This book was compelling and I honestly think that is the first time I have used that in a review. So keeping with the theme of firsts, this is my first Anne Bishop book but it won't be my last. The world building surrounding the Isle of the Wyrd is equal parts fascinating and creepy. The Arcana who inhabit the Wyrd see justice and right and wrong differently than we do. There is no "don't you know who I am" although one evil doers blustered just that. The Arcana have rules and if you abide you may learn something or find yourself intrigued by their world. If not, you may find yourself on the wrong side of their justice. The books even kicks off with a story about a man with organs older than his body, a ghost gun and three wounded. From there you have to know how a 20 something has the organs of a man 70 years older. The telling might make you fell that justice is done and the wounded victims survived. In some cases, that justice is gross and creepy and a touch excessive. A certain school bully became a rat faced chicken simply because he broke the rules of the Arcana. It's odd because he was doing the wrong thing for the wrong reason but we are reds are also curious about the Arcana and the Wyrd and the only punishment for us is the inability to put the book down.
The Arcana aren't the only intriguing characters in the book. We meet many cops who know of that world and accept it but don't understand. Beth is one such copy but maybe something more also. She will get her education on the Wyrd and how they can help even if the methods are extreme.
This book is not simply about Beth, we learn about other characters and live in their world or worlds as they transform in more ways than one. Some characters you will feel for like Rachel and some you will be intrigued by like Lucas and the Captain but all will keep you reading. Again, we do have a bit of a creepy in the ending of the story but somehow it felt fitting. True evil suffered some sick justice and a good woman regained his life.
I started reading this book because I had my authors mixed up and thought I was reading someone else's work. That is one of the best mistakes I have ever made because I enjoyed this book and plan to check out the Others. This book was different for me because it crowded the line a bit on how far I will go on a paranormal story yet I did not mind because I was hooked.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC..

I used to read a lot of Anne Bishop and ADORED the world of the others. When this showed up as an advanced reader copy, I was up for it.

This is a different world from "the others", but the same feel. In this world, "the Arcana" live alongside the humans and there's a particular island where humans can experience a little strange. Like "the others", there is much that is uncontrollable, even for members of the Arcana, and the Arcana have a strong sense of justice and what is "right", bargains, and fate.

We have a multiple POV story told in 3rd person where there isn't a clear main character. While the junior police woman Beth seems like she might be the main character, there is enough time in other POVs that it's hard to completely center her story as THE story.

It is both a hopeful story, because evildoers get their comeuppance and a creepy story, because there is much that is out there that anyone must be careful of.

But, it was fun, and I'm interested in reading.

No romance or hint of romance. Definitely some found family and I LOVED the lark/crow friendship.

As a huge fan of Anne Bishop's Others series, I was excited to read this book! There are a lot of similarities between this book and the Others, but there are also enough differences that I was quickly drawn into the story to learn more about the the Isle of Wyrd and those that live there. Be forewarned that there are dark parts of this book.I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series!

Turns of Fate is first in the fantastic new Isle of Wyrd fantasy series, Once I started, I couldn't stop reading this enthralling tale of a detective with a mysterious heritage who is able to interact with authorities in a neighboring island country where time, space, and more follow different rules.

Detective Beth Fahey is assigned to a division that investigates incidents related to the Isle of Wyrd. The Isle of Wyrd belongs to the paranormal. On the Isle of Wyrd, you can have your fortune read, escape, or make a bargain. When Beth is sent to inquire about a ghost gun, she meets Frost, who slowly introduces her to the Arcana. The biggest lesson, words have power, intentions matter.

I really enjoyed this novel. It was well written, and very engaging. The characters were well developed and showed growth throughout. I can’t wait to read more novels set in this world. Overall 5 out of 5 stars!

In this world, there are two choices for one to live their lives, the mundane, the routine, the regular; or the Arcana, the strange, the Wyrd where words and intentions have power. In Destiny Park, those from the mundane can visit for a day and have their fortune told, eat at the island’s restaurant, or spend the afternoon in the gardens hoping to get a glimpse of those belonging to the Arcana, before heading home across the ferry before dusk falls. For others not respecting the rules and guidelines set forth by those running Destiny Park, their fate can be changed simply by voicing and acting on their intentions ill or otherwise
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Verdict: In this book, Anne Bishop introduces readers to a world that forces everyone willing to experience the Wyrd to truly know and understand their true selves. Although time flows linearly, readers follow the fate of several individuals over the course of a year. For those hoping to escape and find a better life, the Arcana can be a place of refuge; but for those having meanness in heart or spirit, they will find that the Arcana has a way of serving their just rewards. There must be some warning that goes along with this particular read – while Anne Bishop’s previous works do not shy away from the emotionally dark, the themes in this particular book read almost like a horror story and is not for the faint of heart. Fans of Kelley Armstrong’s book Hemlock Island would find this book enjoyable

This began darker than I expected but by midway the hopeful and endearing storylines took over and the story ended on a high point. There were a lot of tense moments where I feared for a good outcome and some very surprising story twists.
I had no problem connecting with the main characters and in fact became very attached to Rachel, Beth and Colin. As Anne Bishop has done with her Others series, the creatures who are depicted as Other are hard to know, you don't get a feel for their emotions. But that is exactly as it should be to depict their very otherness. The humans in the story are there to give the emotion and details.
I do feel like the story ended somewhat open ended but hopefully that is just leaving the door open for further books.

It has been some time since I’d read a book by this author, but since this is a new series, I was excited to read her again. The names listed at the front almost turned me off, but I decided against reading them and getting overwhelmed; it was a very wise choice. Once I started this, I really couldn’t stop. This author has a way of writing that makes every action seem magical, fascinating, and intriguing even when they aren’t necessarily. While this is similar to the Others series, I definitely like this one better, but it’s just a personal preference, nothing to do with the author or the books. I really can’t say too much as there are many reveals as the book goes on, and I don’t want to spoil them, but I really didn’t see a couple of them coming, and I still enjoyed the ones I did. This is a book told from multiple POVs, but it was done in a way that I found very enjoyable. Give this one a try, even if you’ve never read a book by her. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I've read one or two other Bishop books before and I feel like they're... old-fashioned? Like I liked the universe and characters but everyone seems very stuck in the eighties. I know trad wives etc are in both most people aren't as weirdly sexist as every character seems to be in these books - even the ones married to female cops!

I really enjoyed this title. I haven't read anything by Anne Bishop before but the description was very appealing so I gave it a shot. This story is dark, bordering on horror but as someone who scares easily, I didn't think it was too scary but it may trigger some who have had traumatic experiences. There are some aspects that are very dark about human nature but I think the horror of that may end up being explained later in the series, though it was hard to read in the moment.

Detective Beth Fahey works for a unit that investigates cases that deal with the Strange. People go missing or wind up dead in ways that cannot be explained in the human world and it's her job to investigate. There's something different about Beth, something that draws her to the Strange in ways the other detectives can't figure out.

If you want a dark fantasy with a bit of mystery this is a good pick. There are lots of threads that are woven together and I was confused at times but Bishop does a good job of reminding you who all the characters are. I look forward to the rest of this series.

I absolutely loved reading this book! I love Anne Bishop's writing, and I was excited to get to know this new world. There is a similar feel to the Others series, where it's a bit urban fantasy, and with powerful beings, and I really enjoyed getting the details!

There was a lot going on in this book. The character list at the start of the book might have been a tip off, and we are in a variety of perspectives, and it was such a whirlwind! I loved watching as the separate stories started to come together!

Beth has had a hard childhood, she was left with a family friend who is a religious fanatic, and finds her drawings disturbing, and has tried to wreck Beth's future. Beth was a pretty central part of this story, being a detective with her history, and her affinity with the population of Wyrd.

We really got a wonderful introduction to this world and these characters. Which has me really excited to see what the future holds for this series, what mysteries it contains, and what threats. I mean, several times, people got what they deserved, what they earned from what they did, and that was really satisfying, both good and bad, and I really enjoyed it!

This was a fantastic read and I can't wait to continue on with the series!

The Isle of Wyrd is at the crossroads of fate. There are many in the world. And the human population, located just across the river, is fascinated. The problem is that the humans don't understand how important it is to have the proper intent.

The heroine, Beth Fahey, is a junior police officer who is moved to the department that handles issues with Wyrd. I was never clear why. The fates of Wyrd provide help, warning, or awareness of the possibilities. Still, the problems people face are dark, including serious abuse and even cannibalism.

I loved Anne Bishop's Other books. I did finish this and wonder when Book 2 will be available.

I'm always excited for a new Anne Bishop book, and this one turned out to be my favorite from her in quite awhile. I've been a bit underwhelmed by the recent Dark Jewels books, and while I liked The Others I was always a bit put off by the kind of over the topness of it all.

The Isle of Wyrd is at a crossroads of fate. What that seems to mean is that it is a home for the weird, the supernatural, and the powerful. The rules are simple, but if you break them then you may never find your way home. Beth Fahey is a detective, newly transferred to the unit that deals directly with the island. Of course she quickly gets involved with the issues between the islanders and the outsiders.

Many of Anne Bishop's common themes are here, including abusive relationships, rape, extreme violence, and the consequences when you push too far against magic. The story sometimes jumps very suddenly into these more horrific moments, but overall I found the atmosphere more...subtle? Then in many of Bishop's earlier books. This Isle of Wyrd has a sort of ghostly atmosphere to it that I enjoyed, and Beth is (so far) not quite as much the typical Anne Bishop heroine who is a weird combination of perfect, naive, powerful, and universally adored. As always I was left wanting to see what happens next. Bishop's books are always fun and quick reads, as long as you can stomach the more horrific aspects that she always includes.

Absolutely fantastic! If you liked The Others, you’ll like this. It’s different than that series but still the same great author, catch my drift?? ;)

A quiet town hides a monstrous secret, and once uncovered, there's no turning back. Clues unravel like a fuse burning toward an explosive finale. The last sentence lands like a trapdoor opening beneath your feet.

The Isle of Wyrd isn’t just a place, it’s a living crossroads where magic, fate, and danger intertwine. Step carefully, because every action comes with a consequence, and the island doesn’t forgive easily. Justice here is swift, unpredictable, and often brutal.

Detective Beth Fahey has just relocated to the human side of the river Fate and joined a special unit that investigates supernatural incidents connected to the mysterious Destiny Park, a magical space designed to keep the balance between humans and the arcane. But in a place where fortune-telling and fate-dealing are everyday occurrences, nothing is truly safe or predictable.

Told through multiple character perspectives, including villains, the story offers a layered look at how choices shape destinies. It's atmospheric, dark, and at times disorienting, but it gradually draws the reader into its twisted, enchanting world. The tone balances cozy wonder and chilling horror, with moments of intense violence, strange creatures, and unsettling moral questions.

The writing is straightforward yet compelling, with worldbuilding that leaves space for the imagination to roam. Fans of Anne Bishop’s The Others will find familiar themes here, magical justice, personal trauma, and the constant push-pull between safety and danger, though this book takes a slightly subtler approach.

A strong, unsettling start to a promising new series. Magical, moody, and morally sharp. If you're willing to walk into fate’s shadows, this is one worth reading.

This book feels a lot like the author's Others series but perhaps a bit tamer. It feels curiously old-fashioned in its style of urban fantasy.

Basically, our first POV character, Beth Fahey, is assigned to a detective unit that deals with supernatural occurrences. These occurrences stem from Destiny Park on the Island of Wyrd. Wyrd is one of those places where the supernatural breaks through into the mundane world. Its dwellers have created Destiny Park as a sort of safety valve and effort at diplomacy. Mundane humans can visit the park, have their fortunes told, and experience just a little something of magic.

Naturally, this doesn't always go well and that's where this police unit comes in.

From here, the story goes in a lot of different directions. Some of this author's familiar tropes (escaping from abuse, dangerous magical creatures, what happens if you push magic too far) come into play. It's a strange combination of cozy and horror. On the one hand, the magic is wondrous and magical creatures fascinating and attractive. On the other, the book has occasion where it breaks into gruesome violence, rape, killing and even cannibalism. The tone shifts are pretty wide.

A new world and new characters but still the amazing fantasy from Anne Bishop! I can’t get enough of Turns of Fate. The interconnected events and how people respond determining their fate is excellently executed. There are multiple POV and each one has depth and detail that you can’t find anywhere else.

I would give this a solid 3 stars. Anne Bishop has found a formula that works for her and makes for a decent read. As always, there's a woman who's just so slightly different, the Other (this time the Isle of Wyrd) and a group of people with rather juvenile nicknames determined to make poor choices. Still, I finished the book in a matter of days and will likely pick up the next one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an ARC!

The Isle of Wyrd isn’t just a place on the map. It’s a crossroads of fate, where you might get a warning, strike a deal… or get lost forever if you dare to break the rules. Here, fate whispers and justice comes quickly and with a hungry edge. So mind your manners and watch your step.

Detective Beth Fahey has just moved across the river Fate, and her life will never be the same. Every step on the island is a gamble with destiny. Whether it’s for work or something more personal, anyone who sets foot on Wyrd takes their fate into their own hands.

The book hooked me right from the start. At times, I didn’t fully understand what was going on, but things started to make more sense as the story went on. It’s a tangled, magical, and dark world.

This was my first time reading something by the author, and I really enjoyed her writing style. It drew me in right away, so I’m definitely interested in trying more of her books.

I really liked that the chapters are told from different characters’ perspectives, not just the good characters, but the villains too.

Everyone has a role to play. But what if they had made different choices… what if...

The island is full of magic. Everyone wants to go there, but it’s just as dangerous as it is alluring.

I can’t wait for the next book!