Book Review: Fates by Lanie Bross
Title: Fates
Series: Fates #1
By: Lanie Bross
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre Type: Fantasy, Mythology, Romance
Publication Date: February 11th 2014
Pages: 336 pages
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Summary:
One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.
She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people's fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.
But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she is falling all over again--this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die. In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?
My Review:
Fates by Lanie Bross weaves together elements from mythology, fantasy and romance, and spins together some exciting and strange alternate worlds, creating an enjoyable and fascinating read.
One foolish moment of curiosity, a fascination with the forbidden, causes Corinthe's fall from paradise.
Corinthe is a Fate. Before her fall from Pyralis Terra, it was Corinthe and her sister's job as Fates to keep the universe in balance. Wading through the tranquil rivers of Pyralis, they would sort through the marbles (tiny vessels holding a destiny) floating by, finding the flawed and imperfect ones. As a game Corinthe and her sisters would challenge each other to see who could find the most, and in the end it was Corinthe's job to separate these tiny damaged vessels and take them to the Messengers. But in a moment of curiosity she does the unforgivable and is banished from her realm by The Unseen Ones (think Greek Moirai). She is exiled to Humana (Earth) for her disobedience where she becomes an Executor.
Her punishment? To ensure human's fates and that their destiny unfolds according to plan. Now, years later, her final assignment by The Unseen Ones is a test to prove her worthiness to rejoin her sisters in Pyralis Terra as a Fate. She must personally ensure the balance, her last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller, and she can go home. But being on Humana has changed Corinthe. Torn, she is caught somewhere between her nature as a Fate and that of the human realm. She begins to doubt everything she has been taught. Everything she once believed. Suddenly, she is not so sure she can harm Lucas as The Unseen Ones have planned.
Fates spun an enjoyable tale, although somewhat predictable, filled with alternate worlds, interesting concepts about fate and destiny, and a unique history/mythology that kept me happily reading. The mythology of Pyralis Terra and the concept of the Greek's belief in the Fates added and interesting concept of destiny and fate into the story. What happens if the control to our destiny is taken away? In Fates, Humana (Earth) everything has been decided, preordained. But Corinthe dares to ask the question what is there beyond the veil that separates her world of Pyralis Terra and the tiny destinies she and her sisters are in control of. I'm always a fan of interesting world-building and Fates does a good job of including some. I could picture the mythological world of Pyralis Terra and all its beauty. The sister Fates seemed a cross between water nymphs and traditional Greek Fates. The Unseen Ones were similar to The Moirai, but remained a mystery even at the end of the story. One of the very best parts of this story was the strange and deadly alternate world inhabited by the Blood Nymphs. Strange, deadly, and alien beautiful. These ladies and their flowers reminded me of giant Venus Fly Traps.
Both Corinthe and Lucas were likeable characters in Fates, but it was the interesting secondary characters that held my attention. Told from alternating points of view, there's plenty of opportunities to see what both Corinthe and Lucas are thinking and feeling. I liked Corinthe as the protagonist, but she begins the story as a Fate with little human emotions which made it hard to warm up to her. It took her interactions with Lucas, and seeing her through his eyes, to feel something more for her. I liked the changes she went through while on the quest with Lucas, and thankfully she ended up in the end being likeable and easier to relate to.
Lucas is your average guy, easy-going and likable. He's in a relationship that is not working, has a troubled family life, and a sister he is on the constant watch over. Once Corinthe enters his life everything takes on a higher intensity. Although he is immediately attracted to Corinthe and even crushing on her, I liked that he still kept his focus on the quest and his sister. He did not just give up everything for the sake of being with her.
The secondary characters really caught my interest with their interesting past, especially Rhys and Miranda. Both these characters are connected to Pyralis and are manipulating things behind the scenes. There seems to be an almost cosmic love story I want to know more about. Shadowy creature know as the Figures and Figments make an appearance as well as an odd gnome, blood nymphs, flying messengers the reminded me of dragonflies, The Unseen Ones, as well as sister Fates all added interest to the storyline.
The romance was sweet, and somewhat instant and predictable, but still enjoyable. Lucas is immediately attracted to Coritnhe, and she has trouble accepting her feelings for him being a Fate and not Human. The longer she is around him, the harder her mission becomes and the more she realizes what she is feeling for him is human love. I liked it, but did not swoon over it.
The ending was exciting and cliffhanger in style, leaving some questions unanswered that make you want to grab the next book immediately to find out what happens next. First in a planned two-book series, Fates should appeal to readers who enjoy destiny romances within a fantasy setting.
My Rating: 3 stars. I liked it.
PLEASE NOTE: A courtesy review copy of this book was provided by Delacorte Press via NetGalley in exchange for my fair review. Thank you Delacorte Press for the review opportunity!
