It was supposed to be a fresh start. A completely blank slate in a place where no one knew about the tragedy that ripped her family apart six months ago. A tragedy Rowan can’t help but blame herself for.

Now the only thing she wants is to blend in. To escape the house that has become more like a prison. Her new school is her only hope. Somewhere she can pretend she’s just like everyone else.

Only Rowan doesn’t realize how unique she is. Holden is the first to recognize it, but he’s not the last.

Rowan can’t explain the draw she feels to the guys who have found their way into her life. The way something seems to spark the first moment she touches each of them. How it almost hurts to walk away from them at the end of each day.

Things are changing, from the ripple of power humming just below her skin to this new family she’s finding herself a part of. But not all of the changes are good.

Someone doesn’t like the power Rowan is stepping into or the bonds she’s forming with the guys who have gifts as rare and strong as her own. And when the truth is revealed, it has the power to burn everything in its wake…

I’m a sucker for reading what I’m in the mood for and perhaps after my 50/50 read of the second Dragons’ Mate book I should have returned to crime and taken a break. However, I didn’t. I picked another reverse harem book from my Kindle library that’s been waiting to be read since the 21st December 2022.

If you’re new to my blog or somehow are unaware of the genre of reverse harem. Reverse harem means – a romance where the main female character (MFC) doesn’t have to chose between love interests. Ergo, she is paired with (usually) 3 – 5 male characters. There are no love triangles here.

So, Sparks of Fate is the first book in the ‘The Shifting Fates Series’, which so far has three books. (I don’t know at this point whether it’s a trilogy or whether more books are coming).

The MFC Rowan fits into 1 of the 3 tropes MFC get slotted into.

[Those tropes by the way are: tragically traumatic past, small and weak, or strong and aggressive] if you happen to find a book with a MFC that doesn’t fit into those tropes please let me know – because I’m clearly missing out!

So, as I said, Rowan fits into the tragically traumatic past trope. When we meet her she is a broken down person who thinks she is alone with no one to be her family.

In this book there are 5 males – count them! – We have: Anson, Holden, Lucas, Keene, & Vaughn.

Breaking that down:

Anson – The troublemaker flirt.

Holden – The golden boy.

Lucas – The sensitive one.

Keene – The funny one.

Vaughn – The dangerous one.

These men are much sort after in their Senior year of school and I got many shades of many different books while reading through how separated they were from the school population but how awed and wanted they are by others.

Technically Vaughn is the first to meet Rowan, warning her away from the woods and being as standoffish as possible. She meets Holden next, first by a glance, second when he appears at her door with his father to welcome them. She meets Lucas and Keene at the same time. Finally she meets Anson. Upon first touch she feels a ‘spark’ with all five of them.

She also makes friends with Cass who is in a relationship with 3 men. The fact that multi-person relationships are common is both frowned and smiled upon by the community. It comes to light that Holden, Lucas, Keene, Vaughn, Cass and several others all live on the ‘community’ a large space of land that holds lots of families. Called a ‘commune’ or ‘cult’ by Rowan it is clear that while this community lives apart from the rest of society, they are still sort after by the residents.

Rowan isn’t a character that asks for help. Her strength comes from her ability to stand through it all. Of course, this isn’t a good way to live and through the book the five men slowly realise the extent to which Rowan is buried under.

I see Rowan as a strong characters because despite her tragically traumatic past and the fact that she faces bullying at school, she is still strong enough to put one foot in front of the other and to hold herself up high. I find that determination remarkable.

I don’t think much of Rowan’s parents and should you read this I don’t think you will too. However, I do get the need for them and why their presence is essential to the developing plot. By the end of the book, Rowan’s living arrangements change and this signals a change of direction for the plot and an expansion of the characters.

I’d say the ending was a mild cliffhanger. Not shocking but still interesting. I had an early start today so I couldn’t read through the night like I wanted. I have the next 2 books in my Kindle library already, so I am committed to reading them and seeing where the story takes me and what state Rowan will be in, in the end.

I give this book: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Spice: 🌶️