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

434 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication 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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Heather Altundağ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Christine]

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

[Mona · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Marius-Andrei I. · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🫠🫶🏻

[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.

[Krista Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a very similar experience as several other reviewers, where I *thought* I was reading Book 1 of a new series, yet ended up feeling as though I was several books deep in a complicated series where all the action had already happened, and I was getting a fragmented retelling of it.

Just like those reviewers, I also had a difficult time empathizing with the characters. At first I thought it was because I was just catching up on plot (because, well, there’s a LOT of that), but then I realized it was because the story about these characters had already been told in a different book, and my connection to their love story was supposed to be already rock solid.

Only…it wasn’t…because I have never read a book by this author. I loved the cover and was VERY excited to settle in for an epic fantasy adventure, but in the end I wasn’t able to ever feel like I fully understood what was going on in the book, or (probably more importantly) care about what was going on in the book. And, I feel sad about that, because it’s clear this author loves this world and poured a lot of heart and soul into creating a new story for these characters.

I hope that the people who read the author’s “Vials of Hope” series absolutely love this book in a way I was not able to, because I will always cheer for any author willing to invent and invest in a new fantasy world.

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book, I appreciated the opportunity to provide my honest thoughts on my reading experience.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Umbra by Catalina Matei
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you, Nerdfam! 🖤

Okay… the TENSION. The YEARning. The mystery. 😭 I literally stayed up until 1 AM because I had to finish this.

Yva and Samthi’s story unfolds through flashbacks, and I was completely invested. Dream walking, curses, complicated feelings, enemies-to-lovers energy, and a green-flag MMC?? YES PLEASE.

Samthi has been living rent-free in my head since Vials of Fate, so getting his story felt especially personal. I connected with him so much, and watching his relationship with Yva unfold had me hooked. Their chemistry??? The tension was absolutely everything.

And that cliffhanger?! EXCUSE ME?! I need book two immediately. If this is what the beta draft was giving, I can only imagine what the final version is going to be like. 👀

I also have to mention Catalina’s writing because you can really see how much she’s grown. She knows how to build suspense, create yearning, and then leave you sitting there staring at the page like WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

I loved getting to see more of this universe, and while Zadrhon and Tiadola definitely tested my patience in this one 😂, I still really enjoyed the spin-off. You don’t need to read Vials of Fate beforehand either—the world and characters are explained well enough to jump right in.

At this point, Catalina Matei is an auto-buy author for me. That’s not up for debate. 🖤

Dream walking. World-building. Yearning. Curses. Mystery. Green-flag MMC.

If Umbra isn’t on your August TBR, what are you even doing?! 👀

[Ema · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from the author 🙏🏼

One of my favourite aspects of this story was the world-building. Although there is clearly a rich history behind this universe, I enjoyed discovering its different layers and seeing how everything gradually came together. The narrative also becomes much more compelling in the second half, where the pacing picks up and the stakes continue to rise.

I especially loved having an assassin as the female main character. She brought a sharp edge to the story, and her perspective made for an engaging read. Another element I really appreciated was the dual timeline. Moving between the present and the past allowed the relationship between Yva and Samthi to unfold naturally, adding emotional depth and making their connection feel more meaningful.

There were a few character decisions that I personally didn’t fully connect with, but they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
This book can be read and understood even if you didn’t read the original trilogy, although you may find it easier to grasp all the nuances of the world-building if you read the trilogy first.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a fascinating world, a compelling assassin heroine, and a romance that benefited greatly from the dual-timeline structure. If you enjoy fantasy with layered world-building, action, and character-driven relationships, this is definitely worth picking up. 🤩

[Devreadsallday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Umbra was such an unexpected read for me, especially since this was my first book by Catalina Matei. I went in completely blind and hadn’t read The Vials of Fate series beforehand, and I honestly loved discovering this world for the first time.

The world-building was one of my favourite parts. There’s magic, dragons, political intrigue, rebellion, assassins, secrets, and so many twists woven throughout the story. There was always another layer to uncover, and I loved how the fantasy elements were so deeply connected to the characters and the larger conflict.

But Yva and Samthi completely stole the show for me. Their relationship was filled with so much yearning, heartbreak, sacrifice, and impossible choices. 💔 I loved watching their story unfold and slowly understanding everything that had brought them to where they are. Yva especially was such a standout character: strong and capable, but with so much vulnerability underneath.

And THAT ENDING?! 😳 I absolutely did not see it coming. I finished this book with so many questions and an immediate need for the next one.

Overall, Umbra gave me everything I want from a dark fantasy romance: magic, dragons, intrigue, angst, yearning, heartbreak, and a romance that made me FEEL everything. I’m officially invested in this world and cannot wait to see where Yva and Samthi’s story goes next.

Thank you so much to the NerdFam for the advanced copy! 🖤✨

[Ashleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shoutout to The Nerd Fam for sending me an advance review copy! Even though Umbra actually takes place after The Vials of Fate trilogy, I hadn't read those first, so I went in totally blind. Honestly, it didn't trip me up at all; I never felt lost.

The real anchor of the book is the messy, painful dynamic between Yva and Samthi. Their history is packed with bad timing, terrible choices, and lingering hurt, and watching them try to deal with all that weight while fighting betrayal and duty is brutal in the best way. The way the book weaves past and present timelines makes their slow-burn tension hit so much harder because you actually see how their bond formed piece by piece.

The worldbuilding is great—thick with political tension, tricky magic, and constant low-level dread. The pacing keeps things moving without rushing the emotional beats, always dropping a new problem right when you think things are settling down. And that ending? No spoilers, but it's a proper cliffhanger that leaves you scrambling for the next book.

If you're into dark fantasy romance with heavy second-chance angst and plenty of political scheming, this is a strong start to the series.

Rating: 5 Stars. Atmospheric, intense, and completely absorbing.

[Diana Kym · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟! This was such a great, fast paced, could not put down read! You have a green flag, loyal MMC and an assassin FMC, whose love story you hear about through flashbacks. The yearning on both sides in this book is chefs kiss! I loved the dual POVs so you knew what was happening from both sides throughout the story. It took a minute to adjust to the back and forth between flashbacks and present day in both points of view, but the information gleaned from these flashbacks is essential to the storyline.

Samthi, our MMC, is about to take the throne. He is missing Yva, who had left without a word and he is left wondering what could have happened and why she possibly would have left. Yva resurfaces as Umbra, an assassin in a rebel group that is working against the throne. Delving deeper into this story and this world just made me want to find out more and more.

I did not realize that there is another trilogy set in this world before I picked this up, but through the glossary of terms in the beginning and the world building, I truly think you can just read this on it’s own.

The ending is diabolical! I wanted to throw my phone when I realized that that was the last page! I need book two immediately!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to Catalina Matei for the opportunity to read the ARC for Umbra.

Umbra is a 4 and half stars for me!

This story had my heart aching from the beginning to end! So please bring out book 2 Catalina …. I need to know what happens next!

This is a slow burn dark romance that has been written methodically and thoroughly. I found it really picked up, for me, around the 50% mark. The slow build up was needed to get to the business end of the story.

I really felt for Yva and Samthi. The angst and yearning between the two was a constant heartache. I have never wanted to interfere in a relationship to get these two together so badly. Smack them both up side the head and shake them. So, Yes! I was thoroughly invested in the end.

This book ticks so many boxes for me. The many facets of our FMC, assassin, dream walker, double agent. Our MMC has it all, loyalty, royalty, high morals. And Dragons! Three headed dragons at that. Well written, jumping between past and present and the cliff hanger at the end will have anybody that reads this book wanting book two.

[MicaylaTheBookDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samthi is the king of Avenia, well almost. He overthrew his father a year ago, but he keeps delaying his coronation. He hoped to be coronation with the woman he loved by his side, but she disappeared. His hesitation leads to a rebellion to grow against him. The leader of the rebellion, Demer, wants nothing more than to take the throne of Avenia for himself. But Yva won't let that happen.

Despite Yva's current circumstances, she believes in Samthi. She may be separated from Samthi for reasons beyond her control right now, but she still cares for him very deeply. One of her reasons for staying is because Demer is working on a poison that will remove the magic from humans. Yva knows that Demer won't stop there and that he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

This was an amazing book! I am absolutely obsessed with Yva and Samthi! Their yearning for each other is so intense and heartwrenching. You can just feel that they are meant for each other, but they are torn apart by terrible circumstances. And that ending! Are you kidding me?! I need book two immediately!

Thank you to The Nerd Fam and author Catalina Matei for the gifted eARC.

[Jennifer David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really intrigued by the premise of Umbra, but unfortunately it took me a while to get into. I found the beginning quite information-heavy, and it took me some time to adjust to the writing style and understand the world.

I also would have liked a slower introduction to the characters, as I found it difficult to keep track of everyone early on. The magic system was interesting, but I was left with quite a few questions and would have loved a little more explanation to better understand how it all worked.

While the author says this can be read without the previous series, I couldn’t help but wonder if having that background knowledge would have made the world and magic system easier to follow.

That said, I really enjoyed the female main character’s mission and determination throughout the story, and the ending genuinely surprised me. Overall, this wasn’t quite the right fit for me, but I think readers who enjoy complex fantasy worlds with lots of mystery may have a different experience.

[Nicola Reynoldson (nics_timetoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I would like to thank the NerdFam for gifting me this ARC.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Umbra is a beautifully written dark fantasy romance with plenty of angst, secrets, and a wonderfully slow-burn romance.

I didn’t realise before starting that there’s a prequel series, and I think reading those books first would have made the first 30% of Umbra much easier to follow. I felt like I was missing some important context early on, but once the story found its footing, I was completely invested.

I really loved the characters and the premise. Yva and Samthi’s heartbreaking journey kept me turning the pages, and the world-building was intriguing. The three-headed dragons were a refreshing addition and gave the story a unique touch.

As the first book in a duology, Umbra delivers plenty of twists, and that ending was genuinely shocking. It left me desperate to find out what happens next, so I’ll definitely be picking up book two.

[Jordan Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly the vibe I needed 🫠

So i found a brand new author, and boy am i glad i did. The dual PoV and alternative timeline really set this book up to be great, and it didn’t let me down. I love a dual PoV, saves me any guessing work.

The selling point of this book was the story was front and centre, and the romance was a subplot. I am here for it. Ive been searching for a book where it completely sucks me in to the story and the romance was a lovely added touch. I was invested.

Now its also my own fault, as this was a new author, that i didn’t have a clue there was a whole series (prequel I believe) that was out before this, but i will be going to read that series.

@catalinamateiwrites has a beautiful writing style and I’ll forever love her for being plot focused, its exactly what I needed this year. But also, I need book 2 like now please babes.

Thank you to @thenerdfam for the gifted book. #umbra #thenerdfam

[Heaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted books. #umbra #thenerdfam @thenerdfam

ARC received for an honest review

Matei delivers such a moody, magnetic romantasy in Umbra, and I honestly felt every bit of it. The world is drenched in shadows and quiet magic, but it was the connection between the characters that completely got me. Their relationship feels fated in that soft, aching way—fragile but powerful, full of longing and unspoken truths. There were moments where their chemistry hit so hard I had to pause and just feel it.

The emotional weight of their choices, the secrets they carry, the way they reach for each other even when they shouldn’t—it all made the story resonate so deeply. The magic only amplifies it, weaving into their bond until every scene feels charged and meaningful.

If you love fantasy romance that makes your chest tighten and your heart race, Umbra is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish.

[Nikki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled with Umbra. It was positioned as a new series set in an existing world where you do not need to read the companion series. I didn’t find that to be the case. The entire novel’s premise and prose are so tightly coupled with the Vials of Fate series. I wouldn’t recommend reading this without having read the Vials of Fate. It felt like there was so much explanation of the previous series’ events that the plot of this book didn’t pick-up until well into Part Two of the book and even then around the last 10%. Had I read Vials of Fate I think I would’ve had a better time with this book. I don’t think there was enough character building for me to be invested in the main characters or their relationship. It also seemed like Yva could’ve really avoided all the events had she just taken a beat and talked to someone.

Thank you to NerdFam for an advanced copy of Umbra in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
As someone who didn’t read the series before this one I was still able to really enjoy this story. I will say the reason it gets four stars from me, is because it was a little confusing for me the first 30 percent BUT the flashback scenes were able to piece things together for me. I think if there was a flashback scene a little earlier in the book, it might have helped a little more. Part 2 definitely gets five stars because of a certain reconnection that happens AND the ending I did not see coming. I will say this author doesn’t hold back punches, some side characters you meet do not get a happy ending and it fits well due to who the villain of this story is. Can’t wait for the second book in this duology, thank you for the ARC!

For fans of: unique magic system, royalty vs rebels, found family, and second chance romance

[Hamail Haider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the majority of the readers, I went into this book not knowing there was a prequel series. However, everything was so well explained that I managed to understand everything, so kudos to the author for that.
This story was amazing!! Yva and Samthi are such heartbroken lovers, it's tragic honestly. They're both dealing with their own demons while trying to find their way back to each other and that yearning is so clear in the book. It was kind of hard to connect with the other characters, not knowing their backstory, but our main characters were enough to make me enjoy the story.
That ending though😭 Having to wait so long after THAT is insane. Until then, I'll cope by reading the prequel series and hoping for a Yva and Samthi happy ending.
Absolutely loved the story and can't wait to read the next one!