As a young girl, Fable watched the tragic drowning of her mother.

The very next day, her father Saint, a legendary trader, deserted her on an island inhabited primarily by crooks. Before leaving Fable to fend for herself as a dredger – a living of diving for precious stones – Saint forced a promise from her.

At seventeen-years-old, Fable has kept that promise, but cannot wait any longer to go in search of her father.
Her ship comes in when she gains passage on the Marigold, a ship captained by the young, stony-faced West. Fable finds adventure, treachery, and peril as together with West and his diverse crew, they cross the sketchy Narrows.

I read through Fable in a snap. It is a cleverly created piratical, seafaring world where a young woman like Fable holds her own alongside thieving pirates and pointed daggers.

I look forward to the second exciting installment.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the read of Adrienne Young’s, Fable.

2.5/5

Yeah, uh...I don’t really get the hype for this one. I mean, looking at Goodreads apparently I must be missing something here, because the average rating is quite high, and there are dozens and dozens of four and five star reviews.

But in my opinion, everything about this was just so mediocre.

Fable, our protagonist, was alright. I liked her well enough. The rest of the characters were just kind of there and didn’t do much. They all blended into one another and none stood out. The crew dynamics could have been played with a bit more too, because it was trying to paint them as a kind of family, but it never felt that way for me.

The romance in this was pretty pathetic and unneeded. There is absolutely zero chemistry between the two of them, and they hardly even interact enough for it to be believable.

The world building was okay. I think it definitely helped that most of the book is spent on water. I LOVE the ocean, and so anything that spends a lot of time with it will generally get a bit more love from me.

The plot however.... It was hanging on to a *very* thin thread for its dear life. Practically nonexistent, the book just kind of rambled on and on and I wondered for most of it: “What’s the point?” It’s almost directionless, but not quite at the same time because we have a set course. However, that course is ended halfway through the book, and the second half moves along without much purpose or sense of urgency until the very end, which leaves room for a sequel while leaving it completely unclear what the plot of that sequel might be. Yikes, right?

It’s a shame I didn’t love this because I hoped I would. Alas, my disappointments of 2020 continue, and I should stop being surprised by my feelings on books at this point.

Fable is a character-driven fantasy novel, and the characters are delightful with their intricate layers created by the repressive world in which they live. When love is dangerous, and lies are the only way to protect anything and everything that matters to you, it will have interesting effects on the psyche. You never know what is real and what is false or believe simply that everything is fake. The pool of people you can trust is tiny, and that creates characters who do not even know who they are, who are scared to be themselves, or who relish in the deception.

Fable is left on an island at a young age by her father, Saint, who is afraid that others will try to use her in order to get to him. He feels the only way to protect himself from this inevitability is to make sure no one ever knows that he has a daughter while taking care of her in secret and from a great distance. He also protects his heart from seeing the resemblance to his late wife daily is something that he would never admit to himself or others. Saint is no saint, just as Fable is no fable, or at least not yet. She is a flesh and blood child who needs her father's love, not a moral tale.

The character names in Fable fascinate me. They are straightforward and even direct. But there is no apparent connection between the character and their name. Names such as Fable, Saint, West, and Clove feel like they hold a tale that remains to be told. No one has a surname or at least not one that is ever spoken, just a first name, which helps keep those dangerous family connections hidden and speaks volumes about the world in which they live.

The world-building is also kept very deceptively simple. Fable's world is not a colorful one of opulence or natural beauty. Instead, it is dark and seedy, full of dangers both hidden and out in the open. I love the whole guild and trade system, which controls everything about this world. It is a corrupt system that uses violence to keep control. One must watch their back always. There is no magic, except for the rare ability of Fable's as a gem sage. Gems make sounds only she can hear. This ability, like everything else, is one she must keep secret for her protection.

Fable holds most of its actual and metaphorical gems hidden below the surface, and this is what left me in awe of this fantasy tale. I love that the intricacies and truth slowly reveal themselves to me but not in any discernible way. There is so much to contemplate and discuss. It is not just a fantasy tale to enjoy and put aside. It will stick with you for a while as the nuances start to unravel into profound truths.

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

Clinging to me as the sea clings to this auburn haired protagonist, I can’t help but be moved by Adrienne Young’s beautifully woven story, even weeks after finishing it. As Fable travelled from cutthroat islands, busy trading ports, and ocean depths, I sought for her the belonging that she sought, yearning for her place and home amidst the Narrows: a land of treacherous shoals and sweeping sails.

Beautifully written in both prose and plot, brokenness and belonging are skillfully balanced themes that permeate throughout the narrative - enthralling to the point that I read in all in a day! Even now, vestiges of the story swirl through my mind: the guarded West & his motley crew, the glimmering (and singing) sea gems, and the mysterious & infamous Saint... This gorgeous fable has stuck with me, and I am eager to read more!

Review Posted at https://www.instagram.com/p/CD_5IPSgXrc/?igshid=1ded4hs9e14hu

Before we get into the review, can we talk about how gorgeous this book cover is? I am obsessed with everything about it- gorgeous coppery red mane, eye-visual of the ship, freckles- I mean come on! With a cover this beautiful, my hopes for an amazing read were super high and Adrienne did not disappoint at all!!!!

Having never read anything from Adrienne Young I was skeptical, as with all new authors who enter my life via their written world. I must confess not only has Adrienne taken over my life with Fable, but she has also converted me into a staunch follower/ pseudo stalker desperate for more.

I love what she did with the MC-Fable who possesses all the usual traits of courage, strength, cunning, amazingly independent, hunger to succeed in a male driven world, determination to exact revenge on those who have wronged her etc etc. But perhaps the most impressive traits are those that shadow her bravado- the quiet vulnerability in those brief flashes of her tumultuous past, that empty feeling of a little girl being abandoned, the quiet whispers in her dreams and her hope of finding a family and a place to belong.

Fable has so many interesting layers to her personality, the expression of her emotions and the dimensions of her inner thoughts were so relatable. I felt like a naughty voyageur privy to her story and I am so happy Adrienne took me on this journey.

We meet young Fable in Javel, where she was stranded with not a coin or tool to her name and only her skills to survive, as she bides her time to make her return to Cerros where she must face the demons of her past. While I will not delve too much into the actual plot, as I believe you should take my word and buy the book, I will say Fable is unlike any other YA fiction right now which is cause enough.

“It was as beautiful as it was deadly….. A world poised on the tip of a knife .Cerros was like the coral on the reefs, except for the noise. Living things were stuck into every crack and crevice, but underwater, there was only a deep silence that vibrated in your bones.”

Adrienne has created a wickedly, enticing world of piracy and booty that enthralled me from the first page. Her masterful ability to weave such realistic and diverse characters appealed to not only my head but my heart.

And the ending……Oh mother mercy…. the ending…. Normally I am extremely annoyed when authors leaves a cliffhanger ending and I have to wait an obscenely long time for the next installment of the series but Fable was so amazing that I don’t mind one bit that I am chomping my nails and stalking Adrienne’s social media for updates.

While I won’t compare Fable to Disney favorite “Pirates of the Caribbean” as the plot-lines are distinctive and the characters are seemingly from a different age and time, I believe Fable has the potential carve out its own place in the hearts of pirate lovers everywhere

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an arc, all views expressed above are my own.

Check out my review here on my blog: https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/2020/08/17/fable-by-adrienne-young/

This may seriously be my favorite read of 2020.

I loved Sky in the Deep so much and instantly fell in love with Young's writing. To say I was excited to read more of her work is an understatement.

Fable was a high seas adventure with an amazing female protagonist and crew of characters. From the moment I was introduced to Fable, I was invested in her journey, and adding on the rest of the cast was the icing on top. I loved them all, even the villains.

Fable follows a young girl named, well, Fable, as she tries to survive and get off the island of Jeval where her father left her to fend for herself. Making coin as a dredger, diving for the gems of the sea, she'll do whatever it takes to get off the island and prove her father wrong. Enter the crew of the Marigold who begrudgingly take her on as a passenger to ferry her across the seas to the island where her father waits. Through a series of tests and trials, Fable begins to earn their trust, and their friendship. But, these are dangerous waters to be treading, and Fable wades in the middle of it all.

The world Young created is beautifully written and detailed, I felt like I was standing onboard with Fable and the crew. I felt the danger, I weathered the storms. If you're a fan of other high sea adventures, you definitely can't go wrong with this one.

Fable is a fantastic protagonist, one you want to root for. And don't get me started on West. He may be a book character, but let me tell you--I swoon every time he comes onto the page.

Here's to book two, because there's no way I'm letting more Fable, West, and the crew get away from me!

The perfect YA pirate story!

Fable must fight to survive in a world dominated by men. And the journey along the way will be filled with danger, darkness, and at times despair.

This story is wonderfully well written, the visuals are absolutely captivating. And though Fable is only 14 years old, the Hell she has lived through is evident in her strength and intelligence.

A dark and gritty story about a young girl just trying to find the place she belongs.

Fable was an action packed story I could not read fast enough. Fable was a ruthless female lead who was tough as nails. She fought for survival, and exhibited bravery at ever turn. This book is one of my favorite reads from 2020, and I do not know how I will be able to wait for the sequel to release.

Fable was exactly what I didnt even know that I needed. I've been struggling to connect with YA for awhile now. I think I was just missing the right kind of YA. The kind that isn't defined or constrained by it. This was escapism at its finest. Young's writing has a way of sweeping you away right along with the characters. You feel as though you are deep diving side by side with Fable the whole wild journey. And what a turbulent journey this is!

Not only was this story incredibly atmospheric but the characters were very well written too. This ragtag crew of Waterside strays aboard the Marigold became the family you choose, which sometimes means even more than the one you're given. I feel like we've only scraped the surface of their uncharted depth and I look forward to discovering more hidden treasures there. The ending was quite explosive. I already knew I'd want more of this exquisite world, but those last few pages made me hurt for it. Marvelous beginning to an epic tale!

The unique story drew me in. The more Fable was around the crew and we got to know them the more I liked them. With so many against Fable it was hard to pick out the big bad. Romance is on the back burner for this one. It is there but faintly. Fable was a strong character. Story was steady paced for the majority of the book. It does end on a cliffhanger.

You know those books you start right before bed to get a taste of it before you go to sleep. I tried it with this book, I honestly did. I thought I would read a few chapters and head to bed. I did NOT. I started reading and once I did I started reading at 11 o'clock then when I finished the book it was 3 in the morning. The chapters literally flew by while I was engrossed in the book it was that good! I havent read a book like this in a long time!
This book was phenomenal, what an adventure!!!
Fable is the daughter of one of the major traders, although after Fables mother drowns her father abandoned her on a island to basically find for herself. Fable works hard on the island to survive and try to save coppers to buy her way off the Island. When things start really turning sour shes able to buy passage off the island in hopes to make it back to her father in hopes he will let her join him on his ships. However like most things her plan didnt work out, but along the way she makes new friends and even finds love!! That ending thou was a cliffhanger!!!
If you need a good adventure, this one is it! An adventure, the sea, pirates and a splash of love!

I am probably not in the right emotional state to be writing a review right now… But here we are because it’s five in the morning and I can’t sleep after finishing this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows 17-year-old Fabel Who has been trapped on a legendary island (By her father) and forced to fend for herself. She saves up enough coin to pay for passage back to her father and take her rightful place among his crew. She pays a trader named West, who she has traded with before, and soon finds out he has a lot of secrets. She quickly learns that fending for herself on the island was easier than the things that she has to face on the Narrow Sea.

This summary honestly does not begin to scrape the surface of this book. The world is absolutely fascinating, and you can truly tell that Adrienne Young did her research. The description of the tools and the language used is fascinating and it really draws you into the story.

The characters are phenomenal. Fable as a female trying to pave the way for herself in a male dominant world is well done, you can’t help but love her. However, she is still Has many vulnerable moments which really Makes her real. It makes her come alive.

West is your broody character that you can’t help but love and want to know all about. He keeps his secrets close to his chest to protect himself and The people closest to him. He honestly reminds me a lot like Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle, just less happy and more broody. The other characters that we were introduced to are just as fascinating and unique. You slowly begin to fall in love with each and everyone of them. And you want to start learning more about them.

The biggest thing about this book is at the end of every chapter, it’s like a mini cliffhanger. Something is revealed something happens and you just immediately want to read the next chapter. This is why I am currently writing this review at five in the morning… I had no control in putting a 😆.

This book was pure entertainment. Somethings were easy to predict however it did not make it any less enjoyable. I was screaming I was throwing my Kindle across the room I was giggling I was kicking my feet around. I went through a lot of emotions with this book and I am DYING for the next one!!

I went into this book expecting to enjoy it because I have really enjoyed Adrienne Young’s other books. I did not expect to love it as much as I did. Even before finishing the book I pre-ordered it. She truly has outdone her self and I cannot wait for the next book. I have no idea where it’s going to go!!

I don't think I've flown through a book so fast in a while. This book felt like it was only 200 pages long because I couldn't put it down and the story moved so quickly. But what a great summer fantasy read! It's action packed, but I never got lost in the action. The found family that Fable is able to find on the Marigold is my everything and I am eagerly awaiting book 2 to see what comes next.

I want to give thanks to NetGalley for giving me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well, i felt a whole lot of....nothing. Zip. Zilch. Nada. Other than the fact that Fable sailed the seas in search of her father, there's a MASSIVE LACK of high stakes in this pirate style book. The crew was nothing to rave about. I didn't feel attached to any of the characters, save Willa. She seemed slightly interesting. West wasn't much to rave about either. The titular character, Fable, really fell flat in terms of
Survivor.
Trader.
Fighter.

Everything the cover boasted was a pale comparison. She didn't feel special or sea hardened. She was just a naive child who wanted to live up to Daddy's legacy through true grit but fell super short of it. She didn't exhibit a street smart one would expect by someone marooned on an island where everyone will kill and rob you of everything you have. She just felt so protected. I didn't feel any real danger surrounding her. The action was lackluster. This Zola character didn't exactly have me shaking in my boots. He didn't pose a threat like we are told and meant to believe through the characters. Several scenes felt confusing, at times I couldn't tell who was talking; the voices really mixed together and nothing individual stood out about them. I didn't feel that familial attachment, which is disappointing.

The back stories to several of the characters were generic and half baked. Didn't really stir an emotional attachment. Which in truth surprises me because Sky in the Deep, to me, really captured that feeling enough for me to care about the characters. But here, nothing special stood out. The style of writing is great and beautiful, but others than that, not evocative of emotion. It felt fluffy, super chill like if you the reader are there just along for the ride and don't serve much of a purpose. The scene where Fable and West dive to the Lark was EXTREMELY lacking in detail. I wanted to read more, i wanted the scene stretched out. It felt too quick and brushed by. I wanted the scene to be painted out, to feel the rush of diving in the ocean and exploring a ship wreck, but I didn't get that. I was served vague details and a kiss. An underwater kiss. Great. SO WHAT? Another thing, while im glad the romance isn't rushed and the two characters sleep together near the end, I'm failing to see what amazing features West sees in Fable. As I say, these characters are flat and not special.

I was about 70% of the way in the book when serious shit was going down. 70% OF THE WAY! That's a long ass time in a book for things to get going and pick up pace! This is the pirating world where competitive shit went down each day! While I appreciate the flashbacks for Fable's backstory, it felt repetitive after awhile, even the estranged relationship she has with her father was grinding on my nerves. Then we have everything go down fast with Zola figuring out who Fable is and kidnapping her, leaving us with a big cliffhanger for the second book, which i pray brings more action than this slice-of-pirate-life book.

This book really is just a chill book to read on a slow day. It's not a thrill ride, doesn't present much sea danger for the crew, hell they didn't even run into a famous storm they keep talking about. The seas are rough and storms are typical. I can tell the author did her homework on looking up dialogue and key terms about ships and their parts, so cudoos. Overall, not the best. I feel like the writing is regressing and this really read like a debut novel for sure. The storytelling isn't strong and leaves much to be desired. There's so much to expand or elaborate on, but I'm hoping that the second book brings more to light and helps push the narrative into a more adventurous light.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of "Fable" by Adrienne Young. I loved "Sky in the Deep," then was a little disappointed by "The Girl the Sea Gave Back." I knew that was an unplanned companion novel, so I had more hopes for "Fable," which is set up as a duology and would stand on its own. I'm happy to say that it came through. I really enjoyed the almost swashbuckling seafaring vibes, the magical gemstones, the complicated relationships, and the cut throat world. It was almost piratey without being stereotypical—it made up its own thing while still keeping that lawless, ocean sailing atmosphere that pirate stories give you. Seriously, the setting was its own character and one of the best parts. The romance wasn't quite as heart-wrenching as "Sky in the Deep," but I still really enjoyed it. I was gripped throughout and I'm so ready for the next book. I definitely recommend it!

This book was such a nice surprise!!

I love Pirates of the Caribbean but never once have I even picked up a book Pirate related at all.

I'm pretty glad that this was the first one!

This book was more than I expected it to be and I truly appreciate the way this world was written.

Fable is a teenager but she doesn't act it. She is wise beyond her years, and she had to be to survive this world that her father tossed her in. He abandoned her on an island that requires you to be tough or you will pay for it with your life.

She is very knowledgeable about ship life and she keeps her opinions to herself but she sees things no one wants her to. She is highly observant but will speak up when she needs to, even when she probably shouldn't, thinking it will help.

Her whole goal is to get back to her father, Saint, who is a well known and well feared man. She made a promise to him to never tell and she has kept it. She even lives by his rules and it has kept her going all these years.

I don't want to say much more because it would be spoilers but I recommend this to anyone! Seeing this world through her eyes is refreshing and exciting and has me wanting/needing more!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.

Loved, loved, loved this book. I became familiar with this author in her debut book Sky in the Deep and been drawn to her ever since. This book did not disappoint and I can’t wait to continue this story in book two.

I loved Fable! Abandoned by her father at the age of 13 she has spent the last 4 years dredging for gems in order to survive. She’s shown courage and bravery in everything that came her way. I love strong female characters!

I haven’t read many pirate books so it was refreshing to read something a little different. This book is filled with excitement, romance, thrills and the drama of living at sea.

Wow! I was swept away and not returned until the last page. What a journey! I want more!! What happens now?!

A tale of pirates, merchants, and diving for treasure. This novel follows Fable as she tried to get off an island to reach her Father and get what was promised to her. ALong the way she will meet new friends and old enemies but will it be worth it?

This is Adrienne Young's third novel and its her best one so far. Her first two books were good but I feel that she learned alot along the way in terms of her writing. I love love this novel so much from start to end it had my attention. The continued secrets and just how smart Fable is in general, really made this novel enjoyable. It reminded me of The Pearl with the diving/dredging and I loved how much detail went into this novel.

This is a duology and the sequel. Namesake, Has a matching cover to this gorgeous one. I will be purchasing this novel on top of reading the arcs as I enjoy Adrienne's writing and this was honestly one of the best books I have read this year.

Fable by Adrienne Young
★★★★★

OH MY GOODNESS. It’s been a few days and I am still in the throws of a boom hangover from Fable. If you don’t know, I love Adrienne Young’s writing style. It’s lyrical, descriptive, and transportive. I felt like I was aboard the Marigold sailing through the Narrows.

If you love strong, female leads, you’ll love Fable. She tough as nails and never stops. Maybe even to a fault but I admired her for it. In a word ruled by men, she doesn’t quit and more than once puts them in their place. She knows her worth and won’t back down.

Plus look at this cover!! It is BREATHTAKING. I already preordered my physical copy because I loved it so much. You should too.

Fable out September 1st. Thank you @netgalley and @stmartianspress for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.