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The Fated and the Fallen: A Witch x Witch Hunter Epic Romantasy
Not yet published
Expected 6 Feb 26He was bred to destroy her kind. She’s destined to destroy the world. But the Fates have a sense of humor…
A KINGDOM ON THE EDGE.
A POWER SHE CAN’T CONTROL.
AN ENEMY SHE CAN’T IGNORE.
The fragile peace between the triplet Kingdoms of Aetherium is fracturing. The anti-magic Border around Aeos is failing—and something dark is rising.
Hazel Callahan only wanted a quiet life alongside her father at their inn. But when forbidden magic bursts from her veins, she becomes a fugitive in a realm that hunts her kind. Her only hope for survival—and the truth about her mother’s past—lies with the one man sworn to destroy her.
Slaide Elias, the infamous shadow-wielding witch hunter, has spent his life serving the crown he despises. Hazel should be his enemy. Instead, she becomes his only chance at freedom—and the first to challenge the darkness within him.
Condemned to the deadly Tournament of Champions, Hazel and Slaide are forced into an uneasy alliance that ignites something far more perilous than magic. But as secrets unravel and destiny closes in, Hazel will have to decide if trusting her enemy will save her… or doom them both.
THE FATED AND THE FALLEN is the first installment in the Fates of Aetherium, an epic romantasy series featuring a high-stakes, slow burn, character-driven plot perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove, Spark of the Everflame, Serpent and the Wings of Night, and Throne of Glass.
A KINGDOM ON THE EDGE.
A POWER SHE CAN’T CONTROL.
AN ENEMY SHE CAN’T IGNORE.
The fragile peace between the triplet Kingdoms of Aetherium is fracturing. The anti-magic Border around Aeos is failing—and something dark is rising.
Hazel Callahan only wanted a quiet life alongside her father at their inn. But when forbidden magic bursts from her veins, she becomes a fugitive in a realm that hunts her kind. Her only hope for survival—and the truth about her mother’s past—lies with the one man sworn to destroy her.
Slaide Elias, the infamous shadow-wielding witch hunter, has spent his life serving the crown he despises. Hazel should be his enemy. Instead, she becomes his only chance at freedom—and the first to challenge the darkness within him.
Condemned to the deadly Tournament of Champions, Hazel and Slaide are forced into an uneasy alliance that ignites something far more perilous than magic. But as secrets unravel and destiny closes in, Hazel will have to decide if trusting her enemy will save her… or doom them both.
THE FATED AND THE FALLEN is the first installment in the Fates of Aetherium, an epic romantasy series featuring a high-stakes, slow burn, character-driven plot perfect for fans of Serpent & Dove, Spark of the Everflame, Serpent and the Wings of Night, and Throne of Glass.
462 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 6, 2026
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Read and Reviewed as an ARC by the author.
I really liked the concept for this book. It fell a little short for me though. I found it very hard to get into. I had to force myself to read it. Not that it wasn't well written, but I guess it just didn't hit from me. Would I read the next book in the series, probably not. I gave it four stars because I don't think there was anything wrong with the book, it just wasn't for me.
I really liked the concept for this book. It fell a little short for me though. I found it very hard to get into. I had to force myself to read it. Not that it wasn't well written, but I guess it just didn't hit from me. Would I read the next book in the series, probably not. I gave it four stars because I don't think there was anything wrong with the book, it just wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from Author
♾️✨⭐️🤩 ABSOLUTELY UNPUTDOWNABLE
I devoured The Fated and the Fallen in less than 48 hours and when I say devoured, I mean I didn’t once check how many pages I had left. I was completely hypnotized by the author’s writing and the sheer magic of this story. Page after page, chapter after chapter, I was gone. Just… WOW🤯
I honestly don’t even have the words to explain how much this book surprised me. When I first read the blurb, I’ll admit it I thought: “Hmm… okay, another story with a broken heroine, a morally dark hero, enemies to lovers, blah blah blah.”
Let me tell you right now: I was so wrong.
The slap this book delivered? Monumental🥴
What did I just read??? I’m stunned. Blown away. Still processing.
What I got instead was a powerful, immersive, emotionally charged dark romantasy with incredible world-building, razor-sharp tension, and characters that feel painfully real. The pacing is flawless !
Hazel lives a quiet, peaceful life with her father in a remote village, helping run their inn. Never in a million years did she imagine her life would spiral into something so dark and brutal. Magic was banished from the kingdom. Witches are hunted, executed, erased. The king raised a magical barrier to keep all magical creatures out but that barrier is weakening.
Something dark is pushing against it. Monsters roam the land.
And Hazel encounters one.
She’s ready to die… and then BOOM ! she fends off the creature with magic.
Her magic.
Saved by a mysterious, terrifying man (or creature?), Hazel tries to return to her quiet life. But fate isn’t done with her. Soldiers arrive. She’s arrested. Her crime?
Being a witch.
And then enters Slaide Elias 😮💨🔥🖤— yes, that Slaide (and yes, I screamed at the Slade Ravinger nod). The king’s infamous witch hunter. The monster of legends. He offers her a deal: she will fight as his champion in the royal tournament. If she wins, she lives and he gains his freedom.
Simple.
Except nothing about this story is.
Because Slaide is not the monster he pretends to be. Dark secrets shroud him. Pain, guilt, and shadows cling to every part of him. And Hazel? She is not a damsel in distress. She challenges him at every turn, refuses to bend, refuses to break.
And what awaits them is far greater than they ever imagined. It is no longer just about Hazel’s survival, but the fate of an entire kingdom.
Their interactions are raw, explosive, and charged with tension. This is enemies-to-allies-to-something far more dangerous. The slow burn is immaculate… restrained, painful, devastating. One kiss. ONE. And so many unsaid words left hanging in the air.
THIS IS A TRUE SLOOOOOW BURN🔥 I am so tired of reading the same boring stuff… like 40% in and the FMC and MMC are already giving in😒🙄
THIS BOOK IS SO REFRESHING ! Finally an author who prioritises the plot and the world building before the sexual aspect ! It was so prefect.
“It’s the way you glare at me, as though you’d burn me to ash with a single look if you could.” He brought his face closer to hers, his dark eyes searching as they flitted back and forth. “You make me want to test you,” he continued as mischief danced across his face, “physically and mentally. I want to explore what makes you tick and learn what sounds you make when you’re unable to utter a single coherent word.”
“Tell me, Hazel. How does it feel to bring a witch hunter to his knees?”
The magic system, the political tension, and the looming sense of danger create an atmosphere that keeps tightening until you’re holding your breath.
And that ending…😱😭😭😭
All I’ll say is this: I closed the book in silence, stared at the wall, and immediately needed the sequel.
TROPES
⚔️ enemies to allies
🔮 forbidden magic
☠️ deadly tournament
🤝 forced alliance
🧙🏻witch x witch hunter
👿 lies/ betrayals/ secrets
🔥 criminal slow burn
💜 enemies to almost lovers
READ. THIS. BOOK🖤🖤🖤
Thank you M.E Allquist and Iris Influencer Society for the gifted eARC !
I devoured The Fated and the Fallen in less than 48 hours and when I say devoured, I mean I didn’t once check how many pages I had left. I was completely hypnotized by the author’s writing and the sheer magic of this story. Page after page, chapter after chapter, I was gone. Just… WOW🤯
I honestly don’t even have the words to explain how much this book surprised me. When I first read the blurb, I’ll admit it I thought: “Hmm… okay, another story with a broken heroine, a morally dark hero, enemies to lovers, blah blah blah.”
Let me tell you right now: I was so wrong.
The slap this book delivered? Monumental🥴
What did I just read??? I’m stunned. Blown away. Still processing.
What I got instead was a powerful, immersive, emotionally charged dark romantasy with incredible world-building, razor-sharp tension, and characters that feel painfully real. The pacing is flawless !
Hazel lives a quiet, peaceful life with her father in a remote village, helping run their inn. Never in a million years did she imagine her life would spiral into something so dark and brutal. Magic was banished from the kingdom. Witches are hunted, executed, erased. The king raised a magical barrier to keep all magical creatures out but that barrier is weakening.
Something dark is pushing against it. Monsters roam the land.
And Hazel encounters one.
She’s ready to die… and then BOOM ! she fends off the creature with magic.
Her magic.
Saved by a mysterious, terrifying man (or creature?), Hazel tries to return to her quiet life. But fate isn’t done with her. Soldiers arrive. She’s arrested. Her crime?
Being a witch.
And then enters Slaide Elias 😮💨🔥🖤— yes, that Slaide (and yes, I screamed at the Slade Ravinger nod). The king’s infamous witch hunter. The monster of legends. He offers her a deal: she will fight as his champion in the royal tournament. If she wins, she lives and he gains his freedom.
Simple.
Except nothing about this story is.
Because Slaide is not the monster he pretends to be. Dark secrets shroud him. Pain, guilt, and shadows cling to every part of him. And Hazel? She is not a damsel in distress. She challenges him at every turn, refuses to bend, refuses to break.
And what awaits them is far greater than they ever imagined. It is no longer just about Hazel’s survival, but the fate of an entire kingdom.
Their interactions are raw, explosive, and charged with tension. This is enemies-to-allies-to-something far more dangerous. The slow burn is immaculate… restrained, painful, devastating. One kiss. ONE. And so many unsaid words left hanging in the air.
THIS IS A TRUE SLOOOOOW BURN🔥 I am so tired of reading the same boring stuff… like 40% in and the FMC and MMC are already giving in😒🙄
THIS BOOK IS SO REFRESHING ! Finally an author who prioritises the plot and the world building before the sexual aspect ! It was so prefect.
“It’s the way you glare at me, as though you’d burn me to ash with a single look if you could.” He brought his face closer to hers, his dark eyes searching as they flitted back and forth. “You make me want to test you,” he continued as mischief danced across his face, “physically and mentally. I want to explore what makes you tick and learn what sounds you make when you’re unable to utter a single coherent word.”
“Tell me, Hazel. How does it feel to bring a witch hunter to his knees?”
The magic system, the political tension, and the looming sense of danger create an atmosphere that keeps tightening until you’re holding your breath.
And that ending…😱😭😭😭
All I’ll say is this: I closed the book in silence, stared at the wall, and immediately needed the sequel.
TROPES
⚔️ enemies to allies
🔮 forbidden magic
☠️ deadly tournament
🤝 forced alliance
🧙🏻witch x witch hunter
👿 lies/ betrayals/ secrets
🔥 criminal slow burn
💜 enemies to almost lovers
READ. THIS. BOOK🖤🖤🖤
Thank you M.E Allquist and Iris Influencer Society for the gifted eARC !
Review of advance copy received from Author
•He’s from the shadows, she brings the light•
Wow. I was not prepared for the wreckage left by this book! Such a good read!
The Fated and the Fallen is the first book in the author’s Fate of Aetherium series, taking us to a land where witches possess magic, but it is outlawed inside the King’s Borders. The King, however, keeps magical creatures against their will to do his bidding, and his subjects live in fear and suspicion of one another.
We meet Slaide Elias, a brooding, dark witch hunter bred for evil and bloodlust. To the world, he is a strong and ruthless killer, but there is more behind his shadows and rough exterior.
We also meet Hazel Callahan, a smart, caring daughter living a simple life running an inn with her father. She is unaware of the true powers that lie within her until Fate puts her in Slaide’s path, and nothing is as it seemed.
Slaide is the darkness, and Hazel brings the light, and these two enemies come together as unlikely allies, unsure of each other’s motives but increasingly drawn to each other. What Hazel discovers along the way led to some definite jaw-dropping moments for me.
I went in knowing it was a witch versus witch hunter dark fantasy, and the author delivers on that big time, but there are also complex themes within this book that are a perfect example of how the fantasy genre can hold up a mirror to our worldview and promote deep thinking. I was not expecting how fast I would be drawn into this epic story, how much I enjoyed every chapter, and how I am already so desperate for the next book.
Thank you IRIS Influencer Society and author M.E. Allquist for sending me a free copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 4.5 stars.
Wow. I was not prepared for the wreckage left by this book! Such a good read!
The Fated and the Fallen is the first book in the author’s Fate of Aetherium series, taking us to a land where witches possess magic, but it is outlawed inside the King’s Borders. The King, however, keeps magical creatures against their will to do his bidding, and his subjects live in fear and suspicion of one another.
We meet Slaide Elias, a brooding, dark witch hunter bred for evil and bloodlust. To the world, he is a strong and ruthless killer, but there is more behind his shadows and rough exterior.
We also meet Hazel Callahan, a smart, caring daughter living a simple life running an inn with her father. She is unaware of the true powers that lie within her until Fate puts her in Slaide’s path, and nothing is as it seemed.
Slaide is the darkness, and Hazel brings the light, and these two enemies come together as unlikely allies, unsure of each other’s motives but increasingly drawn to each other. What Hazel discovers along the way led to some definite jaw-dropping moments for me.
I went in knowing it was a witch versus witch hunter dark fantasy, and the author delivers on that big time, but there are also complex themes within this book that are a perfect example of how the fantasy genre can hold up a mirror to our worldview and promote deep thinking. I was not expecting how fast I would be drawn into this epic story, how much I enjoyed every chapter, and how I am already so desperate for the next book.
Thank you IRIS Influencer Society and author M.E. Allquist for sending me a free copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. 4.5 stars.
January 24, 2026
After that cliffhanger ending with those final two reveals, that next book better be coming ASAP, because I need to know how our FMC handles this news and if the final reveal how quickly she will find out!!
This book follows a FMC Hazel, who’s just trying to survive in her small town, running an inn with her father and watching over her “aunt” who helped raise her. When suddenly she’s put in a situation that to help save her aunt, powers come out of her, powers that’s she didn’t know she had and powers that are illegal in her kingdom and the witch hunter who found her is now her only hope for salvation. She must work with this man who’s been cruel to earn her freedom in trials being put on by the king and survive both mental and physical challenges. As the truth unfolds around her and she learns more about her hidden identity, it turns out not everything is as it seems.
From the very first few chapters, this story had me wrapped up in its immersive world and the chaotic events happening within it. I really felt for the FMC who both loved her family but also felt betrayed by what they were hiding from her. There was also plenty of tension between Hazel and the witch hunter she’s sworn to hate who put her in this position, with banter and yearning coming from both of them, I cannot wait to see how this relationship turns out in the next book. With plenty of secrets coming unraveled, battle scenes and of course magic, this book had me flipping to the next page as fast as I could and I cannot wait for the next one! Overall my rating 4.8/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted ARC, all opinions given are my own!
This book follows a FMC Hazel, who’s just trying to survive in her small town, running an inn with her father and watching over her “aunt” who helped raise her. When suddenly she’s put in a situation that to help save her aunt, powers come out of her, powers that’s she didn’t know she had and powers that are illegal in her kingdom and the witch hunter who found her is now her only hope for salvation. She must work with this man who’s been cruel to earn her freedom in trials being put on by the king and survive both mental and physical challenges. As the truth unfolds around her and she learns more about her hidden identity, it turns out not everything is as it seems.
From the very first few chapters, this story had me wrapped up in its immersive world and the chaotic events happening within it. I really felt for the FMC who both loved her family but also felt betrayed by what they were hiding from her. There was also plenty of tension between Hazel and the witch hunter she’s sworn to hate who put her in this position, with banter and yearning coming from both of them, I cannot wait to see how this relationship turns out in the next book. With plenty of secrets coming unraveled, battle scenes and of course magic, this book had me flipping to the next page as fast as I could and I cannot wait for the next one! Overall my rating 4.8/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted ARC, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Fated and the Fallen by M.E. Allquist
5 out of 5 stars
ARC
Thank you, IRIS Influencer Society and M.E., for this early copy. All parts of this review are of my own honest opinion 💚
I NEED more of this series! 😍 I loved every little bit of this, like literally, there is not a single thing about this book that I did not like. It is a book for the ages with amazing pacing, one-of-a-kind world-building, and a storyline that leaves you demanding more. If you're like me, you won't be able to stop yourself from falling in love with the world and its characters.
Don't expect these characters to be stereotypical either. That's why you'll love them. Hazel is our FMC, and she is not broken. Through everything that happens, she stands tall, even after a moment that would crush everyone else beyond repair. Then we have our MMC, Slaide; he may seem like the most villainous person to ever exist, but as you read on, you'll realize just how wrong that is, and you'll see who the true villains are. Plus, Slaide could wrap his wings around me any day 😉, so maybe I'm a little biased 😂
If you love:
🖤 Enemies to Allies
🔮 Forbidden Magic
☠️ Deadly Tournaments
🧙 Witch x Witch Hunter
🤫 Betrayals/Lies/Secrets
❤️🔥 A Criminally Sloooow Burn
Then please, please, please read this book. I want to be able to rant about it with so many people 😩 Mark February 6th down on your calendar!
5 out of 5 stars
ARC
Thank you, IRIS Influencer Society and M.E., for this early copy. All parts of this review are of my own honest opinion 💚
I NEED more of this series! 😍 I loved every little bit of this, like literally, there is not a single thing about this book that I did not like. It is a book for the ages with amazing pacing, one-of-a-kind world-building, and a storyline that leaves you demanding more. If you're like me, you won't be able to stop yourself from falling in love with the world and its characters.
Don't expect these characters to be stereotypical either. That's why you'll love them. Hazel is our FMC, and she is not broken. Through everything that happens, she stands tall, even after a moment that would crush everyone else beyond repair. Then we have our MMC, Slaide; he may seem like the most villainous person to ever exist, but as you read on, you'll realize just how wrong that is, and you'll see who the true villains are. Plus, Slaide could wrap his wings around me any day 😉, so maybe I'm a little biased 😂
If you love:
🖤 Enemies to Allies
🔮 Forbidden Magic
☠️ Deadly Tournaments
🧙 Witch x Witch Hunter
🤫 Betrayals/Lies/Secrets
❤️🔥 A Criminally Sloooow Burn
Then please, please, please read this book. I want to be able to rant about it with so many people 😩 Mark February 6th down on your calendar!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Fated and the Fallen (The Fates of Aetherium Book 1)
M. E. Allquist @author_meallquist
Publication Date: February 6, 2026
The intrigue was really high during my reading of this. There are so many secrets and revelations, villainous deeds and heartbreaks involved. TFatF is a high stakes plot heavy book that kept me wondering what's next and not able to put it down, and I enjoyed the push-pull relationship between Slaide and Hazel. Their tension and close call moments will give you your own yearning for them to bring their walls down toward each other. I love some good witch x witch hunter chaos in my reads. The character arcs were great to read about, and I felt Hazel's frustrations as a reluctant heroine as she struggled to come into her own and deal with family secrets that had been kept from her for so long. That cliffhanger!!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
🖤 witch x witch hunter
🖤 cultish mage society
🖤 enemies-to-almost lovers
🖤 slow burn
🖤 fated mates
🖤 "who did this to you"
The Fated and the Fallen follows a witch hunter bred to destroy magic and a witch whose powers could break the kingdom. As the kingdom faces destruction, the two are drawn together in a high stakes and slow burn relationship marked by betrayals, family secrets and intense tension. This book includes a brooding dark atmosphere, moral ambiguity and unexpected plot twists.
Thank you to @iris.influencer.society for the opportunity to read this ARC!
M. E. Allquist @author_meallquist
Publication Date: February 6, 2026
The intrigue was really high during my reading of this. There are so many secrets and revelations, villainous deeds and heartbreaks involved. TFatF is a high stakes plot heavy book that kept me wondering what's next and not able to put it down, and I enjoyed the push-pull relationship between Slaide and Hazel. Their tension and close call moments will give you your own yearning for them to bring their walls down toward each other. I love some good witch x witch hunter chaos in my reads. The character arcs were great to read about, and I felt Hazel's frustrations as a reluctant heroine as she struggled to come into her own and deal with family secrets that had been kept from her for so long. That cliffhanger!!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Tropes:
🖤 witch x witch hunter
🖤 cultish mage society
🖤 enemies-to-almost lovers
🖤 slow burn
🖤 fated mates
🖤 "who did this to you"
The Fated and the Fallen follows a witch hunter bred to destroy magic and a witch whose powers could break the kingdom. As the kingdom faces destruction, the two are drawn together in a high stakes and slow burn relationship marked by betrayals, family secrets and intense tension. This book includes a brooding dark atmosphere, moral ambiguity and unexpected plot twists.
Thank you to @iris.influencer.society for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I write this review with all honesty that the author is my best friend and I was chosen to be one of the first readers because she knew I would be brutally honest and provide her with unbiased feedback!
I am so impressed that this is a debut novel! The storyline and plot are so entertaining and keep the reader engaged. As a reader who pictures what she reads in her mind like a movie as she reads, the author did a great job describing the scenes and allowing you to feel like you’re in the story. The development of the characters relationship and story as the novel progresses is amazing and makes it to where you need to keep reading page after page! I had originally read it last year prior to editing and rewrites and to read it again now in its finished form was incredible! If you know the author you would know you can see her amazing sarcastic and lovable personality in the FMC Hazel and the banter between her and the MMC is top notch! There were multiple light bulb and oh shit moments that kept me wanting more. It is unpredictable which is my favorite type of plot and she officially has me wanting more! Also it has an amazing map which I absolutely love in a book. Cannot wait to see how the series progresses and what is next in store for Hazel and Slaide! You will not be sorry you picked this one up!
I am so impressed that this is a debut novel! The storyline and plot are so entertaining and keep the reader engaged. As a reader who pictures what she reads in her mind like a movie as she reads, the author did a great job describing the scenes and allowing you to feel like you’re in the story. The development of the characters relationship and story as the novel progresses is amazing and makes it to where you need to keep reading page after page! I had originally read it last year prior to editing and rewrites and to read it again now in its finished form was incredible! If you know the author you would know you can see her amazing sarcastic and lovable personality in the FMC Hazel and the banter between her and the MMC is top notch! There were multiple light bulb and oh shit moments that kept me wanting more. It is unpredictable which is my favorite type of plot and she officially has me wanting more! Also it has an amazing map which I absolutely love in a book. Cannot wait to see how the series progresses and what is next in store for Hazel and Slaide! You will not be sorry you picked this one up!
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨Thank you so much to M. E. Allquist and her team for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review it!✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
I ended up really enjoying this ARC. It took me a minute to get into the story. But once the trials and Slaide were introduced I was hooked. There were a few pacing issues where I feel like certain parts of the story dragged a bit. And vice versa, times where events just happened all of a sudden without enough build up. At least for me personally.
I want a little more complexity to Hazel, other than peasant girl who loves her dad and discovers she has powers. I feel like we got a lot of character development and exploration of Slaide but not her. Based off the end of this book, I’m hopeful that will be a big part of the sequel. I saw one of the twists at the end coming, but happy to say the other surprised me! I won’t say what to avoid spoilers, but I’ll definitely be grabbing the second book in this series when it’s available.
⚠️TW: slavery, violence, abuse/torture, sexual assault/attempted grape, depression and past suicidal ideation, substance abuse, death of a loved one⚠️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
I ended up really enjoying this ARC. It took me a minute to get into the story. But once the trials and Slaide were introduced I was hooked. There were a few pacing issues where I feel like certain parts of the story dragged a bit. And vice versa, times where events just happened all of a sudden without enough build up. At least for me personally.
I want a little more complexity to Hazel, other than peasant girl who loves her dad and discovers she has powers. I feel like we got a lot of character development and exploration of Slaide but not her. Based off the end of this book, I’m hopeful that will be a big part of the sequel. I saw one of the twists at the end coming, but happy to say the other surprised me! I won’t say what to avoid spoilers, but I’ll definitely be grabbing the second book in this series when it’s available.
⚠️TW: slavery, violence, abuse/torture, sexual assault/attempted grape, depression and past suicidal ideation, substance abuse, death of a loved one⚠️
January 28, 2026
I’ve never read a witch-and-witch-hunter story before, but The Fated and the Fallen completely converted me to the trope — and now I’m hooked.
This book grabbed my attention early, but by about 30% in, I was fully intrigued and couldn’t put it down. The tension between fate, magic, and enemies who are supposed to destroy each other kept tightening with every chapter. The emotional stakes? Absolutely brutal. By 60%, I was literally in tears, completely invested in these characters and everything they were risking.
And then that last stretch… chaos in the best way. Around 90%, I was staring at the pages thinking, what the hell just happened? Twist after twist left me stunned, heartbroken, and desperate for answers.
The chemistry, the danger, the forbidden connection, and the constant push-and-pull between hunter and hunted made this such an intense, addictive read. It’s emotional, dramatic, and impossible to walk away from.
Now I’m just over here impatiently waiting — and maybe slightly suffering — until the next book because I need to know what happens next.
January 22, 2026
Hello, people!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the first book in the series The Fates of Aetherium.
I often wonder how it is possible that I am surprised again and again by some writings and stories. So, here too, I was surprised by this book in many ways.
I was thrilled with the dark part of the story, the breathtaking world building, the plot captivated me and the emotions dragged me into the inner world of the heroes, who also had continuous development. Literally, I did not expect to read something so exciting and shocking.
But I also have a lot to say about the author's writing. It had fantastic intensity and was strong, stormy, cinematic, explosive, enjoyable and sharp!
Please, read it! I can't wait to read the second book of the series!
Thank you very much to the author and Iris PR for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
First of all, let me mention that this book is the first book in the series The Fates of Aetherium.
I often wonder how it is possible that I am surprised again and again by some writings and stories. So, here too, I was surprised by this book in many ways.
I was thrilled with the dark part of the story, the breathtaking world building, the plot captivated me and the emotions dragged me into the inner world of the heroes, who also had continuous development. Literally, I did not expect to read something so exciting and shocking.
But I also have a lot to say about the author's writing. It had fantastic intensity and was strong, stormy, cinematic, explosive, enjoyable and sharp!
Please, read it! I can't wait to read the second book of the series!
Thank you very much to the author and Iris PR for the eARC!
This is my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was absolutely phenomenal. The storyline was easy to follow, kept me completely hooked and had me guessing the entire time. The FMC and MMC were next-level stubborn, which made every interaction deliciously frustrating in the best way. I loved how the MMC was painted as the villain when he was actually the hero in disguise. And that cliffhanger? Rude. Criminal. I need answers immediately.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Witch x witch hunter. Forbidden magic. Enemies to almost lovers. Morally Gray Shadow Daddy. This is a fantastic first installment in what I am sure is going to be a great series. I love the world that is being built and the nuanced characterization of Slaide. Highly recommended for fans of the romantasy genre.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
If I didn’t have work and mom duties I would have finished this book in one sitting! Hazel is such an amazing character. She goes through so much and beer gave up! Slaide was broody but so protective of her. He’s a witch hunter and she’s a witch but doesn’t know it yet. There is a lot of twist and turns in this book but done really well! Can’t wait to read the next one! 4.5 stars!
January 26, 2026
I hate that Goodreads doesn’t allow for 1/2 stars!
This was 4.5 stars for me!
Great debut novel and I can’t wait to read the second! Full review on Instagram @falling.for.fictionmco
This was 4.5 stars for me!
Great debut novel and I can’t wait to read the second! Full review on Instagram @falling.for.fictionmco
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