Ruled by Fate is the first book in The Forbidden Tears Series by Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis. It's been five years since Brianna Weldon's life turned upside down with a supernatural event involving monsters that led to her mother's demise. Eager to start anew, she leaves Atlanta for Yorktown, Virginia, when she unexpectedly finds herself attacked by terrifying creatures, and once again, her angelic guardian, Cameron, comes to her rescue. Cameron reveals he is an angel of mercy from the mystical realm of Elysium and asks Brie not to take off her mother's mysterious pendant. Meanwhile, Brie joins the Daya Memorial Hospital as a nurse and discovers unexplained deaths are sweeping the nation. Additionally, she acquires extraordinary abilities and develops romantic feelings for Cameron. But now, she must confront a powerful, otherwordly entity who seeks to wreak havoc.

Ruled by Fate is an absorbing novel full of romance and mystery with a healthy dose of the supernatural. With this installment, Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis have built a solid foundation for a fantasy saga that promises to be as epic as it is entertaining. The authors take their time to set up the characters and the plot, but the latter half is an action-packed ride to the finish line. The characters are vibrant and distinct, whose personalities leap off the pages. I very much enjoyed the budding romance between Brie and Caemron and Brie's friendship with Sherry. Cameron's frustrations over Siri also made for some hilarious scenes, which kept me entertained. Overall, Ruled by Fate is a stellar start to a promising fantasy saga that will appeal to romance and fantasy readers alike.

Ruled by Fate: Book One - The Forbidden Tears Series by Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis is a fantasy adventure. Brianna Weldon and her mother were on their way to Brianna’s favorite childhood spot in the woods when her mother was killed. Brianna’s mother had been attacked and killed by the dark shadows of the night, but Brianna was saved by her guardian angel who gave her a pendant to always wear and never take off. For five years, Brianna had convinced herself it was only a dream. Brianna, now a young nurse graduate, plans to start a new life in Virginia. On her way, the pendant started glowing, and when it burned Brianna, she took it off. Immediately, she was surrounded by dark shadows, and her guardian angel appeared once again to save her.

Ruled by Fate is about Brianna’s journey to make sense of her past and start a new life. Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis created a supernatural world with monsters, a guardian angel, and powers. I was on a roller coaster ride full of action, never knowing what to expect next. It was a page-turner and hard to put down. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat, keeping me guessing until the very end. The characters were realistic and relatable. My favorite character was Cameron. Even though he was a supernatural being, he understood Brianna's emotions and took them into account. The story was extraordinary and beautifully written. It exceeded my expectations by far, and it was so much more than I expected. The ending was a big surprise that I did not see coming.

Ruled by Fate is a work of fiction in the fantasy, urban adventure, and action subgenres, and it forms the first novel in The Forbidden Tears Series. It is suitable for the general adult reading audience and was penned by author team Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis. We are introduced to the ordinary life of Brianna Weldon, a young nurse graduate whose world takes an extraordinary turn. A fateful night exposes her to supernatural forces, and she's saved from darkness by her angelic guardian, Cameron. He vanishes, leaving her with a mystical pendant and a stern warning never to remove it. Fast forward five years, and Brie has convinced herself it was all a hallucination. However, her peaceful life is disrupted once more when the pendant awakens, and the supernatural threats return. Cameron reappears, and they're thrust into an adventure battling fallen angels.

Author team Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis have penned an exhilarating experience and a truly emotive story that explores the weight of destiny and the choices we make when faced with extraordinary circumstances. Brie's character development from a skeptical young woman to someone embracing her newfound responsibilities is compelling, with close personal narration and skillful dialogue that delivers so much information without ever spoon-feeding it to readers. The book keeps you engaged with its well-crafted plot and intriguing characters, making it a promising start to a series filled with supernatural intrigue and adventure. It's a tale that reminds us that sometimes when destiny calls, we have no choice but to answer. Overall, Ruled by Fate is a highly recommended fantasy read that raises thought-provoking questions about fate, free will, and the forces that shape our lives.

The first book of the Forbidden Tears series, Ruled by Fate by Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis, began one dreadful night when young Brianna Weldon's mother was attacked by evil creatures. Brianna’s guardian angel Cameron suddenly appeared and protected her. However, he vanished just as quickly, leaving her with a pendant and warning her never to take it off. Sadly, her mother couldn’t be saved. Briana would remember every detail of that night, but no one believed her. Who could imagine that monsters and glowing angels were real? She decided to put it all behind her and assume that it was all just a figment of her imagination. Briana decided to travel to Virginia to begin a new life, but while on her way, her necklace suddenly started to burn. The same creatures that she saw that night materialized and began to attack her. Amid the chaos, Cameron showed up once again and saved her life. They soon found themselves in conflict with a much stronger opponent. Briana's therapist had previously suggested that what happened on the night of her mother’s death might all be in her head but that didn’t seem to be the case. The question remained as to whether Briana would survive.

Ruled by Fate by Sam Withrow and Amelia Pinkis is engrossing and brilliantly written. At one point I shed a few tears. It was the moment when Briana went to see her father before leaving for Virginia. The exchange between them moved me deeply, and even after finishing the novel, it lingered in my thoughts. Each character was wonderful in their unique way and Cameron was my favorite. The way he was depicted in terms of his physical attributes and demeanor helped create an image of an exceptional person. Through his words, he managed to bring a smile to my face and provided a much-needed sense of rejuvenation. I enjoyed Briana’s character as well, especially the scene where Cameron shows up in front of her while she is traveling to Virginia. As I delved into the book, I found myself completely immersed in the storyline. I am eager to learn what will happen next in this incredible series. Excellent work.

As a professor of Economics I must confess fantasy is usually up my street but I got to know Amelia Pinkis by chance (serendipity as she would put it) and I was curious to read this book and having asked Amelia to edit some of my work (which she brilliantly), I can say without hesitation that Amelia's creativity of thought and writing is among the best I have come across. This may be her first book but this proposed series will not disappoint the reader. It promises to be a landmark in fantasy writing and both authors deserve praise. Amelia, if you read this, I wish your every success for the series.