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Wildfire and Sin: An Heirs of Fate Novella
A fate that starts and ends with wildfire and sin.
Sylvi has never been one to complain about mystery and intrigue, but when a stranger interrupts her hunt, he blows her worldview to pieces and she is more than happy to watch the fragments burn to ash. Except, the more time she spends with him, the more his matched stubbornness grates on her. Deciding to follow her gut and the rushing flow of her blood when he is near, Sylvi dives head first into a romance that will both devastate her and give her the sense of home she has been searching for her entire life.
Aeric gained his throne through not only the strength of his back, but the strength of his mind. Wickedly intelligent, he has held on to power through careful choices and navigating the sly Elven court with a wit that had so far been unmatched. Until he met the huntress of the forest, Sylvi. Pushed further and further outside of his kingdom by a restlessness he cannot describe, Aeric finds that Sylvi is his equal in more ways just wit. She is burning wildfire that draws him closer with every harsh word spoken and every carefree laugh that seems to echo in the empty parts of his soul.
But not every love is destined for a happy ending, not when the gods have been weaving their fates for centuries.
Sylvi has never been one to complain about mystery and intrigue, but when a stranger interrupts her hunt, he blows her worldview to pieces and she is more than happy to watch the fragments burn to ash. Except, the more time she spends with him, the more his matched stubbornness grates on her. Deciding to follow her gut and the rushing flow of her blood when he is near, Sylvi dives head first into a romance that will both devastate her and give her the sense of home she has been searching for her entire life.
Aeric gained his throne through not only the strength of his back, but the strength of his mind. Wickedly intelligent, he has held on to power through careful choices and navigating the sly Elven court with a wit that had so far been unmatched. Until he met the huntress of the forest, Sylvi. Pushed further and further outside of his kingdom by a restlessness he cannot describe, Aeric finds that Sylvi is his equal in more ways just wit. She is burning wildfire that draws him closer with every harsh word spoken and every carefree laugh that seems to echo in the empty parts of his soul.
But not every love is destined for a happy ending, not when the gods have been weaving their fates for centuries.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2025
4 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
N.E. Valla
3 books32 followersNadya (pen name: N.E. Valla) is a debut fantasy writer who works as an ICU RN by day and writes by night.
Born in Florida, Nadya was raised in a bilingual household with her first language being Swedish. Her Scandinavian roots heavily influenced her first fantasy series, Heirs of Fate, as Norse mythology and Viking history has always fascinated her. She moved to Pittsburgh, PA when she was 19 and now lives with her partner Nick and two cats, Nibbler and Captain Hook.
When she isn't working or writing, Nadya can be found curled up with a book, exploring new spots in her city, traveling to Finland to spend time with her family and other new places (when she can), and spending time at home baking, cooking, or competing for her house champion title in Mariokart.
Tiktok: @author_n.e.valla
IG: @author_n.e.valla
Born in Florida, Nadya was raised in a bilingual household with her first language being Swedish. Her Scandinavian roots heavily influenced her first fantasy series, Heirs of Fate, as Norse mythology and Viking history has always fascinated her. She moved to Pittsburgh, PA when she was 19 and now lives with her partner Nick and two cats, Nibbler and Captain Hook.
When she isn't working or writing, Nadya can be found curled up with a book, exploring new spots in her city, traveling to Finland to spend time with her family and other new places (when she can), and spending time at home baking, cooking, or competing for her house champion title in Mariokart.
Tiktok: @author_n.e.valla
IG: @author_n.e.valla
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 21, 2025
✨Wildfire and Sin✨
Author: NE Valla
Series: The Heirs of Fate, book 2.5
Valla knows how to create an epic world and, with this novella, we get to dive deeper into a kingdom we had just encountered in book two. We also get to learn about our FMC’s parents’ past and what lead to the chaos that currently ensues from power, pride, and prophecy.
Wildfire and Sin is a beautiful display of fated love that weighs duty above self. As Sylvi and Aeric move through their forbidden attraction as a human and an elf, along with deeper secrets, they soon find that fate has something they never expected in store for them. And though it may be fleeting, it is crucial for the future. Despite their own political oaths, they find bits of joy within the future that seems to have only one option forward.
We see selflessness, acceptance, loyalty, pain, and loss. Knowing this background sets us up for an even richer experience- even towards that of our villains. It is a BEAUTIFUL love story and by no means a HEA, but it puts pieces together to create a solid puzzle as we move towards book three.
Tropes you may find in WAS are fated mates, forbidden love, dual POV, medium high spice, altar scene, and prophecy.
Thank you for this gifted arc, Valla. It is always a pleasure to read your work!
Author: NE Valla
Series: The Heirs of Fate, book 2.5
Valla knows how to create an epic world and, with this novella, we get to dive deeper into a kingdom we had just encountered in book two. We also get to learn about our FMC’s parents’ past and what lead to the chaos that currently ensues from power, pride, and prophecy.
Wildfire and Sin is a beautiful display of fated love that weighs duty above self. As Sylvi and Aeric move through their forbidden attraction as a human and an elf, along with deeper secrets, they soon find that fate has something they never expected in store for them. And though it may be fleeting, it is crucial for the future. Despite their own political oaths, they find bits of joy within the future that seems to have only one option forward.
We see selflessness, acceptance, loyalty, pain, and loss. Knowing this background sets us up for an even richer experience- even towards that of our villains. It is a BEAUTIFUL love story and by no means a HEA, but it puts pieces together to create a solid puzzle as we move towards book three.
Tropes you may find in WAS are fated mates, forbidden love, dual POV, medium high spice, altar scene, and prophecy.
Thank you for this gifted arc, Valla. It is always a pleasure to read your work!
November 24, 2025
The author has done it again! Another great read! The prequel will bring so many things from the first two books full circle and ties up any lose ends from the first 2 books in the series. If you haven't read the story yet, you need to!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A compact but richly layered backstory novella.
It follows the meeting and courtship of Sylvi and Aeric, the future parents of Maude, and in doing so fills in the emotional and political groundwork that frames the main series. It’s densely packed with romance, looming war, political intrigue, and a touch of viking-tinged destiny, all of which slot neatly into the larger worldbuilding established in the primary novels.
Readers of the main series will instantly recognize the origins of Maude’s stubbornness, her quick temper, and the raw force of her inherited powers. Sylvi and Aeric’s first encounter is unexpected and yet the way they needle each other quickly softens into something more vulnerable. The chemistry develops as they become each other’s brief escape from realities - duty, sacrifice, danger, and the shadow of violence always hovering at the edges of their lives.
The romance is not shy. Open-door scenes offer both heat and emotional breathing room, making the story feel grounded in desire as much as destiny. Standout moments include inventive use of magical shadows and an unforgettable scene of altar-bound devotion - spicy, yes, but also purposeful and character-driven.
Underlying everything is the theme of secrets: political, family, missions, and the dangerous weight of titles. Every character carries something hidden, and the novella explores not just the keeping of secrets but the delicate timing of revealing them - or protecting someone else’s truth. The cascading consequences of these choices reverberate far beyond Sylvi and Aeric, casting long shadows into the next generation.
In the end, Wildfire & Sin succeeds as both a romantic novella and a narrative key to the series. It enriches the world, complicates beloved characters, and gives readers a front-row seat to the wildfire, sin, and stubborn love that shaped everything that comes after.
It follows the meeting and courtship of Sylvi and Aeric, the future parents of Maude, and in doing so fills in the emotional and political groundwork that frames the main series. It’s densely packed with romance, looming war, political intrigue, and a touch of viking-tinged destiny, all of which slot neatly into the larger worldbuilding established in the primary novels.
Readers of the main series will instantly recognize the origins of Maude’s stubbornness, her quick temper, and the raw force of her inherited powers. Sylvi and Aeric’s first encounter is unexpected and yet the way they needle each other quickly softens into something more vulnerable. The chemistry develops as they become each other’s brief escape from realities - duty, sacrifice, danger, and the shadow of violence always hovering at the edges of their lives.
The romance is not shy. Open-door scenes offer both heat and emotional breathing room, making the story feel grounded in desire as much as destiny. Standout moments include inventive use of magical shadows and an unforgettable scene of altar-bound devotion - spicy, yes, but also purposeful and character-driven.
Underlying everything is the theme of secrets: political, family, missions, and the dangerous weight of titles. Every character carries something hidden, and the novella explores not just the keeping of secrets but the delicate timing of revealing them - or protecting someone else’s truth. The cascading consequences of these choices reverberate far beyond Sylvi and Aeric, casting long shadows into the next generation.
In the end, Wildfire & Sin succeeds as both a romantic novella and a narrative key to the series. It enriches the world, complicates beloved characters, and gives readers a front-row seat to the wildfire, sin, and stubborn love that shaped everything that comes after.
December 29, 2025
CW: some violence, spice, referenced loss of family
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “Wildfire and Sin” is available now!
Somehow, despite knowing how this story ended, I still found myself heartbroken by the last page.
Before the water wielder found the flame wielder in the fighting pits of Logi, before the continent went to war, before a lost race became less lost, a huntress put an arrow in a king. Before the fates woven by the gods began to play out, there was Sylvi, and there was Aeric.
No, because *what do you mean* [redacted for spoilers]?! Obviously I can’t give nay further context, but my feelings have officially been hurt. This book is technically a prequel novella, but you absolutely need to read it after book 2 (“Daughter of Shadows and Chaos”) to avoid series spoilers. Trust me; read it third and you, too, can suffer while watching the inevitable play out.
Emotional anguish aside, this book was so well done. We got a little taste of the MCs interacting in book 2, but this took that starting point and absolutely launched it. The dynamic is so wonderful; the MCs play off each other incredibly well. There are some really sweet moments, and one scene in particular has me frothing at the mouth for some character art.
Everything ends up really balanced. Humor, grief, stress, adoration, safety, dread, restoration. All of it has a place in this story, and all of it sticks the landing. The plot kept me engaged, which is doubly impressive since low-action stories tend to lose my attention. There’s so much information here that becomes relevant to the larger storylines from books 1 and 2, and it makes me want to go back and reread those two now that I have all of this information. This was wonderful; as soon as my heart stops aching I’ll be ready to jump back in. If you want a Norse-inspired fantasy series, I whole-heartedly recommend this one (but you really do need to start with book 1, “Kingdom of Embers and Ruin”).
Thank you to the author for the ARC! “Wildfire and Sin” is available now!
Somehow, despite knowing how this story ended, I still found myself heartbroken by the last page.
Before the water wielder found the flame wielder in the fighting pits of Logi, before the continent went to war, before a lost race became less lost, a huntress put an arrow in a king. Before the fates woven by the gods began to play out, there was Sylvi, and there was Aeric.
No, because *what do you mean* [redacted for spoilers]?! Obviously I can’t give nay further context, but my feelings have officially been hurt. This book is technically a prequel novella, but you absolutely need to read it after book 2 (“Daughter of Shadows and Chaos”) to avoid series spoilers. Trust me; read it third and you, too, can suffer while watching the inevitable play out.
Emotional anguish aside, this book was so well done. We got a little taste of the MCs interacting in book 2, but this took that starting point and absolutely launched it. The dynamic is so wonderful; the MCs play off each other incredibly well. There are some really sweet moments, and one scene in particular has me frothing at the mouth for some character art.
Everything ends up really balanced. Humor, grief, stress, adoration, safety, dread, restoration. All of it has a place in this story, and all of it sticks the landing. The plot kept me engaged, which is doubly impressive since low-action stories tend to lose my attention. There’s so much information here that becomes relevant to the larger storylines from books 1 and 2, and it makes me want to go back and reread those two now that I have all of this information. This was wonderful; as soon as my heart stops aching I’ll be ready to jump back in. If you want a Norse-inspired fantasy series, I whole-heartedly recommend this one (but you really do need to start with book 1, “Kingdom of Embers and Ruin”).
November 30, 2025
I knew my heart would shatter into a million pieces after reading Valla's Wildfire and Sin. I knew it, and I still walked straight into it. Why? Because I know what a masterful storyteller the author is, and how deeply I would cherish every second of this experience. And cherish it I did. I cherished every tear, every cry, every beautiful and devastating moment of this novella.
These characters deserve it. They deserve for their story to be heard, and for their love to be immortalized on these pages. They deserve to be known, loved, and respected. Respected for their choices, their sense of responsibility and duty, their love for one another, and for those they serve.
Wildfire and Sin is a testament to love. Their love and their fate may have begun and ended with wildfire and sin, but the echoes of their devotion still remain. Those echoes still live on, and we as readers are given the privilege of witnessing them throughout the Heirs of Fate series.
Thank you, N.E. Valla, for having me as your ARC reader once again and for allowing me to witness the story of Sylvi and Aeric.
These characters deserve it. They deserve for their story to be heard, and for their love to be immortalized on these pages. They deserve to be known, loved, and respected. Respected for their choices, their sense of responsibility and duty, their love for one another, and for those they serve.
Wildfire and Sin is a testament to love. Their love and their fate may have begun and ended with wildfire and sin, but the echoes of their devotion still remain. Those echoes still live on, and we as readers are given the privilege of witnessing them throughout the Heirs of Fate series.
Thank you, N.E. Valla, for having me as your ARC reader once again and for allowing me to witness the story of Sylvi and Aeric.
January 5, 2026
5 STARS
Prequel, Star-Crossed Lovers, Fate/Prophecy, Elven King, Human Spy, Tension, Spice, Impossible Choices
The perfect book to start the new year off! I knew if I wanted a great read, NE Valla would NOT disappoint. As with the other two books in the series, I easily devoured this one. The tension and yearning between Sylvi and Aeric matched what I’d read before with Maude and Herrick. Maude is 100% Sylvi’s daughter, and I loved the parallels we see between the two of them. I love how so many characters from the other books were mentioned in this one, especially Alva. It only added to our understanding as readers of how fate truly was intertwining these two families together from the start. It was so heartbreakingly well written and the perfect length for a prequel novella. Although we know where the book is heading (as a prequel), I was surprised many times over by the time we get to the end! I cannot wait for the next book to see how the rest of the story unfolds. The ending was mind blowing in the best possible way! I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy, romantasy, Norse mythology, and magic.
Prequel, Star-Crossed Lovers, Fate/Prophecy, Elven King, Human Spy, Tension, Spice, Impossible Choices
The perfect book to start the new year off! I knew if I wanted a great read, NE Valla would NOT disappoint. As with the other two books in the series, I easily devoured this one. The tension and yearning between Sylvi and Aeric matched what I’d read before with Maude and Herrick. Maude is 100% Sylvi’s daughter, and I loved the parallels we see between the two of them. I love how so many characters from the other books were mentioned in this one, especially Alva. It only added to our understanding as readers of how fate truly was intertwining these two families together from the start. It was so heartbreakingly well written and the perfect length for a prequel novella. Although we know where the book is heading (as a prequel), I was surprised many times over by the time we get to the end! I cannot wait for the next book to see how the rest of the story unfolds. The ending was mind blowing in the best possible way! I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy, romantasy, Norse mythology, and magic.
December 22, 2025
Okay. You did it again. You had me a sobbing mess. Again. On a rollercoaster of emotions, again. I knew what was coming and it still hurt more than I cared to admit, it hurt 100x more. I was sobbing, in the dark. These prequels always have a way of punching me in the throat. Aeric and Sylvi’s love story though will forever be ingrained in my heart. The amount of strength it took for her to leave and do what she needed to do. The strength of a mother is amazing. The strength he had to have to not ruin the plans and go after her, and neither of them knew she would never make it home. It absolutely breaks my heart into a million pieces because she thought one day she would come back to him. This isn’t a spoiler because if you read the other two books in the heirs of fate series this is all revealed. This isn’t a story with a happy ending. It’s a tragedy. It’s a story about willpower. Strength. A mother’s love. And how cruel fate can be, but at the end of the day isn’t it worth it if you found someone to love just for a little while? Maybe that’s the question to ask..
December 23, 2025
Beautiful, heartbreaking and extraordinary. That would be the perfect way to describe this book and the story of Aeric and Sylvi.
After reading the first two books of Heirs of Fate books you already know where this story is going, but it still hurts so much. It was beautiful to read how Aeric and Sylvi meet and how they fought for the love even though they knew the ending too.
On the other hand, we got to see the other sides of other characters we see later in the saga.
After reading this book you also ask yourself who are the real villains? There is so much grey in these characters, you can’t be complete black or white with the majority of the characters but that’s what it makes these books so amazing, that there are many characters that have their own flaws and they still can be amazing characters or maybe terrific villains.
This novella was a great add to the saga, to understand better a lot of Maude's family past and where the story is going. Can’t wait to read the next book!
After reading the first two books of Heirs of Fate books you already know where this story is going, but it still hurts so much. It was beautiful to read how Aeric and Sylvi meet and how they fought for the love even though they knew the ending too.
On the other hand, we got to see the other sides of other characters we see later in the saga.
After reading this book you also ask yourself who are the real villains? There is so much grey in these characters, you can’t be complete black or white with the majority of the characters but that’s what it makes these books so amazing, that there are many characters that have their own flaws and they still can be amazing characters or maybe terrific villains.
This novella was a great add to the saga, to understand better a lot of Maude's family past and where the story is going. Can’t wait to read the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This novella was highly anticipated after getting glimpses of Aeric and Sylvi's story in book 2 and it did not disappoint. I loved that this was a beautiful romantic story in and of itself while also adding so much to the overall narrative and the future of the series. The author did an amazing job at building up this couples story in such a small amount of pages. Even already knowing how their story ended, it still packed an emotional gut punch. I cannot wait for the next book in the Heirs of Fate series!
I received an eARC from the author. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
I received an eARC from the author. This review reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 29, 2025
This novella ? Was absolutely amazing. Getting to know this 2 characters and how it all started was one to add to the list of amazing reads. The passion, the adventure, the unfortunate events that helps them get to where they needed to be, what came from their love and everyone around them has made this an amazing prequel to the amazing series of Heirs of Fate♥︎ 100% recommended so make sure to add this series to your tbr!!
December 8, 2025
I am already a fan of this series. This novella, this love story was a tasty morsel as we patiently wait for book three. Sometimes people forget mothers are more than just mothers. They are people, too. They have their own stories and secrets. My heart is happy and sad because you know how the story will conclude (if you have read the prior books) but the added things. 😱 Thank you to N.E. for the ARC. Oh my allfathers! 🫶
December 28, 2025
This prequel was such a great teaser for book 3 in this series. It provided context to practically everything we needed answers to from Book 2, and even Book 1!
I adore Sylvi and I love that we got to spend some time with her. Even more, I loved Aaric, and I really hope that we get to see more from him in the upcoming installments.
A Fast and quick love story that wasn't meant to have a happy ending.
overall: recommend
spice: open door
I adore Sylvi and I love that we got to spend some time with her. Even more, I loved Aaric, and I really hope that we get to see more from him in the upcoming installments.
A Fast and quick love story that wasn't meant to have a happy ending.
overall: recommend
spice: open door
December 25, 2025
I have loved aeric since he made him self present in book two and seeing Sylvis and his love blossom was something I could have only imagined! The last half of the book left me staring at a wall because what was that plot twist 😭infinit stars !!!
December 28, 2025
Even knowing how it all ends, I still loved spending more time with Aeric and Sylvi. This novella absolutely made me cry, but their flashbacks in the main story were some of my favorite parts and it’s bittersweet getting to see the full truth of their bond and how Maude came to be.
December 5, 2025
Well holy cow.....I absolutely loved this book and this whole series!
January 4, 2026
If you love the Heir of Fates series so far, definitely check out this novella!
Wildfire and Sin is a prequel novella that reveals the story of Sylvi and Aeric, two characters you'll recognize from the other books in this series. You'll not only meet these two characters, who are pivotal to this story, but you'll also see some other familiar names.
This short but incredible story is filled with love, sacrifice, grief, and sadness. Not all stories have a happy ending, but the events in this book are critical to the story as a whole and to the future of this world. N.E. Valla did a fantastic job with this prequel, tying things together and revealing truths that you won't expect.
If you love Norse mythology and Vikings, this fantasy romance series is 100% one you should read
Wildfire and Sin is a prequel novella that reveals the story of Sylvi and Aeric, two characters you'll recognize from the other books in this series. You'll not only meet these two characters, who are pivotal to this story, but you'll also see some other familiar names.
This short but incredible story is filled with love, sacrifice, grief, and sadness. Not all stories have a happy ending, but the events in this book are critical to the story as a whole and to the future of this world. N.E. Valla did a fantastic job with this prequel, tying things together and revealing truths that you won't expect.
If you love Norse mythology and Vikings, this fantasy romance series is 100% one you should read
December 23, 2025
I absolutely loved this! I'm going to try to keep this spoiler free. I loved being able to see how Sylvi & Aeric's relationship started and developed. And I have been wanting to know more about Aeric since Daughter Of Shadows And Chaos. Thier story is actually heartbreaking and I wish it was different. But it's amazing to get more background.
I can't wait for book 3 in the series so I can get more Aeric hopefully. Thank you to N. E. Valla for the gifted arc!
I can't wait for book 3 in the series so I can get more Aeric hopefully. Thank you to N. E. Valla for the gifted arc!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews