"Champion of Fate" immerses readers in a compelling fantasy world where destiny and choice intertwine. Kendare Blake crafts an engaging narrative filled with action, intrigue, and emotional depth. The protagonist's journey of courage and self-discovery resonates strongly, while Blake's unique twists make the story stand out. This novel is a captivating read for fantasy enthusiasts seeking an adventure that challenges fate and personal agency.

3.5 stars
I do enjoy Kendare’s way of writing and this book was no different. The way she weaves a story together is great! I just do not think the plot was totally for me but I did enjoy it!

Let me start by saying Kendare Blake is one of my favourite authors; from the first book of hers I read up to this one, I haven't been disappointed, and for me, that's saying a lot.

Now on to Reed's story; there's so much backstory on Reed that she felt like a real person to me; the depth of her character was amazing, and seeing the good and the bad gave me a real understanding of why she made the decisions she did.

I know the quote is behind every strong man, there's a stronger woman, and this is that in book form; while Hestion is the hero, Reed is the driving force behind him, and it's nice seeing both sides of that dynamic.

The world-building in this book is exemplary; all of the thought and detail that went into this story just went straight to the heart of me, and I enjoyed every page of it.

The only part of this book I didn't love would be the pacing; it just didn't seem consistent, but that could just be me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for providing a copy of this e-book; I have voluntarily read and reviewed it, and all thoughts are my own.

A beautiful story of glory and fame and the trials that come with friendship. Three women meant to guide heroes take on the hardship of war. The author brings excellent detail and drama to this story. Reed is the kind of heroine we love to root for, the underdog given power and strength to prove herself. She will do anything to serve her sisters, and this loyalty brings her trouble she never expected. I loved the depth of the characters and the story as a whole. I can't wait to read the next book. There is enough foreshadowing and longing in the book to keep the pace steady and leave you questioning what might happen as the books progress.

Kendare Blake is one of my cannot go wrong authors! Like her others this book once again features strong female leads that are empowering and inspiring. A great first book in a duology!

Having read and loved all of Blake's other series, I was really excited for this one--especially once I had read the description and anticipated a sweeping adventure story.

But....it just sort of fell flat. The "big reveal" from the Aristene elders about Reed's so-called destiny, the emotional tension of the relationships and friendships, the characters other than Reed.... there just wasn't enough development of these elements for me to care about them, so the climax held little resonance. I found myself just skimming through the later chapters and not finding that connection to any of the stakes to pull me back in once Reed was assigned her hero.

Not sure if I'll pick up the sequel or not, but it won't be a priority if I do. Disappointing, since I've absolutely torn through her earlier books and can still re-read them with the same investment I did the first time around.

***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

Book Name: Champion of Fate
Author: Kendare Blake

ARC
Thank you to NetGalley, Kendare Blake, HarperCollins Children's Books, and Quill Tree Books for the E-Book to review.

Stars: 3

- Thoughts.
- Feminist
- Warrior Women
- SLOW start
- complex world-building
- Complex relationships
- Horses
- Valkyrie vibes
- Entertaining
- Romance wasn’t as sweeping.
- More Adventure Less Romance

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for this review.

Apologies for my delay, I’ve had a very hectic few months.

But this book wasn’t really for me unfortunately. Never got into it enough to really care and don’t remember a whole lot of it. Might give it another chance in the future though, we’ll see.

Absolutely loved this! Cannot go wrong with Kendare Blake! The idea of the woman behind the leader takes a new twist in Champion of Fate. This first book in a duology follows Reed as she trains to be an Aristene, a strong female warrior who leads heroes to their fate. When she meets someone who makes her question everything, Reed must decide where her own path leads. I can’t wait for my students to read this!

This was actually my very first book by this author and now I want to read everything she’s written because I loved this one!

I could not help but turn the pages quickly on this one. I enjoyed Reed as the imperfect main character who has her own doubts, and even her small rebellions. The story is full of action and unique characters - characters that I look forward to reading more of in the next book. I like the idea of women warriors as well who are strong and perform Thier own heroic acts.

"Champion of Fate" by Kendare Blake is a spellbinding tale of courage, sacrifice, and the power of destiny. Set in a world where mythical female warriors known as Aristene shape the fates of heroes, this captivating novel follows the journey of Reed, a young woman on the cusp of her initiation into the revered order.

Orphaned at a young age, Reed has been raised by the Aristene and immersed in the tales of their legendary quests. Now, on the eve of her final test, Reed must prove herself worthy by guiding her first hero, Hestion, to victory on the battlefield. But as their alliance deepens and sparks fly, Reed finds herself torn between her duty to the order and her growing feelings for Hestion.

Blake masterfully weaves together elements of mythology, romance, and adventure to create a gripping narrative that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The bond between Reed and Hestion is palpable, adding a layer of complexity to their journey as they navigate the treacherous path of war and destiny.

At its heart, "Champion of Fate" is a story about identity and the choices we make in the face of adversity. Reed's struggle to reconcile her duty to the order with her own desires is both relatable and poignant, making her journey one that resonates long after the final page is turned.

With its richly imagined world, compelling characters, and pulse-pounding action, "Champion of Fate" is a must-read for fans of epic fantasy and adventure. Kendare Blake has crafted a tale that is as thrilling as it is thought-provoking, leaving readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this captivating series.

Kendare Blake has done it again! It took a little while to get into the story but once I did I could not put it down! It is different from Blake's other books. Reed was a relatable character that compliments Hestion. As the start of a duology, it has a lot of potential and I will be counting down the days for its sequel!

This was an okay first book to a series. The first few chapters really hooked me in but then the story started to fall apart.
Some parts of the story and a few characters needed more development.
I didn't have high expectations but I didn't expect it to be so sluggish with it the pacing.

A excellent YA fantasy novel, with good characters and plot! I definitely recommend to those who think it sounds good!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher

Kendare Blake's Champion of Fate introduces a cool concept: the Aristene, an order of female warriors who train heroes but remain shrouded in secrecy. Reed, our protagonist, is determined to join their ranks. However, the journey to becoming an Aristene hinges on her ability to guide a new hero, Hestion, to victory.

The hero-trainer dynamic is interesting, and the world-building holds promise. But the pacing can be slow at times, and some plot elements felt predictable. The romance, while sweet, takes a backseat to the larger conflict.

Overall, Champion of Fate is a decent read with a strong female lead. However, for a more gripping experience, it needed tighter pacing and a deeper exploration of the Aristene's mysteries. If you enjoy fantasy with a focus on female empowerment, this might be a good starting point.

This book took a bit of time to get into but once I was in, I was fairly enganged and wanted to keep reading. While this is different from Kendare Blake's other mythology/fantasy series, this book has more of a mythology feel than the Three Dark Crowns series but not as much as The Goddess War series. I definitely felt the book was missing something, it felt slow for much of the book and it wasn't until much later that I felt I connected to the characters and would lose myself in the story. I have a this hope that the first book was just a large build to the second book where there will be more action and we will feel greater connection to the characters. The characters aren't a lost cause. Only towards the end did we really start to see Reed do more than just be defiant for the sake of being different, and we started to see that the Aristene can be more than just tools for fate to enact as it sees fit. I am excited for the second book and think that this duology/series might become something I regularly recommend to people. We will have to wait and see though.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

CHAMPION OF FATE by Kendare Blake is the first book in the Heromaker duology, and it follows Reed, a young woman who survived a brutal attack on her village and was taken in by a group of legendary warriors called Aristene. Reed has one chance to become an immortal Aristene herself: she must guide a chosen hero to glory.

I loved Reed's character and her story. She's fierce, loyal, smart, and determined, but she also struggles with her past, her identity, and her feelings for Hestion, the hero she's supposed to help. She's not perfect, but she's relatable and admirable. I also enjoyed the dynamic between her and Hestion, who is kind, brave, and charming, but also has his own secrets and challenges.

The world that Blake created is rich and fascinating, with a lot of history, mythology, politics, and magic. I liked how the story incorporated different cultures, religions, and perspectives, and how it explored the role of the Aristene in shaping the fate of others. The plot was engaging and suspenseful.

Overall, I think Champion of Fate is a fantastic start to the Heromaker duology, and I can't wait to read the next book. If you're a fan of slow-burn and immersive YA fantasy, you should definitely give this book a try.

I'm not sure how to review this book, as it took me a while to finish it because I would say I was going to DNF, but something kept pulling me back in. I think that something was to see where the potential of our FMC, Reed, would take her.
✨️✨️✨️
Reed is an orphan who was rescued by legendary female warriors and taken under their wing to train and become a member of their order, the Aristine.
The Aristine are heromakers, they literally choose a potential hero and do everything in their power to make sure he attains the status of hero.
✨️✨️✨️
Reed's first assignment sees her paired with a prince, who has a reputation among his people as a great warrior, but she needs to guide him to become a hero.
This relationship has Reed facing a choice she doesn't want to make, her order or her heart.
✨️✨️✨️
Things I liked:
-I appreciate the fact that Reed made the hard choices, and we didn't get a cookie cutter ending.
- Strong sisterhood and female friendships.
- Zena Warrior Princess vibes.

Things I could have done without:
- some of the more mundane scenes could have been left out.
- there were some unresolved issues between our FMC and MMC