Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins for the ARC. This was so underwhelming, the stakes were totally lacking, the characters flat, and the pacing was really off.

I generally like Julie Kagawa books - they are fun, immersive and easy to read. This one is no different. A new world, new characters and a new start to a new series that will be absolutely captivating. Although I am not a fan of the FMC I still want to see the story unfold. Kagawa is a master at plots and unfolds them in such a way that the reader just falls into the world and the story. Such an enjoyable read.

This book, based on the author's note, is set in world similar to Assassin's Creed (I've only seen commercials for this game, but I will say it does visually look like what I imagined). The story follows Sparrow, a young thief, who has spent most of her life working for the Thieves Guild, and whenever she goes on missions she always seems to get lucky. One day her guildmaster, Vahn, says he has a special task for her that was given by the Circle who are the mysterious group in charge of the Thieves Guild. If Sparrow doesn't complete this task, it could mean death for not only her, but Vahn as well, who she cares for as he has basically raised her to adulthood. As she embarks on this task, she is pursued by Raithe, an assassin, who is hellbent on preventing the rise of the Deathless King. However, after a multitude of betrayals, everything Sparrow knew to be true is wrong and she must figure out her plan in this new world. In order to try to stop the destruction of their entire world, Sparrow ends up teaming up with Raithe along with a few characters Sparrow has met in her quest. This odd group of characters begin a journey to meet Raithe's queen to figure out the complete truth and how to prevent the destruction that is headed towards their world.

The world building in this book is done extremely well. I really enjoyed how the heat was described in this world with all of the lush green gone. It really added high stakes to the story as characters had tough times making it from point A to point B, even almost dying of heat stroke at times. The author did a great job as well with exposing different aspects of the history of the Deathless King throughout the story. While there was a lot of action going on, sometimes I felt like the book dragged on and I think it could have been cut in places. I'm assuming there is going to be a sequel as the book kind of just ends. The other thing I didn't like was the insta-love stuff with Raithe and Sparrow - this man was just trying to stop you and now you wanna kiss him. Authors need to work on their slowburns and yearning more.

I'm intrigued to see where this book goes though and if there is a sequel I will pick it up - I would give this book a 3.5 stars. It definitely has the potential to be an excellent series.

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t this (and that’s not a criticism). The story was super immersive, and the world-building was really well done. My only issue was that I didn’t get attached to the characters and found it a little underwhelming at times, but the plot was creative and unique, so I’d say it’s definitely worth a shot! :)

4.5 stars for me: I was so excited to see that we had a new book from Julie Kagawa! It did not disappoint. The world building was fantastic and unique. I felt immersed in it. The storyline had me hooked and cheering Sparrow on. Her internal struggles were relatable in so many ways. The romance has stayed sweet so far and I’m hoping to see it grow. I really enjoy all of the characters that make up Sparrow’s group, though I would like to see more time of them bonding. Something about the friendships and romance feel a bit too simplistic and easy thus far. Whatever the case, it’s a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Julie Kagawa doesn’t just write a book—she throws you into it. Every twist had me gasping, every shadowy tomb and deadly encounter made my pulse race, and just when I thought I knew where things were headed… BAM. Fate had other plans. Fateless is about to become your newest obsession. I am fully unwell after reading this, and I need the sequel yesterday.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for letting me read Fateless by Julie Kagawa. This was a very interesting premise, if I were to break it down, I’d say it’s Like The Mummy, except Evie is a thief with minimal emotional connections , there’s no Rick O’Connell, and the love interest is Ardeth Bay. Enjoyable, but I took me about half way through the book to start feeling invested and I still don’t really love the main character’s personality.

This story was amazing!! It immediately took off and had an intense pace throughout the entire story (especially the end!). The world-building was well done and I truly felt like I was in the story the entire time.

I highly recommend this book if you’re into:

- Betrayals
- Thieves and assassins
- Mythical beasts
- Prophecies

(This book is a 4.5 star read!)

This is my first Julie Kagawa book and I am hooked!

As a huge fan of the Assassin's Creed series from the very first game (how in the world is the series 18 years old!?), when I read the author notes I got both excited and a tiny bit scared. I had seen some books being compared to the AC series before but ultimately failing to deliver. But I am glad to report back that, yes, Fateless more than delivers.

The series explores a rich, immersive, albeit harsh fantastical universe that lives in the shadows of the now dead Deathless Kings. We follow Sparrow, a young thief who'd spent her entire life working for and living with the Thieves guild. Her fate seems sealed until she receives a curious mission from the Circle, the mysterious group of individuals that seems to control the Thieves Guild from the shadows. And that's when all hell breaks loose.

I really enjoyed the world-building here. The attention to detail was evident, from the varying cultural and religious interpretations of "Fate' to the weather and impact of the harsh changing ecosystem and environments as a consequence of the death of said Deathless Kings. The writing is very atmospheric that I could practically see, feel and even smell, what the characters are being exposed to. Which wasn't always pleasant for the poor souls, let me tell you.

The characters are fun. I appreciate that the FMC actually showed vulnerability. In fact, her character development was done so well, I cheered for her aloud while reading towards the end. "FINALLY YOU GET IT!" In a very good way, haha. Her growth made sense and was handled very carefully and tastefully, in my opinion.

There are some spots where I felt the pacing was a bit slower, but this was usually followed with epic fast-paced action-packed scenes right after that they didn't really make me lost interest or anything. Especially that those scenes were important for character growth across the board.

Overall, I am very excited to read the sequel and I know I'll be recommending this to so many people in my life.

Thank you so much for the ARC and I can't wait to read what happens next!

Fateless is the kind of story that grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let go. It’s intense, fast-paced, and full of tension, with twists that keep you second-guessing every character and every choice. Sparrow’s journey is one of survival, trust, and defiance, and I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way. She’s resourceful and sharp, but what stood out to me was her emotional depth—her struggles feel raw and relatable in a world that’s harsh and unforgiving.

The world-building is vivid and immersive. The heat of the twin suns, the mysterious ruins of the Deathless King, and the ever-present grip of Fate create a backdrop that feels alive and dangerous. The lore surrounding Fate and the Fateless is intriguing without being overexplained, leaving just enough mystery to keep me wanting more.

The character dynamics truly shine. Sparrow’s reluctant alliances and tension-filled relationships are layered and compelling without ever feeling forced. Each character brings something unique to the story, balancing action, humor, and emotional stakes.

What I loved most about this book is how it explores choice and destiny without losing its sense of adventure. It’s a thrilling, tightly written story with a lot of heart. While it’s packed with action, it also leaves you with plenty to think about. If you’re a fan of high-stakes fantasy with rich world-building and complex characters, this one’s worth picking up.

I was a freshman in high school when I started reading Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey and then followed up with her Immortal Rules series and LOVED them both. While adult me is struggling where to rate this, I think freshman me would love it.

Kagawa has created a scorched sand desert land full of ancient lore that is being brought literally to the surface by our main thief Sparrow. As a Tom Raider and Assassin's Creed girly, I loved the ancient cities and tomb diving that we get in the first part of the book. Hidden places and ancient artifacts are always my jam and so I loved that. There are also so many cool and strange creatures that exist, mainly insect style, many are creepy and like to eat humans.

After the first section where we meet a few characters that stay with us, the pacing(though action is regularly happening) starts to feel off. I would catch myself skimming to get to the next piece that would catch my interest. It also felt like an exposition dump in some places, which felt unnecessary especially when it came to the characters.
Speaking of the characters, I could not unsee the resemblance between her Iron Fey characters and this new series. Raithe reminded me of Ash and Halek reminded me of Puck. While it doesn't seem to be love triangle-y which is great, it still did feel a bit like insta-like/love.

Overall, 3.5 stars to satisfy my teenage and adult self.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for this new release in exchange for an honest review!

This is one of the best fantasies I've read in years, with all the cinematic worldbuilding and thrilling twists of a video game and the voicey prose of one of my favorite authors!

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.

Fateless I give this book 4 stars! There's a little enemies to hopefully lovers plot, crazy creatures, and magic...

I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait for the series to continue. The beginning was a little slow which is why I gave the book 4 starts , but once you get to the middle it starts to get really good. The MFC grows on you as shes starts to find herself in this book, but the friends she makes along the way make the book so much better. Team Halek all the way. I love that the book has great supporting characters that add so much to the story. I think this will be a really great series and fellow fantasy readers like myself will really enjoy this book!

I am never disappointed when I pick up a book from Julie Kagawa and this is no exception. We get action, we get romance, we get heartbreak its everything I enjoy when reading.

The world was intriguing but the characters were the best part.

Julie is amazing when it comes to world-building, prose and storytelling. I loved this book and really got TOG vibes but with more mystical creatures and destruction. Easy 5 stars!

A hint of TOG with more destruction, deathless, and mystical creatures.

I’ve read some of this author’s other series before and while I immensely enjoyed them, I feel like this one is going to be even better. I’ll be sitting on pins and needles waiting to read the next book in the series!

As a fan of Assassins Creed style video games, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would absolutely read a sequel.

I always enjoy Julie Kagawa's stories and this is no different. I'm hoping we get to learn Raithe's real name. I love Halek and his naivety. I can't wait to see where Sparrow and her crew go next.

It’s been a while since I’ve read anything by Julie Kagawa, so it was nice to revisit her writing style! I last read The Iron Fey series when it first came out, and recall really liking that series.

I find with fantasy books, especially, there is a lot of world building needed along with building the character’s personality within this fantasy world. Julie is someone who does well with this in all of her books. The world is well developed and vivid, and I could easily picture it as I read.

Our MC, Sparrow, is part of a guild of thieves and survives doing just that, getting the goods without detection. Even with this, Sparrow feels she needs to prove herself and takes on a challenging and risky job with Vahn. Ultimately, Sparrow is betrayed and ends up working in conjunction with Raithe, in an unexpected twist of events. Given betrayal and how difficult it is for Sparrow to trust people, given her upbringing, should she trust Raithe and help prevent the end of the world?

While it was predictable at times, I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and am hopeful for a second book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the review copy in exchange for my honest review. My review contains my honest thoughts.

The story follows Sparrow, an accomplished thief sent on a mission that only she can complete and one that will change her life and the lives of everyone in the kingdom forever.

I have to say, the world building in this book is fantastic. It’s fast paced right from the beginning and doesn’t slow down at all. It was an overall enjoyable experience and I liked that it payed homage to assassin’s creed.

My only gripe is that it got somewhat repetitive at times, but that’s it!