Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Fates!

I loooooooved this book.

Greek mythology and Greek mythology retellings are up there with some of my favourites, and The Fates delivered.

I havent yet read a story about The Fates, and this was such a wonderful first experience of that. The author has a gift of writing in a way that feels both up to date and ancient. They use wonderful language that makes the whole thing seem like you are truly reading a story that has been passed down through the ages, whilst still feeling polished and new.

All of the characters are so well rounded, the timeliness is done extremely well, and the big twist of the story took me completely off guard (which thrilled me).

If you are a fan of Madeline Miller and her greek mythology novels, The Fates is for you.

I think this book/author gave a unique adaption of the fates, who generally aren't portrayed in media often anyway. I was really intrigued by this one, and, it was okay, I guess.
I wasn't a huge fan of Garland's writing style - it just wasn't for me, and I found it quite hard to get lost in this book. I did, however, really enjoy the non-linear structure.

I don't have much to say as it wasn't a bad read, it just wasn't for me.

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a greek mythology retelling

I can't give a rating that encompasses all of my feelings to this book for the simple fact that to me, this is two stories forced to share the same breath and space as one another, and while I liked one story, I did not like the other, which is probably why this ARC took me over a year to read (almost a year and a half).

The first story is a story about free will, and how mortals are given it. That story relies on themes of love and determining your own path, and is told with a prose that is at once both purple but also fits the feeling of being told an ancient myth. That tale I enjoyed. The second story is a retelling of Greek mythology, but that I did not enjoy, because so much of it was bent out of shape and distorted in order to tell the first tale.

This is the problem with retellings. One portion of your audience demands for the tale to be told faithfully to the myth, and there, any deviation will be met with scorn. Another portion of your audience will demand that the tale be given originality and reinvented, and will scorn any attempts to be faithful to the source material. Authors must choose which side they will let their story land on, and ride the consequences, because inevitably, one portion of the natural audience for this tale will be unhappy, and I was unfortunately a part of that.

In this tale, the Olympian gods are all terrible, drunk on their power and spiteful and cruel. The only gods worth their salt are the Fates themselves and a singular Titan that remains behind, the first of the inaccuracies. For someone who enjoys the Greek gods as being a take on divinity that runs closer to the capricious and complexity of humans, to see them painted in such broadstrokes both bored and annoyed me. It was clear to me from that that this book takes the framework of Greek mythos and shakes it and bends it until it fits the story the author actually wants to tell. There is nothing wrong with the tale being told about how humanity is given its free will, nor the way that the story delights in such freedom and self determination of your own path, but I didn't see the need then to take a tale and force it into something else.

For me, this story would have been better served to be split in two, one a tale of Atalanta, and one a tale of mortals finding free will, and the disservice was done by trying to force the two together.

Rosie Garland’s The Fates is a beautifully crafted, lyrical reimagining of Greek mythology that breathes new life into the timeless figures of Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos - the three sisters who weave the threads of destiny. If you love mythological retellings with rich prose, deep emotion, and a touch of rebellion against the cosmic order, this novel is a must-read.

The story explores the burden of immortality as the Fates, bound to their eternal task, become enthralled by the lives of mortals - particularly the fierce warrior Atalanta and her tragic love, Meleager. The novel deftly weaves between divine and human perspectives, capturing the tension between predestination and free will. As the sisters begin to question their own roles, their yearning for something beyond the threads of fate becomes a hauntingly powerful theme.

Garland’s writing is exquisite - lyrical and immersive, with prose that feels almost musical in its beauty. She masterfully balances grand, mythic storytelling with deeply personal struggles, making the characters feel both ethereal and painfully relatable. The Fates are not distant, cold deities; they are curious, conflicted, and longing for something more, which makes them all the more compelling.

A fresh, poignant, and deeply evocative take on fate, love, and the weight of eternity, The Fates is perfect for fans of Jennifer Saint, Madeline Miller, and Natalie Haynes. Garland has woven a tale worthy of the sisters themselves - one that lingers long after the final page.

The myth of Atalanta is a favourite of mine so I knew that I had to have this book (thank you for the ARC!)

I loved the way this book retold the myth and explored themes like sexuality and bonds between the fates. I would have loved to see a bit more of all the fates seen as that's the name of the book but if you're a fan of greek mythology definitely give this one a go.

It is well written and you can tell the author enjoyed writing the book.

This was a very interesting read. The way Rosie Garland put the Fates into a more modern setting, I really enjoyed. Yet I have to admit that I didn't particularly liked the writing style. In some places the poetic writing was great, but in some others it wasn't fitting at all. It also didn't feel authentic but forced.
Also the conversations about feminism, misogyny, free will and fate could have been deeper and more explored, it felt like it only scratched the surface. I wanted to love the story so much more than I ended up doing, still I would recommend this book because I really liked the idea behind the story and only because this wasn't for me doesn't mean it wouldn't be for anyone. So if a book about the fates as main characters sounds intriguing to you, you should give this novel a try and make yourself an opinion.
For me, this was okay. So 3 out of 5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the eArc copy of this book for an honest review.
Unfortunately, Rosie's writing wasn't for me, I didn't enjoy the flow of the book and at times the story felt a bit disjointed.

So, Rosie Garland gives the Fates a voice in the myth of Atalanta, which is a cool twist. The story jumps around between characters and settings but it's written beautifully and told from different points of view. I liked how they explored gender and sexuality in Atalanta's story, and the bond between the Fates was really interesting. if you're into Greek mythology and want a fun, easy read, I'd recommend it.

A beautifully written mythical retelling that will surely impress. This writing felt very poetic and had me hooked from the first page, I just couldn't put it down and left me feeling more knowledgeable about Greek mythology. Zeus's character intrigued me as it felt different from other portrayals of him that I have read before, so I was drawn to his perspective.

All up a very enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to fellow fans of Madeline Miller and Jennifer Saint.

I adore Greek Mythology and the title of this drew me in right away. It is told from several points of view and at different time frames which can be a little hard to follow at first, but ultimately worth it. This was a great almost fresher retelling and one any greek mythology lover should absolutely read.

Thank you to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

As an avid reader of Greek mythology retellings, I went into this one with my eyes wide open. I wasn't expecting anyone to reinvent the wheel, and perhaps that's why I was able to enjoy it more than I might've should I have approached it with a more critical eye (like some other reviewers - fair and reasonable responses).

The Fates is a book with an intriguing take on those three mythological entities we all have always wanted to know more about. As other readers have mentioned, this particular topic isn't one that I've stumbled upon before, so that alone was a very refreshing approach to the Greek myth genre. Garland clearly had fun delving into the myths and putting her own spin on them, however - I'm not sure this was always for the best. Sometimes these hit right (kudos to making Zeus the world's biggest man baby), other times they missed the mark (on the other hand, reading from Zeus' pov...was not fun at all).

I want to make an honourable mention to Garland's writing style. It won't be for everyone, but it certainly was for me. Several excerpts now live in my commonplace journal, and boy, do they look good on those pages.

Pick this book up if you want to delve into an adventure in a world that feels as familiar as it does unique.

"The Fates" by Rosie Garland is an incredible exploration of fate, time, the patriarchy, and love within the rich tapestry of Greek mythology. From the very first page, I was hooked, finding it to be one of the most unique and compelling books inspired by mythology that I have ever read.

Going into this book, I had no knowledge of Atalanta and Meleager. However, Garland's writing made learning about these mythological figures both fascinating and enjoyable. The detailed history provided for each character, narrated from their own perspectives, initially took some getting used to but after a few chapters I got used to the writing style.

Garland's take on these mythological tales is original and captivating. Whether you're well-versed in Greek mythology or new to these ancient stories, this book offers a fresh and engaging perspective.

A must-read for anyone interested in mythological narratives that are both thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining. Rosie Garland has crafted a story that beautifully intertwines the timeless themes of fate, love, and the struggle against the patriarchy, making it a compelling addition to any reader's collection.

I have always adored Rosie Garland's writing, and looked forward to this new one with great excitement. I was not disappointed. Garland has recreated the story of the Fates, the three sisters of Greek mythology, with her signature lush prose, but this time she has delved into the legends of the Gods. I was enthralled. Utterly spellbound by the three Moriai sisters, Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. This trio, the Fates as we know them, are rendered so real by Garland, as are the lives and adventures of the mortals in her tale. I especially loved the fierce yet wonderfully 'human' female warrior, Atalanta and her ill-fated lover, Meleager. Great stuff, as ever.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Quercus Books for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: misogyny, rape, sexual assault, animal death

Long before the Olympian gods ruled the skies and before mortals existed, there was the Fates. These three sisters- Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos- born of the goddess of night Nyx, are destined to weave the lives, deaths and destinies of all humankind. However, eternity is a long time and it’s difficult to remain detached from the legendary heroes and ordinary people on Earth. They become entranced by the woman warrior Atalanta, the only female Argonaut who was raised by a bear and then as a follower of Artemis, and her romantic relationship with Meleager, a prince of Calydon and fellow Argonaut who believes he has been cursed by the Fates since his birth as they predicted he would die once a piece of wood stopped burning. As the couple hunt the Caledonian Boar from legend, the Fates recount the stories of their lives and try to find a way to free the couple from their tragic destinies- even if it means acting against Zeus. Refusing to be bound by the limitations of their existence, the Fates seek to resist destiny and forge new paths.

This is an incredibly original retelling of not just the Fates but also Atalanta and Meleager, who I’ve read about before. I really enjoyed the focus on their lives before the Caledonian Boar hunt and how the Fates have single-handedly influenced them, even if they don’t want to. I did find the parts about the three sisters’ backstory to be less interesting but that’s more because I was so personally invested in Atalanta and Meleager. The characterisation of Zeus and his wife Hera, meddling from above in between parties and wars on Olympus, was unlike any I’ve read before. However, I didn’t feel that much connection to the Fates and their story compared to other books I’ve read in the same genre.

I love Greek mythology, and was immediately drawn to this as it retells the story of the Fates, the three women who determine the lives and deaths of the mortals. Within the interwaeving timeline we are also introduced to Atalanta and Meleager, and Zeus at his most vengeful.

There are glimmers of absolute joy here. The writing plays a heavy role in setting the tone of the book, taking on a cadence very reminiscent of ancient Greek texts. It's flowery, descriptive yet also not all that difficult to read. It's rather beautiful. However I did find the pacing incredibly slow. The story meanders, pausing frequently in the action to spend time discussing the characters or musing on their dilemmas. There's nothing quick about this story, and for me this did mean my attention started to wane.

Lovely prose, meandering plot. If you enjoy your retellings on the literary side of fiction I think you'll really enjoy this one.

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this book. The writing didn’t capture my attention and I found it tricky to engage with.

This was a fantastic read! I love Greek mythology and retellings and knew I was going to love this one. I hadn’t read much from the point of view of the Fates before and loved being able to see the world through their eyes and how they navigated growing up as not-so-normal girls (and later discovering their immortality). I would definitely recommend this one!!

*thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC *

3.5 *

In short - if you like myth retellings, without the avarage modern twists then you will like it.

I was a bit hesitant in the beginning, because it started way to slow for me. But then with the explanation of Atalanta I was drown in. I have read any version of the original myths connected to Atalanata (and Meleager) and she is even part of my thesis, yet I find this representation unique, yet true to the character (having in mind that Clotho has nothing to do with the character). I still don't get the whole tropple thing, but I can kind off see where the idea behind it come from.

At sometimes times the cheesiness was too much for my taste, and I skimmed through some parts because of it, but overall it was a good book, certainly the best retelling of Atalanta I have read thus far.

A recommended read for fans of Madeline Miller and Genevieve Gornichec. A reimagining of Greek mythology incorporating LGBTQI themes, misogyny, feminism, and gender stereotypes. This is great new queer fiction to add the subgenres of historical fantasy. Well worth the read!

The Fates is a new reimagining of an ancient Greek myth surrounding the legendary female warrior Atlanta and Melegar, the doomed warrior-lord of Calydon.

Garland reimagines this aspect of Greek mythology infusing the characters with new life. The female warrior Atlanta is central to the story which revolves around the love between her and Melegar. There is a new addition to this ancient tale which Garland weaves to entice us into her reimagined and new Ancient Greece. The Fates, who stand beyond time and creation of the Titans, mortals and the Gods of Olympus, are responsible for the birth, fortune or misfortune in mortal lives and for ending life.

Garland imagines this classic Greek myth where the otherworldly figure of Atlanta entices the Fates to break their distance between the weaving of fate and the effects on mortal lives. Entranced by the magic of Atlanta and Melgar, the Fates are drawn like the reader to this new version of a female warrior: lover of Melgar and the female warrior Antiklea . Here, Atlanta is bisexual and the polyamorous relationship between Atlanta, Melgar and Antiklea brings new vision to an ancient tale. There is a new twist to the tale and the breaking of rules as one of the Fates, Clotho dares to confront Hades to reverse Melegar’s fate and restore the love binding Atlanta, Melegar and Antiklea.

Garland writes with meticulous detail from Ancient Greek mythology, history and legends to create a strong world-building in this historical fantasy. If there is a drawback to The Fates, there is often a sense of stilted and overly formal conversation between characters which is at odds with the flowing and passionate writing of actions and intentions. Nonetheless, this queer fiction reimagining of the myth of Atlanta brings a new voice to the genre of myth reimagining and historical fiction.

** This is my personal opinion and does not reflect any judging decisions **

I was aware of the story of Atalanta and Meleager having read a number of books about their myth.
Unfortunately I cannot recommend this one. The story was very disjointed jumping between a number of narators and time periods which stunted the flow of the story.