I knew this was going to be just my kind of book when we got frequent use of the hurt/comfort trope. This was everything I was looking for in a queer romance. The world and setting were easy to follow and the plot didn't take away from the character work. I loved watching Alys learn to do things her own way and Griff and Mal figure out how to love themselves. There was also plenty of spice on-page! I don't understand the other queerphobic or sex-phobic reviews on here when the cover of this book shows two men in an embrace who look like they want to kiss, which was what drew me in to read.

I was really disappointed in this book. It seemed like it would be right up my alley, but I had so many issues with it. First off, it's been marketed as a slow-burn, which it definitely wasn't. The relationship was cute, but it progressed way too quickly. The plot felt repetitive and somewhat uninteresting, and there were so many loose ends. Plus, we barely learned anything about the side characters. I'm hoping someone else enjoys this book more than I did!

I came into this book with fairly high expectations based on the blurb—but to be honest, I don’t think it accurately reflects the story. If you’re looking for something in the vein of Tolkien or George R.R. Martin, this probably won’t hit the mark. While the world-building has its moments, this story leans much more toward character-driven romantasy than epic fantasy.

One personal hurdle for me was the third-person narration. I generally don’t enjoy that style, and in this case, I found the frequent repetition of the characters' names quite distracting—it pulled me out of the story more often than I would have liked.

That said, I’m glad I pushed through. What really stood out to me was how refreshingly queer-normative the world is, which I deeply appreciated. Despite my issues with the narration style, I was invested enough in the characters to want to see how things unfolded for them.

Overall, this is an intriguing read that will likely appeal to readers looking for a romantic fantasy with strong character focus and inclusive representation. If you’re not expecting a sweeping epic and don’t mind third-person narration, this could be an enjoyable pick.

Note: I received an advanced copy of this book ahead of publication. I’m writing this honest review voluntarily and am grateful to the author, NetGalley, and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read it.

I love, love, loved this book! The plot locked me in from page one, and spit me out a new person on the last page. The characters became real to me and will live in my brain forever. The setting was tangible and perfect. The pacing was riveting, but not rushed. All coming together to be a book I can't wait to recommend to my friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was such an engaging romantic fantasy with just the right blend of adventure, tension, and slow-burn heat. The dynamic between Griff and Mal crackled from page one—their history as estranged best friends made every glance and every barb carry extra weight. Watching their relationship shift from enemies to reluctant allies to something far deeper was both frustrating and satisfying in all the best ways.

The swamp setting of Rotrose Mire was atmospheric and eerie, full of danger that kept me turning pages, and I loved how it paralleled the emotional journey the characters were on. Alys added warmth and grounding to the trio, keeping the story from ever getting too heavy while still raising the stakes with her own connection to the quest.

That said, the pacing in the middle lagged a bit, and I occasionally wished the treasure-hunting plot had been just as sharp and surprising as the romance. Still, the character work and tension made up for it—I was invested from beginning to end.

If you’re a fan of messy, complicated relationships, enemies-to-lovers angst, and a quest laced with danger and desire, this book will absolutely deliver.

I thought it was good! I feel like it’s a book for a specific audience though. I wanted something with more banter and this just wasn’t what I expected. It was still pretty good though!

The story didn’t quite make sense nor did it flow well. None of the backstories were covered until halfway through the book. There’s an ambiguous fight that tore apart the two men that is referenced, but never clearly explained. Why are three very inept non-adventurers being sent on a mission that trained heroes were unable to complete? Also, they're supposed to be in a hurry, but there seems to be plenty of time to get busy on the bedroll.

I did not like this book. There are elements that are good, but, unfortunately, they are drowned out by the inconsistencies.

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

I am super happy I spent my time reading this book! 10/10 stars of available! Alys, Griff, and Mal were the perfect trio!

Immediately a fan of Alys! The love story shown on page is truly magnificent and the bicker and banter between Griff and Mal is quite relatable! The world Sarah has built is fantastic, and I can’t wait to see where else these characters travel and go! ( surely there’s more.. RIGHT?! )

And huge thanks to Netgalley and Alcove for the eARC! Will be sharing anywhere I can!

What a truly beautiful story between old best friends that lost their way but have a chance to find each other in the best possible way. On the greatest adventure of there lives, a treasure hunt that is worth more then just treasure.

Griff, Mal, and Alys used to be the best of friends always together always going on adventures but they each go there separate ways after a huge falling out where words had cut so deep. Now they are all different people, have been through so much and Griff and Mal don’t know each other but sure know how to rile each other, the love they have for each other is replace by so much hurt and hate.

Mal and Alys must go on a treasure hunt and bring Griff along and as the days go one everything that was never said comes to light and Mal and Griff must come together to beat all the creatures of the forest and hopefully see how right they truly are for each other.

Our Rouge Fates had be on the edge of my seat the hole time, seemed these three were always in danger no matter what they did, my heart sang every time Mal and Griff got to have there stolen moments. I loved how there coming together wasn’t rushed but they really talked about all the betrayal of the past. Alys just wanting her friends back together really spoke to me.

This book was so unique to me, and opened my eyes to such a beautiful world made up of some horrible creatures but what always hold true is who you have in your corner when those creatures come to collect.

Mal was such a relatable character! Him and Griff are perfect! (We love you Liam tho) I have high hopes for where this story can go! I would have added a thing or two but in no way could have written something like this! Loved every second!
Thank you Alcove and Netgalley.

Also Leo the Head!? Perfection!

I absolutely devoured this book! I love the characters so much and I fully expect more stories of them all! They were so relatable and this will be a day one purchase! I loved the animals and all their names! I preordered this for the goodies too! Thanks Netgalley for the eARC!

This gorgeous m/m romance has stayed with me from the moment I finished it--and I read books for a living, so often they blur. I also predominately read romance, so the fact this one stands out as much as it does, to the point I'm still thinking about it ages after closing the book and can't help but open it up to reread favorite passages and moments, is remarkable. There are so many reasons to immediately add OUR ROGUE FATES to your TBR: the world to the romance, the characters to the monsters, the creepy swamp to cozy Mayfair. The found family is truly so special, with Alys being a shining light whose story I can't wait to read in her own book. Her relationship with her children is similarly wonderful.

And yet it's the second-chance romance that is easily the most beautiful, moving, and poignant relationship that exists in the book (and special relationships of all shapes and sizes are not lacking here!), especially compared to many other romantasies. Knowing what Mal and Griff have survived thanks to the beautifully detailed history Marsh reveals as the pages turn makes the growing romance that much more exciting to witness unfold and blossom. Griff and Mal have every reason to be distrustful and cautious, and yet the scorching attraction between them slowly morphs into deep, everlasting love so beautifully, and watching them open up to one another--both physically and emotionally, despite every reason to remain at arm's length--was truly heartwarming, making the pages fly by even as I wanted to slow down so I could delay reaching the end. The sex scenes were equally hot and lovely, and the variety was also fun in a genre where sex scenes are often similar. I desperately want more queer romantasies, so I'm thrilled that we finally are getting them.

The worldbuilding was also so incredibly fun, beautifully realized, and very easy to understand and picture. The casual diversity made me feel like I could walk down the streets of Mayfair and no one would look twice if I didn't conform to gender or held the hand of someone of the same sex. I'm so excited to learn more about the Shadow Queen in any future installments in this world, and hope that we'll get to see Mal and Griff and Alys again, too, even if the books follow different characters. And what I appreciated most with the characters was how real and nuanced they are. Each of them has flaws, but that's what makes this book so special to me. In a genre where it feels like the most nuance a male character can have is a dark past that makes him wear all black and speak in monotone and grunts, and where female characters can do no wrong (even when it's very fucking wrong) unless they're meant to act as some kind of foil to the protagonist, Griff, Mal, and Alys stand out from the pack. They've all done fucked things in the past, and each of them must work to become the best versions of themselves, which is never an easy task. To me, the best characters are the ones who are deemed "unlikable," because "unlikable" often translates to "true to life." I don't come to fiction for perfection; I come to fiction to find a reflection of the real world, and know that people of all stripes can exist and find their happy endings, in whichever form that is. (And frankly, the homophobia I'm seeing in other reviews of this book sickens me. If you don't read romance, why are you reading this book? It's clearly marketed as a romance, and in particular an m/m romance. Don't spew homophobia simply because you're not the target audience. Netgalley is for everyone, from the reader to the author, the editor to the agent, the bookseller to the librarian. In other words, mind what you say because these reviews will not be seen solely by other readers.)

Romantasy is a genre that's commonly full of straight men and women, with hate-to-love arbitrarily thrown in because the author knows that that romantic arc appeals to a broad audience. That's what made reading OUR ROGUE FATES so lovely: not just because I am starving for queer romantasy, but because the hate-to-love arc felt realistic, both in its formation and its resolution. I want characters to fuck up. I want them to atone. I want them to be unapologetic and contrite. I want them to break themselves and each other into pieces in order to reform as versions of themselves they are happy with, surrounded by people they love and who love them.

That, to me, makes OUR ROGUE FATES so special.

Overall, I just loved this book, and I've already preordered a copy because I need this gorgeous book on my shelf. The cover of this book is literally a work of art, and I've not been able to stop staring at it since it was revealed. It's truly a reflection of the beauty found on every page.

Thank you to Net Galley and Alcove Press for letting me read this ARC.

This book had so much potential, but ended up falling flat.

Griff and Mal had a falling out so severe that they didn’t speak for several years. Both have moved on but fate has brought them together again in the form of a treasure hunting quest. With their other best friend Alys, they must face many dangerous creatures, but the most dangerous? Facing and forgiving each other.

What I liked:
* the world building. It was simple yet seemed pretty cool with the orcs, Shadow Queen, and wardens
* the story had me interested at first and I liked the funny humorous writing
* justice for Liam because he deserves better than Griff

What I didn’t like:
* Mal and Griff. Both of them together and separate. I didn’t feel connected to them at all and they were both incredible whiny. I really didn’t see how they liked each other at all or complimented each other. They fought and fucked more than they got along. And the times they got along were just these gigantic dialogues of how they’ll treat each other better and trust each other only to lash out again on the next page. I just find it hard to believe the Griff left a loving and stable relationship for Mal who didn’t even seem like he liked Griff
* the quest sounded fun but it ended up being so boring with them constantly getting injured (which is realistic) but I don’t read for the realism. And then once they got injured it was just them kind of taking care of each other, arguing, and having sex
* the sex was fine I just didn’t care enough about the characters to read about it

If you like a cozy, MM, low stakes romance you might like this.

dnf'ed @ 32%.

This book has an interesting premise, blurb and comp book. But the book wasn't for me, and I really struggled to get into it. I may try again another time.

My main problem was not feeling connected to the characters; it felt like I was being told everything rather than shown. I wasn't a fan of the author's writing style. I just couldn't sympathise with either main characters.

Thank you, NetGalley, Alcove Press & Sarah Glenn Marsh for sending this eARC for review. All opinions are my own.

I rated this book 3.75 stars.

This was a pretty good debut fantasy novel! I liked the main character trio and the adventure/quest-like plot, and I thought the story was fast-paced and interesting. I did think that Mal and Griff were a bit too similar at some points, and I found myself forgetting who was who at some points, but otherwise, I liked both of them. I thought the romance was decent, and there was a good amount of background given to their relationship, but I wish there had been a bit more tension and conversation between them. I really liked Alys as well; I think she was probably my favourite character. I liked the plot for the most part, but I did find that there were some slow points (specifically around the 60%ish mark). Things did pick up relatively quickly, however, and I liked the ending. Overall, I thought this was a strong debut, and I look forward to reading whatever Sarah Glenn Marsh writes next!

2⭐
I guess... (Side note: justice for my boy Liam)

I'm not sure how to feel about this one... I'll admit, there are some steamy scenes, but I just don't really get the chemistry between the two MC's. I like the world building, but there are a lot of expositional bits that I was sort of overwhelmed with. For example, you're not only getting the backstory of the characters, but you're also getting backstory of the world and its lore; it's a lot to digest all at once.

I think my biggest nitpick with this work is the writing style. I'm sorry, but if I'm reading a work that is meant to be fantasy - existing in a fantastical, non-realistic, type of world - I don't really know if they'd still use words like "ex" or "boyfriend", maybe "once-lover" or "partner", something that reinforces the fantasy world. (Don't even get me started on me spiraling of the inclusion of the word "underwear" in this book...) To that point, I'd also say that a lot of the dialogue and the situations run a little too contemporary; I'm not saying it has to be like George R.R. Martin, but just some word and phrase changes would have kept me engaged, rather than feeling like this was meant to be a romance that they shoe-horned into the fantasy genre, not an actual romantasy.

I wish I could say I liked this one more; I had very high hopes based on the blurb and the cover art being so gorgeous. Sadly, I just don't think this one is for me. But, I am a harsh critic, I'll admit, so if you're feeling adventurous: give this one a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an ARC of this novel!

I loved the premise of this book so much when I initially read the summary of this book! I love the way it was marketed and I think this book had such great potential!

While I enjoyed reading the book itself, I didn't feel overly connected to any of the characters, and from a surface level the book was really good! The characters and plot were fun but not overly meaningful to me as I read!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

Our Rogue Fates has a promising enemies-to-lovers premise set against a fantasy treasure hunt, but many readers felt it falters in execution. Backstory dumps, indistinct character voices, slow pacing, and underdeveloped worldbuilding make it hard to connect with Griff, Mal, and Alys, while the romance and tension often rely on being told rather than shown. For some, the adventure and emotional growth are enjoyable, but others found the book meandering, repetitive, and lacking depth.

3/3.5

This one is incredibly hard to rate because I loved the characters, but I considered DNF'ing the book so many times to count. Why? Because I couldn't cope with the "adventure" which seemed to be the same over and over.

I loved Mal and Griff's relationship, I would have enjoyed more of Alys, too. The quest is more of an "excuse" to rekindle their broken relationship, and I liked that. Give me a morally grey character any day of the week and I will vouch for them (Mal for the win here!).

Pick it up if you like:
- Adventure, DnD vibe
- Romance (MM / open-door...there is no door)
- Relationship building
- Life choices and consequences
- Mysteries and solving them

I received an e-ARC of this book from Alcove Press via Netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity to roam The Mire with Mal, Alys and Griff. This review is my own and I'm leaving it voluntarily.