Review: A Fate of Wrath and Flame

I used to read a lot more fantasy than I do now. But, then again, when I was a kid and teen, I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on in my small hometown library. For some reason, my adult self isn't drawn to fantasy but when I find a story I like, I really really like it. A Fate of Wrath and Flame is one of those books. I knew I wanted to read it because I love every single thing K.A. Tucker writes plus I wanted to see how I enjoyed a fantasy read. Turns out, I enjoyed it a lot.

Here's the book's description:

Gifted thief Romeria has flourished from her days as a street kid pilfering wallets to survive. Now she thrives, stealing jewels from the rich under the involuntary employ of New York City's most notorious crime boss. But when an enigmatic woman secures her services at swordpoint, Romeria is plunged into a startling realm of opposing thrones, warring elven, and elemental magic she cannot begin to fathom.
Her quest is straightforward: Steal a stone from Islor's sacred garden without anyone discovering her true identity, which would earn her certain death. But the identity she has inexplicably assumed is that of the captured Ybarisan princess--an enemy to Islor after she poisoned their beloved king and queen on the day she was to marry the prince.
Her betrothed, the newly crowned King Zander, detests her with every grain of his handsome being. Fortunately for Romeria, she is more valuable to him alive than dead. Zander gives her a choice: life in a cell, or an acquittal of all charges in exchange for her help in exposing the growing plot against him.
Romeria sees no other option and embraces the tricky role of smitten queen-to-be until she can escape, a ruse that brings her far closer to the king than she anticipated and threatens more than her safety. As she digs deeper into this sacred garden and the ancient feud between Ybaris and Islor, she discovers monstrous truths that could spell ruin for all. 

The novel opens not with Romeria, but with Sofie who is the aforementioned "enigmatic woman." It sets the stage for a story that's going to take place in a world that's not like our own and the reader has no idea how different it is going to be. It took me a bit to get into things but that, I think, was simply my own fault because I was only able to read in snippets. This is the kind of story that you need to sink into completely and not emerge from your reading cocoon until you're completely invested in the story. Or finished the book. Either or!

Tucker has said that she wrote this fantasy for herself and that it reignited the writing spark for her. Also, that it might not be a "true" fantasy that readers might be expecting. Given I don't read a ton of the genre, I didn't really care if it didn't tick all the boxes it was "supposed" to. To me, a fantasy novel is a fantasy novel if there's magic and/or creatures that aren't found in our world. This novel had both. And I was into it. 

Tucker takes the route of having a clueless main character and allowing the reader to learn more about the world they've been dropped in right alongside them. Romy has no idea where she is or that the people who surround her may not be human. She learns things in bits and pieces and, by extension, the reader learns things too. I think it was an effective way to do things as the reader didn't feel like they were alone in their "what the hell is happening and who are these people?!?" feelings. It meant I was constantly playing catch up, which is a bit exhausting to start, but I eventually was able to let some of that go and just roll with the info I was given and trust that it would all make sense in the end.

There's a delightful bit of romance throughout and the "will they, won't they" sexual tension between Romy and Zander is hot. I will say I found myself more drawn to Elisaf, a guard and one of Zander's closest confidantes. I'm not entirely sure why. *shrugs* Zander is a really attractive hero - both inside and out. And Romy is just as fantastic. They make a great pair even though it seems like absolutely everything is against them. 

Raise your hand if you're also swooning over this cover! Hang Le is an absolute master and I love every cover she does.

I really enjoyed A Fate of Wrath and Flame and I wish I could have the next book immediately. I'm definitely going to make sure to carve out a chunk of time to read book two so I can completely lose myself (again) in the world K.A. Tucker has created. I think this has proved she's a master at many genres and I can't wait to read what she publishes next. Also: I am now taking fantasy recommendations. And go!

Buy a copy of A Fate of Wrath and Flame
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About the Author
K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.
She is the internationally bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series, He Will Be My Ruin, Until It Fades, Keep Her Safe, The Simple Wild, Be the Girl, and Say You Still Love Me. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher’s Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.
K.A. Tucker currently resides in a quaint town outside of Toronto.

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*An egalley of this novel was provided by Valentine PR in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*