Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this eCopy to review.

I didn’t expect a sea-bound quest to stir up so much emotional tension, but Fate of Echoes and Embers did just that. Mecca returns to Elydor with a romantasy full of longing, legacy, and the kind of magic that lingers long after the last page.

🌊 Plot Summary
Marek, an immortal haunted by his past, is drawn back to the one place he swore he’d never return and into the arms of Lady Isolde, the woman he once loved and lost. Their reunion isn’t just emotional; it’s urgent. An ancient power is rising from the ocean’s depths, and only the legendary Wind Crystal can stop it.

Isolde, now a powerful noblewoman, agrees to help Marek retrieve the crystal, even though it means reopening old wounds. As war looms over Elydor, the two must navigate treacherous waters both literal and emotional while confronting the passion that never truly died.

This is book three in the Heirs of Elydor series, but it stands strong on its own, with rich world-building and a slow-burn romance that simmers beneath every scene.

🔥 What I Loved
The Chemistry: Marek and Isolde’s dynamic is electric. Their shared history adds depth to every glance, every argument, every moment of silence.

The Setting: From stormy coastlines to ancient ruins, Elydor feels alive. The ocean is more than a backdrop it’s a character in its own right.

The Stakes: The blend of personal and epic stakes keeps the tension high. It’s not just about saving the realm it’s about saving themselves.

Romantasy Vibes: Forbidden love, magical relics, and morally grey heroes? Yes, please.

💫 Final Thoughts
Fate of Echoes and Embers is a lush, emotionally charged romantasy perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, A Court of Thorns and Roses, or Quicksilver. If you love stories where love is both the weapon and the wound, this one’s worth diving into.

Before diving into this review, I want to be upfront: I have not read the first or second books in this series. Despite this, Fate of Echoes and Embers worked well as a standalone experience for me. C.L. Mecca offers enough context and background that newcomers can follow the story and enjoy the characters without feeling lost or overwhelmed by previous plotlines.

This third installment bursts with richly crafted world-building and an intricate plot that effortlessly weaves fantasy, romance, and political intrigue. The setting feels expansive and lived-in, with vivid descriptions that bring the world to life—from sprawling kingdoms to shadowy court politics. Mecca’s writing is immersive, evoking the sights, sounds, and tensions of a complex world where power is a dangerous game.

The story centers on (if you want to specify, include the protagonist’s name here), who finds themselves entangled in webs of loyalty, betrayal, and internal conflict. The character development is nuanced; they are far from perfect and often face difficult moral choices that feel authentic and gripping. The supporting cast is equally engaging, each with their own agendas and secrets, which adds layers of complexity to the narrative.

One of the highlights of this book is how Mecca balances sweeping political drama with intimate emotional moments. The tension between duty and desire, personal loyalty and political expediency, is palpable throughout the story. The romance elements are well-integrated, adding warmth and tension without detracting from the larger stakes.

While the novel largely succeeds in standing on its own, it occasionally drops references and allusions to past events and characters from earlier books that feel a bit heavy for readers new to the series. These moments didn’t detract significantly from my enjoyment, but they did remind me that this book sits within a larger saga, and I’m curious to read the earlier volumes to fully appreciate the depth of the story.

The pacing is generally strong, with a good balance of action sequences, political maneuvering, and quieter reflective moments. Mecca’s prose flows smoothly, making it easy to get lost in the story despite its complexity.

⚔️ Tropes in Fate of Echoes and Embers 🔮

👑 Political Intrigue – Power struggles, court machinations, and shifting alliances keep the tension high.

🗡️ Fantasy Adventure – Battles, quests, and dangerous missions are central to the story’s momentum.

💔 Complicated Romance – Love entangled with loyalty, secrets, and betrayals.

🧙‍♂️ Magic System – A richly built magical world with unique rules and powers.

🕵️‍♀️ Secrets and Revelations – Hidden pasts and shocking truths come to light.

🌪️ High Stakes – The fate of kingdoms and lives hangs in the balance.

🛡️ Loyalty Tested – Characters face impossible choices between friends, lovers, and duty.

🌌 Epic World-Building – A fully imagined universe with detailed cultures, politics, and landscapes.

🎭 Enemies to Allies – Former rivals forced to work together for a greater cause.

🔥 Character Growth – Emotional arcs filled with pain, resilience, and redemption.

🌿 Prophecy and Fate – Hints of destiny influencing the characters’ paths.

Another thrilling read in the Heirs of Elydor series. Adventure on the high seas, betrayal, magic and romance move the story along at a quick pace with previous characters are interwoven into the fabric. I thoroughly enjoyed Issa and Marek’s story and look forward to #4 in this series.

Such a sucker for a second chance love story! Marek is tasked with obtaining a magical artifact to help reopen the gate between their world and the human realm. Marek heads out to find Issa, a human with the ability to sense magic, their past history throws some tension into the mix.

Years ago, Marek and Issa were head over heels in love with each other. Until one day Marek left without a word or explanation. Heartbroken, Issa focuses on her promise to her family and the delicate balance she must uphold.

Helping Marek only due to the greater good, or at least she tells herself but that line blurs the longer they stayed together.

These two struggle with their own loyalties, their birthrights, and their love for each other. The plot carries the same depth as the two previous books, I love the characters and the world that C.L. Mecca has continued to share with us.

First of all, thanks for the opportunity of reading and reviewing this ARC.

To be honest, I hadn't heard of the series before and in order to review properly this one, I read the first two.
I think this series has great potential from the start and this third book is finally starting to showing it. The writing seems to be thankfully improved a bit compared to the previous ones.The pace is fast and character development does happen. However, I cannot get past the repetitiveness of some phrases and the inconsistencies of the plot (like the time in Earth vs Time in Elydor).
There were moments that I feel they were build up to something great but then got resolved way to quickly. Key momentos of the book were to brief and other not so important chapters dragged.
If you get over those things, It is still a nice to experience romantasy. The world and politics keep getting more interesting and comolex even though the romantic plot is usually super predictable and not very "deep".

Great book, good character development, good plot to follow. I enjoyed this book a lot can be read as a stand alone and you are still able to understand the book even if its book 3.

thank you for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I think that this is one of the most simple reviews that I could leave. I LOVED the first two books and I am happy to say that this one lived up to be exactly what I had hoped it would be. C.L, Mecca may be one of my new favourite authors, and I will jump on anything that I can get my hands on from them.

ARC review

Publication date 16 Sep 25

"Fate of Echoes and Embers" by C.L. Mecca is the 3rd book in the "Heirs of Elydor" series.
Even if each book has different main characters, I would recommend reading the other books before as there are references to actions and characters from the previous book.

Thank you Boldwood Books for the e-ARC (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

The story continues after the end of "Tide of Waves and Secrets" with Marek, Kael and Mev gooing to lady Isolde (Issa) to ask for help.
Marek and Issa were in love year ago, but one day he left without explanation.
They have a second chance at love, but Marek has to work to deserve Issa's forgivness.

The book has a lot of tension and yearning, but also action and magic.
I liked the characters and the story has a good pace.

There is also a good balance between the romance part and the story.

It was nice to have the characters from the others books back and I'm looking forward to reading the next book.

Hands down my favorite book of the three so far! I just love Marek and I loved having him be the mmc! Issa is great too!

This book is fast paced but gives you all you need in the best way possible. The new revelations that came out this time around were just prefect! Yess! I need more!

I cannot wait to see what's in store for book 4!

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book. I truly appreciate it!

I loved this book so much! It's got to be my second favourite right behind the first in this series and its completely stolen my heart! I was so excited to be able to read Marek's story and to find out it would be with Issa! Talk about utter giddiness kicking in! Reading about their past and watching their story bloom again was breathtaking! They're both so utterly perfect for each other! Their adventure for the wind Crystal kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time!

That ending though! I loved it! It was nothing short of everything I was begging to have happen and so much more! The descriptions for everything and everyone are so captivating it's like watching what you're reading happen live before you eyes! If there was one world I could ever visit it would be this one! I wish I had my own way through the gate to there I would never leave!

Having all of our friends back together on and off throughout this book though I loved those moments so much! It felt like having the whole family back together. Which is exactly what this book and this whole series gives you. Family. As soon as you enter this series and this book you feel like you're home! You feel like no matter what happens whether good or bad that you're not alone and you'll make it through it all with them by your side! Well there was a lot of sitting on the edge of my seat as so much happens there's still so much peace and joy that comes from being back in this world and I can't thank the author enough for giving this feeling to me!

Well I'm so sad to know this is the second to last book in this series, I can't wait for the next one! I need to see how it all will end.

Thank you so much again from the bottom of heart for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book! I truly appreciate it so much! I loved it so much and I can't wait to bring 'Fate of Echoes and Embers' home to the rest of its family!

Well, the premise, the setting, the magic, all the parts lined up for me to absolutely love this book… which I had hoped of course. but sadly that didn’t happen. It just didn’t have the juice. The writing seemed a bit young and lacking the fire and passion that gets you to love or hate the characters 😬 TBH I really had no investment in the outcome which is sad but true.

I have DNF’d at about 10% in. I didn’t realise this was the third book of the series and feel that I need to go back to book 1. With this in mind, my rating isn’t a true reflection of this book, it merely reflects my own sense of confusion in the early pages. I do look forward to reading this series from the beginning as it sounds great.

This is an adventure packed book where ex lovers, Merak and Issa, put their past behind them to work together for one common goal, get the Wind Crystal from the Depths of Maelstrom. Will they do it during their quest at sea??? You have to read to find out! I truly enjoyed being part of the ARC team on this book. Definitely an enjoyable read for any Romantasy lover. Just a little spice to allow the readers to feel the connection between the characters but nothing overbearing. If you want extreme smut, this book isn’t for you. My only feedback is that I wish there was a map and character key. This book has several characters from different lands/territories that possess different powers. It did get a little difficult to remember who was from where and what their abilities were.

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it will come out in September. This is a series all placed in the same realm but switching main characters. I loved this part the most. The characters and their love story just resonated strongly with me. Steady like a calm sea.

My first romantasy from C. L. Mecca and what an amazing read! I thought I’d have trouble understanding the intricacies of the world building as it is the 3rd book of the series and I was coming in fresh. I am here to tell you the storytelling is so incredibly crisp and absorbing, and the facets of the world the author created for this series are so detailed, I not only did not have an issue following but could not put this book down.

Marek and Issa’s is a second chance story between the seasoned fleet captain and a protector of the manor and her people. Both are fiercely loyal and it takes them the duration of the story to realize the loyalty to each other can run parallel to their loyalty to their birthrights. But so much happens before their HEA - there is unexpected intrigues, fights, all happening alongside the main adventure of the book. Marek is a survivor and a great, strong character. Issa is a wonderful complement to him with her inner strength and own adventurous spirit. Supporting characters are fantastic, some of whom were heroes of previous stories. I am excited for the next installment and adding this author to my immediate read list!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood books for a chance to read this wonderful ARC!

I just finished this book and I'm obsessed! 🤩 If you love ACOTAR or Fourth Wing, you NEED to pick this up. Marek and Isolde's story is everything – second chance romance, fated mates, and that tension? Ugh, it's so good! He's haunted, she's all about control, and when they're forced back together to save their world, the sparks just fly. 🔥 Plus, ancient powers, rising seas, and war? The stakes are insane! This book is fast-paced, full of heart, and totally captivating. You'll be utterly obsessed! ❤️

Will Marek face his greatest test alone? He knows that he needs to ask for help from Lady Isolde Hawthorne but will she help him after he left her? Issa can’t believe that he is back and he needs her help with finding an artifact from the Maelstrom depths but will she agree to help?
Issa doesn’t know if she could ever forgive Marek for what he did but she is willing to help Kael & Mev.
Will they be able to make it to the depths and get back with it in one piece. Issa realises that there is so much more to Marek than she ever knew but can she forgive him? Do they get a second chance at love?
Another great read in the series. I hope that the gate can be opened so that everyone who wants to can go home. Great to see the same characters and how they have grown. Good storyline.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars!

I really enjoyed “Fate of echoes and Embers”, this is the third instalment of the Heirs of Elydor. While the journey in this one is fairly self contained, I would recommend reading the first two in the series before starting this one as a lot of the knowledge of the world and magic system is assumed and I’m not sure how easy it would be to fully understand the story without the background.

What I loved:
- The true slow burn between Issa and Marek, they have history but the relationship doesn’t start straight back up when they are forced to work together. Marek really has to earn Issa’s trust back and that made the relationship feel more authentic.
- I liked the mix of mortals, immortals and Demi mortals in the book. It added an interesting dynamic to the relationships, particularly between Issa and Marek where one of his reasons for breaking her heart was that he couldn’t watch her die.

The world is still interesting and I will read this 4th book in the series when it’s released.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

✨ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. ✨

Fate of Echoes and Embers by C.L. Mecca is, I believe, the first in what will hopefully grow into a strong and exciting fantasy series. As with many series openers, this book focuses heavily on world building and introducing the main cast of characters.

The plot centers on the retrieval of a magical object from The Depths—a place known for danger and mystery, from which no one has ever returned. Our protagonist, gifted with magical abilities, embarks on this daunting journey alongside an old flame she has spent years trying to forget. Inevitably, their shared mission reignites past emotions and forces them to confront their complicated history while navigating perilous trials.

While the setup is promising and the romance element adds an emotional layer, I found the actual retrieval quest to fall a little flat compared to the build-up. The anticipation for the journey was high, but the execution didn’t quite deliver the level of excitement I was hoping for.

That said, the foundation has been laid for what could become a truly engaging and adventurous series. I’m hopeful that the next installment will bring more action, higher stakes, and perhaps a bit more spice to balance the fantasy elements.

This is the third instalment in this series, although it reads well as a stand alone.

Mark and Issa have great chemistry, their connection is evident from their first interaction. As their story progresses, so does the tension and it's delicious!