Fates Entwined

by Jules Barnard

• ISBN10: 1985323729
• ISBN13: 9781985323728
• Publish Date: 15 February 2018 (first published 18 April 2017)
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 288
• Language: English

Reviews

[Cocktails and Books]

This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books

The minute Reese and Keen met each other, I knew theirs was going to be a story that rocked Keen's world.

Keen and Reese were like oil and water. They bickered, argued and fought a hot attraction to each other, all while they had to fight her kidnappers and the new Fae squabble going on.

Fae politics aside, Keen had to deal with his own prejudices against human and what that meant when it came to Reese. He hid behind the guise of protector her, but it was more protecting himself and his belief system. He didn't want to think he could be wrong, which led to more confusion and hurt feelings on Reese's part.

With the Fae world in continued upheaval, Reese learns more about her true family. Like Elena, she had to come to an understanding about what she had been lead to believe and what reality was. It wasn't always easy, but in the end Reese ended up with her unconventional family that loved her no matter what.

Another great entry in this series. I look forward to seeing where things will go next.

[layawaydragon]

The Good
+Unique twist on Fae
+Invested in the characters
+Not as many problems as Fates Divided
+Enjoyed the journey
+Thrilling action
+Will Read the Prequel

The Bad & The Other
-Ugh angels=blonde & white again
-Don’t like angels, hate their mythology in general
-Heteronormative gender norms, stereotypes & slut shaming
-Virgin woman with Player Guy



Most of those in the list are the same as Halven Uprising #1, Fates Divided. If you read and loved that, it's an easy choice to continue. If the rape and heteronormative bullshit worries you, there's no rape and the rest far toned down in Fates Entwined though you're stuck with the He-Man Protector and Pure Virgin. If you're all about dat fantasy plot, know that it thickens, moves forward, and thickens again like a chef going from white wash to a roux. (too bad it's still white...)

Even though it follows a different couple and acts like you haven’t read the previous work, I must stress that you read it in order. I can’t imagine trying to wrap my head around all the people, politics, ties, lies, betrayals without that foundation.

Fates Divided: Romeo & Juliet style romance; special ultra-powerful snowflake girl; hunky, tall protector; perfect first time sex; New Fae characters; Blond(e), pale Nord Fae; politics and war; blah blah blah ANGELS!!; Fantasy Racism; Rape; Heavy on the heteronormative gender norms;

Fates Entwined: Opposites Attract romance; not-so-useful shorty blonde girl; hunky, tall protector; perfect first time sex; New Fae characters; Blond(e), pale Nord Fae; politics and war; blah blah blah ANGELS!!; Fantasy Racism; Leery, Creepy Men; Not so heavy on the heteronormative gender norms;

Fates Entwined follows Reese and Keen, as Keen tries to track down and rescue Reese from her Fae kidnappers. We do see the first ultra-power royal couple Elena and Derek again, but they’re supporting this round. Which felt weird given how their special snowflakes and the plot revolves around getting them back on their thrones to fix things.

While there are successful novels following characters in the periphery of The Chosen Ones or whatever, Fates Entwined didn’t sit right for most of the book. I kept wondering where all the important people where and what the point was in following these two. Until the climax, that’s like “OHHHH”.


Given who I suspect the next couple is, things are getting more complicated (while nothing from the first two books is completely resolved anyways), more in-depth in Faeland and shouldn’t have the same issue.

To be honest, I was happy to find out what happened to Reese and Keen and thought I’d be done with the series afterwards. Even with the “Uh-oh” ending.

Then I read the blurb for the prequel novella and I’d love to know how Elena’s parents worked out together. (Though I’m sure that’d creep Elena out given the sexual content in the series, lol)

I really hope SOMETHING gets handled in the third book because too much is in the air now, adding more without closure is bound to run me off.

While less problematic, it still rates half a star lower for the un-protagonist-like feel and no longer NEEDING to continuing the series as soon as possible. But I'm still grabbing that freebie, Fates Altered and finding about how it all started. Maybe that'll help.