylar Aymon has lived through her share of traumas. Some of those scars are so deep, she can’t even see them anymore. But now, at twenty-five, life is going pretty well and she is checking all the
☒ Education
☒ Great Job
☒ Her own home
Just a teenager, Tate Morrow’s life is not going so well. He is checking off different sorts of
☒ Orphaned
☒ Neglected
☒ Delinquent
☐ Unlikely hero?
Oddly enough, a door is waiting to open for each of them, and if they choose to step through it, their paths will be forever altered. The Magic exists on the “other side”—a hidden world surrounded in golden light, yet edged with a threat of darkness.
When Skylar and Tate’s destinies collide, a simple acquaintanceship is changed, almost forcibly, and continues to be changed over time. The Magic promises power and a brilliant destiny. But a corrupt darkness hangs over them, threatening to destroy not just their desires, but their own humanity. Skylar and Tate must navigate their changing conditions, unaware of the ancient schemes and secrets at play.
Fate can be a son of a bitch, and maybe all that glitters isn’t gold, after all. These two are set on collision courses with powers greater than they understand. The final impact may explode into greatness, or perhaps in battle.
What do you do when the powerful destiny you embraced becomes cruel, twisted, and lonely? And how the hell do you continue on when fate brings you a connection you can’t survive without, and then won’t let you keep it?
Altered Parallel blurs the lines between light and dark, forging a tale that weaves magical allure with the pulses of the human heart. It is the story of two souls, etching their marks on the world… and each other.
Is their magic really a gift, or is it a weapon?
But what if I’m not… good?
Skylar Aymon has lived through her share of traumas. Some of those scars are so deep, she can’t even see them anymore. But now, at twenty-five, life is going pretty well and she is checking all the
☒ Education
☒ Great Job
☒ Her own home
Just a teenager, Tate Morrow’s life is not going so well. He is checking off different sorts of
☒ Orphaned
☒ Neglected
☒ Delinquent
☐ Unlikely hero?
Oddly enough, a door is waiting to open for each of them, and if they choose to step through it, their paths will be forever altered. The Magic exists on the “other side”—a hidden world surrounded in golden light, yet edged with a threat of darkness.
When Skylar and Tate’s destinies collide, a simple acquaintanceship is changed, almost forcibly, and continues to be changed over time. The Magic promises power and a brilliant destiny. But a corrupt darkness hangs over them, threatening to destroy not just their desires, but their own humanity. Skylar and Tate must navigate their changing conditions, unaware of the ancient schemes and secrets at play.
Fate can be a son of a bitch, and maybe all that glitters isn’t gold, after all. These two are set on collision courses with powers greater than they understand. The final impact may explode into greatness, or perhaps in battle.
What do you do when the powerful destiny you embraced becomes cruel, twisted, and lonely? And how the hell do you continue on when fate brings you a connection you can’t survive without, and then won’t let you keep it?
Altered Parallel blurs the lines between light and dark, forging a tale that weaves magical allure with the pulses of the human heart. It is the story of two souls, etching their marks on the world… and each other.
Is their magic really a gift, or is it a weapon?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2025
4 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 17, 2025
Skylar Aymon has endured more than her share of trauma, but at 25, she's finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. With an education, a great job, and a cozy home she can truly call her own, life is finally beginning to feel stable.
Tate Morrow, on the other hand, lives in a very different reality. An orphan who has been living a life of neglect and poor choices.
So what could bring two people from such different worlds together? Could it be magic?
Skylar and Tate’s destinies collide when they both enter the realm of The Magic, a magically hidden world surrounded in golden light, however, a corrupt darkness has everyone on edge.
Skylar and Tate must navigate personal growth within the realm while being unaware of the ancient schemes and dark secrets at play.
The synopsis of the Altered Parallel sparked an interest, and I knew I had to give this one a read. Overall, I did enjoy the premise of the story. However, it did not check all the boxes I needed it to check to be a favourite, with that being said, I do recommend reading Altered Parallel. Although it may not have resonated with me as much as I had hoped, it is an interesting story. I tend to gravitate more toward fast-paced storylines, not to say I don’t enjoy slower-paced stories, but I found this one to be a bit too slow for my taste as a reader. I was pulled into the story immediately, but due to the pace, I struggled to get back into it whenever I put the book down. For me, there wasn’t a lot of excitement to draw me back to the story, so it took me a lot longer to read. Near the end, the story started to grab my attention again. There was a little more going on, some added mystery that piqued my interest, but I still needed more. For someone who enjoys a slower-paced story, I believe this is an excellent story for you!
Initially, I connected with the characters deeply, but the pace caused me to lose that connection. With that being said, the author did a good job with the character development. Both characters underwent significant growth throughout the story. Even though they took different paths, they were still growing together in a way, and I loved that. The connection between the two main characters is strong and believable throughout the writing.
This may not have been the book for me, but the pace played a big part in that, unfortunately. If you’re a reader who enjoys a slower pace, then I highly recommend this book. The elements are there for a great book, but I struggled with the pace, which took away from the story.
Tate Morrow, on the other hand, lives in a very different reality. An orphan who has been living a life of neglect and poor choices.
So what could bring two people from such different worlds together? Could it be magic?
Skylar and Tate’s destinies collide when they both enter the realm of The Magic, a magically hidden world surrounded in golden light, however, a corrupt darkness has everyone on edge.
Skylar and Tate must navigate personal growth within the realm while being unaware of the ancient schemes and dark secrets at play.
The synopsis of the Altered Parallel sparked an interest, and I knew I had to give this one a read. Overall, I did enjoy the premise of the story. However, it did not check all the boxes I needed it to check to be a favourite, with that being said, I do recommend reading Altered Parallel. Although it may not have resonated with me as much as I had hoped, it is an interesting story. I tend to gravitate more toward fast-paced storylines, not to say I don’t enjoy slower-paced stories, but I found this one to be a bit too slow for my taste as a reader. I was pulled into the story immediately, but due to the pace, I struggled to get back into it whenever I put the book down. For me, there wasn’t a lot of excitement to draw me back to the story, so it took me a lot longer to read. Near the end, the story started to grab my attention again. There was a little more going on, some added mystery that piqued my interest, but I still needed more. For someone who enjoys a slower-paced story, I believe this is an excellent story for you!
Initially, I connected with the characters deeply, but the pace caused me to lose that connection. With that being said, the author did a good job with the character development. Both characters underwent significant growth throughout the story. Even though they took different paths, they were still growing together in a way, and I loved that. The connection between the two main characters is strong and believable throughout the writing.
This may not have been the book for me, but the pace played a big part in that, unfortunately. If you’re a reader who enjoys a slower pace, then I highly recommend this book. The elements are there for a great book, but I struggled with the pace, which took away from the story.
July 26, 2025
I almost never like contemporary fantasy mixed with romance. And yet, Altered Parallel managed to slide past all my usual resistance.
It starts with a familiar premise: Skylar, a school counselor with a quiet, contained life, meets Tate, a troubled student who’s seen too much too young. But don’t brace for the worst. To its credit—and to C.T. Malachite’s skill—it doesn’t linger in uncomfortable territory. Tate returns older, more grounded (if still a little dramatic), and the book recalibrates quickly: two people drawn together not because the world is breaking open and they’ve both been touched by whatever’s leaking through the cracks.
What works best here is the feel of the magic. It’s not sparkly fantasy; it’s more Neverwhere meets A Darker Shade of Magic—magic coiled in the shadows of another dimension. There are demons (literally and metaphorically), strange rules, and a structure that hints at more beneath the surface. The alternate dimension stuff feels like it’s just getting started, and I’m genuinely excited to see how that expands in future books.
Skylar’s arc, though, is the reason I stayed. She begins genre-typical—sympathetic, smart, caught off-guard by a magical awakening and a darkly charming guy. But somewhere along the way, she breaks. What rises in her place is something far more volatile. Her descent into something emotionally and magically darker feels earned. She doesn’t just survive or fall in love; she changes, and not always for the better.
As for the romance, I’ll admit I was skeptical. I didn’t love the romance setup between Skylar and Tate, but it gets better quickly with a time skip and significant character maturity. When they do come together, it feels lived-in. Messy. And I appreciate that. Not every love story needs to be redemptive.
The ending avoids a few trope cliffs I thought we were about to tumble off of, and I was grateful for that. It has the shape of something familiar but chooses not to play it safe.
If you want your magic with a sharp edge, your romance a little wrecked, and your protagonists more changed than saved, Altered Parallel might surprise you like it did me.
It starts with a familiar premise: Skylar, a school counselor with a quiet, contained life, meets Tate, a troubled student who’s seen too much too young. But don’t brace for the worst. To its credit—and to C.T. Malachite’s skill—it doesn’t linger in uncomfortable territory. Tate returns older, more grounded (if still a little dramatic), and the book recalibrates quickly: two people drawn together not because the world is breaking open and they’ve both been touched by whatever’s leaking through the cracks.
What works best here is the feel of the magic. It’s not sparkly fantasy; it’s more Neverwhere meets A Darker Shade of Magic—magic coiled in the shadows of another dimension. There are demons (literally and metaphorically), strange rules, and a structure that hints at more beneath the surface. The alternate dimension stuff feels like it’s just getting started, and I’m genuinely excited to see how that expands in future books.
Skylar’s arc, though, is the reason I stayed. She begins genre-typical—sympathetic, smart, caught off-guard by a magical awakening and a darkly charming guy. But somewhere along the way, she breaks. What rises in her place is something far more volatile. Her descent into something emotionally and magically darker feels earned. She doesn’t just survive or fall in love; she changes, and not always for the better.
As for the romance, I’ll admit I was skeptical. I didn’t love the romance setup between Skylar and Tate, but it gets better quickly with a time skip and significant character maturity. When they do come together, it feels lived-in. Messy. And I appreciate that. Not every love story needs to be redemptive.
The ending avoids a few trope cliffs I thought we were about to tumble off of, and I was grateful for that. It has the shape of something familiar but chooses not to play it safe.
If you want your magic with a sharp edge, your romance a little wrecked, and your protagonists more changed than saved, Altered Parallel might surprise you like it did me.
May 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for CT Malachite’s Altered Parallel
It was incredibly immersive from the start, building a world that tricks you into believing it’s normal, with beautifully written characters.
This book deals with a lot of raw emotions, from trauma to true love and everything between. It’s freshening to have an older FMC, and the age gap with the MMC is a new twist I’ve not seen before.
This new and unique magic narrative is refreshing and demands to be explored more! You grow infinitely more curios along with the characters as you explore the new magic with them.
The dual POV towards the end of the book is heartbreaking in its use as a tool to show how damaging miscommunication can really be, and it leaves you needing to know how or if it will be resolved.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment to see how Skylar and Tate expand their knowledge and talent for magic!
If you like;
🤍A contemporary fantasy with a romantic element
🤍Dual POV
🤍Character driven narrative
🤍Adult FMC ( I love this so much!)
🤍Strong and tangible emotions
🤍Bittersweet Slowburns
🤍HEA???? 👀
You should add this to your TBR!
It was incredibly immersive from the start, building a world that tricks you into believing it’s normal, with beautifully written characters.
This book deals with a lot of raw emotions, from trauma to true love and everything between. It’s freshening to have an older FMC, and the age gap with the MMC is a new twist I’ve not seen before.
This new and unique magic narrative is refreshing and demands to be explored more! You grow infinitely more curios along with the characters as you explore the new magic with them.
The dual POV towards the end of the book is heartbreaking in its use as a tool to show how damaging miscommunication can really be, and it leaves you needing to know how or if it will be resolved.
I cannot wait to read the next instalment to see how Skylar and Tate expand their knowledge and talent for magic!
If you like;
🤍A contemporary fantasy with a romantic element
🤍Dual POV
🤍Character driven narrative
🤍Adult FMC ( I love this so much!)
🤍Strong and tangible emotions
🤍Bittersweet Slowburns
🤍HEA???? 👀
You should add this to your TBR!
July 15, 2025
I can’t get enough of a book that tricks you right off the bat and this one does just that. It’s immersive from the beginning, you think the world is normal and introduced to beautiful woven together characters.
This book has a lot of raw emotions, trauma to true love and everything else.
This book switches to POV towards the end of book to really show how damaging miscommunication can be. It leaves you feeling unsolved and need a solution.
Can’t wait to see what’s next for these characters and their world.
~ A contemporary fantasy with a romantic element~
August 1, 2025
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This was four stars for me. We are given two broken MCs, a unique magic system, and a twist on parallel universes that I enjoyed. I’m not usually someone that enjoys a contemporary romance type vibe but I found that it worked well within this story. The sense of looming darkness kept me reading because I just had to know what happened next. I found that this plot line had some sharp edges that pulled me deeper into the story, and because of that I look forward to reading book two.
This was four stars for me. We are given two broken MCs, a unique magic system, and a twist on parallel universes that I enjoyed. I’m not usually someone that enjoys a contemporary romance type vibe but I found that it worked well within this story. The sense of looming darkness kept me reading because I just had to know what happened next. I found that this plot line had some sharp edges that pulled me deeper into the story, and because of that I look forward to reading book two.
June 5, 2025
I so enjoyed this book - it is an imaginative and thought-provoking romantasy that hooked me from the first chapter. The novel weaves together parallel worlds, identity, and the consequences of choice with a fresh, compelling voice. The pacing keeps tension high, and I enjoyed the perspective of an older fmc.
The characters are complex, particularly the lead, whose internal conflicts and evolution kept me emotionally invested. I also appreciated how the story subtly raises philosophical questions without bogging down the narrative flow.
The characters are complex, particularly the lead, whose internal conflicts and evolution kept me emotionally invested. I also appreciated how the story subtly raises philosophical questions without bogging down the narrative flow.
June 16, 2025
I loved the action packed and the back and forth with Tate and Skylar I loved their magic. I had all the emotions with this book highly recommend
June 29, 2025
I enjoyed the contemporary urban magic setting mixed with romance and what will most likely be an endless love. The characters were enjoyable. I’m excited to see where the next book goes.
July 1, 2025
This book does a good job with magical realism. It blends the magic world with every day life. It follows the fmc and mmc while they learn about magic and how to navigate a realm that sits parallel with ours. The pace is a bit slow, but the overall plot is interesting and it leaves you more questions about who is truly good and is it a matter of perspective. The part I couldn’t get over was the story started with the FMC being 25 and the MMC is 18 and she is his school counselor. He leaves and they reconnect when he is older, but more time has passed for him (7 years) and 7 months for her. It makes the romance soo cringy and predatory. It didn’t seem necessary for her to be his counselor, they could have been coworkers or something.
August 8, 2025
Skylar Aymon has worked through her traumatic past to start afresh as a guidance counsellor in a small rural town. When she's the only person to get through to the troubled student Tate Morrow, it seems everything is destined to go well. But Tate has secrets he can't tell her, things that start to affect his senior year and grades. Skylar tries once more to reach him, only for her to find the truth - Tate has a destined path in The Magic, a place between earthly and spiritual realms where time stretches on and magic power is wielded in ways that save lives in the real earth realm. Tate has already been recognised as a prodigy in The Magic, until Skylar follows him in and the protectors (Elders) of the realms realise she has unlimited, untapped power.
Tate understands their destined path is one they must walk together and sets out to use magic to leave the boy behind and become the man Skylar deserves. Together, they explore their abilities, healing each other's trauma with their love and tender caring. For Tate, he's finally at peace. But something is stirring in Skylar, a darker power that grows as she tests her limits, a darkness exacerbated by shadow threats in The Magic that seek to harm. Or is that just what the Elders have led everyone to believe? Is there a hidden answer to The Magic and everything that lives within it? Can Skylar reveal the truth or will the darkness take her? And when it comes to battle, will Tate be the one to stop her?
I truly didn't know what to expect with Altered Parallel and I was not disappointed. The theme of Skylar and Tate's love was woven through from early on (the age issue was resolved, it's not an inappropriate teacher/student affair thankfully), but it turned into a rollercoaster of bitter heartbreak, yearning, and regret, leaving room for the main focus of the discovery of their inner power, both magical and personal.
I came away with more questions than answers and would like to know more about The Magic and its world building (there's definitely set up for an exciting sequel from CT Malachite 👀), but Altered Parallel subverted expectations and turned tropes on their heads. Malachite wrote so vividly, at times I could visualise extracts like film scenes, so my imagination gives this an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up!
Thanks to Book Funnel and CT Malachite for early ARC access!
Tate understands their destined path is one they must walk together and sets out to use magic to leave the boy behind and become the man Skylar deserves. Together, they explore their abilities, healing each other's trauma with their love and tender caring. For Tate, he's finally at peace. But something is stirring in Skylar, a darker power that grows as she tests her limits, a darkness exacerbated by shadow threats in The Magic that seek to harm. Or is that just what the Elders have led everyone to believe? Is there a hidden answer to The Magic and everything that lives within it? Can Skylar reveal the truth or will the darkness take her? And when it comes to battle, will Tate be the one to stop her?
I truly didn't know what to expect with Altered Parallel and I was not disappointed. The theme of Skylar and Tate's love was woven through from early on (the age issue was resolved, it's not an inappropriate teacher/student affair thankfully), but it turned into a rollercoaster of bitter heartbreak, yearning, and regret, leaving room for the main focus of the discovery of their inner power, both magical and personal.
I came away with more questions than answers and would like to know more about The Magic and its world building (there's definitely set up for an exciting sequel from CT Malachite 👀), but Altered Parallel subverted expectations and turned tropes on their heads. Malachite wrote so vividly, at times I could visualise extracts like film scenes, so my imagination gives this an enthusiastic 2 thumbs up!
Thanks to Book Funnel and CT Malachite for early ARC access!
July 4, 2025
🥊 BRO vs. ALTERED PARALLEL ✨🌀
⸻
🪞 The Book: An emotionally grounded fantasy that throws two broken people—Skylar and Tate—into an alternate dimension full of weird magic, hidden power, and gnarly consequences. It’s got fate. It’s got danger. It’s got that “what if Narnia was run by morally gray witches” energy. This is not your wand-waving, sparkle-light fantasy.
💪 The Bro: I came in expecting another “girl meets boy, girl finds magic, girl saves the world” arc. What I got instead was messier, darker, and a hell of a lot more interesting.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• The magic? Real MVP. It’s not just a tool or a power system—it feels different. Grounded, eerie, and rooted more in psychological realism than fantasy tropes.
• The alternate dimension has that “unknowable but familiar” feel that keeps you guessing without totally losing the plot. Malachite gives just enough to make it fresh.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Skylar is the standout. She starts off intriguing, veers a little too cutesy (I braced for a full quirky YA meltdown), but then pulls off an arc that surprised me. Not every change is good, and that’s what makes her feel real.
• Tate holds his own too, but outside of those two? It’s a ghost town. No one else feels nearly as real or adds much weight to the world.
• There’s this narrative trick where we see major events twice—once through Tate’s eyes, then again through Skylar’s. It’s smart and cool… but also drops over the climax so slows the momentum. Big gamble, partial payoff.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: Final Verdict
• Altered Parallel still hits. Hard.
• It’s familiar on the surface—trauma, love, magic—but Malachite doesn’t give you the clean, comforting arc. She gives you a jagged one.
• That refusal to play by the rules makes me want to come back for book two. There’s danger here, and not just from the monsters.
⸻
🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Unanimous Decision – Altered Parallel comes in like a quiet contender and leaves like a middleweight champ. Bro’s buying a return ticket for Book Two.
⸻
🪞 The Book: An emotionally grounded fantasy that throws two broken people—Skylar and Tate—into an alternate dimension full of weird magic, hidden power, and gnarly consequences. It’s got fate. It’s got danger. It’s got that “what if Narnia was run by morally gray witches” energy. This is not your wand-waving, sparkle-light fantasy.
💪 The Bro: I came in expecting another “girl meets boy, girl finds magic, girl saves the world” arc. What I got instead was messier, darker, and a hell of a lot more interesting.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 1: First Impressions
• The magic? Real MVP. It’s not just a tool or a power system—it feels different. Grounded, eerie, and rooted more in psychological realism than fantasy tropes.
• The alternate dimension has that “unknowable but familiar” feel that keeps you guessing without totally losing the plot. Malachite gives just enough to make it fresh.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 2: In the Thick of It
• Skylar is the standout. She starts off intriguing, veers a little too cutesy (I braced for a full quirky YA meltdown), but then pulls off an arc that surprised me. Not every change is good, and that’s what makes her feel real.
• Tate holds his own too, but outside of those two? It’s a ghost town. No one else feels nearly as real or adds much weight to the world.
• There’s this narrative trick where we see major events twice—once through Tate’s eyes, then again through Skylar’s. It’s smart and cool… but also drops over the climax so slows the momentum. Big gamble, partial payoff.
⸻
🥊 ROUND 3: Final Verdict
• Altered Parallel still hits. Hard.
• It’s familiar on the surface—trauma, love, magic—but Malachite doesn’t give you the clean, comforting arc. She gives you a jagged one.
• That refusal to play by the rules makes me want to come back for book two. There’s danger here, and not just from the monsters.
⸻
🔥 FINAL BELL: The ARC Bro Scorecard 🔥
🥊 Unanimous Decision – Altered Parallel comes in like a quiet contender and leaves like a middleweight champ. Bro’s buying a return ticket for Book Two.
August 1, 2025
Overall, this was a good read. I really liked the storyline and the unique magic system. There was only one thing I didn’t like that stuck with me throughout the entire book and it was at the beginning where it starts off with the FMC being 25 and the MMC only being 18 and she is his school counselor. I understand time passes, but it just made it awkward for me. If it was going to be a student-counselor, it could have at least been in college. I don’t know, it just felt weird to me that it was high school. I still feel like the story overall was good and would recommend you give it a read. I enjoyed the characters. The author does amazing job making them relatable with realistic backgrounds and all the emotions! The magic was neat, and the twists and turns were great.
Thank you to the author for a gifted eARC.
Thank you to the author for a gifted eARC.
July 19, 2025
Altered Parallel is for readers who enjoy characters with magical powers, a setting with two planes of existence, found family, and a slow-burn romance subplot.
Tate (MMC) finds fulfillment by helping his found family protect his small town (and the world) from an evil threat that has infected the magical community with a plague.
Skylar Aymon (FMC) is Tate’s high school guidance counselor. She worries about Tate because his mother is dead and his father abandoned him. Skylar sees Tate in town; he has weird lights trailing behind him. Intrigued, Skylar follows Tate into a theater, and her life changes forever.
This book enthralled my imagination. I had to keep reading because I had to know what would happen to the cast of characters, both good and evil.
Tate (MMC) finds fulfillment by helping his found family protect his small town (and the world) from an evil threat that has infected the magical community with a plague.
Skylar Aymon (FMC) is Tate’s high school guidance counselor. She worries about Tate because his mother is dead and his father abandoned him. Skylar sees Tate in town; he has weird lights trailing behind him. Intrigued, Skylar follows Tate into a theater, and her life changes forever.
This book enthralled my imagination. I had to keep reading because I had to know what would happen to the cast of characters, both good and evil.
July 25, 2025
Altered Parallel is definitely a different take on alternate universes. Incorporating magic into the universe is not unique. However, the magic system in this story is unique. I love Skylar's story arc. I love Tate's growth (both physically and emotionally). The age gap erasure kind of gave me the ick, but it didn't last for long. I can't wait to see what happens in book 2.
July 15, 2025
I really enjoyed this one, the world building, the different point of view, even being in a reading slump I didn’t want to DNF.
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