I really enjoyed this follow-up to Fable! It picks up right at the end of the first book which I appreciate. I loved getting to see Fable’s relationship with West’s crew grow and the found family that was built was great! I also really loved seeing more of Fable’s abilities as a gem sage. We got to meet so many new characters in hitch I loved! We also got to see more of the world building in this one! And it felt like I was there right beside Fable throughout it all! Young definitely has a knack for strong world building! Overall this was a fun sequel and if you’re a fan of Pirate adventures, definitely check this series out!

I initially requested this because I LOVED Fable. I believe I read an e-arc so I requested Namesake. Sadly at this time I was in a bad place, I think my grandparents had recently passed, and COVID exposed underlying adhd so I didn’t want to sit and read I wanted to be more proactive.

I have read around 15-20% of this, but at this point it’s been too long since I read the first one and I would need to reread in order to get to this.

I love Adrienne Young though SO much and have continued to read her after all these years

Underwhelming Sequel with Lost Potential


It hurts to give a book 2 stars, especially an author I really like but, after enjoying Fable, I went into Namesake with high hopes and unfortunately, this sequel didn’t deliver. The pacing dragged, especially in the first half, where Fable seemed more like a passive observer than an active force in her own story. The tension that made the first book engaging fizzled out here, replaced with repetitive inner monologues and slow-moving plot points.

The romance between Fable and West, which had promise in book one, felt underdeveloped and frustrating. Instead of deepening their relationship, their interactions were often cold or conflicted with little resolution. West’s character became more closed-off, and instead of making me curious, it made me feel disconnected.

There were a few interesting twists involving family secrets and the world of gem trading, but they were overshadowed by a lack of emotional payoff and weak character development. The writing is still lyrical and atmospheric, but beautiful prose couldn’t make up for the thin plot and sluggish momentum.

Disappointed overall. This could’ve been a thrilling, however it missed the mark for me.

I absolutely loved this book! Adrienne Young is such a story teller. I enjoy her world building, character development and plot line. Young is an auto buy author for me. I have to same that Namesake has become one of my favorite books by Young.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Adrienne Young is a hidden gem that keeps giving with every book she puts out. NAMESAKE was a fantastic continuation of her works and I would read again in a heartbeat.

This was such a wonderful duology. Enough twists to keep things interesting and new characters to keep your guessing.

This series was full of characters that were full of such hardness, and I appreciate that wasn’t compromised - they didn’t do some weird 180 and turn into softies. It all felt so authentic; the growth arcs were believable, and I felt so invested.

An excellent fantasy that truly transported me!

Highly recommended

Adrienne Young’s Namesake is a thrilling and emotional sequel that takes readers deeper into Fable’s dangerous world of piracy, power, and hidden secrets. After gaining her freedom, Fable quickly finds herself entangled in another high-stakes scheme, forced to navigate deception and betrayal to protect those she loves.

Young’s storytelling is immersive, painting a vivid world where the sea is as treacherous as the people who rule it. Fable’s character growth is compelling—she’s not just surviving but learning how to wield her own power. The relationships, especially her romance with West and her evolving understanding of her family’s past, add depth to the fast-paced adventure.

With high tension, rich world-building, and emotional stakes, Namesake is a satisfying conclusion to Fable’s journey. Fans of Fable will love this captivating mix of danger, romance, and self-discovery on the high seas.

I loved this book because I got to know more about Fable. This is the sequel to Fable. I do like the world-building and exploration of the pirate lifestyle. This book was focused more on family drama and Fable's understanding of her gift.

I really enjoyed this sequel to fable! It's always a bit nerveracking to see if a sequel will live up to the first book and this one did a pretty good job. I enjoyed that we start right at the end of Fable.

The world is just so interesting and makes me excited that there will be more spinoff books.

This was a great sequel and wrap-up to Fable's story, seeing her have to navigate through the events at the end of book one and figure out where she fits in to the bigger picture. I loved the relationships between Fable and the different members of the crew and following along with her figuring out what needed to be done .

I really wanted to read this book ... It was a good concept god it was way too much for what it was being proceed

From the get-go it seemed like this girl had something to prove. There was almost constant arguing and bad-mouthing between characters and the main character always seemed like she had something to prove. I got tired of this situation pretty quickly, I'm afraid, as it overshadowed the plot for me, exponentially.

Great 2nd half of this duology! Not your typical YA, but not without its troupes. Love the pacing and setting. Booktalk this series all the time and it checks out often!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing this advance reader's copy for an honest review.

A great sequel! I thought Fable was really fun first book and I loved where this story took Fable and the other characters. I liked seeing the world expand and being introduced to some new world building. Satisfying ending.

This book was amazing, the author has always been great and creating the perfect movie view in my mind and this book didn't disappoint. I'll pick up all of her books moving forward without question.

This book picks up right where Fable ended, with Fable being forced to enter a partnership going against a gem trader. Which brings change in Fable, for she is no longer the daughter looking for her father, she realizes love can be found in other places and she can decide where home is.

Fable shows a lot of growth in that she relies a lot less on others to be happy for she can find it for herself.

I liked her a lot more in this, but I would not say the same for her relationship.
The romance wasn’t great in my opinion. They didn’t really fit and the little drama of West keeping secrets I thought was weird because Fable did not care. There was a lot of 'hot and cold', where one moment she'd care and be upset and the next she would just forget about it and be head over heels in love with him again

Another problem I had with this book, that I liked in the first, was the friendship shown between the crew members of the Marigold... It was really lost in this book, which was really sad for me because they seemed so disbanded from each other.

Overall, with the plot going in a different direction from the first book, I actually enjoyed this a lot more.

This book has been sitting on my NetGalley shelf for ages, collecting dust, and I've felt so guilty about it. But today, I learned of some of the violently racist things a Wednesday Books employee has been spouting and thought it was time to clean house on here.

I will be reviewing this book on Goodreads and Amazon at a later date since the author has absolutely nothing to do with this. But I will not be promoting any books from Wednesday Books, St. Martins Press, or other related Macmillan imprints.

Anyone who tolerates racism is not okay with me.

I finally got around to reading Namesake after loving Fable when it was first released, I reread Fable before starting Namesake and Fable was just as brilliant as the first time I read it. Sadly, Namesake wasn't quite up to the same standard but it was highly enjoyable and I loved the first half. The ending was a bit all over the place, I felt like it needed a stronger conclusion with a lot more drama after such a climatic series. Definitely a duology I might reread one day when I'm in the mood for sea adventures, and one I'd highly recommend.

The story that started in FABLE moves seamlessly to NAMESAKE. Both books should be read to understand how the story was too big for one book. Adrienne Young skillfully developed the characters and their community to weave the story together. Her books not only contained magic, the cast a spell on so many of us. Great read!