I’ve been catching up to Melissa de la Cruz’s books lately and so I wanted to stay ahead with Rings of Fate. This was a fun fantasy opener, but it was just a shy below what I wanted to become obsessed. Keep reading this book review of Rings of Fate for my full thoughts.
Summary
Aren Bellamore has no interest in being anyone’s princess. She’s too busy running the Raven’s Beak tavern, fending off unwanted marriage proposals, and dreaming of escape. But when a brush with death and a dangerously handsome stranger upend her life, Aren finds herself bound to a bargain that could change everything.
Prince Dietan has carried the cursed Rings of Fate ancient weapons of devastating power since childhood. The magic is killing him, and the enemies are closing in. To make the journey to reverse his curse, he needs a bride to hide his secrets. Aren wants freedom. Pretending to be his fiancée should give them both what they want.
But as their perilous journey pits them against political schemes, monstrous Kilandrar, and a growing attraction neither can deny, the line between make-believe and destiny begins to blur. And the fate of two kingdoms may depend on whether a cynical barmaid and a cursed prince are willing to risk their hearts.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Rings of Fate has all the elements for a fun fantasy with fake engagements, a quest to save the kingdom, forced proximity and more! Aren is resourceful, sharp tongued, and determined not to settle. So when a secret is divulged, a deal struck, she finds herself on this path to help save the kingdom. It just so happens she has to journey with a prince who can be a bumbling idiot, kind hearted, and is in desperate need of help. I liked both Aren and Dietan and the dual narrators definitely helped give these characters some life! There’s an element of this slow burn romance between them as they have to navigate emotional vulnerability and the line between fake and real.
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However, I felt like Rings of Fate was good, but it was nothing that stole my heart. I wish the characters had a bit more depth to them. I know this is book one of a series, so I’m hopeful for the future, but I also had pretty big questions about the world and the magic. I’m a big fan of world building, so for me, this was a bit frustrating as there isn’t THAT much magic and when it is, there isn’t that much explanation. I did like this almost reverse Tangled and mixed up Tangled vibes, but it was just something I read and enjoyed for the moment, not quite an obsession. Find Rings of Fate on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.