This was such a great read! I love Adrienne Young’s writing and the worlds she creates, and I think Fable might be my favorite of all.
Fable is determined, strong, and not afraid to do whatever she has to to survive. I loved her as a character (and I love her name, too), and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
The relationship between Fable and her father was devastatingly complex, and while I was initially disappointed at the outcome, I think it was perfect for furthering the plot. (I would love a prequel about Saint and Isolde).
I also loved the crew of the Marigold. Willa was another of my favorite characters, and I’m really looking forward to more scenes with her in the sequel. The relationship between West and Fable was absolutely perfect as well, interesting and sometimes heartbreaking without overshadowing the plot.
I’m so excited for the sequel; Fable has definitely joined the ranks of my favorite books of all time

Fable, the latest YA novel by Adrienne Young, starts off with the story of another abandoned daughter. While in The Girl the Sea Gave Back, the daughter was presumed dead, in Fable, the title character is left alone on a beach by a grieving father with the parting words of “come find me.” Fable is left to care, feed and fend for herself from a young age and is understandably wary of kindness from anyone-although there’s scant little to be had on the island she has called home for the last several years.

A self-hidden gem affinity makes Fable a better scavenger than most in the trade that keeps her fed, and a rival tries to take advantage of her bounty, forcing Fable to flee onto a shipping boat and off to adventure and self discovery.

Once aboard the ship, Fable finds much the same wariness towards her from the crew that she encountered on land, but through acts of service and rising to baited challenges, shows herself to be trustworthy and reliable. The crew soon warms to her, providing Fable with the first real friendships she’s encountered in her young lifetime.

Conflict arises again when the ship makes landfall and a rival ship captain looks to take revenge on Fable’s new crew mates. They band together to resolve their problems, and set out to recover a lost treasure haul that could change the fortunes of all of them.

Young’s story builds slowly, but as the action picks up you become more invested in the story and start to care for the characters as they reveal more of themselves. A jarring cliffhanger will have fans of this duology clamoring for the sequel due out next spring.

Social Justice Topics:
▪️Woman’s Rights
▪️Social Class Disparity

Fable is the perfect fantasy novel for humans that love Pirates of the Caribbean. And better yet? Fable, the protagonist, is a kick-butt female.

Four years ago, Saint—Fables father who is the most famous Trader on the seas—left her on an island of thieves, and told her once she made her way back to him she would get what was rightfully hers. From Fables perspective we get to see this fight back to her dad, and the obstacles that come in her way. This is the perfect adventure book for both males and females, and it is seriously such a fun read! I could not put it down, and when I did I was wondering what would happen to Fable next.

Thank you NetGallery for letting me read this book early. It comes out September 1st, and I cannot wait for my students to read it! And for me to read the final book in the duology, Namesake 😉 Hopefully soon!

❝ 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. ❞

What the what?

Holy shit, this was phenomenal!

It was exactly what I wanted. Starting from the breathtaking cover (seriously look at that fucking cover! Hands down one of the best of 2020!), feminist YA fantasy storyline, LGBTQIA representation, badass pirates, adventure with a touch of action in the high seas and let's not forget the well-considered controlled pacing romance between West and Fable that wasn't rushed nor forced—It was damn near unputdownable!

Besides the epic adventure the author takes readers on, what I enjoyed the most was the authors writing. The author's writing has improved drastically since 'The Girl the Sea Gave Back' and dare I say, the ‘Fable’ series is her best work yet. She was able to captivate me far more with the main characters than imaginable and what led the Marigold crew to cross paths, well paced plot, remarkable supporting characters whose backstories I hope is further explored in the 'Namesake' including Fable’s parents Saint and Isolde, the strong friendships and broken families ties. And that cliffhanger though! Take notes authors because that’s how you get readers amped for the sequel.

I seriously can't remember the last time I raved so wholeheartedly for a young adult fantasy novel. I thought for a second I was in a rut but hell to the naw! ‘Fable’ resurrected me from the slump grave and I’m nearing sitting on the edge of my seat eager to get my hands on the next installment, ‘Namesake’ because it’s going to blow everything else out the water.

I am now officially blown away. I adore this book so much that I am for sure shelving it within my top favorites.

Why? It’s devastatingly atmospheric, has gorgeous writing and beautifully done characterization. I felt like I was standing on the Marigold with the smell of the sea, the wind at my back with a promise of great adventure.

Fable has been left to forge her own path, alone and unwanted. The journey this story takes her is one of finding her worth, choosing love and confidence in her own abilities, and creating a family by choice to fill the gaping holes in her past.

This has all the elements you want in a great story. A grey villain with unaccounted for motives, romance with a stone faced captain, supporting characters that bloom slowly but with purpose, and a plot full of adventure for days. There was not one moment that my attention was pulled. I took my time with this story, not quite ready for it to end.

I guess I have a thing for pirates and cannot wait for the next installment. Luckily we don’t have to wait too long but the small wait alone will be pure torture.

“A story of survival and finding your way home, Fable is a treasure map waiting to be explored.”

Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink

First we must address one of the triumphs of this book: The cover.

Kerri Resnick.

Remember that name. She’s the brilliant cover designer of Fable and the second and final book Namesake. When both books put together, side-by-side, you see the stunning full face of the main character, Fable.

You’ll notice how Resnick interwove some of the key aspects of the novel into the image of both books. There are the color differences, the darker shades in Fable (I took this as her old self), whereas the other half in Namesake is more vibrant and bright, including this golden dusting which I think adds to some of the magical elements behind Fable’s mother.

Another nice detail are the eyes. In the Fable edition you can see the shadow of a ship and in Namesake a gemstone. Both editions, although a complete image of Fable, they are, in essence, two different characters. Which to me makes perfect sense as the young woman Fable begins as in book one, will be someone entirely different in the final novel.

Cover designers have the daunting task of giving readers a visual depiction of what they are about to read. A single image, a picture that entices and ensnares readers to ultimately read the book. I think Resnick and her team accomplished this task and more.

Now to the Story
Adrienne Young’s nautical world building and lore is what drives this story. Brimming with a cutthroat ruthlessness, a culture built on and cultivating violence, it is no wonder Fable is leery in making friends. Regardless of what she had to do to stay alive, Fable always lives by her father’s rules. Drilled into her from a young age, trusting no one being the first.

And speaking of relationships, Fable and her father have a rather complicated one. Out of all the characters I was most intrigued by the dynamic between these two from the start. You have this nefarious father, abandoning his child, disfiguring her with no explanation (just asking for her to trust him), while never publicly admitting Fable as his child. It’s incredible that Fable stops at nothing to find her way back to her father after all the physical and emotion abuse she suffers because of him.

Even though Saint refuses to acknowledge Fable as his own, he keeps his one promise to her mother. Promising he would always keep her safe. Which is laughable in how he deserted her on an island at fourteen. This interesting love/hate relationship plays out from beginning to end seamlessly. And it has me wondering, will it be possible for these two to ever come together with a meaningful relationship in the end.

Young beautifully weaves into her narrative the found family trope. After her abandonment, Fable is left to fend for herself. No one to trust. No one to love. Her loneliness so much part of her it feels like a second skin, impenetrable even by those who would mean her no harm. Yet, Fable’s journey towards home is not a lost one. Though predictable, she finds her true family, those she would call her friends and her crew.

While the world building was a strong component of the novel, there were a few aspects of Fable that gave me pause. The pacing throughout the novel was off. I didn’t feel that even pulse of the story that seeps into your veins intoxicating and sweet, unable to resist the current that makes a story unputdownable. The first four chapters alone were rather slow, with nothing much going on. This sluggish pacing was distracting, even with those action packed scenes, sprinkled throughout like a thruway with no speed limit, it kept me from fully enjoying the story.

Moreover, Young is no stranger to writing fierce and strong female protagonists. Her debut novel alone has a bold warrior Eelyn who resonates perfectly of those female characters readers appreciate and adore. Whereas,with Fable, although portrayed as hard and strong, there were a number of instances that contradicted that tough exterior of a young woman trying to survive.

With a romance that came out of nowhere (and felt rather forced), a climax that is short lived, Fable has its moments in short bursts, lacking the richness in scope seen in Young’s previous works.



Happy Reading ̴ Cece

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of Fable in exchange for an honest review! A book about a strong female protagonist, ships/crews and the sea?? I AM HERE FOR IT.

I rated this 4.75 stars but with Goodreads you can only do whole number so that rounds to five.

First, let’s just state the obvious: the cover is AMAZING. Usually I don’t like book covers with people on them because they can come across as a bit cheesy, but this cover was so incredibly well done-especially the reflection of a ship in her eyes! I also really appreciated that the girl on the cover matches Fable’s description (nothing irritates me more than when the models on the cover look nothing like how the character is described). Now, on to the content of the book! I could definitely tell this was an ARC because there was a smattering of typos and sentences that just didn’t make sense, but overall, the book was so well-written and beautifully flushed out. It (in my not professional opinion) probably just needs one or two more read-throughs by the editor to polish off the edges.

I really really LOVEDDD the main character, Fable. This book gave me All the Stars and Teeth and Scavenge the Stars vibes, with Fable falling a little more closely to Amaya from Scavenge the Stars than Amora from All the Stars and Teeth. Fable was a tough gal who did what she needed to survive but was not as vicious and blood thirsty as I found Amora (which made her a bit more likeable-sorry! I get easily intimidated!!). I was a little perplexed why she held Saint in so much esteem when he literally DUMPED her on an island like yesterday’s trash, but SHRUG who am I to judge a girl's complex relationship with her father? But I did really appreciate Fable picking apart her feelings and attitude towards her dad and the author taking the time to examine those feelings. It made that particular plot point feel more real and gritty than just throwing up your hands and crying “it’s just complicated!”.

The world-building was amazing and I love that we got to visit so many different places with Fable: the island Jeval, two port towns, and of course, the sea! The sky bridges in Ceros were SO COOL and reminded me of Eelong from Pendragon. The concept of Gem Mages was also really interesting. The politics of the Narrows and the Unnamed Sea were explained really well but it would have been nice to have a map (I always want a map haha).

HOWEVER, did anyone else feel that the romance portion of the book just came out of left field??? I guess re-reading the description they hint at it a little bit, but I felt like a natural build-up was missing. I'm no doctor, but this was totally a case of insta-love.

The only other thing I had an issue with was how often she would open her mouth, laugh, curse etc. under-water when she was diving. It’s like she thought she could breathe underwater with how much air she was wasting. Maybe once would have been fine, but literally every scene she is under water she is wasting air left and right. I’m not a diver, so who knows, maybe this is normal??? But it seeeeems like common sense is saying it’s not.

ANYWAY, really everything else about this book was AMAZING!! The cliff-hanger at the end had me SHOOK let me tell you. I am really excited to get my hands on the next book (sadly it will be a while since this one isn’t even out yet 🙁).

I was already a fan of Young's 'The Girl the Sea Gave Back', and I honestly went into Fable knowing NOTHING about the book. The cover was gorgeous, the author was one I enjoyed and a book about a girl trying to find her father are the things that hooked me pre-reading.

Post reading - this book is a must read! Fable - much like the character in the book- is strong, resilient, and scrappy. Young takes a world that is commonly visited (pirates) and turns it on its head, immersing us in a world were thievery, lies, and deception keep you alive. Fable, left on an island with nothing but a scar from her father at the age of 14, is thrust into a world where men dominate - and being honest about who you are could legitimately get you killed. For a several years she scrapes by, making her money on a talent for 'hearing' gems that not many possess, trading gems for coin until she is able to buy passage to find her father on one of the most cutthroat islands in their seas. As Fable boards the Marigold, she forms friendships she didn't know she needed, and a sense of family that she yearned so badly for.

With a cast of characters that are both loath-able and lovable, it creates complex and layered relationships throughout. Sometimes at odds with each other, sometimes in each other's good graces. Though her newfound crew commits horrible acts, Fable knows they are good people at heart - sometimes giving her more kindness than she deserved.

One of the things that made FABLE so unique for me was the grittiness of the story, yet it wasn't something that I would be nervous exposing students to. The novel is very heavily character driven but there is enough action to continue to propel the story forward - scattered throughout with an array of climaxes, both minute and propelling - all that serve a purpose. Young has once again taken her story telling to another level and used every scene and statement to push forward Fable's story.

The start of this duo is a high octane kick off, with a cliffhanger that I slightly expected but was entirely unprepared for. This book will keep you reading far past your bedtime! Great for people who enjoy dark/grim tales!

I have adored all of Adrienne Young's books and this one was simply a fantastic read. This book has a heroine, pirates, treasure and secrets. Fable is a strong female character who relies on her cleverness to succeed. There is a slow burn romance with enemies to lovers throughout the story, which I always love! Adrienne Young has done a wonderful job with her world-building. You are able to understand the setting without there being a large dump of information in the beginning. There are high tension scenes and several plot twist that surprised me. The ending left me wanting more and I can't wait for the second book.

After the storm that sank her father's ship, The Lark, and cost her mother her life, Fable was abandoned by her father, Saint, on the island of Jeval, the infamous island of thieves. She has spent the past four years using her skills as a dredger to earn enough coppers to afford passage back to Ceros, so she can confront her father and make him fulfill his promise to her. Pursuant to Saint's rules, she has kept hidden the fact that she is Saint's daughter, as that knowledge could be used against both her and him in the battle between the sea traders for control of the trade in the Narrows. She has also had to be careful not to attract too much attention because on an island of thieves, everyone is fair game, and she has already been a victim too many times. However, after being brutally attacked, she has been forced to try to seek passage on The Marigold, the trading ship whose helmsman, West, has been purchasing the pyre that she has been collecting from the seabed. West does not want Fable on board, and his small crew especially does not want an extra passenger, but West has his own reasons for why he cannot turn down her request, although he has no intention of making the journey a pleasant one for Fable. It does not take Fable long to realize that The Marigold and its crews are not what they seem and that she may have traded one form of danger for another, especially when the inevitable meeting with Saint finally occurs.

This book has plenty of action and intrigue, as well as dealing with issues of class, wealth, ethnicity, and relationships. The characters are well-developed, especially Fable, who has an inner strength and stubbornness that serves her well. The story has some pretty good surprises. This is the first book in a two-book series, and it sets up the second book quite well.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

Readers seeking a tale that promises intrigue and adventure will enjoy reading this book. Fable is a girl cast adrift, seeking a port to call “home.” Home’s not necessarily a place, but a sense of belonging that’s long been lost to her.

Along the way, readers are introduced to a cast of characters with their own troubled backstories, who like Fable, are working towards finding a similar sense of peace, acceptance and belonging.

The story is visual: This island world of guilds, dredgers, gem sages and waterside strays competing for trade and custom readily captures the reader’s attention from beginning to end. One fault a reader might experience is the occasional lapse of nautical terminology used onboard. The other is the cliffhanger ending!

Regardless, this is a story I would readily revisit in anticipation of its sequel.

This book was SO GOOD.

I loved everything about it? The setting was so atmospheric, but also, the world building made me feel like I was actually a part of all the events that were happening.

It gave me such PotC feels, and honestly, still can't figure out why because the plots were so different, but this was such a fun read.

Some of my favorite parts included how complex the characters were (they were so flushed out and real with flaws that made them believable) and the general concept of the 'found family' (something that continues to be at the top of my favorite ya tropes).

Honestly, my favorite part would have to be the complex relationship between Fable and her father. It was so well done, I found myself waiting with bated breath for the next interaction! Their last scene together in this book really did me in, and if there is any reason you should read this book, it should be for this alone!

The relationship's big moment did feel a *little* sudden, especially for how truly big the moment was, but I still found myself enjoying it and it didn't take away from the parts of the book that I truly loved.

Adrienne Young is an absolute brilliant mind, and I cannot rave about this book enough. I should probably process this a little more and write a more coherent review later, but I just needed to scream about how much I loved this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me this book on netgalley ❤

So I will start of by saying that l loved this book! It was such an interesting story of survival and adventure on the high seas. Well paced and very well written. The writing was so beautiful that I wish I would have written down more quotes. But I was too busy sailing through this in just a few days. The characters were beautifully flawed. I love when characters are complex with no clear line of good or bad.
So..⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 stars for me and I really can't wait for the sequel Namesake releasing next year.

Thank you netgalley and wednesdaybooks for allowing me to read a copy

I passed by this book several times in NetGalley before I finally clicked on it. Something about the cover just kept calling to me. When I realized it was one of the most requested books I finally decided to request it for myself. Oh. Em. Gee. This book was phenomenal and I even whined when it was over. I need the next book now! I felt like I was part of their crew and I could almost smell the salty air as a read. Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the approval. I cannot wait for book #2!!

This book had a slow start but really came into its own about 30% of the way in. It was an interesting and fast-paced read that moved with the pace of the ships they ride on. My main critique is that it all felt very straightforward - both major plot points and small surprises were pretty easy to see coming. I think that in the next book as we (hopefully) see more of the world outside of the few port cities this book was limited to, we can also learn more about the world, the guilds, and have the plot become deeper and more intriguing. Overall a great start to a series that I will definitely continue to read!

This book is absolutely incredible. The settings, characters, plots- all of it is amazing.

Fable is the first book I've read from Adrienne Young, and I'll definitely be hunting down the others now. It begins with Fable, a seventeen-year-old dredger on the treacherous island of Jeval. She spends her days diving and mining for jewels in the coral outside the island, biding her time until she can make her way home to her father and demand her rightful place as a dredger on his ship. Fable has a plan, but when things suddenly change she finds herself aboard the Marigold with a trader named West. Together, alongside the Marigold's small crew, must navigate the Narrows and the dangerous ports within if Fable is ever going to get home.

Let's start with the plot, because I want to give away as little detail as possible. I loved it. While some twists were easily called, others were complete the surprises. There wasn't one or two large twists that made the novel, but rather a ton of smaller moments that made me catch my breath and cross my fingers. The book is fast paced, but it fits this type of novel. As cliche as it sounds, it feels like you're sailing alongside Fable. There are smooth moments and choppy moments and you never know quite what's going to happen. Sometimes all you can do is hold on and ride out the storm. And it's wonderful. The book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm already ready for the next book. Seriously. I need it now. Please.

The characters are all so wonderfully developed. Fable herself is strong-willed to a fault. She pushes and pushes and will not back down. It's a great trait when going 50ft underwater to dredge for gems, not so much when she's trying to remain unnoticed. West is aloof and commanding, but so empathetic to those he meets, despite living in a world that demands cruelty. Willa is an absolute gem (please appreciate my pun). She is the heart of the ship, and the warmth in the cold water. She adds a needed balance to the book, while still having her own unique desires (which I'm not telling you. That would be a spoiler.). Hamish, Auster, and Paj may have smaller roles, but they're not only necessary, they're welcome. They add depth where the book would otherwise feel flat. Saint is, well, Saint. You'll have to read the book to find out more about him.

I'm also here for the lgbtq+ representation in the book. While I wish it could have been more prevalent for the sake of representation, they way the representation takes place within the context of the novel itself is well done. Anything more would have been out of character and jarring.

The settings are incredibly well done. I usually find myself hoping for a map in every arc I read, but I didn't need one in this book. I was able to form a mental map of where everything was, and each port and portion of the sea is described with such stunning detail that the image appears in your mind as if you were watching a movie. Young describes shops so well that you can picture the items on the shelves, you can see the streets in a city, and I could probably walk through the Marigold with my eyes closed. It's that good.

Read Fable when it comes out. Unless you hate books that include boats and the sea, you'll love this book. It's incredibly, and I cannot wait to read the rest of Fable's story.

Not enough stars!

If you’ve read Adrienne Young’s books then you’ll know what kind of worlds she creates. With her words she transforms you into the scenes and you feel like you’re experiencing everything right along with them. I fell in love with the cover and I knew I would love the story. Honestly, I didn’t read the blurb til I finished the book.

Fable was abandoned by her father four years ago. She makes it her goal to somehow escape the island he left her at and find him in order to get what she’s owed. What she didn’t plan on was falling into a crew of throwaways and eventually becoming one of them.

I adored this book and couldn’t put it down. It’s been a long time since I felt like this while reading. There’s a very slow burn romance, which was written perfectly, which I was hoping for. There’s a sense of family, which made this story magnificent. To see these guys working together and willing to risk their lives for each other, it’s a beautiful thing.

I can't wait for book two!

This is definitely in my top 10 of 2020.

The story opens with Fable trapped on the island of Jeval, diving for jewels to earn a living. It’s a cruel island not kind to girls or underdogs. She’s just trying to stay alive, to survive long enough to get the hell off the island and find her father.

“You weren’t made for this world, Fable. You want to prove me wrong? Get yourself off this island.”

Fable was smart and strong in a world that was built by men and left little room for women to survive let alone be successful in. I mean I’m just saying I would’ve been dead in the water. She never gives up hope though and while she may have to do some unsavory things to survive, it’s a dog eat dog world and someone would do way worse to her. I admired her strength and the ability she had to pick herself back up, find the next best option and continue on her journey to find happiness.

The crew of the Marigold was so full of secrets. Stuffed the brim that they’re slight overflowing and falling apart by the time Fable shows up. I kind of knew where the story was going with them as a whole but I loved learning about each member of the crew and adored each in their own way. They were their own family and would do anything to protect each other. It’s the kind of family you’re jealous to not be apart of or spend your life searching the seas for.

There is a lovely slow-burn romance that we’ve come to expect from Young. It’s such a slow-burn you start to wonder if you’re actually making it up in your head as you read. I’m here to tell you that you’re not and that it’s worth the wait.

Fable wasn’t a story of epic adventure with a clear cut destination or plan of action. It was very much a journey driven by Fable herself to find love, happiness and a purpose. You’re never quite certain where the story is going but you’re so in love with the characters and their development or the struggles their facing that you’re sucked in from the first page and horrified by the cliffhanger you’re left with.

Adrienne Young never fails to create a story full of magic, love and family. They’re always character driven with an amazing plot that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Fable is no exception and it’ll be interesting to see her take on a duology versus a standalone.

Thank you so much for Netgalley allowing me to read this book early. It is one of my most anticipated reads of the year! Fable is amazing. I felt all of her pain with her father and her on the island. I anticipated the ending, but not how West factored into it. I love how their characters developed together and I can't wait to read the sequel. Adrienne is a fantastic author. 4 stars out of 5.

Fable Fable Fable
Oh my goodness will I ever not talk about this book??
I have some how managed to get all of my friends that usually read ARC's to request and read this because no way could I just sit here till September and not talk about how much I love Fable.

So if any of my friends read this, just know I will make you read Fable.

Okay now to my next point, this book, these characters, the world building, and flow of the story - it was all done so beautifully. Adrienne Young absolutely out did herself with this story (but I mean everything she writes is perfect)

Fable is such an absolute delight as an MC. She's had to learn things the hard way and she is still learning but she fits the setting of the world perfectly. I also love that character wise Adrienne Young gave all the characters - even side ones- their own proper role. No one falls into the background and in fact they each have their own stories to tell. The relationship between Fable and Saint is also something that I loved. It hurts don't get me wrong but this father/daughter relationship is one that is raw and difficult and requires forgiveness which seriously tugs are your heartstrings.

Characters like West, Willa, and the rest of the crew were also so wonderfully written. Their dynamic really pulls you in and you can't help but love this band of sea misfits. This first book sets a perfect foundation for the second one because we'll already be going in loving these characters and understanding their actions when facing what is to come.

The world building and writing was also very easy to visualize as a reader, and as someone who is terrified of the ocean I didn't get the creeps once! (yay me!) I really felt like the entire time I was reading this the Pirates of the Caribbean theme song was playing in my head haha

This story is one that I will make everyone I know read. I've always been a lover of Adrienne Youngs writing but these surpassed anything I could have imagined.

A full 5 stars from me!!