So I will admit, this book didn't really grab or hold my attention. There wasn't anything wrong with it per se, I just think it wasn't meant for me. My only real complaint is that it felt very anti-climatic all the way until the cliffhanger, which is just enough of one to keep me interested in reading book 2.

Adrienne Young has grown to be a favorite of mine. I absolutely adored Sky in the Deep and I loved Fable just as much! It is so great that Namesake will be out soon because I cannot wait for the sequel in this duology- cliffhanger anyone? This novel had everything, a strong female lead, adventure, swoony romance and as a bonus the high seas. Fable was everything you can want in a heroine- strong, courageous, inventive and resilient. She is the kind of lady that women need to read about. I hope everyone reads this and feels the magic of how engrossing the world and the characters are. This book definitely kept me up late into the night!

Why is Adrienne Young so good at what she does? No, seriously, how? Every book I've read from her is near impossible to put down, no matter what is happening. I finished half of this book in one day and did not want it to end!

Hugest of thanks to Wednesday Books for the ARC!

From the start of this book it's clear this is a work of love from the author. The amount of research that must have gone into this is astounding! I'm going to have to do some research myself because I admit I didn't know many of the ship terms. And yet, despite not knowing what it means to "reef the sails," I was still able to follow along and appreciate the beauty of this ruthless and cutthroat world. There aren't many books set out at sea and I wish there were so many more. The imagery it presents in the ocean, all its risks, and life aboard a ship--it's atmospheric writing at some of its best.

The plot isn't quite what I expected. For a high seas adventure, it is a quiet sort of book. There's no swashbuckling sword fights, no walking the planks, and certainly no pirates. Instead, it is a tale of fighting to survive, to find a place to belong after being alone for so long, and living in a world where even the slightest amount of affection can be used against you. There is enough intrigue to keep the pages turning, even if those pages are filled with slow days at sea or trading with guild members. Many of these characters keep things close to their chests, different people knowing one thing about the others or ignoring acts as a method of protecting them.

And in the middle of all this quiet scheming and mystery is our redheaded dredger, Fable. Ooh, but I do so love a girl who won't back down from anything. Fable has been shaped into a hard young woman from her experiences, but still believes in the good of people she shouldn't. After the ship carrying her family sank, taking her mother with it, Fable's father abandoned her on an island of dredgers who won't hesitate to kill you if it means an extra coin for them. He left her with a horrific scar and the promise that if she can get off, he'll give her what she is owed. Fable is a resourceful individual, terribly clever and driven in her pursuits. I really liked how her story fit into this tale and wove into the other plot lines. It seemed to be very well done and strengthened her character arc.

The back jacket of my Advance Readers Copy highlighted this as a romantic tale, but I need you all to pump the brakes on that. Anything that does happen is in the last 50 pages. And I was thrilled. Sometimes, nothing ruins a story more than making sure the romance influences every decision of the main characters. It is absolutely a delicious slow burn, even though I hesitate to call it such, since both Fable and the love interest suppress so much. Fable never even told anyone who her father was because of the danger it could put them both in, and the same goes for her and her love interest. There isn't room for caring in this ruthless world, and what does happen ... I fear it's going to make the sequel hurt me.

Yet again, Adrienne Young has hit it out of the park with her third book. I am a firm fan of hers and can't wait to dive into Namesake soon!

Fable is a beautifully written sea romp adventure. Adrienne Young truly immerses the read in her world. Her descriptions are so visceral that you feel like you’re holding your own breath underwater. This story is page-turning and perfectly paced. A novel teens will surely devour.

I'm starting to think that maybe Young's books just aren't for me. I absolutely adored Sky in the Deep, but this is the second one in a row that just fell completely flat.

I kept trying and trying and trying to get into this book, one chapter at a time, but it never held my attention. The beginning was so slow, the world building minimal, the main character was boring to me. The tone of this book is one that I just never really like anymore, that sort of dark and gritty but not quite tone that people seem to love these days. So that's just a matter of personal preference, I don't really like those books in general. Which means I can see why so many others have just loved this one, and I think many, many more readers will. Another one that just wasn't for me.

Fable is the story of a young woman, trying to do what she needs to in order to survive in a cruel and vengeful world. Having read another book by Adrienne Young, I was very excited to get a copy of this new series starter from NetGalley.

I found Fable to be a fun and fast read, with great characters and interesting plot and subplots. Fable herself is essentially your standard anti-heroine, and her cast of supporting characters are interesting and relatable.

This book does end on a cliffhanger, so be aware if you don't enjoy waiting for answers lol

I love a good pirate story! I was so excited when I found out that Adrienne Young had started on a new fantasy series with historical overtones, as I was a giant fan of her Sky in the Deep duology. (You can read my review of Sky in the Deep here!) I'll be honest, I had very high hopes for Fable, and I was not disappointed. 

Let me start by saying that I have a giant girl crush on Fable! She was so strong and spunky, while still having a soft side. Her biggest goal in this book was to go back to her father (although it was partly to get what she thought she was owed, but partly because she just wanted him to love her! *love her soft little heart*). I loved that she was talented and smart and was able to hold her own on an island filled with thieves and murderers for four years. She is an icon, and I cannot wait to see how she continues to evolve in the second book. 

Fable and West are my favorite. So much tension, so much angst. I loved it. West was a great character. He was mysterious, but not so much that you were frustrated by the lack of info. It was doled out slowly enough to keep him intriguing, which I really enjoyed. I loved the banter that Fable had with the other crew members on the Marigold, especially Willa and Auster. It made me want to go on this journey with them. I love when the friendships are just as important as the romance. 

This fantasy reads almost more as historical fiction. I really enjoy this about Young's books. There is always just the slightest hint of fantastical elements to her stories. I am a huge fan of historical fiction, so this is incredibly interesting for me. 

The only thing that knocks this book down half a star for me is that I felt like sometimes Young over-explained things. If she had kept things simple, just telling us that Fable climbed the mast of the ship, rather than which direction and what rope she grabbed and with which hand and where she placed her foot...you get the idea. If these parts had been simplified it wouldn't have taken me out of the story as much trying to figure out exactly what she was talking about. There is something to say for allowing the reader a little bit of license to use their imagination. Apart from this though, I absolutely loved this story, these characters, and this world. 

I cannot wait to get my hands on the second book in this duology, Namesake - and luckily we only have to wait until March!! 




My Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

I gave Fable 4.5 STARS! Fantastic story, world-building, and characters.

I was pumped when I was invited to review this because I LOVE adrienne young! Fable does not disappoint and leaves you begging for more. The writing and story telling are superb. I am excited to read what Adrienne has next.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Fable by Adrienne Young
Book One of the Fable series
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Copy provided by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Filled with all of the action, emotion, and lyrical writing that brought readers to Sky in the Deep, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Fable, the first book in this new captivating duology.

Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.

Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue and adventure.

What I Liked:

It has certainly been a while since I reviewed a book. But there was no way I wasn't going to write a review for Fable. I've been reading - no, savoring - Fable for months. This book was exactly what I needed to pull me out of a deep reading slump. This novel is full of high risks, adventure, friendship, found family, and a swoony slow-burn romance.

Fable is the daughter of a powerful trader (Saint), who abandoned her on a dangerous island just hours after her mother drowned during a storm at sea. Surviving on this treacherous island hasn't been easy, but Fable has been honing her skills as a deep-sea dredger to collect precious stones and gems to trade for money, so she can get off the island. But circumstances can change at the turn of the tide, and Fable finds herself in a desperate situation to get off the island. With the reluctant help of a trader, West, Fable gets off the island, and she is determined to find her father and demand her rightful place on his ship.

I had a feeling that I would love this book before I picked it up because the summary is so intriguing, but I also had read other books by Adrienne Young and I was expecting another excellent story. Young absolutely delivered on this. This story gave me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes in the summary, and I definitely got that feeling as I was reading. The atmosphere is exciting, but also eerie/threatening/dangerous, in a sense. I love the undercurrent of danger that runs through the story, and ratchets up at the climax. One thing Young does so well is building that tension throughout the story.

From the first page, I really liked Fable. She is a heroine that is easy to like and relate to (even if you aren't in a situation like she is - most of us aren't!). She is such a strong young woman who has been put in an incredibly difficult do-or-die situation for most of her life. She is so resilient - but she isn't perfect. Her own mistakes lead her to scrambling off the island, which leads to more problems. Fable "enters" this story as a clever, tough, determined individual, but she becomes even more so as the story progresses. She opens her heart to the strangers of the Marigold, which could be a big mistake. In doing so, she finds a family that she has never had, even when her parents were in her life.

You won't just fall in love with Fable - you'll love West, and the rest of the Marigold crew. West is such a mysterious character with so many layers of backstory and tragedy. I am terribly fond of characters who aren't who they seem, and who don't trust anyone, and who have had to make awful decisions in the past. Both West and Fable are this type of character. The other members of the crew are mistrustful of Fable at first - especially Willa - and with good reason.

There is slow-burn, sweet romance in this book, and I love it so much. I shipped this couple from their initial interaction of the book, and I want them to get a happy ending so badly. There is also another romance between secondary characters which I loved.

The ending of this book is a pretty intense cliffhanger, so be prepared to be screaming for book two when you get to the last page. I personally hate cliffhangers and I appreciate the heads-up, so that I can binge-read the series when it is published, but I read this book so early (back in January) and had no idea about the cliffhanger. The good thing is, Namesake publishes in March!

Fable is one of those stories that lingers in my mind, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I am so happy that the book has lived up to its predecessors and the hype, and I can't wait to read the conclusion to the series.

What I Did Not Like:

Like I said, I personally don't like cliffhangers. Even in a series, I love it when the author wraps up each book, but perhaps the "big picture" plot hasn't been quite wrapped up, or something like that. I understand the need to "hook" the reader, but cliffhangers are so mean (especially when a series gets cancelled or more books are never published, for whatever reason!). As far as cliffhangers go, this is a pretty intense one, so it's a great type of cliffhanger but readers are going to be upset that Namesake isn't available yet. Hang in there!

Would I Recommend It:

I absolutely would recommend this book - especially as someone who has been in a months-long reading slump. If you're looking for action/adventure with a slow-burn romance in the background, this is a great book to read. It has crossover appeal so I would say that adults, young adults, and maybe even upper middle grade readers could read and love this book.

Rating:

5 stars. I will read anything Adrienne Young writes. Fable has cemented that. I can't wait to read Namesake!

Title: Fable
Author: Adrienne Young
Genre: 4.5 out of 5
Rating: Fantasy, YA

As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive.
I was intrigued by this from the very first page. Fable is clearly a better person than me, because if I’d been abandoned—basically to die—by my father four years ago, I wouldn’t have gone back looking for him like I cared. It did make her a strong person, though. The parts on the sea were well-done and vivid, and the land-based settings were vivid and realistic.
I liked all the characters and their relationships were believable. There’s enough escalating tension here to keep me reading late into the night, and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the second book. I saw a post pointing out the similarity between West and The Dread Pirate Roberts from The Princess Bride and now I can’t unsee that…which isn’t a bad thing. I liked the adventure-filled atmosphere and the setting was fascinating.
Adrienne Young is a New York Times-bestselling author. Fable is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of Wednesday Press in exchange for an honest review.)

That ending...no. Just no. I need book two now!

After the death of her mother, Fable is abandoned on a cut throat island by her father and has to fight to survive the next four years. Dreams of escaping and taking her rightful place by his side see her dredging for gems in the hope of scraping together enough coin to barter passage off that hellhole.

What ensues is an adventure across the sea, with a mysterious crew who are playing a very dangerous game. Secrets are unearthed, friendships are formed and a new life awaits if she has what it takes to make it.

I LOVED this book! I was slightly dubious because I wasn't into "The Girl the Sea Gave Back" but after watching "Pirates of the Caribbean" 11 times at the cinema when it came out, I was all for a swashbuckling YA fantasy and boy I was not disappointed! I thought the characters were great and I was totally immersed in their world and a life of surviving at sea. The insta-romance I so hated from "The Girl the Sea Gave Back" wasn't present here, instead relationships and trust are hard won in a world that will use any weakness against you. I can't wait to see what happens after that ending...bring on book two!!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adrienne Young has quickly become an auto buy author for me, and has yet to disappoint. She is such an amazing story teller and Fable is no exception.

I love the character Fable so much. She’s strong, resourceful, and smart, but she’s also naive and careless sometimes. She makes rash decisions, thought out decisions, and is honestly one of the most human characters I’ve ever read. I love that although she has one main goal, her methods of achieving her goal change and grow as she learns and meets new people.

At the end of the day this book is about family. It’s about finding your OWN family and realizing who and what matters in life.

The crew of the ship Marigold is a family. These characters have been through hell together and have fought throughout their lives to get what they have. It’s more than just a ship, it’s a home.

I don’t have too much to stay overall because this is a unique story. The plot is very slow and a lot of time the plot is slowly moved forward because of character interactions and relationships – not necessarily by major plot happenings. Its unusual for a fantasy novel and I honestly absolutely loved it.

Its a beautiful story about finding your way, growing up, and finding out who you are on your own.

I highly recommend this story and if you haven’t already, check out Adrienne Young’s other books!

Fable's world ended the night her father's ship sank into the sea. Her mother was lost in the wreckage and in his grief, her father left her to fend for herself on an island filled with ruthless thieves where she must always be on her guard and must fight for every scrap that she has. She has eked out an existence solely focused on surviving and finding a way off of the island to confront the father that abandoned her there.

I'd like to first take a moment to appreciate this gorgeous cover. I am going to buy a print copy just so I can stare into it longingly.

Sometimes a book is exactly what you need in the moment you need it. I have been a bit burned out on YA fantasy - so much overly complex worldbuilding and exposition , formulaic plots, and I am so thankful that this is not that book. This book takes you right into Fable's world and focuses on who she is and what her motivations are, Fable is scrappy and endearing and I just love her. The worldbuilding is organic and is fleshed out as Fable's story unfolds. The mysteries surrounding Fable's life, her father, and West all kept me intrigued and the book breezed by. I love that this is a duology and can't wait to read the last installment, Namesake.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, but honestly I did feel that the flow of the book was just a bit clunky. The stakes didn't feel very high for most of the book and it meandered a bit in the middle - it just didn't feel as tight narratively as it could've.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a E copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not change my opinion on this book. Thank you Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book.

5 Stars out of 5

Fable is a 17 year old young lady. When she was little her mom died at sea and her dad dropped her off on legendary island. This island was filled with thieves and very little food. Fable will have to learn how to survive. In order to do that, she will have to keep to herself. All fable wants to do is get of the island and clam what's hers from her father.

Fable finally has to leave the island faster than planned. She has just enough money to get passage on a ship. This ship and it's caption is someone she is familiar with since the caption is the one her bought her pyre. Pyre is a stone that is used for jewels and mainly for trade of food or money. Dredgers are often the one that will have a pyre. Fable is now on the Marigold on the way to Ceros. West is the caption of the marigold. The rest of the crew are not to fond of Fable being on the ship. She has been helping on the ship so she wont owe any money for the food she eats on the ship. The marigold had to make a few stops for trade before they could go to Ceros.

Now Fable has arrived at Ceros and she is now looking for her dad. Fable has seen her dad in the streets but he didn't say anything to her. Now she finally gets the chance to talk to her father and get what she is owed. Little did she know it's not what she expected.

I really enjoyed this book. It's probably my top 5 for this year. I had a hard time putting it down to even sleep. They story was very interesting and the world building was amazing! The ending was not to much of a cliff hanger but man did I have a hard time picking up another book. I definitely did expect the ending and I look forward to reading Namesake.

Stop whatever you are reading and pre-order/order this book! I read Fable in one day because I could not put it down! From the beautiful imagery to the complex cast of characters, this will be one of my favorite books of 2020.

Fable was left on an island four years ago to fend for herself by her father, Saint. When a series of events gets her off this island she is determined to reach her father and claim what is hers. The ensuing adventure leaps off the pages and will make you want to go to the Caribbean RIGHT NOW. I can honestly not wait for the second book in the duology and will for sure be pre-ordering that one as well.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

A tale of the high seas with drama, adventure and a splash of possible love? I’m in! This is a great story and is told through the eyes of Fable, who was born into the life on the sea. I really enjoyed reading this and cannot wait for the second one!

Unfun -- that was the first word that popped into my mind when I finished this book. And sure, I know it doesn't exist but "not fun" doesn't seem enough to express what I was feeling (there was also the problem with the connotation that I didn't enjoy this book) so the solution was to create a new word.

I REALLY liked this book. Hence, that ending was unfun because it was the first kind of cliff-hanger.

Adrienne Young's writing is superb! Not to mention her worldbuilding. She created a culture and meticulously fleshes out the character. This is shown as she gives everyone a back story. And no, it does not make the book drag. Rather, it gives life to the narrative. What is powerful about Young's storytelling is that she shows how everyone carries their own blindspots and motives, things that must be hidden deeply because they are the strongest weapon against you. Each page, until that very "unfun" ending, layers are peeled and in it the art and heart of a gifted wordsmith.

Fable lost her innocence the moment she was abandoned by her father on an island where you don't make friends, only enemies. In a world where there is no grace, only exchange of favors, Fable has to be astute and attentive. When troubles arise, she ends up as an unwelcome passenger of the Marigold. There she meets a group of waterside strays who might just be as canny as her because of their desperation to survive. She is not seeking to reach out to be a part of them, but sometimes camaraderie sneaks up on you and you have to decide if you will become each other's greatest fear or partner to survive the Narrows.

And then that unfun ending came and now I'm left wondering how can I get my hands on the sequel ;)

Adrienne Young did a tremendous job of crafting vivid imagery and dynamic characters that I fell in love with. Abandoned on an island by her powerful father, Fable must survive her harsh circumstances and find her way back to him to demand her rightful place beside him. Filled with adventure and rich descriptions, I was completely transported and could almost taste the salt in the air and hear the seabirds overhead. I adored the ache in my heart as loss and love revealed themselves throughout the story. I can’t wait for the next installment of this duology!

This is the first book I have ever read by Adrienne Young. I have a bit of catching up to do. This story is phenomenal. It's not every day that I come across a new five star author, so I am thrilled beyond reason! The characters are complex and full bodied. The plot is gripping. The world is exquisite. I am quite enraptured. 

I read this entire book in one sitting. It kept me utterly engrossed. There is just something about pirates, ya know? This story is packed with adventure and intrigue, with just a hint of romance. I am utterly blown away by how amazing the story crafting is in this book. Apparently I have a new favorite author.


If you're into shockingly good, piratical stories of girl power, you will definitely love this book.

I need to start this review by establishing 2 things. First, this book is not my normal read. I am normally not a light fantasy reader. Second, this book is my new favorite book of the year. Together those facts should tell you how absolutely fantastic it was.

Fable by Adrienne Young follows Fable who is the daughter of an ocean trader/merchant. When her father’s ship sank, taking her mother down with it, her father leaves her on a remote island with the promise that if she could make her way off the island and back to him she would receive her inheritance.

I went into this book expecting more fantasy, pirates, magic, maybe even mermaids? And even though none of those things were present (other than some very very light magic) this book was still incredible. I have completely fallen in love with Adrienne Young’s writing style and will immediately be picking up her other books and adding her to my auto buy author list. Every scene in this book conjured detailed images in my mind as I was reading, and the cast of characters was so well developed I felt like I was reading about dear friends.

The author left this book on a cliff-hanger, but did it in my favorite way which is to beautifully wrap up all the loose ends we have been working on through the rest of the book and then introduce a new idea that forms the basis of the cliff hanger, leaving me satisfied but still anticipating the next book.

There was only one character that I wish had been developed a bit more fully, and that was West, the romantic interest for the main character. He was developed mostly in his relationships to other characters, and I wanted just a little bit more of just him. That’s truly my only real complaint, as the rest of this book was perfection.

5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.