I don't even know where to begin to tell you about this amazing seafaring book about the hard core heroine. Fable had me sucked in quickly with a strong desire to keep reading to find out who this amazing redhead is who suddenly found herself sailing away with the gorgeous West and his crew who had some secrets of their own. Young has a gift for writing and her words poured out of the pages into my mind and her characters took up residence in my heart. I cannot wait for the next book in this series, which I have no doubt will become a favorite for me and for many.

I really enjoyed Fable as a whole. The story really sucks you in. Fable is just trying to find her way off of Jevel where she was abandoned and finds herself on a ship with a crew that's keeping secrets.

I really enjoyed all of the character dynamics and just really liked the crew. Their relationships felt true to the realities of their world. I really liked Fable and really understood her hopes and fears. I appreciated the setting of being out at sea and really makes me miss the ocean. The story was just well written and described.

The ending definitely surprised me and I'm really looking forward to the sequel. I hope we get to learn more the Gem traders and Holland.

Overall a great read if you love books set at sea with a dash of magical realism.

Looking for intense action and a story of a strong female pitted against the world? Look no further. Young has brilliantly created the story of Fable, a girl who is courageous, cunning, determined and beautiful. Her father abandoned her after her mother died, leaving her surrounded by thieves, amid the dregs of a starving island. Fable will not remain a victim of circumstance and fights to find her pirate father. To accomplish this, she must secure passage off the island and this involves using all her wiles.

This pirate adventure is filled with obstacles that seem almost insurmountable. But Fable cannot be deterred. She is unforgettable and vividly portrayed. The action races forward and will leave readers breathless as they turn the last page.

This was just ok to me. The setting and the main character were interesting. I didn't care about any of the other characters though and it made the story boring and bland to me. None of them had much of a personality. It seems to be a trend in recent fantasy for authors to pay more attention to plot rather than the characters, which isn't a bad thing if you like plot-driven stories, but I like character-driven stories. The writing was good and made the book easy to get through despite the issues I had with it. So if you're interested in the synopsis and want a fast-paced, plot-driven story, I recommend this.

The action of Fable starts right at the beginning of the book and the pace stays fast throughout the novel. The title character is a feisty, determine survivor who struggles through near impossible odds To take control of her future. There are villains, friends, foes, and ambiguity with them all. The world building and fantasy elements are slow to materialize, but are present. This book was ultimately an exciting oceanic adventure with some magical moments peeking through. The ending is a truly thrilling cliffhanger that will leave readers wanting more. Definitely a page turner. Highly enjoyable.

Absolutely divine!!!!

I refuse to reveal any spoilers, but consumers will want to get their hands on allllll the merch they can for this sure-to-be-favorite new series from an acclaimed author we adore!

Full reveal to come!

I was provided an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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"That bastard was leaving me again."
With the first line, I was interested. Take note of the author and it was done for.
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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.
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Fable has an amazing group of characters and some of them very surprising. I was immediately curious about all of them, even the shady ones. The setting is explained in a manageable way to understand and it still surprises you. Some of it was predictable, but in the way that you hope it happens and the author doesn't throw a wrench in it. I felt empathy for a character that I initially had some harsh words for and that's good writing. When you can understand the reasoning and choices behind a character's decisions without knowing all the details, it has you invested. It ends with the perfect opening for the second book titled Namesake.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc!
4.5 stars

FABLE introduces readers to a high-stakes world where everything depends on the sea. The secret daughter of a powerful trader, Fable has been scraping a living by diving for precious natural resources. When an opportunity presents itself to get off of the island of thieves, she desperately seizes it and meets a rather enigmatic ship crew led by the mysterious West. They set sail to find her father, but the journey won't be as straightforward as Fable had hoped.

I loved, loved, loved this book so much! I had no idea I needed a romance on the high seas, but this book was so much more. The worldbuilding was perfect, depicting a very cutthroat world where survival is difficult unless you're ruthless. Fable was also a very lovable character, a girl who wants to be kind in a world where that's discouraged. She was extremely capable, and didn't need others to rescue her. Her romance with West was an exquisitely written slow burn and I was definitely rooting for them the entire time.

The side characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, as they were introduced all at once and it was a bit confusing, but that's my only critique!

I'm eagerly awaiting the second book. (That cliffhanger was just plain rude)

Unfortunately, I didn't feel connected to the world or the characters in a way that I know Young is capable of (thanks to Sky in the Deep). We got the barest hints of a wider world, but not enough for it to feel real. And we don't get a lot of description because we spend most of the story on a ship, so Young doesn't get to flex in that regard either. The writing was strongest in the two cities, where we get to see Fable walk the streets (if only briefly).

And Fable spends so much time pointedly not thinking about things that have wounded her in the past and talking about how tough she's had to be, but when actually presented with challenges, she's very naive. I couldn't believe that this girl had so little street smarts despite the hard life she lived.

I feel like this book set us up very well for an exciting and action-packed sequel but we didn't really get much of either this time around.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for letting me read Fable early! I was able to jump on the opportunity to read/review Fable when Wednesday Books was doing that incredible Read Now deal on Netgalley earlier in the summer when they had like 5 amazing upcoming titles turned to Read Now and while I wasn’t the biggest fan of Sky in the Deep and I haven’t been able to finish the Girl the Sea Gave Back yet, I absolutely devoured Fable. It’s definitely my favorite Adrienne Young book by far!
Fable 5/5 Stars
Summary from Goodreads: 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.
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.
Oh man y’all, Fable broke me and then remade me and then broke me again with that ending. I absolutely LOVED everything about this book, from the characters to the plot to the setting. I freaking love books about the sea/merchants/pirates who aren’t really pirates. Fable was such a strong main character and the way she interacted with her father and West and the rest of West’s crew was great. I love the crew of the Marigold- West is incredible and I love him. Willa is so strong and I can’t wait to read more about her. I really liked Paj and Auster. Gah can the second book be out already??? The plot moved so fast (in the best way possible) and I had the hardest time putting this book down as soon as I got into it. Y’all should 100% pick it up- you won’t regret it! This is probably my favorite line in the whole book “‘I’m not saying I don’t want you to love him. I’m only saying that if you get him killed, I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep myself from cutting your throat.’” (This is the last line of Chapter 38 in the e-ARC - I don’t know if it’s going to make it to the final copy of the book, but I reallllllyyyyy hope it does!)

I received a review copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It obviously needs a little bit of editing but that will come in the final copy.

I’ve come to really like Adrienne Young’s writing style from her books. She has a way of putting the picture in your mind, letting you feel the same weather elements that the character feels. I may have gotten a nice tan and a smattering of freckles from reading this book. It was a delight. You can tell a lot of research was done to really make this book pop.

My only qualm with it is that it didn’t really feel like much of a climax? I suppose this is less of an adventure novel with a huge fight or climax and more of characters exploring themselves and coming to terms with who they are and what they want. Which with that in mind, then this is a satisfying read. That cliff hanger ending though, that speaks to how I assume the sequel is going to be more adventure and I can’t wait to read it!

Superb storytelling! Young's writing style is dynamic and heartfelt in such a way that pulls you into the story. I'm very invested to see how the story continues in the sequel.

"Keep your knife where you can reach it. Never, ever owe anyone anything. Nothing is free. Always construct a lie from a truth. Never, under any circumstances, reveal what or who matters to you." ~ "Fable"


I loved everything about this book. It was a struggle to not stay up all night and read it in one sitting. The adventure is compelling, the characters are intriguing, the romance isn't sappy, and the cliffhanger was emotional but not heartbreaking. I will most definitely be reading the sequel! I've read all of Adrienne Young's other books and enjoyed them well enough. However, "Fable" is my absolute favorite. Everything from the gorgeous cover to the tantalizing synopsis had me right away. Fable is such an unusual heroine - she's brash but kind, loyal but independent. Her thoughts and feelings were relatable, almost as if I was experiencing them myself. I'm so proud of my amazing dredger queen and I can't wait for her to get the happy ending she deserves!


At first, I didn't care for everyone on the Marigold's crew. Willa seemed paranoid, but I grew to like her over time. Now I can't imagine the ship without her! Honestly, without her, the men on board would've been dead long ago. I can't believe Willa and Fable went from "don't talk to me because I'm the only other girl on this ship" to Willa voting for Fable to stay on board! I can't wait to see more of their friendship in the next book. Finally, a novel where the female characters work together instead of competing over the same boy. Speaking of romance, I love how romantic relationships didn't oversaturate the story. This novel is first and foremost an adventure story and I'm glad the female characters didn't spend all their time chasing after boys! Auster and Paj are definitely being added to my list of the best LGBTQ+ book couples. They are adorable!


I have hardly any critiques for this novel. West's eventual confession to *spoiler* was wonderful but confusing. I wish there was a chapter or two from West's POV because he hides his emotions so well. I had no idea he was in love at all! I never would've guessed that in a million years. I don't mind West being elusive, but I wish there were a few clues earlier in the story that West was going to end up in a relationship; only the last couple chapters alluded to this. I'm hoping we get to see more of West's thoughts and feelings in the sequel.

I was so thrilled to receive an ARC of Fable, as I have enjoyed Adrienne Young's previous books. This one did not disappoint. I loved everything about it-- the characters, the setting, the world, the tension. Fable is beautifully written, full of complicated relationships, a fantastic slow-burn romance, and adventure galore. I was amazed at how Adrienne captured the feel of being aboard a trading ship and at her technical descriptions of sailing and dredging. I cannot wait for Namesake!

Fable by Adrienne Young was such a fun pirate adventure at sea! It's about a girl named Fable, daughter of the famous sea trader Saint. After her mother is killed in a shipwreck, Saint abandons Fable on a dangerous island, leaving her to fend for herself and find her way home. After years of struggling to survive, Fable gets off the island on the ship of a mysterious young man named West with the goal of finding her father and earning back her rightful place on his ship.

I was not sure what to think about this book for the first couple of chapters. It took me a little bit to become accustomed to this world of ships, sailing, dredgers and traders. But soon I was completely immersed in the world and in the lives of these characters. I ended up enjoying this story quite a bit! Fable was a great character, and I also really enjoyed her shipmates on West's ship. The comaraderie between them all was fun to read, and I look forward to learning even more about these characters in future books.

I wish the book would have been a bit longer, because I liked it so much that I wanted MORE to happen! I suppose that I will just have to wait for the next book. It looks like the sequel (Namesake) is slated to be released in early 2021. I will be eagerly waiting for that book. And in the meantime, I'm going to check out more of Adrienne Young's work!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available on September 1!

This was so good!! Good is probably not enough to describe how I feel about this book but it's the only one that comes to mind right now. If you're looking for a YA story happening mostly on sea, look no further because this is the one.

Our main character Fable has been left by her father on an island full of thieves and criminals because apparently she "wasn't made for this world". She's had to learn how to survive alone in order to find a way out of this island. Four years of scrapping by and finally, the end is near... But then, when she almost has the amount needed to buy passage, she has no other choice but to flee for her life and hope that West, the man that has been buying her Pyre all this time when no one else would, is going to accept her on his ship. There, she'll meet the rest of the crew: Willa, Auster, Paj and Hamish. And this is only the beginning.

The romance with West was subtle and perfect. I was rooting for them even though it wasn't obvious at first that they would love each other. It matched perfectly with this brutal world where you can't show your hands or your feelings unless you want to get hurt.

Fable is everything you can possible want for a YA Fantasy story with pirates. It's a new favorite book and I'll happily re-read it before the release of the sequel. I would probably do anything to get my hands on a copy. That's how much I want to keep reading. The author chose to leave us on a cliffhanger and it's brilliant but also painful for us readers who have to wait a long time to see these characters again.

Adrienne Young is not a new-to-me author as I already read her previous books. At first, I was hesitant to request this book since I didn't really enjoy [book:The Girl the Sea Gave Back|42867937] but then I remembered how much I loved her debut novel [book:Sky in the Deep|34726469] and I knew I had to read her newest release. And I'm so glad I did because it was amazing.

The world, the ambiance, the characters, the plot and even the romance, I loved every single thing and I don't have anything negative to talk about which is very rare coming from me. Especially with young adult books.

<b>Fable is going to be published on September 1st and I suggest you grab yourself a copy <3</b>

<i>(Thank you so much for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Ahhh this book was SO SO GOOD! I loved this high-seas adventure story along with all the lively crew of characters! Fable was a smart girl and knew what to do to survive. I also loved the diving/"dredging" and thought the gem trading aspect was so fascinating. This is the first sea adventure book I've really enjoyed and I'd recommend it to anyone! Book 2 can't come soon enough!!

This book is among the best young adult novels I've read this year. The gorgeous cover caught my attention immediately, and I'm glad the content didn't disappoint.

Fable is such a fabulous character, and I found myself rooting for her from the beginning - she's so determined, and she's so willing to see the good in others and do the right thing by them, even though she has no reason to trust people. I though this book did a great job of highlighting both Fable's strengths, and her vulnerabilities and weaknesses. I also loved the romance; it was there from the beginning, but at no point did it veer into insta-love territory or overwhelm Fable's personal journey. Watching West's icy exterior slowly crack open was worth the wait.

I also though the world-building was fantastic - this book really captured the atmosphere of being on the high seas, and I could also feel the wind and taste the salt water in the air. I'm also incredibly curious about Isolde's gem magic and the role that plays in the story; I really hope we get to learn more about this aspect of the culture in the sequel.

Finally, the pacing and tension were excellent. Every time something good happened, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, and well... we got there in the end.

I binged the last half of this book in an evening, and am already on the edge of my seat waiting for the sequel.

Review posted on GoodReads (August 13, 2020)
Review Linked.

4/5 Stars!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for sending me an E-ARC for an honest review!

I was super excited to read this book. I didn't know much about it going in, and really enjoyed reading it. I would say that the first few chapters are a bit slow, and the ending is a bit predictable, but the story and the characters were so well thought out and written that I ended up really loving this book. To me, it wasn't perfect, but it was a book that I could not stop reading. I really loved Fable and West and all of the other crew members. I thought that Young did a great job of creating super dimensional characters that the reader instantly falls in love with. I also really loved the world. The second I finished this book, I knew that I needed the sequel and I really cannot wait to see where this series goes in the future.


Thanks for reading!
Caden

I'm not sure if it's because Young's books so far have been standalones or if I was totally oblivious? But Fable is the first in a duology, which for some reason I didn't actually realise until I was on the last page of this book!!! So therefore I'm putting it out there for everyone. <b>FIRST IN A DUOLOGY</b>.

ANYWAYS! THIS BOOK. This is the sort of sea-faring, pirate-y, swashbuckling adventure I never knew I wanted!

Fable, the main and titular character was the sort of character that really drew me into a story, and her past, her experiences and her personality both despite her past but also <i>because</b> of it, made her someone I could both root for and admire.

The world building and story telling I found completely immersive; I could FEEL the boat moving under my feet, I could SMELL the salt and I was holding my breath every time there was a tense moment.

I enjoyed all of the characters and wanted to know so much more about everyone - even the supporting cast! Found family is always a soft spot of mine and the crew of the <i>Marigold</i> is definitely found family.

My only gripe with the book was the romance. Unfortunately I've never been a big fan of Young's romances and to be honest the book didn't need romance. Strong friendships and a sense of belonging were all I ever needed to fall for this one. I guess we'll see where the arc goes in the second book?

Anyone looking for a dark and gritty adventure on the high seas should definitely put this one on the TBR.