Delving into Prequel One of the ‘Naturae’ Series
Risking Destiny is a prequel to Foster’s Naturae Series. In this book, a fae Queen and a Viking Yarl fall in love despite conventions that don’t allow the fae to have relationships with humans. Sigurd, the Viking, is kidnapped by the fae after his people invaded an island in Orkney and killed many of the humans that were under Queen Lana’s care, but the Queen finds that her relationship with the tall Viking does not go the way she expected.
Ordinarily, I don’t read books featuring fae, and especially vampires, but I gave this book a chance, and I’m pleased that I did. There is mention of vampires, although none appear, but the fae received their Lifeforce from humans in a worship ceremony, and occasionally drink the blood of animals in a vampire-like way to top up their Lifeforce.
The story intrigued me, although I would have preferred a little more of the Viking side of it to have been included. As a prequel to a series I hadn’t read, the book stood strongly on its merits, and at the end, two young fae are pupated whom I presume go on to be important characters in the series. For people who have read some of the Naturae books, I’m sure this backstory will add to their enjoyment of them.
There is a subtle subtext of societal conventions and how love refuses to be constrained by them, but in the end, needs must, and the Queen, Lana, is forced to make difficult decisions that place expediency ahead of her own desires.
The historical fiction element was blended into a fantasy setting by the clever use of a fantasy world that cohabits our Earth, hidden from sight by a mysterious mist. The worldbuilding and interplay between the two realms was good throughout, and when the fae ventured into the humans’ realm, the dangers of them being spotted created some nice tension, especially Queen Lana, who proved to be something of a reckless risk-taker.
Despite this genre being well outside my comfort zone, the book proved easy to read and I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Anybody who reads my reviews will know I’m picky about typos and the like, and I can’t deny that there are quite a few. Most people probably don’t notice them, and the story is entertaining enough to make them seem unimportant.
Give this a read, whether you’ve read the Naturae series or not. If you haven’t, then, like me, you’ll probably end up curious enough about it to move on the first book of the series.
‘Risking Destiny’ and the whole Naturae Series are available for purchase at: https://amzn.to/4ckORDb
(Review By Hayley Price)