Member Reviews
Fable doesn't have the best relationship with her father, but that's to be expected - he is the most powerful trader in all of the Narrows. Determined to prove herself and reconnect with her father, Fable is working against unforgiving thieves, the elements, and her own self-doubt to make her way back to her father and claim what is rightfully hers.
'Fable' will ensnare readers, drawing them into the magnificent, alluring and thrilling adventure of Fable and her newfound friends. This enchanting and atmospheric adventure will draw readers in, as they turn page after page to discover if Fable finds exactly what she's been searching for, or if she unearths something more sailing the seas of the Narrows.
Rating: 4.5/5
“You weren’t made for this world, Fable.”
This book was a delight to read! I enjoyed how Adrienne Young brought this gritty and unforgiving world to life while showcasing the beauty of the islands and reefs. The vivid diving scenes made me want to jump right into the water with Fable and explore! I found the full cast of characters fun and intriguing, especially Fable’s elusive father. Fable herself is such a strong, cunning heroine. I love her tenacity; if there’s something she wants, no one is going to stop her! The story kept me interested until the very end (and that CLIFFHANGER!), so I can't wait to dive into Namesake.
If you want a fun, action-packed adventure about family and finding one’s place in the world, this book is a great choice!
Full review available on Goodreads.
I made the mistake of reading the companion novel The Last Legacy before I read Fable and Namesake. I think it actually made me love this book even more. It's a little slow in the action but the story is just soooooo good. I love Adrienne Young's writing and this did not disappoint. Fable is a fantastic character and I 100% recommend this whole series.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, but I ended up buying by own ebook copy. If you enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean, the anime/manga One Piece or remember The Pirates of Dark Water cartoon from 1991, know that Fable would make a fantastic film, it joins Piratica: Being a Daring Tale of a Singular Girl's Adventure Upon the High Seas and Steel as some of my favourite girls going pirate books.
Fable has been trying to get off the island Jeval her father abandoned her on since the sinking of the Lark and the death of her mother. When forced to flee from Koy, she chooses the Marigold, who's helmsman West she's traded with for years. Not even he knows how her gem sage gifts allows her to dredge good pyre from the sea for his copper.
Marigold's crew is less than pleased with their new passenger, Willa the only other girl on the crew calls her unlucky, Hamish the coin master and the couple Paj and Auster are secretive of their history. Fable must nonetheless stick by then to survive on her journey to her father Saint in Ceros, they first must make a stop at Dern where she sees Zola, a once rival trader of her father- who has a painful history with Willa and the crew.
Fable is no stranger to the cruelty of the Narrows but catching her father may prove more painful than her abandonment as he has no place for her among his crew and only offers a inheritance at the bottom of the sea. Yet she intends to settle things with him and use the sails of Marigold to find the treasure and family.
The world building is amazing and draws you in, though a bit slow for my pace, it’s enjoyable. Adrienne Young is fantastic in her ability to make you see the vision,
Surprisingly, super inclined towards the contents of this book. Also, that cliffhanger.
I really didn’t like the cover on this one before but I’m starting to appreciate it more and more. Loved the fact that the romance came right at the end. It would have been all the more better if it hadn’t been present at all other than the hinting but liked it nonetheless. It doesn’t really take anything from the book.
Super excited for the sequel.
Would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for this arc.
i love a good seafaring adventure and this story definitely delivered me one. it was so frickin good. i loved fable and how strong she was despite the odds being stacked against her. west and the marigold's crew were an absolute delight and added so many layers to the story.
this story has found family, mystery, shipwrecks, treasure adventure, and captivating romance. i was addicted to this story from the first pages. and a plus is the cover is stunning and matches so stunning with the sequel.
↠ 5 stars
Okay, the first thing that blew me away about this book is the world building. It's so lush and Adrienne Young really allowed me to imagine it even beyond the words on the page. It's just beautiful and atmospheric, and if you like that style of writing, then you have to read this.
I also absolutely fell in love with Fable. She is determined and tough, even though maybe that's not totally obvious right away. The plot was great -- it kept me interested (for the most part, there were a few slow parts for me) and cheering for our squad of "good guys" while being so frustrated by what the villain does. Definitely drew me in and kept me engaged.
I thought the multilayered relationship Fable has with her father was also a great and unexpected added layer to the story, and look forward to continuing it and the plot in Namesake.
Thanks for the eARC!
This book was absolutely good. I enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to get my hands on the sequel. With the childhood like that, no wonder Fable becomes this strong and level headed survivor who tries to beat every odds. Adrienne’s writing is perfect!
Fable was the first part in a series about an infamous pirate's daughter. Abandoned as a young girl, she learns to navigate her found family and let go of her cold-hearted father. She must defend her new crew and keep her secrets close- until she is sure of who she can trust. There are people right under her nose with secrets just as precious as hers.
If you're looking to be transported to the salty ocean, this is the book for you. It is delicately written, but hits hard when the going gets rough.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This took me a long time to read, but it was worth it to savor every aspect of it. Young develops the characters and plot so delicately that everything fits perfectly together. There were many twists I wasn't expecting and many characters that I was not expecting to be so invested in. I am excited to read the sequel and find out what happens in the aftermath of this story.
Literally one of my absolute favorite reads of the year so far is Fable by Adrienne Young. Yet it is also the book that has given me so much anxiety and concern for its characters, lol. Fable has a very tough life & with every hardship she overcomes I love her more, even though every chapter I was worried. Have you read this book yet? My next read is the sequel Namesake!
I can describe this book in one word. Perfect or amazing or everything I've wanted in a pirate story. Okay, that was more than one word, but it's because this book blew my mind out of the water. I've always really enjoyed Adrienne Young's books but this one is by far the best that she has written. I love the way the characters and the story entwins so well, I can honestly almost fee the wind in my hair or smell the ocean. Where is the next one? I need it now!
I am late posting this but I was disappointed in this book. I love the author's previous books but this was too slow and couldn't keep my attention. I know there will be more books to come from this author and I hope they are better.
I was completely surprised just how much I loved Fable, both the actual book and the character. I had hoped to like it, but it was much much better than I could have hoped for.
Everything about this book was perfection. From the setting to the plot, Adrienne Young throws you right into her world. The plot is fast past but there are also lovely character moments and not just between Fable and West. The side characters are fleshed out just as well as the main characters and I ended up falling in love every member of West's crew.
I highly recommend this book and am off to read the res of Adrienne Young's backlist.
Fable is an amazingly fun adventure tale following Fable as she embarks on a quest to find her way off the island to claim what was promised to her. I really enjoyed the characters and felt such a wonderful connection with them. The story itself was intricate and exciting making me crave more when it was over. I highly recommend Fable.
I had to dnf this one. This book was just a bit boring to me and not engaging enough for me to continue.
“I sat on the cliffs above the beach on Jeval every night, imagining the sails of my father’s ship on the horizon. Hoping he’d come back for me.” I paused. “He didn’t—you did.”
Fable made me feel things. When I chose my review quote, I basically turned into a weeping mess again. This story is so cleverly thought out and the writing is beautiful and it's heartbreaking and it was so captivating I literally forgot about the world outside my little reading corner and I can't remember the last time I read a book like this. Okay... *deep breath*, hahah!
Even though I own Adrienne Young's previous books, Fable was the first one I actually read. I LOVE her writing! It's beautiful! I was constantly on the edge of my seat, waiting for the next big reveal or plot twist. I constantly had this sense that there was more going on that we were let to believe. It wasn't exactly foreshadowing, but it kind of was at the same time? Let me tell you, it's like MAGIC.
I love Fable as a character. She's such a strong, independent young woman who fends for herself. Her strength and her determination to reach her goal were truly inspiring. West was a mystery to me for most of the book, but I just knew there was something about him! Gahh, I was so glad I was right! I simply adored the crew aboard the Marigold. I loved their dynamic and their presence definitely added to the story.
This slow-burn romance builds up so slowly you'd almost think I'm spoiling it... But OMG, guys! From the moment our love interests have an on-page moment, you just know something's there. Fable is by no means a romance novel, but it does play an important part. It's probably my favorite thing about the book as well. It gave me all. the. feels!
If you enjoyed Sky in the Deep, you will be sure to enjoy Fable! I loved the world of this story--filled with oceans, gems, and ships. The writing is well-done and the storytelling vivid. Adrienne Young can always be counted on to write exciting stories full of adventure, emotion, and characters that you want to to root for.
This was just OK for me. There were some interesting parts but mostly I just kept waiting for something to happen. I liked the crew of the ship Fable joins. I was hoping there would be more adventure but nothing exciting really happened. A lot of this was just traveling from one place to another and those kinds of stories are generally not my cup of tea. From other reviews it's obvious that this book appeals to a lot of others.
I received an eARC of this from Netgalley and the publisher; all opinions are my own.