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The Nexus Series #2
Fractured Pieces
Reapers are killing the magickally inclined.
A secret society of assassins, highly trained to slay monsters that lurk in the shadows.
It’s been a year since Devin Ryder left The Camp, and the adjustment has been…interesting. Between playing the doting son, hotelier heir and brother by day, he is the dream-walking assassin by night. Ryder terrorises his victims by showing up in their dreams weeks before their death, tormenting them with a taste of what’s to come.
Until he meets her.
Acionna is a selkie princess cursed to take the same photo of her beloved ocean over and over again. If she misses a day, the witch who stole her pelt will destroy it, forcing Acionna to be landlocked forever. How can she remain heir to the sea if she can never go back?
Devin and Acionna recognise that they have the same wounds, searching for the truth about the witch and how she is linked to The Camp. Will they be able to find her before it’s too late? Or will Acionna and Devin lose a part of them they didn’t realise they had?
A secret society of assassins, highly trained to slay monsters that lurk in the shadows.
It’s been a year since Devin Ryder left The Camp, and the adjustment has been…interesting. Between playing the doting son, hotelier heir and brother by day, he is the dream-walking assassin by night. Ryder terrorises his victims by showing up in their dreams weeks before their death, tormenting them with a taste of what’s to come.
Until he meets her.
Acionna is a selkie princess cursed to take the same photo of her beloved ocean over and over again. If she misses a day, the witch who stole her pelt will destroy it, forcing Acionna to be landlocked forever. How can she remain heir to the sea if she can never go back?
Devin and Acionna recognise that they have the same wounds, searching for the truth about the witch and how she is linked to The Camp. Will they be able to find her before it’s too late? Or will Acionna and Devin lose a part of them they didn’t realise they had?
442 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2025
31 people want to read
About the author
Mandi Kontos
3 books47 followersMandi Kontos is an urban fantasy writer who lives in Melbourne Australia with her husband, tuxedo cat Rajah, a plethora of plants and a collection of journals she never writes in. By day she is a lighting designer and by night a writing mindset mentor and word wrangler.
She has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Writing and Publishing and a Masters in Creative Writing. She is a perpetual student and loves to learn.
Mandi loves to take the supernatural and blend it with the mundane things of life, taking mythology and spinning it on its head.
Her debut novel Faded Fragments has been a labour of love and is the first in The Nexus Series.
Join her newsletter to get updates about her writing and books to come.
She has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Writing and Publishing and a Masters in Creative Writing. She is a perpetual student and loves to learn.
Mandi loves to take the supernatural and blend it with the mundane things of life, taking mythology and spinning it on its head.
Her debut novel Faded Fragments has been a labour of love and is the first in The Nexus Series.
Join her newsletter to get updates about her writing and books to come.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 9, 2025
Fractured Pieces was an ok read for me. I enjoyed parts of it, but I was never completely compelled to not put it down.
Being born and raised in Melbourne I loved the setting and some very Aussie terminology throughout. Recognising familiar places amd experiences we have in Melbourne like our inane weather was great. Also loved the Starward reference, I’m a big fan of their whiskey!
I did enjoyed the mix of different mythical creatures and the dynamic of having an assassin and a selkie as the main characters, especially with both having to eventually grow into two different areas of leadership.
That said the pacing of the overall book felt uneven. The big climax and final chapters I felt moved too quickly and I think the story would have been stronger with a shorter early section and an ending that took more time to land.
I also did not feel a super strong love story between the two main characters. Their relationship developed very quickly and never felt fully convincing.
Some of the wording throughout the book felt a little off the mark as well. For example, lines like “my fingers snagged on scars - linear ones that went different ways, almost like he had been hurt” felt redundant, since scars already imply that whatever would’ve made them probably hurt. Moments like that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, it had elements I liked, but it wasn’t a favourite.
Being born and raised in Melbourne I loved the setting and some very Aussie terminology throughout. Recognising familiar places amd experiences we have in Melbourne like our inane weather was great. Also loved the Starward reference, I’m a big fan of their whiskey!
I did enjoyed the mix of different mythical creatures and the dynamic of having an assassin and a selkie as the main characters, especially with both having to eventually grow into two different areas of leadership.
That said the pacing of the overall book felt uneven. The big climax and final chapters I felt moved too quickly and I think the story would have been stronger with a shorter early section and an ending that took more time to land.
I also did not feel a super strong love story between the two main characters. Their relationship developed very quickly and never felt fully convincing.
Some of the wording throughout the book felt a little off the mark as well. For example, lines like “my fingers snagged on scars - linear ones that went different ways, almost like he had been hurt” felt redundant, since scars already imply that whatever would’ve made them probably hurt. Moments like that pulled me out of the story.
Overall, it had elements I liked, but it wasn’t a favourite.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2025
Fractured Pieces is an action-packed sequel to Faded Fragments and continues to immerse readers in a high fantasy world. The story weaves together rich characters, lore, and a blend of land, sea, and the creatures that exist both by day and by night, including humans.
In this instalment, we follow Devin, a complex character balancing his role as an assassin with his deep love and devotion to his family, especially his sister. His journey intersects with Acionna, a selkie princess cursed to live on land by a witch. As their paths intertwine, they face unexpected challenges and changes that neither could have anticipated. The narrative beautifully shifts between their pasts, presents, and the uncertain future ahead.
One of the highlights of this story for me was exploring Devin's past, which offered deeper insight into his growth, the personal losses he endures, and the unshakeable love for his sister that drives him forward. This emotional depth made his journey all the more poignant and meaningful.
This book is one you won’t want to put down. I found myself completely immersed in the world, connecting with the characters, and thoroughly enjoying every twist and turn of the journey.
I received an ARC copy of this book, but my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. This review is written voluntarily.
In this instalment, we follow Devin, a complex character balancing his role as an assassin with his deep love and devotion to his family, especially his sister. His journey intersects with Acionna, a selkie princess cursed to live on land by a witch. As their paths intertwine, they face unexpected challenges and changes that neither could have anticipated. The narrative beautifully shifts between their pasts, presents, and the uncertain future ahead.
One of the highlights of this story for me was exploring Devin's past, which offered deeper insight into his growth, the personal losses he endures, and the unshakeable love for his sister that drives him forward. This emotional depth made his journey all the more poignant and meaningful.
This book is one you won’t want to put down. I found myself completely immersed in the world, connecting with the characters, and thoroughly enjoying every twist and turn of the journey.
I received an ARC copy of this book, but my thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. This review is written voluntarily.
July 8, 2025
I was blessed to get an advanced copy as an ARC reader and it did not disappoint. I found it easy to get into and very easy to relate to and like the characters, probably even more so than the first Nexus book.
There is action, adventure, battles between good and evil, complicated family relationships, betrayals, and plenty of past and present trauma for Devin and Ash to face off against with the help of some familiar friends. And yes, it gets a little spicy - if you know what I mean ;)
This second novel was definitely worth the wait and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good assassin story with a bad ass main character and a beautiful independent woman who has secrets of her own.
There is action, adventure, battles between good and evil, complicated family relationships, betrayals, and plenty of past and present trauma for Devin and Ash to face off against with the help of some familiar friends. And yes, it gets a little spicy - if you know what I mean ;)
This second novel was definitely worth the wait and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good assassin story with a bad ass main character and a beautiful independent woman who has secrets of her own.
July 11, 2025
Fractured Pieces is the grippong sequel in the Nexus series. Set in a richly imagined urban fantasy world, the story follows Devin Ryder, a dream-walking assassin whose dual life—dotting son by day, tormentor by night, takes a sharp turn when he meets Acionna, a selkie princess cursed to remain landlocked unless she fulfills a cruel daily ritual.
This book hits hard. Devin’s tortured duality and Acionna’s heartbreaking curse kept me hooked from page one. The world building is well done. The back stories for Devin and Acionma will leave a hole in your heart for them both. The story telling builds a world where magic hurts, love heals, and every character feels like they’re fighting for something real.
This book hits hard. Devin’s tortured duality and Acionna’s heartbreaking curse kept me hooked from page one. The world building is well done. The back stories for Devin and Acionma will leave a hole in your heart for them both. The story telling builds a world where magic hurts, love heals, and every character feels like they’re fighting for something real.
July 26, 2025
Mandi's writing is phenomenal. The story was so in depth and detailed and every little thing had been thought about.
The Selkie lore, the dream walker, the witches, the hidden beings in plain sight. It was all just beautifully captured with depth and explanation to them.
The story between Acionna and Devin was captivating, and I must admit seeing our main hero crumble because of his demons was gut wrenching.
There were tears over this book.
Even though it is written from two POV's, the amount of detail that captured everything the MC was seeing and feeling and that if those around them was just 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼
The Selkie lore, the dream walker, the witches, the hidden beings in plain sight. It was all just beautifully captured with depth and explanation to them.
The story between Acionna and Devin was captivating, and I must admit seeing our main hero crumble because of his demons was gut wrenching.
There were tears over this book.
Even though it is written from two POV's, the amount of detail that captured everything the MC was seeing and feeling and that if those around them was just 🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼
July 6, 2025
I was lucky to be given the chance to review Fractured Pieces of my own accord, through being offered an eARC.
It took me longer to get into this book than the previous book Faded Fragments.
Something about Devin’s story just didn’t click with me to begin with.
There was beautiful writing and scenes, but I struggled at times to find connection with the story and characters.
That being said, I still did enjoy many aspects of the story. It was nice to read scenes interacting with familiar venues and places around Melbourne.
It took me longer to get into this book than the previous book Faded Fragments.
Something about Devin’s story just didn’t click with me to begin with.
There was beautiful writing and scenes, but I struggled at times to find connection with the story and characters.
That being said, I still did enjoy many aspects of the story. It was nice to read scenes interacting with familiar venues and places around Melbourne.
July 31, 2025
The second novel in the Nexus Series. Written by indie author Mandi Kontos. Fractured pieces is set within the city of Melbourne (Aus) with our protagonist Devin, a hotelier heir by day and a dream walking assassin by night this is until he meets Acionna a slekie princess who has had the life she has known ripped from her. Now cursed to live on land and to take the same photo day in and out of a sunset and ocean she longs for.
This novel is a massive stepping stone into the nexus series where the magickal side of life, love, family relationships and monsters live.
This novel is a massive stepping stone into the nexus series where the magickal side of life, love, family relationships and monsters live.
July 10, 2025
The follow-up to Mandi’s debut novel Faded Fragments is finally here.
Fractured Pieces (Book 2 in the Nexus Series) is beautifully written and surpassed all my expectations. We take a journey with Devin and Acionna, both haunted by their pasts. As they face betrayal, trauma, and the pull of unexpected romance, their connection deepens in powerful ways. The story is packed with action, magick, and emotional twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.
Fractured Pieces (Book 2 in the Nexus Series) is beautifully written and surpassed all my expectations. We take a journey with Devin and Acionna, both haunted by their pasts. As they face betrayal, trauma, and the pull of unexpected romance, their connection deepens in powerful ways. The story is packed with action, magick, and emotional twists that kept me hooked from start to finish.
July 20, 2025
I knew that Mandi would have a hard time topping Book 1 in the Nexus Series and boy did she hit it out of the park with Fractured Pieces! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and not going to lie I was fractured into pieces from the trauma, but if you love a book that is rich with lore, magic, fated mates, found family, prophecies and so much more this one is for you!
The Nexus Series will hands down always be one of my all time favourite book series I have ever read!
The Nexus Series will hands down always be one of my all time favourite book series I have ever read!
July 5, 2025
Fractured Pieces is the ultimate follow on story from Faded Fragments.
Mandi has a way with words that can bring mythical creatures and magick to life.
Dev and Ash face a lot of battles together and have to face a lot of precious trauma to be able to move forward and bring in the new era, both above sea and below.
Mandi has a way with words that can bring mythical creatures and magick to life.
Dev and Ash face a lot of battles together and have to face a lot of precious trauma to be able to move forward and bring in the new era, both above sea and below.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews