It is hard to get into at the beginning but i think that is the case for most fantasy books. Once I got to the half point it gets better and I am enjoying it more!

Julie Kawaga writes fantastic characters. Sparrow and the deathless king were built up so well. The plot was intriguing and had you wondering where it would lead to not he what you expected. The fantastical magical use was brilliantly done. I can't wait for the sequel because that ending was amazing. Another epic series beginning for Kawaga that will be absolutely devoured by fans of the Iron Fey series.

3.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2025/08/05/review-fateless-fateless-1-by-julie-kagawa/
My Five Word TL:DR Review: Entertaining, fast paced YA adventure

Fateless is an entertaining adventure story set in the heart of a desert city made all the more fascinating by its history and the fact that the ruins of an ancient city lie below.

As the story begins we meet Sparrow. Sparrow is an orphan who has grown up in the Thieves Guild (raised by the Master, Vahn), at the age of 17 she has a certain talent and a knack for being ‘lucky’. This knack brings her to the attention of the Circle – powerful people who run the city, they can’t be denied and if they give you a mission and you fail you won’t live to tell the tale. Unfortunately for Sparrow she’s about to be given an impossible task – to retrieve an item from the ruins of the Deathless King. Failure isn’t an option because the only person who she cares about (Vahn) also has his neck on the line.

I enjoyed Fateless, it’s easy to read, entertaining and I particularly liked the world building. I did have some issues which probably relate to this feeling quite YA – which, yes, I’m not the target audience and so I rarely request YA as I sometimes struggle with the lack of depth, but, I have read Kagawa’s Shadow of the Fox series which I really enjoyed so wanted to give this a shot too. In fairness, as I said, this is without doubt entertaining and I would like to continue with the series.

What I really liked. The writing is solid and the descriptions and setting easy to get on board with. I had no problems with the pacing, there’s plenty going on to keep you entertained, I particularly enjoyed the adventures that took place beneath the city and could happily have spent more time checking out those ruins. I like the desert setting and the little details like the dual suns that make it impossible to be caught outside when both rise to their highest point. The sand sea and the means of getting about and the dusty and winding streets. I can see the Assassins Creed likeness although personally speaking this put me more in mind of The Mummy (and possibly a little bit even of Indiana Jones).

In terms of the characters apart from Sparrow we have Raithe and Halek. Halek is a Fatechaster – I’m not going to really get into explanations about either the culture here or the Fateless and what it actually means because that veers into the land of spoilers. In this case Halek comes across as an eager little puppy out for adventure – and it seems his fate is going to be linked to Sparrow. Raithe is an assassin, I’m not entirely sure what exactly he is – immortal or otherwise – but he does seem to be very long lived. He’s also the romantic interest of the story – more about that shortly. To be fair, I didn’t dislike any of the characters but by the same token I wouldn’t say that I’ve fallen hard for any of them – at this point at least.

I think the story is engaging, there’s plenty going on and a few twists and betrayals and the characters eventually travel further afield – although they’re being relentlessly pursued.

Now, I did have some issues with this. Firstly, I didn’t really think the romance elements worked. I just don’t feel any chemistry between Sparrow and Raithe and it feels like an unnecessary road to go down. Secondly, I have issues with the motivations of the ‘baddies’ – if you will (I’m trying not to be spoilery) – I just don’t understand why. I can’t really say any more but what were they actually thinking? I also had this feeling every now and again of being ‘told’, so Sparrow is this amazing thief – but is she really? Her exploits didn’t really give me that impression. I mean, she takes risks and she clearly has some good luck – but it didn’t come across as though she’s really skilled or talented or even really give her assignments any really thought. I don’t know, perhaps I was expecting too much. To me, she came across on the page as really young, a little naive (for all her bluster) and too easy to trust in others. I can’t dislike her for any of those things because she is young and naive and too open – but, at the same time, she’s had a tough upbringing and I expected that to give her some sharp edges.

Anyway. In spite of a few little quibbles here and there this was an entertaining and easy to read story and I would be keen to see how the story progresses – I’m particularly interested in seeing where Raithe is from and meeting his Queen.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

Edited upon reflection:

Fateless follows the story of thief Sparrow as she learns of her 'fate' and her place in the world. The book was an enjoyable read with the plot, dystopian setting and any magic systems easy to understand.

The setting was incredibly atmospheric and the author really immersed me in the desert setting, with vivid descriptions of daily life, desert modes of transport and the local culture. Though a YA book, the author's description of a particular underground setting with it's various undead beasts actually had me a little scared! The plot was fairly fast paced, which kept me intrigued and the storyline had a few twists and turns. As to be expected with a young FMC, the FMC, Sparrow, was a little impulsive at times and her decision making somewhat frustrating. However, you do see her character grow and develop as the book progresses, witnessing her rising to the challenges that she faces.

I wish that I was a little more invested with the romance. I felt it could have benefitted from some more depth and tension. I'm eager to see where it goes next in the subsequent book. There is a large age gap with the FMC being 17 and the MMC being several hundred years old.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to those who enjoy YA Fantasy books with a little bit of creepiness.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

I think this was an absolutely fantastic set up of a new world (well, a dying world due to the deathless kings sucking most of the life from it for power) made up mostly of sandy deserts and a few cities hanging on. You have cool creatures like giant beetles, scary ants that eat anything, and several races of people like fate chasers, long lived assassins, and of course the deathless kings (who sadly do end up making an appearance instead of staying in the past!). The main character, Sparrow is an awesome thief and in this book turns out to be even more. I found the idea of how fates worked in this world to be fascinating and I am all for Sparrow being the Fateless and mixing things up. While this is a nicely original world, complete with two suns (the whole demon hour thing would be totally awful, especially when the world is mostly desert), it did kind of remind me of the Mummy (the deathless king does a similar thing) as well as Assassin's Creed (especially with Sparrow and her hood), and made it even more fun to read. You also get found family, those who will stand with Sparrow in the fight to defeat the Deathless King, lots of fighting and theiving, a little time for love to maybe blossom a bit, and awful blood magic. As this is the first book, it mostly sets up the storyline but I have high hopes for more thrilling adventures and finding ways to kick the Deathless king to the curb! And more cool beetles and whatever else Halek has hidden away in his pouches. His light humor gives a nice balance to the darkness and I really hope Sparrow and Raithe can have some quiet moments together.

A great first book with nonstop action, thievery, breaking into cursed underground cities, and finding a way to change fate before the Deathless King can finish what he started and destroy the world. I cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Overall, I did enjoy this, but I’m not sure I’m invested enough to continue with book two. The pacing felt off, it was slow and dragging in the beginning, then suddenly rushed when the action finally picked up toward the end.

I didn’t feel particularly connected to the characters, and the romance plot felt underdeveloped. There just wasn’t enough emotional depth or build-up for me to truly care about their relationship.

I did enjoy the found family element, it’s one of my favourite tropes, but I felt like we only scratched the surface with it. We didn’t get to know much about the side characters, so the bonds between them came across as quite surface level.

While there were aspects I liked, I was left wanting more in terms of character development and pacing. A decent read, but not one I’m likely to return to.

*Sighhhh it's finished* I loved this book! It's was everything I needed to get out of my reading slum. Fast past, twists and turns and romance what more could you want? Thank you to netgallery for the ARC

Well if like me you have enjoyed this author’s previous work you will be delighted with her new fantasy book . Sparrow is desperate to rise in the Guild but the life of a thief is never going to be that easy . When she’s sent on a quest she gets much more than she expected and quickly finds herself on the run and encountering new allies .
The author writes that the world building here is more than a nod to Assasins Creed and I can well see why . The characters all seem to live their lives in peril and never know if they will survive or not . Indeed at times these characters seem almost suicidal although to be fair there are hugely heroic acts happening here . A smidge of romance and lots of action and adventures . The story does not end on a huge cliffhangers but there is definitely unresolved conflict which as a reader I’m very keen to see end happily.

Tomb raider but make it distopian

I loved the desolate distopian setting, the description fo the different tiers of people and how they live.

The story with gripping from the started, the heist, the mystery’s, Sparrows relationship with the mysterious fate chaser and the political intrigue.

I need book 2 now

Fateless is an amazing book full of a great adventure that takes you along with it. I instantly felt completely hooked into this story and I didn't want to put this down. The characters keep you really engaged in the story and the world building was very fleshed out and intriguing. Overall this is a really great romantic fantasy.

Ooof a new fantasy book I had no idea really what I was getting into and my first Julie book. I absolutely loved this. The story of a thief who goes through life with an assassin and a fatechaser and honestly I ate this up. I loved sparrow, Raithe and Halek. The relationship between these 3 was so good and I loved how they had each others backs. Especially with sparrow and halek from when they went on the quest at the beginning. And Raithe. The man he is!!! A man who listens and is there for her and I just loved it so much. I was so into this world I didn’t want the book to end! And the betrayals that occurred in this had me gasping and rooting even more for sparrow. I’m so excited to read the next instalment of this and I need it now. Great writing. Great story. Great characters.

This was a great book, and it moved along at that perfect pace that was quick but didn't leave the reader feeling overwhelmed. I loved the mix of adventure and fantasy, the author did a great job creating this world and what it takes for the peoples to live in it. It does need just a little bit more history, though I could see that included in the next book, to increase the 'drama' and action.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the advance reader copy.

Unfortunately this wasn’t for me and I was ready to DNF quite a few times.
The basic plot of the story is interesting yet there could have been more world building.

The ‘romance’ felt weird as it usually does when the characters are trying to justify a relationship between a 17 year old and a hundreds of year old with the old ‘we don’t see age’.

This was such a fun YA read that ABSOLUTELY pulled me in!! The story was brimming with action & the characters were instantly likeable (I mean, not all of them but you know what I mean)😭

We’re thrown into a rich world with betrayals to navigate & unexpected friendships forming along the way which made it such a fast paced read to enjoy!!

There’s even a slow burning romance we’re teased with & I’m SO excited to see it unfold more over the next two books!!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a brilliant start to a series this was! The author's note at the very beginning talks about their love of the game Assassin's Creed, and if you also loved it you're sure to find a lot to like in this book too. A thieves guild, a baking hot desert kingdom, rooftop chases, a long dead God, and a perilous journey. Sparrow is a great MC, questioning enough to not be completely naive but innocent enough to think the best of people even against the odds. The world building is vast and interesting, and I'm really looking forward to reading more of the series in the future!

✨ ARC Review | Fateless by Julie Kagawa

✨ 5 shining stars / 5

This book is packed with action—there’s not one dull moment. I just couldn’t put it down.

Sparrow, a thief born without fate, is the only one who can retrieve a powerful artifact from a forgotten city riddled with magical traps. The world is vivid (desert with twin suns!), the lore deep (shoutout to Maederyss the Weaver), and the pacing relentless.

The romance with the MMC (an assassin 👀) is very light—just the right touch without ever overshadowing the plot. No smut, no drama, just clean, fast-paced fantasy.

Absolutely suitable for YA readers and highly enjoyable for adults who miss the days when fantasy meant epic quests and clever characters—not just spice.

Huge thanks to HarperCollins for the ARC! I simply devoured this book.

This was really fun! A YA fantasy romance but with a mystery too. Kept me entertained. Not my fav fantasy ever but definitely worth a read

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this eCopy to review

Fateless is the kind of fantasy I crave fast-paced, richly imagined, and brimming with danger, loyalty, and fate-twisting magic. Julie Kagawa launches this new trilogy with a bang, and I was hooked from the first page. If you love heist crews, ancient curses, and reluctant alliances, this one’s for you.

🗝️ Plot Summary
Seventeen-year-old Sparrow has spent her life in the shadows of the Thieves Guild, bound by loyalty and desperate to prove herself. When a mission comes from The Circle (a secretive, powerful group that controls the guild) Sparrow jumps at the chance to earn her place. The task? Steal an ancient relic hidden deep within the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings.

But nothing goes as planned. Sparrow is forced to team up with Raithe, a deadly assassin with secrets of his own, and together they face cursed tombs, ancient magic, and a force that threatens to unravel fate itself. As the quest spirals into something far more dangerous, Sparrow must decide who she is—thief, pawn, or something more.

⚔️ What Worked

Sparrow’s Voice: Sharp, determined, and vulnerable in all the right ways. I loved being in her head.
The Worldbuilding: From the crumbling city of the Deathless Kings to the eerie influence of fate magic, every setting felt vivid and dangerous.
Raithe: Mysterious, morally grey, and the perfect foil to Sparrow. Their dynamic crackled with tension.
High Stakes, High Speed: The pacing never let up. Every chapter brought a new twist, trap, or betrayal.
Themes of Fate vs. Choice: The story wrestles with destiny in a way that felt fresh and compelling.

🧾 Final Thoughts
Fateless is a thrilling start to what promises to be an epic trilogy. It’s got everything I love: a gutsy heroine, a morally tangled quest, and a world where every choice could tip the balance between survival and ruin. I can’t wait to see where Sparrow’s journey leads next.

I have always enjoyed the books I've read before by Julie Kagawa and this one didn't disappoint. The world building was so immersive and so easy to get lost in with such vivid descriptions and storytelling, the plot was so well thought out everything was written and paced throughout so well. The Vibes of this book were perfect and made it such an enjoyable read.

The storyline is what I loved the best and with such a cast of characters that each brought something different to the story and helped me the plot move along from start to finish, I couldn't help completely devour this book as soon as I started. I would of liked the romance to be alittle more of a slow burn as I feel like it was a little too insta love but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed the first book of this new trilogy.

Highly recommend if you love a YA fantasy with an engaging and creative plot.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

- inspired by Assassins Creed games
- epic world: world building was done really well
- multiple types of magic including dream possession, blood magic and necromancy
- high stakes
- travelling quest with a group of unlikely friends
- magical / fantastical beasts
- fairly gruesome scenes / battles
- fast paced

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable read!