In my top 3 books of the year! I was absolutely hooked from page one and immediately messaged my bookish friends about it. Having read over 100 books this year and the majority being fantasy, this coming out in my top 3 I no small feat. Everything from the characters, the world building and the magic system were excellently written, I felt completely immersed and could not put the book down. It managed to have a beautiful balance of your favourite tropes whilst never getting predictable with several very exciting twists in it. I absolutely cannot wait to pick up the second book already and would recommend this to anyone who wants to actually enjoy the book they're reading, it would be impossible not to love this!

Estrid, a powerful young witch and the fugitive daughter of a tyrannical king, lives in hiding to escape her dark legacy. Her quiet exile is disrupted when she discovers a wounded and mysterious Fae in the Dark Forest. As secrets unravel, their encounter threatens not only Estrid’s hard-won freedom but also the fate of the kingdom itself. I was lucky enough to meet Cat Sirota at Ages of Pages and she signed my copy!! She was an absolute dream to meet, so kind and lovely! That made reading this book even more special. The fact that she’s a New Zealand author just makes my heart happy too! This book was everything I needed. As a debut novel, it absolutely blew me away. The writing was so descriptive and beautiful, it painted such vivid pictures in my mind and really brought the world to life. The cover is stunning as well! I felt so drawn to it right from the start There were so many twists and turns throughout the story, which kept me completely hooked. The romance was soft and beautiful, and I loved every second of it. Estrid is such an intriguing and powerful FMC. I can’t wait to see how much stronger she becomes in book 2. And Rafe ... he is perfect. I need more of him in every single chapter next time! He adds such a sweet, adorable element to the story that I couldn’t get enough of The side characters were also a highlight. I fell in love with them and looked forward to every scene they were in. The tropes were so good: shadow magic, betrayal, fated mates, hidden world, redemption, found family, chosen one ... just everything I love wrapped into one magical story This is book one in a duology and I am SO eager for the next one. I need to know what happens!! I highly recommend diving into this magical world!

Betrayal, secrets, dark magic. Found family, fated mates, discovered identity. Throw in a twisty plot and epic battles, and I'm in! This book kept my interest start to finish! The author gives us lush imagery and thorough world building. The side characters are so well written they became one of my favorite things. The relationship between Estrid and Zain, while an instant attraction is a slow burn, and their growth both as a couple and individually is satisfying. This book brought the plot twists! What fun it was trying to figure out what was next! And the battle scenes? Yes!!! I so love a good battle, and this absolutely delivered! While not necessarily a cliffhanger (to me anyway), the book leaves with many questions, which will be a perfect lead into book two!

What a read 😍, Forgiving Darkness by @catsirota_author United by Fate. Bound by secrets. Burned by Betrayal. If you love anything to do with Fae's,Witches, Fated Mates that you will full in love with. So much Betrayal , Black Magic, lost Family, Redemption this get yourself a copy of this incredible book. I loved Estrid and her story, in parts I felt so sorry for her. You will love and be captured by Zain,Del, Alvey, Faris, Imaya story's. And adore Cethin ❤️ Can't forget Rafe ( we all want one of them by the end of the book ). Rodden and Neros can go to he'll 😡😡👹👹😭😭. Bring on Series 2 😍

So Good!!!🖤 I enjoyed this book so much. I loved that it didn't just focus on the main characters and plot. It gave us a glimpse into the supporting characters and the surrounding plot. I believe it enriched the storytelling more, and the relationships between the characters as well. Although the chemistry between Zain and Estrid is apparently clear, I think they need to be more clear about their true feelings. Your going to be surprised at every turn, and expect the unexpected. Even though a lot of things were answered, I still have so many questions. Can't wait for the conclusion in book 2.

4.5 star - Very good fated mate romantasy. This book was good! Thank you, NetGalley and Cat Sirota, for the ARC copy. Honestly, I waivered between a 4 and 5 star for this book because I really enjoyed the story, the characters, and the twists in the plot. It was excellent, and I can't wait to see what happens in book 2. The book needed to grab me more to get to a 5-star. It's a book that I really enjoyed reading and might think about for a day or two, but it won't continue to ruminate in my brain. Estrid and Zane work together to fight an evil that is rising, and the book ends on a cliff hangar—especially the twist between the FMC and MMC at the very end (chef's kiss). Cat Sirota gave an excellent twist on the light and shadow powers seen in many romantasy novels by making the FMC the shadow/dark magic wielder. If you are looking for an easy read with engaging characters that involves battles with both fae and mortals, dark vs. light, and fated mates, this book is for you. It does lean teen/YA, but there are a few spicy scenes, which are tastefully written without being overly graphic for a younger audience.