Sparrow is a 17 year old girl who has grown up in the Guild of Thieves and has risen to be a top notch thief. The mysterious leaders of the Guild, The Circle, send her on a seemingly impossible mission, and when successfully completes it, her world is turned upside down. A loner for most of her life, learning not to trust anyone and not to love anyone, she embarks on a mission to save the world from the Deathless King, and to do so she's going to have to let people in, including the assassin meant to kill her that's slowly becoming irresistible.

I had a little trouble getting into the book at first, but after a few chapters it hooked me. I'd say the pacing is medium, with a decent amount of world building without being overwhelming. There's not a ton of big action in the story, but there's just enough to keep you engaged. Halek is by far my favorite character, and the one that has the most personality coming off the page. The others come off a little stiff and a little flat, but also not unlikeable. I'm interested to see the growth (hopefully) in the next books. I found the writing style to be beautiful, and while the plot is definitely YA (minimal swearing and no steamy scenes), the writing is not juvenile. This is the first book written by this author that I've read, and I'm definitely interested in checking out others.

I did receive this book for free from NetGalley/Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

I was a little nervous starting this book after the preface regarding video games. I found that I greatly enjoyed the story and was recommending it to fellow readers before I even finished reading it. Sparrow is an endearing street thief who has to grapple with a philosophical conflict of destiny while navigating treacherous jobs and a deadly secret society. She acquires a group of supporting characters along the way. Her path is full of adventure, danger, and uncanny luck. I am definitely looking forward to future stories!

I’ve been obsessed with Julie Kagawa ever since The Iron Fey series completely stole my heart, so when I got approved for this one, I screamed. And let me tell you—Fateless did not disappoint. From the very first chapter, I was completely hooked. It’s everything I love—assassins, thieves, betrayals, Mythical beasts, and found family.

Sparrow is our badass main character who shines throughout the story. Her mission with the Thieves Guild leads her deep into the heart of a forgotten city. And let’s talk about Raithe—the mysterious assassin she’s forced to work with? oof… I was eating this up. My friend also read this early and we were talking about how it definitely gave major Divergent/ The Hunger Games, Assassin’s Creed, and Anastasia vibes. The world-building? Insane. Fateless is a must-read.

"Fateless" is an electric combination of fantasy and action that grabs you and pulls you in immediately. The nod to Assassin's Creed while crafting such an immense and brutal world in fantastic. This is definitely one for the fans of the intricate realms and high stakes.

The world building is just phenomenal. One of the strongest elements of the book. It is just so vivid and rich. Well done. There are some questions left unanswered, which sets us up for a sequel I can't wait to read

Julie can really do no wrong for me. I love her voice and the pace of her books is almost always right. I definitely picked it up for the romance but the found family aspect was a really solid bonus that kind of overshadowed the romance. I'l definitely be picking this one up on release day and sharing with my friends.

First of all thank you so much for allowing me to be an advanced reader! I’ll admit I have other books by the author on my TBR but this was the first I’ve read. I honestly loved it. It’s got sort of divergent vibes combined with gods. The romance is what got me to read it but the found family/characters are what actually made this for me. Can’t wait for the next book!

I really enjojyed the voice and the pacing felt quick. It'd be perfect for fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise.

Fast paced and thrilling this was immersive and captivating from the first page, loved the characters and overall plot, great balance of action X character development, vast world building and magic system, loved it so much!

Fateless is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish! Julie Kagawa crafts a rich, dangerous world full of forgotten cities, ancient magic, and high-stakes heists that’ll have your heart racing. Sparrow is the kind of fierce, determined heroine readers love to root for, and the sizzling tension between her and Raithe, the mysterious assassin, adds just the right amount of romantic intrigue.

With a fast-paced plot, a crew of lovable rogues, and nonstop twists, this book feels like Indiana Jones meets An Ember in the Ashes. It’s clever, cinematic, and totally unputdownable. If you love epic adventures, secret guilds, and bold heroines, you won’t want to miss this one. Bring on book two!

Fateless features an immersive world with rich world-building and compelling characters. There was plenty of action, and I know that even my fantasy-reluctant students would be interested in the storyline. Can't wait to read this to my classes for First Chapter Friday!

3.5 stars! Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sparrow is a thief in the middle of a desert town when a request is made to her to steal an artifact that changes her life.

We go on a wild journey and add some great side characters along the way. My only issue with this first installment was that I wanted more time with the characters to add some more depth to them. I did really appreciate the found family vibe of it all.

If YA is not your thing, this may not be for you. But I appreciated the action filled plot with minimal romance - it added to the plot rather than being the plot. This book is fun and unique and I want to know what happens next.

First off thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Let it be known that I love this author's writing style and binge read all of her Iron Fey series and spin off like no ones business so when i saw she was releasing another book (be it another trilogy) i knew i had to get my hot little hands on it.

If you are a fan of Assassins Creed, female BA assassins, the Fates, and found family this is the book for you! Also for fans of the animated Anastasia movie (trust me you will catch the reference fast) IYKYK. No spoilers but I started feeling a bit meh about things until over half way when something happened and it caught my attention right away.

I wasnt fully sure what was going to happen in this book and im glad i stuck around to the end to see it through because i could see this trilogy going many directions and cant wait to find out how the whole thing goes in the end.

Cant wait for the rest of the books!

I liked this one, it was giving me a little bit of The Mummy vibes.
You know ancient awakened evil, a line of assassin protectors, a thief in the wrong place outside the norm of fate needing some protecting, a goofy sidekick. The players a little mixed up, but same energy.

Sparrow is a thief in the Guild of Thieves. A shadowy group called The Circle oversees their operations and a request from them cannot be turned down.
Sparrow is very good, and chalks it all up to luck, but it may be a bit more than that. And she may be destined for greater things than she could ever imagine.

Enter a very good looking assassin, a fate chasing sidekick who finds himself in a place he should not be, and our motley crew is joined together in a plot to save the world.
A prophecy has been set in motion, and Sparrow can change it, alter it, and by drawing those around her into her orbit change their own path.

Action, a touch of chaste lingering romance, certain death, ancient evil king who wants to subjugate the world, and those who would stand against him once again. This is a solid, truly YA adventure. I wish this one gave a little bit more info getting to their destination but I'm sure a big reveal is to come.

This was so well written! The author crafted an epic journey that had it all. High stakes, romance, and characters to root for. Sparrow was a great MC to follow. I will definitely check out more from this author.

My Thoughts

For me the hardest part of starting a new series/trilogy by an author I enjoy is worrying whether or not the first book ends on a cliffhanger or has its satisfactory resolution with a lead in for a sequel.

I feel like that worry was for nothing as not only is this first story arc wrapped up but Sparrows’ work is not done and both anticipating but also dreading waiting for book two as I want it now not later!

The action throughout was both thrilling and at times scary, the characters given life in this story were interesting to learn about and the storylines crafted within their world intrigued and kept me guessing what would happen next.

As a lover of Fantasy and Magic this first foray into the authors new Trilogy delivered on its promises quite well for me.
[EArc from Netgalley]
On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

Thanks to Net Galley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

This is the first book I've read by Julie Kagawa.

It's a story where survival is a constant struggle—people betray you, nature can be brutal, there are creatures, and even God...

I was drawn in by the annotation and the cover, and the plot did not disappoint! Sure, there are some nuances, but overall it was a fun read. I laughed at times, and Halek definitely my fav character!

It had such a great atmosphere! The quest for the artifact and all the thieving, plus the desert adventures, I really enjoyed it.

The romance didn't grab me too much; I liked that they didn't fall in love at first sight, but still, the moment of their closeness isn't really clear to me.

I’m definitely looking forward to the second part and might even check out another series by the author.

• Thief
• Ancient God
• From enemies to Lovers
• Souls and Destinies
• Found Family
• Mythical Creatures

Alright. I am totally hooked. I have so many questions. I am totally in love with the characters and the lore and, oddly, the bugs. I am not usually fond of bugs but now I want a huge beetle to fly on. Fateless has started me on a journy that I am going to be anticipating the next installment. Will I be a fatechaser, following my destiny across a lifeless world teaming with life that refused to give up? Can Sparrow become her own destiny? Can I wait for the next book? Oh I hope so. I hope so.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Julie Kagawa’s “Fateless” is an electrifying blend of fantasy, action, and immersive world-building that grips you from the very first page. Drawing inspiration from the Assassin’s Creed series, Kagawa crafts a brutal, richly detailed world where fate is as much a curse as it is a guiding force. Fans of intricate fantasy realms, high-stakes heists, and morally complex characters will find much to love in this thrilling first installment.

At the heart of the story is Sparrow, a young thief raised in the Thieves Guild, where survival depends on loyalty, cunning, and an uncanny stroke of luck. When she’s tasked with an impossible mission from the shadowy Circle—the true power behind the Guild—her life takes a deadly turn. Hunted by the enigmatic assassin Raithe, Sparrow soon realizes that her fate is tied to a much larger conflict—one that could reshape their world. Betrayals force her to question everything she thought she knew, and she reluctantly allies with Raithe, along with the charismatic Fatechaser Halek and the fierce warrior Kysa, in a desperate bid to stop an ancient catastrophe.

Kagawa’s world-building is one of the book’s strongest elements. The setting is vividly realized, from the oppressive heat of the sun-scorched lands to the eerie ruins of the Deathless Kings’ forgotten city. The concept of Fate and the Fateless adds a fascinating layer to the story, blending mysticism with high-octane adventure. The history of the Deathless Kings unfolds throughout the story, adding depth to the looming sense of doom.

Sparrow is a compelling protagonist—flawed, determined, and refreshingly vulnerable. Her growth over the course of the novel is satisfying, even if the pacing occasionally slows. The tension between her and Raithe is well-executed, though their relationship at times leans toward predictable. A bit more slow-burn development could have made their dynamic even stronger. However, the supporting cast shines, with Kysa’s fierce loyalty and Halek’s humor adding much-needed balance to the story’s darker themes.

While "Fateless" starts off strong and maintains a gripping pace for much of the journey, the middle section lags slightly before ramping up to an action-packed finale. The betrayals, though somewhat predictable, serve the story well, pushing Sparrow to evolve in ways that feel earned. The book leaves some unanswered questions, setting the stage for what promises to be an even more intense sequel.

Overall, “Fateless” is an enthralling start to a new fantasy series, combining pulse-pounding action, rich world-building, and a compelling protagonist. If you love fast-paced heists, mysterious assassins, and morally gray characters navigating a world teetering on the edge of chaos, this book is a must-read. I’ll definitely be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Thieves, assassins, betrayal you name it. This book combined all three very well.
We follow our main character sparrow who is an accomplished thief and she is sent on a mission that goes a little awry.
Vivid world building, compelling characters and an action packed adventure that did not let go until the end.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

It’s been a while since I read one of Julie Kagawa’s books. Did a reread of her Talon series when Infero released, and I forgot how talented she is. And even if Kagawa hadn’t begun this novel with the author’s note she did, I’d have been able to tell she was a fan of video games, especially Assassin’s Creed. There are just so many parts of this story that scream it. And as a fan of gaming in general and Assassin’s Creed in particular, this only enhanced my enjoyment of Fateless. The world building is so good and young Sparrow’s thrilling adventure filled with thieves, assassins, mythical beasts, action, and betrayal made this an excellent opening book for Kagawa’s new trilogy.