Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart
(Five fates Book 1)

It was supposed to be a simple job.But these unlikely allies didn't plan on uncovering a divine mystery—or a weapon that could unmake the world.Now the fate of everything hinges on one question:How do you destroy a weapon forged by indestructible powers?

If you love books that:

  • Feature second chances and redemption

  • Have friendships that mean the world and found family dynamics that will wreck you

  • Promise a healthy dose of emotional devastation

  • Require 2-5 business days of recovery time afterward

...you're in the right place.

WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR

Broken things can still serve their purpose...Verity swore to protect the realm. Drystan swore to stay by Verity's side. Dare just swears ... a lot.Welcome to the world of Five Fates, where elemental magic's been extinct for centuries and the line between fate and luck is thinner than you'd think.Expect: epic adventure | top-tier banter | found family that will break your heart (but heal it a little too)

MEET THE CAST

READERS ARE DEVASTATED (IN A GOOD WAY...)

"The banter is top tier! I laughed so much. The epic fights, the comradeship, the magic... I cried. I gasped. I went into shock. This book had me HOOKED. As someone who grew up on fantasy adventure books, this filled my cup. Fuelled my soul."
- Goodreads reviewer

"The prologue of this book is everything. I was in. I cried but I was in! It invoked so much emotion that I couldn't put it down."
- Goodreads reviewer

"Honestly, you will go to a lot of places and have some not-so-fun experiences there, but you will love every minute of it, and you will beg the author to torture you some more."
- Goodreads reviewer

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS

This book re-sparked my love of reading.
- Goodreads reviewer

"This book is pure magic, and I mean that literally. It has everything you want in a fantasy adventure! Adventure, snarky humor, mystery, found family, the fate of the whole world on your shoulders - you know the norm!"
- Goodreads reviewer

"Lindsey Brounstein’s writing is approachable, deep, and lyrical. She weaves together dialogue, action, and illustration in the most stunning way. She’s given us a true fantasy experience I won’t soon forget. "
- Goodreads reviewer

WANT THE FIRST FIVE CHAPTERS?

Free exclusive content including:

  • The prologue and first five chapters of Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart

  • Updates, sneak peeks, and sales

  • Bonus: The Emotional Epic Fantasy Reader's Survival Kit

*No spam. Just occasional updates and the odd existential crisis. Promise.
Already on the list? Welcome back, my fate-tangled friend.

THE FIVE FATES ROADMAP

Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart
Book 1 - Out Now

Earth's Blood, Fate's Folly
Book 2 - Out Now

Broken Things
Prequel - Out Now

Air's Breath, Fate's Hope
Coming early 2027

Five Fates Book 4
Coming late 2027

Five Fates Book 5
The conclusion - coming in 2028

*No spam. Just publishing news and my random thoughts fueled by caffeine and sarcasm.
Oh, and the first five chapters of Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart.

READY TO BEGIN THE JOURNEY?

Questions? I'm weirdly approachable by email: [email protected]

About the author

Lindsey weaves the fantastical into everything she does. From writing to gaming, knitting to chainmaille, Lindsey loves to believe in magic. In writing, she enjoys both creating new worlds and bringing a little magic into this one.Lindsey lives in New Hampshire with her husband, son, and two cats.

Get the Epic Fantasy Reader's Survival Kit, as well as the first five chapters of Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart.

Books

Some content in the Five Fates series may not be suitable for all readers. To view a list of content warnings for the series, click here.

Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart

Fire’s hand begets the spark,
That lights the way for Fate’s bold heart.As a Warden of the Flame, Verity Corallan has sworn to protect the people. So, when it is rumored that the warmongering kingdom to the south has obtained a weapon of formidable power, she understands what’s coming. By order of the Council, Verity is tasked with infiltrating the kingdom of Westhold and bringing back its secrets. Her best friend — and fellow Warden — is going with her, but so is the irksome mercenary, Dare.Dare is used to secrecy, stealing — and working alone. But a job like this requires teamwork, however reluctant. What the group discovers is far more powerful than any magic seen before. A conduit for divine power, its force could mean the destruction of not just towns and cities, but the entire continent.As the unlikely allies struggle to piece together the mysteries of their mission and uphold their responsibilities to the realm, one question looms above Verity and Dare: how do they destroy a weapon that has been forged by indestructible powers?This is the first book in the Five Fates series.

Get the Epic Fantasy Reader's Survival Kit, as well as the first five chapters of Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart.

Broken Things

Brutality runs in his blood.
Until the breaker becomes the broken . . .Drystan’s family doesn’t fight fair. From deals made in the shadows, to doorknocks that end in violence, he knows the only way to impress his father is to break spirits and bones alike.With a major heist — and his father’s approval — up for grabs, Drystan finally has a chance to get everything he’s ever wanted. Until the baron’s beautiful daughter offers him a different, daring future, and Drystan feels something new: hope.But deceit and trust don’t mix well, and as crushing lies bring him to his knees, an unlikely ally is waiting in the wings. Someone who is offering a different path — if Drystan’s heart doesn’t lead him astray again.The events of Broken Things are set prior to the Five Fates series, but readers are advised to read Fire’s Hand, Fate’s Heart before embarking on this adventure!

Earth's Blood, Fate's Folly

Blood that falls upon the earth,
Cannot end all folly’s curse.In the palace grounds at Taernfane, the four Chosen are training — struggling to understand their newfound powers and wield them with purpose. But when the king of Drahkonia requests that they testify on the events of last autumn, not everyone is able to answer the call.Lucien’s visions have returned, more frequent and confusing than before. Determined to follow the directions of his goddess, he abandons ship and ventures into shifter territory in search of answers. When an old love crosses his path, so does an old enemy…For Dare, becoming a Warden of the Flame comes with a pervasive sense of guilt, made worse by the mysterious voice in his head. Is he truly a Chosen, or has he lost his mind? Weakened by uncertainty, he finds himself tangled in a lie that could leave him alone — and brand him a traitor — forever.EBFF is an epic fantasy novel with queer characters, found family, political fallout, shifters, magic, and even more meddling gods.This is the second book in the Five Fates series.

Blog

Click on an image to read the article over on my Substack.

Content warnings

The Five Fates series is intended for readers 18 years and older. It contains strong language and violence, as well as themes and descriptions of events that may not be suitable for everyone. The following is a list of content warnings for the Five Fates series, organized by book.

Fire's Hand, Fate's Heart

  • blood and physical violence

  • murder of teens and adults

  • mention of child abuse and neglect

  • mention of amputation

  • suicidal thoughts

  • alcohol consumption

  • death of a loved one

  • grief

  • panic attacks and anxiety

Broken Things

  • physical violence and murder

  • mild sexual situations (fade-to-black; no graphic descriptions)

  • emotional abuse (by a parent) and emotional manipulation

  • mentions of amputation

  • ableism

  • alcohol abuse

  • depression and PTSD

  • suicidal thoughts and ideation

  • surviving a natural disaster (flash flood)

Earth's Blood, Fate's Folly

  • blood and physical violence, including murder

  • brief mention of child abuse and neglect

  • brief mention of amputation

  • suicidal thoughts

  • alcohol consumption and abuse

  • parental abandonment

  • religious extremism (and the deconstruction of)

  • grief and loss

  • panic attacks and anxiety

  • depression and PTSD