Thanks for the publisher for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was...just okay. I wish I liked it more because the world-building is really intricate and well put together. The unfortunate part is that I didn't really care for any of the characters. I was really enraged with all of them, mostly Aina. I struggled to understand how she could have such strong feelings for her mother when the latter basically verbally and physically abused her. Her mother said she "loved" her daughter, but it was hard to believe that. At one point Aina said it was better to have that type of mother than no mother at all and I-- Um, no. Sorry, girlie, but we're not doing that in this day and age even in a fantasy world.

As for Meizan and Aranel... They were...fine. Meizan has a lot of anger and he really channels that (often literally), but he's really blinded by the loyalty he has for his clan and his hatred for Aranel. Aranel has his own prejudices and a "goody two shoes" attitude, but his eyes are really opened over the course of the novel, and I feel his pain when he realizes those he thought he could trust, he can no longer trust because they lied to him.

I wish we had focused on one or two characters. I understand the author's desire for the reader to have a perspective from everyone within the different "levels" but I felt like it really bogged the story down. I didn't think we spent enough with each character individually before we were whiplashed into the POV of another one.

Ultimately, a bit of a disappointment.

This was such a wonderful book, I'm like mind-blown at the complicated magic system and politics, AND THE AMAZING CHARACTERS. Seriously, if you read YA fantasy, pick this up!!!!

Also can we please talk about the cover 😭 I could stare it forever, it's so majestic and pretty and conveys the vibes of the book so perfectly

TWs - murder, war, premeditated/experimental murder

-- ty to the author, the publisher and @coloredpagesbooktours for an advanced copy!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the world building and magic system in this book. Hard magic systems are a rarity now a days so it was nice to see in this book. The mythology is entirely new and made up for this world but does pull inspiration form Hinduism as well as other beliefs form India and Japan.

The book reminds we a little of Naruto. I think both this and Naruto are fine but I don't love them and can't quit put my finger on why.

The fantastical animals are my favorite part. I love how unique they where and the glossary of them at the back was a real treat to read. If the author ever wants to make companion book encyclopedia of all the creatures of this world complete with pictures and Bios I would buy that in a heartbeat!

The book as multiple POVs whos storylines all converge. This is done very well with equal time given to each POV. That beings said books with multiple POV are not my cup of tea and a struggled to get through this book as a result. If you like books with different POVs this story is for you, if you don't this book isn't going to change your mind. Again this is no fault of the stories just a personal preference.

This was quite the premise. Imagine a world that is literally based on karma… Think of this as a four-tier cake… this story takes place in the middle two tiers… Morally gray… my favorite. Spin of Fate will have you thinking about some very philosophic questions…

The world-building and magic system was fascinating but also, at times, overwhelming, especially the magic system. That’s not a bad thing; there were just reminders every now and again that I need to remember that the magic system is intricate. I know earlier it sounded like I was being sarcastic about loving morally gray characters, but I really mean it. The characters were interesting, and the main characters were dynamic and complex. Some of them were also a little gullible, but, I mean, they’re young. Also, I love a reluctant leader… don’t ask because I can’t explain it.

The pacing wasn’t always my favorite; I was kind of expecting this to be action-packed, every page is a page-turner. However, it didn’t really detract from the story. With this being book 1, expect there to be parts that are just giving out information, which isn’t a bad thing. We want this book to make sense later. So, when you feel like you are in an info dump part of the story, remember that this information will either be useful later in the story or help set up book 2.

Overall, this was quite enjoyable, and I’m excited for Book 2.

Indian mythology-based magic system + Avatar: The Last Airbender found family vibes. 10/10 recommend!

The world-building is incredible -- had a fun time trying to map the Hindu mythological references with stories I had heard growing up. Very curious to know how someone unfamiliar with Hindu mythology feels about it tho -- I can see it being a bit overwhelming or confusing at times (or maybe not! I might have read into things bc of my overfamiliarity with it). The characters were well-developed (some of their actions and choices are frustrating, but totally what the character would do). The end got too philosophical but got resolved quickly.

What an incredible debut!! Can't wait for Book 2!

4.25 stars

I'm really surprised that I haven't heard more about this book, and that at the time I'm writing this review it has less than 100 reviews on Goodreads. If you like high fantasy, unique worlds and magic, found family, moral ambiguity, religious manipulation and de-programming, and (per other reviewers bc I still have not seen them) Avatar: The Last Airbender and Naruto, you HAVE to check this out.
This is the first in a series that takes place in a world that operates based on Toranic Law, a beefed-up version of karma. There are four realms with various degrees of suffering or wealth, and people's place in them is determined by how pure their soul is. Do enough good things? In theory, you can ascend. Terrible person? Get ready to descend. And the brightness of someone's soul, or keiza, is clearly visible to everyone, reinforcing hierarchy even more. 

This story follows 3 POV characters thrown together by unexpected circumstances when they are all recruited to join a rebel faction operating in a lower realm. Aina is one of the few lower-born people to ascend to a higher realm. But she's been committing crimes ever since she got there, desperate to descend again to be reunited with her mother. Meizan is a lower and a vicious warrior who will do anything to keep his clan alive. And Aranel is a spoiled upper-born noble who's been sent to spy on the rebels. 

I'm generally more of a character over plot reader, and often say I could happily read about great characters just going grocery shopping. None of these are new all-time favorite characters, but I have a feeling that this first book has set the foundation for some really great development as the series moves forward, and I'm excited to see it. Meanwhile, this book might be YA, but its magic system and world were smarter than me. I'm not ashamed to say it. It made total sense every time something got explained, but it was complex and not intuitive to me, but honestly, that just made it feel more real. I don't know the scientific reasoning behind every real-world phenomenon, either. If you're more of an adult fantasy fan, you might still really enjoy this. And if you read this and start to get a little lost in the weeds of the world to start, I promise it is worth sticking it out. Thanks to Penguin Teen and the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

"Spin of Fate" is a debut fantasy by A.A. Vora, following the lives of 3 characters in a world separated into multiple realms; 2 good, 2 bad. The realm you're allowed to live in is based on the spin of your soul, and the story is heavy handed in its theme that just because you are born in one realm due to poor/good luck, doesn't mean that's where you belong, but there is no way to change the system. The story follows Aina, Aranel, and Meizan as they join up with a clan called the "balancers", who claim to want equality for realms. They all join for very different reason; Aina, to find her mother, Aranel, as a spy, and Meizan, who has just lost his entire clan.

Pros:
I was very excited to read this book, as I have seen a couple people on booktube promote this recently. I loved the rich world building, with 4 separate realms that allowed people to live in them based on the amount of "good" in them. The balancers are trying to change the unjust nature to the realm separation, but some things aren't as they seem. There was a very interesting magic system involving chitrons, which allowed the characters to change the environment around them. The plot was fast paced and extremely unique and interesting. This is great for YA readers, as it was clean, had age appropriate content, and focused on characters that were aged 16-18.

Cons:
Unfortunately the characters fell flat for me. Aina was supposed to be 16 and acted like she was 12. She was so immature it was hard to believe she was a teenager. Aranel was obsessed with being good and never really made much progression, and Meizan was only concerned with the possibility of finding his clan. There was a love triangle that was very poorly done and really didn't need to be included. I wish the story was about the characters friendships instead of the characters suddenly being like "I all of a sudden have feelings for this other character". I also continued to dislike both Aina and Aranel through to the end of the story. They are just SO STUPID and neither of them make choices that make sense. It's like they both understand the antagonist's actions and still trust them to do the right thing, even though they witnessed what the antagonist's actions have done to others. Meizan was the only character that was likable and stuck to his morals.

This story was promoted as similar to "Avatar the Last Airbender". This is entirely untrue; as a huge avatar fan, I see no similarities. Please go into this book knowing it is entirely unique!

Overall, I think this is a great fantasy debut with rich world building, great for YA readers. I suspect adults might find the characters a bit young and insufferable. You will like this book if you are interested in books where characters have to fight to change the system, where there is fast paced plot progression, and an interesting magic system. I'd give this a 3.5/5 stars and would definitely like to continue reading the series to find out what happens next.

Thank you so much to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a blast to read and I could not put it down. I pretty much stayed up all night reading this. I saw in the description that it was for fans of Six of Crows and Avatar the Last AirBender and so this book was right up my ally and it did not disappoint. The only thing I am upset about is that I don't have a physical copy yet to put on my shelf that is how much I loved it. The world building was great and I really got to understand the society I was placed in. The characters were all unique and lively which helped to elevate the world building and story elements. The fantasy aspects were clearly well thought out and developed and damn for a first book in a series this is everything you could ask for. I can't wait to see what else comes from The Fifth Realm because Vora has be 1000% hooked.

Naruto meets ATLA in this new fantasy series where Toranic Law decides your fate. Will you rise to the upper realms or fall lower? Three unlikely allies join the rebel group called the Balancers: Aina, a girl who rose to an upper realm but wants to fall again to find her mother; Mezian, a lower who wants nothing but to save his Clan; and Aranel, a privileged upper spy.

I really enjoyed this book! Like I said, I had no idea what to expect going into it but I was pleasantly surprised! I think the Toranic Law world building was unique and I really liked the idea of it. I also really liked our cast of three characters and enjoyed their interactions with each other. There was the absolute slightest amount of romance nuance between them, but I can’t wait to see what that blossoms into in future books.

The ending of this book was earth shattering and it was interesting to see how the characters ended up despite their motivations at the beginning of the novel. I can’t wait for the next one!

Thanks to Penguin House for giving me the opportunity to access the ARC of Spin of Fate, and NetGalley for providing the platform to request it.

For clarity, I received the ARC for free in return for my honest review.

Spin of Fate is the start of a brand-new series known as The Fifth Realm and is written by A. A. Vora. Setting wise it blends flavors of Hindu mythos with Cultivation Novels (think the works of Priest, MXTX, and Meat Bun Don’t Eat Meat) and personally I feel the likening it to the Cosmosphere, Full Metal Alchemist, and more oversimplifies it and does it no service in terms of marketing. Then again, how many people have read Chinese cultivation books or indulged in Webtoons with similar themes?

Probably not many.

Just know I’m not in the camp of using pre-existing media as a comparison tool, thus why I used a collective genre example. Because otherwise you’ll get people expecting Avatar the Last Airbender from something like The Dragon Republic or saying “You liked Dragon Riders of Pern? Read Fourth Wing!”

Sorry, need a moment to recover from that flashback.

Now let’s get back from that side quest, friends.

Spin of Fate features a setting across separate planes of existence in which karma Toranic Law dictates where you are born and end up all based on the ‘spin of one’s soul’ hence the book title. Each plane is different from the other with lower levels being worse off than higher levels where things practically go perfectly. It took a lot of the book to grasp what was going on, the magical system, and more thanks to how it does little to explain the world building exclusively through story telling up until where I am now.

Right now, my progress as I’m writing this is 30%. We are just now getting a training montage with our three protagonists Aranel, Aina and…I forgot his name because we were introduced to him so late into the first third of the read, and so fast, I still can’t remember it. In fact, there’s so much I forgot happened or had to read over a second time to catch the events of thanks to the fast pacing. It’s almost like I don’t get time to soak in the information before a new deluge of things are going on to flood out what came before. So, I really feel like it’s moving too fast in terms of pacing.

We learn about this one group, and the very next scene is the main character (Aina) meeting the HEAD OF THAT GROUP. Never mind there has been no real explanation of the magic system yet (until said training montage). So much stuff happens so fast, I can’t even recall pertinent details but now it suddenly skidded to a halt to explain aspects of Toranic Law, Chitrons, and more for the main trio’s plot. Like, couldn’t we have got a small bubble of a scene in the opening of the book when Aina is with her mother? It would have gone miles to better characterize the mother and set the reader up for success in understanding the setting. Could we have built out characters just a bit more before flinging them into shit going on?

That being said, my main beef with Spin of Fate is the pacing. Aside from that, there is the heart of a cool setting here and a moving plot. I just feel like the book hasn’t done well in the ARC version to flesh that out in the first third. I even find it hard to sympathize with Aina? Maybe because she isn’t the kind of character I jive with.

So, I honestly have DNF’d the ARC at that point. It’s just not for me.

Plus, the sudden skidding halt for the training arc of all things. I still can’t tell you any character’s names or summarize things effectively, which by the first third of the book you should at least be able to do. Maybe even the first quarter of it.

Oh, that’s his name! Meizan! I knew it’d randomly pop back up in my head.

Could I recommend the book? No. If I DNF something, I find it hard to reason how it might work for someone else. Maybe pick it up if you want a unique magic system steeped in eastern inspirations? Other than that, not something can recommend.

If I gave it a star rating? Maybe 2 out of 5. Not a 3, but not a 1. Like I said there’s the bones of something good here. It’s my hope when I pick up the published copy my rating will change because I genuinely enjoy some of the themes and discussions in the book.

This book had such incredible world building from the different realms to the magic system, and all of the various creatures.

It had flawed, interesting characters which kept me hooked the whole way through. I loved seeing all of their training and appreciated that things weren’t instantly easy for them.

My only complaint is the amount of time that I have to wait for the next book 😭 In the meantime, I definitely want to reread an annotate the heck out of this because I feel like I’ll get even more out of it on the second go.

If you’re looking for a layered, immersive fantasy that you can lose yourself in, I cannot recommend this enough!

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Penguin Teen for an eARC of this book. This is a debut author and is a YA high fantasy.

Tropes: Enemies to Friends, Found Family, Betrayal, Rebel Group, Topple the Government

This is a high fantasy with a very complex world and magic system. For where I am at mentally - this is not what I needed at the time. It took a lot for me to get into, but the author did a good job of explaining it- for the most part.

I didn't feel much for the characters which could have been because I never really got into the book. I love supporting authors especially on their debut and this one has a lot of potential. It is kind of Six of Crows but with more magic and higher stakes.

The three main characters all come from different backgrounds. The world is set up where you live in different realms based on your soul but some people are born into the lower levels-which means their soul is already tainted- due to their parents. The main theme of the book is to overthrow the government and magic system that makes people be born into lower realms. I love the concept- it just didn't do it for me in this book.

Thanks to Penguin for providing this free ARC.

This book was amazing: the magic system was intense and detailed; the world building was done in a great way, not too info-dumpy and not too minimal; the characters were complex and behaved exactly like you'd expect teenagers in their situations to behave. The world sounded beautiful, the four realms based on how much good you do in your life - the spin of your soul - and the reward of a good karmic life. I loved how the moral questions and ideals of the people based on their realm differed because of their circumstances - so few people moved up from the lower realms to the upper realms. And of course the idea that even those born with a blank slate in each realm are influenced by their surroundings and affecting the spin of their soul - for example, when Aina saved that fox, which ultimately led to her ascending, even though she was raised by her mother, who puts survival first and that Aina hadn't eaten in a while.

The plot twists were still punches to the gut and reading was so easy, almost like sitting down with a Sanderson book; I had a great time and I can't to see what else A. A. Vora puts out.

Spin of Fate is an incredible debut novel. While some parts of the story did feel a little bit slow, it was still incredibly interesting, original, and fun to follow. The world building and magic system were well fleshed out, as were the characters. This was an overall great book and great read. Thank you for the ARC

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!! Happy Publishing Day!!

A trio of teens have to confront the reality of their stratified world and the systemic inequality it stems from. In a world split into four separate realms, the direction of one's soul and subsequent morality dictate the location and life one lives. The first novel in a new YA fantasy series where karma rules supreme and drastic inequality runs rampant, fantasy lovers shouldn't miss out!

Full of magical battles and intense action, this novel does an excellent job of hooking the reader's attention and never letting go. I actually had to make myself slow down to fully process the world-building and magic system created in this universe... and ensure I didn't miss anything. Those who enjoy training montages with a payoff and blossoming friendships in the face of adversity will love this!!

I really appreciate how this novel presents toxic positivity. The guilt that can stem from people raised in demanding religions for even <i>thinking</i> something negative can be utterly debilitating. Frequent discussions of how intent matters more than dogma or preconceived moral judgments really hammer this home.

Spin of Fate is an astonishing debut novel, and an explosive start to the Fifth Realm Series. This story is told through the POV’s of three teenagers, Aina, Aranel, and Meizan. Their converging storylines weave together into a complex , mysterious, and utterly gripping plot.

From the very first pages you can see the amount of work Vora put in to developing this world and magic system, and while they are incredibly complex, Vora’s vivid writing makes them easily understandable. The three main characters are also beautiful developed over the course of the story. They each come from unique backgrounds and I really loved that you could see how that shapes their perspective, morals, and motives throughout the story.

If you like morally gray characters, found family, unique magic systems, rich world building, and epic battles, then you should absolutely pick up this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC for an honest review.
4⭐️
Okay, hear me out.. this book is good, but it’s for an audience that’s not me. I’m not gonna rate it low because of that though.
I guess I just have a hard time keeping up with the magic system. It’s like a YA for ✨intellectuals✨ that don’t necessarily have to keep referring to the glossary or maps. Unfortunately, I do..
I enjoy the multi-POV, as it gives different perspectives on all that is happening. And the characters are memorable, I really think everything that’s going on with magic, characters, and plot had my brain in overdrive. Again, this is not a bad thing, I believe it’s good to challenge ourselves every now and then.

When I was approved for this title on NetGalley less than a week before publication, I initially panicked about finishing it in time. That was a needless worry because this book flew by for me!

The world is rich and complex with its religious system that doubles as its class system and governance. The magical creatures were new and wonderfully thought out. The magic system of chitrons was a new concept to me, but presented in a way that just made sense. The lore behind the world as it stands for this story is also layered, so overall the world building is a solid win.

The characters were wonderful, each with their unique backstory and motivation. Aina, Meizan, and Aranel were all interesting in their own right and developed perfectly. As a reader, I came to love all of them.

The pacing was quick, and the plot engaging. It was a classic case of how far is too far in overthrowing a corrupt system. It makes you think as a reader and wonder if there is even a right way forward. It’s so fun when you can see everyone’s pov and realize that they’re all wrong and all correct at the same time. Even at the conclusion, I’m not sure what the “right” side would have been. That is a win by the author for me.

Please read this book. If the cover is not enough to convince you (and it should be, since it’s stunning), let me tell you that you don’t want to miss this one.

I wanted to love this one, but the dialogue felt really stilted and the pacing was really slow. The chapters were so long that it took me out of the story because I kept thinking about how long they were. The magic system seemed interesting, but there was a lot of info dumping. I also didn’t really like any of the main characters. I found them to be slightly frustrating.

I will say the world building of this book was excellent even if I didn’t enjoy the theme of the world. It felt like we were looking at layers of limbo/heaven/hell with the focus on descending and ascending to different realms and no one able to die. I think I was ok with that, especially since it is a creative idea, but I wanted more from the story and that theme was the whole book and there was little to nothing else. I thought the bits of romance were poorly done and I would have liked the story more without them. I also struggled in that there were no characters in this book that I liked or wanted to succeed. Even when one of the characters appeared to have grown or learned they fell right back into their assigned archetype role and had to start over with the trying to learn and grow. That being said the book wasn’t bad, and I am curious what happens in the next book,, but if I find the sequel I’ll read it, but it won’t be one I’ll be desperately searching for.

The world was once all one. After a war that threatened to destroy the world, it was split into four realms two for evil and negativity that are full of suffering and violence and two for good that are full of abundance and joy. It is impossible to leave your realm to go up to a better one unless your soul starts to spin another way. Aina and her mother have always been alone and while her mother isn’t kind she is all that she has and she keeps her safe. Until a monster attacks and a flash of white appears and Aina is being pulled up and ascending realms. Despite her reluctance her mother pushes her to go and once she is there she is determined to tarnish her soul so she can return and find her mother.