Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the arc! I usually love Ava Reid’s works, but this one didn’t hit for me like her previous novels have. Maybe it’s because I’m not a huge dystopian fan, but unfortunately I did also find multiple problems in the book itself. That being said, there were a few redeeming aspects. Here are some thoughts.

I thought Mel was supposed to be good at her job, but her skill-set was very much cast aside in the beginning for the sake of the plot, which annoyed me

There were a few instances of convenience which irked me, and also undermined the realism that this genre is known to have. Often, Caerus seemed more like a cartoony big bad as opposed to a terrifying and possible future we could have.

There were some very stupid decisions made by the mcs in order to further the romance

The middle dragged for a little, but I could see why others would not think so. It became a slice-of-life, vibes based “plot” in order to further relationship development between Mel and Inesa. It was almost cozy. Honestly, I liked it as much as a loathed it

There were a few anticlimactic revelations, and some predictability with not enough elements to make up for it

The ending pissed me off, all tho the last two pages did regain my interest. This could easily turn into a duology. Reid could make it up to me by writing a high-stakes, high octane, pedal to the metal, blade-runner, cyberpunk, Thelma and Louise, sapphics who want revenge-esque banger of a sequel. I would tune in so hard for that. I would be so sat my ass would practically be superglued to the chair

In conclusion, meh? I was not a huge fan of this book, but I also found some aspects interesting. I’m sure many others would enjoy this more than I did. Also, Mrs. Reid, I’m serious about that sequel. -3.5 mutated deers

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collin’s for this arc! I absolutely LOVE dystopian novels and Ava Reid’s writing, so this book was a match made in heaven for me.

Often, I find that dystopian novels end up having incredibly similar plots, and while this one had similar themes, the story was entirely unique. Notably, As mentioned by the author, there are some similarities to The Hunger Games that can be seen, however this book stands strongly on its own.

Once I picked this book up, there was no putting it down; I finished it all in one afternoon.

4.5
so good!! inesa and melinoë were interesting characters and i really loved their stories.

my only gripe with this book is that the ending was not enough. the worldbuilding (which i already think is great) could be expanded on based on the stuff that occurred in the last few chapters. inesa and melinoë's story also does not feel "concluded" at all. this book could've really benefited from being longer, and maybe even having an epilogue.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book early.

Fable for the End of the World follows Inesa and Melinoë, in a dystopian society where they must fight each other to survive.

I’m a big Ava Reid fan so I was ecstatic to read a sapphic book by her and this absolutely did not disappoint! Inesa’s point of view was such a great glimpse into the dystopian society on the outskirts and Mel’s gave me a deeper sense of what the society was meant to look like. But the best part was when Inesa and Mel interacted, especially when we got parts of a scene from each of their points of view. There were also some of the most beautiful lines about love in this book which were just a dream to read.

My only complaint is that I wanted more from this world! I would read another book about the rest of Inesa and Mel’s story or even the rest of the world. And of course, the ending left me so desperate for more.

Thank you to Harper Collins Children’s Books and NetGalley again for the chance to read this early.

Thank you to Netgalley for the early review copy. I loved the atmosphere and the overall YA dystopian vibes of the story. The characters were well fleshed out but I felt like maybe some elements could have been more original or different from the typical survival/apocalyptic story theme arc. The writing was good overall. 4 stars.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

AVA REID DOES IT AGAIN. This was a fantastic read. Literally fed my middle school dystopian obsessed self. The characters were beautifully messy and flawed and the world was dark and screwed up and I devoured every second of it. The romance in this story was perfectly written so it didn't overshadow the story, but instead complimented it and highlighted the cruelty of the world Reid has built.

I 100% recommend this story. I could hardly put it down the entire time I was reading it and I have not stopped thinking about it since I finished it. This was exactly what I needed mid reading slump. I loved it.

as someone who needs more than just the world building of a dystopian world, i often struggle to buy into the story that is being told because i can't connect to the gravity of the relationship or the stakes. why should i care about why the world turned out the way it did? the world is already in shambles and although selfish i need to worry about the people around me. i thought the build up was paced really well in terms of introducing the stakes with the economic and political aspects of why the world is currently like that, which allowed for the characters' place in that world to feel isolated enough to have proper growth. i don't want to say more than that but this is me buying in if that means anything.

4.25 stars

The comparison between 'The Hungers Games/The Ballad of songbirds & Snake' mixed with the 'Last of us' is dead on.
BUT I would like to say this story also had a dash of 'The Uglies' & Black Widow 'Red Room' vibes.

While you can see perhaps slight inspirations from these comparison, Fable for the End of the World this book is entirely its own.
Ava Reid delivers us a dystopia world, that eerily enough, may just show our own world's future thanks to our own fractured government/corporate, the limitation on female rights and human rights.
Our two FMC's, Melinoë & Inesa show the two sides of the world with the book. One is an assassin crafted by the corporate government to hunt and kill the unfortunate 'Lambs', all livestreamed for the enjoyment & horror of the world, who has fallen from grace - her programming. While the other struggles to survive and keep her family afloat from credit debt .. until her mother offers her life up as a lamb to settle her hidden debt.
Their world's collide and with both their lives on the line, love should be an impossibility but the human spirit will always find a way to thrive.

That ending has me BEGGING FOR AN EPILOGUE. I think a lot of people will love this book!