**advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
The Fates is another reinterpretation of Greek myth, as are so popular recently - but this belongs in the better pile. Whilst there has been another recent book around Atalanta, this weaves a much larger tale around her, Meleager, the Fates themselves, and Zeus.
I really enjoyed the characterisation, particularly of Zeus - this is not your kindle bearded Disney father-of-Hercules : this is Zeus as the Greeks saw him. Impetuous, mean-spirited, rash and conceited. He’s not a main character as such, but he is a pivotal one.
I don’t know the original myths well enough, but from context of the narrative I assume there is deviation and a new interpretation here - which I like.
Fans of Madeline Miller’s Circe and Eloise Harper’s Wolf Den series will surely enjoy this too.

A little confusing to begin with, trying to work out who was who, how they connected, and what happened when, as there was a lot of time changing/flashbacks/flash forwards. But the storyline and characters were really good and it kept in line with the greek mythology really nicely.

I Mistakenly thought this was in the romantasy genre when I requested it. It is isn't and is more literary fiction/general historical fiction. This Genre isnt something I typically read. However, I love ancient history and Greek Mythology is something that has fascinated me since I was a child so I gave it a go. Blythe is a beautiful writer. The prose throughout this story was wonderful and I really loved the concept of this story. You only ever see the fates represented in the same role throughout most adaptations be that books/films. Therefore, to have a story solely focused on them and see them from a different perspective and the change in tact from Zeus being the typical hero god was brilliant. In that sense and for the writing style I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction.

I was unfortunately unable to finish this book; I personally found Rose Blythe’s writing style a little confusing to understand and found myself rereading sentences and passages trying to take in what was happening, therefore unable to enjoy reading the story itself.

This is not to say Blythe didn’t write an incredible story or that the story isn’t worth reading - The Fates was simply not suited to me or my taste. I wish the author well and know that others will love her writing!

(This Advance Reader Copy was received via NetGalley.)

This was okay? Honesty retellings of classical mythology don’t usually find there way to my TBR pile. But I’ve always found The Fates interesting so when I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of Rose Blythe’s new retelling, I didn’t want to pass it up!

The novel is beautifully written in some chapters, with an almost lyrical prose and some gorgeous lines such as: ‘And always, they gaze into the heavens and feel the echo of stardust in their bones.’ Other chapters are less pleasant to read, the language is almost clunky in places but that could have been purposeful to illustrate the difference in how characters thought. For me, this detracted a little from my enjoyment of the novel. The split and overlapping timelines are interesting and well done, converging nicely towards the end of the book.

All in all this was good, it wasn’t great. But if you’re a fan of retellings of classical mythology then this could be right up your street.

Overall I enjoyed this book, which had a really interesting angle on the mythology of The Fates (Moirai).

Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos are generally known as old crones but this book breathes personality and depth into their story. The daughters of Nyx are older than the gods of Olympus, and as such, cause even the most arrogant Zeus, to fear them.

The book tells its tale in character specific chapters - The Fates, Atalanta, Meleager and Zeus, weaving together their fates.
This book came hot on the heels of my reading of Atalanta (Jennifer Saint) which gave me a good base knowledge of Atalanta. The Fates covered different parts of Atalantas life in depth, and focussed more on her humanity than her heroics so they supplemented each other well.

I enjoyed how Atalanta shunned convention and societal norms and followed her own desires and instincts in all that she did. The bond between the sisters and their outlook was also refreshing, as we usually see them being portrayed as bitter, cackling hags.

I sometimes felt that I struggled to immerse myself in the book - I think maybe that was down to the Zeus chapters, at times I found him to be more irritating than usual - very petulant and I wasn’t especially keen on the portrayal of Hera. However towards the last quarter I couldn’t put it down.

Overall this was a solid, enjoyable tale of the more mysterious characters of Greek Mythology, The Fates. Recommended for lovers of Greek Mythology.

Before reading this book I knew very little of Greek myth. Most of what I learned was gleamed (rather inaccurately) from Disney’s Hercules. This is part of what attracted me to the book.

First off, this book should definitely be described as literary fiction. It’s not your ‘sunny afternoon at the beach’ kind of read. I think this may slightly limit its market. The are numerous characters in this, many of whom you probably won’t have heard of unless you did already know a lot about Greek myth.

The prose of this book is both descriptive & poetic. It does feel very flowery like it fits in traditionally with myths. The dialogue fits in well with this too, entwined so much that they don’t really feel like distinct elements.

With all of this being said, why have I only given it three stars? I can’t explain what it is but when reading, the book always felt just out of reach. I’m used to reading this type of fiction so I don’t know why it was but it felt like my finger tips were always just grazing the story & to connect with the characters. It made it hard for me to pick up.

If you have a love of literary fiction you will probably like this.

Thanks to the author, publishers & NetGalley for access to this arc in return for an honest review

An absolutely stunning read!
I went into this one a little unsure, the story flits between various characters in the beginning and I wasn’t sure what kind of story to expect. However once you get stuck in, the plot follows Atalanta (my favourite) Meleagor. and the Fates -.Three sisters who want to bring free will to mortals and end the patriarchy of the gods.
This is a breathtakingly beautiful book.
I adore Atatlanta and her strong wiillful character and loved the story Rose has written for her!
I’m really looking forward to more from this author!

The Fates is an incredible exploration of fate, time, the patriarchy and love in Greek mythology. It had me hooked from the first page and is one of the most unique books inspired by mythology that I have read.
As soon as I saw Atalanta and Meleager were characters I was worried this book would be overshadowed by my opinion of Atalanta by Jennifer Saint. But this was never the case. By incorporating the fates, Blythe was able to comment on the interpretations of a patriarchal view on the mythology of Atalanta.
The way Zeus is presented throughout this novel is exactly how I have read him in ancient texts. The cruel meddling he demonstrates in this story allows him to become the villain that he rarely is in these kinds of stories. Themis is probably my favourite titan and I loved her character in this book too. She was such a calming presence amongst the chaos of the multiple stories interwoven into this novel.

NetGalley reviewer.

When I first started reading this I found it a little but difficult to keep up with, or entirely understand what was going on. Once you get your bearings with the characters and where we are in the world the story becomes so enjoyable and is so so interesting!

I love the differences between the traditional gods we hear about in Greek mythology and the fates! I'd never heard of a Fate before, so I found this so interesting.

The second half of the book had me hooked and I could not put it down.

Would definitely recommend a read!

This was a well-crafted mythological retelling that subtly reimagines the roles of the immortal sisters Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos. As someone deeply interested in mythology, I appreciated the author's literary finesse, evident in the lush descriptions and a thoughtfully paced narrative. The unexpected revelation of Atalanta as one of the Fates added a layer of complexity to the story, and the exploration of character backstories provided nuance to familiar myths. Blythe successfully incorporates feminist undertones without succumbing to clichés, aligning with the contemporary trend of reinterpreting classic tales. The book effectively navigates themes of immortality, mortal fascination, and the consequences of desires beyond assigned roles. A good book for those intrigued by mythological narratives with a fresh perspective.

You've heard the legends, now hear their truth...
Before Gods and mortals, there were The Fates - three sisters born out of Ny's darkness, destined to weave the lives, and deaths, of humankind for eternity. But immortality is a heavy burden, and Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos are captivated by the gloriously human lives of the mortals below, especially those of the great warrior Atalanta and her ill-fated lover, Meleager. However, being a Goddess of Fate doesn't make you a master of it. Will these three sisters find a way to free the couple, and themselves, from their destinies? Or will they be bound by Fate forever?

As a massive fan of mythology I was so excited to be approved for this arc.
This was so well written, very literary with gorgeous writing and descriptions. It is quite slow paced which works for the stories and the different characters.
The descriptions were lush while the characters and story were interesting and kept me engaged, I also liked that each chapter wasn’t too long
I would be interested in other work by this author
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher

When I started this book, I was incredibly unsure if I was going to enjoy it. However, when it started diving into the past of the characters and how everything was not quite as black & white as everything may have seemed, I really started to enjoy it. Atalanta being one of the three girls that are The Fates was a really unexpected but pleasant twist.

The Fates is a mythological retelling in the vein of multiple interesting books that have recently emerged as a separate genre. Many of these provide an alternative perspective on classic myths.

As part of the trend, familiar stories are being cast in a very different light - very often involving a more feminist interpretation of stories where, for example, a character has been portrayed as a villain or a monster (e.g. Medusa) without taking into account the underpinnings of the story, which often reflect hostile patriarchal attitudes of the time.

Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos are three immortal sisters granted their powers by Nyx. Growing up on Mount Olympus, they gradually grow into their native intelligence and learned wisdom, partly through their observation of the lives of mortals.

But just as the fate of humans depends on these three, they too are gradually engaged and affected by the unfolding of the lives that they are watching play out. Such as those of the only female Argonaut, the fabled Atalanta, and her beloved, Meleager.

And what happens if one, or all, of the Fates wish for an outcome that is, strictly speaking, beyond their remit?
That is what Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos must come to terms with, and what Rose Blythe (a pseudonym for an established writer from another genre) explores in this fascinating book. Worth a read for mythology buffs.