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Fateless by Julie Kagawa
Published by HarperCollins on July 15, 2025
Age Group & Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Source: Publisher
Beneath the ruins of the eternal monarchs’ city, a powerful artifact lies hidden—awaiting someone daring enough to take it.
When a seventeen-year-old Sparrow became part of the Thieves Guild, she pledged unwavering loyalty to their mission. So when an assignment arrives from The Circle, a secretive and perilous faction that secretly governs the Thieves Guild, Sparrow is eager to solidify her position within the organization.
A thrilling journey unfolds as Sparrow and her group of thieves travel to the core of the long-lost city of the Deathless King. The future of Sparrow, her friends, and Raithe, the mysterious and captivating assassin she is compelled to team up with on their mission, is at stake as they confront ancient powers in the tombs and struggle against the unyielding grip of destiny.
Ideal for enthusiasts of Alexandra Bracken and Sabaa Tahir, this new fantasy series fromNew York Timesrenowned writer Julie Kagawa will immerse readers in a daring and thrilling new universe, where a corrupt game of fate has significant repercussions.
A copy of the book was sent for review – thank you! Getting a copy doesn’t ensure a favorable review and thus doesn’t influence the reviewer’s opinion or the content of the review.
Trigger & Content Warnings:death, killing, aggression, conflict, desertion, blood, loss of control (possession)
Fatelessis clearly a tribute to video games, and I appreciate this for Julie Kagawa. However, I believe this would be better invideo game form (probably a narrative game).
It is the first book in a new series and centers around Sparrow, a member of the Thieves Guild located in the city of Kovass. She eventually gains the attention of The Circle, the group that supervises her guild, and they assign her a highly confidential task to obtain the Tapestry of the World from the Temple of Fate — failure is not an option, and if she fails, both her and her guild master will face consequences. However, events unfold unexpectedly, leading Sparrow on a journey across the land of Arkyennah with some unexpected companions who eventually become her friends.
My overall feelings about Fatelessare comparable to what I experienced withSoul of the Sword, the second book in herShadow of the Foxtrilogy. This is very much a journey-focused book as Sparrow and her group depart from Kovass — Julie Kagawa plunges us right into the action of the story and maintains a consistent tempo. Nevertheless, although it seems like there’s a lot happening and yet not much progress being made,Fatelessit’s definitely set up for an exciting continuation of the series, and i’m certain Kagawa won’t let anyone down.
The world is engaging and vivid, and I truly felt as if I was being pulled into the narrative along with the characters. There’s a significant amount of information presented; it often seemed like an overload of details. I found this to be a bit slow, and that was exactly how I felt withSoul of the Sword(It’s also a travel book). I believe it would be amazing in a video game, though.
It’s evident that Kagawa focuses greatly on the intricacies of the world, and I enjoyed discovering the various cultures and beings in Arkyennah. I particularly liked the backstory of the Scarab Clan and how it illustrates how a ritual can change over time, even as its requirements and intent shift.
I also liked how each character has a unique perspective on fate and destiny: for example, Halek, a Fatechaster introduced early in the story, is always going where the wind leads him. He embodies a carefree spirit, moving around like a butterfly, and he carries an energetic, puppy-like presence with him. On the other hand, we have Sparrow, who has always believed her fate is fixed: once a thief, always a thief. She thinks everyone has a set place in the world, and that it cannot be changed.
The characters are somewhat comparable toKagawa’s other works: we have a silent killer (Raithe) with an enigmatic presence and a Fatechaser (Halek) who added a lot of brightness and puppy-like energy to the book. I’m completely sure that Halek carried the story with his positivity and charisma, as I’m not too engaged with the other characters (for now), including our main character (except for Kysa). Sparrow actually seemed very repetitive after a certain point, and I think her ongoing repetition of, “I’m just a thief. I’m not a hero. I’m not a warrior” kind of overshadowed her character.
But let’s face it: being raised to be a thief, believing you can’t alter your fate, and then discovering you actually can, is bound to lead to some sort of deep inner conflict. I believe Kagawa depicts this effectively, although it was sometimes irritating to come across that repeatedly every few pages. Still, Sparrow begins to doubt her identity and her role in the world, and I’m eager to see how this unfolds in the next book.
Fatelesswas generally very enjoyable to read. It provided the same atmosphere as Kagawa’s first book, yet with the sophistication of an experienced writer. It isn’t my top choice among his works, but Kagawa is definitely a go-to author for me, and this is a strong beginning to a new series.
