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A Fate Hunted
Bexla’s mother is dead, but her sins did not die with her. Now the gods demand that Bexla repay the debt left behind.
All her life, Bexla was taught to hide what she is. To lie. To survive. Because in Gilyx, the gods rule through fear, draining magic from mortals to strengthen their own power.
But when her mother dies, it sparks the beginning of Bexla’s fate. Now the gods know Bexla exists. They know she is a threat to everything and they will stop at nothing to destroy her before she can fulfill the fate she was born for.
Forced into a deadly world of ancient magic, cursed secrets, and gods who would rather see her dead than powerful, Bexla must decide who she can trust… including the man her mother warned her never to fall for. Because the greatest weapon her mother ever gave her was not magic.
It was teaching her how to become the perfect liar.
All her life, Bexla was taught to hide what she is. To lie. To survive. Because in Gilyx, the gods rule through fear, draining magic from mortals to strengthen their own power.
But when her mother dies, it sparks the beginning of Bexla’s fate. Now the gods know Bexla exists. They know she is a threat to everything and they will stop at nothing to destroy her before she can fulfill the fate she was born for.
Forced into a deadly world of ancient magic, cursed secrets, and gods who would rather see her dead than powerful, Bexla must decide who she can trust… including the man her mother warned her never to fall for. Because the greatest weapon her mother ever gave her was not magic.
It was teaching her how to become the perfect liar.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 9, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 10, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. Shay has done it again!! She knows how to draw you into her stories!! We plenty of plot twist, secrets, phenomenal character building and just the right amount of spice!! Absolutely lo ed this story and can’t wait to start the next book!! Chefs kiss Shay!!
“Bexla’s mother is dead, but her sins did not die with her. Now the gods demand that Bexla repay the debt left behind.
All her life, Bexla was taught to hide what she is. To lie. To survive. Because in Gilyx, the gods rule through fear, draining magic from mortals to strengthen their own power.
But when her mother dies, it sparks the beginning of Bexla’s fate. Now the gods know Bexla exists. They know she is a threat to everything and they will stop at nothing to destroy her before she can fulfill the fate she was born for.
Forced into a deadly world of ancient magic, cursed secrets, and gods who would rather see her dead than powerful, Bexla must decide who she can trust… including the man her mother warned her never to fall for. Because the greatest weapon her mother ever gave her was not magic.
It was teaching her how to become the perfect liar.”
“Bexla’s mother is dead, but her sins did not die with her. Now the gods demand that Bexla repay the debt left behind.
All her life, Bexla was taught to hide what she is. To lie. To survive. Because in Gilyx, the gods rule through fear, draining magic from mortals to strengthen their own power.
But when her mother dies, it sparks the beginning of Bexla’s fate. Now the gods know Bexla exists. They know she is a threat to everything and they will stop at nothing to destroy her before she can fulfill the fate she was born for.
Forced into a deadly world of ancient magic, cursed secrets, and gods who would rather see her dead than powerful, Bexla must decide who she can trust… including the man her mother warned her never to fall for. Because the greatest weapon her mother ever gave her was not magic.
It was teaching her how to become the perfect liar.”
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was incredibly lucky to receive an ARC copy of this book from the author and OH MY GOD - how glad am I that I did!
I LOVED it and genuinely could not put it down.
From the very first page my attention was grabbed and firmly held.
I was immediately pulled into a world filled with visions, magic, prophecies and secrets and I was absolutely here for every single second of it...
“Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.”
I mean, what an epic prophecy to have to guide us through the book...
Bexla - our FMC - is an absolute powerhouse. She’s strong, skilled, fierce, fair and takes absolutely no nonsense from anyone and I bloody adored her.
She is exactly the kind of FMC I love to read about.
And then we have the MMCs…
Dark. Brooding. Unhinged...
Caring. Gentle. Kind...
...although things are never quite THAT simple now are they...
Especially when they happen to be wolf-shifter BROTHERS...
The character dynamics within this book are EVERYTHING.
The connections are intense, complicated and incredibly addictive and I loved watching everything unfold between each person.
We have plot twists, secrets, phenomenal character connections, tension that had me absolutely hooked and just the right amount of perfectly written spice.
And those twists? Just when I thought I had something figured out another piece would fall into place and make me question everything all over again. I was constantly trying to work out where the story was going and I LOVED that I couldn't predict it.
The writing flowed beautifully, the pacing was fast and engaging, and there was always something happening to keep me turning the pages.
Shay Taylor has created a world that feels so much bigger than just this one story and I am desperate to explore more of it.
I actually went into the Gods of Gilyx series completely blind without having read Shay's previous series.
Her worlds interconnect and cross over but even without the background knowledge contained within the other books I never felt lost or like I was missing something - everything I needed to follow this story was there.
But now, Im super intrigued and I want - no, I NEED - to discover the rest of the Shayverse.
And I can safely say that I will be reading everything Shay Taylor has to offer in the very near future.
She is an incredibly talented writer and I am officially obsessed with the worlds she has created.
A Fate Hunted was an absolutely epic read and I CANNOT WAIT to find out what happens next.
Shay - you have another very impatient reader waiting for the next installment...
I LOVED it and genuinely could not put it down.
From the very first page my attention was grabbed and firmly held.
I was immediately pulled into a world filled with visions, magic, prophecies and secrets and I was absolutely here for every single second of it...
“Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.”
I mean, what an epic prophecy to have to guide us through the book...
Bexla - our FMC - is an absolute powerhouse. She’s strong, skilled, fierce, fair and takes absolutely no nonsense from anyone and I bloody adored her.
She is exactly the kind of FMC I love to read about.
And then we have the MMCs…
Dark. Brooding. Unhinged...
Caring. Gentle. Kind...
...although things are never quite THAT simple now are they...
Especially when they happen to be wolf-shifter BROTHERS...
The character dynamics within this book are EVERYTHING.
The connections are intense, complicated and incredibly addictive and I loved watching everything unfold between each person.
We have plot twists, secrets, phenomenal character connections, tension that had me absolutely hooked and just the right amount of perfectly written spice.
And those twists? Just when I thought I had something figured out another piece would fall into place and make me question everything all over again. I was constantly trying to work out where the story was going and I LOVED that I couldn't predict it.
The writing flowed beautifully, the pacing was fast and engaging, and there was always something happening to keep me turning the pages.
Shay Taylor has created a world that feels so much bigger than just this one story and I am desperate to explore more of it.
I actually went into the Gods of Gilyx series completely blind without having read Shay's previous series.
Her worlds interconnect and cross over but even without the background knowledge contained within the other books I never felt lost or like I was missing something - everything I needed to follow this story was there.
But now, Im super intrigued and I want - no, I NEED - to discover the rest of the Shayverse.
And I can safely say that I will be reading everything Shay Taylor has to offer in the very near future.
She is an incredibly talented writer and I am officially obsessed with the worlds she has created.
A Fate Hunted was an absolutely epic read and I CANNOT WAIT to find out what happens next.
Shay - you have another very impatient reader waiting for the next installment...
September 14, 2026
My rating is actually 4.75 stars but Goodreads doesn't allow for partial ratings.
This is book one in the Gods of Gylix series which is the third interlinked series, the first is the Secrets and Curses series, the second is the Fourth Born series, and all of these are dark romanticise. And as such there are trigger warnings so please read them before diving in.
So this series focuses on the Guardians of 3 artefacts that will, if used correctly, save the world from the menace that is the Gods of Gylix. The guardians are the last known of the Veylanthi bloodline and have to project the three artefacts, the Bow of Blythe, the Mirror of Vestal, and the Sword of Wern. The guardians are three sisters, Maris who we met in the Sins of the Gods, which is book 3 in the Fourth Born series, then Bexla who is the FMC in this book, and then finally their older sister.
We are getting closer to the finale, the last showdown, the fight with the big boss, the fate of the world in the hands of three sisters who never asked to be heroes. And if I’m honest I’m sad because I don’t want this to end, even though I am desperate to read the last three books. I was rally looking forward to reading this book and let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I devoured it in two sittings and it only took me that long because I had to work!
I love the way Shay links each series together, and what I mean by that is that she does back and retells a scene that could have been several books ago, and tells it from a different viewpoint which provides more detail, more layers, more nuance, and you realise that it was more important that you thought. How she keeps this all straight in her had I’ll never know, but I love that she does.
I have loved being immersed in this amazing world that Shay has created, she packs so much into these books. The characters are morally grey at best, there are no cinnamon rolls to be found, but that is not to say there is no light, no happiness, no love, because there is in spades, but they do what needs to be done to save the ones they love, even if it means they need to embrace their darkness. Each book tackles some type of mental health struggles, grief, or abuse, and the way Shay does it is so compassionate and true to life, she doesn’t skim over the difficult parts, she tells the whole dark story and shines a light on it, she shows that just because someone struggles it doesn’t mean they are less deserving of being loved, and this book is no different, so again check the triggers.
So if you love dark romantasies with relatable characters then I absolutely recommend this series, and the other two. I loved this book and rated it 4.75 stars.
This is book one in the Gods of Gylix series which is the third interlinked series, the first is the Secrets and Curses series, the second is the Fourth Born series, and all of these are dark romanticise. And as such there are trigger warnings so please read them before diving in.
So this series focuses on the Guardians of 3 artefacts that will, if used correctly, save the world from the menace that is the Gods of Gylix. The guardians are the last known of the Veylanthi bloodline and have to project the three artefacts, the Bow of Blythe, the Mirror of Vestal, and the Sword of Wern. The guardians are three sisters, Maris who we met in the Sins of the Gods, which is book 3 in the Fourth Born series, then Bexla who is the FMC in this book, and then finally their older sister.
We are getting closer to the finale, the last showdown, the fight with the big boss, the fate of the world in the hands of three sisters who never asked to be heroes. And if I’m honest I’m sad because I don’t want this to end, even though I am desperate to read the last three books. I was rally looking forward to reading this book and let me tell you that I was not disappointed. I devoured it in two sittings and it only took me that long because I had to work!
I love the way Shay links each series together, and what I mean by that is that she does back and retells a scene that could have been several books ago, and tells it from a different viewpoint which provides more detail, more layers, more nuance, and you realise that it was more important that you thought. How she keeps this all straight in her had I’ll never know, but I love that she does.
I have loved being immersed in this amazing world that Shay has created, she packs so much into these books. The characters are morally grey at best, there are no cinnamon rolls to be found, but that is not to say there is no light, no happiness, no love, because there is in spades, but they do what needs to be done to save the ones they love, even if it means they need to embrace their darkness. Each book tackles some type of mental health struggles, grief, or abuse, and the way Shay does it is so compassionate and true to life, she doesn’t skim over the difficult parts, she tells the whole dark story and shines a light on it, she shows that just because someone struggles it doesn’t mean they are less deserving of being loved, and this book is no different, so again check the triggers.
So if you love dark romantasies with relatable characters then I absolutely recommend this series, and the other two. I loved this book and rated it 4.75 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for providing me with an e-ARC copy of the book.
I’ve read the Fourth Born series, the author’s previous series, so I was already familiar with the world, the magic system, and some of the characters who appear in A Fate Hunted. Needless to say, I had pretty high expectations and was very excited to dive into this story - and I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed.
At the very beginning, I was slightly confused by the timelines. I knew that the events of the two series overlap, so I encountered some events and action that I had already seen from a different perspective in Fourth Born series. It made for an interesting mix, but there were definitely moments when I had to stop and think about where exactly we were in the overall timeline.
Honestly, I really wish there were a simplified timeline at the end of the book showing what happens when. Something like a quick reference guide to help place the events within the larger story would have been amazing.
As for the characters, I didn’t particularly like Bexla at the very beginning, but she definitely grew on me. The more I got to know her - and the more unhinged she became - the more I enjoyed her story. And when it comes to the romance… I got the guy I was rooting for, so I’m happy. 😂
Plot-wise, A Fate Hunted is confusing - but in a good way. A lot of the story revolves around prophecies, glimpses of the future, riddles, and trying to piece together what all the clues actually mean. The information is revealed in such a way that it’s really difficult to be certain about what is going to happen until it does.
And I absolutely loved that.
I didn’t want another story where I could see the ending coming from miles away. Here, I genuinely couldn’t predict where everything was going, and even though I was sometimes confused, that uncertainty made the experience so much more enjoyable. I loved having to figure things out alongside the characters instead of simply waiting for the story to confirm what I already knew.
I’m super happy that I read this, and I absolutely cannot wait for book two because Bexla's story is definitely not finished yet!
I also really need to catch up on the Secrets & Curses series so I can have the complete picture of everything that’s happening. That said, even though I haven’t read the first series in its entirety yet, I never felt completely lost - which I really appreciated.
Now I just need book two. 😭
I’ve read the Fourth Born series, the author’s previous series, so I was already familiar with the world, the magic system, and some of the characters who appear in A Fate Hunted. Needless to say, I had pretty high expectations and was very excited to dive into this story - and I’m happy to say that I was not disappointed.
At the very beginning, I was slightly confused by the timelines. I knew that the events of the two series overlap, so I encountered some events and action that I had already seen from a different perspective in Fourth Born series. It made for an interesting mix, but there were definitely moments when I had to stop and think about where exactly we were in the overall timeline.
Honestly, I really wish there were a simplified timeline at the end of the book showing what happens when. Something like a quick reference guide to help place the events within the larger story would have been amazing.
As for the characters, I didn’t particularly like Bexla at the very beginning, but she definitely grew on me. The more I got to know her - and the more unhinged she became - the more I enjoyed her story. And when it comes to the romance… I got the guy I was rooting for, so I’m happy. 😂
Plot-wise, A Fate Hunted is confusing - but in a good way. A lot of the story revolves around prophecies, glimpses of the future, riddles, and trying to piece together what all the clues actually mean. The information is revealed in such a way that it’s really difficult to be certain about what is going to happen until it does.
And I absolutely loved that.
I didn’t want another story where I could see the ending coming from miles away. Here, I genuinely couldn’t predict where everything was going, and even though I was sometimes confused, that uncertainty made the experience so much more enjoyable. I loved having to figure things out alongside the characters instead of simply waiting for the story to confirm what I already knew.
I’m super happy that I read this, and I absolutely cannot wait for book two because Bexla's story is definitely not finished yet!
I also really need to catch up on the Secrets & Curses series so I can have the complete picture of everything that’s happening. That said, even though I haven’t read the first series in its entirety yet, I never felt completely lost - which I really appreciated.
Now I just need book two. 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
A fate hunted is a dark romantasy that follows Bexla and her 2 sisters who from a young age are taught a prophecy by their mother:
“Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.”
When their mother passes and their left separated and nothing happens, with their lives left in ruins from her actions they start to wonder whether her ramblings were just that of a woman gone mad. Until Bexla is taken to the gods of Gilyx and told she is to retrieve the mirror of vesmal with two wolf shifter brothers as babysitters who were like family until something happened to change everything. She has no idea who to trust and with her mother's warnings in her head about a wolf in the dark being dangerous will she believe the lies over the truth or fall right into the trap of the wolf in the sheep's clothing.
Bexla is strong, stubborn and a force to be reckoned with (I love her so much!). We have 2 MMC - Damien and Alaric (The wolf shifter brothers) who end up in a love triangle with Bexla but only one will get the girl! Damien comes across as caring, kind and supportive whereas Alaric won't let the past go and comes across cruel, depraved and powerful. The spice is spicing throughout this book, it's hot, dangerous and intense in all the right ways. The twists and turns gave me whiplash but if you read close enough there's breadcrumbs along the way. The ending just wow! I was sat staring at a wall like what! This book has made me want to read everything Shay Taylor has ever written and everything she has yet to write and I'm excited to see where the next one takes us.
“Run, baby,”
“Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.”
When their mother passes and their left separated and nothing happens, with their lives left in ruins from her actions they start to wonder whether her ramblings were just that of a woman gone mad. Until Bexla is taken to the gods of Gilyx and told she is to retrieve the mirror of vesmal with two wolf shifter brothers as babysitters who were like family until something happened to change everything. She has no idea who to trust and with her mother's warnings in her head about a wolf in the dark being dangerous will she believe the lies over the truth or fall right into the trap of the wolf in the sheep's clothing.
Bexla is strong, stubborn and a force to be reckoned with (I love her so much!). We have 2 MMC - Damien and Alaric (The wolf shifter brothers) who end up in a love triangle with Bexla but only one will get the girl! Damien comes across as caring, kind and supportive whereas Alaric won't let the past go and comes across cruel, depraved and powerful. The spice is spicing throughout this book, it's hot, dangerous and intense in all the right ways. The twists and turns gave me whiplash but if you read close enough there's breadcrumbs along the way. The ending just wow! I was sat staring at a wall like what! This book has made me want to read everything Shay Taylor has ever written and everything she has yet to write and I'm excited to see where the next one takes us.
“Run, baby,”
Read
September 2, 2026I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of *A Fate Hunted* and O.M.G. 😭 I have been SO excited for Bexla’s story since we first met her, and of course, Shay Taylor did not disappoint!
If you’re looking for a dark romantasy filled with angst, mystery, prophecy, and *just enough* chaos to keep you guessing, Shay is your girl. 🖤
Although this kicks off a new series, Shay does what she does best and seamlessly continues the overarching story that has been building throughout her previous two series. There are SO many moments that tie everything together, and I found myself wishing I had taken notes during the previous books because there were definitely moments where I was like, “WAIT… 👀”
Our FMC, Bexla, is a certified badass who finds herself tasked with fulfilling a confusing prophecy left behind by her mother:
*“Three daughters. Three truths.
The blade destroys all it cuts.
The mirror swallows lies.
The bow never misses.
You guard them now, but in time they will guard you.
What is kept is never truly yours.
And one must be given to pay the price.”*
Bexla is such a complex character, and I loved watching her navigate everything being thrown at her while trying to make sense of her mother’s clues. And then there are Damien and Alaric—two wolf-shifting brothers who have been in Bexla’s life since childhood. 👀 Her mother has also left behind some very confusing clues about the man Bexla is destined to be with, adding a whole lot of *something* to the already tense dynamic between the three of them.
And after that ending?! I NEED MORE. I cannot wait to continue Bexla’s story and see where Shay takes this series. It is already shaping up to be one of my favorite Shay Taylor books, and I have a feeling things are only going to get messier from here. 🐺🖤
If you’re looking for a dark romantasy filled with angst, mystery, prophecy, and *just enough* chaos to keep you guessing, Shay is your girl. 🖤
Although this kicks off a new series, Shay does what she does best and seamlessly continues the overarching story that has been building throughout her previous two series. There are SO many moments that tie everything together, and I found myself wishing I had taken notes during the previous books because there were definitely moments where I was like, “WAIT… 👀”
Our FMC, Bexla, is a certified badass who finds herself tasked with fulfilling a confusing prophecy left behind by her mother:
*“Three daughters. Three truths.
The blade destroys all it cuts.
The mirror swallows lies.
The bow never misses.
You guard them now, but in time they will guard you.
What is kept is never truly yours.
And one must be given to pay the price.”*
Bexla is such a complex character, and I loved watching her navigate everything being thrown at her while trying to make sense of her mother’s clues. And then there are Damien and Alaric—two wolf-shifting brothers who have been in Bexla’s life since childhood. 👀 Her mother has also left behind some very confusing clues about the man Bexla is destined to be with, adding a whole lot of *something* to the already tense dynamic between the three of them.
And after that ending?! I NEED MORE. I cannot wait to continue Bexla’s story and see where Shay takes this series. It is already shaping up to be one of my favorite Shay Taylor books, and I have a feeling things are only going to get messier from here. 🐺🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️ Unhinged Dark Romantasy Must-Read!!!
Prophecies, and wolf shifters, and magical relics oh my!!! 🔮🐺🪞✨️
Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.
I AM ABSOLUTELY FERAL FOR THIS BOOK!!!
If you are looking for a dark romantasy that will completely consume your life, look no further. From page one, this book grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.
I was absolutely blown away by the phenomenal storytelling. A prophecy foretold and a breadcrumb trail of cryptic clues that kept me guessing and on the edge if my seat until the very end. Just when you think you've got everything figured out...a massive twist blows everything wide open.
The MCs? Deliciously unhinged is the only way I can describe them. Their dynamic is intense, chaotic, and addictively magnetic...I am so here for it. The tension, the spice...mouth watering 🫠
The Gods of Gilyx series can be read independently, but for the full overarching plot and immersive experience, I recommend reading ALL of the Shayverse series starting with Secrets & Curses, then Fourth Born, to Gods of Gilyx. Shay Taylor is so amazingly talented and I will read anything she writes!!! She is an absolute beast and continues to outdo herself!!!
Needless to say, I could not put this down and cannot stop thinking about it. If you love morally gray characters, high-octane mystery, and romance with real teeth, A Fate Hunted is a MUST-READ!!! I cannot wait to see what comes next!!! 🖤🖤🖤
Prophecies, and wolf shifters, and magical relics oh my!!! 🔮🐺🪞✨️
Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.
I AM ABSOLUTELY FERAL FOR THIS BOOK!!!
If you are looking for a dark romantasy that will completely consume your life, look no further. From page one, this book grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go.
I was absolutely blown away by the phenomenal storytelling. A prophecy foretold and a breadcrumb trail of cryptic clues that kept me guessing and on the edge if my seat until the very end. Just when you think you've got everything figured out...a massive twist blows everything wide open.
The MCs? Deliciously unhinged is the only way I can describe them. Their dynamic is intense, chaotic, and addictively magnetic...I am so here for it. The tension, the spice...mouth watering 🫠
The Gods of Gilyx series can be read independently, but for the full overarching plot and immersive experience, I recommend reading ALL of the Shayverse series starting with Secrets & Curses, then Fourth Born, to Gods of Gilyx. Shay Taylor is so amazingly talented and I will read anything she writes!!! She is an absolute beast and continues to outdo herself!!!
Needless to say, I could not put this down and cannot stop thinking about it. If you love morally gray characters, high-octane mystery, and romance with real teeth, A Fate Hunted is a MUST-READ!!! I cannot wait to see what comes next!!! 🖤🖤🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5/5⭐️
The story starts off very complex, with a lot of information about different worlds, character names and abilities, as well as the magic system and prophecies. That can be quite a lot to take in right at the start, since you’re essentially given all the necessary information at once. It can help to read the author’s other series, as they make it easier to get started. But if you don’t let that throw you off and just let it all sink in at first, the story gets off to a great start after a few introductory and informational chapters. Once I really got into it, the story became very captivating and super exciting.
I was particularly surprised by the characters, especially the FMC Bexla. I love her so much because she’s a really strong and super badass FMC who can also get really intense and mean at times, and I think that’s great. She even shocked me a few times, but in a positive way. And the tension is definitely there! I didn’t expect this kind of spice at all, and it does lean a bit toward the darker side. There are so many great characters with unique abilities and personalities that really draw you in!
The plot twists really surprised me, too I didn’t see some of them coming at all. What I also loved was the mysterious vibe because you never know who’s serious and who has what intentions and the mysteries keep you on the edge of your seat! I also loved the writing style since it was very enjoyable to read, even if the pacing wasn’t always perfect. The ending is also incredibly suspenseful and makes you want to keep reading right away! A fantastic world with an interesting magic system and characters you’ll never forget!
The story starts off very complex, with a lot of information about different worlds, character names and abilities, as well as the magic system and prophecies. That can be quite a lot to take in right at the start, since you’re essentially given all the necessary information at once. It can help to read the author’s other series, as they make it easier to get started. But if you don’t let that throw you off and just let it all sink in at first, the story gets off to a great start after a few introductory and informational chapters. Once I really got into it, the story became very captivating and super exciting.
I was particularly surprised by the characters, especially the FMC Bexla. I love her so much because she’s a really strong and super badass FMC who can also get really intense and mean at times, and I think that’s great. She even shocked me a few times, but in a positive way. And the tension is definitely there! I didn’t expect this kind of spice at all, and it does lean a bit toward the darker side. There are so many great characters with unique abilities and personalities that really draw you in!
The plot twists really surprised me, too I didn’t see some of them coming at all. What I also loved was the mysterious vibe because you never know who’s serious and who has what intentions and the mysteries keep you on the edge of your seat! I also loved the writing style since it was very enjoyable to read, even if the pacing wasn’t always perfect. The ending is also incredibly suspenseful and makes you want to keep reading right away! A fantastic world with an interesting magic system and characters you’ll never forget!
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️
3🌶️
Thank you Shay as always for letting me be apart of your permanent arc team! I always look forward to your new releases!! ❤️
Yes, yes, a million times yes!!!! 🙌 🤩
I probably say this after every new release for Shay but this was my favorite book of hers BY FAR!
Omg, I couldn’t put it down!!!
We’re finally diving into Gilyx, which we’ve been referenced to in both the Secrets & Curses series and the Fourth Born series. I HIGHLY recommend reading those books first before diving into Gods of Gilyx. These series are all interconnected and will make way more sense if you do.
Bexla is a perfect mix of strong and a little bit crazy as our FMC 😝
We’ve got:
✅Gods (old and power stealing)
✅wolf shifters
✅brotherly love triangle 🥵
✅possessiveness (we’re talking wolf shifters, of course they’re possessive 😝)
✅destinies to fulfill
✅cameos of some of our favs from her other series
✅fate coming together
✅slow burn
✅enemies to lovers?
✅spice 🌶️
Speaking of spice 🌶️, this is Shay’s best written spice to date in my opinion. Whew 🥵🥵🥵 yes plllleeease!
This story flowed so well and we dove right in and I never felt lost. And this is book 1 of Bexla’s duology in the Gods of Gilyx 4 book series and so we built so much up in book 1 here and I can’t wait to see where we go in book 2!
She’s releasing these 4 books in rapid fire (each 1 month apart) so we won’t have to wait long for each of the next books (all out before end of 2026!!)
3🌶️
Thank you Shay as always for letting me be apart of your permanent arc team! I always look forward to your new releases!! ❤️
Yes, yes, a million times yes!!!! 🙌 🤩
I probably say this after every new release for Shay but this was my favorite book of hers BY FAR!
Omg, I couldn’t put it down!!!
We’re finally diving into Gilyx, which we’ve been referenced to in both the Secrets & Curses series and the Fourth Born series. I HIGHLY recommend reading those books first before diving into Gods of Gilyx. These series are all interconnected and will make way more sense if you do.
Bexla is a perfect mix of strong and a little bit crazy as our FMC 😝
We’ve got:
✅Gods (old and power stealing)
✅wolf shifters
✅brotherly love triangle 🥵
✅possessiveness (we’re talking wolf shifters, of course they’re possessive 😝)
✅destinies to fulfill
✅cameos of some of our favs from her other series
✅fate coming together
✅slow burn
✅enemies to lovers?
✅spice 🌶️
Speaking of spice 🌶️, this is Shay’s best written spice to date in my opinion. Whew 🥵🥵🥵 yes plllleeease!
This story flowed so well and we dove right in and I never felt lost. And this is book 1 of Bexla’s duology in the Gods of Gilyx 4 book series and so we built so much up in book 1 here and I can’t wait to see where we go in book 2!
She’s releasing these 4 books in rapid fire (each 1 month apart) so we won’t have to wait long for each of the next books (all out before end of 2026!!)
August 16, 2026
Review of advance copy received from author
I really liked this book. I will say it was a bit confusing at first, but I liked that it kept you guessing. Obviously, the further you get into the book, the more you begin to notice who’s the one Bexla needs to watch out for. There’s not a whole lot of sex, or graphic details, but I imagine the next books, there will be. I can’t wait to read the next one! I had a hard time putting this book down. I really liked the secret & curses series, it’s definitely a bit different in terms of magic, but still really interesting. I will say, I love when female characters are underestimated, it brings me joy!!
A prophecy that was foretold that isn’t overly clear but gives you enough information to make you curious to learn more. You’re given bits and pieces of a puzzle throughout the story that don’t make sense until you keep reading. I will say this can be considered a stand alone, you do not need to read Secrets & Curses series before this book, but some of the characters that are in those books are mentioned in this one, so it wouldn’t hurt to read them before you read this, just for context. If you haven’t read the Secret & Curses series, you won’t entirely know who they are, or the roles they’ve played, but I will save for the most part, at least for this one, only Ezra, his mate, and Abraham have the most mentions from the Secrets & Curses series. Overall, a really good book!
I really liked this book. I will say it was a bit confusing at first, but I liked that it kept you guessing. Obviously, the further you get into the book, the more you begin to notice who’s the one Bexla needs to watch out for. There’s not a whole lot of sex, or graphic details, but I imagine the next books, there will be. I can’t wait to read the next one! I had a hard time putting this book down. I really liked the secret & curses series, it’s definitely a bit different in terms of magic, but still really interesting. I will say, I love when female characters are underestimated, it brings me joy!!
A prophecy that was foretold that isn’t overly clear but gives you enough information to make you curious to learn more. You’re given bits and pieces of a puzzle throughout the story that don’t make sense until you keep reading. I will say this can be considered a stand alone, you do not need to read Secrets & Curses series before this book, but some of the characters that are in those books are mentioned in this one, so it wouldn’t hurt to read them before you read this, just for context. If you haven’t read the Secret & Curses series, you won’t entirely know who they are, or the roles they’ve played, but I will save for the most part, at least for this one, only Ezra, his mate, and Abraham have the most mentions from the Secrets & Curses series. Overall, a really good book!
August 17, 2026
I received an ARC copy of ‘A fate hunted’, book 1 in the Gods of Gilyx series. This is the 1st book I have read by this author and was advised to read a previous series to understand a bit more about the characters. Unfortunately I didn’t have enough time but I will definitely be adding them to my list as I really enjoyed this book! However that being said, I fully understood this book. I don’t feel like I missed out on characters backstories and that just shows how good of a writer Shay Taylor is! All the information I needed was there. I loved the mention of all the different kinds of monsters eg demons, vampires, wolf shifters etc. I love when the world is filled with a variety of creatures. This is a Dark Romantasy with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magical relics, powerful fmc x wolf shifter mmc
I loved the riddles and plot twists within A Fate Hunted. I’m usually not good at those sort of things so I enjoyed the fact that it was the same riddles repeated. It helped me remember them more!
As for the characters, Bexla ended up being my fav character but only after her bad side came out 🤭 I found her quite boring at the beginning but a total badass when she released her magic. I didn’t enjoy Damian at all. He annoyed me the whole book. I was screaming at my kindle every time Bexla chose him over Alaric. I got my way in the end tho… hopefully. I’m so excited for book 2 to see how this relationship and storyline progresses. Thank you so much to Shay Taylor for letting me be a part of your ARC team!
Release date is September 9th
I loved the riddles and plot twists within A Fate Hunted. I’m usually not good at those sort of things so I enjoyed the fact that it was the same riddles repeated. It helped me remember them more!
As for the characters, Bexla ended up being my fav character but only after her bad side came out 🤭 I found her quite boring at the beginning but a total badass when she released her magic. I didn’t enjoy Damian at all. He annoyed me the whole book. I was screaming at my kindle every time Bexla chose him over Alaric. I got my way in the end tho… hopefully. I’m so excited for book 2 to see how this relationship and storyline progresses. Thank you so much to Shay Taylor for letting me be a part of your ARC team!
Release date is September 9th
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars, 9/10
✍🏻 Author: Shay Taylor
🧬 Genre: Dark fantasy
🗓️ Release date: September 9th
The realization of just how much I had missed the Fourth Born series really hit me while reading A Fate Hunted. It was so wonderful to see all the threads connecting back to characters and storylines I already know. Bexla is one of my favorites, so it was such a treat to get to read more about her in this book.
🐺 Wolf shifters
🙏🏻 False gods
⚔️ Quest
💔 Betrayal
🤥 Lies
✨ Fate
What a gift that there are vampires in this book! I have such a soft spot for vampires, so this was a huge bonus for me. On top of that, we’re treated to wolf shifters and even a siren.
I absolutely love Bexla. She’s strong, fearless, and a fighter. And the bond between her and Alaric? I loved the way they interact with each other. From the very beginning, I kept hoping that something would happen between Bexla and Alaric. Because a good enemies-to-lovers romance? Sign me up! And Damien… meh. I honestly didn’t really feel it with him from the start.
I was literally kicking my feet after I connected the dots about what happened in the dark in the cabin.
"You are the sheep that fell for the wolf sent to slaughter you."
In this book, you’re constantly being led down the wrong path, but if you pay close attention to the breadcrumbs, you can uncover the truth before it’s revealed to you.
🗡️🪞🏹
Special thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC copy.
✍🏻 Author: Shay Taylor
🧬 Genre: Dark fantasy
🗓️ Release date: September 9th
The realization of just how much I had missed the Fourth Born series really hit me while reading A Fate Hunted. It was so wonderful to see all the threads connecting back to characters and storylines I already know. Bexla is one of my favorites, so it was such a treat to get to read more about her in this book.
🐺 Wolf shifters
🙏🏻 False gods
⚔️ Quest
💔 Betrayal
🤥 Lies
✨ Fate
What a gift that there are vampires in this book! I have such a soft spot for vampires, so this was a huge bonus for me. On top of that, we’re treated to wolf shifters and even a siren.
I absolutely love Bexla. She’s strong, fearless, and a fighter. And the bond between her and Alaric? I loved the way they interact with each other. From the very beginning, I kept hoping that something would happen between Bexla and Alaric. Because a good enemies-to-lovers romance? Sign me up! And Damien… meh. I honestly didn’t really feel it with him from the start.
I was literally kicking my feet after I connected the dots about what happened in the dark in the cabin.
"You are the sheep that fell for the wolf sent to slaughter you."
In this book, you’re constantly being led down the wrong path, but if you pay close attention to the breadcrumbs, you can uncover the truth before it’s revealed to you.
🗡️🪞🏹
Special thanks to the author for providing me with an ARC copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an advanced reader copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved this book. It was dark, twisty and spicy with a good helping of horror. And when I say this book was twisty, there were so many little mysteries, riddles and secrets to uncover. I absolutely loved the elements of horror which were just so well done.
The book centers around Bexla, one of the 3 Blythe sisters, who is Fated to find the Mirror of Vesnal. Bexla is both powerful and vulnerable. I really enjoyed seeing her mask drop to reveal how powerful she really is. I loved her sass when interacting with Alaric, one of the MMCs.
Alaric was a very conflicting character for me. He came off as cruel and a bit of a bully but he was also seriously sexy and he had Bella's back when she needed it. And I actually really enjoyed the unhinged romance that evolved between these two. The tension was delicious.
The other MMC, Damien, Alaric's brother and old time best friend of Bexla frustrated me no end. He blows hot and cold underestimates Bexla from the off. Both of the MMCs were hard to trust and added to the twisty elements of the plot.
While there were aspects of the story that I guessed ahead of time, there were so many surprises which I always love and the story ended with a bit of a cliffhanger so I'm already screaming for book 2. Definitely a great read for a dark paranormal romance lover.
I absolutely loved this book. It was dark, twisty and spicy with a good helping of horror. And when I say this book was twisty, there were so many little mysteries, riddles and secrets to uncover. I absolutely loved the elements of horror which were just so well done.
The book centers around Bexla, one of the 3 Blythe sisters, who is Fated to find the Mirror of Vesnal. Bexla is both powerful and vulnerable. I really enjoyed seeing her mask drop to reveal how powerful she really is. I loved her sass when interacting with Alaric, one of the MMCs.
Alaric was a very conflicting character for me. He came off as cruel and a bit of a bully but he was also seriously sexy and he had Bella's back when she needed it. And I actually really enjoyed the unhinged romance that evolved between these two. The tension was delicious.
The other MMC, Damien, Alaric's brother and old time best friend of Bexla frustrated me no end. He blows hot and cold underestimates Bexla from the off. Both of the MMCs were hard to trust and added to the twisty elements of the plot.
While there were aspects of the story that I guessed ahead of time, there were so many surprises which I always love and the story ended with a bit of a cliffhanger so I'm already screaming for book 2. Definitely a great read for a dark paranormal romance lover.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 Stars!
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy of this book!
I loved this book! The love triangle, the tension, the enemies to lovers, all of it was hitting for me. When I finish this book, I was sad it was over.
Our FMC Bexla is born into a life where she is fated to protect and defend magical relics. Her kind are hated and hunted, so she spends most of her life hiding, separated from her sisters in order to protect them.
I loved Bexla. She is a total bad ass, she’s also a total smart ass. I love that she doesn’t back down and she stands in her power. The one place where she waivers is when it comes to her heart, which I think is true for many of us.
The brothers - I mean I’m with her, it’s hard to decide when you’ve got two hot wolf shifters! Damien is sweet and kind, almost to a fault, while Alaric is a total dick. It makes the tension in this love triangle sing!
I will admit there were times when I was like hold on a second, what is happening? I did get confused with the gods and their involvement. I almost feel like it’s an unnecessary part of the story. Like when they show up, I’m always like whoa that doesn’t feel like it fits this book. That being said, I kind of just went with it because the rest of the story was so engaging.
Tropes:
– Wolf shifters
– Love triangle
– Enemies to lovers
– One bed
– Banter
– Gods and relics
– Powerful magic
I love the world that Shay Taylor has created here, and I can’t wait to get more of it. That ending had me feral for a second book!
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy of this book!
I loved this book! The love triangle, the tension, the enemies to lovers, all of it was hitting for me. When I finish this book, I was sad it was over.
Our FMC Bexla is born into a life where she is fated to protect and defend magical relics. Her kind are hated and hunted, so she spends most of her life hiding, separated from her sisters in order to protect them.
I loved Bexla. She is a total bad ass, she’s also a total smart ass. I love that she doesn’t back down and she stands in her power. The one place where she waivers is when it comes to her heart, which I think is true for many of us.
The brothers - I mean I’m with her, it’s hard to decide when you’ve got two hot wolf shifters! Damien is sweet and kind, almost to a fault, while Alaric is a total dick. It makes the tension in this love triangle sing!
I will admit there were times when I was like hold on a second, what is happening? I did get confused with the gods and their involvement. I almost feel like it’s an unnecessary part of the story. Like when they show up, I’m always like whoa that doesn’t feel like it fits this book. That being said, I kind of just went with it because the rest of the story was so engaging.
Tropes:
– Wolf shifters
– Love triangle
– Enemies to lovers
– One bed
– Banter
– Gods and relics
– Powerful magic
I love the world that Shay Taylor has created here, and I can’t wait to get more of it. That ending had me feral for a second book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book has one of the best prophecies I’ve ever encountered. It carries secrets and mystery. Not only that, when you think you have figured something out, you will be thrown in another direction and you start all over. I changed my theories several times during this book and I loved that experience!
The book has a fast pacing but it’s so perfect for this story and time just flew by reading it.
The FMC’s connection to one of the MMC’s is fucking delicious because it’s dark, intense, unhinged and chaotic and have you guessing just as much as the plot. The fact that they match each other so well makes this whole book more interesting. Bexla is badass, fierce and intense. I fear Alaric is worse in the best way possible. His brother Damien is pretty much the opposite and that was an interesting addition. Especially when you know things aren’t always what they seem to be.
As always when it comes to Shay, her world building is incredible. I’ve always admired her way of describing. She also described the magical relics with such passion I felt obsessed with them. I’ve loved them since before this book, and that definitely helped. That said, this is the third series and even though you can start here without a problem, it’s nice to get to know the world and characters from the previous two. It certainly won't disappoint you.
The book has a fast pacing but it’s so perfect for this story and time just flew by reading it.
The FMC’s connection to one of the MMC’s is fucking delicious because it’s dark, intense, unhinged and chaotic and have you guessing just as much as the plot. The fact that they match each other so well makes this whole book more interesting. Bexla is badass, fierce and intense. I fear Alaric is worse in the best way possible. His brother Damien is pretty much the opposite and that was an interesting addition. Especially when you know things aren’t always what they seem to be.
As always when it comes to Shay, her world building is incredible. I’ve always admired her way of describing. She also described the magical relics with such passion I felt obsessed with them. I’ve loved them since before this book, and that definitely helped. That said, this is the third series and even though you can start here without a problem, it’s nice to get to know the world and characters from the previous two. It certainly won't disappoint you.
September 10, 2026
A Fate Hunted was so captivating to me! I absolutely loved it!!
“Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.”
The story follows Bexla who is one of last veylanthi and a total bada$$ in her own right. She has had a rough life with her mother’s illness. Her mother’s death is what kicks off the prophecy that will keep you guessing throughout the book.
Then we have our two MMC’s that are wolf-shifter brothers Damien and Alaric. One is sweet and kind while the other is dark and unhinged. Who would you choose?
The world building, character connections, the twists and turns made it extremely hard to put the book down. Every time I thought I had figured it out here comes another twist that had me questioning everything again. And that ending… Run girl!!
She has two other book series that interconnects and crossover. They are Secret’s & Curses and Forth Born. You do not have to read them before starting this book. I will be reading them soon since this book had me hooked.
I would like to thank Shay Taylor for an amazing read! I will be impatiently waiting for the next book! 📕
If you like plot twists, love triangle❤️, 🐺shifters, magic🪄, dark romance, then this book is for you!
“Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts. The mirror swallows lies. The bow never misses. You guard them now, but in time they will guard you. What is kept is never truly yours. And one must be given to pay the price.”
The story follows Bexla who is one of last veylanthi and a total bada$$ in her own right. She has had a rough life with her mother’s illness. Her mother’s death is what kicks off the prophecy that will keep you guessing throughout the book.
Then we have our two MMC’s that are wolf-shifter brothers Damien and Alaric. One is sweet and kind while the other is dark and unhinged. Who would you choose?
The world building, character connections, the twists and turns made it extremely hard to put the book down. Every time I thought I had figured it out here comes another twist that had me questioning everything again. And that ending… Run girl!!
She has two other book series that interconnects and crossover. They are Secret’s & Curses and Forth Born. You do not have to read them before starting this book. I will be reading them soon since this book had me hooked.
I would like to thank Shay Taylor for an amazing read! I will be impatiently waiting for the next book! 📕
If you like plot twists, love triangle❤️, 🐺shifters, magic🪄, dark romance, then this book is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Amazing book 1 to new series
Fast-paced fantasy where the gods that control the land are evil, and it might take someone just as bad to wipe them out. If you've read the author's Fourth Born series, you'll be familiar with the story. This book is the first in the next spin-off series. I have read all the books that this author has published (10 so far) and all of them have been amazing. I do think reading the series in order builds on your understanding of this world, you could start each series separately. This book does not have the HEA, it will come in the next book as Bexla's story is a 2 book arch. Bexla, one of three guardians, has hidden what she is most of her life. Now the time has come for fate to be set in motion, and she may not be prepared for everything coming her way. Her mother mostly left her with riddles to determine her fate, and they don't make sense most of the time. But when the evil gods of Gilyx call on her finally to find an artifact, she knows its time.
There were times I wanted to whack her upside the head for being a bit dense, but I think she got there eventually. Though without spoilers, I'll tell you that after all that, she better give him a run for his money.
Fast-paced fantasy where the gods that control the land are evil, and it might take someone just as bad to wipe them out. If you've read the author's Fourth Born series, you'll be familiar with the story. This book is the first in the next spin-off series. I have read all the books that this author has published (10 so far) and all of them have been amazing. I do think reading the series in order builds on your understanding of this world, you could start each series separately. This book does not have the HEA, it will come in the next book as Bexla's story is a 2 book arch. Bexla, one of three guardians, has hidden what she is most of her life. Now the time has come for fate to be set in motion, and she may not be prepared for everything coming her way. Her mother mostly left her with riddles to determine her fate, and they don't make sense most of the time. But when the evil gods of Gilyx call on her finally to find an artifact, she knows its time.
There were times I wanted to whack her upside the head for being a bit dense, but I think she got there eventually. Though without spoilers, I'll tell you that after all that, she better give him a run for his money.
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC reader review
Littler vipers stream team*
🌶3
🌟5
✔️world building
✔️wolf shifters
✔️love triangle
✔️plot twist
✔️God playing games
✔️unhinged FMC
What more could you ask for .......
The joy of returning the Shay-verse had me in my feels, Bexla has been my most anticipated story line and she did not disappoint with her crazy ass, shes the kind of FMC who keeps everyone on edge and i absolutely love it but don't worry i believe shes found her match in an equally questinable man ;). Bexla is one of 3 sisters whom are the last of their kind, they hold powers that the world need to become right again. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and contemplated calling in sick to work so I could finished it. With the rapid fire release schedule we won't have to wait long for the story to come to an end however I dont know if my heart can take saying goodbye to this world.
This is the first book of this series but make no mistake its highly recomended you read Shays other two series first as this is the third series in 3 interconnected series, each with varying magic systems that will tickle all your romanatasy fancies!
Littler vipers stream team*
🌶3
🌟5
✔️world building
✔️wolf shifters
✔️love triangle
✔️plot twist
✔️God playing games
✔️unhinged FMC
What more could you ask for .......
The joy of returning the Shay-verse had me in my feels, Bexla has been my most anticipated story line and she did not disappoint with her crazy ass, shes the kind of FMC who keeps everyone on edge and i absolutely love it but don't worry i believe shes found her match in an equally questinable man ;). Bexla is one of 3 sisters whom are the last of their kind, they hold powers that the world need to become right again. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and contemplated calling in sick to work so I could finished it. With the rapid fire release schedule we won't have to wait long for the story to come to an end however I dont know if my heart can take saying goodbye to this world.
This is the first book of this series but make no mistake its highly recomended you read Shays other two series first as this is the third series in 3 interconnected series, each with varying magic systems that will tickle all your romanatasy fancies!
Review of advance copy received from Author
~ARC READ~⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Shifter + Written by Shay Taylor= YESSSS 😩
This book was soooo good! It had magic, prophecies, secrets, plot twists, and just enough spice to keep me hooked the entire time. Every time I thought I was starting to figure out what was happening, something else would be revealed that made me question everything all over again.
I also loved Bexla. She was strong, fierce, and just the right amount of unhinged 😉But my favorite part was definitely the dynamic between her and the two MMCs. They were complete opposites, and I genuinely had no idea who she was going to choose. Of course, I was rooting for the dark, broody one the entire time 😏
And that ending?! I definitely did not see it coming, and it completely changed how I felt about certain characters. Then the book just ended and left me with so many unanswered questions 😭
I already need book two because Bexla’s story is clearly nowhere near finished, and I have to know what happens next. I’m also feeling pretty good about which MMC I chose 😂
What an amazing read! Shay, you never cease to amaze me with the stories you come up with .
Shifter + Written by Shay Taylor= YESSSS 😩
This book was soooo good! It had magic, prophecies, secrets, plot twists, and just enough spice to keep me hooked the entire time. Every time I thought I was starting to figure out what was happening, something else would be revealed that made me question everything all over again.
I also loved Bexla. She was strong, fierce, and just the right amount of unhinged 😉But my favorite part was definitely the dynamic between her and the two MMCs. They were complete opposites, and I genuinely had no idea who she was going to choose. Of course, I was rooting for the dark, broody one the entire time 😏
And that ending?! I definitely did not see it coming, and it completely changed how I felt about certain characters. Then the book just ended and left me with so many unanswered questions 😭
I already need book two because Bexla’s story is clearly nowhere near finished, and I have to know what happens next. I’m also feeling pretty good about which MMC I chose 😂
What an amazing read! Shay, you never cease to amaze me with the stories you come up with .
Review of advance copy received from Author
Id like to thank Shay Taylor for the e-arc!! This review is my honest opinion!!
If you are looking for your next dark romantasy this is it! I was pulled in from the beginning when their mother tells them about the prophecy...
"Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts." So freaking ominous and made me want to find out what it meant!
I was a little confused at first but as the story went on it became a little clearer adn easier to follow. I will suggest you read the previous series to get the full impact. I didnt have time to do that but I will be going back and doing it soon! I love how the writting flowed and you could imagine everything as it was happening. We get a constant sense of what happens next and it keeps you reading wayyyy past your bed time!
we get twists that you think you know what happens next but then you find out how WRONG you are! Tension galore, character arcs that are well done and MMCs that are just straight up delicious.
If you like dark fantasy, twists, unhinged chaos and prophecies then you need to pick this up....did i mention shifters too??
Thank you again Shae for the ARC!!! I cant wait to see what book 2 has in store!
If you are looking for your next dark romantasy this is it! I was pulled in from the beginning when their mother tells them about the prophecy...
"Three daughters. Three truths. The blade destroys all it cuts." So freaking ominous and made me want to find out what it meant!
I was a little confused at first but as the story went on it became a little clearer adn easier to follow. I will suggest you read the previous series to get the full impact. I didnt have time to do that but I will be going back and doing it soon! I love how the writting flowed and you could imagine everything as it was happening. We get a constant sense of what happens next and it keeps you reading wayyyy past your bed time!
we get twists that you think you know what happens next but then you find out how WRONG you are! Tension galore, character arcs that are well done and MMCs that are just straight up delicious.
If you like dark fantasy, twists, unhinged chaos and prophecies then you need to pick this up....did i mention shifters too??
Thank you again Shae for the ARC!!! I cant wait to see what book 2 has in store!
September 9, 2026
*ARC reader review
Littler vipers stream team*
🌶3
🌟5
✔️world building
✔️wolf shifters
✔️love triangle
✔️plot twist
✔️God playing games
✔️unhinged FMC
What more could you ask for .......
The joy of returning the Shay-verse had me in my feels, Bexla has been my most anticipated story line and she did not disappoint with her crazy ass, shes the kind of FMC who keeps everyone on edge and i absolutely love it but don't worry i believe shes found her match in an equally questinable man ;). Bexla is one of 3 sisters whom are the last of their kind, they hold powers that the world need to become right again. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and contemplated calling in sick to work so I could finished it. With the rapid fire release schedule we won't have to wait long for the story to come to an end however I dont know if my heart can take saying goodbye to this world.
This is the first book of this series but make no mistake its highly recomended you read Shays other two series first as this is the third series in 3 interconnected series, each with varying magic systems that will tickle all your romanatasy fancies!
Littler vipers stream team*
🌶3
🌟5
✔️world building
✔️wolf shifters
✔️love triangle
✔️plot twist
✔️God playing games
✔️unhinged FMC
What more could you ask for .......
The joy of returning the Shay-verse had me in my feels, Bexla has been my most anticipated story line and she did not disappoint with her crazy ass, shes the kind of FMC who keeps everyone on edge and i absolutely love it but don't worry i believe shes found her match in an equally questinable man ;). Bexla is one of 3 sisters whom are the last of their kind, they hold powers that the world need to become right again. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book and contemplated calling in sick to work so I could finished it. With the rapid fire release schedule we won't have to wait long for the story to come to an end however I dont know if my heart can take saying goodbye to this world.
This is the first book of this series but make no mistake its highly recomended you read Shays other two series first as this is the third series in 3 interconnected series, each with varying magic systems that will tickle all your romanatasy fancies!
September 11, 2026
This series is addictive and deliciously devious and convoluted in all the right ways.
Where do I start. Bexla is an absolute no nonsense FMC who knows the Gods want her to use her but also has a couldnt give a F attitude because she's a badass and knows she is.
The MMC..... now, we have Damien and Alaric. Her childhood best friends. Brothers. One who is seen and one who sees. Childhood friendship torn apart from family betrayal. Thrown together again years later when it is their job to catch her and use her for the Gods will.
Can their friendship rekindle after all the heartache. Can they trust each other when they are on opposite sides of the fight. Most importantly, who heart truly lies with who.
This book is powerful, addictive, constant turns of who can be trusted, just when you think you know, you don't. It's a journey fraught with fighting, love, longing, fate and destiny, that just has you turning each page needing to devour more.
Fantastic start of a series with some previous addicting characters and I can't wait to see where this journey goes!!
I was extremely fortunate to receive this book as an Arc but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Where do I start. Bexla is an absolute no nonsense FMC who knows the Gods want her to use her but also has a couldnt give a F attitude because she's a badass and knows she is.
The MMC..... now, we have Damien and Alaric. Her childhood best friends. Brothers. One who is seen and one who sees. Childhood friendship torn apart from family betrayal. Thrown together again years later when it is their job to catch her and use her for the Gods will.
Can their friendship rekindle after all the heartache. Can they trust each other when they are on opposite sides of the fight. Most importantly, who heart truly lies with who.
This book is powerful, addictive, constant turns of who can be trusted, just when you think you know, you don't. It's a journey fraught with fighting, love, longing, fate and destiny, that just has you turning each page needing to devour more.
Fantastic start of a series with some previous addicting characters and I can't wait to see where this journey goes!!
I was extremely fortunate to receive this book as an Arc but all thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 15, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I was so excited to receive an ARC copy of A Fate Hunted from the author, and I’m happy to say it absolutely lived up to the anticipation! 🖤 Getting the chance to read this book early was such a treat, and I flew through it.
Bexla is the kind of FMC I love—strong, fierce, independent, and completely capable of handling herself. Her journey to uncover the truth behind her mother’s mysterious prophecy pulled me in, especially with all the secrets, magic, and unanswered questions along the way.
The prophecy surrounding the three daughters and three truths had me completely intrigued. I loved trying to figure out what everything meant while watching the story unfold.
And then there’s Damien and Alaric. 👀 Two very different wolf-shifter brothers with complicated ties to Bexla definitely made things interesting! The character dynamics were one of my favorite parts of the book.
Overall, this was an addictive romantasy filled with magic, mystery, prophecy, and complicated relationships. I genuinely enjoyed reading this ARC and can’t wait to see where Bexla’s story goes next! 🖤✨
Thank you to the author for the ARC copy. This is my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Fate Hunted was incredibly well written and completely captivating. I read the entire book in less than a day because I genuinely could not put it down.
One of my favorite parts was trying to figure out exactly who plays what role in Bexla’s prophecy. Every time I thought I finally had it figured out, something else would happen that completely changed the picture and had me questioning everything all over again. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
The emotional connections this story creates between the characters and the reader are amazing. I became so invested in what was happening and in the relationships that developed throughout the story. The romance was also such a refreshing change. Instead of the typical “why choose?” dynamic, it felt much more like “who should I choose?” and I was right there struggling with that decision too.
10/10. Read this book. Seriously. If you love fantasy, prophecy, twists, emotional connections, and a romance that keeps you wondering who you should be rooting for, A Fate Hunted is absolutely worth picking up
One of my favorite parts was trying to figure out exactly who plays what role in Bexla’s prophecy. Every time I thought I finally had it figured out, something else would happen that completely changed the picture and had me questioning everything all over again. It kept me guessing right up until the end.
The emotional connections this story creates between the characters and the reader are amazing. I became so invested in what was happening and in the relationships that developed throughout the story. The romance was also such a refreshing change. Instead of the typical “why choose?” dynamic, it felt much more like “who should I choose?” and I was right there struggling with that decision too.
10/10. Read this book. Seriously. If you love fantasy, prophecy, twists, emotional connections, and a romance that keeps you wondering who you should be rooting for, A Fate Hunted is absolutely worth picking up
Review of advance copy received from Author
A Fate Hunted (God of Gilyx #1)
Release date September 9, 2026
Returning to this universe felt less like opening a new book and more like coming home except this time, I found myself standing in a completely unfamiliar corner of the world. As the first installment in a brand new series, it perfectly balances nostalgia with discovery, reminding me why I fell in love with this universe in the first place while proving there’s still so much left to explore.
Shay not only brings in shifting powers, but sends us on a hunt in every sense of the word!! There are so many twists and turns I literally could not put the book down! She dabbled in topics, tropes, and treasures she has yet to do and has me yearning for the next book!
If you’re looking for your next obsession start at her Secrets and Curses series and enjoy EVERY moment and when you reach this point in her universe, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll be wanting to join her ARC team💯
Release date September 9, 2026
Returning to this universe felt less like opening a new book and more like coming home except this time, I found myself standing in a completely unfamiliar corner of the world. As the first installment in a brand new series, it perfectly balances nostalgia with discovery, reminding me why I fell in love with this universe in the first place while proving there’s still so much left to explore.
Shay not only brings in shifting powers, but sends us on a hunt in every sense of the word!! There are so many twists and turns I literally could not put the book down! She dabbled in topics, tropes, and treasures she has yet to do and has me yearning for the next book!
If you’re looking for your next obsession start at her Secrets and Curses series and enjoy EVERY moment and when you reach this point in her universe, there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll be wanting to join her ARC team💯
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I started this read I felt like I was back in highschool reading twilight for the first time. The beginning is a little deceptive because you don't realize you've been dragged into the story until you are halfway through it and have no idea where the time has gone.
Quickly your mind forms questions trying to find a truth hidden beneath so many lies and riddles, and you keep wanting more. Except the second you think you have found an answer, something else makes you rethink and dig in further.
The main character Bexla is dark and twisted, and her counterpart is just as complicated. Some aspects of the story so far are devastating, but the draw keeps on pulling. This is the absolute perfect story for someone who loves the mythical world with a dark background. I can't wait for the next book so I can see just how far Bexla is pushed and have my biggest question answered... Will she finally give in to him?
Quickly your mind forms questions trying to find a truth hidden beneath so many lies and riddles, and you keep wanting more. Except the second you think you have found an answer, something else makes you rethink and dig in further.
The main character Bexla is dark and twisted, and her counterpart is just as complicated. Some aspects of the story so far are devastating, but the draw keeps on pulling. This is the absolute perfect story for someone who loves the mythical world with a dark background. I can't wait for the next book so I can see just how far Bexla is pushed and have my biggest question answered... Will she finally give in to him?
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, thank you to Shay Taylor for accepting me once again as an ARC reader.
I loved that other characters we already knew from previous books were mentioned and played a role in the story.
To be honest, I was initially confused by the many mysteries and enigmas, but things started to make more sense as the story progressed and the plot twists unfolded. I immediately liked the main character, as well as the MMC Damien (which changed quickly), I didn't feel the same way about Alaric at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by him as the book went on.
I’m really curious to read the books about the other sisters; the dynamic and personalities gave me *ACOTAR* vibes. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
I can say that, once again, I loved the story and am eager to see how the narrative unfolds.
It confirmed, yet again, that I will read anything this author writes.
I loved that other characters we already knew from previous books were mentioned and played a role in the story.
To be honest, I was initially confused by the many mysteries and enigmas, but things started to make more sense as the story progressed and the plot twists unfolded. I immediately liked the main character, as well as the MMC Damien (which changed quickly), I didn't feel the same way about Alaric at first, but I was pleasantly surprised by him as the book went on.
I’m really curious to read the books about the other sisters; the dynamic and personalities gave me *ACOTAR* vibes. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the series.
I can say that, once again, I loved the story and am eager to see how the narrative unfolds.
It confirmed, yet again, that I will read anything this author writes.
August 6, 2026
Shay’s writing just keeps pulling you in. I didn’t want to put this book down. I loved every second of it. I loved learning more about the mirror of vessmal and the Blythes backstory. I definitely grew to hate a certain male in this story but always enjoyed seeing Alaric be the badass he is. I also loved that Bexla wasn’t a pushover and didn’t put up with anyone’s crap.
I really enjoyed the new concept of shifters in this story. It really added some fun to the story and I loved that we were thrown into the world of Gilyx. The differences compared to the other realms are so fun to learn about. Shay really brought the shifters to life in this one. I’ll take a big bad wolf any day! Especially if he has an attitude.
I need the next book right now. I can wait to see where the story goes from here!
I really enjoyed the new concept of shifters in this story. It really added some fun to the story and I loved that we were thrown into the world of Gilyx. The differences compared to the other realms are so fun to learn about. Shay really brought the shifters to life in this one. I’ll take a big bad wolf any day! Especially if he has an attitude.
I need the next book right now. I can wait to see where the story goes from here!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Author Shay Taylor! This book is not a stand alone, I read all 6 books in the Secrets & Curses Series and the 4 book Fourth Born series before I read A Fate Hunted. These 2 series plus a fated hunt all tie into each other so I highly suggest reading them all. You won’t be disappointed, but you will be craving more! A Fated Hunt is the ARC, and her latest book that will be releasing. This is a morally grey, 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️ 😍, a very strong FMC, enemies to lovers, betrayal, secrets, monsters and adventure. Follow Bexla on her journey to fulfill her destiny, through lies, deception, cryptic messages, loss, and love. This book had me hanging on every page. I found myself torn between loving and hating Alaric and Damien. And secretly cheering for one! I’m excited to see where Shay takes us in the next book 😍
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced reader copy from author. If you like a FMC who is a little complicated and messy, two MMC who aren’t what they seem, you then mix in some cryptic prophecies for the whole family then A Fate Hunted will keep you guessing. At first I thought the prophecies would confuse me but at the book progressed the twist and turns it takes are interesting. Some might be typical and others had my mouth on the floor. Our morally grey FMC is a ball of chaos but found myself agreeing with a lot of her choices. Our two MMCs are wolf shifter who couldn’t be more different. These is a lot of mystical being and an interesting thing on celestial/godlike beings. I enjoyed how they were present in the characters lives more than just off in the distance. The one bed and three people scene had me speechless. I am excited to see where this series goes.
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