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!

I enjoy Fable as a character, she is multi faceted and is very capable and resourceful. I loved the friendships she developed in the first book and there was plenty of drama around that in this second book in the duology. West is a very good romantic interest and while he is quiet and somewhat mysterious I still like reading about him but Fable is definitely the focus in both of these books.

If you enjoyed Fable I believe Namesake will not disappoint, there are definitely a couple of surprises along the way.

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I’m a huge fan of Adrienne Young’s books, but in my opinion she struggles a bit with sequels. Technically a companion sequel, but The Girl the Sea Gave Back, although a good book, wasn’t nearly as good as Sky In The Deep. I absolutely loved Fable, but to me Namesake falls just a little short of its predecessor.

Namesake picks up right where Fable ended, and we’re immediately thrown back into Fable’s journey. Fable has just been captured by Zola, and has no idea what he wants from her, and to make things worse – her fathers first mate, his confidant, Clove, is by his side.

I loved seeing more of these characters and other characters that were only briefly mentioned/seen in Fable. In addition to more of Zola and Clove, we got Holland, Ryland, and Koy. I loved seeing these characters get more development and more screen time (what is the literary equivalent of screen time? page time?) and trying to figure out their morals and what side they’re on.

One thing I did not like with the introduction of all these characters – we got a lot less of the crew of The Marigold and Fable’s found family. They had a lot more issues in this book, and it was disappointing to see them never get resolved properly. They were separated for so much of the novel, and I just wanted more of them together. Funnily enough, on that same thought, one of my least favorite things about this story was how much it did focus on relationships. Fable’s relationships with Clove, Saint, West, Koy, and Holland were the main focus of the novel. There wasn’t nearly as much plot or moving forward, the dynamic shifted from “trying to reunite with Saint/Control the Narrows/etc” to more of a character driven story and Fable finding her place amongst the chaos surrounding her.

There was SOME plot with these new characters, and the search for Midnight, but these things did seem to fall in the background a little from the character development. I would have loved to see more action in this world. Although, the search for Midnight and the various people that wanted it was wonderfully paced and exciting to read. (I’m really trying not to spoil things in this review, its proving a bit tricky!)

Speaking of the world however, Adrienne Young did a phenomenal job with world building, and I loved every moment of seeing the place she created. As the area that we get to see expanded, Young wrote it in such a beautiful and descriptive way that I truly felt like I understood this pirate land and I want to see even more of it. I would adore seeing spin-off series set in the same place one day. (Maybe one focused on Willa?!)

Overall, I did love this book. The world was rich and exciting and I loved seeing more of Fable’s adventure. Although I thought it focused a little too much on characters, I truly enjoyed the journey. There were some wonderful moments between Fable and Saint, and I liked seeing characters cross the boundaries of good and bad and be more morally grey characters. My favorite new character was Holland – and although I really want to talk more about her its hard to do so without spoiling some major things. She’s terrible, corrupt, but she’s also completely badass and goes after what she wants – no matter the cost or who she has to betray. I’m a huge fan of likable villains, and she hit all the right marks for me on that front. Even Saint, who I absolutely hated in the first book (seriously who abandons their child like that?!!?) proved that there’s a lot more to him than we originally thought.

I highly recommend this book, even though I didn’t love every aspect of it. It’s a good follow up to Fable and I cannot wait to see what Adrienne Young does next!

I really enjoyed this adventurous book! Namesake is the 2nd book (so read Fable first!) in a duology by Adrienne Young. The main character, Fable, is a gem sage, able to sense and feel varying vibrations from different gem stones. The advantages are that she makes a great dredger, able to find desirable hidden gems in the reefs and to discern fake gems from genuine. These same advantages put her at risk for those who wish to silence her or use her abilities for their own gain. After being rejected by her father to crew on one of his ships, Fable is welcomed back to crew on the Marigold. While making preparations in town, Fable is kidnapped and forced to crew on the enemy’s ship and the adventures continue. Author Young includes vivid details about sailing ships and the feeling of being immersed in the sea, feeling the currents, and dredging valuable gems to trade in this swashbuckling adventure!
Thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

The sequel and finale of this duology was a lot of fun and I would def. recommend it!
⁠
I really liked *Fable* - and *Namesake* was even better. The segue from book 1 to 2 was a bit bumpy for me but over time the novel found its groove and the suspense was great. And the resolution: chef's kiss.

Fable is an amazing character, strong, kick-ass. And her crew is one of the best found families that I’ve read recently.

Normally I prefer a deeper plot and a bit more worldbuilding than this but Young hooked me with her characters. They’re not all gloss but have edges and dark pasts, they can act selfishly and call each other out on it.
I love how Young can tell so much with little gestures and facial expressions.

⁠The next novels of Young are already on my TBR.

I enjoyed this book but didn’t think it had the same joy and wonder and worldbuilding of the first book which was disappointing.

I was so excited to see where Fable went on her journey. This book gave a really satisfying arc to Fable's journey and is a quick and fun read. Definit4ely a book you can read in one sitting.

We pick up right where Fable left off. I would recommend reading the back to back to get the full story and experience!

Fable is being held captive on the Luna. She separated from Will and the crew, her home on the Marigold. What exactly does Zola what with her? Being a gem sage and Saint's daughter puts a target on her back. Could he want her as leverage against Saint? Also, why is her father right hand, Clove sailing on the Luna?

Fable doesn't know it, but she will discover more about her family, their history, and the stakes of trading in the Narrows and Bastian. It fast moving, action packed, and full of schemes. Fable is daring, creative, and willing to fight for everything and everyone she loves.

If you want closure to Fable, then pick it up ASAP. The pacing will have you on the end of your seat. (I had to reread a few scenes to fully understand what was happening) There were a few instances that need more details and seem to jump from point A to F without any explanation. Overall, it was good. Not as good as Fable, but good!

Huge thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fable was one of my favorite reads from last year so I was totally thrilled to get my hands on an advanced copy of Namesake. I absolutely love this world Adrienne Young has created. This duology is an exciting, action-packed, and fun-filled adventure set on the high seas. There’s ships, traders, rivalries, treasure, and all kinds of sea-faring exploits! Fable ended with a big cliffhanger and Namesake picks up immediately after these events.

Fable ended with the titular character stuck in a very precarious position. We pick up as Fable must figure out what to do next. I have to be honest and say that Namesake did not go in the direction I thought it would. I knew it would deal with Fable’s current status and eventual trip to meet Holland. I just didn’t expect the actual events that occurred. That being said, I really enjoyed the plot of Namesake. It felt a lot faster paced than Fable and went in directions I didn’t necessarily expect. Namesake is a fast-paced story that

I loved being back with the crew of The Marigold. I truly feel like I am a part of the crew . . . which is ok in fictional worlds because I am TERRIFIED of the ocean in real life. I will continue to live vicariously through the crew of The Marigold! One of my favorite parts of Namesake is that we get to know more about the past of some of the members of the crew. I liked discovering what led each of them to this crew. And of course, we get more of our favorite helmsman, West. I loved seeing him and Fable interact more in this book. I will say that some of West’s actions did make him a bit unlikeable at times. I see where he’s coming from, but sometimes I just wanted to slap him!

We meet several new characters this time around . . . Clove, Holland, the Roths . . . and get to know some old characters even more. I especially loved the development of Fable and Saint’s relationship. Their dynamic added so much to the story. Fable’s relationship with her father is the driving force behind the start of this series so it’s nice to see it explored more.

(Small, very unimportant spoiler) I also totally loved getting to know Koy more. I never expected I’d say that after the events of Fable, but dang I actually am glad he was a part of this story!

I do wish that Fable and Namesake were actually only one combined book. It felt like the two stories would have worked better as one continuous plot. Fable had more world-building and Namesake felt more fast paced. It works as a duology, I just think it would work better as one long standalone novel.

Overall, this was a fun read that brought me back into this stunning world that I can’t get enough of. It’s exciting and full of high stakes adventure. I loved how the story was wrapped up! Namesake has an absolutely beautiful conclusion to a beautiful story. I’ll miss exploring this world, but I am so glad to have read Fable’s story.

Also, I will never stop talking about how gorgeous the covers for these books are!! Seriously gorgeous! I can’t wait to see both books next to each other on my shelves!

FABLE IS SET TO BE RELEASED MARCH 16TH BY WEDNESDAY BOOKS.
MAKE SURE TO PREORDER YOUR COPY NOW!!

If you loved Fable, this book will NOT disappoint. Young dives deeper into more of Fable's parents and who Zola was to her mother. This duology is fast paced and is perfect for anyone who's ready for an adventure on the open sea.

<i>That I'd loved him with the same fire that I'd hated him.</i>

I feel like I keep coming back to this thought with <em>Fable</em> and subsequently, <em>Namesake</em>. And it's all centered around Saint. While I am disappointed and sorry to say that my number one issues with <em>Fable</em> are not resolved in <em>Namesake</em>, I have to admit that the father/daughter story resonated with me. There's a lot about Adrienne Young's writing that pulls you in like a tide, gripping you in its current and refuses to let go. I don't imagine this is a story that will leave me any time soon.

<i>We will always have something to lose.</i>

<em>Namesake </em>picks up in the precise moment that <em>Fable</em> leaves off, with our main character snatched away by Zola and his men. Her desperation to escape is only hardened by the perceived betrayal she feels at realizing the ship's Navigator is none other than her father's second-hand from her childhood, Clove.

Suddenly, Fable is left to believe that one of two men will come for her: her father or her lover.

This entire piece was fascinating to me. Simply parsing out the motivations for Saint and West was thoroughly engaging. I won't include any spoilers, but let's just say that I was right on both counts. Knowing the cores of these characters thus far, it's a very simple and short path to determine what their goals are. Though both were predictable to me, one was certainly more enticing than the other.

This is the moment, of course, that I admit I remain thoroughly upset that we do not get more time inside West's head. Yet, I still adore him to my very soul.

<i>Like I was holding my breath, afraid...</i>

I'm honestly no longer sure what I love <em>most</em> about West. But I find my heart jumping for joy every single time his character appears. He's such a harsh character, one who seems certain of the worst at every turn. I wouldn't say he's quite prepared for it. Rather, I find West merely always ready to take the punches and put up a good fight.

This character, quite simply, is driven by love.

He's consistent about it, too. It doesn't matter which love of his we're talking about, that love takes up his entire being and influences every one of his decisions. There's something truly gut-wrenching about it. As a result, I find myself thrown into a whirlpool of emotions every time he makes a decision. His own life is chaotic, every choice put before him a result of that storm.

What's most ironic about West is the fact that he remains shrouded in mystery, yet the more you get to know him you can clearly tell he wears his heart on his sleeve. I absolutely <em>love</em> this about him. My heart breaks and sores with him at every twist and turn. I breathe for him.

<i>...somehow I'd known deep down that he would come for me.</i>

I remain eternally frustrated by Saint's motivations. I understand them, of course, but they could have been so much better. What really struck me about <em>Namesake</em> and Saint's role in this story has less to do with Saint, himself, and more to do with his daughter. While reading the first book, my biggest frustration behind his characterization was the simple fact that nothing aside from his own ambition resulted as the excuse for his behavior toward Fable. I still think the book would have been better had there been.

That said, Saint is conniving. His decisions are calculated, all perfectly tailored to play the long game of increasing his power. You'll likely remember power was a very central theme in the first book. This theme remains in <em>Namesake</em>, but in a different way. Instead of the kind of power most picture in these cases, that of influence and money, <em>Namesake</em> calls attention to a different sort of power; emotional.

This theme is permeated in every thought and choice of this story. It's there in West but, more importantly, it's there in Fable.

Despite his unfailing abandonment of her, <em>Fable</em> cannot let go of her father. He deserts her, he uses her, and yet when his life is threatened, Fable is willing to give up everything to save it. And sure, there are minor moments in which love for her homeland seeps through, but the crux of this story is the power that love holds over us.

<i>...you and I have cursed ourselves...</i>

There's a natural path forward for stories like this one. I don't think any reader, really, will be surprised with how the conflict created by yet another with power resolves itself in this book. As you learn who these characters are, their decisions never really shock you. Yet, it's always a little shocking when you realize how strongly you're able to feel for the characters. There are pieces of us that create power struggles we will never truly overcome.

Love, more than anything else, will tie us down so long as it holds us in its grasp.

It's a wonderful curse, but a curse nonetheless. And I think it hits us in many different ways. Whether it is because of a familial connection, a romantic inclination, or a kinship based on shared experiences it gives and takes power at every turn. Young captured these elements more perfectly than I could ever have anticipated. We see it from Fable, to West, to Saint, and even to Koy; I can't say I ever imagined that last one cropping up, but bravo.

<i>You're Jevali.</i>

There's one final piece to this story that follows you through it. It's another that I caught onto early and ties directly into the book's title. You'll see the pieces fit together as you read, but the important piece to remember about this novel are those connections. They build over time and never quite release. Each moment, each <em>person</em> has an impact. And you'll be forever captured in that embrace.

Namesake </em>is an impressive novel. More than anything, I find my reverence for it tied to the expert connections built between a central theme and the novel's characters. The hold of these emotions is visceral in every which way. Quite frankly, I don't know how anyone could leave this series not having been captured by it. And perhaps I simply connect with these central ideas more than most. Perhaps the character emotion is so real for me because I've felt it myself.

Whatever it is, I'm caught forever within the swirls of this current.

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

With Fable ending on an big cliffhanger, I was super excited to be able read this advance reader copy of Namesake.

I don't know where to begin this.... I really really really enjoyed this book. Fable first was caught up in a secret plan of one person and then an second person, and then she made her own secret plan. And let's say everything came together at the end. :D

I think I am little annoyed at West though, and I think he was a bit over-protected, and definitely didn't respect to his other crewmates. But i did like Koy, and thought his and Fable's relationship/plot line was really neat. enemies to friends :) I also loved that we got to learned about Fable's mom, Isolde.

I think as an whole this series reminded me as Pirates of Caribbean and Moana. Five Stars, and I will recommend this series to anyone who want adventure and high stakes at sea.

Namesake is the second and final installment of the Fable duology. And I found it to be a better novel than the first. Namesake takes off there Fable left off so Namesake can’t be read as a standalone.

After freeing the ship Marigold, Fable, West, and the rest of the crew are ready to start anew. But that plan is sidelined when Zola, an infamous pirate hijacks Fable and forces her to arrange a deal with Holland, a rich and powerful gem trader. As the story unfolds, we learn that not everyone is who you think they are. That deals and promises made can be broken.

A masterful pirate fantasy. The author, Adrienne Young has adeptly crafted a rich cast of characters. You can just visualize each character’s looks, expressions, and personalities. Young’s Plot execution is seamless. Transitions are smooth and flows nicely through each chapter. You won’t want the story to end.

Namesake is a stunning young adult fantasy that is sure to capture the hearts of those readers that enjoy action, adventure, romance and sea faring goodness. Five spectacular stars.

I received a digital ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

This review will appear on my blog, Goodreads, and social media outlets on February 20, 2021. Reviews will post to retail sites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble on release/publication day.

"It was one long series of tragically beautiful knots that bound us together." -Namesake

I devoured and adored Adrienne Young's Sky in the Deep, but I was still worried that this duo wouldn't live up to the hype...But, again! I blew through these in a day each! Young has written another emotional adventure with a forbidden romance full of tension and heartbreak. Aside from romance though, she has a knack for writing "tragically beautiful" family dramas that mature the story from just another YA fantasy. It's a delightfully twisty YA fantasy tale! And what a great setting! Her world building is these books is a level above what she's previously written.

Namesake in particular picks up after a cliffhanger in Fable, and pulls through the reader through some serious tension for sooo long before giving away the twists! While I had some guesses about the plot twists in this one, I did NOT guess them entirely or correctly, so this was a fun roller coaster of a read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of Namesake in exchange for my honest review.