Where to even begin...... I LOVE IT. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED READING IT! Namesake is the sequel to Fable and my god, I was crying over how much it touched me. Namesake picks up right where Fable left off with Fable being taken by Zola and forced onto his ship. The story follows her as she navigates surviving Zola, meeting Holland, and going on a quest to find a rare stone that only her mother found, all the while trying to keep the Marigold crew from being taken by Holland and trying to free not only herself but Saint. The real heart of this book was the growing relationship between Saint and Fable, that beautiful kind of family love, that they would do anything and love each other no matter what because thats what family does. I adored their connection and the unraveling of what truly happened to Fable when Saint left her on the island. The reasons for the complicated decisions they both made and I just... there really are no words for the beautiful relationship. I did love seeing the Marigold crew again and I loved the relationship between West and Fable. West and Fable are two people who will do anything for those that mean something to them, they will shoulder all the costs and go to the ends of the earth, and seeing them trying to protect each other was a wonderful thing to see. Yes, they’re in love, but the beautiful thing is that, they found a family in each other and that was what was so beautiful in their relationship. I just adored everything about this book and thought it was a wonderful way to end the duology. ( Honestly, I wouldn’t mind more books... I so badly want to know more about Saint). This book had so much, from family love, friendships, love, adventure, deceptions, and above all, what it means to be part of a crew.

*Thank you so much Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an arc of this in exchange for an honest review*

Namesake is the sequel to Fable, which I read and loved earlier this year. Since my only complaint with that book was that I needed the sequel, I’m glad this was released on Netgalley so quickly! That being said, while I did enjoy this book, it did not quite capture the magic of the first one.

Namesake picks up right where Fable left off, with our main character Fable captured aboard a rival traders ship. I loved this part of the book, it was tense and intriguing as Fable tries to figure out why Zola wants her on board and why her fathers old navigator, now Zola’s navigator, would have betrayed her. Koy, with whom Fable did not part on good terms when she left Jeval, is also on the ship. I really enjoyed seeing his character again, he and Fable have a good dynamic as they are both survivors.

After this part of the book, we meet the renowned trader Holland, who wants Fable to work for her, and get to reunite with the crew of the Marigold. The crew are all angry at both Fable and West, for what are honestly completely justifiable reasons, but still it made for rather more stressful reading than when they were unified against a common foe, or even when they didn’t trust Fable because they didn’t know her. I had really been hoping to get to see more of the crew as a whole, and was definitely a bit disappointed not to really get that. But there are still adventures, and thrilling diving excursions, so while the almost found family feeling the first book left me with wasn’t really there in this one, it was still a good read. And the ending was very satisfying!

Probably one of my favorite reads from this year. It’s like Adrienne Young knew what I wanted and gave it to me.

“Revenge is a powerful motivator.”

Okay, let’s get something out of the way. This is a pirate book and the amount of back stabbing is ridiculous. It’s also delicious. DELICIOUS. Like the best back stabbing soap opera schemes out there. And Saint, whose name I’m still not sure is his birth name, but why would he choose that pirate name? Also, we have West, Fable, and Holland. All the names are super eccentric. All of them. So I guess Saint could be his actual name. ANYWAYS, (sorry, I’m tired and can’t focus) Saint is a bastard. But like Fable said.

“Saint was a bastard, but he was mine. He belonged to me.”

So nothing new there. Saint continued to be Saint. Because let’s be honest he was awful to Fable. Just awful. Parent of the year he was not. I mean her mother died a horrible death and he automatically dumps her in the worst Island he can find full of the worst type of men. A child. She was a child!! By the way this is not a spoiler it happened in Fable, book one. Honestly, I needed more than just words. I needed so many actions to forgive the adults in Fable’s life. I know love makes you do dumb things and forgiving the actions of ADULTS who are suppose to take care of you but leave you to fend for yourself NEEDED MORE! Much, much more, but I hold grudges so...in my opinion Fable deserved more than what she got but again, grudges. I had so many feels about this.

A new character is introduced and even though I wanted more of Isolde, Fable’s mom’s backstory, Holland (new character, mentioned in book one) brought some major drama. Like MAJOR. I also don’t know why I keep capitalizing everything but if a book deserves, no earns, capitalized words it’s this book.

“I should have known the moment I saw him that Saint was up to something. Now I was entangled in whatever scheme they’d hatched and it wasn’t likely that I’d come out unscathed.”

Poor Fable, this has bugged me since book one. She somehow inherited all of her parents problems. And she keeps having to deal with her parents problems in book two. If this bugs you in book one it gets worse in this book.

“Our bad luck charm is back!”

What I LOVED!! The crew and the ship, The Marigold, were everything to me. Fable found her home and I wanted her to have her happily ever after. The crew saw her. Like really saw her and accepted her with all her family drama. They cared for her.

West. Ugh. I don’t know how I feel about him. I’m just glad he’s at least consistent. I didn’t know how to feel about him in book one and I don’t know how to feel about him in book two.

For the most part it was a satisfying ending. There was even more sailing and traveling. The amount of danger went up a notch. There were pirates doing pirate things. I was left with one big question though, Henrik... I’m pretty sure West said he didn’t know his father only his name. Wasn’t it Henrik, he said his name in book one. Maybe it was cut. Or maybe I’m so tired I’m making things up. I loved this series. Like I said before it was everything I didn’t know I needed.

I don’t know how she does it — Adriennes writing is stunning. Like I said with Fable, she sets the tone perfectly, allowing you to truly feel as though you are THERE. The details in her writing truly let you imagine as though you are experiencing it with all of your senses — you can see the water on the horizon, hear the waves crash into the Marigold, and feel the current when it’s pulling you deeper. You can smell the salt in the air and taste it in your mouth. I will absolutely look forward to any book she writes.

I really tried to savor this one. I read FABLE too quickly and was so happy to see this one available on NetGalley so early. However, trying to make this book last proved harder than I had hoped. Here’s to hoping there’s more stories set in the Narrows or the Unnamed Sea in the future!

I was so excited to see both books available so that I didn't need to wait to continue this fabulous story. Diving into warm waters rather than the icy fjords of Adrienne Young's normal stories was still just as captivating. Her pirates and smugglers are as compelling as viking warriors. I love a female protagonist that can save herself.

I absolutely loved this follow up to Fable. There were so many values throughout both books of friendship, loyalty and trust. I adore books focused on found family and trusting new bonds. This series is as atmospheric as Young’s other books and is definitely setting a theme for her writing. She has quickly become an auto-purchase author for me!

Absolutely LOVED this book from start to finish!! The only criticism I have is that I am not ready for Fable's story to be over.

My heart is happy and shattered at the same time. Namesake was just as amazing as Fable (book 1) and I am so sad that the story is over. I would definitely read more books set in this world, from any of the other secondary characters. You get to know them, as if they are real friends.
Namesake, had some great twists, some I saw coming and a couple I didn't. Though this took me longer to read than Fable, it was not from lack of interest, I just did NOT want it to end! My co-worker actually picked on me because I told her just that, I don't want it to end.

The story is so beautifully written. I could see everything so vividly. and at times I felt like I could smell and taste the salty air. I was transported to a new world and I loved every second I was traveling the Narrows with Fable, West, and the Marigold crew.

The love story is so sweet.

The father-daughter bond goes deeper than what is originally seen.

If you want to be transported into a cut throat world that leaves you needing more.... this duology is going to give you everything you need for a high seas adventure with a gratifying ending.

Adrienne Young continues to impress with her ability to not only capture the high stakes adventures of sea traders but also create characters who truly feel at home on the waves. Her description of the world and it's everyday life creates a unique landscape. This is an outstanding duology that does not suffer from sophomore slump, but adequately raises the risk in Namesake while also resolving conflicts from the first book.

At the conclusion of Fable, our main heroine found herself kidnapped by Zola and shocked by an encounter with an old friend. Clove, the man who used to be the right hand of her father, now works for Zola. Enraged at this turn of events, Fable is forced to work as a dredger for Zola until his ultimate plans for her are revealed. Zola hires a number of dredgers including Fable's enemy, Koy, to undertake a huge dive and deliver an impossible amount of gems. As Fable works for Zola, she delves further into the cutthroat politicals between the Narrows traders and Holland, who wants to take over. She also soon discovers secrets about her mother that could threaten everything she holds dear, including West and the Marigold.

Duologies are not easy to write as authors have a shorter span of work to not only introduce a world, characters, and conflicts but to resolve the story in a satisfying way and show the character's progression. Fable started out as a naive girl trapped on an island, who only wanted her father's approval, as well as, a place by his side. By the end of the first book, Fable discovered she could survive without Saint and build her own life. The second book expands upon Fable's relationship with her father and explores how her mother's past comes to haunt her. Fable, using the skills she acquired on Jeval and Marigold, eventually overcomes these obstacles and finally stands on her own. Overall, Young is successful in transforming Fable from a girl trapped on an island and weighed down by her parents' pasts to a powerful contender in Narrows and Unnamed Sea.

Young was also successful in creating a plot that raised the stakes and built upon the established story from the first book. In Namesake, Young expands beyond the Narrows and ventures out beyond the geography of the first book. This includes introducing powerful players, such as Holland, who wants nothing more than to take over trade in the Narrows and establish a crippling monopoly that would wipe out local traders. This was hinted at in the first book, but now this conflict comes into the forefront as Fable is forced to outwit Holland to preserve her homeland and her father's name. It was ingenious of Young to establish common ground with Saint by adding a shared foe, who threatened everything. This raised the risks and the story went right into the next conflict instead of just meandering around for a while, i.e. Fable sailing around on the Marigold until trouble found her, as I originally feared.

The only downfall to this duology is that it sacrificed the development of other characters to make room for the conflict with Holland. Mainly, this can be seen with the crew of the Marigold, who were relegated to the background. As a result of the story, the crew did not appear until halfway through the book when West came to Fable's rescue. When Fable decides to appease Holland, the crew are upset with her decision and West's support, which also meant they were kinda mad in the background for most of the book. This is most evident with Willa, who's interactions with Fable are limited and just show her as annoyed. Therefore, the beloved crew do not get the same development as Fable or even West, but exist in the background of the conflict with Holland.

Wow, what a great sequel! Fable was one of the best books I've read so far this year and Namesake turned out to be just as satisfying. A thrilling adventure duology with compelling and well developed characters. I'm sad to see them go. One of my favorite relationships was between Fable and Saint. I was pleased we got a deeper look into that with this book. Needless to say, I loved these books from start to finish! Hi9hly recommend!!

This was such a strong ending for these characters and all the secrets and heartache and adventure was wonderful. The descriptions were beautiful and I loved how do the characters stories wove together to make this magical tale. I enjoyed Namesake more than Fable for sure. This book was so beautifully done and I absolutely adored it. I wish there was more for this world but it was wrapped up perfectly for a duology. Readers who loved Fable will be blown away by Namesake.

Namesake is the stunning conclusion to the Fable duology. I could not wait to return to Fable’s world and continue her journey! As Fable retraces her parents’ steps in a desperate race to pay off a steep debt, Fable and West are tested like never before. When family secrets are revealed, the stakes rise, and Fable must make difficult choices about her family and future. I found myself completely spellbound, unable to put the book down until it reached its enthralling conclusion.

One of my favorite things about Adrienne Young’s writing is how vivid and clear each scene is that she paints. You can taste the salt from the ocean, feel the sway of the boat as it cuts over the waves, and bask in the warmth of the sun. Her characters feel real and complex, with deeply compelling motivations. As a reader, an instinctive connection is formed with them, which makes the story that much more captivating.

Namesake is an immersive story, which pulls you in and doesn’t let go until the very last page. It is the gripping story of a strong heroine determined to save her family, friends, and outwit a host of shadowy enemies. The world-building is exquisite and I didn’t want the story to end. If you haven’t read Fable, you should read it first before diving into Namesake. This is one of my favorite duologies and I’m so glad that I had the chance to experience Fable’s story! Namesake releases March 16, 2021. Thank you so very much to Adrienne Young, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Trader. Fighter. Legend -- the cover art's mantra to Namesake is no joke! Adrienne Young's conclusion to Fable is a thrilling and powerful ride. Seamlessly blending action, relationships and mystery, Namesake creates a "can't put the book down" narrative. In terms of world-building, Namesake expands the boundaries of Fable's world, offering up rich detail that immediately transports the reader and helps depict the dichotomy between the world Fable knows and the world that could be hers. Namesake is a must read conclusion that both satisfies and leaves you looking to the horizon for more.

Namesake drops readers right back into a high-seas adventure, where Fable is fighting for more than just her life. Caught between the ghosts of her past and drive to see her crew again, Fable grabs onto her destiny and will do whatever it takes to win.

Adrienne Young has become an auto buy author for me. This duology was so good, and I was so happy to get to devour it up, one after another. Thank you NetGalley, and thank you to the publisher for that! This was such a fantastic closing piece, and I adored every second of it. The twists and turns, the characters, the emotions... all of it was truly amazing. I cannot wait to get a final copy of this to go on my shelf with my final copy of Fable! They’re going to look so pretty next to each other, and this will be a series I pick to reread sooner rather than later!!

Wow! This was such a great read. was so gripped by both parts of this story that I feel empty knowing the story is complete. The emotional rollercoaster was amazing in its range. The visuals were breathtaking. The plot thickens, twisty, turning, like rough waters. But these characters. I'm going to miss them with my whole heart. They came to life in a truly spectacular fashion. Fable. She's such the perfect heroine in her real nature. Everyone of the characters had that realness and they all stood out as unique voices. I really look forward to reading more from his author and highly recommend this series.

Finishing the Fable duology left me with dueling emotions churning inside like a choppy sea. I'm captivated by this fantastic story, amazing world and dynamic characters. And yet, I hated reading the last page knowing it was The End. Now I'm mourning the loss of Fable, West, Willow, Saint and the rest of the motley crew I've come to love. Young does an incredible job of weaving everything together and bringing plot lines to a satisfying closure in Namesake. I'm just not ready to give these characters up, and I don't think you'll be either. You MUST read Fable, book one first and avoid all spoilers for both books. If you do, this story will sweep you away like a riptide.

The Fable duology is hands down one of the best young adult fantasy stories I've ever read - that includes both books! Like a siren's song, this tale lured me in with rich, expressive sights, sounds, smells, and oh so many feels. Namesake continues where Fable left off. If you've read Fable, you know that Fable (the protagonist) is blindsided at the end of book one by a notorious foe using her as a pawn in a complex power game. Stormy seas are ahead for Fable as she calls upon her strength and special talents to persevere and survive against all odds. And just when she and readers think she's worked her way through all the deceit and betrayals, a storm of secrets unravel inundating her with more shocking truths. What will Fable have to sacrifice to protect loved ones? Will she lose everything?

Namesake is a majestic tale of courage, power, betrayal, sacrifice, secrets and risking it all for love. The characters are bigger than life - potent and colorful and flawed and real. I want more stories about this heart-stealing cast. The setting and world building are unbelievably good - magnificent, overwhelming, unexpected and ever changing like the sea. Fast paced action drives the story and readers forward as plot lines tangle and twist. I planned to read Namesake over the long weekend . . . talk about famous last words. I started reading page one Friday night and finished the book in the wee hours of Saturday morn. There's no stopping once you begin, my friends. Beware and set some time aside because you won't be able to put this one down. Namesake is an epic tale of survival, sacrifice, and the search for truth - the search for "home". I highly recommend both books - Fable & Namesake to readers everywhere. This is a journey you don't want to miss, my friends.

Hopefully you checked my above disclaimer before reading this review, and if you are here you have already read and LOVED Fable like I did. I didn’t expect to get this eARC for a few more months at least as Namesake comes out in March of 2021. Imagine my pleasant surprise when this beauty popped up on my approved list on Netgalley!

There is something that Adrienne Young and Tricia Levenseller will always have in common for me – their books are ALWAYS one sitting reads. In fact, it is almost five in the morning for me, yet here I sit having devoured Namesake over the course of the last few hours. Something about Adrienne Young’s writing sucks me in and keeps me so captivated that little else matters. She has a gift for writing books that are both beautiful and easy to read.

I was beyond thrilled to see the world expanded upon in this second installment of Young’s newest duology. I was curious about the world established in Fable and am so glad that we as readers get to experience more of it in Namesake. I was also extremely curious about the relationship between Saint and Isolde and feel as though I got much needed information about their tragic love story in this book. We also got the opportunity to study more of Fable’s family ties, including her relationship with Saint. I loved seeing them together and also adored the inclusion of someone else from her past (you’ll see who I mean)

There were a few things that kept this from being a 5 star read for me like Fable was. The main thing that bothered me was the return of a character I HATED in the first book. Not only was this character returned in Namesake, they were redeemed in a way that I felt was a bit too easy. While I’m never opposed to a good redemption arc, I feel that this particular character should’ve had to work harder to receive theirs.

I also found myself annoyed with West throughout the majority of the second half of Namesake. While I understood why he was acting the way he was…for the most part, I wanted to push him into the ocean in the middle of a storm. He somehow went from being one of my newest book boyfriends, to an ex I wasn’t sure I wanted to see again. While he did get better before the book ended, those chapters where he annoyed me will definitely stick in my head.

Overall, while I felt that Fable was the stronger book int his duology, I did end up devouring and really enjoying Namesake. I feel like there is so much more world for Adrienne Young to explore here and genuinely hope that she writes more books set in this universe. Spin offs are always welcome, just saying.

❝That first day on the Marigold came rushing back to me, standing in the passageway with my hand pressed to the crest on the door. I had been a stranger in that place , but I’d come to belong there. And now everything within me ached for it. A flash of heat lit beneath my skin, the sting of tears gathering in my eyes. Because I’d been a fool. I’d let myself believe, even if it was just for a moment, that I was safe. That I’d found a home and a family. And in the time it took to draw a single breath, it was all torn away.❞

We begin where 'Fable' leaves off—our daring heroine being taken by Zola and Clove, a previous Lark mate whose ‘betrayal’ was unfathomable, and forced to become a dredger to the Luna where the crew is journeying to the Unnamed Sea empty handed. That freedom that she once experienced when the Marigold was free of her father, Saint, 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. Barreling through betrayal, deception, and the secrets that her mother, Isolde, kept well guarded years prior to her death, Fable must risk everything including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

As we follow Fable through the emotional journey back home I have come to realize that the first appearances can deceive many and when the story unfolds, as the reader we get a better understanding and insight of the prominent standout characters that include Saint, Zola, Clove and Koy. And that could’ve only happened with the remarkable writing style of the author who, like I stated in my ‘Fable’ review, improved drastically since 'The Girl the Sea Gave Back'. She was able to shed light upon our crew, make the characters so perfectly crafted and authentically vivid—aiding the story to latch on to you and never let you go.

Now keep in mind as much as I rant and rave about this brilliant followup, there is another other side of the coin. There was a lot of build up with Zola and Luna heading to the Unnamed Seas to make amends with Holland. It was short and abrupt when they landed, and left a lot of questions unanswered in regards to the relations to Zola, the bounty on his head and Fable’s mother. I would have loved to have had more insight on his relationship with Isolde and what led her to leave his ship prior to meeting Saint.

Be that as it may, the high expectations I had for 'Namesake' were formed, met and thoroughly exceeded. From the absolutely stunning cover (she’s a beauty!) to the epic conclusion of this YA fantasy, the novel's impact resonates long after you finish it and will be an instant re-read in the very near future.

This was a perfect conclusion to this duology. I am in awe of the character development Adrienne Young was able to achieve in two short books. I’m sad to leave this cast of characters for sure. I know readers will be on the edge of their seats while reading this conclusion while simultaneously swooning and wishing they were on the crew of The Marigold,

OK, y'all! She has done it again! I can't tell you enough how much I have LOVED Fable and her story!! It just has everything, and is so well written! In this second installment, you have more pirate adventures, twists and turns that will leave your jaw wide open, and a good dose of romance!

The ending wrapped it all up perfectly, but man will I miss these characters and their adventures! Is it fair to ask Young to never stop writing about Fable and her gloriously, grungy world?