Fateless is a clear example of why I love YA fantasy - immersive world building, a diverse found family cast, and a creative plot line. Although the ending felt a little abrupt, it did make me very excited for a potential sequel. I loved the main character for how honestly she perceives her identity and morality. The longing and yearning in the romance sub plot was just what I needed.

**Review of Fateless by Julie Kagawa**

Julie Kagawa has outdone herself with *Fateless*, delivering a fast-paced, thrilling fantasy that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With her signature blend of high stakes, intriguing characters, and a world brimming with danger and mystery, Kagawa has created a story that’s impossible to put down.

Sparrow is a standout heroine—strong-willed, resourceful, and fiercely loyal to her cause. From the moment she joins the Thieves Guild, you feel her commitment to the mission, even when the path ahead is full of uncertainty and peril. Her determination to prove herself adds a personal layer to the story, making her journey even more compelling. And then there's Raithe, the enigmatic assassin forced into her orbit. Their relationship is electric, with plenty of tension and chemistry that keeps you hooked from their first encounter. Watching them navigate their growing bond, amidst betrayal and shifting alliances, adds so much depth to the narrative.

Kagawa’s world-building is top-notch. The forgotten city of the Deathless Kings is dark, ancient, and full of secrets. Each corner of the city feels alive with hidden dangers, as Sparrow and her team face both physical challenges and the heavy weight of fate itself. The high stakes are clear, but the deeper philosophical question of whether they can truly control their destinies adds an emotional layer to the action-packed adventure.

Fans of authors like Alexandra Bracken and Sabaa Tahir will find themselves right at home in this gripping new world. Kagawa doesn’t just deliver pulse-pounding action, she also crafts a story with heart. The stakes are high, the twists are unexpected, and every character feels real, making it impossible not to root for them as they fight for survival—and for their futures.

If you’re looking for a fantasy that blends heart, adventure, and a touch of romance, *Fateless* is an absolute must-read. I couldn’t put it down, and now I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. If this is just the beginning, I can only imagine what incredible twists Kagawa has in store for us next!

I've read one of this authors series before, the Iron Fey series and I really really enjoyed that one so requesting this arc was a no brainer. It was fun, fast, and the perfect easy read i needed, and helped me out of my killer reading slump. Overall, a solid 4 stars, and I'll keep an eye out for whatever the author writes next!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!

This was a really cool world with great world building that I’ve come to expect from Julie Kagawa. Action packed fantasy with Dune vibes. Check it out!

Fantasy at its finest and the written word in a beautiful format... live Julie's worlds that she pulls us into more and more

I just adore Julie Kagawa's stories. I fell in love with her characters and it makes me want to read even more! Too bad I have to wait... Highly recommend!

A new series where your place in the world is ruled by fate, or is it? Join Sparrow on her quest as she discovers she could be more than a thief.

This book had a darker element to it than I expected, and more giant bugs than I'd like to meet in real life. I appreciated Sparrow's growth as a character, and the overall idea that we are often capable of more than we believe ourselves to be, and with the right people encouraging us, we can come to believe in ourselves, too.

This book was underwhelming, although I appreciated the nod to Assassin’s Creed throughout. I personally didn’t feel any connection to the FMC and felt that the storyline just generally fell flat. It was fast paced but almost too much (a lot of action but simultaneous I felt like not much happened).

I like the overall concept of the book (reminds me a little of Divergent) but I’m not sure what to expect in the remaining books. Unfortunately, for me, this book was just okay.

Exciting fantasy with strong worldbuilding and equally strong characters! This is a fun and engaging read, and highly recommended to any fans of Julie Kagawa's other works!

4.5 ⭐️

Julie Kagawa gets it every time!! I loved the storyline and the world building, it was so unique and captivating. I feel like the plot is just starting, so I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes. The Prince of Persia/Assassin’s Creed/Dune vibes were literal perfection, I enjoyed reading every minute of this book.

I also loved the variety of characters! Sparrow was incredibly brave, Raithe is still mysterious, Kysa is a freaking badass, and Halek just cracks me up! I can’t wait to see what comes next in their journey!

Thank you so much for the ARC!

"Fateless" is a young adult fantasy novel by Julie Kagawa. The first of a series set in a Prince of Persia style desert empire, In a world where many people believe that one's fate is set by the weaver goddess in her giant tapestry, Sparrow is a member of the thieves' guild who often seems to have the best luck. She is tasked with stealing a piece of the weaver's tapestry and is successful. The secret leaders of her guild, the Circle, then task her with an even greater challenge: go down beneath the city to the sunken city of the Deathless King and steal a relic. What Sparrow doesn't know is that this will set chaos in motion. The world building is well done and the characters are interesting, though the romance feels a bit forced.
A suggested purchase for YA fantasy collections, especially where Kagawa's previous books are popular.

When a thief is given a mission to steal an ancient relic, she unknowingly sets into motion fateful events that impact the survival of the world in Julie Kagawa’s Fateless.
As a member of the Thieves Guild, Sparrow has known only a life loyal to their cause and the Guildmaster, Vahn who raised her, as well as the uncanny luck she seems to have in acquiring goods and escaping the notice of guards that has contributed to her steady rise within the Guild. Given a secretive mission from The Circle, the mysterious group in control of the Guild, Sparrow is determined to prove her worth and place; with the stakes high, meaning life or death for her and Vahn, and the seemingly impossible task they’ve set for her, Sparrow feels as if she cannot fail. Pursued by an assassin, Raithe, whom Sparrow finds equal parts enigmatically frustrating, dangerous, and alluring, whose purpose it is to prevent the return of the Deathless King, she soon finds herself aligned with him after a rapid succession of betrayals from those she’s known her whole life. On a quest to prevent the utter destruction of the entire world, Sparrow and Raithe are joined by a charming Fatechaser, Halek, and a Scarab Clan warrior, Kysa, as they journey toward Raithe’s home to meet with his queen to learn the complete details of the disturbing and disastrous fate they’re trying to avert.
The world is imaginative and depicted well, with the searing heat from the two suns and resulting parching dryness that the characters and their surroundings experience translating easily and vividly from the page, as well as a thoroughly thought-out and presented belief system of Fate and history surrounding the Deathless Kings and the First Kingdom that further shapes the world and how it functions. The premise and dynamic regarding Fate and the Fateless is intriguing, and having that paired with magic and dreams interacting offers an eerie, otherworldly opportunity of emotional exploration between bouts of traveling and battle-laden action. With trust not a natural inclination for Sparrow given how she was raised and the nature of her profession, and an even more tenuous proposition given the series of betrayals she experienced in rapid succession, she exhibits a stuttering and believable growth by gradually placing her confidence and trust in her small group of unlikely companions of Raithe, Halek, and Kysa, demonstrating the strength and depth of her character and her ability to adapt, even if the betrayals and those she now calls allies were predictable turns of events to progress the narrative forward toward what awaits in the next installment.
Overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5 stars.
*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have always loved Julie’s books. This one is no exception! Excellent as always!!! I loved it!
I thought it was a very interesting story and I can not wait to read more.

This story was spectacular. It took no time to take off and kept an intense pace to the end.

The world building is so descriptive and well done. You can see it, smell it (though not always a pleasant thought), and feel it.

If you're looking for:

Betrayals
An unlikely bond of friendships
Intense pace
Thieves and assassins
Mythical beasts
A chance to defy fate and prophecies

Then this is a read for you.

This was everything that I’ve enjoyed from Julie Kagawa’s previous writing. The concept worked well overall and was hooked from the first page. It had that world-building that I was expecting and enjoyed the overall feel of this, the characters worked overall and was engaged with how they felt in this story. Julie Kagawa does a fantastic job in writing this type of book and was glad I got to read this.

Getting swept up into a desert city of thieves and assassins full of action and adventure in a fantastical world with a character that does not yet know of her magical power sounded like just the escape I was looking for. The world building is amazing and felt very much like an immersive video gaming experience (I only read the author's note afterward and realized that gaming was an inspiration to this story). Fateless is seventeen-year-old Sparrow's story and the adventure she didn't sign up for. The story is told in first-person from Sparrow's pov in an easy to read and follow narration. From working for the thieves' guild to running from the big bad that she inadvertently helped unleash, Sparrow's story takes some interesting twists and turns. The tale is packed with action, the character's she meets along the way are captivating, and the plot is engrossing. This read was just the break from reality that I needed and I can't wait for the next part of the story. This book is a great fit for anyone who enjoys heist stories, full of action and adventure.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, HarperCollins Children's Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.