book

THIS WICKED FATE

Name: THIS WICKED FATE
Author: Kalynn Bayron

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Kalynn Bayron

Is THIS WICKED FATE appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

Briseis must find the last fragment of the Absyrtus Heart in order to save her mother. (Ages 13 and up)

Ages 14+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to teens because of sustained fantasy danger, violent confrontations, death-related themes, grief, emotional intensity, and some romance; sexual content is limited. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 14+

Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 3/5 · Frightening scenes 3/5 · LGBTQIA characters 3/5

Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5

Recommendation4/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Best suited to teens because of sustained fantasy danger, violent confrontations, death-related themes, grief, emotional intensity, and some romance; sexual content is limited. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 14+Main watch-out: Death of a character 3/5

Recommendation 4/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial

Source checkedPublication method

17Scored categories

17Evidence notes

1Explicit 0/5 checks

Oct 22, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings work Report a rating or series issue

Review depth17 scored categories17 evidence notes

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At a glance

Recommended age14+

Strongest cautions

Death of a character3/5
Frightening scenes3/5
LGBTQIA characters3/5

Strongest positives

Courage & resilience4/5
Creativity & curiosity4/5
Diverse representation4/5

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These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than THIS WICKED FATE. Open each review for the details.

What’s in it?

Death of a character3/5

Why this rating?

Threats to life are central, with some instances of past or threatened death integral to the plot.

Graphic injury1/5

Why this rating?

Some descriptions of injuries or supernatural damage, but not gratuitous or excessive.

Strong language2/5

Why this rating?

Mild language consistent with young adult fiction.

LGBTQIA characters3/5

Why this rating?

Features queer protagonists and LGBTQIA themes as a core part of the character development.

Religious themes3/5

Why this rating?

Involves Greek mythology, which is treated as the world's functional reality rather than a theological practice.

Romance2/5

Why this rating?

Includes teen romantic dynamics and relationships appropriate for the YA category.

Frightening scenes3/5

Why this rating?

Tense situations involving magical threats and high-stakes supernatural danger.

Sexual content & nudity1/5

Why this rating?

No sexual content beyond mild romantic themes.

Violence3/5

Why this rating?

Features fantasy combat and mythological threats, with characters facing danger and fighting for their lives.

Checked and not flagged

No concern recorded in these categories

These categories were explicitly scored 0/5 in the published review. This is not a guarantee that every edition or reader experience is identical.

Alcohol or drugs · 0/5

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5

Why this rating?

The protagonist repeatedly faces dangerous situations to protect others.

Creativity & curiosity4/5

Why this rating?

Inventive use of botanical powers and reimagining mythological lore.

Diverse representation4/5

Why this rating?

The novel centers Black characters and includes varied identities and relationships with substantial agency, rather than treating diversity as decoration.

Educational value1/5

Why this rating?

Offers a creative interpretation of Greek mythological figures.

Kindness & empathy3/5

Why this rating?

The importance of empathy and supporting loved ones is a key motivator for the protagonist.

Positive messages4/5

Why this rating?

Focuses on agency, the importance of family, and defining one's own destiny.

Good role models3/5

Why this rating?

The protagonist demonstrates courage, loyalty, and growth.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
Which choice in THIS WICKED FATE would you have made differently, and why?
Who changed the most in THIS WICKED FATE, and what caused that change?

Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.