Umbra

Echoes of Fate #1

by Catalina Matei

She thought her days as an assassin were behind her. She never expected that what she’d have to leave behind was love.

It all began with a gift that turned into a curse.

Once the king’s greatest love, Yva is now bound to work against him. As the second-in-command for the rebellion’s leader, she must kill in the shadows against the very crown she had helped secure not long ago. But Yva’s entanglement is deeper than meets the eye, because the only cure that could help her regain her own life is being crafted behind enemy lines. And her choices might not only push her further away from the one she loves but also kill her.

Deluged beneath her laden betrayal, Samthi delays his coronation in hopes of better days, which puts his kingdom in danger, as the rebels’ propaganda increases. But when humans go missing after crossing the border into his territory, he must choose to take responsibility and become the ruler his people need, but never had—someone willing to fight for justice. To uncover what he believes are his enemies' criminal activities, Samthi infiltrates their lair, a brothel that hides more than just masks and deceptions; it also hides her.

From there, Yva and Samthi must navigate a fragile path of heartbreak and sacrifices. And no one can guarantee whether they would be able to rekindle their lost love or risk losing it all again, for good.

Umbra is the first book in a new dark fantasy romance filled with angst, secrets and a soul-crushing, slow-burn romance—perfect for fans of When the Moon Hatched, Fourth Wing and From Blood and Ash series.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

434 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

I write about existential angst in steamy fantasy novels.

I'm a bookworm at heart and enjoy reading various genres from classics to pitch black (horror) romances. Which translates into: I have an a posteriori rating system that I use on Goodreads that's deeply personal and I rate based on category/genre/subgenre so a 5* rating for Philosophy does not equal a 5* rating for Fantasy in my book (pun intended?!)
<3

Reviews

[The Dark Heart Library]

4.5 ⭐️ rounding up.

Yes. Tension…so much tension. I just stayed up until 1am to finish this. The two main characters, Yva and Samthi, tell their story through flashbacks 💔. I really loved this fantasy and the characters. 100% in for book 2 after a huge cliffhanger.

“Still unable to answer her, I kept my gaze on the silhouette I had spotted at the bar. Silhouettes, in fact, for there were two — but only one of them made my heart leap out of its confinement.”

I literally forgot I was reading the last 40 % of the book.

Dream walking. World building. Yearning. Curses. Green flag mmc. Mystery.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for this gifted book.

[muhgooo]

I’m not going to rate this one. I DNFd at 40%.

I think the story is well written and the characters are engaging, but it’s just not for me.

There’s another series before this. I guess technically this can be read without the previous series, but there’s a lot of context being shoved down your throat in the beginning of this book. It’s a LOT. Like 3 books worth of world building trying to be explained in the first few chapters.

Also, this isn’t a lovers to enemies story like it was described as. The FMC left for a reason (a really weird reason that doesn’t make a ton of sense to me but whatever). But both MCs are very much in love.

I just really couldnt’t get into this story. This wasn't the vibe I was looking for, but I think for fans of the authors previous series this could be a really solid win. All the ingredients are there for a super unique story!

Thank you to the NerdFam for the gifted arc! All opinions are my own!

[Oana Isabella]

Catalina Matei is an auto-buy author for me and that’s not up for debate. If you’ve seen my Vials of Fate reviews, you already know that.

When I signed up for the beta team for the Vials of Fate spin-off, I knew I was going back into a universe I loved, with characters that already had their claws in me. And honestly? That’s exactly what I got.

Ever since Samthi appeared in Vials of Fate, I knew I needed his story. I resonated with him a lot, so reading this felt personal. And the lovers to enemies trope?? I was NOT prepared. The tension kept me hooked and I had a really hard time putting the book down.

Now I’m just thinking… if this was the beta draft, what is the ARC or the final version going to be like? Because wow.

You can really see the evolution in Catalina’s writing, and I swear she writes some of the best cliffhangers. I already need volume 2.

I loved Samthi and Yva, but I genuinely couldn’t stand Zadrhon and Tiadola in this spin-off. Even though I loved them in their own story and I understand why they acted the way they did… they annoyed me. A lot.

This spin-off works perfectly as a standalone. You don’t need to read Vials of Fate to understand the world or the characters, everything is explained really well.

If this book isn’t on your August TBR, I honestly don’t know what you’re doing.

[Nadja]

I received an advance copy of Umbra—thank you so much to Catalina Matei and the Nerd Fam for the opportunity!

I do want to preface this review with one VERY important thing: I went into this as a completely fresh reader. I have not read The Vials of Fate, the previous series set in this world, and honestly, I didn’t even know that series existed until I discovered Umbra.

And unfortunately... I think that completely tanked my experience with this book.

I was under the impression that Umbra could be read without reading the previous series, but two chapters in, I felt less like I was starting Book One and more like I had accidentally wandered into Book Four, missed three seasons of the show, and everyone expected me to KNOW THE LORE.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??? WHAT HAPPENED??? WHY DOES EVERYONE HAVE HISTORY??? WHY AM I BEING TESTED ON MATERIAL I WAS NEVER ASSIGNED???

Because this story follows characters and events already established in The Vials of Fate, there were constantly previous plotlines, relationships, conflicts, and pieces of worldbuilding being referenced. Technically, the book does try to explain them—but instead of making me feel caught up, it made me even more aware of just how much story I had missed.

And that created my biggest problem: I had absolutely no emotional attachment to anyone.

The central relationship is already established. These characters already have history. They've already apparently gone through major things together. Their emotional foundation exists somewhere in three books I haven't read, and Umbra gives me pieces of it through little explanations and flashbacks, but that's just not the same as actually experiencing that relationship develop.

I felt like I was being told, Look how much these two have been through! Look how important this person is! Remember this huge thing that happened!

BESTIE, I DON'T REMEMBER. I WASN'T THERE. 😭

So instead of immediately becoming invested in the characters and their relationship, I was constantly trying to reverse-engineer why I was supposed to care.

The same thing happened with the worldbuilding. It feels like so much of the foundation—the magic, history, conflicts, characters, terminology, and overall mechanics of this world—was properly established in the previous series. As someone entering here, I kept feeling like I was missing the textbook while being handed the revision notes.

And because the book has to account for readers who haven't read those previous books, there is so much information dumping.

At times, it genuinely felt like the story was trying to recap three previous books while simultaneously beginning a new one, and the balance just did not work for me.

If you need this much information from the previous trilogy to understand the characters, their relationships, the world, and the current conflict... then I'm not sure this works particularly well as an entry point for new readers.

Which is frustrating because the premise genuinely caught my attention. That's WHY I picked this up! There are elements here that sound completely up my alley, and I can absolutely imagine someone who has already read and loved The Vials of Fate having a completely different experience with Umbra. If you already know these characters, understand this world, and have the emotional attachment that comes from spending three books with them, all these callbacks probably feel exciting rather than confusing.

But coming in blind?

I was LOST.

And more importantly, after trying to push through that confusion, I realized I simply didn't care enough about the characters yet to keep fighting to understand everything.

I really did try to give this a fair shot, especially when the actual premise interests me, but I reached a point where I had to acknowledge that I was spending significantly more time trying to piece together the previous story than becoming invested in the one I was currently reading.

As a completely fresh reader, Umbra did not feel like Book One.

It felt like I had shown up VERY late to a party where everyone already knew each other, had three books' worth of inside jokes, trauma, enemies, relationships, and lore...

and I was standing in the doorway holding my drink like:

Hi. Sorry. Who the hell is everyone?

[Belinda Smith]

I had been so intrigued by the premise of this one. A former assassin forced to betray the man she once loved, a kingdom on the brink of collapse, a rebellion hiding dangerous secrets, and two lovers trying to find their way back to each other—it sounded like everything I usually enjoy in a dark fantasy romance. 🖤⚔️

But from the very beginning, I felt like I had accidentally started book four instead of book one. There was so much history, politics, lore, and backstory thrown at me before the main plot really had a chance to unfold. Instead of pulling me into the world, the constant information dumping left me confused. I kept feeling as though I was missing an entire series’ worth of context.

💭 While there was technically a lot happening, it somehow also felt like very little was happening at the same time. The story spent so much time explaining the past that the present plot struggled to gain momentum. I found myself waiting for the story to truly begin, but it never reached the point where I felt completely invested.

👥 The large cast of characters also made it difficult for me to form any emotional connection. Every time I thought I was starting to understand someone, another piece of history or another character appeared. By the end, I still didn’t feel attached to anyone enough to care deeply about their journey.

💔 Yva and Samthi’s tragic romance had all the ingredients I normally love. Their history, betrayal, impossible choices, and lingering feelings should have been emotionally devastating. Instead, I struggled to connect because I never felt grounded enough in their relationship before the story moved on to more exposition. Samthi’s chapters, in particular, felt weighed down by long stretches of grief and moping, making it difficult for me to stay engaged.

⚔️ The anti-monarchist conflict and the larger political tensions sounded fascinating, but I often felt like I lacked the context needed to fully understand why certain factions acted the way they did. Some early inconsistencies and unanswered questions kept pulling me out of the story instead of drawing me deeper into the world.

🌙 Nothing about the book felt poorly written, and I could definitely see the ambition behind the world-building. I just wish the information had been revealed more gradually instead of all at once. I have a feeling the series may become much stronger later on, but I personally couldn’t stay invested long enough to reach that point.

By the end, I didn’t leave feeling frustrated—I simply felt indifferent. I wanted to care more than I actually did, which was probably the biggest disappointment because the premise had so much promise. 💔

This might be for you if you enjoy:
🗡️ Assassin heroine
👑 Fallen kingdoms & political intrigue
💔 Second-chance romance
🐢 Very slow-burn romance
🌑 Dark fantasy worlds
🎭 Hidden identities & secret missions
⚔️ Rebels vs. the crown
🤍 Angst, heartbreak & sacrifice
📖 Dense lore and extensive world-building
🔮 Morally grey characters

✨ Thank you to Catalina Matei and The Nerd Fam for the ARC opportunity.

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus)]

"Just don't sacrifice yourself for others all the time, because one day, you'll find out there's nothing left of you to sacrifice."

4.25⭐
Forced to become an assassin for the leader of the Rebellion, Umbra must fight for her life. The Rebel leader has the knowledge and access to the only thing that will save her and set her free. The Cost....Umbra must fight against the future King and the only man she has ever loved. How far will she go to survive? How many sacrifices is she willing to take?

The author's writing was beautiful and rich. I found myself easily immersed into the story. I love the way the author used letters and flashbacks to create so much yearning and to help explain the character's backstory. The ending was mind blowing and left my jaw on the floor. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I feel the characters will only continue to develop, and each book will only get better and better.

What to look forward to
💛Unique Magic
⚔️Dual POV
💛Dragons
⚔️Found Family
💛Assassin FMC

[aseekerofbooks]

I want to start by saying that I ended up skimming some parts of this book, so I will not be rating it.
It would have been around 3 stars, I think.

Interesting initial concept, but the execution leaves a lot of room for improvement.

Right from the start, the prologue pulled me in and I was so excited for what will happen next only to have a 180° switch and be in Samthi's head - and it was soooo hard to read wherever the switch to his POV happened...he was just moping around on repeat. I can't put my finger on it, but he irked me the wrong way. Plus, having devotion (romantic etc) towards someone doesn't mean dependency.

Regarding the flashbacks, in my personal opinion, I would have preferred it:
-in one big flashback with all the dialogue and way of telling the story as it was happening right then and there(mostly referring here to their love story)
- from Yva's POV. Actually, most of the book should have been from her POV and at the reunion maybe some info about his suffering/falling apart stuff via Tia telling her or something.
I personally thing the story would have been so much smoother to read like that, because every time it was Samthi's chapter I could barely make myself to pick up the books again. TT_TT But that's just me, probably, because I could barely stand his pov.

There was also a small problem on the way the world building was done - because it made me feel like I was midway along a story instead of building up from scratch. Too much info dumping in places instead of inserting information in "movement"/action scenes or something like that.

I also took some issues on the other side - as I kept having whiplash from reliving all the issues with Castle season 8 (if you know, you know). This is the part where I very much encourage healthy relationships and effing communication!!! Yva could have gone to the "love of her life" and told him everything and could have worked on a plan together (!!!) and we would have had the suspense from the clock ticking in the background for both of them since we know there wasn't much time left. And they could have worked on finding out more information, each on their own 'battlefield' but working together.
The cherry on top would have been if the reader was conned most of the book into thinking the characters weren't working together until the reunion! Like never telling who they were exchanging information with, etc. I'm going off the rails, I know. 🥹

Don't get me wrong, the author writes very well and, of course, it's her decision for how her story goes - these are just my frustrations with these characters and what they chose to do with the cards they had in their hands.

Also, as a reader, I want to say that from the concept alone, I'm much more likely to pick up this book instead of the OG trilogy (there are enough books with deadly trials out there right now🫠 and dragons...) so this book feeling like being introduced mid-conversation would be the biggest bummer overall.

Thank you to the author for the eARC via BookFunnel!

[Evie Oliva]

2.5 Stars rounded up

I've said it before and I'll say it again, August came out punching and then kicked me in the teeth and the result is that I'm behind in my reviews. Umbra is one of those books I was meant to review last month and I just finished reading it now. That being said, I wish I could say that I loved this book. Unfortunately, this one didn't resonate with me. I found so much about the world interesting but the story and the characters themselves didn't appeal to me.

First of all, I think I'm missing a lot on the world-building. When I requested this book, I did not know that technically it was a spin-off of another series. As a result of that, a lot of THIS BOOK focuses on events seen in the past, mentioned as reminders about everything that has led to this point, like what happened to the previous king and so on. At the same time, certain things aren't elaborated on enough to make this book really be independent of the previous release. If the book is already going over previous plot points, why not really give the specifics about the whole of the events mentioned? I have no clear ideas about the rule of the previous king, only that he had forced his citizens to fight in a war against their wills. I have no true understanding of the gods in this book or what their purpose even is or even what happened that they had meddled with lives they were supposed to leave alone. I can only guess this whole background is available in the other series. A glossary is provided about the "entities" of this world but I'm still not clear on the specifics of how the immortals are truly created, just that it can happen, I guess. As a result, I felt a lot out of the loop when it came to the broader sense of the world itself.

As for the characters, I really only liked Samthi because Yva got on my nerves. I liked how Samthi tried hard to be strong and the fact that his grief had kept him in a holding pattern for a year while he tried to figure out what happened to the love of his life. It felt realistic, the idea that a person, in their devastation at their loss, would avoid moving on with all the bigger responsibilities that everyone is looking to them for. I could sympathize with him because of that. On the other hand, I could not get behind Yva's decisions. Her reasoning for leaving and the whys for where she's been for the last year just makes no sense to me. I honestly cannot believe that she thought her best method of fixing what happened to her meant avoiding all her friends and family. Am I really supposed to believe that the actual gods would not have been able to help her had they known what was going on? Which brings me to the fact that I really didn't get anything more about Tiadola and Zadrohn except that one is Sam's best friend and the other is his cousin. Apparently, Tia always shows up when she's worried about Sam and Sam and Zadrohn have a tendency to goad one another and that's about it. I get it, their story has passed already and is available to read but they were still important people to Sam. I wanted to know more about them but it felt like when they were on the page, they weren't really talking to Sam, just talking to each other.

As for the plot, it did feel a little more concise, the tension enough to keep me going with the book. I wanted Sam to find a way to defeat his enemy and now I'll have to wait to see what happens at the end of the conflict. Still, it did almost feel like it took too long to get to certain big points in the book and at times felt like it dragged a little. Also, a big thing with this book is miscommunication and that is not a trope that sits well with me a lot of the time, and it especially doesn't sit well when the majority of a 400+ page book depends on it. My guess is that once the next book is released, I might rate this one higher but I'll have to wait and see.

I hope to find the time to go back and try the other books that focus on Tia and Zad. After that, fingers crossed that I will jump into the next release and love it to bits.


My thanks to The Nerd Fam for the eARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

[Anastasia Jizelle]

A huge thank you to Catalina Matei for this ARC

I was super intrigued by this concept of a book; and I will admit that I honestly can't compare it to anything that I have ever read before! It is truly unique and I really enjoyed this read. I got so wrapped up in the book that I finished it in a day (whoops!).

The format of this book is a dual pov storyline that jumps between the present and the past. I admittedly have not read the previous series to this universe (the vials of fate) so I may have missed a few things or not understood things correctly. But I still really enjoyed the story and fully understood the plot. I LOVED how we got glimpses of the main characters past selves and their histories together and individually.

I for one am a HUGE fan of the writing letters trope; which was a huge part of this story. Theres just something so angsty about not being able to send letters to the person you love; but writing them anyways. On the topic of angst; this book is full of it. Yva and Sam go from lovers to enemies in a very short period of time; its a very unique situation. The yearning is off the charts; its almost painful how much they miss each other.

The setting is fast paced and thrilling. I couldn't catch my breath as I read because I was so interested to see what happened next.

A truly unique and extraordinary read; I highly recommend this mysterious and thrilling romantasy. Read for angst, yearning, a fair amount of murder and poor moral choices, and a complicated history.

[Heather Altundağ]

Oh my goodness where to start… From the very first chapter until the last page, I felt like my heart was being ripped to pieces (in a good way 👀). I headed into this book knowing it was going to be sad and devastating, but I never expected it to this degree. We follow the two main characters on their journey of hiding and searching for one another, but at one point does it even make sense to continue… 🫣 The way their story is told had me almost in tears because I just wanted them to be happy and be seen. I think what really helped this devastation was all the flashbacks to before times changed. This allowed me to fully understand where each characters emotions were towards each other (and it made the heart ache even worse 😩). Another thing the author did, was add in letters that the characters wrote to each other but never sent. This clearly showed how much they didn’t want to give up on each other, but is there a point of no return, a point where it is time to just give up and move on? Who knows? All I can say is that I devoured this book and cannot wait to see how the story continues into the next, because that ending had me just questioning everything and knowing that these characters would do anything for each other if they could just live to see another day. (BETA reader review)

[Sami]

This book was absolutely amazing! I loved the continuation of another two characters within the same world as Catalina's original series. She created such a gripping story with Yva and Samthi that I desperately want more. I can't wait to see what happens next with the cliffhanger we were left with.

[Liz Coats]

DNF 25% in.

World building wasn’t grabbing my attention as I like my fantasy books to do. Apparently this series follows a line of events from another series the author wrote. The start had so much details referring to the other books, which makes it hard to feel involved if you didn’t read it before.

[Christine]

Had the privilege of Beta reading this.
Excited to see how it develops.

[Mona]

The yearning and pining in this book are just so good. I was honestly heartbroken for them.

I loved Sam in the Vials of Fate series and was so happy that he got his own story. There was a hint that something happened between him and Yva and I was dying to know more.

In this book we get to see how their love story came to be and it’s sweet and so heartwarming.

And at the same time in the present timeline, we get put through the wringer feeling all their pain and longing at being apart.

Sam seems a bit more grown-up in this book. He’s a king. He’s got responsibilities that he takes quite seriously. I love his growth. At the same time he’s tormented by missing Yva and not knowing where she is and why she left.

And poor Yva. How I felt for her. She’s trapped in an impossible situation. She’s terrified, but at the same time she’s fighting anyway she can not only to make her way back to Sam, but to also protect him. She’s so incredibly strong.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I must say I found the premise of this book extremely original and I have only once before read something even remotely similar. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book.

Lastly, my favorite Myv, she’s such a treat of a three headed dragon. I’m so excited for the next book.

I have received a free copy of this book for beta reading and this is my voluntary and honest review.

2 🌶️/4.5 ⭐️

[Matilde]

Before I even give my opinion on this book, I must, as always, thank th author, Catalina, for trusting me with her manuscript, her story and her writing as a beta reader ❤️

I came into Umbra not having read The Vials of Fate, and it was part of my beta-reading job to read Umbra without ever knowing who these characters were and what their stories up to this point had been... And I must say, if one wishes to start with Umbra, one won't be disappointed in the slightest, having read this upcoming book, my heart only WANTS to go and pick up the trilogy that comes chronologically before this book, because I got a sense of what came to pass with enough detail to both have me still hooked on knowing the current story but also hooked to go read what happened before with all the details the trilogy surely brings! It is a beautiful, heartbreaking and so well written book! I loved the concept of the world, the different beings and their roles and all their stories!

I can't wait for the following book on these series!!! ❤️

[Alicia]

Review of advance copy received from Author

●Before starting this review I should mention that I haven’t read the author’s previous series so this was my first encounter with this world and it’s characters.

●The story is constructed as a dual pov following Yva and Samthi. Yva is an assassin who left her family, friends and lover in search for a cure for her curse. To obtain this cure she has to work for the kingdom’s enemy and gain his trust. On the other side is Samthi who is a soon to be king which is trying to bring a new era for his people that have been abused by the former king. Both are grieving the loss of eachother as Samthi believes Yva is nowhere to be found and she believes that in order to return to her friends and family she must cure herself first.

-->Starting with the worldbuilding and magic system- they are relatively easy to follow given the map and the glossary at the begining of the book. I really appreciate the glossary because it helps the reader to easily follow the story and is helpful for those who have not read the previous trilogy and are not familiar with the setting. One aspect that I found interesting were the three headed dragons each head containing a different type of magic and the idea of dream-travel which I found pretty uniqe.

-->Continuing with the characters, I couldn’t really connect with them from the begining. I felt like as I haven’t read the fist books I missed the base of their story and what brought them together. But as the story continued and we were given lots of background I strated to see them differently and care for their relationship.

•Yva is a storng willed woman, fierce but at the same time compasionate. She has been through a lot and now she is fighting alone. She has a self sacrificial nature, trying to help everyone around her while keeping herself afloat. She is tormented and ashamend by her past and puts the blame on herself for mostly all her last year’s experiences.

•Samthi was a fresh breath as not being the usual morally gray, mysteious male character which recent books are overflowing with. I appreciate his soft heart, his loyalty and also his purpose of bringing peace and justice to his people.

-->Their relationship was interesting because as I said most of it was described in flashbacks of their past or by seeing how both of them is grieveing and yearning for the presence of eachother. Nevertheless you can feel their love and devotion, and by the time they finally reunite you can see as well how deeply they know eachother.

*Additionally, another thing that I liked (spoilers ahead) was how he dealt with her betrayal. I was afraid that he might believe their relationship was a lie and that she has never loved him, that he will dramatise over the situation and make it a bigger problem which could have easily been solved by a conversation. Instead I was surprised to see that he had the patience to discover the reason she left, to try to communicate in order to understand and even more to fight for her. *

-->As for the rest of the characters I won’t explain too much because most of their story takes place in the previous series as I have learned. Tia, Zad, the dragons and their other firends were a supportive crew especially for Samthi and I was glad to see their love for him and even for Yva.

●In the end I will explain some aspects that I didn’t like as to justify my review despite the positive aspects I already mentioned. Firstly the first half of the book was a bit too slow, (particurarly the first 20%) as I almost dropped reading it because of this. In this part nothing really happened besides a lot of flashbacks and a lot of info dumping on the world building. It was pretty hard to connect with the characters and the story from the begining because of this. The worldbuilding was also a little overexplained, I found it a tad unnecesary and repetitive mostly because it just resumed the aspects presented in the glossary. But the action gets more interesting by the 30% so this is where it got my interest.Moreover I found the dialog to be a little dry (again mostly in the beginning) but it got better as the book continued.

●As a conclusion despite these negative aspects I enjoyed the book and the characters and I can say that it sparked my interest in reading the second one and maybe also the first trilogy to get more backround on the side characters.

[KMart Books]

3.5/5 stars

When this book works, it REALLY works. Yva and Samthi are the heart of it, and once they finally come together again in Part II, I was completely invested. Their history, the hurt between them, and everything left unresolved that we discovered in the first part made their relationship so much more compelling than I expected. This is where the book really clicked for me, and I honestly wish we had gotten there sooner.

I found both of them more layered and compelling than I expected based on my experience with the first book of the Vials of Fate trilogy. There is so much potential here, and I genuinely think these characters deserved the chance to carry their own story. Unfortunately, the connection to Vials of Fate made that difficult for me.

I went into this expecting a new series set in an existing world, and I thought I would be able to jump in without having read the companion series. That wasn't really my experience. Umbra is deeply intertwined with the previous trilogy, and there is so much revisiting of its events, characters, and lore that it often felt less like a new beginning and more like an extension of a story I hadn't finished. As a new reader, the lack of context for the first books felt like I was missing so much and the attempt to catch up new readers wasted so much time that could have been devoted to the story in THIS one.

Instead of getting pulled immediately into Yva and Samthi's story, I spent a lot of the early book trying to understand the significance of everything being referenced. The amount of backstory also started to feel distracting after a while. I wanted to move forward with these characters rather than continually being reminded of what had already happened.

The pacing suffered because of that. For me, the story didn't really find its footing until Part II, and once Yva and Samthi reunite, I was suddenly so much more interested in everything happening. Their relationship brings an emotional depth that I felt was missing earlier, and I found myself wishing the book had been structured around them from the beginning rather than spending so much time circling the previous trilogy.

Honestly, I almost wish Umbra had been marketed as a continuation of Vials of Fate rather than a new series. Alternatively, I think it could have been incredible with completely different characters or even a different corner of the world. Because the frustrating thing is that I really, really liked what Catalina Matei was doing here. The characters have depth. The relationship has history and emotional weight. The darker elements of the story are intriguing. There is clearly a lot more beneath the surface.

I think that's why I'm walking away from this one feeling more impressed than disappointed. I can see how much potential is here, and I genuinely enjoyed Yva and Samthi once their story finally took center stage.

If you've read Vials of Fate, I think this will be a much smoother experience. If you haven't, I would absolutely recommend starting there first. As for me, I'm really glad I stuck with Umbra, because the second half showed me a story I really wanted to read. I just wish I hadn't needed to work quite so hard to get there.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and the author for the gifted copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Marius-Andrei I.]

ARC Review of Umbra

First, I want to thank the author, Catalina Matei, for this opportunity to be an ARC reader for her book and that my review will be honest and based on what I felt when I read this book, plus the fact that it's my first encounter with the author and her writing style, because I haven't read her previous series. So, let’s begin with this ARC review.

I didn't like the beginning of the book because it was too slow for me and it might have revealed some details about what I had to discover about the story too early, and because of that, my reading experience has been a bit of a slow reading session mixed with a personal frustration for not being introduced to the story properly. Maybe, if the author knew how to value the beginning and tried not to reveal those details, making the story slow at first, it would have been better for understanding more of this Dark Fantasy universe, which was crafted by Catalina Matei.

Now I will continue with the things I liked about this book without giving spoilers. I really liked the way of describing the crucial parts of the story through some harsh but truthful elements, especially when it is about making sacrifices, like in the relationship between Yva and Samthi, which had difficult choices and an intense heartbreak. I loved the fact that their story has been unfolding through all of the parts of this story and Yva was such a standout character, being authentic in her way, as a strong and capable woman, but vulnerable at the same time.

The blending of elements like magic, dragons, politics, secrets and rebellion was so good that it made me connect with the plot and with the characters more than I thought, because it had some catchy and twisted things which made the reading experience one of the most interesting experiences which I have ever had. Also, this blending of elements made me realise that the fantasy genre has evolved so much that you can connect with the genre deeply through the storyline and characters without hesitation and I really enjoyed it.

Besides the beginning of the book, Catalina Matei's writing style was clean, harsh, unexpectedly raw and magical, but it had shown real situations with the potential to be seen as something authentic and genuine for a reader, because of the fact that the love story which has been unfolding was intriguing and so whimsical that I really wanted to find out more about the background of every character and to feel more connected with them than I had been from the beginning. It's something that can't be explained in words.

The ending was unexpected and well written by Catalina, because I felt that it was a shocker to me and it made me question some things that I want to know by reading the second book of the series when it will be launched.

Overall, 'Umbra' receives 4✨ from me because of the slow beginning, which I didn't like and I mentioned earlier why, but it had a good writing style and storyline by combining some interesting elements which gave the story a clear voice of the fantasy genre. I would recommend it to readers who don't know what kind of fantasy book they should read next and if they want a story with a mixture of magic and politics, plus other key elements in it.

[Corina]

This book was sent to me as an ARC through BookFunnel. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read and review it! 🤍

We have Yva and Sam, and their love story is told through memories and letters they wrote to each other but never actually sent. As we go back and forth through their memories, we slowly discover how they ended up where they are and the choices each of them made along the way.

Sam’s suffering really got to me. Since we get his POV, I wasn’t expecting to see a male character so vulnerable, crying and struggling as much as he did. His pain felt very real, and I found myself feeling for him quite a lot.

Yva didn’t seem as devastated as Sam, but she had a goal to accomplish, and I think that gave her a certain strength. Still, the sacrifice she made felt too big to me, and I didn’t fully understand why she chose to make such a huge decision on her own.

There is A LOT of yearning in this book, and honestly, I understand why. Their relationship is built around everything they don’t say, and that definitely adds to the tension.

The world-building, however, is where I felt the book could have been stronger. At times, it felt like a lot was happening and yet nothing was really happening at the same time. Most of the action felt rather flat to me, and I was expecting a little more. That being said, this is the first book in the series, so I understand the need for context and setting everything up. I’m guessing we’ll get much more action and development in book two.

We’re also introduced to quite a few characters, and I struggled to remember some of them because they didn’t seem to have a particularly important role in the lives of the main characters. At times, it felt like they were there mainly to keep the dialogue going.

And then we have dragons that can communicate with humans. 👀 This immediately reminded me of another very well-known series, and unfortunately, I can’t say I loved this aspect because there were too many similarities for me to completely ignore them. There are differences, of course, but not quite enough to keep me from making the comparison.

Norv, though… 🥺 I felt so sorry for him. I liked him from the moment he was introduced, and after learning more about his story, I only grew more attached to him. This quote really stayed with me:

“Just don't sacrifice yourself for others all the time, because one day, you'll find out there's nothing left of you to sacrifice.”

And that ending?! 😳 I was genuinely shocked. Now I’m very curious to see what happens next and, more importantly, how they’re going to get themselves out of THAT situation.

Overall, this was a beautiful story that definitely left me curious about book two. There is room for improvement, but I can also see a lot of potential in this series. I have a feeling the story will continue to grow with each book, and I’m definitely interested in seeing where the author takes it next.

[her nose stuck ina book]

Title: Umbra
Author: Catalina Matei
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ / 🌶️🌶️

Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC! My review and thoughts are my own.

This book is the first in a duology set after the events of the author's Vials of Fate trilogy. I had never heard of this trilogy when I discovered Umbra. Despite the intent that this can be read as a standalone duology, I think my experience would have been much better if I had read Vials of Fate first.

This story is a dual POV of the MCs, Sam and Yva. It also reveals their history via flashbacks sprinkled throughout the book. I felt for the two MCs in this story. Truly an angsty plot and you feel their heartbreak. All of it could have been avoided if Yva had been more trusting and willing to communicate with the man she apparently loves and found family...which includes a pair of gods. That is one of my least favorite book scenarios, it makes me less sympathetic to the character's suffering if they could have easily avoided it.

The beginning of Umbra felt like walking into a show mid-season. There is the "previously on..." with a big information dump of world building at the beginning that you likely got across the Vials of Fate trilogy. But my biggest issue was that I had no emotional connection to any of these characters who obviously have established histories and relationships. I felt like I was missing the inside joke on Sam's dynamic with his cousin. Also was left wondering how/why Yva and her twin had been imprisoned - it was a big jump from the prologue to present day Yva. She thinks at some point "I forget that I was an assassin" and I was like girl me too because it isn't part of this book.

Part 2 picked up for me when the secrets start getting unraveled and it feels like the plot is picking up. I so appreciated Sam actually being patient and trying to figure out why Yva disappeared, instead of sticking to the easy rash conclusions. I was hoping for Yva to finally share why she had stayed away and maybe for the book 2 setup to be Yva and Sam preparing to take on Demer. That...is not what happened. Brutal way to end after how much suffering these characters went through for the entire book.

There is definitely an audience for this story. The writing is solid, some people enjoy characters constantly suffering (and in Sam's case being super angsty about it), and if you have already read Veils of Fate you are certainly coming in better plugged into the story and likely already attached to these characters. Sadly, that just was not my experience.

[Chris]

WOW. That's all I can say. I just finished 'Umbra' by Catalina Matei and I'm in absolute shock. It's so hard to put my thoughts into words. I need book two asap.

I'll start by saying that I discovered the author through a review of the first book in the VoF series and immediately added it to my tbr. Shame on me for not reading it sooner!!!!!! I had planned to read it before Umbra, but my plans changed. I will definitely be reading it now. I also want to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to read this masterpiece.

I was so excited to start reading 'Umbra' and I immediately felt connected to its universe. Everything was explained, developed and presented so beautifully. I loved the way both the story and the backstory unfolded. The book is told through two povs and alternates between the past and the present. The pacing felt incredibly smooth - it never felt rushed, yet I was constantly eager to discover more. The plot and the overall development of the story were exceptionally well-written.

The characters are incredibly well developed and I grew attached to every single one of them. Their different personalities made them feel so real. I empathised with them and experienced every emotion alongside them. The main characters were simply chef's kiss. The author portrayed their thoughts, emotions and actions so beautifully. Even though they appear strong and confident, we also get to see their vulnerable sides, their fears, the memories that continue to haunt them, and the struggles they carry from their past. That made them feel even more authentic.

The ending was the cherry on top. It was brilliantly executed. It completely played with my mind. I had a feeling that something was off, but I never expected that. It completely shocked me and left me wanting more. During several scenes - especially the ending - I just wanted to jump into the book and do something.

To sum up, this is one of the best books I've read this year. It's an incredibly well-written dark fantasy romance that made me experience every possible emotion. I want to thank the author once again for the opportunity to read this amazing book and congratulate her on creating such a masterpiece. All I can say is that book two will be living rent-free in my mind until I finally get to read it 🫠🫶🏻

[Sonderous Reads]

Yva is cloaked in shadows and secrets. The end of war did not bring her peace despite how hard she fought for it. Instead, bound by a blessing-made-curse, she doles out death and chaos in the Empire’s underworld for the enemy of the crown. Her position places her on the opposite side of the very man she fell in love with, Regent King Samthi. But she cannot escape, not when hope lies so deep behind enemy lines. Samthi has not forgotten the woman he thought would have all his tomorrows. He has sought her in every corner of the empire, but, now that his people need him, he must step out from the shadows of the past and take the throne that taunts him. Just as he makes his decision, the King and the rebel cross paths once more. Thought lost and now found, can they survive the betrayal that tore them asunder? Or will the secret that broke them apart further break their hearts? 


“Umbra” is a first-in-series spin-off of Catalina Matei’s debut series “Vials of Fate”. Following Yva and Samthi, the novel explores the aftermath of the initial series through the two characters whose fate was both unraveled and rethreaded by choices and events of the Gods. Yva has taken on the mantle of Umbra, an assassin that cannot be killed; meanwhile, Samthi, a storyteller at heart, bows his head under the weight of a heavy crown. Each chapter spends time in the heartbreaking present and the past that shaped their actions and their love. While I did not get a chance to read the initial series, I picked up this story with ease and never once felt confused by mention of previous events. It stands beautifully on its own and the ending will leave you wishing for the next in the duology. 


A slowburning lovers to enemies, “Umbra” dives deep into the price of secrets and betrayal. No one is safe from heartbreak, not even the reader. But there is an echo of hope that keeps you reading. Even if you are crying through those flashbacks and the last 100 pages (which happened to me). In any case, it was easy to fall into the world of A’Vaal, dreams, and dragons. So easy that I’m going to make a return trip through the “Vials of Fate” series. This series is for fans of dark fantasy, dragons that double as gods, and starcrossed lovers; its also an intriguing entry into the genre for those standing on the periphery.

[Reann Heggebo]

I received an advance copy of this book, thank you Catalina Matei, and the nerd fam!

I want to preface: I went into this book as a fresh reader, that I have NOT read the previous series, the vials of fate which these books are apparently based on the same world with the events following. Due to this fact I was going into this book blind and if I had no idea the other series existed until I’d found this one.

I have some thoughts about it.

The book IS well written. The language is easy to understand and the characters are well written in their heartbreak and struggles of being apart. The pining for each other was touching, I could see how the couple missed each other and couldn’t be together due to outside forces.

My issue? I couldn’t find myself to care about the characters because they were a pre established relationship from the previous series. So I didn’t get a lot of background, other than sprinkled of previous events here, flashbacks there, that I was completely lost as a new reader. The world building had to have been set up in the previous story that I feel I’d have to go back and read them first to really understand this book.

I will say I was bored by the constant flash backs to other events that I was just ready to say, can we please just get to the plot here? I understand setting up the losses they’ve experienced and previous events that led them here, however, I just wanted to hear about the revolution and the king finding his lost love. However I got 10 chapters in, 25% of the book- and hardly anything happened plot wise besides the FMC seeing her king love in her ‘dream walking’.

Oh and the few people she killed, because she’s an assassin.

I really wanted to finish it because the premise drew my attention, however because I didn’t read the series before- it was completely lost on me with all the world previously established so I was finding myself not caring about the characters as much as I probably would have if this was a complete fresh story with the world building in this book. I may come back to it if I read the vials of fate in the future with renewed views but for now. I decided to DNF this book. I did give it three stars for what I DID read due to the well written layout of the book.

[Renee Benavente]

📖 ARC REVIEW

Apparently, there is a whole other series that ties into this one—The Vials of Fate—and I had absolutely no clue. 😂 Although the author states that this series can be read without reading the previous one first, I honestly think I would have connected with the story and world a lot more if I had. At times, I felt a little disconnected and like I was missing pieces of the bigger picture.

Yva is forced to leave behind her friends, family, and lover, Samthi—the future king—in order to find a cure for her curse. The catch? She has to work with the king’s enemies to do it.

Meanwhile, Samthi is left trying to make sense of everything while still carrying the responsibilities of his kingdom. He wants to build a new era, prove that he is meant to be king, prepare for his coronation, and somehow find the woman he loves.

Yva, aka Umbra, is a relentless, strong-willed assassin, while Samthi is her complete opposite: a soft, kindhearted future king who just wants his lost lover back while trying to figure out how to rule a kingdom.

Throughout the story, we get glimpses into the past through memories of Yva and Samthi’s relationship. Those were easily my favorite parts of the book. You could really feel how deeply they loved each other, which honestly made my heart hurt a little knowing the sacrifices Yva had to make. 💔

I did feel like the world-building was lacking, but I’m guessing a lot of it was already established in The Vials of Fate series that I didn’t read. Soooo…that might be on me. 😂

The magic system, though, was really unique! I especially loved the idea of dream-traveling and thought that was such a cool element to the story.

Overall, this was an okay read for me. The flashback memories between the FMC and MMC were definitely the highlight because I could genuinely feel the love, longing, and sadness between them. I’ll probably go back and check out The Vials of Fate before jumping into book two of this series. I have a feeling I might appreciate this story a lot more once I understand the world and everything that came before it.

Thank you to Catalina Matei and The Nerd Fam for the ARC opportunity.

[Teo]

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an early copy of Umbra.

This book and I had a bit of a journey.

At the beginning, I honestly felt like I'd been dropped into the middle of a story that was already happening. That may be partly because I haven't read the previous trilogy set in this universe, but between the glossary, the terminology, the political landscape, and all the names, it took me a while to find my footing. Once everything started making sense, though, I became genuinely invested.

What really worked for me was the contrast between the two main POVs. Samthi's chapters are filled with heartbreak, grief, and the kind of pain everyone around him can see, while Yva carries hers in a much quieter way, buried beneath guilt, fear, and anger. Watching those perspectives slowly move toward each other was one of my favourite parts of the book. As a certified second-chance romance lover, I spent a large chunk of this story waiting for them to reunite.

I did want more from the romance overall, especially considering how much buildup there was. The chemistry is there, and one particular spicy scene definitely delivered, but I expected a little more emotional payoff throughout the story.

My biggest issue was probably the pacing. For a book that's over 400 pages long, I found myself wishing there was more action and movement in the middle section. At times it felt slightly dragged out.

That said, the final stretch completely pulled me back in. The plot twists kept coming, things escalated fast, and by the time I reached the cliffhanger, I was fully invested again. Am I slightly annoyed? Yes. Am I reading the next book? Also YES.

I'm rounding up to 4⭐ here, but I'd probably land somewhere around 3.5⭐.

[Kelsie Gonzalez]

Umbra by Catalina Matei
3/5
I want to start by saying this author has an incredibly beautiful writing style, and that is one of the main reasons why this ended up being 3 stars for me. I was never bored with this story. My main issue was with HOW we were given the information (not the information itself), as well as how this book was marketed.
Chapter one: Brilliant. We are thrown right into a story where a girl, on her 18th birthday, knows her death is imminent. With this guarantee, she does not cower, instead she isn’t afraid to act exactly how she pleases. I was instantly hooked.
Then, we’re thrown into a time-leap, and dumped with several years worth of information, world-building, and past relationships. We are given characters with odd introductions, and they are presented in a manner that suggests we should already know and care about them. This was one way in which I thought the marketing was misleading. It suggested that you can read this whether you’ve read her other series within this same world or not. I would argue that is definitely not the case. I think I would have thoroughly enjoyed this story if I had read her Vials of Fate series first. That might be my fault, but I do wish I had known that this was a “spin-off” before signing up to ARC read through NerdFam.

Please understand that I think this author is extremely talented, and I will end up reading her Vials of Fate series soon. I think it will give me a better appreciation for Umbra during a re-read. I just ended up being frustrated by the fact that this reads more like a book 4 than a start of a new series.

Genuine thanks to both the Author and NerdFam for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Daniela Nero]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m going to be honest. That GORGEOUS cover is what pulled me in first. I saw it and immediately said, “Yep, I need that.” Thankfully, the story inside was just as intriguing.

I do wish I had known before starting that *Umbra* takes place in the same world as the *Vials of Fate* trilogy and happens one year after those books. I hadn’t read the original trilogy, so the beginning was harder for me to follow. There is a lot of history, lore, and character information that probably would have made much more sense if I already had that foundation. I absolutely think I would have connected with the story faster and enjoyed it even more if I had read those books first.

Once everything started falling into place, though, I was invested.

Yva and Samthi absolutely broke my heart. The yearning, the memories, the letters, and everything left unsaid between them were SO painful. These two clearly still love each other, but they are buried beneath secrets, sacrifices, and approximately seventeen layers of emotional damage. Just communicate, please. I am begging.

I loved Yva as an assassin who is fierce and capable but also deeply vulnerable underneath everything she has survived. The magic, political intrigue, rebellion, dreamwalking, and dragons created such an interesting fantasy world, and the second half had me flying through the pages.

And then that ending?!

EXCUSE ME?

You cannot emotionally destroy me like that and then simply end the book. I need the sequel because I have questions, concerns, and emotional damages that need to be addressed.

This was a solid four-star read, but if you are new to this world like I was, I recommend reading the *Vials of Fate* trilogy first.

*Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the eARC. #umbra #thenerdfam*

[Krista Nicole]

She was never meant to survive into adulthood, but now she’s trapped in a role she never wanted, working as an assassin against the only man she’s ever truly loved.

You follow the FMC, who goes by Umbra, who is the only remaining half human in her world, and for the past year since the humans were gifted magic, has been caught in a violent ring of rebels who are working against the king she helped put on the throne. She is working within this group and killing those who her new leader requests so she can stay close to him and learn more about the cure he’s been trying to find that will eliminate this new human magic and allow him to control humans again and gain more power. All the while, the mmc and future king has been searching for the women he cannot forget and writing letters to her, hoping she will find her way back to him, and doing his best to support his people.

I really liked that this book followed more the after affects of winning a war and overthrowing a crown and how sometimes happily ever after in a fantasy world might not be what happens and sacrifices need to continue to be made. I felt for the FMC and how trapped and terrified she must be and how there may have been another way out but when she was panicking she couldn’t find anything else. There were plenty of emotions in this book that had me feeling for both characters and all they lost and reunion had me both excited for them, but also terrified for the potential outcome. With a cliffhanger ending, I can’t wait to find out what’s coming next. My rating 4.4/5!

Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!

[Trisha]

Thank you Nerd Fam for the ARC!

Okay, I wanted to love this one, but alas, I didn't. And I think a lot of it has to do with how this was pitched, if I'm being honest.

While this is labeled as the first book in a series, it doesn't really feel that way. This ties in to the author's previous series, which I haven't read. It was pitched as not needing to read the other series in order to understand this one, but....you kind of do. The entire first half of the book feels like you're playing catch-up, which really impacted my ability to enjoy it. If you have to summarize three books worth of plot, relationships, and history in order to make the plot of a series make sense--it can't be read independently. So my advice is to not jump straight into this one.

Once I kind of figured out what was going on, I DID enjoy this a decent amount! I LOVE the author's prose, and I can see what we were going for in terms of the romantic tragedy/political conflict. There was just so much context missing for me that I couldn't fully understand motivations, why so much of this was tragic, or why I should care. So, you know, I didn't. There's a lot of time spent understanding emotions of characters when in their POV, which is normally great, but if I don't really get the backstory behind WHY they're sad, it's hard to understand why I care for 50 pages of sadness and complaining.

So overall I'm going to give this a 3 because I *do* think this is a good story--perhaps even a great one--with appropriate context and backstory.

One day I'll go back to the OG series and then revisit this and see if I feel the same way!

[Heather Provencher]

Thank you to @thenerdfam for the early copy of Umbra!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶
This book had such a good premise, I was completely intrigued by the synopsis of the book that I went off my self imposed arc requesting ban to request and read this book and I am a little sad that it didn't delivery as well as I had hoped.
I had not realized when I went into this book that it is part of a world by this other with other books that explain some of the back story to the characaters. Had I known that I probably would not have requested the arc becuase there are some things that I was a little confused by and had questions about which were not explained in this book.
The concept of the story was still intriguing and it did get more interesting later in the book. The world building was pretty good and I always appreciate a glossary. The characters were interesting, the FMC Yva is a former assassin who was the love of the king to be but left one day and joined his enemy to find a cure for her curse. The MMC Samthi, the king to be, spent a year looking for his love after she disappeared and put off his coronation as he searched for her. But I found the book very slow paced, I found it hard to keep interested in the story and I did keep stopping to read other books instead, but I did eventually finish the book. The cliffhanger at the end I did not see coming, but I didn't realize it would be a series and I don't think I would read the next book.
Overall the book was good, but I don't think I will continue the series cause it just wasn't for me and wasn't interesting enough for me to keep going. Sorry.