Fresh Fridays: On Friday, I review a brand new series (ie. only has one book released so far) to see if the series is worth keeping up with. Here is this week’s offering:
Fateless Series
Other books planned to be in the series:
Synopsis for Fateless (from Goodreads):
Deep in the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, an ancient relic of untold power waits—for one bold enough to steal it.
When seventeen-year-old Sparrow joined the Thieves Guild she made a vow of binding loyalty to their cause. So when a mission comes along from The Circle, a group of mysterious, dangerous beings who control the Thieves Guild from the shadows, Sparrow is determined to cement her place in the guild.
What ensues is a death-defying adventure that has Sparrow and her band of thieves venturing into the heart of the forgotten city of the Deathless King. The fate of Sparrow, her companions, and Raithe, the enigmatic yet alluring assassin Sparrow is forced to join forces with during their quest, all hang in the balance as they find themselves battling ancient forces within the tombs and facing the unwavering hold of fate.
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Fateless
# of Books: 3 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: No
Genre: Young Adult, High Fantasy, Romance, Adventure
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: July 15, 2025 – ongoing
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Julie Kagawa novel. She used to be one of my must read YA authors back in the day (when The Iron Fey Series was just being published) but I had a so-so experience with her Blood of Eden Trilogy and I haven’t been itching to grab a book by her since; including the newer Iron Fey spin-offs. But this one sounded fun–I love a savvy thief heroine–and I was intrigued by the plot. So I made a point to put the audio version on hold at my library.
What I Liked:
–Iron Fey Vibes–
When Halek first pops into Sparrow’s orbit I immediately thought of Puck from The Iron Fey Series and Raithe had some Ash vibes going on as well. I wouldn’t say that these characters are carbon copies by any means but it does highlight how great Julie Kagawa is at building the band of misfits to join our heroine on her mission in all her series.
–Layered World Building–
What I appreciated was that there wasn’t any info dumping regarding the world at the start of the novel. Instead, it’s a gradual build as we learn along with our heroine, Sparrow, as she navigates the circumstances she finds herself in. I never felt overwhelmed or super lost in how things worked in this universe.
What I Didn’t Like:
–Slower Building Plot–
I always felt like the plot was moving at a gradual incline. Things aren’t overly exciting for the first third of the novel but it did manage to keep my attention because I was intrigued by the characters. I personally don’t love adventure based novels and that’s what this novel eventually morphs into. However, I did find myself getting pulled in by the world the more I learned about it and its uniqueness.
–Romance was Just Okay–
It isn’t a big focus my any means but I wasn’t necessarily feeling all the chemistry either.
My Audiobook Experience:
This was my first book narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and I thought she was fabulous! She dramatized everything so well throughout the novel to give it that extra layer of suspense.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
Very curious to see where this will go next!
My Rating: 3.5/5
Fateless 3.5/5 | Deathless TBP | Book 3 TBP
If you are looking for a unique world and an adventure novel with a band of characters, this might interested you. But I’m still on the fence about where things will go at this point.
Read if You Like: adventure, true fantasy novels
Avoid if You: want more romance
- This Woven Kingdom by Taheereh Mafi (This Woven Kingdom Series #1)
- Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey Series #1)
- Truthwitch by Susan Dennard (Witchlands Series #1)
