#Review - Deathless by Julie Kagawa #YA #Fantasy

Series: Fateless # 2
Format: 400 pages, Hardcover

Release Date: July 7, 2026
Publisher: HarperCollins US
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Dark Fantasy

How does one kill the unkillable?

Sparrow and her companions have been left with an impossible task: slay the immortal Deathless King, whose magic siphons the very life of the world to sustain himself.

The answer may lie deep in the past, when those who would become Deathless Kings stormed the sanctuary of the goddess of Fate, in an attempt to remove their threads from the Weave and become immortal. They broke off a piece of the goddess’s loom and hurled it to the earth, where it still lies at the center of a dangerous wasteland called the World Scar.

For any chance against the Deathless King, Sparrow and her companions must brave the World Scar and reach the loom, which would grant the power of a goddess. But the journey is fraught with danger, and the powerful Deathless King determined to find them.

And if the loom is reached—what will the power of a goddess do to a mere mortal? Sparrow has no choice but to find out.

Julie Kagawa's Deathless is the second installment in the author's Fateless series. Deathless picks up with former thief Sparrow confronting the consequences of her identity as the Fateless—someone who can unravel the fates and destinies of those she touches, yet has none of her own—while facing an immortal threat that is draining the world itself. 

Sparrow and her companions (Kysa, Halek and Raithe) face an impossible charge: stop the Deathless King, an immortal whose magic sustains him by siphoning life from the land. The path forward leads into the past and a perilous journey toward a fragment of the goddess of Fate’s loom, hidden in the deadly World Scar—a lava-covered wasteland where even the air is poisonous. 

Reaching it could grant goddess-level power, but the risks to a mortal (and the pursuit by the Deathless King) are immense. Sparrow travels with Scarab Clan warrior Kysa, the carefree Fatechaser Halek (on their giant flying rock beetles), and the assassin Raithe, whose budding romance with Sparrow grows more complicated, including a visit to his mystic homeland. 

The group crosses dangerous territories, meets allies and foes, and navigates twists that keep the stakes high. The narrative balances the larger quest (confronting immortality and cosmic-scale threats tied to the Weave of fate) with personal costs, nightmares stemming from prior events, and interpersonal dynamics. Twists are deftly placed to maintain momentum through the Dead Lands and beyond. 

Notably, the book incorporates necessary background from Fateless smoothly enough that new readers can follow, while rewarding series fans with deeper exploration of the lore around the Deathless Kings, the goddess Maederyss, and the Tapestry/Weave. As a middle book in a trilogy, it escalates the conflict effectively and ends on a cliffhanger designed to heighten anticipation for the finale. 

Sparrow remains a compelling lead: a resourceful former thief grappling with power, responsibility, identity, and the absence of a predetermined path. Her emotional arc receives solid development alongside the action. The supporting cast shines—Kysa’s warrior perspective and cultural ties, Halek’s lighter, windswept Fatechaser philosophy providing contrast and humor, and Raithe’s enigmatic assassin background adding tension and depth. 

Building on the desert city of Kovass, the Dust Sea, ancient Deathless Kings, the Thieves Guild/Circle, and the theological framework of Maederyss weaving the Tapestry of the World, Deathless expands into new regions like the World Scar, the Dead Lands, and Irrikah. Unique elements—giant flying rock beetles as mounts, poisonous wastelands, blood magic/undead forces tied to the immortal king, and cultural details of groups like the Scarab Clan—create an immersive, distinctive setting that blends high fantasy with post-imperial decay and mythic stakes. 

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#Review - Fateless by Julie Kagawa #YA #Fantasy

Series: Fateless # 1
Format: 400 pages, Hardcover
Release Date: July 15, 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Dark Fantasy

From New York Times best-selling author Julie Kagawa comes the first in a thrilling new trilogy about a thief caught in a twisted game of fate and destiny when she's forced to team up with an alluring assassin to steal an ancient artifact from a forgotten city.

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.   

Perfect for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Sabaa Tahir, this new fantasy trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa will sweep readers into a bold and exciting new world, where a twisted game of destiny has far-reaching consequences. 

Fateless is the first installment in author Julie Kagawa's Fateless trilogy. As a New York Times bestselling author known for series like The Iron Fey and Shadow of the Fox, Kagawa delivers an immersive tale that draws inspiration from the likes of Assassin’s Creed, Dune, and An Ember in the Ashes. Fateless centers on seventeen-year-old Sparrow, an orphan raised by the Thieves Guild in the city of Kovass, where survival hinges on cunning, loyalty, and a touch of luck. 

Tasked by the mysterious Circle—a shadowy group controlling the Guild—with retrieving a powerful ancient relic from the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings, Sparrow embarks on a death-defying quest. Her mission spirals into a larger conflict when she inadvertently triggers the return of a Deathless King, a godlike sorcerer whose reign once dominated the world. Pursued by Raithe, an enigmatic assassin, and joined by allies like Halek the Fatechaser and Kysa the Scarab Clan warrior, Sparrow must navigate betrayals, ancient curses, and her own identity as a “Fateless”—someone who can defy the rigid constraints of fate in a world governed by it. 

The desert world of Kovass feels alive, with its scorching sands, giant insect mounts, and dragon-riding warriors evoking a cinematic blend of Dune and Prince of Persia. The setting is richly detailed, from the bustling streets of Kovass to the eerie, ruined tombs of the Deathless Kings. The concept of fate is central, with a unique system where most characters are bound by predetermined destinies, contrasted by the rare “Fateless” who can challenge this order. The cultural and religious elements, including unique races and guilds, are vividly portrayed, giving the world a distinct identity. 

The Thieves Guild and the shadowy Circle provide a complex power structure that drives the plot, while the desert’s perils—dust storms, ancient curses, and monstrous creatures—create a constant sense of danger. Comparisons to Assassin’s Creed are apt, as the story’s atmosphere and Sparrow’s acrobatic thievery echo the game’s aesthetic. Sparrow is a compelling protagonist, blending cockiness with vulnerability. Raised as an orphan by the Guildmaster Vahn, she’s driven by a need to prove her worth, masking deeper insecurities about belonging. 

Her journey from a self-reliant thief to someone who learns to trust her found family is emotionally resonant, though her development is sometimes overshadowed by the plot’s breakneck pace. Her status as a Fateless adds intrigue, making her a target and a wildcard in the battle against the Deathless King. The supporting cast is equally engaging. Raithe, the brooding assassin, is a highlight, with his mysterious past and slow-burn chemistry with Sparrow providing a satisfying enemies-to-lovers arc. Halek, the quirky Fatechaser, brings humor and warmth, while Kysa, the Scarab Clan warrior, adds grit and strength.

The plot is a whirlwind of action, with heists, battles against 

mythical beasts, and treacherous journeys across the deadly Dust Sea. Kagawa weaves a narrative that balances high-stakes adventure with deeper themes of loyalty, found family, and the struggle to forge one's own path dictated by destiny and fate.  The cliffhanger ending leaves plenty of unanswered questions, setting up a desire to find out what happens next in the sequel.

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