This book was PERFECTION! I swear, with each and every book that Adrienne writes my adoration for her just grows and grows. Her books speak to my soul. Wow.

Fable was everything I ever dreamed it (and she) would be. This book was gripping, magical, and completely masterful... chock full of adventure, thrill, and insanely beautiful imagery the tale woven throughout these pages is one you won't want to miss! I felt like I was on the seas with this diverse crew of misfits!

For those of you who don't know, Fable was abandoned by her father on a small isolated island as a young girl. Her sole goal for four years since then has been to survive and save up enough coin by dredging for gems to pay for a way back to her father, the most powerful trader in the Narrows, and carve a place for herself within his crew.

As the story unfolds there is a beautifully spun tale of found family, love, heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously have you wanting to dive into the crystal clear waters alongside Fable. As always, one of my favorite things about Adrienne Young is that her books tend to focus a lot on inner growth and it gives this story in particular an extra little *something. I promise you, you won't be disappointed!

Huge thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an e-arc of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.

Side note: Before I was approved for this e-arc I had already preordered Fable because, *heart eyes! However, after finishing, I will be running to preorder Namesake and counting down the minutes I can hold these both these lyrically written dreams in my hand!

This is a great first half of a duology! Fable is a great main character, as she is a tough, yet caring, person in a world where it's dangerous- to the point of deadly- to care about anyone other than yourself. The crew of the Marigold are also great characters once they open up more to Fable and thus, the readers. In the story, Fable does everything she can to get off the island she was deserted on to find her father, and she learns things she never knew about herself, others, and the world she lives in along the way. It takes a little bit to get into the story and to get to know the characters, but it's well worth it to keep reading. I can't wait to read the next book!

OH-kay..

When I started this, I resolved fairly quickly to give it only 3 stars, but it boosted its grade as the story unfolded and the characters started to grow on me. It starts kinda slow, it's predictable in places, and characters are at first largely unimpressive and uninspiring. Also, there's a lot about deep sea free-diving and the breathing prep that goes into diving, and any time I think about controlling my breathing I start hyperventilating (anyone else? just me? okay), which made it physically uncomfortable to read this book at times...but that's obviously a personal problem that has no bearing on the overall quality of the book.

The world of the Narrows, once you start to understand it, is actually quite intriguing; it's piratical yet all legitimate, and people seem to be trying to make a mostly honest living, even if there's a very rough, cutthroat underbelly to all operations. If you have an interest in sailing at all, this is going to be a fun world for you. There's also a whole sector of the world that is introduced nominally but not explored by our characters; I have a feeling we'll see it later in the series, and I'm curious about how the culture and economics will compare to life in the Narrows.

About a third of the way into the book, I went from "Guess I should read some more of that not-pirate book" to "Boy I should really check up on those guys.," and by the end, I was in full-on "Just one more chapter" mode. You learn to like the crew of the <i>Marigold</i> slowly, just like Fable herself does, and by the end of the book, you really do love them.

The heroine, Fable, is one of those frustrating, impulsive, stubbornly self-reliant but lacking in far-sightedness females that crop up in most YA lit these days (honestly, does no one consider the long-term consequences of their actions any more?); unlike some characters I've met, though, she seems to learn from her mistakes. She's humbled, repeatedly, often mortifyingly, but she handles it and gets bigger because of it, instead of becoming bitter and making the same mistakes again and again.
I also really like the relationship Adrienne has crafted between Fable and Saint. We all know heroines with daddy issues (yawn), and there are the characters whose hatred of their fathers is so blind and intense it colors literally every interaction with every male ever to the point where you can't even read the story because they're just. so. angry. !!. and I find no growth or compulsion to care in that. Fable's relationship with her father is complex, and varied, and deep. She loves him so dearly, she hates him for who he is and what he's done to her; she wants his approval, she wants to best him just to spite him; she wants him to be safe, she wants him dead. It's a terribly human dynamic, and their scenes together actually brought tears to my eyes once or twice. That, more than the slow burn romance, is what has me eagerly awaiting book two in this saga.

And, yes, there's a slow burn. I give you twenty pages to spot the love interest, and that's generous. Still, you know you love it.

The supporting characters are multi-faceted, not as well-developed as they could be (again, we'll probably get to know them more as the series continues), but all likable.

I didn't note the "Fable #1" series cue attached to the title of this book when I started, so I hit the cliff-hanger at the end so hard that I was already tumbling through empty space before I realized my feet weren't on the ground anymore. Definitely one of those "Wait. That's the END?!" moments.
Well played, Ms. Young. I'm already looking forward to the next one.

**I received an eGalley of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Thank you, NetGalley!

“As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her.”


“That bastard was leaving me again.”
It was a bookish love from the very first sentence.

Fable is the book I didn’t know I needed. This book is so bloody good. Fable has a little bit of everything I could wish for in a book. A little bit of murder, a little bit a stealing, a little bit of gay love rep, a little bit of diversity... Ya know, all the good stuff.

I adored everything about this story. The plot is so clever and interesting. The characters are so well written.. The dialogue is engaging. The story is exciting and fun. Fable is a strong, determined 17 year old, that I want to be best friends with. Honestly, I loved her from the opening sentence. If you enjoy a sarcastic, intelligent, and strong-willed heroine, READ THIS BOOK. You won’t regret it. You’ll be drawn in and captivated just like I was.

Seriously, I couldn’t put this one down. I had to finish it. Now I just wish I had the Namesake arc waiting for me to pick up. I’m going to be silently dying after that cliffhanger until I get my hands on Namesake.

I give Fable by Adrienne Young 5/5 stars!!

All of my thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a beautiful book. I mean, look at that cover. But also, this book was simply amazing. I find I really liked Adrienne Young’s writing. This was the first book of her’s I’ve read, but I may just have to read more now. I’ve said this before, but I LOVE books about pirates/sailors on the high seas. When I first about this book, and saw the cover, I was instantly intrigued.

I’ve noticed a theme in these types of books. Seems like the main female characters in pirate stories need to be red heads! Not that I mind haha, I enjoy reading about fiery red heads. But in addition to Fable, the leads in Seafire, Daughter of the Pirate King, and To Kill a Kingdom all seem to have red hair, so I’m definitely picking up on a theme here!

Fable, our main character, isn’t necessarily your typical badass female lead. She’s definitely scrappy, as she’s had to survive on a dangerous island alone for four years, but I wouldn’t compare her to Alosa from Daughter of the Pirate King, as she isn’t portrayed as being sneaky and good with a blade (your typical badassery). She can take care of herself, but she’s much better as part of a crew, which I enjoyed. I feel like a lot of main characters we see in YA novels are a bit of loners. While they have people around them, they usually have this extraordinary, unseen before power. (Queue SJM female leads.) I really liked Fable’s character because of this. The one thing she was really searching for in life was to belong to something, not to use all her power to achieve a goal.

A large part of the story is Fable wanting to reconnect with her father, and their estranged relationship was an interesting dynamic. At some parts you wanted him to be the villain, but he didn’t exactly come across that way. In the end, I just ended up feeling sorry for him. Although Fable mentioned never seeing him again towards the end of the book, I wouldn’t mind if he popped again in the sequel, maybe in a bit of a redeeming role.

I would say the one thing that was really missing from Fable (not missing as in a bad way, just different from other “pirate” stories) was that there wasn’t a big fight scene. Probably the biggest fight scene was in the beginning with Koy. I will say I am interested to see if we’ll see more of Koy in the second book.

The main issue I had with this book was Fable’s relationship with West. I didn’t really feel any connection/chemistry between them in the beginning at all. Then boom, she suddenly starting noticing him in that way. I would have liked for Young to explore that connection a bit early on so their relationship seemed a bit more organic. There wasn’t enough of a slow burn for me, you know. Also, I kind of wished they wouldn’t have gotten together until the second book, but, looking at how Young ended this first book, I understand why she did that.

Overall, I absolutely loved Fable. It was (almost) everything I had hoped for when I first heard about it. I would give it a rating of 4.5/5 ⭐. If your a fan of Seafire, To Kill a Kingdom, or Dark Shores, I definitely recommend you check out Fable. It is expected to be published on September 1st, so keep a lookout for it!

This was excellent. Fable’s story and interaction with other characters was so fun to follow and the ending made me very excited to read the conclusion to the duology. Young’s writing never fails to draw me in, and I especially loved that this story took place mostly on the ocean or a ship.

5 Stars

STORY

Characters | 5 Stars
There is a pretty small cast, so I would have liked to learn more about each of the crew, but what we did learn ticked all my boxes. I love a "band of misfits" story and to have this one be crewing a trading ship was unique to me. Fable is hardened from her time having to survive alone, but still vulnerable and in no way the ultimate badass who can take on any foe. She's believable. Her skill is hinted at here and there in the beginning and we don't discover more until well into the story, which was a welcome aspect to add to her development. The crew of the Marigold is tightly knit, and we don't as readers get to know them until the second half, which aids in our connection to Fable as an outcast searching for her place.
I had wondered if there was even going to be a romantic element aside from the secondary cast, and liked the story even more for it, but when it did come it was natural and only after we had become familiar with each of the characters. It never felt forced, or like it was a driving force of the story (although love in general is a key element), which is how I like my romance in fantasy.

Plot | 5 Stars
The plot is somewhat basic - girl is on a hunt to prove herself and claim her birthright, chasing after her father's acceptance. It is really all she does and who she meets along her journey that make this story special, and while certain twists are to be expected I liked how each one was done, and was still surprised by a few.

Setting | 5 Stars
I feel like I've read another book in the past few years about a girl on a ship, but that's all I can remember. FABLE is going to stick in my memory for a long time. Maybe because it was a surprise--I had not heard of this book before being offered it--but it is likely a mix of that and the fact that it was superbly done. The depictions of the sea and different ports, of each ship and the intricacy with which Young clearly knows boats and the ocean painted a stunning picture.

TECHNICAL

Writing | 5 Stars
The most mesmerizing part of the entire tale was the knowledge and descriptions of the sea and ships. I would say the author did some thorough research, or grew up around boats because this was one of the most believable shipmates' story I've read.

Editing | 4 Stars
This was an ARC (thank you NetGalley!) so I am sure a last round of revisions will catch the missing words and minor grammatical issues.

Execution | 5 Stars
The world-building is light, but for our scope of the tale we got all that is needed, and the way Young feeds us information gradually is perfectly done. No long info-dumps, and all the right mysteries surrounding the characters and their journey until the answers are naturally revealed. The pacing is just right, never too slow in development or too fast in the action.

Emotional Rating | 5 Stars

So I think it's safe to say I loved this and I'll be picking up a hard copy when it's released. I can see this being a story I reread for the feeling of being at and under the sea alone. Here's hoping I can snag an advanced copy of the sequel because I am craving more and I don't want to wait until next year...2020 is long enough!

Fable is a girl on her own on the island of Jeval, where people are only out for themselves. Fable is a dredger, or someone who mines the ocean for valuable metals and gems. She has been here for two years, ever since her father dropped her off and didn't come back for her. And when she finds herself in trouble with one of the locals, she desperately seeks a way off the island. Fable has her secrets, and finds that the ship she finds refuge on does too, and she couldn't begin to imagine how her two worlds are about to collide.

Fable was such a refreshing story! I loved the mystery surrounding Fable with the subtle hints about her past. I have clearly not read enough "set at sea" stories, so this one was a lot of fun. The characters were all interesting, it was fast paced, and ended with a cliffhanger and left me wanting more.

I was really looking forward to a story with no romantic interest, which I thought I was getting, but that didn't quite pan out. I feel as though there aren't enough books with strictly platonic relationships for the main character, and with Fable's beliefs I thought that we had a good shot of that. I had really enjoyed the way she found her place among the crew, and didn't quite understand the necessity for the romantic interest close to the end. I feel like I would have been more accepting of just friendships.

That being said, the imagery of this story was absolutely on point, I felt like I could see all events unraveling in my head as I read the book. This is always something that I look for in books, and this one rose to that challenge. I could even imagine the times that Fable was diving and how the light would refract through the water and how the fish looked. I also really liked that there weren't explanations to the reader for things that Fable already knew, which made the story more immersive. The diversity in the book was also nicely done, subtle and accepted by all characters. I am really interested to see if we get more detail of the other characters in the next story, since with that cliffhanger at the end must mean there is another book coming! Yay! I also really liked that there were obstacles, but in areas I hadn't anticipated originally.

I would highly recommend Fable to anyone looking for a fast paced at sea story since the plot was unlike any other book that I've read. I really enjoyed the story and can't wait for more!

I really struggled with rating and writing a review for this book. It was thrilling and very unique, but also somewhat lacking in character development.

What I didn’t care for:
There were five crew members on the Marigold, but other than Willa and West, I can’t name or say much about them. The romance also came out of nowhere, and while I was fine with it, I would have liked a little more build up. I didn’t understand the underlying motive behind the main antagonist’s actions, either. My best guess is that he wanted to eliminate some of his competition, but why focus on the Marigold? There are plenty of other aspiring ships and crews. These are all pretty minor flaws, and overall they aren’t enough to counteract the lush storytelling and vivid setting. I would recommend this book based on those two things alone.

What was done well:
The world building in this book was executed perfectly. Young nailed her descriptions of the setting, and I loved how visual the story was. Brutal fight scenes were written in tandom with tranquil shipwreck dives, and I loved the blend of action. Fable was a likable protagonist, and she was easy to root for as she set of on adventures with the crew of the Marigold. I would certainly describe her as a strong, capable woman, which was enjoyable to read about. There was also some LGBTQ representation in two minor characters, and I liked that all different types of relationships were presented as acceptable. Core values like those of family and honor were also explored throughout this novel. Overall, Fable was a very fun and refreshing read.

I would definitely recommend this book to oceanic adventurist fans of All the Stars and Teeth by Adalyn Grace and The Glass Spare by Lauren DeStefano. Despite a few minor flaws, this was a very well-written and enjoyable book. A quick, fun and easy read, this novel is sure to entertain fantasy and adventure lovers of all ages.

Final rating: 4.5 stars

I received a free ARC of this book curtesy of Netgalley and Wednesday Books; all opinions are my own.

I love Adrienne Young. Ive read her other books and Fable is just as good as the others. Any book involving a high seas adventure always piques my interest. Fable reels you in from the very beginning with fantastic characters and gorgeous world building.

Wow. I’m really surprised. I didn’t ever have any intention of reading this book. I never even requested it when it was available. “The Girl the Sea Gave Back”, was okay, and this book seemed average sounding. However, when it became an instant download, I figured why not. There’s so much hype, and I keep seeing it everywhere, taunting me. It was such a quick read, 2-3 days while also reading “Empire of Gold”. I was sucked in early and especially loved all the diving bits. The romance was a little expected, but it took longer than I thought which was a nice surprise. I’m excited to see where the next one will go.

What initially drew me to Fable, was the stunning cover (I am a sucker for a good cover)! After I started reading though, I was unable to put this book down! I was hooked after the first sentence, and immediately thrown into Fable's world. It is a story filled with ships, adventure, secrets, sunken treasure, romance, and so much more! There is definitely a Pirates of the Caribbean and Fool's Gold vibe for me (minus the pirates), so if you are a fan of either of those movies you will love this book!

Overall, Adrienne did a phenomenal job not only with building the world but the characters themselves. None of the characters felt out of place or random, and the way you unravel all of their backgrounds felt natural and exciting. I truly felt like I was walking alongside Fable and West's crew throughout their journey, and for me that is my favorite part about reading. When you are able to completely lose yourself and feel like you are embarking on the journey yourself. This book definitely ends on a cliff hanger, so be warned! :)

I will definitely be purchasing this series, and I can't wait to read the next one!

Disclosure: I received a complimentary eARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this opportunity!

an entertaining and emotional book! very well written. Also, can we talk about how gorgeous the cover is??? because it is stunning.

4.5 stars

So, I spent the last 20% of this book reading at a snail's pace and filled with trepidation because there clearly were not enough pages left for this to end well (and by end well I mean for our MCs, not for the writing) and boy was I right. Hello CLIFFHANGER. We're talking Aelin in a box Cliffhanger. So, total #ARCProblems, this book isn't even out and I'll be needing the next one, please.

As far as the rest goes, aside from a few things that seemed unbelievable to me (shrugging off a fever that probably should have had her delirious and kissing 50 feet underwater inside a sunken ship (doesn't that waste your oxygen???) and Adrienne Young's common problem of, I don't know why or when they fell in love, but they're sure adorable now that they're there. I really liked this book. Might have preferred to wait and binge with the sequel (there's a sequel, right?) but who has patience for that?

We’ve been watching the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, which are a good compliment to this story which features ships and islands and buried treasure. But most of all, it’s about a girl named Fable who has spent the last 4 years scraping by as a dredger - diving for hidden precious rock in the sea - and fighting to get back to where she came from. Nothing comes free in her world, but she will not give up until she’s gotten what she’s after. I loved Fable and the young crew she meets aboard the Marigold. This story is a ruthless adventure of scheming and secrets, but also found families and learning that there are some people you can trust. The end left me reeling and I cannot wait for the next installment. I’m so glad it comes out less than a year after this one.

Love triangle factor - none. A great slow burn romance. My favorite type.
Cliffhanger scale - high. Whew the end had my heart pounding!

* review will also be going on my blog loveisnotatriangle.com and I cannot wait to photograph that gorgeous cover for instagram.

She's a young woman who was abandoned on an is land by her father after their ship sank and her mother died. She's been there for four years and has learned how to take care of herself. The island has nothing in the way of food, and the men on it view her as a victim. She's saving her coin to travel back to her father and demand to become part of the crew. She's dredger and she's found a rich spot for stones that sell well. If she can stay alive, she's got it made.

St. Martin's Press and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published September 1st.

Fable has a man after her wanting her coin, so she runs to the boat where the captain buys her stones and asks him for passage. He says no but the amount of money she mentions tempts him enough to say yes.

She has many adventures on this boat with West, the Captain. They are falling in love with each other but can't show it to the crew. Just like a crew member, Willa, is his sister... No one knows that either.

When she finds her father and says she's come to join the crew he says no But he tells her she can have all the treasure on the Lark, the wrecked boat.That's nice but it's in a dangerous place. She tells West she will share with her crew mates. He thinks she should keep a bigger share since it's her inheritance. She says no, share and share alike.

Will they make it through the the dangerous waters? Will the treasure still be there? Will everyone still be alive?

As soon as I saw I had the opportunity to get an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review I jumped at the chance. (especially since it had been on my to read list for a while.) I have read Adrienne Young's Sky in the deep and as it was an absolute masterpiece I was certain that Fable would be too.

I read this in a little over a day, the book contains some dark elements but not to the point that reading is harrowing or painful, it is the perfect amount to make for a good story, the characters are spectacular each with their own quirks and dark pasts.

This tale is a sea-adventure following a young girl, fable four years after the death of her mother and her father abandoning her on a cutthroat island. It follows her and the crew of the marigold as she finally finds a place to belong and a family. It's a relatively light read, dark aspects aside, and you will be completely submerged into the storyline right until the very end where SHIT GOES DOWN.

I am beyond eager for the second instalment and truly cannot wait to get my hands on it.

I love finding a good pirate-esque book. Though these characters aren’t pirates, I still got slight vibes of Pirates of the Caribbean and Sinbad (the Dreamworks movie).

What makes a good book to me are well-rounded, fleshed-out characters, and concrete world-building and setting. So first, the characters. I would not mind being part of West’s crew. They’re like family to eachother, even though they act like they’re not. I love that they look out for eachother, especially West. He says he doesn’t care for people, but through his actions you can see that he really does.

Living as a trader on the sea is risky business, and this crew knows it. They know the risk of taking Fable on their ship (or at least part of it, since she’s keeping secrets), but they’re still willing to give her a chance.

Fable is a strong-willed girl. I loved seeing her not give up, doing whatever it takes to find her father. And oof, her father. He’s a hard man. Guys, this book had me almost tearing up at times!

The other characters of West’s crew were all quickly endeared to me. I want them all to have their happy endings.

Now for the world-building and setting. The first word I thought of to describe these aspects is “lush.” I just felt like I was immersed in this world of cutthroat traders, where every person is out for themselves. Don’t let people know what you care about, keep your dagger and coin close to you, because you’ll need them at every turn. This world is gritty, dangerous, unforgiving, but, it’s also so beautiful.

Beautiful because of the descriptions of the water and ships. Fable is a dredger, so she searches the bottom of the ocean for prolonged periods of time to dredge things of value. This is how she makes her living. But under the sea is where she feels most at home. And I can feel that. The depths of the ocean is glorious and pure beauty. The sea life, the sunken treasures, the separation from the dreary, hard life above.

Oh, and when West and Fable dove together. My favorite part of the novel! Their romance is fairly slow-burn, and it’s delicious and smile/sigh-inducing.

And the ending! Gah, I need the sequel right now! It ties up some unresolved issues Fable has, but then, THEN! Ugh, these people just can’t catch a break. I’m so excited for their next adventure, and to see some happy endings! Please 🙏🏻

𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛 𝑒-𝑎𝑟𝑐! (𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑡’𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑!)

I went with a 4 instead of a 5 because it took so freaking long for this story to grab me. I mean, the only reason I stuck with it in truth is that I love me a sea story, especially one that promises some high adventure. And this one delivered that eventually in large quantities. I also really like that I have a great vision of each and every character, from West and Fable to the villain Zola to the bookkeeper, Hamish. I can see each of them individually and with clarity due to the descriptive prose. Also, the settings. So well-written. So vivid.

A great read once it got rolling. Can’t believe I gotta wait for the second half of the duology. Sigh. Worth it. 💜📚

Adrienne Young does it again with FABLE. I was stunned at how impressed I was with her lyrical styled writing and her attention to small details that really make up the entire storytelling experience. I loved the characters in this book, especially the dynamic with the found family trope—one of my favorites!!