Fate and Fury is a new adult romantasy novel and is the first in The Bone Moon Duology by Emily Colin. The story is set in a Slavic-inspired world with an interesting elemental magic system, demons, trials and a forbidden love.

In the story we follow Katerina Ivanova, a Dimi and her Shadow, Niko, who is sworn to protect her. Katerina is one of, if not the most powerful Dimi of her people and her fierce and strong personality matches that. Romance between a Dimi and her shadow is forbidden, and seeing their relationship develop was one of my favourite things about the book.

The characters are well developed, the world building and descriptions are excellent and the emotion that you feel through the writing was superb. The story itself is full of tension and unexpected turns that keeps you reading.

Definitely one I would recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emily Colin for the e-ARC of this book.

What a compelling read Fate & Fury is. This Slavic inspired Romantasy is rich with history and lore; filled with forbidden romance, deadly trials and elemental magic. This book did start off a bit slow for me, but built nicely to a point where I was on the edge of my seat waiting for what was to come next. By a third through I was genuinely enthralled in this magnificent world Emily Colin built. It’s vibrant and dangerous and full of unsavory characters. There was such a range of emotions I felt throughout this book. One minute I was thoroughly entertained by the sarcasm and banter; to the next where my heart was torn in two by heartbreaking events.

Katarina, the FMC, is the strongest Dimi (witch) in existence, with the power to wield all four elements. She is a protector of the land against the demons.
Niko, the MMC, is her soul bonded shadow; who’s sole duty is to protect his Dimi. Together, they are quite powerful and have formed a forbidden relationship that a prophecy foretells will be the downfall of Iriska. Despite the warnings, their relationship is quite beautiful and passionate. All of the characters were well fleshed out with so much dimension.

This book is fast paced and flows nicely, in my opinion. The world Colin crafted is exquisite with such amazing detail. This was a whirlwind journey through epic battles, trials and some very interesting twists that I did not see coming. By the end, I found my self so fully invested in the storyline and was dumbfounded by the cliffhanger. I am anxiously awaiting the next book!!

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Fate & Fury.

I actually had a lot of fun while reading this book, especially because it feels so unique compared to the usual fantasy books. I like how the Dimi, Shadow and Vila are connected and bonded to each other, it makes such unique bonds between people.

The main character Katerina, a Dimi, is bonded to Niko, her Shadow. Together they have to participate in a trial but also protect their village from demons. It is also forbidden to fall in love with your shadow, but that is ofcourse very difficuly when he is so handsome. Is the Darkness because of their love? Or is it something else?

This books consist of multiple POVs which was very interesting. You don't only get the pov from the main character Katerina but also the enemies pov. Which is really interesting to read how the enemy is thinking.

I am very excited for the next book!

Admittedly I sped read this so I had a healthy amount of information going into an interview with the author so I intend to read it again down the road!

But I did enjoy the book. It had a lot in it where she dives into this fantasy world that is rich with Slavic culture and references. While high fantasy isn’t my go-to genre I enjoy it more when it is a romantasy which this is. I love the prophecy story line as well as the darkness that the plot exudes.

I will say that it’s definitely not casual reading as you need to pay attention to many details along the way. This would be a great book to journal along side reading it to ensure you don’t miss anything!

It comes out December 10th 2024 so it’ll make a great holiday give for your favorite Romantasy Lover!
I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Netgalley and the author to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Thank you NetGalley and Black Orchid Books for this eCopy to review

Fate and Fury is set in the mystical realm of Iriska, where Katerina Ivanova, a powerful Dimi, commands the four elements. She is blood-bonded to Niko, her Shadow, and together they guard the portals to the Underworld, protecting their realm from demonic invasion. The story takes a dramatic turn when Katerina and Niko are recruited to compete for a spot in Iriska’s elite force. Their bond, however, goes beyond magic and enters forbidden territory, as love between a Dimi and her Shadow is prophesied to unleash an ancient Darkness upon the world. Despite their best efforts, Katerina and Niko succumb to their feelings, leading to devastating consequences. As they struggle to save Iriska from the chaos they've unleashed, they face unexpected betrayals and must navigate a world where even their closest allies might turn against them.

Fate and Fury has a rich, Slavic-inspired world-building and the magic system, with its elemental control and blood bonds, is intriguing and well-executed. The intense, forbidden romance between Katerina and Niko has high tension which is palpable and adds a lot of emotional depth to the story.

Overall, Fate and Fury is an engaging read. Fans of romantasy and forbidden love stories will enjoy it, but it might not be for everyone.

For fans of The Wheel of Time and Shadow and Bone, Fate and Fury is a captivating addition to your TBR list!

Available 10-12-2024

“If a dimi and shadow lay together, damon-infested darkness would fall upon iriska and overtake the realm”

This enchanting romantasy combines elements of magic, forbidden love, loss, betrayal, and a thrilling prophecy. The novel is set in a richly crafted world where light battles against darkness, featuring dimi witches and their shadow protectors. Add demons, perilous trials designed to test the strength of the dimi-shadow bond, and an intricate magical system, and you have the ingredients for an engrossing read.

The story begins in the middle of events, but the author thoughtfully provides a warning upfront. Through well-placed flashbacks, readers gradually piece together the past, gaining a solid understanding of how the characters arrived at the present. While the world-building is slow-paced and highly detailed, the depth adds to the immersive quality of the setting.

The characters are charming, though at times their development feels a bit shallow. I found myself longing for more significant personal growth as the story unfolded.

The romance between Nico and Katherina is one of the highlights of the book. Childhood best friends bound by a prophecy that forbids their love, they’ve hidden their feelings from one another for years—until one night when they decide to give in, just once. But fate has other plans for them, and the consequences of that night will test their bond in unimaginable ways.

While the story has many strengths, I personally found it challenging to fully immerse myself in the narrative. It wasn’t due to any flaw in the story itself, which is original and engaging. Perhaps it was the pacing or my own dyslexic tendencies, but I struggled to connect deeply with the flow of the book.

Overall, Fate and Fury is a beautifully imagined tale with a unique premise and a romantic core. If you love slow-burn world-building and emotionally charged forbidden love stories, this one is worth exploring.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!

Fate & Fury is book one of The Bone Moon duology and follows Katerina, a dimi, and Niko, her Shadow. There is fantasy, forbidden love, shapeshifters, demons, spice, and touch her and die.
I ultimately liked this book, but it took me getting through about 50% of the story before it picked up enough that I was invested and willing to stay up too late to continue reading (moms you know what I'm talking about). Don't get me wrong, most of the first half was definitely required for the story, it just took me awhile to get through it. I'm hoping some of the stuff that seemed superfulous for this book will be required to really understand what happens in the next book. Niko was my favorite character, but I both loved and hated his devotion as battled between love and duty.
I definitely will be reading book two.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Emily Colin for this ARC and allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

"Break me, then" she said, a challenge. " Break me like your promises."

🌶️0/5 (fade to black)

An original and creative Slavic-inspired universe with extensive world building, an elemental magic system, and a unique culture of bonded Dimi/Shadow pairs. A tale of duty, forbidden love, loss, and the risks of making deals with devils.

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about this! The creativity alone makes this one worth a read. I found the slavic-inspired universe was very unique and I appreciated the rich world building. I did find it a little challenging to keep track of the terms and lore; however I've been told that the latest version does contain a glossary which is a great addition.

There was a lot going on in this story, especially in the second half! The dramatic turn of events in the second half was completely unexpected and had me gripped; however, it felt a little disjointed with the first half of the book. I really enjoyed the premise of the Bone Trials from the outset and I was fully invested in the outcome of the trials; however, with everything that unfolds in the second half, it's unclear to me what role it plays in the rest of the story. Elena's character arc was also very interesting and unexpected (if maybe a bit abrupt)

I enjoyed the multi POV storytelling; however, in between moments of action we spend a lot of time with the current narrator, sifting through their thoughts, opinions, and speculation about the current situation, which I felt lead to slightly stuttered pacing. I found the writing style lovely and almost lyrical; however I also felt that there was a level of verbosity/detail and repetition that didn't always add to the story (and even at times distracted me from the moment). The vivid descriptions paid off during the key moments though, and the scenes were always easy to visualize!

A very interesting conclusion that leaves a lot of intrigue as to what will happen in book 2!

Fate and Fury sounded SOOOO good, and I was SO READY to read this, but it fell flat for me. I don't know why, but I thought Katerina being all powerful, having control over four different elements (compared to other Dimi who normally have control over just one) would play a bigger role in this book, but it was just skimmed over. This really was more focused on relationships, with the issues plaguing this world occurring like background noise around them. And there were kind of a lot of characters/relationships to keep track of? Or at least it felt like it. The forbidden love between Niko and Katerina was portrayed really well, and I was rooting for them to be together, while simultaneously feeling REALLY BAD for Elena (even if she did questionable things in the end). While it served a purpose to the story, I don't understand Sammael's attraction to Elena. I also don't understand how she was able to become SO POWERFUL after days of training with Sammael, seemingly more powerful than Katerina, despite Katerina being "the most powerful Dimi in Iriska". Overall, the concept was good, but it was poorly executed. I think I would have enjoyed this more if less had been happening (it felt like a lot of events were stuffed into a pretty short book) and there were more character development/relationships between characters was expounded upon. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

There’s a lot going on in this book, witches, shapeshifters, demons, and more!

It’s a lot to get your head around, an addition of a glossary or character references would really help to stay on track with who’s who and what they are!

The world building is immersive, you can jump right in to the action and it’s well paced throughout.

This book just wasn’t for me. The premise is really interesting and I am 100% positive that it will find its people.

Fate & Fury is a spellbinding Slavic-inspired romantasy that weaves elemental magic, forbidden love, and ancient prophecies into a gripping tale. From the first page, Emily Colin immerses readers in the world of Iriska, where Katerina Ivanova—a powerful elemental Dimi—and her Shadow, Niko, guard the portals to the Underworld. Together, they form an unbreakable bond that transcends tradition, threatening to unravel a destiny long foretold.

The story masterfully explores the tension between duty and desire, with Katerina and Niko walking the delicate line between duty and succumbing to a connection that could bring them all to ruin. The stakes intensify as their forbidden love awakens an ancient Darkness, forcing them to confront not only external dangers but also the limits of their bond. When the story takes a shocking turn halfway through, it redefines everything you think you know, keeping you glued to the pages as the plot spirals into chaos and suspense.

While the dynamic between Katerina and Niko is electric, Elena's character brings an intriguing layer of complexity. Her devoutness, innocence, and naivety clash with the jealous choices she makes, leading to devastating consequences that left me conflicted. It’s a testament to Colin’s skill in crafting morally layered characters.

The vivid world-building—complete with demons, witches, and gods—creates a lush backdrop for this tale of love, power, and sacrifice. At times, the magic system and the shifting motives of the characters can feel a bit confusing. While the complexity adds depth, it occasionally detracts from the flow, requiring extra attention to piece together the intricacies of the plot and character decisions. Despite this, the story’s twists, and emotional depth more than make up for it.

If you love elemental magic and powerful female protagonists navigating prophecy-laden destinies, Fate & Fury delivers on all fronts. Be prepared for an intense ride through love, betrayal, and the delicate balance between dire consequences and deadly desire.

It's my first book by Emily and it won't be my last.
I loved the pacing of the book and the world building.
I did have a little bit of a tough time following along but i did see the publisher note that a glossary was added, I think that's perfect and a huge help for readers!

Goodreads Review:

This book is easily one of my top reads of the year. I was hesitant at first—similar to ACOTAR, it made me nervous—but wow, was I wrong. From the first page, it threw me straight into the deep end and refused to let go. The pacing is fast, the world-building is immersive, and the story grips you relentlessly. If you're a fan of intricate fantasy worlds and engaging plots, this is a must-read.

It has the dark allure of One Dark Window, the magic and character dynamics of ACOTAR, and the intensity of Fourth Wing—yet it stands strong with its own unique voice. The Slavic-inspired fantasy elements added a fresh and enchanting touch, making it a perfect read for me. My only complaint? The brutal cliffhanger. Now I’m left desperately waiting for Emily to release the next book in this duology.

This book made me cry, gasp, hold my breath, and even kick my feet in delight. While I usually prefer more explicit romance, the fade-to-black approach worked beautifully here—it still delivered tension and heat while keeping the focus on the story. I’d still classify it as having spice because of the emotional intensity and action-packed scenes.

An absolute masterpiece. 10/10. I’ll recommend it to everyone I know.

Hi publishers, this is my ARC review - not the review I will be publishing elsewhere. I have _opinions_ to say the least so let's go,.. I will list out all of my suggestions to tidy things up at the end.

Plot:
Not great. With the Adam / Eve Book of Enoch retelling in mind, I think that not all historical tales should be retold faithfully but rather adapted to be the best story the author can tell. And the plot imo needs work.

There is one main driver plot, plot A, and two sub plots, plots B and C. By the time we get to Ch 27 things get so messy, So OUABH messy that I nearly stopped there. I started trying to track the plots and realized okay we're now in a true adam and eve retelling and that's why things are so silly and messy.

Characters:
Good character voices, the only character who seemed to be lacking a truly unique voice was Gadreel. I loved the dynamic between characters, I loved how easy it is to hate on certain characters and how nuanced they are despite their evil nature.

Pacing:
Pacing starts off so well, then we get to certain chapters where things slow down and the author is delivering behind the scenes glimpses. I especially disliked Ch 27-30 and did not find it useful to advance the plot or lead us to major discovery. I think we could have gotten a glimpse of our two Watchers in a different way.

Spice:
The spice to violence ratio was so so weird. Here is my main issue: we're retelling Adam and Eve through a romantic fantasy lens. The audience is female. Do we for a second think the audience wants Stephanie Garber style glimpses of the MC sleeping together? I doubt it.

Suggestions:
1. Plots: I would love to see the plot trimmed down to only one main plot and one subplot but I doubt that is doable given the ending
2. Chapter titles: I would love to see each chapter have the person's POV written under it
3. Spice: I think to set this book firmly in 5 star spice territory just have them do abstinence style stuff and not sleep together until book 2. Yes Elena will still be driven by anger and fury in the I saw you two scene. She'll still see them kiss, See them on the bed. But it will be more angsty and way more slow burn if the two MC don't actually sleep together. And why include more graphic violence than explicit spice?

Overall it was the messy middle, the graphic violence but no explicit spice, the many plots - and introduction of new characters so late that made me hard pivot from wow this is a 5 star read to a 3 star read. Sure I will read part 2 but I don't know if I will finish it actually.

So, I see the potential in this book but it’s a no for me right now.

“Katerina Ivanova is the most powerful Dimi in Iriska. She uses her command over the four elements alongside Niko, her blood-bonded Shadow, to guard the portals to the Underworld and protect their realm from demonic invasion. When the two are recruited to compete to join Iriska’s most elite force, no one suspects their secret: the bond they share goes beyond magic and enters taboo territory. Love between a Dimi and her Shadow isn’t just a bad idea, it’s been prophesied to set an ancient Darkness loose upon the world.”

The flow from the very beginning was just way off for me. I don’t know why certain things were happening and it moved from plot point to plot point with no explanation of the last. There was no correlation between paragraphs and I got lost between very long descriptions that didn’t need to be long.

I might give this book another try but I DNFed after Chapter 2.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Orchid Books for granting me an eARC of Fate and Fury to review and provide feedback.

*ARC review from NetGalley*

This book was like a breath of fresh air in terms of world building and romance. The Slavic inspired lore was a new genre for me and although it was a little bit difficult to understand, it was a nice change from what I typically read. The author jumps right into the world building and some of it I was able to connect and piece together but at some points I was thinking maybe we should have more answers for the first book in a duology. The MCs were cute together and I personally appreciated the fact that the spicy scenes weren’t smutty and it was more so about their love for each other. The book ends on a huge cliffhanger and I’m so excited to read the second one when it comes out next year!

I honestly don’t even know where to start because Fate and Fury completely knocked me off my feet. This book is an absolute masterpiece of dark fantasy and forbidden romance, and it’s one of those rare stories that grabs hold of your heart and refuses to let go. Emily Colin has created a world and characters that are as breathtaking as they are devastating, and I am OBSESSED.

The kingdom of Iriska is unlike anything I’ve read before. It’s dark, beautiful, and steeped in magic and danger. Colin draws on Slavic folklore to create a world that feels ancient and alive, with layers of history, rituals, and prophecy that are woven seamlessly into the story. The details like the portals to the Underworld, the blood-bonded Shadow system, and the elemental magic are so vivid that you can practically feel the power thrumming in the air. This isn’t just a backdrop for the story.. it’s a living, breathing world that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Katerina is one of my favorite heroines of all time. She’s a Dimi, capable of commanding the four elements, and she’s fiercely loyal to her people. But she’s not just defined by her power she’s complex, flawed, and carrying the weight of so much responsibility. You can feel the conflict inside her as she tries to balance her duty with her own desires, especially when it comes to Niko.

Then there is Niko. He’s her Shadow, bound to protect her by blood and magic, and he’s completely devoted to her. But it’s not just loyalty it’s love. Deep, soul-crushing, forbidden love. The prophecy that their love will bring about the return of an ancient Darkness hangs over every interaction they have, and it makes their connection so much more intense. Every glance, every touch, every moment they share is packed with tension and heartbreak. You can feel how much they care about each other, but you also know the consequences if they give in.

The story itself is a whirlwind. There’s action, betrayal, political intrigue, and so many twists that I was constantly on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something completely unexpected would happen, and I’d be left reeling. Colin does an incredible job of keeping the stakes high, not just for the characters but for the entire world of Iriska. The prophecy, the looming darkness, and the constant threat of betrayal make this one of the most gripping reads I’ve picked up in a long time.

The villains in this book are another standout. They’re not just one dimensional bad guys, they’re layered, dangerous, and so well-written that you can’t help but be fascinated by them. The challenges Katerina and Niko face feel insurmountable at times, but that just makes their determination all the more powerful.

Emily Colin’s writing is absolutely gorgeous. She has this way of painting scenes so vividly that you feel like you’re right there with the characters. The descriptions are lush without being overwhelming, and the emotions she captures love, fear, longing, anger are so raw and real that they practically leap off the page. The pacing is perfect, balancing intense action with quieter, more emotional moments that give the story so much depth.

The ending... I knew it was going to be intense, but nothing could have prepared me for how gut-wrenching it would be. Colin delivers a cliffhanger that is equal parts devastating and thrilling, and I’m honestly still trying to process it. It’s the kind of ending that makes you desperate for the next book because you NEED to know what happens next.

Fate and Fury is everything I want in a fantasy novel. The world-building is rich and immersive, the characters are complex and unforgettable, and the story is packed with tension, action, and emotion. Katerina and Niko’s forbidden romance is one of the most beautifully tragic love stories I’ve ever read, and I’m already counting down the days until the next book in The Bone Moon Duology.

If you love dark fantasy with epic stakes, lush writing, and a romance that will completely wreck you, this is the book for you. Emily Colin has created something truly magical, and I cannot recommend it enough.

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, you won’t regret it. But fair warning: you’re going to want book two immediately!

Ahh.. Forbidden love at it's finest.

At the beginning of this book I was a bit skeptical. It had to re-read the first two chapters to make sure I got the names and villages right. But even through that I knew I wanted to keep reading. The Demi and her shadow bond are forbidden from falling for each other. But the Demi has long harbored feelings for her shadow. While they traverse the complicated feelings between them and the Vila that the shadow is bonded to, other dark forces are killing their land and their friends. I am definitely looking forward to the second installment in this series.

Thank you Emily Colin, Black Orchid Press, & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

Fate and Fury 5:5 stars this book was absolutely fantastic and it kept me compelled the entire way through. Gosh it grips you and takes you on a wild intense adventure. Forbidden love, intrigue, unexpected twists and turns. Elemental magic. Shadows(shifters) but not like any shifters you have ever experienced. One of the best reads for me this year. I love reading something that takes me away to a place I’ve never experienced before. I can’t wait to see what happens next with this amazingly strong FMC and what her light shows us next! -Kerin