Book Review #4 Lies Love Death Fate by Nikole Callihan.

Written by: Stanley Perret

March 21, 2025

Book Review #4 this year.... I am truly enjoying these Indie-Author reads!

Lies Love Death Fate written by

@NikoleCallihan

(Find her on 'X') Let me start by saying this – “I FELT this book…..” There I said it… From the very first page of Lies Love Death Fate, Nikole Callihan lures readers into a world where the line between destiny and free will is razor-thin, and every choice is a gamble with life and death. “It was meant to feel warm. Comforting. It failed.” pg1 This book is one of those, from my perspective, a dark urban fantasy that is not merely a story—it’s an experience, a personal experience, one that shakes the very core of what it means to be trapped by fate and desperately fight to break free. Genesis is the novel's soul, it’s very life, a character who is both doomed and determined. Her entire existence is bound by an unyielding force—Fate. If I say anymore about that point, I am afraid I will reveal to much and want you to read it yourself… The ‘high-stakes dilemma’ is the essence of Lies Love Death Fate, and it will grip you from the first moment you read words like “….draped in an itchy gray-green blanket that smelled old, musty.” The tension is palpable throughout this amazingly written book, with every decision hanging in the balance of life and death. Nikole’s portrayal of Genesis’s personal conflict is nothing short of extraordinary. I found myself viewing this movie in my head that played out like this—A psychological horror movie woven through the narrative that without a doubt intensifies as I read on, and with added layers of ‘complexity’ to what might otherwise be a simple tale of survival. Nikole's prose is a complete work of art. Every sentence feels carefully crafted, steeped in the kind of lyrical beauty that feels almost poetic despite the chaos unfolding on the page. Her writing strikes a delicate balance, blending elegant language with the harshness of the world Genesis inhabits. This proximity creates a rhythm that resonates long after the last page is turned—it's the kind of writing that lingers in your mind like an unfinished song, a haunting melody you can’t quite forget. It makes you want to read it again, thinking possibly, that you missed something. At its heart, Lies Love Death Fate explores the interplay of life itself, and the choices that define us. The relationship between Genesis and West is not the typical love story—it is fraught with tension, secrets, and an underlying sense of danger. I found West to be a complex figure, neither fully trustworthy nor entirely irredeemable, and his relationship with Genesis is as much about survival as it is about connection. The question of whether Genesis can trust him is one that gnaws at you, mirroring Genesis’s own fears and doubts. Their dynamic relationship adds an emotional depth that elevates the story beyond a simple battle between what I would call – good and evil. But it’s not just the characters that make Lies Love Death Fate a standout—it’s the world Nikole has built. A grim, richly detailed world filled with secrets, shadows, and so much more. (You need to read this book.) The brilliance of Lies Love Death Fate lies in its thematic depth. This is a novel about choice—the way love can either save us or destroy us, the way fate can either be defied or fulfilled. The book forces the reader to ask profound questions about sacrifice, destiny, and what it means to be free. Can we truly change our future, or are we all bound to repeat the same patterns of pain and loss? In Lies Love Death Fate, Nikole has crafted a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. The plot moves like a runaway train, but it’s the emotional beats that will have you gasping for a breath at times. With every twist and turn, the stakes rise higher, and every choice becomes more consequential. By the time you reach the final pages, you will find yourself questioning not just Genesis’s fate, but your own. (I had to take a step back from this – incredible – crafted piece of art to ask myself a few personal questions.) For those who crave a story that blends psychological horror with the darkness of urban fantasy, Lies Love Death Fate is a must-read. It is an epic tale that will leave you breathless, emotionally wrecked, and ultimately transformed. This is not just a book—it is a journey into the very heart of what it means to fight for your life against forces far larger than yourself. Nikole Callihan’s masterful storytelling will captivate you from start to finish. Don't miss it. Grab a copy, and sit back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the life changing journey.

Book Link Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Lies-Love-Death-Nikole-Callihan/dp/B0DWMKZQN2

Promo Video Link:

https://youtu.be/uAytc4EEFMo?si=DsnkQjL06bzFbr5S

** I receive no compensation for Reviews, Promotions or otherwise related to the author of this book. I do this out of support and enjoyment of reading Indie-Authored books.