4.5 stars

I read the synopsis for Fate of the Fallen before diving in and so I was expecting it to twist many of the chosen one tropes, but I never expected everything to go so wrong for the characters. Fate of the Fallen has a very intriguing premise, and the author manages to maintain the reader’s interest throughout the novel by keeping up a spark of hope amidst all the disasters.

Kel Kade’s writing style is unlike anything I have encountered before. His style has few flourishes but somehow it still manages to paint a vivid picture of the surroundings for me. The plot can get pretty gory at times, but it doesn’t feel too heavy to read because the narration of the events is easy to read. In fact, I found myself reading Fate of the Fallen much quicker compared to other adult fantasies and I had no trouble getting deeply immersed into it.

Most of the story is from Aaslo’s perspective, and I became very fond of him along the journey. He is a forester – a person responsible for taking care of trees in a world where too many are cut down. Foresters usually never leave their forests, and Aaslo battles with his desire to go back to his trees throughout the journey. He is such a wholesome character! Very grumpy with surprising amounts of kidness for everyone. He also doesn’t care at all about social station and manages to tell off the highest and mightiest of people.

Whereas Aaslo is a grumpy loner, Mathias is an extroverted and optimistic butterfly. The two characters have amazing banter and they balance each other out.

Although Aaslo was pretty relatable, my favourite character is a sassy mage. Teza is a terrible server in a pub, who got herself expelled from the school of mages just because she is incredibly stubborn. Oh and I love her to bits for coming up with great, quick solutions and for being so damn stupporn. She is golden.

Although most of the story follows the main adventure, we also get a peek into the lives (or maybe not lives exactly mmm) of gods and reapers who toy with humans for their amusement. The world is large and complex, and I have a feeling that we will get to learn a whole lot more about it in the future books!

I’m a big fan of this goofy yet terrifying fantasy, and there were only a couple minor things I had problems with. Although the gods’ existence was fascinating, I took quite a lot of time to become completely interested in their storyline. But I have to admit that I have a tendency to dislike sideplots that involve deities or celestial beings; I also disliked the Fates and Luck in the Stepsister.

The other thing that I disliked was how suicide was talked about. The reapers in the story have been chosen by the Fates to retrieve souls of humans and deliver them onwards, and the reaper we follow committed suicide during her human life. The gods occassionally question her about this, and I got a bad taste in my mouth about how the reaper was slightly bullied for her suicide and her motives (or the lack of them). But all this was very very shortly discussed and didn’t really influence my enjoyment of the story.

Also, I need to mention that the plot occassionally felt slightly directionless. This was entirely understandable in the context of the story, but it still made the story drag just for a bit. Although I need to admit that some lack of purpose was required to create the catastrophic atmosphere in the book.

However, the ending left me absolutely screeching. I need to know what happens next, I want to read on! I want the sequel so bad!

As a whole, Fate of the Fallen was a very enjoyable, twisted fantasy set in a complex and intriguing world. I’ll most definitely continue onwards with this series once we get a sequel!!

Fate of the Fallen is the perfect high fantasy for those who want to read one but are not sure they can commit to the 1000 pages a story like this typically is. The story moves quickly and has great descriptions that immerse the reader into the pages. The characters are well thought out with many layers, particularly the main character. The trials he faces and what he feels afterwards shape who he is and where he goes next. Due to spoilers I won't say much more about the story. Nicely done Kel Kade for an amazing story!

An epic beginning to a future fan favorite series. The Fate of the Fallen begins a new series by Kel Kade. Kade creates a world of characters and lands that are relatable in the fantasy genre. Once you open the first page, you will dive into a story of friendship tested, where evil’s power seems undefeated and loyalty may be questionable. Kel Kade has done it again creating something unique and enjoyable in a world of facsimiles.

Absolutely fabulous and such fun ! Ok that isn’t what anyone would expect me to say about a fantasy story but honestly this was a book I thought was full of surprises. Firstly it takes the idea of a chosen one as the hero and totally throws that idea aside. This was character driven and it’s impossible not to cheer for those we meet. Aaslo never wanted to leave his beloved forest but he steps up and is just so heroic ! Add in adorable thieves Peck and Mory, Dolt a very unusual horse, a Reaper who the author clearly has plans for and then there’s the meddling Gods ! I’ve no wish to spoil this for anyone but I have to say with a talking head (yes you read that right ) along for the ride this book was a revelation and I cannot wait to continue this journey.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

The premise of this book was irresistible. It also immediately called to mind Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn series. That said, there are not too many more similarities to note, beyond the obvious fact that both authors explore the idea of what happens when the Chosen One fails, so I shall speak no more of Sanderson.

Fate of the Fallen opens with the device that the story is being told in a world where all of the events have already come to pass, and the careful reader will notice that the protagonist (who is not the Chosen One) either fails or changes his mind about the definition of success. Such a reader will keep in mind throughout the book that somehow there will have to be drastic changes in attitudes or else the prologue must be set far, far in the future. Such a reader will also note the length of the book and assume a sequel. (They would be correct in doing so, this book leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger.)

The protagonist, Aaslo, is a relatable and likable character, but he struck me as almost too unflappable. In many ways he reminded me of the early- to mid-20th century heroes who were good at everything, charming without meaning to be, and completely incorruptible. He barely raises an eyebrow when confronted with high sorceresses, monstrous creatures, summons to the royal bedchamber, or any number of other happenstances that would make most normal people pause and think something along the lines of, "This is weird." Aaslo's calm is almost preternatural is what I'm saying.

Many of the secondary characters in this book read as just that. They are clearly just background noise so that Aaslo won't be doing everything he does in silence and so that the reader can have things explained to them without walls of text. Because the supporting cast, though expansive, read as two dimensional, their bantery dialogue falls flat. There are many moments where the reader just says, "I see what you did there, and I guess it's technically amusing, but I'm not moved to laughter, or even a good hard exhale."

On the subject of secondary characters, there is a whole other story arc going on almost literally behind the scenes with a Reaper named Myropa whose actions and intrigues feel largely unnecessary for most of the book. Even the glimpses of gods and other worlds (including one which seems suspiciously like our own) come across mostly like filler the author was so tickled with they couldn't resist leaving out. Of course, leaving it out would have created an irritating deus ex machina moment at the end, so maybe it's best left in, even though its inclusion will probably baffle readers who are after plot advancement until the last minute.

There is promise in this book, and the author shows an understanding of fantasy which leads me to hope that the inevitable sequel will add depth to the characters and move the plot along.

This book was so unexpected in so many ways! There wasn't a moment where I didn't think I knew where the book was going to go, and not once did it go there! Well-written and lively with characters that are intriguing and fun; the story goes in different directions but always comes back to the central story line. I suggest this book to anyone who has been looking for something familiar that still manages to be really new. I had so much for with it!

The first critique I have is that the description on Goodreads of the book makes it seem it’s going to be one story, but it’s instead a different one. I understand that it’s trying to be clever and not give anything away, but I think it would have been better if the description stated that the chosen one had died and that his friend has to carry his head to his parents all while Aaslo still hears his friend’s voice. Something to that effect or to be more vague about what it’s about. I think that is part of the reason why I didn’t read through this story as quickly as others.

Next, I found it a little annoying that there were things mentioned in the beginning of the book about the world, but we got no explanation of what that means or the importance of it until about 20% through or later. Because of this, I found myself not caring at some points which hindered my enjoyment of the novel.

Also, the novel does meander a bit, especially the Aaslo bits. I didn’t care about his parts and found everyone else’s parts more interesting. I wish the author also added more about the world we are in and it’s customs. Show us what the world is like. I feel like I’m being told a lot and when I am shown something about the world, it is too vague.

One of the parts that did do world building really well was in Chapter 5 when Myropa was talking to Trostili and Arayallen. It showed that there are multiple gods in this world and they similar to the Greek gods where they work together, but try to out smart or out due each other. It also showed a unique spin on the world’s creation and how the gods recreate the world every so often to their pleasure. I found that fascinating, but wanted more of that.

All in all, it was an OK fantasy read and it could have been fantastic if some things were done differently. I may give the second book a try when it comes out. Maybe try it as an audiobook.

So the prologue sets you up in a world where apparently there are tons of shambling undead that knock at your doors during the night and then goes back to explain how this came to be.
We begin our flashbacked story with Mathias and Aaslo, friends who have grown up in a remote village in the forest where Mathias' mother is the mayor and Aaslo is training to be a forester, a special class of person who is trained to tend the forest and replant trees to compensate for the ones that are felled for logging. But, turns out that's not really true, Mathias is actually the Chosen One foretold by prophecy as the only one who can save the world from the evil that approaches. Pretty standard fare so far.
Then when you think you know where the story is going to go, boom, let's kill the Lightbringer (or some name like that). Mathias dies, Aaslo wants to keep on trying to save the world, but everyone tells him how that's not possible because all the strands of the prophecies point to Mathias needing to live to have any hope. Aaslo won't hear of it and sets out to do what he can. He meets interesting people along the way, gets embroiled in improbably situations and comes out as something a bit more.
The problem I had with the story is that there were a lot of good parts, but they didn't really seem to go together in a way that worked. There was a lot of in-the-nick-of-time stuff and then a whoooooole bunch of "oh yeah, I learned that because I was Mathias' friend but now I understand what I needed it for" Almost like Daniel-san realizing what that wax-on, wax-off was really for. It was good enough, but could have been better.

Fate of the Fallen by Kel Kade, an easy intriguing read. The fate of the world hangs on one man, and has been prophesied by every seer and prophet in the land since time immemorial, so what happens when that man fails...

This is not my normal choice of genre/book, but I am so glad that I took a chance on Fate of the Fallen! It was fast paced and kept me entertained in the way my normal genre choice of thriller does.

Great new series by Kel Kade. A strong main character and a surprising twist left me pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be reading the next one!

Physically, my body is here and now, but mentally, I’m in the astral plane beating myself up in an empty parking lot for how stupid good this book is.

With that being said, my condolences to anyone who will pick up this book because the experience of reading it is the equivalent of getting a piercing....through the heart....with a wooden stake.

FIRST OFF, World building:
There are so many delicious layers to this story and so much attention to detail! Easy to follow religion, political intrigue (with actual political structure and within clans themselves), unique and complex magic system, betrayals, the influence of your classic sword and sworcery fantasies. Fate of the Fallen is a book bursting with ideas, and I’m impressed at how well Kade was at promptly and thoroughly establishing a comprehensible world to make sure it all makes sense. It’s clear that she went through painstaking work to draw on a fully lived-in world. The magic is well-explained and intriguingly explored, as is the social hierarchy. I also relished the back stories of certain characters making the world feel even more large, even if the story only focuses on a handful of individuals. Admittedly, there's a lot of exposition to chew on at first, but it’s worth every modicum of effort when the wayward finally gears into line and the story shudders into vivid, mind-bending life. The result is as accessible an experience as going to the movies.

With spare prose of great clarity, Kade has a galvanic way of writing action, magic, and peril that literally has you on the edge of your seat. There’s an intoxicating feeling of possibility, a scope as immense as oceans. Lee’s ability to give readers action pieces followed by heartache is tremendous. Unexpected plot twists pinched the breath out of me, and sometimes, I found I could burrow no further into the space between my heartbeats.

And of course, alongside the richness of Kade's world, there’s the mountainous depth of character. Kade's ambitious tapestry includes corruption and treason and vengeance, honor and valor and forbidding love, regrets and sexuality and mercy. It’s a killer story... literally.

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Synopsis

The Shroud of Prophecy tests fate to discover what happens when the path of good and right, the triumph of light over darkness, the only path to salvation… fails.

Everyone loves Mathias. So naturally, when he discovers it’s his destiny to save the world, he dives in head first, pulling his best friend Aaslo along for the ride.

Mathias is thrilled for the adventure! There’s nothing better than a road beneath his feet and adventure in the air. Aaslo, on the other hand, has never cared for the world beyond the borders of his sleepy village and would be much happier alone and in the woods. But, someone has to keep the Chosen One’s head on his shoulders and his feet on the ground.

It turns out saving the world isn’t as easy, or exciting, as it sounds in the stories. Mathias is more than willing to place his life on the line, but Aaslo would love nothing more than to forget about all the talk of arcane bloodlines and magical fae creatures. When the going gets rough, folks start to believe their only chance for survival is to surrender to the forces of evil, which isn’t how the stories go. At all. To make matters worse Aaslo is beginning to fear that he may have lost his mind…

Review

This arc was won in a giveaway by Tor books. This does not affect my review in any way.

3.5 stars. I came into the Fate of the Fallen not knowing what to expect. With a synopsis that promised flipping the chosen one trope on its head and an author that I had faith in having previously enjoyed the Kings Dark Tidings series, I had high expectations. Although I can’t say that Fate of the Fallen lived up to my lofty expectations, I can say that this unorthodox tale was thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable.

The biggest strength of Fate of the Fallen was the characters. We follow the two main POV’s of Aaslo and Myropa. Aaslo is a forester, caretaker of the forest, and best friend of the chosen one Mathias. Aaslo starts out as a recluse at the beginning of the book. Quiet and unassuming, he would rather be taking care of his beloved forest alone than dealing with the village and people that live near it (Introverts everywhere relate instantly). Throughout the story however, we see Aaslo grow into a more deep character. Although at times he would still rather be back in his forest, he grows and comes to care more for the wide world and the people in it, especially the friends he makes along the way.

Myropa is a reaper, one of many that collect and ferry souls to the afterlife. Although I can’t really say much without spoilers, I can say that I really enjoyed getting to know Myropa’s personality, her back story, and seeing her character growth throughout this story. Through Myropa’s perspective we get to see the machinations of several gods that are either benevolent, malevolent, or indifferent in regards to the plight of humanity. Her perspective gives us a ton of insight into the history and shape of the world in which we find ourselves.

The narrative in this one felt quite meandering at times. Our heroes are journeying for most of the story, but there was never a true goal in the journey except the vague notion to “save the world.” This wouldn’t bother me typically, but there were so many different things going on and so many new characters showing up that I was sometimes left thinking “what was the point of that?” This is the first book in a series though and I believe a lot of the things that bothered me about the plot will be answered or addressed in the coming books.

Now back to some positive things. Kel Kade writes sword fights beautifully, full of great descriptions and wonderful suspense. I feel like a broken record saying this as I’ve mentioned it in my last couple reviews, but I love it when the main characters do not feel safe to make it to the end and I felt that with Aaslo. Every time there was a fight there was no guarantee he would make it out alive. This built up the tension and connected me to the story even more.

Kel Kade toed the line between upending longstanding tropes and satire in this one. There were moments where I laughed out loud at some absurdity spoken by a character and those were some of the best parts of the story. There were also a few emotional moments of deep grief, sadness, and loss that I found touching and genuine.

Overall, this was a fast, original, and fun read. If you want a book that doesn’t take itself too seriously, that the author specifically wrote to be different from most fantasy of today and succeeded, pick this one up. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series to see where the story goes next.

Stop me if you’ve heard this before: a small-town boy from a remote village learns that he is the Chosen One, destined to fulfill The Prophecy and save the world from encroaching evil. Sound familiar? Fans of classic epic fantasy from authors Robert Jordan, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, and even J.K. Rowling have spun their own versions of this time-honored formula. But what happens if the prophecy fails? How would the world react when it is inevitable that the forces of evil will win? Kel Kade explores this theme in the trope-subverting, wildly entertaining Fate of the Fallen, book one of The Shroud of Prophecy series.

This is a book where the less you know about the plot, the better, so I’ll dance around the details and discuss the larger themes of the story. Kade is skilled at capturing the essence of classic fantasy, focusing on strong character work and building outwards to reveal a world full of magic, monsters, multiple spiritual planes of existence, and the whimsical nature of gods. It walks a fine line between conveying a familiar sense of comfort juxtaposed with some fresh and interesting takes that help to elevate it from other classic fantasy sagas of its kind. The nature of prophecies is called into question: can the future be changed if you know how it plays out in advance? Why bother fighting if the foretold result is inevitable?

Kade writes with a descriptive, flowing prose that breathes life into the many environments we visit. One of the most welcome aspects to the story is how often I was truly surprised by some of its choices. There were at least three separate occasions where I had to re-read the passage, asking “did that really just happen?” It’s almost as if Kade purposely lulls the reader into a false sense of ease before yanking the rug out from under us and beating us to the ground with it.

There are many more aspects to the story I’d like to discuss, but I’ll refrain so as not to spoil any of the fun. And above all, that’s just what this book is: FUN. Lots of it. I wasn’t familiar with Kade’s work before picking up this story, but she has earned herself a new fan. Fate of the Fallen is a welcome addition to the classic fantasy genre, paying homage to what has come before it while adding many new twists to subvert your expectations. It’s going to be a long wait for book two, but I’ll be along for the ride.