Scars Beneath a Serpent's Scales: A Romantic Fantasy Novel

The Fatesworn Saga #1

by Nicole Platania

What is inevitable?
Emmeline DeLeoste has always talked to the stars. As a member of a fortune-telling warrior clan, her exceptional magic allows her to read the Fates, earning her a prestigious Academy job. But it has also cost her everyone she loves.
Roremar Silventa has more responsibilities than any man should. Combined with his Reckless reputation haunting his every step, it’s left him burdened in more ways than one.
When women start disappearing from the drug-infested Isle of Lyra, Emmeline and Roremar are tasked with finding the culprit due to their unique skillsets. In return, each is offered the one thing they can’t refuse. There’s only one problem: the pair couldn’t be more different.
Amid mounting threats from the Fates, and with a murderer creeping closer, Emmeline and Roremar strike up an alliance only to realize that, despite their differences, or perhaps because of them, they may understand each other in a way no one else can.
Can they unveil fated pasts and catch a killer before they lose their lives–or their hearts?
Everyone on Lyra has a secret, and some things may be inevitable after all.
Scars Beneath a Serpent’s Scales is the first book in an Adult Romantic Fantasy series full of celestial magic, murder mystery, and sizzling, star crossed love. It is recommended for fans of Chloe C. Peñaranda, Sarah A. Parker, and Kayla Edwards.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Audiobook, Mystery, Forced Proximity

506 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

Nicole Platania was born and raised in Los Angeles and completed her B.A. in Communications at the University of California, Santa Barbara. After two years of working in social media marketing, she traded Santa Barbara beaches for the rainy magic of London, where she completed her Masters in Creative Writing at Birkbeck, University of London. Nicole harbors a love for broken and twisty characters, stories that feel like puzzles, and all things romance. She can always be found with a cup of coffee or glass of wine in hand, ready to discuss everything from celebrity gossip to your latest book theories.

Connect with her on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter as @bynicoleplatania or at www.nicoleplatania.com.

Reviews

[Gabi Koz]

6⭐️ Update 03/15/2026
Now that I’ve caught my breath, I have more to say. I have not stopped thinking about this book since I have finished it over a week ago. I feel like this book is ingrained into my soul and will be my comfort book from now on. I am just enamored by every part of it and am already about to reread it with an advanced audiobook copy (& am giddy!!!!) If you are still sleeping on Nicole Platania’s books, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! If u want me to be even more insufferable about them, I WILL (yes that is a threat). 10/10. No notes. I get more obsessed with each passing minute. I almost regret reading it because now normal books feel boring. God tier !!!!!

________
03/07/2026
Review of Advanced Copy from the author 💗 WOW WOW WOW. 🤯🤯 for once I am speechless. I need to take the weekend to process. 2 of my favorite lead characters I’ve ever read. Incredible romance. Insane plot & suspense. Lush world building. Unlike any romantasy I have ever read. The murder mystery was so well done it literally felt like an epic fantasy, a thriller, and a breathtaking slow burn romance all at the same time. The celestial magic is so freaking cool and unique. The romance is absolutely unmatched. No one writes a slow burn like Nicole Platania. I’m literally in awe right now I feel like I need to SCREAM !!!!! 5⭐️ OH MY GOD THIS BOOK

I feel out of breath after reading this (complimentary) . EVERYONE READ THIS NOW. I JUST HAVE TO TALK

[Krysta ꕤ]

celestial magic x murder mystery x star crossed lovers

”Something in her blood called to him. Something that had been lonely all these years, as if it was waiting for him.”

i have a lot of thoughts on this book, there was so much going on.. especially when it came to the murder mystery side of it all. i really didn’t expect that reveal of who the killer was, but it set off the most insane chain of reactions afterwards. the fmc Emmeline is powerful and very capable, while the mmc Roremar is a true protector in every sense of the word. the slow burn was very well done, i loved their banter and how they were forced to work together but became a strong team.

”They may both be tightly wound, but together, they’d been learning to challenge their rigid boundaries. She let him breathe. He let her fall.”

the beginning of the book was a little slow, i also think some of the information about the magic got confusing at times. other than that, i really don’t have any other complaints. i’m so interested in seeing Em’s abilities grow and what sort of power she’ll be able to channel through her readings with the gods. i loved Roremar’s best friend and his relationship with his family, especially his brother Nico. the cliffhanger is criminal, but chapter 52? I’ll need A LOT more of that

[dak]

5☆ 𝓢𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓪 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓢𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓼 (ᴛʜᴇ ғᴀᴛᴇsᴡᴏʀɴ sᴀɢᴀ #𝟷)

🧘🏻‍♀️🪻 💫 🪔 🌿 🫖 🌌

“𝐀 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐮𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬
𝐀 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬
𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞
𝐀 𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞”

two words that will always have me sat: murder mystery 🙂‍↕️
this world is perfection. the celestial magic and the fortune teller/fate reading vibes, both such a refreshing and unique take + so fun to read about! the plot in this one was cooking. talk about absolute page turner.

we follow 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎, an academy instructor by day and huntress by night, who is recruited to track down the reason why multiple women have gone missing on the island. she is forced to team up with 𝚁𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚛 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝓇𝑒𝒸𝓀𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 🫦 and let me just say these two had me violently 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵. the slow burn is *𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧’𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴* and of course the banter is 10/10. 𝙴𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 and 𝚁𝚘𝚛𝚎𝚖𝚊𝚛 are both great characters and such baddies. i love them already so much!!

⏾⋆.˚𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓎 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 ℐ 𝓂𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂, ℐ’𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊 ⋆ 𖥔 ݁ ˖₊‧.⭒.

and this found family?? 𝙳𝚎𝚜𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚍, 𝙽𝚒𝚌𝚘 and 𝙼𝚢𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚊 💓🥺 LOVE THEM YOUR HONOR

that last 20% my fucking heart BROKE… i was so stressed ughhhh. i need book 2 right this very moment cause WTF DO YOU MEAN.

[Gabriela]

It has been some time since I’ve read a good murder mystery. Pair this with my favorite genre (why yes it’s romantasy) and a celestial magic system, and I can’t remember reading a story quite like this.

Emmeline is an instructor at a prestigious academy for starsearchers, warriors who are born with a magical affinity to commune with the fates and hear fortunes. She is recruited to investigate a series of murders that are disrupting peace on the isle of Lyra and is paired with Roremar, a warrior with a reckless reputation.

To start with, the quest to find the murderer/kidnapper of several women on the isle filled my long empty mystery cup. Emmeline and Roremar agree to a reluctant partnership, each with altruistic intentions and their own personal agenda. One thing I love here is that as clues are carefully explored, mystery imbues the entire atmosphere of this story.

The complex relationship between the angels, fates, and warriors’ celestial magic in addition to following the breadcrumbs surrounding the murders and guessing the secrets of the MC’s kept my mind spinning in overtime. No truths or facts are freely given, and close observation of even the minutest detail is required to gain information. This is a long winded way of saying I felt like I was in a fog for a good part of the story. But fortunately I found that paying attention is eventually rewarded.

The romance: initially I was worried it wasn’t even going to make an appearance. While Emmeline and Roremar flirt with attraction, they are so guarded they have each clearly fostered the impulse control of a saint. But as the mystery progresses they build something even stronger…trust. The foundation of any true love story. And even when said trust is tested and broken, they still somehow manage to remain tethered. In hindsight, I appreciate that romance doesn’t detract from their partnership as they work to solve the murders.

The characters: Emmeline clings to isolation and vengeance as a lifeline with her steel triple bladed exterior and her achingly vulnerable interior. Roremar has the duty and honor of a soldier, the charm to fit his reckless reputation, and the soft heart of a family man. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a chemistry that veered from skeptical to soul scorching quite like this.

Let me just say, it is all worth the wait. The stuttering slow burn, the riddles surrounding the magic, the tragedy and secrets that each character harbors. While the buildup feels chaotic, it is also measured, precise, and intentional. It all comes together like putting the puzzle pieces of an abstract painting together. Individually the pieces make little sense, but as a whole they form a narrative that is both ethereal and beautiful.

For the audiobook, both Annalee Scott and Xander Stone are excellent.

Many many thanks to the author for the eARC and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

————————

Soooo I would probably read this just for the cover and the character art. But also, it’s a romantasy murder mystery. AND this is my first ARC where I have the kindle & audiobook 😍

[muhgooo]

WHY DO ALL THESE ARC READERS KEEP LYING!?

I was really excited for this book. But DAMN if this wasn’t a waste of my time!

The story is interesting. It had my attention pretty quick! And LOTS of hype on booktok! But the world building isn’t fleshed out. What is the POINT of all the magical fortune telling?!

The dialogue is cringe and so cheesy… it’s VERY YA with lots of “fucks” throw in to make it feel more rated R. And this book is the DEFINITION of tell, not show. LITERALLY, the characters raise their eyebrows or shrug their shoulders and EVERY TIME the author follows it up with an explanation of the gesture in italics that stars with “as if to say…” Like we aren’t smart enough to know what a raised eyebrow is saying?

The sentence structure was very odd… the text didn’t flow or make sense in a lot of places. A lot of long rambling sentences with way too many commas that made it hard to understand.

Here’s a good example:

“Greenery cascaded down stone storefronts like waterfalls, and stained glass and murals dotted the spaces between. But tonight, as Emmeline jumped from rooftop to rooftop, needing to find this man the Fate said was a lead, Lyra's beauty was eclipsed.
It was masked by that darker, threatening side.
The one that was addictive and consuming, that distracted you by tying a starry blindfold around your eyes while also slipping a noose around your neck if you dropped your guard for too long.
But it was the landscape of her dark fairytale And she in turn became its mistress. A huntress thirsty for blood to paint its colored walls. Another justification in the universe, a rung on the ladder she scaled to earn retribution for all she'd lost.”

EVERY PAGE is like this. It was exhausting to read.

This is a dual POV, but when the characters are together, the narrator slips between the two perspectives. Idk how to describe it. It will be the MMCs chapter, but suddenly the narrator starts describing what the FMC is thinking and feeling from her POV. So you really don’t know whose chapter you are on anymore. It makes things incredibly confusing!

Ugh FREE ME FROM THE CHAINS OF THIS BOOK SLUMP! And to all the ARC readers that said this was the best book they’ve ever read, I hope your car smells like warm turtle tank, no matter how often you clean it.

[Kha (kha.fantasyrealm)]

When you don’t have a single clue what’s going on. No matter how hard you try. You make a guess, only for it to be completely crushed in the next chapter. The only clear answers come at the end of a long, agonizing tunnel. That’s the kind of experience this fantasy mystery delivers.

I could also tell this was a character-driven story. While it largely revolves around solving a murder mystery, with celestial magic playing a notable but not overwhelming role, it places just as much focus on the characters themselves. The romance is minimal.. an extremely slow burn, filled with so much longing.

I think the mystery here isn’t only about solving the murders, but also about uncovering the truth behind each character.. the depth of their personas, their backstories, and the reasons they put up such strong fronts. There’s so much beneath the surface, and discovering how layered these characters are becomes part of the mystery itself.

This is my first book by the author, and I really enjoyed her writing style.. it’s richly descriptive, almost lyrical. My only reservation is the pacing, which can feel uneven, with some parts flowing smoothly and others slowing down.

I knocked off one star because of the pacing. But wow… that last 15%.. that’s how an ending should be done, and that cliffhanger just killed me. Also, realizing I never truly saw anything coming? That earned the star back. This book truly deserves a full rating.

Overall, it’s a richly layered and captivating read, and I’m already excited for book two.


“Plunge this knife into my heart and claim my life, because somehow in this mess, it’s become yours. And I’m in no way worthy after the ruin I’ve caused, so put me out of my misery and take it. A death at your hand is a sweeter sentence than I deserve.”


Thank you to the author and Legends Literary Management for the eARC.

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️]

This could have been spectacular…  

Emmeline is a gifted fate-reader who teaches at the Academy. Her magic has cost her everyone she loves. Roremar has a reckless reputation and heavy responsibilities. When women begin disappearing from the island, they are forced into an uneasy, tension-filled alliance to track down the killer.

There was a lot of promise:
Humans are tied to patron Fates and specific celestial paths that heavily impact their lives and destinies.
The hesitant alliance is deliciously slow burn and the characters have hidden depths.
There are some interesting reveals, BUT….

The reveals hinge on withholding key information our POV characters know which never works for me. We are in their head and they’re investigating and acting clueless, and yet, the the prime time, we find out they knew or had guessed all along.

The magic system, whilst cool, was never properly explained and felt under utilised until needed for the plot.

My biggest gripe is with their relationship: these two are so wishy waahy. Staying over the top love and protection and then not sharing key information or mistrusting each about everything.

Furthermore, we are supposed to believe Emmeline is the badass woman from a warrior clan and yet, she is constantly the damsel in distress and overly emotional. I get it, it’s because she feels she can finally let her guard down etc, but I struggled to reconcile her bloodthirsty persona with her sweet personality.

The narrators - the female whispered A LOT. Normally, the guy growls too much, here the soft spoken female is what got me struggling to stay immersed.

I sound like I hated this. I thought it was super unique and had a lot of potential. However, there were too many faults that really detracted from the experience.

Bookstagram
Tiktok

[Liz (lizzreadz)]

5⭐️ This book felt like a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre and I’m so honored to be ARC reviewing it!

Scars Beneath A Serpent’s Scales is a murder mystery romantasy full of intricate lore, celestial magic, twists that will leave you reeling, and a slow-burn romance that will have your heart ACHING.

The story unfolds on a beautiful island, where our two main characters are thrust into a reluctant partnership to investigate a string of disappearances and murders plaguing the isle. Each possessing their own skill sets and their own ulterior motives, Roremar and Emmeline must set aside their differences and work together to find the murderer before any more lives are taken. As the pieces of the puzzle slowly come together and an undeniable attraction sparks between the two, Roremar and Emmeline come to realize just how high the stakes are, and just how many secrets have yet to be revealed.

The journey this book takes you on! It’s as riveting as it is devastating, and will leave you flipping back through the pages, trying to connect the dots yourself. The murder mystery, the interwoven prophecy, the history behind these characters, and the secrets they harbor… It all kept me guessing at every turn, without the slightest inkling of what was going to happen, making every twist and reveal all the more satisfying to read.

There were so many other things I enjoyed about this book - the depth to these characters that shines through in every chapter, the reluctant allies romance full of potent yearning, and of course my personal favorite: the slow, agonizing BURN (in dual POV I might add). All set against the backdrop of a unique world, brimming with celestial themed lore and magic - what’s not to love?

Now the last 20% had me in utter shock and was easily my favorite part of the book. The wave of emotions you will experience!! I will always love a book that puts me through the emotional ringer, and this one is no exception. I cannot wait to see where book 2 takes us since we’ve only scratched the surface of this world, and there is a myriad of unanswered questions still brewing in the back of my mind.

This comes out March 26th, so mark your calendars, romantasy lovers! You’re going to want to read this one!

[Shannon | readingwithmarlow]

audio reread 3/26: immaculate, perfection, made me cry on a walk.
—
oming back around for an official review because I haven’t stopped thinking about this book since July 😀

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING TO ME.

LORE! MYSTERY! ROMANCE! MAGIC! EASTER EGGS FROM THE CURSE OF OPHELIA! PAIN! HEARTBREAK! SPICE! YEEEAAARRRNNNINNNGGGGG!!!!!

I am such a murder mystery girlie and it feels like Nicole truly wrote this book for me. I have read so many thrillers and it is hard to keep me hooked at this point because so much can feel repetitive but SBASS knocked me off my feet. I was completely taken aback. I vividly remember pacing around my house while reading the last 10% of the book.

And then ON TOP of that? The fantasy was amazing. Nicole is so amazing at building a world that I felt so immersed from page 1. A dual POV romantic fantasy with some juicyyyyy slow burn (a no kissing rule!!!!!!!!!) and some insane twists— what more could you want!

Just know that I’ll be rereading this book the literal moment it releases because I already miss my babies 😌

[mira]

Murder mystery paired with romantasy—yeah this is where I belong. It’s always refreshing to read a book with original ideas and a unique magic system. I went into this with no expectations but I really enjoyed it! One note, WHY is his name ROREMAR😭😭😭 you kind of get used to it…but also don’t…..at least the rest of the story makes up for it though LOL

[Maggie]

every day since I have finished this book I wonder if this story is going to leave me, and I’m starting to believe it may just live within my bones forever. The perfect amalgemation of head spinning mystery and an unending yearning that aches in the undertones of each moment. I guarantee you this book will be a favorite of the year for you.

If you’re a romantic fantasy lover that also enjoys the heck out of criminal minds, this story was written SPECIFICALLY for you. A murder mystery set in an immersive celestial magic world that is as beautiful as it is haunting. With angels, fates, unique magic, murder, and the wonderful dynamic of reluctant allies, this book has everything you need.

Emmeline is an instructor at the academy, when women on the island begin going missing the Headmaster assigns her and the new sparring instructor, Roremar, to investigate. This begins a winding tale of intrigue and twists you won’t even begin to guess. All accompanied by the most delicious SLOWWWWWW burn (and I do mean slow) you will be flying through the pages to figure it all out. And pain. Keep in mind, you’re in for a world of pain.

No question this book is an all time favorite for me.

_____________________________________________

no official rating - beta read

I have no words to explain how this is one of my favorite books of all time already, the world isn’t ready

[Lisa l chaotic.couchreads]

ARC REVIEW - thank you Nicole for the eARC opportunity!

Emmeline and Roremar are my new OBSESSION. They are brought together to solve a mystery on the island of Lyra - women have been missing and unalived and they need to find the culprit. Both of them have responsibilities and walls up to the sky keeping everyone out - yet they are PERFECT for each other. They challenge each other and compliment what they are missing in their lives.

The plot had me hooked immediately and the gas didn’t let up until the ending. THE TWIST THOUGH? It was like twisting a knife in my heart and I am still reeling about it! And how the ending left things has me desperate for book two!

The magic in this part of the world is linked to Fates who share readings. It is unique and a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre.

Roremar is an MMC who defines YEARNING. He is so DOWN BAD I was barking the whole time! What I adore about him is that he’s a family man, taking care of everyone and who takes care of him? His girlllllll 🥰

Emmeline is an FMC with secrets, but as they start to unravel they also show a vulnerability that is so relatable. She’s afraid to let anyone close to her and thinks that she is safer alone. Roremar refuses to accept this and she finds a safe haven.

This is easily my favorite read of the year so far and will easily become one of my favorite series of all time - yes I am that confident!!!!!!

Do not sleep on this amazing book!

**audiobook review - thank you Nicole and NetGalley for the ALC opportunity! We are BLESSED with dual narration and it helps immerse you into this amazing world. Both narrators are incredible and bring all the emotions to the surface in the best way. I had a wonderful time coming back to the world and know this is truly perfect for an immersive experience! Audiobook releases the same day as ebook/paperback, I cannot recommend it enough!

[Jordan Miner]

holy six stars. did I finish this book or did it finish me? because I swear that last 20% rearranged my brain chemistry. what actually was that??? my jaw is still somewhere on the floor. I am fully, completely, irreversibly gagged.

this book felt like Crescent City collided with Heavenly Bodies in the absolute best way: lush, intense, and addictive. the characters weren’t just compelling, they were layered, secretive, and achingly real. the magic system felt fresh and intricate without ever being overwhelming, and the murder mystery threaded through it all added this addictive, must-keep-reading momentum. and the tension??? the yearning??? I’m unwell. every glance, every almost, every moment of restraint had me losing my mind. PERFECTION. but truly, nothing could have prepared me for those twists. every reveal hit harder than the last, and by the end I was just sitting there, stunned, trying to process what I had just experienced.

I am still catching my breath writing this, but just know: I will be completely insufferable about this book until the next book drops.

“𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓽, 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓴𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼? 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝓮𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮. 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓵𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾. 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓘 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮.”

Ty netgalley for the alc!

[Heathers_readss]

everytime i read this i fall asleep its so boring 🥱

the only reason this has 2 stars and not 1 is because the individual components to the book SHOULD have made for an interesting read, and yet i was asleep until the last 10% of the book 😹

[Destiny.Reads]

Thank you Nicole Platania and Netgalley for the ALC.

✨ “Tell the stars your heart’s deepest desires and let them forge the fortune, tell them your worries and let them burn them away.”

This is true a slow-burn romantasy built on tension, restraint, and everything left unsaid woven with celestial magic and fate.

Set within an academy and layered with a murder investigation, the story follows two characters shaped by trauma who are forced into an uneasy partnership.
Neither of them is willing to let anyone get close.

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📖 The Details

⭐ Rating: 5/5
🌶 Spice Level: 1/5
📚 Genre: Adult Romantic Fantasy / Murder Mystery
🔮 Tropes: true slow burn, reluctant partners, allies to lovers, emotional trauma, murder mystery, he falls first, celestial magic,

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💭 My Reading Experience

The story opens strong and immediately establishes tone.

Emmeline is introduced in a brutal scene that makes it clear who she is, capable, controlled, and emotionally guarded.

The first portion is slower as the world and magic system are introduced, but it never felt like an info dump. The academy setting and investigation allow everything to unfold naturally. Once the story picks up, it becomes difficult to step away from.

The magic system stood out. The celestial elements, the twelve fates, and the use of star-reading was distinct without becoming overwhelming.

The tension between the main characters is where this story really shines.

It builds through restraint. Through quiet moments. Through everything they refuse to acknowledge.

Both characters are used to carrying everything alone, and that shared understanding makes their dynamic feel grounded and real.

There were multiple scenes that hit emotionally, but the turning point where Emmeline is forced to confront her past trauma completely broke me. That entire sequence and the aftermath were raw, heavy, and beautifully done.

And the ending?? I genuinely did not see it coming.

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🖤 Characters

Emmeline DeLeoste

A fortune-telling warrior with powerful magic working within the Temple Academy.

She presents herself as composed and distant, but that distance is intentional. Emmeline has spent her life protecting both herself and others by not letting anyone get too close.

Her growth is gradual. Small moments where she begins to let people in, to rely on others, to feel something beyond control.

“How sad is that… to feel the most understood when you’re the most alone?”

"Emmeline may have kept everyone at arm’s length, but why should that mean she kept the pain there, too? It had been easier to live her life that way for so long, to isolate it all, but perhaps easier wasn’t always better. Perhaps it was robbing her of something more valuable."

⸻

Roremar Silventa

Reckless by reputation, but defined by responsibility.

He carries the weight of his family and everything that comes with it. His actions are driven by obligation and survival, not recklessness.

There is a constant tension in his character between who he is and what he allows himself to feel.

And when that control begins to slip, even slightly, it changes everything.


"The confidence in her voice woke a creature within him that he’d long put to rest. Spirits, what he’d do to taste that freedom again."

"You made it so I could breathe again these final weeks. Do you understand how grateful I am that I got to experience that? You?”

“And he swore the man with his hands on her wouldn’t have hands to use ever again.”

─────────────────────────

🎧 Audiobook Experience (ALC)

Narrated by Annalee Scott and Xander Stone in duet narration.

Annalee Scott was a strong fit for Emmeline and carried her emotional depth well.

Xander Stone’s voice fit the darker tone of the story, though it felt slightly mismatched for the MMC, as he sounded older than the character is written.

The audiobook follows the pacing of the story, with a slower start that becomes more engaging as it progresses. There were moments where the delivery felt slightly robotic, but overall it was easy to follow.

I did find that the emotional impact hit harder when reading.

─────────────────────────

💖 What Worked For Me

• Strong emotional core centered on trauma and healing
• Slow-burn tension that feels earned
• Unique celestial magic system
• Compelling character growth
• A twist ending that genuinely surprised me

─────────────────────────

⚡ What Didn’t Fully Work For Me

• Slower pacing in the first portion due to worldbuilding
• MMC narration felt slightly mismatched in age
• Some narration moments felt less immersive

─────────────────────────

🔥 Standout Moments

Favorite Dynamic:
Emmeline and Roremar’s tension-filled partnership. The restraint, the banter, and the way neither of them wants to rely on the other, but slowly does, made their connection feel earned.

Scene that lingered:
The moment Emmeline is forced to confront her past trauma and the aftermath that follows. That shift in her character, and the way Roremar supports her through it, completely changed the emotional weight of the story.

Quotes:
"That’s what Fatesworn is: two halves of one star, two souls the Fates chose for one another, finding their way back together.”

"He’d help her like storms again. He’d help her find the way back to being that magic if it killed him."

”That was a mistake,” he panted as his forehead dropped against hers. His thumbs stroked her cheekbones, eyes searching hers as if to ensure she was okay. Emmeline licked her lips. “Why?” “Because now I won’t rest until I get you back.”

─────────────────────────

✨ Final Thoughts

This is a character-driven romantasy that leans into emotional depth rather than fast-paced plot.

The tension, the restraint, and the emotional growth between these characters are what make this story stand out.

If you enjoy slow-burn relationships, emotionally complex characters, and stories built on quiet intensity, this is absolutely worth reading.

And it lingers.

[isabellerosereads]

3.25-3.5⭐️ a compelling murder mystery plot, a unique, yet slightly half baked, magic system/world and a romance that was simply not for me. But for an indie romantasy, I’d say pretty solid overall.

Tropes/themes:
- communing with “Fates” for prophecy magic
- reluctant allies to lovers (with heavy fated mate implications) & instalust/banter
- two main characters who love control and order
- fiesty FMC schoolteacher that doubles as an assassin at night?
- slowburn but not slowburn depending on your preference
- murdery mystery
- secrets upon secrets

Idk, this book just wasn’t for me personally but I can objectively see how the die-hard romantasy girlies love it. I thought the murder mystery plot aspect was the selling point here - my friend called it a Criminal Minds version of a romantasy and I did think it was pretty unique in that aspect, while also making the plot very much surround the murder mystery without getting overly complex.

The magic system, what a cool concept. A Pantheon-style order of Fates, all with their balancing powers, gifting Fate ties to certain individuals so that they can smoke magical drugs and oils to commune with them and gain prophetic insights. A world with different celestial isles. Unfortunately, by the end of this 500+ page book, I couldn’t tell you exactly how the world or magic system actually worked??? I just feel like this book was filled with a lot of super cool concepts, but was half-baked in its execution like I was constantly lost in the little missing details.

The romance is 100% what dragged down this book for me, and that’s a me problem! Slowburns are subjective, and while the physical payoff and emotional confessions indeed were saved until the very end of the book (and still have more to expand upon), when characters are like instantly undressing each other and have this forced *holding knife to throat and angry banter for genuinely no reason* moments from the second they meet, I get very worn down by the instalust. I didn’t like the nicknames, I got so freaking tired of the FMC biting her damn lip off and I just don’t think I really vibed with the main characters.

I will say, way less spicy than I expected like there is only one minor scene at the very end and I wasn’t mad about it (but still skimmed bc thats just me)

I also think the author did a lot of telling with emotions and how things were playing out then demonstrating more through actions (and the actions themselves were constantly accompanied by telling internal explanations).

The ending did surprise me! I saw some reveals coming from the beginning, but others did throw me for a loop. I will say again, with the nature of the kind of romantasy this is, I knew exactly how the book was going to end cliffhanger-wise with the direction we were going, and honestly I feel like part of it was a little abrupt?

This was just a little disappointing compared to all the 6⭐️ reviews I see but i do think a lot of the problem is my growing tastes when it comes to this subgenre, so this is definitely my sign to take a break from newly published romantasy for awhile. I do think a lot of people will love this book and it was well written for the most part when compared to similar stories, but I have no personal interest in continuing.

[abigailscupoftea]

oh my gosh that ending was WILD!! this was such a fun fantasy filled with celestial magic and mystery. it was kind of like a mix between crescent city and heavenly bodies, so if you enjoyed those books then i think you would enjoy this too! 💫✨💫✨

[Ashley Smith]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)

I really enjoyed this one! The story was captivating from start to finish, with well-developed characters and a unique magic system that stood out—especially the use of scents tied to different Fates, which added such an interesting layer to the world.

Emmeline and Roremar were both easy to connect with, and I loved getting to know them individually as well as watching their relationship unfold. This is definitely a slow burn, with the tension building until the very end when everything finally clicks into place.

And that plot twist?! I was holding my breath—so well done without being predictable.

I listened to the audiobook, and while I enjoyed the overall experience, the male narrator’s voice didn’t quite match how I imagined Roremar—it felt a bit older than the character. It didn’t ruin the story, but it did pull me out a few times.

Overall, I’d absolutely recommend this to fantasy and romantasy readers looking for a compelling story with strong characters and a satisfying slow-burn romance.

Thank you to Nicole Platania, Tantor Media, and NetGalley for the ARC!

[☆Amanda☆]

Interesting story and magic system. The Celestial magic system was intriguing and im looking forward to learning more on that. I enjoyed the fantasy mixed with murder mystery as well as the love storyline. slow burn at its peak with resistant allies forced to solve the mystery of the woman disappearing and being murder.
Also, I did not see that ending coming!

[Morgan]

I’m so glad that I’m done hate-reading this book. I don’t think a book has ever put me to sleep so much… and the FMC can’t do anything without biting her lips it was driving me CRAZY. Thank god this is over 😭

[Kimberly]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

I am constantly craving a refreshing fantasy romance with new magic systems, politics and intrigue and Scars Beneath a Serpent's Scales absolutely delivered on all fronts. I am so looking forward to the next book after that cliffhanger! This book also has a truly delicious slow burn. ❤️‍🔥

This book leads with intrigue and mystery which kept me engaged from start to finish. Lots of twisty turns at the end that literally made my jaw drop. I just was along for the ride with this one I didn't try to predict or read too much into the foreshadowing or the prophecy but I am sure that this adds a whole other element to the story.

I love Nicole Plantania's writing style and her ability to write yearning and tension without it feeling corny is refreshing. I am 100% plan to re-read this book for the release of book two, which I need ASAP!

5/5 audiobook performance! Loved every second of this dual narration. No notes.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Media for the gifted ALC ❤️

[Ina]

Scars Beneath a Serpent's Scales By Nicole Platania
Narrator's Annalee Scott and Xander Stone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

⭐️Celestial Magic, Secrets, Fates, Yearning, Secret Mission, Murder Mystery

He's a reckless warrior and she's an Academy Instructor forced to work together to find the missing girls. Both suspicious of each other knowing the other is hiding something.

It's totally worth the long listen/read just for that ending! It's slow burn, so don't expect too much spice, but there is towards the end of the book. The yearning between the two was written well, but that ending. I'm not over it.

The narrator's did a splendid job with the characters and their emotions.

He wished he could have one more night with her.😭

[AOKayy]

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Audio, and Nicole Platania for the ALC of Scars Beneath a Serpent’s Scales!

I also received the ARC directly from Natalie—thank you!

Just wow. I needed a few days to let this one settle. This is a truly unique take on celestial magic, woven into a murder mystery that sends you down a wild rabbit hole. The “whodunit” aspect kept me constantly guessing, and the ending was absolutely earth-shattering.

The story follows Emmeline and Roremar, who are forced to work together to solve a string of murders on their isle. Neither of them fully understands what they’re getting into, not just with the case, but with each other. Roremar has a reckless reputation from his time in the military, while Emmeline is an instructor at the local academy who is heavily alluded to be far more powerful than she appears.

Without giving too much away, the story takes you on a chaotic and compelling journey through these murders, alongside other suspicious events unfolding across their isle and neighboring regions. At the same time, you’re drawn into the characters’ deeply traumatic pasts. And that ending? Truly insane.

Layered into all of this is a genuine slow-burn romance, one that will have you on the edge of your seat, desperate for more.

I seriously cannot wait to see where this story goes next. The audiobook was also very well done, with excellent dual narration. I loved being able to switch between listening and reading.

[ciana]

“for he was ruin, and she was the promise of the stars. but together, they shattered.”

—

wow. the vibes were immaculate. the whole celestial atmosphere was so fun and unique, and there was a lot of information to absorb, but the pacing was done so well that it made it easy to follow. it was also refreshing seeing these characters in their late 20s/early 30s. the murder mystery plot was such a fun addition and definitely gave me crescent city vibes.

the slow burn was EVERYTHING. the tension, the banter. the romance in general was so well done. the little touches, the forehead kisses, “my em”… someone sedate me.

roremar. my love. i’ve never softened for an mmc so fast. the way he takes care of his family and will absolutely give up everything for them makes me sob.

emmeline is such a relatable fmc—her feeling so alone and pushing others away because she’s scared of them being hurt :( and both of them believing they don’t deserve happiness HURT. it’s its own type of forbidden love, ugh.

the way they both opened up to each other throughout the book was so heartbreaking and beautiful. i genuinely wanted to cry the majority of this book for these characters.

i desperately need book 2 because that ending broke my heart.

“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔, 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔. 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚.”

[Abbie]

4.5 ⭐️
“what are you looking at, reckless?”
“you, emmeline. i am looking at you. way more than i should be.”

this was described as heavenly bodies meets crescent city and it was exactly that!!!

the world building and magic system was so unique, i did find it hard to follow at times which took me out of the story during parts but it still felt so immersive and it was so beautifully written.

the murder mystery element was incredible and it constantly had me trying to think who was responsible and i was completely shocked by the plot twist!!!

finally i can’t finish this review without mentioning our gorgeous emmeline and roremar. i loved emmeline from the start and she never pissed me off which can usually happen with fmcs in romantasy books so this is a huge win! roremar is our protective king and the mouth on him??? my gosh. there were so many times my heart broke for him he carries so much.

THE SLOW BURN WAS SOOOO SLOW AND IT WAS PERFECT.

“before i met you, emmeline, my life was full, but it was cramped. but something about being with you flipped a latch. it’s like you expanded all this room in my lungs i didn’t know i had.”

i managed to get an ALC whilst reading this so i did an immersive read for the last 10 chapters or so and the narrators really brought this story to life.

the ending of this broke me and i need book 2 in my hands asap 💔

thank you so much nicole for the eARC!

[Trisha]

Thank you Nicole and Tantor for the ARC and ALC!

I have been SO excited for this one, because who doesn't love a murder mystery with a fantasy twist? I SURE DO! I LOVED Voyage of the Damned, so I was so looking forward to an adult version of the genre combo. And I had a GREAT time, I'm not going to lie.

For the audio--I really loved both narrators! I think they both fit their characters incredibly well and the performances were emotion inducing without being over acted. I DO think that the narration was on the slower side--I was listening at 2.5x speed, which is on the higher side for me for fantasy. Even at the high speed, it wasn't chipmunky or had a reduced quality. I think this is a great book to do an immersive read with (like I did), if that's your jam.

The story itself--Y'all, I had a great time. I love a good reluctant allies to besties/lovers trope, and I love when the nicknames start off as jabs and barbs and become terms of endearment. I even didn't mind the "we're both keeping information from each other" version of the miscommunication trope. It actually plays out really well in this, due to the murder mystery aspect of the story, so for once I wasn't screaming into the void about it.

This was a really fun who dunnit a la Law and Order with a fantasy spin! I think we could have leaned a bit more into the gore and severity of the crimes, but that's my horror brain speaking. If you haven't read Nicole's other series (The Curse of Ophelia), you might find the magic aspect of this book lacking, as the murder mystery takes priority over the fantasy element, but I definitely expect that to change in the next book!

This was SUCH a good time and I'm already so excited for the next book!

[Annabel (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)]

holy 5⭐️!!!!!!!!
⏾⋆.˚. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁ 𝒪𝓃𝑒 𝒹𝒶𝓎 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 ℐ 𝓂𝑒𝑒𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓂, ℐ’𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝑒𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓎𝑜𝓊. .𖥔 ݁ ˖⋆⭒˚.⋆

this book absolutely finished me. writing this with tears in my eyes, this was BEAUTIFUL. the way this book got me so emo needs to be studied??? nicole's writing is absolutely stunning, and I'm beating myself up on why haven't I read this any sooner 🥹 what a delicious SLOW MF BURN, and THE LEVEL OF YEARNING GOT MY GUTS REARRANGED.

── .✦ “𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓻𝓾𝓲𝓷, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼. 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭.” ⋆.˚ ☾⭒.˚

the last 20% had my JAW DROPPED and stressed out, and had me teethering between 5 and 6 stars. don't even get me started on how the book ended - let's just say i'm SO mf glad i don't have to wait for the next book because i have the arc, but HOLY BALLS. i would've gone insane waiting.

only started on this journey because I got the arc for Revels (book 2), but at the same time, heard so soooo many incredible things about this - but boy, this is one of my favourite books of all time now.
It was extremely hard to put this down, even with my 9-5, that didn't stop me from devouring this 650-paged beast. this 650-paged masterpiece didn't read like 650 pages, but 300+ pages in the best way possible, if you know what i mean!!! i flew through this.

⊹ ࣪ ˖ “𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓱𝓲𝓶.
𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷, 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓹𝓲𝓮𝓬𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓪 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓰𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓱𝓲𝓶 𝓪𝓬𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓮’𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓸𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓼𝓸 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝔂𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓼.” ⊹ ࣪ ˖

the characters were so heavily layered, had so much personality of their own, and so downright real & relatable. the magic system and world building were incredibly unique; nothing like I've read before - extremely fresh with so many intricate details that tied together without being too overwhelming. certain parts were a little confusing, but that added on to the immersiveness of their atmospheric universe. the pacing was also spread so well, making it easy to follow and have breathers after plot reveals! it was so beautifully written.
i also really liked the fact that the characters were in their late 20s/early 30s, with real life isses

i went in blind as a bat, and even thought this was a siren-pirate genre LOL (but obviously i am so wrong). but trust when i say you should go into this blind - the expereince will be so worth it.

jokes aside, personally, i don't usually reach for murder mystery/thriller themes, but this got me constatnly second-guessing every single characters, including the main ones, of their true motives, and GOSH. THE REVELATION WENT INSANE. i am still gagged to this point.
when you have no idea what's going on, so many theories, only for them to get squashed the next second. trust when the light gets blasted in your face at the end of the long, arduous tunnel, you get reminded of the goodness of fantasy novels. this is one of them.

✧˖°. ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ "𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓼, 𝓗𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝓮 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓲𝓻 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓽 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓿𝔂.” ˚₊‧꒰ა 𓂋 ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

the tension and absolute gut-wrenching YEARNING from both our main characters, emmeline and roremar, had me almost pulling my hair out. the number of times of "we shouldn't do this" added on layers of AGONIZING slow burn-build up, and it was PERFECT. CHEF'S KISS.
the FOREHEAD KISSES (!!!?!!?) FKJSHKSHGJSHGJK, "my Em", the lingering touches of comfort, and their moments of heat??? i'm so gone

i absolutely loved the both of them from the very start, both of them were so incredibly human and bogged down by their own traumas and baggage, but still two incredible beings that found each other. it's funny how Fate works in reality too, where trust tears down your walls, and even when that foundation's been tested, or broken even, emmeline and roremar still manage to hold on to each other. i love how romance was also the subplot here, but it also shaped their character developments, and brought so many of the other characters closer as well. i also really liked the fact that the characters were in their late 20s/early 30s, all with their own complex realities.

"𝓡𝓸𝓻𝓮?" "𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝔂,” 𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭, “𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓘 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶, 𝓘’𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾.” “𝓦𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓪 𝓼𝓸𝓯𝓽 𝓴𝓲𝓼𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓲𝓻, 𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓭, “𝓜𝔂 𝓔𝓶…𝓘’𝓵𝓵 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓪𝔁𝓲𝓮𝓼.”

the way both of them truly believed that they didn't deserve happiness, much less, to love, was just absolutely bamboozling. but seeing how they were still so drawn to each other despite all odds and Fate even, was like a forbidden romance and full of "but we can't" AAAAAA

i saw so much of myself in both emmeline and roremar, where emmeline was a true avoidant & rather pushed the ones who genuinely cared or loved her away, to protect them from herself. both their back stories broke my heart, but emmeline's determination to embrace loneliness, while clinging onto her vulnerability and being deprived of feeling loved for most of her life, was truly heartbreaking.

rore, my protective handsome king 🥺 this man was whipped from the very moment he laid eyes on em LOL it was such a joy watching how he denied his feelings for her and just eventually pathetically simped hehe
but he also carries SO MUCH on his shoulders, but yet has such a big fat heart that it breaks me to learn his back story as well. i saw my eldest child self in him, and the inevitable burdens that come with it, but the difference is that he places his family's needs first before anything else, even his own pride. he inspired me so much not only to be a better daughter and older sibling, but also as a friend with his fierce loyalty. the way he loves emmeline & puts her dreams above his desire to even admit his want for her was so damn painful.

“𝓣𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓔𝓶𝓶𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓹𝓪𝓲𝓷, 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭, 𝓽𝓸𝓸.” 🥺🌌

the thing i absolutely adored about roremar was the way he truly saw emmeline, in ways nobody else did, and ways that she feared others to. this made me wish for someone to know me so well, despite my attempts at snarky comments in hopes to push someone away or to brush an emotion off, and i'mn just so glad that they found each other. i loved watching how they both slowly opened up, and discovered the ways they completed each other; it was so beautiful yet absolutely devastating.

i'm diving into book 2 as we speak, and i'm scared,,,,, they need to be protected at all costs!!!!!

── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──

⭑.ᐟ “When I go, tell the stars about me, Emmeline. Because I’ll sure as Spirits tell them about you.” 🥺

⭑.ᐟ “Something in her blood called to him. Something that had been so lonely all these years, as if it was waiting for him.”

⭑.ᐟ “Do you know what I see when I look at you?” “I see the freest person I’ve ever known.”
“I’m not free. I’m alone.”
“You’re not,” Roremar asserted. “No matter where you go after this, you’ll have me—and my family. I think my sisters and mother fell in love with you today.”
“Maybe you’re searching, but you’re unburdened in a way no one I’ve met is. Like you belong to the stars.”

⭑.ᐟ “Because now I won’t rest until I get you back.”

⭑.ᐟ “I don’t know if love is what I need,” “To belong somewhere.”
“Pressing his lips to her forehead—the closest he’d let himself get to breaking her rules—he answered, “You belong here.”
And it didn’t feel like an exaggeration. Some part of him, deep within his soul, written in his spirit and woven through his blood, knew she belonged with him.”

⭑.ᐟ “Together, they fulfilled the entire pantheon. Held the Fates in the palm of their hands, some twisted star-crossed puzzle that both forced them together and wrenched them apart. Because she was pure magic, and he was nothing but carnage.
No wonder he’d been so infatuated with her. Fuck, infatuation didn’t even begin to cover it.”

⭑.ᐟ “They may both be tightly wound, but together, they’d been learning to challenge their rigid boundaries.
She let him breathe. He let her fall. They’d been good for one another.”

⭑.ᐟ “Plunge this knife into my heart and claim my life, because somehow in this mess, it’s become yours. And I’m in no way worthy after the ruin I’ve caused, so put me out of my misery and take it. A death at your hand is a sweeter sentence than I deserve.”

⭑.ᐟ “There was never any saving me, but if anyone could have done it, it would’ve been you.” ”
“Angels, in a way you did save me. You made it so I could breathe again these final weeks. Do you understand how grateful I am that I got to experience that? You?”

⭑.ᐟ “Don’t regret anything.” “Don’t regret the short time you had with him. Cherish it and remember him always, but don’t ruin it by thinking of what you could have done differently.”

⭑.ᐟ “But her scars ran as deep as his own. And he knew how hard that was to live with.”

⭑.ᐟ “How sad is that?” “To feel the most understood when you’re the most alone?”

⭑.ᐟ “Loneliness was a hollow footstep that outlined her own. It was the aching need to speak and not being able to find her voice. The way she wanted someone—anyone—to look at her and have their eyes soften with the understanding that conveyed more than words ever could.
But loneliness was also safe.”

[Merry]

Bored then appalled.

I struggled with this entire book. The first 80% was a slog that had me checking my reading progress every three pages like I was serving a prison sentence. Then, the reveal happened and the book went from boring to what the f*ck is happening.

Spoilers below.

The magic system revolves around Fate ties and "reading" - using different ingredient mixtures to communicate with Fates. The FMC is supposedly incredibly powerful, but it rarely translates into anything meaningful beyond occasionally speaking to the Fates, who are vague and unhelpful most of the time.

The plot follows a string of murders connected by a shared Fate tie. The FMC and MMC are forced to work together to investigate, while spending most of the book fighting their attraction because mysterious voices warn they’ll be each other’s "ruin." After all that buildup, we get the FMC telling the MMC 'no kissing' after endless tension. It felt really juvenile for grown ass adults.

After about 500 pages, the MMC is discovered right after murdering his own brother, Nico (who is in love!). Easily one of the most lovable characters in the story. Later, we learn the MMC's Fate tie has been possessing him and forcing him to commit the murders.

The MMC unknowingly being used as a vessel to commit serial murders is already devastating. But adding:

-the murder of his own father

-the murder of one of his brothers (the absolute sweetheart, Nico)

-and multiple innocent women

Not only has he murdered multiple women, but he also killed his own father and brother. That’s not something a character simply recovers from emotionally, regardless of possession or lack of control. The devastation attached to those actions is enormous and permanent.

What made this even harder to buy into was the FMC’s reaction. She’s determined to free him and continue their relationship as though there’s still a path to a normal HEA after all this. Meanwhile, the MMC is the only one behaving realistically. He accepts imprisonment and repeatedly tells her to leave him to his fate because he understands the gravity of what happened.

I actually felt terrible for him by the end. How do you move on after unknowingly murdering your own family? You don’t. You get therapy, several exorcisms, and probably a lifetime ban from sharp objects.

How there could ever be anything remotely resembling a HEA after all this mess is beyond me.

[Francesca]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

This book had all the inner workings to potentially become a new favorite: slow burn, murder mystery, very likable characters, great banter, upper 20's/late 30s age range, and what would technically have been a fresh magic system, if the magic system wasn't utterly confusing, useless and the downfall of this book.

I was vibing in solid 4 star territory for most of the book until we got to a big reveal and I realized that I still didn't have a solid grasp of the "Fates" and the magic system. By the end, I honestly didn't care about where our characters would end up or even about some of the actions that occurred. I don't see myself picking up book 2.

[Booktokqutiepie]

This book completely pulled me in with its unique storyline and immersive fantasy world. Blending celestial magic, fortune-telling, and an academy setting with a gripping murder mystery set deep within a jungle, the story felt fresh and atmospheric.

Roremar, our fiercely protective MMC, and Emmeline, a fearless FMC hiding secrets of her own, made an unforgettable pairing. Their dynamic was filled with sharp banter, tension, and undeniable chemistry that drew me in immediately. Both characters carried layers of mystery, and watching their walls slowly crack while danger closed in around them was incredibly satisfying.

The world-building was rich and vivid, and the magic system felt inventive and different from anything I’ve read recently. Between fated magic, whispered prophecies, and hidden truths lurking within the academy, the story kept me constantly guessing. The murder-mystery element was especially well done , no one felt safe, and every character became a suspect at some point in my mind.

The tension between Emmeline and Roremar was delicious. The banter, the emotional push and pull, and the spice were perfectly balanced. Listening to Roremar’s chapters was an experience I genuinely wish I could relive for the first time again.

I experienced this story through the audiobook, narrated by Annalee Scott and Xander Stone, and it elevated the entire journey. Xander’s raspy voice was absolutely perfect for Roremar, capturing his intensity and vulnerability beautifully. Annalee brought depth and emotion to Emmeline, making every revelation hit harder. Together, they brought the full cast to life and created an incredibly immersive listening experience.

Overall, I’m giving this book a solid 4 stars and 3🌶️ for spice. I highly recommend experiencing this story on audio if you want a fantasy filled with magic, mystery, romance, and emotional intensity that fully pulls you into its world.