This book seemed more of a grown up book than some of her other series and I liked it. It grew on me. I am interested to learn more about what actually is the Fateless. Plus need more action with Raith. Interesting world.

✨️Fail?” I repeated. “I don’t think I know what that means. Maybe you could tell me?✨️

✨️“Succeed, and your reward will be great,” “Fail, and your reward will be death.✨️

Think Prince of Persia meets Assassin’s Creed—a fast-paced fantasy filled with thieves, assassins, ancient prophecies, and reckless leaps of faith in a world teetering on the edge of chaos.

EXCUSE ME—WHAT DID I JUST READ?! I NEED MORE.
I devoured this book like it was my last breath of air. Julie Kagawa proves yet again that no one builds a world quite like she does. The world-building? Immersive and cinematic. The plot? Tightly woven, rich with lore, and absolutely unputdownable. And the characters? I loved them all, but Halek—oh my stars—Halek stole every scene. He’s Puck 2.0 in the best way possible (Iron Fey fans, you know), and I was obsessed.
This series is off to a wild, breathtaking start. I’m already counting down the days for book two!

I love me a julie kagawa book! This author is the reason why I read and I was so excited to see that shes coming out with a new series! I was also so incredibly thankful when this dropped into my netgalley account! Huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for making this dream come true!

The story was so interesting! I loved the adventure the characters had to go on and the way the bad things were portrayed in this book. I got the chills, it was so creepy!
The dynamic between the little group was also great!
We‘re following Sparrow who is the fmc in this story! She is the best thief in her guild and is tasked to steal an important object for her guildmaster. She is brave and confident. I enjoyed her as a main character so much! She meets a Fatechaser called Halek, an Iylvahn called Raithe and a few other people on her journey.
The story was twisty and things happened I definitely did not expect! This story is full of betrayal and sacrifices. I had the best time with this book!
I can‘t wait to continue this series!

Fateless is the first installment in author Julie Kagawa's Fateless trilogy. As a New York Times bestselling author known for series like The Iron Fey and Shadow of the Fox, Kagawa delivers an immersive tale that draws inspiration from the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Dune, and An Ember in the Ashes. Fateless centers on seventeen-year-old Sparrow, an orphan raised by the Thieves Guild in the city of Kovass, where survival hinges on cunning, loyalty, and a touch of luck.

Tasked by the mysterious Circle—a shadowy group controlling the Guild—with retrieving a powerful ancient relic from the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, Sparrow embarks on a death-defying quest. Her mission spirals into a larger conflict when she inadvertently triggers the return of a Deathless King, a godlike sorcerer whose reign once dominated the world. Pursued by Raithe, an enigmatic assassin, and joined by allies like Halek the Fatechaser and Kysa the Scarab Clan warrior, Sparrow must navigate betrayals, ancient curses, and her own identity as a “Fateless”—someone who can defy the rigid constraints of fate in a world governed by it.

The desert world of Kovass feels alive, with its scorching sands, giant insect mounts, and dragon-riding warriors evoking a cinematic blend of Dune and Prince of Persia. The setting is richly detailed, from the bustling streets of Kovass to the eerie, ruined tombs of the Deathless Kings. The concept of fate is central, with a unique system where most characters are bound by predetermined destinies, contrasted by the rare “Fateless” who can challenge this order. The cultural and religious elements, including unique races and guilds, are vividly portrayed, giving the world a distinct identity.

The Thieves Guild and the shadowy Circle provide a complex power structure that drives the plot, while the desert’s perils—dust storms, ancient curses, and monstrous creatures—create a constant sense of danger. Comparisons to Assassin’s Creed are apt, as the story’s atmosphere and Sparrow’s acrobatic thievery echo the game’s aesthetic. Sparrow is a compelling protagonist, blending cockiness with vulnerability. Raised as an orphan by the Guildmaster Vahn, she’s driven by a need to prove her worth, masking deeper insecurities about belonging.

Her journey from a self-reliant thief to someone who learns to trust her found family is emotionally resonant, though her development is sometimes overshadowed by the plot’s breakneck pace. Her status as a Fateless adds intrigue, making her a target and a wildcard in the battle against the Deathless King. The supporting cast is equally engaging. Raithe, the brooding assassin, is a highlight, with his mysterious past and slow-burn chemistry with Sparrow providing a satisfying enemies-to-lovers arc. Halek, the quirky Fatechaser, brings humor and warmth, while Kysa, the Scarab Clan warrior, adds grit and strength.

The plot is a whirlwind of action, with heists, battles against
mythical beasts, and treacherous journeys across the deadly Dust Sea. Kagawa weaves a narrative that balances high-stakes adventure with deeper themes of loyalty, found family, and the struggle to forge one's own path dictated by destiny and fate. The cliffhanger ending leaves plenty of unanswered questions, setting up a desire to find out what happens next in the sequel.

I’ve been aware of Ms. Kagawa since 2010, when her first book was published, and I’ve had quite a few of her books on my TBR list for a while now. And yet, I had never read one of her books until this one. The plot and setting are reminiscent of some other successful YA trilogies, so I was wondering how the author would spin a new tale…and she delivered. A lot of time and effort has gone into worldbuilding, and you can feel the blistering heat of the twin suns during Demon Hour in the first few pages. It only gets better from there.

Sparrow is a 17 year old orphan who has only ever known the thieves guild. Raised there since she was an infant, she understandably becomes very, very good at “procuring” items. The book opens with Sparrow attempting to steal a heavily-guarded item on a rare solo mission.

After that mission, she learns about a secret, ancient underground city wherein lies a priceless treasure, and is told that if she fails to retrieve it, her life and that of the Thieves Guild Master will be forfeit.

Mass chaos ensues, and Sparrow’s world turns upside down.

Because you can’t roam through a Deathless King’s palace and escape unscathed.


This is the start of a very good trilogy! I look forward to book two.


Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an eARC. I am writing this review voluntarily.

It’s been a while since I read one of Julie Kagawa’s books. Did a reread of her Talon series when Infero released, and I forgot how talented she is. And even if Kagawa hadn’t begun this novel with the author’s note she did, I’d have been able to tell she was a fan of video games, especially Assassin’s Creed. There are just so many parts of this story that scream it. And as a fan of gaming in general and Assassin’s Creed in particular, this only enhanced my enjoyment of Fateless. The world building is so good and young Sparrow’s thrilling adventure filled with thieves, assassins, mythical beasts, action, and betrayal made this an excellent opening book for Kagawa’s new trilogy.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fateless-julie-kagawa/1146264942?ean=9781335448804&bvnotificationId=8440096e-61fb-11f0-9a1a-121fcffa918b&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/352027728

This book follows some of the YA fantasy tropes: A chosen one. A romance. Found family. Honestly, the blurb is a little misleading. Sparrow doesn’t lead “a band of thieves” into the underground city, and they actually do very little battling in the tombs. It’s what happens after Sparrow’s quest to the underground city that really matters, and it’s what forces her to run from all she has known and team up with people who become her friends—and more.

Sparrow has always been taught to count on no one, that the only person she can truly rely on is herself. Her people believe that the fate you are born to cannot be changed. So having to see herself as anything but a thief is a big lift. Luckily, she is able to develop both the humility and the hope to do exactly that.

There is one thing that bugs me a bit—the romance between Raithe, the equivalent to an elf, who has lived for centuries, and 17-year-old Sparrow. Age gap much?

This book doesn’t tread a lot of new ground. There are elves and dwarves, although the names of those races are slightly different. There are battles and adventures. But don’t take this to mean that it’s not worth the read. It most definitely is, and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Mild swearing. Drinking. Fantasy creatures. Stealing. Dark blood magic. Battles, complete with blood, injuries, and death. Kissing.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who likes the Chosen One trope. Those who like magical realms and adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2025/07/a-fateless-chosen-one.html

#Fateless #NetGalley #JulieKagawa #HarperColllins #BookReview #YAFantasy #ChosenOne

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

Fateless by Julie Kagawa
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been a Julie Kagawa fan for a while and when I saw this was coming out, I was excited to see what she would do. Fateless sets up an intricate world where Sparrow doesn’t quite know where she fits in the grand scheme of things. The setting and world building is phenomenal, taking us through what feels like a trek through the set of Assassin’s Creed or God of War. That totally made my gamer heart happy.

The characters are complex and dynamic. Sparrow herself pushing through very real feelings like insecurity, grief, love: and not just in a romantic sense. Raithe introduced a new dynamic that made things even more interesting and complicated.

As a reader, I felt like I went on an adventure and I can’t wait to read about what happens next.

Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

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.

It was so awesome being back in a world built by Julie Kagawa. It’s so easy to get swept up in her world building and storytelling. It did take a little bit to get into but I truly think that is only because of the immense world building needed. The only problem I have now is that how long do I have to wait for book 2?!?

Mandy Harris
Angel Wings Bookstore

In her introduction to Fateless, Kagawa cites the influence of video games, particularly Assassins Creed on Fateless. Once she pointed it out, I could see it, both in the atmosphere of the desert land where our main character Sparrow plies her trade as a member of the Thieves Guild, as well as the simplicity in the plot. The book has a rather complex magic system, focused around an ancient buried evil in the form of the Deathless Kings, and allowing the book to play out like a video game structure (with subsequent quests that build on each other) keeps the book from getting bogged down in too much magical detail.

In addition to video games, I thought the book had real vibes of The Mummy, with the blend of adventure and fun (especially our comic sidekick, Han Solo's goofier twin Halek) and out mysterious warrior, Kysa. This book would be a great immersion in reading for teenagers who love adventure, as well as anyone else who is excited for a more adventure based fantasy with a romantic subplot rather than a centred romantasy. I had a lot of fun reading it and excited for the next one.

Okay, so this book simultaneously had too much going on and not a lot going on. I don't know how it managed this feat, but it did. I was interested in what was happening, but it felt like we went through things a little too fast. Impossible quests with no planning, executed quickly and with little fanfare, which is not actually that fun to read. It felt like it would have benefited from being split into more books or being a larger book. I didn't feel like I got to know the characters well enough, and the world-building felt very murky to me the entire time. Overall, it was an interesting book with a good idea, and I enjoyed it somewhat, but not enough to make me read the next one. I think.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this arc!

🌟🌟🌟

❇️ huge thanks to netgalley and harpercollins for providing me an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are mine! ❇️

when i say i was g a g g e d at seeing a new miss julie kagawa in the year of our lord 2025 i mean it. this woman single-handedly shaped my middle school experience through the iron fey series so… slay.

also i heard this is supposed to be based off the assassin's creed games, but i’ve never played them. but i h a v e played skyrim and this felt a lot like the thieves guild (not necessarily plot-wise but vibes-wise?? yes.). whenever i was reading a particularly info-dumpy or boring part i would just picture this as a skyrim fanfiction 💀 and it got me through.

that being said…. it is very info-dumpy. it reads like lower ya with a lot of the emotional progression as well as motivation progression of characters seeming very,,, childish. like i can’t really put my finger on it specifically aside from the info-dumps, but the ending especially made me feel like it was just trying to capitalize on the uptick of ya romantasy and wanting to hop on the trend.

the first half of this book is five freaking stars!!! big blackreach vibes iykyk. but sadly, the second half was poorly paced and at times, just plain boring. also i haven’t mentioned this yet but the main character has big mary sue energy (i h a t e using that sexist trope but it does…).

i w i l l be reading the continuation of the trilogy when it comes out, but i guess gritty romantasy with emotional depth deeper than a tablespoon will have to come from a different author…

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Fateless by Julie Kagawa is a first person-POV YA fantasy in a desert biome world. Sparrow is a young thief who belongs to the Guild and fulfills the jobs assigned to her. As one of the most successful thieves, she’s assigned to steal the Tapestry of the World, an ancient artifact that is supposedly connected to the fates of the people on their world. But when she steals it, her world is turned upside down and she learns that she is the Fateless but has no idea what exactly that means.

Sparrow has a close mentor-mentee relationship with Vahn, a high-ranking thief who assigns her jobs and serves as a liaison between her and her clients. Vahn is perhaps Sparrow’s closest relationship at the beginning of the book and is almost something of a father figure to her until his actual identity is revealed. What I thought was interesting was that Vahn does seem to care about Sparrow but it’s in a somewhat twisted way because he’s still not going to actively save her and yet almost delights when he has a chance to spare.

Halek, Jeran and Raithe are the other relationships that matter to Sparrow. Halek is a Fatechaser, someone who refuses to go against Fate and puts themselves at risk with the belief that if Fate wills it, it will happen. Jeran is a fellow thief who feels some jealousy towards Sparrow and that jealousy has created a tension within their relationship. Raithe is an assassin who is technically several hundred years old and also Sparrow’s love interest. All of them are devices to explore different aspects of Sparrow’s journey while helping her to move forward as she learns what her destiny actually is. Raithe in particular is determined to take Sparrow his queen to learn more about her destiny as Fateless, but Sparrow struggles to fully trust him.

The Assassin’s Creed aspects came in the realm of the Deathless God and the monsters that Sparrow and the others have to fight. I have never played Assassin's Creed, but I get the gist from the few trailers I have seen and I do think that the book captured that adventure video game feel. The realm of the Deathless God especially felt like a dungeon level and was where these elements felt the strongest for me.

I would recommend this to fans of adventure video games looking to get back into prose and readers of YA fantasy who want strong adventure elements

The world building and the story were fabulous, everything felt incredibly thought out and intentional. The prose was nothing memorable, though, which dulled a bit of the sparkle for me, but I enjoyed the plot and characters enough not to mind.

I really enjoyed the cast of side characters (I love a silly little comic relief character and Halek absolutely delivers), but the love interest really fell flat for me, I hope we get to see more depth from him in future books. A little insta-lovey for my tastes.

In the author’s note, Kagawa said she was heavily inspired by assassins creed and similar video games, and she definitely nailed that vibe. Overall it felt to me like shadow & bone meets baldurs gate 3.

I appreciated how the story offers a twist on the fantasy races that we see so much now in the pattern of LotR and DnD while still taking obvious inspiration from familiar themes, and I really hope this gets expanded upon as the series continues.

All in all an enjoyable read, and intriguing enough that I’ll likely continue with the series in the future. Actual rating 3.5 stars, rounded down.

I am speechless.

I've been hooked on Julie since I came across her Iron Fey series and ever since then she has been not only one of my favorite authors but also, I auto buy all her books.

But this one?! My new favorite series of the year. A

High stakes, fantasy, heart pounding, and an all-around addictive read.


Sparrow is a thief. She was found as a baby and brought into the guild where she learned the trade and is quite good or lucky as a lot of characters would say. When she's picked exclusively for a new mission things start to pick up. When she succeeds in her first one, she’ll be chosen to take on a mission that no one else has ever come back from...

If Sparrow knew the truth of this mission, she wouldn't have done it. When the truth is revealed, she'll work with an assassin to make it right. What came next not only was heart wrenching for Sparrow but a whole new mission to make the right starts.

If that wasn’t enough. She keeps getting called Fateless and no one will explain it to her. No one except the queen can best explain it.

The book picks up pace quickly once everything is set into motion and I was so glued to it and that was only halfway! The entire book is simply one of the best and might actually go above her fey books (which has been one of my die-hard favorites for decades).

I can’t wait for the next one!!

... seriously can I read it yet??

I really enjoyed this start to a new series. Julie states author's note that she is a huge Assassin's Creed fan and you can feel the inspiration here. We have a chosen one trope with a supporting cast of characters including an assassin, soldier and our fatechasing sidekick. Our chosen one, Sparrow, is a thief in the city of Kovass. She is found as an infant orphan beside her dead mom (I can guarantee you there is more story there) and raised by the Guildmaster of thieves. When asked to steal an artifact from a legendary city of lore, she encounters an underground society set on changing the world. Once set in motion, it is up to Sparrow and friends to figure out their role and how to proceed with saving the world. I really enjoyed the characters and while we don't quite have a found family yet, it looks like we are well on our way. There is a romance subplot, but it is clean and mild. There is an introduction to this romance, but it is a slow burn. I like that characters that have only known each other for a few weeks will possibly build a relationship first.

The world itself is interesting. It used to be a lush green world but due to a cataclysm thousands of years prior is now a dangerous desert. The heat of the twin suns kills and water is scarce. The religion of Sparrow's city is one that worships a goddess of Fate. The various people groups across the world all believe something slightly different, but for Sparrow, Fate isn't something you question. She believes she is a thief and that is all she can be. However early one we realize that Fate may not have much control over her. Sparrow struggles with who she is and her worth, especially as she has been taught all her life that she can't change her fate. There is also a large betrayal that makes her question if she can trust anyone.

The magic system here is pretty interesting. I can't say much without spoilers, but it is very 'Mummy" like with our big bad and his minions. Fate and the threads of its weave do seem to be real so it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Is there any free will or is everything pre-determined by a Goddess.

I'm looking forward to book 2!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐️
With its own special magic, Fateless reminded me a lot of Tomb Raider and The Mummy. Ancient ruins, perilous secrets, and a hint of the arcane gave Julie Kagawa's world a vibrant, immersive quality that made it feel novel and thrilling. The world-building is creative and intricate. It helped make this universe come to life, but it also slowed things down a little at times. I liked the balance of action, tension, and subdued emotional moments, and the characters felt realistic. The conclusion left space for more while feeling like a satisfying conclusion. I'm eager to see where the story will go in the upcoming 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.

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!