Photo credits: Barbara A Lane
Edited by Vaishali
Title: ‘Seducing Destiny'
Author: Amelia Hutchins Series: (The Fae Chronicles #4) Publisher: Amelia Hutchins Year of Publication: 2015 Version: Paperback ISBN: 9780991190973 Genre's: Fantasy, Adult fiction,New Adult, Paranormal romance, Erotica, Fairies
WARNING: Highly recommend reading the three prior books in this series before reading this spoiler-riddled review!
R E V I E W...
“I can’t change your destiny, but I can alter it so that it’s worth it.”
“Anyone can lead a garrison of warriors into battle, but only a few can lead them to be victorious, and the two of you, you can be the ones to lead this world to victory.”
The Horde are arranging for a war of epic magnitude against the mages – creatures of annihilation – who seek to obliterate all Fae for an ancient wrong. Ryder spends most of his time readying his kingdom, but the internal proceedings are the ones that they don’t see coming what with foul play at work on their own pastures. The human realm is descending into anarchy without their main policing system – the Guild- there to serve justice to the offending, and Ristan and Alden get caught in the crossfire. From court politics and war politics and posturing, to formulating allies of all kinds, building strength through unity, Syn and Ryder’s fight for Faery gains substantial anticipation. As new parents, Syn and Ryder both stand to lose a blooming family as well as a safe and prospering world because their child’s survival rate is dependent on Faery accepting them, and Faery’s survival rate depends on their child being alive.
“Not quite what I saw for the future, but it’s still one worth fighting to keep.”
“Turn off your humanity. It’s time to show your beast just how badass you are.”
There is a quick resolution to the conflict that both Ryder and Synthia have faced thus far due to a devastating turn 'Seducing Destiny' takes, which absolutely broke me... then remade me. But in the end, it brought them closer and stronger together. Syn and Ryder make a formidable force together, both really coming into their roles as leaders, establishing a new kind of rule and winning over unlikely allies.
“If I fall, will you promise to pick me up and always put the pieces back together?”
“Yes,” he said. “And when I’m stubborn, and refuse to bend to your will, will you always use a gentle hand to bend me back into place?” “Always,” he continued. “And will you always promise to love our children, and be the beast I have fallen so utterly and hopelessly in love with?” “I promise,” he whispered
As the fight grows so does Synthia's and Ryder’s relationship which takes on a new life of its own, prompted by their child who holds more than Faery’s survival in its tiny hands. One of Syn’s main concerns through her pregnancy is to confront her role as-soon-to-be mother and watching her express her insecurities in this new stage of her life is heart-warming, especially when her instinctive nature prevails, manifesting itself naturally in dire situations and forcing Syn to uncover her fierce guardianship for her child and the lengths she would go to ensure their baby’s survival.
“Every mother fears that she will be a bad one. It’s what makes them a parent.”
Syn has much support in this book, a lot of it coming from Ryder in the ways he reassures Syn of her insecurities and bodily changes. Ryder becomes a stellar support system for Synthia and makes it known as to what his priorities are and that he will do anything to secure their child’s safety. Syn falls and rises when confronted with challenges and is nothing less than the woman she has always been, proud and wilful, smart and protective, active in everything she believes in and part of the reason she maintains such strength is because of Ryder’s encouragement, aid and trust in her.
“He’d pierced my heart and when I needed him to be strong so I could be weak, he was. When I thought I would go boneless with worry, he became the bones which held me up.”
“I feel like I could take on the world with you by my side.” – Ryder
What I’ve been patiently waiting for through this whole series finally happens! …and Ryder becomes everything that I’ve been looking forward to him becoming, and I’m glad I trusted in Amelia Hutchins’ direction. As Ryder finally recognises Syn’s true worth; what she means to him and his world, there is a long-awaited change in roles as Ryder strives to make Syn his as opposed to Syn’s constant vulnerability and insecurity in fighting to claim him and his love, pining for him in ways he can’t give her. I enjoy Ryder’s role as a father in this book – it brings out another dimension in his character, a softer, gentler and affectionate side to his otherwise hard, cold, demanding demeanour. Fatherhood has a way of softening Ryder’s gruff, rugged edges and exposes a kindness in him, moulding his character into what it now is – which is a wonderful man while still maintaining those quintessential Ryder traits that I love so much. The arrival of their child itself adds another component to this book as the family that Syn and Ryder are forming becomes the cost (among other things) of their failure so their fight becomes much more personal and detrimental.
“It makes perfect sense to give up when you can’t see light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s light now.”
“I was his light, and he was my darkness.”
I found at times that there were inconsistencies in literal character movements, and the descriptions didn’t make sense when describing those movements. There were also some spelling errors where editing was concerned. The courtly matters and politics weren’t gripping segments of the book for me personally, possibly because of the new character involvements that I didn’t know much about, therefore I didn’t enjoy the latter half of the book as much as I enjoyed the former (with the exception of whenever the ‘wee little beasties’ were present). Saying that, 'Seducing Destiny' was full of action throughout and swarmed with it from the start with expectation and astonishment as close companions. I thought the pace was good, and I felt a lot reading this book. The sentimental and emotionally provoking scenes had my heart in my throat for the most part, making me pace and bawl with tears.
“I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too, Synthia. Forever will never be long enough with you.”
‘Escaping Destiny’ was very much about Syn accepting what her destiny had always been whereas ‘Seducing Destiny’explores a general seduction in the components of their lives; Ryder seducing Syn to remain a permanent part of his life and destiny; Syn seducing her own destiny in an effort for it to become a reality, and persuading people in the labour of love to fight for their own land.
“There’s no undoing it, there’s only learning from it, becoming stronger because of it, and moving forward to better it.”
“You’ll face your past, and become your future.” “So take us, Pet. Wherever you go, I’ll follow.” I gave this book 4 stars -
C O N T E N T W A R N I N G: Explicit language and detailed, descriptive sex scenes not for the faint hearted or those with sensitive sensibilities.
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M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read ---------------------------------------
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R E L A T E D P O S T S: ● Book Review: 'Fighting Destiny' by Amelia Hutchins ● Book Review: 'Taunting Destiny' by Amelia Hutchins ● Book Review: 'Escaping Destiny' by Amelia Hutchins ● Book Review: 'Unraveling Destiny' by Amelia Hutchins ________________________________________________________
Favourite Parts/shocking parts!
1. Ryder ordering every romance novel known to man for Syn! 2. How great Ristan is with babies. 3. Dream medallions… 4. Syn’s death and the traumatising birthing scene. I can’t remember the last time I cried so hard reading such an emotional scene. It was bitter-sweet – so much good follows too much bad as a consequence. 5. Ristan’s quick thinking in saving the babies. 6. Syn needing to die for Ryder to understand what love is. 7. Ryder telling Syn he loves her. 8. Naming the minions of darkness. 9. Ryder crying when he holds his babies for the first time. 10. Ryder’s proposal! 11. The Elite Nannies.
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