Having only glimpsed into Blake’s world of Three Dark Crowns, I was incredibly intrigued in Champion of Fate. And this story gave me The Old Guard and Witcher vibes – so if you’re interested keep reading this book review.
Synopsis
Behind every great hero is an Aristene.
Aristene are mythical female warriors, part of a legendary order. Though heroes might be immortalized in stories, it’s the Aristene who guide them to victory. They are the Heromakers.
Ever since she was an orphan taken in by the order, Reed has wanted to be an Aristene. Now, as an initiate, just one challenge stands in her way: she must shepherd her first hero to glory on the battlefield. Succeed, and Reed will take her place beside her sisters. Fail, and she’ll be cast from the only home she’s ever known.
Nothing is going to stop Reed–until she meets her hero. Hestion is fiery and infuriating, but what begins as an alliance becomes more, and as secrets of the order come to light Reed begins to understand what becoming an Aristene may truly cost. Battle looming, she must choose: the order and the life she had planned, or Hestion, and the one she never expected.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Champion of Fate is a story where if you love the idea of an elite force of women warriors with almost immortal abilities – think Old Guard vibes – but also are fascinated by characters who pull the strings off to the side – like Witcher – this is for you. Trained to help heroes, Reed is a fiery and passionate new initiate. A series opener, Champion of Fate takes a bit to get into the midst of the action and the synopsis, but when it does I was so obsessed. There’s this subtle sense of something grander, larger, and slightly sinister going on which I hope is further developed in the sequel.
Champion of Fate, while a book about battle and epic betrayals, is a story about learning when to fight, and when not to. A story where not all saviors have good intentions. Where the heroes might not be the hero of our story. I ended up really connecting to Reed towards the end and how too often we are asked again and again to sacrifice ourselves for the hero, for “THE” plan. Champion of Fate explores the path to greatness, to heroism, and what makes a hero. Is it something innate, is it circumstance, or is it some prodding? And, at the end of the day, what is the cost of greatness, of success, of victory?
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Find Champion of Fate on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.