Saint is a compelling addition to Adrienne Young's body of work that successfully expands on existing lore while introducing new elements that resonate with readers. It balances romance and personal growth against a backdrop of adventure in a richly imagined world. Fans of Young’s previous books will likely appreciate this prequel for its emotional stakes and character development.

Honestly, if Adrienne Young writes it, its immediately on my TBR. I adore her writing style and will always be patiently waiting for her next story to dive into.

I unfortunately did not finish the audiobook version of this book due to a few issues that made it hard to stay engaged. The editing felt a bit off, with awkward phrasing and sometimes unclear dialogue that made it difficult to follow. The flow of the story was also uneven; there were moments when the pacing dragged, and the transitions between scenes felt jarring, which affected the overall listening experience. Additionally, I struggled with the character development. The characters didn’t feel fleshed out, and I had trouble connecting with their motivations, making it hard to stay interested in their journey. While the premise was intriguing, the audiobook version didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Ooh, loved this prequel! The characters had such amazing banter and chemistry. I really think people who liked the main series would love this!

Saint completely captured the hearts of readers in the Fable duology and I’m so thrilled he and Isolde received their own book! Before he was known as Saint, he was simply Elias. Elias and his helmsman Clove are young Narrows-born traders whose goal is to become licensed to trade. Isolde is Holland’s daughter, who grieved the day her father was lost at sea but never suspected foul play. Until one day, she learns the truth and strikes out from Holland to find safety in the Narrows. Isolde and Elias must work together to avoid vengeful captains, dangerous storms, and the long reach of Holland.

Since it was announced, I have been eagerly awaiting Saint and it did not disappoint!! I listened to the entire thing in a day, unable to tear myself away from this much-anticipated return to the Narrows. I love the Fable duology, the Last Legacy, Tides, and Adrienne Young in general! Both audiobook narrators were excellent and they expertly personified Isolde and Saint.

Saint and Isolde are as inevitable as the sea crashing upon the shore. I was captivated by the adventurous beginning to their story. Saint provides a fascinating glimpse into the boy behind the man who would become one of the most influential players in the Narrows. He goes through so much character growth that is truly evident from reading Saint. And of course, we finally get to meet Isolde!! She is a fierce dredger, unwilling to let her fate be decided by others. Isolde has so much bravery and knowledge that helps her navigate the dangers of the sea. I see aspects of them both in Fable. For readers who know the end, there is definitely a touch of bittersweet melancholy woven through the pages.

Adrienne Young’s writing is always immersive, plunging into the dark depths with Isolde and sailing the ship through violent storms with Saint. Every sense is described, along with witty dialogue, and clever plot twists. As much as I couldn’t look away from the fated love of Isolde and Saint, I also loved the side characters! I really enjoyed learning more about Clove in this book and am curious if we’ve seen the last of some of these characters. Adrienne Young wrote in some beautiful connections that readers who have read the duology will love, though Saint can be read as a standalone. I hope there are more tales from the Narrows to come! In the meantime, time for a reread of Saint…

This is my favorite story of the Narrows so far! It's not that I don't like Fable as a character, but I really loved learning about Saint and Isolde. And that ending of who Saint is asked to look out after was a great way to tie everything together.

It would be great to get another book in this world with more Saint and Isolde adventures.

I loved Ell Potter's performance; but for me, Will Damron didn't sound like what I had pictured Saint to sound like when reading Fable's story. You may like it. The one thing I didn't like about the audiobook is that they pronounced Isolde's name differently than how her name is pronounced in the Fable and Namesake audiobooks.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Macmillan Young Listeners in exchange for an honest review.

The book was well narrated. I didn't read the three books before that one. The story about is daughter, but I could still perfectly understand the story. Sometimes I do prefer to know the origin story of the character before reading is history.

I think that everything was a good portion of adventure et storyline without one or the others making the others one, being too much. They have a love story a little bit toxic, but on both side. I may want to know the follow up of this story!

Beautiful addition to the Fable world! I absolutely ADORED Saints Story and it’s one I’ve revisited again and again!

The Audio Performance on this one is Top Tier! I love the way the narrator really drew you into the story and then held you captivated!

Highly recommend!

Absolutely do not understand why this series is not more talked about and more popular. Saint is everything you want him to be. As a prequel, this is simply perfect!

Saint is a book full of adventure, that will have you in thrall to find out what will happen next. Dangerous and harrowing, the spell of the sea and the story of Saint’s crew and his journey to become a young captain of his own ship, is engaging. This is one of my favorite series. The narrator is superb. I highly recommend Fable and Namesake as well.

Absolutely incredible. All I can say is— I want more!!!!! I love Saint and everything about this story.

I absolutely loved the world building involved in this and the MMC was truly phenomenal. I swooned so hard, especially with the fantastic narration. I’m not usually one to read pirate books but Adrienne Young hit it out of the park with this one. The story was fantastic and whimsical and made me long for the sea and the magic of this world.

SAINT is a riveting and consuming YA fantasy, written as a prequel to FABLE and NAMESAKE. The story takes the reader to Saint and Isolde, telling the story of how they met in alternating perspectives. Isolde is the daughter of Holland, a wealthy gem magnate whose relationships are all about utility. After her father's death, Isolde knows she needs to escape her mother, no easy feat considering her far reach. She plans to hitch a ride on a ship to the Narrows, working as a dredger. She finds someone who makes the connection, using the fake name Eryss and signing a contract. However, she is soon to learn that the ride she thought she was getting comes with dangerous strings.

Saint has plans for the Narrows, and he wants to obtain a trading license, something that seems illusive and requires skirting the rules. He sails with his close friend and confidante, Clover, and they are closer than they have ever been to achieving what they have been working towards - and then they meet Isolde. As things get more complicated, Saint's carefully laid plans will need to change, potentially putting everything he he has worked for in jeopardy.

What I loved: The writing pulls the reader in immediately and keeps the pages turning quickly. The alternating perspectives immerse the reader in Saint and Isolde's stories. While the title and synopsis suggest that the story focuses on Saint, this story really felt like Isolde's. Isolde is learning about the broader world, the truth of her mother and her reach, and what she wants for her own future. She is clever, bold, and learning quickly. While her main goal has been to escape her mother's reach, she is redefining what that means for her and her own future. This path is complex and composed of small decisions, but Isolde begins to reach further and reconsider what her longer-term paths may include.

Saint has complex morality with rules mostly being flexible but some feeling sacred. His life was forever changed by his father's death and the responsibility he feels for it and the people close to him. He is shrewd in business and seems very regimented, but the reader also uncovers his passion for the people he cares about and for a feeling of justice. The Narrows are his, and he is determined to improve them, as well as his and Clover's own prospects.

While this seemed like an origin story for the person who was partially the villain in the original books, it's so much more than that, breathing life into these characters who seemed larger than life in Fable's story. This is really the start of a great love, self-discovery, and the plots that created the legend. This was a really quick and highly consuming read in part for the themes around poverty, morality, corruption, human trafficking, found family, and the way love changes everything.

Final verdict: With compelling characters and consuming prose, SAINT is a thrilling, can't-miss YA fantasy. Highly recommend picking up this enthralling read.

My app updated and I lost all my audiobooks. I was unable to download it again so I missed out on listening to this book. It was archived soon after I requested it. I have yet to be disappointed by Adrienne Young, so would expect this to be the same.

I love the world of Fable and Saint was one of my favorite characters. I’m so glad we got to see his backstory in a full novel. I loved this book. The narrators were perfect and the secrets uncovered were top notch. I need there to be more books in this world because I love it so much and I’m not ready to say goodbye.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed this audiobook! It was incredible to have another story set in the narrows and to learn more about Fable’s parents. The love story is beautiful and my only complaint was that I wished it was longer!

It was so great to be back in the world of the Narrows. While I like Fable and Namesake more, I really enjoyed seeing the backstory for many of the things that happen in those books.

4.5 Stars: Saint is the prequel to Fable and is the story of her father. This is the story of Elias, a young man who is on the verge of getting everything his father ever wanted for him, a ship, a crew, and a license for trading. That's when he crosses paths with a young female dredger who is more than she seems. Isolde is incognito, as she has escaped from her mother's home and wants to get her own life. Saint rescues her from a trader who wants to sell her to the highest bidder. This causes complications and he will have to decide if he wants to save her, or get all that his father wanted for him.

I really enjoyed the Fable series and looked forward to learning about Saint's past and how he came to meet Isolde. This was a great story, it really gave life to the mysterious Saint and I really loved learning about Saint's past as well as Isolde's. The plot alternates between Saint and Isodle's perspectives. The story is thrilling, fast-paced and full of adventure. There were times I was on the edge of my seat, and others where I was thrilled about the action. The narration of the audiobook by Ellen Potter and Will Damron was amazing and had me feeling that I was right there. My one complaint is that this story ends and there is still a gap for me before Fable starts, but I guess that just means I have to use my imagination to fill this in. If you enjoyed Fable, then I recommend you pick this one up. If you enjoy fantasy and romance, I also recommend Saint, I don't think you will be disappointed.

4.5 stars - This was a great addition to the series Fable series I loved so much. The storytelling was amazing as always. The narration of the audiobook was really well done. Very easy to get into and I couldn’t put it down. If you liked the Fable series, definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a free advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely LOVE Fable and Namesake, so was super excited to read Saint. I loved reading about his story and can't wait for more! If you loved the other books, you'll absolutely LOVE this one!