Fable is a story about a young woman who, abandoned by her father after a shipwreck, does whatever it takes to survive and reclaim her legacy. The titular Fable grew up on the sea, sailing with her parents on a trading vessel and generally living a pretty rough life for a small child. After a catastrophic storm sinks the vessel, taking her mother's life, Fable's jerky dad decides that this isn't the life for Fable and drops her on land with hardly a sea-ya later (sea what I did there?). After four horrible years, Fable finally departs with a motley young crew to find her father and raise some hell.

Fable feels like a very tight story, and the book is a quick read. I really liked the focus on the sea and sailing and there were some great details that helped to build this particular world. Fable was interesting, as were her fellow crew members. It would have been fun to get more some details about their lives but it seems like there's an intentional mystery that will further unravel in following books. That being said, I'm not sure that I fully bought some of the plot developments. Particularly, Fable's father's characterization was a bit all over the place and very unpredictable and (without spoiling certain points) some of the things he agreed to seemed strange.

Overall, Fable is an engaging, fast paced story with a unique setting and an interesting cast of characters. I'll be picking up subsequent books to see how Fable's story ends.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was so descriptive I felt like I could see, hear, and smell everything that was happening. In my head, I imagined the islands as a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and Descendant's Isle of the Lost.

There were a few things I wasn't fond of, like some of the underwater scenes. I don't think the author knew how deep it is to safely free dive. And the timing of how long was spent underwater dredging (and doing another thing later in the book that I won't spoil) was not very realistic. But...it didn't stop me from enjoying the read overall.

I didn't love the end. I know this book is set up for a sequel, and I will definitely be on the lookout for it. However, it didn't really wrap up anything, so you almost HAVE to wait for the sequel to see what happens to everyone.

4.5

I think this is my favorite Adrienne Young book yet.

The seafaring backdrop is probably the thing that really makes this story. And I really loved Fable as a main character.

This is really more of a character-driven story. The plot doesn’t actually do a whole lot, but I found that that part didn’t bother me so much because I enjoyed watching everything happen to Fable more.

I love Fable’s backstory and her very complicated relationship with her father. Her last scene with him was pretty final, but I’m hoping he makes a reappearance in the sequel.

West was a great secondary character/love interest, too. I mean, he was a little generic? I guess? But there’s a reason I love them. I’m really intrigued to see how their relationship plays out in the sequel, too.

The world was pretty interesting It was fairly straight forward and not too surprising, but it got the job done and I enjoyed it.

The subtle magic was probably my favorite part. It was similar to “magic realism,” but not. For one, Fable more than once held her breath for an incredibly long time and it was cool (albeit a little anxiety-inducing for someone who breathes extra heavy every time someone in a movie goes underwater for a bit longer than what’s realistic). But particularly, Fable’s affinity for gems was fascinating. I loved that it had a point, but was not at the forefront of the story. Again, it’s something I’m looking forward to seeing more of in the future.

Okay, while I immensely enjoyed this, there were some short comings.

Like I mentioned, the plot definitely took a backseat in this one. It didn’t bother me too much, but still, it’s a factor.

The side characters also were a little underwhelming. Saint was solid. And I liked West and Willa. But the rest of the crew, while I liked them all, weren’t particularly out-standing. Hamish, for example, kept kind of blending in with Auster for me. And the antagonist wasn’t really a part of it? I mean, he didn’t seem like the main antagonist for this one anyway, but that was also a problem.

Overall, a very fun read and I’m really looking forward to the sequel.

Fable follows Fable that has been surviving on a brutal island these last few years, she is ready to take a ship out of there and claim what is rightfully hers from her father, who is the most powerful trader in the Narrows. She pays for passage on Mariogld, where West is the captain.

I have figured that I love found-family and friend group trope! Which is probably why I enjoy ship stories so much, since a group a people are forced together to work together, with different personalities and skills. I did enjoy the crew and what Fable found with them, even though I really didn’t fall for any of the characters. The world & plot was also just okay, but I still had a lot of fun with this. Will read the sequel because I want to see the story play out, and the book in general had a lot of fun aspects I enjoyed. 3.5/5 stars.

This cover is by far one of my favorite covers that I have ever seen.
It’s simple and stunning. It raises your interest by not giving literally anything away.

Okay, now that I’m done swooning over the cover...let’s go over the story.

I have never read an Adrienne Young book (Sky in the Deep is on my TBR!), so I went into this one with no real expectations. The opening line is a hook, line, sinker. I got a great vibe just from that first line.

Fable is a stunner. Her character is written so in depth that you WANT to know her. The readers understands a lot of what Fable feels and goes through during the entire book. It is incredible how well Young wrote out the emotional turmoil that Fable has gone through and continues to go through. Her bravery and the rules she lives by are phenomenal and yet she has this fragility about her that she tries to fight and hide.

The entire crew of The Marigold is remarkable and I love them each in their own way. Just hang in there because at first you may not like them much, but they each do something that shows you WHY they are the way they are. When the reader gets to have these individual moments with the crew and Fable, it really allows that emotional attachment to them (I have a weird feeling I will pay for that in the sequel).

West...oh dear please. You know what? Sign me up for a rugged man with secrets any day. The more he broads the better to be honest. Just when you think he is sealed off from the world...SLAP TO THE FACE. You are not ready for the things you learn about West. Fable is a bold and brilliant character, but West is the one that rips your heart out.


With all that being said, the only reason I did not give 5 stars is simply because I felt there was A LOT of time spent discussing scenery and the ocean. I love the ocean, but there was so much more time spent reading about the surroundings and less actual plot. This did change about 2/3 of the way through the book and that made a lot of things better.

HOLY SMOKES THE CLIFF HANGER!! I NEVER EVER EVER SAW IT COMING!

Thank you NetGalley and Adrienne Young for the ARC in return for my honest review.

-Stone.

Title: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Pub. Date: September 1, 2020
Rating: 4.5

This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t my planned post for today, but I just finished this book and omfg, I cannot believe that’s how it ended.
Basically, my feelings are super fresh and potent and all over the place, and I need to just scream about this book.

I read The Girl the Sea Gave Back and really wasn’t a fan. I never read Sky in the Deep and I didn’t know that TGTSGB was a sequel/companion novel. So, I was a little wary about this book, but it sounded like something I would enjoy – I love books that take place on (pirate)ships/the ocean – so I wanted to give it a chance. Then everyone I know on Twitter decided to read it at the same time (at least it felt this way) and everyone was loving it. They all said the same thing – you won’t be prepared for the ending.

So, of course, my gut reaction upon finishing the book –
YO WHAT THE F*CK IS THE ENDING TO FABLE. YOU CAN’T HAVE THEM DO THAT AND THEN HAVE THAT HAPPEN TO HER.
I’m still not over it.

I’m really annoyed that this book isn’t even out yet, because it means an even longer wait for Namesake and how am I supposed to cope and be okay?

Honestly, I just want to scream right now, but it’s like 1:15 AM and I don’t think the other members of my family would be okay with me doing that. So, I’m sitting here quietly, writing this post, hating the fact that I finished it at 1:15 in the morning and every person I could talk to about this book is sleeping like a normal person.
I don’t know what to say next because I’m not okay, I’m currently stuck with my thoughts and feelings and I don’t know how to word them that isn’t just a scream.

I love West. I loved him fully by the 50% mark, and I didn’t even know if he was going to be the love interest. At that point I’d hoped he be.
Ship captains y’all. A weakness. I love them.
Stoic, moody, seemingly hard ass ship captains.
I’m sunk.
And ugh, that moment under the water between him and Fable. F*ck yes.
And then his heartfelt speech.
*screams emotions*

I also really liked Fable. I wasn’t sure I was going to at first, but ultimately, I did. I also loved how her story/backstory unfolded in this book. That we got bits and pieces as she remembered them, and as they were needed. I also loved that despite everything she goes through, she still comes across as very young in some moments. She’s survived so much, but there are certain moments where you can just tell that her childhood was ripped from her, and a part of her longs for the safety she had before her life fell apart. She’s felt so alone for so long, that when the mere hope of finding someone safe, somewhere safe, she either breaks down, or nearly breaks down and then does whatever she can to keep ahold of that person or place.

Unlike with The Girl the Sea Gave Back I cared about what happened in this book, what happened to the characters. I wanted to keep reading, keep turning the page to find out what happens next. I wanted the characters to be okay and to get through the hard times.
I will say that I felt like the relationship between Fable and West felt rushed, up until the moment where he basically bares his soul and then it all made sense, and suddenly it didn’t feel borderline insta-love-y.
So glad I was wrong, and I’m still very much in love with West. I can’t help it okay.
I did get the forboding sense that something bad was going to happen. Despite all of Twitter telling me that I wasn’t going to be prepare for the ending, I got a sense from the story that shit was going to hit the fan. I will say that it didn’t hit the fan in the way I thought it was going to. I had some dread filled suspicions and I’m just really glad they weren’t true.

Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I’m so glad I did. I’m glad I gave Adrienne’s books a third try. I’m pretty sure I would have been bummed if I hadn’t. I definitely recommend this book. It’s so enjoyable, so good and will leave you desperate for the next one – I promise. You won’t be ready for the ending, but it’ll leave you hooked. I’m heading off to go preorder my copy, as should you. Fable is out September 1, so make sure you pick up your copy!

Fable and I got off to a rocky start, I was uncertain what was going on and if I was actually interested when I began the book. Keep in mind that I could not remember what the story was about (from reading the synopsis forever ago) I just knew that I was totally in love with the cover and I have enjoyed other books by this author, so I went in with a blank slate. I trudged through the first fiveish chapters, uncertain if I was going to enjoy the book when all of a sudden I was hooked. I can't tell you what exactly happened or why, but soon it was incredibly hard for me to put the book down and adult. Fable is gritty, and rough, full of the emotional roller-coaster of despair and anguish, loneliness, abuse, betrayal... but there was also hope and the pleasure of found families (which is one of my favorite bookish concepts!). It didn't hurt that this takes place on the sea, with pirate-like ships and crew, gemstones and just a hint of what could be an epic romance.

Oh, and did I mention there is a certain aloof yet caring captain?? Oh, yeah, I turned the pages to get just another peak of him...

I really liked Fable and completely rooted her on. Here is this girl who has had to survive on her own for years, abandoned in the worst place possible, where survival is not guaranteed and every day is a test to stay one step ahead of the other residents of this terrible island. She is the epitome of resourceful, intelligent, and dedicated, not needing anyone else to survive- but still at the same time not completely jaded and wanting more from herself and the people around her. She faced darkness but stayed true to herself and kind and I really think she needed a hug in the worst kind of way.

I am already ready to jump into the sequel asap, I need to know what will happen next to this scruffy yet endearing crew of sailors. Be aware, the ending to this book was abrupt and equally shocking and devastating, so be glad the sequel comes out soon-ish!

I absolutely loved Fable! It was such a fun & quick read. I’ll admit though, it took me a bit to actually get into the story. Once I did though, I could not stop! I was swept away by Adrienne Young’s stunning writing.

Our main character Fable was spectacular. In her short life she has gone through so many tragic events. Because of those, she had to learn how to survive on her own. Fable is by far one of my new favorite characters. She is strong and oh so brave. Although we do not get to meet her mother in this book, I loved the connection Fable had with her. It’s obvious that she thinks the world of her mom and I thought that was such a sweet part of the story.

I am a sucker for books with a found family and Fable definitely had that. I absolutely loved the crew of the Marigold. Each of them were so unique and a delight to read about. I particularly loved Willa. She is so protective and unapologetically fierce. She wasn’t afraid to ruffle some feathers, especially if you messed with any one of her crew!

The romance was quite interesting. It was kind of a mix between enemies to lovers & slow burn. The tension between the couple was so well written and I was 100% here for it. I can’t wait to see their relationship grow...hopefully

The setting was the best part of Fable! I adore a book that is set at sea. With beautiful and vivid descriptions, the author made you feel like you were onboard the Marigold. It was such a cool experience.

The ending literally had me yelling! I was so worried the entire book that something like that was going to happen and when it did, I couldn’t contain my emotions. I am so happy that we do not have to wait a long time for the sequel. I am eager to see how the characters will react and what their plan will be.

Overall, Fable was incredible. It started out a little rough for me, but oh my gosh I am so happy I stuck with it. Highly recommend this book if you’re looking for an at sea, action packed, fast paced and gritty story!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Fable grew up on the sea. The ocean and the many gems it holds speaks to her in a way that it doesn't for anyone else. As the daughter of a powerful trader, she thought she would always have a place on his crew, but after a storm takes away her mother, Saint abandons her on an island of thieves to make her own way in the world. Now, four years later, with the help of West and the crew of the Marigold, Fable is returning home to claim what her father owes her.

This book was impossible to put down. As someone who grew up loving Pirates of the Caribbean and fell in love with Moana, oceanic adventure books are my jam and this book did not disappoint. It is fast paced but it doesn't rely on dramatic plot twists and constant action and danger to drive the story. The characters and their wants and desires and backgrounds are what drives the plot forward . Each of the side characters have lives and stories of their own that are revealed in a natural way that never feels forced with lots of info dumps. They are morally grey while still following their own code of conduct that are basically unspoken rules amongst the crew of the Marigold as well as the other traders and merchants in the world.

Fable herself is such a beautifully complex character. She is strong and she does what she has to in order to survive and this allowed her moments of vulnerability and her desire to be needed and loved so much more captivating.

The romance is an integral part of the story without being all consuming. It adds to the story and gives the characters motivations that drive the plot forward. The book mostly revolves around the relationship and the risks each of the character takes by opening their heart and allowing people to not only see them but to mean something to them that could lead to getting hurt.

Finally the world building of this book. WOW. From the start it is easy to tell the research and dedication and love that went into creating this world. It is a low fantasy with a wonderful atmospheric setting. And again, it gives you information about sailing and what it takes to crew a ship without info dumping and over explaining everything. Young trusts her readers to understand from her writing.

The is my favorite of Adrienne Young's work so far and I cannot wait for sequel.

I LOVE ADRIENNE YOUNG. (Thank you to Netgalley, Adrienne, and Wednesday Books for an advance copy of Fable).

This is my second AY book, and while I did enjoy the other (The Girl The Sea Gave Back), I absolutely loved this one and cannot wait for more.

Fable follows a girl - named Fable - as she works to prove herself to her powerful and dangerous father. Fable was left to fend for herself on a dangerous island and has slowly worked to make her way back to her home by dredging for valuable items to trade. Along the way she meets a crew and embarks on a quest that is going to change everyone's lives.

The characters were all well-developed, I legitimately cared about everyone including the side characters. The world was small, but fantastic and Adrienne did a great job at painting a very clear picture of the scenes. The story itself moved along at a really nice pace, I was never bored waiting to get to the next big plot point. I also felt like it was well-researched as it discusses sailing and life on the water/at port in detail.

Friendship, family drama, survival, diverse relationships, and a few twists and turns are in store for you when you read Fable. I hope everyone enjoys it as much as I do...and I hope Namesake is released ASAP!

This book has EVERYTHING I love in a good story: romance, adventure, and excitement! Oh, and it takes place on the high seas! As soon as I started reading I was sucked into the story. Ms. Young is a fantastic storyteller and knows how to bring out the feelings! Fable is a survivor and I could just feel her anxiety and fear in some situations. I love her! She is such a strong female character and I just couldn’t get enough. She has a complicated relationship with her father and West but I can’t help but root for the best with both! I’m so ready for the next book in this duology!

3.5

This was a quick paced story that I found interesting. The writing was great and I didn’t feel that it dragged the story.

There was a disconnect for me and I can’t put my finger on why. I felt for Fable’s plight and what she wanted and I wanted her to succeed but when the moment comes it falls super short of hitting that climatic part.
Maybe that was the goal when you think and consume over one thing and then you get it and it isn’t how you expected it to feel.

I really liked the crew of Marigold, they faintly reminded me of the Six of Crows cast, so of course I took an immediate liking to them. However, this s shadow of the former where this cast doesn’t stand stark against each other too much. Which is a shame since found family is a big part of the themes in this story and it isn’t taken full advantage of.

Then there’s the romance element, I liked that it didn’t take up and entire portion of the book however it comes out of nowhere which is worse. They have like three conversations and speak very little to each other interacting with each other very little. I don’t mind slow burn but this ignites from 0 to 60 with no progression.

This story was predictable but still held intrigue thanks to the action scenes.

I’m still interested in the sequel and final book Namesake out March 2021

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a free copy

I really enjoyed this book. The imagery was fantastic. Within the first few pages you could feel the sun on your face and taste the salt in the air. The setting and characters were great as well, I really like Fable and how brave and strong she is. I am a huge sucker for found family and this story did not disappoint. Overall it's a great book that I found myself lost in and loving every minute.

Fable must outsmart her competitors to eke out a living on an island of thieves. Once she has built up enough money by diving for pyre, she can finally buy passage to the island where her father runs a powerful trading operation. It's been four years since he abandoned her without any help or supplies to see if she could make it on her own, and she's determined to prove herself to him. Before she can, she must fight off greedy scavengers, weather terrible storms, and gain the trust of a crew of traders who will cut her throat if she makes one wrong move. The first book in a new duology, Adrienne Young's Fable is a fun and fast-paced adventure on the high seas.

I'm a fan of tough fantasy heroines, and Fable fit that mold, reminding me of characters created by authors like Leigh Bardugo and V.E. Schwab. While she doesn't necessarily break any new ground with this book, Young builds an intriguing world of traders, guilds, and thieves who make their fortunes (or meet their deaths) on a scattering of islands in the ocean. The narrative is filled with adventure, close calls, and a bit of romance. Even without the nail-biting cliffhanger at the end, I am looking forward to the second and final book in this series, Namesake .

This is a solid book. I like the story, I like fable, I like the crew of the marigold.
The imagery is rich and vibrant, and the action keeps the plot moving along.
I do think a little something is missing to really push this into amazing, maybe a bit more backstory to add weight to what’s happening, but it is okay without it.
Give it a go!

3.5/5 stars.

PROS:
~ The setting. I really loved the setting of the sea and of the ships. I read part of this while on vacation right in front of the ocean and I just loved the imagery Adrienne Young painted in my mind.
~ The descriptions. I really loved the descriptions as well. I could always picture what was happening and I really loved the way that Young decided to depict certain things in the story. I loved her descriptions of the sea and of the fish and the smells and the ship. It was truly a full-sensory experience and I was completely immersed.
~ The pacing. The pacing of this novel was really well done in my opinion. I like the way that the story always kept on going. I do think, though, that there wasn't really much direction in the plot so that might have hindered my experience of reading, but overall, it was super fast-paced and pretty addicting to read.
~ The world. The world was super cool. I love the grittiness of it and the ocean feel to it. It was just so so fun to read about.
~ The ending!!!!!!!!!! Where's the sequel?

CONS:
~ Character development. Sometimes I felt as though the character development was a little lacking in this story. Oftentimes I was told was Fable and West and the other characters were like, but not shown much of it. I will include a quote here but as this is an ARC it /is/ subject to change. "But I wasn't stupid. She was trying to get me to owe them something." Personally, I think Fable didn't need to say that she wasn't stupid and instead could have just said the second sentence. It would have shown us how she wasn't stupid instead of just downright saying it.
~ Telling and not showing. Sometimes this story and the author would tell me things about the world and characters instead of showing it. In chapter 3, Fable literally lists the "rules" of the world she lives in. It seemed as though a cheap way for the author to world-build. She told us what the world was like instead of gradually showing it over the course of the story organically. More quotes: "I knew that in the Narrows, nothing was what it seemed. Every truth was twisted", "It was a world poised on the tip of a knife". These two quotes tell me more about the world than showed it.
~ Clunky word choice. Very few times, I came across a sentence that made me pause, put down the book, and think for a second. One example is this: "The reef that encircled the wreck was alive with life". Huh? Alive with life. Uh...yeah.
~ The abrupt romance. I don't have much to say other than that the two love interest I guess you could call them went from seemingly disliking one another to being like "let's kiss and save the day, yay!" Also, the main character seemingly went from loving her father to hating him at break-neck speed and it did nothing but pull me out of the story.

OVERALL:
Fun story and I will read the sequel though

OH MY PYRE! HOLY PIRATES!

A few awesome lines: 👏

“You weren’t made for this world, Fable.”

“It was a love that broke us all.”

Damn this author has slayed every book written and it just gets epic as she writes. This book is 0 - 60 in the first chapter. I love diving and can understand why Fable loves it so much. She’s gonna be my bad luck charm always. I think this is the first genuine book I have read where a character has an epiphany about their life and childhood, and becomes so much worse then the people she loves. This is literally CUT THROAT. Saint is of course the devil in disguise. Punny, right? Anyways, you THINK got this book figured out well you are WRONG! The way the author writes the love story with fable’s parents and her own blossoming love story, will make you swoon for the ages. Thank you thank you for this Netgalley ARC. I highly recommend you check this and her other works like Sky in the Deep (VIKINGS). Also, if I could please get Namesake like yesterday I would love you forever!

My Review: After only two books by Adrienne Young, I have really come to trust her writing to be everything I love, so I jumped at the opportunity to read this one. Fable did not disappoint! I love how rich and vivid this world is, you can completely picture it as you read. I also love how different this book is from her previous two, I loved the brutal, each for themselves pirate world in this book (just as much as I loved the brutal, honor bound viking world). Fable lives and does what must be done to survive but there is one thing she wants, a family. This was quite the adventure in finding and giving trust, overcoming the odds and what is worth the sacrifice. Be forewarned, the ending is quite the cliffhanger! I am dying for Namesake!!


My Rating: This book met all my expectations and more! It was an enthralling read, the pages fly by, you have to know what happens next! I loved the characters and want so much more. I give it a rating of Four Paws!

This book had everything you could ask for in a beautiful, magical, readable and compelling fantasy series. At the start, it was the great plot and the interesting main character and her quest to find the father who had abandoned her that grabbed me, and by the end I was fully invested in all the major characters and super excited to read the sequel. It left off on a small cliffhanger, but the reason I want to read the next book isn't about the cliffhanger - it's just about wanting to spend more time with this motley crew of characters.

Adrienne Young expresses the intricacies of this world so well, and uses it as a device to hold back character information in a way that serves both her plot needs and our enjoyment of the story itself. Every chapter ends in a little cliffhanger, keeping us going and keeping us hooked into the plot. Each chapter is short, and makes you want to gobble up just one more chapter of that beautiful story - just to find out what happens to your intrepid main character and cast. What's more, Young's prose is filled with vivid details, sprinkled through expertly without a trace of getting sidetracked from the action in each scene. It feels like you're looking at a scene from a painting which has come to life. It's this writing style which makes the seafaring setting really come to life. See below some quotes from Fable - examples of Young's beautiful writing.

Overall, I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was just a very good fantasy book at a very high standard. It didn't have anything particularly out-there, but it gets many points for just how compellingly it was written. There's an unexpected romance, structured to peak in an unconventional way, and tons of interesting dynamics between the main characters. I couldn't fault the writing, and the plot and characters were both very well done and executed. I've found myself thinking about these characters every day since I finished reading the book. I can't wait to read more!

I'm very grateful to both NetGalley and Wednesday Books / St Martin's Press for giving me a free copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I would be absolutely honoured to get to review the sequel!

Quotes:
"But I wasn't the sweet little girl who'd once ridden through these streets perched on his shoulders. I'd been whittled into something else now."
"Never, under any circumstances, reveal who or what matters to you."
"It was a world poised on the tip of a knife."
"I nodded, looking out at the pink and purple clouds, the sun seeming to grow and swell as it began to sink down the sky."
"She was the sun and the sea and the moon in one. She was the north star that pulled us to the shore."

Hands down my favorite book so far in 2020. Gorgeous cover! I even preordered the sequel before I even posted my review. This is that good!! I definitely recommend this to anyone who’s smart intelligent romantic stories! 5 Stars!!