A review by roksyreads
Fate & Fortune by Maz Maddox

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Marked as an omen of death by his tribe as a child when his Skinwalker form revealed itself, Sky lives on the fringes of Stallion Ridge—a silent guardian over the town and the lawmen that protect it. But as Sky’s dreams of a dark fate grow ever darker, he dreads the all-consuming feeling that something unstoppable is closing in on the town. As the darkness begins to surround him, a spark of light soars into his life in the form of Victor, illuminating new paths in Sky’s fate that he has never dreamed—but to save the town, Sky must find the balance between his fate and his heart.

Centring on themes of self-discovery and found family, the penultimate book in the Stallion Ridge Series, Fate & Fortune, is an intensely emotional read. Whilst both MMCs Sky and Victor have challenging pasts, Sky especially struggled with complex trauma related to abandonment and feelings of self-worth, and Victor’s interest and, ultimately, love, gives him the strength to reflect deeply on the connections he’s formed; seeing Sky realise how significant—and real—the friendships he’d cultivated in Stallion Ridge were after years of isolation was truly heartwarming. As with the recent previous novels, I also enjoyed getting further insight into the lore for this particular universe. The ending was superb, despite being tinged with sadness, and laid a solid foundation for the final novel of the series, Sunsets & Showdowns. As much as I don’t want to leave Stallion Ridge behind, I am looking forward to the culmination of the overarching plot points for the series and am sure the finale will be another great read.