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These Fated Gifts: Book One of the Orvaean Duology
Seeing a rare swallowtail may be a sign...
...your long-lost twin seeing one too is an omen.
Separated at birth for their own protection, twin sisters Elin and Bryn have grown up with no knowledge of one another, and no understanding of the gift they carry.
Elin of the Orvaear wants only two things: to lead a simple life and to avoid stirring up trouble. But it's not easy when her world is limited to a handful of tiny islands, her only friend, Oran, is a member of the rival clan, and both clans are controlled by Gannon, the man who murdered her parents.
Living in Londyn, a city of extremes, Bryn strives to hide her poverty. Working hard to win a coveted agronomy scholarship, she dreams of giving her family a better life. But her family includes a stranger, one whose arrival will threaten more than just her carefully laid plans.
Fated to defend both old world and new from the man who orphaned them, Elin and Bryn must bridge their divide and learn to wield their magic as one.
But Gannon won't allow anything to stand in his way. He's killed before, and if he must, he'll do it again.
...your long-lost twin seeing one too is an omen.
Separated at birth for their own protection, twin sisters Elin and Bryn have grown up with no knowledge of one another, and no understanding of the gift they carry.
Elin of the Orvaear wants only two things: to lead a simple life and to avoid stirring up trouble. But it's not easy when her world is limited to a handful of tiny islands, her only friend, Oran, is a member of the rival clan, and both clans are controlled by Gannon, the man who murdered her parents.
Living in Londyn, a city of extremes, Bryn strives to hide her poverty. Working hard to win a coveted agronomy scholarship, she dreams of giving her family a better life. But her family includes a stranger, one whose arrival will threaten more than just her carefully laid plans.
Fated to defend both old world and new from the man who orphaned them, Elin and Bryn must bridge their divide and learn to wield their magic as one.
But Gannon won't allow anything to stand in his way. He's killed before, and if he must, he'll do it again.
345 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 16, 2026
About the author
Amy Orrell
2 books8 followersAmy grew up in a family of artists and writers where discussions about dragons and leprechauns flowed into debates on the existence of extraterrestrial life or the probability of time travel.
Painting was Amy’s first artistic calling — her artworks focused on narrative art — but the complexity of the stories she wanted to tell demanded something more, and naturally led her to writing.
Amy likes to write thought-provoking science fiction, fantasy and thrillers, delving into her characters’ emotional lives whilst delivering fast-paced thrills, twists, and turns.
In pursuit of balance, Amy also writes Motherland meets Bridget Jones style rom-coms, because it’s important to laugh, even if it’s at yourself.
Amy lives in Norwich, in the East of England (which, contrary to popular opinion, is not flat) with her husband, two children and writer’s support cat.
Painting was Amy’s first artistic calling — her artworks focused on narrative art — but the complexity of the stories she wanted to tell demanded something more, and naturally led her to writing.
Amy likes to write thought-provoking science fiction, fantasy and thrillers, delving into her characters’ emotional lives whilst delivering fast-paced thrills, twists, and turns.
In pursuit of balance, Amy also writes Motherland meets Bridget Jones style rom-coms, because it’s important to laugh, even if it’s at yourself.
Amy lives in Norwich, in the East of England (which, contrary to popular opinion, is not flat) with her husband, two children and writer’s support cat.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
An ARC of this book was supplied directly by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The book starts (and continues) strong, settling us into Elin's world, established across small islands in a drowned country. We get her backstory in a way that feels natural and not info-dumpy. We quickly learn she's not like others and we're immediately hooked in with intrigue that there's a twin sister she's separated from and had no awareness of.
Switching to Bryn's POV, we get a completely different setting to Orvaer - Londyn has technology, synthetic food, vertical farms, holograms, maglev transport, and material goods. We get a balance of a more fantasy-esque, natural setting against a sci-fi, manufactured one, yet the story seamlessly shows us how the two are tightly connected eco-systems - change in one affects the other.
Both POVs show the twins are trying to fit boxes they don't naturally conform to and the struggles they face within their different societies.
There's a cinematic showdown that felt like a scene from The Last Airbender- great if you like elemental magics.
The book ended to set up book 2 in a predictable but still satisfying way. Overall, I really enjoyed the story, blending different themes and giving us two likeable, strong FMCs and some potential slow burn love interests, which may be explored further in book 2. The villain was great - one you understand but morally can't support.
There are lots of subplots open for exploration in the sequel which I cannot wait to read.
PROTECT ORAN AT ALL COSTS 😭
And there's a map at the front, showing how the rising water has affected England & how the location names have changed over time, which I found super cool.
And (x2) Amy painted the cover herself - so talented
An easy 5* read for me- one of the best I've read this year. Definitely get this on your TBR!
Elin fancied that Orvaer was alive, breathing in as the summer advanced, the land rising like a ribcage filling with air, breathing out in the winter, sinking below a blanket of water.
The book starts (and continues) strong, settling us into Elin's world, established across small islands in a drowned country. We get her backstory in a way that feels natural and not info-dumpy. We quickly learn she's not like others and we're immediately hooked in with intrigue that there's a twin sister she's separated from and had no awareness of.
Switching to Bryn's POV, we get a completely different setting to Orvaer - Londyn has technology, synthetic food, vertical farms, holograms, maglev transport, and material goods. We get a balance of a more fantasy-esque, natural setting against a sci-fi, manufactured one, yet the story seamlessly shows us how the two are tightly connected eco-systems - change in one affects the other.
Both POVs show the twins are trying to fit boxes they don't naturally conform to and the struggles they face within their different societies.
There's a cinematic showdown that felt like a scene from The Last Airbender- great if you like elemental magics.
The book ended to set up book 2 in a predictable but still satisfying way. Overall, I really enjoyed the story, blending different themes and giving us two likeable, strong FMCs and some potential slow burn love interests, which may be explored further in book 2. The villain was great - one you understand but morally can't support.
There are lots of subplots open for exploration in the sequel which I cannot wait to read.
PROTECT ORAN AT ALL COSTS 😭
And there's a map at the front, showing how the rising water has affected England & how the location names have changed over time, which I found super cool.
And (x2) Amy painted the cover herself - so talented
An easy 5* read for me- one of the best I've read this year. Definitely get this on your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Loved These Fated Gifts! The world building was masterful and the characters so real—flawed in the perfect way while wanting to root for them. I read this book in to days, the action and suspense kept the pace up, and she was brilliant at connecting threads up as the story went along, building more intrigue and tension. A bit of romance thrown in, and a lean in to the dystopian in such a beautiful and satisfying way, I would definitely recommend These Fated Gifts for a read (or even a re–read), and I can't wait for the next instalment!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews