I’m a bit behind in getting this review written considering Fated Blades came out before Thanksgiving, but then again, this review is going to be largely gushing because I loved this book so much and don’t have a lot of coherent thoughts to contribute! So I’m not sure how much you would have gained if you’d read this earlier.

Fated Blades is the latest installment in Ilona Andrews’ Kinsman Universe. There’s a bindup of the other novellas, which are super fast reads that I highly recommend, but you don’t need to have read them to dive into Fated Blades. I suggest having them handy if you do read this, though, because you’re going to need them once you’re done!

This scifi romance novella opens with the head of one rival house approaching the other after discovering that her husband ran off with his wife — and the two of them stole all of the research into a new technology that the families were competing to bring to market first. Now, these two leaders must put aside the years of enmity between their families and work together in order to save their finances and reputations while preventing their technology from falling into the wrong hands.

I can’t begin to tell you how obsessed I am with this story. I started reading it one morning before my brother came to visit, and it was torture to put it down even though I was excited to see him. Don’t start this book unless you have time to read it in one sitting, because it’s going to hook you!

I really liked seeing two lonely people trying to protect their families and do what’s right gradually realize that the person they’ve been taught is their mortal enemy is the one most likely to understand what it’s like to be in their position. It was so lovely seeing them realize how much they have in common and how much they like and respect each other and watch them gradually start to open up and share with the other. Plus I’m always a sucker for a good fated mates moment!

Obviously I wish this was longer because I’m so obsessed with Matias and Ramona that I just need more! But actually, this story was the perfect length. We got tons of action and romantic development packed into a novella that just flew by! It had everything I could ask for and more, and I have no qualms about saying this is one of my favorite reads of the year. Honestly, even writing this review (finally!) is making me want to go back and reread it — it’s that good!

I can’t wait for the physical book to come out in the next few months so I can add this to my shelves. While I did get an arc of this to review (and actually read it before it was published, even though the delay in getting a review out might suggest otherwise), I had preordered a copy before I got approved and just kept my preorder. I’ve also since bought the Audible edition since it was on sale for $1.99, so I really should reread it in that format. But yeah, I’m going to own this in all three formats by the time it’s all said and done. If that doesn’t tell you what I really think of this book, I don’t know what will!

If you’re a fan of scifi romance, romances with lots of action and high stakes, and/or Ilona Andrews, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in Fated Blades. As you might have gathered, I highly recommend checking it out! 

Has this book been on your radar? How stunning is this cover?? Are you interested in picking it up now that you’ve made it through all of my gushing? Let me know in the comments!

I received an arc of Fated Blades from the publisher via Netgalley.