Lanie BrossRecensioni

It's true that Fates drew me in with its gorgeous cover. I mean look at that thing of beauty! It called to me. It held the promise of myth mixed with adventure. Little did I know that between these pages was a veritable labyrinth of a story. One that, no matter how much more I read, I wasn't able to find my way out of. This wasn't a fun read, my friends. Not at all. It was maddeningly confusing, and I am honestly surprised that I made it to the end. I did make it to the end though, as I had promised a review for this book. So please pardon the rambling below.

To be completely honest, this book had potential at the beginning. The reader stumbles upon Corinthe as she is fulfilling her duty as an Executor. As the one who makes sure that Fate takes its proper course. I was thrilled with this idea. Greek myth speaks of The Fates often. Of those very powerful beings who hold the very existence of every person on Earth in their hands. Why wouldn't that extend to our every day lives? It made sense to me that there would be someone here to make sure that everything went according to plan. It fits perfectly with the idea of free will vs. fate. So yes, that I loved.

Then things took a very odd turn. Suddenly Luc was in Corinthe's path, and nothing made sense anymore. These two fall in insta-love and, worse yet, the reader never really gets to know them because they hardly have time to get to know one another. I never felt anything for either of these characters. No hate, or anger, or even happiness when things went right. I felt like I was stuck in the middle of a story that had the right to do whatever it took to make it to the ending. Corinthe needs to kill Luc to get home? Okay. We still need romance though, so let's have him fall head over heels for her for no reason. Also, because this book is of the Paranormal persuasion, let's add in gnomes, hornets, and all manner of other things but not explain any of them at all. Sound good? That's this book.

Which basically meant that the first third of the book was slow, as it was building up to something bigger. The middle was confusing as all get out, and I had so many questions that I couldn't keep them all straight in my mind. Finally, as I neared the ending, everything just somehow magically wrapped up. I never had any of my questions answered. I never met half of the beings who were referred to in this book. Most frustrating of all, I didn't even feel anything at an ending that should have made me feel at least a little bit sad. What's a reader to do?

Apparently this is the first in a series, but I won't be reading past this. When it comes to first books, I'm generally pretty forgiving. I'll let a lot slide in the name of future installments. Fates, though? Too much left undone. Too many plot holes. Not enough interest left at the end.

I really liked this book. The characters, the story, the writing, all of it.

Also, if insta-love MUST happen, this is the way to do it. Start with the characters lusting after one another pretty hard, it makes the leap to love a tad easier to believe.

But while all the constituent parts of this book were great and bound together in a way that flowed and was lovely... nothing about this book made it stand out.

So, not five stars worthy, or favorite shelf worthy. Sorry.

I especially Miranda and Rhys, they were two of my favorite characters. And I feel the time travel element will make the next book stand out.

I found this book quite randomly at my library, and really enjoyed it as I began reading, as I was in the mood for a mostly romance-oriented story. By the end, though, I didn't feel too strongly about it.

I thought that the attraction-at-first-sight, which is used in a lot of YA with only a partial success rate, worked here, because Luc and Corinthe weren't pretending to be in love with each other; they just admitted that, for some reason or another, they were drawn to each other. However, one of the things I found dissatisfying by the end was that they do reach that point of being in love, but after having spent precious little time together. I think that, for that level of development in the romance to be believable and satisfying to me, the main characters would have had to spend significantly more time together. Yes, life-threatening situations reveal more (perhaps... I'm not quite convinced) than boring ones, but regardless of all that, there are some things you only learn about another person over time.

I actually also really liked Bross's writing; I found it pleasant for the most part, though some parts dragged or felt repetitive. I will also admit that some details were just too much for me. The Blood Nymphs, for example? Yuck! Way too squeamish!

I didn't love the ending, but while I'm usually happy-endings-or-bust, I didn't mind this one, and I think part of the reason I felt that way is because I didn't quite believe the level of relational development.

Overall, it was enjoyable at parts, but still lackluster.

When I requested this on NetGalley it was more for the hell of it, I didn't think that I would get it or that I would really enjoy it for that matter, but I did. There was just something about it that made me smile. Don't get me wrong, there was a lot about the book that could have been better, but all in all I think it was a really good review and a good first book in a series.

the book focus around Corinthe, (obviously) who like the description said was banished from her life in Pyralis to earth, to life among us like one of us but while still being forced to do her job and execute crucial moments in other peoples life's, including death. The book starts off with Corinthe trying to do just that, but when she is left bleeding at the scene, something that she shouldn't do, and seen by a handsome young man who goes by the name Lucas Kaller, her life seems to get more complicated. (not that it was ever easy).

When Miranda, her mentor, presents to her the last task before she is able to go home, nothing will stand in her way. Or so you would think. Going home is something she has thought about since the very moment she came to earth, but when the last mission is to kill Lucas Kaller, can she really do it?

other than a few predictable chapters and the annoying characters (some of them) this book was rather good. I think though half the reason I liked it so much was because it reminded me of The Demonata series by Darren Shan with all the changing of realms and the sadistic sense of some of them. So that's always a good thing. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mythology, but also can take things with a pinch of salt, because like I said this book comes with faults, the romance that seem dot pop up out of no where is one of them, it was just really unbelievable and at times annoying.

Disappointing. I pre ordered this in hardback. Sounded good and had a gorgeous cover. Unfortunately I was not impressed with the story at all. Flat dull characters, insta love of the worst kind (a few chance meetings and suddenly one is all the other can think about). The plot had potential, it started off quite good.

Exhiled from her perfect home world for a terrible mistake Fate Corinthe is given the new task of becoming an Excecutor of fates in human worlds she is given a task involving a boy named Luc and told that to complete it she can come home. But all is not as it seems and when she has the chance to complete the task she and Luc somehow fall into different worlds. From there the plot rapidly descended into stupidness and the world building made little to no sense at all.

I found myself rolling my eyes and skimming and generally unimpressed by anything. There was a mildly interesting twist towards the end but I don't think I will be reading anymore of this particular series.

Oh well. A square crossed off for Bookish Bingo - a green cover.

This is not a bad first book in this series. It just needed some work to make it better. I did finish the book, despite not really finding anything too interesting about Corinthe or Lucas. I could not really see how Corinthe was very good at her job. The impression I got was that she was a skilled executor back on Pyralis Terra. Yet, it seemed like she kind of got lucky with her job on Earth. She did not have the attitude of a skilled killer towards Lucas. This was even before she really got to know him and have feelings towards him.

It was the abilities that Corinthe possessed that I found exciting, the story, and the world. Although I would have liked to get more details about the world and the magical characters in it. I was introduced to them quickly without much facts about them and so it threw me for a curve ball a little. I even had to re-read a part to understand the character better. The last half is where the story picked up with action but it was too rushed. The ending is supposed to leave me the reader waiting for the next book in the series, Chaos. I might read the next book but only for the world and to see what happens to Corinthe and Lucas and not for any budding romance.

Fates has a very interesting premise but I failed to connect with Corinthe and unfortunately wasn't very fond of the the guy Luc who she falls for. Just something about his personality didn't work for me. The ideas here were really interesting but didn't jive with me mostly because of the reasoning behind why Corinthe is banished in the first place. The writing style was well done and vivid, the world Corinthe comes from being very intriguing but the plot line and characters failed to capture my interest and sympathy. This was pitched as a twist on Greek Mythology and luckily I didn't have much knowledge of Greek Mythology so I wasn't comparing things internally over what the author may have done differently. I think some readers will still enjoy this, as for me I can't even pinpoint exactly what didn't work for me.

Interesting premise but the plot was so confusing that I just ended up frustrated and annoyed. Love the cover!

An interesting plot with lots of potential, although the writing was confusing at times. There are some great scenes in the novel and the characters are likeable, but something is missing. Although, that is exactly how one of the MCs feels throughout most of the novel, so maybe it's intentional. If there is a sequel, this story does pull the reader in enough to want to read it. For the author's first book, not too shabby. The cover is gorgeous.

Net Galley Feedback½

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A beautiful, touching story about a girl learning to love in a strange situation. This was engaging and brilliant, and fans of Delirium by Lauren Oliver will enjoy it!

Opening Sentence: Principal Sylvia Patterson pulled her office door shut, checked the lock, then hitched a stack of folders slightly higher in her left arm as she made her way down the empty halls of Mission High.

The Review:

Fates is about a girl named Corinthe, who has been ostracized from her home land after doing a forbidden thing, and forced to live on Earth (Humana) as an Executer. She helps make sure fate happens, and certain destinies that are uncertain are resolved the way they are meant to be. Living with her guardian Miranda, she is beginning to feel better about her exile, although still she yearns dearly for home. All she wants is to be finished with her tasks and to go home to Pyralis. Then, finally, gets her last assignment, to kill a human boy, is given to her. Strangely, though, the task that she is most resolved in is the one that spirals most out of control.

One of the things that I rave about in this book is the gorgeous, unique writing style. It was like music, and it flowed so brilliantly, like honey. I was very impressed!

Corinthe is so determined to get home, and it’s obvious in every word that all she wants is that. Slowly it begins to change, and in subtle ways her focus begins to divert as she falls in love with Luc. She denies it, at first-she is new to living like a human, naive to this world. But Luc represents the good things about humanity: kindness, perseverance, bravery in a tough life.

Luc was the character I was able to identify with more, perhaps because his voice was purely human. Corinthe had an almost alien way she describes the story, and Luc I had more empathy with. His mother walked out on the family when he was young, his father is always drunk, and his sister keeps getting hooked on drugs. It’s not exactly a peachy life looking out for them, but Luc gets by. Usually when you first are introduced to a character you are more uncaring about their life, but I was definitely touched by this kid’s story.

The story kept going down paths that I didn’t expect at all, making me surprised, scared, `and everything in between. It kept consistent, though, and never went too far off the track, to the point I was confused. No, this was perfectly understandable.

I have one complaint, though. The characters, the setting, the plotline, everything was fabulous except for one thing…the length. I felt like there were enough pages, but the story happens in such a relatively short period of time that just more would have been great. While it was obvious that Corinthe and Lucas were falling for each other, it would have been great if they could have had more time together.

All in all, this one is an enthralling, engaging story with lots of action, betrayal, and love around every corner. The release date will be a miracle for readers everywhere. I congratulate this author on her debut feat!

Notable Scene:

She reached out and wrapped her fingers around the stem, right below the petals: the only flower that would ever grow, the only thing that could save her, here, underneath her fingers. She gasped. The flower’s pulse was so strong it almost knocked her over. She could feel her hand burning.

She would die, but it was worth it. Because Luc would save his sister. It would be Corinthe’s gift, to thank him for what he had given her.

She had finally found something more than fate to believe in.

FTC Advisory: Delacorte Press/Random House provided me with a copy of Fates. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.