Dual Review: A Matter of Fate & A Matter of Heart by Heather Lyons

The minute I started reading A Matter of Fate, I was hooked. In fact, with my schedule, I only had time for one "ME" book last week but when I finished AMOF, there was no way I couldn't dig right into A Matter of Heart, no matter how far behind it put me. When I finished, I was shattered into pieces. A Million. Little. Pieces. Since I read both books back to back, I decided to combine both reviews into one post but they are full reviews for each book. Let's start with A Matter of Fate.

A Matter of Fate

Fate Series #1

Author: Heather Lyons

Publisher: Cerulean Books

Publication Date: August 30, 2012

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

~Synopsis~

Chloe Lilywhite struggles with all the normal problems of a typical seventeen-year-old high school student. Only, Chloe isn't a normal teenage girl. She's a Magical, part of a secret race of beings who influence the universe. More importantly, she's a Creator, which means Fate mapped out her destiny long ago, from her college choice, to where she will live, to even her job. While her friends and relatives relish their future roles, Chloe resents the lack of say in her life, especially when she learns she's to be guarded against a vengeful group of beings bent on wiping out her kind. Their number one target? Chloe, of course. 

That's nothing compared to the boy trouble she's gotten herself into. Because a guy she's literally dreamed of and loved her entire life, one she never knew truly existed, shows up in her math class, and with him comes a twin brother she finds herself inexplicably drawn to. 

Chloe's once unyielding path now has a lot more choices than she ever thought possible.

~Prelude~

My friend Jessica over @ Loving Los Libros has been raving about this series since it released. I picked it up on my kindle a while ago but hadn’t had the chance to read it. Finally I decided to pick it up as my “ME” read for the week and I was so glad I did.

~Review~

A Matter of Fate was so much more than I expected. To be honest, I’m not sure I can put into words exactly what I was expecting but the synopsis does not do this book justice. I admit I was intrigued about this book after reading the blurb but this book was so much more than I could have imagined. It had incredible world building and an intense and emotional love triangle. While the romance is a huge part of the story, the plot is much deeper than that.

Chloe is a Creator, which is a very unique Magical. In fact, she is one of only two in existence and this makes her infinitely valuable and special to the universe. However, her parents are not very forthcoming with information on the world she belongs to and she is left with more questions than answers. When she learns her life is in danger because of who she is, she begins to learn all about who she is and the world she is a part of. If that wasn’t enough to complicate her life, the boy she has dreamt about since she was 4 and fallen in love with through her dreams has showed up in person at her school. Along with him, is his twin brother and Chloe finds herself drawn to both of them. While discovering who she is and fighting for her life, she is also fighting with her heart as she struggles to come to grips with the feelings she has for Jonah and Kellan.

Chloe is a super strong character but she is so young and inexperienced and confused that her strength is hard to see. Even though she has grown up as a Magical and known it her whole life, she has been sheltered from the realities of the world she is a part of and there is so much that has been kept from her. Due to unforeseen circumstances, everything that is important for her to know comes crashing down on her at once and it is a lot to handle. On top of that, she is reeling from the discovery that the boy of her dreams, Jonah, who she has loved since she was little is actually real and he is at her school. When Jonah and Kellan show up, Chloe is confused because Johan doesn’t acknowledge her presence and she feels an inexplicable draw to Kellan. As her relationship with Kellan grew, I felt bad for her because she had such strong feelings for him but the guilt surrounding her feelings for Jonah as well was a lot to bear at times. It also didn’t help that she didn’t have a lot of support from her friends in the matter. She is so torn because ultimately she will have to choose and hearts will be broken.

“I’m in love with him, just like I’m in love with his brother.”

Jonah and Kellan are identical twins but they are so different as people. They are both very powerful Emotionals, Magicals who can control and alter people’s emotions. Jonah is the sensible, good natured brother and Kellan is the rebel, dare-devil brother. They both have this connection to Chloe and it causes a huge rift between them. Kellan is a ladies man and has never really had a serious relationship but he falls hard for Chloe and she changes him. He doesn’t want anyone else. I liked Kellan, a lot. Of course I liked Jonah too but I really felt for Kellan. I mean, Jonah never tells him about his dreams of Chloe and he doesn’t tell him about her when they first move there. I think Kellan would have always done the noble thing and stepped aside from the beginning had he known. I didn’t think it was fair of Jonah to be angry with Kellan and blame him for what happened with Chloe when he never told Kellan about her.

One of the greatest things about this series is the supporting characters. They are so well developed and I really found myself connecting with them just as much as I did with Kellan, Jonah and Chloe. Karl is Chloe’s guard and he becomes like a big brother to her. He cares for her, he protects her and he teaches her what it is to be a Magical and how important her role is to the universe. He is also a really good friend to the brothers and he helps Chloe tremendously when dealing with her feelings for them. He shares a special connection with his wife like Chloe does with Jonah and he is able to understand and empathize with her. Cora is Chloe’s cousin and her best friend and I’m not a big fan of hers. I found her to be a little judgmental and brash with Chloe. She was very hard on Chloe and didn’t always support her like a friend should. She couldn’t possibly understand what Chloe is going through and I felt like all she did was make things harder for her at times.

Chloe’s parents are cold and disconnected. They don’t share anything with her and she feels so lonely at times, almost as if they don’t even acknowledge her existence. I felt so bad for her because it was clear how much this hurt her. She craved a loving mother/daughter relationship but only received attention from her mother when it was something negative. As she struggles with her relationships with the brothers, she has no mother to turn to for advice and I really felt for her. I think she could have made more mature decisions had she had a mother to give her advice. Instead she was left to deal alone. On top of that, she is being pursued by an unknown demon that wants to kill her. Karl is sent to protect her and he becomes more than just a bodyguard, he becomes a brother. He teaches her everything she should have been taught about being a Magical and I really enjoyed her progression as she learned how to utilize her powers and became stronger as they work to discover what is pursuing her and killing other Magicals. She had a difficult decision to make when it concerns Jonah and Kellan and I really connected with her internal struggle as if it was my own. I was torn between the 2 brothers and I felt that she made the best decision she could for herself and while saying goodbye to one was difficult, she had to follow her heart and what Fate was telling her is right.

“Fate sucks,” I say, trying hard not to cry. Which is stupid, because he knows I’m upset, and even worse because he knows it’s over his brother.”

I haven’t felt so connected to the characters of a book like I was with A Matter of Fate in such a long time. I felt for Chloe and the battle she waged with her emotions was ingrained with me. I felt her guilt and sorrow. I also adored the brothers and I have never been more undecided on a love triangle in my life. The plot in this series is so incredible and I love the world building that was done in this book. It has just the right amount of detail so I could really get a sense for what the Magicals do and what their purpose is in this world. Sometimes books put too much detail that it becomes boring or they don’t put enough and I feel disconnected. That was not the case here. I loved learning about each of the different types of Magicals and the way they use their powers for the universe. With a fantastic mix of action and romance, I was hanging on every word and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough.

~IPOD Picks~

“Over You” by Miranda Lambert

“Will You Be There” by Boyce Avenue

“Here I Am” by Renee Sandstrom

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

A Matter of Heart

Fate Series #2

Author: Heather Lyons

Publisher: Cerulean Books

Publication Date: June 25, 2013

Genre: New Adult Contemporary

~Synopsis~

No longer in high school, Chloe Lilywhite is now living and working in Annar, the Magicals’ city-state plane of existence. Since moving, she’s joined the Council, gone on missions with the Guard, moved into her own apartment, and enrolled at the University of Annar. Plus, she’s happily engaged to be married to Jonah Whitecomb, the literal man from her dreams, not to mention her Connection. While she still struggles with aspects of her craft, Chloe feels like she’s finally coming into her own, especially after a difficult year that had her questioning nearly everything in her life.

After a brutal attack by the Elders, her life is turned upside down once more. Accusations fly throughout the Council and Guard, forcing Chloe to confront her worst fears about what’s she’s capable of as a Creator. And then there’s the matter of Kellan Whitecomb, Jonah’s twin brother and Chloe’s ex, who resurfaces after disappearing months before. Although Chloe chose Jonah, and despite their best efforts, the two find it hard to stay away from one another.

But no matter what Fate throws at her, Chloe is determined to take charge of her life, even as it begins to spiral out of control.

*This is a New Adult title, suitable for readers 18+.

~Prelude~

As soon as I finished A Matter of Fate, I knew I had to start this book and see how everything would play out. This book through of my schedule a little bit but boy was it worth it. I knew this was going to be more emotional than the first book but I had no idea. I finished this book at 1:00 am on a weeknight and then DM’d my friend Jessica @ Loving Los Libros because I had to get some shit off my chest. I was reeling! If you haven't read A Matter of Fate, beware there may be spoilers in this review.

~Review~

This series has the most agonizing love triangle I have ever encountered and A Matter of Heart left me shattered to pieces at the end. The plot thickens and the romance becomes so intense that I was dazed when I finished this book. I can only imagine what A Matter of Truth will do to me but from the end of AMOH, I know it won’t be pretty. The writing is so fantastic and the characters are incredibly developed. I have never connected with a series as much has I have with this one.

Chloe has made her decision and chosen the brother that Fate has picked for her. There’s only one problem; she’s still connected to his brother too. Chloe is now living in the Magical realm, Annar, where she has taken her seat on the council. She is living in her own apartment and she will be getting married within the year. Things seem to be falling into place. However, she is still in danger as the ancients continue to hunt for her, conflict within the guard and the council is brewing and she can’t shake her connection to Kellan. Shit is going to hit the fan and believe me, it’s not pretty. In fact it’s downright agonizing and torturous.

Chloe falls apart in this book and it is painful and sad to watch. She is such a strong girl who has been dealt a lot of crap in her young life but it all becomes too much and I felt for her. Despite fulfilling her destiny and taking her place on the council, her parents still barely acknowledge her and that is hard for Chloe. There are so many times when she could use motherly love or advice and she has never known that. After a mission gone bad, Chloe is being targeted by the head of the guard who has a grudge against Creators and he sets his sights on Chloe. This adds stress to her life since she already struggles with her role and the things she may be asked to do. As a Creator, she is responsible for not only creating things, but also destroying them. This includes places where innocent people may lose their lives. As Chloe struggles to come to grips with her role as the Creator, her love life is becoming increasingly complicated and unbearable. She loves Jonah with every piece of her soul and the idea of living without him sends her into a panic attack. However, she still feels the connection with Kellan and she can’t help how she feels around him or her loss of control when he is around. She feels this possessiveness over him and the guilt eats away at her. I could feel the guilt in my own gut because Chloe is such a relatable character.

Jonah is embracing his role on the council and he is becoming very powerful and strong. I think we really get to see more of who each brother is in this book and the roles they play as Magicals. Jonah is meant to lead. He has the chops for it and he is mature and stable and level headed. He is going to marry Chloe and he has already started to assert his protection of her with the council. Kellan is hurting. He is obviously just as powerful as Jonah but he is more reckless and daring and that makes him a strong guard. However, he is hurting and no amount of booze, girls or dangerous behavior stops him from feeling what he does for Chloe. The more time passes the harder it is to hold his composure when he’s around her and he’s ready to fight for her. My heart hurt so much for Kellan and Jonah both. I want Kellan to be happy and I hate seeing him self destruct and slowly lose his bond to his brother. However, I also feel for Jonah because he loves Chloe so much and he feels like she is slipping through his fingers. Jonah is so strong and composed so it is hard to watch him lose himself as he struggles to hold onto everything.

This book is really more about the devastating affect the connection has on Chloe, Jonah and Kellan so the supporting characters are less prominent in this book but I do feel like Cora begins to understand Chloe’s dilemma and she becomes a more supportive friend. I was glad to see her change a bit and be the friend that Chloe needed. Callie is introduced at the end of AMOF and I wasn’t a fan of hers. She is Jonah’s ex-girlfriend and she is still in love with him. She caused some strife between Jonah and Chloe but she actually really grows as a character in AMOH and she becomes a really good friend and confidante for Chloe. She helps Chloe in really rough times and I ended up really liking her by the end of this book. Chloe makes a few new friends on the council and they help her deal with the accusations that are thrown her way and are very supportive of her when she is targeted by the head of the guard. I was really happy to see all of the supportive friends Chloe had on her side. Unfortunately, she was really good at hiding her internal turmoil and none of them saw what would come in the end in order to help her before it was too late.

Chloe, Jonah and Kellan are still dealing with the threat to Magicals as the ancient creatures that have been targeting Chloe are still out there and they have been attacking more Magicals. Kellan has been gone for months, trying to keep his distance from Jonah and Chloe but when he returns, all emotional hell breaks loose. As much as Chloe wants to deny it, she can’t help the way she still feels about Kellan and the connection they still have. Jonah knows it’s there and it is really hard on him. This became really hard on Jonah and Kellan’s relationship and it was so sad to watch them fall apart and tear each other down. Even harder, was seeing how this affected Chloe. She carried around this constant guilt for tearing the brothers apart and for not being able to control her feelings for Kellan when she loves Jonah so much it hurts. The emotional torture begins to take a physical toll on her and it was painful to watch. My heart broke for Chloe as she became physically ill from the constant stress and guilt. She tries so hard to hide it but it becomes to much for her and Cora and Callie take notice. They try to get her help but Chloe can’t deal with it all. In the end, she makes a devastating decision that will profoundly affect everyone.

I loved the way the plot flowed so easily from A Matter of Fate to A Matter of Heart. We continue to learn more about the Magical world and the way they maintain balance in the universe. I liked the way it began several months after AMOF ended and we get a quick breakdown of where everyone is now that they are living in Annar and starting their lives as Magicals. My favorite part of this book was the profound focus on the love triangle and the emotional damage that was done to all 3 of them as they tried to cope with the impossible situation. It was heartbreaking for me and I was shocked and shattered by the ending. I am forever a fan of Heather and I think she is a truly incredible author. This is one of those rare instances where the second book is even better than the first so I can’t wait to see what will happen in A Matter of Truth.

~IPOD Picks~

“Stay” by Rihanna

“Everything Has Changed” by Taylor Swift & Ed Sheeran

“Under Pressure” by Queen

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Also, today is the cover reveal for A Matter of Truth and A Matter of Fate & A Matter of Heart are on sale for only $.99 for Kindle and Nook until Friday, September 14th.