I had trouble reading this book; however, the audio really brought it to life for me. So much in fact, that I retract my original review. This was engaging and gave critical backstory to Fable. I throughly enjoyed this telling.

Started: November 28, 2022 - Finished: December 5, 2022

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Favorite Quotes:

“I wasn't just going to set fire to everything she’d built. I was going to throw her into the flames too”

“I’ve given my life to the sea. She will never betray me.”

“He wasn't just afraid of losing everything he’d worked for. He was the Narrows. And if it died, he would too”

“The feeling that we were only the beginning of a story that would be told long after we were gone.”

“This time when I held her, it felt different. Not like before, when I was trying to keep her from slipping away. Now, she was the shore. A place to come back to. And I didn’t know if it was the sea that had given her to me or if she was a fate of my own making. There was a part of me that didn’t care.”


Review:

I loved this book so much! I loved getting a look into Saint and his story and how he knew Clove and others. I loved seeing Isolde’s story and how she met Saint and it wasn't a surprise that her story cemented my hatred for Holland. I loved seeing how the Narrows got its start in trading more. I loved how we got to see familiar characters and meet new ones. I loved learning more about how things were run. And what it took for them to get licenses and how it could be hard. It was interesting how some would trade gem sages and how Isolde got roped into it with Zola. I loved seeing how Saint became who he is in Fable and Namesake, from where he began. I loved getting a look into how Henrik got started as well. I thought learning how things with Saint and Zola’s rivalry and hatred got started was interesting. I knew this book would have betrayals and secrets and it didnt disappoint in that. So many secrets. I loved that Isolde had left her mother and stole the midnight in an act of defiance and also as revenge for what Holland did to her father. I loved meeting Emilia and Hazel. And loved that Emilia was working with Saint. I still hate Simon so much. And the fact that he was helping trade gem sages pissed me off. I loved learning the superstitions Saint and Clove believed in and why they do it. I loved how Saint grew to love Isolde, even when at first she caused him issues. I loved how he had Isolde steal back gems from Zola. Nash was an interesting character, who at first I kind of hated but grew to like. I thought the whole scene with the council was interesting and how Saint offered his ship in exchange for Isolde’s contract from the Luna. Though it took Saint also meeting with Oliver Durant, who was dealing in trading gem sages, who sometimes ended up dead. I hated when Lander betrayed Saint and caused the problem. I loved how in the end, Saint and Clove had their license and how Isolde dredged for them and how it was to help the Narrows grow and help it gain footing against the Unnamed Sea. I loved this book and seeing how the story began. I was so shocked to learn, finally after wondering, who West’s father was and I couldn't believe it was Henrik. This book had so many great parts and Adrienne has never disappointed me with any of the books I have read so far and I was so excited for Saint’s story and it was so wonderful.

Saint a young, ruthless helmsman of a rickety, dilapidated ship is trying to establish himself as a trader on the cutthroat seas of The Narrows. He is just days away from achieving his goals. Enter Isolde. She is running from the control of her powerful mother. She stumbles across Saint’s path disrupting his carefully laid plans.

This is the prequel to the Fable books and lays the foundation for her story.

I adore these books. They are full of adventure, intrigue, and set on the rough but beautiful sea. They make me miss the ocean. (I’m currently marooned in a landlocked state plotting my own return to the sea.)

The audiobook book has fantastic narration as well.

I haunted the Netgalley website for MONTHS hoping to get a copy of this. So a big thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for giving me one!

This was incredible. If anyone remotely enjoyed Fable/Namesake this is the perfect prequel. I would say to read those first before this one. It weaves together so well. The writing is spectacular. Just perfection all around! I just want to read it again!!! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an Audio ARC of this title.

Saint captivated me even more than the Fable duology. Saint was such an endearing character that even in his flaws was redeemable. The relationship was well developed and even the side characters were well thought out. I thoroughly enjoyed Saint and the narrator drew me in right from the beginning.

I love this book. It was so freakin good, oh my god. The whole series of Saint, Fable, and Namesake is so well done it immediately drags you into the story. Going into this book thinking I knew some of the details that Fable and Namesake allude to, I was worried I was going to predict the story... I was very wrong. I just fell in love with this book and the story and the characters. I cannot ever get enough of this series, and I will always want more. I also cannot recommend this series enough.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this audiobook. 5 stars! I loved it. I didn’t think we could top Fable’s story after the first 2 books. But Adrienne Young is doing her thang! You learn how Saint and Isolde’s paths cross. What binds them together and how the adventure to the narrows begins. The chemistry between the characters are electric. Nothing overly sexualized or complex. Just an immediate spark from the start. This prequel is 100% solid. I am already chomping at the bits for part two of this storyline.

3.5⭐

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I absolutely loved the Fable duet and couldn't wait to get another book in this world and series. Especially following Saint who was such a mysterious character in the original series.

This one took me quite awhile to get on board with. It starts off quite slow and actually doesn't have much of a driving plot throughout. While I love a slow, character driven stories with atmospheric settings, this one felt like it was missing something at times.

I'm not sure if it's because the romance didn't get the focus or time I was hoping for what. But that spark was missing for me.

Once the romance was FINALLY happening, I became more invested. Unfortunately that happened quite late in the book.

I found the journey to be interesting, but it just wasn't quite the story I was hoping for. I wanted more of them together building their empire, rather than the lead up to that time.

However, where this leads off does leave an opening for addition stories. So I have my fingers crossed that Adrienne Young gives us more Saint and Isolde content.

First of all, thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan for the last minute approval!

I really enjoy the narrators of Adrienne Youngs novels. I think they do a very good job telling the story and portraying the emotions of the novel. The novel however, fell kind of flat. I don't feel like there is much substance. There wasn't as much adventure as there could be in a story like this. It just feels like a filler story. I understand it's Saints backstory but it doesn't really do much. It expanded on everything learned in Fable and Namesake but it didn't really do anything. It didn't explain anything we didn't already know. It didn't help justify why Saint is who he is. It's a love story of two lost souls but not really a good one.

Fable and Namesake were two of my favorite reads over the past couple years. But if there was ever a character I wanted to know more about, it was Saint, Fable’s father. This book was worth the wait.

My first impression of Saint wasn’t good in Fable. He’d just lost his wife, and he abandons their teenage daughter on an island filled with thieves and little food. The guy certainly wasn’t in the running for a Parent of the Year award. Eventually the reader learns that Saint never does anything without reason, and his moves are strategic. Pieces are revealed about his life with wife Isolde, but this prequel fills in the gaps and answers many questions I had about both characters. It starts at the beginning of their epic love story.

All I knew of Isolde was from Fable’s memories of her, so I loved meeting the actual character. She’s a privileged wealthy girl who’s on the run from her gem dealer mother, Holland – and with good reason. Love isn’t the driving force behind her mother’s search for her. Holland’s only interested in how Isolde (a dredger and gem sage) can increase her wealth. Isolde is brave and spirited, but also a little naive on her own in the real world. Believing she’s found a way to disappear, she soon learns she was deceived and is about to be sold to a trader.

Saint is on the verge of finally receiving his trader’s license and fulfilling his father’s dream for him. He wants to help the Narrows by pushing back again the wealthy traders in the Unnamed Sea and certainly doesn’t need the distraction of a beautiful girl – no matter how much he’s attracted to her. When Isolde takes refuge on his ship, he’s determined to help her keep her freedom. Primarily cold and calculating in the Fable books, meeting Saint before Isolde’s death really humanizes him and explains his demeanor.

The action sequences are nail-biters, and the scenes on the high sea are so vivid I could almost smell the salt air. I was delighted at the mention of West (a character in the other books) near the end. My ARC was an audiobook, and the narrators did an excellent job. If you’ve read the Fable series, don’t miss this prequel. But I recommend reading those books first.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Adrienne has that magical ability to sweep the ground out from under your feet & wisk you away to a new world. Or if the case of Saint(prequel), a familiar, well loved world. I felt like this was the perfect conclusion to this series of books. I would recommend reading them in the order they were released.

Fable > Namesake > The Last Legacy > Saint

All of the knowledge of what's to come play into Saint and will put a smile on your face.

In classic Adrienne Young fashion Saint was gorgeous, immersive, and just everything I wanted it to be.

I was thrilled when this book was announced. One, because I will ALWAYS be thrilled to go back to The Narrows. And two, because Fable and Namesake left me desperately wanting to understand Saint better. This chance to learn more of his back story and the things that shaped him were exactly what I wanted. What I didn’t realize I needed was Isolde’s perspective but, oh my goodness, was I glad to have it. And oh boy do I want more 😂

I think the most beautiful thing about the whole book and their stories was the way that Young tied in whispers of Fable’s story. I loved catching the tiny similarities and thought it was such a gorgeous, quiet way to tie the books together.

I was lucky enough to receive an advance listening copy and thought it was a really enjoyable way to read it! I can’t wait to do a reread with my physical copy because I just know I will catch even more lovely , little things that Young left hidden throughout 🖤

Content: romance is just kisses, a small amount of mild language, some violence.

With prequels I get nervous that the book won't add to the story or be worth my time because I already know what's next. With Saint this was not a problem whatsoever. I love me a good morally gray character IF I understand their why. This is exactly what Saint gave me. It showed me a young Elias as he was trying to make his way. I also loved getting Isodle's history and the chemistry between her and Saint.
The atmosphere was what I've come to know and love with the other World of the Narrows books. The atmosphere combined with the characters made this a book I could not quit and ended up listening to in its entirety in one day and basically one continuous "sitting". The narration is well done and gives life and personality to each character.

4.5 stars rounded up

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fable and Namesake were some of my favorite reads this year, and I was so excited when I saw that Adrienne Young was releasing a book about Saint! I absolutely loved learning more about Saint and Isolde’s backstory. I was transported back to the Narrows and I loved every second of it.

If I have any complaint it’s just that it wasn’t long enough. I want more! I want to live with these characters, I love them so much!

4.5/5 Stars 🌟

4.5 stars, rounded up. Adrienne Young is absolutely brilliant at writing sweeping, beautiful descriptions. It was absolutely divine reading more of Saint and Isolde's history. The narrators for this were spot on and really brought the story to life. The only thing I wished for out of this is more action!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for my alc of this book. All opinions here are my own.

I loved Fable and Namesake. I was overjoyed to hear that we were going to get a prequel starring Saint!

The characters, Saint and Isolde, were introduced in her other books. However, in this book we get to see how they meet and what draws them together. We received so much history surrounding the characters and their world.

If you enjoyed Fable and Namesake, you will love Saint!

Saint is the prequel to Fable and Namesake and I think I liked this one even more!

I really enjoyed the backstory of Saint and how he turned into what he did. I liked his character arc and the plot moved pretty smoothly.

My one complaint with this author is she spends way too much time focused on how her characters are breathing and telling us about it.

Have you read Fable yet? If so, this book is going to be everything you’ve hoped for and more. Holy moly! It was incredible. And the audio?! It was impossible to put down. Er, press pause.
Saint and Isolde’s story is so captivating. Their fight to get away from their past lives and make something new of themselves. And their connection. Wow wow wooow. This isn’t a story I want to spoil for anyone, but know it is 1000% what we have all be wanting from the moment we read Fable. Saint has an incredibly deep back story and it gave me a whole new insight into his life.
Now excuse me as I go reread Fable and Namesake with this new knowledge. It completely changed my outlook on Saint and Isolde. I love them!!!
This book is a prequel to Fable, but can be read at any point.

Content: clean
Romance: kissing, closed door
Violence: mild; not gruesome
Language: none

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

I loved the narrators for this audiobook production! Saint's voice was perfect and I could listen to it all day. I really enjoyed getting both Saint's and Isolde's POV and that we had separate voice actors for both. This story will land well for fans of Young's Fable series. Most of us have been intrigued with Saint since book 1, and to get this flashback of how he and Isolde met was nostalgic. However, if you aren't a Fable die hard - I'm not sure you will love this prequel. I didn't find anything overly surprising, since readers familiar with the series will already know how many of the events turn out. Isolde's voice to me felt very similar to Fables, but Saint's is what saved the day - and I doubt anyone will be surprised by this. Though there weren't substantial character arcs or shocking twists, I very much enjoyed being back in the Fable world and will love Saint forever. I would be interested to hear from a reader who isn't familiar with the story and what their take would be starting with Saint as the first book.

I really enjoyed this! Saint is my favorite, and I would honestly read so many books from his POV alone.

I will say at I want a huge fan of Isolde's POV, and I found myself often skimming her chapters.