Matais and Ramona have been enemies since the day they were born. They may live in the same city but they treated the other one like they were invisible at all social and business functions. Shocking events cause the two of them to have to work with each other before their entire families business and wealth are destroyed. If they can find a way to look past everything they have been told or taught they may find out they actually like one another and finally have someone who truly understands what it's like to always have to make the hard choices and sacrifice so much for everyone else.

The chemistry between these two is electric and their story is truly enjoyable, I actually wish it was longer.

I loved this story. As usual this author captivated me. Matias and Ramona:s families have an inherited hate. Betrayal and a theft and brings them together. What a great read!

I love Ilona Andrews’ world building skills! This book is set in a world I wish I could visit. The characters are sharp and flawed and real. The fight scenes are so detailed and the plot surprised me more than once. I would absolutely recommend this book to a friend and I would reread it myself. I really enjoyed it!

4.5 STARS

The genetically enhanced reigning families of the planet beautiful Rada have been adversaries at odds, often times deadly ones, for generations. Two of the top groups, Baena and Adler constantly battle for power and dominance. They are enemies in every sense of the word until something so unthinkable happens, the two opposing family leaders must work together in order to avoid a catastrophe that would ruin them all.

Ramona Adler and Matias Baena have more in common that than realized: they are both workaholics, have political marriages that are less than satisfactory, and will do anything to save their respective companies and keep them in power. Their improbable alliance balances on a knife edge since each one has an enormous amount to lose; however, trust between the two rivals is a very difficult thing. Ramona and Matias each have skills that make them deadly opponents and an exponentially powerful force when they work together, if they can overcome many years of hate and mistrust.

Although Ramona and Matias are both married, their respective spouses have done something so very unthinkable from which there is no coming back. As Ramona and Matias find their footing together and learn each other’s’ history, they begin to discover that something more than just a working alliance is growing between them. Not surprisingly, politics has a big role to play in the planet’s problems and not only stemming from the families with superpowers.

Enemies abound and not just ones on the planet. This story is essentially about a war being fought by two people against very high odds. If they lose, it will mean a disastrous change for their home planet. With a high body count, special abilities, and mayhem abounding, fans of Ilona Andrews will be pleased with this new addition of number three in the Sci Fi Kinsmen universe. FATED BLADES can be read as a standalone though it will be made more enjoyable by reading the prior novellas.

This latest entry in the Kinsman series is a fun, quick read with great main characters and includes a strong, competent female lead. I look forward to each of the authors’ books and this one didn’t disappoint.

After literally a decade of being a complete and ardent fan of the writing duo Ilona Andrews, it shouldn't shock me at this point that they continue to write some of the best books in the genre. I can now safely add Fated Blades to the 5 star list of all the other books that I've written. It was absolutely 1 of the best books I've read in a while and I know I'll be doing a couple more re-reads when it officially comes out again. The action, humor, plot, etc were exactly what I was expecting and completely on point for a memorable and bonkers story! Thank you absolutely for writing this as it was as awesome as expected!!

Fated Blades has everything I love about this author. Witty dialogues, great character building, strong females, charismatic heroes, imaginative world building – I could go on. And it has a favorite trope of mine – enemies to lovers.

The couple started out as enemies, actually mortal enemies, but necessity makes for a great bed partner. It was very entertaining to see them realise that there is more to each other than a hated last name.

Ramona was my kind of heroine. Strong, accomplished, ruthless, and smart. She had a hard shell, and a careful nature, but her opening up to Matias felt right. Matias was the silent type. A workaholic, always in control, and easily mistaken as cold and emotionless. But in the end he was just waiting for the right partner to bring his passion to the surface.

I’m a sucker for a strong couple. When a heroine and hero complement each other – everything makes so much more sense.

So, if you love to get swept away in a magical world. If you need a book for an afternoon, a short novel for between bigger books, you need to pick up FATED BLADES. The novella is a great introduction to all things Ilona Andrews.

Most of all the length of the novella was incredibly satisfying.

It was ,much longer than expected, with 222 pages it’s almost as long as a regular book, or at least 2/3 of a book. The world building and character development was well done for the page length. Of course it is still a novella, so some instances would have been even more detailed in a full length novel, but I’m not going to complain – lol.

I loved it. This whole series is a love story to tropey, fun romance novels, and there's nothing better than reading a book written by people who understand and appreciate the genre while remaining true to their voice and style. Just wonderful. I read it in one night and immediately regretted not making it last longer. I hope they write more of these, because this series only has three novellas and yet the world feels so lived in! I recommend reading the first two novellas first just because they're great, but this one stands alone well, IMO. For my fellow Hidden Legacy stans, this is the other IA series I would recommend.

Review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

Content notes: lots of violence and some gore.

This is my second ever book from this author duo.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis and I have to say this book does not feel like a novella at all. I picked this up and was sucked into this magical world within minutes. The two rival houses/ families on this planet both have strong leaders/ heads of the family, and they are forced to join together for the greater good / to save their families.

The team of Ramona and Matias from enemies to an amazing team was perfect. I personally feel there was zero missteps in this book, the story was outstanding and I would love to have much more from this world. The world building and character development was on point for the whole story, there was never a part the felt slow/ dragged on.

This is the perfect book to take on a vacation, read on a rainy/ snowy day, or when you just want a book you know is going to be outstanding. Please write more for this universe, I need to know about the rest of the families.

Another engaging story by Ilona Andrews! I love the vibrant world that the authors have created. The planet of Rada is full of color, life, and culture.

After reading several mediocre books by other authors, it was so refreshing to return to quality writing and storytelling. I love that the two main characters are equals. They are both skilled fighters and business people. I enjoyed that it switched back and forth between their perspectives. I won't say too much about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything.

My only disappointment is with myself. I told myself that I would read it slowly. I wanted to take my time and savor it. Cut to me staying up late and reading it all in one night.

A well-written, edgy space opera version of Romeo and Juliet, set in the authors' Kinsman universe. As the leaders of their respective corporate clans on the planet Rada, Matias Baena and Ramona Addler are in a fierce competition to recreate the cutting-edge technology of the nano-enhancements that turned their ancestors--and them--into deadly killers. That is, until Ramona discovers that their respective spouses are cheating on them ... with each other. And worse , the spouses have stolen both companies' research and fled. Breaking all tradition against consorting with the enemy clan,, Ramona goes to Matias with the bad news. They have no choice but to join forces to recover their research. What ensues is much derring-do and gory mayhem. And, of course, romance.
(I recieved a free copy of this book from NetGalley.)

I am jumping for joy because I managed to snag a copy of this on Netgalley. Obviously I am not giving spoilers but will say I loved it enough to give it a five even though its a shorter read from this amazing couple.
This pair of authors have managed to develop a sci fi series completely unlike any other that I've read with abilities and situations unlike no other. I've read really short stories set in this world that were definitely quirky and humorous but this story simply upped the ante. The couple in this story are dynamic, loyal to a fault and definitely deserve to come out on top ! The action when it happens is fast, furious and yes bloodthirsty . Yet for this reader it was the mutual respect and trust gained between them that really had me eagerly turning the pages. If you are not a sci fi reader normally fear not because what you get here is quite simply a darn good story. Impossible to put down and who needs sleep ? Not this reader obviously and I would actually give more than five stars if I could because this was truly a page turner !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Even though this isn’t the first story set in in this universe, you can pick it up and start right in and know that you will not be lost. Ramona and Matias are both heads of their houses, descendants of genetically modified soldiers, and enemies. But when each other’s spouses have run off together with technology they both have been working on the reverse engineer the secret to the weapons they both are able to wield thanks to their tinkered DNA they join forces to hunt them down. The group that they runaway couple are selling the tech to belong to a group that Matias has crossed paths with before and they are deadly. If they get the tech then there is no telling how far they will go to take over other planets. Ramona and Matias work well together and develop a respect for one another.

The story is tightly plotted and the sparks do fly between them. The setting is great, and I really hope this does well enough to see them play more with this this setting.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley

I received a ARC from NetGalley to review( but I’m happily keeping my preorder as Ilona Andrew’s deserve every dollar for their amazing writing)

It’s fair to say I’m an Ilona Andrew’s fan! I’ve read every one of their books, including the short stories. But I was very late to the party when it came to the Kinsmen universe, and Fated Blades was the book the got me buying all the other books available. One snippet posted on the blog, and I was a goner! I am really hoping that Kinsmen get more full length books. I’d happily read books from this world m!!

Fated Blades is written beautifully, and includes a great storyline, fantastic world building, awesome fight scenes, and just the right amount of angst and romance!
Ramona and Matias are a perfect match for each other, and I couldn’t read the pages fast enough to see their story unfold.

4 ☆
Fated Blades is a galactic riff on the Romeo and Juliet theme. In New Delphi on the planet Rada, two warrior clans, known as secare, have been mortal enemies for hundreds of years. Kinsmen excel in the art of individual combat. But the secare is a breed apart as those among them with the genetic predisposition are bioengineered so that their arms can instantaneously project force fields either in the forms of shields or bladed weapons. To avert a bloody feud, the Baena and Addler secare clans pretend that neither exists.

"Matias [Baena] fixed [Ramona Addler] with his stare. 'To what do I owe the horror?'

'I came to ask two questions...
Do you know where your wife is?'

A wave of ice splashed Matias and evaporated into intense furious heat. His left hand clenched into a fist under the table."

Only betrayals that could destroy both families' businesses and futures could forge a temporary alliance. Each is head of their respective clans and they'll give it their all to safeguard them.

"[Ramona] had always thought [Matias] was cold, a closed-off distant man, with a stern glower. ... Who knew that there was fire underneath all that volcanic glass?

A stray thought flicked through her mind. It must be so nice having someone like him watching your back. Someone competent. Decisive. Someone who has his sh*t together. Too bad he's an enemy."

Fated Blades is the third in the Kinsmen series. As I haven't read the preceding installments, this can be read as a standalone. The first third of Fated Blades has story tension but the beginning still feels like a massive world-building info dump. Given that this is an alternate galaxy, some details that are reminiscent of earth, such as the same calendar days and metric measuring system, took me by surprise.

Ramona and Matias are appealing main protagonists. Empathy is quickly generated for them because of their plight as victims of gross betrayal. However, they don't seem to have any faults, which make them a little less than fully realized.

At about the 35 percent mark, Fated Blades became an absolute page-turner. This coincides with the first battle scenes and the secare skills are displayed in all their bloody glory. This is a great fun, romantic story, as can be expected from the IA duo. But I am also left a tiny bit unsatisfied by its brevity because all that world-building merits more. With only about 220 pages, this clocks in more as a novella than as a novel. If it weren't for my hopes of sequels in IA's other series, I'd clamor for more in the Kinsmen series.

Thank you to the authors, Montlake, and Netgalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Quotations in this review are from an uncorrected proof (ISBN 9781542037044) and may differ from the final version. Publication date is November 23, 2021.

Very excited to read this book as from the short stories I have enjoyed the Kinsman world. Yet again my anticipation was not disappointed.
One of the hallmarks of the writing duo that is Ilona Andrews is the skillful character development and growth. As a reader I enjoy when the story just flows from the words. The world building and characters are just a natural part of the story instead of having an add on paragraph to describe things or being force feed what the character is feeling.
I'm left wanting to know more of the Kinsman world and people in it. While reading the previous short stories would give you some insight this can definitely be read with no previous knowledge of the world.

I received an advance copy of this book on Netgalley. I am always amazed when authors have the capability of both displaying great action scenes that can be easily pictured as described but keep me engaged me in the overall story. The story is lovely with deep feelings about responsibilities and marriage and the action scenes are well thought out and engaging. I would highly recommend this book especially to anyone who has read the other Kingsmen books from this author as it’s paced in a very similar way.

If you have read the other Kinsmen stories this book has a very similar tone and theme. The characters are fresh and engaging, the plot is good. The balance of detail for new and existing readers is well done, with enough information to introduce the world, but not so much repetition you feel the need to skip forward in the text.
I find the Kinsmen mainly romance with a strong secondary plot, where as other Ilona Andrews series have a thread of romance within the plot.
I was rooting for Ramona and Matias to get their happy ending - despite all challenges they have to overcome. Love the final fight scene.

I am a long time reader of Ilona Andrews - and this latest, long awaited story from the Kinsmen Universe has everything I could want.

Beautiful world building for a "distant future" setting. Sci Fi without having to explain every nuance. You get a beautiful world with just enough technology description to not get "bogged down" into details. You won't be hitting up a search engine to see what something is or might be.

Action? Oh yes - there's action. There's intrigue. Believable character interactions. Humor and of course, a touch of romance.

If you're looking to step away from the real world for a few hours of fun, this is an EXCELLENT. jaunt into another world.

This is a fantastic sci-fi romance tale with brilliant character interactions and unique character change perspectives, a refreshingly dual point of view. The world is created wonderfully with enough details to see it clearly in a reader's mind without dragging on dull descriptions. The character interactions are real, believable, and build well for the tale, and the fight scenes are beautifully done with dance-like descriptions to keep a reader enthralled.
The novella is a brilliant stand-alone tale, but it also leaves enough details left untouched that allows the author to create additional books in this world. The story captures a reader within the first few lines and maintains a delightful intrigue through the conclusion.