This is an absolute stunner. I adore an alternating timeline, if done correctly, and this book does it quite well. Arden and Evelyn’s story is both tragic and beautiful from start to finish.

This book was a lot less fantastical than I was expecting, but I think that's for the best. Seeing these characters in environments that exist/once existed in our world make them feel more real. It makes their predicament more powerful and heartbreaking. Plus the yearning in this book is top tier! I was able to fall in love with characters simply based on their love and adoration for each other.

Something I really liked about this book was that the goal of the main characters isn't to break whatever curse is plaguing them. It's to save someone they both love. yes, Evelyn is somewhat obsessed with why they must endure this existence (and who could blame her!), but that is secondary to the plot of saving Gracie. That really makes both characters more appealing, and makes it easy to want to root for their success. I also really enjoyed how the narrative is both moving forward and backward in time, yet it's written in a manner that is easily digestible for the reader. In the present timeline, I was curious if things would work out with Gracie and if the curse would be broken so Evelyn and Arden could be together. In the past, not only was it fun yet heartbreaking to read about Evelyn and Arden's past lives, but we also get closer and closer to discovering how and why this is their reality in the first place. This made it a very fun reading experience. The twist really got me! I won't say much for risk of spoilers, but woah! It's absolutely something reader won't see coming, that's for sure. The ending is a little info-dumpy, but still worth it.

The premise of this book is really interesting and well executed. A plot such as this one could have easily gotten over complicated and more challenging to follow, but thankfully that wasn't the case. I'd argue that the exact opposite happened. While the plot is great, I think this book really shines with it's characters. They were incredibly well developed. From our main two whom we spend the most time with, to side characters in both the present and the past, everyone feels so real. To further that point, I also admired the relationships depicted throughout the novel. Yes, Evelyn and Arden's love is beautiful, and watching it change and grow throughout the the centuries was a worthwhile adventure for the reader. But I'd say the same thing for Bran and her sister, Gracie, and the love their mom feels for them. Even when Evelyn reflects on parents lost in her previous lives radiates love through the veil of grief. It's powerful to say the least, and definitely my favorite part of the novel.

“I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you.”

The first time you read this quote, you might think, "Huh?!". However, as you continue to read, the story begins to make sense, and you may find yourself reading the quote again, thinking, "WHAT?!"

This story is one of the most unique and adventurous I've ever read, spanning centuries. It offers the opportunity to explore different eras, empires, cultures, and contemporary trends through the characters' experiences. As we delved into the narrative, I appreciated how the author engaged in discussions on various topics, providing thoughtful critiques. While reading, I couldn't help but wonder how much time the author must have spent researching and crafting such a distinctive story—everything from the concept to the ideas and the depictions of different eras!

While I enjoyed the story and appreciated its unique concept, there were certain aspects I wasn't a fan of, particularly the writing choices and the lack of depth in the explanations and character development throughout the reading experience. I felt that these issues were interconnected, and I wished more time had been spent on explaining the character choices, especially in the beginning. While some explanations come later, I often found myself feeling annoyed rather than intrigued by the direction of the story.

On a positive note, the final part of the book effectively ties everything together and clarifies the plot. However, I wished there had been more foreshadowing to enhance the impact of the story and the characters' experiences. I appreciated the discussions throughout the narrative, as I am naturally curious, but I feel there was potential for deeper exploration. Ultimately, I understand that it may not be possible to address every aspect without making the discussions repetitive or unfolding the plot more predictably.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the e-arc of the book.

This was a unique concept that had me questioning what had happened to allow these two to be able to find each other and love each other all the way through time. Only each time they end up being killed, by the other person. The mystery element was there and kept me glued to the pages more so then the romance aspect

I think I may be in the minority for not liking this book, but I genuinely cannot understand what happened in this book. All of the book’s action happened in the last 60 pages, and the entire book was the author telling us how much the main characters love each other but we never actually see them fall in love. Like they’re reincarnated and then one day they remover they love each other???? It’s very strange, and the flashback scenes would be great if it added to the plot, but we just see them live for a quick snippet in the past and then back to the same boring present day scene that’s been happening for the past 200 pages. The writing was beautiful yes, but that doesn’t distract from the fact that nothing happened in the book, especially when I could explain the whole plot and twist of the entire book in less than a paragraph. Regardless I think there’s definitely some people that are gonna like it but unfortunately that just isn’t me.

“i love you, i have loved you, and i will love you.”

i’ve never read a dual timeline before so when i realized that was happening i was a bit hesitant but i came to enjoy it although i will say i wish we had more time in the flashbacks or show more of how they grew close in each one.

this book was written beautifully as well as the poetry that’s written by one of the characters. i will say there was times where it felt repetitive but nothing to really complain about.

evelyn and arden have a relationship in the sense where they’re destined to 🔪 each other before their eighteenth birthday. why? well you’ll have to read to find out!

their love throughout was beautiful and made me want to root for them so much. i will say the end felt a little rushed at a certain part but the last chapter tug at my heart strings. if you’re unsure on open endings i’d say to give this one a chance. i usually don’t enjoy them but this one was done beautifully. thank you so much again for the arc read! i’ll miss them 🥺.

This book
Had so much potential. Starr crossed lovers. one destined to remember everything from lifetime to lifetime. The other destined to kill her before her. 18th birthday everytime.
I loved the premise but there was too much telling and no showing. We are told about their love over she verbals yet we never see them fall in love.
Some beautiful sentences but underwhelming execution.

3.5 stars

This is a fantastic premise, where Evelyn and Arden are continually reincarnated over a thousand years but always find each other, but it always ends in tragedy as they kill each other before they turn eighteen. In present day, though, Evelyn is determined to live to save her sister, so now she has to figure out how to stop this cycle.

The premise is great and I am a sucker for the reincarnation trope, and I think this used it in an interesting way, where Evelyn and Arden are reborn in different areas around the world and aren’t restricted to a certain gender or sexuality. It felt like they were addressing criticisms for Addie LaRue, but it just kinda felt like each incarnation still had a western way of thinking even if that wasn’t where they were from or it was centuries ago. I just kinda wished the past snippets had a better feel for the time/place it took place in if it was using them, because they started to feel the same. The writing was lyrical and pretty, though a bit too many similes for my taste (I feel like each one would have more impact if they were used more moderately and it kinda bloated the writing unnecessarily).

I was really confused by the structure of this book and think it worked against building Evelyn and Arden’s relationship. Like they fall in love in every life, but it’s because of fate rather than something organic, and so I was waiting for an explanation on what started it all, but that never actually happened, and apparently each incarnation was supposed to show that love developing? That’s how I interpreted it by the end, but that love story never actually became clear to me, so the declarations of love just felt kinda hollow and didn’t make me feel much. And since we’re working from the most recent incarnation, it was like we had to build the story in reverse, which confused me. And despite Evelyn saying she cares about all these people around her in the present/past lives, those scenes are short/we’re constantly pulled around in time, so there was not enough development for those relationships to feel as important as she says they are.

Eventually the past life snippets became repetitive, since they often progressed the same way, and the present timeline was kinda lacking forward momentum and that became a bit repetitive, too, as Evelyn/Branwen kinda kept having the same thoughts. I wished the present timeline was beefed up a bit more so that it felt important, too. Definitely wasn’t expecting the twist at the end, and the narrative did well at keeping me interested in it, but it wasn’t totally satisfying (why is eighteen important for a devil when that’s a very arbitrary human/western definition of adulthood? And this book was doing so well at avoiding any religious parallels but with that twist it kinda got ruined. Plus, there was absolutely no good reason for Arden to keep everything a secret from Evelyn so that was annoying). I did like that last chapter, though.

Great premise and very pretty writing, but I think this book had a lot more potential.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

To begin this review, I would like to thank St. Martin's Press|Wednesday Books and author, Laura Steven, for allowing me to read this book, Our Infinite Fates, via #netgalley. All opinions following are my own.

This beautifully written novel explores the themes of love and its limits. The two main characters, Evelyn and Arden, have souls that are tethered to one another's and are destined to fall in love in every lifetime. The tragic part, though, is that they are also destined to die by one another's hands by their eighteenth birthday in every lifetime as well. Arden knows why this must happen, but Evelyn cannot remember, and it tortures her. Arden only asks that she trust that it must happen. Otherwise, they will both suffer beyond understanding. Evelyn does trust him. However, things are further complicated when Evelyn's younger sister in her current life contracts leukemia, and Evelyn is the one bone marrow match they're able to find. It would be okay, but her sister develops an infection, and the doctors aren't able to perform the transplant prior to Evelyn's 18th birthday. In this race against time, will Evelyn be able to convince Arden to spare her so she can, in turn, save her sister?

This book was gorgeously written. It was simultaneously a beautiful love story that transcends infinite lifetimes and a devastating tragedy. I gave it an effortless ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and can't wait for it to release on March 04, so others can experience this transcendental love story.

#brenbreathesbooks #brenreviewsbooks #5starreads #februaryreads #comingsoon #march04release #laurasteven #ourinfinitefates #romance #fantasy #lgbtreads #lgbtqia #netgalleyreviewer #ARC #ARCReader #stmartinspress #wednesdaybooks #bookish #booknerd #BookCommunity #bookworm #reader #readerlife #booksthatmakeyouthink #booksofinstagram #bookstagramcommunity #goodreadschallenge

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.

I wanted to love this. Such an interesting premise, but unfortunately, I think it falls a little short in the execution. I think certain things were done well, but that in other ways the story feels unfinished.

What I liked:
-Multiple different historical settings, flushed out enough to get a feel for the time in place despite essentially being short vignettes
-including the vignettes in reverse chronological order, the reader is experiencing the journey in the same way that Evelyn is
-the theme that who a person is at their core has nothing to do with sex or gender or appearance or circumstance
-yearning is presented incredibly well

What felt unfinished:
-the actual mythology (we didn’t really get origins or explanation)
-the second to last chapter feel like it turns what came before on its ear (why is this new information presented in this way? It doesn’t feel like it does anything to change the plot
-the “romance” is treated as a given but I don’t feel like we ever really know when or how it happened or why the characters should feel this way

This ended up feeling like a love story like The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, which I also struggled with. The writing was beautiful, the story is full of angst, but to me it doesn’t necessarily feel like a love story. It is by no means a bad book, and plenty will eat it up, I’m sure, but I don’t know that I have it in me for a love story that is all suffering.

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Stevens is one of the most fascinating reads I've encountered. The emotional rollercoaster Stevens takes us on through Evelyn and Arden's existence is nothing short of astounding. Each present scene seamlessly leads to a memory, guiding us on a captivating journey through time. Evelyn and Arden's growth is depicted beautifully in each reincarnation, showing us who they become, whether male or female, with diverse ethnicities, backgrounds, and lifestyles. Their individual struggles are masterfully woven into the narrative, enhancing each character's development.

"I swallowed hard, choking back the emotion of the moment. "Evelyn"
A nod that would define a millennium. "Arden"

This novel marks my first introduction to Stevens' literary work, and I am eagerly looking forward to exploring her other offerings.

In modern day South Wales, Bran is days away from her 18th birthday. Instead of this being a fun, exciting time Bran is becoming more and more anxious as the day approaches. Her time is almost up and she knows Arden is out there, somewhere, biding his time. Through every life over the course of a millenia, Evelyn and Arden’s souls find each other and it always ends in tragedy. This time, it is more than just Bran’s life that hangs in the balance. Her sister is counting on her, too.
This has been one of my favorite reads this year. It was so lovely and tragic in the best possible way. I loved the flashbacks and witnessing this love that transcends time. The poetry was so beautiful and heart-wrenching. The twist was so clever, I did not see it coming!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC!

Where do I even begin with “Our Infinite Fates”? From the very first chapter, I had this gut feeling that I was in for something special, and boy, was I right! Laura Steven has crafted a story that’s like a beautiful tapestry, weaving together contemporary drama with a timeless love story that’ll make your heart skip a beat.

If you loved the “Fallen” series, you’re in for a treat. But let me tell you, this isn’t just another reincarnation romance. Steven takes that familiar concept and turns it on its head. Evelyn and Arden’s love story? It’s complicated, messy, and utterly captivating. They’re destined to find each other in every life, but here’s the kicker – they have to kill each other. Talk about star-crossed lovers!

The way Steven structures this novel is pure genius. We’ve got the present-day story anchoring us, but then we’re whisked away to past timelines that add layers of mystery and depth. It’s like putting together a puzzle, and with each piece, you’re drawn deeper into their world. I found myself eagerly flipping pages, trying to connect the dots between past and present.

Can we talk about how refreshingly diverse this book is? Steven doesn’t just stick to one type of love story. Through Evelyn and Arden’s various incarnations, we get to see love in all its beautiful forms. It’s a celebration of love that transcends not just time, but gender and cultural boundaries too.

And Arden as a writer within the story? Pure poetry. There’s this one quote that still gives me goosebumps:

“Even when we are but bones in the earth my eternal heart will love you still, for even when a star does perish its light burns on for millennia.”

If you’re looking for a story that’ll make you feel, think, and maybe believe in the power of love across lifetimes, this is it. Don’t miss out on this beautifully written journey – your book club will thank you!

Thank you, Wednesday Books and NetGalley, for my free book.

4.5 ⭐️ this was an amazing read!!! i was so excited to read this and it delivered. the writing structure was simply beautiful with the poetry and lyrical prose. i loved the intertwining of past, present, and future to see how everything connected and foreshadowed between lives

this is an easy read, with a bit of repetition (duh, to be expected with the plot). i loved seeing all of their different lives in various countries/cultures. although I was a little disappointed in the reveal of the curse, i still enjoyed the ending

tysm to netgalley & st martins publishing for the arc in exchange for a review

This was absolutely fantastic! I'll be carrying this story with me for a while! It was gripping me from the beginning and i truly couldn't put it down. I felt like these characters were so real and I mourned when they did and rejoiced when they did. They felt like a part of me while I was reading! I will literally not shut up about this and keep recommending it to everyone i know !!

3.5 stars for me. While it was heartwrenching at times it failed to keep my attention throughout so I found myself skimming alot.

“They’ve loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They’ve killed each other in every one.”

Our Infinite Fates is beautifully written. i had soo many highlights in this book! In addition to seeing flashbacks to their previous lives, we follow them through the one Evelyn is currently living. Given that we witness more than a dozen of their deaths in this manner, the flashbacks were well done and not at all jumpy.

i will say that i loved the complexity of their dynamic. wholeheartedly loving the other while simultaneously anticipating their demise. that tension and intensity kept me invested!

there’s the mystery of why they continue to unalive each other, and i like how we slowly discover the answer. by the time i understood what was happening, i was a mess. obviously the love story is gut-wrenching, but there's a lot more to it than that. having had lived more than 100 lives, Evelyn has lost so many people in her time. you reallyy feel that loss when you’re reading and it hits you hard. grief is a heavy topic in this book.

i rated this 4 stars because it took me a while to feel any connection to the characters. there’s a lot of *saying* that they’re in love, but it’s confusing when they’re.. well.. killing each other. 😅 it took me a minute to feel, but the love is definitely there.

i’d definitely recommend this if you enjoyed “The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue”.

huge thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!!

I was completely drawn into this book’s premise. Our Infinite Fates delivers an intriguing, unique, and beautifully crafted story of love, fate, and the relentless pull of two souls across lifetimes.

Evelyn and Arden’s dynamic was fascinating—she’s endlessly hopeful, while he’s a jaded poet, and their connection felt inevitable yet tragic. I especially loved how the flashbacks moved backward in time, slowly unraveling the mystery of their origins. The tension between them, balancing love and danger, kept me hooked the entire time.

The ending wasn’t quite what I was hoping for—I wanted to feel a bit more fulfilled—but I appreciated that it was fitting for the story and, in its own way, happy for all involved. I’ll definitely be picking up more from Laura Steven in the future! Highly recommend for fans of sweeping, time-spanning love stories with a touch of darkness.

Our Infinite Souls by Laura Steven is a story about Evelyn and Arden who have loved each other for centuries as they have been reincarnated over and over, always finding their way back to one another, but have killed each other in every lifetime before they turn 18.

This story is written very well. In fact it is dripping with such beautiful metaphors and lyrical quotes about love and life that you will absolutely want to highlight. The way the author gives us a look into so many lifetimes Evelyn and Arden had throughout history and places around the world was great storytelling and I really loved that.

I also loved how all the glimpses into all Evelyn’s past lives intertwined with her present day life in which Evelyn is in a life she loves and is doing everything she can to save her little sister who is sick before the inevitable happens- her death by the hands of Arden before turning 18, which she is only a few weeks shy of.

The way all the pieces of the story come together bit by bit as we the reader are taken on this journey trying to figure it all out with Evelyn was done so well! Truly, the author did a wonderful job writing this story!

I wanted to read this book because the synopsis sounded incredible and it said it was for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. All that being said, going into this book knowing that and the great writing and storytelling I got to experience reading it, I thought for sure this would be a book I would have rated much higher than a 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4). I’m settling on a 3.5 stars because even though I enjoyed this book, I didn’t enjoy it as much as I thought I would and enjoyment factors into my overall rating, even when a story is well crafted and written beautifully. I do, however, know that there will be a lot of people out there who will love this book very much at a 5 star level!

Thank you kindly to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me the ARC e-book in exchange for my honest review!

I was very excited at the prospect of epic romance that I knew would be somewhat tragic and heart-rending...but ultimately this one was just not for me.

I was surprised by how quickly the book goes straight to violent deaths, over and over again, without any buildup in the romance first. It is repetitive without each iteration of the characters really providing any more context or depth to their love or relationship. It made the brutality that much more jarring, because the reader just isn't given the time to get invested.

I also felt that the lore in this story wasn't consistent - there are times when Evelyn claims she doesn't remember most of her past lives, but then frequently reminisces about them. It's not clear to me whether she starts looking for Arden at a certain age, or whether she's not meant to recognize them, only fall in love again. This felt inconsistent and confusing.

I will say, the writing itself is beautiful and I highlighted many passages that were beautiful musings on life, love and grief. I also loved the exploration of soul and gender and the freedom the author had in this context to explore whether or how those identities are connected.

Overall I think some readers will love this, but it was too brutal for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.