Admittedly, I forgot some of the plot and lingo from Fable, but I was still able to read through this book quite easily. That being said, I was hoping that Namesake could prove me wrong in regards to the duology, but it didn't. Nevertheless, it was better than the first book.

I was starting to like how to story continued but then it just got worse and worse. I couldn't quite click with Fable as a character in the first book and that same feeling translated into this one as well. I couldn't quite click with West either for the same reasons. Watching them run around making incredibly selfish decision with no subsequent growth in personality was disappointing and boiled my emotions (in a bad way). In contrast, the only person I liked was Willa and the rest of West's crew because they had common sense. They took into account everyone's feelings and perspectives, not just their own.

My next point brings me to West and Fable's relationship. It's quite toxic. No communication. Back and forth decision-making . . . Not exactly a good ideal to impose on your general young adult audience.

My last point. Saint and Fable. The second book really did a 180 on how they portrayed Saint. I kind of get where the author's getting at. You have a father who didn't want to put his daughter in danger, and then a daughter who didn't understand why, etc., etc.

All being said, the ending was sweet, and it did end on a good note. The plot does come full circle, and the duology's premise is quite rare. Although execution of the story wasn't as developed enough to my taste, it's still one of the better pirate-themed series out in the young adult fantasy world.

This duology is truly in a league of its own. Namesake is exactly what I needed in order to get my reading frenzy started in the new year. Fable's story and continuation are one for the ages and I truly believe that all ages of people will adore these books. I like that Fable is able to show her vulnerability in Namesake a little more in order to further her family backstory and history. She is definitely a strong female character as well, but being able to connect to her character in a vulnerable way was something special. THANK YOU NETGALLEY!!

I think this book was a satisfying conclusion to the Fable duology series. The beautiful descriptions still made this book as great as the first, There was a magic to it that was kept from book 1 to book 2. The characters still felt true to their motivations and development from the first book. However, this book was a lot more focused on Fable. Which makes sense since the first book was really getting up the rest of the characters, this one was bale to focus more on the protagonist without it feeling like the other characters were left behind.

My only problem with the book was that the plot moved very quickly and it got a little confusing as to what was happening at times. Especially since there were so many moving pieces in the last half of the book. The character of West also got a little bit unlikable in the middle but that was because we don't see much of him other than having him "looking tense" or being moody. It got better towards the end though.

This sequel exceeded my expectations.
Fable is a "prisoner" on Zolo's ship who feels confused on Clove's presence. Zolo and West feud is nothing compared to what is really going on.
We get to see many characters from book 1 return, such as Koy and what his return means for Fable. What is Clove's real purpose on Zolo's ship and how did he get there when Saint insinuated in the first book he died? What will West do to reach Fable? We get a better glimpse at what he really does for Saint even though I had a good idea from the first book.
One thing I really enjoyed was the character development in this book. No one is a hero and many have a dark side as they are trying to survive in a world that will spit them out into the farthest depths of the sea it can find. Fable, West, Saint, Willa, and even Koy as well as the Marigold crew try to make sense of the feelings toward eachother and how to react to the situation they find themselves in. Who can you trust, and who will rip the carpet from underneath you as soon as you think you know what is going on?
I enjoyed the constant plotting and everyone trying to one up the other. Who will survive and who will sell their soul to accomplish their goals or save the one they love?
We do also find out more about Isolde (fables mom) and how her discovery/life could change the trade in the narrows and unnamed sea and how that effects Fable which ends up effecting everyone in the Narrows.

I want to thank Net Galley and St.Martin's Press for giving me the opportunity to read this. Finished in a day , it was that enjoyable.

✨Namesake✨

Thank you to Netgalley, St Martins Press (Wednesday Books) and Adrienne Young for an advanced copy.

Summary: picking up immediately where Fable left off, 17 year old dredger Fable and her crew are finally out from under her fathers thumb... only to find herself in the hands of another tyrant. Fable is forced to join forces with notorious Gem trader Holland, and there’s more to her than meets the eye. Lies unfold and truths are discovered in this captivating sea tale.
✨
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review:
I am so glad i was able to read an advanced copy of this book immediately after finishing book one as that cliffhanger would’ve ended me.

Namesake is the stunning conclusion to the Fable duology. I really enjoyed this book, the development and exploration of characters, particularly Saint, was captivating. The writing so good the book was unputdownable. And now i just want a book about Saint please. I love him.

The romance was definitely stronger in this book and I enjoyed the development of it. I enjoyed getting glimpses into some of the side characters pasts. The adventure in this book was at the forefront and was strongly written.

I didn’t want this book to end and now I’m craving books set at sea! This book is sure to be a huge hit!

I read Fable in a day. After a slow start, I zipped through it and was ready to start the sequel immediately. The cliffhanger at the end had me freaking out and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen.

Namesake was beautifully written in some ways. The mythical nature of the sea, of Saint, of Isolde, of Fable herself was intriguing and colorful in ways I wanted so much more of. I wanted a whole book just exploring the family dynamic of these three and their love for the sea.

Unfortunately, Namesake seemed to rely more on the relationship between West and Fable, but even that dynamic stayed shallow and confusing. All the characters were mad at each other for almost the entirety of the book and the found family of the crew never fully takes its shape. I would have loved a deeper exploration of Paj and Auster, Willa and West, Hamish, Clove, Holland! These books are stuffed full of intriguing characters that I just couldn’t and didn’t get enough of.

The plot also felt like it moved oddly in starts and stops that didn’t always make sense to me and seemed to keep a lot of the characters without any real agency. Maybe very sea metaphor-like lol.

I did love many things about this book even so. It’s fast-paced, interesting, full of emotion. The author works to ensure characters are diverse and describes each of them pointedly so readers aren’t left wondering if the book is just filled with tan, dark-haired white people.

I would recommend this book to people looking for a YA coming-of-age tale, family drama, or books about sea-faring because I think the author did an amazing job depicting all the boatwork!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

Fantastic Sequel. The whole duology is just perfect. I will it reread often and do highly recommend it. It has everything for a perfect adventure.

I love this book so much more than I did Fable. There’s more action, more character development, just more everything. My heart just breaks for Fable, like jeez give sis a break and West 💔, Westttttt ( if you’ve watch Nailed it, then you know 😂😩).
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If you’ve read Fable then you know it ended with a major cliff hanger , and this book picks up directly where it left off. Someone’s from Fables past has betrayed her , and to get back her freedom she’ll do anything , even if it means making a pact with her enemy .
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This book has a much happier ending , and I’m glad that fables found the family she was looking for .

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book, the second book in the Fable duology right after I finished Fable and it did not disappoint! The writing was just as good and I loved being back in the world of Fable and her new friends. I love West and her together as well. Overall a great conclusion to a fun fantasy series.

Namesake was the perfect conclusion to Fable. The world building was lovely, pleasant, and well done! I hadn't expected a book about gem trade to become one of my favorite duologies, but here we are! Adrienne Young create such a wonderful atmosphere and a unique story unlike anything I had ever read.
Fable and Wes were both explored more thoroughly through out Namesake and seeing their characters grow and shift was exactly what I was searching for in the sequel. Even the other characters I'm the story were developed through the plot and all of it wrapped up perfectly.
I had never read Adrienne Young prior to this and I know I will forever be a fan now!

It was an easy 5-stars. Not many sequels to 5-star books live up to their first book, but wow Adrienne Young did not disappoint. I actually didn't read "Fable" until I was able to access "Namesake" because I don't' like to wait. And I am so glad I was able to read this! I finished "Namesake" in one sitting, a book that allows you an escape to a fictional world of pirates, gem sages and love. This novel is so pure, the characters so dynamic and a plot that twists and turns through the reefs of the Unnamed Sea, to the Narrows and beyond. There is a back and forth on feelings and emotions with the characters, which leaves you guessing at the end of each chapter, and wanting more. I find I am not always satisfied with endings, but this one, I was 100%. It was a perfect duology.

In Namesake, the second book of the duology, a kidnapped Fable is carried across the Unnamed Sea. Will West and his crew come for her? Does West actually care? Ghosts from Fable’s past continue to emerge as secrets are revealed about both her parentage and her powers. Through it all, she must confront the reality that West is as bound up in her father’s schemes and deceptions as she is. Trader? Pirate is more accurate. Can she count on Saint even a little bit, or is he the reason for the mess she’s in? Can she still trust West when such darkness lies inside him?

When the most powerful merchant in the Unnamed Sea offers Fable a position at her side, Fable must decide whether to cut line with her past or make peace with its imperfections. In the end, she discovers that she is both her mother’s and her father’s daughter, with the powers of both to forge her own destiny.

This book is not so much a romance as it is the story of a girl and her father. (Spoiler alert!) The book begins with Saint refusing to let Fable ever tell anyone about their relationship. The book ends with Saint claiming Fable in front of the whole trade council. West, Fable’s romantic interest, is in some ways just a cipher for Fable’s father, a window through which Fable can look to understand how her mother Isolde could have ever loved Saint. Although many of the plot points of the story were easy to guess ahead of time, the gradual revelations about Fable’s past were skillfully done.

Although this duology is not as violent as Young’s Viking-based fantasy books (Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back) there is still a fascination with violence that, I think, leads to a glorification of it. Similar to the popular mafia heroes of many new adult series, the folk of the Narrows are willing to do whatever it takes (even murdering the innocent) to protect their loved ones from harm or insult. In keeping with many modern YA trends, this story has an LGBT relationship with two of the secondary characters and a sexual relationship between the romantic leads.

Immersive world-building continues to be a hallmark of Adrienne Young’s prose, and the gripping storyline makes this duology even more compelling than her last series.

Pirate adventures, romance, family dysfunction, brawls, closely-held family secrets - this book has it all. It’s a romping run through a world of tradesmen and pirates, swashbuckling and gem gathering.

This book picks up where the first of the duology, Fable, left off. I never read Fable but I had no trouble picking up the storyline. Fable has been separated from her crew on the Marigold by her father and she is working to get back to them.

I especially loved the gem gathering aspect of this book. As a dredger, Fable shows keen insight and intuition in locating and collecting gemstones from reefs. It’s a rugged job involving free diving (for what seems like many minutes at a time) to locate the best gems. Additionally she perceives the gems as having identifying sounds that help her locate them quickly,

This is a fun, fast-paced read with good characters and a whole lot of relationship drama. Buckle up!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

I was so excited to get approved for the sequel to Fable but for some reason, I didn't like it as much as I thought I would...and that could totally be just me in a phase where I don't like to read as much. And judging by the reviews, I would say it most likely is a case of that because everyone loved it even more than the first one. So by all means, do not go by my review. Fable is very much a badass woman and I love her character...I would also love it if they decided to make a movie out of this...and why wouldn't they? In this book, we learn a little more about Fable's past and even her Mother's past...we find out that Fable has a grandmother she never knew about and why her Mother left that life and what took her to the life where she met Fable's Father. Koy comes back again, along with West and all of the others and none of them appear to be who we think they are either...As I am writing this review, I am changing my rating to 4 stars because recapping made me think I liked it more than I originally did :)

Thanks to NetGalley for the copy for review!
The story of Fable continues in spectacular fashion. Full of family drama and diving in stormy waters, this sequel continues where Fable left off. We meet more of Fable's elusive family, and the various plots of her father Saint. I found the love story in this to be a bit cringey, and honestly felt like it was completely unnecessary, but the rest of the novel was absolutely fantastic. Great characters and fun scheming. I wouldn't say any plot devices or twists were surprises, but it made no difference as to the enjoyment of the book.

This was so much better than book one. I’m very impressed with what Young did here and the direction she took the story and characters. I didn’t care for Fable in book one because she didn’t feel developed but I loved her in this one. She definitely goes through some solid growth throughout the entire novel. The side characters are much better here as well. The plot was paced much better and I found that it really had me hooked from the very beginning. Also, more world building which was great because this setting is pretty cool.

The only thing I still think Young hasn’t quite mastered is the romance. Her romances never work for me and it didn’t here either unfortunately. I think because the hero, West, was the least developed character of the bunch. He was incredibly dull and it feels like I never got to know him. He and Fable lacked any romantic chemistry but I did like them working together.

I liked how everything wrapped up. I’m pretty sure this series is a duology and while book one left a lot to be desired for me this book definitely made up for it. It was a very fun read.

The Review
✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
Another gorgeous cover and I love how it fits with the first. I actually got approved for this one and then read the first in preparation.
💜 What I liked:
We are continuing to follow the path of Fable in her search for happiness and her journey to knowing herself. Still a lot of action but not as much kept my attention in this one as the first one.
😱 What I didn’t like:
Even though this book was thoroughly enjoyable, I felt like there was more filler than the first book. It wasn’t boring by any means, and the journey was still good. I just preferred the first book to this one. However, it is necessary to finish the duology if you have already read the first one
💁‍♀️ The Characters:
Same as before. Fable, West, Willa, Auster, Paj, and Hamish are still on the Marigold with a quest. Returning from the first book is Koy (from Fable’s past as a dredger), Zola (the villain), and Saint who is Fable’s father. New character Holland comes in with a new twist in the plot.
🚦 The Ending:
While the ending is sweet, I would have liked to see more about what the characters end up doing.
💭 Consider if you:
Have read the first one and love tales of adventure.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

I’m so sad it’s over!!!

This is one of those rare times that a story goes perfectly for me. There’s no second book disaster, no rushed ending because it needed to be a trilogy, it was just a perfect duology.

Fable is such a smart heroine and West ugh he’s just the right amount of tortured. I’m always a sucker for side characters and this book doesn’t disappoint! Saint, Clove, everyone aboard the Marigold, her grandmother (OMG). Like so well written!

Namesake is a Plot driven book and as such it’s a super fast read. There’s not going to be a lot of world building here, but it’s a duology and that’s expected! It’s the perfect ending to this story, but I’d totally be open to more stories in this world!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC, in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own!

I personally loved this book and devoured it in one day. The descriptive language is beautiful and soothing to my sea-loving soul. I was immediately drawn to these characters from the beginning of Book 1: Fable - and my live for them only grew as book 2 continued. However, I teach in a private Lutheran school. Even though it’s relatively mild, the physical/sexual nature of the relationship between unmarried youth is not one we condone or promote among our students. For this reason, I will not be using this in my classroom nor encouraging my students to read it.

Namesake by Adrienne Young is the second and final installment of the Fable Duology. Let me preface this by saying that I kept putting off reading Fable bc I was afraid of all the hype it was getting and I didn’t want to be disappointed….that said…. I most definitely was not disappointed and Namesake continued that trend. I thoroughly loved this series as a whole and, whereas Fable caught my attention from the start, Namesake filled my heart with its characters and the relationships between the different parts of Fable’s life.

Namesake picks up where Fable left off with Fable having been kidnapped by a competing Trader and one with a grudge, not only against West and The Marigold, but also Fable’s father, Saint. In this book we follow Fable as she sorts through her feelings and how to get out of her current mess. In this book we learn so much about Fable’s past and her family. We get to travel back to Jeval, sail into the Unnamed Sea, visit the people of Bastian and the fearsome Holland, and attend a Trade Council meeting between The Narrows and The Unnamed Sea. The growing romance between Fable and West continues and is both shattering and beautiful throughout the second book.

I love Fable as a female character. She is strong, sassy, and knows her own mind. She definitely doesn’t take any shit from others AND we get to see her grow, along with the rest of the crew of The Marigold. Now, obviously I love the relationship between Fable and West but I think, perhaps, my favorite characters are Auster and Clove. They are just real and supportive/understanding of Fable and her decisions, even when they don’t necessarily agree with her. I also love Saint. As a character he is both mysterious and strong and I really just loved him from the beginning…. Like you knew he was hiding so much but you also know that somewhere in there, he truly loves his daughter. It was the conversations between him and Fable that were my favorites…especially towards the end of Namesake.

I think anyone who loves high sea adventures and character growth will love this book/series. Sometimes when you have a duology the second book kind of tapers off and you have lot that is unnecessary fluff to fill the story or the author gives us an unbelievable amount of information into the last book but Adrienne Young managed to give you the perfect middle. The book was full of adventure and plot lines without being too full of fluff or information.