☕️☕️☕️☕️ (4 Cups)
Right from the opening scene, Fated had me emotionally invested. Waking up in the middle of the night with no memory and blood on her hands, Areya’s fear and confusion were immediate—and so was mine. From the very first pages, Cosette Verga made it impossible not to keep turning pages.
This book took me on a full emotional journey. I cried (not full-on sobbing, but definitely teary-eyed pause-the-book moments), laughed, and felt deeply connected to Areya as a character. Her grief over losing her mother was especially impactful for me. That yearning to talk to someone you’ve lost, the self-doubt, the feeling of not quite belonging—those emotions were written in a way that felt incredibly real and relatable.
Areya absolutely carried this story for me. She’s raw, flawed, grieving, and strong in a way that feels earned rather than forced. Ash, our MMC, was intriguing and likable, but I did feel like his character development lagged behind hers. I wanted more depth, more exploration of who he was beyond his curse and his role. That said, my attachment to Areya more than made up for it.
The plot itself felt refreshing. While this is clearly a fantasy world, there’s something about it that feels grounded and almost realistic—like a version of our world shaped differently over time. That made it easier to sink into, especially if you’re someone who can feel intimidated by heavy worldbuilding.
My biggest critique is pacing. Several major events happen and are resolved very quickly, and I found myself wishing the story had slowed down to allow for more struggle and tension. A little more space to sit with certain conflicts would’ve made the emotional payoff even stronger.
There’s some spice, but it’s fairly light—definitely more emotional connection than heat.
Overall, Fated was engaging, emotional, and compelling enough that I immediately downloaded the second book, Awakened, and jumped right in. I’m giving it 4 cups because the pacing felt a bit rushed and I’m not totally sure how “sticky brain” this one will be long-term—but it’s a strong start to the series.
If you’re someone who wants to dip your toes into fantasy without diving headfirst into dense lore and endless creatures, this is a great place to start.