*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC *

3.5 *

In short - if you like myth retellings, without the avarage modern twists then you will like it.

I was a bit hesitant in the beginning, because it started way to slow for me. But then with the explanation of Atalanta I was drown in. I have read any version of the original myths connected to Atalanata (and Meleager) and she is even part of my thesis, yet I find this representation unique, yet true to the character (having in mind that Clotho has nothing to do with the character). I still don't get the whole tropple thing, but I can kind off see where the idea behind it come from.

At sometimes times the cheesiness was too much for my taste, and I skimmed through some parts because of it, but overall it was a good book, certainly the best retelling of Atalanta I have read thus far.

A recommended read for fans of Madeline Miller and Genevieve Gornichec. A reimagining of Greek mythology incorporating LGBTQI themes, misogyny, feminism, and gender stereotypes. This is great new queer fiction to add the subgenres of historical fantasy. Well worth the read!

The Fates is a new reimagining of an ancient Greek myth surrounding the legendary female warrior Atlanta and Melegar, the doomed warrior-lord of Calydon.

Garland reimagines this aspect of Greek mythology infusing the characters with new life. The female warrior Atlanta is central to the story which revolves around the love between her and Melegar. There is a new addition to this ancient tale which Garland weaves to entice us into her reimagined and new Ancient Greece. The Fates, who stand beyond time and creation of the Titans, mortals and the Gods of Olympus, are responsible for the birth, fortune or misfortune in mortal lives and for ending life.

Garland imagines this classic Greek myth where the otherworldly figure of Atlanta entices the Fates to break their distance between the weaving of fate and the effects on mortal lives. Entranced by the magic of Atlanta and Melgar, the Fates are drawn like the reader to this new version of a female warrior: lover of Melgar and the female warrior Antiklea . Here, Atlanta is bisexual and the polyamorous relationship between Atlanta, Melgar and Antiklea brings new vision to an ancient tale. There is a new twist to the tale and the breaking of rules as one of the Fates, Clotho dares to confront Hades to reverse Melegar’s fate and restore the love binding Atlanta, Melegar and Antiklea.

Garland writes with meticulous detail from Ancient Greek mythology, history and legends to create a strong world-building in this historical fantasy. If there is a drawback to The Fates, there is often a sense of stilted and overly formal conversation between characters which is at odds with the flowing and passionate writing of actions and intentions. Nonetheless, this queer fiction reimagining of the myth of Atlanta brings a new voice to the genre of myth reimagining and historical fiction.

** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **

I was aware of the story of Atalanta and Meleager having read a number of books about their myth.
Unfortunately I cannot recommend this one. The story was very disjointed jumping between a number of narators and time periods which stunted the flow of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book for an honest review.

I'm soo glad to have received an arc of this book. It was such a fun read.

I love a good retelling and am so excited with soo many myth retellings that have been coming out.

Rosie Garland did an amazing job.

4/5- would recommend

https://lynns-books.com/2024/04/09/the-fates-by-rosie-garland/
4 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL/DR Review: The Fates vs Greek Gods

I’m loving the current trend of Greek myths being retold from different angles and The Fates is no exception. In fact I really enjoyed reading a story involving The Fates and this is such an interesting take.

I must confess that having read Jennifer Saint’s Atalanta not too long ago at first I thought that my timing in requesting this one was perhaps not good. As it happens I think that my previous reading fed into this story really well, right down to the conclusion which provides reasoning for the ways that various characters have been portrayed.

Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. This is a story that takes a look at the Gods, meddling, petty and to be honest supremely vain and self serving. The Fates, immortals that are older than the Gods, who are also fascinated with humans and their passion for life, and characters of Greek myth, Atalanta, rejected by her parents as a new born because she was a girl, left to die on a mountainside and actually raised by a bear, and Meleager, a warrior whose death was foretold at birth and has since lived on a knife edge.

To be honest, I’m not going to discuss the plot other than to very briefly say this is a book of ultimate meddling. The Fates themselves have plotted, they’ve spun their threads and now must sit and wait for the outcome. Well, they may need to meddle just a little bit more.

We have various povs. Zeus, for example, has a number of chapters, let me just say he doesn’t come across too well, I loved the way he was portrayed to be honest, just because he’s a God doesn’t mean he’s going to be decent – and he really isn’t – he’s an egotistical horror to be frank. We have the Fates, who for the purpose of this story are given a makeover into three small girls, who can’t remember who they are but gradually start to believe that they’re not like other people. I really enjoyed this aspect of the story with the slow realisation as the girls begin to question everything. Then we have Atalanta and Meleager – and, again, I enjoyed their tales. The author takes us back to their early stories which really helps to set the scene and give us a chance to buy into both characters and increase the tension as their lives start to experience turmoil.

What I particularly enjoyed with this story can be boiled down as follows:

I enjoyed reading about the Fates. I don’t think I’ve read a story where they play such a fundamental role before and they were different than I had expected. I think I expected three crones.

I liked that the author uses material already available so that when you’re reading this it feels familiar but then not familiar at the same time. It adds that sense of plausibility, stories are all about perspective after all and, for example, three people involved in the same event will often tell a slightly different version of events.

This really does lay out the hardships that women suffered but at the same time it gives you some hope as we have females here taking matters into their own hands and changing fate.

The writing was good. It gives the right amount of detail to set the scene, it gives you characters that you can become invested in and it really succeeds in having that ‘Greek myth’ feel. I don’t know how else to describe it. I just recall reading Greek myths and the one thing that really stayed with me was how fantastical they can be, this story definitely has elements of that.

Overall I had a good time with The Fates, it makes a good addition to the other retellings I’ve read of late and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I was very intrigued by the plot of this book and it was my most anticipated read of March/April. I mean, a retelling of The Fates? I was in before I even started. Maybe my expectations were too high, maybe I've read too many retellings, I don't know.
What I do know is that I'm not very convinced by this book. There were undoubtedly moments when the book excelled at delivering a message and a story, and others when it struggled to do both. At times I wondered if this was the work of more than one author, because the difference in tone and style was so stark.
Also, I understand the need for likeable and unlikeable characters, but a caricature of an unlikeable character? It was painful to read certain chapters without skipping a word.
All in all, I found the idea behind the book new, fresh and interesting, but the execution was not for me.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Atalanta is arguably my favourite mythological figure ever, so when I saw that this was a variation on one of her legends, I couldn’t resist!

This book incorporates several elements that highlight the Gods meddling in the human world and the Fates efforts to combat them weaved into the myth of the Calydonian Boar / Atalanta and Meleager. It wasn’t a strict retelling of the myth - the author changed a few details of the ancient story in order to serve a story of predetermination versus free will, which I loved.

I loved the storytelling style - it was very classical, with POVs for both the main characters as well as Zeus and the Fates in their various machinations.

Overall, I don’t have enough good things to say about this one. Highly recommend!

I’m a fan of the author’s books and I love Greek mythology so couldn’t wait to read The Fates. I knew very little about Meleager and Atalanta so I found their story interesting. I’ve come across the Fates before. I really enjoyed the way the author made these larger than life, mythological characters her own. I especially liked the Fates being ageless, hopeful girls instead of old crones. This made them easier to relate to. The women in this book remind me a lot of Circle by Madeleine Miller because the female characters are powerful but their lives are limited due to gender. I liked the way the book address this. I also liked how nasty Zeus is. I found this an engaging retelling and enjoyed it a lot. I’d recommend it.

This was a stunning, lyrical read that balanced storytelling, myth and magic beautifully. From the structure that flits between time and places, to the voices of key players such as Zeus and The Fates, it was an intricate and cleverly woven read.

The character list was small, but this worked as we got to know and understand the characters as they embarked on the journey. I both loved and hated the petulant and churlish Zeus, and admired the strong, loyal and brave Atalanta.

This novel is about female empowerment, about forging your own destiny and being human.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Rosie Garland and Quercus Books for this ARC!

Embracing the rich tapestry of Greek mythology, Rosie Garland's 'The Fates' offers a captivating perspective on the enigmatic sisters who weave the destinies of mortals and gods alike. Drawing upon the ancient myths of Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, Garland breathes life into these timeless figures, imbuing them with depth, personality, and a sense of agency that transcends their traditional portrayal as old crones.

Following The Fates, Atalanta, Meleager, and Zeus, the narrative weaves together their intertwined fates, offering a fresh take on familiar legends. While some readers may initially find the pacing challenging, Garland's meticulous attention to detail ultimately enhances the connection to the characters, allowing readers to immerse themselves in their struggles and triumphs.

'The Fates' is a exceptionally solid and enjoyable exploration of the more mysterious characters of Greek mythology, and I recommended for anyone with an interest in the ancient tales of gods and mortals."

The Fates is one of the most unique mythology retellings that I have seen in a crowded field. The author cleverly entwines the legends of Atalanta and Meleager with that of the Fates, entities older than the Gods or mortals whose purpose is to weave the lives and deaths of mortals for eternity.
The story is told from the perspectives of several point of view characters including Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos (The Fates), Atalanta, Meleager and even Zeus himself. The story also jumps around in time which felt a little unsettling at first and until I got a better handle on what was going on, it felt quite confusing at times, but as the book unfolded and I got to see what the author was doing it made more sense.
The writing is beautiful, filled with lush descriptions and evocative turns of phrase. The characters are compelling, especially Atalanta whose story resonated with me even more strongly that that of the Fates and I really liked that the author was able to create a new twist on her story that worked perfectly in the context of the story she was telling.
'I grew up free of the falsehood that girls are timid, so I became brave. I grew up free of the falsehood that girls are feeble, so I became brawny. I grew up free of the falsehood that girls are weak-minded, so I became clever. I grew up free of the falsehood that girls are inferior, so I became Equal-in-Weight.'
As with many modern retellings there is a strong feminist slant which is particularly fitting here but there is also a lot of discussion about love in many of its forms particularly in the relationships between Meleager, Atalanta and Antiklea.
'I can bolt my heart and deny the truth of my feelings. Or I can admit complexity into my life. I can admit that I love Mealager and Antiklea: differently, but equally. It is the only way I can describe it. I love Meleager with the spear of my spirit. I love Antiklea with the arrow of my heart. '
If I had to pick a flaw with this book it is that the pacing is quite uneven The book starts a little slowly then slows down even more in the middle before picking up again and feeling almost rushed at the end. It is a small quibble with a book that I enjoyed very much and one that I would definitely recommend.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book was amazing! I was a little skeptical with the poetic nature of the writing but after reading it for an hour or so I actually really had fun reading this kind of style! I had recently got back into my Greek Myth retelling kick and this was the perfect book to itch that scratch. It had the story of Meleager and Atalanta ( A story I always love reading) but with a twist and that twist was so fun to read. I really enjoyed the interchangerable chapters where we'd have his and hers POV but then we get the Fate's narrative and their history and We see arrogant Zeus's narrative, to some it may seem a little chaotic but it's Greek Mythology of course it's going to be chaotic! Overrall I absolutely loved it and I will 100% be buying myself a copy when it releases!

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(This review contains spoilers for the book!)

I honestly have no idea where to start on this review, because I have a lot of very conflicting opinions on this book.

As you can probably tell from the rating, this wasn’t a favourite. It wasn’t bad, by all means! But I think that, in the end, everything I feel about this book boils down to how inconsistent the quality of my reading experience was: the highs were very high, but the lows were almost insufferable.

Let’s start with the good stuff first. From the get-go, I was super intrigued by the premise itself: I love retellings of Greek myths, but I’ve never seen anyone decide to centre a story around the Fates before! And I’ve never really read more than short summaries of the myths surrounding Atalanta or Meleager before, so I was excited to dive deeper into their story.

I’m a big fan of the story’s non-linear narrative – how very appropriate for a story told partially from the perspectives of the Fates, beings that transcend time and space. I don’t necessarily agree with which parts were chosen to be told on which order, but overall, the non-linear structure worked to great effect.

I also really liked the writing style! It’s worth mentioning here that the prose is extremely purple, so if you have trouble with that, then this book might not be for you. However, as I was reading, I kept thinking that there was something quite familiar about the writing: a turn of phrase here, a particular word choice there, some of the more foreign sentence structures. It’s been almost a decade since I studied Ancient Greek, but Blythe’s phrasings sometimes sounded to me exactly like something we’d translate in class, which I thought was really neat and which really help sell the Ancient Greece setting.

I adored all the POV chapters told from the Fates’ perspective, and those were without a doubt my favourite parts of the entire book! I thought the hidden-scheme-and-amnesia plot was quite clever and a good choice for further intertwining the stories of the Fates and the stories of Atalanta and Meleager. I also really enjoyed the Clotho/Atalanta twist, and while I didn’t see it coming, looking back, it was clear to see the foreshadowing throughout the book prior to the reveal.

I think Blythe’s portrayal of Meleager and Atalanta individually was very compelling, but I remain unconvinced – or perhaps more accurately, simply apathetic – of their love story. It was super cool to see some nice polyamory rep, in the form of Atalanta’s relationships with both Antiklea and Meleager, as well as the two love interests’ acceptance and support of each other, but I find myself wishing that the development of both relationships had been given more space, had been made grander perhaps. And, I gotta say, I really wish we got to know Antiklea better, in order to learn why Atalanta loves her so, instead of just establishing their relationship early on and pretty much leaving it at that, with only few glimpses into Antiklea’s personality.

Now, onto the not so good stuff. Aside from the relatively minor issues previously mentioned, I have two fairly major ones to discuss. Let’s start with the less egregious offender: the rushed ending. In my opinion, Blythe completely botched the pacing of the ending, and Atalanta’s journey into the Underworld to save Meleager felt more like a jaunty day-trip than a harrowing set of trials. Perhaps this was done on purpose, perhaps it wasn’t meant to be portrayed as a Herculean task for Atalanta specifically, but in that case, I have to heavily disagree with Blythe’s choice here. There was simply not enough build-up, there was no tension, no sense of any true danger at any given moment, which meant that the payoff, Atalanta successfully returning Meleager to the world of the living, simply didn’t feel satisfying at all.

As for my primary issue with this book? Mother. Fucking. Zeus. What an awful guy – this we all know. That’s not my problem. My problem is that Blythe chose to give him extremely bad, entirely unnecessary POV chapters. Like, I cannot overstate how bad these chapters are. Luckily they were all very short, probably about 3-5 pages each, but man, reading them was like pulling out teeth and hair and nails, slowly, one at a time, without painkiller. Reading these chapters was like reading the inner-monologue of a toddler throwing a temper tantrum mixed with a rich white fratboy’s boredom and entitlement. I swear to all that is both holy and unholy, it sometimes took me more than 30 minutes to fight my way through these chapters because I kept getting distracted by other things, simply because everything in me was fighting against reading about this divine man-child. I am not kidding when I say, that every time Zeus’ POV came up, I seriously considered DNF’ing the book. There was no real reason to include his POV, there was nothing there that couldn’t have been alluded to in other ways, and I think that the inclusion of his POV chapters was a major misjudgment on Blythe’s part, a misjudgment which heavily drags down the quality of the entire book, as well as my final rating. In short, it’s just a damn shame.

This book was hard to read and hard to rate.

The timeline was extremely difficult to understand at times. What I thought was the main storyline disappeared,and we didn’t get back to it until 3/4 through the book. And I found it really hard to stay engaged and interested.

But suddenly it was almost over, and everything made sense and I was so emotionally invested and needed to know what was going to happen. Hence the 3rd star being added to my rating.

The story follows the Fates, Atalantis, Meleager and some of the Gods over a significant period of time, with the human characters experiencing many challenges throughout their lives right from their time of birth.

It’s important to pay attention to the small details because things that feel unimportant will really all come together towards the end of the story and have so much meaning.

This book is not for anyone wanting a simple easy read as it is tough.

This was quite a fun read but there was too much going on. The constant back and forth between narrators and timelines was too much to follow.

If I hadn't just read Jennifer Saint's Atalanta just three months ago, I might have enjoyed this book more. I did love how Meleager was a more central character and had his own chapters. It set this book apart from the many, many other Greek mythology retellings, which purely focuses on the female persepctive (which I totally love, BTW)

This was an excellent telling of a tale that was full of mythological references, elegant prose, and relatable characters. On par with works like Circe and Clytemnestra, this work allows readers to gain the perspective of scorned female characters, and provides a compelling storyline to enhance the experience. An absolute must-read for historical fiction lovers!

I am a sucker for greek mythology, and this book hit the spot for me!

I found it really refreshing to be on the fates, as they are normally very minor background characters in a lot of the other retellings i have read, if mentioned at all!

Its a captivating read which i really recommend if you are are lover of mythology retellings!

So im a sucker for Greek mythology so I was immediately intrigued by a new take on the Fates.

I really enjoyed the story and the interpretation of the Fates as well as some other characters.

But I found it a strange read, in that for no reason I just didn't love it, I'm still mulling over why and if I figure it out I let you know, but until then ...... 🤷‍♀️

The changes in perspective and timeline were a bit, but it all made sense in the end.

A few wee spoilers......

The depiction of Zeus is honestly on point, but at the same time terrifying...... a sadistic psychopath with supernatural powers.

Loved the depiction of Charon, cheeky and friendly, but partial to a wine lol

And Hades was great too.

Gutted that all the rest of the gods seemed to be trash as well, not a redeemed character among them.

Anyway, I did enjoy it and am grateful for the opportunity to read.

It was great to see a focus being put on The Fates, something you rarely see in this new love for Greek mythology. And then to see it linked to the story of Atalanta was another unique choice. A good read that will definitely have its audience.