A Fate So Cold
From the NYT Bestselling Authors of ALL OF US VILLAINS
Published on 6. November 2025
Book
Hardback
432 pages
978-1-3996-1215-9 (ISBN)
Description
TWO CHOSEN ONES WITH ONE CHOICE: THE WORLD OR EACH OTHER
A Fate So Cold is the first of a new blockbuster duology from the New York Times bestselling authors of All of Us Villains, Amanda Foody & C. L. Herman.
For most of the year, Summer reigns peacefully over Alderland. Then, for six brutal weeks, Winter rages, obliterating towns and wreaking casualties. Magicians bond with powerful wands of Summer to defend the nation, a duty that costs many their lives.
Domenic Barrow never wanted such responsibility-but destiny hasn't granted him a choice. The greatest Summer wand has awakened for the first time in a century, warning that an icy cataclysm looms on the horizon. And despite his reputation as the least suited of his classmates, the wand Chooses Domenic to wield it.
Ellery Caldwell spent years striving to be a perfect Summer magician-and burying her fears of her own power. But her worst suspicions are proven true when she accidentally creates the first ever Winter wand.
Now, as the unprecedented Chosen Two, Domenic and Ellery must thwart the oncoming cataclysm together. And in trying to fulfill their destinies, they wonder if they were brought together for a second fate: to fall in love.
Until they discover the unthinkable truth. The Chosen Two aren't fated allies, but eternal rivals, and the only way to save their home is for one of them to slay the other.
This is no love story. It's a tragedy.
A Fate So Cold is the first of a new blockbuster duology from the New York Times bestselling authors of All of Us Villains, Amanda Foody & C. L. Herman.
For most of the year, Summer reigns peacefully over Alderland. Then, for six brutal weeks, Winter rages, obliterating towns and wreaking casualties. Magicians bond with powerful wands of Summer to defend the nation, a duty that costs many their lives.
Domenic Barrow never wanted such responsibility-but destiny hasn't granted him a choice. The greatest Summer wand has awakened for the first time in a century, warning that an icy cataclysm looms on the horizon. And despite his reputation as the least suited of his classmates, the wand Chooses Domenic to wield it.
Ellery Caldwell spent years striving to be a perfect Summer magician-and burying her fears of her own power. But her worst suspicions are proven true when she accidentally creates the first ever Winter wand.
Now, as the unprecedented Chosen Two, Domenic and Ellery must thwart the oncoming cataclysm together. And in trying to fulfill their destinies, they wonder if they were brought together for a second fate: to fall in love.
Until they discover the unthinkable truth. The Chosen Two aren't fated allies, but eternal rivals, and the only way to save their home is for one of them to slay the other.
This is no love story. It's a tragedy.
Reviews / Votes
Both glittering with magic and drenched in blood, All of Us Villains kept me up at night with its heart-pounding pace and layered mysteries. I'll be waiting for Book Two with bated breath and bitten nails * Sara Holland, New York Times bestselling author of Everless * Dark, luscious, and brutally smart, All of Us Villains is a fresh but unforgiving look at the legacy of abusive families and community-sanctioned violence. Foody and Herman have created a thrilling story that is impossible to put down; I stayed up all night to finish this book * Victoria Lee, author of A Lesson in Vengeance and The Fever King * A blood-soaked modern fairytale brimming with magic, spectacle, and unforgettable characters * Katy Rose Pool, author of There Will Come A Darkness * Foody and Herman's collaboration offers a fun yet brutal tale of sacrifice, betrayal, and ever-shifting loyalties. From twists that'll make you gasp to believably flawed characters you can't help but cheer for and curse in the same breath, this one will keep readers on the edge of their seats * Tara Sim, author of Scavenge the Stars * Positively wicked in all the right ways. This series is my new obsession, and I cannot wait to devour the next one. With its innovative magic system, a twisted cast of characters you somehow can't help but love, and a plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat, All of Us Villains is addicting from start to finish. I'm obsessed * Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All the Stars and Teeth * Magical, clever and cutthroat, All of Us Villains sets out to make it impossible to know who to root for . . . A fun, twisty ride through a world full of spells and family secrets * Kendare Blake, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series * Fresh and compelling * Kirkus Reviews * With inventive magic, sprawling world-building, and a heartbreaking romance, A Fate So Cold is a feast for fantasy lovers * Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of The Foxglove King * One of the most exciting duos writing in fantasy today, Foody and Herman stun in their newest novel, filled with humor and fast-paced action, exquisite worldbuilding, and gorgeous prose. A Fate So Cold is a triumph-rapturously romantic and enthralling to the very end * Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea * Intricate, imaginative, and devastatingly romantic * Alexene Farol Follmuth, New York Times bestselling author of Twelfth Knight * [A] sizzling romantasy [in] an assiduously detailed, lived-in world and fresh, unique magic system * Publishers Weekly, starred review * Prepare to be remade or destroyed. A Fate So Cold is a study of contrasts: destiny and choice; duty and desire; isolation and belonging; bitter cold and comforting warmth. With two brilliant leads, a wholly original world, and gorgeous writing, it kept me breathless all the way to the inevitable, devastating conclusion. An instant classic * Allison Saft, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and A Fragile Enchantment *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Trade binding
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 166 mm
Thickness: 36 mm
Weight
654 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3996-1215-9 (9781399612159)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2025
Gollancz
€2.99
Available for download
Persons
C. L.. Herman (Author)
C.L. Herman was born in New York City but raised in Japan and Hong Kong, and subscribes to the firm philosophy that home is where your books are. They returned to the United States to study at the University of Rochester, where they received the Dean's Prize in fiction and an Honors English degree. Currently, Christine and their books reside in a Brooklyn apartment, along with their partner and their extremely spoiled cat. You can find them @christineexists
Amanda Foody (Author)
Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After spending her childhood longing to attend Hogwarts, she now loves to write about immersive settings and characters grappling with insurmountable destinies. Currently, she lives in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by her many siblings and many books. Her novels include ACE OF SHADES, KING OF FOOLS, DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY and THE SHADOW GAME.
C.L. Herman was born in New York City but raised in Japan and Hong Kong, and subscribes to the firm philosophy that home is where your books are. They returned to the United States to study at the University of Rochester, where they received the Dean's Prize in fiction and an Honors English degree. Currently, Christine and their books reside in a Brooklyn apartment, along with their partner and their extremely spoiled cat. You can find them @christineexists
Amanda Foody (Author)
Amanda Foody has always considered imagination to be our best attempt at magic. After spending her childhood longing to attend Hogwarts, she now loves to write about immersive settings and characters grappling with insurmountable destinies. Currently, she lives in Philadelphia, PA, surrounded by her many siblings and many books. Her novels include ACE OF SHADES, KING OF FOOLS, DAUGHTER OF THE BURNING CITY and THE SHADOW GAME.