Warning: this review will have spoilers for the first book!

My one wish for the sequel was seeing more of the secondary characters and I sure got what I wanted. A destiny so cruel perfectly concludes the duology, it has the perfect ending for this type of story and I think if you liked the first one you’ll be very satisfied.
What I liked the most about a fate so cold was the new take on the chosen one trope, I’m early gen z so I basically grew up on chosen ones stories but as I got older(and as a chronic rereader) I started to question the perfect endings and everything always working out and the entire system protecting and helping these individuals(for the most part). This series delivers the counterpoint to that. In the second book we delve deeper into the politics of what happens after the war is won, or not really in this case. I’m usually really picky about sequels because I hate when the main couple is suddenly separated and spends the entire book far away from each other, but here it was so important to establish the side characters so I didn’t mind at all. The romance is on point, some crazy good lines like I have come to expect from these writers.
What I can’t stop thinking about is the ending though. It is perfect and I bet it’ll stay with me for a while.

Thank you Netgalley and Tor for the ARC!

This book was so beautiful . I found the writing gorgeous and even though I did not read the first book, I found it pretty easy to follow. The world was written so well and just overall a great book.

I was a massive fan of A Fate So Cold and A Destiny So Cruel hit just as hard. Harder, even. Amanda Foody and C. L. Herman know how to write a tragedy and BOY does this one pack a punch. I loved that they didn't linger too long on Dominic and Ellery hating/distrusting each other when Dominic came back from the dead (though whether they ever even disliked each other is certainly up for debate). The pacing is way faster, and a ton of the mysteries from Book 1 become unraveled (i.e. why the magic system works the way it does, what happened to Autumn and Spring, how Summer took control of the country in the first place).

I would also just like to say that THIS is a true example of the star-crossed-lovers trope. I've seen so many books use it for any kind of forbidden relationship, and it's a juicy phrase for sure, but the thing about star-crossed lovers (a la Romeo and Juliet) is that their love story usually ends in tragedy. It's doomed to fail by Fate or Destiny or forces beyond the lovers' control, and Ellery and Dom are a true example of this. The story ends on a hopeful note, but that tragedy absolutely comes for both of our heroes. 10/10. If anything else is ever written for this universe I'll pick it up so incredibly quickly. Read this duology!

The first book in this series was an absolute 5 star knockout for me, so the second this ARC became available, I immediately grabbed it!
That ending in book one completely wrecked me and I genuinely could not handle not knowing what happened next.

This sequel somehow managed to raise the stakes even higher!!?!? Everything felt bigger and more intense!! The politics, the danger, the magic, the romance, the friendships, the suspense... it honestly felt like Amanda Foody and C. L. Herman turned the dial ALL THE WAY up on every single element of the story, and it worked so well. It's an absolute page turner for sure.

One of my biggest hopes going into this sequel was getting more time with the secondary characters, and thankfully I got exactly what I wanted! I loved seeing this side of Hanna, and the new additions to the cast brought so much to the story too - Oscar immediately became a favourite!

I also really appreciated that even with all the action and chaos happening, the emotional side of the story never got lost. Ellery and Domenic’s relationship still carried so much weight, and there were multiple moments that had my heart aching for them.

A Destiny So Cruel was such a satisfying conclusion to this duology. The ending felt right for this story and these characters, even if my heart still feels a little tender after finishing it.

I’ll be recommending this series to everyone. Friends, family, neighbours, random strangers... this series deserves all the hype!

"as Winter thaws and Summer reignites
the battle once fought must be won again
Summer's fallen champion cannot endure
or the land shall be damned forevermore."

Wow. I love Amanda Foody and I loved A Fate So Cold, so when the opportunity arose to read an Arc of A Destiny So Cruel I knew I had to take it! This book blew me away. We follow Ellery after she made the devastating decision to kill Dominic. She is struggling with her decision, her role as Winter's Chosen and with the idea of Destiny as a whole. She has secretly teamed up with Hanna and her Living Wand Syarthis to comb through the extensive archives it possesses to see if they can learn anything more about Destiny. Hanna is also battling her own demons after Syarthis messed with Destiny in the first book, took over Hanna and Dominic had to sever her bond with Syarthis to bring her back to herself.

After Ellery's POV you cut to Dominic who has just awoken from being dead. He is rightfully confused, disoriented and angry with Ellery. He hesitated. Why didn't she? Weren't they in love? The best part about Dominic reincarnating is when he runs into Oscar who is a young, vibrant, magically inclined wizard who has decided he NEEDS to be Dom's sidekick in figuring out how to complete Destiny's prophecy. Together they concoct a plan to bring the Summer Wizards back together, reunite them with their wands and then go public with his "resurrection".

El, after seeing Dom not dead, and with the help of Julian, Kester and Demelza, very quickly discovers Dom's plan to bring back the summer wands. They decide to try and stop the summer magicians from finalizing their plan. They find out that they are too late and Dom has already succeeded with his plan.

Little do El and Dom know, Hanna is working behind their backs to reunite them. When the two finally come together and hash things out, they decide they can't live without one another and are going to fight to end Destiny and bring about the seasons in Alderland.

Their quest brings about a lot of political drama, danger and tests even the strongest of friendships. The head of the Order of Magic even puts out a hit on Ellery and Dominic after he discovers them working together to destroy destiny. But they are the Chosen Two. They overcome all of the obstacles and destroy destiny. In the process, the unthinkable happens. They destroy not only the Living Wands, but all magic in Alderland and send Summer and Winter into turmoil. With one final attempt, they sacrifice themselves to an Aldrich tree to right the world and bring back magic and the seasons. In the process, they save Alderland, but the world takes their memories from them and turns them into opposing seasons. So, kind of happily ever after? Yay they didn't die?

Overall, I really loved this book. Not only were there so many challenges to overcome for our Chosen Two, but I felt that the other magicians with Living Wands got to really show their true colors and shine. The book was great, but it wouldn't have been so amazing without Kester, Demelza, Oscar, Hanna, Tej and Julian to aid our Chosen Two with their crazy quest.

This book did not suffer from second book syndrome and actually was better than the first.

I loved reading A fate so cold, so this sequel is very anticipated. I loved being immersed again in the world created by Amanda Foody and CL Herman. Now Aderland is not anymore a Summer country, but a Winter's one and there are Winter magicians and Living Wands. When Summer comes not only Domenic comes back to Life, but also dangerous Summerghasts and monsters. But Ellery and Domenic refuse to follow any more prophecies and they want to Battle Destiny and get their lives back.
Brilliant, engaging, with new and old characters, this book is the unique ending of this saga and couldn't be more perfect. With twists and battles, this book is captivating and wonderfully written. The love story is the core of the book and you couldn't love Ellery and Domenic more in their Quest to be free.

Thank you to Tor Teen and Netgalley for sending me an early copy of this book! All opinions are my own!

I am unwell. So unwell. Entirely unmade by this duology. Shattered and not sure I was put back together but like...maybe? Because I'm happy about it?

This book had everything and so much more. From the romance to the mystery to the twisting plot that will keep you up at night - I genuinely could not get enough. This book sucked me in and only spit me back out at the end, and I'm an entirely different person now.

I loved the symmetry of this duology and the way that Winter and Summer mirror each other just like these books.

I cannot say enough good things about them and how much I adore them. Please get your hands on this the moment it comes out!

ooh my god. this was the perfect sequel, I don't want to spoil anything but if you've read book 1, this book will absolutely top it!
We dive more into the side characters we know and love from the first one, the world building is expanded, and that ending was satisfying!

*Thank you Tor Publishing Group for an eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Okay, first off, I was ECSTATIC to get approved by Tor for the second book in this duology, since I thought the first one was incredible back when I read it in January. I know that one of the critiques might be how fast-paced this one was, but honestly, I thought it worked really well and still incorporated a lot of world-building and character development. Also, I LOVED the side character development. I feel like it is usually unusual to get to know side characters so well, and I think this book did an excellent job of including them and making them have a purpose (not just exist). As for El and Dom... I'm so sad their story is seemingly over. They were really great MC's, and I will miss the opposites attract dynamic they had. I can't wait for everyone to read this book when it comes out in November, and I personally cannot wait to read more books from these two authors.

This was one of my favorite YA fantasies that I read last year, so I was so incredibly excited to receive book 2. I might’ve loved this even more than book 1! The ending of book 1 had me both scared and excited for book 2, and it did not disappoint! I always love when the second book lives up to the hype of the first book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing for the arc of this book.
After loving Book one so much, I did not want to wait to have to read the second. I flew through this book, and it was amazing. Ellery and Dom have my heart.

This story is full of heartbreak and a destiny that leaves you feeling devastated by the end. This concept is so unique, and one that I will be thinking about for a while. Definitely one of my favorite books and series of this year.

I really liked A Fate So Cold. With that considered, I think I might've even liked A Destiny So Cruel better. I will say, I felt like there was a lot less of the whole Ellery/Domenic romance which, as someone who doesn't necassarily love romances, I didn't mind. I do love a group cast however, and I felt like this book pulled it off really well. Each of the people had their own unique quirks and personalities, so I didn't feel like I got them confused too much. I especially loved Oscar's character and the inclusion of more Kester in this book (as they where a character who I liked a lot in book one but didn't have as much page time as I wanted.) I also thought that the ending was pulled off really well. Yes, it was sad, but it had just enough hope and whimsy to keep me from being depressed by it.