Fates Divided (Halven Rising #1)
by Jules Barnard
Release Date: August 31st 2015
Elena Rosales has busted her ass to get into a good college. She’s the only one in her family ever to attend, and expectations are high. No pressure. But Elena’s got this one in the bag, because she’s as dependable as the molecules she studies, as reliable as the chemical reactions that comfort her in their predictability. Until they don’t.
Elena has always wondered why her mother abandoned her on her first birthday. It’s not until she turns eighteen and her chemistry experiments go berserk that she learns the truth: Her mother wasn’t human, and the Fae are willing to harm those Elena loves if she doesn’t use her power over the elements to cure them of a deadly disease.
Derek, Elena’s brooding neighbor, isn’t the friendliest guy, but he has access to an off-hours lab and is willing to help Elena create the antivirus. He has his own secrets to keep, and this business Elena is mixed up in could blow his cover. But when Elena and Derek get together, more than chemicals spark fire—and they soon discover just how complicated attraction can get when they find themselves on the other side of the portal, fighting for survival. Lives collide, and allegiance and love are tested, in Fates Divided.
-----
In the Halven Rising Series, love and ancient allegiances are threatened when the worlds of Fae and Halven collide. Each Halven Rising novel features a different couple and may be read as a standalone, but an overreaching story arc connects the books, so it’s fun to read them in order.
I love that Elena is not mixed just because she is half Fae but because she is half latina. Plus I want to eat all the food she talks about. She’s very sassy and smart. I love that she is majorly into science and loves working in the lab. I wanted to high five her. She has some definite insecurities which make me mad at one point in the book when dealing with Derek but what person doesn’t. I also really like how close Elena is with her family and how important they are to her.
Derek, that perfect mix of guy to make a book boyfriend. He has a perfect blend from his parents that make him a bad boy with a good heart. He’s not even necessarily a bad boy, he’s a science genius (I love smart guys) but he doesn’t like people to be close to him. Once you break past his exterior he has oodles of charm and is just adorable. I love him.
Keen is the bodyguard/funny man. I’m kidding he’s not necessarily that but he does give the book some comic relief in a he’s a Fae and thinks he’s superior way. I ended up really liking Keen and was worried about him when they left Emain.
I loved the plot of Fates Divided. The Science mixed with Paranormal, the unstoppable virius, the way the Fae world intertwines with the human realm and of course the Halven. I thought each piece was explored properly as well. My only drawback was that it felt like it took to long to get to things. I don’t even think slow is the word I’m looking for but it just felt some things might have been able to be condensed. The book never stopped being interesting. So it’s a small thing and like I said it’s a great story.
Science and Fae, that’s what sold me on the book. Plus I really love the world that is created both in the human realm and Fae realm. I think if you are fan of either type of story you should give the book a go.
Before turning to storytelling, Jules earned a master's degree in public health and spent many an hour running statistical analysis--until she realized her favorite part of the job was writing reports. She decided to cut out the math and add in some hot guys, and so began her career as a novelist.
Jules is a Northern California native living on the coast with her husband and two children. She has no impulse control around cupcakes and credits herself with the ability to read while running on the treadmill or burning dinner.
WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST
