Fateless

Gr 7 Up–Assassin’s Creed meets Tahereh Mafi’s This Woven Kingdom as a thief must steal into the forgotten city of the Deathless Kings and steal an ancient relic. Sparrow, 17, was raised in the Thieves Guild to be one of their best and doesn’t hesitate when the higher-ups assign her to steal the Tapestry of Fate from the temple. Hiding in the shadows of the temple, she overhears a priestess and a foreign assassin speak of a rising darkness. With the Tapestry acquired, Sparrow is given a new quest to the First Kingdom of the Deathless Kings, one that no other thief has come back from. When she succeeds, the soulstone she brings back to the surface might end up destroying everything. Kagawa paints a vivid, complex world inspired by Persian culture. The deep lore adds high stakes to the adventure, as the legends paint a harsh picture of how the world came to be. Sympathetic characters and a fast-paced plot coalesce to a fun and absorbing read, even if the beats are familiar. The supporting cast of sidekicks add humor and depth to the perilous adventure, but the romance between our thief and assassin could use a little more fuel to keep the slow burn going. Fate obviously plays an important theme in the story, as does vulnerability and strength. While the ending arrives abruptly, the pieces are in place for an exciting sequel.