Looming over Joslyn’s future is an arranged marriage to a man of her father’s choosing. With each passing day, the time draws near when she must leave her home to wed a stranger.

As the Lord of Brookton’s favored daughter, twelve-year-old Joslyn is free to do as she pleases. She often wears breeches, sharpens her combat skills by practicing with her older brother, and resists her mother’s insistence to master the necessary skills to become a proper lady. Above all, outspoken Joslyn must learn when to remain silent rather than speak her mind.

Wishing to keep Joslyn by his side, her father has selfishly delayed her betrothal. The time will come when he must choose a husband for her, one with a firm hand to control his spirited daughter. However, the man he has in mind also has a stern and cruel reputation.

Until Joslyn comes of age, the impending forced relationship clouds her vision of a bright future. She prays her father will choose wisely, for her fate lies within his decision.

Reviews

★ 5 stars ★

“May Fate Be Kind” feels like the beginning of a story whispered through castle halls — soft and delicate on the surface, yet quietly heavy with fear, duty, and the loss of freedom.

What struck me most about this book was how young Joslyn still feels. She’s only twelve, but already her future is being shaped by the men around her, by expectations she never chose, by the looming reality that one day she will be handed to a stranger in marriage simply because it is expected of her. That underlying tension sits beneath every chapter like a storm cloud waiting to break.

Joslyn herself is impossible not to adore. She’s spirited, stubborn, outspoken — the kind of girl who would rather wear breeches and practice combat than sit quietly learning how to become “marriageable.” And yet beneath all of that fire is vulnerability. She knows her freedom has an expiration date. Every act of rebellion feels temporary because she understands that eventually, someone will try to tame her.

That’s what made this story so emotional for me.

It isn’t simply a historical romance; it’s about a young girl standing at the edge of losing herself to tradition.

Her father’s love feels complicated in such a realistic way. He adores Joslyn enough to delay her betrothal because he cannot bear losing her, yet at the same time he still views her future as something he controls. There’s something quietly heartbreaking about that contradiction. And the looming possibility of her being promised to a man known for cruelty adds such an unsettling tension to the story.

The writing itself feels gentle and immersive, almost fairytale-like at times, but there’s a deeper sadness threaded throughout it. Brenda Hasse captures the emotional conflict beautifully — the ache between duty and desire, obedience and independence, childhood and womanhood.

This book feels like:
🏰 candlelight flickering against stone walls
⚔️ stolen moments of freedom before adulthood arrives
🌧 quiet fear hidden beneath stubborn defiance
🕊 a girl praying fate will be kinder to her than history usually is

The pacing is slower and more character-driven, but honestly, that worked perfectly for this kind of story because it allowed Joslyn’s emotions and fears to settle deeply into the reader’s heart. By the end, it truly feels like you’ve only witnessed the beginning of something much larger waiting to unfold.

A beautifully written start to a series that already feels emotional, atmospheric, and deeply human. I’ll absolutely be continuing Joslyn’s journey.

5-Stars!!!

Beautifully written beginning to a new series! The journey for young Joslyn is met with conflict between her young heart and her duty as a Lord’s daughter. This story is heartfelt and steadily paced. We must wait patiently for the continuation of her story…enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Brenda Hasse for the arc read! All opinions are my own.