I found myself setting this book down to break the non-existent fourth wall in my bedroom multiple times while reading this. Maybe I’m clueless, but WOW—was that ever twisty!

I won’t lie, before it clicked, I thought this story was addled with plot holes and bad writing… I am pleased to say that I was SO wrong. I am impressed (and obsessed) with how Brezzo could make the reader feel the same emotions as the characters—without the reader even knowing it!

I was immediately hooked by the unique setting and magic system in this story and these elements only got better as it went on.

My only grievance? I have to wait to read the next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing, and Brielle Brezzo for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I need to start this review with a small warning: the beginning of Their Tangled Fates might feel… off. You might think there are gaps or small plot holes. There aren’t. It’s intentional. Trust the process and do not DNF this book because of it.

Now that we’ve cleared that up…

I really, really enjoyed this story. It’s one of those books where the way the plot unfolds is part of the magic, so I can’t say too much without ruining the experience. At its core, it’s about a boy and a girl who fall in love at school… and then chaos explodes around them in the form of magic, fae, and curses.

The world-building? Incredible. Briella Brezzo gives us a fresh, unique take on the relationship between the fae lands and the human world. It feels familiar enough to ground you, but different enough to keep you constantly intrigued. I especially loved how deeply that connection ties into the magic system, it all feels interwoven in a really satisfying way.

The multiple POVs were another highlight. Each perspective added something new, pushing the story forward instead of rehashing the same events. There’s very little overlap, which keeps the pacing tight and the narrative engaging while also giving us deeper insight into the characters.

And speaking of characters…

Usually, in stories like this, my heart leans toward the FMC because she’s the one enduring the most. Not this time. This time, I was firmly in the MMC’s corner. The amount of suffering this man goes through? Absolutely unreal. I just wanted to wrap him in a blanket and protect him from everything.

Meanwhile, the FMC had me wanting to scream into the void. Not because she was poorly written, quite the opposite. She was so well written that her stubbornness felt painfully real. The kind of “WHY are you like this???” frustration that makes you want to shake a character through the pages.

All in all, this book is emotional, immersive, and cleverly constructed. Trust the beginning, fall into the story, and prepare to feel everything. You won’t regret picking this one up.

Their Tangled Fates follows Ellie, talented incanter enrolling in the Academy to follow in her father’s footsteps, Caeo, aimless student who is struggling academically, and Reid, who is equally as talented as Ellie, and Caeo’s childhood best friend.

This isn’t your usual romantasy book with fae and magic. The enchanting system in this book alone is the most original one I’ve seen in recent times, the way that it is woven throughout the world building and characterisation is fantastic. The reactions to the magic from different people is extreme and feels genuine in the context of the book. I also loved the plot. Without giving anything away, there’s a curse and a love triangle and evil fae (of course) and I was HOOKED from start to finish. I cannot wait for the second book to see how it evolves and ends, I absolutely love this fantasy world!

However, I’m personally not big on insta-love, and found the relationship between Ellie and Caeo moving too fast for my liking - but the more I read, the more I realised that was the point. That was the backbone of the whole plot. The other relationships in the book satisfied me past my distaste for how quickly Ellie and Caeo got together, so if you’re able to look past that to enjoy a distinct, unique world with complex characters and relationships, this book is for you! And if you like insta-love, there’s nothing about this book you won’t like.

Thank you, Netgalley, Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op, and Briella Brezzo for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!