I'm currently on book 3 in The Talon Saga too and from my experience with this author she has such a gift with words. You truly feel transported into the worlds she has created. I can't wait to see where book 2 in this new series takes us. I'm especially excited to see where the romance goes as it's just blossoming and I ship it. This series has so much potential that I dare not try to predict anything that my happen in future books.

2.5⭐️ rounded up.

I struggled to stay focused while reading this book. There are a lot of things here that work: skilled thief FMC, loveable sidekick, ancient fae-coded MMC, unique lore and setting. And yet I found my mind drifting occasionally only to snap back when the FMC was suddenly annoying me a little. She just very much gives 17. Which she is, but still there were moments where the brattiness irked me. Also someone on page actually points out the FMC is “very young” and asks the MMC “aren’t you in the hundreds” and I know a ton of my fantasy books have that age gap but wow was it awkward to have it acknowledged on page. Especially when I really couldn’t see the chemistry between the leads. Overall, Fateless has a lot of content people may love but I found the book a bit underwhelming and am unlikely to continue the series.

In regards to the audio performance, the narrator did an overall good job voicing all the different characters and with annunciation and pacing. There was occasionally a lot of vibrato going on to convey the FMC feeling scared or upset but other than that it was a good performance.

It was a great story with a break from the whole dragon and court trends. It was suspenseful with a slow burn of romance.

This was a fast paced read with an amazing premise, with the beginnings of a love story amidst the world building and plot. I thought the concept of being fateless was an interesting take on things and can’t wait to learn more about that in books two and three.

Thank you Net Galley and Harlequin Audio for letting me have this one.

Fateless: ⁣
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Thank you @epicreads for my gifted copy!⁣
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I didn’t realize how much of a grip this book had on me. ⁣
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It’s definitely the first book in a series, there’s a solid foundation that was set for this one. I really loved it and blew through it trying to figure out the different parts of this world and who we could actually trust.⁣
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It’s definitely YA, but I loved the world bustling and the FMC. Sparrow was really cool just trying to figure out wtf was going on in her life and who she could trust.⁣
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I loved the audio! I actually finished a little after pub day because the audio is where it was at. The cadence, the suspense, it gripped me in the best ways.

“The Fateless must die for the Deathless King to rule the world.”⁣
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Overall, a solid start to this series and I cannot wait to see what happens next!⁣
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QOTD: Any weekend plans?

I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! It’s been awhile since I’ve read a YA book and it did not disappoint! We had:
-Assassins
-Fae
-Monsters/Undead
-Fate
-Found Family
-Enemies to Lovers
-Slow Burn
-No 🌶️
This was also my first book by Julie Kagawa (thank you NetGalley) and I’ll definitely be reading more of her stories. The world building, the setting(very mummy vibes), the pace, the descriptions made you feel like you were there. It was all just…good! I loved that even though the FMC Sparrow was the “chosen one” she was still just a young naive girl that just tried to figure it out as things happened and wasn’t an all knowing BA like how they usually make the FMC’s. And I LOVED the side characters! They brought a lot of the personality to the story, because Sparrow didn’t have much haha. I listened to the audio and Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a great job bringing the characters to life. I’ll be impatiently awaiting book 2!
4.25⭐️

I read this book as an ARC and loved it. So when the audio book was released I immediately had to listen! My original review of the book was five stars for world building, amazing character development and story line. The narrator for this book does not disappoint! She captures the nuances of each character. Her narration was so well done, not only did I get caught up in the story but I forgot it was one narrator. Sometimes books I read and then listen to don't always match up but the narration was engaging and it was just as amazing as when I first read the book. I can't wait for the second book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for this ARC audio. All opinions are my own.

This was a great start to the Fateless series. Julia Kagawa did a wonderful job of world building while telling the story, thus keeping the story moving at a quick pace.
I love Sparrow, she is strong, smart, and some would say, lucky. I can't wait to read the next book (but I obviously will because it still needs to be written and published) to see where Julie takes these characters and this story next.

Mia Hutchinson-Shaw did a great job narrating the story and I hope that Mia will narrate the rest of the series.

What if you were tied to everyone's fate? If everyone you encountered had their fate changed just because you came into their lives. This is the question Sparrow finds herself asking in the new world of the Fateless created by Julie Kagawa.
The world of Deathless Kings, Kaji assassins, Fate Chasers, and the Fateless is perfect for those wanting a new world idea for the YA fantasy genre. Sparrow is a great 17yr old FMC that has been hardened by the world she was raised in, yet learning how to trust those around her that only want to protect and show her that there is more in the world than a thief's life.
I love everything Julie Kagawa. Hearing her words come alive by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw was everything. The voice for each character was perfect; especially with the comedy she brought to Halic. Julie Kagawa broke the mold with YA fantasy with her Iron Fey series, and it will always be my favorite. This new world she created I feel is something new and different. I cannot wait to see where Sparrow and her new found family travel too and encounter more dangers of the Deathless King.
When the fate of the world actually rests in her hands, will Sparrow discover that her fate has never been determined or tied down like she's always been lead to believe?

Fateless
by Julie Kagawa
Harlequin Audio
7/15/25

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: 🥀🥀🥀🥀 ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ 𝟻 ᴇɴᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ʀᴏsᴇs

𝒪𝓃𝑒-𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌: ᴅᴇғɪᴀɴᴛ

𝒯𝒶𝑔𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑒: sᴛᴇᴀʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ ғᴀᴛᴇ. ᴜɴʀᴀᴠᴇʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ.

𝒪𝓅𝑒𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐿𝒾𝓃𝑒: ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ ᴡᴀs ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴀᴄʜɪɴɢ.

𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌:

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ @HTP ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʙᴏᴏᴋ!

𝐹𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 ɪs ғᴀᴛᴇʟᴇss ɪs ᴀ ʙᴏʟᴅ, ғᴀsᴛ-ᴘᴀᴄᴇᴅ ʏᴀ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴡᴇᴇᴘs ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴛ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʏ ғᴀᴛᴇ—ᴀɴᴅ ᴜɴʟᴇᴀsʜᴇs ᴏɴᴇ ɢɪʀʟ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ɪᴛs ᴄʜᴀɪɴs. sᴘᴀʀʀᴏᴡ, ᴀ sᴇᴠᴇɴᴛᴇᴇɴ-ʏᴇᴀʀ-ᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜɪᴇғ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪᴇᴠᴇs’ ɢᴜɪʟᴅ, ɢᴇᴛs ᴛʜʀᴏᴡɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ-ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪʀᴄʟᴇ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ, ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ ᴀʜᴇᴀᴅ. ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ɪs ᴏɴᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ ɪs sᴀᴄʀᴇᴅ—ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ’s ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴅ ғʀᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴘᴇsᴛʀʏ.

ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜɪs sᴛᴏʀʏ ɪs sᴘᴀʀʀᴏᴡ’s ᴜɴʟɪᴋᴇʟʏ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʀᴀɪᴛʜᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴏᴏᴅʏ ɪʏʟᴠᴀʜɴ ᴀssᴀssɪɴ sᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɪʟʟ ʜᴇʀ—ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ʜᴇʀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴀʟʟʏ. ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʙᴏɴᴅ sᴛᴀʀᴛs ᴡɪᴛʜ sᴘᴀʀᴋs ᴀɴᴅ sᴜsᴘɪᴄɪᴏɴ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ʙᴜɪʟᴅs ɪɴᴛᴏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ sᴡᴇᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ. ᴀᴅᴍɪᴛᴛᴇᴅʟʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ғᴇʟᴛ ᴀ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀᴅᴇᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇɴsɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴᴀʟ ᴘᴀʏᴏғғ sᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴛɪɴɢ ʜᴀʀᴅ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇᴍ . ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴛᴏ sᴇᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴜᴛᴜʀᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs.

ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ-ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ? ᴄʜᴇғ’s ᴋɪss. ᴊᴜʟɪᴇ ᴋᴀɢᴀᴡᴀ ᴄʀᴀғᴛs ᴀ ᴛᴇxᴛᴜʀᴇᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟᴍ ᴏғ ɴᴇᴏᴘᴇʀsɪ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴛ ᴄɪᴛɪᴇs, ᴜɴᴅᴇʀɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʀᴜɪɴs, ғᴀᴛᴇ-ᴡᴏʀsʜɪᴘ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴄᴜʟᴛᴜʀᴇs ᴡᴏᴠᴇɴ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ʀɪᴄʜ ᴛᴀᴘᴇsᴛʀʏ . ɪᴛ ʀᴇᴍɪɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴏғ 𝒜𝓈𝓈𝒶𝓈𝓈𝒾𝓃'𝓈 𝒞𝓇𝑒𝑒𝒹 ᴍᴇᴇᴛs 𝒯𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒲𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝒦𝒾𝓃𝑔𝒹𝑜𝓂 ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ᴅᴀsʜ ᴏғ 𝐹𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓉𝒽 𝒲𝒾𝓃𝑔—ᴘʟᴇɴᴛʏ ᴏғ ʟᴏʀᴇ, ʜɪᴅᴅᴇɴ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪɢʜ-sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀ .

𝒯𝓇𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓈 & 𝐸𝓁𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈:
✨ ғᴀᴛᴇ ᴠs ғʀᴇᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ
⏳ ʜᴇɪsᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴄɪᴇɴᴛ ᴛᴏᴍʙs
✨ sᴇᴄʀᴇᴛ sᴏᴄɪᴇᴛɪᴇs
⏳ ʀᴇʟᴜᴄᴛᴀɴᴛ ᴀʟʟɪᴇs → sʟᴏᴡ-ʙᴜʀɴ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
✨ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴛ ғᴀɴᴛᴀsʏ + ᴜɴᴅᴇʀɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ʀᴜɪɴs
⏳ ʙʀᴏᴏᴅʏ ᴀssᴀssɪɴ & ᴛʜɪᴇғ ᴅʏɴᴀᴍɪᴄ
✨ ʜɪɢʜ-sᴛᴀᴋᴇs ᴀᴅᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇ & ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏᴀʟs

𝒩𝒶𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃: ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴀs ᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴠᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ᴠᴏᴄᴀʟ ᴅɪsᴛɪɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴇᴍᴀʟᴇ ᴍᴄs. ᴛʜɪs sᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇs ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ɪᴛ ᴛʀɪᴄᴋʏ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀs sᴘᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ—ᴇsᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ɪɴ ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ-ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛs. ᴀ sʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴅᴇᴇᴘᴇʀ ᴛᴏɴᴇ ᴏʀ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴠᴏᴄᴀʟ ᴄᴜᴇ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴍᴄ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ’ᴠᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘᴇᴅ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴄʟᴇᴀʀᴇʀ.

𝐹𝒾𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝒱𝑒𝓇𝒹𝒾𝒸𝓉: 𝐹𝒶𝓉𝑒𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 ᴅᴇʟɪᴠᴇʀs ʜɪɢʜ-ᴏᴄᴛᴀɴᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴇɴᴛᴜʀᴇ, ʟᴀʏᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ-ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇғɪᴀɴᴛ ᴍᴀɢɪᴄ. ɪғ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴀʟʟʏ ɢʀᴀʏ ʜᴇʀᴏɪɴᴇs, ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀʟʟɪᴀɴᴄᴇs, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪsᴇ ᴏғ ᴅᴇsᴛɪɴʏ-ᴅᴇғʏɪɴɢ ʀᴇʙᴇʟʟɪᴏɴ—ᴛʜɪs ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪs ʏᴏᴜʀ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴏɴ. ᴄᴀɴɴᴏᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ɪɴsᴛᴀʟʟᴍᴇɴᴛ!

ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ!
𝒜𝓈𝒽𝓁𝑒𝓎
ʙᴏᴏᴋsᴛᴀɢʀᴀᴍ: @ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ
ᴡᴡᴡ.ᴛʜᴇᴛᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅᴘᴀɢᴇ.ᴄᴏᴍ

I finally got around to reading and listening to Fateless and there was so much to enjoy. Set in a vivid desert world, this YA fantasy follows Sparrow, a clever thief known as the Fateless, who gets caught up in a dangerous mission where she experiences adventure, betrayal, and the struggle between free will and fate.

The world building was so well done and I loved the mix of action and quiet moments. The romance subplot added just the right amount of tension, and I always love a reluctant alliance. Halek completely stole the show as my favorite character. I could honestly listen to the narrator talk all day. 5/5

Also, this cover? Gorgeous.

Some parts felt a little slower for me, but overall it was a solid, entertaining read.

Tropes:
🏜️Desert like setting
🤝 Reluctant allies
❤️‍🔥 Romance subplot
🫂 Found family
🔮 Fate vs. Free Will
🗡️ Betrayal

Oh my gosh, this audiobook had me literally HOOKED! In a chokehold! I couldn’t stop! I love this author and now I’m addicted!

I applied for this audiobook before it was published, so as an arc. Didn't get a response until today (August 1st) except I finished the book on July 28th! I actually got my copy from the library a day early and read half of it in one day. Took a while to get to the rest as I've been busy but finished the other half in one day too. This book was AMAZING, love the characters, the writing, everything. I've been a huge fan of Julie's for years and years. Have reread multiple books of hers tons of times. Recommend her to anyone who asks for book/author recs (because they're always getting the same people over and over). I was so excited when I saw that she was coming out with a new book, love this one. Can't wait for the second in the series!

I'm a fan of Kagawa, so when I saw Fateless was the start of a new fantasy trilogy, there was no doubt I'd be requesting the ARC from NetGalley.

Fateless started out slow, but I'm thinking this is a me thing. I initially listened to the audiobook. While the narrator does a wonderful job, I feel like I missed some details along the way. Around the 55% mark I switched to the ebook, and that made the difference. I immediately gained a better understanding of this desert-like world and the dangers that come along with it. Being caught out in the scorching heat during Demon Hour is nearly a guaranteed painful death sentence.

As an orphan raised in the Thieves' Guild Sparrow was taught to trust no one and to put her own well-being above all others. Her self-esteem is in the toilet because Fate determines your place in the world at birth, and the only release from it is death. Consequently, Sparrow believes she's "only a thief" - but she's a clever one and a fierce fighter. When her mission goes off the rails and a Deathless King is raised, she has no choice but to go against her instincts and take a chance on unlikely allies - the occasionally comedic Halek, cunning assassin Raithe, and the insect-riding warrior Kysa. Trust doesn't come easy, and I enjoyed watching Sparrow learn to care about others and form bonds.

The Fateless is mentioned several times over the course of the story and plays a significant role in the fight against the Deathless King, but I'm just as uncertain as Sparrow of what that term means exactly. A vague explanation is given, but I assume more will be revealed in the sequel.

With a high stakes adventure, endearing characters, and shocking betrayals, there's a lot to keep readers flipping the pages long past bedtime. Some may swoon over the romance brewing between Sparrow and Raithe. Recommended to fans of fate and prophecies, settings that are nearly characters, and strong bonds of friendship.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Fateless spins the story of a thief, an assassin, and a fate chaser who have to team up against the rise of the Deathless Kings, immortal kings of old. Kagawa does an excellent job of world building. As the first book in a new series, the reader learns the abundance of new information in an organic way that doesn't overwhelm or tell.
Of our trio of main characters the Fatechaser, Halek, was probably my favorite. Our heroine Sparrow is okay, but very obviously a teenage girl as shown through her actions and thoughts. (This isn't necessarily a criticism of the character, but just a thought that maybe I am aging out of really enjoying a teenage chosen one as much as I would have in the past. I think may make me old...ugh.)
I listened to an advance copy of the audiobook and I enjoyed the narrator, Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. She brought a lot of emotion and personality to the characters of this book.

:I really enjoyed this audiobook! While it’s labeled YA, it definitely reads upper YA and I think older readers will definitely love it. The concept of fate as magic felt super fresh and different, and I really liked that the FMC is fateless. She’s basically out here messing up the system, and I was so into it.

The characters were fun, the story kept me hooked, and I’m definitely interested to see where it goes next. I already know book two is going to get even wilder. Also, major props to the narrator. They crushed it with the emotion and pacing.

An epic start to a remarkable high fantasy! I knew from the moment the dedication mentioned Ezio and Altair that this was definitely a series I was going to enjoy. If Assassin’s Creed and Tomb Raider had a baby with the setting being in the desert you’d get this phenomenal story. Brilliant world building, well rounded and quirky characters, and the plot plotted! I was hooked from start to finish! Nothing predictable in this book and it left me craving more! Ya fantasy, no spice, no cliffhanger, no need for trigger warnings.

A first by this author and won’t be the last. I did the audio and the narration was spectacular!
Thrilling action and wonderful world building. The narrator did an amazing job bringing the book to life
A great mix of adventure and fantasy. I’’m excited to see where the story goes in book 2

Probably more like 3.5 stars but I'm rounding up.

A thief is tasked with stealing a relic that belonged to a deathless king. Except whoops, that will end up releasing said deathless king and destroy the world. Bet you no one saw that coming.

The plot definitely has The Mummy meets Prince of Persia vibes. Stealing a relic? Check. Getting chased by hoards of the undead? Also check. Everything going horribly wrong as buried cities rise again? Yeah I've played this video game and I love it.

The action is top notch. My main complaint is after the pulse-pounding part 1, the pace slows down a ton as the gang makes their way to their next destination. Sure, they're attacked by magical undead creatures a few times, but there's also a lot of drinking in taverns where I'm not sure if they stopped at a port somewhere or if it's inside the giant walker thingy that navigates the sand sea?

But whatever, Halek the fate chaser is the best. #TeamHalek all the way. Raith is okay if you like elvish broody types which is what I assume he is. All the character interactions were lively and I enjoyed the team vibes they had.

The worldbuilding was a little sketchy but that might be because I'm not really a visual person and I was listening to the audiobook while doing other things. The narrator was top notch and did a great job having different types of voices for all the characters and infusing Sparrow's emotion into the narration.

Recommended for fans of Aladdin, desert fantasy, and early 2010s YA fantasy as it felt like a fun throwback. While there is a slowly developing romance, it isn't the focus of the story and I really appreciated that.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

Unfortunately I don't think this one was for me. The pacing was slow, and the writing style was repetitive and lacked meaningful descriptions. I found myself bored through the majority of the book.

Thank you for this ARC, I appreciate the chance to read this before release!