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Strings of Fate #1
Love, Blood & Fury
A Fury should never love.
A Fury should never feel emotion.
A Fury should never question fate.
Ariiaya Trillia is a Fury, a Fae assassin working for the Three Fates to end the lives of those chosen by the magical Tapestry of Life.
Sent to the impenetrable castle of Viridya, she is set with the assignment to assassinate Lorch Kruel, the young King of Fythnar.
Arii is taken into the King's guard as a recruit and quickly realizes that this assignment is going to be harder than she expected. The King is shadowed closely by a mysterious, hooded male bodyguard who radiates power and displays a prowess for combat that matches her own.
To the North, a darkness is manifesting and powerful magic unseen in over two hundred years awakens, threatening the future of the entire land.
Arii soon finds her heart threatening to crack in two as emotions unfamiliar to her flood forth, and she is faced with a choice she never thought an assassin would have to make.
Fulfil her duty to kill the King or fight against fate to save the entire kingdom.
A dark, thrilling fantasy debut filled with magic, sizzling romance and unforgettable characters that will leave you breathless and wanting more. This is the beginning of a complete trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger.
The Strings of Fate series includes;
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
⚔️ A Love Triangle
✨ Magic
💪🏻 Strong Female MCs
🧚🏻♂️ Fae
🐉 Dragons
👑 Royalty & Courts
🌈 Queer Rep
❤️ Romance & Spice
🗡 Assassins
🔥 Epic Battles
🌟 Epic Fantasy
… and more!
SEE WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
✯✯✯✯✯ - "Really well written, highly descriptive and left wanting more!" - Goodreads
✯✯✯✯✯ - "This book has plenty of mystery, magic, humour and romance. It's mesmerising, heart-rending and sexy." - Goodreads
✯✯✯✯✯ - "Fans of Sarah J Maas' Throne of Glass and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove will love this. An awesome debut!" - Arc Reader
A Fury should never feel emotion.
A Fury should never question fate.
Ariiaya Trillia is a Fury, a Fae assassin working for the Three Fates to end the lives of those chosen by the magical Tapestry of Life.
Sent to the impenetrable castle of Viridya, she is set with the assignment to assassinate Lorch Kruel, the young King of Fythnar.
Arii is taken into the King's guard as a recruit and quickly realizes that this assignment is going to be harder than she expected. The King is shadowed closely by a mysterious, hooded male bodyguard who radiates power and displays a prowess for combat that matches her own.
To the North, a darkness is manifesting and powerful magic unseen in over two hundred years awakens, threatening the future of the entire land.
Arii soon finds her heart threatening to crack in two as emotions unfamiliar to her flood forth, and she is faced with a choice she never thought an assassin would have to make.
Fulfil her duty to kill the King or fight against fate to save the entire kingdom.
A dark, thrilling fantasy debut filled with magic, sizzling romance and unforgettable characters that will leave you breathless and wanting more. This is the beginning of a complete trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger.
The Strings of Fate series includes;
❤️🔥 Enemies to Lovers
⚔️ A Love Triangle
✨ Magic
💪🏻 Strong Female MCs
🧚🏻♂️ Fae
🐉 Dragons
👑 Royalty & Courts
🌈 Queer Rep
❤️ Romance & Spice
🗡 Assassins
🔥 Epic Battles
🌟 Epic Fantasy
… and more!
SEE WHAT READERS ARE SAYING:
✯✯✯✯✯ - "Really well written, highly descriptive and left wanting more!" - Goodreads
✯✯✯✯✯ - "This book has plenty of mystery, magic, humour and romance. It's mesmerising, heart-rending and sexy." - Goodreads
✯✯✯✯✯ - "Fans of Sarah J Maas' Throne of Glass and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove will love this. An awesome debut!" - Arc Reader
438 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
50 people are currently reading
1035 people want to read
About the author
Melissa J. Kincaid
4 books86 followers✩ Author | Artist | Bookdragon | Reviewer ✩
Melissa J L Kincaid is a self published author from Melbourne, Australia. Some of her favourite things include fantasy books, puppies, hot chips and video games. She can spend hours scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, adding to her endless TBR list and attempting her own videos.
✩Books✩
Melissa has a passion for creating worlds filled with magic, adventure, and heart. Known for her rich world-building and strong female leads, her stories often weave together forbidden love, powerful magic, and epic battles, a blend that draws in fans of both fantasy and romance. With a background in graphic design, Melissa brings her creativity full circle by designing her own covers and book interiors, ensuring every detail matches the vision of her stories.
✩Reviews✩
Melissa writes honest and positive reviews, spending extra time to post pretty arrival photos and create eye-catching trope graphics that complement her reviews, making them visually engaging. When reviewing ARC copies, she likes to deliver glowing, thoughtful posts with enthusiasm and endless appreciation, because she knows how much time, love, blood, sweat and tears go into the story behind them.
Melissa J L Kincaid is a self published author from Melbourne, Australia. Some of her favourite things include fantasy books, puppies, hot chips and video games. She can spend hours scrolling through TikTok and Instagram, adding to her endless TBR list and attempting her own videos.
✩Books✩
Melissa has a passion for creating worlds filled with magic, adventure, and heart. Known for her rich world-building and strong female leads, her stories often weave together forbidden love, powerful magic, and epic battles, a blend that draws in fans of both fantasy and romance. With a background in graphic design, Melissa brings her creativity full circle by designing her own covers and book interiors, ensuring every detail matches the vision of her stories.
✩Reviews✩
Melissa writes honest and positive reviews, spending extra time to post pretty arrival photos and create eye-catching trope graphics that complement her reviews, making them visually engaging. When reviewing ARC copies, she likes to deliver glowing, thoughtful posts with enthusiasm and endless appreciation, because she knows how much time, love, blood, sweat and tears go into the story behind them.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
November 29, 2021
My friend tagged me in a post on our local Facebook noticeboard, where Melissa had posted her book. Knowing i am very into my fantasy romance.
So glad that she did! This was fantastic!
Really well written, highly descriptive and left wanting more! Melissa has painted a wonderful picture of Arii’s world and i cannot wait to see what she and Elijah get up to next.
Congrats mate! You’ve done a ripper job ♥️
So glad that she did! This was fantastic!
Really well written, highly descriptive and left wanting more! Melissa has painted a wonderful picture of Arii’s world and i cannot wait to see what she and Elijah get up to next.
Congrats mate! You’ve done a ripper job ♥️
February 6, 2024
This is a slow burn type book, it gives From blood and ash vibes, it took me a while to figure out who would be the love interest because it kept bouncing and giving you that “wait, is it not them?” “Oh it is them” “oh maybe it isn’t?”
But it’s a good story, it’s fun to read. Some parts do kind of go on for a while, there’s a bit of over explaining, I know a lot of people love that, I’m just one of those annoying people that want to get to the point lol.
I would read it again, and I would recommend it if you like romance.
In my opinion it’s not spicy 🌶️ it’s more plot and story line.
But it’s a good story, it’s fun to read. Some parts do kind of go on for a while, there’s a bit of over explaining, I know a lot of people love that, I’m just one of those annoying people that want to get to the point lol.
I would read it again, and I would recommend it if you like romance.
In my opinion it’s not spicy 🌶️ it’s more plot and story line.
June 18, 2023
I really enjoy this book. I’ve enjoyed the fates and fury and hidden identities over all enjoying book
February 17, 2024
4.5⭐ pretty keen to see where the next book goes 😍
February 11, 2022
HONESTLY I CAN NOT DEAL I LOVE THIS BOOK AND NEED MORE OF THIS SERIES RIGHT NOW READ THIS BOOK BUY THIS BOOK, LOVE THIS DAMN BOOK
November 5, 2021
I purchased the hard cover version of Love, Blood & Fury and loved the beautiful cover and colour character illustrations - created by the author herself - dispersed throughout.
An introductory map diagram of the lands as well as a pronunciation guide at the commencement of the book was a good ice breaker which assisted with getting to know these fantasy characters. The first book of the series often requires a lot of character-development, but I felt the author found the right balance to not overload the reader. I enjoyed the pace and flow of the plot; which was assisted by well-timed flashbacks; each revealing an intriguing little nugget of information to weave and guide the final outcome for book 1.
The language was quite accessible, so as a slower-paced reader such as myself, I enjoyed this as I was able to read and visualise scenes quickly and vividly. The characters’ personalities and general themes of the book like loyalty, responsibility, friendship, purpose, vengeance and unexpected love triangles all nod to an amalgamation of many of my favourite romance / fantasy stories but is done with a detailed, fun, fresh, intriguing storyline with instantly loveable characters. I would be interested to see this come to life on the big screen and enjoy wondering who would be cast as good fits for the roles. I was glued to the book after the first few chapters and am looking forward to the following book and hoping for some particular plot lines to eventuate in eager anticipation. I recommend to all those who enjoy a good action / fantasy novel with a good amount of love and lust.
An introductory map diagram of the lands as well as a pronunciation guide at the commencement of the book was a good ice breaker which assisted with getting to know these fantasy characters. The first book of the series often requires a lot of character-development, but I felt the author found the right balance to not overload the reader. I enjoyed the pace and flow of the plot; which was assisted by well-timed flashbacks; each revealing an intriguing little nugget of information to weave and guide the final outcome for book 1.
The language was quite accessible, so as a slower-paced reader such as myself, I enjoyed this as I was able to read and visualise scenes quickly and vividly. The characters’ personalities and general themes of the book like loyalty, responsibility, friendship, purpose, vengeance and unexpected love triangles all nod to an amalgamation of many of my favourite romance / fantasy stories but is done with a detailed, fun, fresh, intriguing storyline with instantly loveable characters. I would be interested to see this come to life on the big screen and enjoy wondering who would be cast as good fits for the roles. I was glued to the book after the first few chapters and am looking forward to the following book and hoping for some particular plot lines to eventuate in eager anticipation. I recommend to all those who enjoy a good action / fantasy novel with a good amount of love and lust.
May 24, 2024
Ok so I’ll be totally honest, when I first started to read this book I was on struggle street bad.
I didn’t understand what was going on at times, and there were a lot of situations where I felt like “oh, I’ve read this in another series” and it feels like a lot of inspiration has been pulled from other series to make it seem a bit TOO familiar.
The first probably 80% of the book was slow, but I powered on because I have bought the physical books and wanted to give it a good try.
OH MY LORD am I glad I hung on. That last 20% is EVERYTHING! Admittedly I did figure out one of the major plot points quite early on, but so much happened and lots of things came to light, and now I’m super excited for book 2 which I have ready to go.
I’m also pretty sure I just witnessed a villain origin story.
On to book 2!
I didn’t understand what was going on at times, and there were a lot of situations where I felt like “oh, I’ve read this in another series” and it feels like a lot of inspiration has been pulled from other series to make it seem a bit TOO familiar.
The first probably 80% of the book was slow, but I powered on because I have bought the physical books and wanted to give it a good try.
OH MY LORD am I glad I hung on. That last 20% is EVERYTHING! Admittedly I did figure out one of the major plot points quite early on, but so much happened and lots of things came to light, and now I’m super excited for book 2 which I have ready to go.
I’m also pretty sure I just witnessed a villain origin story.
On to book 2!
February 3, 2024
5⭐️ I loved every single second of this amazing Fae Fantasy and if I didn't have books 2 and 3 ready to go I would turn straight back to page 1 and begin again, just to remain in this world with these characters.
In a world of Fae, Elves and Humans the Northern court is ruled by a human family, after the deaths of the Fae royalty during a human uprising. The humans felt powerless and decided to take the lives of the Fae to extinguish the magic. The young human King who now sits on the throne seems more interested in partying and living the high life than actually ruling his kingdom.
We meet Arii, a Fae Fury, taken from her home as a child when her magic awakened and sent to the School of Fates to be trained as an assassin, one who takes the life of those the Three Fates decide has lived their time. But this time, Arii's target is the King and she must go undercover into the castle to fulfil her mission.
Once in the castle, the cold hearted assassin finds herself warming to the people, making things especially complicated...especially when she starts to realise who the 'bad guys' really are.
What you'll find:
- Fae, Elves, Kryvern
- Royalty
- Magic
- Assassin
- Slow burn romance (Delightfully slow)
- Third Person POV (Still feels personal and with a deep connection to the characters)
- Love Triangle (I usually hate this, BUT there's no drama around it and it plays nicely into the storyline)
- Developing friendships (both old and new)
- Court Politics (Lightly touched on but feels like it will come into play in book 2)
- Evil Villain
- Fade to black bedroom scenes
- Pronunciation guide and Map at the start!
Our cast of characters were wonderfully written where we were able to see them as multi-dimensional through the exploration of their strengths, an understanding of their backstory and witnessing their vulnerabilities. Watching how they interacted with one another brought out different aspects of their personalities making it so easy to connect with them.
I especially loved Arii and Elijah who were both complicated main characters with a traumatic past. The little glimmers of kindness and care were so heartwarming as we started to watch them both very slowly unthaw and find their true selves, in their own way.
As I read, I particularly loved the foreshadowing within the story, making the big events which happened later in the book feel realistic. Being aware of what came before and how it all pieced together meant that I was able to enjoy the twists but still follow the thread of understanding backwards with ease. This is an element which makes a Fantasy hit deeper, when it all feels possible.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing of the story, there was action which varied in its intensity, banter and training which helped us to slow enough to really get to know the characters, quiet moments of reflection and connection. No matter what point of the story we were in, I was always engaged.
Finally, the last chapters of the book escalate the intensity of the story and set us up dramatically for book 2, no torturing cliffhangers but still a big desire to move straight to book 2!
I adored Love, Blood and Fury which was given to me as an eARC from the Author. All thoughts are my own and are written freely. Now onto book 2!
In a world of Fae, Elves and Humans the Northern court is ruled by a human family, after the deaths of the Fae royalty during a human uprising. The humans felt powerless and decided to take the lives of the Fae to extinguish the magic. The young human King who now sits on the throne seems more interested in partying and living the high life than actually ruling his kingdom.
We meet Arii, a Fae Fury, taken from her home as a child when her magic awakened and sent to the School of Fates to be trained as an assassin, one who takes the life of those the Three Fates decide has lived their time. But this time, Arii's target is the King and she must go undercover into the castle to fulfil her mission.
Once in the castle, the cold hearted assassin finds herself warming to the people, making things especially complicated...especially when she starts to realise who the 'bad guys' really are.
What you'll find:
- Fae, Elves, Kryvern
- Royalty
- Magic
- Assassin
- Slow burn romance (Delightfully slow)
- Third Person POV (Still feels personal and with a deep connection to the characters)
- Love Triangle (I usually hate this, BUT there's no drama around it and it plays nicely into the storyline)
- Developing friendships (both old and new)
- Court Politics (Lightly touched on but feels like it will come into play in book 2)
- Evil Villain
- Fade to black bedroom scenes
- Pronunciation guide and Map at the start!
Our cast of characters were wonderfully written where we were able to see them as multi-dimensional through the exploration of their strengths, an understanding of their backstory and witnessing their vulnerabilities. Watching how they interacted with one another brought out different aspects of their personalities making it so easy to connect with them.
I especially loved Arii and Elijah who were both complicated main characters with a traumatic past. The little glimmers of kindness and care were so heartwarming as we started to watch them both very slowly unthaw and find their true selves, in their own way.
As I read, I particularly loved the foreshadowing within the story, making the big events which happened later in the book feel realistic. Being aware of what came before and how it all pieced together meant that I was able to enjoy the twists but still follow the thread of understanding backwards with ease. This is an element which makes a Fantasy hit deeper, when it all feels possible.
I thoroughly enjoyed the pacing of the story, there was action which varied in its intensity, banter and training which helped us to slow enough to really get to know the characters, quiet moments of reflection and connection. No matter what point of the story we were in, I was always engaged.
Finally, the last chapters of the book escalate the intensity of the story and set us up dramatically for book 2, no torturing cliffhangers but still a big desire to move straight to book 2!
I adored Love, Blood and Fury which was given to me as an eARC from the Author. All thoughts are my own and are written freely. Now onto book 2!
May 5, 2025
I loved the writing style, it was easy to read and had exceptional flow. At times it did lose me a bit with the jumping of flashbacks or change or scenery with different characters, but overall I enjoyed the writing style.
As for the plot, it was enjoyable but then it became too predictable for me personally. I can tell a lot of inspiration was taken from different stories, which is why some things felt familiar. The concept for this was intriguing and was well done but it failed to keep my attention captured, though at times it felt like the story picked up a pace and I found myself swept up by it and I would be enjoying myself but then I would go back to being bored.
In summary, I don't have many issues with it that would make me want to pull my hair out its more so as this just wasn't my cup of tea.
As for the plot, it was enjoyable but then it became too predictable for me personally. I can tell a lot of inspiration was taken from different stories, which is why some things felt familiar. The concept for this was intriguing and was well done but it failed to keep my attention captured, though at times it felt like the story picked up a pace and I found myself swept up by it and I would be enjoying myself but then I would go back to being bored.
In summary, I don't have many issues with it that would make me want to pull my hair out its more so as this just wasn't my cup of tea.
January 7, 2022
I will start of by saying congratulations on a wonderful debut novel. Nothing makes me happier than a fellow book lover taking the plunge and making dreams come true.
This novel made me feel such nostalgia. It has been too long (after being swept up in Booktok), that I have read something that took its time. Took me back to picking up YA novels in high school, showed me what i have really missed in a story of late.
The characters are built slowly and surely and the world building left me wanting to know more about Fythnar. I especially enjoyed the detailed flash backs into the characters.
I haven't read anything related to the Fates and it was such a breath of fresh air to have a different retelling if Fae. Very excited for book two.
This novel made me feel such nostalgia. It has been too long (after being swept up in Booktok), that I have read something that took its time. Took me back to picking up YA novels in high school, showed me what i have really missed in a story of late.
The characters are built slowly and surely and the world building left me wanting to know more about Fythnar. I especially enjoyed the detailed flash backs into the characters.
I haven't read anything related to the Fates and it was such a breath of fresh air to have a different retelling if Fae. Very excited for book two.
March 27, 2024
Love, Blood and Fury gave me vibes of From Blood and Ash mixed with Throne of Glass so I definitely enjoyed it! Arii was such a badass and I loved both Lorch and Elijah. Elijah was so mysterious and the sexual tension between him and Arii was so thick. There is currently a love triangle but I wonder whether they will all end up in a relationship together or Arii will pick just one 😅
The writing in this was amazing and it was not written like some debut novels can be. I appreciated the map and pronunciation guide so much! The character art at each chapter was so beautiful and more authors need to do this in their books 😍
I’m very excited to pick Book 2 up very soon, it’s already waiting for me on my shelf!!!
The writing in this was amazing and it was not written like some debut novels can be. I appreciated the map and pronunciation guide so much! The character art at each chapter was so beautiful and more authors need to do this in their books 😍
I’m very excited to pick Book 2 up very soon, it’s already waiting for me on my shelf!!!
February 6, 2022
This book follows the story of a fury assassin sent to kill the king but things change and her task turns into much more! I could not put this one down. I was hooked on every character and their story. The illustrations are divine, one would say Devina Divine ;P. Invest in the hardcover it is well worth it!!
November 15, 2022
Adored this book. I purchased it from my local bookstore and was super excited to see an Australian author writing a fantasy romance novel. Honestly comparable to Sarah J Maas, Raven Kennedy and Samantha Shannon.
Loved the depth of the characters and the world where everything is set. Once the book kicks off and you’re enveloped in an action packed journey, Melissa continues to deliver! I started reading this slowly, a little bit a day but after the 6th chapter I could barely put it down! I absolutely flew through the rest of it 😂
Highly recommend reading. I’m looking forward to book #2
Loved the depth of the characters and the world where everything is set. Once the book kicks off and you’re enveloped in an action packed journey, Melissa continues to deliver! I started reading this slowly, a little bit a day but after the 6th chapter I could barely put it down! I absolutely flew through the rest of it 😂
Highly recommend reading. I’m looking forward to book #2
May 2, 2021
Phenomenal Plot! Can already tell this will become a New York Times best seller you wait and see! 😍😍😍
August 29, 2025
3.5 - I enjoyed this book, it reminded me a little of throne of glass. It will be interesting to see where the characters end up over the next few books.
January 27, 2022
Glad I picked this one up!
Love triangle - my favorite trope
Magic, assassins, Fates and Fae
Very much looking forward to book 2. I'm very curious to see character changes due to the events that happened at the end.
I know I gave this 3 stars, don’t let the deter you, it was a fun read. I would love some more books about the Fates.
Love triangle - my favorite trope
Magic, assassins, Fates and Fae
Very much looking forward to book 2. I'm very curious to see character changes due to the events that happened at the end.
I know I gave this 3 stars, don’t let the deter you, it was a fun read. I would love some more books about the Fates.
January 30, 2022
What to say about this book! What an amazing first novel
If you want Fae, magic, Wyvern like creatures, fighting, intrigue, a king and his guards, assassins. Dual points of views, love triangle. This book is for you! It kept me gripped from the beginning to the end. Amazing world building and awesome characters. Lots of sass snark and back and forth banter. I can’t wait for book 2! Kind of need it in my hands right now 😂
If you want Fae, magic, Wyvern like creatures, fighting, intrigue, a king and his guards, assassins. Dual points of views, love triangle. This book is for you! It kept me gripped from the beginning to the end. Amazing world building and awesome characters. Lots of sass snark and back and forth banter. I can’t wait for book 2! Kind of need it in my hands right now 😂
January 13, 2023
Honestly one of my favourite reads! Really did enjoy this as I’m big fan of fantasy novels…love the fact that it has a strong female lead, all strong characters and a great plot so far.
Looking forward to second book..might have to preorder it! Arii and Elijah I’m rooting for them 😄
Looking forward to second book..might have to preorder it! Arii and Elijah I’m rooting for them 😄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2026
How is this a first book and self published?! Thoroughly enjoyed.
September 26, 2025
Hi Awesome Readers!
Here are some themes of my book;
- Love triangle
- Ends on a cliffhanger
- Some cussing but not over the top
- Themes of violence
- Enemies to lovers
- Strong female lead
- Dark romantic fantasy
Hopefully this will help if you aren’t sure if you’ll read or not. Saves you some heartache if you don’t like any of the above themes, and saves me heartache of low ratings 😄
If you take the time to read my book, no matter your rating, just know that I appreciate you all and thank you for giving my little self published book a go! ❤️🔥
~
A little more info below 👇
Love, Blood & Fury is a fast paced, action packed fantasy with beasts, magic, sword fights and romance. At the helm is a strong female lead, accompanied by a range of interesting characters. There is a little bit of course language, and some violent themes, so the ideal audience would be older YA to NA readers.
Fythnar is a mythical land made up of four different courts aligning to a compass- North, South, East and West. In the north is where our story takes place, where Ariiaya Trillia - a cold hearted assassin, is charged with the task of assassinating young Lorch Kruel, King to the northern throne. Arii is taken into the King's guard as a recruit and quickly realizes that this assignment is going to be harder than she expected. The King is shadowed closely by a mysterious, hooded male bodyguard named Elijah, who radiates power and displays a prowess for combat that matches her own.
Emotions unfamiliar to her begin to surface as she gets to know the King and his guard, along with a group of recruits who soon have her questioning everything.
Book One of this series is Young Adult (YA) level bordering on NA, but I will be looking at leaning more towards New Adult (NA) in future books.
If you took the time to read my self published book, THANK YOU! No matter if you enjoyed it or it wasn’t your cup of tea- I’m still grateful if you took the time to give my book a chance.
❤️🔥 Melissa J Kincaid ❤️🔥
Here are some themes of my book;
- Love triangle
- Ends on a cliffhanger
- Some cussing but not over the top
- Themes of violence
- Enemies to lovers
- Strong female lead
- Dark romantic fantasy
Hopefully this will help if you aren’t sure if you’ll read or not. Saves you some heartache if you don’t like any of the above themes, and saves me heartache of low ratings 😄
If you take the time to read my book, no matter your rating, just know that I appreciate you all and thank you for giving my little self published book a go! ❤️🔥
~
A little more info below 👇
Love, Blood & Fury is a fast paced, action packed fantasy with beasts, magic, sword fights and romance. At the helm is a strong female lead, accompanied by a range of interesting characters. There is a little bit of course language, and some violent themes, so the ideal audience would be older YA to NA readers.
Fythnar is a mythical land made up of four different courts aligning to a compass- North, South, East and West. In the north is where our story takes place, where Ariiaya Trillia - a cold hearted assassin, is charged with the task of assassinating young Lorch Kruel, King to the northern throne. Arii is taken into the King's guard as a recruit and quickly realizes that this assignment is going to be harder than she expected. The King is shadowed closely by a mysterious, hooded male bodyguard named Elijah, who radiates power and displays a prowess for combat that matches her own.
Emotions unfamiliar to her begin to surface as she gets to know the King and his guard, along with a group of recruits who soon have her questioning everything.
Book One of this series is Young Adult (YA) level bordering on NA, but I will be looking at leaning more towards New Adult (NA) in future books.
If you took the time to read my self published book, THANK YOU! No matter if you enjoyed it or it wasn’t your cup of tea- I’m still grateful if you took the time to give my book a chance.
❤️🔥 Melissa J Kincaid ❤️🔥
March 27, 2025
First time reader of this genre.
What I loved most about this book was its intricate blend of action, magic, and romance, woven together in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish. The protagonist, Arii, is a beautifully crafted character—a fierce assassin blessed with Fae magic who grapples with her identity and emotions in a world filled with danger and intrigue.
The story begins with Arii entering King Lorch Kruel's castle under the guise of a servant with the plan to assassinate him, but her path is quickly changed. The celebration scene sets the mood for a fast-paced and unpredictable plot, with Arii saving the King from a Kryvern attack, earning her place in his guard in the process. Arii's training to become a guard has her under the watchful eye of the mysterious Elijah, which had me in awe at the growth of her character and as a warrior; but also had me holding my breath at times observing the chemistry between the two characters.
One of the highlights for me was Arii's emotional journey. Her struggle to reconcile her upbringing—believing Fae have no feelings—with the undeniable pull she feels toward both the King and Elijah added depth to the story. This pull means Arii is unable to carry out her assignment of killing the King. The romantic tension was palpable, with just the right amount of slow-burn chemistry and sparks.
Elijah’s mysterious identity had me intrigued, and the surprising revelations about him had me satisfied.
The novel also did a great job with the world-building aspects, along with the right amount of action. From the fanciful decadence of Viridya Castle to the deadly battles against strange creatures, the settings and events were vividly described, making it easy to immerse myself in the world.
Overall, this book was an exciting mix of fantasy, romance, and intrigue, with enough twists to keep me engaged throughout.
Strong FMC
Slow-burn romance and mystery.
What I loved most about this book was its intricate blend of action, magic, and romance, woven together in a way that kept me hooked from start to finish. The protagonist, Arii, is a beautifully crafted character—a fierce assassin blessed with Fae magic who grapples with her identity and emotions in a world filled with danger and intrigue.
The story begins with Arii entering King Lorch Kruel's castle under the guise of a servant with the plan to assassinate him, but her path is quickly changed. The celebration scene sets the mood for a fast-paced and unpredictable plot, with Arii saving the King from a Kryvern attack, earning her place in his guard in the process. Arii's training to become a guard has her under the watchful eye of the mysterious Elijah, which had me in awe at the growth of her character and as a warrior; but also had me holding my breath at times observing the chemistry between the two characters.
One of the highlights for me was Arii's emotional journey. Her struggle to reconcile her upbringing—believing Fae have no feelings—with the undeniable pull she feels toward both the King and Elijah added depth to the story. This pull means Arii is unable to carry out her assignment of killing the King. The romantic tension was palpable, with just the right amount of slow-burn chemistry and sparks.
Elijah’s mysterious identity had me intrigued, and the surprising revelations about him had me satisfied.
The novel also did a great job with the world-building aspects, along with the right amount of action. From the fanciful decadence of Viridya Castle to the deadly battles against strange creatures, the settings and events were vividly described, making it easy to immerse myself in the world.
Overall, this book was an exciting mix of fantasy, romance, and intrigue, with enough twists to keep me engaged throughout.
Strong FMC
Slow-burn romance and mystery.
November 11, 2021
3.5 ⭐
Haven't been hooked like this in a while. I liked how greek mythology was incorporated into a story about the Fae. It made for a different and entertaining read. I believe Love, Blood and Fury is written in the third person point of view, omniscient. It took me a couple of chapters to get use to it. It was quite jarring at times for me personally as I don't often read books in this narrative.
I also think it was a bit overwritten, it wasn't unpleasant to read, just unnecessary.
Arii wasn't a bad character, I quite enjoyed her. I just wish her hardened heart and personality didn't soften up so quick. I mean after many years of hard assassin training to shut down any emotion in her heart, for it to start softening after only being in normal people's company for 4 days kind of ruined it for me. I would've like to see a slower and more progressive change in her.
The thing I disliked the most, the love triange. Don't get me wrong, I love a good love triange, but this was not it for me. At least make up your mind first who you want before sleeping with one guy and the next day decide no you'd rather want the other one and jump into bed with him too, when it was quite obvious who she was going to end up with anyway. I understand it adds to Lochs change of character, which we will see more of in book 2.
Cliffhanger and plot twist end, excited for Book 2!
Haven't been hooked like this in a while. I liked how greek mythology was incorporated into a story about the Fae. It made for a different and entertaining read. I believe Love, Blood and Fury is written in the third person point of view, omniscient. It took me a couple of chapters to get use to it. It was quite jarring at times for me personally as I don't often read books in this narrative.
I also think it was a bit overwritten, it wasn't unpleasant to read, just unnecessary.
Arii wasn't a bad character, I quite enjoyed her. I just wish her hardened heart and personality didn't soften up so quick. I mean after many years of hard assassin training to shut down any emotion in her heart, for it to start softening after only being in normal people's company for 4 days kind of ruined it for me. I would've like to see a slower and more progressive change in her.
The thing I disliked the most, the love triange. Don't get me wrong, I love a good love triange, but this was not it for me. At least make up your mind first who you want before sleeping with one guy and the next day decide no you'd rather want the other one and jump into bed with him too, when it was quite obvious who she was going to end up with anyway. I understand it adds to Lochs change of character, which we will see more of in book 2.
Cliffhanger and plot twist end, excited for Book 2!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2022
This book has plenty of mystery, magic, humor and romance.
Its mesmerizing, heart-rending, sexy,
5 adrenaline-inducing stars right away!
🏰 Royalty political powerplays. great worldbuilding.
🤴Lorch, young King of Fythnar attractively powerful & playboylike. Always gets what he wants.
🏹 Ariiaya is a Fury, a Fae assassin. no choice of the assignment to assassinate Lorch Kruel, the young King of Fythnar. 🏹 Ariiaya was absolutely Fierce actually the other female characters this book were just equally capable - i loved that.
⚔️Kings guard Hottie Elijah, A mysterious, highly skilled hooded male bodyguard. Ok hells, this hard wall of muscle everytime he appeared in book I only saw his secret self. had my own secret thoughts. lol.Hes a bookboyfriend.
😏Sexual Tension was engaging kept turning the pages of where Ariiaya and the road between Elijah & Lorch leads.
📚pace and flow of the plot was great and gave me the mystery and suspense I crave.
I actually bought a hardcover book as I enjoyed reading this so much. The art inside was fantastic.
Its mesmerizing, heart-rending, sexy,
5 adrenaline-inducing stars right away!
🏰 Royalty political powerplays. great worldbuilding.
🤴Lorch, young King of Fythnar attractively powerful & playboylike. Always gets what he wants.
🏹 Ariiaya is a Fury, a Fae assassin. no choice of the assignment to assassinate Lorch Kruel, the young King of Fythnar. 🏹 Ariiaya was absolutely Fierce actually the other female characters this book were just equally capable - i loved that.
⚔️Kings guard Hottie Elijah, A mysterious, highly skilled hooded male bodyguard. Ok hells, this hard wall of muscle everytime he appeared in book I only saw his secret self. had my own secret thoughts. lol.Hes a bookboyfriend.
😏Sexual Tension was engaging kept turning the pages of where Ariiaya and the road between Elijah & Lorch leads.
📚pace and flow of the plot was great and gave me the mystery and suspense I crave.
I actually bought a hardcover book as I enjoyed reading this so much. The art inside was fantastic.
November 8, 2021
Very good read for a debut book, congratulations.
Character building and world building was solid and was helped by character flashbacks, which also helped to unfold this new land of Fythnar. Storyline was also solid and kept you interested and wanting more as the land, it's history and current predicaments opened up to the reader, albeit a little bogged down in the middle of the book with the love triangle and the heroine's (Ariiaya) fighter training, I kept waiting for the mystery from the north to start dropping some clues and to start opening up the story line, which finally did come flooding forth, to end in an exciting climax only to be left hanging on a cliff to wait for the next book.
Do I recommend this book. If you are a fan of teen fantasy as I am, and I'm 66 years old, then I absolutely recommend this read as I thoroughly enjoyed this new land of Fythnar, with its Fae, Fury, Kryvern and magic, and now for book 2 .................
Character building and world building was solid and was helped by character flashbacks, which also helped to unfold this new land of Fythnar. Storyline was also solid and kept you interested and wanting more as the land, it's history and current predicaments opened up to the reader, albeit a little bogged down in the middle of the book with the love triangle and the heroine's (Ariiaya) fighter training, I kept waiting for the mystery from the north to start dropping some clues and to start opening up the story line, which finally did come flooding forth, to end in an exciting climax only to be left hanging on a cliff to wait for the next book.
Do I recommend this book. If you are a fan of teen fantasy as I am, and I'm 66 years old, then I absolutely recommend this read as I thoroughly enjoyed this new land of Fythnar, with its Fae, Fury, Kryvern and magic, and now for book 2 .................
November 11, 2021
As someone who is not particularly into this genre, I am SO glad I picked up this book and gave it a chance! The pace of the story was excellent - I just wanted to keep reading! I felt really connected to the main character, there was plenty of action, mystery and romance. I was genuinely surprised by the twists as they arose. I cant commend Melissa enough on a really well written book and already cannot wait for book 2!
June 22, 2022
looking forward to the journey!
A great debut novel! Was a very enjoyable read and loved all the characters. Especially Elijah *swoon*. Can’t wait for the next book!
A great debut novel! Was a very enjoyable read and loved all the characters. Especially Elijah *swoon*. Can’t wait for the next book!
February 15, 2023
Wow what a pleasant surprise this read was for me! As an indie author from Melbourne, I must admit I wasn't too sure how this book would go, but the biggest take-away I have from this read is that it us written and reads like it belongs with all the major YA books and authors. Three of my favourite authors; Maria V Snyder, Sarah J Maas and Cora Carmack, have such a great writing style that causes you to fly through a book, and Melissa has such talent that her book reads like it has been written by one of those very popular and very talented authors. The editing is fantastic, I think I only found 1 typo in the whole book and usually the most popular books still have a couple that sneak through, but this one was clearly very carefully treated and it shows. The writing is very, very mature and dignified, and comes across like Melissa has gone to university for creative writing, whilst still being relatable and a breeze to read. I found I really enjoyed not being quite sure what was around each corner and that suspense and intrigue is often missing in YA fantasy books. The setting is great and the characters are very well thought through and their stories fleshed out super well. I really enjoyed the character development from the main character, and the different affects she had on each character. The romance was definitely slow-burn which was fun to see how that unfolded, and I love that her sex life isn't something where the main man has to conquer, and her 'purity' not something to be focussed on in a huge way or be a massive plot point. The book was written in such a way that flowed really well with a great pace and there weren't any points where it was boring or felt like 'filler' content in-between the bigger plot points. It was very clear that there would be a second (or maybe more) book and I believe that is almost released within the next month or so, so I'm excited to see what that brings and follow along from that really exciting ending.
December 22, 2025
Love, Blood & Fury
is a heart-stopping opening to the Strings of Fate series that pulled me in from the very first pages.
We follow Ariiaya, Arii, a Fae assassin on a carefully planned mission that requires patience, precision, and emotional restraint. What I loved most was watching how that plan slowly begins to shift as Arii is placed in close proximity to people who challenge her expectations, her sense of self, and her understanding of connection. The internal tension she experiences felt believable and grounded, especially as emotions surface that she has never been encouraged, or allowed, to explore.
Arii’s character development was a real highlight for me. Her growth unfolds naturally and thoughtfully, and the way her past is woven into the story adds important depth without disrupting the pacing. I loved seeing her form friendships and relationships that subtly reshape her path, leading her into a journey full of unexpected turns, including ones she never saw coming herself.
The romantic tension had me completely torn in the best possible way. It carries strong why-choose energy without crossing that line, and the emotional pull between characters is intense and compelling. Add in high-stakes action, a steady undercurrent of darkness, and moments where the adrenaline genuinely spikes, and I was fully hooked.
This is a powerful and engaging start to the series, and I am more than ready to sink my teeth into book two.
We follow Ariiaya, Arii, a Fae assassin on a carefully planned mission that requires patience, precision, and emotional restraint. What I loved most was watching how that plan slowly begins to shift as Arii is placed in close proximity to people who challenge her expectations, her sense of self, and her understanding of connection. The internal tension she experiences felt believable and grounded, especially as emotions surface that she has never been encouraged, or allowed, to explore.
Arii’s character development was a real highlight for me. Her growth unfolds naturally and thoughtfully, and the way her past is woven into the story adds important depth without disrupting the pacing. I loved seeing her form friendships and relationships that subtly reshape her path, leading her into a journey full of unexpected turns, including ones she never saw coming herself.
The romantic tension had me completely torn in the best possible way. It carries strong why-choose energy without crossing that line, and the emotional pull between characters is intense and compelling. Add in high-stakes action, a steady undercurrent of darkness, and moments where the adrenaline genuinely spikes, and I was fully hooked.
This is a powerful and engaging start to the series, and I am more than ready to sink my teeth into book two.
February 28, 2024
Fantasy romance
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Love triangle
Mythology
Fate
Assassins
Fae
Shifters
Magical creatures
“A Fury should never love.
A Fury should never feel emotion.
A Fury should never question fate.”
Love, Blood & Fury is the first book of the Strings of Fate series.The book follows Ariiaya Trillia, who is a Fury, a Fae assassin working for the Three Fates. Her job is to end the lives of those chosen by the magical Tapestry of Life.
The pronunciation guide and map at the beginning of the book are always helpful.
The pacing of the book was good, there was a lot happening but there were also some slower, quieter moments. The world building was strong and the storyline was easy to follow and interesting from start to finish. The book ended with a cliffhanger.
The FMC Ariiaya or Arii was well introduced and also some of her backstory was told throughout the book in flashbacks. The characters overall were well developed and interesting.
I liked the tension between FMC and MMCs. I’m not always a fan of a love triangle but it worked well in this book.
The characters and plot gave me similar vibes than Throne of Glass. I can’t wait to start reading the next book and learn where the story goes next.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
Enemies to lovers
Slow burn
Love triangle
Mythology
Fate
Assassins
Fae
Shifters
Magical creatures
“A Fury should never love.
A Fury should never feel emotion.
A Fury should never question fate.”
Love, Blood & Fury is the first book of the Strings of Fate series.The book follows Ariiaya Trillia, who is a Fury, a Fae assassin working for the Three Fates. Her job is to end the lives of those chosen by the magical Tapestry of Life.
The pronunciation guide and map at the beginning of the book are always helpful.
The pacing of the book was good, there was a lot happening but there were also some slower, quieter moments. The world building was strong and the storyline was easy to follow and interesting from start to finish. The book ended with a cliffhanger.
The FMC Ariiaya or Arii was well introduced and also some of her backstory was told throughout the book in flashbacks. The characters overall were well developed and interesting.
I liked the tension between FMC and MMCs. I’m not always a fan of a love triangle but it worked well in this book.
The characters and plot gave me similar vibes than Throne of Glass. I can’t wait to start reading the next book and learn where the story goes next.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
December 18, 2025
Love, Blood & Fury was an enjoyable read, especially for anyone who appreciates a well-executed slow-burn romance set against a fantasy backdrop. The story takes its time developing both the characters and the world, allowing the tension to build in a way that feels intentional rather than dragged out.
The plot itself held my attention throughout. What begins as a seemingly straightforward assassin mission quickly becomes layered with political intrigue, secrets, and shifting loyalties. Watching Ariiaya begin to question duty, destiny, and her own feelings was one of the strongest aspects of the book. The gradual emotional awakening made the relationships feel earned, and the slow burn added depth rather than distraction.
Overall, Love, Blood & Fury is a strong opening to a fantasy series, with compelling characters and satisfying tension. A great choice for readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, morally complex protagonists, and stories where destiny is meant to be challenged.
The plot itself held my attention throughout. What begins as a seemingly straightforward assassin mission quickly becomes layered with political intrigue, secrets, and shifting loyalties. Watching Ariiaya begin to question duty, destiny, and her own feelings was one of the strongest aspects of the book. The gradual emotional awakening made the relationships feel earned, and the slow burn added depth rather than distraction.
Overall, Love, Blood & Fury is a strong opening to a fantasy series, with compelling characters and satisfying tension. A great choice for readers who enjoy slow-burn romance, morally complex protagonists, and stories where destiny is meant to be challenged.
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