A Matter of Fate | Fate #1
Chloe Lilywhite struggles with all the normal problems of a typical seventeen-year-old high school student. Only, Chloe isn’t a normal teenage girl. She’s a Magical, part of a secret race of beings who influence the universe. More importantly, she’s a Creator, which means Fate mapped out her destiny long ago, from her college choice, to where she will live, to even her job. While her friends and relatives relish their future roles, Chloe resents the lack of say in her life, especially when she learns she’s to be guarded by a vengeful group of beings bent on wiping out her kind. Their number one target? Chloe, of course.
That’s nothing compared to the boy trouble she’s gotten herself into. Because a guy she’s literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to.
Chloe’s once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.
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Review
I’ve never been so eager to write up a review before as soon as I finish a book. As many of you don’t know, I’m in constant turtle mode when it comes to whipping out reviews. So I’m here laying in bed at nearly 1 am, when I should be asleep. But I must write this out while my thoughts are all fresh.
Naturally, before starting a book, I tend to skim through the reviews to see what everyone is thinking. And I was quite surprised to see the mixed reviews, it wasn’t what I was expecting especially when Lyons does an amazing job creating wondrous worlds to get lost in.
But as soon as I was working my way through the book, I totally understood why! Chloe, Chloe, Chloe. Just like most of us, she’ll drive you insane with her thoughts and silly decisions. However, I have a feeling that people forget that she is a teenager. She’s extremely immature and that’s evident in just about everything she does in this first book. Having a character that’s so immature, it means she has so much room to grow and its not until the very end that we start to see any movement. It’s a slow pace, but she ends up learning new things and starts to understand why things are the way they are.
Lyons has created a fantastical magical world and I am quite digging it. We have creators, emotionals, elementals, the list goes on. Chloe is one of the strongest of her kind and the rest of her life is already mapped out for her. Like any teenager as I’d imagine they would be, at such a young age it’s tough to grasp the acceptance that you have very little say in your life. A lot is to be expected of her especially after she reaches her full potential.
Not only does she have that hanging over her head, you have parents who are barely there, living among magicals that she knows very little about, and a boy from her dreams that is her ONE. Her connection. Jonah. But to make situations messier, said connection has a twin brother who she has another connection with. Kellan. Oh, and magicals are being killed off, and Chloe and her loved ones are being targeted.
In any typical teenager life, it’s dramaful! This is a true YA people, get use to it. We have Chloe, the supposed powerful creator (seriously can’t wait to see how powerful she can get throughout the series), Jonah and Kellan (the studly emotionals)… We have a hot mess.
I truly enjoyed this book, I’m not one for too much drama, but I expected it coming in. Teenagers in love, it’s a tough life and we’ve all been there before. Gosh, I don’t miss those days one bit. I’ve never been a fan of love triangles, but in most cases you tend to favor one. Well good luck with this one, you’re bound to love both of them. Even though Jonah and Kellan are twins, they’re so different and you’ll love each of them for different reasons. I’ve never loved a love triangle so much in my life!
There will be a huge question looming over your head for most of the book and I think it’s pretty evident what the answer is even before its revealed by the end. But now that we know it, what the hell is supposed to come of it? It just seems like pure torture and heartbreak, how can everyone be happy in the end?! I don’t see that happening, someone’s going to hurt and that’s for certain.
I can’t wait to read the next in the series, Lyons is an amazing story teller who is fully capable of describing the world so well, it almost feels real. You’ll easily get lost in it all and wish you could be there too. If you can’t deal with the teenage drama then maybe you shouldn’t read YAs… Hehe. It’s a well-rounded book that you’ll just be eager to see what is to come of all these magicals. Will Chloe be able to accept her fate and be the strong woman that everyone needs her to be? What will unfold in this love triangle?
**Book received for an honest review**
Excerpt
The guy I’m staring at is tall, athletic, and quite tan, with blackish hair and eyes so clear, so blue, they replicate a cloudless sky. I should know—I’ve stared into them often enough.
A shy smile creeps across his gorgeous face, creating a dimple in his left cheek as he hands Snook a piece of paper. A textbook is passed over and he’s pointed off towards an empty seat. The class explodes in whispers when he sits down; everyone blatantly stares at him. It’s obvious he hears it all, because a faint pink stain tinges his cheeks. His longish hair shields part of his face, but it doesn’t matter. We’ve all seen enough of him to continue ogling.
From behind me comes, “Hot. So hot!” Several girls nearby giggle in agreement.
“Math, people.” Snook taps the board in irritation. “Gossip on your own time.” The reprimand quiets the majority of the class, but the girls behind me text furiously back and forth, their fingers flying across keyboards.
It’s hard, but I tear my eyes away from the boy, shocked. I stare blankly at my book, unsure what to do.
How many times had I imagined this scenario before? Too many to keep track of, that’s for sure. How can this be real?
Snook’s voice resumes its familiar drone at the front of the classroom, but in the confusion of what’s happened, I’m unable to put meaning to any of his words. They blur together in low sounds, like the teachers in Peanuts cartoons. I ought to pay attention, what with a test coming up, but I can’t.
Not with him here.
When I look over at the new boy again, the ground shifts for a second time. He’s working on some equation Snook put on the board, one I haven’t attempted, thanks to being shell-shocked and all. But then he reaches out and grabs the sides of his desk, like he’s steadying himself. Like he somehow feels the shift, too. Black hair spills down across his eyes as he takes a deep breath, hiding everything but a small, knowing smile.
He’s sitting by the windows, doing math—in my classroom! He’s no daydream, no figment of my imagination—although for many years he’d been exactly that.
I realize I’m staring when his blue eyes lift to meet my green ones. A jolt of electricity zaps through my body, all tingly, with promises of familiarity and excitement rolled into one. We stare intently at one another for a good fifteen seconds until a girl next to me asks to borrow a pencil. My eyes jerk back towards my desk and I mumble an incoherent apology. It’s just long enough of a reprieve for me to begin hyperventilating.
Get a grip on yourself! the little voice barks. You’re going to pass out!
The pencil in my hand snaps, driving a splinter deep into my palm.
“Chloe?” Oops. Snook is talking to me. When I merely stare back, he tries, “Your answer, Miss Lilywhite?”
Unable to do anything else, as I have no idea what problem we’re even on, I surge, stretching my mind out to someone nearby to find the answer. I land on some guy who’s in the thralls of remembering a hot and heavy make-out session with his girlfriend rather than focusing on math, so I’m forced to flip through a number of graphic images before finding what I need.
I hate cheating, hate using anything other than my intelligence for schoolwork. This explains why I’m sitting in basic math, rather than AP Calculus like the Cousins.
The moment I find the answer, I pull myself out of the guy’s mind, feeling dirty just having his thoughts mingling with mine. Eww. “It’s X = 2y + 79z.”
Snook moves on to the next problem and victim, as if there’d never been any pause at all.
Ugh! I’d gone nine months without cheating, something I was exceedingly proud of. The Cousins heckle me mercilessly about it, saying it’s stupid to not use my gifts while in class. But I’ve held steadfast in my belief that school is a place for intelligence, not Magic.
Also, my hand is throbbing. Picking doesn’t help—the splinter is driven even deeper by my efforts. And now I’m bleeding. Great.
When the class bell rings, most everyone packs up quickly so they can get to lunch, but the girls behind me are back to discussing him, clearly infatuated with his looks.
As for me, I’m still dazed with disbelief before realizing I should pack up, too. The pause is just long enough to notice Snook motion the new guy up for a quick conference. He walks to the podium with smooth, graceful motions that exude confidence. I can’t hear what Snook is asking, and this only exacerbates my curiosity. I try listening as long as possible until it’s grossly apparent I’m sticking around out of nosiness. At least I’m not alone. All the girls behind me are doing the same.
Beyond Fate | Fate #1.5
There are always two sides to every story . . .
His whole life, Jonah Whitecomb has strove to meet everyone’s expectations of him: the perfect student, dutiful son, loyal twin, accomplished surfer, and powerful Magical. But behind his carefully composed façade hides the truth of how his family has fallen apart, leaving Jonah more often than not feeling adrift. To complicate matters, he fell in love long ago with a girl in his dreams, one he’s never told anyone about, including his twin brother.
Just when life seems its bleakest, Jonah discovers that Chloe is real. Wanting to finally reach out and grab happiness for himself, he embarks on a journey to track down the girl of his dreams, only to find that happy endings aren’t always guaranteed, the best laid out plans can go horribly awry, and sometimes, you have to simply let yourself go along for the ride.
* Beyond Fate is Jonah’s point-of-view of the events of A Matter of Fate, and is a companion novella.
Amazon US:
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iBooks:
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A Matter of Heart | Fate #2
No longer in high school, Chloe Lilywhite is now living and working in Annar, the Magicals’ city-state plane of existence. Since moving, she’s joined the Council, gone on missions with the Guard, moved into her own apartment, and enrolled at the University of Annar. Plus, she’s happily engaged to be married to Jonah Whitecomb, the literal man from her dreams, not to mention her Connection. While she still struggles with aspects of her craft, Chloe feels like she’s finally coming into her own, especially after a difficult year that had her questioning nearly everything in her life.
After a brutal attack by the Elders, her life is turned upside down once more. Accusations fly throughout the Council and Guard, forcing Chloe to confront her worst fears about what’s she’s capable of as a Creator. And then there’s the matter of Kellan Whitecomb, Jonah’s twin brother and Chloe’s ex, who resurfaces after disappearing months before. Although Chloe chose Jonah, and despite their best efforts, the two find it hard to stay away from one another.
But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.
*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+.
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/MatterofHeartUS
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/MatterofHeartUK
iBooks:
Kobo: http://bit.ly/MatterofHeartKOBO
B&N: http://bit.ly/MatterofHeartNOOK
A Matter of Truth | Fate #3
Not long ago, Chloe Lilywhite seemingly had it all: a prized spot on the Magicals’ Council as lead Creator, a loving fiancé and Connection, and a wealth of good friends. But the poised young woman she projected was nothing more than a façade. Her parents all but disowned her. Power plays and accusations of murder within the Council rocked her confidence. And most difficult of all, her secret, a secondary Connection to Jonah’s twin brother, Kellan, became painfully impossible to resist. Desperate to gain control over her rapidly unraveling existence, Chloe did the unthinkable: she ran away.
Now living and working in Alaska under an alias, Chloe is slowly discovering who she is and, more importantly, who she wants to be. But the more she tries to leave the Magical world behind, the harder it becomes to stay hidden. The Elders are back with a vengeance, and the stakes have never been higher. Chloe finally has to make a choice: embrace her pre-ordained Fate or pave her own way in the worlds. One thing’s for sure, though—she’s finally up for the challenge.
*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+.
Amazon US:
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/MatterofTruthUK
iBooks:
Kobo: http://bit.ly/MatterofTruthKOBO
B&N: http://bit.ly/MatterofTruthNOOK
A Matter of Forever | Fate #4
It all comes down to this . . .
Chloe Lilywhite has struggled for years to find her footing in a series of dangerous and demanding worlds. Creator, first tier Council member, and one of the most powerful Magicals in existence, she was little more than one of Fate’s pawns. But now, Chloe is back home and ready to call the shots. She knows what she wants and who she wants to be.
Except the Elders never got the memo.
Annar and Magical-kind are under attack. The lives of Chloe’s loved ones, and life as they know it, are at stake. Chloe’s the key to taking the Elders down, but they won’t go quietly into the night.
This time, neither will Chloe.
*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+.
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/MatterofForeverUS
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/MatterofForeverUK
iBooks: http://bit.ly/MatterofForeverIBOOKS
Meet the Author
Heather Lyons is known for writing epic, heartfelt love stories often with a fantastical twist. From Young Adult to New Adult to Adult novels—one commonality in all her books is the touching, and sometimes heart-wrenching, romance. In addition to writing, she’s also been an archaeologist and a teacher. She and her husband and children live in sunny Southern California and are currently working their way through every cupcakery she can find.
Website: http://www.heatherlyons.net
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