Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for my digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Obviously I was drawn to this book because of the cover. You can look at this girl's face and tell that she has been on an adventure... it may not always be a good one but she DOES have one heck of an adventure. Fable's father abandoned her when her mother died, saying that she was not built for his world. That world, by the way, was one at sea full of danger and crime. So he left her on an island to fend for herself...and she DID...becoming a much stronger, independent woman than she might have been otherwise. I always say I like to see growth in the characters but WOW...There is action from the very beginning but her entire goal is to get off that island no matter what she has to do and make it back to her father so show that she IS capable of living that life. But so much more happens in the book...obviously, there is adventure, but you also get friendship and love. It has everything I could possibly want in a pirate book :)

Thank you net galley for this book in exchange for an honest review. So this book is EVERYTHING I have been needing. First of all the places that are visited in this story were each written so beautifully I can feel see, feel, and smell it like I am living in the pages. Not only do you have the perfect vision of the surroundings Ms. Young also intertwined the characters to the places throughout the book. The characters were well developed and I could see each had a purpose. The storytelling is supurb! Also with that cliffhanger I need the sequel!

Not the rating I wanted to give this, but the one I'll be giving this book anyway. I was genuinely excited to read a book like this- I love books about the ocean and sea travel, and pirates have a genuine appeal that I think is hard to deny. I'll start with the good, however, of which there was not much but is worth mentioning- I truly think this book has genuine appeal for more of a YA audience, and there are some cool things, like the gem sage idea (but which was left hanging like a loose thread).

Now for the not so great. I found the characterisation paltry, the connections between the characters tenuous and unbelievable, and I felt like the whole world was so badly constructed that if I blew on it, it would fall over like cardboard. There was simply no substance to this book, and I didn't find myself connecting to any of it at all. The protagonist, Fable, feels like she's driven by the motivations in the book not because she genuinely cares, but simply because that's the way the narrative was constructed. There was also a lot that got left up in the air (as I mentioned with the gem sage concept) and this was deeply disappointing.

An unpopular opinion, to be sure, and I think this book likely has a lot of potential to be a big hit with a YA audience- but it wasn't something I felt had the necessary strength to carry such a strong concept.

This is my first Adrienne Young, and I have to say, I am impressed with the quality of her writing. I was never bored even though I am historically not a HUGE fan of books set on the sea, and her descriptions are wonderful to read. Recommended for fans of books like TO KILL A KINGDOM by Alexandra Christo, DARK SHORES by Danielle Jensen, and maybe even THE MERCIFUL CROW by Margaret Owen (for the road trip-y aspects).

FABLE is the story of a girl who has been struggling to survive amongst an island of thieves and dredgers, after she was abandoned by her father four years ago. Fable is tough, smart, and a lot spiky—and she has to be if she wants to make enough copper to buy her passage off the island, find her father, and finally claim her place at his side as one of his crew members. To do so, she has to rely on a trader named West, who has been her lifeline for the last two years.

This was a really interesting, well-rounded cast of characters with their own unique motives. I loved Fable as a character. I think she is just the right amount of snarky and stubborn without being annoying about it. Her reticence to trust makes a lot of sense, and she doesn't just throw all the lessons she's learned over the last four years away for a pretty face (which is a miracle, in and of itself in a lot of YA). I also really liked Willa, and their interactions with one another. They definitely had the most interesting dynamic—a reluctant sort of friendship, borne out of grudging respect. Would have loved to see more scenes of them together. And Saint. We only saw glimpses of him, but boy do I want to know more about this ruthless man who had no compunctions in abandoning his daughter.

The plot, I am more lukewarm about. Not a lot happens in this book—primarily it is a journey to get Fable out of the island and to her father, so most of the page time is dedicated to what happens on the ship and how Fable (eventually) earns the trust of its crew. Though that is not to say that action doesn't happen, as they go through quite a few life-or-death scenarios on their journey filled with lots of action and tension (and Young writes these incredibly well).

However, I didn't really get the romance. Fable and West barely spoke to one another. I can remember about two conversations—one of them was full of threats, the other full of warnings. I really don't know when they'd have a chance to fall in love between all that not speaking to each other. That's a very minor part of the book, so it didn't really make that much of a difference to me. (Fable/Willa though? Yes? Yes.)

Fable is GRIT AND BEAUTY
“You were not meant for this world.”
She cannot shake her father’s words to her throughout the story, and it drives her to prove him wrong. Fable had this sassy tragic persona that I loved, and while she was a strong character (surviving on her own on an island filled with thieves and murderers) she recognizes her own weaknesses (she can’t overpower someone double or triple her size) making her that much real.
Her life’s mantra: 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 revealed what or who matters to you.
The cover is gorgeous, and the story is one I’ll never forget. I loved Fable the dredger/diver who never gives up. We get to experience an adventure on the high seas as she set out to prove herself to her dad and the world. Five Stars!
Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for an eBook ARC.

This book is AMAZING. It's one of those I didn't know I needed to read it, but once I started, I literally couldn't stop.

The world we find Fable in is unkind and more of a "man's world". At 13, her father abandons her on Jeval Island, alone, fending for herself. Fable's sheer grit and raw determination keeps her safe until she can make it back to her father and demand a spot amongst his fleet. We find her, 4 years later, trying to understand it all and looking for a way off Jeval.

But as I said, the world is unkind. The only one willing to take her on is West.

What a great tale of finding one's way and learning who to trust in an untrustworthy world. The ending will leave you hankering for more. I can't wait to read the follow-up, Namesake. You definitely should one-click/purchase this book, you will not be disappointed.

If I didn't have other things I had to do I honestly could have finished this in one sitting. Fable was everything I needed right now. A perfect distraction from this crazy world. With amazing characters, an ever-changing plot, and an energy that has you flipping pages without even knowing because you so desperately need that next word or next sentence.

I was excited to see that this was a fantasy novel since that's exactly what I wanted to pick up during such a time where my mind is always filled to the brim with thoughts, fears, and reflections. Fable was the perfect escape. As a fantasy lover, and particularly a magic lover, I was shocked to realized HALFWAY THROUGH THE BOOK, that I hadn't even missed the magical element I've come to expect fantasy novels to have.

This is only the FIRST of the series! Not only am I excited for more, but Fable is an amazing read, but an even more amazing set up to a series I cannot wait to read! We get an amazing glimpse into each character, just enough to get hooked and just missing enough to need more. Now, I will say this book ends with a bit of a cliffhanger. However, even if you despise cliffhangers, I would recommend you pick this novel up anyways because: 1) It's worth it and 2) you can now suffer with me!

This book is great for fans of Lila Bard (from the Shades of Magic series), action, romance, and an ocean breeze.

My first 5-star read of the year!

When Fable is dropped off on an island with just her wits and the clothes on her back at the tender age of 14, she uses everything she knows to survive in this cut throat world and hatches out a plan to get off. And things just get more interesting from there.

Adrienne Young knows how to weave a story full of intriguing characters, a swashbuckling pirates, and a what-will-happen next plot. I really enjoyed being kept at the edge of my seat as I slowly discovered some of Fable's old secrets.

Also can I just say that the cover is beautiful! I don't often like covers with faces but there is something about this face, perhaps the vulnerability and yet fierceness that just draws you in.

Be sure to make Fable one of your Fall reads in 2020!

Fable is an adventure filled pirate story. The story begins with Fable stranded on an island full of thieves and scoundrels. Left there by her own father after her mother drowns, Fable fights for her life and livelihood with a goal of getting off of the island and finding her father. She wants to prove to him that he was wrong about her not being born for this world.
The story is filled with pirate adventures as they trade gems and quarrel with the other gem traders. Fable and the crew, that takes her in, face the angry sea and the angry crews of the other ships.
This is a very fast paced story with lots of action. It has a little romance as well. The only problem I had with the story was that I thought it should have ended a few chapters earlier.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

I got this from NetGalley as an ARC when the publisher put up a lot of their books for immediate download!

I had remembered that Sky in the Deep was fairly hyped when it came out but I never read it - I liked the cover and the synopsis so thought I'd give it a try.

Now for me 3 stars isn't a bad rating - it was a super quick read and I found I really enjoyed the setting (think Pirates of the Caribbean vibes), and loved when the main character would talk about diving/being under the water.

I'd probably recommend this as a quick read to maybe fulfil a readathon prompt for being on the sea etc. but it's not the kind of book I would reread or rave about.

I didn't like that the main character's name was Fable - to me, a fable is a folk or fairy tale and it kinda misled me in that sense as it felt like her name was too grand for the story it was in? This may be me being a Stan of the video game Fable that is making me biased though.

I also found it odd at one point that Fable described her own father as "handsome and rugged", maybe take that one out in the edits LOL

Several times Fable also referred to both her father and mother by their first names. The father I could understand as he was very distant and was an established captain but her mother? At 14 she was still calling her "mama" so it was very weird to me she randomly started using her first name.

I also wasn't a fan of the romance. I think the characters were just underdeveloped to me, as it is quite a short book I don't feel like the romance should have happened yet. In addition to this, there wasn't any believable chemistry or longing between the characters :/ when it happened I was just like right ok...now what

Overall it wasn't too bad, like I said a very quick and easy read which I'd recommend to fill a prompt but nothing to write home about.

5/5**

Full review here: https://www.allcharacterswanted.com/book-reviews/fable-by-adrienne-young

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Adrienne Young's writing when I read her first novel, Sky in the Deep. Her slow world-building and narrator-moved storytelling captured my attention and I loved the way her characters developed. When Fable was first announced, I was thrilled to find out that Young had a third novel coming out, and that this one would be part of a duology!

Great Characters
Young has done a beautiful job introducing us to these characters and letting us get to know them, even though we only have Fable’s POV. It can be hard to connect with secondary characters, but I love the way she developed Fable’s relationship with the crew of the Marigold and how we got to see the other characters relationships with each other. Fable, like the reader, is learning about the crew and the nuanced aspects of the different relationships each of them have with the others, and we are really given the chance to get to know everyone.

Solid Cliffhanger
I’m obviously not going to give away spoilers, but this book ends with a wonderful cliffhanger that I feel completely set us up for the second novel, which is supposed to come out in March 2021. It’s a great moment because Fable has just found her place with Marigold crew and is finally feels like she has a purpose, she’s confronted her father and has accepted this part of her past, and things are really looking up. So of course things have to change. I’m really really interested to see what’s going to happen and name sake, now that Fable is on a completely different journey.

LOVE the Romance
Like her previous books, Young doesn’t make romance the focus of her stories, however it always subtly grows between characters. I love the slow build between Fable and West and the little ways their relationship changes. These are characters that are conditioned by their world to not have any emotional attachments because it can be used against them, so their interest in each other needs to be fought and prevented.

Overall, this is a wonderful book with a story that moves well and characters that are easy to become invested in. I’d highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys YA Fantasy, is a fan of Adrienne Young’s previous books, or enjoys layered stories when the truth slowly unravels. This book is a slow build, but a great one.

**I was provided an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for honest review.**

Adrienne Young's newest novel, Fable, brings readers to a story of high stakes sea trade, secrets, and debts. Fable, daughter of a wealthy trader, was abandoned by her father after a shipwreck. She is determined to earn enough coin to book passage off the island where she was left, and to claim her rightful place on her father's crew. The sea and her islands are harsh, and Fable must learn to do what it takes to survive.

I know this book doesn't come out and call itself a pirate book, but I'm going to call it like I see it. It's a pirate book. Which, it's summer and 'tis the season for skulduggery, I suppose, because I was here for it. Fable is a determined, bold, and out and out stubborn sort of girl. She was well characterized, and it was easy to see how her experiences shaped her into what she was. As much as Fable is the main, and obviously titular, character, I was a little bummed that the other characters in the book weren't as fleshed out as she was. I would have loved to learn more about Paj, Auster, or West.

The writing was smooth, easy to read, and fast-paced. There were some moments that were clearly very transparent about what "twists" were going to happen, or were included solely for the sheer drama of it all rather than actually being important. Those moments combined with the weak side characters led this to be a strong 4 star rather than the 5 star it could have been.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it to be a fun time. I would absolutely recommend this book to fans of the Daughter of the Pirate King duology. I look forward to picking up the sequel to Fable when it is released.

Thank you thank you thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesdays Books for this ARC copy of Fable by Adrienne Young.
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Five glorious stars, or glasses of wine as I like to rank reads on my Instagram page, for this in the first book of what promises to be my new favorite duology. I can't remember the last time I connected so fiercely to a character from the start. Fable is a hardworking, tenacious, strong character who finds herself shaped by her circumstances, but isn't ashamed or regretful. She embraces her heritage and lot, looking ever forward to the next goal before her. In short, I'd read about Fable for ten more books if Adrienne Young would write them. I'm sitting her next to my most beloved long running series, Throne of Glass. Yes, I'm comparing Fable to Aelin with pleasure and anticipation. Read it, and prove me wrong.
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When Fable finds herself left for dead, by her father, on the legendary island of thieves she doesn't wait for fate to twist the knife. Instead she begins to learn and navigate both land and water fighting for her place among those who can never be trusted. Though it was her father who abandoned her, she commits every lesson she learned from him to memory and it serves her well. Pushing her body to the edge she dodges death on a daily basis. Fable has one goal and one solitary focus, to prove to her father that she can survive.

Wow. Just...wow. I've read my share of YA pirate type books, but this one is definitely worth a read. The character building is remarkable. I am already in love with the entire crew in this book. All of them. I feel what Fable feels; love who she loves, hates who she hates and am confused and torn by what has happened to her. It is extraordinarily done and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. This ended on such a cliffhanger that I need to know more! The world is loosely built, but familiar and the hint of magic is special and intriguing.

This book is so fun! I actually hadn't heard of <i>Fable</i> until I stumbled across it on NetGalley, but I'm so glad I was able to read it. It's a quick adventure read full of pirate-y shenanigans that would be perfect to read by the pool this summer. Of course, it turns out that it's not <i>technically</i> about pirates, but the whole "traders" backdrop does end up reading that way, especially with the amount of crew-on-crew sabotage and murder going on. Sort of a YA <i>Pirates of the Caribbean</i> vibe that is definitely worth checking out.

Fable is a solid protagonist, with an interesting combination of spunk and sensitivity. Her voice is very strong, which really helped to reel me in at the beginning of the story. She does veer a little bit into the typical "badass, survivor, evil parent" thing that has been going on in YA for the past few years, but it isn't overwhelming and served the plot well for the most part.

The cast of characters is good, if not all that distinguishable. At times, it was easy to mix up which character was which - with the notable exception of Willa, the only girl onboard other than Fable. They're an enjoyable bunch, and their devotion to one another was nice, but they sometimes felt too thinly defined. I felt like I'd read these side characters before. Most of them lack the page time to truly develop and stand out, so they end up boiling down to a few small characteristics.

West, our romantic interest and male lead, had some stumbling development for me. He's so closed off and stubborn, but then he's a big softy about other things. The crew is unusual because they function as a democracy, but sometimes he totally ignores this and they just...let him make whatever call he wants. He and Fable don't really have much chemistry, but it's a YA so you know the second he's introduced that they're going to fall in love anyway. I just wanted more from him, and a reason to want Fable to be as loyal to him as she is. Unfortunately, I didn't find it.

The whole romance felt underdeveloped to me. It starts to blossom kind of late in the story, but not in a way that feels like a slowburn. It feels like an afterthought - largely, I would say, because the characters don't have chemistry. It's a small enough part of the book that it's not much of a detraction, but it was something that I found myself wondering the necessity of.

The plot itself moves at a good pace for most of the novel. There's not much of an antagonist to struggle with, so it mostly follows Fable grappling with her place in the world and where to go from here. The bad guy that she does encounter mostly serves to throw up some hurdles for the ship and the crew, but he exists without much real umph behind him. Based on the ending, though, I'm sure he's going to be more of a true antagonist in [book:Namesake|53138025], so I'm excited to see how that changes up the dynamic of the story.

TL;DR: a fun high-seas adventure that would be a great vacation read. It falls into the traps of some conventions of the genre, but it's so quick and enjoyable that it's hardly a problem. Young is clearly a skilled writer and I'm excited to see where she takes the story from here!

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for the e-ARC to read and review!

I. Loved. This. And I would love to have the sequel, please, because I just.... THAT ENDING. This was so very good!! The descriptions and imagery... I felt like I was diving deep along with Fable into the ocean, or right there on the deck of the ship with her! It was amazing, and I can’t wait to read more of er story, as well as more from this author! I think she’s becoming one of my favorites, with the amazing worlds she’s built and characters she’s brought life to!

Fable was abandoned by her father on a remote island -- filled with thieves, but with little food -- with only her mother's lessons and her father's rules to help her survive:

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

Four years later, she's taken many hits, but has finally scrounged up enough resources to get off the island and find her father again. Fable secures passage with the crew of the Marigold by the skin of her teeth, but her time on the ship may turn out to be much more than a means to find her father.

I've been in a major reading slump due to, well... *gestures around at 2020 in general*. I've really enjoyed Adrienne Young's books in the past, so I was so thankful that I got an invitation to read this ARC. And is was great!

Young is so exceedingly talented at crafting her setting. With subtle details and context clues, she envelops you thoroughly in the world she's created -- a feat that often takes other authors many pages of purple prose and verbose worldbuilding to accomplish. Fable's world is one that revolves around the sea, and the people that, by necessity, must navigate it and contend with its whims to survive. It's a world of cutthroat trades, scheming, and backstabbing -- it's the YA book about pirates that I didn't know I wanted to read!

The plot, while taking place on this grand stage of the sea, is more introspective. Fable has built herself up for years using lessons her late mother has taught her. (Despite her mother being dead, she's still very much a strong character in her own right.) Fable also contends with her father -- his absence, how both of them have changed in the four years they've been apart, and how their lives have been shaped around the hole her mother's death has left in both of them. This book is, on its surface, about survival... but it's heart is entirely about family.

Overall, Fable isn't flawless in its execution -- my one quibble here is what it is for many YA books -- the romance is a little too quick for my tastes. But it's a great adventure, and I'm very excited for the follow-up next year! 4.5, rounded up.

Adrienne Young continues to get better with every book she publishes. The story centers on a young girl named Fable who was abandoned on a cutthroat island by her father. Fable has a dangerous job deep sea diving to survive and hopefully earn enough money to escape the island. The story follows her escape from the island, joining a pirate crew, meeting a handsome boy, making a found family and searching for lost treasure. It was a fast paced, fun read and I don't know if I'm happy or sad that Adrienne Young made this one a duology vs. her standard standalone, because I'd love to see more of Fable but can't wait to see what happens in book 2.

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

Those have been the five rules fable has left by ever since her father abandoned her on an infamous island of thieves to fend for herself. Four years later Fable is barely surviving making whatever money she can get by dredging for gems in the ocean. In order to save her life she barters for passage on the Marigold, a pirate/trading ship, to take her off that island in search for her father so he could keep his promise and give her what she is owed.

There was never a dull moment in the story, the world was masterfully built the characters or well-crafted and intriguing they all had their own story to tell. Fable is such a strong character, throughout the story she struggles to show her worth with the crew on the Marigold, but she is determined to survive and achieve her goals in finding the father that abandoned her.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait to read the next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.

* I received an e-arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I am so happy I was able to read an early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of this year. I read and loved Adrienne’s debut, Sky in the Deep, so I figured I would enjoy this one as well. It certainly did not disappoint. This book was FANTASTIC! A real page turner, that I did not want to put down, and a world I did not want to leave.

Fable is one of my new fierce, female characters. Her mother drowns in a shipwreck and her father drops her off on an island of thieves and little food. She relies on the things that her mother taught her to survive, and keeps to herself. She’s a dredger and she dives for pyre, and I found this completely engrossing. I loved how she was so resourceful and didn’t give up. She kept fighting. After four years, she finally gets off the island, joins a small crew, and plans to go back to her father and finally find her rightful place.

A fast paced, nail biting, high seas adventure you don’t want to miss! I can’t wait for the sequel, Namesake, coming in 2021.