Fable was an action packed story I could not read fast enough. Fable was a ruthless female lead who was tough as nails. She fought for survival, and exhibited bravery at ever turn. This book is one of my favorite reads from 2020, and I do not know how I will be able to wait for the sequel to release.

Fable was exactly what I didnt even know that I needed. I've been struggling to connect with YA for awhile now. I think I was just missing the right kind of YA. The kind that isn't defined or constrained by it. This was escapism at its finest. Young's writing has a way of sweeping you away right along with the characters. You feel as though you are deep diving side by side with Fable the whole wild journey. And what a turbulent journey this is!

Not only was this story incredibly atmospheric but the characters were very well written too. This ragtag crew of Waterside strays aboard the Marigold became the family you choose, which sometimes means even more than the one you're given. I feel like we've only scraped the surface of their uncharted depth and I look forward to discovering more hidden treasures there. The ending was quite explosive. I already knew I'd want more of this exquisite world, but those last few pages made me hurt for it. Marvelous beginning to an epic tale!

The unique story drew me in. The more Fable was around the crew and we got to know them the more I liked them. With so many against Fable it was hard to pick out the big bad. Romance is on the back burner for this one. It is there but faintly. Fable was a strong character. Story was steady paced for the majority of the book. It does end on a cliffhanger.

You know those books you start right before bed to get a taste of it before you go to sleep. I tried it with this book, I honestly did. I thought I would read a few chapters and head to bed. I did NOT. I started reading and once I did I started reading at 11 o'clock then when I finished the book it was 3 in the morning. The chapters literally flew by while I was engrossed in the book it was that good! I havent read a book like this in a long time!
This book was phenomenal, what an adventure!!!
Fable is the daughter of one of the major traders, although after Fables mother drowns her father abandoned her on a island to basically find for herself. Fable works hard on the island to survive and try to save coppers to buy her way off the Island. When things start really turning sour shes able to buy passage off the island in hopes to make it back to her father in hopes he will let her join him on his ships. However like most things her plan didnt work out, but along the way she makes new friends and even finds love!! That ending thou was a cliffhanger!!!
If you need a good adventure, this one is it! An adventure, the sea, pirates and a splash of love!

I am probably not in the right emotional state to be writing a review right now… But here we are because it’s five in the morning and I can’t sleep after finishing this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows 17-year-old Fabel Who has been trapped on a legendary island (By her father) and forced to fend for herself. She saves up enough coin to pay for passage back to her father and take her rightful place among his crew. She pays a trader named West, who she has traded with before, and soon finds out he has a lot of secrets. She quickly learns that fending for herself on the island was easier than the things that she has to face on the Narrow Sea.

This summary honestly does not begin to scrape the surface of this book. The world is absolutely fascinating, and you can truly tell that Adrienne Young did her research. The description of the tools and the language used is fascinating and it really draws you into the story.

The characters are phenomenal. Fable as a female trying to pave the way for herself in a male dominant world is well done, you can’t help but love her. However, she is still Has many vulnerable moments which really Makes her real. It makes her come alive.

West is your broody character that you can’t help but love and want to know all about. He keeps his secrets close to his chest to protect himself and The people closest to him. He honestly reminds me a lot like Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, just less happy and more broody. The other characters that we were introduced to are just as fascinating and unique. You slowly begin to fall in love with each and everyone of them. And you want to start learning more about them.

The biggest thing about this book is at the end of every chapter, it’s like a mini cliffhanger. Something is revealed something happens and you just immediately want to read the next chapter. This is why I am currently writing this review at five in the morning… I had no control in putting a 😆.

This book was pure entertainment. Somethings were easy to predict however it did not make it any less enjoyable. I was screaming I was throwing my Kindle across the room I was giggling I was kicking my feet around. I went through a lot of emotions with this book and I am DYING for the next one!!

I went into this book expecting to enjoy it because I have really enjoyed Adrienne Young’s other books. I did not expect to love it as much as I did. Even before finishing the book I pre-ordered it. She truly has outdone her self and I cannot wait for the next book. I have no idea where it’s going to go!!

I don't think I've flown through a book so fast in a while. This book felt like it was only 200 pages long because I couldn't put it down and the story moved so quickly. But what a great summer fantasy read! It's action packed, but I never got lost in the action. The found family that Fable is able to find on the Marigold is my everything and I am eagerly awaiting book 2 to see what comes next.

I want to give thanks to NetGalley for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, i felt a whole lot of....nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Other than the fact that Fable sailed the seas in search of her father, there's a MASSIVE LACK of high stakes in this pirate style book. The crew was nothing to rave about. I didn't feel attached to any of the characters, save Willa. She seemed slightly interesting. West wasn't much to rave about either. The titular character, Fable, really fell flat in terms of
Survivor.
Trader.
Fighter.

Everything the cover boasted was a pale comparison. She didn't feel special or sea hardened. She was just a naive child who wanted to live up to Daddy's legacy through true grit but fell super short of it. She didn't exhibit a street smart one would expect by someone marooned on an island where everyone will kill and rob you of everything you have. She just felt so protected. I didn't feel any real danger surrounding her. The action was lackluster. This Zola character didn't exactly have me shaking in my boots. He didn't pose a threat like we are told and meant to believe through the characters. Several scenes felt confusing, at times I couldn't tell who was talking; the voices really mixed together and nothing individual stood out about them. I didn't feel that familial attachment, which is disappointing.

The back stories to several of the characters were generic and half baked. Didn't really stir an emotional attachment. Which in truth surprises me because Sky in the Deep, to me, really captured that feeling enough for me to care about the characters. But here, nothing special stood out. The style of writing is great and beautiful, but others than that, not evocative of emotion. It felt fluffy, super chill like if you the reader are there just along for the ride and don't serve much of a purpose. The scene where Fable and West dive to the Lark was EXTREMELY lacking in detail. I wanted to read more, i wanted the scene stretched out. It felt too quick and brushed by. I wanted the scene to be painted out, to feel the rush of diving in the ocean and exploring a ship wreck, but I didn't get that. I was served vague details and a kiss. An underwater kiss. Great. SO WHAT? Another thing, while im glad the romance isn't rushed and the two characters sleep together near the end, I'm failing to see what amazing features West sees in Fable. As I say, these characters are flat and not special.

I was about 70% of the way in the book when serious shit was going down. 70% OF THE WAY! That's a long ass time in a book for things to get going and pick up pace! This is the pirating world where competitive shit went down each day! While I appreciate the flashbacks for Fable's backstory, it felt repetitive after awhile, even the estranged relationship she has with her father was grinding on my nerves. Then we have everything go down fast with Zola figuring out who Fable is and kidnapping her, leaving us with a big cliffhanger for the second book, which i pray brings more action than this slice-of-pirate-life book.

This book really is just a chill book to read on a slow day. It's not a thrill ride, doesn't present much sea danger for the crew, hell they didn't even run into a famous storm they keep talking about. The seas are rough and storms are typical. I can tell the author did her homework on looking up dialogue and key terms about ships and their parts, so cudoos. Overall, not the best. I feel like the writing is regressing and this really read like a debut novel for sure. The storytelling isn't strong and leaves much to be desired. There's so much to expand or elaborate on, but I'm hoping that the second book brings more to light and helps push the narrative into a more adventurous light.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of "Fable" by Adrienne Young. I loved "Sky in the Deep," then was a little disappointed by "The Girl the Sea Gave Back." I knew that was an unplanned companion novel, so I had more hopes for "Fable," which is set up as a duology and would stand on its own. I'm happy to say that it came through. I really enjoyed the almost swashbuckling seafaring vibes, the magical gemstones, the complicated relationships, and the cut throat world. It was almost piratey without being stereotypical—it made up its own thing while still keeping that lawless, ocean sailing atmosphere that pirate stories give you. Seriously, the setting was its own character and one of the best parts. The romance wasn't quite as heart-wrenching as "Sky in the Deep," but I still really enjoyed it. I was gripped throughout and I'm so ready for the next book. I definitely recommend it!

This book was such a nice surprise!!

I love Pirates of the Caribbean but never once have I even picked up a book Pirate related at all.

I'm pretty glad that this was the first one!

This book was more than I expected it to be and I truly appreciate the way this world was written.

Fable is a teenager but she doesn't act it. She is wise beyond her years, and she had to be to survive this world that her father tossed her in. He abandoned her on an island that requires you to be tough or you will pay for it with your life.

She is very knowledgeable about ship life and she keeps her opinions to herself but she sees things no one wants her to. She is highly observant but will speak up when she needs to, even when she probably shouldn't, thinking it will help.

Her whole goal is to get back to her father, Saint, who is a well known and well feared man. She made a promise to him to never tell and she has kept it. She even lives by his rules and it has kept her going all these years.

I don't want to say much more because it would be spoilers but I recommend this to anyone! Seeing this world through her eyes is refreshing and exciting and has me wanting/needing more!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Loved, loved, loved this book. I became familiar with this author in her debut book Sky in the Deep and been drawn to her ever since. This book did not disappoint and I can’t wait to continue this story in book two.

I loved Fable! Abandoned by her father at the age of 13 she has spent the last 4 years dredging for gems in order to survive. She’s shown courage and bravery in everything that came her way. I love strong female characters!

I haven’t read many pirate books so it was refreshing to read something a little different. This book is filled with excitement, romance, thrills and the drama of living at sea.

Wow! I was swept away and not returned until the last page. What a journey! I want more!! What happens now?!

A tale of pirates, merchants, and diving for treasure. This novel follows Fable as she tried to get off an island to reach her Father and get what was promised to her. ALong the way she will meet new friends and old enemies but will it be worth it?

This is Adrienne Young's third novel and its her best one so far. Her first two books were good but I feel that she learned alot along the way in terms of her writing. I love love this novel so much from start to end it had my attention. The continued secrets and just how smart Fable is in general, really made this novel enjoyable. It reminded me of The Pearl with the diving/dredging and I loved how much detail went into this novel.

This is a duology and the sequel. Namesake, Has a matching cover to this gorgeous one. I will be purchasing this novel on top of reading the arcs as I enjoy Adrienne's writing and this was honestly one of the best books I have read this year.

Fable by Adrienne Young
★★★★★

OH MY GOODNESS. It’s been a few days and I am still in the throws of a boom hangover from Fable. If you don’t know, I love Adrienne Young’s writing style. It’s lyrical, descriptive, and transportive. I felt like I was aboard the Marigold sailing through the Narrows.

If you love strong, female leads, you’ll love Fable. She tough as nails and never stops. Maybe even to a fault but I admired her for it. In a word ruled by men, she doesn’t quit and more than once puts them in their place. She knows her worth and won’t back down.

Plus look at this cover!! It is BREATHTAKING. I already preordered my physical copy because I loved it so much. You should too.

Fable out September 1st. Thank you @netgalley and @stmartianspress for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don't even know where to begin to tell you about this amazing seafaring book about the hard core heroine. Fable had me sucked in quickly with a strong desire to keep reading to find out who this amazing redhead is who suddenly found herself sailing away with the gorgeous West and his crew who had some secrets of their own. Young has a gift for writing and her words poured out of the pages into my mind and her characters took up residence in my heart. I cannot wait for the next book in this series, which I have no doubt will become a favorite for me and for many.

I really enjoyed Fable as a whole. The story really sucks you in. Fable is just trying to find her way off of Jevel where she was abandoned and finds herself on a ship with a crew that's keeping secrets.

I really enjoyed all of the character dynamics and just really liked the crew. Their relationships felt true to the realities of their world. I really liked Fable and really understood her hopes and fears. I appreciated the setting of being out at sea and really makes me miss the ocean. The story was just well written and described.

The ending definitely surprised me and I'm really looking forward to the sequel. I hope we get to learn more the Gem traders and Holland.

Overall a great read if you love books set at sea with a dash of magical realism.

Looking for intense action and a story of a strong female pitted against the world? Look no further. Young has brilliantly created the story of Fable, a girl who is courageous, cunning, determined and beautiful. Her father abandoned her after her mother died, leaving her surrounded by thieves, amid the dregs of a starving island. Fable will not remain a victim of circumstance and fights to find her pirate father. To accomplish this, she must secure passage off the island and this involves using all her wiles.

This pirate adventure is filled with obstacles that seem almost insurmountable. But Fable cannot be deterred. She is unforgettable and vividly portrayed. The action races forward and will leave readers breathless as they turn the last page.

This was just ok to me. The setting and the main character were interesting. I didn't care about any of the other characters though and it made the story boring and bland to me. None of them had much of a personality. It seems to be a trend in recent fantasy for authors to pay more attention to plot rather than the characters, which isn't a bad thing if you like plot-driven stories, but I like character-driven stories. The writing was good and made the book easy to get through despite the issues I had with it. So if you're interested in the synopsis and want a fast-paced, plot-driven story, I recommend this.

The action of Fable starts right at the beginning of the book and the pace stays fast throughout the novel. The title character is a feisty, determine survivor who struggles through near impossible odds To take control of her future. There are villains, friends, foes, and ambiguity with them all. The world building and fantasy elements are slow to materialize, but are present. This book was ultimately an exciting oceanic adventure with some magical moments peeking through. The ending is a truly thrilling cliffhanger that will leave readers wanting more. Definitely a page turner. Highly enjoyable.

Absolutely divine!!!!

I refuse to reveal any spoilers, but consumers will want to get their hands on allllll the merch they can for this sure-to-be-favorite new series from an acclaimed author we adore!

Full reveal to come!

I was provided an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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"That bastard was leaving me again."
With the first line, I was interested. Take note of the author and it was done for.
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Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.
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Fable has an amazing group of characters and some of them very surprising. I was immediately curious about all of them, even the shady ones. The setting is explained in a manageable way to understand and it still surprises you. Some of it was predictable, but in the way that you hope it happens and the author doesn't throw a wrench in it. I felt empathy for a character that I initially had some harsh words for and that's good writing. When you can understand the reasoning and choices behind a character's decisions without knowing all the details, it has you invested. It ends with the perfect opening for the second book titled Namesake.