I received an e-book of The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn from Netgalley and Tiny Fox Press LLC. Orpheus, the Empire’s dark sorcerer, is on his own after years of loyalty to the Empress Lore. He suffers from a death curse after the recent spell he casted for the Empress that is the one of the reasons Lore banishes him out of the Gilded Palace. He decides to journey to the Keep, where his traveling partner and enemies to lovers Fenrir, tells Orpheus is where he received the spell that caused Orpheus death curse and that will possibly find the counter spell to the Orpheus’ death curse. I really wanted to like this book. The cover was beautiful, the premise had promise, and I did enjoy the character Fenrir but sadly this book did not hit the mark for me. I felt there was no real coherency in the timeline of when certain events and the current place in time things are taking place. How this world got to the dystopian place was never really addressed, and just noted as ‘The incident.’ The things I did enjoy were Orpheus and Fenrir’s relationship. I think Fenrir was an amiable, knight in shining armor character that I enjoyed the most. I did like the way the story was told with some of the chapters being about Lore and Orpheus' past and that slowly unraveling as the story went on. The author is also exceedingly descriptive. 3 / 5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Fiona Fenn, and Tiny Fox Press LLC for the ebook.

Listen. This was just so cute. A great time. The prose is fantastic, I can't wait to read more from this author. And the story was great.

I love characters like these. Who are just intensely loyal until something causes them to wake up. In this case we get to see him come to terms with himself as a human and a person rather than what he can do for his queen.

Would recommend for those looking for a fun romantasy that skews a bit dark, a bit dystopian.

I received an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What I liked: The world building, the interesting cast of characters, the genuine depth of emotion (ie. I cried).

What I didn’t: The confusing passage of time - the whole book takes place over “more than a month”, but parts of that were so glossed over that I’m not actually sure where that time went. Missing context - there were points when reading this, that I think it might have been beneficial to have lived a little bit more of the backstory. The whole book is interspersed with sort of flashbacks, but they serve more as a slow unravelling of a mystery, rather than providing the context and history I think I would’ve liked.

I will say that by the end of the book I was invested in the characters, and during the last 15-20% of the book I couldn’t put it down. So it’s definitely one I’d recommend you give a go for yourself.

Orpheus, the dark sorcerer, raised beasts from hell to help his only friend since childhood conquer the realm in which they live. During this process it seems he's also cursed himself and those beasts are set out to kill him. This gets him exiled from the the only home he's ever known and set out into a world full of people hurting from his actions. On top of that his rival Fenrir has decided to escort him.

I'm not sure I've ever wanted to give a character a bigger hug than Orpheus. This poor guy has been used and just needed a real friend and someone to care about him his whole life. I really enjoyed seeing him slowly come to terms that people DO care about him and letting himself be loved.

Fenrir is the sunshine to Orpheus' grumpy and he's an absolute delight. Along with his adorable nickname for Orpheus "Fifi" he's protective and loyal and has some secrets of his own.

The world building was so seamless and smooth throughout the story, it's like you could see and feel everything. The story had some wonderful side characters and I even adored Orpheus' automated horse.

This story was enjoyable from beginning to end. I loved how the author slowly revealed Orpheus' history and how everything came together in the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Tiny Fox Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one! O how I much loved this one.

This was one majestic debut and I really loved it. Yes, maybe Fenrir could use some more character depth such as any flaws but...for me it worked just fine.

Orpheus is such a well written character.

All the plot twists just hit the right spot for me.

And the romance, the consent, the slow burn. It was everything.

Can't wait for the sequel!

A solid debut kickoff to a fantasy series, with a gorgeous cover and swoon-worthy romance.

My only challenge with this book was it started rocky for me. We're kind of dropped into the action at the end of Lore's war to win her empire in which her friend (?) / flunky Orpheus has magically helped the dead rise and fight on her side. There is a lot of exposition and action. Orpheus is cursed for his dark magic and Lore is is kind of a bitch now who permanently resides on the shoulder of her Undead henchman, Orm.

Then Orpheus is off on an adventure with heroic warrior, Fenrir who has serious golden retriever energy. The book starts to gel in spots but is still a little annoying as Fenrir openly flirts and Orpheus responds with lots of side remarks, thinking it's all joke. This cycles happens TOO MANY TIMES.

It isn't until these two cuties finally stop bickering that the book (in my opinion) really starts flying. The relationship develops, we understand more of the context for how things got this way, and Orpheus starts to develop as a person and a sorcerer. From this point to the end, it's balls to the wall action.

So overall, an uneven read, but with a lot of potential. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book....
This book.

If you want loneliness, grumpy exterior to protect a fragile heart and a journey of healing done right, read The Crack At The Heart Of Everything.
This story starts off with a rivalry between a grumpy Black Cat dark wizard and a Golden Retriever charming general and turns into a journey across wasted lands to mend not only the huge cracks of the lands but the crack inside the wizard's heart.

What I most adored about this is the banter and chemistry between Orpheus, our grumpy wizard, and Fenrir, the sunshine general who steals his guarded heart. There are also loveable sidecharacters like Red, the engineer, a tough woman with a heart of gold, and Farris, the instructor of safety rules.

This heartwarming tale wonderfully blends elements of magic and technology and I loved witnessing Orpheus get exposed to so many things for the first time in his life due to his sheltered existence before, which is the doing of the Empress Lore because - that's for you to find out.

Overall The Crack At The Heart Of Everything went in a direction I did not fully expect but I loved the story even more for it. It's sad and heartbreaking but also so wholesome and heartwarming at the same time as Orpheus and Fenrir overcome the obstacles thrown at them.
I think everyone needs a Fenrir in their life.
It's worth it for all the banter and every healing hug.

Thank you to Fiona Fenn, the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC!

What a stunning debut novel by Fiona Fenn! I adore a story with a morally grey characters and I fell in love with Orpheus’s story. Following his redemption arch and the grumpy/sunshine vibe it was the perfect cozy fantasy book to read.

I wanted to love this novel so badly. The premise is amazing!

I think this novel suffered greatly from trying to sell it's tropes though. Orpheus is at war with the author, who tosses in scenes to remind us that he is evil and grumpy, but I wasn't reading an evil wizard. I was reading an awkward shut in who didn't know how to socialize.

Maybe if the author had played into him being misunderstood more than truly evil it would have read more naturally. Instead we have him appearing indifferent to a man dying and then tripping and being goofy within the same fifty pages.

The background of the story is interesting, but our characters growth is accelerated and the romance took center stage when I wish we'd just seen more from all our characters, particularly those harmed by Lore's conquest. I'd also like to know more of the world building in general. There was such a good story in the background and I wish it had a chance to shine more.

I still enjoyed the story as a whole though, and see a great deal of promise for the author. I'll be buying a copy for my shelves as well.

2.5 rounded up

This was an instant read off Netgalley. This book was something completely different than what I thought it would be, and not in a good way.

A basic synopsis without spoiling: we follow Orpheus, a mage who grew up with the now evil queen his former best friend as she discards him out into the chaotic empire which he helped her create all while having a curse follow him. He completely regrets his decisions as the empire is in shambles and whines for about 75% of the book while traveling around the empire with the queen's general Fenrir, whom he eventually develops a very bland and unbelievable relationship with. They work together along with other characters throughout the book to try to correct what was done in the kingdom and thwart the evil queen while we also getting background of how this all came about throughout the story.

The story was way too slow at parts, but did start picking up by the end. I did like some of the action segments throughout and the mix of sci-fi elements and fantasy, but I found myself bored for a majority of the book. I also could have done without hearing the nickname Fifi hundreds of times throughout the story. Lastly, it should be a sin for a book with such a beautiful cover to not turn out good.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend this one, but give it a try if interetsed as you may like it.

**Thank you, NetGalley, for sending an ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

What to expect:
📍Post apocalyptic setting
📍Steampunk vibes
📍Long pinning
📍Stow burn
📍Past trauma
📍Bantering
📍Himbo ML

First of all, I loved the novel. It was an enjoyable read, and I wish the author a successful debut. However, I would like to use this review to bring to light some issues that I'm surprised have not been mentioned by other readers. I have no intention of insulting or criticizing the book itself, and would like this to be taken only as a concern about how it is being sold and to what audience.

As a regular reader of the genre, I do not consider this to be "epic fantasy", I would hardly call it fantasy. Yes, the author's style has a clear influence in classic texts of the genre, and the protagonist sees himself as a wizard from the books he reads, but it is just that, an image built by the character himself and his way of dressing and behaving, his mannerisms and his way of seeing the world through his experience as a reader. This does not detract from the fact that it is a story set in the future, and it could be inferred from the references to classical Greek culture and other intertextualities that it is set in our world. That all the "magic" is the result of scientific experimentation and that the "fantastic world" is simply a possible result of an apocalyptic event that has brought human society to a standstill. That is not fantasy in my mind. Maybe a post-apocalyptic story with fantastical elements.

Not to mention steampunk vibes: machines? Electricity? Fuel? The MC considers himself an engineer? Call me crazy, but I read a completely different book than what the reviews, the synopsis and all the marketing is selling.

That doesn't change the fact that it's a good story. That the world is well-built, that the characters are incredibly human, and that the plot, with all its ecological messages and reflections on the not-too-distant future, is very interesting (am I reading too much between the lines? Because if I had a penny for every time it is mentioned that they are going to "heal" the planet, I would have several, which is not much, but it is the first time I have read that the destruction of a world is addressed as a "disease". And it is not the only element that made me think about eco-literature...)

Adding the part that I did not see the enemies to lovers trope, is probably too much for a single review. Suffice it to say that there is banter, and perhaps at some point there was jealousy on the part of one of them, but never direct confrontation, hatred, or rivalry. It is clear from the beginning that at least one of them is in love. But let's leave it there.

All in all, a great book, an even better debut, and a very good read. If only it were aimed at the right audience, with the most accurate tags and tropes, I wouldn't be so frustrated.

PS: I would also like to thank the author for giving me the opportunity to review the book and hope that it is clear that me opinion is just another way of looking at the book.

"The Crack at the Heart of Everything" is a really enjoyable read and I was sad that it was over. The rivalry and the slow build up of the relationship of Orpheus and Fenrir was awesome. I really enjoyed Fenrirs careful and teasing behavior towards Orpheus. They both saw the consequences of their actions and at the end worked together to make it better again. The only thing that I wished there was more of is the world building. Nevertheless, I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes a redemption ark and a story about the bad guys who then turn good.

A big Thank You to Fiona Fenn, Tiny Fox Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an exciting and engaging adventure, and I loved seeing the main character’s personality become more developed throughout the course of the story!

Thanks to NetGalley, Tiny Fox Press, and the author for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I loved it so much that I couldn't put it down and read it in one go. Even now, I continue to think about some moments in the book <spoiler>(like that crossbow one in the end)</spoiler>.

The author succeeded in making me care about their characters by showing me how they interact with the world around them. After the first pages, I could already see who they were and their struggle; I just loved Orpheus and Fenrir—even Lore. Their relationship was on point, sometimes so sweet and other times just heartbreaking. When the author says that their book is character-driven, it is. There wasn't one character that I disliked or found that their actions didn't match what the author told me about them.

Also, the plot was really good. Full of development and surprises. When I thought I knew what would happen, there was a twist that challenged everything I thought. The author is also not afraid to put their characters in danger—even the main ones, and I liked it.

I think I would keep an eye on what Fiona Fenn will be writing next and I want a hard copy of this book when it will be publish.

**e-ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**

I would suggest “The Crack at the Heart of Everything” as a quick and easy read between more serious or dense novels. It took me a couple hours one evening to zip through it.

The character development of Orpheus was really well done. My initial judgment of Orpheus was that he was a two-dimensional character with a lot of naive, "poor me" angst. However, as the story progresses, Orpheus becomes a much more thoughtful and well-rounded character.

I'm a sucker for angst, so I really enjoyed seeing the world through Orpheus’ perspective. The world-building improved significantly later in the book, which made the first third a little hard to follow. In the beginning, scene-setting focused mostly on broad strokes and didn’t provide enough specifics to create a clear picture. For example, metal objects were mostly ‘dull gray’. landscapes were ‘dotted’ with all number of things, only standard colours were named (nuts were ‘a medley or reds and oranges’), mostly horizons glowed, and alcoves were dark.

In comparison, the action scenes were very well written and easy to follow. The writing was simple and fast-paced, with clear descriptions of what was happening to each character.

Overall, the plot moved at a moderate pace. At times, important events were alluded to but not well described. There seemed to be a lot of rich history between the characters, but there weren’t enough details to understand fully what happened or why it affected the characters and their relationships.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world, which left a lot of unanswered gaps that aren’t addressed satisfactorily. I felt the story could have maintained its key elements if it had been shifted to a steampunk setting, but that was just a passing thought I had while reading.

My biggest critique of the book is on a line-by-line level. The author uses very simplistic language, which makes it a quick read; however, this approach made the world-building and character descriptions feel shallow. Where a single strong adjective could have created a vivid picture, the author instead relied on repetitive phrases and stripped-down descriptions.

On the balance, I enjoyed gobbling this book up as a quick and easy pallet cleanser.

Fantastic debut and a great start to what I can tell will be a hit series!

Great characters a touching romance and interesting world building this book will hook you in fast I finished this in a day I couldn’t put it down!

I’m looking forward to get more into fenrirs story

I really, really liked this book. I stayed up far too late finishing it, heart in my throat, racing toward a hoped-for happy ending that felt impossible—and while I won’t spoil the way it played out, I’ll just say that I wasn’t at all left disappointed. Even the ending for Lore, the devastating Dark Lady at whose behest Orpheus ravaged the world, felt fitting and satisfying.

There are a lot of tropes that can and probably will be applied to this book—grumpy/sunshine, villain redemption, antagonists to lovers, et cetera—but the story is so much more than tropes. At no point was I able to confidently predict what would happen next. The dropped-into-the-action beginning left me initially a bit confused, but after about the first chapter I got my bearings and started to become fully immersed in this strange, dark, fascinating world—which leaves some unanswered questions about its history and nature lurking in the background, but not so many that I was unable to enjoy the storyline and characters.

Recommended for anyone interested in character-driven, dark-but-sweet queer love stories about making amends and finding your place in the world.

The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn
Rating: 4.25/5

I had the wonderful opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley, for which I want to express my gratitude! This is the first book I’ve read and reviewed as an ARC reader, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Summary:
He accidentally cursed himself...

When the consequences get him exiled to the land he helped terrorise, can this evil wizard find redemption... and love?

Orpheus can’t believe it’s come to this. After helping his childhood friend conquer the realm by raising an army of hell-beasts, the befuddled dark sorcerer finds himself banished when the price of his magic endangers the palace. Isolated and betrayed, the feared spellcaster isn’t exactly thrilled when his irritating and handsome rival keeps stepping between him and certain doom.

Ill at ease in the barren wasteland his powers created, Orpheus slowly warms to the charismatic ex-general’s relentless overtures. But as his feelings grow more intense, the former villain struggles with an inconvenient calling towards heroism.

Will dabbling in good deeds get him killed or open the doors to happily ever after?

Plot & Pacing:
The plot centres on redemption, romance, and finding a new path after making devastating mistakes. I liked how the story took its time to develop Orpheus' internal struggle while also balancing the external dangers. The romance element felt natural and integrated, but it never overshadowed the broader themes of magic, fear, and survival in a hostile, dystopian-like world.

The pacing was consistent throughout the book. It didn't rush, and I was thoroughly invested. The mix of character-driven moments with action and world-building kept me engaged without feeling bogged down.

Characters:
The characters were fantastic! Fenrir has completely stolen my heart. I’m a huge fan of stories with a Sassy King or Queen, and Fenrir more than delivers. He’s sharp, charismatic, and utterly charming. Orpheus, the protagonist, is equally compelling—fun, witty, and deeply human in his vulnerabilities. His journey of emotional growth, learning to trust, and opening up throughout the story was a real highlight.

I do wish there had been a dual POV, as it would have been fun to see inside Fenrir’s mind, but Orpheus was a strong protagonist and a joy to follow. Both characters had depth, and their interactions were believable and enjoyable to read.

Romance:
I really liked the romance in this book. It was central to the story but never felt overwhelming. It fit seamlessly into the broader narrative of human connection amid a world filled with magic, fear, and danger. Orpheus and Fenrir’s relationship felt authentic—sweet, fun, and heartwarming. I especially enjoyed the way the enemies-to-lovers trope was handled here. It felt refreshing and added a lot of tension and excitement.

The only minor issue I had was with the use of a particular nickname in the romance, which wasn’t my favourite. However, I know this is my personal taste. But I was very invested in the relationship, and it was a beautiful part of the broader narrative.

Writing Style:
The writing in The Crack at the Heart of Everything is beautifully crafted. The prose flows wonderfully and carries a magical undertone that perfectly complements the story’s tone and themes. I was particularly struck by how accessible and engaging the writing was, even with my dyslexia. The lyrical, immersive style made the experience enjoyable, and it was a reminder that fantasy prose can be both enchanting and easy to follow. This inspired me as I work on the third draft of my own first book—especially as a beginner writer with dyslexia—showing me that rich, magical storytelling doesn't have to come at the cost of clarity.

One minor issue I noticed was that, at times, shifts in tone and word choice momentarily pulled me out of the story. Occasionally, the mix of what felt like contrasting styles of fantasy writing disrupted my reading flow. As someone with dyslexia, these sudden shifts were particularly challenging, making it harder to stay immersed in the narrative because my brain had to adjust to the changes in style. But overall, the writing added depth and atmosphere to the characters and world, enhancing the magical feel of the story.

World-Building:
The world-building in this book is a fun blend of classic fantasy and dystopian elements, and it works really well! Although I’m not usually the biggest fan of dystopian settings, the way it was combined with the magical and fantastical in this book made for a fresh and intriguing world. It added a unique flavour to the story, and the balance between the two genres felt just right.

There’s clearly a lot more to explore in this world, and I’m excited to see where the author takes it in future books.

Themes & Inspiration:
At its core, the story is about redemption, love, and finding your true self, even after making grave mistakes. These themes resonated with me, especially as Orpheus struggled with his past actions and his potential to change. The romance and personal growth were intertwined beautifully with these larger themes, giving the book emotional depth and a satisfying arc for the protagonist.

Additionally, the inclusivity in this world really stood out. The representation in characters and relationships was woven seamlessly into the fabric of the story, which I appreciated. It’s something I strive for in my own writing, so I found it refreshing to see it done so well here. It’s clear that diversity and acceptance are part of the heart of this story, and that’s something I’m all here for.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, The Crack at the Heart of Everything is a fantastic debut and an intriguing start to what I hope will be a rich, expansive series. With strong characters, heartfelt romance, and a fascinating world, it’s a solid 4.25 stars for me. I especially loved the inclusivity in the world, which felt natural and well-integrated. It’s always refreshing to see diverse characters and relationships in fantasy, and I’m here for it.

I can’t wait to dive deeper into this world, learn more about these characters, and, most importantly, spend more time with the sassy king that is Fenrir! This beautiful, warm love story at the heart of everything has me hooked, and I’m eager to see where Fiona Fenn takes it next.

Also: The cover is absolutely stunning!

The review is online on Goodreads and I will post the review also on TikTok on Saturday October 5th, both my Goodreads and TikTok can be found under the name meltriestowriteastory

Tell me why I read this whole book in one sitting?
The Crack at the Heart of Everything is a slow burn romance, but the kind that drops hints early on. The grumpy x duo are absolutely heartwarming: one grumpy, brooding, and possibly under a death curse; the other chivalrous and cheerful despite his secrets and past. From the nicknames the characters had for each other to the way they were always thinking of and trying to protect each other, even when they were met with uncertainty after both falling afoul of the same person, these two had my heart.
This novel is also just...fun. The setting is a Hell dimension-esque wasteland dotted with deadly beasts and mysterious fire, and it serves as a glorious backdrop to the sometimes goofy antics of our main characters. Do I wish we had a slightly clearer idea of the setting? Yes. Was it insufficient? No.
Altogether, this was a refreshing light-hearted read, and if you like cozy fantasy that spotlights queer romance, this might be one to pick up.

So, I'm really torn on The Crack at the Heart of Everything. I definitely enjoyed parts of it, but overall I think maybe the book was too short? There is A LOT of world building that had to happen, explaining how the world we know it got to how it was in the book, but this would sometimes leave the current world a little less explained. A good chuck of it was also left to second half of the book, but there is still a lot in the first half.. This lead to the first half feeling a little meandering, which threw off the pacing. This also messed with the timing of the romance. To get where the author needed Orpheus and Fenrir to be, Orpheus kind of speedran some of his feeling realizations. Also, personal note, I could not stand Fenrir's nickname for Orpheus. "Fifi" absolutely reminded me of a dog nickname and I didn't think it was cute, it just sounded condescending to the end.

I did like Orpheus. He's an interesting character and I love villain redemption stories, when done right. I do think Orpheus' redemption makes sense, I just think it would have worked better with a little more time, both word count wise and in universe wise. I also liked Fenrir, nickname aside. Red was fantastic. I found Lore interesting, but I think she needed a little more explanation, especially for some of her choices for the ending.

I don't think this book is bad or anything, I really just wish it was been more fleshed out. However, this does appear to be this author's debut book and I do think she has a lot of potential. I do think I would be interested in her next book.