The first book was better, but I still enjoyed the sequel to this story. Young has a way to enrapture us and make us feel the feelings of her characters, sometimes acutely.

I really loved fable and was excited to be able to read the sequel so soon. I loved a lot of the same things about this book that I loved about Fable: compelling characters, beautiful writing, complex relationships. I will say that some things bothered me a little in this part of the story.

SPOILERS>>>

I felt like Saint's explanation for why he abandoned Fable and left her to barely survive on her own just didn't cut it. I'm fine with them making peace and I get that a child's love for a parent can survive a lot of terrible treatment, but him saying he left her because he was terrified by his love for her just didn't sit right. And in a similar way, West's behavior and the way fable responds to it made me uncomfortable at times. In both of those relationships, I started to feel like Fable was making excuses for their bad treatment of her and inability to communicate and to rationalize and compensate for the imbalances in those relationships in ways that aren't emotionally healthy. I would have liked to see her demand more from the men in her life.

"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." ~ "Namesake"


This sequel did not disappoint! I love every moment of this adventure. Adrienne Young really surpassed herself in terms of plot structure, creation of suspense, and character development. In only the span of two books, the characters in this world have matured so much! I can't believe Fable went from being a young girl trapped on Jeval to a sailing entrepreneur!


Fable is still one of my favorite heroines. She acknowledges her flaws in this book and does her best to overcome them. While most female characters would panic about being captured and hope their boyfriends would save them, Fable uses this time to get to know her captor. I'm glad the kidnapping storyline ended rather quickly - I was ready for Fable to escape like a badass! Clove making an appearance was a wonderful surprise and I liked that Fable had to come to terms with their new relationship. Also, what West did to try and find Fable, oh my gosh!


Fable and West's relationship grows even stronger in "Namesake." At first, it was annoying that they were separated, but that separation only seemed to bring them closer together. I love the practicality of their relationship; they always look after each other and it's an equal partnership. He trusts her instincts and only helps her when she needs it. West is a formidable character in his own right, but I like that he's a constant figure in Fable's life.


As for my critiques, only one aspect of the novel frustrated me. Willa, one of my favorite characters, had a minor role in the plot. I wished we could have seen more of her! She was more present in the previous book. Since she has such a strong and willful personality, her absence was felt. Her background status would have made sense if she hadn't been on board the Marigold, but she was. However, I am very happy with Willa's ending! It feels perfect for her character.


A few more aspects of the book that I enjoyed: the moment West said, "set course for Yuri's Constellation," my heart stopped. That is one committed guy! I love it. Also, when Paj made the joke, "Is there a bastard from here to the Narrows you're not related to?" I almost snorted my coffee. The humor in this novel was on point! Finally, I was shocked at the turn Saint's character takes. Before I saw him as the villain, but now he seems more like an anti-hero.


I'm sad that this epic duology is over now, but I absolutely loved it. It's going up on my list as one of my favorite series of all time. I now have a major book hangover. My heart still resides on the Marigold!

Sometimes you read a book or duology or series that you really just want to live in and this world, the one where Fable lives, is one that I want to visit! I loved the first book and this was exactly what I was hoping for in a sequel; adventure, the seas, high stakes, mystery, intrigue, friendship and passion. I devoured this book and I reread Fable prior to reading Namesake and I"m glad I did because it was fresh in my mind. Fable quickly has become one of my favorite female protagonists. She is fierce and brave and unapologetic. Reading this story was a joy and it went to quickly. I tried to slow down halfway through the book to absorb it even more but the beautiful writing just carries the reader along for the ride with the crew of the Marigold. I hope that Young revisits this world in the future! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Namesake is everything I want in a sequel - higher stakes, expanded world-building, a deeper understanding of characters, and a satisfying ending. I couldn't put Fable down and Namesake was the same. I loved seeing Fable navigate new spaces and untangle new mysteries. It was so satisfying to watch her finally take control of her own life and mold it into something she wanted it to be. I loved the found family aspect of her crew and the way that everyone gets the ending they deserved. This series is one of the best I've read this year and I can't wait to recommend it to my teens!

Why did it have to end!?! I don’t want to give anything away in my review because you really need to experience “Namesake” as you read it but I just have to say that Fable is FIERCE! I absolutely love her! She really can’t catch a break; she’s always having to try and out-strategize everyone and it’s really starting to take its toll. There’s some tension between the crew of the Marigold but everyone’s still along for the ride. We finally get to learn more about Auster and Paj, Willa, and Hamish too!

Lots of questions are answered and the story wraps up perfectly! But seriously, I was actually a little sad when I finished reading because I wasn’t ready to let the characters go!

Adrienne Young concludes the Fable duology with Namesake, another caper on the high seas. Fable thought she had finally found a home with the crew of the Marigold, but before she can let her guard down she is kidnapped by Zola, an unscrupulous trader looking to gain leverage over his competition. His ship is home to more than one unwelcome face from Fable’s past and she must watch her back while unwillingly complying with his demands. Does she dare to involve herself with even more dangerous and powerful traders to escape Zola’s grasp?

I was eager to get my hands on Namesake after reading Fable. What would happen to the scrappy dredger after she was kidnapped by a man determined to destroy the Marigold and her father’s trading empire? Would she be able to reunite with West and the crew of the Marigold? Young doesn’t disappoint, delivering another plot full of danger and surprise twists. Fable must outsmart Zola and her other enemies in an attempt to win the freedom of those she loves. In doing so, she must also learn about her mother’s mysterious past and their shared talent as gem sages. While the first book in this duology introduced us to the world Fable inhabits, Namesake pushes those boundaries further, into the Unnamed Sea.

Finally free of her father and her past, Fable is ready to set sail with the crew of the Marigold when it all falls apart. Fable finds herself aboard Zola's ship, the Luna, quickly sailing away from the man she loves and family she finally found among its crew. Fable quickly discovers she is a pawn in a much bigger scheme involving a partnership with Holland, a powerful gym trader. As more of her families secrets are revealed, she finds herself plunged deeper into betrayal and deceit. Fable will have to follow her heart and risk everything to save the ones she loves.

All the stars!!! This has been one of my favorite series this year and I am so sad that this duology has ended. Namesake is the second novel, and the epic ending, in the Fable saga. Fable discovers more about her families past and the connections that place her as a pawn in a dangerous game. I absolutely love the characters in this novel and I can't believe it's over. I was completely drawn to Fable's character as she is a spirited young woman who has survived more than most and yet still chooses compassion. In this novel we get to see the return of several characters from the first novel as well as the introduction of a new character-Holland. The Fable saga is an epic fantasy you won’t want to miss as a cast of unlikely characters set sail among the high seas to face danger both above and below the ocean's surface...a must read!

*This review is based on an uncorrected proof copy provided by the publisher.*

4/5 stars

Following the events of Fable, Namesake finds us on the deck of the Luna. Fable has been kidnapped by Zola, an enemy of her father and her crew, the crew of the Marigold. Separated from her new family, Fable vows to do everything in her power to escape. Fable is forced to dredge the ocean for an impossible amount of gems. Zola is seeking a deal with Holland, the fiercest gem trader on the Unnamed Sea. What Fable finds when they make port in Bastian will change her life, and the lives of West and the Marigold crew, forever.

The conclusion to Adrienne Young's duology puts readers through a different sort of adventure than the first book, Fable. While dredging, ships, and swashbuckling are still part of the story, Fable and her family are now thrust into the world of trading politics. They are forced into the middle of an ongoing dispute between the Trade Councils of the Unnamed Sea and the Narrows, and the fate of both lie in the balance.

Young continues to impress with her character development and evocative writing. The imagery and setting of the story are only broadened in this second book, expanding on what worked best in Fable. We are able to get further into Fable's head and understand what makes her tick, what scares her, and what motivates her. Readers will enjoy the dynamics between the different trading factions, and root for Fable and her crew to find a solution that saves them all.

While Namesake is an excellent book, I did feel that it was a little anticlimactic from the action and pacing of Fable. The introduction of more elaborate politics does seem to slow the book down in the middle, and I found myself missing the interactions between Fable and the Marigold crew. I did enjoy the expansion of the lore and mythos of the world, but.I found myself wanting more. The final political twist does not seem wholly earned, and I would be interested to read a final copy of this book to see if the plot is fleshed out a bit more in that section.

Readers of the first book will be excited to conclude Fable's adventures so soon. Young appears to leave herself room to return to the world of the Narrows, and I would be excited to read more stories set in this world. Overall, a fun duology with a fast pace, enthralling characters, and a world worth coming back to.

This book picks up exactly where Fable left us, on the deck of a boat with someone we thought was dead and in the hands of someone we are sure is going to kill Fable when he has a chance.

It was a racing adventure filled with twists and unexpected revelations. I loved the continuation of Fable’s story and more details on her past and the past of those closest to her.

I throughly enjoyed this book!

A satisfying end to a duology that makes me wonder why both books were released as arcs so early.

“Namesake” picks up where book one left off with Fable in the hands of those who wish to bring about the downfall of her father and control the seas but with someone from her mother’s past as the front runner, Fable must decide where her loyalties lie and just how far she’s willing to go to protect what she wants most.

While I think Fable was stronger with developing the dynamics of the sea and those who call it home giving us the fun pirate like adventure story, this book does a good job of expanding on the world of the traders themselves and providing answers to all the secrets that Isolde has left behind with her passing. Seeing the layers to her story as each new secret is revealed only makes the pay off that much better.

That being said I wish we had more time with those we met in book one. While I understand that they needed to shift focus in order to build up the threat it was sad to spend so little time with the characters I had fallen in love with in favor of the chess game like politics.

I think this is a strong duology that managed to tie up the lose ends without feeling cheated and the overall message of family whether it is found or made is a powerful one.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

This duology is in a league of its own.

Once again, AY's writing has transported me straight into my fantasy of living a stolen life on the open seas with the salty wind in my hair and a map in my hand, with a loyal crew by my side and the unknown on the horizon.

This sequel is just as daring, just as adventurous, and just as swashbuckling. I do kind of wish this second half was just combined with the first book - I think it would have balanced out nicely to just have been one longer story, as I noticed there isn't as much world-building or character development in this sequel (specifically the side characters). It's very plot focused, but it's so fast-paced that it's easy to overlook everything else.

But I absolutely love how this story is resolved. It has a perfect beginning with ‘Fable’ and ‘Namesake’ gives it a perfect ending.

A satisfying conclusion to the duology! Adrienne Young wows with her lyrical writing and multifaceted characters.

This book was so so good !! I really enjoyed it! So thank you NetGalley and the publisher for ARC! It was so nice to be back with Fable and the crew!

The nice thing about this book is that it picks up right where the first left over. SO there is no lose ends and you are not question what happened to the characters in between the books. This book deals with a different aspect of the Pirating… well Merchant traders, which was intriguing for sure. The thing I liked a lot about this series is that is gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes through both books and I really enjoyed that!

The characters created here are complex and involve so many different layers that you cannot classify them as black or white. The author does a really good job with her characters and she definitely changed my opinion on one or two them as the story progressed, which doesn’t usually happen, so I applauded her for that!! I really loved that Fables main focus was not just falling in love, but it was about truly finding a place that she can call home, and having that home be a safe place where she can thrive and grow as a person.

The ending of this series was beautiful!! When the twist happen , I was shocked! And I was excited !! It was just so beautifully crafted and it made me so happy as a reader! Although I always want more story , I am happy to let go of the characters! Such a great book ! Highly recommend it to anyone!

#Namesake
First let me say that Adrienne Young has such a unique writing voice for her characters. I get so swept away in her novels. I adore the writing so much versus other young adult fantasy writers. I have read Fable and I must say Namesake is my favorite of the duology. It has a epic feel that pulls you in and doesn't let go. I believe there are some gaps from book to book, but not enough to keep the reader at bay.

I requested this book on Netgalley immediately after finishing FABLE and knowing I needed more of this story. Fortunately my request was quickly approved, and I then dropped everything so I could read NAMESAKE.

This book flowed effortlessly as a continuation on FABLE, picking up right where the first book left off, and continuing to provide the beautiful imagery and exciting adventure that I originally fell in love with. NAMESAKE really expands on the characters we originally met, and we dive deeper (haha ocean pun) into their backstories and motivations. There were some twists I did not see coming and I stayed up until 2am to see how things would turn out.

I absolutely adored this book from the very first page until the very last. It had even more high stakes adventure, more mystery, more pirates, more ocean, more betrayals, and more love.

And although we do get closure in this book, I would absolutely love to read more stories that take place in this world.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this eARC!!!! It was amazing to be able to read it right after Fable which I loved!
Adrienne Young is so talented and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I think my students will love this book and will not hesitate to recommend this series. Fable is such a strong protagonist and I think readers will really connect to her and her story. I loved the secondary character relationships and the overall setting and plotline were excellent. I was enamored with this book and can't wait to share it with students.

Thank you so much Net-galley for this ARC!!!! I have to start by saying that Adrienne Young is so stinking reliable AND I love it.

Let me explain. I KNOW that if I put one of her books in the hands of a patron, they are going to enjoy it period. She is THAT good at writing AND story telling.

This book is no exception to her talent. Fable is such a great main character that I just can't say enough about her. But you throw in the relationships with those around her, ie. West, Paj, Hamish, etc... you just have such a great STORY.

I loved everything about this seafaring adventure. I was engrossed and in love!

Namesake is a beautiful conclusion to Fable. In Namesake you get to see all the characters grow is such a perfect way. The descriptions again are beautiful and I loved diving below the sea with Fable again. In this book we follow Fable as she tries to find her way back to the Marigold through knew alliances, old and new enemies, all while we don’t know who will come through to help her. I didn’t want this book to end.

I love love loved this book!! I could not wait to continue on with this series and it did not disappoint. I read it in one night because it was that good. I highly recommend this series and author you will not be disappointed.