Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940150830073 |
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| Publisher: | Jules Barnard |
| Publication date: | 08/31/2015 |
| Series: | Halven Rising , #1 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | NOOK Book |
| Pages: | 410 |
| Sales rank: | 125,578 |
| File size: | 747 KB |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Fates Divided
3.8 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
9 reviews.
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In Jules Barnard’s new fantasy adventure series, FATES DIVIDED, Elena Rosales is a college student working hard to become a doctor. She’s the first in her family to go to college so much is riding on her success. Everything seems to going well until her eighteenth birthday when strange things start happening to her in the chemistry lab and other classes. She suddenly develops unexplainable powers and finds out that she is a Halven: someone who is half human and half fae. Elena’s mother is a Fae who abandoned her as a baby, and now those same Fae need her help to find a cure for a virus that is decimating the Fae populations in all three of the Fae Kingdoms. Although the Fae desperately need her help, they look down upon the Halvens such as Elena as inferior beings, some even extreme enough to call them abominations. She has the help of her neighbor, Derek, who also turns out to be a Halven as well as a brilliant chemist. Elena and Derek are brought to Emain: a sort of halfway world between the human and Fae one to work on the cure. Strong feelings develop between them as they work for a solution. When more help is needed, Elena and Derek must venture into the hostile, dangerous world of the Fae before all is lost.
I enjoyed the premise, the world building, and the characters; it’s a well told story. The themes of race and class are explored cleverly within the common motif of the Fae race being arrogant, prejudiced, insular, and against miscegenation to their own detriment. My only criticism is in Elena and Derek’s introduction to the Fae world and developing a cure there are too many tedious details that slow down the action and do not enhance the overall story or further the romance. Overall, I would recommend FATES DIVIDED and look forward to the next in the series.
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pen to them and the realm. I want the little details and the big picture.
I’m hooked. I can’t really explain why. I just am. The writing and plotting are damn good to make this happen. And while I’m not a fan of how angels screw everything up, it is an original paranormal I won’t soon forget.
In fact, I’ve signed up for the tour to review the second novel, Fates Entwined that follows Reese and Keen because I need to know how this goes so damn badly.
Join me in the “omg I enjoyed it but whyyyy do this” corner so maybe we can figure it out together or avoid the torture chamber.
You can preview the first five chapters on Amazon and see just what hooked me and kept me going.
When all is said and all is done, despite my beliefs, I enjoyed this one. (Sorry, Hamilton is all I listen to now and I couldn’t help it.)
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As a college student with a pre-med major, Elena is used to working in labs and understands chemical reactions. Which is why it is especially surprising the day she discovers she can boil water and change harmless chemical solutions into potentially harmful ones with the wave of her hand. She has no idea where this magical power came from, but the people who do know want her to find a cure for the disease ravaging their people. Can she trust them or are they using her for their own purposes?
Fates Divided, by Jules Barnard, was an interesting read. I enjoyed the fantasy aspect that melded elements of modern day science and technology with alternate worlds and magic. The somewhat complex plot was filled with betrayals, misunderstandings, age-old feuds, and forbidden romance, which, put together, generally make a pretty fascinating book. I also liked watching the main characters grow and learn, filled with determination to achieve their goals and devotion to each other.
There were a couple things that I did not like about the novel, though. First and foremost were the explicit sexual scenes. I just don’t like reading about that, and the fact that the characters were not married and did not even know each other well makes me dislike it more. Writing the scenes into the book did not add to the story, really, and could have been replaced with a “fade to black” scene that I would have been more comfortable reading. Also, this book did not hold my attention very well. I already disliked it for the reason above, and the rest of it didn’t keep me enthralled enough to make up for the lack, unfortunately.
Fates Divided has its good parts, including some cool plot twists and epic magic skills, but it also has parts that I’m not so thrilled about. I would recommend it to people who enjoy NA fantasy and don’t mind reading about romance.
I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
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I loved the Blue series by Jules Barnard, so I was excited to dig into her latest urban fantasy series, Halvan Rising. I'm happy to say it met my expectations! It has all the new adult romance I've come to expect from Barnard as well as a healthy dose of danger, adventure, and a brilliantly-created fantasy world situated within a modern-day college campus.
As Elena learns to navigate her new normal, Derek keeps an eye on her, both out of a sense of responsibility as well as attraction, and these two are a combustible combination! Elena and Derek each learn about their own pasts, families, and their newly acquired Fae powers, all while trying to stop a deadly virus poised to wipe out the entire Fae population. But not everyone wants them to succeed, and soon they're fighting for their own lives as well as the Faes'.
Plot
The plot revolves around finding a cure for the virus, but there is plenty of subplotting, including who's behind the virus, Elena's missing roommate, Resse, a reluctant attraction between Reese and Elena's Fae bodyguard, Keen, and of course the romance between Derek and Elena. About the only thing I felt lacking was the romance between Derek and Elena. I thought it developed too quickly and took a backseat to the main plot. But that is really my only complaint.
Characters
Told from alternating points of view, Derek and Elena are both well-rounded with decent character arcs. The secondary characters, including Keen and Reese are as fascinating as they are likeable.
World Building
The realm within modern life world-building is really well done. The descriptions are rich and they transported me to another place with vivid detail. The rules surrounding the status and discrimination of Fae versus the half-blooded Halven was believable and drove some of the best conflict in the book. I can't wait to see how that resolves over the series.
The Ending
The main story was wrapped up well, but left open enough for the series to continue. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
Top Five Things I Love About Fates Divided
1. The world building. Rich, vivid details brought the story to life in an exciting way.
2. Reese. Elena's roommate is a hilarious spitfire, and I loved watching her get under Keen's skin.
3. Keen. The big Fae bodyguard with a superiority complex is a riot. I really hope we get some scenes from his point of view in the future.
4. Magic. Because, come on, who doesn't love magic?
5. Derek and Elena. They're good together!
Bottom Line
I don't read much fantasy, but if Jules Barnard is writing it, I'll take more, please!
Disclaimer
I was provided a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
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When I first read the synopsis for this story, I was immediately intrigued. I love a good paranormal romance and couldn’t be more thrilled that Jules Barnard was writing one.
Fates Divided is an exciting start to this new series. I’m a big fan of fae related books and always enjoy seeing other peoples take on their world. I absolutely loved the world and characters that Jules Barnard created. It was mysterious, and intriguing. Everyone seems to have their own agenda. You didn’t know who you could really trust or who was really on your side. Loyalties will be tested as the battle for survival wages. I couldn’t wait to see how it all would play out.
Fated Divided was a quick and enjoyable read for me. The story-line is intriguing and is told from dual points of view. I loved the romance and paranormal/fantasy aspects. I absolutely adored Derek and Elena. I liked Derek from the moment his character was introduced. I knew that there was something special about him and he was just what Elena needed. He protected her, helped her and supported her. I thought Derek and Elena had some really great chemistry. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow and develop.
Fates Divided is an exciting new fae series by Jules Barnard. I for one am really excited to see whose story will be told next and to spend more time in the Fae and Halven world.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, via IndieSage PR, in exchange for an honest review*
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I was so excited when I saw that Jules Barnard was writing a YA series and for it to be Fae made me even more happy!! This beginning to the Halven Rising series was perfect for me. Jules immediately jumps into the story and does not drag it out at all. I love how there was not much leading into Elena's story but rather threw you into her life and her newfound abilities.
Elena is in a college class and working in the lab when she all the sudden makes water boil without anything but herself causing it. She is stunned by this so she runs home and tries it again. When it happens a second time, she knows that she has to get to the bottom of this before she embarrasses herself. Elena goes on a search to get into a lab after hours so she can try and figure everything out. Derek, Elena's neighbor, has connections to where he can get into the lab after hours. He decides to help Elena and when he witnesses what Elena is able to do, he knows that there is something special about her.
From here, Elena sets out to figure out all that is going on. Elena's parents are gone so she has no one to explain anything to her. Portia and Diedra enter the scene and try to help Elena figure out what she is meant to do in the Fae world. All this is new to Elena, but she is determined to figure it out! The action from her on out in the story is one that will keep you flipping the pages of this story faster than you can imagine. Jules has done an awesome job of taking us to the Fae world and making it seem like we are part of it. I am so anxious to see what is going to happen with Elena in the next books. So excited that this is a series so that I can get lost in this Fae world once again!!
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YA Paranormal lovers.. look no further for your next read! Jules Barnard has knocked this series debut out of the park. Derek and Elena will capture your hearts in this engaging and imaginative world full of Fae. Who doesn’t love a good fae book?! Barnard’s characters are enjoyable and likeable and her writing style only improves the story even better. I personally enjoyed Elena being interested in science as I am a scientist myself. Right on, science geek sister!! Barnard’s twists and turns leave your heart breaking and pounding all at the same time!! The end… WHEW BUDDY… will throw you for a loop! Fates Divided is a great new YA PNR read by a great new to me author!!
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The story had a great message about prejudice of being half human and half fae which could be related to our world today for YA readers. Elena is thrown into a realm she didn't know existed. At first the story was a bit slow, the character were captivating but lack some hook until the middle to the end of the book. I liked the main character loved to cook. Too many girls now a days don't even know how to boil water and have no desire to cook which is sad. I wish the story was more focused in the fae realm but I guess that's what we will get in book 2.
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Jules Barnard has given us a truly wonderful beginning to a YA paranormal series with this book. With great writing she brings the fantasy world to life. The story did have parts that seemed to drag a little and it took me a bit to understand all the new terminology (Fae, Halvens etc,) but once that all clicked into place the story moved along.
The romance that develops between Elena and Derek is sweet and while not the main focus of the book it definitely adds to the story.
If you love paranormal, this is a good one. I recommend it.
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