I liked The Girl the Sea Gave Back, I loved Sky in the Deep, I was obsessed with this one! This adventure-filled story has everything you want: charismatic characters with badass attitude, danger, secrets, feud, love, and a chest of jewels in a long-ago sunken ship. Adrienne Young really has a world (several worlds, it seems, actually) of her own. Can’t wait for the sequel!

Pirate stories definitely had their day in the sun in the YA publishing world. It hits its peak probably about 2 years ago I’d say and has noticeably tapered off since then. During its peak, I think I only read one duology in this subgenre that I really liked (“Song of the Current”). Many of the others couldn’t quite strike on the right tone, in my opinion, too often falling into angsty, drama traps that didn’t befit the dangerous but cavalier nature of what I was looking for in a pirate story. But I’ve liked Adrienne Young’s work in the past, so I was happy to pick up her most recent book and see if she could crack the code!

The last four years of Fable’s life have been a mad scramble for survival. Abandoned on a island made up of thieves and murderers, every day is a danger. But Fable is driven: she will earn her way onto a ship and track down her powerful sea trader father and reclaim what is hers. But getting off the island is only the least of her struggles, she soon realizes. Alongside West, a secretive ship’s captain with mysteries of his own, and his ragtag crew who don’t trust Fable farther than they can throw her, Fable makes her way back out onto the ocean where storms are only the tip of the iceberg as far as dangers go.

This is what I like in a pirate story! The action is non-stop, the stakes are high, and death could be right around the corner for practically anyone, and that’s just life. Fable’s story starts out with the loss of her mother, but from there on out, Young doesn’t let up on the gas. These pirates have teeth and they’re not afraid to use them. The world-building sets up a nautical trade war where different factions vie for power using whatever methods they have at their disposal.

To live in this world, Fable is equally ruthless and accepting of living life on the edge of a knife. While her arch includes self-discovery, she also begins her journey from a solid foundation of trusting her own judgement, determinedly facing down challenges before her, and pursuing goals single-mindedly. Rather predictably, perhaps, many of her lessons come from learning the value of others, be they crew members, friends, or lovers. But even in the midst of these learning moments, I liked how practical and sure-footed Fable felt. She meets hardship and disappointment head-on and is a character that is easy to root for.

I also really liked the world Young created here. The various trading organizations, the tensions between captains, ships, and their crews, and the small dash of magic here and there that roots the entire thing in a fantasy setting. There’s just enough magic to make it feel “other,” but it’s also very recognizable as a “Pirates of the Caribbean” type place and culture. Could perhaps have dealt with a bit more humor and gallows humor to really fit that pirate stereotype, but it walks pretty close to the line.

The side characters were all interesting enough but weren’t breaking any boundaries, really. Most of them fell into fairly predictable roles, and their initial feelings and their changes of heart towards Fable all follow a paint-by-numbers format. The romance is also nothing special. I didn’t dislike West by any means or the romance as a whole, but there simply wasn’t much new there. West’s original motives and interest in Fable are left fairly unexplained. He seems to just kind of fall for her offscreen. And her own feelings develop in the usual way. The minute West shows up, you pretty much know exactly what you’re going to get here. I am curious to see what the second book will do with this, though. There’s less of a format for continued love stories than there is for their initial set-up.

Overall, I really liked this book. It didn’t blow me out of the water, but it also presented a solid pirate story of the sort I couldn’t seem to find even at the peak of the subgenre’s popularity. The story does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, so be aware of that going in. I think the next book is slated to come out this very spring, though, so the wait is short for those who want to dive into this now and not worry about being strung along for years and years. If you like pirate stories or are a fan of Young’s past work, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Rating 8: A solid main character and interesting new world make up for the fairly predictable romance.

(Link will go live Nov 25)

I was really nervous with this one because about halfway through I felt like I hadn’t really read much. It seemed to be all about boats, pyre, boats, gems, islands, scoundrels, boats, coppers, Saint and West.

However by the last 30% I was really starting to get into it. Plus it was left in such a cliffhanger! I was not prepared for that at all. I really loved West and Fable and Willa. I think that those were really solid, lovable relationships. I think the amount of tension and drama towards the end would have been even better with more drama throughout.

Overall I’m excited for the sequel for this one to see what happens next.

I'm a big fan of Young's Viking-themed debut: 𝘚𝘬𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱. I feel hard for her atmospheric world building and the found family trope, which is only magnified in her newest fantasy duology.

Channeling strong 𝘗𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 Caribbean vibes, 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 is a fun read full of action, secrets, and a twist ending that will have you bartering with @wednesdaybooks for an advanced copy of book 2! 😉Seriously as soon as I read the final word, I open my earc of 𝘕𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 to see what happens to Fable, West, and the crew of the Marigold. Even if you have to wait for answers, do yourselves a favor and join 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 on her journey.

And I'm not the only one that thinks so! In fact, @reesewitherspoon just picked 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 as her newest YA book club selection (@hellosunshine), so jump on the ship already, y'all!

Fable is a beautiful piece of writing combined with a fun adventure story for an epic read!

This is my first experience with Adrienne Young’s writing, but I feel immediately compelled to read her backlist after finishing this one. Her writing has an easy flow and lyrical quality; it’s captivating in and of itself. With shorter chapters, it wasn’t hard to get lost in this book.

Fable sets up the second book in the duology nicely, with a lot of great world-building, the introduction of characters, an arc towards a conflict, and, of course, a big ole cliffhanger! At times, though, the pacing was quite slow which makes me wish that the overall story was a standalone, rather than a duology.

I absolutely adore the cast of characters! Fable is a strong, determined lead with a family history that adds a lot of intrigue. She finds herself in the company of the crew of the Marigold, including my two favorite characters, Willa and West. Willa is a firecracker, and I love her interactions with Fable. West is phenomenal in all his broodiness! There’s a lot of angst between he and Fable, and I couldn’t get enough of them.

Overall, I would recommend Fable! It was just chosen as a Reese’s Book Club pick, so now is the perfect time to grab this one. Book 2 is slated to release in March 2021!

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.

I absolutely adored this author’s first book and I loved Fable just as much. There is something for everyone. Adventure, whimsy, a spunky heroine and a touch of romance. I can’t wait to devour the sequel.

I'm a fan of YA books where the female heroine is tough and doesn't give up in getting what she wants. As soon as you read the plight of Fable you're drawn in and you're rooting for her to get off of the island and to find her father. I was invested at first read.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was drawn to the book's description of a kick ass heroine on a quest to claim her place in this desmisal world. I wanted Hunger Games on steriods. I expected adventure and full fleshed, interesting, compelling characters but I got very little of what i expected. While the novel is well written and the world building realistic, the story and characters failed to engage me. The heroine lacked wit and personality. It was all about survival and very little about personal connection.

If you liked Six of Crows...

… you might want to give this a pass. This being Adrienne Young’s latest YA fantasy book Fable, published 01 September, 2020.


Fable is the 17 year old heroine of this story. Left stranded on an island four years ago, she eventually has managed to scrounge away enough money to leave the island. Where to? In search of her father, who had left her on the island, right after his ship drowned with Fable’s mother on board; who had carved a mark into her forearm; whom she wants to prove herself to as a worthy member of his pirate crew.

In order to reach the island where her father has his home port she joins the crew of the Marigold under it’s helmsman West. A vessel Fable had been trading jewels with for the past years.

The premise for the book is great: female heroine, pirates, ships, a crew of misfits, found family, and romance. The delivery though.

Neither character feels fully fleshed to me, they are all rather shallow. Yes, of course Fable’s character has a bit more flesh than the secondary characters, of whom West and Willa are the two memorable ones. I have already forgot the names of the three other members of the crew.

The plot is slow paced and rather boring. Nothing much happens for the first two thirds of the book. The crew sails the ship from island to island to trade. There is banter, there are shenanigans, but it’s all just foreplay for the last third of the book. Then suddenly so many things happen at once that it is difficult to keep up and then we are left with a cliffhanger.

The romance also happens from zero to sixty. First West hardly interacts with Fable and then, after one kiss -granted that underwater kiss was well-written- there are confessions of love? That’s way too fast.

Other reviewers have compared this book to Bardugo’s Six of Crows. I cannot see the connection. Yes, we do have a crew of misfits. Yes, West might be the brooding type with a rather dark streak. Yes, there is two-facing, there is cunning, and there is “sleight of hand” involved in this story; but, in my opinion, it doesn’t even come close to Six of Crows.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW ➯ FABLE

BY ADRIENNE YOUNG

NARRATED BY EMMA LYSY

THE DETAILS✎
❐ MY RATING➯ 4¾ STARS
❐ FABLE #1 of 2
❐ YA FANTASY
❐ PIRATES
❐ FINDING YOUR "PLACE" IN LIFE
❐ SOME ROMANCE
❐ LENGTH OF AUDIO ➯ 8 HOURS, 51 MINUTES
❐ I LISTENED ON LIBBY THROUGH MY LIBRARY (I ALSO RECEIVED AN ARC THROUGH NETGALLEY THAT I NEGLECTED TO READ AND OPTED FOR THE AUDIO VERSION INSTEAD)

First off, I love the cover, especially the twinkle in her eye, it's really gorgeous. Also, this is a duo, and the second cover kind of matches up with the first one...each one is a side of her face. The narration by Emma Lysy was mostly well performed...her alternate voices didn't always sound different from her normal voice...but she was rather perfect for the voice of Fable.

At its core, Fable is a story about a girl trying to find a place to belong with people she belongs with. With underlying themes of what makes a family a family and that it's not always actual family members. This is a story, you can't help but love, and Fable is a character you can't help but root for...there might be a few others to root for too. Coupled with a pirate-esque backdrop called The Narrows featuring wily thieves, deplorable traders, and the most notorious adversary of them all...her father.

While the bigger story at play has some closure...the book itself does end in a cliffhanger...which just means I'm eagerly awaiting the middle of March.

BREAKDOWN✎
Narration ➯ 4¼ STARS
Plot ➯ 5/5
Characters ➯ 5/5
The Feels ➯ 4.5/5
Pacing ➯ 4.5/5
Addictiveness ➯ 5/5
Theme, Tone, or Intensity ➯ 4.5/5
Originality ➯ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style/Ease of Listening) ➯ 4.3/5
World-Building ➯ 4.5/5
Ending ➯ 4.5/5
SUMMATION ➯ 4¾ STARS

Fable is book 1 in a new series by Adrienne Young. Fable's father leaves her on an island where she turns to diving to survive. She escapes from the island with the intent to find her father. Overall, I'd rate this a 3.5, I didn't love, didn't hate it. It was good for a quick read.

Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness! What another fantastic book by Adrienne Young! Young has given us the gift of a fierce, female main character and wonderful world building; no amount of effort to needed to delve into this exciting world. Pirates, treasures, and finding family, what more could you ask for?

As soon as I heard about this new book, I had to get my hands on it! I have loved several other works written by Adrienne Young and I just knew I was going to love this one as well. It doesn't hurt that one of my all time favorite fandoms in the entire world is Pirates of the Caribbean, so I jump at my chance for pirate books!

It did not take me the first five pages to be hooked. Fable's introduction was so intriguing that I knew I needed to know more! Fable also made me fall in love with her when she did something (trying to stay spoiler free here) that I was not expecting her to do, especially after her past. She is just a unique character.

I loved the adventure throughout the book and the suspense and intensity that Young was able to achieve through her writing. This was one of those books where you wanted to just punch the villain for being a villain and then cheer the main character and their group to victory! Oh and that ending!!! Ohh so so so good!!

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in the series and continue this adventure with Fable!

Rich with fantasy, adventure, and a slow burn romance! I absolutely DEVOURED this in one sitting. I did not want it to end. ⁣
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The writing style and imagery flows so nicely and I felt like I could see the ocean and taste the salty air right along with Fable.⁣
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Fable is so strong willed and determined. Right from the beginning she exhibits extreme perseverance and wit. ⁣
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The group of characters are also amazing. The mystery surrounding the crew does not get revealed until closer to the end and I loved that it kept me guessing! ⁣
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I love love LOVED the slow burn romance!

I enjoyed Fable overall, but it took a while for me to get into it. The beginning is a bit slow and then there's a lot of sitting on a ship while it sails somewhere else, but at about the 40% mark I was hooked and finished it in a few hours. I find Adrienne Young's writing style very easy to read and loved how different all the characters are. I'm looking forward to the next book!

I wasn't expecting to get swept away quite so quickly by this book, but I'm certainly not complaining! This book is a wonderful blend of fantasy/action/adventure with bits of mystery and romance. I loved everything about this book -- the wonderful storytelling, the interesting characters, the tight pacing, and the excellent writing. I'm so glad that I had book #2, Namesake, queued up.
I purchased 2 copies (I seldom order doubles!) for my high school library as I think this one will be a real hit with my fantasy readers and fans of Six of Crows.

*3.5 stars!
I was really pleasantly surprised by this!! I wasn't a big fan of Sky in the Deep, but this book was so interesting. I really liked the characters and their interactions and the ending definitely makes me excited for more! However, I would have loved for there to be more world building.

This book was easily one of my favorite books of this year! The world building was so rich and beautifully detailed. I felt like I was right there in the scenery of the book following the characters along every step of the way. The story was amazing and had so many wonderful aspects that really hit the mark. I am excited to see where the story leads for these characters!

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A great read. Can't wait for the second book in the series! We've got both books on order here at the library!

I ended up not finishing this book. I gave it well over the 50% mark, but the story itself was moving a bit too slow for me with nothing much going on. I will say I really liked the main character, Fable, and thought she was strong and cool. I think it was definitely the lack of action and slow pace that made me lose interest in this quickly.