This book is so fun! I actually hadn't heard of <i>Fable</i> until I stumbled across it on NetGalley, but I'm so glad I was able to read it. It's a quick adventure read full of pirate-y shenanigans that would be perfect to read by the pool this summer. Of course, it turns out that it's not <i>technically</i> about pirates, but the whole "traders" backdrop does end up reading that way, especially with the amount of crew-on-crew sabotage and murder going on. Sort of a YA <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> vibe that is definitely worth checking out.

Fable is a solid protagonist, with an interesting combination of spunk and sensitivity. Her voice is very strong, which really helped to reel me in at the beginning of the story. She does veer a little bit into the typical "badass, survivor, evil parent" thing that has been going on in YA for the past few years, but it isn't overwhelming and served the plot well for the most part.

The cast of characters is good, if not all that distinguishable. At times, it was easy to mix up which character was which - with the notable exception of Willa, the only girl onboard other than Fable. They're an enjoyable bunch, and their devotion to one another was nice, but they sometimes felt too thinly defined. I felt like I'd read these side characters before. Most of them lack the page time to truly develop and stand out, so they end up boiling down to a few small characteristics.

West, our romantic interest and male lead, had some stumbling development for me. He's so closed off and stubborn, but then he's a big softy about other things. The crew is unusual because they function as a democracy, but sometimes he totally ignores this and they just...let him make whatever call he wants. He and Fable don't really have much chemistry, but it's a YA so you know the second he's introduced that they're going to fall in love anyway. I just wanted more from him, and a reason to want Fable to be as loyal to him as she is. Unfortunately, I didn't find it.

The whole romance felt underdeveloped to me. It starts to blossom kind of late in the story, but not in a way that feels like a slowburn. It feels like an afterthought - largely, I would say, because the characters don't have chemistry. It's a small enough part of the book that it's not much of a detraction, but it was something that I found myself wondering the necessity of.

The plot itself moves at a good pace for most of the novel. There's not much of an antagonist to struggle with, so it mostly follows Fable grappling with her place in the world and where to go from here. The bad guy that she does encounter mostly serves to throw up some hurdles for the ship and the crew, but he exists without much real umph behind him. Based on the ending, though, I'm sure he's going to be more of a true antagonist in [book:Namesake|53138025], so I'm excited to see how that changes up the dynamic of the story.

TL;DR: a fun high-seas adventure that would be a great vacation read. It falls into the traps of some conventions of the genre, but it's so quick and enjoyable that it's hardly a problem. Young is clearly a skilled writer and I'm excited to see where she takes the story from here!

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC to read and review!

I. Loved. This. And I would love to have the sequel, please, because I just.... THAT ENDING. This was so very good!! The descriptions and imagery... I felt like I was diving deep along with Fable into the ocean, or right there on the deck of the ship with her! It was amazing, and I can’t wait to read more of er story, as well as more from this author! I think she’s becoming one of my favorites, with the amazing worlds she’s built and characters she’s brought life to!

Fable was abandoned by her father on a remote island -- filled with thieves, but with little food -- with only her mother's lessons and her father's rules to help her survive:

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

Four years later, she's taken many hits, but has finally scrounged up enough resources to get off the island and find her father again. Fable secures passage with the crew of the Marigold by the skin of her teeth, but her time on the ship may turn out to be much more than a means to find her father.

I've been in a major reading slump due to, well... *gestures around at 2020 in general*. I've really enjoyed Adrienne Young's books in the past, so I was so thankful that I got an invitation to read this ARC. And is was great!

Young is so exceedingly talented at crafting her setting. With subtle details and context clues, she envelops you thoroughly in the world she's created -- a feat that often takes other authors many pages of purple prose and verbose worldbuilding to accomplish. Fable's world is one that revolves around the sea, and the people that, by necessity, must navigate it and contend with its whims to survive. It's a world of cutthroat trades, scheming, and backstabbing -- it's the YA book about pirates that I didn't know I wanted to read!

The plot, while taking place on this grand stage of the sea, is more introspective. Fable has built herself up for years using lessons her late mother has taught her. (Despite her mother being dead, she's still very much a strong character in her own right.) Fable also contends with her father -- his absence, how both of them have changed in the four years they've been apart, and how their lives have been shaped around the hole her mother's death has left in both of them. This book is, on its surface, about survival... but it's heart is entirely about family.

Overall, Fable isn't flawless in its execution -- my one quibble here is what it is for many YA books -- the romance is a little too quick for my tastes. But it's a great adventure, and I'm very excited for the follow-up next year! 4.5, rounded up.

Adrienne Young continues to get better with every book she publishes. The story centers on a young girl named Fable who was abandoned on a cutthroat island by her father. Fable has a dangerous job deep sea diving to survive and hopefully earn enough money to escape the island. The story follows her escape from the island, joining a pirate crew, meeting a handsome boy, making a found family and searching for lost treasure. It was a fast paced, fun read and I don't know if I'm happy or sad that Adrienne Young made this one a duology vs. her standard standalone, because I'd love to see more of Fable but can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

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

Those have been the five rules fable has left by ever since her father abandoned her on an infamous island of thieves to fend for herself. Four years later Fable is barely surviving making whatever money she can get by dredging for gems in the ocean. In order to save her life she barters for passage on the Marigold, a pirate/trading ship, to take her off that island in search for her father so he could keep his promise and give her what she is owed.

There was never a dull moment in the story, the world was masterfully built the characters or well-crafted and intriguing they all had their own story to tell. Fable is such a strong character, throughout the story she struggles to show her worth with the crew on the Marigold, but she is determined to survive and achieve her goals in finding the father that abandoned her.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait to read the next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.

* I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I am so happy I was able to read an early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I read and loved Adrienne’s debut, Sky in the Deep, so I figured I would enjoy this one as well. It certainly did not disappoint. This book was FANTASTIC! A real page turner, that I did not want to put down, and a world I did not want to leave.

Fable is one of my new fierce, female characters. Her mother drowns in a shipwreck and her father drops her off on an island of thieves and little food. She relies on the things that her mother taught her to survive, and keeps to herself. She’s a dredger and she dives for pyre, and I found this completely engrossing. I loved how she was so resourceful and didn’t give up. She kept fighting. After four years, she finally gets off the island, joins a small crew, and plans to go back to her father and finally find her rightful place.

A fast paced, nail biting, high seas adventure you don’t want to miss! I can’t wait for the sequel, Namesake, coming in 2021.

I loved Sky in the Deep but found the over all story towards the younger side of YA. When I found the author was writing a book around pirates, I knew I was going to read it. Fable was a great story, paced really well from beginning to end.
I loved all of the characters, and if this story took a different turn this crew could have given off major Six of Crow vibes.
Again, the only issue I have is that the writing feels very young for some of the content but over all I can't wait to re-read this one again.

Fable, abandoned by her father as a child, takes fate into her own hands and sets out to find her father. The only question is whether or not he will want her... and what will she do if he doesn't?

My favouite parts of a book are always voice and world building- Fable has both in spades. I loved Fable as a character- strong, but also vulnerable. It always annoys me when people do things in books, like chase after someone who doesn't want them, because we can see the truth when they can't. However, this is ultimately entirely true to life. We chase the flame until it burns. I wanted to hug Fable and slap her all at the same time. That sounds like a negative, but I didn't find it so. It definitely made for compelling reading.

The setting felt unique and almost like another character. Ship and reefs and turquoise waters. I loved seeing it all unfold and seeing Fable in her element as much as she didn't quite fit in.

The plot seems simple- find father, but it has enough twists and turns. It also keeps moving at a terrific pace- I read the book in about a day simple because I wanted to keep reading.

I've read all of Adrienne Young's books and I like her combination of prose, characters and unique settings, but I think has been her best yet. I absolutely loved it and I can't wait for Namesake to find out what has happened to everyone... Fable ends on a definite cliff-hanger, so brace yourself!

This was wonderful! I wasnt going to read it right away but just read the first chapter and suddenly I was in chapter 14 and completely into the story.
It was emotional and inspiring and just fabulous!
Can't wait for the next book because honestly that cliffhanger was... ugh!

This was really good! I loved Sky in the Deep, but then I was disappointed with The Girl the Sea Gave Back. I was still hopeful with this book, and it did not disappoint! The cover really captured my attention, but the character was amazing. I loved Fable. She is strong, independent, able to win over others that doubt her abilities, and still able to show an emotion. She is a female powerhouse and I loved everything about her. The story really kept up the suspense and keeps the reader invested the whole way through. I am super excited about the sequel and cannot wait to read it!

I received an uncorrected proof ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay first over, COVER LOVE! So beautiful. Secondly this story was very captivating and not glossed over. The seas were not a safe place and they start off right away showing the hardships that Fable has had to endure in her life. The characters in this book are wonderful, you learn to love each of her shipmates and I can't wait to find out more of them. You root for Fable right from the start until the very end of the book and then you are like NOOOO that can't be the last page. I will be waiting on the tips of my toes for the next book!

I was really excited to get an ARC of Adrienne Young’s newest work Fable. I had recently finished The Girl the Sea Gave Back and Sky in the Deep. These were both good reads that I wouldn’t call revolutionary, but I would say were a lot of fun. The same can be said of Fable.

This high seas adventure plays to the Pirates of the Caribbean loving part of me and that’s not a bad thing. This moves in a relatively little explored direction in the YA Fantasy universe, but uses many of the tropes that we are looking for in a YA Fantasy. Fable, the female protagonist, is an abandoned girl looking for a father that probably doesn’t want her there. She’s essentially shipwrecked on an island (Jeval) full of questionable, if not outright, bad guys at age 14. She’s learned to live on the island with relatively little support and this is what drives her to work towards earning her passage by diving for treasure/gemstones. We follow her ‘escape’ from this place aboard a ship that isn’t what it seems. These are the relationships that really help build the story and make it worth your tie.

Overall, I’d say it’s an interesting story that keeps your interest and will pull you back to read the next one. Not the next big thing, but still worthy of your time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a digital copy of this book for review.

This book was AMAZING. Following the vein of "Daughter of a Pirate King", this book was completely immersive and swept me off my feet. I can not wait till book two. I was actually a little upset when I found out it was duology because I will have to wait for it... but then I was very excited because it means there is more to read about Fable!
A great young adult sea-faring adventure book.

I loved this book. The way the story slowly built itself and the world up as you experienced it, instead of just explaining it in one go, really brought it to life. Fable is an incredibly interesting main character, who stays strong in who she is throughout the book. In YA, (I feel) often we see the female main characters throw their identities away for their romance interest- and this was not the case.

I know this is a duology, so I assume we will learn more about the crew in the next book. I really wanted more information on them. We got some in the last bit of the book, but overall, I would have appreciated learning more in general. We missed out on their personalities as we focused on West, Willa, and Fable. I understand this, as they were the main focal points of the book, but for a found family story I simply would have liked more.

The slow burn romance that occurs in the book genuinely made me cry. I don't like romance much, and find it unrealistic at best, but this was such an emotional experience. It was truly beautiful to read.

I cannot wait to read Namesake and find out what happens to Fable next! (Review will be posted on blog 7/29/2020)

Fable by Adrienne Young started off as a slow burn but that ending was awesome! The book leaves off on a cliffhanger and I’m desperate for the sequel. Pirates, adventures and well developed characters who go from rags to riches what’s not to love!!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend this one!!!

I just finished devouring this book, which I so gratefully got from NetGalley and I AM OBSESSED! I neeeeeed the next book pronto and am in love with the world that Adrienne built and the characters we get to know. Once you get into the book you won’t want to leave. Some parts were maybe predictable but not in a bad way. I loved every second and I am going to read anything else this author has written in the meantime

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press
For an opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say? This book is EVERYTHING! I loved everything about it. Pirates, high stakes adventure, Romance, and rags to riches crew.
Fable is everything I want in my female protagonist. She’s had a tough life and lost much but she stays strong and survives. She is still compassionate, loyal, and even able to trust again.
The writing is beautiful and I really felt emotionally engaged with all of the characters. I really wanted to hate Fable’s dad, Saint, on her behalf but like Fable and West, I had a hard time truly hating him.
This story had my heart racing with excitement and my head swooning for a slow burn romance.
Since my shelf space is limited I try not to but books unless I KNOW I’ll be reading them again. I will be pre-ordering this ASAP! It’s that good.

A wonderful tale from an amazing author. I’m not gonna lie when I heard Adrienne Young was coming out with a novel about pirates I was immediately hooked. A slow burn of a story that pays off with a wonderful ending.

Initial Thoughts

I was SOOOOOO excited to be approved for this title on NetGalley. I love Adrienne Young’s writing, love books about pirate / scoundrel characters, and have yet to read a book published by Wednesday Books that I didn’t obsess over.

Some Things I Liked

Pirates, thieves, and liars. I loved the characters in this story. I thought the sea-centric world was fascinating and is definitely a place I’d like to visit. I really loved that the characters were all a version of untrustworthy. They all made the secrets and plot twists that much better.
Dark themes. There are some pretty dark themes in this story. Abuse, abandonment, death, etc. But, they were all handled so well. They were relevant and necessary to the story.
The romance. It was so swoon-worthy. I loved West and Fable and the enemies portion of their enemies to lovers arc was perfect!
First person narration. There’s no character that was better suited to narrate this journey than Fable and I was so happy that we got to see her inner monologues as events played out.

Series Value

I have already sent my request to Wednesday Books desperately begging for an ARC of Namesake. I NEED the next book in this series. It’s not if I read it, it’s when.

Furthermore, I have read all of Adrienne Young’s books and I don’t plan on stopping now. I’m a fan, Adrienne. Please keep doing what you’re doing!

Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved this story. The ending destroyed me, but it also left me desperate for the sequel. I can’t wait to see more about these characters as well as more from Adrienne Young.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Namesake by Adrienne Young – no, I have not read it yet. But, I have no doubt that the next book in this series will impress.
Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young – if you liked the writing style and the fierce main character, try Adrienne Young’s other series. Bonus note, this one is really good as an audiobook.
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller – like Adrienne Young, Tricia Levenseller writes epic pirate and viking stories. If you liked the style and themes here, try Tricia Levenseller’s books.

As a general rule I really don't read a lot of books based around the sea but I kept hearing about this book so I decided to take a gamble on it and I'm glad I did. I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It was a very fast read and I loved all the characters except for the jerks who lived on Jeval, they can all rot in hell. Zola can rot in hell too. This book ends on a cliffhanger that makes me want to get my hands on Namesake when it's released next year unless the NetGalley gods are kind and approve me to read the next one sooner. Lol, I'm just joking. Or am I? 😉 Regardless this is a great book and I highly recommend reading it.