It took me a little bit to get into this book, for some reason. But once I did, I couldn’t put it down and read it in two sittings, only broken up by my overwhelming need for sleep.

Fable lives a tough life, working hard for everything she has, with no one to trust and no safety net. She relies on her ability to free dive and dredge for gems to sell, so that she can survive and save up enough to escape Jeval, a dangerous island that her father abandoned her on after her mother died four years ago. She lives by a code of rules her father taught her:

“Keep your knife where you can reach it. Never, ever owe anyone anything. Nothing is free. Always construct a lie from a truth. Never, under any circumstances, reveal what or who matters to you.”

After finally saving enough, she manages to get herself off the island with the help of a trader, but Fable quickly realizes that nothing is what it appears to be. And the world has become much more dangerous than it was four years ago.

I was impressed at how the author managed to convey so much seafaring information and make it (mostly) understandable to someone with absolutely zero knowledge of ships. The descriptions were so vivid that I could almost feel myself sliding around the deck of a ship during a storm, and experience the burning in my lungs during a free dive.

Fable herself is a complex character — she’s smart, strong, self-sufficient, and tough, but she’s also sensitive and cries when she feels strong emotion. She grew up in a difficult environment and hasn’t had anyone to rely on but herself since her mother died. I wanted to see her succeed from early on, and loved that even when circumstances knocked her down, she always picked herself up and kept going. The rest of the crew was interesting, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what their deal was. Everyone keeps their secrets guarded closely in the Narrows, because what people know about you can be used against you.

There’s one part in the story that felt a little rushed to me, and that is the romance. I wish there would have been more development in it. It kind of popped up out of the blue, after all this tension. I got the feeling that Fable might have had romantic feelings for someone, but there were no signs that it was reciprocated until suddenly … it was.

The book was fast-paced and there was definitely no shortage of action. Every time I thought I had something figured out, the story took a sideways turn and surprised me. I loved that the majority of the story was unpredictable. The biggest thing that I didn’t like was that it ended on a big cliffhanger, and didn’t really wrap up any of the loose ends. Unfortunately, the next book in the duology doesn’t come out until March 2021, and it isn’t available for request on NetGalley. I’ve wished for it, so 🤞🏻!

I really enjoyed this book.
I loved the setting and the vibe of the book. You really could give me anything ‘piratey’ and I’d be on board.
I do think the characterisation could come off a little flat, I think that was a huge weakness as I did like the characters just that they felt underdeveloped and needed just something a little ‘more’ to make me really become invested in the story.
The writing was wonderful and really drew you in. A very accessible and fun style while still creating an interesting world.

Against the odds this girl has made it. Her father abandoned her, right after her mother dies, on an island known for its thieves and hardly no food. This book had me hooked i cant wait to be able to read book 2

The next Adrienne Young book! While everyone love Sky in the Deep, I feel like I'm the only one who liked The Girl the Sea Gave Back lol. But this is a whole new series with a whole new group of complex characters that might be in even more constant danger than Eelyn and the vikings.

Now, before I give away the plot, let's get to the review!

One warning before we start talking characters and things: Fable ends on a pretty big cliffhanger. Like if this was a TV show finale, people would be pissed they had to wait 3-6 months to find out what happens. Luckily, the next book, Namesake, comes out next year so it's not too long a wait. If you want to wait until both books are out before you start reading...I would not blame you.

OK, on to Fable!

It all starts with Fable, a teenage girl who is stuck on an island where the mentality is very much survive-or-die. How did she end up on this island? Her father left her there. They ended up shipwrecked nearby and not only did Fable's mother die, her father decides the best place for her is a dangerous island where she knows no one, is alone, just lost her mother, and has to struggle to survive. Yeah...super nice guy, but we'll get to that later.

Despite all the odds, Fable is surviving. And she's been saving her money so she can buy passage off the island. She just needs a few more jobs dredging and she's good. But things never work out that way, right? And Fable lands herself in trouble and needing to flee ASAP.

So, she runs to the ship of a man, West, who buys her pyre and underwater treasures. He'll help her, right? Well....

Let's just say he and his crew almost push her over the edge of the ship to meet her fate. But something makes West stop and allow her on board. He gives her the safety of his ship and they sail away.

THAT is nowhere near the end of the danger in this book

Lets talk about the crew!
West: captain, leader, big brother, would probably sacrifice himself for the rest of the crew

Willa: big sister, fierce, loyal, second-in-command, wants revenge

Hamish: accountant, sometimes threatening, loyal as hell

Paj: navigator, sometimes suspicious, loyal, in love with Auster

Auster: stryker (handles nets and traps), gives Fable her first job on the ship, kind, loyal, in love with Paj

They are a complicated bunch and it will make you love them all the more for it. They've all come from nothing, escaped something, and now they're a family and yes, let's sob together.

But where are they headed with Fable? Well, Fable is looking for her dad and since the crew of the Marigold is on their way to the Narrows where she knows he'll be, it works out for everyone.

Unfortunately, Fable doesn't know everything about this crew, about this ship, and who they work for. Who they owe money to.

Eventually, they get to the Narrows and Fable sees her father for the first time in years. I won't giveaway what happens at the reunion because it's beyond epic but you can probably guess from his behavior before that he's not all affection and hugs. He's a bastard. But Fable has been hardened by life. She's not a naive girl. And she's got a plan to get back at him and help her new friends all at once. That is...if it doesn't kill them all first.

MAGIC
Ok, there is some kind of magic going on with Fable. And maybe not just her. People in this world can hold their breath for A LONG TIME. They can expand their lungs to hold just the right amount. It's immensely cool. Fable is also a gem sage which means she can read gems, feel their properties, know things about them. And holy hell, it's fascinating but it's also quite dangerous to be a gem sage in this world

I'm also obsessed with how water-centric this book is. You would never guess that from the cover. Itotally thought this was a fairy tale retelling or something in the forest. It screams MERIDA. But I LOVE a book that takes place on the sea. It gives me life and makes not living on the beach or being able to go there more often actually bearable.

Specific scene I loved: There is a point where the crew needs a new sail for the ship and the way they get it is so goddamn fun...I can't even take it. It's the moment you want in every found family adventure book. I smiled while reading it.

Things I didn't love: I don't believe in the romance between West and Fable that eventually happens. I didn't get the build-up I wanted. I needed more interactions between them. More tension. More explicit "oh shit" feelings coming from both of them and I didn't get that. By the time the romance was full-on, I didn't want it. I wanted an adventure book about friends who will kill for each other. If the romance wasn't there (and yes, I know I'm a huge romance fan), I'd probably be giving this a higher rating.

THE CLIFFHANGER
Ok, obviously I'm not giving this away. But be wary of who they say is dead. That's all I'll say.

Overall, Fable is a hell of an adventure. There were a couple of moments where I was meh or wanted the pace to move a little faster, but as a whole, this is a book I'd read again. I'm giving it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Fable by Adrienne Young comes out on September 1, 2020

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fable has a gorgeous cover but, even better, this first part of a duology (yay! I hope this is a YA trend that continues) is flat out fantastic! I can't wait for teens and adult YA readers to connect with this wonderful book!

2.5 stars.

Fable lives on the island of Jeval, working as a dredger--someone who dives into the ocean and finds precious stones to sell for money. Life is hard, especially as one of the few girls on the island, but Fable knows that she can survive. She's been there for four years, after all, and her only obstacle to leaving and finding the person who put her on Jeval, her father Saint, is getting enough money.
Fable makes it off the island fairly early into the novel, at which the book turns into a sea-faring story instead. The ship she joins is full of traders, and most of the novel follows her as she gets to know the crew and uncover the secrets their captain, West, is hiding.
The original reason I took an ARC of this and the highlight of the book is the writing style. It's pretty good, especially for YA, and carries the rather boring plot and characters. I did have trouble figuring out what was going on, notably in the beginning--nothing is described enough to get an idea of what Jeval is like, and I had trouble following the action because it wasn't clear where Fable was going or why she was doing most of what she was doing--but this got much more manageable once Fable leaves Jeval.
As mentioned, the plot is pretty boring. With its premise, you'd think there's some sort of revenge story going on here between Fable and her father, but most of the book is composed of sailing or visiting towns and having mundane things happen. There are a few fantastical elements, but this is mostly historical fiction in a made-up world instead of a fantasy-pirate hybrid story. Even the villains don't get much screen time compared to the crew members, leading to a story that doesn't have much effective tension.
The plot could've been saved by good characters, but most of the characters here are pretty flat. Fable herself is somewhat complex, but the crew members besides Willa and West have zero personality. I liked Willa, and felt like she had good chemistry with Fable, but I quickly grew bored of West, whose gimmick is that he's stoic on the outside and cares a lot for his crew and can't bear the idea of losing them on the inside. What a shocker.
The worldbuilding is pretty mediocre. There's basically no magic, and all the places the crew visits barring Jeval blur together. There's nothing unique or interesting about them. There's not even a map to follow the journey on.

So, it's nothing to write home about. I'm sure many people will enjoy this and let the writing style make up for its shortcomings as a story, but I was just bored by the end. I will not be continuing with this series.

This book is a wonderfully atmospheric pirate-like story about our main character and her fight to survive in a dangerous world and eventually find her way back to the father that abandoned her on this island. Along the way to finding her way back to her father, she finds herself in imminent danger and is taken in by a man she trades gems with. West and his crew are traders who all grew up together, they only trust each other and so they have a hard time trusting Fable, who has to do some dangerous things to prove herself to them. Once she traces down her father, she learns some harsh truth about him and why he abandoned her. This is a perilous world for someone like Fable, and she ends up finding out the hard way just how dangerous it is- especially when you are the daughter of one of the most notorious pirates in the business.

One of the first things I should point out in this book is that it doesn't explicitly state that it's a pirate novel (they are called traders- but many are gang like), but it certainly is, I was getting major Pirates of the Caribbean vibes. The inclusion of the gems and the slight ‘powers’ she has in feeling the vibrations of each gem lends a slight magical element to the story without making it a fantasy.
I really enjoyed Fable as a character and could empathize with her struggles. The relationship she develops with the members of the trading vessel makes everything feel super cozy with there still being drama and action when they make port. West is a very mysterious character and the romance that ends up happening between him and Fable is just so pure and I actually loved their romance (I typically don't like romance in books but this was done very well). I mean, the shipwreck scene!!!! And of course, the ending was a cliffhanger! But also a great segway into the next book in the series.

I'm so looking forward to the next book, I absolutely love this world, the vibe it gave off, the action, the characters, and the romance that was taking place.

4.5 stars, I really loved this book and would highly recommend.

** ARC provided by St. Martins Press & Wednesday Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

My Review:⭐️⭐⭐️⭐️.5/ 5 stars

Oh my… how do I even begin? I did not know what to expect… Essentially Adrienne Young made pirates sexy and left me begging for more. This story is about Fable who, a 17 year old woman who was left on Jeval (harsh land filled with thieves) by her father, Saint after a tragic storm killed her mother and crew of their ship, the Lark. Saint is one of the most powerful traders in the Narrows and everyone fears him. Fable’s test is to survive and find her own way off the island to Ceros. His message was clear: Trust no one, and not to tell anyone she is his daughter for her own protection. Fable eventually finds someone who will take her to Ceros: West, a young helmsman of his own small vessel. She quickly learns who she can trust and who not to… I absolutely fell in love with this book and the characters. The chemistry between West and Fable jumped off the page, and they don’t even speak much. Her relationship with her father brought me to near tears… this poor woman just wants a family! Highly recommended!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! This book is out Sept 1 - and I already CANNOT wait for the sequel.

I am a huge fan of Adrienne Young, so when this description was announced, I was all over it! As an educator and librarian, this book has everything. The plot and character development are so well done, creating an immersive, enriching world. Add in the pirate-y feel, and I was 100% there for it! I can’t wait for the next book!

I absolutely and totally loved this book. The storyline was interesting, the characters grabbed you, and the writing was superb. The ending was abrupt and I can’t wait to find out what happens next in the story. Overall I absolutely loved this story.

I have a serious love/hate relationship with this book. It’s fast paced and action filled. The characters are so well written, especially Fable. She’s feisty and strong, yet has a hint of vulnerability to her. Don’t even get me started on West, the handsome, closed off pirate. Fable will hook you from the very first line and leave you hate screaming with that cliffhanger. Young’s best work to date and one of my favorite YA reads of this year, hands down.
I received a arc of Fable in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of Fable in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge fan of Adrienne Young's previous books, I was DYING to read Fable from the moment it was announced, and especially once that swoon-worthy cover was revealed.

Those who love Young's richly descriptive writing and powerful characters will not be disappointed. Fable is a take-no-prisoners protagonist, fending for herself after being abandoned by her father on a cutthroat island where the only lucrative form of earning coppers is diving for precious crystals like pyre. Without spoiling too much, her circumstances abruptly change, and she trades her meager savings for passage on the Marigold, a ship helmed by a young man named West and crewed by a suspicious group of traders whose trust Fable must earn if she is to survive the voyage to the Narrows. It's obvious how much research Adrienne did as far as the sailing and diving lingo, but it's still written in such a way that those of us who have never sailed the high seas can still infer details from context clues.

If you want a high-seas adventure worthy of Pirates of the Caribbean with the slow-burn romance of many of our favorite YA novels, don't miss Fable, first in the Fable Duology (the second of which, Namesake, releases in only 6 months)! Fable releases on September 1, 2020 and is available from your usual book retailers! There's still time to enter Adrienne's preorder for special incentives!

3.75/5
Fable was a ride!
I initially will say that Sky in the Deep felt very rushed to me, so I've always been conflicted on whether I wanted to try another one of Adrienne's novels. I'm so excited I did because this book was hypnotic with the lush sea faring background and sarcastic retorts.
I'll forever give credit to Adrienne for her beautiful writing style. I loved this novel because I could picture everything in my mind down to the taste of the air. She's amazing with imagery and description without being too overwhelming and that's all I ever ask for. It's my favorite part of reading.
Now.. I'm always very particular about sea voyage stories, but Fable is definitely my favorite. The characters were dynamic, especially Willa (my fav!), and Fable was a great protagonist vying first for acceptance and then later on her own identity/ independence. She's cutthroat in many ways, but she does still have a heart of gold for those she us loyal too, which isn't many.
The incredibly fast paced ending and weird cut away scenes (I wanted to experience the dredge that happens later in the book!) are my biggest core complaints, but the romance did seem rushed after a certain point. It was fine up until the confession, and then I felt oddly about the two lovers. It went from natural to insta-love.
Overall, I'd recommend this story. I'm intrigued about what's going to happen to Fable, especially after the final line in the eARC. I have more questions than answers, and we cannot have that.

Fable gives me ginger Lila Bard vibes and I’m here for it. The atomsphere of this story is perfection. I swear I could smell the sea air while I was reading. Adrienne Young knows how to set a scene. She also knows how to craft a bad ass woman. Fable is fearless and endearing. I loved watching her fight for her life. I’m a sucker for found families and this crew of misfits is no exception. My only issue with the story is with the chemistry between Fable and West there was something missing. You know they’re going to fall for each other but I just don’t feel it. Maybe the chemistry will improve in the sequel. Regardless, this book is entertaining, thrilling, and beautifully written.

Reading Adrienne’s books are so relaxing. She throws you right into her rich and detailed world but it’s never overly complicated and there are no wasted plot points. Her characters know what they want have to rely on their own grit to get it. If you love ships and sailing and and shady characters and found families then you will love FABLE. It’s the second book of Adrienne’s that I’ve read and I can definitely see her growing stronger as a writer.

“Keep your knife where you can reach it.
Never, ever owe anyone anything.
Always construct a lie from truth.
Never, under any circumstances, reveal
what or who matters to you."

Fable was abandoned to fend for herself on a ruthless island by her father at the wee age of 13. She survives utilizing street savvy resourcefulness, her sharp ability to read people, and a unique skill set passed down from her mother that make her better than most at mining gems and precious stones from the sea. Fable has a lot of grit and is tough as nails, but she still wants to belong somewhere. And that want is constantly at war with what she needs to do and how she needs to think in order to survive. I was completely invested in Fable's s story and how she would navigate and toe that line.

A few other things:

YAY for amazing side characters, and a story that reps a plethora of complex relationships. And I'm a sucker for world building, and I was completely immersed in this gritty world of gem trading, and thievery, and ruthlessness.

So over all:

THIS BOOK YOU ALL. I absolutely loved it. I need it to have an amazing map, I need special editions, I need Fable merch, ALL the things. To placate myself I bought a cute cactus and named her Fable. She lives right next to Lila Bard. She's prickly, but more than anything she's a survivor. She thrives in the harshest of conditions. Needless to say I have a new heroine to join my all time faves.

You can check out my Fable Pinterest Board at: https://www.pinterest.com/BookWithMaps/fable/

I received an eArc of of this title via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, thank you, thank you Wednesday Books and Netgalley! This in no way influences my thoughts and opinions.

Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an ARC via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
5/5 stars.
I really, really loved reading this book! It was so easy to read. Everything flowed really nicely and I found Fable to be such an awesome character. I was rooting for her no matter what happened with the plot.
The plot was easy to follow, but still had enough little twists and turns to keep me fully captivated. Something I really loved was that even when all that was happening was planning, it still felt like there was an undercurrent of excitement throughout the book. The writing style seemed to fit the characters and the story perfectly.
All of the characters worked really well together to create an intriguing group that had differing effects on the plot. I loved West and Willa’s characters. I really liked the relationships between Fable and the other characters. I felt like they evolved naturally. One relationship I really liked was Fable and Saint. The way that the author wrote their relationship left me feeling heartbroken most of the time, but it just felt so right for the characters.
Overall, I’m dying to get my hands on the next book, and I highly recommend everyone check out this super awesome pirate-y adventure book!

Look out for my review on my bookstagram page (alli_the_bookaholic13) next week [the first week of September] :)

The writing is lyrical. As in Sky in the Deep, Adrienne Young's debut novel, Fable's writing style is simply enticing. I was immediately captivated by the beautifully crafted descriptions -- from the navigated lands and seas and underwater landscapes to the spiral of emotions experienced by Fable at every step of her journey.

The poetic sentences wove a sombre and dangerous atmosphere that wrapped me in a whirlwind of sensations and vivid images. Moreover, these luring words built an emotional and epic narrative that I believe will not leave anyone indifferent. I was immersed in this secretive seafaring world from the very first moment.

Perilous and deep seas. Travelling charted waters is not easy as one might think when storms loom in the horizon, promising revolting waves and scintillating thunders. The high sea setting was so perfectly built that you could listen to the melody of the sea and taste the salty water on your lips. Furthermore, it was not only the ocean that was dangerous: the docks and seaside markets were no less menacing with treacherous crews stalking Fable and the Marigold crew.

Fable. My poor Fable. ❤️ She's a survivor! After being abandoned by her father on an island inhabited by ruthless men and thieves, Fable had to learn how to fend for herself. Working as a dredger (she actually has a knack for it 😉), she collected gems and sold them to West, the henchman of Marigold, and saved every coin to pay her passage to return to the man that turned his back on her. Surviving four years among cold-hearted and greedy dredgers and sailors was not an easy task, but Fable never gave up -- even when she found herself scavenging for food, Fable prevailed through her own means. After all, she learned that nothing came free.

Throughout the story, Fable is so brave and determined. She is so strong and resilient, always beating the odds. Fable goes through a powerful emotional journey, every moment searing her soul and every step taking her closer to discover whom she wishes to be and her place in a harsh and vicious world.

The Marigold crew & their stories. The young crew of the Marigold has a mysterious past that haunts them every day, and yet they keep surpassing the challenges thrown their way. This bunch of misfits was able to build a family from the ashes of a hurtful past. I must confess I was charmed by these characters -- even though not every single one of them had the opportunity to reveal a piece of their soul. (Hopefully, we will learn more about them in Namesake.) Also, it pierced my heart all the pain they hid. I would have hugged every single one of them (plus Fable) if I didn't fear they would stab or drown me.

A slow-burn romance that does not overshadow the story. Will they or won't they? ❤️

Like stories about mermaids, I've struggled to find a book about pirates that I have connected with. While Fable isn't exactly a pirate book, it is as close to one as I've read that I enjoyed. Adrienne Young has created a world that is unique and intriguing.

Fable grew up on her father's trading ship, the Lark. Her mother was a dredger and started teaching Fable the skill since she was 6 years old. When the Lark sinks killing Fable's mother, Saint leaves her on the island of Jeval and tells her to survive. If she finds her way off the island then he will give her what is rightfully hers. On Jeval Fable uses her dredging skills to mine for gems underwater. But competition is fierce. And she's completely alone. Everyone on the island is out for themselves and surviving is difficult. West has become a repeat customer trading coppers for the jewels Fable dredges. His consistent business has kept her alive. But as Fable's copper stash grows in hopes of buying her passage off the island and back to her father, enemies begin closing in and Fable finds herself desperate for escape sooner rather than later.

West is the helmsman of the Marigold. When Fable comes flying down the dock fleeing for her life, he makes the decision to allow her passage on his ship. His crew isn't happy because their agreement is to vote on decisions like that. Plus the last dredger they had on their ship stole from them. They're not feeling particularly welcoming of Fable. But Fable has a way of finding her way under their armor.

The entire world Adrienne Young created is a hard place. Not just Jeval. Fable has 5 rules that she's lived by, taught to her by her father. 1) Keep your knife where you can reach it. 2) Never, ever owe anyone anything. 3) Nothing is free. 4) Always construct a lie from a truth. 5) Never, under any circumstances, reveal what or who matters to you. These rules make it difficult to make connections with others. And until Fable meets the crew of the Marigold, she's been without family or friends or...anyone she could depend on since the night the Lark sank. And regardless of how much we might try to go through life alone, each of us craves connection with other human beings.

Of course for me, the drive behind my favorite books focus around the relationships. It was easy to see that West and Fable have a connection they, he especially, are trying to ignore. But this is a harsh world, and one of Fable's main rules is to never reveal who matters to you. It's dangerous to care about others. Doing so can get you killed much faster than anything else. And the Marigold crew has enough enemies as it is.

Favorite quotes:
-It was unnerving to see the sea asleep when I’d seen how bloodthirsty she could be.

-Nothing is free. He wasn’t just talking about food or passage or the clothes on your back. He was talking about respect. Safety. Protection. They were things no one owed you. And one way or another, you always paid.

-Anything given freely was probably a lie.

-“I’m not saying I don’t want you to love him. I’m only saying that if you get him killed, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep myself from cutting your throat.”

Of course, my favorite quote would spoil too much. So I left it out.

Truly, I have barely touched the surface of the events of Fable. I got sucked into this book and these characters from the opening line of this book. I basically read it in 24 hours which is so rare these days. The copy I read did have a few typos that I imagine will be ironed out by the time the book is published. Things end in a cliffhanger that wasn't entirely unexpected but certainly did its job having me dying to get my hands on Namesake. Fable easily gets 4 Stars. Have you read Fable? What did you think? Let me know!

Fable is my first introduction to Adrienne Young's writing and have to say the author does have a way with words. The setting she built came to life with her descriptions and story telling.

Fable tells the story of a young woman going against the odds and proving her father and those who doubt her wrong. Yet in the end I was left a bit underwhelmed. The characters while entertaining were predictable and unmemorable for me. I can also say the same thing about the actual plot line. I always felt like I was one step ahead of the story in my head and knew what would happen before it unfolded.

In the end, Fable was a good to story to me but not great. I'm not chomping at the bit for book two. I think my expectations going into Fable might have been too high and I just wasn't Wow'd by it.