I liked the plot in this one, the story going from the MC Reed's tragic childhood, through her training and her hero trial, and ending with her final destiny. I thought that the ending was pretty well-rounded, and I was (pleasantly) surprised to see that this is a series! I would love to see more adventures of this MC and in this world, there's so much potential for (possibly tragic 🥲) stories here!

I guess I gave 4 and not 5 stars, because personally I didn't feel a lot of emotional connection to the plot? I did like the MC, but the narration was more of factual stuff than feelings, and usually I prefer that books have more emotional stakes in them.

-- ty to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy!

OMG I am obsessed with this book! I was immediately hooked and completely absorbed the entire time. Honestly, it’s so freaking good I can’t even express it in words. Badass, immortal, women warriors who are responsible for all the glory of the world’s greatest heroes? Say less!

The characters really come to life and I felt every emotion right along with them. I’m so glad we got to actually experience Reed’s backstory, rather than it just being told to us. I connected with her on a much deeper level. Her feisty colt stole my heart! The relationships and dynamics between Reed and other characters had me swooning, heartbroken, heated, overjoyed, and everything in between.

The world building is magnificent. The lore, politics, and magic systems are all expertly crafted. I was totally immersed in this story and I never wanted to leave.

The pacing of the plot is impeccable and there’s never a dull moment. The tension builds into an explosive crescendo. It’s one continuous exciting journey. There are moments that will bring tears to your eyes. There are moments of dread that make you pause, where you know something bad is going to happen and you just aren’t ready to handle the fallout of it yet.

This is a story unlike anything else I’ve read. I mean, wow, was this a nice breath of fresh air after reading so many cookie-cutter books. This story is one that will stick with you - the characters are endearing, the world is enchanting, the events are harrowing and tumultuous.

This book is fantasy perfection. The kind of story everyone hopes they write. Kendare Blake is proving to be a master of writing with this one.

I cannot recommend it highly enough. You absolutely have to read this book! I see this series easily becoming everyone’s newest obsession and I’m here to be an early pioneer for hyping it up. I’m gonna die waiting over a year for the next one. I loved this one so much I’ll probably get a physical copy and re-read it right before the next one comes out.

5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I LOOVEEEEE fantasy book with a strong female mc and Kendare Blake delivered. I have her “Three Dark Crowns” series sitting on my bookshelf in my bedroom and now I’m thinking I need to immediately read that series. Also, how am I supposed to wait possibly several years for the next book to be released????

I hate a love/hate relationship with long fantasy books like this one because SO MUCH happens, but also SO MUCH happens and I just want to know how it ends!!! I could not have seen this ending coming, but it was so worth it.

Found family, FMC character development!!!, a little romance, everything you could ever want. Delivered. 4+4= ATE.

Kendare Blake has done it again! This is a bit of a new venture for her, and she does NOT disappoint. From the first page, you are steeped into the world, environment, and culture of this novel. The flavor is strong and intentional. I read this book FAST since I could not stop or put it down unless I had to. Reed is a very compelling protagonist who struggles to find her place after her family is slaughtered. As per usual, I love how feminist the story is and how it speaks to social issues and makes a statement about the world. I already can't wait for the next book!

Kendare Blake is truly a master of the craft. This was another stunning work of YA fiction. The characters were so well done and I really enjoyed reading about them and the way they interacted with each other and the world was so compelling. I also thought this was really well-paced--I didn't have moments where I felt like skimming to get to the next interesting piece, and I was thoroughly invested in what was going to happen next. I really flew through this novel! Fun and complete world-building, a cast of characters that were thoroughly enjoyable, and a tightly plotted story meshed together so well to create this novel.

Thanks so much to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC copy of this book!

I have scheduled promotional posts around release day for this book and I will provide a full review on my Instagram once I am able to get to this read.

Rating 5 stars on Netgalley as a placeholder for me to update later once the review is complete.

Will also complete a review on Goodreads once read.

Thanks again!

Kendare Blake is one of the best teen authors in the market, and I have read all her books. This book is a perfect example of why she is the best. She is at the top of her game her, and this book was near unputdownable. The characterization is perfect, the plot is thrilling, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I highly recommend this book and think anyone who needs a satisfying read is in for a treat with this one!

Honestly, I feel exactly like I did with all of the Three Dark Crowns books about this book: so, so close to greatness, but not quite there. It’s missing something, but I can’t quite pinpoint what it is. Maybe the meanderingness of the story, or not fully connecting to the characters, but it’s just not 100% there. As with Three Dark Crowns, the worldbuilding is impecable and the characters extremely unique (I haven’t met a YA fantasy protagonist so unique in a really long time). It’s definitely a fresh and interesting story, but it just wasn’t all the way there for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children’s Books for the opportunity to read rate and review this arc which is available September 19,2023.

All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s a take about The Aristene, hero-making female warriors. It is about Reed, an orphan who will be kicked out of her only home if she doesn’t lead her first hero through a series of trials.

This is full of action adventure, angst and wit. I thoroughly enjoyed it even if I won’t read it again. Reed is so human. I enjoyed reading a book from a female Warrior perspective

it was ok, the time jump was too large we have no option to draw our own conclusions on the girls strength, how they are treated or anything really regarding their training.
Reed had no sobering moments when it came to the glory of battle , no balking at the cruelty of war jus t that it must be write because her hero is meant to be great.
i didn't care for Hestion too much, I don't feel like we really know him, he felt more rounded when it was just reeds vision of him and the way everyone keeps persisting that Reed and Hestion should be together is also not my favourite I didn't get much chemistry between them.

This was an exhilarating ride! Rescued after her whole family is slaughtered Reed begins her journey to become an Aristene with a hero to support and bring glory to. However it does quite go as planned and the tough choices she has to make are unavoidable and heartbreaking. It was so cool to see these bad ass women be the reason the men were heroes through their support, guidance and sometimes brute physical force and magic. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!

We start off in a village that gets attacked and it's a bloody ending. The one survive is taken in by the Aristene, woman trained to bring glory to heroes they are assigned to throughout their immortal lives. Reed becomes an Aristene-in-training, off the bat the premise was amazing! Woman in history are known to be in the background anyways but why not make it so that's what they want , while making the main man of history a. glorious hero that all will remember throughout time? The book starts off pretty slow and I honestly didn't like Reed at all. I was also confused about how rules were bent and broken while she was finishing her Aristene training. The book reiterated how important their rules, laws and ways are but they got broken with no repercussions? The story moved along nicely when they actually engage in the war and it was fast paced from there. The ending felt like a good ending but I keep thinking about the jaw that wasn't found, so maybe there's more to the series!

One of the best books I ever read! I adore Kendare Blake's books, so I was thrilled to be approved to read this! The story begins with Reed, who is a young girl who is struck by tragedy. She is found by female warriors, and thus begins her new life.

Reed was very relatable, especially to someone who has also lost her parents at a young age. The "family" she found never could truly replace her parents, but she was stronger because of it.

Truly one of the best books I have read this year. I'm so excited for any sequels that come out!

This book was ok. It was a book, and I guess that's something.

At times it was interesting, but at other times, it seemed convoluted. It felt as if the author bit off more than she could chew, and spiraled a little out of control. The beginning was very slow, and I understand the background was necessary to a point, but it just kind of dragged. It felt like the author was trying to write an epic but just didn't get the pacing right, it was both too slow and too fast at times.

I admire the lore and the world building, clearly inspired by Greek mythology. It was slightly predictable because Greek Heroes usually pay for their glory and legend with their lives.

It was very tropey and fully of Young Adult cliches. There are so many rules and "this is the way it is" that clearly the maincharacter was going to deviate from the norm. Even after finishing the book. I don't really understand everything I read or care very much about the characters. I ended up skimming some of this because it just continued to drag on and not really say much. The main character was interesting, but not enough that I want to keep reading about her. If there are more books, the ending kind of sets it up for a series and goodreads has it as #1, I don't know if I will read them.

This book feels like a pet project by an author who has a few books under her belt with an editor that lets her write whatever at this point. I think this book could have been improved if it was shortened and given better feedback during the writing process.

This has turned into a harsh review, which wasn't what I intended, but I want to be honest.

When Reed is a child, tragedy hits her family, leaving her an orphan. After she is rescued and taken in by the Aristene, a group a female warriors who are tasked with leading heroes to their victory, Reed grows up wanting nothing more than to join these warriors herself. When it's Reeds time to go through the challenge trials to join the order Reed doesn't expect the choices she has to make along the way.

Reed was a strong character who strives to complete her challenge and lead her hero to victory, but once Reed meets Hestion, she starts to question whether joining the order is something that she really wants or is she willing to throw it all away. I enjoyed seeing Reed train alongside her friends Lyonene and Gretchen. Lyonene who is just as determined at joining the order is a strong character as well and a good ally for Reed and I enjoyed seeing them work together to complete their trials. Gretchen questions joining the order and decided to forge another path for herself.

There is a lot of descriptions surrounding the Aristene and their ways of fighting and the order itself. The second half of the book deals with a lot of fighting and the beginning of the trials and leading the heroes to their victories. The romance between Reed and Hestion is a bit rushed, but I still enjoyed it.

I've enjoyed previous books by Blake and was looking forward to her latest release. Overall, I enjoyed this one, while there some slow scenes, this was a pretty steady paced book with an intriguing ending that leaves me curious to read the next book.

I was familiar with this author already, but I think this is Blake's best book so far. Very solid effort, I can recommend this to both readers of young adult and fantasy fiction.

This is my first book by this author and it didn’t let me down. Every single chapter was exciting and I couldn’t wait to get to the next one. I can’t wait for the next book.

Champion of Fate
By Kendare Blake

I haven’t read Kendare Blake since Anna Dressed in Blood back in my YA days. So I was excited to give her a try about a decade (now I feel old) later.

I loved the premise, gave Valkyrie/warrior woman vibes. Goddess of glory sends her women to help fulfill a hero’s potential and the resulting glory is what sustains her.

Of course nothing is that simple, though.

The main character was relatable and you really felt each choice she had to make and the consequences. I’m definitely interested in reading more. I also enjoyed the found family aspect and the sisterhood.

The romance aspect was a bit hit and miss. It was sweet, if a bit fast. And predictable, at least in this first book.

I’ll definitely pick up the next one when it comes out.

Thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A song that starts with cries of slaughter, is salted with clashing swords, and finished with triumphant bellows. Champion of Fate is nothing short of incredible.
Kendare has managed to create a world reminiscent of Amazonian and Valkyrie lore while simultaneously being completely her own. The Aristenes and their order inspire and ignite glory throughout the land of men for that is what powers their mighty goddess Gloria and ultimately themselves. Their heroes may be mortal, but their glory lives forever.
I devoured this book and was loathe to put it down. Every character had such a well written personality that I even fell in love with the horses.. Let's actually be honest, ESPECIALLY the horses (one fiesty colt in particular 😏 )
From start to finish, the unfolding of events within Champion of Fate will keep you guessing, loving, and cheering every step of the way. If you like awe inspiring battle scenes, strong FMC's, and delightfully intricate story building, this is 100% for you.

The story unfolds with the introduction of Reed, a feisty young girl who endures tragedy and is raised by female warriors whom their goddess blesses to guide heroes. These warriors, or Aristene, are the nearly immortal “Hero-makers,” sent on quests for glory, not for themselves, but to create legendary champions.
Reed graduates from basic training to pass and then strikes out on her first mission as an “initiate” phase of guiding a hero to glory. If she passes, she can join their order of sisters and be a hero-maker. Until then, she is mortal and at risk of physical and emotional danger.

Kendare Blake’s world-building combines similarities to Amazonians, Greek mythology, and epic fantasy. It is not a fluff piece but dives into thought-provoking concepts like overcoming prejudice, choices, and strategy. The pacing and craftmanship shine through as solid work, one of which I highly recommend.

I am delighted to get an advanced reader copy through NetGalley/Harper Collins Publishers (and Kendare Blake) and genuinely look forward to any future stories, 4.5 Stars.