I really enjoyed the concept and how the story uses a book of future and was glad I was able to get into this world. The overall story worked with everything that I was wanting and enjoyed from this type of book. The overall storyline was what I was looking for and enjoyed the future telling in this. Margot Harrison was able to was able to weave something that I was wanting and enjoyed getting to read this.

Eleanor Dennet ha pasado toda su vida adulta refugiada en la misteriosa Library of Fates, una biblioteca escondida en el corazón de Harvard que esconde más secretos de los que aparenta. Su vida da un vuelco cuando su mentora y amiga, Odile Vernet, muere repentinamente, dejándola como heredera del legado mágico de la biblioteca. Pero el poder de la Library of Fates, que permite encontrar el libro exacto que necesitas para guiar tu vida, desaparece junto con un objeto crucial: The Book of Dark Nights, una obra antigua, enigmática y poderosa.

Para recuperarlo, Eleanor tendrá que enfrentar su pasado y reencontrarse con Daniel Vernet, el hijo de Odile, con quien compartió un vínculo profundo y complicado en su juventud. A medida que ambos se ven obligados a confrontar lo que ocurrió hace más de veinte años, secretos enterrados, confesiones no hechas y traiciones salen a la luz.

____


Spoilers!!!!!!!!

Al principio me sentí mal por Eleanor: su soledad, su devoción, su amor no correspondido... todo parecía injusto. Pero conforme avancé en la historia y se fueron revelando los eventos del pasado, entendí que todo esto fue consecuenciade sus actos. Eleanor se equivocó y todo por complacer a Odile, idealizándola hasta el punto de perder de vista el bien y el mal.

Odile, por su parte, nunca logró ganarse mi simpatía. Sabía perfectamente lo que hacía y solo cuando comprendió que sus acciones podrían afectar a su hijo fue que decidió detenerse. Si no fuera por eso, estoy segura de que habría seguido adelante con su misión. Que además mantuviera una relación con un hombre casado sin jamás cuestionarse si eso estaba mal, dice mucho de su verdadero carácter.

Esperaba que Julien sufriera realmente. Ese tipo es un infiel, un padre ausente, y en el fondo, alguien malvado, dispuesto a manipular a quien fuera con tal de avanzar sus ideas. No sentí ni un gramo de pena por él.

Tampoco estuve de acuerdo con que se le borrara la memoria a Daniel. Pero, siendo honesta, al final fue probablemente lo mejor: pudo alejarse de todo ese desastre, de ese entorno de personas obsesionadas con el poder, y construir una vida tranquila y feliz lejos de ellos.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! The dual timeline worked really well, and was seamless! Eleanor and Daniel, as well as their schoolmates, are likable characters.

The present day timeline (2019) reads like a riveting scavenger hunt, mixed with an emotional backstory (1995) stemming from their college years with “The Book of Dark Nights”.

The Book goes missing, and tensions are high as Eleanor and Daniel follow lead after lead, clue after clue, all while Eleanor is wrestling with the fact that they used to be lovers.

The Library of Fates keeps you on your toes to the very end. A blend of mystery, magical realism, fantasy, and romance! I honestly did not know how this story would end. The final chapters were intense and dramatic, while ending beautifully!

What a mind bending, curious journey of love, fate, and intrigue. Margot Harrison is a fantastic writer! The writing is smooth and flows wonderfully. I highly recommend The Library of Fates!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Graydon Books for the ARC via NetGalley! All opinions are always my own.

**Instagram review/post to be published December 2nd upon release**

📖 ARC REVIEW 📖

“The Library of Fates” by Margot Harrison

When Odile, Head Librarian of Harvard’s Library of Fates, dies suddenly, her successor, Eleanor, is brought face-to-face with her past love and Odile’s son, Daniel. Together, they begin a wild goose chase to uncover where Odile has hidden The Book of Dark Nights, which provides the library with a power to give one exactly which book or answer they “need”. Riddled by magic and fueled by confessions, The Book of Dark Nights can only be read by the confessor, but those who have written in the book are plagued by nightmares. With chapters written in past and present timelines, the pair embark on Odile’s scavenger hunt before the book lands in the hands of the wrong person.

3 ⭐️

Between present day and flashbacks of the past, from Harvard to Paris Eleanor and Daniel must revisit past tragedies and experiences to solve clues Odile left behind. Together, they race against the clock to find the Book before their scheduled ransom meeting, where Daniel’s daughter is held hostage.

I appreciated the connections to the past, how well Eleanor and Daniel worked together, despite his hazy memory of their relationship, and the twists at the end!

The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison (releasing Dec 2025) follows Eleanor, a librarian’s apprentice, and Daniel, her mentor’s estranged son, as they hunt for a stolen mystical book that reveals futures in exchange for confessions. Their search, from Harvard to Paris, uncovers dark secrets, rekindled feelings, and dangerous enemies drawn to the book’s power.

I love books about books, especially if it’s a magic book! I enjoyed the references to other literature throughout the story. I liked the romance and mystery elements of the story.

The dual timelines were written well. Sometimes I get lost in the back and forth but I didn’t in this book.

I could really tell that the author did her research and spent lots of time working on small details. I recommend this book if you like a library setting, mystery, second chance romance, and a little bit of suspense.

In the Harvard- based Library of Fates, the library is the stage and all the readers are merely its players.
Many readers believe books are 'magical,' that they transcend us through our imaginations into different worlds, and give us needed and timely insight. This adult fantasy mystery takes this idea literally, with an evil, magic book and a few obsessive bookworms who use its power for their various goals.

Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for the digital review copy.

This was an Indiana Jones meets dark academia novel and I am here for it! The Library of Fates is a nonlinear story set in a magical realistic early 90s and 2019 Harvard library. You really feel the dark academia and hint of mystery at the beginning of the novel and see it build up chapter by chapter as more questions pop up as the “quest” continues. While answers are slowly revealed, the novel keeps up a steady mystery that is revealed eloquently at the climax. I personally loved how cheesy the ending felt, as it reminded me of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and the brutality of some variations of darker magic. The characters were enjoyable (though some could have been nixed altogether or developed more) and felt realistic in their fears and wants. I recommend this novel to anyone looking for a dark academia novel with a hint of mystery and adventure and a sprinkle of romance. You won’t regret reading this book with a cup of hot cocoa on a rainy day.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! Enchantment at its finest; a quiet sort of magical realism, with a bit of mystery, a second-chance romance, and a magical library set across a dual timeline. Eerie, warm, and threaded through with quiet grief. Bookish, slightly uncanny, and low on flash but high on feeling!

Eleanor and Daniel’s dynamic had the right amount of ache and history, and the emotional undercurrents of grief, memory, and healing made the story feel rich without ever tipping into melodrama. I felt for both of them but also just wanted to shake them. I couldn't ask for more.

Thank you to Netgalley and Library Journal for this ARC of The Library of Fates by Margot Harrison in exchange for an honest review.

A missing library book starts the story off in this magical realism, fantasy and mystery. Our main characters Eleanor and Daniel have to work together to uncover why the book went missing, and why Daniel's mother, a secretive librarian, would have hidden it in the first place.
The journey takes place over two timelines, their time at school, and the present, forcing them to re live their pasts, and reconnect in the present.

The premise of this really hooked me, but unfortunately the writing continuously drew me out of the story. The characters had the potential to be nuanced and flawed, but fell into easy tropes which made them less easy to relate to. I found myself drifting while reading this, and not in a good way. I thought the writing style was choppy and felt unfinished, and I was hoping for more chemistry between the main characters. All in all the premise shone through, but it had a hard time shining through the prose.

A Hauntingly Beautiful Mystery Woven in Pages and Fate
Margot Harrison’s The Library of Fates is a spellbinding tale that blends literary mystery, emotional depth, and quiet, haunting magic into one unforgettable experience. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by its world, a library steeped in secrets, where books don’t just tell stories... they know them.
Set across two intricately woven timelines, the novel follows Eleanor, a quietly fierce and introspective young woman shaped by tragedy, and Daniel, her enigmatic former love and the estranged son of the library’s keeper. Years ago, Daniel vanished without explanation. Now he’s back, and with him comes a wave of unanswered questions and unresolved longing. Together, they must track down a missing book, one that promises to reveal your future in exchange for a personal secret.
The dynamic between Eleanor and Daniel crackles with tension and vulnerability. As they unravel the mystery at the heart of the library, their relationship shifts from wary partnership to something far more intimate and emotionally raw. Their journey is one of healing, reckoning, and rediscovery, and it’s utterly absorbing.
Harrison’s writing is elegant and atmospheric, painting the library as a character all its own. It's a place that breathes, whispers, and watches, a sanctuary and a trap all at once. This is a novel that knows how to hold you in its grip, delivering secrets with perfect pacing and letting its magic seep in quietly, deeply, until you’re fully lost in its world.
What makes The Library of Fates so powerful isn’t just the allure of magical realism, it’s the emotional resonance behind it. The magic here isn’t flashy or overwhelming; it’s subtle, soul-deep, and deeply tied to the characters’ inner lives. It explores how stories can heal, haunt, and ultimately shape who we are.
If you're drawn to books about books, if you believe in the quiet power of fate and the emotional truths buried in fiction, this novel will enchant you. For fans of introspective magical realism, secret-laced libraries, and second-chance stories that linger long after the last page, The Library of Fates is an absolute must-read.

Eleanor and Daniel are star-crossed lovers entangled in the mystery of a magical missing book. As they search for the book, they uncover not only clues of its whereabouts but also missing parts of their decades-old lost love.

Are our fates written, or can we write them?

—

This book was a mixture of magical realism and romance, though the romance is more in the past. It has villains, mentors, a witch, and several literary references.

The premise of the book intrigued me but the delivery fell short. The magic system was interesting and I liked the mystery thrown into the mix. A library that can find you the perfect book is a dream. Even though the overall story and plot kept me reading, the characters were slightly unlikeable. There was also a plot hole that I could not get past and when the solution was revealed all I thought was, that's it?

With all that said overall it was still a really great read.

⋆｡°✩ 𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 ⋆｡°✩

4.25 stars | a contemporary magical realism mixed with books and second-chance romance | 1.5/3 spice, 1/3 violence, profanity, trigger warnings such as perceived su!c!de, mental health issues, and substance use | unique plot and progression, interesting ideas, and a pleasing element of fantastical and historical mystery


*:･ﾟ✧♡ 𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 *:･ﾟ✧♡

As I feel I’ve been saying a lot recently, this book surprised me!
First, in the mystery element; I loved it! The fantasy, history, and mystery all mixed together were so cool and fun to read!
The Library of Fates and general Magic system were also soooooo cool; like a librarian that gives you the book you need?? I want to be that.
Plus the dark murder-y twist was actually really cool; unexpected, but appreciated.
And just like, in general I really liked this book! Eleanor was definitely my favorite, with Daniel in a close second; the second chance subplot was also really interesting, and with the other element of that second chance that I won’t say because of spoilers; their romance was so cute.


‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚. 𝕕𝕚𝕤𝕝𝕚𝕜𝕖𝕤 ‧₊˚❀༉‧₊˚.

I think the characters relationships in this book were sort of weird; like, I don’t know how to explain it, but they were I guess unfulfilling??? Same with the characters in general; I just didn’t feel very attached to them. I wasn’t particularly rooting for thjngs to go their way; for any of the characters, which—with characters being a pretty important aspect of a book—brought The Library Of Fates to a 4.25.


* ੈ✩‧₊˚ 𝕨𝕣𝕒𝕡-𝕦𝕡 * ੈ✩‧₊˚

Overall, this was a fun, quick read that I enjoyed a lot! I’d recommend The Library Of Fates for anyone looking for a lighthearted mystery book or some contemporary magical realism.


⋆˚⚡︎˖° 𝕣𝕖𝕝𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕖 ⋆˚⚡︎˖°

The Library of Fates releases December 2, 2025!!!


˙⋆.˚𐙚 𝕡𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 ˙⋆.˚𐙚

Thank you so much to the publisher, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and to NetGalley for giving me a free e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!
All thoughts are my own :D


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Margot Harrison’s The Library of Fates is a mesmerizing blend of literary mystery and subtle magic. The dual timelines are expertly woven, revealing secrets at just the right pace, while the characters, especially Eleanor and Daniel, feel deeply human and emotionally complex. The concept of a book that reveals your future in exchange for a secret is chilling. Eleanor is a deeply introspective and resilient character. Her life has been shaped by a childhood tragedy, and she’s found purpose in the library where she’s worked most of her life as an apprentice to the enigmatic librarian Odile. Eleanor has dedicated herself to helping others find meaning through stories. The library is her sanctuary. Daniel is Odile’s estranged son and Eleanor’s former love interest. Years ago, he abruptly left for Europe, leaving Eleanor with unanswered questions and unresolved feelings. His return is a shock. Daniel is intelligent and guarded as he and Eleanor team up to recover the missing book. Together, their journey is one of emotional reckoning and rediscovery. Their relationship evolves from estranged allies to something more intimate, all while they unravel the mystery surrounding the book.

Harrison’s prose is elegant, and the atmosphere she creates lingers even after the final page. A must-read for fans of introspective, genre-blending fiction.

As a lifelong book lover, "The Library of Fates" was an absolute dream to fall into. I was instantly captivated by the concept of magical realism woven into a world surrounded by books. There’s something incredibly enchanting about stories where libraries are more than just quiet places—they’re alive with secrets, spells, and destiny.

Margot Harrison masterfully captures the atmosphere of a mystical library—both eerie and comforting at once. The setting almost becomes its own character, with shelves that seem to breathe and pages that whisper fate into being. For anyone who loves books about books, this is a rich and immersive experience.

What stood out to me most was the way the author blends magic with emotion. The story isn't just fantastical for the sake of escapism—there’s depth, heartbreak, mystery, and wonder. The magic feels organic, like it truly belongs in the world she’s created. And for readers who cherish the idea that stories can change lives—or even *be* lives—this book delivers that message beautifully.

If you're a fan of magical realism, haunted libraries, or tales where books quite literally hold power, this book will leave you spellbound.

This one took me a while to get into since there were two different timelines. I feel like there was a lot of worldbuilding in the context of the book before we could actually get into the plot; however, I was very invested in Eleanor and Daniel's relationship and wanting to know what happened to them. I think the actual of the intention got a little confusing at times since there were a lot of twists and turns. Things unravel slowly, so I think you need to have a little patience when reading this book. The second half was very interesting for me.

A unique dark academia on the love of books and what it means for our own stories. Eleanor and Daniel were flawed, with full lives outside each other but always, always united over certain books, all the way through to the end. The writing is immersive and compelling, and I will definitely be checking out Margot Harrison's backlist. This one is a win!

A magic book that holds the power to direct the librarian to whatever book a patron most needs at that moment in their life, even if they don’t realize it.

If that concept sounds absolutely fascinating and delightful to you, you’ll want to read this book.

The main action is set in 2019, with 40-somethings Eleanor and Daniel, after the death of Odile — the librarian as well as Eleanor’s mentor and Daniel’s mother. Flashback scenes take place in 1995, when Eleanor and Daniel met as college students in Odile’s seminar.

Aside from the magic and fantasy aspect — which I loved — the book showed how Eleanor and Daniel had changed, excellently portraying them as adults and as students. Some books that follow characters decades later make them seem to have the exact same personality. Harrison did a wonderful job of creating believable characters and those slow developments.

From the beginning, we know there’s more to the mysterious book than even its magic abilities. So the plot is not just about tracking down the missing book, but also learning more about its creation and what it does.

I had to laugh at myself when I thought, “A whole scavenger hunt with notes is a bit ridiculous.” That I’d find a trail of clues less believable than a magical, creepy book!

The perfect amount of fantasy, and an exciting story. I loved it.

4 Stars

The Library of Fates is a book that will resonate with anyone who truly loves reading for reading's sake. It's for the readers whose favorite books make them feel seen in ways that they could never have articulated themselves.

The story was written in a utilitarian way, concerned primarily with the themes, message, and story rather than the characters themselves and their relationships with each other. I would have enjoyed lingering a little longer with the characters and exploring what lay under the surface, but it was still complete without that-meaningful and interesting, full of questions that kept me turning the pages. The Library of Fates is a love letter to the magic of reading.