Fable is a book so beautifully written that you can’t stop thinking about it!

Fable is a girl who was left to fend for herself on a island after their ship was wrecked and her father left her behind. For four years she has been trying to save up enough coin to buy passage off the island and find her father so that he can give her what she is owed.

During the journey, Fable becomes entangled with West and his crew aboard the Marigold as they sail across the sea trading goods and bringing Fable closer to her father.

Fable is such a powerful and strong female protagonist that I fell in love with and was rooting for her and got to see how she became the way she is and her motivations behind her actions.

The crew of the Marigold also add in a balance between different types of characters and gives the reader the opportunity to see more of the world within the book and how others operate outside of Fable’s worldview. This book was packed with action and adventures that make it a must-read for any fan of fantasy, pirates, or Adrienne Young’s previous books.

I am so excited to see what Young has planned for the sequel Namesake after that massive cliffhanger!!

*Huge thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me to read an e-arc of this book!

My love for Adrienne Young’s writing grows with each and every book and right now this is my absolute favorite.

“Fable” dives into a world where a young woman has learned to survive just long enough to buy her passage and find the father who abandoned her but with the stormy seas and rival crews hunting the ship she now calls home she finds that there is not always happy endings on the horizon.

I could not read this book fast enough!

Fable is such a strong character as we follow her on this journey to find her way home and what she has had to do to make it to the point where family was within reach even if her dreams of a reunion don’t pan out in the way she’d hoped. With stories like this there tends to be a large group background who play their role in navigating the ship and the plot itself so I was pleasantly surprised to see that number cut down to a handful allowing each member to have their own part of the story that added to the overall arc of the story and not have it weigh anything down.

The plot itself was great I liked how we were given bits and pieces of the antagonist as little whispers by those characters at the ports as well as the casual yet biting conversations when are cast did come face to face but the real threat didn’t reveal itself until the cliffhanger leaving me all but begging the publishers for a chance to skip ahead and start book two as soon as possible. There was not one moment where I wasn’t fully invested in the characters and the story and I’m very excited to see what will happen now that another layer to the sinking of The Lark May mean for Fable and her father.

After a couple weeks of nothing but dull reads I am beyond thrilled that this book turned out to be something special and I can’t wait for you all to read it!

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Ahhh! Goodness! Thank you to the publisher for making this e-arc available to read! I loved the story. Fable was strong and self sufficient but it was West who stole the show for me. I’m definitely picking up the other two books by Young because her writing drew me in. In fact, the first line was definitely something to make me laugh. I’m anxious to see what happens next. How will Fable handle learning about everything that she’s missed the last four years after being left behind?

Thank you thank you to Wednesday Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Fable was abandoned four years ago by her father on Jeval after a horrible storm wrecked her father's ship and drowned her mother. Her father, the most powerful trader, promises what is owed to her if she can make her own way off Jeval. Forced to find her own way off the island, Fable has become a dredger, free driving in the Narrows, a series of coral reefs, scraping by until she can earn enough coin to book passage on a ship back to her father.

Kept on constant alert by the thieves that surround her on Jeval, Fable is forced to flee after trading pyre for coin from West, the younger trader of the Marigold. When everything goes wrong, and she's attacked, Fable flees, pleading for passage on the Marigold. West accepts, and though not an official part of the crew, Fable has never felt more at home with a crew. But of course, nothing ever goes the way Fable hopes.

Adrienne Young has a way with words. Everything she writes comes alive to me. I'm a fan of pirates and sea adventures, and when she announced the premise of "Fable", I knew I'd love it. And I did! I know Adrienne's writing is lyrical and descriptive, and the pacing can be slow, but Adrienne is a master of the art! Her pacing gives me more, and everytime I catch sight of a new intent, a new description, I just can't stop. I finished this book in just two sittings, and if I didn't have such a horrible back, I probably could have finished it in one.

I read an early copy (like, this is the plain white manuscript cover that came out BEFORE the Goodreads manuscript, and before the ARCs) so I have no doubt there will be a few changes. I cannot wait to read the finished copy, and I am desperately awaiting book 2!

Without any spoilers:
-There is romance, but it starts much later in the book
-All the characters have strong personalities and come to life on the page, even from brief glances
-And I have to wonder if Adrienne was once a pirate in the past life.

So if you need to know whether or not Fable deserves a spot on your long, never-ending TBR, then yes, Yes it does.

Fable was brilliant! I haven’t been that drawn into and completely absorbed by a YA/fantasy book in sometime! Fantastic action and characters, beautiful writing, what more could you ask for! It was painful for me to put it down in order for me to finish essential things, like my job and household chores. I had been dying to get my hands on Fable, as it’s one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it did not disappoint! I really cannot wait for the second book, Namesake, to come out. I don’t know if I can make it to 2021 without finding out what happens to Fable and the crew of the Marigold.

Having read the Pearl Diver in high school, I was unsure how exciting and interesting I would find free diving in a novel, despite the very real danger associated with it. However, I was on the edge of my seat anytime Fable dove into the water in search of pyre. Adrienne Young’s writing was beautiful and lyrical, I felt transported to Jeval and the Narrows. The world she created was rich and fascinating, and felt entirely real. My only frustration is that I am dying to know about the rest of the world having only been given a small sliver of it. I am eagerly awaiting Namesake, and hope Young gives us a larger insight into the world, and also the magic. I want to learn more about the gem sages, how it works, if there are other types of magic in this world, the gem trader Holland and the area she’s from.

I would have liked to have seen more development of the relationship between Fable and West, because it didn’t seem like they actually spent any time together or got to know each other at all. That would probably be my biggest/only issue with the book, other than just being obsessed with the world and wanting more of it.

I plan on diving into Adrienne Young’s previous books later this week, I’m hooked on her writing and there’s no going back.

I will post a longer review of Fable on my blog, fleawithadegree.tumblr.com, closer to publication date.

I fell in love with Adrienne Young after reading her novel The Girl the Sea Gave Back and now reading Fable, I’m glad to say I was not disappointed! She blew me away yet again! Beautiful world building, but the characters tend to fall flat a little bit. Overall, I am excited to read namesake when it comes out!

I was provided an arc by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book that I've read of Adrienne Young. I must say, she is a brilliant author. Her writing style, the story setting, and the characters are very engaging.

Fable, a young girl of 14 years was abandoned by her infamous pirate father on the island of Jeval, which was filled with thieves with no scruples. For four years, she has been scrounging for every last bit of copper to earn passage on a ship to leave to Ceros. I liked that Fable made the best out of worst situation with grim determination. Due to an unforeseen incident, she has to leave the island early. She gets passage on West's ship, who used to buy the pyre she dredged for the past two years.

Most of the story is set on the high seas where the characters have to weather the storms and stay alive to reach their destination. It was full of smuggling, trading, betrayals and in short a harsh world with tough rules. Though the story was unique, with likable characters I found it difficult to love. The writing was addictive, so I could move forward but I found many aspects that troubled me as a reader.

The first thing was, there was no map depicting the world and the places mentioned. I found it little difficult to imagine. And second, this is my first book where the whole story was set in the high seas and boats. I'm not familiar with all the terminology regarding sailing so I found it little uninteresting. And I would have loved to read a more about the Trade council and the workings.

Lastly, I wish this book was a bit longer so it wouldn't have finished sooner :( . I was able to finish this book in just 5 hrs, it was that good. Overall, it was a good read but I didn't love it. I will definitely read her other books many have raved about. Can't wait to have the second book of this series to know how the story progresses. Hoping for a little bit more in every aspect in the next book.

This is a story about bravery, heroism & swashbuckling. Our heroine is strong, but good hearted, and flawed in ways that foster resilience. I loved that her initial determination to prove herself shifted in favor of chasing her own adventure. I additionally found her relationships to be touching, and the author described her interactions with loved ones in a way that felt reverent. I definitely didn’t go into this expecting an emotional read, but there were scenes where the emotion was so well crafted that I felt myself being swept into her grief, excitement & longing.

This is such a delightful adventure!

Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc!

Star Rating: 4.25

I am still absolutely over the moon that I got to read this early. Fable was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and I'm so happy to not have been disappointed!

Fable is a new world from the author, and leagues above her previous book in terms of cohesive pacing and storytelling. The Narrows are a dangerous, gritty world that was wonderful to sink into, a place where survival of the fittest truly reigns. Nothing is free. Everything is earned through blood, sweat, and the tears you cannot show. I would say a good comparison would be if Tricia Levenseller's Daughter of the Pirate King duology and the Grishaverse's Ketterdam had a love child, that is what the world in Fable is!

Fable herself is a wonderfully human blend of someone who hardened to survive in her world, but protects the soft parts still in her heart, even if she sometimes laments them. But her rough edges are not a facade; they are not a mask. She carries her strength even as her past and her grief and her disappointments gnaw at her. It is a conscious choice, and the duality of character was greatly appreciated in her and in many of the supporting characters!

I will warn that you should be prepared to widen your vocabulary with this read! The lexicon used for seafaring and sailing goes far beyond what is typically used in YA. This is not your typical Captain, Bow, Stern type of sailing, but very specific and technical to the types of boats and sailing used through the book. While it was originally confusing, you did get used to it as you dive in further!

Those who have read the author's previous books will also be happy for the environmental connection and focus. The weather and sea are very much prominent players in the book, giving the whole atmosphere an extra oomph and each moment more prominence.

After the first couple chapters, I was fully immersed in Fable and not only am I excited for it's release into the world, but for its sequel, Namesake!

I have been an Adrienne Young fan for a bit, and Fable is another solid book on her roster. While the characters weren't my favorite, Fable herself least among them, the adventure and worldbuilding were nicely done. I'm a bit peeved that its a cliffhanger ending.

As I said, the characters are the weakest part. Fable never felt three-dimensional to me, and West wasn't much better. Willa was the flippin best. That being said, Fable was *good enough,* but Sky in the Deep had such a good protagonist, this was a bit of a let down.

The adventure, as benefits a pirate story, zips along. Sometimes a little too fast for me, but the action scenes were all so well written, I'll forgive the pacing. The worldbuilding was well done as well. I hope the finished book has a map...that would help, but even without it, the waters and cities of the world Young creates are richly imagined.

Ooooh, the blurb hooked me and I had to read it ASAP! Breathtaking adventure, engaging romantic arc, and well-paced. Looking forward to recommend this!

I kept seeing this cover floating around and yes it a very stunning cover. Especially with that ship floating in her eye. What sold it is the reading the author did on instagram of chapter one. A tease that sold it, in fact i sent in an email that day asking for a advanced reader copy. Now this does not come out tell September so i knew i be waiting a while when low and behold it drops on Netgalley as a read now. I snatched it up right then. I read this book in two days probably would of been one day but life happens.

The main tag line that stands out through the whole novel is a line from Fable Farther that echoes around her. “Fable you were not meant for this world”. That statement can simply mean he wants more his daughter then being on a ship her whole life as you read you see this statement unfold in so many levels. Fable is a Gem Sage something that is in her blood, something she is born with, and something that can mean so much for her future if her cards are played right.

Fable was left by her Farther with a promise to survive and come find him and he give what is hers. What she thinks and what she gets when she comes back to him are two different things. Along the way she might just find love and a family.

If you love descriptive books, details about places you may never see with your own eyes, and a slow burn romance then this book might just fill the bill. Adrienne Young makes this book the perfect escape from reality as long you like water, ships and some magic hidden in a girl who lost her mother and was abandoned by her farther. I loved every minute of the adventure and think you will to. Pick up Fable in September and it sequel Namesake next year in March. Enjoy the ride.

Arghh, this was so good!! I love Young's writing, it's so evocative without being flowery. Her sparse writing and airtight plotting hurtle you through this book at break-neck speed. I couldn't put it down. The world was gritty and savage full of vicious, unscrupulous characters. (Some scenes were downright Dickensian - so vivid!)

Fable is a great character: tenacious and clever and loyal; I especially love the tender places she carves out in her heart and how ferociously she protects them.

My only complaint/regret is that I've read the book this early and now have to wait until next March for the sequel.

*This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. However, I fully intend on ordering a finished copy as soon as they become available if only to communicate to Ms. Young, in the most important of ways ($$), that I'm a big fan of what she's putting out in the universe and encourage her to keep them coming.

It's been a while since I've read a book in 24 hrs. I got hooked from the description! Fable is a SURVIVOR with a capital S! Using her wits and sheer will she overcomes so much to get what she wants. Despite it being hard to accept I understand why Saint did what he did. I was fascinated with her ability to free dive. The amazing things she must see as explored the coral reefs. By the end, I felt like Fable had come to terms with it as well. The story is very well written with great characters to support Fable on her journey. I knew as I got closer to the end that I'd be left biting my nails for the next book! I look forward to finding out more about Isolde and where the story will lead for all the crew of the Marigold. I highly recommend this story for lovers of sea adventures.

Mild to moderate violence and adult situations.

Recommended for ages 15 and up.

She was taught just five rules of survival by her father.
(1) Keep your knife where you can reach it.
(2) Never, ever owe anyone anything.
(3) Nothing is free.
(4) Always construct a lie from a truth.
(5) Never, under any circumstances, reveal what or who matters to you.

She lived by those rules...until she didn't.

This is an epic journey of a young woman, Fable, who overcame incredible odds to discover that she preferred to make her own rules to live by. The journey is set against a background involving piracy, scheming, and feuds amongst groups all just looking out for themselves in a world that does not reward kindness or love. In fact, love and family are weapons to be used against you. But for Fable, a sense of family is all she has been searching for since abandoned by her father years before.

The story is masterfully written to draw the reader into the world to the point that the reader can feel all of the emotions of the characters. I found myself on edge many times while reading this...waiting with barely a breath to see how the situations would resolve. With that said - I guess I will be holding my breath quite a while waiting for the next installment of this as the cliffhanger at the end is practically heart stopping.

There were portions of the story that were slower than others, but I found those portions absolutely necessary to paint the full picture of the world in which the story takes place. I did not feel like any parts of the story were needless fluff or wasted words.

I cannot wait to see how Adrienne Young follows this one up and where Fable's story will lead.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Fable!!! This book releases on September 1, 2020. Okay first off can we talk about this authors book covers?!? She has the most stunning book covers I’ve ever seen! I am absolutely obsessed!

Second, I’m not gonna lie. I’ve read 1 other book by Adrienne Young and I wasn’t obsessed. So when I saw this one my initial feels were hesitant. But after reading the description and seeing that cover I was beyond excited to read this one y’all!

Third, let’s get to the good stuff now. Honestly, I wasn’t hooked from page one. This book took me a good 40-50% in before becoming hooked. The author had to do a bit of world & character building but once this was established things started to get good (yay!). These characters were giving me total pirate vibes even tho they weren’t called pirates. The world ended up being so fun!! There were ships, open sea, different cities/islands, the different guilds/guild masters, bits of action, back story & love. Everything ended up flowing really well and just over all very well written. I was definitely feeling for Fable throughout the book, she had a rough run at first. And although some bits were predictable I thoroughly enjoyed this read and I can’t wait to read the 2nd book....talk about cliffhanger ending!! Ahh...I have to see how Fables story ends. All in all if the description interest you then I don’t think you can go wrong with this read. 😁

Fable was my first book by Adrienne Young. I had heard about her other two books, but they did not catch my attention as this one did. I love books set on the ocean or the coast, so I decided to give this one a try.
Overall, it was a story that I did enjoy and would recommend. But, at times, it reminded me of why I am sometimes sceptical about YA books. They are fun but rarely satisfying. I adored the setting, and the atmosphere described made you feel like you were at sea. It was fast-paced and action-packed. My main issues were that I found the characters simple, and did not see any build-up tension towards the romance.
Surprisingly, I loved the abrupt ending, and am already looking forward to the sequel.

Warning: cliffhanger.

I am willing to read any book that Adrienne Young puts out and I am not disappointed by this offering except for having to wait for the second book! I enjoyed the story and characters, but felt there was a lack of world building.
I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Gah! I loved this even more than the author’s previous books. Which I didn’t think was possible.

Kind of unique, lots of fun, I look forward to the rest of Fable’s tale.

I loved this. Adrienne writes with such immediacy and the world-building was vibrant and atmospheric. I was immediately hooked and devoured this story in a day. It was one of those books that when I wasn't reading it, I was looking forward to reading it. FABLE was quick-moving, vast, and completely immersive, just like the sea itself. Highly recommend this one.