These authors delivered a frosty gut punch with A Fate So Cold, an atmospheric, emotionally charged fantasy that gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go until the final devastating twist.
The premise alone promised high stakes: a land torn between relentless seasonal magic, two Chosen Ones wielding opposing forces, and a prophecy demanding blood. But what really made the story shine was how personal it all felt. Domenic Barrow, the reluctant hero, and Ellery Caldwell, the perfectionist haunted by her own power, were two sides of the same coin—flawed, determined, and desperately trying to do the right thing in a world where that might not be possible.
Their dynamic crackled with tension, not just magical but emotional. It wasn’t a love story, exactly—but it was intimate, aching, and intensely human. Watching them unravel their destinies together, knowing the inevitable end might pit them against each other, added a level of tragic suspense that had me holding my breath more than once.
The pacing occasionally stuttered in the middle, especially as the world-building leaned a bit heavy, but it more than made up for it in the climax, which was both heart-wrenching and utterly satisfying.
This wasn’t just a fantasy epic; it was a haunting meditation on choice, fate, and the fine line between enemies and something far more complicated. I’ll be counting down the days until the sequel—because after that ending, how could I not?
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you so much for the chance to read A FATE SO COLD!

Much of what I’ve come to love about this writing duo is the snappy quality of the writing. It really shines here, especially anytime Dom and El can flex their flirty banter. I think I’d find it very, very easy to fall in love with Dom Barrow in real life! While I enjoyed both MCs, I thought Dom brought a fresh perspective to the Chosen One trope, and just a unique voice as far as male fantasy leads go.

Another thing I loved from this book was the entire lore around the living wands. I love how they were all unique, some creepy, and felt, well…living! It was neat to read a book where magic was so intrinsically physical—every time a spell was used it truly felt like they were calling it from their blood/heart/soul. The sky is the limit for magic as long as you can take it. I did wonder what exactly they learned at the academy though. There was a lack of detail about the study of magic in general, which would be okay except the entire concept of the school.

The ending was satisfactory. I actually wasn’t sure whether Dom or El would come out on top until the end. In terms of leaving me wanting the next book…it didn’t give me that breathless, “need it now” feeling. I actually think it could have been fine just as a standalone, but I’m willing to see where it goes next in case it surprises me!

I only have one major gripe, and it doesn’t have to do with the book itself. Rather, the blurb:
“Until they discover the unthinkable truth. The Chosen Two aren’t fated allies, but eternal rivals, and the only way to save their home is for one of them to slay the other.”
I honestly think this should be REMOVED from the official blurb. The discovery of them being fated to kill the other doesn’t happen until 75% of the way through. It felt like it should have been a twist, but because it was in the blurb I’d spent the entire book waiting for this revelation—so when it finally came it felt strange, and almost flat. When I recommend this book to people it will be with the caveat to go in blind, because I think knowing about the “eternal rivals” twist is a disservice to the plot.

Overall, a good read! Some very high points throughout, and Dom will go down as a forever favourite MC.

I saw this little gem on NetGalley and thought it sounded interesting and angsty and I was all for it, so I requested a copy and received one, what follows is my thoughts and feelings (all of which are reeling at the moment)

With most books that end on any kind of cliffhanger, I don’t find myself desperately needing the sequel immediately BUT only because I need to time to get over this!!!! What was this, seriously?! I am NOT well, not even a teeny tiny bit. This thing ripped my heart out stomped on it, ripped it to shreds, pulverized it to almost nothing and then set it on fire. Like without the epilogue, this could have been a standalone, a sad standalone, but sometimes that’s okay. The journey through this book was something else. I loved the fantasy of it, the magic system, the mystery thrown it. Top notch book, definitely recommend and can’t wait to see what comes next, maybe after my heart heals a little more though.

Thanks for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amanda Foody and C. L. Herman do not disappoint. A Fate So Cold is devastatingly romantic, and wonderfully atmospheric. I found the pacing in the first half a bit slow, with all the important information seemingly falling into Ellery's and Domenic's laps. But by the second half, the pacing had ramped up and things were starting to make sense. I think were this book really shined was with the characters. Domenic and Ellery both were well fleshed out, well developed characters. Their banter was an entertaining addition that kept me enthralled throughout the book. And this character building did slack off for the supporting characters either. I found every one of them just as entertaining as the Chosen Two (Hanna will probably be on my list of favorite character for a long time). The ending left me desperately wishing for the next book.

I really enjoyed the first book of the other YA series that Amanda Food and CL Herman wrote, so I went into this one assuming it would read similarly and give me the same satisfaction. And that turned out to be true!! This was super fun for a YA, lots of twists on fun and familiar tropes that I enjoyed. The two leads were well balanced (though personally I'm not a fan of boy obsessing over girl his whole life and then getting said girl. its weird and slightly icky to me in most cases, really not really my personal jam. but fortunately, this was handled pretty well and not too weird.) The magic was really fun and interesting (though I would've liked to see how it worked across the wider world. As it was it felt a bit like this country was in a vacuum; but again, this is pretty par the course for YA.) The romance was pretty well done, though read more adult than YA in some sections. None of the previous mentioned sticking points detracted from reading and I pretty much devoured the book in like two days. Super fun read, really fun world, good plot twists. Everything one needs in a YA!

Thank you Tor and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. Such an adventure! In Alderland Summer reigns supreme except for those six weeks out of the year that winter wreaks havoc and destroys everything. So help lower the tragedy magicians bond with Summer wands. Domenic Barrow doesn’t want to bond with a wand. In fact he’s known for being the least suited for that task. But the world has other plans, the most powerful Summer wand has awakened and its chosen Domenic as its wielder. Ellery Caldwell has tried to be the perfect Summer magician, but she secret fears her powers. Fears that might just be true when she creates the first ever Winter wand. As the two work together to save their land, they’ll soon start to realize that they may just be developing feelings as well. But fate is fickle and can be cruel, because they’ll learn that the only way to save their home is for one of them to end the other. Can they do it? Or will their love be the downfall of their home? I loved the magic system in this one! Plus who doesn’t love a good tragic lovers story! Exciting, thrilling, heartbreaking, and incredibly romantic! Amanda Foody and C.L. Herman have written another beautiful magical world that I can’t wait to read more of!! A chilling must read romantasy!

This was fascinating! I went into this having read the All of Us Villains duology and really didn't know what to expect with such a drastically different premise. Their writing styles are so incredibly strong, even in this different setting, and the romance is just as brutal and tragic. They are masters of writing teens whose choices are taken from them--but not their strength. Very interested to see what happens in the final book.

The world-building in this was so good—tons of magic and mystery, and the whole vibe was super atmospheric and a little eerie in the best way. It was a fast, exciting read with a really unique magic system and enough twists to keep me totally hooked. I loved how the stakes kept getting higher, and the world just felt so rich and layered. The characters were great too, especially the morally gray ones—I’m a sucker for complicated decisions and all the messy emotions that come with them.

This book swept me up into a world of chilling magic and quiet desperation. The heroine is brave yet vulnerable as she fights to protect the fragile hope she still holds. The slow burning connection with a mysterious ally felt raw and real, each whispered secret bringing them closer. The atmosphere is gripping icy forests, ancient powers, and stakes that tighten around your heart. Every twist felt earned and emotional, and the final payoff hit me deep.

If you crave character driven fantasy with frostbitten magic, emotional depth, and a romance that warms like a spark in the cold, this will stick with you long after the last page.

The season concept is really unique, especially with the magic. I enjoyed the alternating perspectives with the chapters and the characters are likeable, if not a bit relatable with their traumas. Also enjoyed the twisty bits.

This book was so beautifully tragic, every turn of the page left me addictive. The writing is seamless, it flows like a summer breeze while the story itself is a snow storm, so extraordinary it left me with shivers after every chapter. C.L. Herman and Amanda Foody have crafted a truly remarkable story, one I’ve been honored enough to read early, I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait for everyone else to experience it so I can talk about it more ;) ☀️❄️

This was action packed and full of excitement. I loved it! It will definitely be a new trending book in the upcoming months!