A Refreshing Blend of Fantasy and Sci-Fi - Fated to the Dark by Haven Fox

Fated to the Dark, by Haven Fox, offers a refreshing and unique reading experience that combines elements that give fantasy vibes, sci-fi, and a future Earth setting. This genre blend adds an exciting and dynamic layer to the story, making it stand out from other novels in the genre.

Eva and her no-nonsense, straight-shooting demeanor add depth and relatability to her character. As she navigates life in a world where aliens have made contact, Eva's curiosity about a mysterious character she encounters. This intriguing element adds a touch of mystery and suspense, compelling readers to uncover the secrets surrounding Eva's connection to this enigmatic figure.

Callan, the character searching for his "fated" and bearing strong Fae king vibes, brings a sense of grandeur and purpose to the story. His determination/he "had nothing better to do while he looked for his fated" to protect Earth's fragile population from traffickers showcases his special skills and adds an element of action and danger to the plot.

Overall, Fated to the Dark is an enjoyable and engaging novel that successfully blends fantasy, sci-fi, and future Earth elements. The well-developed characters, intricate world-building, and intriguing plot make it a worthwhile read for fans of genre-bending stories. Haven Fox's ability to weave together different elements and create a captivating narrative sets this book apart, leaving readers eager for the next installment in the Shade Dimension series.

Fast paced somewhat dystopian adventure in a creative and well fleshed out new reality- yes we are only a speck in the universe, and a clueless one that ruined Earth. The aliens are all more advanced and smarter - and are trafficking humans. Conspiracy, betrayal, kidnapping - but also loyalty, friendship, and finding the fated mate, which adds a bit of spice. Spoiler, ends on a cliff ...

So I DNF’D this book at 24%. Personally I was super intrigued by the the premise of the story and was looking forward to seeing where I would be taken. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me. Typically I give book more room to make me like them but the writing in generally made me give up. In the beginning there was kind of cringey language showing how “quirky” the fmc is and in generally saying she’s quirky too many time only within the first 5% that may just be me though. I was wanting to get into the romance part but I couldn’t even like the characters or story so I called it quits.

I did not post a review on my social because I didn't think it would be fair to share my thoughts as I did not finish the book. I had a hard time getting past chapter 1. The writing is a bit immature, and the dialogue was hard to follow.

2.5 STARS ✨
Rounded up to three stars.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Fated to the Dark from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, I really struggled with this one and it wasn't for me. The world building is incredibly heavy, especially at the beginning, and I feel as if it could have benefited with further explanation at a slower pace so that readers do not get lost.

The other issue I had is that the perspective shifts paragraph to paragraph, which also made it difficult to read with ease as you were constantly having to figure out who was narrating. At first I thought that it was a dual POV with just Eva and Callan, but everyone else seems to jump around, too: at some points, it is helpful, for example, Paron's perspective at certain points in the novel are helpful, but at other points, some perspectives feel a little void and do not really contribute to the plot.

Alongside this, I unfortunately also had issues with Eva as a character: she does come across in a Mary Sue type fashion with her differing descriptions and personalities. At the beginning, she is instantly described as perfect in her appearance by Daisy and, although we witness Eva defending herself and being a strong, badass female character in general from her survival and her responses to being questioned at the outpost, there seems to be points where this is completely shifted as soon as she accepts Callan as her fated. I can't remember what exactly happens, but she is really giddy in front of the Commander and actually reveals Callan's actual name as she is completely consumed by the excitement of the bond. It is a tough one, but I did just feel at points that Eva was two completely characters entirely.

I do feel as if this is something that a lot of people will enjoy - this is my first alien romance and perhaps this is just how the trope is written and it's just not for me, but it was a bit of a struggle to plough through. However, if you are into the fated mates and alien trope, give this a go, you might enjoy it! I just personally did not gel with it.

Ugh there is so much potential from this author!

Great debut novel with an extremely interesting premise and execution! The multiple povs which I worried about were great to read about and I found myself connecting with the characters in different ways. The romance, the sprinkles of spice, everything about it was extremely well done.

The pacing of the book was my only issue and why I had to rate it one star lower however overall this was a greatly entertaining read for me, and after that cliff hanger I cannot wait to read the next book!

This was my first alien romance and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would! This story has immense potential, with an intriguing premise and a romance that was pleasing to read. The action scenes gave the story a nice pacing and intergalactic politics which kept the plot moving forward. Callan and Eva have great chemistry, though a bit rushed when they first meet. I didn't enjoy the omniscient POV honestly, though I normally don't with books. Some of the characters we were let in on didn't seem necessary like the random guards, the commander, etc. And having all the POV thrown together was a little confusing at times. I also wanted a little more from Eva, like something about her personality other than she loves to bake and she's struggling financially.. The ending had a great cliffhanger and if the author tweaked a few things with her writing style and layout of the book I could totally see myself continuing with the series and really enjoying it! 3 stars overall

i did not post a review on my social because i don’t think it’d be fair since i did not finish the book. i could not get past the first chapter. the writing is immature and it’s hard to follow dialogue and world building. DNF.

This book was spicy with a capital S. Lots of politics and romance. But I found you have to pay very close attention to what's happening or you'll become confused. This was my first alien romance. I didn't mind it. This might be my gateway into reading more from this genre.

Thanks to Netgalley for this arc.

I had a really hard time putting this book down with the great connection, tension, and chemistry between these two as well as the action and suspense that this book offered. I would recommend this book

I received an advanced reader's copy of Fated to the Dark (A Shade Dimension Novel) by Haven Fox from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Haven Fox is a new-to-me author, but the summary interested me and I am glad that I had the opportunity to read Fated to the Dark. The premise is intriguing; there is action, world building, and romance. The pacing of this novel could be smoothed out so the flow is better and less disjointed, but it is engrossing.

Looking forward to the next novel.