Thank you to the publisher, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Marigold is out of Saint’s control at last, but before Fable could enjoy her success with the crew, she has been kidnapped by Zola as a part of some scheme. To her surprise, she finds a familiar face on board Zola’s ship: Clove, who used to be a part of Saint’s crew and saved her life in the storm that the Lark went down in – and who was there when she was abandoned on Jeval. Fable is unsure about exactly what Zola’s goal is, but she is determined to get back to West and the crew, so she plays along, agreeing to dredge for gems as he asks and once in Bastian, help him secure a deal with the famous gem-trader Holland. But Holland has a surprising connection to her, and as she begins to learn more about her mother’s past, and what the events that are unfolding could mean for those she cares about, Fable will have to decide where her loyalty lies.

It’s been a few months since I read Fable, but Namesake picks up almost immediately after it and I found it very easy to follow even though I’d forgotten a few finer details of the story. Fable was a good read for the most part, and though I had a few issues with it, I mostly liked it. Namesake however, was so much better! A large part of that is due to the narration style – the way things are described makes it so easy to visualize, particularly the segments when Fable is on a ship or out dredging. There was also a lot more going on in this book, and being just as fast-paced as the first book, it was impossible to put down.

The cliffhanger Fable left us on was quite abrupt, but I really appreciated how this book didn’t rush to reveal everything all at once, and even when things did start to become clearer, there were still plot twists left in store. One aspect I wanted to see more of from the first book was fulfilled – Fable using her gem sage abilities. Though it wasn’t much of a central point in the story, it was cool to see. It was also great to learn more about Isolde, Fable’s mother, and her backstory, along with Holland’s actions, mostly drive the events of this book. Fable and Saint’s relationship is a complicated one and it continued to be a major plot point that was very well portrayed.

I was annoyed with West for a large part of this book but it’s hard to explain why without giving away spoilers. As for Fable and West’s romance, it was better than in book one, but I honestly felt it took up too much time in this book, and between that and Holland’s schemes, there was not enough page time given to the other characters, namely, the crew of the Marigold. They arguably, were even more affected than Fable and West by the events that occurred in this book and their reactions were entirely appropriate. It was lovely how they supported the two of them even though they were so mad at them. I just wish there had been a more proper resolution for this part of the story. A large part of all these issues would have easily been solved if West had a POV.

I loved how this book ended – I didn’t really expect Saint to come through in such a spectacular fashion, nor his actions after it. The scenes at the end, both in Fable’s Skerry and Jeval were wonderful additions and a great way to tie off this duology. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend this series.

A wonderful follow up to Fable and dare I say I enjoyed Namesake even more than I enjoyed Fable! Namesake definitely shows us more sides and background of the Marigold crew and we explore much more of the world especially the Unnamed Sea. I loved the relationships established between Fable and Saint but especially between Fable and West! The plot can be a bit predictable at some points but the overall story is quite good and its a fun read!

Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

After that cliffhanger ending to Fable I had to immediately dive into Namesake to find out what happens to Fable and West along with the rest of the crew. While this follow up doesn't feature much of the crew, it is action packed and contains some good twists that I didn't see coming. For the most part everything wraps up nicely and as predicted. Overall, it's a fun duology that's got a different theme than the usual fantasy I normally read.

I had high hopes for this sequel after devouring the first book in the series, and this installment did not disappoint. Full of answers to the mysteries that were hinted at in the first book, this novel didn’t slow down for a second and was chock full of action. The setting(The ocean, mostly)is absolutely delicious in the way the author describes it-with painstaking and amazing detail. The characters are well drawn, and Fable, our heroine, is definitely one to root for: strong, beautiful, and determined above all. I would recommend this book and this series to literally anyone—I LOVED it. 4 ⭐️!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an e-arc of Namesake by Adrienne Young! All opinions are my own.

Namesake picks up right where the cliffhanger of Fable ended. I won't say anything more about the summary that would spoil Fable for those who haven't read it yet.

I really loved Namesake, almost as much as Fable. The level of adventure and sea-faring was exactly the same. There was a considerable amount of character growth throughout the novel and the plot moves fast(to keep you interested!). I don't think there was a more perfect way for Young to end the Fable duology than with Namesake. A+ work on her part! I'm excited to read more of her work.

After reading FABLE in the one sitting (yes, one sitting), you could say that my expectations for NAMESAKE were relatively high. I loved the fast-paced plot, intricate characters, and smoldering romance of the first book—and I have to say that the sequel delivered a satisfying ending in flying colors. Picking up right about where FABLE ended, NAMESAKE is action-packed and explosive, wasting little time re-introducing readers to the world before launching into deliciously intriguing conflict and character development.

Perfect for fans of high seas adventure, found family, and just all around fun, the Fable duology cannot be missed.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Let me start this off by saying I absolutely loved 'Fable" the first book in this two book series but this one did not live up to the hype I created in my head for it. I loved the crew as family from the first book and in this one we don't even see the crew until 50% through the book and then they are just mad at each other for what feels like the whole time. I also felt like the romance flopped in book two as well. Fable just keeps make mistake after mistake after mistake and it's just so repetitive that I could have done without most of the first half o f the book, harsh I know, but after loving the first one so much this sequel just didn't do it for me. 2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read for a an honest review.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. In Namesake, we once again follow Fable on her adventure through the Narrows... and beyond. Adrienne Young does a fantastic job of making the reader question whether Fable should trust those she encounters - both the old friends and newfound acquaintances she makes. The "found family" element is heart-warming, especially as we learn more about some of the Marigold's crew members. There are a few twists and turns that at times felt a little bit predictable, but satisfying nonetheless. At the end, readers will no doubt be wishing for the next installment!

Not too long ago, I was blown away when I read Fable, by Adrienne Young. Namesake, the conclusion to the adventure/romance/seafaring duology, had a lot to live up to- and amazingly, it raised the bar! Starting with Fable's kidnapping, the action never lets up!
I highly recommend both books!

~Special thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!~

Actual rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟⭐ 4.0

*looks at camera*
*clears throat*
*places hands in an evil person pyramid*

See, this wasn't bad. But it wasn't GREAT. And that hurts my heart. What's left of it, anyways.

It had pirates, a strong female main character, and treason. Still, it didn't like... hm... it didn't leave me absolutely devastated and unable to continue life because SURPRISE, I couldn't find the will to move on with my frivolous reading existence. Which we alllll know, is the best thing that could happen in a book. #whyarereaderssuchmasochists

Y'all see why I concern myself? Okay, now that we got that out of the way (we literally got nothing out of the way, unless you count me explaining why I'm like I am), let's dive in headfirst into an ocean (hehe, get it? Dive, ocean, pirates? Hehehe) of mini spoiler-free rants that my 3:00 am self thought would be a good idea to write. And yes, I do have multiple self's, each one for a different time of day. The dawn self is the most... how shall I say it? Oh yes, mentally and emotionally unstable. *smiles for the camera*

Since it is physically demanding for me to write a spoiler- free review (as many of you know, but since I have the attention span of a blade of grass (blade? Piece? Strand?) I shall repeat so because OBVIOUSLY, it needs to be repeated. For myself, I mean. Like a mantra) I shall divide this as follows.


*adjusting lighting*


Hello, and welcome to Booksy Rants, at this moment we will be touching on the topic of the writing in this novel. Okay, I will admit that Adrienne Young is an amazing writer, periodt. The way she describes things is not overly detailed, but it doesn't leave you hoping for more, it's there. And it is MAJESTIC. I enjoyed it, very much so. Unsurprising, since you know, one of the loves of my life is Sky In The Deep which halloooo, the sequel was a parody, and I'm over here waiting for the real thing. Will any future books of this author ever compare to that previous masterpiece? Not yet, no. It is not to mean her books since then have been BAD, per se, they just haven't been as GOOD as my bookish soul would've dreamed of.
Overall? Writing gets an 8.5 out of the scale of greatness.

You know what wasn't great? The secondary characters. I know, I know, nowadays, authors focus so much on the main tea that they forget to add the sugar (a LOT, if I may say so myself. Enough to give me a threat of Sugar crash porfavor) to it, and it ends being bittersweet. Which of course, is not the worst. Still, I want my tea to taste SWWEEEETTTT. You know? The fact that I only cared about oh, about... hm... four people in this book is a lot to say. Like, seriously, I needed FOUNDATION, needed someone to tear my soul out of its rusty hinges and stomp on it repeatedly in hopes of feeling SOMETHING.

Alas, two of those people were (I say two because if I say more I may spoil something and the only thing I want to 'spoil' is the romance in this book, teehee):


The MC, Fable, which again, was gorgeous and amazing, and astounding, and so many more GOOD things. Until, you know, she would get together with the love interest. Interesting MC? Yes, absolutely. A little forgettable? That too, yes. And that's slightly depressing. Like, she was very much a kick-butt female protagonist, she just lacked... personality. A concrete personality, I mean. Only thing I know? She had a mother, who died. (Which she let us know about in every page) and her love for the sea was insurmountable, immeasurable, in- introverted? The fuel to my boat of synonyms has depleted itself, forgive me (the number of puns I'll subtly throw here will make waves across my sanity).


Which brings me unto the NEXT character, dear love interest. West, y'all! *Automated applause with shrieks added for emphasis*

He was quite the specimen *giggle giggle* Also? He was too protective, and felt the need to save everyone, go figure! Any time the MC tried to do something on her own, he would stop her and force her to accept help. Like, BRUH, I believe the chick can hold a napkin to clean the tea spilled by moi. You don't have to get the mop. And geez Louise, did he make me angry when he made a certain decision like oh, (and this is not a spoiler, it legit happens in every book) SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR HER. I wouldn't sacrifice a french fry unless, UNLESS, someone was in peril of starvation. And even that depends.

(I was low-key jealous, but we won't talk about that). His personality only got better because he was a 'pirate', with a 'conscience'. Ew.


The romance~ *nod* *stares at camera* It was there. I appreciated that it tried. It was just... there.

The world-building was absolutely pretty good (between decent and AMAZING), the way things worked, and THE DREDGERS???? I need a moment.

I also needed a moment with the 'plot twists', so okay, I wasn't exactly in the state of mind to want to unravel anything so yes, they mildly took me by surprise. My eyes widened slightly (kind of like that fish who messed up the fish formation and all of them got caught in the net because that puny little fish couldn't contain its craving of 'UP THERE ON LAND, THEY UNDERSTAAANNDDD, AND THEY DON'T REPRIMAND THEIR DAUGHTER-' I'll stop now) and I became a squealing mess. Once. I repeat, ONCE.

The plot was okay, I enjoyed it. It didn't blow my socks out of the water *smirk*, but it left me satisfied in how it all came together at the end. (Ugh, such a basic description, alas, my brain cannot do spoiler-free mode anymore)

On a closing note, multiple someone's should've died (not because they were villains just because of convenience and like, time), the plot could've been a little more... intense. And the MC should've punched West in his face and make his ego go South real fast. With Hades, if you will. Ooo! How about you eliminate the whole romance??? See, that is a very nice idea.

I would recommend this to people who have obviously read book one and know where the deepest end of the pond is (at this point, I'm throwing random water related things out there. I'm so sorry), to readers who want a strong female character and a love interest that is swoony once in a while. Oh! And those other two characters I didn't mention back there? You should just read it for them. And the ship related puns. Those are a definite must.

*shuts down camera*
Oh crap, GUYS I DON'T THINK I RECORDED ALL THAT.
GRRRRRR

( I have actually been practicing my growl because somehow, all these characters know how to growl. I want to growl tooooo)


P.S: Please ignore those last few sentences. 3:00 am self took the reins again.

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW
so epicly phenomenal, series recommend this series to everyone, fantastic world building, I adored Fable.

Looking for an outstanding fantasy duology filled with plenty of slow-burning romance that will make you swoon, fast-paced action that will have you on the edge of your seat, and phenomenal world-building that will pull you into this story unable to let you go. I truly cannot recommend the Fable duology enough. This was a fantastic ending to the story. Highly recommended!!

Yes. Yes. Yes. Adrienne Young is such an incredible writer and I love these books so much. Fable is the female heroine we need.

Namesake was the sequel I was hoping for! Fable’s journey continues with more gems, danger and characters to love.

I fell in love with Fable in the first book in this duology and I truly enjoyed continuing to see her growth in Namesake. Her cleverness, resilience, and ability to navigate complicated and dangerous situations made this a book I couldn’t put down.

At first, I was worried I wouldn’t have as much time with the lovable Marigold crew but I was not disappointed. They were all there and I could never get enough of West. The additional characters including Holland really helped to take this adventure to the next level and there were quite a few surprises along the way. I don’t want to give anything away but I loved these books and I am sure that it’s a series that I will be rereading.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

4.5/5 First, can we just talk about the covers of this duology? I don’t have physical copies, so they don’t line up quite right, but if I did, they are meant to make one complete picture!

Okay, I loved Fable, but Namesake was better! Just like the first, this is a fast paced YA. We jump right back in to where Fable left off, and if you read it, you know Fable’s ending left the reader with wanting more. Throughout the whole book I just kept wanting to continue. If I didn’t have responsibilities, I probably could have read this in a day or two.

The characters were just as wonderful in this book as they were in Fable. You get to know them more throughout this book and really see growth in Fable. She becomes even stronger and more confident. We get to see more of the relationships throughout the book as well. This was a great addition because you got to see the relationships in Fable, but now that we know the characters, it’s better to see all of the develop. And I’m not just talking all the love interests.

The only thing that I felt was lacking was the ending. But not information wise. I thought the ending was great and I’m glad it ended the way it did, but I also feel like there was a lot of build up, and it felt a little flat to me. But this is a personal opinion. Again, I did like how it ended, but I thought there could have been more. Seemed to end a bit too cleanly.

I continue to enjoy Adrienne Young’s books. I enjoy her writing style and find her stories fun. I think out of all the books of hers that I’ve read, this duology is my favorite. I’m excited to see what she writes next.

The conclusion to Adrienne Young's duology, Namesake is a satisfying conclusion. Picking up where Fable ended, we are still invested in Fable's adventures as she strives to outwit her kidnapper and make her way back to West and the crew of the Marigold. Along the way, Fable learns more about her mother, her history and herself. And not all are who they seem.

I have to admit Fable was a bit better than Namesake but I love Adrienne's writing so 5 stars it is.
Namesake is full of adventure and surprises. The whole gang is back with a vengeance. What I didn't like so much, was that Fable looked like a naive and innocent girl, that couldn't believe that people around her can betray someone. She was strong and determined at times, but her self doubt was out of control at some points.
West and Saint were the best as usual, of course. Yes, I did like Saint in the first book too.
All in all, I loved this duology A LOT.

Thank you so much to Wednesday Books via NetGalley for the early digital copy of Namesake by Adrienne Young! It is always hard to review sequels and such without spoilers so I will just share my general feelings about the book!

Namesake is the second book in the Fable duology. Due to the continuation of the storyline, this can absolutely not be read as a standalone. If you skim my review for book one, you can find most of what I have to say about the world building and characters in general.

There is more action than in Fable. This one was a much quicker read, although at the end of the day, the action fell into anti climax before drifting off to the ending. A few times during the action, Fable would think something like “ok *THIS* is the only way out,” and then she would never explain what *THIS* is and it drove me nuts. Something else would just happen. There is a chance that this will be clamped down in the final book though.

The title? Do you want to know where Namesake fits into the book? Hahahah probably the best storyline, you have to read to find out. The only magic in the whole duology and it’s a great plot line.

Holland is the only new character worth mentioning, and we see a bit more from Zola and Saint as well. I really liked this trio of adversaries. Talking about any more characters may spoil book one. Learning more about West was also good for the story. The Fable and Saint storyline resolved a little bit cleanly for my tastes, and I swear that Fable and West never actually resolved any of the issues they were having. These were big, real, practically unforgivable issues and they just *poof* went away in the next chapter, the same with the issues the crew were having with the situations. *Poof*. The magic of the 7-9 grade level books.

Overall, I do enjoy the story and world Young has built here. It’s a fun, high seas world with a tidy resolution and despite my gripes, they are good for that 12-18 ish age range and adults looking for a lighter adventure

Huge thanks to Wednesday Books, St.Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. Wow. Wow. This book ended with a bang. Here we continue Fable's journey as she fights to free herself from the clutches of Zola. There are twists, turns and "I didn't see it coming" in this second installment. I loved this story from the beginning and Namesake didn't disappoint at all. We still have the same cast of beloved characters and we get the opportunity to dive more into their stories. I love them even more for it. And darn it, I even like Saint at the end of this one. I had no idea where this story was going nor where it would end up. This book kept me guessing the entire time in the best ways possible. It was an adventure the whole way.

Overall, five stars. I love pirate, treasure hunt stories and this fulfilled everything I love about them. I've already ordered a special edition of this one and I can't wait to have it so I can read it again!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Namesake by Adrienne Young
Book One of the Fable series
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Copy provided by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Trader. Fighter. Survivor.

With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.

As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

Filled with action, emotion, and lyrical writing, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Namesake, the final book in the captivating Fable duology.

What I Liked:

I read Fable in early 2020, and I knew it would be a hit. I loved the book; it pulled me right out of the reading slump that I had been in, since my father passed away in 2019. Fable hit me at the right time. I received Namesake to read in Fall 2020 and I dove right back into the intriguing, mysterious world of the Narrows. Namesake is the conclusion to the Fable duology, and it's easily one of the best conclusion novels I've ever read.

Namesake picks up pretty much right where Fable left off, which, if you remember where Fable left off, you remember being pretty upset. (I was, anyway.) I won't state too much about that, since Fable published only six months ago, and I will try not to spoil anything regarding Namesake as well.

The world of Fable becomes so much larger in this book. Adrienne Young expands the world, the schemes, the politics, the characters. A wider cast of characters is brought into play, and even more political machinations, deals, risks, and revelations. Some characters who were briefly mentioned in Fable become critical players in Namesake. No specifics, but believe me, the plot thickens! I love the Pirates of the Caribbean vibe of this series. That alone was enough to make me pick up Fable, but the excellent writing, fascinating characters, and slow-burn, tension-filled romance made me fall in love with the books.

One thing I will say vaguely is that a giant Easter egg in Fable manifests in Namesake. I was pretty sure I knew what the Easter egg was when I was reading Fable, but I wasn't quite right. It's not exactly what you'd expect. Adrienne Young is so sneaky, she had us thinking one thing, when in fact it was a completely different thing! I have listened to so many of her virtual tour events and Instagram live events, and she was SO sneaky about this Easter egg. Several months after reading Namesake (I'm writing this review in February 2021), I'm still delighted by the Easter egg.

Let's talk about the romance! Fable and West are such an adorable, heartbreakingly beautiful pair. I love the romance of this book, and series. This series - actually, this book (Namesake) has the most romance on page of any of Young's books. I love the slow-burn in Fable, and the pure yearning in Namesake. The romance of this series is one of my all-time favorites of the Young Adult books I've read.

Other relationships are just as important as the romance between Fable and West; for example, Fable's relationship with her father, Saint. But also, Fable's relationship with her mother, Isolde. I can't say anything more about that but... while Fable (book one) was more so about Fable and her father, Namesake is about Fable and her mother. In a way, but not in the way you think. You'll see!

I truly love the characters that Adrienne Young has written. Fable, a smart, brave young woman. West, a selfless, mysterious man with a heart of gold. Saint, a trickster father who keeps his cards close. And the crew of the Marigold, who is the family that Fable never knew she needed. I love the characters of this book, even the "villains", who have such compelling backstories.

Tropes: slow-burn romance, a hint of enemies-to-lovers romance (kind of? between West and Fable), found family, "chosen one"... kind of. You'll see what I mean.

I won't say anything else because I don't want to spoil the book, but I will say that the book ended really well. The series wraps up wonderfully. Adrienne Young proves that you don't need mass chaos and bloodshed to end a series (I'm looking at you, Game of Thrones). I'm not saying there is NO violence at the end, but, the ending is really good. My heart was full, after reading this book. This book is absolutely worth the (short) wait, the marathon binge-read, or however you'll read this series.

What I Did Not Like:

I have no complaints! This book was such an excellent follow-up to Fable, and an amazing conclusion. I feel like I can't wait always say that about sequels or conclusion novels.

Would I Recommend It:

If you read Fable, you HAVE to finish this series. Namesake is so easy to read - I finished it quickly, once I started getting into the story. I didn't want to put the book down. This series is such a riveting fantasy series, and it has good crossover appeal to young adult readers and adults. It's a favorite for sure - the series is a favorite in general!

Rating:

5 stars. There was no doubt in my mind that Namesake would be just as incredible as Fable, if not more. Adrienne Young has not disappointed me yet; I can't wait to see what she publishes next!