As much as I loved the writing style, the plot did not feel as compelling to me as I hoped. I was really excited about this book not only for it's title, but the nautical premise. I love books that take place on Island/marine settings, but this just did not seem to hit for me. Altogether, it felt a bit average to me

Rating: 3.5 stars

This was a short and sweet adventure novel on the high seas, would recommend for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean. I really enjoyed the writing and the characters that Young developed in such a short time. While the story was enjoyable the storyline was very similar to others so it made it easy to predict how the book would progress. The book does end of a cliffhanger so I hope to see some unexpected twists and turns in the sequel!

First, can we just talk about how BEAUTIFUL that cover is? The detail is awesome with the ship being reflected in her eyes!

I read Adrienne Young's book Sky in the Deep back when it first came out and loved it quite a bit because it was so atmospheric and it seemed like Young did some research to make it really seem like you were immersed in Vikings and their culture. Because of that, I was not surprised at all to find that Fable was every bit as atmospheric, although with pirates and the open ocean instead of Vikings. This world is full of danger, and I could really feel that through the page.

Because of how dangerous this world is, Fable lives by the 5 rules that her father taught her:
•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.

I adored Fable herself, she had so much strength and courage! Her father left her on an island alone after their ship sank in a storm, and told her that if she could find him again he would give her what she was owed. She survived for 4 years on that island just barely scraping by. I also really loved the crew she escapes with, even though parts of their characters are still a mystery and you can never quite tell what they are thinking or planning. There is also LGBT+ rep, which was nice to see.

I also appreciated Fable's relationship with her father, although I do wish we could see his motivations for abandoning her on that island. However, that may end up being answered in the sequel, as this is the first book in a duology. I'm also hoping for more clarification on the relationship between Fable, her mother and father, and Zola, because clearly there is something else going on there. I'm also curious about how the whole gem sage thing works and how that will come into play with the next book!

Finally, I want to talk a bit about my main con for this book: the romance. It felt a bit like it came out of nowhere because the love interest didn't seem to have much interest in Fable for the majority of the book. I can't talk too much about the relationship without giving away some spoilers, but it was hard to see where the relationship ended and the 'important cargo' thing started.

This was such a page turner, I couldn't stop reading and I only put the book down once to sleep. This was exactly what I was expecting from this book, and I'm excited both for the second book and I'm also excited to read the only other book by this author that I haven't read yet, The Girl the Sea Gave Back!

4.5 stars!

Fable is a story about a girl trying to make her way in the world. It was a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and Daughter of the Pirate King. If you enjoy these then this book is definitely for you. Overall it was super easy to read, exciting and held my attention throughout the book. The plot was fast paced, there was treasure and the hints of romance rounded out a great story.

Fable is set in a world with beautiful islands, shanty towns and where the seas are ruled by pirates. It's cut-throat. Many people, including Fable, have to work very hard to survive. Fable is abandoned on an island by her pirate father and works at getting herself free to join him across the seas. The world was built and explained logically, I had no trouble understanding it and becoming immersed. The writing style flowed well and captured my imagination.

The characters were well written and unique. Fable was awesome. She was able to take care of herself, ask for help when needed and was pretty fierce. The friendships she makes were great to read, they sounded very genuine. There was a touch of romance throughout the book. And while I loved reading it, it did seem to come out of nowhere, so a little backstory or depth to that would have been nice.

The plot was fast and intriguing. I couldn't really put the book down. As soon as I finished it I wanted to pick up the next book, which is always a good sign of how much you enjoyed the book. Overall a great pirate read with a strong female lead, definitely recommend!

*This review is based on an uncorrected proof copy provided by the publisher.*

4.5/5 stars

Fable is a dredger—a diver who searches for precious stones in the sea—on an island full of thieves. All she wants is to escape Jeval and return to the open seas, preferably crewing on her father’s ship. After a storm wrecked her former ship and killed all but three of the crew, Fable was left on Jeval to find her own way. But when she makes an enemy of the wrong people, she has to run for her life. The Marigold is the only ship she trusts, but she isn’t certain she belongs. When the captain, West, agrees to take her from the island, an adventure begins that Fable could have never dreamed of.

Adrienne Young takes readers to a new world in the first novel of a new duology. Fable introduces us to a daring, desperate diver on the hunt for a place to belong, stuck in a cutthroat society with no friendly faces. The islands, ocean, and greater politics of the world are well-drawn, without feeling unnatural or cumbersome. The sea is treated as something both wonderful and dangerous, which both provides and destroys livelihoods. The story is rooted in reality, with a few small exceptions, and feels gritty and raw in the invention of its environment.

The character of Fable is strong, willful, and a little melancholic. She carries the reader along with her, imbuing the story with her love of the ocean, her desire for family, and her will to survive. Her voice was strong and consistent in a way that anchors the reader.

The crew of the Marigold is well-executed and felt unique from the beginning. Each character has their own quirks and personality, and none of them felt recycled or underdeveloped. West, the enigmatic captain, is mysterious and unfalteringly kind, even as he tries to harden himself. Willa, the only other woman on the crew, is feisty and protective. There is a queer couple on the ship, bringing natural, sweet representation. The only crew member we don’t know much about is Hamish, the coin master.

Young brings an exciting, swashbuckling adventure to the YA scene with her newest duology. The quick pace, snappy dialogue, and near-constant action makes for a fun, high-octane read with heart. Readers will also be excited to learn that the second book, Namesake, releases just six months after the first.

Recommend to anyone who loves Pirates of the Caribbean or any other high seas adventure!

Loved this! The storyline picks up quickly and continues at a fast past throughout. There is mystery and intrigue to keep you reading The settings were dynamic, the plotline was appealing and the writing was great!. I think reads will enjoy the strong female character. I wish a few of the secondary characters were a bit more developed and I felt the love story was predictable but enjoyable and YA readers will love it.
I would recommend this book can't wait to read the next and look forward to checking out more Adrienne Young books.

This was a fun, emotionally charged and action packed story. I was totally ensnared by this world, that did remind me a little of the movie Waterworld - which I loved! Fables journey as a totally independent young women, who must fight to survive for every minute she’s alive, while surrounded by basically pirates is awesome!

I loved so much about this world. The concepts of dredging and her relationship with gems was so special and beautiful, which was a nice contrast to the dangerous life above water. How it felt like the 1600’s with all the sailing, but also kinda like a post-apocalypse or alternate world, with just a little bit of magic or specialness sprinkled in. Her path of when to or whether to trust others felt real given the circumstances. And that ending...wow- I’m on the edge of my seat waiting for the second half of this duology now!

Thank you to Netgallery and St. Martins Press for an eGallery of this title in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book a lot! I had my doubts because I’ve liked book from Adrienne but DNF’ed another. So I was hoping that I would really like the book and wow! One of my favorite books of this year! That ending was intense! I just thought this book had me hooked from start to finish! I didn’t want to put it down! Highly recommend it!

Adrienne Young has hit this one out of the park - yet again.

That bastard left me again.

It is one the best opening lines I’ve read in a long time. This book exceeded all my expectations. It has an amazing lead female character and truly a plot line that will have you speed reading to find out what happens next. This story takes place on the open sea and visits the chain of islands surrounding it. It has a mix between pirates and old century trading. Fable is the most persist character I’ve read in a while when fighting for what she wants. This storyline has many aspects that fit all readers, action, adventure, love, betrayal and perseverance. Please order this you won’t be disappointed

Your Review
Laura
Laura rated it it was amazing
12 days ago
Loved this! The story line picks up quickly and continues at a fast past throughout. Couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Fable through it all and now I want the second book ASAP! Read full review


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/44012880-fable

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A captivating story about a young girl abandoned on an island by her own father after a narrow escape from the sea storm that took her mother’s life. Forced to survive on her own, Fable becomes a dredger, diving the reef to chisel precious elements for trade. Fable seizes and opportunity to escape her dangerous life on the island and makes it aboard a ship with a skeleton crew.
There is just enough mystery and intrigue to keep you flipping pages. The dynamic settings were so vivid... from the high seas, to the overrun port cities full of unsavoury characters. The plot line will appeal to our young adult readers-
good pace and they will connect with the strong female character.
Cons: Secondary characters were not as expertly developed, abrupt ending and predictable love story. However, it checks so many other boxes, I would recommend it!

I just loved Fable’s story! She is such a wonderful character - I wanted to kick people’s asses on her behalf most of the time but I admire her determination and strength! And West... le sigh.
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I don’t even know how I’m functioning right now with not having book 2 to read. Yes these covers are gorgeous but the story inside is just amazing and I highly recommend you preorder this one now! I did!

*I received an ARC for this. All views and thoughts are my own*

OMG. Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher!! This book was AMAZING. I couldn't put it down. Adrienne Young has a way with words that makes you completely visualize everything, and you can taste the saltwater in your mouth. I can't wait until this book gets out there for everyone to devour. This book has it all: action, romance, morally gray characters, and "traders" (basically pirates!)

This was my top read so far this year. And now comes the painful wait for the next book!!!

3.5 Stars

Do you ever put off reading a book because you are just so excited to read it that you don't want to start, because then you know you will finish and won't have the book to read anymore? That's how I felt about this book. Well, anything Adrienne Young writes, to be honest. I didn't want to start, because I didn't want to finish, but now that I have...

I think for this story to be what I wanted it to be, I needed to adjust my expectations. I was expecting a deep and jarring adventure on the high seas, but this was actually more of a slow burning tale of a girl trying to find her father. That isn't to say it was actually slow or boring, it moved quickly and there were adventurous moments, things that happened along the way, but the core of the book was sailing through storms, traveling to different places, vying for her father’s approval and acceptance. There is only so much you can do with that.

Similarly, I felt like Fable, the character, was a bit thin. If this was going to be a character driven story, and I feel like that was what it ended up being, I need more from that character. Because I loved her, she was fierce and smart and everything an Adrienne Young warrior woman is, but it didn't entirely feel like her needs met her desires. I needed to see more of why she cared so much and what drove her.

The sub characters were enjoyable, I found West and Willa very intriguing. I also enjoyed the dynamic between West and Fable, the tension and conflict, though to be honest, the things about each other that were revealed along the way weren't exactly surprising.

The romance arc had a good teasing build that I really enjoyed, but then it seemed to slam right into a full-blown love story out of nowhere. Obviously it was coming, but the timing seemed unnatural and maybe a little forced, kind of like it had to be stuck in there before the book ended, which was disappointing because I quite liked the pairing and felt like when they did finally come together, it could have been something great.

This book does have a lot of things going for it. I loved the atmosphere, Young always does a great job of building a vivid world and really created a visual place that came to life. I’m really taken with anything that exists on the sea and these parts were super detailed and enjoyable. There were just a lot of them.

The story of Fable's scar is one of the coolest things I've seen in a book in a very long time. I don’t want to give it away, but I loved it. There were a lot of cool elements, but not a lot of them were deeply explored. Maybe we will get more of that in the next book.

It makes me sad to say that my overall thought is that if this duology had been one book, it would have been a really awesome, riveting story. But to get from point A to point B across two full novels, there’s a lot of time spent floundering around on ship decks and city streets, a lot of movement that doesn’t really take the reader anywhere specific.

But I loved the writing and I know that there will be a strong ending, so I will impatiently wait until I have my hands on the next book and can see where this journey takes me.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

So I kind of predicted a big plot twist in this book and I'm not even mad because I enjoyed the book so much..

Fables mother died so her father deserts her on an island. She's desperate to find her father and prover her worth and meets a ragtag ship crew.

I'm a sucker for found family stories and Fable hits all the right spots.

I wasn't sure that Fable sounded like my kind of book, but because of the hype it's been getting I decided to give it a go - and am very glad that I did.

Although the story started quite slow, it soon picked up and became a well paced adventure. The level of detail is fantastic - I felt so clearly that I was on a ship in the Sea, or the slums of a port city.

I really grew to love the characters in this story, especially Fable. The final twist left me desperate for more!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be submitted to Amazon after release.

Fable is an epic tale rich in adventure. The author builds an encaptivating world were the sea is the backdrop for the cutthroat world of traders. Fable is the daughter of the most powerful of them all. Thrown to the wolves of Jeval, a blood thirsty world were dredgers (divers) go out to sea to salvage for any riches they can find and go back ashore to steal and maim for what they want. After four years, Fable finally has enough to secure passage on the Marigold but its no picnic as the crew is leery and don't trust easily. When her family reunion does not go as planned, Fable sets off to find her own place to belong and maybe a little love in the face of danger. Fable worms her way into your heart with her interminable will and strength. The story moves quickly full of action for an addicting page turner of a story that leaves you jonesing for the next chapter. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

Fable was abandoned on an island by her father when she was only 13, a day after her mother died. Now she is 17, and she’s determined to get off the island to find her father and prove to him that she survived and that she is worthy on being on one of his ship’s crews. First, she has to get off the island and find her father, but no one ever gets off the island. That is, until a trader named West saves her life and allows her to accompany him and his crew off the island to the mainland.

I have read 2 whole pirate books over the past few weeks, I think this is more than I have read in the past 2 years. I am really enjoying this genre, especially in books where there is a female MC.

I could tell from the beginning that Fable’s quest was not going to lead her down the path which she thought she was going, but I couldn’t imagine all the twists and turns that her journey was going to take. I felt so sad for those who were left on the island, as none of them truly asked to be in that hellhole. Even if Fable had no friends on the island, everyone was just trying to stay alive, even if that meant hurting others.

My absolute favorite part of this book was reading about West and the rest of the crew. They have their own backstories, which Fable learns as she spends more and more time on the ship with them. Each area that they travel to has its own culture, and they have to sneak around in different ways in order to not get in trouble with the different traders, crews, and law enforcement on and around the docks. I hope to be able to learn more about the crew in the sequel to this novel, and especially more about the world outside of the traders. That is one thing I didn’t feel was focused on as much, the world outside of the ships and their crews. Hopefully, this will be expanded upon in the second novel.

There was romance in this book, but no love triangles that I can see so far. This is definitely a pleasant surprise for me, as I am so used to YA/NA novels including some sort of love triangle (which I hate). I wish that things will stay this way for the next book.

The only thing that brought down my rating from 5 stars to 4 stars was the fact that the pacing felt a little slow at times. I felt like I wanted to take a break, as I slowly lost excitement for what was coming up next. Then a new event would happen and I would decide to keep reading it a little more. I feel like these gaps in excitement made some parts of the book feel less exciting to read and more of a wait until the next cool thing happens. This did not ruin the book for me, but it did make the book less than perfect for me.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new YA fantasy/pirate read to enjoy.

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

This book is an absolute gem!

Adrienne Young has become one of my auto-buy authors, and a favorite at that. Her books always manage to deliver the exact adventure you didn’t even know you were searching for, consistently featuring atmospheric writing, compelling characters, and magical, often deadly worlds that you can’t help wanting to fall into. FABLE is no exception.

Right from the start, FABLE introduces us to a world where the only thing more treacherous than the seas are the those who sail them. We quickly learn just how dangerous and cruel it can be, with Fable left stranded by her father to fend for herself on an island full of cutthroats and thieves. From there, we get to explore more of this world built around the water; from the reefs to trading posts, to port cities and open seas, we gather insight into the kind of lore, legendary figures, and dangers that these characters are faced with.

I immediately fell in love with Fable, and while it took me some time to warm up to the other characters, I can guarantee you’ll become attached! The relationships in this book are a little bit more reserved, but no less deep, than any of the other’s I’ve seen Adrienne Young write. This, however, is completely a product of being shaped by the world they live in; with the constant threats it presents, the biggest danger of all is revealing what, or who, matters most. So while the relationships (romantic/platonic/ familial) between the characters seem to have a slower, more reserved quality to them, each one holds a fiercely protective and loyal edge and I loved seeing them all form and grow.

This was such a quick and gorgeous read, and I found myself really falling in love with the story.
FABLE has the kind of characters and world that will live in your head long after you’ve read the last page, and I’m definitely excited to return to them in NAMESAKE.

Thanks a ton to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC!

Fable by Adrienne Young will sweep you off your feet.

I really enjoyed this book and the writing was absolutely memorizing. Adrienne Young describes everything so well, you will feel like you are there with Fable, living it all.

I loved the characters & the storyline.

& THE ENDING!

I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book!

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own.
xoxo
Sarah June