5/5**

Full review here: https://www.allcharacterswanted.com/book-reviews/fable-by-adrienne-young

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Adrienne Young's writing when I read her first novel, Sky in the Deep. Her slow world-building and narrator-moved storytelling captured my attention and I loved the way her characters developed. When Fable was first announced, I was thrilled to find out that Young had a third novel coming out, and that this one would be part of a duology!

Great Characters
Young has done a beautiful job introducing us to these characters and letting us get to know them, even though we only have Fable’s POV. It can be hard to connect with secondary characters, but I love the way she developed Fable’s relationship with the crew of the Marigold and how we got to see the other characters relationships with each other. Fable, like the reader, is learning about the crew and the nuanced aspects of the different relationships each of them have with the others, and we are really given the chance to get to know everyone.

Solid Cliffhanger
I’m obviously not going to give away spoilers, but this book ends with a wonderful cliffhanger that I feel completely set us up for the second novel, which is supposed to come out in March 2021. It’s a great moment because Fable has just found her place with Marigold crew and is finally feels like she has a purpose, she’s confronted her father and has accepted this part of her past, and things are really looking up. So of course things have to change. I’m really really interested to see what’s going to happen and name sake, now that Fable is on a completely different journey.

LOVE the Romance
Like her previous books, Young doesn’t make romance the focus of her stories, however it always subtly grows between characters. I love the slow build between Fable and West and the little ways their relationship changes. These are characters that are conditioned by their world to not have any emotional attachments because it can be used against them, so their interest in each other needs to be fought and prevented.

Overall, this is a wonderful book with a story that moves well and characters that are easy to become invested in. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy, is a fan of Adrienne Young’s previous books, or enjoys layered stories when the truth slowly unravels. This book is a slow build, but a great one.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Adrienne Young's newest novel, Fable, brings readers to a story of high stakes sea trade, secrets, and debts. Fable, daughter of a wealthy trader, was abandoned by her father after a shipwreck. She is determined to earn enough coin to book passage off the island where she was left, and to claim her rightful place on her father's crew. The sea and her islands are harsh, and Fable must learn to do what it takes to survive.

I know this book doesn't come out and call itself a pirate book, but I'm going to call it like I see it. It's a pirate book. Which, it's summer and 'tis the season for skulduggery, I suppose, because I was here for it. Fable is a determined, bold, and out and out stubborn sort of girl. She was well characterized, and it was easy to see how her experiences shaped her into what she was. As much as Fable is the main, and obviously titular, character, I was a little bummed that the other characters in the book weren't as fleshed out as she was. I would have loved to learn more about Paj, Auster, or West.

The writing was smooth, easy to read, and fast-paced. There were some moments that were clearly very transparent about what "twists" were going to happen, or were included solely for the sheer drama of it all rather than actually being important. Those moments combined with the weak side characters led this to be a strong 4 star rather than the 5 star it could have been.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a fun time. I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of the Daughter of the Pirate King duology. I look forward to picking up the sequel to Fable when it is released.

Thank you thank you thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesdays Books for this ARC copy of Fable by Adrienne Young.
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Five glorious stars, or glasses of wine as I like to rank reads on my Instagram page, for this in the first book of what promises to be my new favorite duology. I can't remember the last time I connected so fiercely to a character from the start. Fable is a hardworking, tenacious, strong character who finds herself shaped by her circumstances, but isn't ashamed or regretful. She embraces her heritage and lot, looking ever forward to the next goal before her. In short, I'd read about Fable for ten more books if Adrienne Young would write them. I'm sitting her next to my most beloved long running series, Throne of Glass. Yes, I'm comparing Fable to Aelin with pleasure and anticipation. Read it, and prove me wrong.
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When Fable finds herself left for dead, by her father, on the legendary island of thieves she doesn't wait for fate to twist the knife. Instead she begins to learn and navigate both land and water fighting for her place among those who can never be trusted. Though it was her father who abandoned her, she commits every lesson she learned from him to memory and it serves her well. Pushing her body to the edge she dodges death on a daily basis. Fable has one goal and one solitary focus, to prove to her father that she can survive.

Wow. Just...wow. I've read my share of YA pirate type books, but this one is definitely worth a read. The character building is remarkable. I am already in love with the entire crew in this book. All of them. I feel what Fable feels; love who she loves, hates who she hates and am confused and torn by what has happened to her. It is extraordinarily done and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. This ended on such a cliffhanger that I need to know more! The world is loosely built, but familiar and the hint of magic is special and intriguing.

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