Namesake follows in the sails of its predecessor. Fable and her crew must face more hardships before they can have happy lives.

The end of Fable left me needing more and this novel delivered. The stakes are even higher in this one (which is so hard to believe!). Each character gains more depth with every page turn.

I cannot even express the full extent of my feelings without spoiling everything! But just know that I will be rereading both of these in the years to come. That's how good this duology is

5 Stars

Format | eBook/ARC

STORY

Characters | 5 stars
Fable, West, Saint, Clove, Koy, Willa, Auster...we know about everyone by the end and I cared about all of their fates.

Plot | 4 stars
It’s a simple plot, but it has the right twists and nothing I guessed too early. It didn’t need to be complicated to be excellent.

Setting | 5 stars
I felt as if I were out on the ship sailing open waters with the crew, stopping in ports with all their rough and polished edges.



TECHNICAL

Writing | 5 stars
I love Adrienne Young’s writing and how it’s evolved. She writes with feeling.

Editing | N/A
As an ARC, this is not a final version and editing will not be rated.

Execution | 5 stars
Perfect pacing, swift-moving, there were never any lulls. I feel battered like the Marigold after a storm 😄

EMOTIONAL

Engagement | 5 stars
Could not put it down. The characters are so intriguing and genuine.

Emotional Connection | 5 stars
”I have never loved anything the way I love you.” Gut me right now 😭❤️


Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Let me start with saying I absolutely loved Fable, so when I got the chance to read this so soon after I finished it, I was ecstatic. This book did not disappoint either! We had some major things answered as well as some confrontations what were a long time coming. The relationship between Fable and Saint fills you with a sense of longing, but without giving too much away, I will say that I was happy with how their relationship was resolved. And of course there's West who is my favorite, especially when you pull back his layers and get to the bottom of why he is the way he is. This was such a satisfying ending and I love the way that Adrienne tells a story. It's so beautiful and it makes me want to hop on a ship and sail away from this mess of a year. I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants an adventure with a strong female lead and a group of seafaring misfits.

The Quick Cut: The final book in a duology, a girl who finally has the deed to her ship finds it back in trouble. Forced to help a thug get an important partnership with a big time trader, she finds that not all is what it seems.

A Real Review:
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Life often comes with these seminal moments that stand out as important times when life changed in a significant way. Sometimes, these moments are anticipated while others come when you least expect it. For Fable, she thought that the most important moment was past her when more trouble came to challenge her again.

Fable finally has ownership of the Marigold when she finds her boat and crew being held hostage once again. A thug pulls Fable into his scheme to get a partnership with a powerful gem trader named Holland. Can she find a way through this latest situation and get her people free again? Or will this latest situation cost her everything she's worked so hard for?

Once again, I have to say that the cover artwork for this series is amazing! All of the details that are on the cover and how they tie into the story written on the pages? That takes some serious forethought and as a reader, I appreciate the detail. It speaks to how the author truly considered the entire book and how it came together as a whole. That being said, the story itself picks up right where book one ended and quickly takes off on an adventure. This is definitely one of those stories where you need to remember the storyline from the previous book to enjoy the current one.

Just like the cover, this book features some truly spectacular detailing. The worldbuilding is so solid that its hard not to be able to imagine every moment of the adventure on the seas. It such strong work that you can't help but wish you were there yourself to experience the waves and the reef. While the worldbuilding is next level, I did find it difficult to follow the litany of characters in this one. There's so many connections and unless the previous book is fresh in your mind, it is easy to get lost in who connects where.

The ending of this story is very satisfying while also providing plenty of drama right up to the moment where the final action comes. While some plot points you can see coming, that final moment is certainly surprising and I enjoyed the way it all came together.

An enjoyable end to a vibrant sea-faring world.

My rating: 4 out of 5

An epic conclusion to this seafaring adventure. There were a couple of different twists and turns that were unexpected! I love when an author isn't super predictable. I did feel the ending was a bit rushed/wasn't perfectly wrapped up, but it was still incredible. I highly recommend this duology.

**Free Arc provided by NetGalley**. Where to begin? The continuation of Fables story was something I was most anticipating however I found the my expectation to fall a bit flat. Although there were many movements and developments in the story, the characters didn’t seems to develop much from the first book. We didn’t learn or see more about these characters and I felt it was more about what is happening rather than how the characters see and feel about it happening. It just felt a bit detached. Overall, I loved the story and loved how it progressed. I am sad it’s at the end, as I want more from the characters but I am content with what I got.

This is Book two and the final book in the “Fable” duology.
There is no doubt that I was drawn to this great cover!
Although I didn’t read “Fable” Book One, I did read reviews so felt I was okay with moving to “Namesake’.

Story starts where “Fable’ left off. The ship Marigold is set out to start over with Fable and the crew. However, Fable gets caught in a scheme to help the bad guys’ partner with a powerful gem trader.
There are some bad and good relationship, some enjoyable qualities and no doubt there is a following who will just love this story

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for professional review purposes only. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for March 16, 2021

Fable #2. Lets give this beautiful cover its moment. The sun kissed, fiery, freckled, fierce exotic beauty on the cover jig sawed together with Book 1 is striking! With the promise of pirates, revenge and betrayal, how could this be any more captivating?
'Namesake' continues with Fable's story. She no longer is alone in the world and has gained family connections, a measure of wealth and an intriguing supply of enemies. We get to understand a little more why Fable was abandoned and who she is. The past, particularly Fable's mother's story is a strong theme in this book, driving the plot. What had me coming back for more is closure. I think the author was counting on this with this second book. Powerful people are now at play and Fable must be decisive in who she trusts.
There were so many agendas at play that at times I got lost in small plots. The strong connections that were forged in the first book were pushed to the back of the room in the second. Filling in the gaps of her backstory was so satisfying. However moving forward as to what Fable's story will become was lacking for me. The characters we were so drawn to, in this edition seem merely as fillers, this was disappointing because the character building was so strong, I wanted more!
Overall this was an exciting Young Adult Fantasy in an amazing world of mariners, pirates, free divers and treasure hunters. I ate it up, as I typically do with this author.

While I loved Fable and thought it was a fantastic sea adventure, Namesake blew me away! The journey that Fable and West go on is not easy. Seeing their struggle and coming to terms with each ones past was so fullfilling to see. Adrienne isn't done with plot twists and unexpected arrivals and had us guessing how it was going to wrap up until the end! I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this book like I need it so badly!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this e arc to review!

This book was a fantastic way to end a duology. This book tied up well and i feel very satisfied with the character stories. It was high stakes and was fairly unpredictable. There was one thing I had predicted at the beginning, but it is very minimal. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I don't tend to love books set on sea but I really enjoyed the way this book went. I also absolutely love West and all of his imperfections. I will fight for him 😤 ❤ This book was a pleasure to read.

Namesake is an epic conclusion to the Fable duology! A story of courage, sacrifice, love, betrayal, and adventure, Namesake picks up where Fable left off, and there is so much intrigue, maneuvering, and unexpected twists and turns that I found it difficult to put the book down.

Young’s skill in creating an immersive, atmospheric, and captivating setting is masterful. From the first lines, I was pulled into the story, and the author’s lyrical writing and use of vivid imagery and figurative language amazed me. The dialogue was smart, the descriptions made me feel like I was in the setting, and the story came to life as I read the words on the page.

The crew of The Marigold is another highlight of the story. Their presence, influence, and participation in many of the events that unfold prove invaluable. In this book, there is a bit more conflict among the crew. They can’t always be on the same page, and it’s interesting to see how they each deal with having differences of opinion. Ultimately, they prove that they will always fight for and support each other, even when they disagree.

We also learn a bit more about some of the crews’ pasts, which I liked. It’s interesting to see how events and people from their past helped to define them. Also, people from The Marigold and Fable’s past come into play in this book and add to the intricate layers of betrayal, greed, and societal maneuvering. It’s a story with secrets upon secrets and revelations that affect everyone and change everything.

This is particularly true with Fable, who has a complicated relationship with many people in the story. She is a complicated person herself, and the more Fable learns about her mother, Saint, and the past, the more complicated her relationships become. The Marigold is the only place where Fable truly feels like she belongs. The crew accepts her and has embraced her as part of their team and their family. This is particularly poignant, as Fable feels rejected by her blood relatives.

I find her relationship with Saint particularly intriguing, as they’re so different yet so similar. They don’t see eye to eye on much, and they have a lot of baggage. Even though Saint has treated Fable terribly, she never gives up on him. It was interesting to see what happened between father and daughter.

Another relationship that is explored more in Namesake is the romance between Fable and West. It’s a harsh and brutal world, and I love that Fable and West try to eke out a little happiness for themselves. We learn so much more about West in Namesake, which really explains a lot about his stoicism, loyalty, and feelings about himself. There is a dark side to West that he must reconcile, and throughout the story, we see his more vulnerable side and his true feelings for Fable.

I loved everything about this book – the swashbuckling adventure, the immersive setting, the layers upon layers of characterization and plot, the plethora of interesting relationships, the quick and captivating pacing, and the amazing imagery. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Wednesday Books, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

I was going to hold off on reading this one until closer to the release date to review this, but I just couldn't wait any longer. All I can say is wow. Just wow. This is the book 2021 needs.

Namesake is the second book of Adrienne Young's Fable duology. And it was equally amazing in my opinion. Maybe even better?

Action? Check. Emotion? Check. Captivating writing? Check. I'll echo what I said about the first book: Young is a talented writer who has done her research and Fable is still an absolute badass.

I kind of wish the first book was combined with the second so it was just one long book, because the first one was the perfect beginning with all the world-building and the  ending of this second book was perfection. I understand that it would be extremely long though, so I get it.

Not sure if you'll like a YA pirate fantasy book? (That was me) But read it anyway. I think you'll like it.

As soon as I finished Fable, I wanted to start Namesake right away. I held off, but started it at 3am wanting to just read something since apparently insomnia was settling in ... and I read it in one sitting. It is THAT GOOD. I absolutely adored Fable, and this was the perfect continuation of the book. It picks up right where Fable ended, making the two books feel like one long glorious book. You get to adventure on the ocean with all your favorite characters, and have some new ones revealed that throw some wrenches into the mix. I loved getting to see a little bit more of some characters' back stories. Adrienne Young did such a great job keeping me guessing throughout the book, only revealing what was actually happening as the characters experienced it themselves. My only complaint is that I wish there were approximately 32 more books, because I didn't want the book to end & have the duology be complete. This is definitely one I will be rereading over & over again!

Namesake

Thank you to Netgalley for granting me access to Namesake before the publishing date!

I finished Namesake before Christmas, but I wanted to sit on it before I wrote my review. I love the world that Fable lives in. There’s so many unique and interesting places that make me continue reading this story. I also very much love the characters. They make the world believable and make me love the direction that the story went in.

Overall, I think anyone who enjoyed Fable will love the continuation of the story. It doesn’t throw you too much to the wolves like some books. The integrity of the personalities of the characters stay the same, and you understand why each character reacts the weary that they do and it doesn’t make you want to throw the book at the wall.

In terms of romance, you’ll always see that spark between Fable and West although Namesake is very much character/story driven not romance driven. Normally I hate that, but it works for Fable and West. You also get some awesome new characters in this story along with a little more backstory on a character you met in the beginning of Fable. It’s actually quite awesome watching how you start to like a character you thought you hated.

Warning: As likeable as this book was for me, there were some points in the writing that I’m hoping didn’t escape from editors eyes. For example, there would be a high adrenaline scene and she leaves something behind and then the next chapter would be her having that something in her hands. It’s very small but it happens a couple times which is high key annoying. It didn’t affect the quality of the book for me, but it did make me stop and wonder why the retrieval of the thing was left out.

Like my review for Fable, I give this book 4 stars. It would have been 5 stars if not for those writing concerns that made me stop and question things.

Namesake was exactly what I hoped it to be. It was such a beautiful story, full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author has a way with words that make me feel so much for the characters. I was truly invested in this story. She also did a wonderful job wrapping up the story. I wish there were more of Fable and more adventure and romance, but I'm happy with how it ends.  

I won't say much because I don't want to spoil book 1 or 2, so I'll say this. The story picks up where book 1 left off. The world building is even more developed, the characters are truly well fleshed out with their flaws and qualities. The story will keep you on your toes because there are no dull moments. Namesake is truly a riveting story and I highly recommend it.

What a freaking page turner. Couldn’t wait to get my hands on this sequel to see the fate of fable and her crew. This book was non stop and I couldn’t put it down. Literally did not see the end coming. At all. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Namesake, the second book in the Fable duology, did not disappoint! We continue to follow Fable as she braves the seas and confronts her roots with her new found family, the crew of the Marigold. There is scheming, kidnapping, deception and many relationships questioned and tested. This book does not come up short in the adventure department! While we get to dive deeper into the personal stories of characters we know from book one, we also get a handful of new characters. The author is great at keeping you guessing on where everyones loyalties are. The main plot Namesake almost has a bit of a heist feel to it. Experiencing this world and its characters was so much fun and I was very happy with how the story was wrapped up in the end.

Fable was my #1 book of 2020, so when I got Namesake from Net Gallery, you could imagine my excitement! Going from Fable then to Namesake, I read it in one night, I flew right through it!

Life on the high seas can be rough, but the dramas on land can even be worse. The twist and turns of who’s who to whom. *raise eyebrows* I loved to see Fable’s development and strength going into new struggles of the pirate world. I highly recommend Namesake to end the amazing writing from Fable!

I really enjoy the author’s writing! The world was beautifully executed and the morally grey characters interesting. I enjoyed learning more about her family in this installment

So like Namesake more than Fable.
In this book Fable was a better character and a true Saint's daughter. I thought her story was better in this book, with all the twists and turns. In the other hand West storyline sounded more intriguing in the first book, I must confess that in this book I didn't like him very much.
Saint and Clove were a brilliant duo, always a step ahead. Koi was also a very good surprise and became one of favorite characters. Holland was a terrible person that only look for herself, no matter what.
The crew of Marigold should have more scenes, it would be so cool to know all of theirs stories.