If it’s possible, it was even more captivating than the first book. You don’t know who to trust and who’s gonna win, but this book keeps you on your toes.

*Big thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of Namesake in exchange for an honest review.*

I’d be remiss if I didn’t start by gushing over this amazing cover. The team at Wednesday Design knocked it out of the park with this duology. I loved the concept of Fable’s face coming together with the two covers and I’m not usually big on covers that are predominantly faces. The little details were just stunning and went with the story perfectly.

Warning: Namesake takes place directly after the end events of Fable so make sure you read these back to back. After securing The Marigold’s freedom and finding her place amongst it’s crew Fable is ripped away from her new found family and thrown into the dangerous trade war taking place between the crews from The Narrows and the crews from the Unnamed Sea.

I loved this book so much and found it to be the perfect conclusion to Fable’s story. At its heart Namesake is a story about family both blood and found. Fable spends the bulk of the story trying to firmly establish her place in the world and what she wants while trying to make sure the ones she cares about are okay. The thing I loved most about this book was we really got to see West go to a darker side. It was great to see how Fable handled the more complex part of his past and his behavior without turning into the typical YA heroine that throws a fit when she finds out her love interest isn’t cookie cutter boyfriend of the year. While I won’t say it’s more realistic because of the things West does, it was refreshing to see the real aspect of accepting a person for who they are without strings or demands they change into what you pictured in your head.

This also applies to how Fable interacts with Saint as well. I think as teens/young adults it’s easy to say you’d do things a certain way but things aren’t always as cut and dry as they might seem. Fable is a different kind of broken home but still recognizable.

I think this series deserves all the praise for bringing very real issues up in the most realistic way possible considering it’s set in a fantasy world. The relationship between parents and their children is something that evolves as both parties grow older and this book did it beautifully. I think this is why Fable resonated so well with people, she was real, and her relationships were very real. Hands down the Fable duology is Adrienne Young’s best work.

All that being said can we get a Tales From The Narrows with short stories maybe about how Isolde ended up with Saint, Saint’s origin, and West’s origin? I just need more from this world, I’m not ready to leave it.

I rated this book 4.5 but rounding it up to 5 for this author's amazingness. I just hated the ending it. It was too simple and easy and I was just satisfied with it. I felt there were too many loose ends and not enough answers.
** spoiler alert **
Because SPOILERS
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SPOILERS
The real reason was what was the purpose of the deal with Henrik? He got a merchant ring for no reason and fable got nothing out of the deal. Weird. Also the end was quite flat for me. The first book was sooo good and this one was as well that just bothered me. What did Henrik even end up making? I’m just confused

When I saw Namesake come up on NetGalley, my copy of Fable hadn’t arrived yet. I had heard a lot of buzz about Fable, but did it live up to the hype? I am 100% sure that the answer to that is yes. I devoured both books in a single weekend and when I got to the end of Fable, was quiet happy that I already had Namesake.

Namesake picks up straight after that gripping ending of Fable. Fable finds herself as a prisoner and has to work her way out of several different bargains to save herself, The Marigold and the crew that she has come to regard as family. The only negative thing to say about this book is that after the fast paced ending of Fable, the start felt a bit slower but I realise that it is because I read them back to back and they are one seamless story, so it didn’t really feel like I had changed books. Never fear, the pace picks up soon enough as Fable tries to get herself out of the situation she has found herself in.

I really like Adrienne Young’s writing style and the story had me hooked right from the start. I think if you enjoyed Fable, you will be satisfied with the story and ending in Namesake. I really like that the publishers decided to have a short window between the two books. It isn’t always practical, especially since both books need to be largely finished before this can happen.

Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an eARC of Namesake in exchange for an honest review.

So happy to have this as an early read through NetGalley because, well my brain would forget book 1 before book 2 comes out.
Having read Fable recently I was very excited to read Namesake and it did not disappoint. Namesake picked up right where Fable left off and the action and adventure were still there. There were new plots and it wrapped up Fable’s plot line nicely.
I would definitely recommend this duology for someone looking for a quick read packed with adventure.

Namesake, swims right into the action and doesn't stop until you reach the last page. A fun, dive into the world of dredgers and sailors seeking a way to make a name for themselves in a greed-ridden sea. Namesake is a fantastic sequel that dives deeper into the questions that Fable hadn't yet answered. You'll be eagerly turning the pages wondering what else could possibly happen to Fable and the helmsman, West in this addicting maritime adventure.

When I was expecting to have to have half a year for Fable’s follow up, my NG’s request of Namesake was granted. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I absolutely loved Fable; Adrienne Young has once again created an amazing fantasy world—and an original one at that—and I was so anxious to dive back into it that the stakes were high, especially with the somewhat intense cliffhanger at the end of book 1, Fable. Namesake didn’t disappoint, and jumped—should I say “plunged”?—right back in action where we were left off. New characters, old characters coming back and revealing new facets of their personalities, and still miles and miles of dangerous sea routes and hidden gems beneath. At the end of both books, I can almost feel the salt on my skin.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance digital copy of this book. I am reviewing this book voluntarily. In the last chapter of Fable we were left with a cliffhanger. In Namesake we see how it all comes together. I'm giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed seeing Fable and West romance progress. It did take a moment to get into it but its a good book overall. I recommend this book to anyone who likes action adventure with romance.

A great follow up to FABLE, filled with amazing imagery of Fable's world, adventures and loves. Fable is a character that stays with you long after you put the book down.

The plot twists in this story, and the way they were executed, were perfectly set up either in this book or the first. I had a feeling I knew what the ending would be to this book, and this ending was truly the perfect way to sail away from Fable's story.

There's so much to say about chosen family, birth family, friends, and figuring out what one person will do — even when their identity is upended or challenged — in order to protect the ones they love.

We learn a bit more about the crew of the Marigold, and specifically West — including what lengths he'll go to in order to bring Fable back to his ship (once they discover she's missing, that is), and as Fable begins to understand the sort of person he is (the sort of person who would be capable of running Saint's shadow ship).

What I loved about this book was getting to know Clove! We get a bit more about Fable's upbringing and her family, and we really learn a lot about Isolde and her history, which is a huge part of Fable's journery.

As Fable's world expands, and we visit new places (hello, Bastian!), there's no way you can put this novel down. Once again, I CANNOT get over Young's use of imagery. This is an author who consistently builds REAL FANTASY worlds, super easy to picture and understand, and ones you don't want to leave.

I will forever be a fan of Young's writing. I'm so excited for whatever she publishes next. I can't wait to come back to FABLE and NAMESAKE in a few years for an epic, high-seas re-read!

Namesake, the stunning sequel to Fable, is just as invigorating and transportative as the first one. We pick up right where Fable left off and jump back into the action as Fable makes her way towards the ghosts of her past and unwillingly learns about a life she could have lived. Where Fable was a sea-faring adventure, Namesake focuses much more on who the characters are and what has motivated them to become who they are today. We learn more about economics and trades and what makes Fable’s world tick.

Adrienne Young’s writing for this duology is beautiful and magical. It absolutely transports you to the deck of the Marigold and traverses the streets of the islands with Fable and the crew. The plot is well-rounded and executed beautifully, and all of the characters mature wonderfully and become delightfully complex - everyone has their own agenda.

However, the book lost a little bit of its charm from what we experienced in Fable as we spent the majority of the book navigating the social nuances and consequences of land life, and not on the water. One of the reasons I adored Fable was the beautiful descriptions of diving and dredging. While we do get some diving content in Namesake, it is not on the same par as Fable.

There is absolutely no shortage of strong female characters in YA (yay!); however, more often than not, their strength is represented in combat skills. She’s proficient with a sword. She’s the best archer in the land. She can beat a man without even trying. We lack a little bit of diversity in the area of what makes a woman strong. So it is INCREDIBLY refreshing to see Fable’s strength represented in another way, one that was just as lucrative as fighting could ever be and one that she excelled at more than any man. Her diving skills and gem sage abilities are unmatched.

I love Fable and West’s relationship and how we continue to see it blossom in this book. We see characters who could have wildly different paths, collide, and find a commonality that makes it work. Both of the characters strike me as incredibly restless spirits and to see how sweetly their love develops seems very genuine. My one critique of their relationship is that they are both self-sacrificing characters, which is a little bit of a pet-peeve of mine in YA as it leads to miscommunication. A lot of the sticky situations the characters encounter in Namesake could be prevented if they just communicated with each other better in the beginning and did not try to ‘handle it’ themselves.

All in all, Namesake is a wonderful sequel. This is a strong duology and incredibly enjoyable - I highly recommend both of these books to someone who wants a break from the normal fantasy read and are looking for some that are a little shorter, but still hold a lot of depth!

Helmsman-Dredger-Trader-Orphan-Father-Daughter

Rating-3.5

Namesake is the final installment in the duology, if you read Fable you probably wanted to throw the book across the room because of the cliffhanger. The book pick up right where it ended in Fable, while I wasn't completely blown away by Fable I thought there are quite many interesting things happening in it. I enjoyed it because of 1)Premise 2)Unique plot-line 3) Relationship dynamics( found family/ estranged family) , however for me Namesake didn't deliver to its full extent despite having a stellar potential. Here me out because it is not a bad book but it wasn't as compelling as Fable, maybe Fable was good/good enough for me

I will start by saying positives, the pacing the biggest plus for this duology you would be just flying through the chapters.I loved the premise and the whole Navel trade aesthetic of the book just as much as I loved it in Fable, it's detailed, vivid and you get a clear picture with the way the author had narrated the story, the suspense factor is certainly entertaining and is steadily maintained to the very end which I think is also a major plus. The plot line is promising with new expeditions and treacherous adventures, the first 40% where a lot happens and the last 15% where we are blessed with Saint's dramatic entry got to be my favorite highlights of the book
There are more secrets and deceptions, some revelations that unravels Fable. While I truly felt for Fable and her yearning to belong somewhere and find her purpose I wasn't a biggest fan of how she drives the plot, she does toughs up a lot after her time on the sea but she isn't prepared for the deeper deceptions she had to face. My biggest complaint is that other than Fable and West the rest of the characters quickly fades away though they have incredible potential, by the time you get the grasp of them and starts to expect more from them they are cleared out of the path.

For example Cove- he is undoubtedly an intriguing character and a father figure for fable, just when you think he might have a greater purpose, he simply vanishes? Saint is my biggest reason to pick up the sequel-however he only makes appearance in the last 15% of the book, his character probably is the most under utilized. The rest of the Marigold crew are supposed to be Fable's "Found Family" but they are just like passing clouds in the plot, I loved Willa- Fable/Willa-West dynamic but I was so disappointed that we don't get to see anything either. The most meaningful moments Fable has is somehow with Koy in this book- yes that's right, he is the guy who tried to kill her in the last book, I had hard time understanding this transformation since its so sudden and there wasn't a proper explanation for this gear shift

I feel like the week point of Namesake is lacking a profound sub-plot because I didn't think the romance between Fable-West stood out, they get to spend more time with each other but they spend it fighting the most.Fable contradicts her mental dialogue, where her inability to trust West 100% roots from the fact that West decides things for everyone but that's exactly what she keeps doing the entire time. The deception and secrets aren't gut wrenching so they barely captured my attention, the plot line had an immense potential but unfortunately didn't deliver because it kept going in loops- maybe the fact that this is a duology is a restrictive factor in itself

After absolutely adoring Fable, I was prepared to be let down by Namesake, if only because I loved Fable too much for Namesake to measure up. I was decidedly not let down, but I definitely didn't head over heels love it as much as the first book.

Something about Fable's relationship with West in this book was a little bit off from the first one. A lot of time is spent dwelling on the fact that West is NOT THE MAN FABLE THINKS HE IS and HAS KILLED. Like, duh, West is essentially a pirate. Fable nearly killed a man like 20 pages into the first book. I think West will be okay here.

And Fable and West spend most of this book super mad at each other...and then the Marigold crew is mad at Fable. I feel like Adrienne Young disintegrated my Found Family vibes and never really put them back together.

And as far as Holland...I was excited to go into parts of the world that had been mentioned in Fable and finally see what all of that was about. But I found myself unsurprised by certain things in this book that were supposed to be big plot twists. I am not sure if Adrienne Young was just a master storyteller and had been planting hints that I subconsciously picked up on or....

I'll go with the former.

I feel like I spent most of this review going over the things that I did not totally love in this book. That is only because I loved the first book so much that I wanted Namesake to be perfect. Nothing is perfect.

I still sped right through it and closed the last chapter feeling satisfied with this duology. Excited to see what Adrienne writes next!

Thank goodness for the read now option for this book because I read Fable this past weekend and knew I had to pick up Namesake immediately. These books are so atmospheric and beautifully written and I'm definitely a fan of Adrienne Young and will definitely be looking to read her backlist.

This story was complex, but never confusing, with detailed world building that never felt too drawn out, perfect IMO. Pick this one up if you enjoy YA Fantasy with an interesting cast of characters, intrigue and adventure. The gorgeous setting, strong characters and engaging plot made this book compulsively readable and just so good.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I completely fell in love with Fable and it's amazing characters and storyline, so of course I was thrilled to get an ARC of Namesake. Fable had ended on an intense cliffhanger and I was dying to know what happened next. Adrienne Young has created such a wonderful fantasy world and I'm thrilled to dive back into it.

West's Dark Past
One of the big themes of this book is how little Fable really knows West and is she willing to accept him once she learns more? I loved seeing their relationship develop because they were only fully together briefly in Fable, whereas Namesake gives us the chance to really see them as a couple...and man, does West need to work on being part of a couple! To be fair, this is a guy that has been the problem-solver, leader, and protector of his friends and family for so long that I really do understand how hard it is for him to share the burden. However, he needs to figure out how to do this if him and Fable have a chance together. We are also given the chance to see just how brutal West can be when the moment needs it - we got a taste of it in Fable with Craven's death, but Fable is forced to come to terms with this side of him and decide if she can truly love him.

Excellent New Characters
We spend a lot more time with Zola in this book (as he has just kidnapped Fable), but he's not the most interesting villain. Instead, we are introduced to Holland, the mysterious woman who controls the gem trade in the Unnamed Sea, and wow, is she something else. She's cruel, manipulative, smart, and has a lot of plans for Fable's future. Honestly, I loved her as a villain. She's so smart and is able to maneuver people exactly where she wants them. Cruel? Yes. Incredibly interesting? Absolutely. We also learn more about Isolde and Saint - while they aren't "new" characters, we didn't really see them in Fable, so it felt like we were really coming to understand them both in Namesake.

Love Character Relationships
There are so many interwoven histories and relationships between characters in this duology and I love that we are given the chance to unravel some of them. Besides the newer ones (like West and Fable), getting to know more about Fable's past relationship with Clove, how Paj and Auster came to be together, and learning more about Isolde and Saint were wonderful! There are so many rich characters in this series, it's hard to know that we'll never really know the history of all of them. BUT Young has briefly mentioned that she's been getting a ton of requests for Saint's story, so maybe we'll see more of him and Isolde in the future (keeping my fingers crossed for this).

Overall, this book was everything I was hoping for in the sequel to Fable. New characters introduced, relationships are tested, and character storylines are well resolved. I'd highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who loves young adult fantasy, who enjoyed Fable and wants to know what happens next, or those who are looking to try YA fantasy for the first time.

Thanks to a fellow booknerd who told me this book was available as a direct-read on NetGalley I got my hands on it straightaway.

I had just bought Fable so obviously had to read that one first. And where I wrote in my review on the first book that it started off a bit slow and then rushed towards the end and left me wanting more, Namesake dives right in and picks up where things were left in Fable.

The pace is quick, the excitement is real and I absolutely love Fable and the world she lives in.
A lot of characters from the first book reappear in the second one.

However much I love the world Adrienne Young has built, and how much I like Fable... to me it wasn't clear what the plot was and where the story was going. It sometimes felt a bit like there were way more ideas/stories to be told but were either edited out or just not written.

This is a book that makes you think about what you would do for family, bloodbound or chosen. Which I really liked.
There is romance, but I just didn't get West. I couldn't connect to him at all, couldn't pin point what he was all about.

All in all I really liked this duology but in a way I hope there will be some side stories about some of the other characters to maybe get a little bit more of a complete story feel.

Adrienne young does it again. The second of the Fable duology is riveting. Adriennes story telling ability is out of this world. You truly feel like you’re in the world she’s created. Fable is one of the most amazing characters I’ve read. She’s truly experienced hard knocks and refuses to fall. You won’t be able to put this book down! This book takes place directly after the first book titled Fable. It is a quick read and honestly I couldn’t put it down. I started it and felt the fast pace of the open sea immediately. Adrienne absolutely didn’t let us down with this duology.

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.
*****^
eARC provides by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Fable and the crew of the Marigold are back and setting out on another high seas adventure full of wild twists and turns and dark secrets, and discover that family is sometimes not what it seems.

This book picks up right where it’s predecessor left off, with the shocking revelation that Clove, Fable’s father’s crew member is not only alive, but working for an enemy crew. This betrayal right from go starts the book by setting those emotional hooks in deep.

*And in the time it took to draw a single breath, it was all torn away.*

The further into the story Fable gets, the more loyalties are tested and stressed. While everyone’s intentions seemed clear from the start, their motivations are just a bit murky. With so many characters playing so many roles, it’s never truly clear who is the bad guy.

*Helmsman. Dredger. Trader. Orphan. Father. Daughter.*

The character development that started in the first book really shined throughout Namesake. Our main cast from the first book, including Fable and West, is back, but many take a step to the side for some new stars. We meet Holland, who has a questionable relationship to Fable, and she quickly steals the stage- not always in a good way. Saint is back, and he is much more of an open book. Some side characters from the first book also make appearances and are truly memorable too.

*It doesn’t matter what happens.” His hands tightened on me. “You and me.”*

The romance in this book is much more understated but, when it has its moments, it pays off. Fable rapidly learns that West isn’t 100% what he seems, and she has to grapple with that and figure out how to love him in spite of that. It is so relatable and at some point everyone has to figure out how to love, not just in fantasy books.

This book also deals with love on a family level. Fable and Saint have really moved forward in their relationship, and even though Fable hasn’t ever truly been embraced as Saint’s daughter, there is a lot of discussion on how to love and be loved, and what you will do for your parents. It’s such a huge plot point and it was so refreshing to read a story motivated by familial love.

*I leaned back into the bench, looking at the maps. “Seven days, twelve reefs, one gem.”*

The plot is a bit convoluted in this book. What really is Fable’s goal? I loved so much that it wasn’t ever truly clear, because it allowed readers more of a glimpse into Fable’s head. While she was looking for gems, and really showcasing her gem sage talents, gems weren’t the true motivator in this story. Her family, both biological and found, were her motivator. While this lead the story down many different paths, and often jumped around, it paralleled how messy most relationships and life am truly are.

While I did have some minor issues in this book- mostly with the logistics of dredging gems and sailing and how quickly people recovered from injury- the story line and character development significantly outweighed any qualms I had. I would highly recommend both Fable and Namesake to any lovers of YA romance, fantasy, and adventure.

*quotes taken from eARC and are subject to change prior to publication.

finished Namesake (sequel to the amazing Fable) and I have so many emotions. I set down my phone after finishing and I felt full and empty simultaneously. Adrienne Young has such a way with building a concise world that you fall so deeply into it. The characters and the setting are so immersive that you forget that they only exist in the mind. The plot moves quickly, creating the necessary excitement to be unable to put it down

“We were salt and sand and sea and storm. We were made in the Narrows.”

Picking up where Fable left off, Namesake tells Fable’s story after being captured by Zola. Forced to work with Zola and her father’s former helmsman, Clove, Fable is forced to dredge for gems until she finds a way to get back to the Marigold. As the story progresses, however, we learn that Fable’s journey back to the narrows is not as easy as it seems. Once in Bastian, Fable uncovers secrets about her mother; secrets that put everyone Fable cares about at risk. Unlike the first book in this duology, Namesake hooked me from the very beginning, but I know this is solely because of the cliffhanger ending that Fable had.

As the truth of Fable’s captivity unfolds, readers will be on the edge of their seat as they await to know how the story will end. Young does an amazing job of providing an emotionally intense, suspenseful story that will make it hard for readers to put down the book. This story revolves around our strong female character, Fable, as she tries to find her way back to the crew that has become her family. Unlike Fable, this story brings you deeper into Fable’s relationship with her father as she is tasked with making difficult decisions. Readers will also enjoy learning more about Fable’s mother and how her mother’s decisions affect Fable’s quest.

Young uses a compelling writing style to capture her audience's attention as she tells an action-packed, emotionally intense story of Fable. The story takes place in a world centered around the Narrows and the Unnamed sea. Of course, while Bastian is a major part of the setting, it is the sea and the Marigold that remain of key importance throughout the story. The water holds many tales for Fable, and it is a big aspect of her life. All in all, I think Young did an amazing job of setting up Fable’s quest to return to the Marigold and her determination to protect those she loves. Young also does an excellent job of giving us a happy ending for Fable that we don’t feel was rushed or unnatural.

My rating: ★★★

Namesake begins immediately after the events from the end of Fable. Adrienne Young is very good at pace and this one proved that. However, it was missing something that Fable had. I can't quite put my finger on it but I just wasn't as invested in this story. There were lot's of twists that I didn't see coming but it wasn't enough.

This story follows the theme of family. But, instead of seeing more of Fable's found family, we spend a lot of time looking at her relationships with her biological family.

My favourite part about this story was that the world is expanded and we meet more characters. But, my least favourite was the main love story. The reader is expected to believe this overwhelming love between Fable and West who honestly barely interact. Also, I can't express enough how much I loathe male characters who feel like they need to save the girl. But really they are just making situations worse and some pretty stupid decisions- this is exactly what West does constantly through this book. I just don't believe their feelings for each other. I think it would have been better if this book explored their developing feelings for each other that they have realised when Fable was kidnapped at the end of the first book.

The plot is a bit odd. They spend a good chunk of the book completing useless tasks that the characters actually comment on them being useless and a waste of time. It was confusing.

However, Adrienne is a very good writer and can tell a story. This book isn't bad, it just didn't have what the first one did.