***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Namesake by Adrienne Young
Book One of the Fable series
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Copy provided by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Trader. Fighter. Survivor.

With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.

As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

Filled with action, emotion, and lyrical writing, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Namesake, the final book in the captivating Fable duology.

What I Liked:

I read Fable in early 2020, and I knew it would be a hit. I loved the book; it pulled me right out of the reading slump that I had been in, since my father passed away in 2019. Fable hit me at the right time. I received Namesake to read in Fall 2020 and I dove right back into the intriguing, mysterious world of the Narrows. Namesake is the conclusion to the Fable duology, and it's easily one of the best conclusion novels I've ever read.

Namesake picks up pretty much right where Fable left off, which, if you remember where Fable left off, you remember being pretty upset. (I was, anyway.) I won't state too much about that, since Fable published only six months ago, and I will try not to spoil anything regarding Namesake as well.

The world of Fable becomes so much larger in this book. Adrienne Young expands the world, the schemes, the politics, the characters. A wider cast of characters is brought into play, and even more political machinations, deals, risks, and revelations. Some characters who were briefly mentioned in Fable become critical players in Namesake. No specifics, but believe me, the plot thickens! I love the Pirates of the Caribbean vibe of this series. That alone was enough to make me pick up Fable, but the excellent writing, fascinating characters, and slow-burn, tension-filled romance made me fall in love with the books.

One thing I will say vaguely is that a giant Easter egg in Fable manifests in Namesake. I was pretty sure I knew what the Easter egg was when I was reading Fable, but I wasn't quite right. It's not exactly what you'd expect. Adrienne Young is so sneaky, she had us thinking one thing, when in fact it was a completely different thing! I have listened to so many of her virtual tour events and Instagram live events, and she was SO sneaky about this Easter egg. Several months after reading Namesake (I'm writing this review in February 2021), I'm still delighted by the Easter egg.

Let's talk about the romance! Fable and West are such an adorable, heartbreakingly beautiful pair. I love the romance of this book, and series. This series - actually, this book (Namesake) has the most romance on page of any of Young's books. I love the slow-burn in Fable, and the pure yearning in Namesake. The romance of this series is one of my all-time favorites of the Young Adult books I've read.

Other relationships are just as important as the romance between Fable and West; for example, Fable's relationship with her father, Saint. But also, Fable's relationship with her mother, Isolde. I can't say anything more about that but... while Fable (book one) was more so about Fable and her father, Namesake is about Fable and her mother. In a way, but not in the way you think. You'll see!

I truly love the characters that Adrienne Young has written. Fable, a smart, brave young woman. West, a selfless, mysterious man with a heart of gold. Saint, a trickster father who keeps his cards close. And the crew of the Marigold, who is the family that Fable never knew she needed. I love the characters of this book, even the "villains", who have such compelling backstories.

Tropes: slow-burn romance, a hint of enemies-to-lovers romance (kind of? between West and Fable), found family, "chosen one"... kind of. You'll see what I mean.

I won't say anything else because I don't want to spoil the book, but I will say that the book ended really well. The series wraps up wonderfully. Adrienne Young proves that you don't need mass chaos and bloodshed to end a series (I'm looking at you, Game of Thrones). I'm not saying there is NO violence at the end, but, the ending is really good. My heart was full, after reading this book. This book is absolutely worth the (short) wait, the marathon binge-read, or however you'll read this series.

What I Did Not Like:

I have no complaints! This book was such an excellent follow-up to Fable, and an amazing conclusion. I feel like I can't wait always say that about sequels or conclusion novels.

Would I Recommend It:

If you read Fable, you HAVE to finish this series. Namesake is so easy to read - I finished it quickly, once I started getting into the story. I didn't want to put the book down. This series is such a riveting fantasy series, and it has good crossover appeal to young adult readers and adults. It's a favorite for sure - the series is a favorite in general!

Rating:

5 stars. There was no doubt in my mind that Namesake would be just as incredible as Fable, if not more. Adrienne Young has not disappointed me yet; I can't wait to see what she publishes next!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

In prep for reading my ARC of Namesake I re-read Fable & I was struck again by how lush & gorgeous it is. It’s a thrilling adventure.

Namesake picks back up with Fable, West, the rest of the Marigold crew, Saint, et al. & it’s another wonder-ful offering from a prodigious talent. I’m so excited by Adrienne Young’s writing—what stories she’s already put into the world & what will come—but Namesake doesn’t quite live up to Fable in my heart & imagination.

Hopefully I won't spoil too much of Namesake’s plot in this review but it feels more circuitous to me—as does Fable & West’s romance, which is tested by the same mistakes they make over & over again.

While Fable often questions West’s decision-making in this book—she considers how far he’s gone, how far he’s willing to go—there’s a moment where I feel like he goes too far & Fable kinda drops it. He crosses too big of a line for me.

Like Fable, Namesake has beautiful, evocative language & moving storylines about family & place in the world. I love its moments of tenderness & Young’s writing can stop me in my tracks. But overall I have some issues with Namesake that leave me having enjoyed it but not falling in love as I did with the first book.

4⭐️.

This book had a wonderful pirate vibe and dramatically good characters and plot. The author does a great job of keeping you interested and the world building around the characters. This a great sequel to the first, and really does a wonderful job with a sweeping story that keeps you invested in the storyline to the very end.

If you like YA books with more focus on strong family relationships than romance, this duology is for you!
Namesake is a great mix of romance, adventure and deception. Fable is by far one of my favourite main characters ever. She is so incredibly strong and stubborn.
A really good read!

Wow I thought Fable was amazing, but Namesake was even better. It really wrapped up the storylines and the characters gained so much more depth! The adventure and fast pace was still there. I loved it! I practically finished it in one sitting.

Best book of 2021!! I truly enjoyed the first book with the slightly slow burn romance as back burner story. This second book of the series takes off right at end of first book so it’s amazing!! What a way to tie up all the loose ends and backstory in this second book. It never felt rush and loved the story telling. The author has a way with words without being too wordy or purple pose. I hate useless run on words that fills up pages of novel that doesn’t take the story anywhere. Highly recommend this series to mature readers of fantasy since it does have sexy scenes. Im hoping this series can be turn into a movie or series for it be fantastic to see it play out in live action.
Thank you publisher and Netgalley for e copy in exchange for my own honest review.

I didn't get to read Fable, but this book still holds up on its own. Very nice world creation and interesting characters. Once again, the cover is gorgeous.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the privilege of reviewing an advanced copy of Namesake by Adrienne Young. I checked out a copy of Fable from the local library to read prior to reading this story and was not disappointed by either book in this pair!! The characters were well written with edge and depth and a little sauce on the side and I appreciated the nuance of family drama facing a young woman while she desperately tries to find her place in the world. I loved the hint of magic and the dash of piracy and wish that West had a duology of his own!!

I just have that overwhelming feeling of being in love with this book, and it's hard to find words to convey why I love it so much. I think it's the blend of my love for the characters, the setting, the little hint of magic, the atypical family, and the sailing that has me. I absolutely love being on boats and swimming, so combining that with some of my favorite writing devices is the surest way to my heart.

This book picks off right where Fable ended, throwing us right back into the action. The author maintained the witty dialogue, Fable's strong character, the romance, and the family drama that I had come to expect from the first book. I loved the fast-paced plot and the more vulnerable aspects throughout the book. Overall this was a really satisfying conclusion to this duology and I'm sad that there won't be any more!

A seafaring adventure offering a thrilling conclusion to Fable's journey across the Narrow Sea and beyond. The end of Fable, the first book in this duology, leaves us on a cliffhanger when Fable is stuck aboard a ship without her consent after vowing to escape everything that had to do with her father, Saint, and his business in the Narrow Sea. She'd made the decision, alongside West and the rest of the crew on the Marigold, to go somewhere new and start fresh, but this plan is thrown off the metaphorical ship when Fable is captured by the one person nobody likes.

It is there she makes the decision to do the best she can to solve her problems, even if it requires her meeting someone she never wanted to meet or thought was alive and requires her to learn to hate someone she once loved. A chance arises for her to make her escape, but it demands the sacrifice of every remaining thing she holds dear to save someone who, according to all others, will never payback the effort. In the Narrows, it's hard to figure out what the right side and wrong side is, but one thing every one can agree with is that there is a side that will destroy everything the Narrows represents and they'll all do anything to prevent that from happening.

The conclusion to Fable's story is endearing and harrowing, containing much of the same seafaring aspects the reader loved in the first book. Even near the book's ending there are still so many questions the reader has and they might begin to wonder how they will all be answered; but, know that Adrienne Young is a master of the fantasy novel and will give you and ending you cherish.

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

Adrienne Young concludes her Fable duology with the sequel, Namesake. Fable, West, and the crew of the Marigold return to enemies new and old and to enemies that are maybe actually friends? Namesake sets off right where Fable ends, making just about anything said about the plot a spoiler. Suffice it to say, more seafaring shenanigans, backstabbing, frontstabbing, and discovering of secrets ensue.

I was very fond of Fable, and I did like Namesake. Both books are heavily plot-driven, in my opinion. They also are very fast paced and generally are a good time. I had made mention in my review that I wanted to know more about Auster, Paj, and West after reading Fable and Namesake did give me that. Unfortunately, it felt more like hearing about a couple formative events in their lives rather than their development as characters. I feel that character development as a whole is where the duology struggles.

Young clearly did her best to wrap up every plot point to a satisfying conclusion for the reader, and toward the end this began to get a bit rushed for some items. Nonetheless, I was satisfied with the conclusion and don't have lingering questions about plot items, so if that was indeed the goal, then it was achieved.

I will happily continue to read future works by Young, and would not hesitate to recommend them. I feel that the Fable duology in particular might be beneficial for reluctant young adult readers due to the high stakes and fast pace. Ultimately, I enjoyed both Fable and Namesake for the sheer enjoyment of them, but the somewhat shallow character development is what keeps them from being in my all time favorite reads.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I finished Fable, the tale was not one I could forget. I consumed the book in a show of furious energy and I just knew I had to get my hands on Namesake ASAP. For fans worried, that the second book in this duology won't hold up- don't be. If anything there were more heart-wrenching/heartwarming moment than the first.

The tale of Fable, bound and determined to show her merciless father that she belongs is fresh and unique in the world of YA. The fantasy is slight, blink and you'll miss it. This book is as beautiful as it is ruthless, the imagery provide by Young in a league of it's own. Many times I found myself becoming "aware" of reality while reading. 80% of my time spent reading, I was on a swashbuckling adventure with Fable and the evil Zola. lost to the Narrows.

The ending was everything we wanted as readers, and yet I want more. I want so much more. Many a time a tear came to my eye at the profound moments between Saint and Fable, the visceral pain of trying to gain attention from a father. For anyone nervous about the second living up to the first, don't be.

4-4.5 shiny gem-studded stars! Fable was one of my favorite reads of 2020 and so I went into this one with high expectations!!! And let me say that it did not disappoint! This picks up right where Fable left off and I was again swept up into the sun-soaked, sea sprayed, swashbuckling adventures that made Fable so good. The ONLY reason this didn’t get 5 stars from me is it was a bit plot and land heavy in some parts and her writing sparkles most when developing characters out on (and under) the open ocean. That said, it still gave me chills and I was unable to put it down. Thank you so much to MacMillan Library for the eARC!

This book takes off right after the end of the first book. Fable has just been kidnapped by Zola and once on her ship recognizes Clove, an old friend she thought was dead. Much like the first, this book is filled with swashbuckling adventures, great characters, and inviting settings.

The book was a great end to the duology. The stakes seemed to be higher in this one with so much more to lose. In this book we discover more about the people closest to Fable. We see the things that happened in their lives that led them to where they are today. Everyone is much more morally gray than before. It was unique for a YA book to have main characters making mistakes and doing bad things without them having good intentions. These characters are simply trying to survive. Overall it was a fun and exciting adventure with a fulfilling ending.

‘We were salt and sand and sea and storm. We were made in the Narrows.’

I have really enjoyed this series!

High on adventure and action, low on bad language and romance. I think this combination makes it a perfect choice for young YA’s. Fable’s character reminded me a lot of Katniss from The Hunger Games and the story had a Pirates Of The Caribbean vibe. I do think I enjoyed the first book a bit better than the second, but overall, a really fun ride. 4.5.

Fable's fate is in Zola's hands, and he needs her to negotiate with Holland.
I loved it, this book is absolutely great, it closes the duology perfectly. Fable annoyed me a little bit at a certain point, she is a little selfish but she wants to save the people she loves. She's also going to have to learn to trust and that's not an easy thing for her.
West has gone out looking, he is capable of anything to protect her and that will cause some tension.
I really liked the relationship building between Fable and West, they are more mature in this tome, they are discovering a little bit more about each other and it gives their relationship a good foundation.
I also enjoyed seeing Koi, he's not a bad guy, he just needs to survive but he will make the right choices.
Talking about Namesake without talking a little bit about Saint would not be right, I want to tell you that I knew it. He's manipulative that’s one thing for sure, but he does everything he can to protect his daughter even if he doesn't always do it right.
Adrienne Young succeeded in her bet with Fable and Namesake, this duology is perfect, there are no lengths, you get attached to all the characters and you absolutely want to know what's going to happen to them.
Quick word: A duology of adventures on the open sea that you absolutely must read.

This coming of age sea-faring adventure series has been very enjoyable to read. From the descriptive world-building, interesting characters and complex relationships, I had a difficult time putting it down. I think at it’s heart, this is a story about family - both the family one is born into and the family one chooses, and how one’s quest for finding a connection with others informs and interacts with one’s quest for finding oneself. This has political maneuvering, betrayal, redemption, unlikely alliances - I can’t wait to read the next installment.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review,
***
Namesake closes out the story we started with in Fable.
Book one ended on an awful cliffhanger and we jump right into where we left off at, Fable at the hands of Zola and seeing someone she hadn’t seen since she was abandoned in Jeval by her father, Saint.
Namesake sees higher stakes and a bit of a darker tale than we did in Fable (or maybe I’d forgotten it if there was more, it has been awhile). We see a lot of characters from the first book and a smattering of new characters to continue Fable’s journey in learning just who she is and who she’s going to be at the end of this.
Fable finds out more about her mother and in turn her family and has to decide what that means to her. Which, is not really a contest when it comes to Fable because if something comes between her and the ocean, and her being on the Marigold it is already something she is against (let’s be honest, she had made her decision at the end of book 1 and it’s not like there was any time gap at all between how it ended and how book 2 started for that to change on her priorities.) But Fable has a lot of choices she has to make this go around, and they don’t always just affect her.
(You guys, communication is so important. Words, learn how to use them, I say as I side eye the heck out of Fable and West.)
I did fall a bit more in love with West in this book than I had in book 1, so that was a vast improvement. The way they fit made more sense to me this book than the previous so I really enjoyed that.
One of my favorite things: seeing the crew of Marigold again, I love them all, even grumpy butt Paj and especially sweet Auster.
This book moved so fast, I feel like I just opened it and I already closed the last page. There is a lot going on this book and again, Adrienne Young’s writing is just so smooth it just keeps dragging me along in its wake. I barely set this aside to make supper, I wasn’t ready to be separated from what was going on.
***
Great adventure, and a great conclusion to this duology.

Alas, so this is it. Every time I read one of Ms. Young's books I get a bittersweet feeling. The girls in her books, though flawed and broken, are so human in their realness that it is hard to knowing when I turn that final page that their story will end and I will say goodbye.

Like in most of Ms. Young'sbooks, you will find a strong female character that has been faced with many hardships and survived. She h is a character that comes out on the other side a little more flawed or broken, but she is stronger for the battles she faced.

Fable was introduced in the last book and she went through a lot, but overcame even more. She is a resilient young character that continues to grow even through this book. She makes choices that I hate and ones that I admire, but through it all she remains steady in her determination. She is a person who lives her life by rules in order to survive. Yet this book reminds me that there will always be something more important than anything else that you break your 'rules' for.

Fable is one of those types of people who will do anything for her family. They are her foundation. Her father, her family on the Marigold, West. She is reckless when it comes to protecting them. No one comes between her and them. When ghosts of the past try to treat apart her future, she will do everything on her power to try to protect those on the Marigold, West, and her father; even if it means her freedom.

I went in to this book expecting the story to go in a different direction, if I'm being honest. But . . . But the direction it did go in was satisfying, though wildly unexpected with its twists and turns. So hold your breathe and prepare to drive deep, to find the true treasure the lies within.

** Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to leave an honest review in exchange of a copy of this book **

I’m so glad I was able to get e-arcs of both these books! It would have been cruel to have to wait until March to read Namesake and I read them both in a weekend. Namesake picks up pretty much exactly where Fable’s cliffhanger left off and wastes no time getting to the action.

World-building: By far the best thing about the book and duology overall is the world Young has created. Namesake really expounds more on the intricacies of the trader society than Fable did and it was fascinating.

Characters: The complicated relationships between Fable, the crew of the Marigold, and Saint are explored and tested even more than in Fable. It felt like less time was spent with the characters, especially the ones on the Marigold. I particularly loved the development of a certain other Jevali character

Plot: I would classify this duology as an iceberg. Fable was very fast-pace and more of an adventure story and therefore the deceiving top part of an iceberg that is seen above the water. Namesake is slower, far more complex and the stakes are even higher, making it the larger, more dangerous part of the iceberg below the water.

Tropes: Found family, enemies to lovers & slow burn romance.

Other notable things: Like Fable, Namesake passes the Bechdel Test and has LGBTQ+ representation and characters of color!

Overall rating: 5 stars! I enjoyed this just as much as Fable and was very pleased with the ending. It wrapped up well without feeling TOO neat. Once again, Adrienne Young has outdone herself. The worst thing about this series is that it’s only 2 books. Excuse me while I go reread Sky in the Deep.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!