https://onereadingnurse.com/2023/08/31/arc-review-champion-of-fate-by-kendare-blake/

I was extremely excited to receive a digital advanced copy of Champion of Fate! Kendare Blake is one of the few young adult authors that I still read on a regular basis because I love her darker and more unpredictable stories that tend to keep the pace moving and my interest level high. As a bonus we have sentient horses here too, from a KB other than Kristen Britain!

...

My Thoughts:
I think my favorite thing about Champion of Fate is that I was expecting it to follow “the YA formula”, and it started to, but then didn’t. Blake isn’t afraid to go off the beaten path, break a few hearts, kill people off, wreak mayhem, and keep things generally interesting.

I also love that she doesn’t fall into the YA trap of repetitive inner monologue. Reed and Hestion both have great character arcs without dwelling repetitively on their issues. The story is fast paced and stays fresh throughout which created a book that felt much shorter than 480 pages and was hard to put down.

“Wait WHAT, you couldn’t put a YA book down!?!?”

“You heard me!”

Anyone who knows me also knows that I’ve got a lifelong obsession with the Green Rider series, and the magically enhanced sentient horses. I wondered at times while reading the Three Dark Crowns series if Blake was a rider, but now we know for sure. I was so happy to see snarky, sentient, immortal horses in the book. *Quick, add this one to Kristen’s book list*!

I liked Reed and her Aristene training

I mean there’s a lot to say but what you guys need to know is that if you like warrior women, magical orders with secrets, sentient horses, happy-sad endings and fast paced books where you’re never quite sure who the villain is going to be or what’s going to happen, this is a good one for you.

Blake can get more than a little dark and occasionally gorey too so I do recommend this one for upper/mature teens. There is also a little more promiscuity and references to multiple partners that I would give to a teen without parental guidance, although the main character does not partake in this.

There’s a lot to say but what you guys need to know is that if you like warrior women, magical orders with secrets, sentient horses, happy-sad endings and fast paced books where you’re never quite sure who the villain is going to be or what’s going to happen, this is a good one for you. I think adults can easily enjoy it too.

Thanks for checking out my book review of Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake. I received a free digital advanced copy via NetGalley and as always, all opinions are my own ❤️

[arc review]
Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Champion of Fate releases September 19, 2023

2.75

<i>“To become an Aristene is not to thrust one sword into your heart. It is to thrust the same sword into your heart, over and over, until the end of time.”</I>

When Reed was 8 years old, raiders attacked the settlement where she lived with her parents, which lead to their deaths.
Two women riders passed through by chance, and paid to save Reed and a horse.

8 years later, Reed is now an initiate of the Order of Aristene, and is about to embark on her Hero’s Trial.
Reed was a marked girl, but Aster and Veridian stumbling upon her was an act of fate.
Becoming an Aristene means becoming an immortal.

This first installment in this new duology was a <u>really slow build</u> set up for what I <I>hope</I> will be an epic conclusion.
I wasn’t all that invested in the main character Reed, and I’d much rather dive deeper into the elders, and the origin story of Aster and Veridian because their characters seem way more interesting!
There were never really any repercussions for Reed’s actions. Like Lyonene often said: Reed was a clear favourite. It felt like everything was given to her too easily, and I wanted her to work for things a bit more and gain some sort of independence.

The romance between Reed and her hero, Hestion, felt forced to me and I would have preferred things between them to have stayed more platonic.

The worldbuilding with the veil was up my alley, but the overall pacing could have used some improvement to keep the reader engaged.

All in all, a pretty middle of the road read. I’d probably read the next installment but since there wasn’t much of a cliffhanger, it’s not at the top of my tbr.

This book was ok; I don't regret reading it, but it wasn't my favorite. I don't mind a more slowly, thoughtfully developed plot, but this was just a *bit* too slow for me. In terms of the characters and character development, I felt the same way. It was ok, I didn't hate it, but I also didn't really fall in love with any of them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read an ARC of this book!

When Reed's entire family is viciously murdered, she is adopted into an Order of kick A$$, female warriors called The Aristene, who make heroes out of men. For most of her life, Reed trains to participate in the Hero's Trial and become a true Aristene. Unfortunately, the Elders of the Order have not been completely honest with Reed about her real mission for The Hero's Trial or her true fate. When Reed realizes what being an Aristene truly means, she is forced to make a hard decision and choose between the life she has always wanted and a life she never imagined she could have.

This book starts off slow, but stick with it because once it gets going, you will not be able to put it down. The vivid world building draws you into the story but it's the cast of character that keeps you intrigued and curious to know how this story is going to end.

I'm not entirely sure where I sit with this one. I struggled in the beginning with waning interest, but that picked up as the story progressed. Though my interest wasn't fully caught until a good third of the way through the book, which definitely had me considering not finishing.

The premise has potential: an order of immortal women warriors, champions of the goddess of glory. They receive heroes to guide, to make into legends. Reed was rescued from the slaughter of her family, and raised as an initiate. Now it's time for her trial and to receive her first hero. If she succeeds, the portion of Aristene strength she's been granted will come to it's full, and be hers forever.

Reed must be careful of her connection with her hero - she was always meant to guide him to his glory, and then move on to the next hero. But Reed learns there's more to her fate than just turning a boy into a legend. She must choose - between the order she loves, and the gifts it could grant her; or her hero and leaving behind everything she knows.

The journey was definitely worth it for this book. It did pick up in a satisfying way, pulled on my emotions and <i>eventually</i> got me involved. However, I'm not sure if I'd be interested in picking up the next book in the series. Definitely worth looking into though, and there is a brief nod to the Dark Queens series as well that was nice to see.

Thank you to the publishers through NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book.

After dropping Kendare Blake’s Three Dark Crowns series, I wanted to see what the cards held for me in her newest book, Champion of Fate. I thought the premise of immortal women sent to turn men and women into heroes was intriguing, and I was more than ready to follow them into battle, but ultimately the book’s issues were too many, and it couldn’t win me over.

The immortal Aristene warriors are sent out into the world to make heroes of men and women. Through their heroes' incredible feats, the Aristene create glory that honors and sustains their goddess, Kleia Gloria. Reed, Lyonene, and Gretchen have been marked by the goddess and have spent their entire lives training as Aristene initiates. When the time comes for their hero trial, the initiates find themselves sent to allying heroes on the brink of war. Reed has found a home among the Aristene and will stop at nothing to make her hero shine in glory, but this trial will become more than a test for Reed, and her failure could put the entire Aristene order in danger.

Reading Champion was difficult for many reasons, but one of the biggest hurdles was the clunky prose. The writing is focused on moving the plot forward, and the story suffers for it. The scenes bump up against one another uncomfortably because there is no connective tissue that builds up to each main plot point. The reader moves from scene to scene ungracefully, and this makes it impossible for the story to have any meaningful substance. All of the characters have flimsy connections to one another and their “development” comes in jumps and starts that don’t make sense. It also makes their actions appear irrational in the context of the story, swinging from love to vile hatred in a matter of paragraphs if it is convenient for the plot. The pacing is moving at such a rapid speed that instead of becoming immersed in the story, I was dragged along behind it and it wasn’t an enjoyable experience.

The premise of this book sounded interesting in theory, but the execution was disappointing. The entire plot centers on women who are selected to train and become powerful, immortal Aristene. They are incredible warriors who have the skills to prop up other people and turn them into heroes. Even as an initiate on her first hero trial, Reed is a talented warrior with incomprehensible fighting prowess. Yet at every turn, Reed’s champion is constantly worrying about her safety in battle. Initially, this feels like a lean into the doubt surrounding a woman’s strength trope. However, the champion is always the first one to come to Reed’s defense when other men question her purpose. Alternatively, this may be an attempt to show that the champion cares for Reed, but again, this is a weird choice because he often remarks that he wants a fierce and capable woman at his side. Maybe we are supposed to be learning something about his internalized sexism through his inconsistencies, but if that’s true Champion doesn’t do enough to capitalize on the theme for it to stick.

All of this is to say that many of my issues with this book stem from the same place. Champion says one thing but fails to back up its claims time and time again. It’s Reed being hyped up as a badass yet she doesn’t demonstrate the feats of a heromaker. It’s the gravity given to the Aristene lore and rules, but they are easily broken to create an easier pathway for Reed. It’s all of the major battles and action scenes that begin and end within a matter of pages. Even with the fast-moving plot, I felt directionless and lost in this volatile story that struggled to stay rooted in the world that was created.

Champion of Fate fails to follow through on so much and by the 50% mark, I was tired of being let down. I pushed forward to finish the book but unfortunately, my feelings did not change, so here is where my time with the Heromaker series ends.

Rating: Champion of Fate - 4.0/10

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The thoughts on this story are my own.

Spoilers

If I could rate using half stars, Champion of Fate would get two and a half but I have decided to round down to two. This is not a horrible book. It’s not badly written and the characters are fine. I think the world is interesting and I really enjoyed the mythological vibe. However, the pacing is so glacially slow.

Pacing can make or break a book. I have a short attention span and for me to enjoy a slower paced story, it needs to bring ALL the emotion and drama. Unfortunately, this one did not. We’re told throughout the story that if certain rules are broken that bad things will happen but we never see that. The rules are consistently bent for Reed and her friends so nothing felt high stakes or important.

The “romance” was also really bad and what I enjoyed the least. I personally did not feel any connection between Reed and Hestion. It was completely based on instalove and us being told, not shown, that they were in love. It should have been emotionally devastating when their relationship broke apart but I did not care at all… and it didn’t seem like Reed did either.

Kendare Blake is a good writer but this is not her best work. I think it would have been better if there was more action, more romance, more deaths and well, just more. At this moment, I’m not particularly interested in reading the next in this duology but that could change.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. The synopsis pulled me in, but I didn't like the multiple POVs. Additionally, the time framing was confusing. I did not understand if the past was being written or the present, and the plot was confusing.

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

After losing everything, Reed gives everything to becoming an Aristene, a mythical warrior that leads heroes to victory. One final challenge stands in her way - she must guider her first hero to glory. If she fails, she'll be cast from her home.

I really wanted to love this story, but I just didn't. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but my expectations were high and I feel they weren't met. My biggest issue with this book was the pacing. It felt like it either dragged, or it was choppy. There were some really great, high energy, big plot moments, but instead of building on those moments, it lost all momentum.

I also didn't love the main characters. Hestion was a little too perfect, Reed had too little character growth. Aster, Veridian, and Aethiel were definitely some of my favorites, I would read their books. However, I did love the mixture on mythologies, it was fun to make those connections.

Overall, I felt this book had a lot of potential, but was underdeveloped. There wasn't much info about the big bad, there wasn't much in the realm of character development, and the pacing was off. I do love Kendare Blake though, so I will probably read the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this arc.

This book had a lot going for it - the writing was strong, the characters were well drawn - but the pacing was slow, and I just couldn't engage as much as I wanted to. Because the writing was so well done, I will likely pick up another book by Kendare Blake, as perhaps the plot and pacing of this particular novel just wasn't doing it for me.

Reed may be an orphan, but she is not without family. She has been preparing to be an Aristene and has finally become an initiate. She has one large task … make sure her first hero finds glory. If successful, she will be an Aristene and stand tall beside her sisters. If her first hero fails, she will be forced to leave the only family she has left. Reed has grand plans, but her hero, Hestion, is not what she bargained for. What secrets about becoming an Aristene will be uncovered? Will Hestion be the hero Reed needs him to be?

Champion of Fate is the first book in the Heromaker series. This fantasy adventure has the making of a grand storyline and although there is some worldbuilding at the beginning of the book, it was artfully included and didn’t feel like drudgery. Blake has created characters that are easy to relate to, even though I have never gone through the ordeals experienced throughout this tale. A great start for what will be a fun series.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc. This seemed like it would be up my alley but however the writing style just wasn’t for me.

This is the first book by Kendare Blake that I've read and what an introduction! I will certainly be picking up her other books/series in the future. Blake's writing is really easy to read and I never felt bogged down by the text, which makes the whole reading process more enjoyable. I also think this lends itself to the accessibility of the book; I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a YA fantasy.

Honestly, I was going back and forth between rating this book a 4 and a 4.5 (I really enjoyed it) and, ultimately, I landed on a 4. I think the world-building, the magic system, and the character development of most of the characters are great. For example, without unloading massive information dumps on the reader, Blake is able to paint a picture of not only the different places/worlds that are visited throughout the story, but she's also able to provide a rich background on the Arestene (group of warrior women - think Amazons and Valkyries - who are assigned to help heroes achieve glory that will then be transferred to their goddess).

The description of the book is what initially caught my attention and lead me to pick it up, and it certainly did not disappoint! I was so wrapped up in the world and the characters, that I just wanted to find out what was going to happen next. Needless to say, I flew through this book and I am now sad that I will have to wait for the second one to come out.

The backstory for the main character, Reed, is simply heartbreaking. From her troubling beginning, you cannot help but root for her throughout the book. Reed's struggles to find her path, while still staying true to herself, is one of her characteristics that I found truly relatable. The twist to Reed's story and the impact that it has on her and who she will become is gutwrenching. Again, I can't wait to see where Blake takes Reed in the second book.

On a side note, I will also say that I loved Sar (a secondary character). Blake's descriptions of him and his mannerisms had me smiling throughout. His ability to provide some comic relief was much needed. I hope he pops back up in the next story somehow.

Part of the reason this wasn't a five-star rating for me was because the second half of the book, which focuses on the war, seems somewhat underdeveloped. Parts of this section of the story seemed a little underresearched or not fully fleshed out. The fighting and the war, overall, seemed to lack a clear sense of hierarchy/organization/understanding. For example, the mechanics of undertaking a siege seemed cursory in the plot and this took me out of it a little. I think that the book would have benefited from a little more accuracy when it comes to the war component.

Another thing that I thought was missing somewhat was the concept of the enemy in the story. Throughout the book, the concept of a rising evil power is brought up with the knowledge that it will negatively impact the Arestene. However, it isn't until almost the end that the name of the enemy is discussed and it's really only talked about in passing. There is no broader description or explanation of how this group is the enemy, what their goals are, etc. The reader just knows they're bad. The backstory for this growing threat may be covered in the next book, but I just wish there had been more information provided in Champion of Fate.

This breaks my heart but had to DNF at 30%. Had a difficult time engaging and sustaining interest. Still getting a copy for the library though because I know our readers will enjoy this more than I did.

The writing has a lot of potential, but the pacing was so slow that it didn't feel very engaging. Love the concept though!

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and advanced copy of this title!

Champion of Fate by Kendare Blake was a truly refreshing read! For those who enjoyed Blake's Three Dark Crowns series, the first book in the Heromaker series will also thrill. The main character, Reed, is delightfully strong, driven, and loyal, as are her friends and the Aristene, a mystical order of warrior women who guide heroes to glory to honor their goddess. It has long been Reed's wish to join the order, but she must complete a trial with her hero to win glory and become a full Aristene. The story follows her on this journey with her hero, Hestion.

The world-building in this novel is fantastic, as I feel it blends elements of Norse Valkyrie mythology and that of the Greek gods without feeling copied or overdone. Reed as a character is well-rounded and easy to root for, even as the plot progresses and twists. As a reader who does not love a lot of overt romance, this book does not focus on it as its main theme (which I appreciate). I highly recommend Champion of Fate to anyone who enjoys books about mythology and strong female characters!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 50%. The concept of this was solid but I didn't connect with any of the characters and the writing felt young, even for YA.

This is one of those I want to marinate over, but because it's a Netaglley eARC, I need to get my review done now.

TW: Child abuse, misogyny, desecration of corpses, super mild body horror, self-inflicted wounds

Kendare Blake has a way of taking what could easily be a fluffy fantasy story and making it so much darker and more tangible. Champion of Fate was no difference to this. It's not a happy story with a happy ending, but a story of tragedy and family, loss and gain. Of a girl and a dream and her horse.

Champion of Fate is set in a fantastical world where Heroes are sent divine valkyrie-like beings--immortal women with magic and battle prowess like no others--to usher them into their grand glory and fate. The main character, Reed, is rescued by two such aristene and is given a chance to become one, if she can prove herself through training and discipline, plus passing the hero's trial.

She's a cactus of a person, quick to anger to protect herself and her own, but loyal to the end. And as such, the challenges of her own fate make her question everything. This is truly a story of fate and what it means to follow or avoid it, and the consequences of those actions. It's a story of a found family who would literally do anything to protect one another, even if it goes against all the codes.

And it's a story of hidden truths and mysteries that will hopefully play out in the books to come. Champion of Fate reads like a standalone but also leaves it wide open for sequels (plus, ya know, Goodreads has it listed as the first book in a series).

If you like stories of heroism with a tinge of reality, this is for you.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me an arc!

Wow! I was BLOWN AWAY by this book. I think part of why I loved it so much is it touched on both themes and ideas we see in ancient mythology - specifically Greek and Viking, which have some of my favorite women warriors.

To me, this very much felt like a Greek epic in how it was parsed out, and it worked so well. Partially because the world building was so amazing and partially because Reed was a magnificent character. I will admit to shedding a few tears at this book.

It drew me in and wouldn't let go. I so wanted to ignore life to finish it.

The relationship of friendship between the three girls was amazingly woven, and I am hoping to see more of it in the future books. I'm also really curious about where the story is going to go from here. Because the set up for the future is intriguing and I'm desperate to see what happens next.

This is a brilliantly written and addictive YA fantasy. I loved Reed, and I loved Silco and all the others as well. It was so well done and I'm impressed.

I'm not eagerly awaiting the next book!

Kendare Blake knocked it out of the park with this one. I love watching the society of hero makers grow and realize their mistakes. Reed can do absolutely no wrong in my opinion. I can't wait to read the next book and im excited to see how some things play out.