This was a really good one! Bound to a shadow, Katerina feels a remarkable draw towards Niko. Their bond should end at a partnership in defending the underworld, but they're tempted to go further. If they do, the results will be disastrous.

I couldn't wait for this series and wow book 1 is amazing. The characters are so well written and the storyline is so good. Emily will break your heart then try and put it back together again. There are so many different emotions you will feel when reading this book and you will get sucked in and not want to put it down. It's a definite MUST read and I can't wait for more.

I struggled with this one. Normally I can finish a book in 1-2 days and this took me almost a week. The plot point with the whole jealous over a guy was not for me. I didn’t like the random POV changes either.

The core of the story between Katerina and her shadow was the best part. The prose itself was also well written.

3.75 ⭐️

this book started out strong. i really liked the world building (it's a bit dense, just a warning haha) and lore. i felt like it kind of dropped off in the middle though. there was a lot of information that felt repetitive, and i think that really affected the pacing here. it just really slowed until like ~60% when things started to pick up again.

despite this, i enjoyed the book. i'm invested in the story. it's not really a cliffhanger ending, because there are things resolved from the book, but it's more setting up for the next book and the second half of the story.

i enjoyed the characters, especially the demons. they had personality that i was not expecting and it's very enjoyable.

Firstly, the cover on this is absolutely beautiful and I am absolutely obsessed with it !

The story was a whole vibe from start to finish and I loved it ! .

I would recommend this book to everyone and anyone who loves to read !!

For me this was a 4 stars book and if you want to see a new type of magic, with forbidden love and high steaks, I totally recommend this book. It is the first book in The Bone Moon Duology.

I liked the fact that this book is Slavic-inspired, because I get a bit of something new compared to other books, and having something unique is usually a plus for me. The characters are complex and well developed, and the story has many layers making it interesting enough, but not taking from the romance at all. The book was easy to read and the pace was just right, so I didn't get bored at any point.

What I liked less is the fact that you get dropped right into the middle of the events and since there are multiple POVs, the story can be a bit confusing at first, but after you understand what's going on and who is who, the book becomes a pleasant experience.

All in all, if you like romantasy books with a strong FMC, forbidden love and high steaks, give this book a try

I love a duology, so I was excited to get started on a new one, and I will be continuing this. I really enjoyed this book, that being said, I feel like the main plot got lost after around 40ish% and kind of took a really long side quest. I loved the main characters, 1 particular side character was infuriating but so well written and I hope we see where she ends up in the next one.
Overall, a good read, the pacing a little off for me, but will be reading the next one. 🫶🏻

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Fate and Fury is a beautifully crafted tale of love, sacrifice, and darkness that stands out from your typical romantasy. It feels like the kind of story that could have been told to you by a loved one, filled with mythic weight and emotional depth.

What I Loved:
- Katya: Our FMC is a force to be reckoned with. Her strength, resilience, and unwavering determination made me respect and root for her every step of the way.
- Niko: He’s the definition of a dream. Loyal, honorable, and protective, he’s the ultimate “touch her and die” hero. His declarations of love were so heartbreakingly beautiful, they made my knees weak.
- Elena: Her character arc was a thing of beauty. You can’t help but feel for her as you watch her evolve throughout the story.
- Worldbuilding: The world is rich and immersive, layered with mythology that feels timeless. It’s intricate, haunting, and perfectly balanced with action and emotion.
- Emotional Impact: The author broke my heart, made me cry, and left me reeling—and I loved every second of it 😍


What Could Be Better:
- Katerina's inner monologue occasionally dragged, and I found myself skipping a paragraph here and there.
- Some scenes felt like they didn’t directly impact the main plot, but they likely served to set the stage for book two. In hindsight, I can’t fault the author for that—she's building something epic.

Overall:
This book is beautiful, action-packed, haunting, and utterly heartbreaking. It’s a must-read for fans of epic romantasy and stories that don’t shy away from breaking your heart to pieces. While it didn’t quite reach my Pride and Prejudice five-star bar, it came damn close. I’ll be counting the days until book two releases.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ARC!

Fans of wolves and witches will enjoy this fantasy novel. Witches bond with a wolf to battle demons. The wolf protects the witch and keeps her from demon possession while the witch uses elemental magic to protect the wolf from demon venom. Witches are free to choose any mate (except their bonded wolf), while wolves mate with Vilas. Vilas are female citizens that carry on the Vila and Wolf lines. Now that is out of the way, Katerina faces a dilemma of duty versus heart. She must make choices that either place her town and civilization's needs above her own or she must choose to follow her heart. Filled with supernatural characters and spicy scenes that might be best prescreened or for mature readers, this first story (of 2) is full of drama and action.

Fate and Fury is a beautiful and unique retelling of Greek Mythology's Hades and Persephone with a distinctive magic system.

The characters were well developed, multifaceted, and complex. The story was not too fast paced, nor too slow with descriptive writing that really appealed to my hyperphantasia. I also felt that the themes of action and romance were well balanced in order to build the story more effectively. I appreciated the minimal spice, despite it being labeled as an adult book.

Overall I really enjoyed this unique take on the Greek Mythology aspect of the book, as this is something that very much appeals to me personally. When you add in the elements of forbidden romance, witches, and shifters, this truly is a book you cannot put down once you get sucked in!

3.5⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Emily Colin for the opportunity to ARC read this book.

This is a forbidden love romantasy with a mixture of Slavic lore and magic. This follows Katerina who is a very powerful magic welder, drawing power from all 4 elements unlike the usual one. She is trying to save her hidden world and people from being destroyed by the darkness that lurks.

For me, this story had great promise however I felt that there was a little too much information to digest with too many side characters and places/names that were hard to visualise despite the heavy world building.

I liked the FMC and MMC well enough and was happy to read their love story however I would like to see more of Katya being the powerful woman she could be. I will be happy to read the second part of this duology.

Reading the synopsis you had me sold at the Slavic inspired story and bonded pairs (and being taboo? sign me right up!).

Reading the book was ... slightly different. While I did really like the Slavic elements and the whole world building and the magic system, I had troubles with how long this book was, sometimes unnecessarily long in parts and repetitive.

My other problem was the writing. Often I have trouble tracking several POV's and this happened here, I caught my mind wandering on several POV's instead of paying attention. There are scenes and dialogue that made me cringe instead of swoon and sigh but in a bad way. And finally, the main reason why I am rating this so low - the main characters did not make me fall in love with them at all. I didn't particularly like Katerina and Niko was... not what I expected.

Maybe I had too high expectations for this that I set up before reading and thus my disappointment is bigger? But I don't know. I wish this was just more my cup of tea but sadly it turned out not to be.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Netgalley and the author.

This book had everything you could possibly want from a Romantasy novel.
Wonderful world building which allows you to fully embrace the world in which you are transported to, and amazing characters you easily find yourself rooting for throughout.

To sum it all up, it was a wonderful read!

Romance Fantasy - forbidden love story. With witches (Dimi), shapeshifters (shadows), demons etc.
The story is about Dimi Katarina and her shadow Niko.
Together they are bonded and fight to protect their village/ kingdom from demons. Best friends since childhood, Katarina has fallen in love with Niko - but this is strictly forbidden. A prophecy is in place that would bring about the end of their world if they were to cross the line and be together. Also, Niko is about to be promised to another woman (Vila - Elena) in their village - following their traditions to keep the shadow line going. But what happens when they both succumb to their passion and love? How can they save a world they have now set in darkness?
Ok, so why 2 stars - the premise I thought was promising. I like the protective MMC angle. Katarina is a strong FMC, with good sass and banter. Cons - I felt like this book could have been 100-200 pages shorter. The plot was getting too drawn out and repetitive for me, and I was losing interest and starting to skim. Also I take issue when books start throwing out far too many complicated names and secondary characters. It starts to lack focus for me. So going into the saints and the hierarchy in the underworld, and the royals and then the elders in the village. It just alienated me from the story I found. Just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to Net Galley and the author for sending me an ARC of this book. This is everything I look for in romantic fantasy: great world building, great magic system and a couple to root for in the action. Niko and Katerina's romance is filled with yearning and forbidden love, one of my personal favorite tropes. Once the story gets going, it is very fast paced, action packed, and leaves you wanting more. I'm excited to see where this series goes!

Interesting lore/magic, but I'm not sure that I have any interest in reading the next one. And here are some more characters to bump us up so I can post this frigging thing.

Absolutely incredible. I don't often get sucked into books these days but this one had me by the throat. I don't know whether to call it romantasy with a side of emotional trauma, or emotional trauma with a side of romantasy, but the sizllung tension here was off. The. Charts. I have never needed two characters to get together so badly and have never been so terrified when they did. Emily Colin does a masterful job of infusig every scene with sky-high stakes and every decision with meaning, and the result is that I FELT every word of this book. Not to mention the villains are some of the best I've ever encountered--layered and complex and, at times, sympathetic. Easy 5 stars and I can't wait for the next one!

Thank you Netgalley ,author and publisher for the opportunity to review this intriguing story through and ARC read.Below is my honest review

My Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Fate and Fury offers a unique and captivating story, blending elemental magic with Slavic-inspired lore and a forbidden romance that adds just the right amount of tension. The world-building stands out as one of the book’s greatest strengths. The magical elements, tied so closely to the natural world, feel fresh and immersive, making the setting come alive with vibrant details. The lore and traditions woven into the story are compelling, giving the narrative a sense of depth and authenticity that fantasy readers will appreciate.

At the heart of the book are Katerina and Niko, two characters whose bond is as powerful as it is dangerous. Their connection is forbidden by the laws of their world, yet it’s impossible not to root for them as they navigate the challenges thrown their way. The push-and-pull of their relationship is emotional and intense, providing a strong emotional anchor for the story. However, while their chemistry is undeniable, some of the dialogue between them occasionally falls flat, dampening the emotional impact of key moments.

While the book’s premise and characters are engaging, the execution is uneven at times. The pacing, particularly in the middle sections, slows considerably. Repetitive scenes and a lack of forward momentum make these parts feel sluggish, as though the story is circling rather than advancing. This drags down what is otherwise a gripping narrative. The writing itself is also inconsistent, with certain passages feeling overly descriptive or clunky, breaking the flow of the story. These moments pull you out of the immersive experience the book is trying to create.

Another area where the book falls short is in the development of its supporting characters. While Katerina and Niko are well-drawn and compelling, the side characters feel underexplored. Their motivations and backstories remain too vague, leaving them as little more than plot devices rather than fully realized individuals. This lack of depth occasionally makes the world feel hollow, as though only the main characters are truly alive within it.

Despite its flaws, Fate and Fury delivers a story that has heart, creativity, and potential. The elemental magic and Slavic-inspired setting are refreshing, and the emotional stakes between Katerina and Niko are enough to keep readers invested. While the writing could benefit from tighter editing and a more balanced pace, the book lays a solid foundation for what could be an exciting series.

It’s not a perfect read, but it’s an intriguing one, earning a respectable 4.5 stars for its originality and emotional core. If the next installment can refine the pacing and bring more depth to the broader cast of characters, it could easily become a standout in the fantasy genre.

I feel like I slept on this book and now I’m counting the days until I can read the next book. Katya and Niko are the pair that would burn the world down to keep their word and honor their duties, until love is involved. The 3 sided spiritual/magic entity system is unique to this story with a Dimi being attached to a Shadow and a Shadow married to a Vila. I wish we saw more of the trials but it provides a good reason to visit the main city. There are twists and turns to the prophecy and once I got going in the story I couldn’t stop!