The Fates

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.

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

This book was AMAZING!! A captivating retelling of what actually happened with old myths and legends and a whimsical overview of how the fates were overthrown.
I felt deeply for both the main characters, whose beginning did not define their lives or ending.
Superb writing and very addictive -had to keep reading into the small hours to find out what was going to happen.
Absolutely brilliant and a recommended must read.

Woven with the threads of life and loss, with the skill of Arachne

This book... THIS BOOK! Ahh... I cannot wait for it's official release as I will be handing it as a top suggestion to oh so many people. Whether you enjoy the likes of Madeline Miller, Natalie Haynes, Pat Barker... Basically, if you have any interest in Greek mythology, or just fancy an absolutely captivating read, The Fates await you...
In a world currently seeing mythological retellings, especially ones with feminist twists, or female main characters, Blythe has crafted a masterpiece sure to impress.
Also a side note, that Zeus comes across as a meddling deceitful cruel god... The way personally, I have always read him to be, its refreshing to see it so clearly within the genre.
The prose is poetic and lives page to page... Overall I am stunned by how much I loved this book. A true contender for my books of the year...

Excellent read. Really enjoyable. Exquisitely written with relatable and likable characters and beautiful world-building. 100% would recommend to all of my friends and fellow book lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored this book. The prose was magical, the story rich and full thought out, and there was a jaw dropping moment I didn’t see coming.

I truly don’t know enough about Atalanta as I’d like to but this book has enriched my knowledge about the Fates. The pacing throughout kept me captivated and I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next.

You know a Mythology retelling is good when it makes you want to research and read more books about the characters.

Being obsessed with Greek mythology, the title and description of this story hung on to me, and I thought it was right up my alley.

The storytelling was absolutely amazing and the descriptions of each character and place was written so well that I could envisage everything.

I originally thought the tale would be primarily about the Fates, but it also focused on a few other characters - Atalanta, who was left on the mountainside to die as a newborn, but grew in to a strong and fearsome hunter. Meleager, who had been cursed as a baby, yet became a great hero to his kinsmen. Zeus, the King of Gods, who was not as "nicey nicey" as people tend to think.

The story actually starts near the end, and throughout the book, we move in to the past and grow with Atalanta and Meleager; and we learn the secrets of the three sisters; the Moriai, otherwise known as The Fates.

I loved this book so much, and out of everything I have ever read, I honestly think this has been my favourite book.

High marks given for all aspects, and I look forward to reading more from Rosie Garland.

The Fates by Rosie Garland is Greek Mythology in a fresh and welcoming way. I know anything I have to say about this book will not even touch Garland’s writing. Reading this felt like how listening to a new beautiful song feels. Easy, lyrical, poetic, imaginative, but accessible and inviting. Following the fates themselves was a perspective I have not read yet in the genre and was a beautiful way to tell the story of our protagonists. Although I felt the story stalled slightly around the halfway mark, it was quickly picked up again and I felt myself becoming more and more attached to the story and the meaningful and poetic storyline’s. Threaded throughout the book was also a strong love letter to femininity and love, in all its forms and I found myself rushing to underline and force myself to remember beautiful lines of work. A new Author to myself, Garland has quickly become a favourite and The Fates a new title I will recommend to lovers of all things Greek Myth, extraordinary writing and compelling thoughts.