This is a amazing fantasy I loved every minute of it amazing world building and characters this is a must read

I received this book for free for an honest unbiased review from Netgalley.

I wish more books were this well written. Characters were witty and the setting fantastic.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me access this book!

I was really excited for this book as it had an interesting premise but it fell flat for me. The romance was a fated Nate’s instalove that went from “who’s this random dude” to “let’s have sex right now” which really does not work for me. The “romance” is never developed and just keeps moving full steam ahead without any real depth to their relationship. There was a lot of telling across the board, but especially with regards to characters’ motivations, actions, and thoughts.

Of additional concern, the author seems to want a relatable FML but also is not satisfied with an average character. The FML is presented initially as just your typical girl who bakes but suddenly she’s a master strategist coming up with ideas that her super old boyfriend does not even consider AND she has a mysterious past she doesn’t want to talk about that makes her comfortable with guns. The constant hints at “shes not like other girls” 🤢 just frustrated me and she became rapidly overpowered with rare abilities that shocked other characters and yet was never addressed.

Also, this ended on a cliffhanger which I really hate especially when it does not say it’s the start of a new series.

This book provided a delightful twist on both the aliens trope and the fated mate's trope. I found the main characters to be well-developed, and charming, and their chemistry was evident in how well they worked together. Eva's toughness was particularly appealing, although I did find it a bit surprising that such a strong female character didn't inquire more or express more apprehension about leaving her planet to become the queen of another realm. Nevertheless, their dynamic as a couple was enjoyable, and this concern was only a minor issue for me.

One aspect that I found somewhat disorienting was the rapid changes in perspectives throughout the book. There wasn't a clear indication beforehand that the perspective would shift, and at times, it led to confusion when the thoughts being conveyed didn't seem to align with the character's viewpoint. While I don't mind changes in perspectives, I wish there had been more noticeable cues before each shift, allowing me to better comprehend the unfolding events.

Overall, the book was enjoyable, offering a fresh take on familiar tropes. However, I'm not particularly compelled to continue reading the series at this time.

This was a DNF at around 40%. I saw loads of potential and I love Sci-Fi and romance and I don't mind the fated mates trope, but I just wasn't vibing with the writing, unfortunately.

It was really difficult to finish this one. The world building is very heavy and I feel like there could have been a slower pace for it because I was still at loss occasionally. and I can say the same about whose POV I was actually reading because there are a lot of characters and we bounce from one to the other quite a lot.

Eva's character just wasn't for me. She was all over the place and I couldn't really relate to her.

All in all, I'd still give a chance to book 2, with a little more editing and care for the world building.

Unfortunately, I will not be finishing and reviewing this book. It was in desperate need of editing, and I can't find the time to looks past these issues to get invested in the story.

It took me a few chapters to get in to this. The initial world-building was hard to follow and I was getting characters mixed up. I took some time to get used to the writing style as the perspective often changes from paragraph to paragraph within the same scene, in third person. But, once I got my head around it I really enjoyed it. I loved the premise/plot and all the characters. <spoiler>I loved Callan and Eva’s connection and the intensity between them. I enjoyed the differences between the species that were highlighted. I loved Eva’s treatment of the people she met through Callan. How she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, but still respectful when she needed to be. I loved the markings and what they mean. Daisy and Eva’s friendship was so relatable; but, I really loved Eva and Birilius’ relationship with their emotions; it was such an instant connection between them and I love how they are there for each other after only knowing each other for 1 day.</spoiler> I was expecting it but i hated that there was a cliffhanger. I am definitely going to be reading the next one, I can’t wait to see where this series goes.

It was alright, I was very into the premise of the book but I found myself unfulfilled by the end of it.

This was my first space romance and I was pleasantly surprised! Character development was good, sometimes the wording was a little strange and required a couple rereads, but overall I enjoyed it and am excited for the second one

This was a fantastic book. It does begin a bit slow, but there is a lot of worldbuilding that needs to happen for things to make sense. I was beyond excited to see the fated mates trope pop up in this. Sometimes when you get a book that has Fate in the title it's more of a general idea of fate and not the trope but the layers that it added to this story was perfect!

Fated mate with a little bit of fantasy and a little bit of sci-fi. There is a lot of world building and info dumping so I wish there were a bit less of that and more dialogue. The changed in POV while reading gave me whip lash trying to figure out who was speaking. I did like the characters and the overall plot.

I love this book!!! Eva and Callan are amazing together. Eva surprised you through out the entire book. Their relationship development is absolutely beautiful. The smut is pretty good too.

Pretty good fantasy book with well written spice scenes. Story nothing out of the ordinary though but still a good read.

The story line is interesting however the reason for 2 stars are: world building is heavy in the beginning and you need to pay close attention to keep up.
Some paragraphs jumped to a different characters POV so I had to re read often to try and keep up with who was 'talking'.
Eva- at times seemed like two different characters due to personality change as soon as she found her mate.
I do think people who like this Trope will enjoy it, but sadly lacking for me.

Fated to the Dark by Haven Fox is a thrilling blend of romance, intergalactic politics, and unexpected twists that kept me engaged from start to finish. Set in a future Earth where aliens have made contact, the story follows Eva, a resilient woman just trying to make ends meet, and Callan, the enigmatic King of the Shade Dimension. When they cross paths, their lives take an unexpected turn as they face danger, unravel mysteries, and navigate the complexities of their undeniable connection.

The world-building in Fated to the Dark is impressive, seamlessly integrating futuristic elements and alien encounters with familiar Earth settings. The author's attention to detail allows readers to vividly envision the alien outpost in Portland and the intergalactic council's operations. I found myself immersed in this intriguing world, captivated by the blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements.

Eva and Callan are compelling protagonists with distinct personalities that complement each other. Eva's determination, strength, and no-nonsense attitude made her a relatable character, while Callan's royal charm and sense of duty added an air of mystery and grandeur. Their evolving relationship, though initially rushed, blossoms with chemistry and genuine emotion as they navigate the challenges they face together.

The plot of Fated to the Dark is fast-paced and action-packed, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout the story. The interplay between intergalactic politics, the pursuit of slavers, and the exploration of the fated mates trope added layers of excitement and suspense. While some perspectives felt unnecessary, the book still delivered an enjoyable and immersive reading experience.

Overall, Fated to the Dark is a captivating novel that seamlessly combines elements of romance, sci-fi, and interstellar adventure. Haven Fox's imaginative world-building, well-drawn characters, and engaging plot make this book a must-read for fans of genre-bending stories. I eagerly anticipate the next installment in the Shade Dimension series, eager to discover what new surprises and challenges await Eva and Callan.

DNF@~61%

I can't. The writing... It's like a first draft. Also like the author doesn't really understand how punctuation works.
"they needed the psych ward, Jesus, drugs (or maybe all three)."
"Eva and Daisy took rack after rack of cookies out of the oven, they often ran out early."
"The flowers soft perfume mingled with the fragrant herbs"
"They were slavers that often-targeted planet populations"
"'Excellent,' Paron sad, who shoved Brilius away with one hand."

Then we get some truly confusing shit like:
"people accepted it the way they accepted the way people accept the inevitable."
"'There are thousands of planets just like it. You know that.' 'Yes,' Callan said again. Paron wasn't wrong. He also wasn't wrong that there were thousands just like it.'"

Really? Really. I have so many more bookmarks, and I skimmed the shit out of this book. It was like every time my eyes hit the page there was another issue.

And the telling? Oh girl we have been told. There are massive infodumps. Like, here is a paragraph of dialogue, and here are 2 pages of infodump before we get back to the other half of that conversation.

No.

The cover is a LIE.

I really enjoyed this. I thought that it was a very good story line. And I can't wait for the next book to come out.
I just reviewed Fated to the Dark by Haven Fox. #FatedtotheDark #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

This book was a fun twist on the aliens trope and on the fated mates trope. I thought both main characters were well developed, charming, and worked well together. I also loved how tough Eva was, but did find it to be a bit odd that such a strong female character wouldn't have asked more questions or been more apprehensive about leaving her planet and becoming the queen of a realm, but I did think the characters were good together, so it was just a minor issue. The perspectives in this book changed rapidly and there was no real indication that the perspective was going to change until you were reading and it didn't make sense for that character to have the thoughts you were reading. I don't mind changing perspectives at all, but I wish there had been more of an indication that the perspective was shifting before it happened so that I felt more like I knew what was happening. Overall, this book was fine, but I likely won't keep reading the series.

3.5*

Worldbuilding:
We all know we're not alone in the universe (I mean... come on), so having first contact happen shouldn't surprise us. However, it might be a surprise that they've come to help us evacuate our dying planet. Unfortunately, there are also aliens with more... corrupt and moneymaking agendas finding their way to Earth. Queue the Hunter and his band to find them and get rid of them... well, amongst other things, as his Fated could well be an Earthling herself...
Scenes and environments were well described, going into detail when needed and leaving your mind to fill in the blanks when not. I enjoyed that; it made for really smooth reading!

Character development:
Our main female character in this installment is Eva. She and her best friend Daisy work and eventually own a bakery when the aliens arrive. It is hard work, but they make ends meet... barely.
She's a smart cookie (har har) with her heart in the right place.
Callan, King of the Shade Dimension but better known as The Hunter by the people on the intergalactic council, is trying to find his Fated. When a mission to Earth pops up, he decides to go in the hope of finding her there. Callan has a lot of power, and I don't think we have seen all of it yet in this installment. He is kind to those close to him and ruthless to the ones he hunts.
In my opinion, the characters were somewhat superficial. We don't know much about them, and even when Eva finds out she's Callan's Fated, she goes with the flow instead of freaking out even a little bit about being together with an alien. I would have liked to have a lot more depth to the characters.
That said, the characters are interesting, and I loved reading about them!

Pacing and flow:
A bit slow at the start, which is perfectly normal, as our characters get introduced, and the stage is being set. Once it gets going, you're sucked in, so beware ;)
Good balance between conversations and action.

The book:
The book was well written with only a small error here and there (but I'm going to guess those will be gone by the time the book goes live). There is sexual content described (if that is important to you).
The book is 422 pages, spread over 32 chapters, and is told from multiple points of view. It can get a bit confusing as it's not clear who you're following at that moment, and it jumps quite a lot. But once you get used to it, you go with it :)

Final thoughts:
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley, and all in all, it was a fun read. It felt like it could be much more in-depth, especially character-wise, but it was a fun and easy read. While it's listed as Fantasy on Goodreads, it should, of course, be Sci-fi.
I will be looking out for the next installment of the book. I love the "fated mates" trope :D