Fate Breaker

Realm Breaker #3

by Victoria Aveyard

A dark fate descends. A shattered alliance must rise.

The Companions are torn apart and the realm hangs in the balance, at the edge of ruin. Taristan and Queen Erida rise triumphant from the battlefield, while Corayne barely escapes with her life; her Companions left behind to uncertain fates.

But not all hope was lost: Corayne managed to steal Taristan's Spindleblade. Without it, Taristan can’t rip open any more Spindles. Without it, he can’t end the world.

Now, from every corner of the realm, the Companions race to reunite while they rally old allies and seek unexpected new ones, in one final push against darkness.

But Taristan and Erida are all but invincible. With their cruel god, What Waits, on their side, they will sacrifice anything and anyone to his hunger.

Everything has come to this. In the final clash between good and evil, a ragged alliance makes its bravest stand against a ruthless enemy . . . and the demon god who would consume the realm entire.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy, High Fantasy, Magic

625 pages, Hardcover

First published February 27, 2024

About the author

I'm an author/screenwriter who likes books and lists. This site is the nexus of my universe.

I wrote the #1 NYT bestselling series RED QUEEN the #1 NYT bestselling REALM BREAKER trilogy. Next up, my adult fantasy debut, TEMPEST, coming 2026.

The genres I'm into include YA, Fantasy, Historical, Adventure, Apocalyptic - if people are dying, I'm buying.

Reviews

[Lauren Claassen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Haunt me, Domacridhan” ?!?!?!? Ugh love you Victoria Aveyard—the queen that you are

[Zoranne · Rating 5 out of 5]

WITH ME 😭😭😭

what a spectacular finale!! i loved this series so freaking much!

[Kaven Hirning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Epic Reads for my arc!
Thank you to Victoria for this beautiful, high fantasy, epic quest and adventure.

Also… you’ll be funding my therapy, yes?

I just finished about three hours ago, so I’m still in a very foggy head space and will make this review quick.
Oh my god JsHEHEVEGEUEBEBDVEBD73736:?:!.!

Fate Breaker is a suspenseful, anxiety inducing, heart pounding and exciting close to a wonderful, epic series.

All I can say is I almost threw up and there were ACTUAL tear drop stains on the final page of the epilogue.


Have fun. Gird your loins.
And make a nice pot of tea, Andry style ♥️

WITH ME!!!!

[Whitney Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

i swear if i wasn't a month on zoloft this book would've had me weeping because over the months i've been reading this series, i've grown soooo familiar with these characters and attached to this world.

this really read like a movie in my head because the universe was so vast and the cast of characters so deeply explored throughout the first books. i will say that although red queen was action packed in nearly every chapter with twists and turns, this series was more of a slow build, excruciatingly slow at parts, but all culminates in this volume and at the massive battle scene at the end. i could really see the lord of the rings inspiration throughout, and this volume was especially strong.

this isn't a full five stars for me because although i like the characters a lot and the world was so cool, i still didn't feel like i fully understand each person and the action was somewhat under-explained still. the villains remained one-dimensional. the romance in this was so subtle as to barely even have a kissing scene. this is totally personal preference but i wish it went a bit deeper than world building.

this ended in a way where i could totally see a spin off about dom and sorasa and i totally hope that's the case because they were my two favorite characters!! victoria, don't let me down

[B.B. Alston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly epic series! I've been a fan of Aveyard since Red Queen and this book wrapped up the series beautifully. Although there is potential, I think, for the story to continue and I hope it does! Either way, I had the best time with these characters (even the villains!) and I highly recommend!

[🌸 Tana 🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

edit 08/05/2024

Lowering my rating because after thinking about it for a couple of days, I can't rate this 5 stars. There were SO many things left unanswered, so many plotholes left open that we won't get the answer to because the series is finished. what happened to the dragons? Gidastern? Dom and Sorasa shipwrecking but Corayne's mom not being there and it not being mentioned?
Erida and Taristan, and Dom and Sorasa were the best part in these books so it's 4 stars for them.

04/05/2024

2024 reads book 23

With me.

I'm so sad this series is over😭
also fuck you Isibel, you branch wielding bitch.

[⭒ Kyra ⭒ · Rating 3 out of 5]

that’s it?

that was super underwhelming

the stakes were not staked

that epilogue was too short and scattered

not to mention she left like multiple plot holes wide open

Victoria, I love you, but this was not my favorite. I wanted so much more. so much more than just traveling and a lot of nothing happening

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“WITH ME!”

This book felt like one massive climax which makes sense as it is the finale. At the same time, there was no time to breathe and we lacked the found family aspect as a result.

I enjoyed it, but I was let down by the ultimate climax - the ending. It felt rushed and too easy. I didn’t feel emotional.
It didn’t help that the suddenness meant that a few loose ends weren’t tied up and left me questioning the feasibility (yes, even in a fantasy book, the world-building needs to be there).

I felt the same way with The Red Queen series which is Aveyard’s Young Adult fantasy dystopian.

There are roots of what I love, but they weren’t watered enough to bloom. I am talking about the romance, the relationships, the villains.
The villains were probably the most developed.


Previous sampler arc review March 2024:

After that killer of a cliffhanger in the last book (Victoria Aveyard, I still haven’t forgiven you), the Companions, including Sigil and Dom stayed behind to buy whatever time they could for Corayne, making away with Sorasa and the last Spindleblade. The last hope in the realm.

Not to mention, there’s a dragon loose upon the Ward, obedient to nothing and no one.

This stank of despair and guilt and hopelessness. Aveyard knows how to bait readers and build tension, leaving you in the dark so that you bite your knuckles and want to rush ahead to know what happens.

I cannot wait to read the epic conclusion that this sampler robbed me of. Grrr.

”You can't die with glory if there's no one left to remember your name."

Thank you to Orion for providing an arc sampler in exchange for a review!

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[julia ☆ [owls reads] · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 40% or so were incredible! There was so much action and tension and blood :D I had so much fun reading and being back in this universe. It felt like things were coming together to what was going to be a ruthless and satisfying conclusion and then... that didn't happen.

The action dragged a bit too long with not much plot progression. It started feeling like the battle scenes were there to fill pages instead of serve a bigger purpose re character development or plot reveals. This meant I was a bit fed up when the second half started and was ready for this to get going. They didn't, really.

It took until about 80% or so for things to get interesting again in terms of the characters being where they needed to be, doing what they needed to do, for us to reach an ending. This meant the battle scenes in these final chapters were rushed and the plot twists and reveals didn't cause as much impact as they should have. I wasn't that big a fan of how some things were left open ended either--Aveyard could have done more with what she set up and some character endings felt like a cop out.

[joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

these characters will forever hold a special place in my heart.. especially two certain ones.. that bonus scene tho.. worth every penny iykyk

[Veronica Alvarez]

15/07/2020 First review ☺ I think this is the third book, the first it's not even published it yet, but I want the whole trilogy ❤

[Tabitha Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

After almost 3 years, this trilogy is finally completed. <3 This has been a series after my own heart, as I love high fantasy and character-driven stories. Fate Breaker is a worthy ending for the Companions and readers alike!

After the ending of the last book Blade Breaker, we find our Companions torn apart, each destined to find their own path towards the end goal of saving the Realm. One of my favorite parts was seeing them alone (I know, I know), yet seeing how much they've changed and learned from each other. However, we see that they are truly strongest when they are united together.

I was happy to see more spotlight on Charlie, my precious rogue-priest! I feel like we still didn't get enough of Sigil POV's in the trilogy though. I liked the pacing, as you could feel the tension slowly building up throughout the story, not knowing if people are going to get places in enough time, and so on.

I really hope Victoria possibly comes back to Allward and writes a novella or two. I would love one set after the story, possibly with Andry and Corayne sailing Allward, to fulfill Corayne's wandering heart, and maybe Andry being able to try and learn about all the types of tea from each region.

Thank you to Victoria Aveyard for bringing these characters to life, I love them so much, and the realm breaker series is truly underrated!! Enough about the red queen series, and more about the red queen in these books!



edit: WE HAVE A TITLE!!! so excited for Fate Breaker next february! it's time to start praying for corayne and andry's safety <3

after devouring the last two, I cannot wait to read this one! Might as well pass the time theorizing about potential titles. If it follows its predecessors could it be..
Spindle Breaker?
Ward Breaker?
or better yet- 3 Realms 3 Breakers! :D

[Emms-hiatus(ish) · Rating 2 out of 5]

What to end a series with a big…. Yawn fest 🤷‍♀️

I felt like the first book was just one long prologue. Now I’m thinking this whole series is a prologue for a future series.

I guess they can’t all be bangers.

[ellora · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

that's it?

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

How does one write a book series with so many characters in it and still manage to underdevelop most of them and to make the plot drag endlessly?

One star for Erida and Taristan because they're the only reason I pulled through.

[Charlotte May · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has reminded me of how much I enjoy high fantasy and that I really need to get back into it.

The trilogy wraps up with the gang all separated. Sorasa, Sigil and Dom are in Queen Erida’s dungeon after being imprisoned and tortured. Andry and Valtik have found their way to another of the armies, hoping to convince them to help. Charlie has left behind his cowardice from before and is determined to stay with Corayne no matter what.

As they all inevitably find their way back to one another, the ongoing evil from Queen Erida, her Prince Consort Taristan and the demon What Waits that is consuming them both is threatening to consume the entire realm.

I enjoyed the high stakes, and although the ending wrapped up pretty fast I think it covered everything and made sense which is good enough for me.

The world building and characters are a vast improvement from Aveyard’s Red Queen series so don’t let that put you off. I will be on the lookout for more of her books.

[Cassie (Star-Crossed Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am UNWELL after *that* ending. I'm not new to VA's writings, so shame on me for not being prepared for this kind of pain at the end of her books.

[Andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lets end this trilogy on a whimper. A luke-warm 'yay'. This was a book series that COULD have, SHOULD have been better, but absolutely was a mess on paper.

In my previous book reviews, I brought up the bits why I disliked things here and there. After the time since book two, you think it'd be fixed up or tightened. Nope. Was not, it was worse.

Also, that ending was hilarious because you thought the story was over, nope, characters escape, some characters are trapped.

The villains themselves had a lot of poorly driven nonsense written for them that equated why they were doing what they were doing. I get it - power is power, for both of them. But what exactly is He Who Waits. Who / what exactly are these people that come from these other portals? It appears the author is setting us up for a future series. So none of that junk really gets a firm answer.

I feel that the flowery prose absolutely overrides the story. Too much is spent on trying to sound like some epic yarn of old than getting to the point or giving us battles or sacrifices that really mean something when they should.

Dom and Sorsa should be better written. It should be giving me two people who bicker but love one another. I got none of that. I got a ton of bickering but nothing really gentle or kind to back it up. On their own they are interesting characters, and maybe together they COULD be a great pairing, but she wrote them so... poorly and their overall resolution should have been better. (The added chapter felt as if it came out of nowhere and the characters honestly felt like - to me - they never showed any signs of arriving at the point they did in that bonus chapter.)

Overall, again I stress: if you never read a fantasy book, and you wanted to give a teen a fantasy series to enjoy (if for some reason they cannot stomach Tolkien) I guess throw this at them?

Kid: I wanna read Lord of the Rings.
Mom: Oh honey, we have that at home.
[this trilogy pops up]

whomp whomp

[jewels · Rating 5 out of 5]

did i read this book solely for the purpose of the witnessing an immortal elf falling in love with a deadly assassin … yes, and ?

[j.michalskax · Rating 5 out of 5]

ta seria oficjalnie wskoczyła na pierwsze miejsce mojej topki fantasy (tak, przebiła nawet baśń o złamanym sercu)

little miss shedding happy tears for her favorite fictional characters

[Beatrix &#x1f98c;&#x1f4ab; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. First off I can’t say I found the first two books that interesting, of course some parts such as the endings and action parts were interesting but they weren’t very memorable and I spent most of the time waiting for Erida’s chapters. This book on the other hand is possibly one of the best, most well written, exciting, emotional, enchanting and engaging books I have ever read.

The characters were so well written and you felt so connected to them.

Erida was by far my favourite I just think everything about her made her such an interesting and deep character, I mean she was an absolute girl boss and she wasn’t about to take crap from anyone. “For a moment, she rose up like a hero in a tapestry, horse and rider framed against the red sky her armour shining, her piercing gaze on the castle high above” SHE IS SUCH AN ICON.
"You have grown, Erida," he said, his voice hoarse and dry. "Grown into something terrible."
"I am what you made me," she said, taking a step toward him. "I am the punishment you have earned. A woman in the place you sought to fill. a woman who holds all you tried to take. Better than you in every single way, greater than you could ever dream to become. You tried to put me on the pyre, my lord. But it is you who will burn." It was so interesting to watch Erida grow into such a fierce leader and ultimately become her own worst enemy.

Tarristan was so interesting to read about because especially in this book you saw how his love for Erida grew and in the end she became the only thing he wanted, not the realm, or glory, her. “I will not let you burn, Erida," Taristan growled, forcing her to hold his gaze.
Her body bucked in his grasp, a puppet jumping on someone else's sting, "You promised me," she rasped. "You promised me the realm
entire."
"You are realm enough for me," he answered.”
😭😭😭 sobbing, Victoria how could you!! Everything about the last chapter is ingrained in my brain I cannot get over how Tarristan gave up EVERYTHING for her, "You should have gone with them," She said . "To what?" he answered, his voice raspy with smoke. "To anything but this," she cried out, looking back to where the Spindle used to be. "There is nothing for you here." Taristan only stared. "Yes, there is." IM CRYING I CANT HANDLE IT, in the end Erida was all that mattered to him.

What waits is my enemy I HATE HIM. “My mind is my own. She repeated it over and over again, until some feeling came back to her limbs, some control to her mind. Her hands still twitched, the scratch of What Waits ever-present in her head. But it was a little bit easier to bear.” What he did to Erida and Tarristan just kills me.

[Franzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsure on this!

I am convinced this trilogy proves that Aveyard would be more equipped to move on from YA fantasy to Adult fantasy and fit right in. It's a proper epic fantasy with intersecting storylines, more than one "main" couple and of course, some fae thrown in for good measure. While neither the sequel nor this final part lived up to the first book for me, I can still say this is a very enjoyable and well written trilogy.

But even if I did have a good time listening to this, the ending was so lackluster for me. The epic buildup, the epic characters, the epic worldbuilding doesn't result in an epic finale. The stakes are high, nerves tense but the losses? Call me a pessimist but I almost wanted for more death...

The standout characters here are the villains, Erida and Taristan. I've loved Erida since the first book but this book finally convinced me on Taristan and her relationship, too. Power-hungry monarchs who learn too almost love their fellow power-hungry monarch more than power...obsessed.

While retrospectively I can see why Taristan character arc ended the way it did, I wish we could've still had a bit more buildup to it. Erida's worked way better, in my opinion.

The found family aspect is strong in this one and we got so many wholesome moments that really felt worth waiting three books for.

May not have been the epic battle conclusion I hoped for but it still made me so excited to see where Aveyard goes to next! I mean, that epilogue?! Victoria, the people are waiting!

[Jovana (NovelOnMyMind)]

I think I'll wait for this one to be closer to publication before starting the series, but I'm so excited about it!

[Cony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am estatic to read the new book by my favorite author 😊.

[Aleksandra (acedimski) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fate Breaker raised the stakes where the previous installements weren‘t able to catch me, and I enjoyed seeing the conclusion of this big journey and where the characters end up (and if they end up alive or dead - the most important questions of all!).

However, if you didn‘t enjoy the first two installements, you might find it hard to connect to this one. The worldbuilding remains impeccable, but the spotlight is on the characters, with whom I still wasn’t able to connect. The plot, while it pushes us towards the end, keeps its slower pace despite the many action scenes and twists and turns it takes. So be prepared for that when you pick this up.

I have binged this book (and the other two, as well), but in all honesty, I can’t recommend it. This is a series that demands time and dedication - so if you have some to spare, try it out for yourself. It definitely is a ride, and I absolutely can see why it‘s so loved. Even if it didn‘t hit right home for me personally.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

[Jess☺️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Realm Breaker series and what an absolutely fantastic ending it is.
I'm going to miss these characters all them even Erida (and that's saying something😐)
With each book in the series each character grows and on their journey you see how they change and become more, the storyline never dwindles it keeps up its pace and keeps you on the edge of your seat with wanting more, there's a few moments where you can giggle one minute cry the next to then have the urge to throw the book across the room.
I definitely recommend this if you enjoy easy,fun,a little dark and strange at times fantasy 📚

[Emma (chaoticbookgremlin) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

i really wanted to love this bc i love victoria aveyard and the red queen series (and YA!) but this whole series was so lack luster for me. it’s hard because i don’t necessarily have any particular criticisms either, the writing was great but i just never felt invested with the plot or the characters. n despite having all of the qualities to an epic fantasy…nothing was really epic about it. i was so passively reading this, was very bored, and the long 600+ book did not help matters. if you asked me what this book was about i don’t really think i could tell you, despite just finishing it

rip.

i’ll read ur next book i promise VA

[Ginevra Marchesini · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was so impressively underwhelming

[Sofia Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5–this doesn’t feel like a finale. More like a pause? Good trilogy, I enjoyed reading it. Mixed feelings on the ending.