For once, the marketing comparisons are accurate - if you liked Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, you'll probably feel similar about this. And if you didn't, this has a lot of the same issues, improved maybe slightly.

The concept is one I love - combining constant fated soul reincarnation with having to kill your fated partner in every life. it's the sort of thing I eat up with a spoon. The problem for me is once you've got that concept, the scope of the execution of it and the reasoning behind why they're stuck in a reincarnation and death loop is just as important to me as however lyrical and painful each life is. The other problem is the more you try to explain it, the more work you have to do to make that explanation work both at the start and all the way through the resolution. Sometimes less is way more. And here, for me, the explanation just isn't at all satisfying compared with both Evelyn and Arden's actions throughout the years.

There's also the issue of trying to balance a global, no-borders sort of reincarnation and not being completely out of your depth when writing those lives. It becomes increasingly obvious that Steven is British in the lives that aren't set in the western world (and even then there are only like...two) and Evelyn and Arden are always on the "right" side of history (from a 21st century perspective, and while both are happy to spout off lines about humanity and ethics with a distinctly modern ring to them, we never examine things like the fact that they've both been in wars and lived so many culturally different lives but were still more than willing to lie about their ages to enlist for WWI). That's not even getting into some flat-out incorrect historical facts (the Song life is rife with them and I can only express my thanks that the "crossbow at Mt. Fuji" life isn't ever actualized), including my favorite that tomatoes weren't in Europe until the 14th century, if the reincarnation cycle started around 1000, they could never have had a life in Pompeii, etc. etc., things like that that are poetic lines, but make no sense if you stop and think for more than a second.

ANYWAY. I actually would have liked less of the other lives, as they don't add all that much (they could have, but they're mostly repetitive themes instead of adding context to their relationship really evolving and changing) and more of Evelyn and Arden talking in this life about what that tipping point in Siberia was, delving more into why Arden's happiness was just watching Evelyn get to live, things that they don't get a chance to talk about in previous lives because of the impending deadline. I did love the fact that as much as this is a book about death, each death is so wrapped up in love and the result of living.

I did also really appreciate that each of them has lives in all sorts of bodies, that their love is of the soul and there is an abundance of queer love (once again there is a...very modern western view on queerness, but if you're here for nuance, uhhh....). There are also so many different explorations of love, familial, friendship, so much found family.

I think this will be a huge hit with its intended audience, and those outside of that will depend on their threshold for teenage characters (despite being immortal souls, both Arden and Evelyn - Evelyn in particular since she only remembers so many lives - are and act like teenagers), since for arbitrary (western) reasons, we've picked 18 as the threshold age (I would have been more forgiving if the number had something more to do with the original starting life, but no, it's just "oh at 18 you're adults" ONLY IN CERTAIN CULTURES??? Anyway.). I did enjoy reading this and it made me want to read so many parts in so many different orders.

If I had to describe this book in two words, they'd be this: tragically beautiful.

I came across this book randomly one day and to say my interest was piqued would be an understatement. The concept of it was so unique, so incredibly interesting and so completely my style.

I loved how this was one big tragic, puzzling mystery. I was attempting to piece history together at the same time the main character was. The writing was lyrical in the best way I could ever imagine, and the characters had this depth to them that I haven't seen before. I just know this is a book that I'll reread for years to come, and fill to the brim with annotations.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Laura, and St. Martin's Press for approving me for this ARC!

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

When I originally heard the concept of this story, I was 100% sold. It seemed to be just the type of book I would get lost in. I did worry for a bit, as I had just read Januaries by Olivie Blake and there was a short story in there that had this same concept. I considered DNFing around 5% because of a concern that these would be too much alike, and if you had the same concern, listen to me when I say that you should absolutely continue.

I loved that we got, not only their current situation, but we got to see a quick glimpse of multiple of their lives together going back by each life. Evelyn is hitting her breaking point and is just tired, something that I could understand. Finally having a life she wants to stay in. Arden is someone who caught my attention and while I knew he was there to kill Evelyn, I was curious about the way and knew he was someone I'd enjoy. I do wish we had gotten a glimpse into his head at some point.

I also really enjoyed that they loved each other in their souls, and not for their gender / physical bodies. It was really cool to see the different lives, and to see that they did change genders throughout the years.

thank you to laura steven and st martin press for providing me with an ARC for an honest review!

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

our infinite fates takes us on the millennia long love story between evelyn and arden, our two souls fated to fall and love and kill each other in ever life time. told in the present alongside interwoven tales of their past lives in descending order to the inception of their fated existence, we meet each soul as they are born into different countries, families, social/economic classes and genders all while still remembering their devastating destiny. this was truly the most tragic love story written bleeding with so much raw yearning and devastation that my soul actually ached for these characters.

this book was a 6 star to infinity rating for me. in fact i don’t think i’ve ever read a book that hit me so hard emotionally and i truly was not prepared for how much this book has consumed my thoughts. i’ve had dreams about it every night and found myself daydreaming about it. laura’s writing was absolutely divine, poetic, profound, and hard hitting in this book, and i have a feeling i will keep a piece of it with me forever. i knew from the very first chapter i was going to be a sobbing emotional mess, and was i ever correct.

it was a breath of fresh air to read a story on the human condition so vehemently undisguised in showing the hardship of love, loss, death and heartbreak. then to take these experiences and tie them to the concept of soulmates and reincarnation, forcing the main characters to remember every time they had loved and ultimately betrayed each other? wow. as we got closer to the inception point, the reveals had my head spinning, and the way that it was woven into the framework of their modern story so effortlessly was mesmerizing.

i loved the fact that arden’s poetry from a past life was discovered and published—basically a love letter to evelyn. the connection and love was so palpable that as soon as i read anything he wrote it brought instant tears to my eyes. that kind of tender and unconditional love is so rare and watching it unfold before my eyes had me in a wreck.

spoilers below:

i was noooot expecting the reason for why they were stuck in this cycle to be what it was. i thought it was so well done, unexpected, and put a darker angle on the story. i was actually weeping when the mother took away their love and memories in order to relieve them of their duties as reapers. then in the end when they’re finally allowed to grow up, fulfill their life’s desires of fashion designing and writing, then still find their way back to one another? my heart was ACHING. finishing the book on “excuse me, have we met before?” with no resolve was criminal. i will forever miss these characters and their longing to be in one another’s presence.

Our Infinite Fates is such a creative and emotional read! At first I wasn’t totally sure where it was going and I didn't connect to the story right away- especially in regards to their romance. I couldn't feel this "deep connection" they supposedly had, having not had a chance to get to know the characters yet. I felt like I was kept on the surface, kinda. But as the story progressed and I got to learn their backstory - and especially the "why" of all the killings - I was completely hooked. It’s mostly a love story, but with a really interesting concept that kept me guessing the whole time.

The way the story flips between past and present worked really well, especially with the flashbacks giving us the backstory of their love and everything they went through. It made the eventual emotional moments hit even harder. Each flashback also kept making me all the more curious as to why this was happening to them. I had so many theories about what was really going on, and I was sure at least one of them had to be right—but I was way off. I love it when I still get shocked by the twists (it's actually rare after so many books lol)!

While the book does lean heavily into romance, it’s more than just a love story - it’s a reflection on fate, choices, and the infinite possibilities that shape our lives. Overall, it's an engrossing read, full of twists, heartache, and hope. If you love stories that make you feel deeply while also making you think, Our Infinite Fates is definitely worth picking up!

We have two characters who are tied together. Soul mates, fated mates, soul bonds. They are so deeply in love that even when they die, they find each other in another life.
In case you missed that, it’s not IF they die, but when. When they die, because they will. In every life before their 18th birthday. And always killed by the other soul mate. That’s right. THEY KILL EACH OTHER IN EVERY LIFE.
And that is how the story begins. The start really sucks you in. You need to know why, why would they do this to each other if they love each other?

While that is the overarching theme of the book, there are these little moments that are incredibly heart breaking. Imagine being born into a family. You build relationships with your family. Your mom, dad, sister, only for you to die and leave them behind to grieve. This pain is not only inflicted on you,but also leaves deep marks on them. And this happens over and over and over again. You will lose the ones you love, you will never grow old, you will never be anything more than a memory.

Because of that you build walls and distance yourself. How do you not lose hope that your life will become more. And isn’t that the crux of it all. How to not lose hope. To be more

The really interesting part to this story is how love transcends bodies. In every life they will find each, but the soul is not tied to a body. They may come back as female or male. Their love is not confined to a body. It is bound by the soul. The deep desire to be known is to be loved on a deeper level than physical descriptions.

Now for as much as I loved this book, I would be remiss to say, the discovery of why this is happening, feels out of character for this book. It felt strange and almost like it didn’t belong.
Regardless of that, as it is only a small part, this book is really good.

Lastly, I think as a reader, if you do not put yourself in the character's shoes, if you don’t have empathy for their short lives and broken relationships, you may not connect and enjoy this book as much. The vulnerability in this book is an important aspect to understanding the story

If you liked The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, you will enjoy this one

Our Infinite Fates is a romantic and lyrical tale from author Laura Steven. This story hooked me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down! Evelyn and Arden are trapped in an endless cycle- one of them must always kill the other before they turn eighteen. They reincarnate in different bodies and different places throughout the world each time. Whenever a deviation is attempted, they are always thwarted. Evelyn doesn’t know why they are trapped in this cycle, but Arden is keeping secrets. Can Evelyn and Arden break the cycle or are they trapped forever?

This heartbreaking and mysterious story completely took my breath away. The writing itself is stunning, filled with lush sensory details. I love how we travel with Evelyn through memories to long-forgotten lands and experiences as she tries to piece together why this must happen. Arden and Evelyn’s twisted and infinite love is a compelling mystery to unravel. I love the LGBTQ+ rep and how they find each other in any form. Evelyn’s relationship to her family in this world was charming, especially her bond with her sister Gracie. Laura Steven weaves in reflections on grief, the pain of loving, found family, and the idea of fate in a deeply beautiful way.

Our Infinite Fates is a moving and atmospheric read, with certain scenes destined to live in my mind long after the last page. I already can’t wait to reread it! This book would be perfect for readers who loved V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I can’t wait to see what Laura Steven writes next!

Thank you to Laura Steven, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Our Infinite Fates had me within the first two chapters and continued to pull me in as we dove deeper into the mystery of Evelyn and Arden’s connection and infinite lifetimes. And though the description promised a love story, I also liked how reflective it was in terms of not only the characters and their many lives, but also humanity’s impact on the world. We revisit these far-flung pockets of time across the globe via memories and, in doing so, witness differing cultures, their norms, and troubles. Whether it be the soul-crushing realities of trench warfare, the apocalyptic image of an island carved up and stripped of its resources, or our FMC’s relatively comfortable but emotionally draining life in modern day Wales, this novel ties together a through line of humanity’s unrelenting sorrows with our reason for persevering—love.

I personally loved the chapters taking place in the past and the nuggets of new information they offered as well as the discussion of gender when it comes to two souls who have inhabited innumerable and different bodies. There were so many little things that kept me invested in the story when, typically, I feel that this number of flashbacks in any other book would have caused the plot to lose momentum (or cause me to lose focus).

Strangely, for a story hinging upon such a fantastical plot point, the revelation near the end was a bit startling despite how the author alluded to it throughout. In hindsight, it makes sense, and, as with most things in life, I found my footing once I just rolled with what was happening on the page. In the end, none of this impacted my reaction to the ending as I finished it in tears.

This isn’t the kind of love story where we witness the fresh blooming of affection. I wasn’t giddy, kicking my feet or blushing. Instead, this is about two souls who have loved each other and continue to choose to love despite their situation and the hurt they have caused one another. It describes a love built on familiarity, hundreds of lifetimes worth of existing, and a bond only the two of them can share or even understand. I quite liked it for that reason.

Thank you Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Wednesday Books for an ARC to read and review.

Our Infinite Fatesby Laura Steven is a thrilling and beautifully crafted story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. With its intriguing world-building, complex characters, and emotional depth, it’s an engaging read that blends adventure and heart. Steven’s writing is both compelling and thought-provoking, making this a must-read for fans of fantasy and coming-of-age stories.

I received a digital advance copy of Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven via NetGalley. Our Infinite Fates is scheduled for release on March 4, 2025.

Our Infinite Fates follows two souls, Evelyn and Arden, as they are reincarnated over hundreds of years. In every life, they are drawn together. In every life, Arden is on a mission to kill Evelyn before they turn eighteen. Evelyn remembers fragments of all the lives before, but has no idea why Arden is so driven to kill them. Evelyn’s eighteenth birthday is approaching, and Arden has found them. The trouble is, Evelyn loves the life they are in and is desperate to keep it, and the love they feel for Arden despite their murdering ways.

This story is told from Evelyn’s point of view, even though Evelyn is a different person in each of their lives. While they are changed in each life, the reader still gets a good sense of Evelyn’s core being. Arden is less clear, as Evelyn often doesn’t meet them until just before death, and we don’t spend time in Arden’s point of view. The reader feels Evelyn’s unexplained yearning for Arden, and remains a bit confused by it, just as Evelyn is. Often, love at first site/ soul mate stories don’t work well for me, but this one did. Because Evelyn questioned it, even as they were feeling it, the reader bought the premise.

In the end, that connection between the two characters is explained, along with why they are reincarnated, why Arden is so intent on killing them both, and why Evelyn doesn’t remember why. This novel is very repetitive, as we move through time seeing the couple fall to their fates over and over. There is enough variation in each iteration to keep it from feeling stale, and we learn a bit more about their relationship in each life. There were some instances of the two characters discussing events in a previous life, followed by a chapter where we were in that previous life, that did feel unnecessarily repetitive, as we were given the exact same events twice.

Overall, Our Infinite Fates is a fresh take on the soul mate trope that will appear to readers of V.E. Schwab.

This was such a unique and surprising standalone, and I lived for every moment of it! Caught in an endless cycle of reincarnation, two lovers repeatedly meet in new lives and proceed to murder the other prior to their eighteenth birthdays, only to start the process all over again. Steven made the abstract notion of reincarnation very approachable and unique. With each life lived and remembered, the reader is fully immersed in the constant outpouring of love and the bitter tang of tragic fate between Evelyn and Arden. This story was very captivating and enjoyable and reminds us about the importance of love, found family, and fighting for what you hold most dear. I really enjoyed the development of Evelyn and Arden’s story and the complexity of their past lives melding into their current fraught situation. The twist was not expected and I loved every moment of it!! Fans of complex and tragic stories and undying love should definitely pick up this book.

As always, thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for access to this eARC for review; all thoughts are my own.

This is a story about love after death… again and again and again.

Ahhhhh I LOVED this book. This book perfectly captured the experience of yearning while somehow also interweaving it with the promise of death over and over. Love sick assassins?! I want everything I read this year to feel like this.

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio & @wednesdaybooks for the Arcs of my most anticipated book!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This had me in the first half... from there it lost steam for me. The concept of this: falling in love and killing each other in every lifetime, was incredible. I liked the exploration of 2 characters whose souls, while nothing else, stays in tact. I liked how it was written going back and forth between the current timeline and the past lives. I think the plot just didn't go in any direction I found compelling. The past lives became so much more interesting that the current one. However, it still was a fun read with absolutely beautiful quotes throughout.

Right from the prologue, this book had me saying *WTF!" and I loved it. The first chapter kicking off in Spanglish immediately pulled me in, setting the tone for a story rich in culture and history. The depth of historical and multicultural elements had me wondering just how much research went into this book (in the best way possible).

The tension in this story had me on edge the entire time. How can someone love another who wants to kill them? What’s the reason for this fate?? The questions kept me hooked, and just when I thought I had it figured out BOOM. The plot twist blew my mind. It was an emotional, anxiety-inducing journey, but totally worth it.

This was a binge worthy read with a unique concept. I had a great time reading this. I loved the different timelines to give us a glimpse in the past. The mystery aspect kept me wanting more and when the truth was revealed I did not see it coming. I love when a book can surprise me.

I think anyone who wanted to love Addie LaRue but found it to be lacking in plot, will love this book!
This book was everything I wanted out of Addie LaRue. It was interesting and I loved that we got many other lives as the story untold.
Overall the story was told very well, the one thing I feel was missing was the love story seemed lacking in a way, mainy in the end when the story was unfolding.
But a solid 4.5 star read for me and I can definitely see myself rereading this in the future

A tale that dances through time, entwining love and destiny in a waltz as old as the stars. I absolutely LOVED this book!

Steven’s narrative is a masterclass in weaving past and present, crafting a story that is both timeless and immediate. The alternating chapters and timelines between past and present day provide a rich, layered understanding of the protagonists’ enduring connection. I’m talking thousands of years here. This is the thread of fate we are talking about.

Both of the MCs are portrayed with depth and authenticity, their evolving relationship adding layers to the narrative which is imbued with a sense of melancholy and hope, making it an unbelievably moving read.

It’s complex and does need your full attention but it’s so worth it in the end. There’s a major twist that ties together their connection and I did not see it coming.

This book is a poignant exploration of love, fate, and the human condition. Steven’s storytelling shines through, making it a compelling read for those who appreciate intricate narratives and timeless themes.

If you love stories that challenge the boundaries of time and explores the depths of love and destiny, this is a must-read.

4.5 stars

DNFing at 60%
Pretty on the outside but ugly on the inside. The premise sounded good and when a book is compared to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue I will 100% read it. I was so bored with this story. After the first few flashbacks, all the ones after didn't add anything of value and just made the book too long and boring. I started skipping the flashback chapters to stay with present time but even that was just drawing out and I found myself just not caring what happened in the end to stick it out.
After I decided to DNF I skimmed the last couple chapters and was like, yup glad I didn't spend any more time on this.

I had higher hopes for this. In my opinion it fell flat with me. The characters weren't super developed and the plot was spotty. I had trouble keeping track

Fates to be together AND die together, say less! I loved this story and Evelyn/Arden's relationship. I felt so immersed in the plot and the historical events in between a love story. The plot twist was perfect and blew my mind!