I could have read this story for 300 more pages, easily. I love that Ava Reid is delving into science fiction & the central theme of the destructive nature of capitalism is really resonant in 2025. I wish I could live in Ava Reid’s books, this one especially

If Ava Reid writes it, I will read it.

Fable is a YA dystopian novel clearly inspired by The Hunger Games with a sapphic romance at the heart of its story - a tale of two girls' struggle for survival, acceptance, and love. Inesa, a sacrificial Lamb entered into a livestreamed death Gauntlet, and Melinoe, a cybernetically enhanced assassin Angel made to slaughter Lambs, are both compelling and engaging to read through their alternating POV chapters. One thing I've always found Reid to excel at is allowing vulnerable and quiet female main characters to still show their depths and strengths through their softness, and Fable once again delivers in that regard.

I did feel that the book's pacing faltered on occasion, and the final ending felt a bit anticlimactic. However, Reid consistently addresses major topics in an appropriately YA manner, covering socioeconomic divide, climate change, nuclear war, the commodification of women's bodies, streaming and internet culture, capitalism and more. Fable is a book with a lot to say, and still manages to do it pretty well in a relatively short page count.

I just know I would have ate this up as a young teenager. I think adult readers who were fans of the 2010s YA dystopian genre will find this book both familiar and fresh. I hope that current teen readers will particularly enjoy how unapologetically queer and brave these girls are.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

I heard someone describe this as Lesbian Hunger Games, and I honestly can't think of a better tag line for it!!! I love dystopian and I'm so glad to see it coming back around with books. like this. Ava's prose is incredible, and I loved the sapphic enemies to lovers element element here, as well as the overarching themes of wealth inequity, climate change, etc. It's brilliant.

This was much darker than I expected for a YA book. It’s very dystopian and definitely gave me a little anxiety about the future of our planet. I felt like I was watching a Black Mirror episode. It was a very creative plot and I absolutely loved the relationship between the siblings. I think that was what really shone and I wish we had more of Luka and Inesa together.

The romance was a bit of a letdown for me. It was sweet but there wasn’t a whole lot of substance. I get that maybe that’s because an all-consuming romance wouldn’t have fit in the plot.

All in all, a solid read. I would’ve loved a bit more of a firm ending. I felt the absence of closure but still enjoyed the story.

all the reviews described as a sapphic hunger games and that’s so true. I think this is my favorite Ava Reid book so far “. Thank you to the publisher for giving me this eARC. The story was so unique, I don’t read a lot of dystopian fics (should have known from the title of the book) but I’m glad I read this.

This book is about Inesa and Melinoe and their hard reality in a dark, dystopian world where they find themselves under the thumb of a corporation called Caerus with its version of The Hunger Games, to which this book pays homage. This story could have been split into two books to dive deeper into the world-building and the character arcs. The romance between Inesa and Melinoe could also have been more drawn out. I was entertained by the societal concepts the story touches on, and overall, I did enjoy this book. I think YA romantasy, dystopian, and fantasy fans will enjoy this story.

2.5 stars. Right in the middle. It was fine. But this wasn’t great and didn’t match what I expect from Ava Reid. And maybe it’s in part that this read too YA for me.

1. Repetitive narrative throughout- both in word choice and movement of the story/scenes. (Also. We get it. The Angel is pale. Really pale).
2. This didn’t do anything new. And it never felt like a plot that had anywhere to go. This did not add to dystopian lit and one scene felt like it was almost copy and pasted from The Hunger Games.

** Note to authors: The Hunger Games cannot be rewritten***

3. The “love” between Melinoe and Inesa felt forced. There was zero chemistry.
4. The bulk of this book is one scene with multiple chapters. I wanted so much more from this story and I know Ava Reid can give it. She didn’t deliver on this one. And there is a LOT that could have been done to expand this narrative.
5. Ending was anti-climactic and boring.
6. I felt no emotional connection to any of these characters.

I am baffled people are raving about this one. It clearly wasn’t for me.

Having said that- I didn’t NOT enjoy reading it. I wanted to see where it would go. But it just kind of didn’t go. It all read the same to me.

Fable for the End of the World is kind of exactly that, a fable meant to teach and be learned from. I can see the characters telling the fable of Melinoë and Inesa to their children and grandchildren. This is definitely for fans of The Hunger Games. It’s almost a funhouse mirror version—things are the same but maybe not in the rig hr place or time.

Ava Reid is an auto-read for me, she’s just fantastic.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5

I really liked this book but I must admit that it left me wanting more. The book reads like the first installment book of a series, not a standalone, so I feel like there’s a lot left unresolved if this is truly the ending.

And about that,I didn’t like the ending. I wasn’t expecting a happy one, but I definitely didn’t want that ending.

The book felt like just the first part of a larger story, as if it were only 150 pages long instead of nearly 400. That’s why overall it felt really lacking.

That being said, I loved the way Ava portrays her main characters here and while the romance was very sweet, it also felt incredibly rushed and almost instantaneous.

The world-building is rich, it’s like The Hunger Games meets the consequences of climate change. Because of that, the book explores the horrors of climate change and social inequality in terms of wealth within a dystopian setting that doesn’t feel far from reality. However, I would have liked a deeper exploration of the world’s background, understanding why the current government was considered the best option and how it came to be.

And that brings me back to my main criticism, the book is too simple. The idea is amazing, but the execution is… lacking. I was expecting something deeper, more complex, with stronger development. It wasn’t bad, but my expectations were high, and they simply weren’t met.

4.75⭐️

AMAZING, i really loved this book! it definitely had the hunger games vibes, but in a completely new and unique way? the influence was there and i think it needs to be if you’re making a survival/fight to the death game set in a dystopian futuristic world. the commentary on corporations ruling every aspect of people’s lives, creating climate change and then “finding” a way for people to survive, and the theme of “we would not be in this situation if people weren’t so selfish” is all just very…. on par for life right now

i also love how ava reid can create such vastly worlds through her stories, all while having the same fleshed out feel. love them as an author and loved this book

thank you to the author and publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

the corporation caerus controls all aspects of society by ensuring its citizens are indebted to it. to pay off their debt, qualifying citizens may partake in the lamb’s gauntlet, in which they have an opportunity to run from their assigned assassin (called angels) as the world watches. inesa and her brother run a taxidermy shop to care for their sick mother, who has, unbeknownst to inesa, accrued a significant amount of debt—and signed inesa up to participate in the lamb’s gauntlet to pay it off. as an angel, melinoë has claimed countless lambs’ lives as her own. she’s known for her cold brutality and deadly beauty and has never failed the gauntlet. as the two play this deadly game, they begin to question everything...and wonder if they might be falling in love.

ava reid is one of my auto-buy authors, so i was beyond excited when i heard she had another book on the way. i was even more excited to hear that this book would be reminiscent of the hunger games. this was a great comparison, in my opinion. my biggest gripe with many books claiming to be "the hunger games meets ___" is that they’ll have the deadly competition, but not always the best social commentary. this, luckily, was not true for this book. ava reid explored the themes of capitalism, love, and climate change so well throughout this book. i could not stop reading! i loved how this played out, and i wouldn’t mind potentially getting a sequel later on if the author sees fit.

I truly loved Fable for the End of the World! I was a huge fan of A Study in Drowning, so I leaped at the chance to read Ava Reid’s newest book, and it didn’t disappoint.

The dystopian book is so infamous its very existence has become a trope, a set of plot points that can easily become too predictable to be engaging. Fable for the End of the World isn't afraid of these tropes, and I think that's why it pulls them off so well: rather than trying too hard to come up with something completely different from genre conventions, Reid allows herself to explore a completely new story within their bounds. It makes Fable for the End of the World at once a love letter to the dystopian stories you fell in love with when you were younger - and an entirely new book that never feels as though it's trying too hard while reminding the reader why they loved this genre in the first place.

Reid calls out The Hunger Games ​as one of her biggest influences in the acknowledgements for this book, and in some ways it absolutely feels like a homage to the series that shaped so much of the YA genre. Perhaps the biggest shout-out, though, lies in Inesa and Melinoë's relationship, with the blend of hatred and survival that made Katniss and Peeta such an infamous couple. If you loved that series but wished for some queer rep...this is the book for you to check out!

Fable for the End of the World is set in the future - one where climate change has gotten out of control, genetically modified creatures have driven out natural animal life, seeing a sunrise is unheard of through the air pollution, and Inesa's town exists around a layer of ungovernable water. Although presented as a background element to the story itself, there is something fascinating about seeing a world that has gone so far in the wrong direction - which leaves the reader wondering how to prevent that same future for themselves.

I’ve read dozens of YA dystopian novels, but none is quite the same as Fable for the End of the World. Highly recommended to readers ages fifteen and up who love character-driven, immersive dystopian fiction!

A haunting tale of what people are willing to do to survive-no matter the stakes. Inesa is sold by her evil stepmother to a corporation to try to clear her debts, and Inez must think fast on how to survive what's known as Lamb's Gambit. She's stalked by a merciless killer named Melinoe-but she's also not what she seems. This story was taunt, poignant, and heartbreaking. The characters draw you in and are complex and. compelling. I couldn't put this book down.

I’m not sure what I was expecting with this one, but it definitely wasn’t what I read. Originally, as I was reading, I felt that the story pacing was a little slow, but when I got to the end of the book all I wanted was more! I couldn’t get enough! And then it ended. I could NOT believe that ending.

This book is perfect for people who love:
💫 Dystopian Books
💫 The Hunger Games
💫 Sapphic Romance
💫 Games and Trials
💫 Forced Proximity

A very special thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperTeen for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5!

Fable for the End of the Word is such a tribute to The Hunger Games and YA dystopian fiction from the early 2010s that it felt super nostalgic despite having its own twist. I haven’t really been into dystopian fiction since I was in middle school, though, so I did go into this rather hesitantly—I have historically loved most of what Reid has put out, and so I wanted to give this a shot. I’m pleased that I enjoyed it as much as I did! I really do love the quality of Reid’s writing, and I really enjoyed the sibling relationship between Inesa and Luka. I liked that we got both Inesa and Mel’s perspectives and I thought this had a rather melancholy air to it that worked. Reid did a great job with the atmosphere (it is very wet. very damp.) though I think the tournament itself is such a homage to The Hunger Games that it’s kind of difficult to unsee. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the relationship progression between Inesa and Mel—I really liked the open ending but the emotional switch between them felt a touch too quick for me. I should probably say that while I did like the ending, I’m not sure how much I would have liked it as a teenager, because it lacks the finality I expect from a YA novel. If you’ve read other novels from Reid, then you should expect that this book has the same strengths and weaknesses as their other novels, it’s just that this one’s particular flavor is dystopian YA love letter. This is not my favorite from them but I enjoyed the experience.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the eARC!

Ava Reid is an author that I’m always super excited for their books, but they don’t always necessarily land for me. I loved A Study in Drowning, it is still one of my top books but Juniper & Thorn left a lot to be desired.

Unfortunately, Fable ends up in the same category as Juniper. I felt so disconnected from the story and I’m a big lover of YA Dystopian novels! Connecting something so heavily to The Hunger Games is always a hard sell, especially with how beloved THG is. I know it’s important to disconnect inspiration but it is mentioned in the blurb and in the author’s note so it was high in the back of my mind so the comparison game was all I could play. I never felt connected to the characters or their motivations.

A solid 4 stars for a YA dystopian romance aka saphic hunger games!!!!

Finished this in 2 days only. The storyline is pretty gripping from the beggining. The action was quite well-packaged, and I always always love a strong siblings core👌🏾 the it laced with female rage undertone~

The romance is sweet, tender, but fiery at the same time🥹 it breaks me, healed me, and shattered me again

This book underlined the wealth gap pretty well. It has climate issues world-building minus the fire of revolution. If you managed to get the first few pages, the world building was okay to follow.

The characters were lively. I hate all the adults in this book (except prob for that one doctor). The parents deserved worst to be honest.

The dedication is cutie. And all the author's note claims were all there we can see it.

If made me wants to re-read THG and the fact that Sunrise at the Reaping will be launched soon 🥹🥹🥹👌🏾

Thanks so much for the publisher and netgalley for the arc in exchange for honest review ✨

3.5 stars!!!

I have had a super rocky relationship with this author so I was super nervous going into this. I haven't loved anything by her but I have definitely HATED some things. I did try to go into this with lowered expectations and I think that worked out for me! While I wouldn't say I loved this, it did work for me! I enjoyed the aspect of people being recorded at all times doing pretty horrific stuff to others. It hit my little Hunger Games heart in the right way (even though this VERY different). The dystopian world was also pretty interesting, but I wish we got more background on how we got to where we were when we started the story. Also, I really enjoyed the romantic relationship and how high stakes it was for them to be together. I think this was a win for this author for me, and I feel more comfortable reading more from her!

In a world where the government controls your every move, your every resource, your every....wait. This is a bit in the nose right now, huh?

Inesa and her brother Luka have been working hard to survive without going in debt to Caerus, their governing body. Everything costs credits, and everything can be put to credit, so naturally, most people owe a lot of money. They deal with that by hosting the Gauntlet - someone is chosen to basically be hunted down by an Angel, or a hunter created by Caerus, and most don't survive. But it clears the debt...of someone else.

When Inesa is chosen for the Gauntlet, their entire world is upended. Luka helps her of course, but everything gets so much more complicated when she and the Angel, Melinoë, end up working together to survive. Questioning the purpose of their government, and the control they have over the lives and resources of those in debt, they find solice in one another on their journey.

While a great piece of fiction, this is terrifyingly close to some of the things we're facing today. A great time for it to come out.

ARC Review: Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️.5

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fable for the End of the World is a YA Dystopian story of survival and romance against all odds. We follow Inesa, a girl who lives in the lower class of this Dystopian society, who is nominated to compete in The Gauntlet as a means of paying off her mother’s debts. The Gauntlet is a live-streamed survival of the fittest challenge, Inesa will be hunted by Melinoë, a human assassin that has been modified with advanced technology to make her a ruthless killer. When Inesa’s hunt proves to be anything but simple, Melinoë must seek out her prey’s help in order to survive.

I was so excited to get the chance to read this ARC! The story initially is intimidating, the world building is detailed and complex, and felt a bit like information overload at the start. Inesa and Melinoë were nuanced lead characters, dealing with such different backgrounds but forced to come together for survival. I think the romance was a little bit rushed, they went from enemies to lovers in about a week, and I like a bit more development in my romances. There were many similarities to The Hunger Games, which made the story feel nostalgically familiar, but also a bit predictable. Though I have a lot of respect for Ava Reid’s foray into the Dystopian world, you can tell she put in the effort to make her world-building and story unique to her.

Fable for the End of the World releases March 4th 2025!