Woooooow Ava Reid. This was absolutely incredible, definitely my favourite of her books so far and probably the most 'marketable'. The dystopian society we're exploring here was explained to us perfectly, no obvious info-dumping but we got everything we needed.

The romance and the yearning here....I was dead. It's so painful and impossible and I loved every moment.

Ava Reid's A Fable At The End of The World is a good dystopian novel that is heavily influenced by the Hunger Games. I thought the dystopian elements were closely related to current events with the climate concerns, the excessive consumerism, and the disparity in wealth. This coupled with the talks of robot dogs and billionaire companies controlling the laws made it a lot less dystopian and more of a warning for future generations. The characters were not as developed as I would have expected but they were likeable and understandable as to their motivations. The world building could use a little more work as it was not as fully developed as I expected. The basics were described in little increments but the overall picture was missing something. The plot was interesting and kept me excited to read it. The romance element seemed a little rushed but it was a crucial part of the plot. I enjoy the story but wish it were more vast and fleshed out.
Thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and HarperCollins publishing for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

A Fable for the End of the Worlds begins with an author letter where Ava Reid explains how the book is an ode and tribute to the young adult dystopian genre, especially Suzanne Collin’s The Hunger Games. I’m happy to say that this tribute was incredibly well done and something that respectfully and powerfully stands out amongst the genre.

I would say the number one thing a book in the dystopian genre has to do is critique society whether it be culturally or politically and Fable for the End of the World definitely does that. Ava Reid has a way of sprinkling in societal commentary throughout her fictional works that’s apparent but doesn’t scream in the readers face in all caps and this one was no different. I especially loved her insights about capitalism, perception of women, and violence in media.

As always the prose is beautiful and her characters as well. The story of Mel and Inesa individually is incredibly impactful. I found Mel’s history as an assassin and essentially a prop in the gauntlet to be especially poignant. Mel and Inessa’s romance together is the tragic heart of the story. Although I must say there is still hope in the end for them which is something I need when finishing a book in order to feel properly fulfilled.

This is definitely something that enjoyers of the Hungers Games should also read. Also anyone who enjoys prominent societal commentary in their fiction should also check this out. My one caveat for anyone wanting to read is this is young adult and reads as young adult so anyone who is expecting something that is labeled young adult but reads older this is not that book.

Also a special thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid is a captivating, beautifully written novel that blends lyrical prose with a deeply immersive world. Reid’s exploration of grief, survival, and the impact of storytelling is profound, and her characters feel incredibly real, each with their own complex emotional journey. The lush, atmospheric worldbuilding adds to the book's haunting and evocative nature, making it a must-read for fans of literary fantasy. A stunning, thought-provoking tale that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

*review will be posted on IG 1-week prior to release*

3.75

Fable for the End of the World is a fun, fresh take on the classic young adult dystopian vibes of the 2010s. It might not reach The Hunger Games level, but it kept me hooked and gave me that nostalgic feel I’d been craving.

Ava Reid’s talent for atmosphere shines through here, creating a world that’s easy to get lost in. That said, I did miss her usual lyrical writing style—it’s there in parts, but not as much as I hoped.

I did find myself questioning some of the character motivations at times. Their decisions didn’t always feel fully fleshed out, which occasionally pulled me out of the story as I tried to figure out any real purpose to them beyond furthering the plot.

Despite those flaws, this book filled a gap I’ve been missing for a while and explored its themes in a really interesting way. If you go into it expecting a unique world rather than a completely groundbreaking story, I think you’ll really enjoy it.

This is one of the more enjoyable plots of Ava Reid’s recent novels. Is it basically just a sapphic Hunger Games? Yeah. But done differently enough that it feels fresh. One thing she does exceptionally well is create very vivid worlds. Something she has an opportunity to work on is the way her relationships develop. All of her books that I have read so far have the same plot where the couple meets, have maybe 2 conversations before suddenly they’re all they can think of and they’re madly in love. I need a little more development in these characters relationships with one another. Other than that, this was very entertaining! Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. My Goodreads review has already been published!

Fable for the End of the World is a YA sapphic dystopian romance novel that explores many important themes ranging from climate change to feminism.

Ava Reid did an amazing job with the world building and while reading I felt like I was physically in the world. I felt that the plot was very interesting and had me intrigued throughout the book. However, the romance felt rushed towards the end which is a shame because I really did like their dynamic!

I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from this author and have the physical book on my shelf!

This book is both a love letter to all of the YA dystopia that came before and something new with a statement to make all on its own.

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid is a hauntingly lyrical tale that intertwines myth, magic, and humanity’s resilience in the face of destruction. Reid’s masterful prose and richly imagined world create an unforgettable story that feels both timeless and urgent. Perfect for readers who crave dark, thought-provoking fantasy with a touch of hope.

A Sapphic Romance, dystopian, hunger games inspired standalone written by Ava Reid?! SIGN ME UP!

Seriously, this book NEEDS to be on everyone's TBR.

Ava spins a world so vividly and weaves her commentary into her work so brilliantly, I couldn't put this book down.

This enemies to lovers dystopian love story is something I will be thinking about for a very long time.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins Children's for sending me this eARC for review.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid is a first person dual-POV Sapphic YA romantic dystopia. Inesa and her brother Luka run a taxidermy shop in New Amsterdam, killing what's left of the wildlife that hasn't been mutated and selling the stuffed animals to the more wealthy, all in an effort to not run into credit debt to Caerus. Melinoë is an Angel under Caerus’ employment, an assassin made to look flawless and fit a specific archetype to keep viewers watching when they kill. When Inesa’s mother sells her to Caerus to pay off a debt, Melinoë is assigned to kill her. But things don't go as planned.

Inesa's mother is a hypochondriac who is emotionally abusive towards her daughter and treats her son, Luka, as the golden child. It is very obvious almost from the very beginning how self-centered the mother is and how frustrating this is to Inesa because all of her efforts are centered around keeping the family afloat while her mother doesn't do very much to help. It might be triggering for some readers; I had a hard time with it due to my own experiences because it was quite accurate to how these family situations can play out. I definitely do appreciate showing these dynamics, however, because I do feel like we don’t talk enough about how mothers can also be abusers and how they get away with it due to cultural norms.

The worldbuilding around the Angels is incredibly tragic. The Angels are taken in before they’re ten and have their feelings stripped from them, their memories are at risk of being wiped if they get too emotional or traumatized, and their bodies are modified via plastic surgery without their permission. As if all of that wasn’t enough, when Angels are ‘retired,’ they are made wives or concubines of high level officials at Caerus and lose their memories and feelings of their time as an assassin. To top it off, they’re every move when they’re on assignment is broadcast for the entire world to see and they can see every comment about their bodies, their behavior, etc. It is very obvious that all of this is an allegory for how social media and society makes young girls feel like they have to grow up and look older a lot faster and how they need to bury their feelings as deep as possible because nobody is actually going to protect them. I would love a second book in this world focusing on another Angel because I feel like there’s a lot to explore with these themes in this way.

The romance between Melinoë and Inesa is a pretty fast burn as there is not a lot of time given for Melinoë to kill Inesa. It isn’t Instalove as Inesa is focusing on survival and is terrified of Melinoë the first time they meet while Melinoë is thinking about how to kill her target to put off her future a little longer. When they are forced to work together and they become emotionally vulnerable with each other is when the romance starts to grow. I love a quiet romance in YA because I feel so many romances that go big are big and explosive and full of passionate need and sometimes love is more gentle and shy and built on different things. It’s good for young people to have a variety of romance arcs to choose from when they pick a book up.

Content warning for child abuse, sexual assault, forced prostitution, and light gore

I would recommend this to fans of Romantasy who want a romantic dystopia, readers of YA dystopia who are looking for a Sapphic romance, and those looking for a sci-fi focusing on how social media impacts young women.

⭐️ 4

Nostalgic in the best way. This book feels exactly like those dystopias did back in the day in the 2010s and that's both it's strength and a weakness.

Both Inesa and Melinoë are enjoyable characters, I'm fond of their dynamic and their unique perspectives. Although I never fully bought their initial interest in each other, or perhaps how quickly they fell for each other, it was sweet once I was swept away by the story and their relationship had begun. If there's one thing that's completely worth it for this book, it's how this particular narrative/genre is usually so heteronormative and this story offers another ending, one where two girls find home and love with each other. If you were a queer girl growing up in the 2010s, you would've loved to have this book. I hope if you're a girl now, you love it, too.

That being said, it's setting is interesting enough, the premise is gripping and fast paced, but this is a surprisingly short book for the world it's built. Because of that we never go deep enough into these interesting elements of the world for me to be satisfied. I really wanted more. I get the sense that maybe this won't be only a standalone. The ending does leave it open for a sequel. I hope there is some sort of continuation!

You guys are not ready for what Ava Reid has in store for this glorious dystopian sapphic fantasy! This truly is a love letter to the dystopian ERA of the 2010s, especially the Hunger Games and you can definitely see the influence.


I was honestly hooked from the first chapter on. The setup for this world Reid created is raw and honestly not too far out there in terms of the future. We start being introduced to Inesa and her brother Luka, two siblings who ran a taxedermy shop as they try to preserve whats left of the natural wild life since mutated animals have slowly taken over the population. They represent the improvershed in this world. The ones with lesser left on the outskirts to fend for themselves in this post apocalyptic country.

The Gauntlet is this world Hunger Games, a devious and sinister event Caerus, the corporation that basically runs this country, created in order to keep the oppressed down and give desperate citizens a way out of debt. The Gauntlet is everything evil about humanity. The Hunters are called Angels- cold-blooded and beautiful killers trained since very young by Caerus to essentially become glorified celebrities for the people’s entertainment. Our main Angel Melinöe is our other main character in this story.


Inesa and Melinöe bring two different perspectives to this story being from two completely different worlds, but their relationship is truly the heart of this story. It’s heartbreaking, beautiful and tragic. I loved the different dynamics in this story and while Reid does borrow a lot of elements from dystopian series like The Hunger Games, they still create their own uniquely creative world that is grounded a little bit in our own reality but is still its own fantastical world.

Reid continues to solidify themselves as one of my favorite authors with their beautiful prose and their stories who always have powerful female characters at their core. I am so happy to add Inesa and Melinöe to my list of fictional characters that have truly touched my heart!

Fable for the End of the World will be out March 4, 2025! If you’re looking for a YA dystopian novel with a sapphic relationship, family dynamics, themes of corruption, post apocalyptic worlds, and what humans will do just to survive, or if you just love Ava Reid, i definitely highly recommend you preorder this one and pick it up when its out!


Thank you so much Harper Collins and NetGalley for the E-Arc!!

I’m a big Ava Reid fan so I went into this with high expectations, and I’m sad to report that I was disappointed by this one. I think there are people who will love this, though, and I really hope it finds its audience!

I felt that the world-building was not well-integrated into the story and there were information dumps that should have been presented throughout the story. The plotting was inconsistent and some of the plot drivers felt contrived to me. I didn’t find the romance to be believable because of the timeline (they only knew each other for a few days??), but it was beautifully written and their moments together were lovely. I will still read anything Ava Reid writes because I generally love her works.

this is Ava Reid’s best book yet. the way she told this story had me hooked from the first page and i was utterly absorbed and obsessed until the final sentence. she wrote the yearning and desire so well that I could feel it in my bones. i cared not only for these characters, but i cared for the world and the writing. i loved how i felt as though i knew each and every single character as my own friend and family member, that i wanted to survive. the ending left me in tatters. there is so much hope and so many questions, but i cannot help but dream for a perfectly happily ever after.

“And maybe that’s all it takes—at least at the beginning. Just a few people who care. And that caring matters, even if it can’t cool the earth or lower sea levels or turn back time to before a nuclear blast.”

Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors. And once again, her lyrical writing did not disappoint. I always find myself immersed in her stories and words and this time was no different.

Her dystopian world was a clash of Crier’s War + Hunger Games with a saphic enemies-to-lovers romance. The end result of both was perfection. I can’t say more without giving anything away. Just know that this is a book to pick up.

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me of the Hunger Games. All of this author’s books have been over a 4 star for me so I am not surprised I loved this one too.

“I think about how, just over a day ago, I wanted so badly to touch her but never thought I would get the chance. How do people love, I wonder, knowing that every moment is so precarious, that at any second, it could all melt like snow, or turn to ash?”
This world was so cool. I’m not usually a fan of the dystopian genre but since one of my favorite authors of all time wrote a dystopian book, I ran to read said dystopian book. I loved the dual POV and the jarring distinctions between the two personalities and very different lifestyles they lived. Ava Reid is a master of writing atmospheric and original worlds, with incredibly poetic proses and deeply romantic relationships. Fable for the End of the World was no exception. I will never get over the way Ava Reid crafts such meaningful and moving stories in quite short standalone novels. The romance in this was phenomenal and I truly fell in love with these characters. My only issue was that I wish this ended differently, but I can appreciate the ending and understand why it ended the way it did.

Ava Reid’s sapphic, Hunger-Games-inspired dystopian novel tackles a future where regions are devastated by climate change and one corporation, Caerus, has taken over. The descriptions of the flooding and effects of climate change are so haunting and atmospheric, which is one of my favorite parts of Ava Reid’s writing. Not to mention, the theme of survival in a world where corporate greed and consumerism has taken control and the environment is warped was really emotional and well-done.

Most of my disappointment with Fable is that it feels half-baked. The world-building and character development need much more detail and elaboration, not only to distinguish itself from The Hunger Games (because it does read very similarly), but to make this world and these characters feel real and purposeful. Fable relies heavily on half-heartedly telling us about this dystopian future without showing or elaborating; we get some significant details about Caerus in the last 20% of the book when it would’ve been more effective to give us these details early on.

The romance between Inesa and Melinoë was sooo good, but it would’ve been even better if we had more background and development on Mel’s character specifically. I think if we spent more time with Melinoë before the Gauntlet started so she could show us the world she was born into and how she became this emotionless killing machine, it would’ve made her development later on way more plausible and earned.

I really enjoyed Fable! I just wish more elements had been paid more attention to. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc!

WHEN I TELL YOU I was pulled in, destoyed, put back together, and then destroyed again by this book… The story follows Inesa, a taxidermist, and Melinoe, an assassin. The corrupt Caerus government controls everything, and allows its citizens to fall heavily into debt. A solution to the debt: offer someone up as a sacrificial lamb in a live-streamed gauntlet. When Inesa’s mom offers her up, she has to rely on her survival skills—ones honed from living in a post apocalyptic wastes. Mel is still recovering from her last gauntlet, where she broke down after unaliving her target. She needs redemption, and Inesa needs to survive. In this beautifully written story, both girls begin to wonder if there’s more to life than what they’ve been conditioned to accept. And somehow, they wonder if all they need is each other.

The last time a book had me feeling this way was when I read the Hunger Games in middle school. I have a soft spot for dystopian, sapphic, and enemies-to-lovers storylines, so this was an absolute homerun for me. I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for a second book, and the first isn’t even out yet. This book has easily become one of my favorite reads of 2024. From the world building, character development, emotional pull, and tension this book has it all. I have no criticism to give, this was a flawless story that I believe everyone can read and enjoy, and I will be recommending this book to anyone that will listen to me yap.

A huge thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this review copy, this review is my honest opinion.