A Stunning, Soul-Crushing Love Story: Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven
If you love lyrical prose, gut-wrenching twists, and star-crossed lovers, this book is for you.
I have been left unwell!
Imagine living countless lives, only to never reach the age of eighteen because the love of your life keeps killing you in each one. That’s exactly how Our Infinite Fates begins—with a wedding and a murder.
“The cruelest fate the gods and stars had ever written: the person I loved most in the world was the person that would ultimately destroy me.”
Evelyn has tolerated this brutal cycle for centuries, but this time, things are different. She’s finally living a life she loves—one she wants to keep—especially because her little sister is sick and depends on her for a life-saving medical procedure. Now, Evelyn is desperate to find Arden in this lifetime, to break the cycle, to convince him to hold off on their death, at least until she can save her sister.
I usually avoid reincarnation stories because I hate when the characters don’t remember their past lives. But Evelyn and Arden? They remember everything—every lifetime with every betrayal. And that’s exactly why Evelyn is so determined to rewrite their fate this time. Thankfully, finding Arden isn’t the hard part. No matter the lifetime, there’s always an unshakable pull between them that inevitably draws them back together.
I started this book for the vibes, and somewhere along the way, I thought I’d try to predict the twist. But I got so completely lost in the story that I forgot to figure it out. And when it hit? I literally sat up straight in bed, staring at the page in shock. It was the kind of twist that’s both thrilling and soul-crushing at the same time. Honestly, I require a novella because I need to know more about these two precious, tragic souls who will live in my heart forever.
"You're my family. My homeland. My soulmate."
The writing truly is stunning.; it's poetic, lyrical, and so beautifully immersive—it had me catching my breath! What I loved most was how the author wove poetry into the story—not just in the prose itself but through one of Arden’s past lives, where he was literally a poet. That extra layer made everything feel so intentional and deeply felt.
"as I gazed upon the first bramble, I thought of how the world reinvents itself year after year, century after century, summer deepening always into autumn, winter brightening always into spring, growing new flowers from old roots, and I thought of how it feels to hold you, each season of you, our love blossoming afresh, year after year, century after century, new flowers from old roots, an eternal seed from which life will always bloom"
While this book is marketed as YA, it reads more like an adult novel. Not because of explicit content, but because of the depth of the writing. If I hadn’t known the publisher, I would have sworn this was adult fantasy. Its rich and elegant prose made it feel more mature in the best way possible.
"In the last thousand years: empires have risen and fallen and I have loved you, plagues have leaped from rat to daughter and I have loved you, humanity has conquered sea and sky and I have loved you, kings have been slain and forests razed and witches burned and gold struck and maps redrawn and fortunes traded and volcanoes erupted and moons landed and cathedrals sculpted and rivers dirtied and masterpieces painted and battlefields bloodied and I love you, and I have loved you, and I will love you."
This book is pure angst, complete with a love story filled with tragedy, loss, and longing, woven across centuries. One of my favorite things was how the romance focused on who these characters are at their core—their souls—rather than any physical form. Across lifetimes, Evelyn and Arden don’t always return in the same genders. Sometimes they’re both men; sometimes, both women; at others, one of each. But their connection never wavers. And despite the ethereal, star-crossed nature of their relationship, it still felt real, tangible, like something just within reach.
“I love you, I have loved you, and I will love you.”
Despite their constant cycle of finding and losing each other, the romance is a slow burn, making it even more agonizingly beautiful. The we-shouldn’t-but-we-can’t-stop energy had me in a chokehold! If you love books that make your heart ache, keep you flipping pages into the late hours of the night, and that leave you staring at the ceiling when you’re done? Add this one to your TBR immediately. Our Infinite Fates is an enthralling, captivating, heart-clutching fantasy!
Songs:
exile by Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)
The Prophecy by Taylor Swift
It’s been almost 2 weeks since I read this book, and I still think about it constantly. It’s one of those books that really does stick with you long after you’re done reading it.
What was the latest book you read that lives rent-free in your brain?
Until next time, curl up, stay warm, feel cozy, and read on!
