Namesake is the second book in a YA fantasy duology by Adrienne Young. Released 16th March 2021 by Macmillan on their St. Martin's Press imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a very well written YA adventure with a strong and intelligent female protagonist, an ensemble cast of characters and a well controlled and technically adept narrative arc. The story moves along at a good pace and the action is engaging and carries the reader along. The language and themes are appropriate for older teens.

I hadn't read the first book in the duology and had some trouble following some of the more nuanced parts of the plot including the back-history between Fable and the crew, her complicated family connections, and much of the interrelationships between the secondary characters. Because of this, I don't think it works well as a standalone and recommend readers to read the first book before reading this one.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Fable is a book that I liked but didn't love. It was a fun read but felt as if something was missing. The ending however, left no doubt that I NEEDED to read the sequel.
I'm happy to say that Namesake was even better than I hoped it would be. It picks up right where Fable left off and I love how action-packed it was. Never a dull moment here!

When it comes to the romance, as much as I adored and rooted for Fable and West before, this time around I just wasn't a huge fan of the pairing.
It was great revisiting the Marigold's crew but I have to say that after finishing Namesake, Saint may now be one of my favorite characters from the series - and I definitely wasn't a huge fan of him before. I really liked the way Fable's relationship with him evolved here.
Am I the only one who would love to read a novella about Saint and Isolde someday?

Namesake is definitely a fantastic ending for this duology. The writing was just as beautiful and descriptive as book 1 and I can't recommend this series enough if you're in the mood for a fun high-seas adventure!

I knew I would enjoy this book just because of the whole pirate adventure thing but I didn’t know I would love it more than book 1! It was the perfect ending to Fable’s story. I highly recommend this duology for a quick enjoying read.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

I loved this book so much. That is all. 

Okay, all joking aside, this book picks up right where we left off in Fable and sets us on a journey I did not expect. I love this duology and I love what Adrienne puts Fable through as she fights for her freedom and her place out at sea. There were so many moments where I was just reading as fast as possible so I could see what was going to happen next. I haven't read an entire book in a day in a while, but Namesake was so easy to get through because every chapter pulled me in more and more. 

One of my favorite things about this book is the political tensions between the different traders. While some may not care so much about it, or find them interesting, I loved that tension between them and the problems it brought for Fable. Eliminating competition, especially for business, always makes a great motivator for characters and it's clear that a lot of Fable's problems would be solved without these ploys to take over the trading routes. Each time Fable gets handed off like a token, I wondered how she was going to worm her way out of the next problem. It was so fun trying to figure out how she could save herself and win back her freedom. 

Fable is a favorite for me and even though she has some tough decisions to make, I love her way of thinking through problems. She gets so creative and finds ways to help herself that I would never have thought of for myself. We hear a lot about Fable's mother, Isolde, and in this book we got to learn more about her. It's clear to see where Fable not only got her looks, but her brains from. 

This book comes with a punch as we weave through various twists and turns with the goal of returning home the only thing in mind. I love that Adrienne is able to make you care so much for these characters and get you engaged with even the smallest struggles going on. But by the end, I think this was all worth it. I loved the ending that Fable got and it makes me happy to think that through everything, at least there's a happy ending.

The conclusion to the Fable duology may be even better than the first book! It picks up immediately after that cliffhanger of an ending and only inserts some minor reminders throughout to refresh a reader's memory - just the right amount so that it's not too many for those who read these back-to-back, but enough to cover the major plot points for those that have been waiting anxiously for six months to see what happens next.

Fable learns more about herself and her past in this one. At first a prisoner on a rival trader's ship, she is both relieved and dismayed to recognize one of her own inner circle as part of the kidnapping plot. Feeling betrayed, there are also other familiar faces from the first book and for the most part, this one is just as fast-paced. There may be less action in a fighting sense, but there's still plenty - plus we learn more about these gemstones from the sea and just what makes a gem sage anyways. It's a satisfying conclusion - and though I would be happy to see the series continue, everything is pretty neatly tied up here.

I really enjoyed this one! Fable's narration means the supporting characters aren't quite as deeply developed, though. And there are a few turns to the plot here that the reader may see coming, but it's a fun and quick read with a great setting and some really unique world-building. I am definitely curious to see what Young will write next!

I picked up Fable a few weeks ago without realizing how close it was to the release of Namesake, its sequel! I enjoyed Fable very much and was excited to see Namesake available for me to request an ARC from NetGalley.

These are absolutely two parts of the same story, so Fable is essential reading prior to Namesake. Both books are fun YA action/adventure fantasies. Lots of suspension of disbelief is required (how can they dive underwater that long? LOL) and there is some over-dramatic teenage relationship stuff happening. These are common issues for YA fantasy, so if you enjoy books of this genre you will definitely enjoy these two. I found the sailing/sea setting pretty unique - I can’t recall reading another similar YA series. It definitely made me miss the ocean and want to go on vacation (though it’s very possible I may be done with cruises for the rest of my life 🦠)

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh, what can I say about this book. I absolutely loved Fable and waiting for Namesake was an exercise in patience, but oh boy did it pay off. I was so excited to dive back into this world and the characters in it. Adrienne Young is just such an amazing writer, she really transports the reader into the story and doesn't let go even after the last sentence. Who doesn't love a pirate adventure with everlasting bonds and betrayal? I can't wait to reread this duology just so I can relive it all over again.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Fable duology is a wild adventure and it was super easy (and fun!) to dive back in with Namesake. If you haven't read the first book though, stop reading this review now because spoilers. But if you have, please continue.

Namesake picks up right where we left off. Instead of Fable and the Marigold crew starting over after breaking free from her father, she's taken and wakes up to find herself on another ship to be used as a pawn between those who want control over the sea. She has to help her kidnappers with their meeting with Holland, a powerful gem trader, if she wants to get back to West and the crew.

As I mentioned before, the action level is high and similar to its predecessor, the pacing was steady and constantly kept the story moving forward. But my favorite part of Namesake was getting a deeper look into Fable and her parents, especially her mother, and even West to understand why they tick as individuals and as a couple. All the characters, from Fable to West to Saint are all morally-grey with complex layers which makes them so interesting. But at the end of the day, they're people who love and feel fiercely even if they show it in very strange ways.

Overall, I thought this a solid end to the duology and had an ending that I personally found very satisfying.

Do I recommend? Yes! I'm so glad I didn't have to wait a full year between books. If you haven't read either yet, I highly recommend getting both and binge-reading. You won't regret it!

THIS SERIES is just what I have needed.

You need to read this.... like yesterday.

Also - the author just told us there is a surprise book three!!!!!

I cannot wait!

Absolutely amazing, wow what a read. I can not even begin to explain how much i enjoyed this and book 1. Definitely recommending to all my friends.

I loved this one just as much as FABLE! I felt like there was a lot more action in NAMESAKE. The book picks up right where it left us and really didn't stop until the end. I kept feeling myself drawn to read more and more. I didn't want to put it down. I like that we get to learn more about both Fable and West's histories. As the mysteries unfolded I found myself looking around the room to see if anyone else had "seen" what just happened. I'm sure my family thought I looked crazy! Ha. So if you enjoyed reading Fable, then I think you will love Namesake and be happy where this duology ends.

Not long after finishing this Adrienne revealed that we will be getting to know The Roth's a bit more and I have to say that got me really excited!

I read this book before release, I just haven't had time to write a review on here and I apologize! I did make a really stunning post for it (linked at the bottom for you) that I was really proud of! I did photoshop for the first time ever by myself for it, and just feel like it worked out! Anyway, back to my review :

Thank you so much Net Galley and Wednesday Books for an early reader copy of this book!

I went into this book without reading the synopsis and I have to say that is the best way to go into anticipated books in my opinion! Yes, this was a highly anticipated book and it did not disappoint! I really loved seeing the characters again and seeing the world evolve. The twists in this book were phenomenal and I just really want this to be a mini series on Netflix or something! My only complaint is that I didn't feel like the characters grew at all, they were very stagnant. They were all like "this is how I am and I am not changing" and they did just that. I love a good character arc, but other than that I really love and recommend this duology!

I feel like sequels are usually better - you discover the character on a deeper level and learn more about them, but not with this one.

Fable (first book) had a magical way of pulling me in, Namesake had some of the same dreamy writing, but the characters didn’t feel the same.

My biggest complaint was Fable being so positive about literally everything and then being wrong later.

A lot of the ‘big reveal’ moments were very underwhelming and predictable.

The characters seemed to do complete 180s within a couple pages. I didn't understand the West/Fable romance in the first book and I understand it less in the second book. It was too quick and intense for it to be remotely believable.

I did enjoy the end and the epilogue. The writing was still dreamy and I did want to find out what was going to happen.

To use a mean girls quote as a 3 star rating: “all the work is right, just the answers are wrong.”

In NAMESAKE, Fable's journey continues with the Marigold ship free and Fable and her crewmates had plans of starting over until she realizes there's one last challenge to overcome. All the while, Fable learns more about the mother that left her behind as she risks her newfound love and the home she's finally found on the Marigold.

When I read Fable last year, I was totally out of my comfort zone in YA fantasy, but now I absolutely adore the world Adrienne Young created. Namesake felt like a very smooth continuation of book one full of family secrets revealed and high stress moments at sea. I also loved seeing Fable and West’s relationship play out and I was extremely satisfied with the ending (no spoilers 😉)

Ugh, I wish I enjoyed this series but I found it incredibly lackluster.
There wasn't anything wrong with this book, but it was not very memorable. It felt like a standard fantasy and there wasn't really anything to separate this from other books I've read. I honestly will be surprised if I remember details of this duology by the end of April.

If you're looking for an easy read or something like Daughter of the Pirate King, then definitely consider picking this one up. This was just a miss for me.

I received a complimentary copy of Namesake by Adrienne Young from Wednesday Books. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Namesake came out on March 16th!

Since Namesake is the second book in the Fable duology, I am not going to go into much detail about the plot. Fable ends with a cliffhanger and I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't read it yet!

I love a good sea adventure, so I knew I had to read this duology. I enjoyed the first book and I think Namesake was a good conclusion to Fable's story. If you enjoyed Fable, you'll definitely want to read this one! That being said, I really wanted to get to know the Marigold's crew better, but that really doesn't happen in Namesake except for West. This duology is full of side characters I found much more intriguing than the main ones and who don't get the page time they deserve. Perhaps if this had been a trilogy instead of a duology we could've gotten better character development. Still, the plot moves at a decent pace and it's intriguing enough to keep you turning the page. I'd recommend this duology if you like complicated families and adventures at sea!

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’ll keep this review really short. I read Fable last month and just thought it was okay. I didn’t connect super well with the characters, and I really wanted more from the romance between West and Fable.

I have a lot of the same feelings towards Namesake. I didn’t feel super connected to the characters or story, and overall finished this book feeling like something was missing?

I still loved all of the authors descriptions. Adrienne Young is a master of writing atmospheric books, but I think I’m coming to find that her writing style isn’t for me and that’s okay!

I enjoyed Fable, the first book, and was curious to find out what she's up to next.

There is no denying that the world-building was so good. In this book, as in the one before it, I was immediately transported to the world of sailors, hanging on ship masts and dredging for jewels, the cold salty wind slapping me non-stop. The imagery was so vivid and the world so real.

But as in the first book, I had issues with Fable herself. She was more often than not used as a pawn, driven into taking risks she doesn't think through, promising things she cannot guarantee she can keep. Usually, the first book is almost always about world-building and the second book is where we see characters mature and motivations deepen, especially so, in the second book where she is dealing with people that are markedly motivated by their own agendas and she knows it. She turned from risk-taker to simply clueless. Even West turned from menacing to despondent. The only character I could feel for in this book was Willa. And the story about her namesake was so incredibly obvious from the beginning. I cannot believe she overlooked that.

All in all, it was an enjoyable read, excellent world-building that needed a bit more careful plotting.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for my eGalley

Namesake opens with Fable kidnapped and trapped on Zola’s ship, the Luna. Fable is unsure of why she was captured until Zola tells her it’s because he knows who her parents are. She’s forced to harvest gemstones with other dredgers so Zola can use them for payment for something. She soon finds out what the payment is for, to Zola’s detriment. Fable discovers more than she ever could have imagined about her family and her relationship with West worries her. She goes in search of the elusive gemstone, midnight, that her mother supposedly found before her death. This sequel to Fable is exciting, action-packed, dangerous and full of great character development. The series is so good that I want to read it again, 5 stars!

I absolutely fell in love with Fable last year so I had been eagerly awaiting the sequel which luckily enough we didn’t have to wait too long for. Namesake picked up right where we left off with Fable having been kidnapped by Zola and taken on board his flagship where she found Clove, former right hand man to her father, Saint. When she had last spoken to Saint about Clove, he made it seem as though Clove was dead. So when Fable encountered him acting as navigator to her father’s arch nemesis, she was consumed with hatred for him. But of course, looks can be deceiving! I was really surprised with the turns that this book was taking. Most of it I didn’t see coming. Just like in Fable, there is never a dull moment in Namesake. The action and drama keep churning throughout the entire book. I was rather shocked when it came to certain revelations that will remain nameless in this review because major spoilers, so you’ll just have to read the book to find out what I’m referring to. One thing I didn’t really care for though was West’s attitude and his actions. Yes, Fable was kidnapped, but that didn’t give him the right to go around in a path of destruction at every port trying to find her. His character seemed a lot darker than how he was portrayed in the first book. On the other end of the spectrum, I really loved how Saint softened up in this book. I’m a total sucker for father-daughter redemption type stories so there were some scenes in Namesake that really choked me up.

Overall I really enjoyed this final foray into Fable’s world and I very much wish that it wasn’t the end of her story. I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I did the first book, but that’s kind of to be expected with sequels.