Fates Blog Tour: Review

Welcome to my stop on the FATES tour being hosted by Random House Children's Books! Today I have my review of the book to share with you!

Fates (Fates #1)

Author: Lanie Bross

Genre: YA Fantasy 

Release Date: February 11, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Description:

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? 

Fates is the first book in a young adult fantasy series that questions the very concept of fate, destiny, and free will. It follows Corinthe, a Fate who is exiled to Humana (Earth) after making a mistake. Now she's an Executer - she makes sure that certain fates are done according to the plan. She's assured by her Guardian, Miranda, that after these past ten years on Earth, Corinthe can return home to Pyralis Terra after completing two final assignments. Enter Lucas Kaller - an average guy with family issues - who just happens to be Corinthe's final assignment. To kill him. Strange things are beginning to happen to Corinthe since she meets Luc - she experiences human emotions, physical issues like needing to sleep and becoming injured, and the most frightening of all - love. Corinthe realizes that she's becoming something between a Fate and a human. She's fallen in love with a mortal boy who fate says she must kill in order for her to go home. Can fate ever be wrong? Is it possible that some things are more powerful than destiny?

I found this to be a fascinating book that not only deals with mythology but with deep life questions. The characters are both well written - Corinthe is an interesting leading lady for the book. She's unique in so many aspects, yet easy to identify with at the same time. I enjoyed watching her relationship with Lucas develop and grow. The chapters are told from varying views - they alternate between focusing on Corinthe and Lucas, but are written in the third person. I think that this writing style gave the book a bit of a original feel that gives insight into both the plot and the characters. The author uses vivid descriptions and details throughout the story, so it was easy to envision the worlds that were created in the book. I loved learning all about Corinthe's world, along with all the other worlds that are discussed. Their intricate details and histories made the book all the more exciting and fun to explore. Aside from dealing with the mythology concerning the Fates, the book talks a lot about fate, destiny, and free will. These are really deep topics and made me take a long and honest look at the various opinions about these beliefs as well as where I stand with them. It's kind of mind boggling when you think about it, so I'm glad that the author wove the deeper topics into a lighter story about love and alternate worlds. It's a good debut novel for a promising series! Recommended for fans of mythology and YA fantasy fiction.

Lanie Bross was born in a small town in Maine, where she spent the next 18 years dreaming of bigger places. After exploring city life, she and her husband and two young sons ended up coming right back to the wilds of Maine where they now live just one house down from where she grew up. Fate, perhaps? She loves chasing around her rambunctious kids, playing tug-o-war with her 95 pound Lab, and writing for Young Adults. Fates is her first novel. (Taken from Goodreads)

 *A huge thanks to the awesome people at Random House Children's Books for sending me a copy of the book for review!*