Thank you, @htp_hive and @htpbooks, for the ALC review copy.

I enjoyed this audiobook of Fateless. I thought the narrator did a good job depicting the world and characters of this book. It was an enjoyable listen.

The setting and atmosphere of this book were so interesting and really added to the world building. The worldbuilding was very descriptive, making you feel immersed in the story and was definitely one of this book's strengths. Add in thieves, heists, some politics, a romance subplot, and a fast-paced story with action to combine together for an enjoyable read.

I’m not sure why I’m recently obsessed with all these desert themed YA fantasy books but WOW. Fateless was so incredible! It follows a teen who is the best thief in the guild (also the adopted daughter of the guild master) and she gets sent on a mission to retrieve a stone from a long forgotten and cursed city under ground. From the very first chapter I was SAT. I wanted to know what the heck was going to happen and boy oh boy I was in for an epic treat. I loved the plot, I loved the characters, I loved the twists and turns, I loved the tiny touches of romance, and I loved the heart pounding action. I need book 2 like yesterday!

🎧 The audiobook performance was immaculate. I completely forgot it was one person narrating the story because each character felt different and so real. I was finding every excuse to keep listening to the audiobook as I went about my day!

I RECOMMEND IF:
If you like The Mummy, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Shadow and Bone, or the Air Awakens series, then there’s a good chance you will enjoy Fateless.

WHAT TO EXPECT:
• YA epic fantasy with a touch of romance
• chosen one
• career thief turned hero
• who can you trust?
• epic battles
• listen to your intuition
• interesting laws of “fate”
• monsters
• found family

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good start to a new YA fantasy series by Julie Kagawa. This is my first book with the author, and she usually has high ratings for her books, so I am interested in reading more by her. It's aworld filled with a thieves guild, assassins, treasure plundering adventures, and betrayal. It is fast-paced and very engaging, making you want to know more. I wish there was a little more world building as I feel that was a little lacking, but maybe we'll get more in the second book. It definitely has the YA feel to it, but it's enjoyable enough for adults as well. Sparrow is an interesting character, and I can't wait to see how she develops further in the books. Great audiobook!

Great adventure! I really enjoyed the world building and the characters as a whole in this one. This was my first read from Julie Kagawa and I'm looking forward to picking up more from this author.

I loved this book. I am a bit biased because I absolutely love everything Julie Kagawa writes but this was excellent. The world building was fascinating and really unique. I felt like I could see the inspiration but it felt entirely new. Major points for creativity because I really haven’t read anything else like this world. I also loved the found family elements in this story. Julie Kagawa always does found family so well (please see her Shadow of the Fox series if you haven’t already!) and this book was no exception.

Lastly, I loved the romance. It was slow burn and enemies to lovers and everything I wanted. Dare I say it, but it almost gave Rowan and Aelin vibes??

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Most importantly, thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook. The narrator was great! The characters really came to life and I love first person narration on audio. I will definitely continue the series in this medium.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Sparrow is a thief in the guild, raised by the guild-master. The land is a desert with 2 suns that rotate in the sky.

She is tasked to steal a relic that will literally change their fates.

Now a deathless god is has returned and Sparrow and her friends are on the run.
⏳
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a fun story. It’s very reminiscent of a “Mummy” movie with skeletons protecting a hidden city, relics, and a “protector” who is trying to stop the the undead king from being brought back.

It’s filled with Undead Gods, giant Beatles, desert land, lost city, battles, found family, the chosen one
⏳
There is No spice (so far).

It had a good ending, no major cliffhanger, the story is not finished.

I’m not sure how many books are planned in the series.
⏳
The audiobook was well done.

I was in desperate need of some good, old-fashioned, YA fantasy and Julie Kagawa's Fateless perfectly fit the bill.

With gorgeous world-building and a propulsively plotted first-half, Kagawa drops you right into Sparrow's world in the Thieves Guild that raised her. With touches of Throne of Glass, Six of Crows, and a hefty dose of The Mummy, Fateless is atmospheric and thrilling. The latter part of the book really ramps things up for the next installment and I can't wait.

I was fortunate enough to get the chance to read the audio version of this book and I cannot recommend it enough. The narration was perfect and I loved the way it moved the story forward.

Fateless was a roller coaster. It started off really strong with The Mummy and Indiana Jones vibes and then slowed down quite a bit until the end of the book. A lot happens in the beginning while the rest of the book is to set up the trilogy. The worldbuilding was really great. At times I could feel the heat of two suns on my face (this summer is brutal). The side characters really stand out in Fateless and help break up the severe personalities of Sparrow and Raithe. An interesting story though that I enjoyed reading. Mia Hutchinson-Shaw does a wonderful job narrating this story. I especially loved the energy she brought to the Fatechaiser, Halek.

Fateless was a great YA fantasy book set in a deadly and mysterious desert world. It was filled with thievery, heists, adventure, danger, an evil immortal tyrant, and the best found family. It felt like a mashup of Assasin’s Creed, Tomb Raider, and The Mummy, and I loved it!

The characters in this book are so fun. Sparrow was raised in the Thieves Guild, so she’s morally grey, but also has a conscience. Halek brings the comedic relief as her quirky fate-seeking friend. And Raithe is the broody assassin who starts out as Sparrow’s enemy but quickly becomes much more. These unlikely allies band together to fight the Deathless King and to find out Sparrow’s destiny as they travel across the desert and try to save the world. Their adventures are filled with banter, danger, and a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance.

The audiobook was narrated by Mia Hutchinson Shaw and she did an amazing job bringing Sparrow’s story to life. It was an excellent way to start the series, and I definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books, HarperCollins, Harper Audio, Julie Kagawa, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔Fateless
✏️ Julie Kagawa
📆 July 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🪲 desert world
🪲 thieves and assassins guild
🪲 fighting against fate
🪲 evil deathless king
🪲 giant insect and dragon riding
🪲 found family

This was an amazing book I absolutely loved the characters and the plot! I will definitely be posting a review on my bookstagram tomorrow! It was fast passed and kept my attention the whole book! I adored sparrow! The world building was absolutely amazing! Definitely cannot wait for the next book!

Fateless is the first book in a new high stakes fantasy trilogy. I was hooked from the very beginning thanks in part to its fast pacing. There’s enough world building to give reader’s a sense of the land and magic. I thought that Kagawa crafted interesting and well developed characters. I love how different they were while managing to click as a perfect found family. There’s plenty of action and adventure as well as betrayals, wild revelations, and political machinations. If you’re a fan of the movie, The Mummy, this will give similar feelings while still feeling original. The audiobook narration was enjoyable, and I felt that it fit the overall vibe of the story. It was also easy to understand and easy to stay immersed in the story. I would recommend checking this book out especially via audiobook.

This book is Assassin’s Blade meets Dune meets Ember in the Ashes. Fateless killed it with the vibes! Set against the backdrop of a harsh desert landscape, Fateless delivers a gritty assassin clan fantasy full of tension, twists, and literal heat.

If you love assassin guilds, mysterious strangers, found family, unique culture/religion, daring heists, and political culture, this one checks every box. The romance is present, but it never overshadows the immersive worldbuilding and rich cultural depth. Julie Kagawa has crafted a fantastic story that you can just dive right into and never want to resurface.

This is action-packed fantasy at its finest, with a twist of fate (or fateless) you won’t see coming. I cannot wait for book 2 and to get my special edition of this book!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this. I do feel like there is a lot about the world that needs to be fleshed out but I didn't feel like I was really missing anything really vital while reading. The narrator did a great job with pacing and keeping the atmosphere.

You know that feeling when a book gives you all the right vibes? That was Fateless by Julie Kagawa for me. 👀 It’s the perfect mix of Assassin’s Blade intensity, The Mummy adventure, and Assassin’s Creed stealth and I was hooked.

From the first chapter to the very end, the story delivered nonstop action, emotional stakes, and some seriously cinematic moments. The characters had depth, the pacing was on point, and the world was so vivid, I could see every scene play out like a movie.

If you love fantasy that’s rich in atmosphere, packed with danger, and just the right amount of heartbreak—add this to your TBR ASAP. Julie Kagawa did not miss. 🔥📚

Thanks to NetGalley for an audiobook arc of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The narrator was great so no fear of zoning out just from the voice. The characters were likable and it was fun watching the journey they went on. The MC, Sparrow, was raised by the thieves guild and has become one of the best members in it. She gets called on to steal something that no one has managed to steal before.

There’s betrayals, love, sacrifices. Everything you could want in a fantasy novel. Julie Kagawa has been one of my favorites since I was in high school and she’s still holding onto her spot with every new book that she releases.

The slow burn between two of the characters is chefs kiss.

Like when every good book ends, I’m going to dread waiting for the next one to come out. The way it ended was just awesome. Definitely recommend this one to other fans of Kagawa

17-year-old Sparrow was adopted into the Thieves Guild as an infant, and has since made a name for herself based on her skill and incredible luck. When she's given a top-secret mission from The Circle, the mysterious group who runs the Thieves Guild, she knows she can't say know. But little does she know, the object she's tasked with stealing will set off a chain of events far bigger than Sparrow ever imagined. Now, she'll have to work with the assassin who was tasked to stop her and a death-defying fate chaser to save their world.

I will be honest that there wasn't anything entirely unique about this book compared to other popular fantasy/romantasy books, but I loved the vibes and the characters, the narrative kept me engaged the entire book, and I'm excited to read what comes next without being left on a giant cliffhanger.

The pacing of this felt perfect to me. There was plenty of moderation between action and development, and although there's pretty early action, it didn't feel like you were being thrown into the storyline unprepared. I loved that Kagawa builds a world rich with different cultures and religions, all built around Fate and the Weaver, but with variations. Fate is a huge theme in this book, and it was interesting to see how it affected each of the characters who come into Sparrow's orbit.

I didn't give this one a spice rating as there's really only the whisper of a romance sub-plot in the last quarter of the book. I love the emotional connection that's being built between the MCs in this book, though, so I'm excited to see how it develops in the next book.

I listened to this one on audio, narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw. She's a new narrator to me but I would for sure listen to her again. Her tempo and inflection were appropriate for the scenes, and as the only narrator, she did a great job creating uniquely identifiable voices for each of the characters.

Read if you like:
Thief FMC
Chosen one
Found family
Unlikely allies to lovers
Slow burn romance
Desert setting
Undead adversary
Fate
Single POV

Julie has done it again ! 400 pages of the mummy meet mission impossible and I am here for it. The main character is funny, daring and realistic in the death imposing doom of trials she is going through. The book is fast past making you not want to put it down. I can't wait for the next in the series.

The fact that the release is in July is fitting for how much desert-like weather happens in this novel.🔥☀️🍳☀️🍳


Pre orders are up 📖 Make sure to pick up your copy on July 15th!


Once you read the novel you'll understand why the title is soo fitting.

I am hoping Raithe and Sparrow art prints will be made!



#fateless #juliekagawa #newseries #arcreader #fanstasy #yanovels

The idea/premise of the book is what pulled me in on top of the gorgeous cover!

I have to be honest, I felt like this was so much wording building with hint of plot. Don’t get me wrong, for a world with these complexities and the characters in it I think it’s necessary to a degree but I don’t feel like I got that far into the story even 1/4 the way in..

There are a few parts that could have used more descriptions or just sit on that point a little longer meanwhile I’m listening to repetitive descriptions of the outside.. idk.. it’s fine..

This was a very captivating start to a new series!
Our main character Sparrow has basically grown up in a thieves guild. Now, she is one of the best. When The Circle (a group of mysterious people who run the guild) singles her out for a mission, she gladly takes it to prove her worth. But this mission may be more than anyone (besides The Circle) bargained for. Sparrow has brought back an item that could resurrect one of the Deathless Kings and change everyone's lives.
Sparrow is a good character. She's determined to prove herself within her community, but she has learned that it's everyone for themselves. I enjoyed watching her start to trust other people and learn that maybe it's ok to put yourself out there for others. One of my favorite characters was Hallick - a fate chaser (I think they are called). He was goofy and loyal. Our other more main side character was Raithe. He was an Ilvan who live across the desert. He was tall, dark, handsome and mysterious. He started out chasing Sparrow, but ended up having to work with her and Hallick.
I was able to start enjoying myself quite early on in the book - I love heists and Sparrow's mission is so intriguing. I don't want to give away anything that isn't in the synopsis, but the first half really kept my interest. The second half kind of slows down, but is still interesting and you can tell it's bringing us into the second book.
The audiobook narrator was great. She was a little dramatic at times, but it just added to the whole atmosphere of the book.
I am quite curious to see what happens in the second book!

4.5/5 stars | what a WILD adventure!

This was a freaking blast of a book, and I adored so, so much of it. This has a lot of video game inspiration infused throughout, and as a gamer, I appreciated this and felt it all throughout my experience with the book. Sparrow is a thief, and believes herself to be fated to work for the thieves guild for her entire life, never wanting or reaching for anything more. Little does she know, she has so much more to offer the world than she ever imagined… and fate doesn’t have anything to do with it at all.

This has the perfect balance of action, world building, magic, creatures, betrayal, friendship, budding romance, and epic feels. While the world felt reminiscent of lots of series I’ve enjoyed, the monsters and creatures made it entirely unique, and made the entire story unfold in ways I could never expect. I loved the found family between our main characters, and I loved all the gradual and immersive introductions to the different clans, species, and cultures throughout the world. The narrator for this audiobooks as also WONDERFUL and kept every ounce of my attention at every turn.

I really don’t have much of anything bad tos at about this book, just that I did want to feel a bit more I vested in the romance, and I’m excited to see Sparrow grow in her abilities. The very nature of who she is has made it rather… easy for her to get by compared to her companions, and while I don’t overly take issue with this, I think she has a lot of potential to grow into something even fiercer and more complex.

Thank you so much to HarperCollins for this eArc! I can’t wait to see what happens next!