Fateless is a breathtaking, adrenaline-fueled fantasy that delivers everything I love in a high-stakes adventure—dangerous quests, ancient magic, secret guilds, and a fiercely determined heroine who refuses to back down.

Julie Kagawa builds a rich, mysterious world in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, filled with cursed tombs, terrifying relics, and secrets that practically drip off the page. The setting alone is worth the read—but it’s Sparrow who steals the show. Loyal, brave, and far more vulnerable than she lets on, Sparrow is exactly the kind of protagonist I root for. Her journey from determined thief to something much greater is both thrilling and deeply emotional.

The dynamic between Sparrow and Raithe, the enigmatic assassin with secrets of his own, adds a slow-burn tension that never overshadows the main plot. Their alliance—reluctant at first—evolves in a way that feels earned and layered, adding both depth and drama to the story.

Every chapter of Fateless is laced with danger, intrigue, and momentum. Kagawa doesn't just create a fantasy world—you feel the dust of forgotten tombs, the hum of ancient power, the chill of fate looming over every decision. The stakes are real, the battles are gripping, and the emotional payoff is worth every heart-pounding moment.

A phenomenal start to what promises to be an unforgettable series, Fateless is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy, dark magic, and stories about choosing your own path—even when fate says otherwise.

Sparrow is a willing participant in the Thieves Guild and will do what it takes to be successful. She is offered a mission from the Circle and if she is successful, her position will be secure. She is now on her way to the forgotten city of the Deathless King with a team that isn’t trustworthy and a quest with ancient forces no one was expecting. What will Sparrow learn during this quest? Will everyone make it out alive?

Fateless is the first book in the series with the same name. This young adult fantasy takes readers into a new world with characters and obstacles that are breathtaking in their execution. Kagawa wove together her world-building and character development into a story that readers will be clamoring for the sequel. There is no cliffhanger, but the ending leaves no doubt that more is on its way.

I loved the author's introduction that explained her inspiration for the story. I've never actually played Assassin's Creed, but I have played other fantasy adventure/rpg games, so I could see what the author intended. As an Elder Scrolls fan, I definitely got nostalgic for Morrowind while reading Fateless. It also gave me vibes of the classic Dragonlance books I grew up reading. And I admit, I squealed and immediately became 100% invested when I learned the ilyvahn = dark elves/drow. I've always had a huge crush on Drizzt! It was a fast-paced story with almost non-stop action, which was great, but it didn't leave much room for a lot of character development. And as a character driven, slow-burn lover, I wish the romance was fleshed out more. Even though I was shipping them hard, I didn't feel much chemistry between them yet...and then all of a sudden they were kissing. But since I'm biased for dark elf romances, I loved the premise and look forward to the sequel.

Sparrow is a thief who teams up with a wanderer and an assassin to try and save the world from an evil king. But Sparrow is much more than a thief and with out her the whole world may be lost.

I liked the unique world, it very much gives off assassin creed vibes at times. The history is explained well with just enough details to give depth to the story. Sparrow is interesting, I enjoyed her growth and development as the story moved forward. There is very little romance, and little page time was spent with the 2 getting to know each other. I would have liked more back story on the MMC, very little info is given, which does lean into his mysteriousness as an assassin but makes it very hard to understand his feelings for Sparrow and how they came out of the blue. It seems likely book 2 will spend more time with the MMC and we will get some backstory that was missing from this book.

3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

This is such a cool book. The world is fascinating and I really enjoyed learning about some of the fate based faiths and how they differ in the different cities. The whole concept of the dying world and how that ties into the magic system and fate is really fascinating. That said the book needed just a little more of that to be fleshed out in this first book. The story is so fast paced it feels like we've seen a lot without learning much, what we know is so cool but very surface level. Even from the main group it feels like we could have learned more about their cultures. There is still some really well done character development despite this and the ending is so satisfying and worked really well with how fast paced the book was. I just needed a little more exposition to fully connect with this world. I am really hopeful this will come through in the next book and I am excited to see where their journey takes this crew next in this fascinating world.

Julie Kagawa’s Fateless is a masterclass in YA fantasy, delivering the exact kind of immersive adventure I’m always searching for. From the first page, I was instantly captivated by the world Kagawa has woven; it’s a unique land full of harsh beauty, intrigue, and danger, brought to life with vivid, evocative descriptions. The worldbuilding is exceptional—not only does the landscape itself feel like a living, breathing character, but the underlying magic, hidden ruins, and ancient prophecies provide layers of depth that make the setting unforgettable. As a longtime fan of epic fantasy and imaginative environments, I was continually awed by Kagawa’s ability to create a place both new and nostalgic, echoing the edge-of-your-seat thrills found in Tomb Raider, The Mummy, and Indiana Jones.

The story doesn’t just rest on a superb setting—Fateless is also a pulse-pounding journey of high stakes and emotional resonance. Sparrow, the seventeen-year-old thief at the center of it all, is immediately relatable, and her journey blends adrenaline-fueled action with deeply-felt moments of vulnerability and betrayal. The friendships and found-family bonds she forges feel genuine, grounding the sweeping plot in compassionate, human connections. The pacing is expertly crafted—never letting up for long—and every twist surprised me even as I rooted for Sparrow and her crew through heists, battles, and mythic challenges.

What truly elevates Fateless for me is how it revels in the best elements of YA fantasy while adding its own flavor: layered politics, ancient forces, slow-burn romance, and the notion of destiny turned on its head. Kagawa balances all these threads, delivering a book that feels both comfortingly classic and refreshingly original. I loved every moment I spent in this world, and I can’t recommend Fateless enough to fans of fantasy, romance, and adventure. Five stars—this is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I adore YA fantasy!

Thank you to publishers for an e-ARC of this story via NetGalley!

I think this was very fun! I appreciate that the action started very quickly, and for the most part didn't let up the whole time. I haven't played Assassin's Creed but I can get how this was inspired by it - lots of sand, skeletons, and swordfights! It's a YA story, and it does fall into some of the standard YA pitfalls, such as the FMC being kind of whiny and occasionally making poor decisions, but I found those shortcomings easy enough to gloss over and still enjoy the story. An adventure through and through, and I'm keen to learn more about this world in the following books.

I will say, there were a good handful of typos (an additional comma here, a missing period there, nothing too major), like to the point I really hope they are caught and fixed because otherwise that's embarrassing, especially as a HarperCollins story. The author also really clings to their favorite words and phrases - the word "abomination" was used 71 times (thank you Kindle for doing that counting for me) and good god please find a synonym, like "creature" or "monster" was -right there-, so I would love to see it line-edited in that way before release.

Overall, this book was fast paced with lots of adventure and a cool world that has room to grow. Feels very YA, but plenty of fun!

I was a big fan of Julie Kagawa's Blood of Eden series 10 years ago, so I jumped at the chance to read another book by her. This story was really good. Very slow in the beginning but once it picked up I enjoyed it. I loved Sparrow., but I, like many others it seems, was a little confused about the fate tapestry and how it all works. I'm patiently waiting book two!

The landscape in which the main character lives feels like its own character, enhancing both the setting and the plot of the book. While reading, the author noticed similarities to works like Fateless, Tomb Raider, The Mummy, and Indiana Jones, which brought nostalgia. If you enjoy stories about fate, found family, heists, and politics, you'll love Fateless.

Fans of Assassins Creed or similar video games will probably enjoy this book way more than I did. It all felt a little underwhelming to me but again I’ve been told there a lots of nods to Assassins Creed in this so maybe that’s something other reads can be excited about.

The world building is immaculate! I have never read a book by Julie and now I'm hooked, this was the perfect introduction!

I love the world building. Julie created a unique world that reminds me of Aladdin, but it is still its own. I like the idea of the goddess weaving fate, the Deathless kings, and the Fateless. I want to see where the conflict goes. I enjoyed our cast of characters: Sparrow, Raithe, Halek, and Kysa. They fall into the found family trope. Sparrow is resilient and clever, Raithe is strong, but sweet, Halek is funny, and Kysa is fierce. The plot seemed a little unbalanced to be. I expected the characters to get further.

I am a big fan of the authors Iron Fey series. I also love Assassins Creed, so I knew I needed to get my hands on this book. The beginning of the book started off well, and I felt like I was immersed in the story. Unfortunately, when they moved into the underground is when the world building began to lose me. I think the book suffered from a lack of setting throughout the entire read, and only have us a good scope of things in the beginning. The world building just took a backseat, when I think it would have done well to keep you invested. That's not to say I didn't enjoy the read, it just felt like things progressed rather quickly, and I had a hard time keeping up. I'm interested to see whether this series gets flashed out a bit more, or if the author focuses more on the characters rather than setting.

I've read one other book by Julie Kagawa, and I remember enjoying it a lot.
The writing style here is just as excellent, and I found myself flying through this (quite short) book.

It's a dark world with thieves and things that might devour you from beneath. And of course there are Fates and the one that challenges everything.

I must admit I did not get into this book very well. I understand it takes inspiration from a videogame, and I assume that if you're a fan of that world, you're easily immersed into this one as well.
I'm not a Gamer though, and I would have wished to be taken by the hand a bit and lead into it.

With me not connecting, I also couldn't do much with the characters as well, and so all in all it fell flat for me sadly.

I do think others might like it a lot, because if the vibes are vibing for you, this can be really enjoyable.

3/5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for the eARC!

#Fateless #Netgalley #ArcReading #Bookstagram

I’d first like to thank the amazing folks at NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for a ARC Audio and EARC copy of this book. I am forever thankful to be able to listen to this story narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw.
What would you do if your whole life you thought yourself just a very super talented thief but have your whole world threw into a blender when you discover everything is a lie and you have the power to not only save the world but the power to absolutely destroy it?
We meet 17 year old Sparrow when she joined the Thieves Guild she made a vow of binding loyalty to their cause.
So when she is sent on a mission for The Circle, a group of mysterious, dangerous beings who control the Guild from the shadows, Sparrow is determined to cement her place within their ranks.
What she could never have knew is that not only would she be betrayed by the ones she once consider family but also be put in the center of a struggle between to opposing forces that have the would pit her against a ancient evil that has the power to change her world forever.
I absolutely devoured this book. Having the dual experience of listening and also reading this book, it just was a very fulfilling and satisfying experience. Julie Kagawa storytelling and Mia’s narration worked in tandem to craft and engaging story that I can’t wait to order a physical copy of this book and recommend it to anyone looking for an engaging and nail-biting experience.
An absolute iconic experience that I would totally give a 5 star review to for being: unique, adrenaline pumping, and fantastic start to a series that you don’t wanna miss

I think someone who loves the video game that inspired this book would absolutely love this book as well. However, I’m not a video game fan, and so this didn’t hold my attention because I was confused by the world building, especially the underground world, and there wasn’t enough character development for me.

I was very excited to get my hands on the new Julie Kagawa book. I loved the Shadow of the Fox series and wanted more. Fateless is similar by having a young female main character that is looked down on by society and a male lead assassin that ends up helping her during her journey.

This story is action packed and fun. Sparrow is part of a theives guild in a city surrounded by a deadly desert sea. She is tasked by the guild to find an artefact in a vault of the Deathless King beneath the city, but first she has to survive the underground kingdom from curses, the undead, and someone who doesnt want the artefact found.

Thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The promise of the book is there, I just feel like it needed further fleshing out. The characters, the plot, the worldbuilding all still felt very early-stages-of-drafting. The setting, however, was very vivid. I got big Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark vibes, which was fun.

The story is fast-paced and full of terrific world-building! I cannot wait for the next installment!

I love Julie Kagawa’s writing and she is an auto buy author for me. Her worlds are always lush and complex with characters you champion for. Fateless was no exception. A place that can kill just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Betrayal in a brutal world is inevitable and when you are a thief you especially need to watch your back. Being a Fateless means that Sparrow is not controlled by destiny and can write her own fate and possibly those she comes in contact with. The character development was very strong and the action nonstop. I really loved diving into the world and the creatures in it. Some of the action at times did take over the plot and I wanted it scaled back a little but I think teens will enjoy this nonstop pacing and will devour every page to see what happens next.