vaikeliblikas's review
medium-paced
0.5
When Destiny got introduced and slutshame basically at once, I knew it was gonna be bad. When Pride was a homophobic caricature, I should have stopped reading. Alas, I did not. I finished all 400something pages of this (German translation) and it is without a doubt the worst book I've ever read. Would not recommend it to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Sexism, Alcoholism, and Stalking
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Colonisation and Homophobia
anniekf1209's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
annarocks's review
1.0
I started out liking the book, but the end failed. In a novel centered around God, religion, and Christian themes, the idea that the central character would take his own life is preposterous. And then to be rewarded for that, in the form of reincarnation? No, I'm not buying it. It was an unfulfilling and unbelievable ending to what might have been a decent novel.
corar's review
3.0
Fate, also known as Fabio, is bored with his job. It seems like humans always make decisions that change their path for the worse and all he can do is observe over and over again as people destroy their life. But then he starts to break the rules. First, he falls in love with a mortal then after accidentally influencing the outcome of a human's path he decides that rules or no rules, he needs to make a difference in his humans lives. But he is not going to be able to keep his transgressions secret for long. I thought that this book was OK, it was hard for me to like any of the characters. I think that the humor did not speak to me. It seemed like it was trying to go for the kind of humor that Moore was successful with in Lamb, but it fell short for me. However I am a sucker for books with personifications of immortal concepts and there were times that the authors musings on the differences between Fate and Destiny and what it means to be human were interesting enough to bump up the rating half a star.
alexctelander's review
3.0
Much like his debut book, Breathers, which became a bestseller, S. G. Browne’s new novel, Fated, has a strong, compelling, tongue-in-cheek voice to it that will hook readers from the beginning and keep them reading to the end. Browne straddles the line of scenes that are awkward and outlandish, making the reader perhaps uncomfortable, but balances it well with entertaining humor. Fated is a book about some very strange characters who are in a way gods, and how they interact and get involved with humanity.
Fabio Delucci is bored with his job and would really like a change. He spends his days and hours as fate, deciding events and choices for many ordinary people across the globe. He knows not to step on the toes of destiny, and so must choose average, normal, uninteresting fates for his people. He’s been doing it for millennia and would really like a change. He also has a five hundred year-old feud with Death, and spends his little free time hanging out with Sloth and Gluttony; meanwhile Destiny keeps trying to tempt him with her wiles. Then Fabio starts to notice an ordinary human, Sara Griffin, who is on Destiny’s pass, but continues to cross his own. He keeps meeting her, then starts to stalk her, and before he knows it he slowly but surely realizes he’s falling in love with her. Rule #1 is not to get involved with humans; God forbids it. Now Fabio doesn’t know what he’s going to do.
Originally written on December 10, 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
Fabio Delucci is bored with his job and would really like a change. He spends his days and hours as fate, deciding events and choices for many ordinary people across the globe. He knows not to step on the toes of destiny, and so must choose average, normal, uninteresting fates for his people. He’s been doing it for millennia and would really like a change. He also has a five hundred year-old feud with Death, and spends his little free time hanging out with Sloth and Gluttony; meanwhile Destiny keeps trying to tempt him with her wiles. Then Fabio starts to notice an ordinary human, Sara Griffin, who is on Destiny’s pass, but continues to cross his own. He keeps meeting her, then starts to stalk her, and before he knows it he slowly but surely realizes he’s falling in love with her. Rule #1 is not to get involved with humans; God forbids it. Now Fabio doesn’t know what he’s going to do.
Originally written on December 10, 2010 ©Alex C. Telander.
For over 500 book reviews, and over 40 exclusive author interviews (both audio and written), visit BookBanter.
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