Their Will Undone

by R.J. Valldeperas

A debut YA fantasy must-read for fans of The Winner’s Curse, What the River Knows, and This Woven Kingdom.

When a maiden is selected to marry the emperor, her journey to the palace will see her fighting both a spark of magical power and her growing feelings for her broody escort in this romantic fantasy duology opener, inspired by a true story from the Inca empire. 

In Amaru, it is an honor to be chosen in the annual harvest and serve the gods'-favored emperor. Nina’s brother has already been chosen, but when the emperor’s men come a second time for her sister, Nina volunteers instead. She is taken to the acllahuasi, a gilded cage where women train to become servants or wives for the ruling class. It is there that a soldier comes to collect her, and Nina learns of her fate—to become a wife...to the emperor.

As the emperor's trusted friend and soldier, Kasik is ordered to retrieve Nina and deliver her untouched. But the emperor’s betrothed is not as he expected. The distrust between Nina and Kasik is thicker than the trees surrounding them, and Kasik’s honor is put to the test when their path back to the capitol leads them into dangerous territory. Their lives and hearts are in peril as forbidden desires are unearthed, along with a stirring of dark magic in Nina that inexplicably ties her to the gods. 

What begins as a simple task becomes a tense journey that forces Nina and Kasik to confront where their true loyalties lie—with the emperor and the fate of their people, or with the desires of their own hearts.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, Audiobook, Historical Fiction, Historical

367 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

RJ is a Peruvian/Venezuelan writer from Florida, where she lives with her husband, five children, three goats and nine chickens. When she’s not playing chauffeur or chef, she spends her time creating stories steeped in culture with characters who look just like her, or she’s shirking all responsibility to escape into the pages of someone else’s world.

Reviews

[Zana]

DNF @ 87%

The story was really predictable. Nina volunteers herself as tribute. Nina and Kasik grow feelings for each other in like a few days on the road. Nina finds out that she's the "true chosen one." Then Nina and Kasik find out that there's a darker fate in store for her. The emperor is a tyrant. Cue the possible rumblings of a rebellion.

I liked Nina's rage and the Incan worldbuilding. But unfortunately, they weren't enough to hold my interest. The story read like your generic YA fantasy with a Chosen One living under empire. None of the characters really stood out to me.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this arc.

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Their Will Undone has a rich, interesting world and magic, feminine rage, and kicking you feet and giggling romance!

I think this is a well executed YA fantasy and will wok very well for YA readers!

Whats to love…
- interesting, richly detailed world
- political machinations
- simmering feminine rage
- well executed micro tropes that’ll have you squealing!
- touch her and ☠️
- chosen one (a personal fav)
- only one (animal mode of transport)
- hand flex

What didn’t work for me…
- I think the author does a decent job showing you the world & the magic, but when it comes to emotions the book relies heavily on telling you how the characters are feeling rather than showing you how they feel. This became a bit repetitive, because even in cases where we were shown the emotions, it was followed up the exact details, telling us how we were to interpret those signals. I prefer a little less explanation and a little more faith in the reader to understand what we’re being shown. Granted this is a YA book, so a bit of hand holding is to be expected but it felt overly so at times.

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Thank you to the publisher for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Lindsey Robison (theinfernalqueen)]

JUST ME PATIENTLY (not patiently) WAITING

[Starr ❇✌❇]

"the first book in a debut YA fantasy duology in which an Inca girl imprisoned in a priestess temple is summoned to the palace by an unexpected marriage proposal from the emperor, and must contend with both his infuriatingly handsome right-hand man and the dark magic growing inside her—and decide whether she'll be a bride or a weapon."

[Breanne Randall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Literally just waiting with bated breath. Everyone add this to your tbr!!!!

[Selene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, the publishers and the narrators for my ALC. Narrators did a fantastic job. This is one of those stories where the audio book is absolutely perfect so you know the correct pronunciation of everything!

The story itself is a 3.5 rounded up for me.

It’s marketed as Ya and I think that fits well. The romance (insta lovish while somehow having no chemistry and I don’t even think that they liked each other at times) is what has me knocking some stars off for me personally. I think u may have loved this without any romance angle, especially since it takes such a back seat.

What I absolutely loved is the unique Incan lore! Such a different and fun read, the creatures, the myth , it was all unique and fun to read about. The world feels fleshed out and easy to understand. Interested to see where book two heads.

[✧ Beanie Reads ✧]

Read: June 8th - June 11th
Format: Audiobook
Rating: N/A, DNF @ 15%

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I really didn't want to DNF this. Love supporting BIPOC authors, and always feel guilty as an extremely white person when I DNF anything by them, but I just could not get into the story. Two hours passed of me just not caring. However!!! I think I am just incompatible with this book.

I don't do well with super-telly styles at all, and that's what this felt like. I was being told a story rather than experiencing the story, you know? And I can typically still get through those stories when they're not too long, but this is 14 hours... I don't wanna force myself through that amount of time when I KNOW the style isn't for me.

The plot itself is fine. Definitely court intrigue and mysterious magical elements sprinkled in, and it's saturated with Incan lore. You also get a FMC who obviously cares very deeply for her family and is motivated by that care while having spunk. Didn't get many vibes from the MMC, but if you like when the FMC makes the MMC see the error of the kingdom, I think that's the direction this is going.

Overall, the narrative style is so much not for me that I have no desire to continue, but others seem to really enjoy it, so if the style I mentioned doesn't bother you, definitely consider giving it a try 💞

[CarlysGrowingTBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

General Thoughts:
I have always been intrigued by the mummified ice maiden found in the Incan mountains and when I heard that this story was based upon her in a roundabout way, I was super excited to read it.

I found the story to be extremely unique in almost every way. I really enjoyed our main female character. I thought she was capable, smart and determined and I loved that. RMMC was also very intriguing and interesting. I really understood his struggles and I enjoyed the way he made decisions.

The magic system in this was one of my favorites. I really thought it was unique and interesting. Being that this is the opening of a duology I cannot wait for the second book.

The book was a little slow for me in the beginning to middle. But it absolutely picked up and completely caught my attention and I could not stop listening.

Things to Love:
* inspired by the Incan empire
* Realistic and relatable characters
* Interesting magic system
* Slow burn

Things to Question:
* pacing was off for me in the middle


Was the narration good??
The female narrator, Elena Rey was amazing. She's one of my absolute favorite narrators. I enjoyed the mail narrator. This was the first time. I've listened to something by him, and I really enjoyed his tempo and how clear and concise he spoke.


Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted audiobook from NetGalley. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨Stay calm and in control. Do not let them see what you love. It is the only power that matters, and you are its only master✨

✨How strange it was to have the power to choose, and what a privilege✨

✨If I am a monster for protecting them. Then so be it. ✨

✨They couldn’t be friends, but he didn’t want to be her enemy ✨

✨No longer was she a forgotten nobody. No longer could she claim ignorance ✨

~

📖Summary:
Inspired by a true story from the Inca Empire, this debut YA fantasy duology opener will appeal to fans of The Winner’s Curse, What the River Knows, and This Woven Kingdom. When Nina volunteers to take her sister’s place as a chosen bride for Amaru’s god-favored emperor, she is taken from the acllahuasi and escorted to the capital by Kasik, the emperor’s loyal soldier. Their perilous journey through hostile lands ignites mistrust, forbidden attraction, and awakens a dark, divine magic within Nina that ties her to the gods themselves. As duty and desire collide, Nina and Kasik must choose between loyalty to the emperor and the fate of their people—or the pull of their own hearts.

🖊️💞My thoughts:

Now this—THIS—is a debut novel. Wow. Just… WOW. The world-building and cultural depth are nothing short of phenomenal, and R.J. masterfully pulls you into the story from the very first page. NOT A SINGLE MOMENT DRAGS—I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, completely consumed, like I was watching a high-stakes telenovela unfold. Every chapter raises the bar with nonstop action, suspense, mystery, and absolutely addictive political drama. The story is immersive without ever being confusing, flowing seamlessly and effortlessly. From the moment you open the book, you’re transported to another world—and there’s no chance to breathe. It’s exhilarating, unputdownable, and impossible to forget.
~
THE TWO MCs? I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THEM.
They are rich, layered, and unforgettable characters. Nina’s character development was handled beautifully- watching her grow into her strength felt earned and deeply satisfying. And Kamayuq—KASIK—oh my goodness!! THIS MAN. Seeing him come into his own was everything; I was rooting for him every. single. time. Dare I say it… Cyrus-level YEARNING. Yes, I said it. He became a new favorite almost instantly. My heart ached for him, for the impossible choices he had to make and the weight of loyalty he carried. He’s complicated, captivating, honorable—and devastatingly human (and let’s be real; it doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous). What makes them unforgettable is that both Nina and Kasik are loyal; both are desperately trying to do the right thing, and the reader is left rooting for both. You see every side, feel every conflict, and end up wrestling with their choices right alongside them. It’s emotional, powerful, and utterly consuming.
~
THE DIALOGUE AND TENSION BETWEEN THESE TWO?!
I could write a PhD dissertation on it and still not do it justice. OH. MY. GOSH. There was literally a moment where I had to shut the book, stare at the wall, and question my entire life because my brain couldn’t cope. INSANE. Their chemistry? Masterclass. Chef’s kiss. Hotter than the sun on a Texas summer day. I am not saying I fangirled uncontrollably… but my neighbors may have called the cops. Mark my words peeps: this is going to be one of the top debut fantasy novels of the year. Come June 2nd, if you don’t have this on your TBR, do you even like fantasy? I was genuinely heartbroken when it ended, like “where do I go from here?”. And Ms. R.J. Valldeperas, please accept my eternal loyalty & all pre-orders from now on — because I am counting the days until book two. Te amooo!
~
Huge thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books & R.J. Valldeperas for the ARC I am beyond grateful for the opportunity 💌.
All opinions are my own. Stay blessed, everyone!

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was absolutely incredible. It's everything that a YA fantasy should be, and the perfect mix of both anger and love. There is such a rich world, with such rich characters. It's utterly spectacular.

[elixir.beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Their Will Undone Book Review
2 stars

“A righteous man is a dangerous man.”

First off, I’d like to thank NetGalley for the ARC!

Their Will Undone was my first Inca-inspired fantasy, and I’ll admit that aspect immediately caught my attention. You rarely see stories pulling from Incan culture and mythology, so I appreciated the fresh inspiration behind the worldbuilding. The creatures were also one of the highlights for me, especially the achipuma. I’m still not entirely sure how I picture one in my head, but I do know I wanted more of them. The writing itself flowed nicely for the most part as well, even if it occasionally became repetitive.

Unfortunately, the rest of the story didn’t work very well for me.

The biggest issue was the romance. It felt incredibly rushed and underdeveloped, reading more like insta-love disguised as enemies-to-lovers. Nina and Kasik are already drawn to each other almost immediately, despite still constantly arguing and barely knowing one another. Their emotional connection never felt believable to me, so instead of rooting for them, I was mostly confused by how quickly their feelings escalated. I personally prefer a slower burn romance where the chemistry and trust build naturally over time, and this relationship just didn’t have that development.

I also struggled with the characterization, particularly Nina. She came across as overly naive and too quick to give in to others, which made it difficult for me to connect with her role as the chosen heroine. The story repeatedly tells us she’s special and powerful, yet I never truly felt that through her actions. Her powers didn’t feel especially unique or impactful, and because of that, I found myself questioning why the gods had chosen her in the first place. A lot of the cast unfortunately felt similarly forgettable, and I never became emotionally invested in them.

Kasik frustrated me as well. At times he felt extremely hypocritical and narrow-minded, which made him difficult to sympathize with. His actions and reactions often felt contradictory, and instead of adding complexity to his character, it mostly left me irritated.

The pacing also made the story difficult to stay invested in. It moves very slowly in places, and I found my attention drifting multiple times throughout the book. While the Inca-inspired setting helped the story stand out somewhat, the overall plot still felt fairly familiar and cliché to me, without enough originality in the characters or relationships to make it memorable.

Overall, while I appreciated the cultural inspiration and some of the creature lore, Their Will Undone ultimately wasn’t the right fit for me. However, this was just my personal experience, and I can still see other readers enjoying it far more than I did—especially those who enjoy fast-moving romances and fantasy worlds inspired by lesser-seen mythologies.

[MyNeverEndingTBRList · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Inca-inspired YA. It was an interesting world, but the plot was predictable and the romance needed more depth. It ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m not sure I’ll rush to the next book, but it was entertaining.

3.75⭐️

[Kristine Gift · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Disclaimer:* A digital ARC of this book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had high hopes for Their Will Undone after following its author R.J. Valldeperas on Instagram for ages, but unfortunately I was disappointed. While the writing itself was fine (I’m likely to pick up new work from Valldeperas in the future!), there were three things that repeatedly took me out of the story that I just could not look past.

I am going to spoiler tag the bulk of my review, since I am reviewing so far ahead of release. I don't think that the points below are truly spoilers, but I want readers to be able to go in without any preconceived ideas if possible!

First, the timeline. The beginning of the book did not make any sense to me. It takes Kasik 15 days to get to the acllahausi where Nina is taken. However, she was on the road for 3 days, then is there for 10 days, locked in for 3 days before he arrives (16 days total). So somehow, Kasik was sent out 1 day after she was captured, but how did anyone know to send him? How would someone have communicated back to the emperor in a single day to tell him to send Kasik out? And then on the way back, Nina and Kasik are waylaid for 2 days, and yet make it back to Amaru Kancha in the same amount of time (or one day faster?) as it took Kasik on the way out. I know this kind of complaint sounds like a nitpick, but we were given explicit numbers on how long these journeys took, so the fact they didn't click was something I couldn't shake.

Second, Nina and Kasik have insta-lust which comes off kind of ick because she is 17 and he is… some age older than that. We never get his age, but I pinned him to be probably 20 or so. However I did not feel any chemistry between them, so the overtures in their internal narrations rang hollow. And the instant attraction between them impacts my third point.

Third, Nina and Kasik have wildly inconsistent internal motivations. Nina, when traveling the woods with Kasik, vacillates between feeling loyal to Kasik, to remembering she has to protect her sister, to thinking she wants to stay in the woods, to deciding to go the palace and do vengeance… but vengeance for what? We kept getting these reminders of how she is so full of rage, but it was never clear what she was enraged about. It felt hollow and forced on the reader and mentions of her rage rarely came up organically. And Kasik… somehow he is a disappointment to his father, who he hates, but wants to impress, and also he’s friends with the emperor, but doesn’t really like him, and maybe will abandon him for this girl he met two weeks ago. He just couldn’t pick a lane and I never had a good sense of who he was.

Between the timeline, the insta-lust, and the inconsistent motivations, I never settled into this book. I found myself frustrated with the characters more than rooting for them. Really bummed to be giving this such a low rating, but I think this needed some more time in the developmental stage before release to iron out some of the issues re: pacing and character work. That said, I think this will absolutely find its fans in the romantasy space, especially among fans of The Jasad Heir which has similar pacing/female rage.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the way the author weaved this story together with a cultural integration that really made it feel quite unique! The book itself is very well written, especially for a YA.

I do think the relationship part of the book could have used some work. It felt a bit stilted, and some of their behaviors were a bit infuriating to me. I also really, realllllly disliked the ending. It made it quite clear that this book is not a standalone, but I really don't like how it ends.

All that said, I did enjoy reading it and found it to be engaging and an interesting read.

Thank you to HarperCollins and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a review.

[Wanderlust Booknook]

I see Inca I add to tbr

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I want to start off saying this book is being marketed for a YA audience and I do think it is appropriate for that audience. I also want to say that these are my personal viewpoints of the book and are not to take away from anyone else's experience.

For me this book was just okay. As we all know there is no such thing as an unoriginal story anymore and that what really brings life to these stories are the way the author tells them with the setting and the characters. While I know this story is supposed to take inspiration from Inca mythology I will say that this is a storyline we have seen with a girl kidnapped by a powerful man to be married but there is something different about her which is why she is chosen and is filled with rage and helplessness due to having no say over her life. I have no issue with this framework of a story. While I know it is tied to a culture's mythology it is not an uncommon theme what brings stories to life and engages readers like myself in these types of stories is the new culture that I am being exposed to through the author's writings as well as the characters and their interactions like I said. The issue with me is that while there are elements and passages that are derived from this community it felt like a light sprinkling rather than being drenched in it if that makes sense. Sometimes I felt like certain passages were missed opportunities to highlight those elements that the scenes were instead so common they could have fit into any culture's mythology/story. Now we do get a lot more of a presence towards the end and the end of this book is what I enjoyed more bc of those elements but it was a little too late for me and this book just felt too generic with nothing to make it stand out to save the book as a whole for me.

That includes the characters who for me have little to no chemistry with one part being it was so rushed. Like Kasik shows up where Nina has been held where she was drugged and abused and he does kill someone who beat on her and she is just immediately enamored with him to where she follows him even though she knows he is there to take her to the emperor to be married against her will. She doesn't fight or tries to escape and even barely fights with him other than to remind him that this is against her will. Even as a dark romance reader this instant giving in just bc a man killed for you was unbelievable. Then there was the fact the MMC Kasik was just so blah for me. This is a man with serious daddy issues that only cares about his oath of loyalty to the emperor bc he is chosen by the Gods even though he saw this emperor murder his older brother over the body of his dying or newly dead father can't remember that small detail. This is the man he follows unquestioningly all bc he wants to prove to his father that he is worth something and that it is an honor to follow and do the bidding of the emperor even taking this girl against her will to be married against her will be he wants it.

There were a couple other small things for me as well, but these were the two big ones with a lackluster romance and nothing standing out from the story. I was really excited for it and maybe this book will work for someone else, but it was just not the book for me as a whole but again I think the last 20% were the most enjoyable of the book for me. This book also ends on a cliff hanger and doesn't have a happily ever after for now and how it ends makes me question if they can even have that so I would downgrade this from a romance to a love story bc I am really unsure if there will even be an HEA in the future but that is just my feelings/thoughts and is not based in any facts about the series and how it ends.


----
This book is about Nina who was just a simple girl who never dreamed much outside her village. But then men of the emperor showed up ahead of schedule of the annual harvest where their paid tithes of not just their harvest but also sons are taken for the arm and some daughters are as well to be trained as wives for high powered nobles. When they showed up Nina to save her sisters volunteers herself if they are left behind. So, the men take her not realizing that the reason they were there was for her. She is then thrown in a gilded cage where she is to be broken into the perfect wives. But before the "training" can really begin a lieutenant named Kasik shows up to take her to the capital because she has been chosen to be the emperor's next wife something she really doesn't want. Now for Kasik he wants nothing more than to complete the mission, earn his own command, and prove his worth to his father. But Nina is not what he expected. And as they travel together, their wary partnership is complicated by a dangerous attraction and by the awakening power pulsing beneath Nina’s skin. A power the empire would kill to control.

I received this as an arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Nal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the physical ARC!

I had really high hopes for this book mainly cuz it said that it was for fans of This Woven Kingdom and if you know me, you know that TWK is my LIFE!!! So I thought I was gonna go into a book that will have a MMC that is just as down bad as Cyrus or a story line that would keep me in a chokehold. Kinda was disappointed 🫤

In the beginning, I was enjoying this book. The first chapter drew me right in and I was having a fun time reading. I’m so glad there was a glossary because I kept on forgetting what some of the words meant so I was constantly just referring to it. I think it was around the 45% to 50% mark where it just started to lose me. I just wasn’t really into the story anymore. I did finish it because I wanted to know what would happen at the end of their journey and once they finally came face to face with the emperor. I kinda predicted some stuff that happened so I wasn’t too surprised with what happened at the end.

I feel like the main thing that disappointed me was the romance aspect. Like I didn’t really FEEL it between them as I was reading. Like yea you could tell that he wanted her but was conflicted between his duty to the emperor and his feelings for her but it just felt like I was just reading it. Thats it. I couldn’t really FEEL it.

Honestly I think it was just me going in with high expectations thinking this would be similar to TWK and it wasn’t so that’s why I couldn’t enjoy it much.

[Maria Viale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this YA “coming of rage” fantasy.

This is a book I’ve been super excited to read, and it didn’t disappoint. The story follows Nina as she gets kidnapped by the emperor’s men, and Kasik, a loyal soldier who has been sent to collect Nina and bring her to the emperor as his new wife.

Nina and Kasik go on a journey through the forest where they start to develop feelings for each other.

The romance really took a back seat for me with this one. I was too busy wrapped into the Incan lore, and this book is rich with it. RJ Valldeperas created such a beautiful world with so much culture and color. It was expected for a YA fantasy - I just wasn’t excepting the depths to the world we were experiencing.

My real issue with the story is that I wanted a little more. A lot of big plot points lack in build-up and therefor don’t feel as tense or as monumental as they should - and I think it’s because a lot of things are happening and progressing off-page. I do think it’s the nature of the book being YA…we spend a lot of time reading about Nina’s rage, and Kasik’s inner turmoil, when we can spend that time building more of a foundation in the story or helping build a bit more tension.

Overall, I was really impressed with this one! Super excited to read RJV’s adult debut this fall and excited to see where the rest of the story goes.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

This was such a strong debut and such a powerful opener to a duology, and I cannot wait to see where this story is headed!

Full of Incan folklore, this is a coming-of-(r)age like you've never seen it done before. I adored the worldbuilding in this book and found that learning about the world was what drew me in at first. And then Nina and Kasik kept me hooked and coming back for more and more! The journey that Nina goes on is such a powerful one in so many ways, and I can't wait to see what her development from this book leads her to in the next one.

You're not going to want to miss out on it!

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you HarperCollins for the gifted copy and LibroFM for the audiobook.

SAVED BY THE SECOND HALF.

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🎧 The audiobook was good. I liked the narrator. This was dual POV though so I would have loved it had been dual narrators too. Luckily it was fairly easy to tell the POV’s apart.

This book started off iffy for me when I clocked into the insta-attraction/love. I’m someone who pretty much only ever wants a slow burn and I was confused by the supposed chemistry between Kasik and Nina when they are by all accounts, enemies. Luckily this connection started to disperse as conflict arose and different scenarios actually brought some needed stressors. I’m more endeared now to the story after the second half and I think it’s much better set up for the sequel.

I did enjoy the main characters and the different perspectives they come from. There’s a good battle of wills and understanding that all the information before them is not actually all of the answers. I liked the complicated political dynamics and trying to find the right answer for all involved. The feminine rage doesn’t overwhelm the story and added an edge that I was here for.

Overall audience notes:
- YA Fantasy Romance
- Language: mild
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: moderate

[Basma · Rating 2 out of 5]

it just felt very rushed and underwhelming

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently learned about a new author, R.J. Valldeperas, whose books draw from her Peruvian and Venezuelan heritage. I’m currently in Lima, my husband’s home city, and have been craving more books set in and around Peru. I first heard of her upcoming adult fantasy… but then saw she also had a YA fantasy coming even sooner: Their Will Undone. It just came out last week and kicks off a duology inspired by the Inca empire.

Nina has just been chosen to be the emperor’s new bride, his second wife. The emperor sends Kasik to personally escort her to him. On their journey, Nina and Kasik start to form a close bond, but they also learn surprising truths about themselves along the way. By the time they’ve reached the emperor, they both have plans for what to do next… but it’s unclear how they can continue to be in each other’s lives afterwards.

What I Liked:
- Incan and Andean culture. Since meeting my husband, and especially since arriving in Peru, I’ve been curious to read more books set here and inspired by local history and culture. Their Will Undone fully delivers in this aspect. The book started from a real historical event over 500s years ago, the Children of Llullaillaco (in the Andes on the Chile-Argentina border). I love how the author weaves in the characters’ differing views on their shared history, the role of the gods, and what is possible in their present day.
- The chosen one, political unrest, and rebellion. The chosen one trope is common in fantasy, and not usually my favorite, but it’s done well here. Nina is just learning how to wield her power, but she has a long way to go still. I appreciate that, instead of finding the weight of the world on her shoulders, Nina’s goals remain focused on her family’s well-being. It feels more realistic. Nina and Kasik are both incredibly loyal, though sometimes they need to reevaluate who is deserving of that loyalty.
- Feminine rage and power. Nina and another character, the empress, show the beginnings of feminine power. Men may underestimate them, but they both have goals and the ability to achieve them. A lot is set up here for the second book.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- It’s a lot to take in. This book introduces many themes and plot points, and it sometimes felt a bit too crowded. It could have benefited from some streamlining in the first half, or perhaps a longer page count. It settles more in the latter half, though, while leaving plenty of room to expand in the next book of the series.

Audiobook:
Elena Rey and Christian Barillas narrate as Nina and Kasik, respectively. Both do a great job in capturing their characters, including the pronunciation of words drawn from the Quechua language and other Andean names. This was an engrossing listen.

Final Thoughts
Their Will Undone is an absorbing fantasy perfect for anyone interested in Incan history and culture, political intrigue, and a forbidden romance. It has quite the ending, and I’m eager for the second book in this duology. While we wait for that, though, I’m also excited to read the author’s upcoming adult fantasy, Daughter of the Dark, out this September.

Special thanks to HarperCollins, HarperAudio Children’s, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

* Please read my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *

[Erin Arkin]

As a self-proclaimed mood reader, my reading life is entirely governed by my headspace. Sometimes, a book can have an incredible premise, flawless writing, and a brilliant concept, but if the stars don't align with my current mood, the connection just won't click. That is exactly what happened with my time reading Their Will Undone by R.J. Valldeperas. I made the conscious decision to put this book aside for now—not because of any flaw in the execution, but simply because I wasn't fully connecting with the story at this exact moment.

Before diving into why I paused, I want to emphasize how fascinating the premise of this Young Adult fantasy is. The book is set in the Amaru Empire and follows Nina, a young woman fiercely dedicated to her family. After her brother is taken in the empire's annual harvest, Nina makes the ultimate sacrifice: when the guards return for her sweet sister, she volunteers to take her place instead. Placed in the *acllahuasi*—a gilded cage where women are trained to serve the ruling class—she soon discovers she has been chosen to become the wife of the emperor.

Enter Kasik, an obedient lieutenant in the emperor's army (who happens to be the emperor’s best friend). Kasik is tasked with escorting Nina back to the capital city. The two share an immediate, thick distrust, but as they navigate dangerous terrain, the forced proximity begins to spark a simmering, forbidden chemistry between them. Alongside this high-stakes romance, a dark, divine magic begins to awaken in Nina's chest, tying her to the gods and complicating their journey.

What I did read of Their Will Undone, I actually really enjoyed! Valldeperas has crafted a rich, culturally vivid world that feels entirely fresh compared to standard YA fantasy backdrops. The historical inspiration shines through beautifully, and the setup promises a masterclass in tropes I typically adore—including forced proximity, a broody protector, forbidden romance, and a heavy dose of feminine rage. The writing flows smoothly, and the author does a spectacular job building tension right out of the gate.

However, despite these fantastic elements, I just wasn't feeling properly invested. As a mood reader, I’ve learned that forcing myself through a book when I’m not in the right mindset does a massive disservice to both the author's hard work and my own reading experience. This is absolutely a case of "it's not you, it's me." There is nothing the author did wrong; the narrative simply requires a level of focused immersion that I wasn't equipped to give it at this time.

I am marking this as a "temporary DNF" because I will definitely be picking this back up in the future. The unique Incan-inspired world-building and the complex dynamic between Nina and Kasik are too promising to leave behind forever. I look forward to giving this book the full, undivided attention it deserves when the right reading mood strikes! If you love high-stakes YA romantic fantasy with unique cultural depths, don't let my pause deter you—this is definitely a book to keep on your radar.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

Brilliant story with an intriguing world and a solid plot. I loved the writing and I think it had a really nice flow to it throughout the whole book. Great storytelling and wonderfully complex in its character arcs. I think Nina was such a strong main character to read about, and I especially loved the powerful ending and the way her rage is written and woven into the story.

I did have a few issues with Kasik and his blind loyalty... He had no trouble delivering (what he thought would be) a child bride to the emperor and had zero understanding for her situation and how it might not be seen as an honor for her when she is being forced to give herself and her body to a stranger who would be in complete control of her. I understand the purpose of showing us his unflinching loyalty and how he is shaped by the beliefs (and lies) of the people around him – I also acknowledge that he begins to question and challenge some of these beliefs later on and that it's a part of his growth and development. But: it's not the concept of the fact that girls and women are thought of as mere commodities to be traded around and used as "gifts" for powerful men that he begins to question – that's just the way it is, and it doesn't seem like he has any issue with this. But he does want to save this one particular girl, because he falls in love with her. Not because it's the right thing to do or because the whole foundation of their customs and their views of girls and women are horrible. At least that's what it seemed like to me, and I would have liked to see Kasik remove himself from this a bit more. I would like for him to feel bad, and not just because he wants to be with Nina.

I also struggled a bit with the fact that she is so young, and we know that he is older (we don't know exactly how much, but I'm assuming at least a few years). He is prepared for her to be a child (his words, not mine) and of course notices that she is older than what he initially thought – but he just found out (and still technically doesn't know how old she is yet), and yet he notices and stares at her naked thigh immediately and thinks about the way her body feels pressed against his. These are classic romantic tropes and I normally eat it up – it just felt a bit weird and inappropriate when she was so young and he was older and more powerful (in terms of position) than her. And I know it's a YA and therefore the characters are bound to be young, which is fine. It's just the fact that he wants her in a sexual way so early on and how that seems completely normal, and it just wasn't my favorite.

But overall, this was a strong book with a great premise and an insane ending (that I loved!), and I am very excited to see where everything goes from here.

[Raji · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own .

Thank you to the publisher, Frenzy Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s time for the annual harvest in the Amaru Empire, and guards choose children to serve the empire which is considered a great honor, but the loss of her brother several years ago still haunts Nina’s family. When the guards come for her sister, Nina offers herself and is taken to the acclahuasi, where the chosen women live a confined life and are trained to be either servants or wives. When the emperor commands his lieutenant Kasik to retrieve his new wife, Kasik accepts and is promised his own command and a chance to escape his controlling father should he return successful. Neither of them trusts the other, but as Kasik and Nina set out on the long journey to the capital they encounter many dangers and uncover long hidden secrets about both their pasts, including an ancient magic Nina possesses that will play a key role in the coming days.

💭 Initial Thoughts: The premise of this book alone was enough to make me add this to my TBR and request the ARC as soon as I saw it. YA fantasy has not been working too well for me lately, but this was too interesting to pass up. However, I think my review is going to be an outlier.

🌎 Plot, World building & Atmosphere: The setting for this book is not one I’ve seen before, and that, along with the descriptions of the customs, religious and cultural practices was undoubtedly its strongest point. I loved all the Incan world building and despite having negligible background knowledge on the subject, it was easy to tell how much thought the author has put into this aspect. The world really came alive as the characters made the long journey through dangerous terrains to reach the awe inspiring capital city with all its grandeur.

The magic system was intriguing, but inconsistent, and I couldn’t get a full understanding of what was and was not possible, so it definitely needed more clarification. The travel timings also felt very inconstant with the emperor getting the news about Nina even before she arrives at the acclahuasi and Kasik managing to make it there only a short while after she gets there.

✍🏻 Writing & Narration: While the writing was decent, the pacing was quite slow – indeed too slow given the book is under 400 pages. It took a good 40% before things actually started happening and the bulk of the action was towards the end of the book and felt stuffed into the last handful of chapters.

👥 Characters: Nina was a strong and driven character, and her growth throughout the story was steady and a delight to follow as she discovers the truth about herself but never deviates from her goal. However, I did note that as the story progressed she began to sound less and less like the protagonist and more morally grey.

Kasik however, was a bit disappointing. For much of the book, he was blindly loyal to the Emperor and his father despite knowing the truth of their natures, and it took far too long for him to start questioning things. Even after that, he kept going back and forth, which, from a reader’s perspective, was extremely annoying, and kept secrets from Nina. Consequentially, the romance, which was more of an attraction by proximity in my opinion, didn’t capture my interest. The villains on the other hand, were actually pretty good and they really felt evil.

🎬 Ending: The ending was definitely not what I expected – so much happened in so little time and all those last minute twists were just insane. It raised a lot of questions and leaves room for what could be quite an interesting sequel!

❓ Final Thoughts & Recommendation: Overall, this was an ok read but it had so much more potential that could have been explored and I just expected more from such a unique premise. At this time, I’m not certain if I’ll be picking up the sequel – while the ending was quite the cliffhanger, I doubt it’s going to hold my attention an entire year so I’ll probably wait to see the reviews before deciding. Still, for the plot and world building alone, I would recommend trying this book out if the concept appeals to you.

[Teenage Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like I was just getting into this novel when Valldeperas ended it—despite it feeling extremely long (I couldn’t actually judge since it was an e-book, but it felt like I’d been reading it forever). I think that sense of length comes from how much of the story is just waiting for things to happen. Nina and Kasik’s romance didn’t feel realistic, coming across more as lust than genuine love or trust. And while the author tried to build the world, I found it confusing at times, and the magic system felt underwhelming. Still, the characters themselves were strong individually, even if their time together felt too short to fully develop.
Nina, however, was fantastic. She’s an excellent character to follow, and the third-person perspective worked well for her. Valldeperas built this novel around female rage, which added depth and made Nina’s motivations easy to understand and respect. I loved her distrustful nature paired with her deep loyalty to her family, though I do wish we had more flashbacks to really strengthen that connection. The explanations of her magic and the world were decent, but at times it felt like the author expected readers to fill in gaps that should have been more clearly explained.
Kasik is… fine. No, really, I did like him—his “loyalty above all else” trait had potential, especially with the classic trope of being tied to the king through his past. This setup pushed him to grow as he started to see Nina as more important than his loyalty to the crown. But despite that, he doesn’t really do much. Outside of his attraction to Nina, he often feels like a placeholder character. Even with attempts to give him depth through his backstory, he never fully stood out, which is disappointing considering he’s one of the central characters.
Overall, I think this story has potential. Like I said, I was just getting into it when it suddenly ended. I’m hoping that in the next book, the characters are given more room to let their emotions drive their actions, that Nina and Kasik develop real chemistry (and maybe some trust), and that the world-building becomes clearer and more engaging.

[Erica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
1/5 stars
I nearly decided to DNF this at 80%, but decided to push through to see if it surprised me and brought everything together. It did not.
I had a lot of issues with this. I was so excited about the idea of a YA fantasy set in an Incan Empire-inspired world. It’s not something that I’ve seen before (or at least, not often), which is always fun. But boy, was I disappointed. Not with the cultural aspect of the world, which was maybe the most interesting (if not fully fleshed out) part.
What I really took issue with was the characters and the fantasy elements. Nina and Kasik were extremely annoying as leads. Both perpetually angry and quick to assume the worst of each other, even when they’re supposed to be falling in love. They constantly talk at each other and the miscommunications!! Oh my god, there were so many times where if they just said one more word to each other, they’d realize that they weren’t actually communicating. I get that sometimes characters miscommunicate, but it felt like there wasn’t a single instance in this book that had them actually talk openly. And they’re supposed to be in love!
The “magic” was under-explained and made no sense. Somehow, Nina is special and powerful, moreso than most people with power in this world… but why? What does that mean? You’re never told. Suddenly, there are people who can see the future, Nina can “control will,” which translates to “she can make their brains come out their noses somehow.” Then someone with fire powers shows up, and I just have no idea what the range of powers is or what to expect.
Finally, the story. Let’s hop into full spoiler territory. So Kasik’s father kidnaps Nina because he feels her power. He brings her to basically a nunnery for magical girls, where she stays for less than two weeks. Then, the emperor sends Kasik to pick her up and bring her safely to him. Just…why not have Kasik’s dad bring her directly to the palace? Why send Kasik at all? It makes no sense!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say after finishing this is OWWWW!! Review to come! ✨

(FINAL REVIEW:)

Wow. Just WOW. I had such a fun time with this upper YA coming-of-rage inspired by the Incan Empire. It's been a while since I have read a female character who reminds me of Nahri from The Daevabad Trilogy and man was it fun to just sit there and stew as the character both worms their way into your heart and yet at the same time makes you want to throttle them (in a loving way of course!). Again, I need to preface this review with the fact that I am a part of this book’s street team and this didn’t affect my overall thoughts on this book. Now on to the review! 😁

This book follows two POV’s and love interests: Nina, a young farm girl who holds a powerful and ancient power; and Kasik, a young warrior desperate to please his distant father and devoutly loyal to emperor. I found these two incredibly entertaining with their banter, and while the miscommunication isn’t my favorite, I feel like this worked well with their development. 🤣

I found Nina a fiery character that is deeply loyal to her family and won’t back down on her stances. I found it so funny that she and Kasik were so close at times to understanding their similarities and then either she or he would go and say something dumb. I’m very excited to see where her powers take her in the next book! 🔥

Kasik, like Nina, is a very understandable character and love interest. The need to appease a emotional cold and abusive parent is heart wrenching to read, but I love that it never fully made him bitter as well. And his ending?? I haven’t been that shocked by a character’s development in so long! 😳

My only tidbit is that I do feel like the beginning and attraction started off a little too quickly, but that’s a personal preference. In the end, I still had a blast with this book and had so much fun getting immersed in Incan mythology and history. ☀️

Thank you goes to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read this early in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to the author, Valledeperas for accepting me to be on the street team and writing such an epic Incan inspired fantasy! I can’t wait for the sequel and your upcoming romantasy book later this year! ❤️

Publication date: June 2 so go get it now!!

Overall: 4.75/5 ⭐️

[Daniela M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story we are familiar with, but set in a world that felt pretty new for me. Their Will Undone is your typical FMC saves her sister by sacrificing herself to be taken and wed to tyrannical ruler, only to fall in love with the grumpy currier sent to retrieve her. The book follows all the typical story beats that we see in this genre, and it felt comfortable and typical to this genre. What was far in this book was the Incan lore and backdrop that gave this story a unique feel. Though I will say, there are phrases and words that are used with italics in a way that the author doesn’t really explain, or explains only once. So, when we are using honorifics, types of food, or ceremonies that are unique to this world, the author only mentions their meaning once, and then the audience is expected to pick up the rest. I don’t really care for books when they don’t go into detail and simply use these words as if we are to do the research on our own to know what these things are or what they look like.

There are also parts of the book where the information about the world is delivered to us in a dry way. You have sentences being structured like “a [blank] is when [blank, blank, bank] happens, and only happens during [blank].” It just felt like a flat way to world build, and I would have liked to learn more things about this world via dialogue rather than exposition via the narrator.

The relationship between Nina and Kazik is very quick and feels a bit childish. They don’t like each other, and then suddenly they do, and then even more suddenly they are willing to die for each other. It just felt juvenile, even for YA. And while the story beats are very predictable to a story like this, I did enjoy the end and the rage against the establishment scenes. I feel like this book was a much-toned down version of The Poet Empress. So if you like something like that, then you will like this one.

The audiobook was a dual narration and both VAs did a great job with the material.

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and the author for the audio ARC.

[Angi · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are so many things to appreciate about this book. I love the foundation--that it's built loosely around Inca culture, that it features a compelling magic system, and that the protagonist is a strong girl who's fiercely loyal, strong, and caring. I also enjoyed the storyline and that it ends at a point of tension, but not a cliffhanger.

The things I didn't care for as much revolve around pacing and may be less of an issue for other readers. The first was that a couple of times the pacing was slowed by an onslaught of new terminology. Most new terms in the book are introduced gradually in context, so by the end you're familiar and comfortable with it. But there was one chapter where the exposition was too much, and it felt like there were 20 new words in 2 pages (audiobook so I can't confirm exactly), so I lost sight of the plot and it felt more like a language lesson where I wasn't keeping up. I hoped that my failure to follow that part wouldn't matter, and ultimately it didn't. But I found myself pulled out of the storyline, and wish the new terminology had been spread around more. My second point of concern around pacing was toward the end of the book. I enjoy books with mounting tension but occasional breaks, whether for humor, for a moment of sweetness, or for a moment of human connection. In this case the author was successful at continually increasing the tension, but for me it was too much--near the end it felt like it had been hours of perpetually escalating tension without a break and I landed solidly in drama fatigue, and probably won't pick up the sequel. But if you're OK with extended cranked drama and don't mind reading (or skipping) a page or two of terminology introduction, this book might be a solid choice.

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NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review expressing my personal opinions.