The mad Queen of the Blood Throne sentenced every one of her children to an early icy grave; that is, for all but three. Queens of Moirai by Rhiannon Hargadon follows Morena, as she and her siblings are raised in the tower surrounded by nothing but monsters including the most fearsome of all, their own mother. When her siblings are taken from her one at a time, Morena is left alone, so when a man claiming to be her betrothed arrives at the tower, she eagerly agrees to go with him. Can Morena overcome all the challenges she faces as a descendant of the Fates or will the burdens she bears be too much?

Queens of Moirai: Descendants of The Fates Book 1 by Rhiannon Hargadon is such a unique take on Greek mythology, focusing on the Fates more so than the more referenced gods. I loved how Hargadon put such an interesting twist on their abilities and their place in the world. We get to see how their abilities and responsibilities as descendants of the Fates cause such tremendous burdens and put them in situations where they find themselves struggling. Being the focus of this book and being the descendant of Atropos, Morena gave the story even more layers and depth to the overall plot. Honestly, there is so much I want to unpack about this book but I don’t want to give away too much. All I will say is that Queens of Moirai is beautifully written with amazing world-building and character development. Anyone who loves Greek mythology will absolutely love this book.

Morena is an immortal descendant of Atropos, one of the three Fates, representing death. Morena inherited some of her gruesome abilities, and even her own mother, Malinda, the Mad Queen of the Blood Throne, wanted to get rid of Morena. But after one of the servants, Nico, dug baby Morena out of the grave, Malinda decided to keep the girl prisoner in the tower of the horrible Grace Castle. Morena tries to protect her loved ones and dreams of a fair prince who will come to rescue her. Her monstrous mother forces Morena to kill for her dreadful purposes. But even Malinda, with her army of undead Cullen, must obey fate. Morena is promised to Elijah from the House of Lachesis, and the three Fates should be reunited to rule Moirai. Will her destiny be fulfilled, and will Morena finally find the love she deserves? Queens of Moirai by Rhiannon Hargadon, the first book in a series, is a thrilling read for mature fans of epic and dark fantasy novels based on mythology and romance.

Queens of Moirai is a dark tale, but it's excitingly dark and doesn't leave a disturbing aftertaste. Complemented by Lao Lan's amazing illustrations, this story has a deep meaning. Rhiannon Hargadon tells us that sometimes we need darkness to see the light. "Having any freedom, even a little, was more than I was accustomed to. It didn't fit, like a shoe that was too loose," contemplates the main character. The author explores the idea of freedom and offers the metaphor of the castle, asking us if it is a prison or a refuge for Morena. It is impossible not to root for Morena, who is always honest with herself. Bringing destruction, she tries to keep her heart trusting and kind. Queens of Moirai is narrated mainly from Morena's point of view. Her self-irony and dark humor reveal how fragile her soul is. Rhiannon crafts a marvelous and unusual love story full of intrigue and invites us into the labyrinth of illusions. The author presents Greek mythology from an interesting standpoint, mixes it with Celtic folklore, and creates a unique setting for the events to unfold. I loved every page of this compelling and meaningful book.