Thank you to the publisher for my arc!

" it's a shame we've started believing that credits are worth more than a life."

Hi so I'm in love with this book? to me it felt like therapy and a mirror of what our world could actually turn into and I could not put it down. I loved Melinoe so much and i will riot if there's not a follow up to this book because you really see her struggle with her own humanity and sexuality and just realizing just how bad of a situation she's in when she meets Inesa and their worlds collide and just AHHHH

the use of government propaganda in this and seeing how bad it is. its like Reid held up a mirror to the reader and was like HERE LOOK. this is what our world is turning into and AHH i loved it so much.

WOW!! This is truly a love letter to the dystopian Greene from the mid 2000s to 2010s era. But at no point did it feel repetitive or like anything I’ve read before. I am absolutely in love! Every page made me want to keep going. The characters and their lives are so great that they could have lead a more character driven story and it would’ve still been great. But the action?! It’s incredible. I cannot say enough about this book! If you love dystopian books or are a fan of the hunger games, you have to read this!

I enjoyed aspects of this book such as the world building. I’ve always loved the way Reid can make the surroundings come to life and make me feel like I’m right there. I liked our main character and her brother unfortunately it was the romance that fell flat for me. The instant love connection after what they go through just didn’t make sense to me, and the build up wasn’t there. I loved how it ended though.

What an incredible, beautiful, absolutely perfect book. Fable for the End of the World is a sapphic dystopian book, but it's also so much more. No book has ever been able to give me the same edge-of-my-seat feeling as the Hunger Games since I read it as a budding teenager...until now. Inesa and Melinoe are fleshed out so perfectly that you can't help but keep reading. The plot was tense, the stakes were high, and every relationship felt real. This was my first read of Ava Reid, and you better believe I'm now rushing to grab her other books and devour them. I loved this book SO much and it will easily be a favorite read of 2025.

This book is incredibly ambitious, and I have a lot of respect for what it is trying to do. I’m just not sure that it is successful in achieving it.

I’m very pro-criticising capitalism and for profit government and climate inaction and objectifying children and spectator detachment and—

However, I think a lot of these were ideas thrown at a wall to see what would stick, and there’s not a lot of robust worldbuilding underpinning them. How your reality was created shouldn’t be revealed 84% of the way through the book as a part of a twist (??). If the whole crux of the novel is that the televised death of a person is worth 500,000 credits to a corporation, why are those deaths not of the people we spend tons of time villainizing for being ‘weak’ for being trapped in the debt-ridden hellscape, not their innocent children? Where is the supposed viewer buy-in to see dead kids? What satisfaction do they get from that? It just doesn’t make any SENSE. Especially once we see that there is actual viewer SYMPATHY for the victims. Also I can’t get over the lack of collectivism, the lack of community or solidarity present. This tries to be hunger games without the philosophical heart that Collins put in that book.

The characters are interesting, the romance and pacing feels off, the vicious trained killers…fail to kill anyone successfully. Idk man. The big scary corporation pulls a lot of punches for something supposedly all powerful and ruthless. There’s no actual consequences for failing to carry out the will of said corporation.

And at the end…what has truly changed?

I’m sure there are people out there that will love this one, but it wasn’t for me.

It pains me to write a less-than-stellar review because this was a highly anticipated release for me and I love this author and several of her books, but this one didn't work for me.

This is a sapphic YA dystopian story, about a girl named Inesa who lives in a flooded and irradiated post-nuclear town. She and her brother survive by hunting non-mutated deer and taxidermy-ing them to sell. Their mother is a hypochondriac who rakes up enormous debts, and to settle those debts she gives Inesa up for The Gauntlet, a televised event where an "Angel" (a teen girl who has been surgically enhanced for beauty and battle) hunts and kills the indebted. Melinoe, this Gauntlet's Angel, has not been performing properly though, and this Gauntlet does not go as planned.

Pacing was an issue; once you get past the initial set-up of the book, very little occurs. The Gauntlet turns out to just be running around in the woods, and really would have benefitted from having some structure.

The worldbuilding felt lackluster, with many of the details of the world/characters feeling a bit random. I hate to say it but a lot of it felt like it was chosen to make this book seem different from the obvious inspiration of The Hunger Games, rather than having any sort of internal logic to the story.

The romance between Inesa and Melinoe goes from enemies to lovers in a blink, and didn't feel believable.

And without spoiling the ending, I did find it quite frustrating that we didn't get more, from the romance to the world to everything. None of the threads felt like they were tied up. It felt like part one of a duology, but everything I've seen online has called it a standalone.

Maybe this will appeal more to younger readers, I do want to acknowledge that I am older than the intended audience.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ava Reid's fifth novel, Fable for the End of the World, is a dystopian tale that is set in a world where a country is led by a giant corporation, and each citizen must offer a sacrificial lamb to join a live-broadcasted manhunt called Gauntlet to repay severe debts. Inesa is one of the unfortunate souls sold by her mother to be sacrificed on said hunting event, and as she struggles to survive against her chosen pursuer Melinoë, she discovers that there is more to the bleak system than meets the eye; she must choose the best ways to survive—for herself, her family, or the enigmatic chaser who is just as vulnerable as she is.

When it comes to the premise, it's more akin to The Running Man than The Hunger Games: a dystopian America in which individuals in less fortunate socioeconomic conditions have turned to violence by participating in a televised chase in which they must survive a swarm of killers. Under Reid's control, those in financial hardship are swapped for those who are in debt, and the free will to participate in the game is replaced with the assignment of sacrificial lambs to the hunt in order to pay off the debts in full. It's violent and mad, and as the world changes, it's becoming more relevant. With automation and digitalization taking full force, consumerism is at its worst point, and people are more focused on individualized survival than on solidarity.

Reid succeeds in creating an ominous environment so that each possibility the protagonists would like to pursue for survival diminishes their optimism rather than increasing their pleas for escape. It's a scary world that's becoming more believable as we compare the novel to real life.
Reid, however, is not just discussing autocratic governments (or perhaps technocracies, given how much technology and machinery are used there), but also pointing out that excessive consumerism is both the cause and the result of this development; people are so eager to acquire the newest and greatest products that the industry must operate at a high speed to keep up with demand–the quicker the production, the quicker the chase in great lengths, and the easier to fall into debts because of the actions caused by the fear of missing out (FOMO). It is indeed a cruel cycle of hell.

As one of the book's main protagonists, Inesa embodies the true survivalist spirit, akin to Katniss Everdeen. This is why the main character makes some sort of spiritual reference to The Hunger Games trilogy. There is little else the two characters have in common, though, aside from that spirit: Inesa is far more sociable and has a background in crowd mentality, whereas Katniss prefers to be alone. Her resentment of the administration was obvious from the start, but Inesa never engaged in any revolutionary movements, even during or after the hunt. This is the biggest difference between Fable and The Hunger Games.

This brings us to our second major character. Despite being portrayed as the government's heartless killer, Reid demonstrates that Melinoë is neither of those manufactured and marketed identities. She is compassionate yet has a temper, and she appears confused and unsure of herself. Reid reveals that this distortion has existed for a long time, even before Melinoë's fatal mistake, which exacerbates the discord—a telltale sign of someone who was raised in a manipulative environment with the sole purpose of training mindless killing puppets.

The relationship between Inesa and Melinoë is fascinating, whether it's about them, each other, or the government that sends them to a dangerous arena. Despite having similar feelings about their circumstances, their origins lead to distinct reactions when faced with threats, as they have no safe haven to hide behind: Melinoë's solitary training has transformed her into a passive shell who almost understands nothing about how to achieve happiness, while Inesa's vision of attaining freedom is to go far away from the system that takes them to this fate.

I enjoy how Reid is handling the narrative between the two characters, particularly their developing romance, by giving them a tragic star-crossed romance with no possible way to reunite and be happy together. Reid intentionally creates the impression of a potential reunion at the end, but it's widely recognized that the likelihood of such a reunion may be minimal due to the nation's strict control over them, leaving little hope for their eventual freedom. Some may object to the ending, which is likely due to the well-known pattern of preventing sapphic romances from having happy endings in fantasy and science fiction genres, as opposed to gay ones. Although I normally agree with this viewpoint, in the case of Fable, it is the only ending that seems to fit the stories of Inesa and Melinoë. Is it too harrowing? Maybe. However, not every story like this requires a happy ending or an actual revolution to be appealing.

Overall, I had an absolute blast reading Fable for the End of the World. It is my very first Ava Reid book, and I can say that it meets expectations. For those who love any kind of sapphic story, this one's for you. I can't wait to explore more of her books.

Ava Reid is becoming one of my automatic read authors. This book will remind you of "The Hunger Games" with its high stakes televised competition and sweet romance, but Reid builds a unique world that had me racing through the pages. In the Shallows the goal is to survive without accumulating too much debt. If you fall into debt you can't repay, the Gauntlet is an option, but mostly a death sentence. "Angels" are trained to hunt you in the Gauntlet. If you can survive these robotically enhanced hunters, you go free, if not, they kill you for the watcher's amusement. In the middle of this chaos, a sweet, sapphic romance blooms that will have you hoping that this gauntlet can end without bloodshed. I rated this 5 stars and really hope that Reid has a sequel planned.

If “sapphic enemies-to-lovers Hunger Games” intrigued you as much as it did me, you should definitely pick this one up.
Ava Reid pays a beautiful homage to the books that inspired her and created a story that kept me hooked the entire way. The dual point of view lets us see all the way women and more generally poor people are exploited by society in this dystopian world. From the start, you cannot help to root for Inessa and Mel to find a way to survive.
I loved the fact that Inessa is not the traditional badass heroine. She does have survival skills, but her way of rebelling is hope. That’s what being human is all about in this book: hoping and surviving.
I was moved by Inessa’s words, outraged when reading Mel’s. The experience was enhanced for me by the beautiful work done by the narrators of the audiobook.
The only reason I give it only four stars and not five is because the ending felt a bit week for a standalone. I get that Reid went for a bittersweet ending, but I wanted more out of it.

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.