I really enjoyed this. Adrienne Young's writing always seems simple on the surface but then immediately draws me in and I remain hooked throughout the story.

I loved Fable and Namesake, so I was excited to read Saint. I wasn't sure about it at first, because he and Isolde are hard characters to get to know. They keep everything so close to the chest and are very wary about trusting anyone. As the story progressed, however, they began to let down their guard little by little and I cared about them a lot before I even realized it.

The romance was the sort where they're instantly attracted to one another but fight it, which isn't my favorite trope but I think in this case it worked well. For Saint his attraction to Isolde is almost like his mystical rituals about the sea. For Isolde it's like the Midnight. Like it's bigger than the two of them and they can't understand it or change it but just ride it out.

The story moved along at a good clip and there was plenty of action to keep me riveted. I loved that it was set either out on the sea or at various ports. Those are my favorite sort of books.

The side characters were great as well. They all felt real, as did the setting, like I could walk into those ports and those people would be there, exactly as described.

The story also managed to feel very new and yet end in a place that perfectly set up Fable and Namesake. It left a good span of years between the end and the start of Fable, but it arranged the playing pieces in such a way that I could see how they were lining up and how they would fall.

I will definitely be seeking out more of Adrienne Young's books when they are published.

The audiobook narrators were excellent as well. I enjoyed their voices and the character voices they chose. It definitely helped bring the story to life.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an audio arc for review.

Saint by Adrienne Young is a prequel to the fantastic Fable duology. It follows the parents of Fable, Saint and Isolde as young people making their way in the world. What an addition to the series it is! I will spend as much time in the Narrows as Adrienne Young allows. This world feels authentic, fleshed out, and wonderfully interesting. In this rich setting, she places complex and motivated main characters. Saint was an intriguing character in the original duology, successful but mysterious. Here we get time with him and understand what it took for him to become the man who left Fable on that island.

This story is a much read for fans of the Fable duology! I could not put it down!

Audiobook details- excellent male and female narrators, one for each of the main characters. The story is performed in an enjoyable way!

Thank you to NetGalley, Adrienne Young, and the publisher for allowing me the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for the audiobook in return for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
Adrienne Young is officially my auto-author. I’ve read Fable, Namesake, and Spells for Forgetting. Getting approved for this audiobook was icing on the cake. I finished it in a day.

Dual POVs, intense plot, absolutely adored the love story. It was a slow burn but worth the wait. No spice here. Ell Potter did a marvelous job narrating as Isolde and as much as I love her English accent, I had to speed it up a bit. Will Damron as Saint was great as well.

Saint was not the cruel father I remembered in Fable & Namesake. I am in love with this version. Isolde was brave, smart, and very observant. The epilogue made me teary eyed. I love how they incorporated West at the end.

I received an audio copy of SAINT by Adrienne Young for review. This book is a prequel to Fable and Namesake and is about Fable’s father, Saint, and how he met her mother, Isolde, and how he became a legendary trader. I love this story so much. It brought more details to Fable’s family background. I love the characters, the struggles, the complex relationships, and the love story. If you have read Fable and Namesake, this one is a must read. It is my fav in the series.

Saint is the backstory of the famous gem-trader Saint from the Fable Duology by the same author, Adrienne Young, We follow him as he is about to get his first ship and crew, but before he can, a mysterious girl from the Unnamed Sea with several secrets crosses his path. The greater the pull he feels toward her, the farther he drifts from the things he’s spent the last three years working for. And he has seen firsthand how jealous the sea can be . . .

So, I liked Fable and Namesake, but I wasn't over-the-moon crazy about them. I liked the worldbuilding, the atmospheric experience of reading them, Fable herself, and the darker aspects (what kind of father abandons his 14 year old on an island where it's "dive & hide to survive!?!"). But overall, I found them a little . . . lacking? Not a lot happens? I didn't come away feeling anything, really?

But then Saint came along, and I was like, "hmmmmm, I can get behind a prequel here, cause Saint surely has a lot of backstory and surely a lot of stuff has to happen?"

No, stuff doesn't really happen. At least, not for the first 60-70% of the book.

And I know what you're thinking - "But Grace, you like other books which have plots arguably just as slow?" And I would sit you down and say, "My young padawan, here's why Saint is different for me . . . "

Basically, Saint is slow plot-wise, but then it doesn't really culminate in much. I really enjoyed the excitement at the end, but it's basically things we already know happened, or could have guessed, based on what we know from the Fable Duology.

And, beyond that, the story feels like a cool, passing wind. It's fun and atmospheric and enjoyable, but once you're done, you kind of just forget it. There's nothing really memorable about the story (and I don't mean that in a harsh way). It's not one of those stories that really stuck with me, but I felt the potential for it to be that way, and so that was a little frustrating.

Plus, I personally find prequels to be really difficult to read. It feels like the author is limited by what they wrote beforehand, and that squashes some of the fun twists or movements they could have done (because usually they aren't thinking about a prequel when they write the original series).

There was one really surprising thing in Saint, which I think was a nice touch, but it's tiny and at the end.

And as a not-so-positive surprising thing, the insta-love was disappointing to me. I guess I assumed someone like Saint would begrudgingly give his heart away?

I know this has already been a long review and it probably feels kind of negative for a 4 star review. So, let's talk about the good things really quickly:

* We experience the atmosphere of the world again (which is top-notch, btw)
* We get to see Saint's ruthless side a little
* We learn why Isolde left her mom (which really sets up Fable's story and impact later)
* We spend more time on land (vs sea), so we learn more about the cities
* We see how Saint started to become revered/respected.

I enjoyed the story, and I really liked the small snippets we get to see of Isolde's thoughts about her mother that set the stage for Fable's actions later, but I just wish the whole book would have been more like the last 30%.

4 stars because I think it was well-done and a great step back into the Unnamed Sea & the Narrows!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved Fable so to go back into the world of the Narrow Seas, I was IN! This book is set as a "prequel" to Fable/Namesake but it an entirely separate plot line to it. It's been a couple of years since I read Fable/Namesake so I sort of forgot what happened between those. Not that I think you needed to know...it would've been nice to see if there were any loose connections between the two. Especially one of the names brought up towards the end.

This book is dual POV, which i'm always a fan of! The audio had a narrator for each POV, which I'm equally a fan of! I love it when those little details are honored with multiple POV books!

Overall, I thought the book was good. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as Fable/Namesake but it was still fun to go back to the Narrow Seas for a little bit. There wasn't as big of an exciting build up in the plot.

3.5/5 stars

If you loved sailing the seas and exploring the Narrow with Fable, you will love this prequel. The story follows Saint and Isolde as they first meet. The book flips between both of their POVs perfectly. I loved being able to hear their thoughts and seeing how they compared to the other's.

I enjoyed the duology of Fable and Namesake so I was nervous that this wouldn't live up. I was wrong, I might even like this one best of all.

Before he was only known as Saint, he was Elias. A boy making a name for himself against all odds. It was really cool to dive back into a world that I really enjoyed but in a different timeframe. This book made me want to go back and re-read Fable and Namesake.

As always, the narration was incredible. I loved how they have a different narrator for Saint's chapters and a second for Isolde. It made it super engaging and clear to understand exactly who was talking. Great job Ell Potter and Will Damron.


Thank you Macmillan Audio, Adrienne Young, and NetGalley for this review ALC.

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 was extremely lucky to receive an advanced listener copy. 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…

Thank you SO much to Adrienne Young, Macmillan Audio, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free advanced listener’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I finished Fable, I knew I needed a book about Saint! And it appears I wasn't the only one who needed this prequel.
I loved being back in the narrow and learning more about Saint and Isolde. If you loved Fable and Namesake, this is a must read!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing an arc for an honest review.

Adrienne Young does it again! I am obsessed! I loved the Fable duology and when I heard Saint was getting a book I was beyond excited! And oh my goodness did it deliver! The narrators were amazing and brought all of the characters to life, not just Isolde and Saint. You get a better idea of who Saint was before the events of the Fable duology and boy does it just crack open your chest and snatch your heart. I loved that there was a hint of melancholy to the whole book, almost a sense of dread especially if you know what is coming. I especially liked the way that Young describes Saint's love and respect for the seas and how that shapes him as a Helmsman and person. You get this amazing brutal but loving character who has this vision for the world he loves and how Isolde fits perfectly and helps him begin to realize that dream. As always the world building was beautiful and I truly felt as if I was there. I loved the tie-ins to Fable and Namesake and I almost cried when the Lark came into being. Absolutely amazing! I will be recommending this to everyone!

Saint by Adrienne Young

First, let me just say, I love how well it tied into all the other books! It transported me right back to the Narrows and had so many fun cameos from past characters. This was the prequel I was hoping for! I might honestly love it more than all the other books, it’s just so magical.

The audiobook is amazing. The narrators are phenomenal. I could listen to them talking about potatoes and still be enthralled.

If you haven’t read Fable yet, maybe stop reading the review here, just in case.

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I loved reading about how Saint got started, the things that shaped him from his childhood, and of course falling in love. It was interesting to see the world before Saint had his hold on it. I also find it incredible how endearing he became to me after reading this because I was not a fan beforehand.

Content: violence, death of a parent, kissing

It’s just an okay book for me. The storyline is interesting but the characters feels flat and I just can’t really care about them.

This book explores Saint’s beginnings before he was even legit and how he and Isolde met and fell in love.

Yet again Adrienne Young has given us a beautiful, mystical world to escape into, with characters that are as vibrant as the gems they find, and worlds that seem both wondrous and terrifying.

Growing up paying for something that was a tragedy Elias (Saint) does all he can to make things right, to move on with his life and become the man he wants to be, working hard every day to be able to fulfill what his father would have wanted.

Making deals and trades, pressing through whatever life throws his way, Saint is finally where he wants to be, and then Isolde shows up and throws a wrench into literally everything.

Escaping from a mother who was ready to sacrifice her she had no other choice than to do what she did, if only she could have seen how her decisions would have a ripple effect, I wonder if she would have made different choices but I don't think it would have made a difference in the end.

There are fabulous narrators on this audiobook, Ell Potter and Will Damron are fantastic and I was drawn in by the dual point of view storytelling. The ability to give each character a unique voice and a steady pace both of these narrators are going to the top of my favorites list.

Overall I loved this book, it was mesmerizing and I couldn't turn it off once I started it. Another amazing escape from reality written by Adrienne Young that I will be listening to again when I have my Fable reread weekend in the fall.

Welcome back to the Narrows my sweet bookish friends.

We've been waiting.

It was worth it.

I am so happy to be back.

I have said this about eight billion times and I won't stop. Adrienne Young's writing drops you into her imaginative worlds and you never want to leave.

Yes, I binged this audiobook in three days.

I loved being back in the Narrows. I loved being able to see Saint's origin story through his eyes. Reading this story felt like nostalgia. It's imagery and settings are stunning. There is an endless amounts of adventure. Surprises that will make your heart soar. It's everything that we love about this world.

For me it was listening to the forward. I was instantly sucked in. I genuinely felt surprised and excited to hear their voice at the beginning of Saint.

I will one hundred percent be doing a re-read when I get my physical copy on pub date. It was that magical.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the advanced listener copy of Saint. I nearly screamed when I got approved for this audiobook. I can't say how appreciative I am for being given the chance to read this book early.

Adrienne Young's latest fantasy is available for everyone next Tuesday, November 29th.

I can't wait for you all to come back to the Narrows with me.

Excellent prequel to the two other titles in the series that provides the backstory for Fable's parents. There wasn't as much worldbuilding as in the other titles, and the focus was more on relationships than adventure.

I rushed through reading Fable and Namesake before I read this, but I actually think I should've just read this first as it is a prequel.

Excellent audio narration. I particularly liked the female reader, whose voice was always full of emotion.

Thank you Netgalley for sending me an audiobook arc!

When I tell you I screamed when I got the email that this book was sent to me. Being in this world again was so much fun! I adored Fable and Namesake and could not wait to get my hands on a copy of Saint. This book is really for those who love Fable and Namesake, and just want the tinniest bit more of this world, because honestly someone who isn't a fan or just liked the books might be a little bored.

That said let's talk about this book... For the most part, I liked it. I really enjoyed the dual POV writing style. If I am remembering correctly Fable was in only one POV... Though I would give Adrienne Young anything she wanted for some West POV.

The characters... I really do like Saint, and I think this younger version of Saint really made sense with the Saint we see in Fable and how he acts around Fable. I really love Isolde. We really don't much about her from Fable's POV, so it was like she was a brand new character that we could learn about.

The one issue I had... It was very insta-love. Honestly, I kinda understand why. You read this after Fable and you already know how their story ends, so there isn't much to guess about when it comes to their relationship. I think that is a common issue for prequels.

I love Adrienne Young's books so maybe I screamed a little when I got approved to listen to this audiobook! This book was engaging from the first chapter and I was hooked! Its paced well and how can you not love Saint and Isolde! They are great, well-rounded characters and their rocky relationship is written so well! I loved it from start to finish! another winner for sure! I loved it and I’d definitely recommend it!
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners &. NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this Audiobook ARC

I ended up falling in love with this book.

When I read Fable, I remember thinking about how badly I wanted to know more about Saint and Isolde. Especially in Namesake, I wanted a book about how Saint came to be this ruthless pirate. This book did not disappoint.

We switch between Isolde's and Saint's points of view every few chapters. This double POV really enhanced the story, since we got to see what they really thought about themselves, and each other. Saint is such a morally gray character, but in truth, he is just trying to make up for a catastrophic event that happened in his childhood. Isolde was born into wealth but was seen more as a tool than a daughter to Holland, her mother. She is desperate to escape her mother and willing to take many risks to get out of Holland's far and seemingly never-ending reach.

The narrator really brought this to life. I had a hard time putting this book down for even a second. If you love books with romance, pirates, and adventure, you will not regret reading this one!

Sorry for the low rating, but I’m not going to blindly give anything higher just because I love this author, their writing and the other books in this series. I almost DNF this several times. We essentially are just meeting people, places and events that we see in later stories (Fable, namesake, the last legacy). Which is fine I guess. But we know these places and these events already. It’s not adding anything to story. We know all of this information for the most part.

Maybe I was too excited to hear about a different/other adventures with Saint and Isolde. More than just how they met. Maybe even with a young Fable. But this lacked the magic for me from the other stories. It’s too drawn out and flat for me. If this had come first in this series I may have liked it more. To be honest we could have done without it. I would have rather had more stories about that mafia like family the Roth’s.

“His name is West”

Ahh omg! This sentence made me smile like crazy. I love when a story comes full circle.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever come around to Saint after what he did in the first two books, but this was such a good look into his and Isoldes life before Fable.

The story was perfectly detailed and only made better by the dual POVs. The narrators did a spectacular job bringing these characters to life.

Highly recommend!