The Birds in Shadowed Trees

by Avi Pinkerton

Princess Fia was forced into obedience at the promise of freedom, only to learn that she has been trapped into a gilded cage.

But when a warrior from an opposing kingdom arrives with political secrets her father kept hidden from her, the fabric of her reality unravels. To her horror, Fia learns that her goals were never hers, and neither was her life.

She learns who her Father really is-who he had become after her mother died.

When a marriage match that was meant for her older sister and rightful heir approaches, Fia attempts to force her father's powerful hand to discover his plans for her fate. Yet her father is as silent as her unpredictable future.

Surrounded by family secrets and betrayal, Fia must choose: to obey the new path carved for her, or escape the only life she'd ever known.

The Birds in Shadowed Trees is a haunting, yet cozy fantasy of survival, sisterhood, and secrets that could remake-or destroy-Fia's kingdom, and her history.

Genres: Romantasy

394 pages, Paperback

Published October 3, 2025

Reviews

[Király Eniko · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of The Birds in Shadowed Trees in exchange for an honest review, and I’m so glad I picked it up. This felt like the beginning of something truly promising, with characters who pulled me in right from the start.

Fia is such a refreshing YA heroine. She doesn’t want to sit quietly and marry for the sake of duty, she wants to be a warrior, to fight, to protect her kingdom. But what stood out most to me is that she isn’t written as the typical “I’m not like other girls” character. She isn’t dismissive of femininity or other women; she’s deeply loyal, loves her family, and genuinely cares about the common people. That balance - her fierceness paired with compassion - made her instantly likable. She reminded me of Katniss in the way she shoulders responsibility, not because she wants glory, but because she feels she must.

Kallias, meanwhile, completely won me over. Yes, he carries some familiar traits of the genre’s love interest, but instead of the moody, brooding warrior I half-expected, we get someone gentle, patient, and quietly strong. The softness of his character was such a breath of fresh air. I laughed out loud at Fia’s astonished reaction about his clean-shaved face, and the fact that he shares Fia’s sweet tooth was such a charming little detail that made him feel real. Their chemistry felt natural, built on small moments as much as dramatic ones, which I really appreciated.

And then there’s Libby. Oh, Libby. Fia’s older sister is easily my favorite side character, full of warmth and strength in her own right. Every scene with her made me want more, and honestly, if she’s sidelined or - heaven forbid - killed off later, I will start a one-person rebellion.

The story itself moved at a good pace, balancing character-driven moments with enough tension to keep me hooked. That said, I did notice some bumps along the way. The editing could be tighter, occasional grammar errors and awkward phrasing pulled me out of the flow, and while the map was a great addition, it felt small and underwhelming compared to the richness of the world being built.

Which brings me to my biggest hope for the sequels: more worldbuilding. The foundation has been set, but I still have so many questions. How exactly does the magic system work? What’s the truth behind Kallias’ secret? And what in the world was going on with the well?

These unanswered threads don’t feel frustrating yet, they just make me eager for more.

Overall, The Birds in Shadowed Trees is a strong and engaging start to what feels like it could become a beloved series. The characters are its beating heart: Fia’s courage, Kallias’ gentleness, and Libby’s presence kept me turning the pages. If the writing tightens up and the worldbuilding expands, the next installment could be truly incredible. I’ll definitely be continuing, because I need answers and because I’m already too attached to let these characters go.

[Jasmine Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book! From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The world-building is simple but it still felt like you were stepping into another realm… I could see the characters and creatures, feel the danger and tension, and truly soak in this incredible world.

But the absolute highlight for me? The main character. She’s strong, sharp-witted, and wonderfully sassy in a way that made me laugh out loud and cheer her on constantly. I can’t wait to see her grown into herself and her conference...I️ can see it coming already.

The story itself has very good tension, both the kind that keeps your heart racing and the kind that makes you grin at the character dynamics (the banter, the sparks, the smirks😏). It’s the perfect mix of action, magic, and emotional pull.

This book gave me everything I crave in fantasy: a world I never wanted to leave, a cast that felt real, and a heroine I’ll be thinking about for a long time. Absolutely unforgettable.

I cannot wait for the second book…that cliff hanger was crazyyy

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first ever ARC and I will say I actually really enjoyed this book. I’d rate it 4.5 stars 🌟 I loved Fia’s personality. I read a lot of fantasy and sometimes they can feel similar but this didn’t. I really liked the plot and I’m interested to see where it goes next, I hope to learn more about the magic and the fates. I had a great time

[Mal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel was phenomenal! Avi is truly a genius! The twist and turns had me glued to the book, I couldn’t put it down! I’m so excited for everyone else to get to read this! I can’t wait to see where Avi’s mind takes the character’s stories! Brilliant.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m giving 4 stars due to there being a chunk of grammatical errors, but I’m sure those will be worked out before the final print.
Otherwise this is a slow burn YA with magic, demon creatures, astoundingly gorgeous knight in shining armor who’s also a prince, princesses, kingdoms, heroism, and of course character growth.

We have Fia (19 yo) princess of the north, her sister Libby (20/21 yo) also a princess, her half brother Taroh (6yo), step mother Erie, and Father/King of the North. Kallias is the MMC who sneaks into Fia’s life and gives her a light at the end of her tunnel.

Powers have been bound, abuse (physical and mental), starvation, secret excursions, death, suicidal thoughts, mention of blood and gore, fighting, and grief narrative of their mother.

Fia is feisty and humorous. Always trying to lighten the mood with a good innocent come back. She’s presented as the dark, moody, princess while Libby is the bright, outgoing princess. Fia wants to be a warrior. She desires to help her kingdom outside of being a chair ornament for her father to parade around the kingdom. Every pushback comes with a price. He does things she didn’t think him capable of, causing her to lose any respect for him.

During her journey through this first book she meets a gentleman a few years older than her who is handsome, strong, and kind. He takes her quick come backs and challenges her with his own. Not turning her armor into a flaw but accepting and learning who she is and how she communicates. He gives her safe haven, cares for her in times of need, notices minute and not so minute changes in her. He fights for her and wins and now must shoulder that choice.


Needless to say I can’t wait for the next book. I wanna know where this leads and what adventures they’re going to get themselves into.

[Katie (Silly Goose) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The buildup in this felt a teeny bit slow at first, but by part two it just got better and better! The writing flows super well and this sets up an interesting world that makes me really excited for book two. I feel like there are so many things we don’t know! I can’t wait for the reveal, and to learn more about what happens next. By the end we definitely get into the good stuff, so I can’t wait.

[Megan Dodd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for a brutally honest review, and I am excited to say that my review will be nothing short of that.

Storyline: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot Development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cliffhanger: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character Growth: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Reading Ease: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

First of all, Kallias(MMC)…yes. Just yes. Everything about how this man is described, how he speaks and acts…ladies we have a new book boyfriend. HOWEVER, don’t think I’m not catching on to the shadowy brooding that’s going on beneath. Especially after the cliffhanger and epilogue which left me with more questions that I thought I would have just from the book ending itself.

Second, this is a self published author and I have to say how impressed I was. I came across a few minor grammatical/editing mistakes, but it was nothing worth not reading this book over. My biggest question, where is the title of the book coming from? Not that it matters much, but generally the title alludes to something. For me all it alludes to is what seems like a randomly generated name and questions.

The character arc for Fia (FMC) was so gradual, yet extremely noticeable and added a lot of depth to the novel. I do t have a whole lot to say without giving too much away and also because we’re just left wondering what’s next!

I am curious to see what comes of Libby in book 2 because I felt as though her character was silenced a lot in this book, especially after the end of the matches.

Jayce can scurry off back to his kingdom like the scared little weasel, Fia calls him. No one will have any problem with that. Bye (insert eye roll).

The section change from chapter 24 to 25 was interesting. This was my least favorite part of the book. I felt like chapter 24 ended and then all of the sudden we were reading a different book. There could have been a much better end to the chapter or another chapter between (like we needed a 24.5) in order to have a more complete picture of what happened. To end and then not really end yet jump to a new section that takes place months later was just very bizarre and I think this could have been mapped out better.


Let’s talk briefly about the well. What in the actual heckin heck. I don’t think I can fully grasp what this means or what happened. We knew what we were expecting of 3 potential outcomes, but I still don’t quite understand what actually happened. And to further confuse us and leave us wondering, the epilogue was BEYOND VAGUE. What in the world is going to happen with this and what does the Fates punishment mean? Who is Killias really because it’s pretty obvious there was something LARGE we have not been told in book 1 that is looming. Which also makes me wonder what the heck is Fia’s reaction going to be to finding out there was always more to his story, but who she is wasn’t part of the original plan and now he has regrets. VERY INTRIGUING.

Then we have King butthole, Fia and Libby’s dad. This man…you truly hate him more and more as the book goes on, but for the last several chapters during the matches I get a sense of weariness from his character. Like we are absolutely missing a broader picture, especially with how silent he was and letting Fia talk back to him at the well with no repercussions after he has no problem starving her for 8 weeks? I’m either missing something or we just need to bring his character back around in book 2 from this slip up in character presentation.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this book. I’m eager and looking forward to more!!!


✨Favorite book moments✨

•Chapter 12: “No. I blinked at him “No? What do you mean.” “I mean, no. If I marry anyone, it will be you.”

Whoo. That line and interaction got my attention QUICK.

•Chapter 13: “I don’t need you saving me, jerk.” “Maybe not, but I need you.”

Make my knees melt why don’t you

•Chapter 25: The tent scene.

The whole scene. The first heart stopping kiss, their reactions, the guard and Fia’s determination.

[Dannii De · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading an arc and I’m thankful the author sent me a copy of her book.

The world building of this book was easy to understand which sometimes I’m appreciative of. I’m looking forward to getting to see more of the male main character in the second book and understanding him a bit more. The female main character I did struggle to like as much but that’s only because I wanted her to stand up for herself and stop backing down!

One of my favourite book lines of all time in any book is ‘who did this to you’ 🤩 and we get that famous line in this book.

This could be a good introduction to fantasy for readers who are just starting out in this genre because the fantasy element isn’t as in your face as it is in ACOTAR or Fourth Wing for example.

Overall it was a good reed and I read it all in one go which is pretty impressive for me…

Stars: 4/5
Spice level: none so suitable for YA.
Disclaimers: some mention of abuse and neglect so please bare in mind before reading.

[Someone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arcs can be so hit or miss for me, especially when it’s a new author. But I loved this! The first book technically hasn’t even come out and I’m already YEARNING for the next one!!! The cliffhanger 😭 I’m desperate to know how this ends for Fia and what Kallias has gotten himself into 😵‍💫

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has me completely absorbed and am dying to know where this series goes. A brilliant beginning to what is an intriguing story.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Rest of the review will have some spoilers, but will be kind of vague so that people will still feel inclined to read it.

I liked how clear the relationships between Fia and everyone else was firmly established in the beginning. How her relationship with her father was thin/strained to say the least before the story even begins. It helped to make the part when he uses his powers on her that much more impactful and the part after Kallias departs more meaningful. Then with her sister how important they both are to each other. That at this point in their lives, they are the most important people in their lives. I think this establishment makes the arguement they have that much more meaningful. Then there's the relationship with other characters like Jayce and Matty that aren't given too much time, but I think there's enough there to know who they are and how they feel about Fia. Jayce actually comes across as a well meaning moron who is in love with Fia but isn't sure how to express that to her. He always tries to be around her when they have the Biannuals and was willing to even take part in the matches. I think right now, at least off of this book, her relationship with Kallias seems rather transactional. Its definitely building to her falling in love with him, but right now with everything she's been thinking about when it comes to him, it comes across as "I am going to be with him to become a warrior or leave my family," its not really because she loves him at this point, but its definitely building up to that point. Especially with the epilogue with the Fate's restrictions. Overall I like the establishment of the relationships between people, and then in her pursuit of her goals, she has broken/changed them. I think I could go on more about how much I love the relationships she has with people and well I know these people and Fia.

Right now I think there are 3(or 4 depending on your perspective) moments in this bookthat should really affect Fia that don't seem to show in her mentality/relationship with people. The first one would be in the forest when she encounters those two warriors. Because how restrained she has been in life, she feels that the only way she can feel happy is when she sneaks out and leaves the castle. But, when she leaves and almost dies, which by the way, being choked leaves bruises which I don't think was brought up, there doesn't really seem to be any thought about that. That the reason she is being restrained to the castle and have guards always around her is for her safety. There is no consideration for that or for the fact that it was her father doing this for her safety. The next two things I'm going to talk about I'm sure have resolutions in the later books, but I'm going to bring it up anyway because I think some of these things are left up in the air needs some sort of resolution. The arguement that Fia has with her father that leads to the room chapters does not change her relationship with her father at all in this book. Before it, she would barely see/talk to him, when he wanted her to do something, she would go along with it to appease him. After she would still barely see or talk to him and when she's asked to do something, she essentially does the same thing. I think an arguement like this would absolutely change their relationship and interactions but there doesn't seem to be anything to bring it back to "normal". Then there's the fight with Libby. I thought that the fight was actually perfect. I wouldn't change anything about the fight at all. Its the immediate chapter after that I think is a problem. Chapter 25 has the "resolution" between Libby and Fia happen in two paragphs. The first one saying that Libby felt better after Fia spent time with her. The second saying that Libby thinks Fia won't get married. Everything after this her relationship with Libby is exactly the same as it was before. There isn't a conversation between the two that could have had this resolution. I think this would have been a great part of the book. That despite them wanting different things, that they still love each other.

I think my overall problems right now is that there is too much set up in this book and not enough of them paying off. Fia's relationship with her father and Libby has remained unchanged despite the fights they've had. I recognize that the next book can definitely resolve the issues with Fia's father and Libby, but I am not sure why some them of them couldn't happen in this book. I understand why she can't talk to her father about everything, but saying something like "I never want to hear you use your mother's death to attack me again," would be huge. Having this after her time in the room would do so much for her relationship with her father without saying much more than we already know. The conversation with Libby should have happened in this book and should not have been reduced to two paragraphs saying she is now okay with Fia and thinks everything will be fine anyway. Its just missed opportunities from my perspective that places a lot of impact this book has on the second one. There are no little victories for Fia, any of the accomplishments she could have, would be in the following books.

TLDR I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading the next one.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say first off, I received this as an eARC in return to give an honest review and add to my Goodreads. I also added to my Fable account too.
I have to admit, this is the first eACR I’ve ever received and I am so grateful. I loved this book and need the next one immediately. These characters had me giggling, crying and absolutely terrified.

Please check your triggers!
I wasn’t sure what to expect and decided to go in blind. As with all fantasy, took the first few chapters to get my bearings but once I settled in, I was there. As I learnt more about our FMC I wanted to fight with her to learn more, just as she did. Curiosity is usually a good thing but not for our young Princess. Princess Fia, our FMC, in some ways makes me feel seen with some of the ways she feels and handles the world. She puts everyone’s happiness before her own. Unfortunately this leads to her relationship with her father, the King, being far from loving. As a young woman who has always wanted to join the Warrior Guard, she never wanted to fill the typical Princess role of being married off and hosting elaborate parties. She questions everything and everyone, sometimes to her own detriment, but all in the desire to learn about the world she hasn’t really experienced from inside the kingdom. Her love for her older sister and younger half brother are as pure and deep as a family bond gets. Libby, her sister, is all Princess and Fia wants to keep her beautiful heart unblemished and full of love.

I was won over by Kallias, our MMC, as soon as his eyes were mentioned. I’m a sucker for some good eyes. He first seems like the typical brooding Warrior male but he has an unexpected depth. His strength and fierceness will have you on his side. The banter between Kallias and Fia is wonderful, and his honesty with Fia is refreshing and gives you hope.

The magic system is mysterious and the author only shows you the smallest teaser, so I hope more will be revealed in the next book. I found myself easily transported into this mysterious world of mortals with magic, beastly creatures and kingdoms full of secrets. I honestly can’t wait for the next book. I enjoyed the change of not having fae and mortals with magic. And the ending… oh my goodness. I can’t wait for others to read this. Thank you Avi for the opportunity.

[Leesha Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful I was given the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I would like to start with the fact that I don’t normally leave reviews though. I can tend to be a little too harsh on authors.
So, with that being said, my most important critique is that this novel would greatly benefit from professional editing. There are typos & errors throughout.
However, I did enjoy reading The Birds in Shadowed Trees!
You can tell that Avi Pinkerton put in effort to set the Pact of Fate series up for great potential. At the end of this novel I was ready to jump right into the next book (which obviously isn’t published yet.)
Princess Fia’s immediate challenges being linked mainly to family in this first installment was surprisingly refreshing. *Check your triggers though, as the novel contains talk of and written in abuse.* I think escaping her personal demons before tackling the threats plaguing the kingdoms really helps build up her character and paints us a picture of her past, present, and developing relationships with other characters.
I’m excited to see what comes next in this series, and I’m hoping there will be more of the magic system and world building in the next novel as Princess Fia’s character (hopefully) continues to develop and moves onto the conflicts outside of her family’s castle and kingdom.

[Adam Gedge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and thought I'd get stuck in as I hadn't read any fiction for a long time.

I'm new to the fantasy romance genre, and this felt like a really nice introduction to it.

The relationship between Fia and Libby was genuinely lovely to read. I pictured in my head the saltiness of Fia vs the outgoing character of Libby right from the start, and seeing these two interact is a joy. They aren't rivals as in some other stories, but they actively support each other.

The book is written primarily for a young adult audience and it's really easy to get into, but all ages will find something enjoyable here.

As I mentioned above, this is a great entry point to fantasy romance.

[Justine Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my oh my, 5/5 hands down!! This storyline had me sucked in and truly flipping page after page because I was so antsy to know what happened next!

The FMC was so fierce, brave, and strong but never feared showing her feminine side still. She was a very loveable FMC. Her sisterly bond with Libby was beautiful, funny, and heartwarming!

I LOVED how the story has been written so far for Kallias and Fia!!! It’s not cringy, or moving too fast or too slow. I feel like their relationship is building up at natural pace and it makes me want to cheer for them and get giddy when they have cute moments together. The cliff hanger at the end with the Well left me SO intrigued!!

I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK TWO!!!