Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Graphic violence, Death, Blood, Grief, Physical abuse, Torture, Starvation, Captivity, Slavery, Self-harm, Depression, Anxiety, Trauma, Sexual content
By the Sharp and Shadowed Wings
by Rachel N. Harker
Book 1 in Fate of the Nine
The slow burn actually gets teeth: grief, fate, and Fenrir's monster restraint all push against Revna's refusal to break. It is dark, swoony, and mean enough with the ending that book two becomes a personal problem.
goodreads 4.06/5 308 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length436 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice4/5 · Slow burn with late spice
PacingMedium
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Slow burn
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- High
- Slow burn with late spice
- Book hangover incoming
- God/deity
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- Forbidden love
- Passionate / intense
- The angst delivered
- Monster
- Mutual pining
- Emotional / vulnerable intimacy
- The swoon
- Dark/tortured soul
- Protective love interest
- Possessive / claiming
- Adrenaline rush
- Hurt/comfort
- Dirty talk heavy
- Found family feels
- Immortal/ancient
- Touch her and die
- Desperate / urgent
- Damaged survivor
- Found family
- Anticipation
- Only soft for them
- Possessive/protective
- Touch starvation
- Dirty talk (sweet/playful)
- Praise kink
Fantasy promise
- Fantasy romance
- Immortal/mortal romance
- Forest / wilderness
- High fantasy
- Gods/deities
- Monster romance
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- Royal court / palace
- Mythological
- Monsters
- Forced proximity
- Underground / underworld
- Multi-realm / dimension-hopping
- Valkyries
- War front / rebellion
- Giants / frost giants
- Prophecy-driven love
- Mythology retelling
- Sacrifice/martyrdom
Reading experience
- Dual POV
- Medium
- Dark
- Lush
- Heavy
- Warrior/fighter
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- Mythic
- Atmospheric
- Survivor
- Angsty
- Emotional
- Protector
- Sacrifice / chosen to die
- Intense
- Cinematic
- Yearning
- Character-driven
- Steamy
- Epic
- Forbidden desire
- Bargain with consequences
- Bonds forged in war
- Protect at all costs
- Cliffhanger warning
- Sacrifice for love
- Gut punch ending
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
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A Shadow in the Ember
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Similar because
Sacrifice / chosen to die · Only soft for them · God/deity
Different because
A longer read (647 vs 436 pages).
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Rites of the Starling
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Similar because
Protector · Prophecy-driven love · Found family
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The Fallen and the Kiss of Dusk
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Similar because
Immortal/mortal romance · Bargain with consequences · Sacrifice / chosen to die
Different because
Spice is lower (3/5 vs 4/5). A longer read (557 vs 436 pages).
Book details
- Length
- 436 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book