Title: Rings of Fate
Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Format Read: e-ARC
Publication Date: January 6, 2026
Publisher: Entangled: Red Tower Books
Genre: Romantasy
Content Notes: Graphic violence (including blood, injury, torture, whipping, and execution), imprisonment and kidnapping, attempted assault and drugging, perilous situations, fire, sexual activity, and alcohol use.
A cursed prince, binding magic, and a fate that makes love feel like the least dangerous choice.
Rings of Fate opens the magical Curses and Crowns romantasy series by Melissa de la Cruz. Aren is a humble barmaid, Dietan a prince bound to the Rings. When they set out in search of a way to free him, they fake an engagement, only to find very real feelings complicating matters along the way.
An evil usurper returns to threaten Dietan’s kingdom, and the only force capable of stopping him is the power of the Rings of Fate. Bound to Dietan since childhood, the Rings have long been an unavoidable part of his life, but with war looming, what was once endured becomes untenable. Dietan and Aren set out across the kingdom in search of a way to remove the Rings without killing him, so that their power can be returned to its rightful wielder and the realm saved in the process.
The author’s worldbuilding hooked me from the very beginning, from its streets to medieval-style taverns full of raucous drunks, carriage rides, and inn rooms. De la Cruz lays the foundation so subtly that I was transported each time I picked this up. The political and cultural details are as strong as the physical setting. It’s a remarkably tangible fantasy world.
Aren and Dietan are characters who are quite well-formed and relatable. Neither is perfect, and their communication skills could be better. There were moments I grew frustrated with them, Aren in particular. She is confident at the beginning of the story, but becomes inconsistent as her vulnerability grows. While that shift is realistic, the swing between the two felt overemphasized at times, though not enough to ruin the tale. It was enjoyable to watch their attraction to one another grow, even as it made the danger more complicated.
Melissa de la Cruz writes in a style that is clean, accessible, and quietly controlled, with a strong emphasis on forward motion over flourish. The sentences prioritize clarity, conveying events and emotions without ornamental language. The third-person narration, following Aren and Dietan, pays close attention to public moments, logistics, and consequences rather than extended inner monologue, which keeps the pacing brisk. Major developments arrive efficiently, and the prose carries a lightly traditional, storybook cadence that suits the premise without feeling archaic or overly stylized.
Rings of Fate is a strong beginning to a new romantasy series. Readers are gently guided into the story, which moves at a steady pace and quickly becomes easy to sink into. I’m very much looking forward to what comes next. Readers who enjoy both fantasy and romance will find this an engaging read, though it will work best for those over eighteen due to the adult nature of some scenes.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓— A compelling start to a promising series, with binding magic, growing danger, and complicated hearts.
Find out more about Rings of Fate by Melissa de la Cruz at Entangled Publishing.
Let’s Discuss: Would you want power like the Rings of Fate if it came at a personal cost you couldn’t escape?
I read a digital copy made available by Entangled Publishing, and this review reflects my honest opinion.