I have such conflicting feelings about this book. I read it pretty fast and while it flowed nicely I didn’t absolutely love it. I’m not a huge fan of the love triangle and by the end of book 1 we knew that’s where it was headed. So much is uncertain for Nat throughout the book which is why I understand the choices she makes but am not totally thrilled with them. It was a very intriguing choice to put the truth to the whole mystery in the prologue. I’m not sure if I’m loved it or hated it. I am excited for book 3 because of (spoilers) yay cliffhanger 😍 3-3.5 stars

Book 2 in the Stolen Beauty series had me hooked way quicker than book 1. I liked Natasha better this time. She seemed to think more clearly. She still hides a lot of things from Braxton, but it makes sense. I enjoyed the way secrets and unknowns became revealed, and how, like Natasha, I was never truly sure who was trustworthy. It'll keep you on your toes and wanting to know more! The ending definitely leaves questions unanswered to be continued in the next book, which I look forward to reading!

What an amazing follow up to the first book where we continue on with the plot line and everything seems to be coming together very nicely. The pacing was much better than the first book and the characters have become more in depth. I really enjoyed reading this book.

Ruling Destiny is the second book in Alyson Noel’s Stealing Infinity series. I would like to say that this is a standalone read, however, some events/conversations might make more sense if you have read Stealing Infinity, the first book.

After really being left with no choice but to accept the generous offer of reclusive tech billionaire Arthur Blackstone to move to his secluded, off-the-grid Gray Wolf Academy and forget anyone from her “old life”, Natasha (Nat) Clarke is finally feeling settled and at home. Since being at Gray Wolf, Nat has learned that time travel is possible. In fact, as one of Arthur’s Artful Dodgers she has traveled back in time aka tripped a handful of times. These trips aren’t just for fun. Each tripper is tasked with stealing various items from unsuspecting victims of the past, such as a hair clip or pocket watch. Usually, there isn’t anything specific required, but at times, the “get” is something of importance, like the original Mona Lisa. Nat is generally tasked with getting a special “get” that only Arthur knows about. One that she isn’t supposed to tell anyone else about if she’s tripping with several people. It’s a secret between them, and something that only she is able to retrieve.

Nat finds herself in a potential love triangle with two other Trippers. Braxton Huntley and Killian du Luce. Braxton is the guy who has intrigued her since before she arrived at Gray Wolf, whom she shares a connection with. Killian the guy who she rescued on a trip who somehow got stuck for four years in the eighteenth century. They both despise each other and accuse the other of being a liar and someone who can not be trusted.

The lack of trust fits in perfectly at Gray Wolf. “The whole culture at Gray Wolf is one of distrust and paranoia, which keeps us from being honest, open and truthful.” EVERYONE has secrets, including Nat, Braxton, and Killian. But for Nat, figuring out who she can truly trust will be a matter of life and death.

Ruling Destiny was one of those stories that made me excited to be a reader. I was hooked from the very beginning until the last page. The story answered some questions that were left unanswered at the end of Stealing Infinity. The moment when all the pieces are put together and your assumptions are confirmed is truly a moment of astonishment. While there are twists, turns, and secrets revealed more questions arise. Not only are you left wondering who at Gray Wolf is truly on Nat’s side, but what is Nat going to do and how in order to make sure that her family’s legacy remains intact and she fulfills her destiny.

I have no doubt that the final book in the Stealing Infinity series is going to be an intriguing, roller coaster ride, page-turner that will blow my mind in the end. After all, I thought Stealing Infinity was good. Ruling Destiny was even better. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“We’re always writing our own stories, and it’s the ones we play on repeat that determine our destiny.”

“Sometimes you have no choice but to do the wrong thing for all the right reasons.”

“Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

“You’re worth the risk.”

“I will always find my way back to you.”

Ruling Destiny is the sequel to Stealing Infinity by Alyson Noel. With Stealing Infinity we were left with so many questions and unfortunately Ruling Destiny does so much more, and leaves us with a cliffhanger, which I equally love and hate.. I wasn't a huge fan of the romance aspects in this installment, but still found myself hooked and wanting to know what is happening. There's something about these stories that I really enjoy - either the fantastical elements or the historical aspect, I really enjoy it! I cannot wait for the next book - seriously, how are you going to leave us on a cliffhanger like that?!

Thank you NetGalley for the Ebook in exchange for an honest review.

As the world is still a huge question mark to me, I was glad to see there was more world building and explaining in this book.

Writing style is easy to understand and you can read the chapters quickly.

So Book Two started off where Book One ended.
Nat is still at grey wolf, still together with Braxton and now has a very complicated relationship with Killian.

In my opinion it was very hard to get into the book, as for the first half of the book I wasn’t interested in anything that happened - like in the first book most of the exciting stuff happened in the second half.

The pace picked up toward the end and because of the plot twist at the end I gave the book 3 ⭐️

All in all it has second book filler vibes. I do not know if I will read book three, depends on when it will be released.

#RulingDestiny:⁣
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“Enjoy your studies,” he says. “But remember: poor is the pupil who does not surpass his master.” ⁣
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Thank you @entangledteen for my gifted copy! ⁣
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I have lots to say on this review. Number one, how dare you? I’m kidding, or am I? The last 25% was absolutely wild. So many lies, so much deception, so many timelines! ⁣
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Definitely a great sequel to book one, this started right where we left off. (I forgot about Mason until he appeared won’t lie) We’re stuck with Tasha trying to figure out all the interesting puzzles and exactly who we can trust. This is definitely a true YA in the sense that some of the betrayal is very rash and out of left field, but it’s a great follow up. ⁣
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I was 100% still entertained and couldn’t put the book down. I’m glad we got additional information about her dad 🥺 and there were different venues for the trips! All the artifacts/paintings/events that took place are amazing to learn about, so I’m so happy to see them in this time traveling book. Overall, I’m needing book 3 like yesterday and need all the closure! I cannot wait! ⁣
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Out now!⁣
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QOTD: If you could travel back in time, where/when would you go?

All of us at Gray Wolf— including Braxton, and certainly me— we are all liars here.

Ruling Destiny was a fast paced romantasy with a love triangle that will keep you on your toes! With so many answers swirling within the pages, I loved how that ending left us desperately needing that next book now! And with short chapters, it was easy to keep entertained, and always needing to know what happened next.

“So, which is it?” I snap. “Are you angry or worried?”
Killian loosens his grip. “Can’t I be both?” His voice is thick in a way that has me averting my gaze. “If something were to happen to you—”
“Arthur would never forgive you. I know.” I grind out the words.
“No, Shiv,” Killian says, looking at me in a way I’d rather not see. “It’s me who’d never forgive myself.”

The two love interests Killian and Braxton left me constantly guessing. Was Killian truly bad or just acting paranoid around Baxton because he couldn’t trust him? Or where we supposed to think that Braxton was the one we shouldn’t trust? Both of these men kept us and Natasha in the dark. Over what truly happened in their pasts and other aspects about them too. The things we learned, oh my goodness! I almost felt like it was Shatter Me all over again. I always chose the right person in love triangles, except for that series. BUT I’m still holding out hope and doubling down, which may go epically wrong haha. I’m hoping a certain someone will redeem themselves. Because Natasha and that one, oh my heart. They are the WHOLE story for me! The emotions he created within her, even if she wanted to deny them. I feel everything when they were together. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that final book. That things will flip around, because I love him so much *cries*! Yes there was so much more going on then the romance, but for me that was everything.

Without hesitation, Killian presses a hand to his heart and, in a solemn voice, says, “I swear to you, Shiv. I swear on the moon to every last word.”

Natasha did such a fabulous job of growing within these pages. While at times I thought she might be naïve, looking back she definitely wasn’t. She used her instincts beautifully. It was hard not to be impressed with her. Although her bravery definitely scared me a few times. And as her world expanded, I loved learning more about those that surrounded her. And her world. Ohhhhhh what we learned, it was mind boggling. I didn’t even think about those certain aspects. I was completely interested in learning more. So with drama, romance and stealing pieces from the past while trying to put clues together, this book was a magical ride!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of ruling destiny. I have been a long time fan of Alyson noel since I was younger and read her earlier works. I was so excited for this new series, although this is a book two already. I cannot wait for more from her.

Thank you to Entangled teen for my complimentary eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Great continuation of the story started in Stealing Infinity. The mystery continues as life at Gray Wolf is starting to take its toll on Natasha. Who can she trust? I was sitting on the edge of my seat as I read this one. I could only take in a few chapters at a time because of all the tangled webs I was trying to unwind.

Great for readers who enjoy:
YA Fantasy
Time travel
Historical fantasy

Looking forward to the next installment!

En bref, j'ai aimé retrouver les personnages et j'ai dévoré les pages, curieuse de voir ce qu'ils allaient nous réserver. Les événements s'enchainent de plus en plus vite, le début est un peu long mais ensuite on ne sait plus où donner de la tête et j'ai adoré les voir se battre pour ce qui compte pour eux. Natasha va aller de surprise en surprise, certaines bonnes et d'autres qui le sont beaucoup moins et elle va devoir agir en conséquence. Elle m'a parfois un peu agacée mais on comprend aussi qu'elle soit paumée et cherche son chemin dans ce nid de vipères... Le final est pour le moins intense et je suis vraiment curieuse de voir ce que la suite va donner !!

Having not long finished 'Stealing Infinity' I was keen to get back into the time travelling world Alyson Noel has created. Noel did not disappoint and I was excited to see the next chapter of Gray Wolf Academy.

I really fell in love with Stealing Infinity (the first book in this series) last year. I rated it five stars. It was a total surprise hit with me: I found it to be charming, interesting, a ton of fun, and an absolute page-turner. I found it to be a breath of fresh air at the time for letting its fun flag fly and still managing to keep its time travel system consistent and not too weighty for the average reader. So I was really looking forward to this book and the continuation of the story.

Ruling Destiny is interesting and a page-turner. It may even be more interesting than Stealing Infinity due to the time periods our characters travel to, the artifacts they see and the people they meet. The plot is propulsive and compelling and that’s what keeps the pages turning. Sadly, a lot of the charm from the first book is lost to melodrama due to an unnecessary love triangle (seriously?) that takes up far too many pages and too much of the plot, and most of the fun got sucked out of the book by that absolutely dreadful love triangle, some convenient absences by certain characters, and protagonist Natasha’s constant brooding.

I’m sorry. I am. I can’t abide by love triangles. Not in this day and age. Not when the FMC usually has a strong will and backbone. Swooning over boys, brooding over boys, doubting herself, doubting her feelings…Natasha might as well be picking daisies and playing “He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not”. Love triangles are such an outdated and overdone trope I can’t stand reading them anymore. They ruin just about every book they touch. The only reason this book didn’t lose more stars (the four stars you see here are a very reluctant four stars) is because of how much I love the rest of the book that doesn’t involve the love triangle: the worldbuilding, the continued overarching plot, the mystery surrounding Natasha’s father, questioning whether or not Arthur should be allowed to complete his quest, why Natasha was the one chosen to do it…All of these things and more allow this book to keep those hard-earned four stars, because that love triangle made me an unhappy reader.

We’ll see what happens in the last book of the series when it's released, but this one leaves off on one heck of a cliffhanger. It’s a doozy.

I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All opinions, thoughts, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Fantasy Series/Book Series/Kindle Unlimited/KU/Science Fiction/YA Book Series/YA Fantasy/YA Fantasy Romance/YA Fiction/YA Sci Fi/Young Adult

I was super excited about this book, and it destroyed me from the start. But I love seeing a villain get his redemption. The book is fast-paced, filled with secrets and magic. The characters, especially Natasha, were developed nicely. I couldn't predict what would happen next, and I love that. I hope this series goes beyond three books because I need more of this world. Overall, a great follow-up with lots of mystery, magic, and sexual tension. Bring on the next one!

I read and reviewed Stealing Infinity last year. I loved it. The mystery, the time travel, the magic was all so well-written that I was sucked right into Gray Wolf Academy and that whole world. Time travel is something I’d truly love to do, so that part of this story is what first hooked me.

Thank you to Entangled Teen for inviting me to read the sequel, Ruling Destiny, and for the gifted e-arc. If it’s possible, I loved this book even more than the first.

WARNING: POSSIBLE SPOILERS FOR BOTH BOOKS FROM HERE FORWARD!

Ruling Destiny takes up where Stealing Infinity leaves off. The prologue tells a pretty big secret and starts this book off with a bang. So, I knew from there we were in for one heck of a ride. I was spot on!

There are so many secrets, twists, and turns that connect events and characters that I don’t know what I can say without giving something away. There’s no fun in that.

Alyson has written a fantastic story. The world building is so cool, borrowing from historical moments in time. The magical system is unique. The time travel reminded me somewhat of the original Star Trek TV series, and I loved that series. The Stealing Infinity series would make for an amazing movie or short TV series!

Natasha is strong-willed, impulsive, and so determined to prove herself that she doesn’t take the time to think her actions through first. This is infuriating to me at times. I understand the why behind it but it’s frustrating all the same.

Braxton and Killian seem like they both have their own agendas. Each assures Natasha that they are the one to trust and the one who has her best interests at heart. The more they talk, the more I’m convinced that neither of them is who they say they are. But that is for Natasha to figure out and decide on.

When things started coming to light, I was blown away. The secrets, lies, and betrayals would have laid me out. Natasha has other ideas, though. And, because of the major cliffhanger, we have to wait for Book 3 to find out what those ideas are! I need Book 3, like right now!

I highly recommend Ruling Destiny (after reading Stealing Infinity) to fans of fantasy, time travel, historical fantasy, adventure, quests, enemies to lovers, and mystery.

Whelp I obviously read that way too fast and now I'm STUCK with that ending and twiddling my thumbs until the next book.

Ruling Destiny takes off in a great place from Book 1, and continues with a fast pace and engaging story. I absolutely love the fact that the art mentioned in the story is from history and isn't made up.

I also love the mix of numerology and tarot and reading through Tasha's thoughts as she puts the clues together. For me, it adds so much to the story.

The time traveling aspect of this series is pure enjoyment and the next book cannot come soon enough. This is another favorite for 2023 and is one I highly recommend for fans of YA Fantasy.

I sincerely appreciate Entangled Teen for the review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ruling Destiny serves as a great follow-up to the first novel in this series, Stealing Infinity, though still left me wanting a little more from it.

I think Ruling Destiny was an overall fun read and answered a lot of questions I had after reading the first book (while also creating a lot more questions along the way). We also got to see a little more of some of the characters and dive a little deeper into them. Obviously, the main focus of the story is Natasha and her boys, Killian and Braxton. No spoilers, but there were some twisty twists which made me excited to find out what Natasha was going to do next.

The historical aspects again were fun, but also seemed to happen a little too quickly so I wasn't completely immersed in the world with Natasha. I was excited for her Regency England trip, but I felt like those scenes were too fast paced and left me a little confused by the whole thing--granted, by the end of the book, a lot of it made more sense.

I liked the appearance of historical figures! I think it makes it more fun when people you know pop up and interact with the characters.

I thought this was a solid sequel! There's still a lot to understand that makes things confusing, but overall I enjoyed reading it!

Back at Gray Wolf Academy!

And it was fabulous!

Natasha, Braxton, Killian and co are on the slippery slope of lies, deceit and there are secrets at every angle - who to trust?!

The above was delivered flawlessly and I ate up every moment! Braxton forevs!!!!

If you are thinking of reading this series then I urge you to because it is a gem!

Quick Summary: A thrilling ride!

My Review: Ruling Destiny by Alyson Noel is book two in the Stealing Infinity series. It is a masterpiece in storytelling and an epic adventure through time.

There is so much that I could say about this book. Much like the first, it catapults the reader into a stratospheric level of who, what, when, why, and the like. What seems most obvious is that questions, though answered, continue to spiral into more.

My Final Say: With character play, high emotions, and rampant intrigue, this installment rules.

Other: There are so many fantastic novels that should be promoted, but this one needs to be snapped up and broadcasted to the masses in every way possible. It is a whirlwind that deserves to be highlighted. Books, yes! Audios, yes! Series on television, yes! Movie, YES! I need more!!!

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: T to A
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Series: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Entangled Publishing), and to NetGalley, who provided access to a digital ARC of this work in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this book. I just finished it and I'm in awe!!
So many twists and turns with Killian and than another many twists and turns with Braxton. Wow my head was like "What is happening?", but then something would happen that contradicted what twist and I was like "What now??". I can't find enough words to explain!
Natasha kept improving as a character throughout the book. She's resilient, fierce and so intelligent. The way she handled what she found out about Braxton and then about Killian and then about herself, would kill anyone's mind. And even tho she was confused and shattered, she didn't cower and she managed to get what she needed to get and save the person she was supposed to.
That final chapter left me wanting to know what's happening now at that Trip she's making and Elodie blew my mind on that chapter... Gosh I can't make my kind about her, she's always confusing me more but what she did at the very very end left me as surprised as it did Natasha.
Another great book of this series. Gosh I need the 3rd book 😱