THE TROUBLE WITH FATE
Mystwalker Series #1
by Leigh Evans
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks (Dec. 2012)
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal, Adult
Format: eBook (344 pages)
Source: Review request from publisher for honest review
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
Meet Hedi Peacock. She’s half Fae. Half Were. And all trouble…
I Have Two Words For Werewolves:
My name is Hedi Peacock and I have a secret. I’m not human, and I have the pointy Fae ears and Were inner-bitch to prove it. As fairy tales go, my childhood was damn near perfect, all fur and magic until a werewolf killed my father and the Fae executed my mother. I’ve never forgiven either side. Especially Robson Trowbridge. He was a part-time werewolf, a full-time bastard, and the first and only boy I ever loved. That is, until he became the prime suspect in my father’s death…
Bite Me.
Today I’m a half-breed barista working at a fancy coffee house, living with my loopy Aunt Lou and a temperamental amulet named Merry, and wondering where in the world I’m going in life. A pretty normal existence, considering. But when a pack of Weres decides to kidnap my aunt and force me to steal another amulet, the only one who can help me is the last person I ever thought I’d turn to: Robson Trowbridge. And he’s as annoyingly beautiful as I remember. That’s the trouble with fate: Sometimes it barks. Other times it bites. And the rest of the time it just breaks your heart. Again…
At A Glance
An interesting story but nothing spectacular. I almost gave it 2.5 stars but I did enjoy The Trouble With Fate enough to recommend it to some people.
The Good
When this book got going, I was so intrigued by the world Evan’s had created. Werewolves, fae, amulet necklaces with personalities. It was all so different and interesting. And the writing was so unique. It has a “lost in the heroine’s head” feel. Hedi would think the most random thoughts at the most random times. Not everybody is going to like that, but I actually thought it was fun most of the time.
Hedi was snarky, odd, and a little lost. Her half-werewolf, half-fae heritage messes with her mind. Literally. It’s like she has three different personalities. Mostly, Hedi keeps her “human” part in the forefront, but sometimes the fae and wolf in her peek through and cause some trouble. Hedi has had her life turned upside down once again with her Aunt’s kidnapping and werewolf Trowbridge making an appearance in her life. Despite a little whining, Hedi does a pretty good job of figuring things out and trying to save the people she loves. She may stumble, but she has a lot of will.
Trowbridge was a grade a jerk. He’s bossy, demanding, and has a take charge attitude. But this alpha werewolf has more to him than meets the eyes. He has a troubled past. He was accused of killing his family and wife and has lost his father’s pack in the process. His solution was to run away. But Hedi’s tenacity and reckless ways pushes him to confront his past and take back what’s rightfully his. If only Trowbridge would give Hedi a chance. I could see them working well together in the future.
Hedi’s fae amulet, Merry, was all sorts of creepy but cool. She may not be able to talk but she let’s her feelings be known through her actions. She has spunk and her relationship with Hedi is so heartwarming. She is kind of hard to explain, so you have to read the book to get to know her.
The world of The Trouble With Fate is both brutal and scary. The werewolves are unpredictable and bloodthirsty, the fae are pretty much the same, and the fae magic is unpredictable but fascinating. But that damn cliffhanger was killer. Ugh.
The Bad
The Trouble With Fate is a different type of urban fantasy. It kind of comes at you in waves. At one point it’s super exciting, then it drags, lather rinse repeat. But really it’s the writing you have to get use to. I didn’t like it at first, then I got use to it, then I was kind of intrigued. But why I’m putting this in the bad section is because I think the writing style might lose some people. It’s interesting, but it makes you want to skip paragraphs and pages to get the more fun parts. I think it comes down to pacing. It was all over the place.
The beginning is soooooo slow. I hate being bogged down with too much world-building and background, especially within the first chapter. It was all too much. That stuff needs to be spread out.
Some parts felt disjointed and choppy. Like it took an effort to make all the elements of the story fit together.
The Snuggly
The romance is kind of messed up. Hedi has pined for Trowbridge since she was a little girl. But I didn’t feel like Trowbridge had that many feelings for Hedi. She even gets that feeling and tries to push it aside. Too much happens for me that proves Trowbridge non-interest in Hedi so I don’t really want them to be a couple.
There is a sex scene and definite sexual tension.
Final Thoughts
I am still a little iffy with this book but I do believe there is an audience out there that will love The Trouble With Fate for all it’s uniqueness. I will be reading the next book in the series because it’s too hard to resist after the way this book ended. Recommend to some. Go with your gut.
He waited for me to explode again, and when I didn’t, he used two fingers on my forehead to ease me back into my seat. “You are one crazy-ass Tinker Bell,” he said, returning his attention to the road.
“Dude, it’s harder than it looks.”
“Call me that one more time and I’ll cut your balls off.”
“I’m the third,” he said.
“I’ll still cut your balls off.”
“Leave it, Briggs,” I said. “Her name is Cordelia. She is to be called by her name, and nothing else.” I could hear her inhale of satisfaction. So to even it out, I said, “Cordelia, he is my third and that requires balls.”
There: my first quasi-Alpha ruling.
emaginette
Bite Me, is not a way to get me to read anything. I have to like the MC and I think I’ll avoid this one.
🙂
Jennifer Bielman
She’s not perfect but she was entertaining. 🙂
Jaclyn Canada
Well I do enjoy reading about the fae, and wolves as well. Plus a magic amulet. Writing and pacing problems though…that, well, I’m just not sure how I feel about that LOL. I’ve read books where I’m skipping pages, and I agree with you that sometimes the ending can save it and make you want to read the next one. Excellent review! Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.
Jennifer Bielman
I had such conflicting feelings over this one. I am not sure if I would recommend it to you.
kimbacaffeinate
Sadly this was a DNF for me after 100 pages..I could not connect with the protagonist to save my life. Great review!
Jennifer Bielman
I totally know what you mean. I almost gave up one it too.