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The Choosing Chronicles #4
A Tempest of Wind and Fate
Her storm has broken free. He is the only one who can contain it.
River Waterborn is cursed. She has always known it, but her fears are confirmed when she loses control of her storm again. She is a bringer of death. Even though she tried to run from fate, it caught up with her.
And now, River is broken. Deeply. Permanently. Or so she thinks.
Nikhail Galebringer has spent years denying his draw to River, thinking she would be better off without him. She's his best friend's sister, after all.
But when River's storm hits, Nikhail drops everything to go to her side. She needs him, and he won't let anything keep them apart any longer.
River is wading through darkness, lost in her grief, but Nikhail vows to remain by her side no matter what. After all, she deserves the stars, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure she sees them once more.
A Tempest of Wind and Fate is the second book in the next duology in The Choosing Chronicles. This duology should be read after A Game of Love and Betrayal, and A Heart of Desire and Deceit.
There will be three duologies in total.
River Waterborn is cursed. She has always known it, but her fears are confirmed when she loses control of her storm again. She is a bringer of death. Even though she tried to run from fate, it caught up with her.
And now, River is broken. Deeply. Permanently. Or so she thinks.
Nikhail Galebringer has spent years denying his draw to River, thinking she would be better off without him. She's his best friend's sister, after all.
But when River's storm hits, Nikhail drops everything to go to her side. She needs him, and he won't let anything keep them apart any longer.
River is wading through darkness, lost in her grief, but Nikhail vows to remain by her side no matter what. After all, she deserves the stars, and he will do whatever it takes to ensure she sees them once more.
A Tempest of Wind and Fate is the second book in the next duology in The Choosing Chronicles. This duology should be read after A Game of Love and Betrayal, and A Heart of Desire and Deceit.
There will be three duologies in total.
410 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 13, 2026
About the author
Elayna R. Gallea
33 books2,398 followersElayna Gallea lives in beautiful New Brunswick, Canada with her husband and two kids. They have dogs and cats and enjoy touring their beautiful province whenever they can.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
May 26, 2026
A Tempest of Wind and Fate is a strong, satisfying second instalment, a story that deepens the world, sharpens the stakes, and lets its characters grow in all the best ways.
River’s evolution is one of the highlights. She steps more fully into her power, her purpose, and her identity, shedding old fears and embracing the strength she’s always had. It’s the kind of growth that feels earned, shaped by everything she’s survived.
Nikhail remains exactly who he has always been, steady, honourable, powerful, and unwaveringly himself. His constancy is the perfect counterbalance to River’s transformation, grounding the story with warmth and quiet strength.
This instalment also sets the stage beautifully for what’s coming next. The threads involving the rebel force and the growing unbalance in the Republic of Balance feel poised to converge, and the next duologies should bring everything together in a dramatic, meaningful way.
A compelling continuation full of magic, tension, and character depth and a promise of even bigger things ahead.
River’s evolution is one of the highlights. She steps more fully into her power, her purpose, and her identity, shedding old fears and embracing the strength she’s always had. It’s the kind of growth that feels earned, shaped by everything she’s survived.
Nikhail remains exactly who he has always been, steady, honourable, powerful, and unwaveringly himself. His constancy is the perfect counterbalance to River’s transformation, grounding the story with warmth and quiet strength.
This instalment also sets the stage beautifully for what’s coming next. The threads involving the rebel force and the growing unbalance in the Republic of Balance feel poised to converge, and the next duologies should bring everything together in a dramatic, meaningful way.
A compelling continuation full of magic, tension, and character depth and a promise of even bigger things ahead.
March 28, 2026
“Can you see the stars?” I loved this emotional ending to River and Nik’s story! I found their relationship so beautiful—River is not a damsel in distress and Nik empowers her, through his support, to take a more active role in her healing journey. Because only when the clouds clear can you see the stars ✨
May 24, 2026
Slow for me
This was again slow for me. I was a little bored. I felt like there wasnt much happening and it was alot of inner monolog. I wanted to see more action with the characters and more interactions with Nik and River. The last 20% was more intriguing and I loved that she finally accepted herself. I do love them as a couple though!
This was again slow for me. I was a little bored. I felt like there wasnt much happening and it was alot of inner monolog. I wanted to see more action with the characters and more interactions with Nik and River. The last 20% was more intriguing and I loved that she finally accepted herself. I do love them as a couple though!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to get to Beta read this book and it had me in a choke hold. River and Nik are my favourite book couple, Nik is husband goals and their love is like no other. Cannot wait to see what comes next.
Elayna writes swoon worthy conversations that make even the coldest of hearts melt.
Elayna writes swoon worthy conversations that make even the coldest of hearts melt.
May 17, 2026
"Let me help you," he said. "If you're tired, lean on me. If you can no longer move, let me carry you."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
What you'll find in this book:
• Brother's Best Friend
• Age Gap
• Yearning
• Forbidden Romance
• She's Extremely Powerful
• He's Been In Love With Her For Years
• She's Broken
• Emotional Damage Before The HEA
• "You Came." "You Called."
Oh gosh, I didn't know a book could hurt this much. My heart ached so much throughout the entirety of this story, but I loved it so much. It will never cease to amaze me, how Elayna can create such characters that I can feel so deeply emotionally connected to so very quickly. After the emotionally destructive ending of book one in this duology, we pick up directly where we left off and honestly I could not be more thankful even though the journey to our HEA was so full of heartache and pain. I cannot recommend Elayna's books enough and the Choosing Chronicles are definitely the perfect place to start your journey. This duology in particular is perfect if you love a forbidden brothers best friend romance, filled with magic, emotionally powerful characters and the heartachingly journey to happily ever after then this is perfect for you.
My heart bleeds for River, following on from the death of her father she is broken and when the one person who swore she would be there for her isn't she is left broken with her magic spiralling out of control. Throughout the book we read as River claws her way back to herself following an unbearable loss and the uncertainty surrounding her curse and her relationship with Nikhail. It hurts me beyond words to read as River chooses to punish herself truly believing that it is safer for everyone if she remains shut off. Nikhail will do anything for River, be anything she needs him to be and do anything she asks of him, and I loved that when the chips were down River was willing to face her biggest hurdle in order to be there for Nikhail in his time of need. I was cheering her on as she took charge and stepped out of her comfort down to be there for those she loves. We see such a huge character progression for River, from a more timid and easily hurt soul to someone who is not afraid to stand up for and believe in themselves. Nikhail is confidence, assured and always in control, and I really loved how we see him lose a little bit of that control in this book. How love takes his carefully crafted persona and makes him a mess. He is the perfect balance to River's character and you see that throughout the book, there is no doubting the love he has for River and it honestly makes me tear up even thinking about it again now. How he knows when he is hurt but puts it aside to be strong for her, the partner she deserves through and through.
This duology blends the mystery with the romance, perfectly balancing these tor a story that keeps you coming back for more. With the stakes higher than ever these two characters are torn between family and duty, with the question being whether they will let this get in their way. The romance was top tier, the undeniable connection, the pull, how they see one another as they truly are, with no secrets and only parting the clouds for one another. I honestly cannot recommend this series enough, set in a world filled with all sorts of magical creatures, fae, vampires, elves, and many more there is always a new place to explore or a new character to meet and while that may sound daunting Elayna writes it in such a way that makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I will forever be grateful for how Elayna includes subtle nods to the Ithenmyr Chronicles and the earlier books in the Choosing Chronicles, with lore and characters being an important part of this story. To have a little tidbit as to the theme of the next book in this series was an amazing addition, and already has me unbelievably excited.
Thank you so much to Elayna for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: Elayna Gallea
Series: The Choosing Chronicles
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: May 13th, 2026
Pages: 410
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5
What you'll find in this book:
• Brother's Best Friend
• Age Gap
• Yearning
• Forbidden Romance
• She's Extremely Powerful
• He's Been In Love With Her For Years
• She's Broken
• Emotional Damage Before The HEA
• "You Came." "You Called."
Oh gosh, I didn't know a book could hurt this much. My heart ached so much throughout the entirety of this story, but I loved it so much. It will never cease to amaze me, how Elayna can create such characters that I can feel so deeply emotionally connected to so very quickly. After the emotionally destructive ending of book one in this duology, we pick up directly where we left off and honestly I could not be more thankful even though the journey to our HEA was so full of heartache and pain. I cannot recommend Elayna's books enough and the Choosing Chronicles are definitely the perfect place to start your journey. This duology in particular is perfect if you love a forbidden brothers best friend romance, filled with magic, emotionally powerful characters and the heartachingly journey to happily ever after then this is perfect for you.
My heart bleeds for River, following on from the death of her father she is broken and when the one person who swore she would be there for her isn't she is left broken with her magic spiralling out of control. Throughout the book we read as River claws her way back to herself following an unbearable loss and the uncertainty surrounding her curse and her relationship with Nikhail. It hurts me beyond words to read as River chooses to punish herself truly believing that it is safer for everyone if she remains shut off. Nikhail will do anything for River, be anything she needs him to be and do anything she asks of him, and I loved that when the chips were down River was willing to face her biggest hurdle in order to be there for Nikhail in his time of need. I was cheering her on as she took charge and stepped out of her comfort down to be there for those she loves. We see such a huge character progression for River, from a more timid and easily hurt soul to someone who is not afraid to stand up for and believe in themselves. Nikhail is confidence, assured and always in control, and I really loved how we see him lose a little bit of that control in this book. How love takes his carefully crafted persona and makes him a mess. He is the perfect balance to River's character and you see that throughout the book, there is no doubting the love he has for River and it honestly makes me tear up even thinking about it again now. How he knows when he is hurt but puts it aside to be strong for her, the partner she deserves through and through.
This duology blends the mystery with the romance, perfectly balancing these tor a story that keeps you coming back for more. With the stakes higher than ever these two characters are torn between family and duty, with the question being whether they will let this get in their way. The romance was top tier, the undeniable connection, the pull, how they see one another as they truly are, with no secrets and only parting the clouds for one another. I honestly cannot recommend this series enough, set in a world filled with all sorts of magical creatures, fae, vampires, elves, and many more there is always a new place to explore or a new character to meet and while that may sound daunting Elayna writes it in such a way that makes for an easy and enjoyable read. I will forever be grateful for how Elayna includes subtle nods to the Ithenmyr Chronicles and the earlier books in the Choosing Chronicles, with lore and characters being an important part of this story. To have a little tidbit as to the theme of the next book in this series was an amazing addition, and already has me unbelievably excited.
Thank you so much to Elayna for sending me an e-ARC to read and review early.
Author: Elayna Gallea
Series: The Choosing Chronicles
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: May 13th, 2026
Pages: 410
May 13, 2026
This review was originally published on a different platform, and has been copy+pasted here. Originally given 4.5 stars, rounded to 5 here to account for limitations of this platform.
I'm so glad River and Nik got their happy ending! I certainly enjoyed this book, but I think I'm feeling a bit of a disconnect from it because I read this one as a Kindle arc rather than listening to it as an audiobook as I did with the previous books in the series. I adore the characters and I'm so glad I didn't have to wait to experience the rest of their story, but it just didn't hit me quite the same way.
That being said, I very much enjoyed the dystopian fantasy setting. I love the idea of fae, shifters, vampires and all the rest in a modern-earth-like society. The descriptions are, as always with this author, on the less prevalent side. Layouts of spaces, as well as descriptions of characters, are left mostly up to imagination and there were several scenes where I found myself mentally rearranging the layout of a room as I read to suit additional information. I still haven't decided if I like it or not, but I'm definitely getting used to it so it was much less jarring in this book.
For most of this book, the overall series plot is much more prevalent than the book or duet level plots, but I was easily able to distinguish all three, and they were each very enjoyable.
I love River and Nikhail. I still connected strongly to River, even with the overall sense of disconnect I felt with the book due to the different medium. I felt her on levels that I rarely experience. Every moment of grief, depression, and anxiety, as well as each instance of love, happiness, and contentment was deeply relatable. It would have been easy for the author to portray River's growth as being due to Nik rather than her own character evolution, but instead I got to experience just how much of a difference it can make to have someone in your life who sees and accepts every single part of you, and who supports you in everything that you do. I was a little bit disappointed that the last scene in the bunker was from Nik's POV instead of River's, even though we got to see her thoughts leading up to it (and honestly that's the reason this got 4.5 instead of 5 stars from me). River's relationships with her mom and her brother remind me so much of my own, and I'm so glad I got to see her grow enough to have hard conversations with the people closest to her.
I adore how much Nik loves River. He's strong for her when she needs him to be, and soft when that's what will help her more. He's caring, kind, and so very sweet. He's capable and willing to do anything to protect her, but he's also willing to support her while she protects and stands up for herself. Their communication is excellent, and I can clearly see the strong foundation that they're building their relationship on.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it as an arc. I think I'll go back and listen to it once there's an audiobook version available, because I desperately want to connect to this part of the story as deeply as I did with the rest of the series.
I'm so glad River and Nik got their happy ending! I certainly enjoyed this book, but I think I'm feeling a bit of a disconnect from it because I read this one as a Kindle arc rather than listening to it as an audiobook as I did with the previous books in the series. I adore the characters and I'm so glad I didn't have to wait to experience the rest of their story, but it just didn't hit me quite the same way.
That being said, I very much enjoyed the dystopian fantasy setting. I love the idea of fae, shifters, vampires and all the rest in a modern-earth-like society. The descriptions are, as always with this author, on the less prevalent side. Layouts of spaces, as well as descriptions of characters, are left mostly up to imagination and there were several scenes where I found myself mentally rearranging the layout of a room as I read to suit additional information. I still haven't decided if I like it or not, but I'm definitely getting used to it so it was much less jarring in this book.
For most of this book, the overall series plot is much more prevalent than the book or duet level plots, but I was easily able to distinguish all three, and they were each very enjoyable.
I love River and Nikhail. I still connected strongly to River, even with the overall sense of disconnect I felt with the book due to the different medium. I felt her on levels that I rarely experience. Every moment of grief, depression, and anxiety, as well as each instance of love, happiness, and contentment was deeply relatable. It would have been easy for the author to portray River's growth as being due to Nik rather than her own character evolution, but instead I got to experience just how much of a difference it can make to have someone in your life who sees and accepts every single part of you, and who supports you in everything that you do. I was a little bit disappointed that the last scene in the bunker was from Nik's POV instead of River's, even though we got to see her thoughts leading up to it (and honestly that's the reason this got 4.5 instead of 5 stars from me). River's relationships with her mom and her brother remind me so much of my own, and I'm so glad I got to see her grow enough to have hard conversations with the people closest to her.
I adore how much Nik loves River. He's strong for her when she needs him to be, and soft when that's what will help her more. He's caring, kind, and so very sweet. He's capable and willing to do anything to protect her, but he's also willing to support her while she protects and stands up for herself. Their communication is excellent, and I can clearly see the strong foundation that they're building their relationship on.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'm very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it as an arc. I think I'll go back and listen to it once there's an audiobook version available, because I desperately want to connect to this part of the story as deeply as I did with the rest of the series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of Advanced Copy Received From Author
🌶️Spice - about a 2
📗Story - 5
🔎TW - horrible/abusive mother, depression/anxiety and declining mental health*
*No self-harm
This book is the second half of River and Nikhail's duology (second duology of three in The Choosing Chronicles series). A master of the cliff hanger, Elayna picks up the story at River’s missed phone call to Nik, who is dealing with rebel activity. When he receives River’s voicemail, Nik drops everything to rush to her side. From there, a heart-wrenching story of acceptance, love, and healing ensues.
Throughout A Tempest of Wind and Fate, River continues to deal with her declining mental health, a topic that Elayna poignantly approaches with grace. River believes that she is truly cursed, broken down from years of emotional and mental abuse from her mother. Her journey into the darkness of mental health struggles felt real, an all too relatable experience for anyone who has been through it. River bares her soul and engages in activities that show the reader just how poorly she views herself (note: no self-harm). She is a prototypical example of how people can be not okay even when they are doing everything that they “should” be: going to therapy long-term and regularly (YAY for mental health services representation!! 🎉🎉), having a strong support system (Ryker, Brynleigh, Nik in particular), and using all of the coping mechanisms that one is taught in therapy. Despite the inner turmoil that River faces and the political unrest that Nik faces, they find comfort and understanding together, holding each other up, not on a pedestal, but as a pillar of support.
Nik, golden retriever male as he is, supports River appropriately without becoming overbearing. His desire to protect her from her mother, though strong, does not prevent him from doing his job. Nik is respectful and reliable, showing up at Brynleigh and Ryker’s home to see River only when she was ready to see him, showing that not all book boyfriends have to be pushy to be attractive. Though he feels horrible that he wasn't there for River immediately when she called about her dad, Nik vows to never let that happen again and he delivers on his promise. River and Nik choose each other time and again, showing how partners can support each other when nothing seems to work.
The story touches on the overarching political unrest that the Republic of Balance is dealing with, but does not overshadow River and Nick's story. We learn more about the rebels and their cause, as well as see that some of their ideals make sense.
As for the spice - consent is *chef's kiss*. The couple of spicy scenes show immense respect between Nik and River, with consent a paramount concern for both of them. The wait is over!!
Elayna’s books are beautifully written in accessible language and, though she uses some romantasy tropes, almost everyone can find something to enjoy in her books. Her stories flow flawlessly and readers can jump into her world with any series and feel like they belong.
Now to wait for the next book! ❤️
🌶️Spice - about a 2
📗Story - 5
🔎TW - horrible/abusive mother, depression/anxiety and declining mental health*
*No self-harm
This book is the second half of River and Nikhail's duology (second duology of three in The Choosing Chronicles series). A master of the cliff hanger, Elayna picks up the story at River’s missed phone call to Nik, who is dealing with rebel activity. When he receives River’s voicemail, Nik drops everything to rush to her side. From there, a heart-wrenching story of acceptance, love, and healing ensues.
Throughout A Tempest of Wind and Fate, River continues to deal with her declining mental health, a topic that Elayna poignantly approaches with grace. River believes that she is truly cursed, broken down from years of emotional and mental abuse from her mother. Her journey into the darkness of mental health struggles felt real, an all too relatable experience for anyone who has been through it. River bares her soul and engages in activities that show the reader just how poorly she views herself (note: no self-harm). She is a prototypical example of how people can be not okay even when they are doing everything that they “should” be: going to therapy long-term and regularly (YAY for mental health services representation!! 🎉🎉), having a strong support system (Ryker, Brynleigh, Nik in particular), and using all of the coping mechanisms that one is taught in therapy. Despite the inner turmoil that River faces and the political unrest that Nik faces, they find comfort and understanding together, holding each other up, not on a pedestal, but as a pillar of support.
Nik, golden retriever male as he is, supports River appropriately without becoming overbearing. His desire to protect her from her mother, though strong, does not prevent him from doing his job. Nik is respectful and reliable, showing up at Brynleigh and Ryker’s home to see River only when she was ready to see him, showing that not all book boyfriends have to be pushy to be attractive. Though he feels horrible that he wasn't there for River immediately when she called about her dad, Nik vows to never let that happen again and he delivers on his promise. River and Nik choose each other time and again, showing how partners can support each other when nothing seems to work.
The story touches on the overarching political unrest that the Republic of Balance is dealing with, but does not overshadow River and Nick's story. We learn more about the rebels and their cause, as well as see that some of their ideals make sense.
As for the spice - consent is *chef's kiss*. The couple of spicy scenes show immense respect between Nik and River, with consent a paramount concern for both of them. The wait is over!!
Elayna’s books are beautifully written in accessible language and, though she uses some romantasy tropes, almost everyone can find something to enjoy in her books. Her stories flow flawlessly and readers can jump into her world with any series and feel like they belong.
Now to wait for the next book! ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have enjoyed many of Elayna R. Gallea's book, especially The Choosing Chronicles. This series is an interconnected set of duologies that all take place in a fantasy realm filled with fae and fantasy creatures and each book duo following a different pairing.
I was very excited to jump back into Gallea's world with her upcoming release, A Tempest of Wind and Fate, book #4 in the series, that follows the story of River Waterborn and Nikhail Galebringer. Gallea has us jumping right back in after the devastating and painful events of book #3 left us with the a torturous cliffhanger that saw the couple facing their toughest challenges yet!
I will do my best to be as unspoilery in my review as possible. As always, Gallea is no stranger to knowing just how to make the tears fall as she skillfully wades through the inner storm of self-hate and years of inadequacy that River has lived with both because of actions she could not control and a mother who has neglected her emotionally in every moment that matters. Convinced that she cannot be trusted with the powerful water magic that flows in her veins, River makes a devastating choice that leaves her hollow and a shell of who she is. She is determined not to be a danger to those she loves, especially a certain powerful air fae who has captured her attention and her heart.
But never fear because Nik, the epitome of steadfast devotion, is determined not to lose River or let her diminish all that she can be. Nik is the type of MMC you cannot help but love. Now that he has had River and envisioned what their future could be, he is never going to leave her. He loves the beauty of all of who she is and is determined to be her guide back to the stars. However, adding a of a wrinkle is the fact that River is his best friend's younger sister and they may or may not still be keeping things secret. If it was up to Nik, things would already be out in the open. And as we all know, secrets have a way of coming out in the light at the most inopportune time. River and Nik will be tested in many ways to protect the fragile understanding that has developed between them.
Amidst all of this, Nik and the rest of the group are continuously pulled into the political conflicts as the rebels seek to challenge the power hierarchy of representatives and their families. With each passing day, the safety of their community is threatened and Nik refuses to allow anything to threaten the woman he loves. However, when the rebels attacks get too close to home, will Nik and River's future be permanently altered? You will just need to read to find out!
I definitely enjoyed this book and can't wait to learn more about the next couple whose story definitely promises to bring lots of interest and tension.
I was very excited to jump back into Gallea's world with her upcoming release, A Tempest of Wind and Fate, book #4 in the series, that follows the story of River Waterborn and Nikhail Galebringer. Gallea has us jumping right back in after the devastating and painful events of book #3 left us with the a torturous cliffhanger that saw the couple facing their toughest challenges yet!
I will do my best to be as unspoilery in my review as possible. As always, Gallea is no stranger to knowing just how to make the tears fall as she skillfully wades through the inner storm of self-hate and years of inadequacy that River has lived with both because of actions she could not control and a mother who has neglected her emotionally in every moment that matters. Convinced that she cannot be trusted with the powerful water magic that flows in her veins, River makes a devastating choice that leaves her hollow and a shell of who she is. She is determined not to be a danger to those she loves, especially a certain powerful air fae who has captured her attention and her heart.
But never fear because Nik, the epitome of steadfast devotion, is determined not to lose River or let her diminish all that she can be. Nik is the type of MMC you cannot help but love. Now that he has had River and envisioned what their future could be, he is never going to leave her. He loves the beauty of all of who she is and is determined to be her guide back to the stars. However, adding a of a wrinkle is the fact that River is his best friend's younger sister and they may or may not still be keeping things secret. If it was up to Nik, things would already be out in the open. And as we all know, secrets have a way of coming out in the light at the most inopportune time. River and Nik will be tested in many ways to protect the fragile understanding that has developed between them.
Amidst all of this, Nik and the rest of the group are continuously pulled into the political conflicts as the rebels seek to challenge the power hierarchy of representatives and their families. With each passing day, the safety of their community is threatened and Nik refuses to allow anything to threaten the woman he loves. However, when the rebels attacks get too close to home, will Nik and River's future be permanently altered? You will just need to read to find out!
I definitely enjoyed this book and can't wait to learn more about the next couple whose story definitely promises to bring lots of interest and tension.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐️
2🌶️
Book 4 of series
Book 2 of 2nd duology set
The conclusion of River and Nik’s story and duology. Thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book! I was an arc reader for book 1 as well and have been eagerly awaiting the conclusion of their story!
She called him, but he didn’t answer. He wasn’t there….he had promised. And now all hell has broken loose.
River is losing control again, and even if she can survive it, she will never be the same. Her grief overtakes her and the only person who can help her is the one man she’s knows she shouldn’t want: her brother’s best friend but to her he’s just peace, Nik.
Nik has spent his life dedicated to work and helping his family after his father abandoned him. He’s yearned for River from afar, knowing his best friend and her brother, Ryker, would never approve. But he had his taste of her and now, he’s never giving her back. She’s everything he needs and he’s not letting her go, despite her telling him he should run far away because she’s cursed. He doesn’t and won’t believe that though. And while the rebellion is targeting the chancellor and the Representative’s families, River is in even more danger than she realizes, and Nik will do anything to keep her safe.
This is a rough journey for our precious River 💔 you really see how grief and that feeling of worthlessness can play into a person’s mind. She wants to push Nik away thinking she’s protecting him, but is on a journey to realizing maybe she’s not cursed and maybe it’s ok to lean on someone for help.
Nik is honestly the most green flag MMC I’ve ever read 💚 The way he cares for River and stands beside her through all her ups and downs in discovering her own self worth, while also his own realizations on what’s important to him in life is so beautiful ❤️
There is a little bit of spice in here 🌶️ A scene or two. But their love is shown through so many different ways besides physical intimacy. It’s all the little things (and big things) that add up to their whole love story. And when Ryker finally finds out about them??? 😂😂😂 watch out. Big brother mode activated 😂😂😂
We also get Therian a little bit in here too (side character from books 1&2). He was in book 3 too but the scenes he’s in this book kind of gives us a glimpse into he and Hallie post marriage (a happy update 😊) which I was SO happy to read! I secretly always wanted even a novella of those 2’s falling in love story and post marriage life 😜 but even these little tid bits make me happy!
The epilogues not only give us an update on Nik and River but also lead us in the next and final duology set and who it’s going to follow and what the storyline may be. I’m excited to dive into the next couple for sure! 😊
2🌶️
Book 4 of series
Book 2 of 2nd duology set
The conclusion of River and Nik’s story and duology. Thank you to the author for an e-arc of this book! I was an arc reader for book 1 as well and have been eagerly awaiting the conclusion of their story!
She called him, but he didn’t answer. He wasn’t there….he had promised. And now all hell has broken loose.
River is losing control again, and even if she can survive it, she will never be the same. Her grief overtakes her and the only person who can help her is the one man she’s knows she shouldn’t want: her brother’s best friend but to her he’s just peace, Nik.
Nik has spent his life dedicated to work and helping his family after his father abandoned him. He’s yearned for River from afar, knowing his best friend and her brother, Ryker, would never approve. But he had his taste of her and now, he’s never giving her back. She’s everything he needs and he’s not letting her go, despite her telling him he should run far away because she’s cursed. He doesn’t and won’t believe that though. And while the rebellion is targeting the chancellor and the Representative’s families, River is in even more danger than she realizes, and Nik will do anything to keep her safe.
This is a rough journey for our precious River 💔 you really see how grief and that feeling of worthlessness can play into a person’s mind. She wants to push Nik away thinking she’s protecting him, but is on a journey to realizing maybe she’s not cursed and maybe it’s ok to lean on someone for help.
Nik is honestly the most green flag MMC I’ve ever read 💚 The way he cares for River and stands beside her through all her ups and downs in discovering her own self worth, while also his own realizations on what’s important to him in life is so beautiful ❤️
There is a little bit of spice in here 🌶️ A scene or two. But their love is shown through so many different ways besides physical intimacy. It’s all the little things (and big things) that add up to their whole love story. And when Ryker finally finds out about them??? 😂😂😂 watch out. Big brother mode activated 😂😂😂
We also get Therian a little bit in here too (side character from books 1&2). He was in book 3 too but the scenes he’s in this book kind of gives us a glimpse into he and Hallie post marriage (a happy update 😊) which I was SO happy to read! I secretly always wanted even a novella of those 2’s falling in love story and post marriage life 😜 but even these little tid bits make me happy!
The epilogues not only give us an update on Nik and River but also lead us in the next and final duology set and who it’s going to follow and what the storyline may be. I’m excited to dive into the next couple for sure! 😊
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
- water fae
- Wind fae
- Hateful and mean mother
- Mental health issues discussed (no self harm)
- Brothers friend
- Touch her and ☠️
- Intense yearning
- He fell first
- He claims her
We join from the cliffhanger of River calling Nik and he missed the call. A storm ensues and he races to get to her.
Out of the duologies Nik and River are my favourites. No matter how many times she says she is cursed, scary and Nik needs to stay away. The second she calls for him Nik sets off immediately.
River proves in this book she is not a damsel in distress and is not cursed. She will fight and build herself back up but now she knows no matter what Nik will always be there. Not smothering or treating her like a delicate flower but supporting her and building her up. She knows he would move the world and bring the stars down for her.
Nik is smart, intelligent, damn good at his job and such a kind and loving person. When he touches River even on the shoulder and he says he feels peace and that it feels so right had me tearing up. He a person we would all love as partner and such a swoon worthy guy. Nikhails feelings for River are something that we own dream of. I felt all the love, fear, care etc that gives even though it’s his best friend’s sister.
Tertia is the mother from hell and no maternal bone anywhere near her. If River and Ryker werent such close siblings they would have no one growing up. The heartache and sadness tore at my heart and hit close to home. River and Tertias relationship was heartbreaking and made me so sad for River.
The emotion i felt in this book was so strong. From page 1 i was hooked. When River was in pain and Nikhail was helping her I felt all the sadness, the worry and the hurt as though it was my own. So beautifully written that you cannot help feeling it all. Elayna does an amazing job writing all the emotions, the mental health issues and does so with kindness and grace.
Elayna once again stole my heart. This book was a wonderful emotional rollercoaster. The second book in Nik and Rivers duology was hands down my all time favourite of Elaynas and it will not be the only time i read this book.
Favourite quotes:
“Days passed, and you were still asleep. There was no way I would abandon you here. My magic is a small price to pay to remain by your side.” - Nikhail to River
“When life feels too heavy to keep going, when everything hurts and there doesnt seem a solution, you continue puttint one foot infront of the other. You keep walking forward, even when doing so takes everything you have.”
- water fae
- Wind fae
- Hateful and mean mother
- Mental health issues discussed (no self harm)
- Brothers friend
- Touch her and ☠️
- Intense yearning
- He fell first
- He claims her
We join from the cliffhanger of River calling Nik and he missed the call. A storm ensues and he races to get to her.
Out of the duologies Nik and River are my favourites. No matter how many times she says she is cursed, scary and Nik needs to stay away. The second she calls for him Nik sets off immediately.
River proves in this book she is not a damsel in distress and is not cursed. She will fight and build herself back up but now she knows no matter what Nik will always be there. Not smothering or treating her like a delicate flower but supporting her and building her up. She knows he would move the world and bring the stars down for her.
Nik is smart, intelligent, damn good at his job and such a kind and loving person. When he touches River even on the shoulder and he says he feels peace and that it feels so right had me tearing up. He a person we would all love as partner and such a swoon worthy guy. Nikhails feelings for River are something that we own dream of. I felt all the love, fear, care etc that gives even though it’s his best friend’s sister.
Tertia is the mother from hell and no maternal bone anywhere near her. If River and Ryker werent such close siblings they would have no one growing up. The heartache and sadness tore at my heart and hit close to home. River and Tertias relationship was heartbreaking and made me so sad for River.
The emotion i felt in this book was so strong. From page 1 i was hooked. When River was in pain and Nikhail was helping her I felt all the sadness, the worry and the hurt as though it was my own. So beautifully written that you cannot help feeling it all. Elayna does an amazing job writing all the emotions, the mental health issues and does so with kindness and grace.
Elayna once again stole my heart. This book was a wonderful emotional rollercoaster. The second book in Nik and Rivers duology was hands down my all time favourite of Elaynas and it will not be the only time i read this book.
Favourite quotes:
“Days passed, and you were still asleep. There was no way I would abandon you here. My magic is a small price to pay to remain by your side.” - Nikhail to River
“When life feels too heavy to keep going, when everything hurts and there doesnt seem a solution, you continue puttint one foot infront of the other. You keep walking forward, even when doing so takes everything you have.”
April 7, 2026
Thank you to Elayna for choosing me as an ARC reader for the conclusion to River and Nikhail’s story!
4⭐️
2.5🌶️
*Potential Spoilers Ahead*
The emotional turmoil the main characters go through made up for the sometimes slow plot of the book. But slow or not, this book is still worth the read to find out more about the relationship between these two powerful fae:
River is convinced she’s beyond broken, a lost cause, and not worthy of love, loyalty or happiness. She gets terrible news, loses herself to the darkness again, and nearly has a repeat of “the Incident” from years previous. She tries to reach out to the one person who can save her from the free fall into her uncontrollable power before it’s too late. But he doesn’t answer, despite his promises. River is alone, just as she knows she should be…
Nikhail has been secretly pining after River for years, never acting on his feelings because it’s his best friend’s little sister. He promises he will be there when she calls. River is his Little Storm, and he would do anything in his air fae power to protect her from harm. But with the state of the Republic of Balance, Nik finds himself busy, and unaware of River’s attempts to contact him…
The two finally realize the depth of their feelings for each other, and accept that it can’t just be ignored - they were meant to be more than just friends. While River struggles with the idea of letting someone she cares so deeply for get close to her, Nikhail fights to help River see that she’s the furthest thing from “cursed”, and tries to convince her that the opinions of others aren’t worth the stress.
When River thinks she might have lost Nikhail, this damsel in distress turns into the heroine we always believed she could be.
And my favourite part? River finally standing up to her deplorable mother, and leaving her speechless.
THANK YOU ELAYNA!! For the rollercoaster of emotions your writing delivered, yet again. River realizing her strength, and ability to control her power had me near tears. Nikhail’s dedication to River’s wellbeing, happiness, and belief in herself was major green flags.
The epilogues give us a sneak peek into the next duology, and wow, I cannot wait.
4⭐️
2.5🌶️
*Potential Spoilers Ahead*
The emotional turmoil the main characters go through made up for the sometimes slow plot of the book. But slow or not, this book is still worth the read to find out more about the relationship between these two powerful fae:
River is convinced she’s beyond broken, a lost cause, and not worthy of love, loyalty or happiness. She gets terrible news, loses herself to the darkness again, and nearly has a repeat of “the Incident” from years previous. She tries to reach out to the one person who can save her from the free fall into her uncontrollable power before it’s too late. But he doesn’t answer, despite his promises. River is alone, just as she knows she should be…
Nikhail has been secretly pining after River for years, never acting on his feelings because it’s his best friend’s little sister. He promises he will be there when she calls. River is his Little Storm, and he would do anything in his air fae power to protect her from harm. But with the state of the Republic of Balance, Nik finds himself busy, and unaware of River’s attempts to contact him…
The two finally realize the depth of their feelings for each other, and accept that it can’t just be ignored - they were meant to be more than just friends. While River struggles with the idea of letting someone she cares so deeply for get close to her, Nikhail fights to help River see that she’s the furthest thing from “cursed”, and tries to convince her that the opinions of others aren’t worth the stress.
When River thinks she might have lost Nikhail, this damsel in distress turns into the heroine we always believed she could be.
And my favourite part? River finally standing up to her deplorable mother, and leaving her speechless.
THANK YOU ELAYNA!! For the rollercoaster of emotions your writing delivered, yet again. River realizing her strength, and ability to control her power had me near tears. Nikhail’s dedication to River’s wellbeing, happiness, and belief in herself was major green flags.
The epilogues give us a sneak peek into the next duology, and wow, I cannot wait.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
With the way the story had ended in A Curse of Stars and Storms, I wasn't sure how A Tempest of Wind and Fate was going to start. Leave it to Elayna R. Gallea to start the story with a bang.
A Tempest of Wind and Fate starts off with Nikhail saving River from herself after she finds out some awful news. As A Curse of Stars and Storms showed, River's self-loathing knows no bounds and it assisted in causing her to break and unleash.
I don't generally say "I relate to a character" or "I put myself in their shoes" but this story, I felt to my core. I understood River's point of view. I understood how she could be so down on herself and think everyone hates her as much as she hated herself. I understood how she felt like every decision she made was the wrong one. And I can understand her relationship with a parent that was toxic and detrimental to River's mental health.
And I could not have been prouder of her when she finally started to realize she was worth more than her own hateful thoughts. She was more than her parental units opinion of her. She was worth the love that Nik constantly gave her. And don't even get me started on Nik!
That male should be on everyone's book boyfriend list. The way he supposed River through her trauma, self loathing and potentially destructive magic. He pulled her through it all just because he loved her that much. Most of the highlights that I made in this book came from Nikhail. He was goals and I just loved him!
To be honest, I could not tell you much about the rebel plot-line. While it kept the storyline pushing and the rebels play a roll in their story, Nik and River's relationship dynamic kept my attention more than anything else.
While I liked Ryker and Brynleigh's story a bit more, Nik and River's story was still very good. And of course, the spice was spicing.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to any of my romantasy lovers. And you should definitely read Ryker and Brynleigh's story first so that the events and talking points in Nik and River's story makes a bit more sense.
Thank you so much Elayna R. Gallea for the ARC. My opinions are my own, shaped by the story and shared of my own accord.
A Tempest of Wind and Fate starts off with Nikhail saving River from herself after she finds out some awful news. As A Curse of Stars and Storms showed, River's self-loathing knows no bounds and it assisted in causing her to break and unleash.
I don't generally say "I relate to a character" or "I put myself in their shoes" but this story, I felt to my core. I understood River's point of view. I understood how she could be so down on herself and think everyone hates her as much as she hated herself. I understood how she felt like every decision she made was the wrong one. And I can understand her relationship with a parent that was toxic and detrimental to River's mental health.
And I could not have been prouder of her when she finally started to realize she was worth more than her own hateful thoughts. She was more than her parental units opinion of her. She was worth the love that Nik constantly gave her. And don't even get me started on Nik!
That male should be on everyone's book boyfriend list. The way he supposed River through her trauma, self loathing and potentially destructive magic. He pulled her through it all just because he loved her that much. Most of the highlights that I made in this book came from Nikhail. He was goals and I just loved him!
To be honest, I could not tell you much about the rebel plot-line. While it kept the storyline pushing and the rebels play a roll in their story, Nik and River's relationship dynamic kept my attention more than anything else.
While I liked Ryker and Brynleigh's story a bit more, Nik and River's story was still very good. And of course, the spice was spicing.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to any of my romantasy lovers. And you should definitely read Ryker and Brynleigh's story first so that the events and talking points in Nik and River's story makes a bit more sense.
Thank you so much Elayna R. Gallea for the ARC. My opinions are my own, shaped by the story and shared of my own accord.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Elayna for sending me the advanced copy.
I was really looking forward to River and Nik’s story after the previous books. Their dynamic had potential and I was excited to spend more time with them.
The romance is definitely the main focus here and it’s cute. That said, it could have gone deeper. It felt like River held back in moments where there was room for more, especially with the whole mates bond. They’ve felt that connection from the start, so I kept waiting for it to be explored more or pushed further, and it just never fully got there. Bit of a missed opportunity.
The book actually starts off pretty strong emotionally. It felt like we were about to be put through it in the best way. I was ready for a real low point before things turned around, but it never quite followed through and ended up falling a bit flat after that.
A big chunk of the story sits in River’s inner monologue and her internal struggles. While I get the intent, it sometimes dragged on to the point where I lost track of the actual conversation happening and had to flip back to see who said what.
Plot-wise, not a lot really happens. The bad guys resurface, Nik disappears to investigate, and then we move toward the conclusion. No real twists, no surprises, no betrayals to shake things up.
As a romance, it’s sweet and easy to read. From a fantasy perspective, it felt a bit lacking.
Landing at a 3.5 for me.
I was really looking forward to River and Nik’s story after the previous books. Their dynamic had potential and I was excited to spend more time with them.
The romance is definitely the main focus here and it’s cute. That said, it could have gone deeper. It felt like River held back in moments where there was room for more, especially with the whole mates bond. They’ve felt that connection from the start, so I kept waiting for it to be explored more or pushed further, and it just never fully got there. Bit of a missed opportunity.
The book actually starts off pretty strong emotionally. It felt like we were about to be put through it in the best way. I was ready for a real low point before things turned around, but it never quite followed through and ended up falling a bit flat after that.
A big chunk of the story sits in River’s inner monologue and her internal struggles. While I get the intent, it sometimes dragged on to the point where I lost track of the actual conversation happening and had to flip back to see who said what.
Plot-wise, not a lot really happens. The bad guys resurface, Nik disappears to investigate, and then we move toward the conclusion. No real twists, no surprises, no betrayals to shake things up.
As a romance, it’s sweet and easy to read. From a fantasy perspective, it felt a bit lacking.
Landing at a 3.5 for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Finally the beautiful conclusion to River and Nik's story of love and angst. I have been looking forward to this book, although the first book ended in a slight cliffhanger, I was very anxious to see how these two finally put themselves together in the only place they should ever end up.
Parts of this story were hard for me to read because of how River sees herself as cursed and unworthy of love and not deserving of anything good. I think we all feel this way sometimes and it brought up sad feelings inside of me. But to watch her grow and learn that she is worthy to be loved and have a good life brightened my day.
Nik is so magnificent. Not just to River, but you can just feel what a good person he is and sees the good in people.
I loved how their storms compliment each other and can see a lot coming in the future with the two of them mixing those storms.
This duology was sad, it was fun, it showed the depth of what can come between two people and how it can change the world.
This second book gave it all. There is world building, epic feelings between lovers and family. It covers everything you will want to feel and ends in a happy ending, but also points to a new story for two new lovers.
I am addicted to all of Elayna R. Gallea books. Pretty sure I have read them all and have loved them all. Thanks Elayna for all these amazing stories. I cant wait for the next one.
Parts of this story were hard for me to read because of how River sees herself as cursed and unworthy of love and not deserving of anything good. I think we all feel this way sometimes and it brought up sad feelings inside of me. But to watch her grow and learn that she is worthy to be loved and have a good life brightened my day.
Nik is so magnificent. Not just to River, but you can just feel what a good person he is and sees the good in people.
I loved how their storms compliment each other and can see a lot coming in the future with the two of them mixing those storms.
This duology was sad, it was fun, it showed the depth of what can come between two people and how it can change the world.
This second book gave it all. There is world building, epic feelings between lovers and family. It covers everything you will want to feel and ends in a happy ending, but also points to a new story for two new lovers.
I am addicted to all of Elayna R. Gallea books. Pretty sure I have read them all and have loved them all. Thanks Elayna for all these amazing stories. I cant wait for the next one.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If I could have ignored my responsibilities to finish this in one sitting I would have!! I didn’t want to put it down.
A Tempest of Wind and Fate is book 2 in Nik and Rivers duology (Book 4 in The Choosing Chronicles) it follows the development of River and Niks relationship as well as Rivers grief and dealing with the aftermath of another potential incident. The black night are still at large, trying to bring down the representatives of the republic of balance and we are along for the ride to try and figure out who will succeed.
This book has romance in abundance, but more than that it has confidence building and validation, its such a powerful book to read in regards to dealing with depressive grief, building self esteem and self worth and I feel like Elayna really captured Rivers struggles and relatability, and the importance of the right person to help you cope.. for it to have such a green flag like Nik I mean you can’t go wrong.
Yes we have gremlin characters (tertia anyone??) and lets be honest we all love to hate a character 🤣 but we also reconnect with previous characters (I loved Ryker and Brynleigh)
I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to have received an ARC read the only downside is that I have to wait for book 5&6 🤣 I’ll be honest I’ve read so many of Elayna Gallea’s books and haven’t read a single one I didn’t enjoy so I’ll be patient, her stories are always worth the wait ♥️
A Tempest of Wind and Fate is book 2 in Nik and Rivers duology (Book 4 in The Choosing Chronicles) it follows the development of River and Niks relationship as well as Rivers grief and dealing with the aftermath of another potential incident. The black night are still at large, trying to bring down the representatives of the republic of balance and we are along for the ride to try and figure out who will succeed.
This book has romance in abundance, but more than that it has confidence building and validation, its such a powerful book to read in regards to dealing with depressive grief, building self esteem and self worth and I feel like Elayna really captured Rivers struggles and relatability, and the importance of the right person to help you cope.. for it to have such a green flag like Nik I mean you can’t go wrong.
Yes we have gremlin characters (tertia anyone??) and lets be honest we all love to hate a character 🤣 but we also reconnect with previous characters (I loved Ryker and Brynleigh)
I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to have received an ARC read the only downside is that I have to wait for book 5&6 🤣 I’ll be honest I’ve read so many of Elayna Gallea’s books and haven’t read a single one I didn’t enjoy so I’ll be patient, her stories are always worth the wait ♥️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
4.5/5🌟
What an epic ending to Nik and River’s duology! I told you in my review of their last book that I love a cinnamon roll MMC and Nik is just so good! One of the things I love about this book is that Nik tells River exactly how he feels! Praise hands! We love a king that can express his feelings to his queen. Yessss. Another thing is that the descriptions of grief, healing, and even some ptsd are so good. It’s handled very well and is described wonderfully. River definitely has some baggage to work through and Nik is just perfection for her! There is some open door spice in this book, I would rate 2/5🌶️🌶️. Thank you to the author for the eARC. This voluntary review is my honest thoughts and opinions about the book. I think you will love Nik and River’s duology if you are a fan of
🤍elemental magic
🖤shifters
🤍age gap romance
🖤brother’s best friend romance
🤍open door spice
🖤grief and healing
🤍he falls first
🖤they take care of each other
“How do you feel?”
“Fragmented and fragile. Like I’m one wrong move away from shattering.”
“I will not let this life destroy you, River.”
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“You aren’t asking,” … “I’m telling you. I will be here. No matter what happens. No matter the time or the place. You can count on me.”
“Enough about me, Princess. How are you?” Nikhail looked her over, concern etched onto his features. “Can you see the stars?”
“Yes,” she whispered, tears of gratitude sliding down her cheeks. “I can see them.”
4.5/5🌟
What an epic ending to Nik and River’s duology! I told you in my review of their last book that I love a cinnamon roll MMC and Nik is just so good! One of the things I love about this book is that Nik tells River exactly how he feels! Praise hands! We love a king that can express his feelings to his queen. Yessss. Another thing is that the descriptions of grief, healing, and even some ptsd are so good. It’s handled very well and is described wonderfully. River definitely has some baggage to work through and Nik is just perfection for her! There is some open door spice in this book, I would rate 2/5🌶️🌶️. Thank you to the author for the eARC. This voluntary review is my honest thoughts and opinions about the book. I think you will love Nik and River’s duology if you are a fan of
🤍elemental magic
🖤shifters
🤍age gap romance
🖤brother’s best friend romance
🤍open door spice
🖤grief and healing
🤍he falls first
🖤they take care of each other
“How do you feel?”
“Fragmented and fragile. Like I’m one wrong move away from shattering.”
“I will not let this life destroy you, River.”
“I can’t ask that of you.”
“You aren’t asking,” … “I’m telling you. I will be here. No matter what happens. No matter the time or the place. You can count on me.”
“Enough about me, Princess. How are you?” Nikhail looked her over, concern etched onto his features. “Can you see the stars?”
“Yes,” she whispered, tears of gratitude sliding down her cheeks. “I can see them.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
Picking up exactly where that cliffhanger left off, this book dives straight into the high emotions!
I am completely obsessed with River and Nikhail. Their dynamic is so refreshing—it’s rare to find a relationship that feels this healthy and supportive while remaining high-stakes.
Nikhail’s emotional intelligence is off the charts. I loved that he’s already "done the work"; there’s no "I can fix him" trope here because he isn’t broken or brooding—he’s just a true partner. But don't worry, he still brings that "burn the world for her" energy. He is her biggest protector, but he trusts her enough to know she can handle her own. (And let's just say... he knows exactly how to satisfy a woman. The spice isn't constant, but the scenes we get are intense and heavy with emotion.)
River is so deeply relatable. Her internal struggle of feeling broken while maintaining a "perfect" exterior really hit home. Watching her find her voice and set boundaries with people who didn't have her back was incredibly satisfying (though I’m still waiting for her to put her boss in his place!).
The mental health representation was delicate and realistic—it captured the "ups and downs" perfectly without feeling forced.
It was also wonderful to see Ryker and Brynlym settling into real life
In the end River and Nikhail got the HEA they deserved—it tied their story up beautifully.
Received ARC from Elayna.
I am completely obsessed with River and Nikhail. Their dynamic is so refreshing—it’s rare to find a relationship that feels this healthy and supportive while remaining high-stakes.
Nikhail’s emotional intelligence is off the charts. I loved that he’s already "done the work"; there’s no "I can fix him" trope here because he isn’t broken or brooding—he’s just a true partner. But don't worry, he still brings that "burn the world for her" energy. He is her biggest protector, but he trusts her enough to know she can handle her own. (And let's just say... he knows exactly how to satisfy a woman. The spice isn't constant, but the scenes we get are intense and heavy with emotion.)
River is so deeply relatable. Her internal struggle of feeling broken while maintaining a "perfect" exterior really hit home. Watching her find her voice and set boundaries with people who didn't have her back was incredibly satisfying (though I’m still waiting for her to put her boss in his place!).
The mental health representation was delicate and realistic—it captured the "ups and downs" perfectly without feeling forced.
It was also wonderful to see Ryker and Brynlym settling into real life
In the end River and Nikhail got the HEA they deserved—it tied their story up beautifully.
Received ARC from Elayna.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks to the author for ARC Review. The Choosing Chronicles are one of my favorite universe and I was so glad to delve into another book. I just love this entire series. The Choosing Chronicles overall has been such a good read and still is at Book 4. This boom basically concludes Nikhail and River's story with some great scenes including the OG couple Ryker and Brynnleigh.
I loved getting to see Rover's growth and her change in mindset about her magic. We also finally got to see her stand up to her mother. I love that River feels encouraged by Nik but that the growth is also coming from herself as well. River deserves the best honestly and Nik was just the calm and stability she needed.
While there are painful and tragic moments in these books I think i enjoy them because you get to see characters date and go through life together. Usually in fantasy books there is a focus on politics or war. This has always been a good breather from that focusing more on the couples and their relationship.
I also was always surprised by how much i vibed with the different fantasy creatures being mixed together in a modern day city. Its one of my favorite things now. Like what do you mean I now love reading cute text messages between book couples?
Anyways, love this author, love this book, can't wait for more from this universe.
I loved getting to see Rover's growth and her change in mindset about her magic. We also finally got to see her stand up to her mother. I love that River feels encouraged by Nik but that the growth is also coming from herself as well. River deserves the best honestly and Nik was just the calm and stability she needed.
While there are painful and tragic moments in these books I think i enjoy them because you get to see characters date and go through life together. Usually in fantasy books there is a focus on politics or war. This has always been a good breather from that focusing more on the couples and their relationship.
I also was always surprised by how much i vibed with the different fantasy creatures being mixed together in a modern day city. Its one of my favorite things now. Like what do you mean I now love reading cute text messages between book couples?
Anyways, love this author, love this book, can't wait for more from this universe.
Review of advance copy
I received the ARC copy of this before I had actually read the first 3 books... and thank goddess I did. I am so glad I read this series. I loved Ryker and Brynleigh, but boy did I love Nikhail and River more. There was just something about her thinking she was too much and broken, yet him being there anyway that spoke to my soul. I very much see her point of view in myself, and no matter what my man is always there to pick me up when I feel like I can't go on. Thank the gods she let herself be loved and realize she does deserve to be happy. He quiets her storm, which is all we can ever ask of our soulmates. I believe that's exactly what he was to her, her soulmate, her future bonded. I loved the character development. Watching River really find herself and realize her mother's opinions of her weren't the ones that actually mattered. Nikhail was just such an amazing man and partner, even before she knew she wanted him. He was just so all in right from the beginning. We love a man that knows what he wants.
I am just so thankful to receive this ARC from Elayne, I have read another series by her and her writing just always draws me in. ANDD SHEWWW does she know how to write a good spicy scene lol. I will continue to devour every book of hers I can get my hands on, and hopefully more ARC's by her in the future
I am just so thankful to receive this ARC from Elayne, I have read another series by her and her writing just always draws me in. ANDD SHEWWW does she know how to write a good spicy scene lol. I will continue to devour every book of hers I can get my hands on, and hopefully more ARC's by her in the future
Review of advance copy received from Author
“She was made of storms, and somehow he still looked at her like starlight.” ✨🌙
After A Curse of Stars and Storms, I was desperate for River and Nikhail’s conclusion, and A Tempest of Wind and Fate gave me everything I hoped for—emotion, healing, tension, and a beautifully supportive romance.
River felt so real to me. Her struggles with self-worth, fear, and learning to accept love were written so beautifully, and watching her growth throughout this story honestly made my heart ache. I loved that her journey wasn’t about being saved, but about finding her strength while allowing herself to be loved along the way.
And Nikhail… THIS MAN. 🖤 Protective, emotionally mature, patient, and still carrying that “burn the world for her” energy. The way he loved River felt so steady, safe, and consuming all at once. Their chemistry, banter, and emotional connection completely owned me.
Honestly, I think River and Nik might officially be my new favorite couple in The Choosing Chronicles series 🤭⚡️
This book felt heavier and more emotional than the previous one in the best way, and the themes of healing, love, and learning to weather the storm instead of running from it were woven so beautifully throughout the story.
And that ending??? Absolutely perfect. It gave me closure while still making me desperate for more from this world.
Thank you so much to Elayna R. Gallea for the ARC copy. This was such a beautiful and emotional conclusion to River and Nikhail’s story, and I already know these characters are going to stay with me for a long time. 🌙⚡️
After A Curse of Stars and Storms, I was desperate for River and Nikhail’s conclusion, and A Tempest of Wind and Fate gave me everything I hoped for—emotion, healing, tension, and a beautifully supportive romance.
River felt so real to me. Her struggles with self-worth, fear, and learning to accept love were written so beautifully, and watching her growth throughout this story honestly made my heart ache. I loved that her journey wasn’t about being saved, but about finding her strength while allowing herself to be loved along the way.
And Nikhail… THIS MAN. 🖤 Protective, emotionally mature, patient, and still carrying that “burn the world for her” energy. The way he loved River felt so steady, safe, and consuming all at once. Their chemistry, banter, and emotional connection completely owned me.
Honestly, I think River and Nik might officially be my new favorite couple in The Choosing Chronicles series 🤭⚡️
This book felt heavier and more emotional than the previous one in the best way, and the themes of healing, love, and learning to weather the storm instead of running from it were woven so beautifully throughout the story.
And that ending??? Absolutely perfect. It gave me closure while still making me desperate for more from this world.
Thank you so much to Elayna R. Gallea for the ARC copy. This was such a beautiful and emotional conclusion to River and Nikhail’s story, and I already know these characters are going to stay with me for a long time. 🌙⚡️
May 13, 2026
"𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒑 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖."
Spice: 🌶🌶
After the events that occurred in the previous book & River always believing her magic’s been cursed, she suffers a mental breakdown. Throughout this dark time for River, Nikhail has stayed by her side, showing her what a steady presence looks like. If I wasn’t already falling for him, I definitely have now! His patience is everything you would want in an MC 🫠 Elayna did a great job giving us real, vulnerable moments, and showing the complex process healing can often take. I loved River’s character growth and seeing her finally stepping into her power. It was also really nice having our first couple of the series back. Seeing Ryker and Brynleigh again made my heart happy 🥹 Even knowing this would have an HEA, the bigger story that continues from the previous book had me a little nervous 😳 You know how it is, you get to that 80% and wonder will this really end well? It was definitely an emotional journey 😭 Thank you so much for this arc opportunity. I will always love being in this world and I can’t wait for our next couple 😊
💜Brother’s Best Friend
✨️Age Gap
💜Emotional Devastation
✨️Water Fae FMC x Air Fae MMC
💜He's Her Safe Harbor
✨️Powerful Magic
💜Mental Health Rep
✨️Sloww Burn
💜"If you're broken, I'm broken too."
✨️Second book in a duology
Spice: 🌶🌶
After the events that occurred in the previous book & River always believing her magic’s been cursed, she suffers a mental breakdown. Throughout this dark time for River, Nikhail has stayed by her side, showing her what a steady presence looks like. If I wasn’t already falling for him, I definitely have now! His patience is everything you would want in an MC 🫠 Elayna did a great job giving us real, vulnerable moments, and showing the complex process healing can often take. I loved River’s character growth and seeing her finally stepping into her power. It was also really nice having our first couple of the series back. Seeing Ryker and Brynleigh again made my heart happy 🥹 Even knowing this would have an HEA, the bigger story that continues from the previous book had me a little nervous 😳 You know how it is, you get to that 80% and wonder will this really end well? It was definitely an emotional journey 😭 Thank you so much for this arc opportunity. I will always love being in this world and I can’t wait for our next couple 😊
💜Brother’s Best Friend
✨️Age Gap
💜Emotional Devastation
✨️Water Fae FMC x Air Fae MMC
💜He's Her Safe Harbor
✨️Powerful Magic
💜Mental Health Rep
✨️Sloww Burn
💜"If you're broken, I'm broken too."
✨️Second book in a duology
Review of advance copy received from Author
eARC review
This is the second book with River and Nik and the fourth in the Choosing chronicles series.
The last book had a real cliff hanger with River losing herself to the storm and Nik investigating the terror attacks. This book picks off where we left off (thank goodness) and the author also made a summary in the beginning of the book (gold star).
As River finally is picked up and tries to fight her way back to life while drained by magic, the connection between her and Nik grows stronger. It also gets harder to hide their affection.
The story really is a good mix of love story, politics and family drama. It’s not only about the relationship between Nik and River but also between family members and the strained situation in their country, between the leaders and the people. Sometimes it’s sweet and flirtatious and other times it’s gruesome and actionpacked.
I love the story of River and Nik. It’s been a slow burn that now takes off and evolves. The plot is plotting and I get the feeling that things will only escalate. It’s not the same kind of cliffhanger in the end but it opens up for the next part of the story. There are a lot of unanswered questions and I can’t wait to continue reading this series.
This is the second book with River and Nik and the fourth in the Choosing chronicles series.
The last book had a real cliff hanger with River losing herself to the storm and Nik investigating the terror attacks. This book picks off where we left off (thank goodness) and the author also made a summary in the beginning of the book (gold star).
As River finally is picked up and tries to fight her way back to life while drained by magic, the connection between her and Nik grows stronger. It also gets harder to hide their affection.
The story really is a good mix of love story, politics and family drama. It’s not only about the relationship between Nik and River but also between family members and the strained situation in their country, between the leaders and the people. Sometimes it’s sweet and flirtatious and other times it’s gruesome and actionpacked.
I love the story of River and Nik. It’s been a slow burn that now takes off and evolves. The plot is plotting and I get the feeling that things will only escalate. It’s not the same kind of cliffhanger in the end but it opens up for the next part of the story. There are a lot of unanswered questions and I can’t wait to continue reading this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
There’s something absolutely magnetic about this duology—Tempest of Wind and Fate pulls you in and doesn’t let go.
River and Nik are the definition of a forbidden, slow-burn romance done right. Their connection simmers beneath the surface, building tension with every page until you can’t help but feel completely invested in them. River’s struggle with her self-worth is raw and heartbreaking—she truly believes she’s cursed, unworthy of anything good. And Nik? He’s the one person who sees through all of that, who understands her in a way no one else does.
But when River needs him the most… he doesn’t answer. And that’s when everything unravels.
Watching her lose herself to the storm within her is both devastating and powerful. Because in the end, Nik is the only one who can calm it—the only one who can reach her when she’s at her darkest.
This duology is gripping, emotional, and beautifully written. Elayna has such a gift for capturing real, heavy emotions in a way that feels deeply relatable. You don’t just read this story—you feel it.
If you love intense slow burns, emotional depth, and characters who fight their inner demons just as much as external ones… this is a must-read.
River and Nik are the definition of a forbidden, slow-burn romance done right. Their connection simmers beneath the surface, building tension with every page until you can’t help but feel completely invested in them. River’s struggle with her self-worth is raw and heartbreaking—she truly believes she’s cursed, unworthy of anything good. And Nik? He’s the one person who sees through all of that, who understands her in a way no one else does.
But when River needs him the most… he doesn’t answer. And that’s when everything unravels.
Watching her lose herself to the storm within her is both devastating and powerful. Because in the end, Nik is the only one who can calm it—the only one who can reach her when she’s at her darkest.
This duology is gripping, emotional, and beautifully written. Elayna has such a gift for capturing real, heavy emotions in a way that feels deeply relatable. You don’t just read this story—you feel it.
If you love intense slow burns, emotional depth, and characters who fight their inner demons just as much as external ones… this is a must-read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review
Her storm has broken free. He is the only one who can stop it.
This is book 4 of the Choosing Chronciles, but the 2nd book of River and Nikhail’s duet.
“If you break, I will be there. If you shatter, I will pick up the pieces and glue every one back together.”
Wow! What a great end to the Nik and River duology! I found their relationship beautiful! Nik was always there for River, always encouraging her and never letting her feel less than. River really came into herself and her power in this book! I love how Elayna wrote River’s mental health and grief in this book. It really showed how broken someone can get from mental and emotional abuse from a parent.
I’m very excited for books 5 and 6!
Overall 5 stars! If you like brother’s best friend, age gap, yearning on both sides, powerful FMC, and lots of magic then this duology is for you! I would recommend starting at book 1 because the stories all flow together into all the books.
Tropes:
✨brother's best friend
🌊age gap
✨forbidden romance
🌊so. much. yearning.
✨she's extremely powerful
🌊he knows how she takes her coffee
✨he's been in love with her for years
🌊using a library for non-library things
Her storm has broken free. He is the only one who can stop it.
This is book 4 of the Choosing Chronciles, but the 2nd book of River and Nikhail’s duet.
“If you break, I will be there. If you shatter, I will pick up the pieces and glue every one back together.”
Wow! What a great end to the Nik and River duology! I found their relationship beautiful! Nik was always there for River, always encouraging her and never letting her feel less than. River really came into herself and her power in this book! I love how Elayna wrote River’s mental health and grief in this book. It really showed how broken someone can get from mental and emotional abuse from a parent.
I’m very excited for books 5 and 6!
Overall 5 stars! If you like brother’s best friend, age gap, yearning on both sides, powerful FMC, and lots of magic then this duology is for you! I would recommend starting at book 1 because the stories all flow together into all the books.
Tropes:
✨brother's best friend
🌊age gap
✨forbidden romance
🌊so. much. yearning.
✨she's extremely powerful
🌊he knows how she takes her coffee
✨he's been in love with her for years
🌊using a library for non-library things
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is an ARC review.
3.5-4 stars
I have to say I enjoyed the second part of River and Nik's duology a lot more than the first. I think the writing style is significantly improved and the plot is structured better. Here, one gets the right amount of emotional turmoil, action, and resolution.
~~~Spoilers~~~
I loved how River found herself throughout the book and how Nik was helping her. It was great that she showed up for him at the end and that she tamed her power to save herself.
My comment on Nik is that he felt a tiny bit overbearing at times, but overall, he is great. He is an amazing gentleman, he believes in River, and he is all for explicit consent. (Side note: all MMC written by Elayna R. Gallea that I have read are thoughtful, they fall hard for the FMC, and they take to heart the FMC's wants and needs)
The scenes with Ryker were a bit awkward and forced, in my opinion, but I was glad that he made an appearance here.
I was thinking about who will be the next MCs and kept wondering whether it will be Vale (because why would we keep mentioning her) or Atlas. Imagine my delight at the end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy, I am glad I can share my thoughts on River and Nik's story.
3.5-4 stars
I have to say I enjoyed the second part of River and Nik's duology a lot more than the first. I think the writing style is significantly improved and the plot is structured better. Here, one gets the right amount of emotional turmoil, action, and resolution.
~~~Spoilers~~~
I loved how River found herself throughout the book and how Nik was helping her. It was great that she showed up for him at the end and that she tamed her power to save herself.
My comment on Nik is that he felt a tiny bit overbearing at times, but overall, he is great. He is an amazing gentleman, he believes in River, and he is all for explicit consent. (Side note: all MMC written by Elayna R. Gallea that I have read are thoughtful, they fall hard for the FMC, and they take to heart the FMC's wants and needs)
The scenes with Ryker were a bit awkward and forced, in my opinion, but I was glad that he made an appearance here.
I was thinking about who will be the next MCs and kept wondering whether it will be Vale (because why would we keep mentioning her) or Atlas. Imagine my delight at the end.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy, I am glad I can share my thoughts on River and Nik's story.
May 13, 2026
Thank you Elayna for the delight of being able to read this early 💚
Some time after "A Curse of Stars and Storms" and this I discovered I'm not a third-person POV reader. As such, there were a few spots where the wording, and / or words themselves, ripped me out of the story, so I give it 4.5 ⭐ and 3.5 🌶️
“There are so many clouds, Nik. So much darkness.”
I love River's growth, so much, but wish there was more of her sitting in the aftermath, being at rock bottom clawing her way out of it. I felt her progression was maybe a bit too fast. Their relationship is so sweet, and I absolutely love how Ryker reacted 😂
Uggh Nikhail. He's perfect.
"I failed you, River. I'm so sorry."
And Ryker.
“River, I’m so fucking sorry.” Sorrow and regret were painted on his face.
Gods above Elayna, the way you write these guys realizing and apologizing for their mistakes is just 🤌🏻
Other males say "I love you," but Nikhail says:
“If you break, I will be there. If you shatter, I will pick up the pieces and glue every one back together. I will not let this life destroy you, River.”
Some time after "A Curse of Stars and Storms" and this I discovered I'm not a third-person POV reader. As such, there were a few spots where the wording, and / or words themselves, ripped me out of the story, so I give it 4.5 ⭐ and 3.5 🌶️
“There are so many clouds, Nik. So much darkness.”
I love River's growth, so much, but wish there was more of her sitting in the aftermath, being at rock bottom clawing her way out of it. I felt her progression was maybe a bit too fast. Their relationship is so sweet, and I absolutely love how Ryker reacted 😂
Uggh Nikhail. He's perfect.
"I failed you, River. I'm so sorry."
And Ryker.
“River, I’m so fucking sorry.” Sorrow and regret were painted on his face.
Gods above Elayna, the way you write these guys realizing and apologizing for their mistakes is just 🤌🏻
Other males say "I love you," but Nikhail says:
“If you break, I will be there. If you shatter, I will pick up the pieces and glue every one back together. I will not let this life destroy you, River.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
OH MY GODS. TALK ABOUT AN EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER!
I cant thank Elayna enough for sending me a copy of this ARC. I love this family so much anf reading all their different stories just makes my heart so full and happy.
Now this story was just the perfect complication from book 3 in the series, but book 2 in River and Niks story. From the way both characters compliment each other and truly heal and grow together, it makes everything worth it. River, my sweet girl, I understand your grief. Boy oh boy do I. The way that its written in the story is portrayed so beautifully, you can feel it. Im so happy she got to be and fell in love. She deserved it from someone who isn't family. ALSO HELL YEAH. TAKE THAT TERTIA. YOU DONT DESERVE YOUR DAUGHTER! And Nik. You are truly the king of love, protection and yearning. OH THE YEARNING. I LOVE IT.
Just like the first duology, im so sad to say goodbye, but im so excited for book 5 and 6! At least this time I know it's see you later 🤭🤭
I cant thank Elayna enough for sending me a copy of this ARC. I love this family so much anf reading all their different stories just makes my heart so full and happy.
Now this story was just the perfect complication from book 3 in the series, but book 2 in River and Niks story. From the way both characters compliment each other and truly heal and grow together, it makes everything worth it. River, my sweet girl, I understand your grief. Boy oh boy do I. The way that its written in the story is portrayed so beautifully, you can feel it. Im so happy she got to be and fell in love. She deserved it from someone who isn't family. ALSO HELL YEAH. TAKE THAT TERTIA. YOU DONT DESERVE YOUR DAUGHTER! And Nik. You are truly the king of love, protection and yearning. OH THE YEARNING. I LOVE IT.
Just like the first duology, im so sad to say goodbye, but im so excited for book 5 and 6! At least this time I know it's see you later 🤭🤭
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2026
I knew we were going to get wrecked by River’s story, but I loved the strong finish Elayna gave us. A Tempest of Wind and Fate is out today, and I was so excited to get the rest of River’s story. *this is the second book in a duology that needs to be read in order. A Curse of Stars and Storms is the first book, with A Game of Love and Betrayal being the first book in the overall series.
Tropes:
🌧️ Brother’s Best Friend
🌧️ Other Side of the Tracks
🌧️ Secret Romance
🌧️ Damaged FMC
I loved the theme that I got from this book: overcoming your past and coming out of it stronger. River has been through so much, and we get to see her love story with Nic continue. She doesn’t trust herself with her magic anymore, and it takes the love and trust Nic gives her, to give her the boost she needs to choose and trust herself. I really liked her redemption arc and how she was able to show how strong she truly is.
🌶️🌶️
Thank you, Elayna, for sending me a copy of this book!
Tropes:
🌧️ Brother’s Best Friend
🌧️ Other Side of the Tracks
🌧️ Secret Romance
🌧️ Damaged FMC
I loved the theme that I got from this book: overcoming your past and coming out of it stronger. River has been through so much, and we get to see her love story with Nic continue. She doesn’t trust herself with her magic anymore, and it takes the love and trust Nic gives her, to give her the boost she needs to choose and trust herself. I really liked her redemption arc and how she was able to show how strong she truly is.
🌶️🌶️
Thank you, Elayna, for sending me a copy of this book!
May 20, 2026
I really wanted to like it. I loved the first duology, Brynleigh and Ryker's story was fun, well paced and I was cheering for both of them. However, this duology just dragged. I think I can summarize book 1 in three sentences. This book starts a bit slow with so much time on River talking about he curse and Nik trying to reassure her, etc but then the ending came a bit rushed. I feel the best chapters were the last 5-6? Also, Ember...what was her role? why was she mentioned?I liked Nik but I had a hard time seeing him and River as a couple. I just couldnt connect with the FMC - I still dont fully understand the curse...she had too much power and? like why are we calling it a curse? what is the deep explanation? Anyways, sad bc I had high hopes and waited so long for these two books to come out. But, I will continue reading the series. Im excited to see what happens with the new couple.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC copy and was excited to get back in River and Nik’s story earlier than expected.
I really enjoyed their story. She approached their story completely differently to the first duology with Ryker and Brynleigh so didn’t feel repetitive like sometimes happens with stories in the same world.
Where Ryker ends book one hating Brynleigh and there story is finding a way back to each other. This story starts with her heartbreak and the whole theme of the book is her recovering and accepting that she can be loved. And Nikhail is a constant source of love and strength for her.
I was expecting a more about her mastering her power but the focus is the love story not the magic.
The little tidbit about book 5 was also a surprise. Was not sure who she was going to focus on and getting the answer to that was intriguing.
I really enjoyed their story. She approached their story completely differently to the first duology with Ryker and Brynleigh so didn’t feel repetitive like sometimes happens with stories in the same world.
Where Ryker ends book one hating Brynleigh and there story is finding a way back to each other. This story starts with her heartbreak and the whole theme of the book is her recovering and accepting that she can be loved. And Nikhail is a constant source of love and strength for her.
I was expecting a more about her mastering her power but the focus is the love story not the magic.
The little tidbit about book 5 was also a surprise. Was not sure who she was going to focus on and getting the answer to that was intriguing.
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