I've devoured and obsessed over all of Adrienne Young's previous books, and have celebrated their depth of character, rich settings, and beautiful prose. Sadly, The Last Legacy didn't live up to my expectations, and largely felt like an early draft of what would have become another beloved Young novel, had it been given more time to develop.

Protagonist Bryn Roth arrives in Bastian, a port city and home to the Merchant's Guild that controls trade throughout the region. To now, Bryn has been raised by her great aunt Sariah in a glitzy, aristocratic environment far from Bastian, meant to prepare Bryn to take up the mantle of participation in the Roth family business -- a variety of less-than-savory endeavors. The plot of The Last Legacy is an extended montage reel of Bryn attempting to prove herself to her uncle, the exacting and controlling head of the family, even as she falls in love with the brooding, reticent, mysterious silversmith who's part of the "family" (in air quotes) but not the family (biologically, thank goodness).

The last quarter of the book presents sufficient conflict and stakes to test Bryn's mettle, but it's a long time to wait for our heroine to truly figure out her adversary and take action. And the action she takes? It's a series of conversations and low-level threats to force other people to act. Bryn herself lacks agency, and the key figure who ultimately swoops in to save the day is a mere sketch -- not much developed beyond her nice clothes and red lipstick.

Adrienne Young is a fantastic writer, and I understand why she wanted to write a novel adjacent to the rich world she created for Fable and Namesake. The Last Legacy should have been shortened to a novella (starting when Bryn has already been in Bastian for a month or so, with a letter to Sariah catching us up to speed), or expanded to include a more sumptuous, nuanced exploration of Bryn's story. Bottom line: a disappointing addition to a bright talent's catalogue.

To say I was excited to return to the world of Bastian, The Narrows, The Unnamed Sea, and all the wonderful beings therein would be an understatement.

Our heroine, 18-year-old orphan Bryn Roth, is thrust back into the world of Bastian after being raised in safety by her great-aunt Sariah in Nimsmire. Returning back to Bastian and the world of her uncle Henrik and the infamous family from which she received her last name is as much inevitable as it is dangerous.

In Bastian, Bryn has to learn the dynamics of the family, including the secrecy and cutthroat business of gem trading, while trying to carve out a space for herself. Bryn is a bright girl and a quick study, quickly figuring out just what exactly her place in the Roth family is destined to be and is faced with the decision of whether or not she wants to toe the family party line or make a dangerous break.

Adrienne Young has, yet again, crafted a brilliant world of full of depth, intrigue, and characters who feel REAL despite their slightly surreal situations. After being introduced to the Roth family in Namesake, I was looking forward to getting to learn more about them and boy did I! Bryn, like Fable, has a mind of her own and she's not going to let anyone tell her what to do or how she is supposed to act in life.

My one, and only, complaint was that the romance that developed within the story seemed to develop lightning fast and cross the line from infatuation to devotion very, very quickly. However, that seems to be a mark of Young's books and it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book overall.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this advance reader copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Adrienne Young takes readers back to the world she introduced in Fable and Namesake, a world of guilds and trade, where families rival for legitimacy and status. Bryn, our story’s orphaned heroine finds herself thrown into the midst, placed with cutthroat relatives that many consider living on the fringes of society. With her addition into the family business, there’s the hope that the Roths will finally have all the pieces they need to be able to secure their own rightful place within the guild, elevating the family name from its dark and roguish past.

Bryn’s meant to essentially serve as her uncle’s pawn in his meticulously developed plans. However, he doesn’t necessarily plan for a niece with a strong sense of will, someone desperately trying to forge an identity for herself, someone with enough skill and strength to willingly engage him in a battle of wills till the end.

Young’s latest offering also touches upon themes explored in her previous works: the desire to find a sense of place…a sense of belonging and peace that’s long been lost. Bryn’s journey is one that’s just beginning, but readers should be satisfied with the sense of hope and anticipated adventure in store for her.

Both the book and audiobook are amazing. Welcome back to the fable universe with this stand alone novel. I started with the e-arc and then was blessed to receive the advanced audiobook as well. August was a slow reading month for me, not that the stories were not interesting but I was distracted by life, so the audiobook helped me finish on work commutes this past week/end. The narrator is lovely and plays the character of Bryn so well. I got lost in her quest to find her own footing and intrigued by the mysterious Ezra - both annoyed with him and, at the same time, admired him. I became emotionally invested in this book, especially at the end. Thanks to the author, publisher, & NetGalley for the advance copies. I need more Adrienne Young in my life! 🥰

Hm.
I guess four stars is an appropriate rating based on the fact that I did ENJOY this book, but I’m kind of scratching my head as to the point of it. The romance was so unconvincing to me, there was no magic in this fantasy world, and yes, the dynamics of this family were intriguing, but not heart-stoppingly, page-turningly so. I wasn’t bored to death like I was reading Sky in the Deep, but I kept expecting something insane to happen and to be sucked in, and instead spent the entire book tottering on the brink, waiting for a moment that never came. I had fun reading, but it wasn’t love for me.

I’ve read every book this author has written and i’ve liked them all…. but this one might just be my favourite! It was almost as if she took my favourite things from all the previous books, threw them into one, amplified the main character, and pressed submit lol. There was so much intrigue and twists and turns in here and I loved every minute of it!

Before I get into my thoughts on this book, I need to mention a few things. Yes, this is a standalone. The characters are introduced, the story has a beginning and end, and you don’t need to read any other book before going into this one to understand it. However, the Roth family characters come from the Fable duology – specifically the second book Namesake. Like I said, you’ll understand this book if you haven’t read Namesake BUT there are a few things and characters that are mentioned that might go over your head if you haven’t read it. Reading Namesake first will definitely give you some context. I remembered reading Namesake thinking that I wanted to know more about the Roth family – and then this book came along!

I’ve said it before about Adrienne Young and I’ll say it again – she is a master of atmosphere! The plot of her stories is what hooks you but it’s heightened by the way she makes you FEEL the story. She creates such a large and detailed picture that makes it easy to feel as if you’ve fallen into the story itself. You can see the streets, visualize the clothing, smell the sea air, and everything else in-between. Here she’s found a way to represent the differences in society in a number of ways. First of all is the setting. This is a high class port city that’s divided into different sectors – docks, warehouses, merchants, taverns, tea houses, and more. It becomes second nature to remember which parts of the city are clean and bright while others are dark and cold. There’s also the differences in the society houses. The higher members of society have marble floors and chandeliers while the Roth’s, cut from a different cloth, are more dark and comfortable. They’re seemingly put together and presented well to society but there’s a shadow to them as well.

When I first came across the Roth family in Namesake, I was instantly intrigued by them. They clearly had an interesting backstory and were shrouded in mystery but they also had an insane amount of influence and ambition. It was really interesting learning about them through the eyes of our main character Bryn. She’s technically a member of the family but was raised by her Aunt, far away from Bastian, so is now considered an outsider. She was clearly valued as she was a blood member of the family but she had to learn where her valued was. She didn’t know a thing about them and it was clear they had a lot of secrets. They also seemed like different people depending on their company. Learning about the family from someone who was in their “inner circle” but knew nothing about them and had no specific loyalties was really interesting!

Bryn was a fantastic main character! She was so balanced and interesting. She was strong but not overly confident or made rash decisions. She was forceful but also willing to take a step back and listen in order to learn more. She was smart and calculating but also willing to be a team player, while also keeping herself and her own plans in mind. I loved following the confusion of her trying to figure out this family and what part she played within AND if she even wanted that part. If Bryn were a real person I would absolutely want to be her friend!

The only thing in this book I didn’t necessarily buy into was the romance. I really liked them as a couple! In fact, I loved them together and want more from these characters to see what their lives would look like in the future! But it didn’t entirely make sense. They went from eying each other from across the room to full on madly in love in a matter of seconds. It was too much and WAY too fast. They had barely even acknowledged their feelings before he was making the comment that he would rather die before seeing her with another man. Dude – calm down. The intensity and speed was all a little too much for my brain to handle. It was totally a forbidden lovers scenario so, I guess, I kind of understand. But still. Calm down lol.

I absolutely loved this book! The pacing was consistent and fast all the way through, there were so many twists and turns, mysterious characters, and fantastic atmosphere. I kind of already want to reread this! Adrienne Young is quickly becoming an auto buy author! I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

After finishing Namesake, all I wanted in life was another book set in the world of Fable. This did not disappoint. How could you not love more pirates and ruthless crime lords? I adored these characters. I am a huge fan of Adrienne Young’s writing and love how she always brings her characters and worlds to life. This one may have not had as much action as Fable, but this is a solid story and I highly recommend it.

4.5 Stars!

*Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! I love this author! I think I will buy every single book she puts out! I’ll be honest, I picked up this book because of how much I loved the Fable duology, but I had no idea it took place in the same world as Fable, so that was the biggest surprise to me when I started reading the book. This book is considered a standalone and can be read without reading Fable beforehand, but you might love the book a little more if you read the Fable duology first.

Even though the book takes place in the same world as Fable, we are introduced to a new cast of characters. The protagonist in this book is eighteen-year-old, Bryn who is forced to return to Bastian where she must live with her uncle’s family and find a way to earn her own keep. For people who have read Fable will already know the name of the family….it’s the Roth family. She is thrown into a world of secrets, betrayals, and suspicious family members, and she soon realizes she can’t trust anyone but herself.

I don’t want to say too much about this book because I didn’t know anything about it before starting it, and I loved learning about all the new characters on my own. I found Bryn to be a great character to read from. I would definitely recommend this to people who enjoyed Fable.

The author has an amazing talent with writing for the YA readers in mind. It’s so easy to get lost in the writing and in the world, and it’s not bogged down with extra writing or a meandering plot that takes too long to get to the point. Her books are around 350 pages, but they still provide enough detail for me to picture every scene perfectly. I swear I felt like I was on the ship while reading Fable…I mean I could taste the salt from the water, and in this book, I felt like I was in the middle of a mob family and always having to watch my back everywhere I went. I could sense the tension, fear, and violence. It was so good. I don’t know how she does it, but I’m glad there is an author that can provide easier fantasy books for YA readers to dive into.

I’ve already pre-ordered this book and added it to the list of fantasy books I need to get for the school. I really enjoyed this short fantasy book!

Adrienne Young has done it again with her new young adult novel. Returning to the world of Fable and Namesake, this is the story of the Roth's and their desire for power and to be seen as more than who they currently are within their society. The story was full of intrigue, danger and forbidden love (a favorite trope of mine!) Fable and Namesake were two of my top reads last year and this reinforced why Adrienne Young us one of my favorite authors. Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

We're BACK in Fable world, and I'm here for it.

This universe, despite all of the crime, dreariness, backstabbing, violence, ships, etc., etc., is a world that I oddly feel super comfortable inhabiting. These places feel worn and lived in and I enjoy being in this messed up world filled with family crime syndicates, LOL.

The Last Legacy follows the exploits of the Roth family, who we were introduced to briefly in the Fable duology. The Roths are known for their multitudinous side hustles, badass family tattoos, and their ambition to move from the shadows of illegitimacy to stand as equals with the more proper elements of Bastian society. Bryn Roth is delivered on her 18th birthday from an isolated island where she grew up with her aunt back to the Roth seat of power, where she has to learn the ways of the family and prove herself quickly, lest she be disowned (or worse).

This book was super easy to read and I finished it in about two sittings. The machinations of the Roth family and the dynamics between each member of the family is fascinating to read about, and there is real tension around the newcomer Bryn and the perilous ways that she learns about family rules and etiquette. There is romance and it is okay. I was much more interested in the family politics though. I would probably read Fable and Namesake before The Last Legacy because they will give a wider perspective of the setting, although you don't really have to read them to understand this story. If you liked the Fable books, you will definitely enjoy this one as well.

It's an engaging, self-contained tale (this is a standalone book) that works well because of the tangled family ties and the easily imagined setting. My only gripe is the romance is a little bland and I think that the overall societal structure (the guilds, gem trading, etc.) could be explain a tad more deeply. And tbh, not a huge fan of the cover.

3.5/5 stars. To be released September 2021. Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read an ARC.

The Last Legacy takes place in the world of Adrienne Young's Fable duology. We are introduced to a new character, Bryn, who returns to Bastian to stake her claim in a notorious family already known to Fable readers: the Roths. Bryn has grown up outside of Bastian and is thrust into the schemes of the Roth family upon her 18th birthday. Bryn struggles with acceptance of her new life as she tries to figure out her uncle Henrik's intent, a mysterious silversmith named Ezra, and what her destiny truly is.

While this was not my favorite of Young's novels, it was enjoyable to dive back into Bastian and see more of how the guilds and the inner circles work. The pacing is quick, without lulls, and keeps you guessing about how the character's are going to manipulate each other.

Adrienne Young has a way of telling stories that fully engrosses every aspect of my being. Even if I’m able to tear my gaze away from the page, my mind remains preoccupied, lost in the pages of her book.

The Last Legacy takes place in the city of Bastain, (Back in the world of Fable!!! Eeek!) where Bryn Roth reunites with her uncle in hopes of finding her place among the Roth family. In her usual style, Young creates a protagonist that you can’t help but love. The cast of characters is complex and messy, making this such a relatable tale. An instant favorite for me and definitely five stars!

To be honest, I tried to read this one slowly to savor every detail because I adore Adrienne's work. Her stories are riveting and complex, while also sprinkling a little bit of spice right when the story needs it. I adored Fable and her story, so to be given the opportunity to jump back into the world through another character's eyes is a win in my book. Bryn is a character that starts the story off determined to learn the family business and make her own way. However, she quickly learns that she wants to make her own stake in the family the honest way, and does so with her clever thinking.

I highly recommend checking out The Last Legacy as it is a true page turner! Although reading Fable helps you to understand some of the background in this story better, you can also enjoy this story on its own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC.

Adrienne Young has a way with words; her books are always have a way of captivating her readers to the point where they can never put her them down. "The Last Legacy" was no different. It is a coming of age story, where Bryn Roth must learn to navigate the seedy underworld of her family. The book begins with her arrival into a new world, Bastian, which is very different from that of her aunt's upbringing in the "high-class" region of Nimsmire.. Although her aunt taught her about her family's trade and power in Bastian, she is continually put in situations that stretch her character and teach her more about the world and her family than she could imagine. Throughout the story, she must continue to be molded and shaped or be cast aside as useless to the family.

Although the world that Young creates is intriguing, her portrayal of Bryn seems to fall flat. Bryn, raised by her aunt with full knowledge of her family's business, is dreadfully naïve and completely unprepared for the world she is thrust into. Many times, although the reader is reminded of what she had to do in "Nimsmire," Bryn is completely outsmarted and shocked when someone she trusts lies to her. She is too trusting, too honest, and too innocent. Given her upbringing, this seems out of character for a young woman who should be strong and knowledgeable.

Readers of Adrienne Young will not be disappointed with "The Last Legacy," because it has all the makings of Young's other books, but compared to the others, it leaves the reader hoping for more depth from her lead character.

So I just got done with the book and eh. The ending was kind of phoned in. I feel like the author was so over the book and wrote whatever just to end it. Totally, 7298739203% unbelievable that Bryn is going to walk in there be like, "look Henrik, this is how it's going to go down, cool? Cool." and get almost ZERO reaction from him. I was like seriously? Completely unbelievable.

The story overall I guess was interesting? Sort of like a mob family, Bryn is trying to find her place in it, but I found it kind of boring. No part of the story really grabbed me, and the romance part was just meh. There didn't really seem to be chemistry between them. Ezra didn't seem all that jazzed about Bryn. I found myself starting to skim around the 65% mark because I was ready to get it over with so I could write this review. I could go days without reading it; if I really like a book I will usually finish it in a week tops. If I REALLY like a book I can finish it in 2 days. I think it took me 2 weeks to finish this one.

It's not a horrible book, but it's not a great one. I've never read the author's other books, but fans of her other books I'm sure will like this one.

After finishing up Namesake I of course had to jump right into The Last Legacy! And it was so good. The things I didn't are for in Namesake were not in The Last Legacy (prays be!) This well paced story was what I was looking for! Its 336 pages of amazing storyline and now I totally want more stories set in this world! This one was a little darker than Fable and Namesake and I think that worked out in its favor. I loved being back in this world but in a different part and not as much on the seas as we were in the other two books. It was a great read and I need more!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC version of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Adrienne Young has such a way with words—her stories fly off the page and wrap around you, and it always feels like I am standing right there, next to the main character, living the story. This book was no different. The plot was great—a girl reunited with her family, struggling to find her place, her purpose, and the whole journey was worth the read. I devoured it, starting and finishing it in less than a day. The setting was perfect, and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the clothes, and the way it showed purpose and position in Bastian.

I did have one issue—the romance. It felt very quick. Bryn and Ezra had one interaction alone—learning how to pick a lock—and she was already sure she cared about him, and the rest of the relationship was her being suspicious of his motives and him being stern and closed off. I could absolutely believe the two of them together, but I felt like the story needed more moments for them to truly fall in love.

I really enjoyed the book and it is definitely worth the read!

I loved this. We’re back in the world of the Unnamed Sea, and it was brilliant. I loved the characters, when the Roth’s were introduced in fable/namesake I was already interested in their story. So I was happy they got their own book. This read like a season of my favorite TV show, Peaky Blinders and I absolutely loved it all. Currently I can’t think of any cons of this, maybe I’m still on the high of just finishing it or maybe I just really enjoyed it that much.

Adrienne Young has done it again! I loved this addition to the Fable realm! My only negative is the amount of time and effort spent on the romance. I wish it were more story driven like "Sky in the Deep." I will, however, still be recommending that we purchase it and I will tell my book loving friends all about it.

Once again Adrienne Young has written a story weaved of magic and emotion. How does she manage to capture such emotional depth in her characters?!
I found myself effortlessly falling into the lush world she’s created. I am so invested in everything happening in The Unnamed Sea, The Narrows, and beyond.

I would confidently recommend this book, along with the Fable duology, to anyone who enjoys YA. This is YA but without the pitfalls that can often accompany a Ya book. You will find no toxic romantic relationships, or creepy age gaps, there are not any poorly written tropes used to simply sell a book. This is quality YA.

This book was fantastic and I devoured it. I’ll be preordering a personalized copy through her release campaign because I loved this book.

I am already eager to read whatever she writes next!