My first contact with “Before We Collide” was by Instagram, Kate Dylan, the author, published a picture of both books and I automatically saved it to find them later, that same week I found the first book in perfect condition on a second hand shop and bought it immediately; so everyone could imagine my face when I received the email I was approved to read this second one. It felt like fate!

Having read both books back-to-back, I have to say that the curse of the second book was absolutely broken because I loved the second one even more! I should admit I requested it without even reading the premise, and I was a bit reluctant when I realized that Ezzo was the male protagonist, as he was the character I liked the least in the first book; still, my opinions changed quickly (and I absolutely love Raya, which also helped). Cem and Chase (the protagonists from the first book) get to appear again, and although it was nice to see them, I missed Novi and Lyria, I hope they get to appear in the third one.

The story in Before We Collide felt more complex that in the first book, it was difficult for me to see the twist coming and I got a more round feeling at the end of it, I also liked how the romance no was forced in any way, this time both protagonist truly despise each other from the very beginning not only for the situations they are into but because they were raise to hate the other and I enjoyed seeing their how slowly they can fight the “truth” they have been told since little to from their own opinions; learning the point of view of the Shades and getting more information about the history behind the situation of how Hues are treated gave more dimension to the world.

Thank you, Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and obviously to Kate Dylan for allowing me to read this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well-written and unputdownable.. I LOVED Before We Collide by Kate Dylan, being back in her world of Hues and Shades, seeing Enzo give love and life another chance it was all *chef's kiss*.

Although, this book can be read as a standalone, the beginning might be slightly hard to get into if you haven't read Until We Shatter. If you stick with it though you will be rewarded with a great book full of treason, love, world building and tentative alliances.

Summary: Failing prodigy Raya sees a forbidden vision of magic’s end—and must join reckless half-Shade Ezzo to rewrite their destiny.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

Mind you, I didn’t know this when I requested it, but it’s a second book of a series. However, it’s a standalone so I’d say it works great for me. Even if there was something I missed from the previous book, I didn’t notice it at all.

This being said, this book exceeded my expectations in a very good way. I loved the magic system, how the different colors gave different powers. How much growth I could see in Raya, our Indigo fmc. She became a strong open-minded person and she opened her eyes towards so many wrongs in her world and I’m proud of her. Ezzo, my poor son, I could see his grief, I loved to see him open his heart to the people that stayed with him despite everything and how he reluctantly but determinedly decided to open himself for Raya as well.

The slow burn is slow burning, the romance was a little sub plot to the whole story and I appreciated that because neither Raya nor Ezzo were ready for the romance. It felt realistic and understandable because otherwise it would feel like pushing the romance more than what this standalone meant to do.

I’m so glad that I got the chance to read this book, and I wouldn’t mind if Kate Dylan decides to write more about this world. The council does need some more pushing to open their eyes that a change is needed.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc!! I appreciate it!

This story had me hooked from the very first words and didn’t let me go until the last page.

The colour-based magic system is unlike anything I’ve read before. It's so imaginative and unique, and perfect for this world. Raya and Ezzo are two characters I loved instantly. They're both flawed and compelling in ways that made me root for them with every twist. Their dynamic and banter had smiled SO hard one moment and aching the next.

The prophecy storyline was gripping, and the stakes felt sky-high throughout the whole book. I loved how the larger fate-of-the-world conflict was balanced with intimate, emotional and growing character arcs. By the end, I was completely invested in both the survival of magic and the beautiful connection between Raya and Ezzo.

This book gave me everything I want in fantasy books: danger, unique world building, romance, and characters who stay with you long after you finish the book. Easily one of my top reads of the year. If you love enemies-to-lovers, inventive world-building, and heart-pounding twists, Before We Collide is for you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in advance.
Dylan does it again, but this time, things are a bit more linear. The plot of Before we collide is quite simple, but thanks to a few narrative tricks she still manages to surprise the reader and let everything, well, collide - but in a good way.
We’re back in a world where magic is banished, persecuted, punished for, and we have a new pov: someone who is not on the run, at least not from the Church. Raya, the new fmc, is a full fledged character, with an easier life than Cemmy and her crew that still has led her to fight her own battles, especially with her distinguished parents and, ultimately, herself. She guides the reader with her vision but, thanks to the double PoVs, the reading experienxe never stagnates.
The romance is present but not rushed, which is something I always appreciate.
The action is swift but with enough details to result in engaging scenes that make you hold your breath, especially towards the end.
The main antagonist is… I would have loved to see more of them. Learn their motives more in depth, see them for what has been done to them instead of a “quite mental bad guy”.
I have just two “negative” things to mention:
1. When in a fantastic setting, reading “medieval” or any other adjectives that refer to real historical times kind of makes the worldbuilding deflate a little.
2. I would have love for the inner monologues to be more varied - seeing Raya and Ezzo grow out of their shell more. Sure, sulking about the past and various hardships is key to overcome them, but a bit more variety is always a nice touch!

This can technically be read as a standalone but I imagine the worldbuilding will feel much richer if it is read as a second instalment to Until We Shatter, as they are set in the same universe.
I enjoyed reading this and as with Until We Shatter, loved the magical system and the richness of the story. I preferred Raya's POV to Ezzo but overall found their slow burn really great to follow.

I think one of the most important things that you should know about "Before We Collide" is that whilst it is proclaimed to be a standalone, it is part of a wider series. I stopped reading this initially to go back and read the previous book. Leading me to other most relevant detail about Kate Dylan's new book, the magic system is complicated. Two books in, lots of detail and I'm still confused by a fair bit. Fantasy books hinge on the world making sense quickly so that you can concentrate on the characters. I felt weary by 25%, but it is a testament to the plot that I hadn't completely lost interest

Before We Collide is set before Until We Shatter and works fine as a standalone, though it does give you a few spoilers for book one. I loved getting more depth to the magic system and world building this time around - it’s so unique compared to other fantasy books.

This one shifts focus to the Shades, and I really enjoyed the dual POV from two characters on completely opposite sides. The contrast in ideals, and watching them learn, grow, and challenge their own prejudices, was really compelling. It also hits hard with its portrayal of propaganda and the dehumanisation of minorities; there were some uncomfortable parallels to the real world that made it all the more powerful.

The characters really stood out for me: a messy, chaotic girl who can see the future (badly), and a grief-stricken boy with a death wish. Their evolving dynamic was a slow burn that felt genuine and relatable, full of quirks and flaws.

Plot-wise, it’s a great mix of mystery, danger, and twists that kept me turning the pages. The ending was satisfying and tied things up well, but still left me excited for more stories in this world - I hope we get more!

This book contains the truly amazing and immersive world building that you come to expect from Kate Dylan, you can feel the depth of the universe she's created. And like it's predecessor Until We Shatter, this book offers the same unique magic system which I will forever adore!
But whereas the first book focused solely on the perspective of The Hues, Before We Collide offers a chance to explore the world, the beliefs and thoughts of The Shades.

This duel point of view, especially being that of two people on opposing sides with completely different ideals and motivations was brilliant and added a depth to Dylan's vivid storytelling.
Dylan's writing just makes it easy to visualize everything from the settings to the characters. Speaking of characters, I loved the dynamic between our leads: a messy, inept girl who can see the future—badly, and a sad boy so struck with grief he has a serious death wish. Their character development and evolving relationship was an engaging element, it was easy to connect with the characters on a personal level; they felt relatable in their struggles and quirks.

Dylan has a way to scarily mimic the real world within their fantasy setting and it's actually terrifying how close to home it hits. This book especially depicts the dangers of propaganda and the ease of dehumanising minorities via this propaganda and cult like rhetoric. How powerful and influencial people or institutes have the ability to brainwash the masses, with deadly implications. This element had some pretty chilling parallels to our society, offering a scary real world overlap.

Add in the mix of mystery and murders, and you’ve got an exciting plot that kept me turning pages. It almost felt like I was part of their Scooby Gang vibe, working alongside them to unravel the mystery and secrets. I could not put this down!

If you want a thoroughly enjoyable page turner, full of mystery and magic, with a scooby gang of relatable characters then Before We Collide needs to be your next read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I couldn't put this book down – absolutely loved it.

4.25 ⭐️

Just like in the first book, the magic system and world building were big highlights! I really enjoyed that we got to see it be more developed with a sequel.

Whereas Until We Shatter focused almost uniquely on the Hues; in Before We Collide we also get to learn more about the Shades. I just love when we get two POVs from opposites sides of a social-battle, specially when the character arcs include them learning and growing out of their own prejudices. It was actually terrifying to read about how certain Raya and her friends were that all Hues have to die - the book did a wonderful job of portraying the dangers and dehumanising nature of propaganda. This type of character arc lead to a really interesting type of slow burn sub-plot romance.

The plot was really interesting as well, building a complex mystery which connects a lot of characters together. The story runs at a natural pace, and the twists and turns kept me hooked wanting to learn more and see how it all unraveled.

The ending was really satisfying and I look forward to see if the author decides to explore this world more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this ARC.

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is a perfect fantasy adventure and I loved every minute of it. It can work as a standalone but will probably make more sense if you read “Until we shatter” a linked story in the same world first.

What I loved in particular:
- the magic system is the real star of the show in this book. It is based on colour magic with each colour having certain attributes. Magic users can travel through an alternative realm called the grey. The world building is incredibly well done and the politics of the world are intricate, the shades fear the hues and the typics fear the shades, hue’s seem to exist to run for their lives.
- Raya. She grows so much during the events in this book. She starts out as a bit of a spoiled prodigy and asks her open question as a desperate attempt to avoid being kicked out of the academy and disgracing her parents. By the end though her determination to do the right thing and her ability to take responsibility for her behaviour towards Killen and its consequences made her a flawed but impressive main character. I enjoyed her journey,
-the subtle love story felt more like a gentle story of grief and moving on. I really felt for Ezzo and his grief and guilt about moving on with Raya. The moment he realises he is finally ready to start living again packed such an emotional punch it made me cry.

This was such a fantastic story, I hope Kate Dylan isn’t quite finished with this world yet.

Thank you so much to Hodderscape and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I’ve been very lucky to receive an early copy of Before We Collide🌟 This book, set shortly after the events in Until We Shatter, was a fun and exciting ride. I love how the book wasn’t a direct follow on from the previous but still weaved the previous story in with some elements being relevant. Once again, the magic system was incredibly fun and different to anything else I’ve read and I loved learning more about the conflict between Hues and Shades.

Before We Collide is a prequel/set in the events before Until We Shatter - it does read well as a standalone, if you’re happy to get some spoilers into the plot of the first book in the series.

The magic within this universe is so unlike other fantasy books.

The characters in the book are from different backgrounds, it almost reminded me of a magical Romeo and Juliet with the whole destined lovers - they’re drawn together through a vision and need to learn to work together even though they’re opposites.

The strength and growth of the characters is what really stood out for me, they have obstacles in their path but they’re resilient and determined.

Before We Collide is a gripping, emotionally charged fantasy set in the same world as Until We Shatter, but with much clearer storytelling and stronger pacing.

Following Raya, a magically struggling student, and Ezzo, a haunted Hue on the run, the story blends slow-burn romance, found family, and high-stakes magic. It has a unique colour based system, political intrigue, and standout character growth (specifically from Raya).

Overall it is a compelling read that works as a standalone or following UWS and a must read for lovers of emotional fantasy!

Thank you Hodderscape, Kate Dylan and NetGalley for the eArc

Before we Collide was an action-packed fantasy in the same world as Until We Shatter, but with far more clarity. I was hooked by the intensity of the plot and thrilled that it was less convoluted than its predecessor. It channels vibes of the mindwalker duology with found family, standout characters, gripping plot and an easy-to-follow storyline.

I’d absolutely devour a prequel that dives deeper and fleshes out the worldbuilding. It would be a brilliant way to make this universe even more accessible for new readers.

Here’s hoping Illumicrate blesses us with a special edition to sit proudly next to Until We Shatter on the shelf.

Thank you so much for the e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

Another amazing story from Kate Dylan, her stories keep getting better and better, even if they break my heart once or twice!

Before We Collide is an indirect sequel to Until We Shatter but it can be read as a complete standalone. I highly advise to read UWS first so you won't get spoiled, and you'll be more familiar with some characters we meet in BWC, but it is absolutely not a requirement.

The story follows Raya and Ezzo, their backgrounds are different but fate keeps forcing them on the same path.
Ezzo , whom we previously met in UWS, who is a Hue, that has been on the run and trying to drink away his past, this leads to him taking more risks and not so great decisions.

Raya is the daughter of two powerful shades, she is a student at the academy but she is about to lose her magic because she is really not great at it, so decides to do something forbidden , this leads her to discover a terrible future, heartbreak and the distruction of all magic. Her vision takes her on a path that constantly gets interwined with Ezzo, since the future told her he is the boy she is destined to love, so she has to convince him to work with her to steer their future on a different path. This proves to be difficult since both of them also have to look past their prejudices since the come from incompatible worlds.

I have to say I really enjoyed the story, the magic system is once again unique and very compelling ( color magic!) and while UWS focused on the Hue's magic ( so half shades) this time the focus is also on full blooded shades. I also found very interesting that it dug more into the political side of things of the Shades side.

The highlight of this book for me was Raya, it was refreshing reading about a magically inept protagonist. I loved reading her pov , while not great at her magic, she was persistent. She was also impulsive, which led her to make some not-so-great decisions, and she definitely struggled with the outcome of the path she chose. I loved her growth during the story.

In the end if you enjoy magic, slow burn romance, found family and dysfunctional people you'll love this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for allowing me to read this early in exchange of an honest review!