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!

This truly reads like a love letter to The Hunger Games and the dystopian genre I know and love back in the early 2010s. It taps into that nostalgic vibe, the bleakness, the rebellion, the desperate clinging to hope in a world that’s crumbling. At the same time, it blends in real world issues we’re grappling with today such as climate change, capitalism, debt, inequality, and violence. That grounding in reality made for a compelling and thought provoking narrative..

One of my favorite things about this book was the worldbuilding, this world is desolate, bleak, and terrifyingly believable. The stark depiction of our potential future was chilling, but through it all, there’s this fragile thread of hope that keeps the characters moving forward. That glimmer, no matter how faint, was something I really appreciated. Hope against all odds? Yes, please.

That said, while I liked several elements, there were a few things that left me wanting more or expecting more. Some plotlines felt underdeveloped or unresolved, and the few plot holes that popped up along the way.
The biggest letdown, though, was the characters. The plot was great, sure, but I never felt fully connected to anyone. I wanted to root for them, to feel something deep and visceral, especially with the romance, but it just didn’t land. The romance, in particular, felt incomplete like it needed more time or development to feel something.

And then there’s the ending. I keep seeing people call this a standalone, but it didn’t feel finished to me. The ending left me unsatisfied, and unless Ava Reid has a secret sequel planned (please?!), I’m a bit disappointed. T_T

This captures the spirit of dystopian fiction I grew up loving while exploring themes of today, but it didn’t quite hit the mark I was hoping for. If you’re craving that classic dystopian vibe with modern relevance, it’s worth picking up but maybe lower your expectations?

Thank you HarperCollins for this ARC in exchange for my review!

I loved this book so much! The suspense! The yearning! Ava Reid continues to be amazing.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending, but I’m always super picky about endings. So it didn’t take away from the story at all. Definitely will reread!

This is a sapphic dystopian story with Hunger Games vibes—so if you love THG, take note and add this amazing book to your TBR!

One of the things I love about Ava’s writing is how she creates characters that feel so real and deeply relatable. You don’t just read about them—you connect with them. And that’s what makes her books so special to me. They make me feel seen. So, thank you, Ava, for making me—and so many others—feel understood, for reminding us that it’s okay to be scared, and that vulnerability is not a weakness.

The story itself speaks for all the victims of oppression under a corporate oligarchy. The book has a dual POV:

📖 Inesa lives in poverty with her family in a world where even saying “thank you” is dangerous—it could put you in someone’s debt. She’s forced to participate in The Gauntlet, a brutal, high-stakes game where contestants can erase their debts… at the cost of a deadly game of cat and mouse.

🐾 Melinoë, on the other hand, is another victim of this system—but this time, she is the “cat.” Modified and constantly controlled, she exists as nothing more than a tool for the oppressors’ entertainment.

And let’s talk about the romance—it’s absolutely beautiful! The chemistry between Inesa and Meli is everything.

I truly think this is a book best experienced with minimal spoilers. Ava writes with such intentionality, always weaving deeper messages into her stories, and that’s something I deeply admire.

If you love:
📌 Enemies to lovers
📌 Sapphic romance
📌 Dystopia

Then you need to pick up this book!

“…I think I realize, then, why most people are too afraid to hope. The stronger your faith, the more brutal it’s shattering. The more vivid your dreams, the more agonizing the knife-twist of reality. It’s a privilege, really, to desire, to imagine, to believe.”
✎ Fable For the End of the World

Every time I read a YA dystopian book, I am transported back to my 13-15 year old self who devoured dystopians every week because they were my original genre hyperfixation.

Fable For the End of the World perfectly blends my over-a-decade-ago love for dystopian with my current adult tastes.

This book pulled on my nostalgia (fanfiction being an influence on Ava, which they mention in their Author’s Note), addressed the intertwining of capitalism and the destruction of earth, and pulled on my heartstrings tenfold—family-wise and romantic. All of those elements made this book so fascinating to uncover.

And we only scratched the surface of this world! Readers get a taste of New Amsterdam because Inesa and Melinoë live there, but I want more information on the country next door New England. What happened to the wider United States due to the environmental changes? Is Canada a part of this? I have endless questions about this world because the settings move mostly between Inesa’s neighborhood Esopus and the wild. They’re crumbs of New Amsterdam’s city life, but I want more.

I’m curious if this will become a series because that ending is very much open ended. I really didn’t expect those final few scenes, and I’m hoping readers can get more time in such a compelling world.

3✨ An ode to the dystopian genre. I enjoyed the overall concept but felt like the story lacked depth - I would have loved to see more character development and world building. The pacing was a bit off for me. I found myself getting bored around the 60% mark. All the dystopian type attributes felt a bit reused from other books/movies/games etc. The romance felt rushed and I had a difficult time believing in it. I’m an Ava Reid fan but this was not favorite of her works.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

4.5/5
Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors, so this was naturally one of my most anticipated releases of the year even though I'm not usually a YA dystopian reader. I will also admit that I've never read "The Hunger Games," which I'm sure many will compare this novel to. Maybe that's a good thing though, so I can appreciate this book for what it is on its own?

This book took some getting into as it is very bleak and I wasn't in the mood for that when I first started reading it. The world-building had me hooked though. In this world, people can buy whatever they want, but when they reach a certain level of debt, either they or one of their family members must be nominated for the Gauntlet, a televised fight to the death. Inesa is nominated by her mother and must fight against Melinoë, a trained assassin who must prove herself by quickly dispatching Inesa.

If you are a fan of sapphic romance with a lot of yearning, this is definitely the book for you. Or if you're a fan of beautiful prose, Ava Reid's writing is as stunning as ever. There's also great commentary on climate crisis, wealth inequality, messy family dynamics, and love despite all odds. Highly recommend and looking forward to loving this even more when I inevitably reread it! I will be thinking about that ending for a long time!

my favorite ava reid book to date, and if you know how much i adore ava reid books, you know how much that means. it's got very strong hunger games vibes, but it also has a real voice of its own through its assessment of what it means to be destroying the environment and the world you live in, and some absolutely gorgeous examinations of love and what it means to be human. the final 10% or so of this book hit me like a truck and 10/10 would be hit by a truck again.

this story is one of those that is easy to get transported into because it had me so hooked. i quickly felt a connection to the characters, inesa and melinoë, and i wanted to protect them so badly. the action scenes had me sweating enough to keep reading and not stop.

“We all do what we have to do in order to survive.”
— Chapter 15, p. 170


i do wish we could’ve gotten more background history on how their world came to be. the concept of new amsterdam is so intriguing and the history buff in me wanted more. (view spoiler)

I know that flowers grow most brilliantly from ashes.
— Chapter 30, p. 319


there was a lot of great topics this could’ve delved more into—objectification, particularly of young girls and women, overconsumption and unnecessary consumerism by the overworked, beaten down lower-and-middle classes, impossible to compete with beauty standards, dehumanization and apathy—but this is a young adult novel; so it had to be an easy to digest commentary of said topics for the target audiences.

Feeling nothing is true cowardice.
— Chapter 34, p. 346


all that being said, i truly believe capitalism will be the end of the world, and with the increasing rise and demand for more AI tech, this dystopian world isn’t so far-fetched than we think. this was a great cautionary tale.

special thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins / HarperCollins Children’s Books for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, this one really got me. Part of me doesn’t understand why this isn’t a series, but the other part of me acknowledges that taking this story to its natural conclusion would tread a lot of the same ground as The Hunger Games (it’s already kind of reheating those nachos, as the kids say.) I’m choosing instead to be very happy with what we got, which is not a cure-all for corporatocracy or a happily-ever-after romance, but instead a brief but intense story about two people who have more potential for love and connection than their backgrounds would normally allow them. All of the details and world-building felt upsettingly realistic (note to self do NOT accept Amazon’s promise to relieve student debt should that occur in 2027) and I really felt for Inesa and Melinoe as they navigated the way they felt about each other. I found them so sweet and while it’s hard to do a romance like this so fast in a way that feels satisfying, I did believe it at the end of the day. They’re just two kids who’ve rarely been touched gently by someone with no ulterior motive, and they find that in each other, and that’s really special. I’m so happy I read this, it’s so sweet, and that ending! Yeah, baby! Romance is alive!

This absolutely scratched that Hunger Games itch I didn’t know I had. Dystopian is such a hit or miss and it’s rare to find a great one after so many popular series came out several years ago. Ava Reid is so good and makes stories that are so grabbing that you finish them in one sitting.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for giving me early access to this book! All opinions are my own.

This literary masterpiece is an exceptional read. The prose is exquisite, the characters are well-developed, and the narrative unfolds with captivating ease. Ava Reid’s talent is evident in every page, and I am thoroughly impressed by the intricate world-building and intricate plot. This book will be stuck with me for some time to come. This is definitely a must read for anyone that is a fan of dystopian like stories.