Mazikeen: Hands of Fate

Child of the Veil, Book 1

De: M Pettengill

Narrado por: Rose Cowel

One Mermaid Assassin
One Dragon King
One Fae Prince
What could go wrong?

Mazikeen is the Fae world's most renowned assassin, the Reaper. Trained for 500 years after the death of her mate, she serves as the boogeyman of The Mer Council. When her past and present collide, Mazikeen discovers the tangled web of secrets and lies that surround her. With everyone lying and no one to trust, Mazikeen goes looking for answers, and finds more than she bargained for.

Now, unrest stirs in the kingdoms again—and it may all come to rest on Mazikeen's shoulders.

Through it all will Mazikeen finally break free of the chains that bind her to the Mer council?

Mazikeen is the first in a new trilogy featuring fated mates, mermaids, shifters, Fae Royals, a strong-willed, smart-mouthed assassin.

©2023 Melinda S Pettengill (P)2024 Melinda S Pettengill

Fierce Fae Assassin with a Taste for Chaos

🧜🏽‍♀️ Mazikeen… the Dr. Pepper drinking, pizza-loving, sexually liberated, fierce, strong, passionate, witty, smart-mouthed, unapologetic, fiery fae mermaid you didn't know you needed in your life.

Synopsis

Mazikeen is not your typical fae. She’s a mermaid with killer instincts, a smart mouth, and a serious craving for Dr Pepper and pizza. As an elite assassin with a past tangled in secrets, she lives her life on her own terms. That is, until fate quite literally grabs her by the throat and throws her into the path of a dangerously seductive fae prince and a mission that could change everything.

In a world teeming with magical creatures… fae, shifters, kelpies, and mer, Mazikeen is forced to decide if she’ll keep running from her past or take a stand and face the chaos that follows her like a shadow. With steamy tension, brutal power plays, and sizzling chemistry, this is a fantasy you won't want to put down.

My Thoughts

Okay. Let me just start with this, Mazikeen is that girl. She's fierce, powerful, and doesn’t apologize for who she is or what she wants. I absolutely loved how bold and fiery she is. She’s witty, confident, and gives zero cares about playing nice, and honestly, I was rooting for her from page one.

The fact that she's a fae mermaid assassin who snacks on pizza and guzzles Dr Pepper? Yes please. This is the kind of main character who pulls you in with her sass and keeps you hooked with her strength. The banter? Top tier. The spice? Whew. Let's just say things get steamy and intense in the best ways.

M. Pettengill built a world that’s dripping with danger, beauty, and magic. From fae courts to mythical shifters, kelpies, and more, this universe is rich and immersive. It’s dark fantasy done right, with a whole lot of heat and a splash of humor to balance it out.

Also, I cannot get over the dynamic between Mazikeen and a certain fae prince. The tension, the teasing, the everything. You’ll know when you know. I ate it up.

By the end of book one, I was practically clawing for more. That cliffhanger? I’m still dangling. Someone send help or book two.

The Vibes It Brings:

🧜‍♀️ Fae-mermaid assassin energy
🔥 Spicy scenes that bring the heat
👑 Fae prince with serious charm
💋 Banter and sexual tension for days
🩸 Found family with a dark twist
🍕 Pizza and Dr Pepper cravings
🌊 Mythical creatures galore
🖤 Morally gray vibes
⚔️ Fantasy action and emotional depth
📚 Cliffhanger that leaves you wanting more

Narration

Rose Cowel absolutely nailed this performance. Her voice is sultry, commanding, and honestly feels like Mazikeen was written just for her. This is my first time hearing Rose, and now I’m on the hunt for more audiobooks she’s narrated. She brought Mazikeen to life with such depth and attitude. From the snarky quips to the softer, steamier moments—she didn’t miss a beat. Total perfection in every way.

Final Thoughts

Mazikeen: Hands of Fate was a wild, spicy, fast-paced ride through a lush fantasy world full of power struggles, magic, and mouthy mermaids. If you're into fierce women, magical chaos, and morally complex characters with an edge of seduction—this one's for you.

I had an absolute blast listening and can’t wait for book two. I received a free copy of this audibook. These are my own opinions.

Fantastic story in the adult fantasy genre!

Mazikeen is a fierce FMC who won’t be forgotten soon! I love each aspect of her identity and how it helps her find answers to all her questions throughout the course of her story. She’s not one to sit around waiting for someone else to solve her problems for her. Respect!!

Rose Cowel’s performance was fantastic and really brought these characters to life! I’m so excited to be able to listen to Mazzy’s story on audio now!

Omg what a way to start the series 🤩

Mazikeen was soooo cool!! Honestly I just wanted to give her a big hug even though she could kill me lol. She learns a lot about herself things she never knew and some close people were hiding from her. My jaw is still on the floor from the last half of this book! I can’t wait to get to the second book and I hope to learn more about Mazi and what she’s really capable and just how powerful she is! 💜

LOOOVED IT

Follow along with Maz for part one of her journey and be ready to be swept off your feet my the magical and fantastical world the author has built between the pages. The narration was on point and the story was interesting with a good blend of adventure, action and spicy romance. There is enough spice to satisfy but not enough to overshadow the plot of this incredible story and I really liked that about this book. 10/10 would recommend.