I’ll start out by saying I enjoyed Fable and some parts of the books more than others. The best part was that it took place mostly at sea! However, I felt like there was more plot that was missing that I feel could have been instrumental to the storylines. I felt like the main characters romance didn’t have enough time to really develop into deeper connection, it only started to towards the end of the book and I didn’t really connect with it well. I enjoyed the descriptions of the locations where they sailed to and the backstory of how Fable ended up on the island in the beginning. I feel as though this book could be much more than it was. I’m hoping Namesake will continue to develop the story more and the romance will also continue to unfold in the sequel. Thanks Netgalley and Wednesday books for providing a digital arc copy for me to review.

Fable was just okay for me. I think this is one that had so much hype i had very high expectations going into it, and when it wasn't what I expected it just.. didn't do it for me. I've tried to read Adrienne's books in the past and they've always been average to me. I will definitely be reading the sequel, but I'm not going into it with such expectations!

This was a good read but I did not find it overly amazing for some reason. I felt that the plot was good, characters were decent but I just felt like it needed something shocking to happen to really put this book over the edge.

I found Fable to be an intriguing character because she was literally just trying to survive after her father abandoned her on an island full of thieves and criminals. I enjoyed how she was able to build herself from the ground up and bargain her way off of the island in order to find the father who abandoned her in the first place.

I found the relationships each character had to be intriguing because everyone was careful to basically not have their hearts on their sleeves. You can see that everyone cares for each other but still have to tell half-truths to one another to get by. I found this aspect of the book to be cool but it does not really allow for the reader to truly get to know each of the characters.

It was honestly an intriguing plot with interesting characters but I just ended up wanting more from the author. More plot that was shocking and more background about the characters.

A great book that I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. I highly recommend reading this book.

Can we all take a moment to applaud Adrienne Young’s ability to write books that connect with you on a deeper level? She did it with Sky in the Deep, and now she has done it again with Fable. Young’s characters feel real. Their struggles become your struggles; their pain is your pain. When I read Sky and the Deep, Eelyn’s love for her brother and her pain at losing him resonated with me. In Fable, Fable’s complicated relationship with her dad tugged on my heartstrings. I don’t know how Young manages to write books that resonate with me so deeply, but she does. It must be magic.

One of my favorite things about Fable is how atmospheric it is. The details in Fable are incredible. You truly feel as if you’re diving in the ocean with Fable, seeing all of the beautiful, vast depths of the sea. You’ll feel as if you’re on a ship sailing out on the sea, wind in her hair, salt in the air, long after you close the book.

I could go on and on about the setting and the characters (don’t tempt me), but instead, I encourage you to pick this book up yourself and read it. Fable is a story full of adventure, grit, bravery, healing, and found family. It’s about survival. If you’re a fan of pirates, tough heroines, and the found family trope, then you’ll love this book.

This book is truly one of my favorite books that I read in 2020. The atmosphere and world building that young brings to this story is fantastic and I truly enjoyed my overall experience of reading this book.

I was immediately drawn to Fable because of the cover...just gorgeous! They say not to judge a book by its cover but believe me, with Fable you can! The story is just as enticing and gorgeous inside as it is on the outside. I've been reading a lot more Young Adult Fantasy this year, and this one was a most anticipated read-how could I possibly resist a book about a determined, resilient, stubborn, brave young female who is absolutely set on proving to her pirate father Saint, who abandoned her at age 14 after the drowning of her mother, that she can not only fend for herself but ruthlessly fight to survive?

Onboard the ship Marigold with its crew of outcasts, including its captain West, Fable makes her way to find her father, and the relationship that she makes with her shipmates is truly one of the best parts of the book. Young did such an outstanding job writing the characters that they seemed so real, which made the interactions all the deeper. Fable, who reflects on the death of her mother often and the relationship she had in the past with Saint that ended with her mother's death, finds family with the crew and amid all the action, fighting, and adventures on the high seas with this book, these relationships, and friendships really make this unique book a pageturner! I can't wait for the sequel, Namesake in spring 2021 and highly recommend this fabulous read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the DRC. All opinions are my own.

There's nothing better than a storyline of inner turmoil, seeking vengeance against a parent while still loving them, forbidden romance, surprising twists and a cliffhanger of an ending that'll leave you wanting to throw your book across the room and demand more!

The biggest praise to this book is the presentation of the relationships between the characters. Fable and Warren start off as uneasy acquaintances and though both are aware of a spark between them, they don’t just dive headfirst in. Understandably, given both their pasts, they find it hard trusting another person, and as secrets begin to unfold, it was refreshing to see them challenging each other over it and not being afraid to have those confrontations. Too often in books, I want to bang the lead character’s heads together as they dance around and avoid each other. This time, I was cheering as they openly called each other out, often in front of a very interested audience and often with amusing reactions.

Everything here was so well written, with vivid descriptions of the people and places, a plot that left me yearning for more and also completely satisfied, and an ending I didn’t see coming and also left me screaming as I wanted the book to carry on!

The only real critique I had was that in some places, the plot was a little predictable, and I felt like some of the senes involving Fable in a dangerous position were overcome a little bit more asily and quickly than I perhaps would have liked. Despite how well it was written, I also still am not the world’s greatest pirate fan, though this certainly has started to change that view!

Other than that, this was a lovely read and I can’t wait for the sequel!

"Fable" is a fast-paced adventure full of romance and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat! You become absolutely immersed in Fable's world as she navigates the high seas searching for treasure and for the family that left her behind. I really enjoyed the development of each of the characters and the world Young built is flawless. She does an amazing job of bringing this unique world to life led by a strong, fierce female protagonist who is determined and tough, yet still hopeful and vulnerable.

I highly recommend this book for all libraries!

This fast-paced pirate adventure immediately pulls the reader into Fable's world. Abandoned four years ago on a remote island filled with ruthless, desperate outcasts, Fable has survived on little more than grit and determination. Quick-witted and tenacious, Fable is willing to take risks, staking her very life on the outcome. Determined nothing will stop her, she sets out on a dangerous voyage to prove her worth and join her father's crew.

Adrienne Young’s latest YA Fantasy, Fable, is the start of a grand, seafaring adventure–a salt-water soaked story to delight those whose hearts belong at sea. The story is a triumph for Young, the perfect whirlpool of swashbuckling action, swoon-worthy romance, and sensational world-building.

The story follows Fable, a young girl, who after the night of her mother’s tragic death, is left for dead on an island of thieves by her own father Saint–the most notorious and renowned trader of the Narrows. Using the smarts and survival skills taught to her by her mother, Fable scavenges and dives in the waters for gems, and then sells them for coin.

The goal–get enough money to get out of this hell hole and prove to Saint that she is strong enough to join his crew.

Fable enlists the help of West, a young trader she has been selling gems to for the past few years, and pays him to get her across the narrows to find her father.


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However, the sea and the traders on it have changed during the time Fable has been trapped on the island. Saint’s trading enterprises have only gotten more dangerous, and West is keeping secrets. Fable will have to weather a lot more than stormy seas in order to make it out alive.

This has been my favorite book of 2020 thus far, and the best book Adrienne Young has released.

The seafaring aesthetic is to die for with the sparkling blue waters, tropical fish and coral, tinkling gemstones, and the smell of salt in the air. Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or the Daughter of the Pirate King duology will be in heaven.

The worldbuilding is topnotch with features of the Narrows being revealed organically and not through massive info dumps. We see how the world works through the Fable’s eyes, not by the author telling us. This world feels real and gritty, but at the same time, still carries a whimsy similar to Pirates of the Caribbean. Young was able to find the perfect balance of realism and spectacle. Also, I appreciate that the magic in this novel is subtle, it doesn’t feel forced or so fantastical that it takes away from the realism and rawness of this story. The magic enhances, but isn’t the spotlight.

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We finally have a romance that isn’t instalove! Fable and West may not have been “friends” for years, but at least they have worked and have known each other existed for that long. Their love is not easy, both people have a lot of baggage, but they find their safe place in each other. It is beautiful, and I am so excited to see how it unfolds in Namesake, the finale to this duology.

Lastly, the father-daughter dynamic in Fable is probably my favorite part of the entire story. I will keep it brief for the sake of spoilers, but their interaction at the end made my eyes well with tears. The emotional baggage between these two characters could fill the ocean, yet Young fleshes out their feelings toward each other in a nuanced, delicate and heart-wrenching way.

Fable is a must read for this year. This little seafaring story has sailed its way into the harbor of my heart, and it has no plans of leaving. If you want to experience some of the best YA the current marketplace has to offer, read Fable now!

Bon voyage!

I can't say enough good things about this book. Adrienne will always be an automatic buy for me, no matter what she writes. The story is immersive and wonderful, and the world Fable belongs to is cutthroat and requires for her to be steel, even though she longs to be part of something that allows her to let her walls down. I read the book in one sitting, and loved it immensely. The romantic tension had me dying, but also smiling, because Adrienne captures the hopeful innocence of youth so well. She paints a vivid but real picture of the youthful heart and it's longings that turned this read into one of my favorites for this year. And seeing as how this is the authors first duopoly in which both books are not standalones, she handled that cliffhanger like a boss. I wanted to scream! And maybe I did.

1000 level up! Absolutely recommend.

The Gist: Fable has been left on a deadly island by her father, the most powerful trader in the Narrows. If she wants to find her father, she first has to find a way off this island, where food is scarce and people are eager to slit your throat at a moment’s notice.

My Thoughts: The first 10% of this was really rough, I won’t lie. I almost put it down at that point, because I just don’t care about sea and ship terminology and it was…a lot of that, and not enough character interactions and dialogue. But once Fable joins with the crew of the Marigold, my interest picked up. Even if a lot of the plot and relationships did seem like familiar YA territory.

Between the characters and the cliffhanger, I liked this enough to want to read the second one. But I think I’ve learned that I’ll never fully connect with a seafaring story. And that’s a me problem - I know a lot of people love this one!

Recommended for fans of: books that take place on ships and the sea, swashbuckling adventures

I loved how unique this story was - it truly is like no other book out there. I had a hard time being captivated in the beginning, but the book pulled me in later as I went through. Definitely worth the read once because of how different the story line is - in a good way!

I'm not going to lie, I was apprehensive to pick up a book by Adrienne Young since I wasn't a fan of her Sky in the Deep duology or her writing, but the premised of this book sounded too tempting for me to pass up.
I'm so glad I gave this book a shot! I love the plot, the characters were right up my alley, and the flow of this story had me excited to see what would come next. I thought the idea of this story was interesting and I couldn't wait to turn the next page. I truly enjoyed reading this book and I can't wait for the sequel.

I love all of Adrienne’s books so far and this one absolutely did not disappoint! It was full of magic and such a rich world that I couldn’t put it down! I cannot wait to read the second book and find out what happens to some of these characters. In a world of YA swashbuckling adventures, Adrienne’s book absolutely stands out!

I really enjoyed this story! I liked the pirate aspect and the hint of magic in this original world. Fable is an interesting character that you just want to root for throughout her struggles in the novel but also want to smack in the back of the head for silly mistakes. The romance aspect felt like an afterthought so it escalated a little two quickly for my taste but I did enjoy other relationships in the story. I think Saint was a pretty interesting character and I could have read more about him, I also would have loved more dialogue between the Marigold Crew members. I don’t feel like we really got to know many of the characters really well. The end could have been tweaked and this could have been a decent standalone, but that being said the cliff hanger was enough to make me want to read the sequel.

Overall it was an entertaining, middle of the road story.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve now read Sky in the Deep, The Girl the Sea Gave Back, and Fable, and I am disappointed to say that Adrienne Young is very hit or miss for me. Sky in the Deep was great; The Girl the Sea Gave Back was my least favorite Young novel, and Fable hits somewhere in the middle.

I was attracted to Fable for the same reasons as many others: a sea-faring adventure is usually fun and the idea of traveling the oceans during the time of quarantine is very enticing. However, sailing is pretty much all that happens in this book until the last quarter. Would a pirate battle have been too much to ask?

Fable is a pretty standard YA main character. She’s capable, with a troubled past and a stubborn streak, and she has a special gift that she tries (poorly) not to reveal. She’s basically on her own, with a father who left her alone on an island and a mother who died years before. The other characters are similar trope-y types, especially the brooding and mercurial West.

The single coolest part of this story happens pretty far into the book, and involves a map being revealed under mysterious circumstances, and a bit of a treasure hunt. This is where I began to be pulled into the story, only to immediately be thrown off by a relationship taking a turn with no indication that it was going that way. I liked the direction, but the lack of build-up made the moment rather lackluster.

Finally, the story ended with a twist, but unfortunately, it was one that I wasn’t particularly interested in. I’ll read the sequel because I am a completionist, but I wasn’t blown away by this first installment. I would recommend Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller for a similar vibe that is better executed.

I loved Sky in the Deep, and couldn't wait to read this one too! Adrienne Young has such a wonderful writing style that I adore!

I received Fable from NetGalley and the publishers and I’m so glad because I loved it. I don’t know that I’ll explain exactly how much I loved it or why. But I’m going to do my best.
Fable lives on an island that is a very dangerous place. She’s working on saving enough money to travel and face her father. The father that left her on said island four years ago. He left her to fend for herself and told her she wasn’t meant for his world. She is ready to prove him wrong. Once she’s finally saved enough money, she begs passage from West, the man she trades gems she finds while diving. As this is a novel, things don’t exactly as planned when Fable finally comes face to face with her father again. I’m going to stop there with the plot details. I loved Fable. She kicked and screamed and clawed her way off the island. She said and did whatever it took to come back to face her father. And when he didn’t respond in the way she wanted she made a new plan. She finds herself a new family in West and his crew. I absolutely adored the whole crew of the Magnolia. I loved their secrets, their hopes and dreams. I am beyond excited to see what the crew will do in the next book. We got to see them work together as a unit, a family, and I loved it. I loved getting to know West and Willa, Paj and Auster. I loved that there were queer characters.
The writing and the world building were stunning. The writing was lyrical and descriptive. The world building was so well done. I could see this world in vivid colors. At times, I felt as if I was somehow in the story alongside Fable. I will absolutely be picking up more books by Young. I was enthralled by this story, by the writing, by Fable’s fire. I couldn’t put it down until the final page.