Ilona Andrews

An uneasy alliance between warring families gets heated in this otherworldly novella from bestselling author Ilona Andrews. At first glance, the planet Rada seems like a lush paradise. But the ruling families, all boasting genetically enhanced abilities, are in constant competition for power--and none more so than the Adlers and the Baenas. For generations, the powerful families have pushed and pulled each other in a dance for dominance. Until a catastrophic betrayal from within changes everything. Now, deadly, disciplined, and solitary leaders Ramona Adler and Matias Baena must put aside their enmity and work together in secret to prevent sinister forces from exploiting universe-altering technology. Expecting to suffer through their uneasy alliance, Ramona and Matias instead discover that they understand each other as no one in their families can--and that their combined skills may eclipse the risks of their forbidden alliance. As the two warriors risk their lives to save their families, they must decide whether to resist or embrace the passion simmering between them. For now, the dance between their families continues--but just one misstep could spell the end of them both.

Fated Blades

Sarah Escorsa

This is Pure Condensed and Unadulterated IA Scrumptiousness (PCaUIAS™), so I quite obviously didn't like it very much.



Why thank you, Spockie dear.

➽ Review to come and stuff.

· Book 1: Silent Blade ★★★★
· Book 2: Silver Shark ★★★★
· Book 3: A Mere Formality ★★★★★

Totally Addicted to Reading

Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews, the third book in the Kinsmen Universe series, provided me with a wonderful reading experience. I went into it with high expectations, and it did not disappoint. It had all the elements I expect from this writing duo. Snarky dialogue, awesome characters and a unique and fascinating world.

Fated Blades provided the perfect enemies to lovers romance. Ramona Adler and Matias Baena’s family are sworn enemies, fueled by a feud which spanned generations. So, under normal circumstances, these two would not be caught in each other’s company. However, when their cheating spouses stole research that could bankrupt both their families, they joined forces to avert the threat.

The story which developed because of this unexpected and forbidden alliance kept me on the edge of my seat. Drama, suspense, action, danger, humour, and sizzling chemistry permeated the pages of 🎧︎Fated Blades. Although they shared an intense attraction to each other, they never gave into it until they were both free. The alliance created out of necessity started on rocky ground, but as the story progressed, the two became closer. The connection which developed between them warmed my heart.

Aaron Shedlock’s narration was entertaining. This was my second time listening to his narration. Despite the deepness of his voice, his female voices sounded natural. He had different tones for each character, which made it easy to distinguish between them. 

Overall, 🎧︎Fated Blades delivered and provided a fitting end to my 2021 reading journey.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading

Lauren Sullivan

Folks, folks, folks! This is an enemies-to-lovers fated-mates trope, if the fated connection made the couple unstoppable killing machines. From the moment I heard there was a new Kinsmen novella coming out, I was ridiculously excited. And when the Luisa J. Preissler cover art came out? Pretty much incoherent (and yes, in case you were wondering, that is an actual scene from the book). While I would highly recommend reading the other two novellas first, there’s enough backstory given that I think it would work as a standalone.

“It was one of the universe’s great ironies that after running half across the galaxy to get away from each other, both the Baenas and the Addlers ended up in the same sector, on the same planet, and in the same province.”

The Addlers and Baenas have been enemies since the end of the war six generations ago that created the secare, genetically modified people with the ability to generate nanotech blades and shields, called seco, from their arms. As they both occupy sections of New Delphi on the planet Rada, it makes life a little interesting, but for the most part, they’ve settled into a sort of cold war. Until Ramona Addler shows up unexpected at Matias Baena’s office with devastating – and infuriating – news. Their spouses have absconded – together – with information that could wreck both their families, they’re forced to work together to recover them. It soon becomes clear, however, that they need to save not only their families’ livelihoods, but possibly the entire sector.

“He wanted to keep looking at her.
He wondered how fast she was.
He wondered if he was faster.”

Is it possible come up with an angstier trope than enemies to fated lovers? Because, oof, this novella is packed to the brim. While the families are not directly engaged in hostilities, they’re both in a research race for technology that would drastically enrich whichever family figures it out first. And while both Ramona and Matias do care about ensuring the continuation and financial viability of their families, this wouldn’t be an Ilona Andrews book without multiple layers of meaning. They both have other very good reasons for wanting to control it, reasons that add even more angst. As the respective heads of their families, both Ramona and Matias are competent, loyal, absolutely lethal – and lonely. They both understand that being the head of a kinsmen family, especially one in a research armsrace, is a stifling, exhausting and thankless job. There’s all sorts of angst as they realize they’re really quite similar, and though they are seriously attracted to each other, they can’t act on that attraction because they’re still married to their idiot cheating spouses. Oh, and their families would happily murder each other. Because the other thing that they understand about themselves and each other – they’re weapons. While they don’t resort indiscriminately to violence, they also have no qualms about defending themselves or their families, and that’s something that they each deeply admire in the other.

“Silver Shark” will always be one of my favorites, but it’s amazing how much the authors have improved in ten years, from the depth of characterization to the battles. The fight scenes are absolute perfection, if by perfection you mean intricately choreographed carnage with a high body count. The final battle in particular is absolutely exquisite with an unbelievable emotional payoff. The world of the Kinsmen gets a little more fleshed out, too. There’s a little more of New Delphi and Dahlia province, including a bit of the wilds between cities. Which, without being too spoilery, is one of my absolute favorite parts, considering it showcases both each individual character’s growth, their attraction for each other, and some of that fighting.

”Go forth, brave heroes, track down the traitors, and recover your data so you can pay me. I wouldn’t recover the spouses, however. Seems like a lost cause.”

Overall, the best way to say how I feel about this book? When I saw it was available, I immediately dropped everything and inhaled the book in one sitting, paused for sleep and kid stuff, and then read it again. Highly recommended, and I desperately hope that this is the start of many more novellas set in this universe!

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Content notes: (view spoiler)[Violence and gore, death of a parent (in the past), parental abandonment, cheating spouse, massacre (in the past, described on page) (hide spoiler)]

Fated Blades by Ilona Andrews, the third book in the Kinsmen Universe series, provided me with a wonderful reading experience. I went into it with high expectations, and it did not disappoint. It had all the elements I expect from this writing duo. Snarky dialogue, awesome characters and a unique and fascinating world.

Fated Blades provided the perfect enemies to lovers romance. Ramona Adler and Matias Baena’s family are sworn enemies, fueled by a feud which spanned generations. So, under normal circumstances, these two would not be caught in each other’s company. However, when their cheating spouses stole research that could bankrupt both their families, they joined forces to avert the threat.

The story which developed because of this unexpected and forbidden alliance kept me on the edge of my seat. Drama, suspense, action, danger, humour, and sizzling chemistry permeated the pages of 🎧︎Fated Blades. Although they shared an intense attraction to each other, they never gave into it until they were both free. The alliance created out of necessity started on rocky ground, but as the story progressed, the two became closer. The connection which developed between them warmed my heart.

Aaron Shedlock’s narration was entertaining. This was my second time listening to his narration. Despite the deepness of his voice, his female voices sounded natural. He had different tones for each character, which made it easy to distinguish between them. 

Overall, 🎧︎Fated Blades delivered and provided a fitting end to my 2021 reading journey.






Fated Blades

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