Really wanted to like this but ended up DNFing around 30% it started out interesting but the main character doesn't have much personality and not enough happened with the plot. It was just boring

4.25 stars!

Do you ever read a book and feel that it accomplished exactly what it was going for? Our Infinite Fates is that kind of book.

Two lovers, magically bound across centuries, doomed to kill one another before the age of eighteen in every life. The concept of resurrected lovers feels familiar to me although I'm not sure I've ever read a book with that premise. And yet, if I were to picture a book with that premise it would turn out something like Our Infinite Fates. It's emotional and mysterious and gives you all of those tender moments you would except between two people that have killed one another many times and yet would never not forgive each other. I particularly loved that Evelyn and Arden are resurrected in bodies of varying genders because I think it really establishes that their connection is soul-deep. My only qualm is that I had trouble fully connecting with the characters and I think taking some time to slow down and really focus on their ins-and-outs as individuals really could have helped the story.

Highly recommend that you pick this up, you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Laura Steven and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!

This book was immediately captivating and the short chapters combined with the interspersed flashback chapters kept me reading way past my bedtime!! Skipping between the present day and many different points through history, the book follows Evelyn and Arden, a couple that have been reincarnated every 18 years for over a millennium. Before her 18th birthday, Arden shows up and murders Evelyn - he won't explain why, but apparently it's for the greater good... Each time they enter a new life as a baby, in a different ethnicity, gender, class etc. and grow up, Evelyn can remember most of her past few lives but nothing past that except for snippets that randomly appear to her. In several of these iterations they are in love and live together as a couple before each time Arden (or rarely Evelyn herself) kills the other and restarts the cycle. This is all explained by the end of the book, which I did appreciate even if I did consider it an eye-roll worthy explanation (I'm not sure what would have explained it without illiciting this response but still!) Anyway overall I thought it was excellently done, with the side characters being well fleshed out as people and adding to the story rather than being background filler.

I really liked the concept behind this story. The reincarnation aspect was interesting, and fated soulmates were highly enticing. I wasn’t completely engrossed in the storytelling, and found most of the book redundant. The flashbacks to earlier lives didn’t provide much to deepening the reader’s understanding of the main characters relationship, and most of these segments were shallow. However, I did like the writing. It was easy to follow, and there were redeeming moments to counter balance the negative points.

Flowery prose and soulmates across the millennia are at the heart of this novel. Arden and Evelyn are fated to be together in every lifetime; however, they also seem destined to kill each other in each one as well.

The previous lives both lived were interesting and varied, showing their love (and death) happening in a myriad of ways. The constant callback to them in present time made it a little redundant though as we got plenty of chapters focusing on past lives.

I enjoyed the mystery of why they had to die before their 18th birthday and loved getting snippets of the answers through the chapters of previous lives. I wish the reason would have been a little more fleshed out as it seemed a little rushed once revealed.

The story makes you think about soulmates, the strength of love, and what we would do for both.

I have been chasing the high of Addie LaRue for a VERY long time and this book DID IT FOR ME. It was such a beautiful story. My highlights are out of CONTROL because I couldn’t stop falling in love with quotes left and right.

The pacing of the story was phenomenal and the writing was gorgeous.

Seriously I’ll be thinking about this one for a very long time.

I would like to thank Wednesday Books for providing a digital copy of this novel. Our Infinite Fates reminded me alot of The Invisible Life if Addie Larue. Similar to that novel, there is this sorrow throughout the story--a consequence of immortality experienced by the protagonist while those around her perish.
Evelyn has lived many lives as both male and female and she must figure out why she must perish in every single one of them at eighteen years old and at the hands of her one true love. It seems that no matter how hard she tries to avoid it, she always falls for the same person who must take her life away. She must find out why this happens to her so she will be able to save her little sister in this current life.
The reveal does come about three fourths of the story in. Throughout the novel, there is this frustration with her lover's refusal to explain why she must perish every time at eighteen years old. When the reveal finally comes, one I did not see coming, I did understand. Up to that point, I had despised her lover. So I spent three fourths of the book despising the character, but finally accepting the actions he took.
Ultimately, there is a payoff, albert if it comes somewhat late into the story. Regardless this was an interesting story with an unexpected turn, and with some insights into the fragile nature of the human condition.

"I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you."

The first half of the book had me on tenterhooks trying to figure out the why and bit by bit as we see Evelyn and Arden's love story told you just can't help but hope to figure it out in the end. It was beautifully written and I would even want to read "Ten Hundred Years of You" if it existed. Finding out how their story began and how it ends are wonderfully balanced with tidbits of their most recent life sprinkled in perfectly. Such a well-spun story from beginning to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC for an honest review

*3.5 stars*
Our Infinite Fates had an interesting premise: two people, originally known as Evelyn and Arden, are fated to be reincarnated and find each other in every lifetime for hundreds of years, but each time one ends up killing the other before they turn 18. In present day Wales, Evelyn is determined to break the curse this time so she can save her ill sister.

From the beginning, I was drawn to the beautiful descriptions the book provided. Much of the story is set in the present day, but every couple chapters we visit a previous lifetime of Evelyn and Arden's, gradually going farther back in time. It was interesting to see how their lives changed through different times, genders, and parts of the world yet other aspects of them stayed very similar. At times the book did feel a bit long and tedious - present-day Evelyn is repeatedly trying to understand why both of them must die before they turn 18, and while the past lives provide more variety, we know how it's always going to end. Things do pick up a lot toward the end, and I was actually surprised how it all originated. As expected, this book had a lot of sad moments, though I was happy with the way it ended.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advance review copy of Our Infinite Fates! All opinions in my review are completely my own.

I'm starting the year off incredibly right, with what may be my new all-time favorite book. (Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an e-arc). It may seem like an insane exaggeration, but this feels like the book that I was born to read. For fans of Cloud Atlas and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, this book is truly everything. It follows a love that transcends life, death, and time. When I first read the descriptor of this book a few months ago, I knew that it was going to steal my heart, and it absolutely did. I don't think I've sobbed this hard reading a book, since reading The Song of Achilles. Hard warning that this book is going to consume my entire personality for the foreseeable future.

Our Infinite Fates follows Evelyn, a young woman who has lived a thousand lives … and she remembers each one. Every time she’s been murdered before her eighteenth birthday by the same person—Arden, the love of her life and the soul tethered to hers. As Evelyn’s birthday nears, she decides to finally take a stand—she’s fond of this life. Of her little sister fighting for her life who needs Evelyn’s bone marrow to survive. But first she must figure out who Arden is in this life to save herself and her family before finding out why this curse haunts her through each life and figure out how to stop it.

The Invisible Life of Addie Larue being a comparative title to this novel is astoundingly accurate. This is the kind of book that grabs you from the get-go. Hooks you instantly with it’s concept and beautiful writing. It’s so easy to slip into each of Evelyn’s lives and the pictures painted are gorgeous as different countries and lives are explored in tandem with the current timeline. I loved that we got to see further and further in Evelyn’s past as the novel went on until the big reveal. The pacing was really great and the book felt so fast while being so detailed. I really enjoyed the twist at the end and loved the ending. It was so sweet and hopeful.

Evelyn and Arden are such fascinating, opposing characters and I loved getting to learn more about both of them. Evelyn wears her heart on her sleeve and loves deeply in each life even though she’s known more loss than anyone. It’s beautiful how impactful love is on her life and how open she remains. And Arden being more closed off and cold but clearly loving Evelyn so deeply was so lovely and gorgeous. It’s a really beautiful love story of sacrifice and yearning and fate. Her sister was so funny too and had great comedic relief along with her mom and Ceri. I had a lot of fun with this book and these characters. It’s the kind of story that lingers with its beauty and love.

I’d highly recommend checking this out if you liked Addie Larue or love books about love and tragedy.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I procrastinated picking this up to finally read it. The title didn’t call to me and I forgot why I downloaded it. But I’d finished a book and needed something new, and when I finished the prologue, I literally spoke the words, “what the hell did I just read?”

A quick look back at the blurb reminded me why I downloaded it. A day later, I’m sitting here wondering why it took so long for me to start and how I can be done already.

This book was utterly amazing. There’s such heart here. I loved these characters, in all their iterations, and felt this story was so beautiful and poignant. Oh, how I’m happy about the ending, about the possibility for them. I only wish I could see more, see their happiness bear fruit and become what it was meant to be.

Such a beautiful, wonderful book. I cannot wait to read it again.

This was such a beautiful story!!! I liked Laura Steven's last book but didn't adore it, so I was a bit nervous about this one. However, the execution was just as compelling as the premise. I loved both characters, and I felt like the plot and mystery were unravelled in such a perfect way.

My favourite part were all the flashback chapters, showing life in different parts of history and the world - they felt well-researched.

I cried at the end - the reveals were amazing - a true new favourite!!!

3.5⭐️ rounded up.

Our Infinite Fates is blurbed as a “…fantastical love story that defies death as two souls reincarnate through the centuries. They've loved each other in a thousand lifetimes. They've killed each other in every one.”

While the plot idea is very intriguing, it grew tiresome for me. Evelyn and Arden have a love story that spans a multitude of lifetimes - each one bringing them experiences of different races, genders, social classes, religions, countries, families, etc. While their love story was compelling and pulled me in, it also seemed to drag on as you go between the present along with their past existences.

The story was engaging enough that I wanted to find out the answer to the mystery that keeps tying their fate together and get to the end of the book. I think this will be a really enjoyable story for the right reader. I liked it, but it isn’t a book that I think will stick with me or that I would read again.

If you like fantasy, time, travel, and magical realism this might be just the book for you.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley and Wednesday Books. Alas, this was overhyped. The book is repetitive, and full of telling rather than showing.

This book was pure poetry. I don’t think the English language has the words to express what this book made me feel. It was funny heartfelt and at its core an utterly heartbreaking love story. The writing is extraordinary in its elegance and how well it captures the essence of the characters. Evelyn and Arden’s story will stay with me for a long while and I’m so grateful to have received the opportunity to read this in advance!

"I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you."

"The stars, indifferent. My love, beside me. Our deaths, imminent."

Devastatingly, heartbreakingly, lovely. A new favorite.

From the moment I began the prologue I was intrigued - I devoured this and sobbed my way through the ending. This is the best book I've read in quite some time and I already want to reread it, especially now after knowing how it all began.

Laura Steven's writing is exquisite - it is whimsical and poetic and I now need to read everything she has written/will ever write. It has a flavor of Addie LaRue (if you know me, this is a HUGE compliment) while still being unique.

They say a reader lives a thousand lives and loves a thousand loves - which never left my mind while reading this, whereas Evelyn quite literally lived hundreds of lives around the world throughout the centuries. This story brings us glimpses of the past intertwined with the present day in the most beautiful way (along with some lovely easter eggs), filled with yearning and the desire to know - why?

This is not like other romantasy books out there, where the FMC is falling for the bad guy despite the red flags where I sometimes find things cheesy. There was no cheesiness here, just the pure, tragic desire for these two to find their way.

I loved the characters and their distinct "soul" personalities that carried through every lifetime. With such a sorrowful subject, Steven's added a perfect pinch of humor into the mix as well. I always struggle to articulate the books I love most, I am not doing it justice. I felt all the feels reading this - I desperately wanted to know how it ended but didn't want it to end!

This story has:
✨ A twist on forbidden love
✨ A twist on cat-and-mouse
✨ Perhaps a twist on fated mates?
✨ My new favorite couple
✨ Queer representation

I desperately hope the physical copy has three things:
1. A map pinning every country, every city, lived in, noting the year
2. The poems in Arden's handwriting (with the correct spacing and punctuation, of course)
3. Character illustrations from the different lives

This is the best ARC I've ever read - thank you, NetGalley & Publisher.

I highlighted half the book, but I could not resist sharing a handful of wonderful quotes:

"And still you won't tell me why you hunt me through every life."

"It didn't matter what defenses we tried to build, there was no outsmarting this act of nature, or god, or the devil himself."

"That's all I want. You. Alive. With me."

"Love was a physical force, and it was never wasted. Once it was called out into the universe, it would echo back to us forever."

"My love for you could fill an ocean, Evelyn." There was an awful resignation to her tone. "But it can't stop the tide of time."

"We had loved each other for so long, through the darkest times in history, through impossible circumstances, through terrible fates and insurmountable grief. The joy and pain we shared had knotted the very fabric of us together."

"That's the thing about humans - we leave traces of our souls everywhere, as unique and identifying as fingerprints."

"Arden was here. He had found me. And very soon, he was going to kill me. So why had I wanted so badly to run into his arms?"

"It never failed to amaze me, even after all these centuries, that the elements cared not for human pain. That the sky and its stars paid no heed to the obliterated corpses below. That the birds still sang each morning, no matter how many men had fallen the night before."

"You see me to my very core. I know that to be true. Nobody has ever known me, or will ever know me, like you do."

“The cruelest fate the gods and stars had ever written: the person I loved most in the world was the person that would ultimately destroy me.”

"Though, without you, there would be no poetry. I would have only the harsh lens of my own worldview. I wouldn't be able to see the beauty of life, because I only see it through your eyes. Muse is too simple a word for what you are to me."

"It's impossible to have bravery without fear. Bravery is picking up the fear and carrying it alongside you, rather than allowing it to block the path."

"Perhaps he was my true homeland; our existence a language only we could speak."

First, I absolutely have to gush about how much I LOVED this book. Within only the last few days of the year, it is easily the best book I have read this entire year. This book was so haunting yet tragically beautiful. A heart-breaking story of two lovers both fated to love each other in every life, but also to never be together. On the surface, the story of the main characters is enough in and of itself to make this book worth every second of reading. Captivating and deep characters built through beautiful prose and meaningful action take the stage in this story. They feel so real, so human. All of the emotions and conflicts feel so familiar and real. The consistent shift between present times and memories create a masterful balance of showing the story. It lays out all of the details and gives space for the reader to draw conclusions and figure everything out before the slam-punch end where everything is all explained.
On top of just the captivating plot, the deeper messages of this story run strong. It's impossible to put down this story and step away from such real, human characters who explore the very essence of what it means to be human and all the faces of human love. Exploring the nature of suffering, the price of love and the things one might be willing to do in order to save it, Our Infinite Fates leaves no aspect untouched.
Steven's writing adds the final cherry on top to this masterpiece of a novel. With such beautiful prose and poetic lines added in, the writing style of this novel really brings everything together. Even with changing settings, the world building and the character development are so subtly and expertly crafted. There are no moments of world building info dumping, or painfully obvious character descriptions. The characters build themselves through their actions and through the progression of the plot. Every little detail is subtly laid out, and in the mysteries of the plot, the reader is given the space to formulate ideas and come to conclusions without being directly led to what the answer actually is. Rather, the entire novel gives that space to think and figure out before the end releases details that solidify the answer.
Overall, this book is so good, truly there are not enough words to describe just how good this book is. It is easily now part of my top favorite books.

3.5 rounded up—

Our Infinite Fates was a highly anticipated read for me, and though it didn't necessarily disappoint it did leave a lot to be desired. The writing style gives off an air that is oddly verbose & juvenile all at once. There are several complex word choices paired with emotions/descriptions that seem almost callow in comparison, and the heavy-handed diction contributes to the plot's unexpectedly offbeat vibe. Still, there are definitely several enjoyable quotes & arcs, though you can tell the author identified them as such as well, given that she repeatedly drives those ones home. I also found the twist towards the end to be quite jarring—it seemed thrown in out of nowhere to help urge the plot towards an otherwise irreconcilable conclusion. An enjoyable enough read, overall!

This book is an epic tale of literal soulmates, Evelyn and Arden as they reincarnate over a thousand years and are forced to die together before they reach 18. (Arden usually does the killing as Evelyn has little memory of how they've found themselves in this situation, which makes him both technically the villain of the story and a heartbreaking character.)

Throughout time, the couple repeats their vow, "I love you, I have loved you, I will always love you" as we follow them as they switch continents, genders, and type of relationships (in some lives they are best friends, in other's they are strangers, in one they're both imprisoned in an insane asylum, in another they are on the front in WWI). Their current meeting in modern times grounds the story as they seek to finally break the cycle.

Overall this is a breathtaking, well-written story about what it means to love someone for their soul, not their external trappings. The essence of these two people survives no matter who they've become in each life. As explained by this quote, "Love was a physical force, and it was never wasted. Once it was called out into the universe, it would echo back to us forever."

What a lovely read to end the year. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.