5⭐️.

YA Fantasy Lit. with Romantic Elements.

Q: what’s some of your fave YA fantasy lit.? Drop them below and help a woman out!

Wow. I’m going to start with some of the typical words I see in fantasy reviews but honestly, Adrienne Young’s Fable *is immersive. I did feel transported. And a little awed, tbh.

Like the other books of Young’s I’ve read, Fable features a strong young woman (major understatement) who has to fight for herself. Her food. Her shelter. Her life.

Years before, after her mother died, the man that no one knows is Fable’s father dropped her off on a thieves’s island & never came back. Now she’s a dredger, someone who dives underwater & finds pyre that she can sell to traders. Every block she brings back to the surface is working toward her ticket off the island & back to her father.

When things go pear-shaped Fable makes an earlier exit than she planned—on the ship of West, a helmsman who regularly purchased her pyre & the closest thing she has to someone she can trust (but that’s still a long way off). He & his crew want nothing to do with Fable. But they’re all drawn together in ways they probably don’t want to be.

Some fantasy books have the worldbuilding down beautifully but they lack the emotional component that makes a book really stick for me. But Fable has both & her story grabbed at my heart.

I love love love that Fable is a female character who makes her own way, even as my heartstrings were pulled at what she’s gone through & how visceral those images are. Her life’s been all about strategy & survival since her father left her but she’s still soft in some ways. Still able to be shocked. Still able to care.

The only aspect of this book that feels a little thin to me is her relationship with West. I watched it develop rapaciously & gobbled up every little sign but I’d love to see more emotional intimacy between them. Hopefully that will come in the second book!

Fable is far from a lighthearted read. It’s sometimes violent & sad & scary, but it also made my heart happy.

Fable is out on 09/01. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

Fable was such a fun read. If you like Sea Fire and Dark Shores then you will love this sea adventure. Pirates and the sea, oh my! I love the character development in Fable. The world building I think was spot on since it focused on the areas that were relevant to Fable's journey. I liked the build the relationship between West and Fable. He may have always liked her but that does not make him oblivious to everything. He has goals and is driven. The ending will definitely leave you wanting to dive right into the sequel Namesake. The great thing is the release dates are about 6 months apart. So, you will not have to wait long.

Now a side note. I love the cover and title but I think they do not fit the book. I think that Fable makes you think of a fairy tale and the cover does not scream sea adventure. I think this may miss the mark marketing wise. I hope people will fall in love with it though. This will be a book I will be recommending.

I downloaded this on a spur of the moment upon seeing it as read now on Netgalley and I've never been so glad for my impulsiveness. Going into this book, I had no idea what it was about, yet it had me hooked from page one.

Fable was dumped and left on an island by her father the day after a storm took her mother. She was left with nothing, she starved, she was lost and she was alone. But Fable was determined to prove her father wrong when he said "you're not made for this world, Fable"; so she teaches herself how to dredge, and she sells the items she finds, and *finally* after years on the island, she gets away.

What follows this is a journey on a ship where she learns the true price of family and what it will cost her to stay alive. Fable learns just how deep deceit and lies can run, and how family is chosen, not always the one you were born into. After an intense journey through storms, islands and a couple of near-death experiences, Fable finally makes it to the island and back to her father.

There was so much about this story that I loved. The characters were all so well-written and I felt like I really knew them, and the plot was never predictable and had me hooked the whole way through. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book, because the ending of this one was BRUTAL!!!

Young does a wonderful job at keeping your attention from page one to the end. The characters are relatable and grow throughout the story. This captivating story gives a fresh take on coming of age!

This book was amazing. I loved the world building, the characters, and all the action. Fable has been left on an island to fend for herself after a shipwreck. Her only way to survive is to dive for treasures and sell them to the merchants that come to the island for trade. West has always bought her gems. When Fable takes the chance to seek passage back to her homeland with West, it set in motion more than Fable can imagine. Such an amazing book. I can not wait for the next book to come out. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. 5 stars for this one.

I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After the storm that takes her mother and sinks their ship; Fourteen-year-old Fable is abandoned by her father on Jeval, the infamous island of thieves. Fable's father, the most powerful trader in the Narrows, has always reminded her that she wasn't made for this world. He left her with only his rules and the intricate lines he carved into her arm. Using the skills her mother taught her as a child, she dredges the reef for anything she can trade for coin. Four years later, Seventeen-year-old Fable has done what it takes to survive. Safeguarding her coin, she intends to buy passage off the island and back to what is rightfully hers. When her life is on the line, she is left with no choice but to board the Marigold and enlists the help of West, the helmsman, and his unlikely crew. Together they will have to survive storms and adversaries in order to reach Ceros and change their destiny.

All the stars!!! This is the first novel in the Fable duology. This epic seafaring adventure offers a strong female protagonist who is left to survive a world much harder than she is. Fable seeks help from a trader named West and his crew in order to get passage of Jeval. The trade industry is cutthroat and dangerous and they will have to work together if they want to survive. I absolutely loved is beautifully written novel. Fable's character is a strong female protagonist, which I love, and West and his crew also offer a diverse and likeable cast of unlikely heroes. I could not put this novel down and devoured it in one sitting. I can't wait to get my hands on the second novel in the series. Gorgeous cover art, beautiful world building, and an intricately woven nautical tale made this one of my new favorite series of 2020--a must read!

If you’ve ever wanted to spend a few days on a pirate ship, "Fable" is a good way to do it.

Fable is a gritty heroine who learns to dredge (dive) for gems in order to pay her way off the island where her father abandoned her years earlier. It took me a couple chapters to get into the story, but once Fable makes it off the island and on to the trading ship the Marigold, I was hooked. The world-building is accessible and rich; I felt like I was living on the ship.

As the Marigold is threatened by rival traders, Fable learns how, and how much, to trust her crewmates. While the characters’ motivations and relationships are not as fleshed out as the setting (especially the romance element, as others have noted), I am still looking forward to the sequel, especially after the cliffhanger ending.

Fable is a story about a girl who is quite literally abandoned by her father on an island filled with thieves and bad people less than a day after her mother is killed when their ship sinks from a storm. What a jerk! Oh, and she was 14 years old. Now she is 17 and has finally earned enough money dredging the reefs for pyre gemstones to trade for copper coins and pay for her passage back to the main island where her father runs his trade ship outfit. As an adult, I'm like, um girl, don't do that! You don't need him! But I understand her motivation to find the only family she has left even if he is a jerk.

She finally earns enough money and almost gets killed in the process of bribing the crew of the Marigold to take her to Ceros to find her father. The crew of five, plus the hot and angry headmaster West, obviously distrusts her at first but is comprised of five members who eventually become her found family. We only get a small bit of most of their backstories in this first book but what we do learn is that they are not what they seem. Secrets are discovered and trust is built.

Despite her harsh life, Fable has turned out to be such a strong survivor at a young age. She is smart and brave and I love her character. She dives headfirst to prove herself and her value throughout the story and never once is she whiny or annoying. I really admired her courage. And even though she is told many times that she was not made for this world, she never gives up.

The ending is a cliffhanger and is very abrupt. I turned the page and couldn't believe there were no more. I have already pre-ordered both Fable and the sequel Namesake and I'm hunting down special editions because this is a story I need on my shelves!

Fable is a fun, fast paced, read with a great female character as the lead. She is strong and competent, which is something I love when recommending to my female students. I loved how quick the story played out and am eager to read the next in the series.

Fable is a young dredger looking to make it off the island her father left her on after her mother passed away. After securing passage with The Marigold, Fable has to prove herself to the crew and captain, while setting out on a journey to find her father and pick up with he owes her.

There's adventure, betrayal, and even a little bit of love (but nothing that completely over takes the main character, which is also nice and refreshing). I will definitely be adding this to my school library and look forward to being able to recommend it to my students.

Oh wow. OH WOW OH WOW OH WOW.

I requested this book on a whim because I saw the cover and knew it's been one that I'd been seeing around lately. I had no idea what it was about and I wasn't sure how much I was going to like it, but OH MY GOD. I LOOOOOVED IT! I love a good high-seas pirate story and this one was no exception. The plot was fun and full of twists, the characters were intricate and entertaining and the romance was SWOON-FRICKIN-WORTHY.

The beginning was the slowest part but even then, it still had a good pace. We got through the worldbuilding and general backstories quickly and went straight to the action only a few chapters in. I liked Fable as a narrator and a character-- she was sweet but she also was capable of making the tough choices that she needed to survive. The ship's crew were super interesting-- West was mysterious and cryptic (OH, SO CRYPTIC), Willa was tough yet funny, and Auster, Paj and Hamish were lovely additions in their own ways (not at first, tho, they all kinda sucked in the beginning haha). I loved all of Fable's interactions with Saint and Zola was a good antagonist.

OK, the ROMANCE. I LIVE for romance and this one was A LOT. Oh man, I can't remember the last time I was *that* affected by a love confession (chapter 40 YOU HURT ME)! I was totally invested early on in the book and there was so much tensiooooon and it was amazing. Everything escalated so quickly and I was super unprepared for the torrent of emotions that came my way but it was exhilarating! I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where it goes in the second book.

The ENDING! OH GOSH. I was soooo stressed because a bunch of things happen at once and I knew something bad was coming but OOF. OOOOOOOOOOOOF. What a cliffhanger. But I absolutely cannot wait to see how it all unfolds in the sequel. I have so many questions!! But all the backstories from this book seems to have really set up a entertaining plot for the next book.

I am so happy I decided to read this one! Definitely one of my favorites of the year so far. I DNF'd Sky in The Deep but I will for sure be checking out more of Young's work because this was incredible!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Wow! This is one of my favorite books so far this year. It was so good! I cannot wait for the second one to release. Fable and West are my favorite characters and I cannot see what happens after an ending like that!!

**Review will be posted on my blog on 8/03/20**
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

WOW.

My Reactions:

My Attention: absolutely swept away – read this in one sitting

World Building: epic – the setting is in the islands I’m sure inspired by the Caribbean but I could feel the humid air, see the school of fish in the reef, feel the pressure of the water as Fable dove deep….SO good.

Writing Style: flowed beautifully

Bringing the Heat: 🔥 – barely any but it didn’t need it

Crazy in Love: slow burn love story

Creativity: I loved everything about Fable and her gem mage powers, I want to learn more about it

Mood: Excited

Triggers: violence, thieving

My Takeaway: Fable is abandoned by the only parent she has but makes a promise to herself to survive and take what is hers.

What I Liked:
*First off – that COVER. It is to die for! Absolutely beautiful.

*Fable’s story is pretty amazing – she is surviving on her own, trying to get back to the father that left her to die (or survive). She has grit, brains and courage! It also helps she’s a gem mage, it helps her skills as a dredger (a diver). She does what she has to do to survive. My heart broke for her when it came to her relationship with her father.

*In any pirate story, it’s ALL about the crew and the crew of the Marigold is great. We have a gay couple, siblings and lots and lots of secrets. West is the helmsman who commandeers the ship and he is as mysterious as they come but we learn about his background.

*Fable’s dad, Saint, tells Fable she doesn’t belong in this world. She feels like he means in the world in general…but he means HIS world, this rough, dangerous, cold trading world of the Narrows. It’s cutthroat and he meant for her to be safe. I like the complicated feelings and history between them.

*Danger is everywhere in this story and the author captures the setting so well. I was rooting for Fable and nervous for her from the moment I started the book and I could not STOP reading. And when the book came to an end, I wanted the next book.

Things That Made Me Go Hmm:
*I’ve read this author’s previous series but this one to me takes her writing to a whole new level. I was so immersed in this story.

*The magic Fable has is as a gem mage and though she uses it while doing her work as a dredger – I think there is more to learn about her skill and her mother’s history. I want to definitely learn more about her mom’s family!

*The romance doesn’t overtake this story, it’s slowly building and you wonder if it will turn into something and when it does…wow. We shall see what this means for the sequel!

Final Thoughts:
I love a good pirate story, there is danger, high stakes, traders trying to be or stay the top dog and keeping their territories under their rule. This story hooked me right away! I loved everything about this book and I cannot wait to read the sequel.

I don't think I realized when I picked up this book that it was a pirate book, but once I started reading, I was super immersed and I could practically hear the crashing of the waves, the roll of a ship beneath my feet! The world-building was incredible, and it felt so rich and lush. The characters were equally amazing, and I was really awed by Young's meticulous craftsmanship. I think the author has a real skill of storytelling and I am looking forward to the sequel!

Fable is a beautifully written story about one young woman’s search for self and family in a ruthlessly unforgiving world of piracy. It examines relationships and the cost of loving in a society that preys on weakness.

Fable, abandoned by her father after the tragic death of her mother, lives on a cutthroat island of thieves and criminals. She scrapes to get by, dredging jewels from the bottom of the ocean and determined to save her money to buy passage off of the island and back to her father.

Fable’s plan is pushed forward when her life is in imminent danger, and she begs one of the traders for help. West, the stoic, young captain of The Marigold, reluctantly grants her passage, and her journey begins. But Fable quickly learns that things, and people, aren’t always what they seem, and she must decide what she is really searching for. An epic tale of loss, love, and life on the high seas, Fable is one of my favorite reads of the year!

Oh my word, the characters! Young has skillfully crafted dynamic, fascinating, and likeable characters with rich back-stories. Fable is a fantastic protagonist, and I loved her journey, both physical and emotional. Though her life hasn’t been easy, Fable never gives up. She lives in a ruthless world made even more dangerous because of her gender and her gift, and she deals with insurmountable obstacles. However, Fable shows courage and hope during the course of her odyssey, and even when the odds are against her, she searches for the connection that she lost when her mother died.

Fable is observant and savvy, and she reads people well. Take the crew of The Marigold, for example. Oh, the crew! I adore this rag-tag group of friends! West, Paj, and the others fit so seamlessly together, and Fable admires their strong bond. It is with her new crew-mates that Fable feels the first hint of family since her mother died, and she works hard to prove her worth to them.

At face value, West and his crew seem like the stereotypical pirate scoundrels, willing to put aside their morals for reasons unknown to Fable. But they are much more than the hard, unfeeling ruffians they present themselves to be. They are a family, and once Fable earns their respect, they show her what it feels like to belong. It is in their actions and Fable’s observations that we see their resilient, loyal, dependable, and loving characters as well as their camaraderie.

Of course, I have to talk about the romance! Slow-building and lovely, the main love story is not the focus of the novel, but it is a wonderful addition. Though it goes against all of Fable’s rules, it is obvious from early in the story that she has feelings for the mysterious captain West. He purposely pushes her away and refuses to let her get close, as he lives by the same rules as Fable:

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

They both know that revealing their feelings for each other could be used against them, so they fight their feelings. This makes for some fabulous tension between the two. Plus, Fable and West are both strong and stubborn, and they butt heads a bit. I love the slow build-up of this relationship and cheered for this couple to reveal their feeling for each other. One of my favorite scenes in the novel is when Fable dives with West. They experience the joy of sea-life together before finding what they dove for, and it is vivid and sweet and completely swoon-worthy.

There are strong messages about the immense power of love woven throughout the story, not just with Fable and West, but with another couple in the crew, and with the relationship between Fable’s parents. One of the only admirable qualities of Saint is his all-consuming love for Fable’s mother Isolde. Fable describes Saint as a man “who loved my mother with the fury of a thousand merciless storms,” and her mother as a woman who “had loved Saint with a fire that could set fire to the sea.” Saint and Isolde shared a beautiful and passionate bond, one that Fable speaks of reverently.

In addition to the dynamic characters, the world-building is one of the highlights of the novel. I know next to nothing about boats, diving, or sailing, and I easily understood and visualized this fascinating world. Young describes the ruthless and power-driven society of traders and pirates. The skewed social system, the political treachery, and the complicated history of this unique world are all vividly described without taking over the story. I think this says a lot about Adrienne Young’s skill as a writer. Her use of imagery and sensory language, as well as her all-around fantastic writing style, made me as immersed in the story as Fable is in her surroundings when she dives down to the bottom of the sea. I felt like I was on The Marigold with Fable and the crew, the sun on my face, the salty sea air thick with the promise of a swashbuckling adventure.

Fable is a cutthroat adventure on sea and land where danger lurks everywhere and trusting anyone could kill. The poignancy of the names (Saint, Fable, Isolde), the themes of love, family, and finding oneself, the writing, the character development, the imagery – it’s all fantastic! This is a wonderfully layered novel, and I love that Fable’s story made me feel all of the feels. Plus, the phenomenal ending!!! I can’t even!!! It is an excellent cliffhanger ending for an excellent story. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Adrienne Young does it again.

From the first page, you are sucked into the life of Fable. Fable is a young, fierce female who's primary goal is to make it back to her father after being left on Jeval. Fable must navigate joining the <i>Marigold</i> and the crew who runs her after making a deal to gain passage off the island. They go through storms and trouble on land. When she finally gets to her father, she is not met with the man or life she expected. This throws her path in another direction and the adventure continues.

That is all I'd want to say without ruining the plot and the story. It is not often that books can surprise me, likely because I have read so many. That being said, I was unable to tell where the story was going - mostly in a good way - it was captivating and fast-paced. While the plot is simple and not super complex like Game of Thrones, it is the way Adrienne writes that captivates me and keeps me turning the pages. I enjoyed each character, especially Willa. And of course, the book ended on the worse cliffhanger! I can't wait until the sequel releases, luckily it will only be six months after the release of Fable!

<i>ARC provided by NetGalley/Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review. </i>

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5
Fable was my first book by Adrienne Young and it did not disappoint! I bought Sky in the Deep last summer but I haven't gotten around to read it yet (I definetely will now).

I've read Fable in almost one sitting! The story is captivating from the very beginning and the pacing is perfect. There wasn't a single moment in which I was bored. Adrienne Young's writing style is beautiful. I really felt like I was on the Marigold with the crew or diving into the sea with Fable. I love the world that she created and I can't wait to learn more about it (and the gem sages in particular) in the sequel.

All the characters are amazing and well developed. Fable is my favourite. She's strong, fierce and very determined even when everything seems to be going against her.
The only small complaint I have about this books is the relationship between Fable and West. I believe that it feels a bit underdeveloped. I'm glad that the romance was not the main focus of the book but I still feel like it could have been done a little better.

I wasn't ready for it to end and I need the sequel now, especially as it ends with a big cliffhanger. I don't know if I can make it to March 2021 (Namesake's expected publication)!

If you like stories set in the sea, full of adventures and with a strong main character then this book is for you!

I loved this book. The writing was great and the author seems to have done her research on all things ship and pirate like. I had no idea what some of the terminology she used was. I enjoyed the book, however, it wasn't fast enough pacing to ensure that I couldn't put it down.

Surprisingly, it took me quite a few days to actually read through this book. Some of that was due to time constraints and other was because I wanted to do something else besides read. Which is why I am given this four stars instead of 5. I prefer the type of books that make me want to read them all in one sitting. That to me is a five-star read.

That being said I cannot wait for the next book to come out because they left us with such a cliffhanger I need to know what's going I happen next. The book definitely picked up pace in the second half and I was able to read through that half in one sitting.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!

I have been needing to read an Adrienne Young book for awhile now. I have Sky in the Deep on my bookshelf, but you know so much to read so little time. I am very excited for this book, and to see what she is all about.

I feel like we don't get many books with fathers vs. daughters. Yes they are out there, but it is never the main focus just a side story. As someone who has a complicated relationship with her father, it is nice to read when someone feels the same way I do. Plus, we love a story about a strong independent woman.

Fable is such a page turner, every chapter ends with my mouth open and wanting more. This is already going on my top 10 favorites of the year. I fell in love with Fable and her spunk immediately,and was rooting for her the whole time. She does so well in stressful situations, and i couldn't wait to keep hearing about her adventures.

I could not get enough of this book, and it made me excited for her other work. I gave this a 5/5 stars, and have already been telling people about it. Young had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and I was here for it. Now to patiently wait for the sequel.

**Review will be posted August 26th to my sites!**

YES.

That’s how I feel about reading Adrienne Young’s newest book. Just, YES.

Lets start off talking about the setting, ships, islands, deep-sea diving, pirates, OH MY. I loved it. I’m a huge fan of all things water related and getting another book with that setting made me beyond excited. The way the land was separated, how the dynamics of the world worked, character interactions, all of it.

Fable is a fav. Loved her as our heroine. Her resiliency and ability to adapt to whatever situation was in front of her was bar none. Because wow, she was thrown into a rough situation that I’m still trying to grasp the point of (who abandons their child on an island?). She’s a bit rough around the edges from not having any positive interactions with those around her. But, Fable persists, and finding her family was one of the best parts of this book. I love the crew she ends up with and am so excited this book has a sequel.

The only small issue I struggled with (and why I gave it four stars) is that I had a hard time finding the full plot. Things were happening and the story was moving, and yet I didn’t see where it was all going. I guess that’s kind of how it still went about by the end, but the ending was filled with so much I overlooked a lot of it. The amount of action turned out in Fable keeps you on your toes.

I loooove the dash of romance here. It reminds me of how she wrote it in The Sky in the Deep (another fav). It doesn’t take up a lot of pages and it isn’t in your face. The subtle interactions and looks across the way totally add to the vibe between Fable and West. I adored the way it worked out and like how it only enhanced the story. Fable and her quest for her own place to be remained at the forefront.

Overall audience notes:

Young adult fantasy
Language: none
Romance: kisses, one closed door scene
Violence: guns, physical, fires, murder, drowning, storms
Trigger warnings: child abandonment, loss of a loved one

Fable was only fourteen when her father abandoned her on Jeval, the island of thieves. Now four years later, she survived thanks in part to being a skilled dredger and keeping to the five rules she was taught to live by. However, after another beating, staying on that island became more dangerous and she needed to escape. The helmsman of the Marigold ship reluctantly took her on as a passenger. Fable, along with this crew of five very diverse people soon became dependent on each other in order to survive in a world Fable, as her father told her, was never made for.

This was a captivating YA adventure. Through the author’s very descriptive writing, you felt as if you were a part of the Marigold crew and all the dangers they encountered on land and at sea. The story actually ends with a very dramatic cliffhanger.

An ARC was given for an honest review.