A Fate so Dark and Delicate: The slow-burn romantasy with sizzling tension, secrets and twists!

by Sophia St. Germain

'You'll have me in every lifetime. In this one, and what comes next, and whatever comes after that, you'll have me'

A Fate so Dark and Delicate is the fourth in an epic, spicy, slow-burn romantasy series from Sophia St Germain, perfect for fans of Gild, The Cruel Prince, The Veiled Kingdom, and Sarah J Maas.

✨ Dark and spicy
✨ Enemies-to-lovers
✨ Slow-burn that burns HOT
✨ Fae world
✨ Political intrigue
✨ Secret identities
✨ Curses and prophecies and more!
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The king is dead, but Havlands is still in turmoil, plagued by distrust amongst the conquered rebels, shifters, Fae, and humans.

With the impending threat of the invading Oakgards' Fae, Elessia and her friends find themselves in a race to unite their fractured realm. But as Elessia grapples with the deadly implications of her newfound powers, she and Merrick discover a devastating the price of her new gifts may force them to leave Havlands and their friends behind to face the looming war alone.

As Elessia and Merrick journey to Vastala in desperate search of answers, their friends must survive the brutal politics of a collapsing realm on their own. Bonds are tested, loyalties shift, and the lines between ally and enemy blur. And with fate at the door, they each must decide whether answering the call of destiny is worth facing the shadows that haunt them-all before it's too late.
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Readers can't get enough of The Compelling Fates Saga!

'This series continues to impress me with its ability to make me feel. It's dramatic, emotional, and immersive in a way that makes you live alongside the characters. Sophia St. Germain has truly mastered writing fantasy romance that blends heartache, resilience, and the kind of passion that leaves you breathless.' 5 ⭐ reader review

'This is a fast paced, emotional rollercoaster and you know what, I love it. Sophia is an incredibly talented author' 5 ⭐ reader review

'Sophia, I dub thee the Queen of Emotional Cliffhangers!' 5 ⭐ reader review

'I know that book four is going to absolutely wreck me - likely in both a wonderful way, as well an emotionally scarring one but I am absolutely here for it!' 5 ⭐ reader review

472 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2025

About the author

Sophia St. Germain has always loved reading fantasy and romance. She writes romantasy and is a big fan of found family, enemies to lovers, strong but flawed FMCs, and morally gray MMCs.

Originally from Sweden, Sophia moved to the US in 2019 but has also lived in France, Norway, and Belgium. She uses influences from her travels and the different cultures she's experienced in her books and characters.

Sophia works in tech by day and writes and reads romantasy by night (and, let's be honest, very early mornings).

Reviews

[Neiwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m sorry what just happened??? I was absolutely loving the first 3 books. But I was dragging my feet through this.

I was so bored with this until like 80%. I love multiple POVS but it was too much in this.
4 different romances, everyone lost their personality’s and was just declaring insta love left right and centre. It was repetitive and I honestly couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. The plot absolutely fell off. The last 10% just smacks you in the face. Nothing was making sense then someone comes out of nowhere and everything just stops and then everyone’s on there merry way home?
So disappointed 😭

[Beaniebabyminx · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m really sad that not only did I not like the book, but DNFd at like 40%. Maybe I’ll give this another go at a later time, but it just felt so messy, there were some really nitpicky writing patterns that I struggled with, and the fact that everyone is either horny, depressed, or both, made it nearly impossible for me to get past. Like, Lessia will be addressing a crowd of people about extremely dire shit happening, all Merrick can think about is—not just taking her to bed, but absolutely ruining her. Like THIS ISNT THE TIME HELLO??? The constant POV switching was really superfluous and constant, which also drove me crazy 🫣 The first three books had something truly amazing going, and this book just really killed it for me ☹️

[aneira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, slowest of all 4 books but great overall read!

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to even begin. Listen, I loved certain aspects of these books but this last book in the series really disappointed me.

I got to 97% and kept thinking surely there’s another book and it’s not going to just finish here but I was so mistaken. After 4 books I can honestly say I feel robbed which is heartbreaking because as I said, certain aspects of the book had so much promise.

I left this book with more questions than I had answered and it felt like the majority of it was just a filler with no purpose.

Overall, it left me with the same feeling as when my rose dies 10 seconds too early. Unsatisfied.

[Katy Stopforth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ Genuinely a bit disappointed with this one 🥲 it felt sooo slow for about 85% of it, then the last 15% was insanely rushed. Don’t even get me started on the ending.. I feel like it was more to set up her next book series as opposed to finishing this one off 💔 I’d have preferred for them not to have been mentioned at all. Despite this, I genuinely love Elessia & Merrick and book 2 will always have my heart.

[Emma Cawston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m pissed off with this book, it felt too rushed, too forced. Also jumping between the perspectives gave me whiplash, the pacing was awful.

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5✨

Honestly so disappointed with this final book. The pacing was all over the place—most of the book felt really slow, just loads of couples deciding that they love each other, have a quest, cheeky fuck, moves onto the next couple, rinse repeat, then the last section suddenly turns into absolute chaos. So much happened so fast that it was hard to keep up, and it felt rushed and underdeveloped.

What REALLY confused me was how many characters died only to be brought back…and then n o t h i n g happened with any of them, like it only happened for shock value before everything was neatly reset because the story was desperate for a “happy” ending, even though it really didn’t need to - I was low-key happy that it wasn't looking like everything was just gonna work out but you barely get chance to grieve before *pop* it's cool, they're not dead anymore.

On top of that, it felt more like a setup for a spinoff than a satisfying conclusion to this series. Lessia deserved a proper ending, not a rushed wrap-up. Honestly, we as readers did too. I shouldn’t be finishing the final book of a series feeling this confused and let down. It doesn't make me want to read the next, with so much missing from this.

[Jessica Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok I have so many thoughts rn my brain is completely frazzled. I am gonna start by saying this series has my heart, the second book will be one I always want to go back to. Elessia and Merrick have my heart. However, this book especially the last 20% felt so rushed and I was just ready for it to end sadly. I am not the biggest fan of books where it starts with one couple the ends with multiple POVs because I never find myself connected to them. In this case, I genuinely didn’t care for anyone else other than Ardow and Venko and Amalise and Zaddock, which amusingly we barely followed the stories of their relationships. When about 5 people died at the end there I was shook, and even though I love all the characters I am sorry I hate how they all were just brought back to life because it feels so cliche. Also, I am very very confused about what the fuck happened at the end there. Would’ve probably loved this more if it had just followed Elessia and Merrick because I lowkey cried at their wedding, I love them sm.

[Tahnee Judd · Rating 3 out of 5]

My god, I cried so much. I swear at least 80% of this book was me wiping away tears just so I could keep reading.

I truly loved this series, the world, the atmosphere, and especially the characters. Merrick will forever be the only blonde man I will ever love.

That said, I was disappointed with this final instalment. The pacing for the first 85% felt really slow, and then suddenly the last 15% was pure chaos. So much happened so quickly that I could barely keep up, and yet it still felt rushed.

What frustrated me most was that this book felt more like a setup for Sophia’s spinoff series than a true conclusion to this one.
Lessia deserved more. A real, satisfying ending - not just a rushed little epilogue. And honestly, we as readers deserved that too. I was left confused at the end, which shouldn’t happen when you’re closing out a series.

If this were a standalone, I’d probably rate it around 1.5–2 stars. But because I love this world as much as I do, I’m giving it a 3 ⭐️

[Catie Cheeseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t even know where to begin with this one. A Fate So Dark and Delicate is the final instalment in The Compelling Fates saga,a series I’ve absolutely adored, and wow, it did not disappoint. This book took me on a full emotional roller coaster- just when I thought my heart couldn’t handle any more, it delivered another gut punch of a climax. Yes, real tears were shed. I’m genuinely devastated that this series has come to an end, but if it had to finish, this was the perfect, unforgettable way to do it.

[Tyla Oakey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavily confused with this book! So many POVs which was ok because I love all the characters but somewhat hard to follow.. and the big twist at the end of book 3, it kind of carried on as if nothing had happened. Like (no spoilers) but the ending of book 3 hadn’t happened at all? I somewhat get it but also confused by it. And the ending to this book? Also confused 😂 is there going to be another book to explain this new character & who’s his wife? 😂

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know everyone found this series god tier and while I did enjoy it, the last book was definitely my least favourite, I found a lot of the fate and soul situation to become too interconnected and confusing too many prophecies floating around and things that became pure convenience. The ending was wrapped up very quickly and didn’t make a whole lot of sense for me. Perhaps it’s because we’re to get another connected series. But it just missed the mark for me

[Tori Austen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited about this final book.
Absolutely shook when so many characters died towards the end but then they were all just brought back?
Then all of a sudden Marlow - firstly, who the fuck is Marlow? - appears and we’re all good, everyone go home, we’re bonded.
I just felt very confused and thought maybe I’ve missed something?

[Cathy Roxburgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything wrapped up very nicely and neatly.

I found it a nice read because everyone had a purpose and I wasn’t left with any questions or anything up in the air.

The war was intense and had me gripping the book, hoping that what was happening was somehow going to be alright.

I adored this series, it was reminiscent of ToG in the best ways and the magic was interesting.

I do like that there is a potential for a spin off series as there is definitely more within this world that could be explored 💜

[Bee Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I loved this series as a whole I was so disappointed with this ending. I felt as though the resolution was rushed. There weee so many loose ends to tie up and sadly they were not done well. I do still love all the characters. I just wish it wasn’t so rushed at the end and that it flowed better.

[Ava Violet · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5🌟 You couldn’t pay me to care about anything that happened in this book. This series started at a high and for me got worse as it went on, I don’t think this is a bad book necessarily I just didn’t care enough about any of the characters.

[Amanda Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

Really like the characters in the story I felt the ending was just a tad bit rushed. It could’ve had a bit more depth into it as some of the story didn’t really flow. but overall it was a really good story.

[Sophie Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Obsessed. Obsessed with this entire series. I cannot wait until the sister series is released!!
I had so many emotions, especially in the last 20% of the book. The emotional highs and lows were extreme, but so so good.
I love all the characters and will continue to think about them.

[Ruth Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved these books truly, and would recommend reading them. I was on track for rating this 4+ stars but for the life of me I was confused at the end. I went back a searched for a name in the whole series and I couldn’t find any mention of Marlow. So with that I had to give it 3 starts.

[Sam Stakenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh man I am not sure what happened. 5 stars for the first three and this one just didn't feel the same!

also the ending was just flat. maybe it's just me....

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series, had me crying at the end, but so good!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this series, especially book 2. This was a nice ending with an obvious hint at an expanded universe. Glad to finish my year of reading with this one! Look forward to what comes next.

[Kay ✿ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[Kelly Aitkenhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing ending

Loved the series but the ending came about too quick. Not sure if there will be a follow up book but left me with so much questions

[Ella Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately this book didn’t hit the spot like the others in the series. It just fell a tad flat for me. It’s was nice enough to read but nothing amazing.

[Roni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need a kerym and pellie spin off and maybe a tad bit less of seggsy time

[bookish.chan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3-3.5 ⭐️

This read sort of like a different author wrote it compared to the first three… It’s sad because the first three books were great!

I wanted to love this and was so excited about this conclusion, but the plot was all over the place and characters (like Merrick) felt wasted. The ending left me with more questions and confusion than anything else.