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Echoes of Fate #1
Umbra
Not yet published
Expected 27 Aug 26She 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.
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.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 27, 2026
1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Catalina Matei
4 books91 followersI 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 15, 2025
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 ⭐️
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 ⭐️
December 9, 2025
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!!! ❤️
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!!! ❤️
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews