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Of Wind and Fate
Not yet published
Expected 19 May 26From #1 Amazon bestselling author Robyn Abbott comes the first release in a devastating, sprawling epic fantasy series.
Lover. Soothsayer. Harbinger.
On an island where dreaming is forbidden, and prophecy is punishable by death, Mira is a Goldkeeper—trained from a young age to guard a nobleman’s wealth, bear his heirs, and surrender any daughters she might have to the ruthless order that raised her.
But when a chance encounter with a raider from across the sea means Mira is mistaken for a prisoner in need of rescue, she’s spirited away to a floating city.
Its king promises to secure Mira’s passage home if she’ll read his fortune first.
While Mira learns the heretical art of rune casting to uphold her end of the bargain, she finds herself drawn to the lighthearted raider who liberated her in error. He’s everything she was warned about: a thief, a heathen, and an impossibly beautiful temptation. Loving him would make her a traitor to her order.
As Mira’s disappearance sets her homeland on a path to violence and ancient powers begin to stir, Mira will have to decide if fate is something to obey or something to defy. Her heart, and the future of kingdoms, hangs in the balance.
A viking-inspired fairy tale rife with prophecies, court intrigue, and heart-wrenching forbidden love, OF WIND AND FATE is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, The Knight and the Moth, and The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Lover. Soothsayer. Harbinger.
On an island where dreaming is forbidden, and prophecy is punishable by death, Mira is a Goldkeeper—trained from a young age to guard a nobleman’s wealth, bear his heirs, and surrender any daughters she might have to the ruthless order that raised her.
But when a chance encounter with a raider from across the sea means Mira is mistaken for a prisoner in need of rescue, she’s spirited away to a floating city.
Its king promises to secure Mira’s passage home if she’ll read his fortune first.
While Mira learns the heretical art of rune casting to uphold her end of the bargain, she finds herself drawn to the lighthearted raider who liberated her in error. He’s everything she was warned about: a thief, a heathen, and an impossibly beautiful temptation. Loving him would make her a traitor to her order.
As Mira’s disappearance sets her homeland on a path to violence and ancient powers begin to stir, Mira will have to decide if fate is something to obey or something to defy. Her heart, and the future of kingdoms, hangs in the balance.
A viking-inspired fairy tale rife with prophecies, court intrigue, and heart-wrenching forbidden love, OF WIND AND FATE is perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, The Knight and the Moth, and The Priory of the Orange Tree.
Paperback
Expected publication May 19, 2026
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66 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Abbott
7 books22 followersRobyn Abbott is a bestselling Canadian science fiction and fantasy author who writes stories about good people doing bad things. Depending on her mood, she's also either a tarot reader or adamantly against tarot reading.
She was given Honourable Mention in the 2021 L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest for her short story Joseph and Neem Climb a Ladder. She was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2018 Utah Film Awards.
She was given Honourable Mention in the 2021 L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest for her short story Joseph and Neem Climb a Ladder. She was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the 2018 Utah Film Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for an arc in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Actual rating: 3.75/5
Before I start the review, I want to tell you to look at the cover art. That’s what drew me in and that’s why I applied for an arc. It’s so pretty. Do not let that pretty art convince you that this is a sweet romantasy.
This book was… A lot. I was really excited to read it and I am honored the author chose me for an arc. Also, I LOVE Vikings. And I feel like compared to a lot of other Viking books I’ve read, this one truly captured the essence of Vikings. Sure, they raided and pillaged during a few months of the year, but they also were farmers and regular people. This story is about Mira and how she was taken during a raid.
WHAT I LIKED:
- The plot. It was engaging and interesting. I would love to see more in-depth worldbuilding. The idea of goldkeepers having to wear their gold is so fascinating. This was only the first book in a series so it didn’t go as deep as I would have liked but that’s okay.
- Fell. Just…Fell. I want him. The end.
- The ending. Hello cliffhanger WHAT THE HELL. Screaming right now lol.
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
- The pacing. It dragged a lot and rushed at times. I cannot tell you how much time passed but I think about 1-2 years.
- While I did enjoy the worldbuilding, at times it felt confusing and muddled. For a good chunk of the beginning Mira struggled to find where to hide her gold, and then it’s just…forgotten about. I don’t really understand the relationships between characters still. And the ending DID leave me a bit confused, though I think I was able to piece together context clues.
- The fourth wall breaks. This book is basically a written retelling of Mira’s life, so we are constantly addressed. It’s weird and awkward and not really my thing. Also, because of that it felt like we were dropped into a sequel, or that this was a prequel to something bigger. Mira knows things and it felt like she expected US to also know those things without explanation. It felt jarring and really pulled me out of the story.
- The Big Spoiler (see below if you want spoilers. If not, just know that there was a trope I was NOT expecting at all. I couldn’t find anything about it on the author’s page, in a content warning section, anywhere).
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
MASSIVE SPOILERS BELOW
HUGE SPOILERS
SPOILERS
THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING IN
3
…
2
…
1
…
SPOILERS HERE
The surprise pregnancy trope. Uh. What. This is what made me feel like this should have been a prequel or something. About halfway through Mira falls pregnant and has a traumatic birth. I personally do not like this trope. I get why it was there. I wish we were warned.
END SPOILERS
END SPOILERS
END SPOILERS
DONT LOOK AT THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH IF YOU WANT SPOILERS
NO MORE SPOILERS IN
3
…
2
…
1
…
NO MORE SPOILERS
All in all this was an entertaining book. Will I read the second one? Maybe. It depends if I still remember what happened in this book when the sequel comes out as I don’t think I’ll reread this one.
If you liked this book I offer the following as recommendations:
-The Shrouded Queen
-The Sword of Kaigen
Again, thank you to the author for the arc.
Actual rating: 3.75/5
Before I start the review, I want to tell you to look at the cover art. That’s what drew me in and that’s why I applied for an arc. It’s so pretty. Do not let that pretty art convince you that this is a sweet romantasy.
This book was… A lot. I was really excited to read it and I am honored the author chose me for an arc. Also, I LOVE Vikings. And I feel like compared to a lot of other Viking books I’ve read, this one truly captured the essence of Vikings. Sure, they raided and pillaged during a few months of the year, but they also were farmers and regular people. This story is about Mira and how she was taken during a raid.
WHAT I LIKED:
- The plot. It was engaging and interesting. I would love to see more in-depth worldbuilding. The idea of goldkeepers having to wear their gold is so fascinating. This was only the first book in a series so it didn’t go as deep as I would have liked but that’s okay.
- Fell. Just…Fell. I want him. The end.
- The ending. Hello cliffhanger WHAT THE HELL. Screaming right now lol.
WHAT I DIDNT LIKE:
- The pacing. It dragged a lot and rushed at times. I cannot tell you how much time passed but I think about 1-2 years.
- While I did enjoy the worldbuilding, at times it felt confusing and muddled. For a good chunk of the beginning Mira struggled to find where to hide her gold, and then it’s just…forgotten about. I don’t really understand the relationships between characters still. And the ending DID leave me a bit confused, though I think I was able to piece together context clues.
- The fourth wall breaks. This book is basically a written retelling of Mira’s life, so we are constantly addressed. It’s weird and awkward and not really my thing. Also, because of that it felt like we were dropped into a sequel, or that this was a prequel to something bigger. Mira knows things and it felt like she expected US to also know those things without explanation. It felt jarring and really pulled me out of the story.
- The Big Spoiler (see below if you want spoilers. If not, just know that there was a trope I was NOT expecting at all. I couldn’t find anything about it on the author’s page, in a content warning section, anywhere).
SPOILERS
SPOILERS
MASSIVE SPOILERS BELOW
HUGE SPOILERS
SPOILERS
THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING IN
3
…
2
…
1
…
SPOILERS HERE
The surprise pregnancy trope. Uh. What. This is what made me feel like this should have been a prequel or something. About halfway through Mira falls pregnant and has a traumatic birth. I personally do not like this trope. I get why it was there. I wish we were warned.
END SPOILERS
END SPOILERS
END SPOILERS
DONT LOOK AT THE ABOVE PARAGRAPH IF YOU WANT SPOILERS
NO MORE SPOILERS IN
3
…
2
…
1
…
NO MORE SPOILERS
All in all this was an entertaining book. Will I read the second one? Maybe. It depends if I still remember what happened in this book when the sequel comes out as I don’t think I’ll reread this one.
If you liked this book I offer the following as recommendations:
-The Shrouded Queen
-The Sword of Kaigen
Again, thank you to the author for the arc.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this book, and here’s my thoughts…
Robyn Abbott swept me away with this book from the get. She has this amazing way of capturing the frustration of learning a new language, the terror of leaving what you know behind in a world you’re unsure if you’re ever going to be safe in, and the several mini-deaths (and mini-births!) that come with your past and clawing out a new future. All while dropping some of the most poignant and sometimes downright gorgeous prose I’ve read in a hot minute.
Told as a recounting (or a correction to the accepted history, it can be argued) Mira walks us through her journey from being an Islish Goldkeeper to a Norsern. How she found her place in this utterly alien society she had been “protected” from her entire life. You feel every heart ache, every growing pain, every burst of joy and elation at FINALLY figuring out how things work. She’s giving you her side to the annals, where her history got muddled by something or someone, and she wants you to know HER truth.
I adored this book. The writing is immersive and sometimes downright lyrical. The world building is immaculate and the struggles of expressing one’s self in a second language were so faithfully captured I kept thinking, “dang, was Mira me for a second there? I, too, talk around the word I simply cannot recall in the moment, or forget my numbers, or give up in frustration and just say the word in English when I KNOW that I know the word I want…” but I digress. I fell in love with Mira, with Fell, with the cast that fills this book and the society they live and love and squabble in. The relationships blossom before you, and they feel cultivated, feel /real/ in a way I don’t see super often in the romantasies I’ve been reading. It doesn’t feel like we were catapulted or shoehorned into a pairing. It felt organic.
Be warned though, this book is tumultuous like the sea: beautiful, but devastating. Abbott took no captive with this one, and I am beside myself that I have you wait for the second installment 😭
Robyn Abbott swept me away with this book from the get. She has this amazing way of capturing the frustration of learning a new language, the terror of leaving what you know behind in a world you’re unsure if you’re ever going to be safe in, and the several mini-deaths (and mini-births!) that come with your past and clawing out a new future. All while dropping some of the most poignant and sometimes downright gorgeous prose I’ve read in a hot minute.
Told as a recounting (or a correction to the accepted history, it can be argued) Mira walks us through her journey from being an Islish Goldkeeper to a Norsern. How she found her place in this utterly alien society she had been “protected” from her entire life. You feel every heart ache, every growing pain, every burst of joy and elation at FINALLY figuring out how things work. She’s giving you her side to the annals, where her history got muddled by something or someone, and she wants you to know HER truth.
I adored this book. The writing is immersive and sometimes downright lyrical. The world building is immaculate and the struggles of expressing one’s self in a second language were so faithfully captured I kept thinking, “dang, was Mira me for a second there? I, too, talk around the word I simply cannot recall in the moment, or forget my numbers, or give up in frustration and just say the word in English when I KNOW that I know the word I want…” but I digress. I fell in love with Mira, with Fell, with the cast that fills this book and the society they live and love and squabble in. The relationships blossom before you, and they feel cultivated, feel /real/ in a way I don’t see super often in the romantasies I’ve been reading. It doesn’t feel like we were catapulted or shoehorned into a pairing. It felt organic.
Be warned though, this book is tumultuous like the sea: beautiful, but devastating. Abbott took no captive with this one, and I am beside myself that I have you wait for the second installment 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t even know where to begin with this book… so naturally, I’m going to start at the end.
That ending. I was not prepared. Not even a little. Nothing leading up to it hints at what’s coming. It’s the kind of twist that doesn’t just catch you off guard—it barrels into you like a full-speed collision, leaving you stunned, a little breathless, and wondering how on earth you’re supposed to recover. It hurt, it really, really hurt.
But let’s rewind to the brighter moments.
The writing style? Absolutely captivating. There’s something deeply familiar and comforting about it, like slipping into a conversation with an old friend you didn’t realize you missed. It’s not derivative, it’s something more intangible, more personal. I can’t quite put it into words, but it resonated with me in a way that felt almost nostalgic.
The world-building is equally compelling. It mirrors elements of our own history but twists them just enough to feel like a parallel reality, recognizable, yet entirely its own. It creates this fascinating backdrop that pulls you in without overwhelming you.
And the characters… I adored them. Not just the main characters, but the side characters as well. Even those who only appear briefly feel fully realized, believable, engaging, and in many cases, incredibly likable. They add so much life and texture to the story.
As for the plot: yes, at its simplest, it’s a story of a girl kidnapped by her enemies, who then falls in love with them, and is thrown into chaos beyond her control. But that description barely scratches the surface. There’s so much more woven into it, and I refuse to spoil any of it. Some journeys are meant to be experienced blind.
Read this book. Brace yourself for that ending. And then prepare for the long, agonizing wait for the next installment, because you’re going to need it.
That ending. I was not prepared. Not even a little. Nothing leading up to it hints at what’s coming. It’s the kind of twist that doesn’t just catch you off guard—it barrels into you like a full-speed collision, leaving you stunned, a little breathless, and wondering how on earth you’re supposed to recover. It hurt, it really, really hurt.
But let’s rewind to the brighter moments.
The writing style? Absolutely captivating. There’s something deeply familiar and comforting about it, like slipping into a conversation with an old friend you didn’t realize you missed. It’s not derivative, it’s something more intangible, more personal. I can’t quite put it into words, but it resonated with me in a way that felt almost nostalgic.
The world-building is equally compelling. It mirrors elements of our own history but twists them just enough to feel like a parallel reality, recognizable, yet entirely its own. It creates this fascinating backdrop that pulls you in without overwhelming you.
And the characters… I adored them. Not just the main characters, but the side characters as well. Even those who only appear briefly feel fully realized, believable, engaging, and in many cases, incredibly likable. They add so much life and texture to the story.
As for the plot: yes, at its simplest, it’s a story of a girl kidnapped by her enemies, who then falls in love with them, and is thrown into chaos beyond her control. But that description barely scratches the surface. There’s so much more woven into it, and I refuse to spoil any of it. Some journeys are meant to be experienced blind.
Read this book. Brace yourself for that ending. And then prepare for the long, agonizing wait for the next installment, because you’re going to need it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Robyn Abbott writes a devastating tale in Of Wind and Fate. I knew within the first 10 pages it was going to emotionally destroy me - I just didn’t know how deeply. How did I know that? The melancholy woven into the words as Mira retells her story to me, to us was able to be felt in my soul.
Mira is a Goldkeeper. An honor and a burden. She is to guard the wealth and bear heirs of a nobleman. But she’s suddenly, accidentally stolen from her future by raiders who thought they were doing the right thing: freeing a prisoner. Now, thrust into this new land where the king will only allow her to return to her Goldkeeper life if she reads him his future. The problem with that is dreaming was forbidden in her homeland as it was too akin to sorcery. Actual stone reading would be heresy.
That’s the least of her problems when she has the gods whispering in her ear.
Mira’s story is a lot of things. It’s a story of challenging beliefs, of finding one’s voice, of love and loss, grief, friendship, belonging, and finding loyalty in the oddest of places. I cannot feel anything other than like I was sat on the ground in front of Mira herself as she told it to me herself the entire time. I felt her fall in love and everything that came after. And I have to say it again to really stress my point: the ending was devastating, I am emotionally destroyed in a way that is going to take me days to get over.
I have no complaints of this book. It is a true 5 star read: perfect. The writing was immersive; the characters were nothing short but likeable. Mira’s struggles were 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.
Please read this. If you want an epic, Bluebeard-inspired, Norse-mythos fantasy, this is the one for you.
Mira is a Goldkeeper. An honor and a burden. She is to guard the wealth and bear heirs of a nobleman. But she’s suddenly, accidentally stolen from her future by raiders who thought they were doing the right thing: freeing a prisoner. Now, thrust into this new land where the king will only allow her to return to her Goldkeeper life if she reads him his future. The problem with that is dreaming was forbidden in her homeland as it was too akin to sorcery. Actual stone reading would be heresy.
That’s the least of her problems when she has the gods whispering in her ear.
Mira’s story is a lot of things. It’s a story of challenging beliefs, of finding one’s voice, of love and loss, grief, friendship, belonging, and finding loyalty in the oddest of places. I cannot feel anything other than like I was sat on the ground in front of Mira herself as she told it to me herself the entire time. I felt her fall in love and everything that came after. And I have to say it again to really stress my point: the ending was devastating, I am emotionally destroyed in a way that is going to take me days to get over.
I have no complaints of this book. It is a true 5 star read: perfect. The writing was immersive; the characters were nothing short but likeable. Mira’s struggles were 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭.
Please read this. If you want an epic, Bluebeard-inspired, Norse-mythos fantasy, this is the one for you.
March 24, 2026
An utterly emotional and compelling story…
I don’t even know where to start with this book, written from the perspective of the FMC as the author but it is so much more than just a log of her life. Prepare yourself to fall in love with the simplistic dialogue but truly complex intention behind all of it!
The characters are rich and deeply well-rounded, each and every one is personable and it is easy to feel like you’ve met them yourself.
The world building is immense and beautiful, I felt like I was transported to a land by a dark and untamable sea. Rife with hot as hell raiders, vast ships and a palace with many secrets and court intrigue. There are Gods who intervene but their presence is much more mysterious and at times, loving.
The ending… was crushing. You will just have to see for yourself.
Thank you Robyn for the opportunity to ARC read Of Wind and Fate! I truly loved this book and I loved that it felt SO different from anything else I have read.
I don’t even know where to start with this book, written from the perspective of the FMC as the author but it is so much more than just a log of her life. Prepare yourself to fall in love with the simplistic dialogue but truly complex intention behind all of it!
The characters are rich and deeply well-rounded, each and every one is personable and it is easy to feel like you’ve met them yourself.
The world building is immense and beautiful, I felt like I was transported to a land by a dark and untamable sea. Rife with hot as hell raiders, vast ships and a palace with many secrets and court intrigue. There are Gods who intervene but their presence is much more mysterious and at times, loving.
The ending… was crushing. You will just have to see for yourself.
Thank you Robyn for the opportunity to ARC read Of Wind and Fate! I truly loved this book and I loved that it felt SO different from anything else I have read.
March 23, 2026
I am beyond grateful that I was picked to be a part of this ARC team! I cannot thank Robyn enough for sharing this mesmerizing experience of a book with us. Of Wind and Fate delves deep into the Norse mythology and Viking world with fantasy and it was SUCH a refreshing take. I have not read anything like this and I couldn’t be more pleased and impressed with how she wrote it! I was sucked into Mira’s life and world and I felt right along with her throughout. Feeling of being alone in strange place unlike anything she has ever known, to finding her true self..it was beautiful and I laughed and cried and felt allll the emotions! My jaw was on the FLOOR at the end and I cannot wait for the second book! I would give this more than 5 stars if I could!
March 23, 2026
I personally didn’t connect with this story but there is a lot to un pack. I am choosing to rate and review this book based on things I think other readers might like.
1: I appreciate when an author is willing to address religious trauma. So many awful things are done to children under the guise of religion. I think this would be a good book club book for any fantasy book club. 2: The culture of the MFC while brutal and cruel was also unique. Having to carry around gold sewn into your dress is pretty harsh. I appreciate the time and effort the author put in to create her world and the characters culture and belief system.
1: I appreciate when an author is willing to address religious trauma. So many awful things are done to children under the guise of religion. I think this would be a good book club book for any fantasy book club. 2: The culture of the MFC while brutal and cruel was also unique. Having to carry around gold sewn into your dress is pretty harsh. I appreciate the time and effort the author put in to create her world and the characters culture and belief system.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, love this story and the direction it is going, I definitely recommend it if you enjoy fantasy stories. Of Wind and Fate delves into norse mythology and a viking-esque world with court intrigue, religious trauma, secrets, scars, forbidden love, the struggles of learning a new language, learning who your true self is when you've been trained to be something different and meddling gods. However, I did have to take a small break after reading it due to some of the aspects in the book, I was deeply effected by certain parts of the book and I can relate to a lot of Mira's feelings.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you for the ARC! Great story!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am so unbelievably excited to FINALLY be sharing this book with readers!!!
OF WIND AND FATE is a viking-inspired epic fantasy filled with characters I don't think I'll ever get over. Like ever. And it marks the beginning of an all new series: The Making of Myth.
You can expect:
- Court Intrigue
- Meddling Gods
- Secret Societies
- Forbidden Love
- Dream and Divination Magic
- Characters with Scars and Secrets
Happy reading!!!
Robyn
OF WIND AND FATE is a viking-inspired epic fantasy filled with characters I don't think I'll ever get over. Like ever. And it marks the beginning of an all new series: The Making of Myth.
You can expect:
- Court Intrigue
- Meddling Gods
- Secret Societies
- Forbidden Love
- Dream and Divination Magic
- Characters with Scars and Secrets
Happy reading!!!
Robyn
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews