I truly believe this is going to be one of the standout books of 2025! *Fable for the End of the World* captures the essence of dystopian YA novels that many of us grew up with, reminiscent of *The Hunger Games* and *Divergent*. I couldn't put my Kindle down.

The story centers on Inesa, a protagonist chosen to fight in a deadly gauntlet, tasked with paying off her family's debt. Instead of multiple tributes, there’s just one—her. She faces off against Melinoë, an "angel," a genetically modified female fighter with superhero-like abilities. What makes the angels compelling is their tragic background; they have their memories wiped after each fight, adding depth and complexity to their character instead of merely portraying them as villains.

As the competition unfolds, a twist occurs: their communication goes down, prompting Inesa and Melinoë to form an unexpected alliance. With the threat of zombie-like creatures lurking in this dystopian world—where the wealthy thrive in the city while the poor struggle against debt and mutated wildlife—the stakes couldn't be higher.

There's also a subtle undercurrent of connection between the two female leads that hints at something more, which adds an intriguing layer to the narrative.

Overall, this book is a thrilling ride, combining action, emotion, and social commentary. I can’t recommend it highly enough!

I don’t quite know where to begin when talking about Fable for the End of the World. Do I tell you how it broke me five ways and put me back together again? Do I tell you how it made me despair, how it made me hope? Do I tell you how Inesa and Melinoë’s dystopia didn’t always feel so far away and fictional? Do I tell you all the things it made me think about love and humanity?

Even if I wrote all of this out, I still don’t think I’d do it justice.

What I will tell you is that Fable for the End of the World is beautiful and heart-wrenching and hopeful. It is a story of greed and fear and desire. Reid’s prose is effortless and evocative, as usual. It is a love story under the most unbearable of circumstances. It is a story of love enduring.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ava Reid has finally found her niche and its dystopian novels! This was the best book by far that I have read from Ava and I hope she writes more in this genre. The world building was so clever and very classic YA dystopian. It felt like coming home. The characters were well developed and easy to connect with, even the Angels. My one complaint is the romance did feel a little forced because there didn't seem to be any emotional connection in the build up. But other than that, in my opinion, this was Ava Reid's best work so far.

Ava Reid is bringing a whole new definition to the "forced" in "forced proximity," and not in a good way. The previous books of Reid's that I've read, A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth, have all featured darkly atmospheric writing and a beautiful setting that pulls readers into the heart of the story. Unfortunately, all this was severely lacking in "Fable for the End of the World."

For what it's worth, I do believe there are aspects of this book that were salvageable. Melinoë's chapters were a fascinating dive into a cyborg's psyche as well as being insight into the worldbuilding Reid has crafted for her dystopian sci-fi world. The Angel enhancement technology was really intriguing and I wish Reid had dove deeper into the psychology of memory and being bred for the hunting of Lambs. With that being said, the reason this book does not work is due to its many plot holes, mainly attributed to poor research coupled with how the character decisions lacked any and all flow.

Inesa is a taxidermist; she lifts deer carcasses, she has experience with dead bodies. Ergo, one would think Inesa should know what a drowned body looks like (hint: bloated around the chest), and wouldn't automatically assume wet hair correlated to being drowned. One would also think that Inesa wouldn't be constantly described as weak, due to the heavy lifting she performs everyday for her line of work. And yet, both contradictions are made clear within the first few chapters.

The climate change described in this book singularly focuses on rising global temperatures, which felt like such a juvenile understanding of global warming, when year after year, populations across the world are experiencing *extreme* weather conditions due to global warming, that are not simply attributed to a few degrees shift in temperature. Where are the monstrous hurricanes, the searing blizzards, the overly humid and hot summers? Not to mention, the analysis of capitalism from start to finish felt so heavy handed while also lacking in understanding of the deeper reaching ramifications of settler colonialism that was so intrinsic to The Hunger Games. The poorly researched plot holes are disappointing on another level when you consider how well-researched Lady Macbeth had been, and experience how lifeless this book feels in comparison.

And of course, all these critiques pale in light of how completely forced the entire book feels. Inesa's hesitancy to kill, her drive to see the humanity in all living creatures, felt like such an abrupt shift. One moment she's down in the trenches in her hometown, and the next she's in the forest monologuing like a religious fanatic about how all of life is sacred, which ultimately felt like such convenient plot armor for Melinoë when they have their second big encounter. And following that, it feels so awfully convenient (see: forced) for ALL of Melinoë's systems to be "down" EXCEPT the tracker she has for Inesa. The plot is littered with all these "convenient exceptions" to situations the characters find themselves in; Inesa is trained in wilderness survival EXCEPT she doesn't understand basic fire starting, Luka is no longer a worry in Inesa's mind EXCEPT when he's being used as leverage, Melinoë has extreme third degree burns that need to be seen to EXCEPT she has plenty of time to kiss Inesa for 2 chapters, and so on and so forth.

And with enough of these exceptions that Reid makes in her story, the plot itself begins to be utterly predictable. The relationship between Inesa and Melinoë lacked chemistry and build-up, but the characters were forced together for the sake of the plot, with their dialogues telling ("I've wanted to kiss you for so long") instead of showing any sort of yearning. This in particular heavily ties back to how Reid's previous works flop the moment she adds romance, so a book entirely centered on romance was perhaps doomed from the start. Any conflict or obstacle these two encounter was solved within 2-3 paragraphs, simply in order to keep the story moving. Frankly the story is entirely flat and one-dimensional, it feels like nothing is happening throughout the entire story. This book was a flop for me but I will hold out hope that Reid's next book will be a return to her usually phenomenal writing.

“I’m sick of just surviving,” I whisper. “I want…more.”

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the e-ARC of Fable for the End of the World! I received an uncorrected proof, which means there may be changes before publication.

“[A]s much as Fable is about the horrors of climate change, wealth inequality, corporatocracy, and technology, it is also about love… If there’s one thing I wish for readers to take away from Fable, it’s that the bravest thing you can do in this challenging, frightening time is to choose love.” - Ava Reid

This is the fourth Ava Reid novel I've read (after the Wolf and the Woodsman, Juniper & Thorn, and A Study in Drowning), and she moves between genres flawlessly. Fable for the End of the World is a dystopian enemies-to-lovers in a setting reminiscent of The Hunger Games. In post-apocalyptic New Amsterdam, those in severe debt can wipe it out by sacrificing themselves (or a dependent) to The Gauntlet, a murderous game where the sacrificial Lamb is set upon by a murderous Angel. The Angels are like Bucky Barnes / the Winter Soldier from Marvel or Specials from the Uglies series; they’re genetically modified into hyper-resilient brutal killing machines that almost always come away victorious.

In Fable, the Angel Melinoe is assigned Inesa as a Lamb. Inesa, who has done nothing wrong but whose mother is both indebted and spiteful, Inesa who is vulnerable and kind in a world that punishes both. And though Melinoe has been trained to kill Lambs who haven’t done anything, her last Gauntlet tested that to its limits. A young child, dying slowly and painfully. And now, besieged by flashbacks, Melinoe is facing her inner demons as she and Inesa are forced to depend on each other to survive.

I would highly recommend this to fans of dystopian novels along the lines of The Hunger Games or Uglies. Please keep in mind that this is not a kind of just world. The depictions within are bloody, violent, and distressing and there are various issues around consent, control, and autonomy. Happy (and safe!) reading to you all.

Ava Reid, i am in your walls. what the fuck was this??? what happened to hello???? i am sick to my stomach after finishing this book. i genuinely cannot form words for how i feel. you are cruel for writing this book and having people read it. Inesa and Melinoë’s story has shaken me to my core. i will never be the same. if you are reading this review, go read this book. i do not care that at the time you are reading this, the book isn’t even out yet. go invent time travel, go to the future, read the book, and come back. that’s when you can talk to me. in the meantime, i will be forwarding a bill for $500,000 to Ava Reid for emotional damages.

Amazing. Ava Reid is a talented writer who paints such vivid atmosphere and compelling characters. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the dystopian elements as I usually prefer fantasy, but I really enjoyed it and they were executed seamlessly. The romance was enjoyable to read as well, though it was missing that spark and emotional depth that creates a 5 star read for me.

Everything Ava Reid produces is so beautifully written. As a teenager during The Hunger Games this one really hit the spot. Also, as a queer woman I was transfixed!! Ugh.

Reading this so soon after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton was super impactful too. Very easy to picture her hometown. The dystopian aspects of it were perfect, and the way it incorporated current-day troubles like AI. Very unsettling and real.

I love Melinoë and Inesa. I read this all in one sitting. It was heartbreaking, hopeful, and touching. I hope it’s not a stand-alone! I need more.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This book was absolutely amazing. Ava Reid never fails to amaze me with her beautiful prose and heartbreakingly real characters. This book is probably the closest I have ever read to The Hunger Games, and it's clear that Reid drew a lot of inspiration from the series. However, she's also injected the plot with even more timely concerns, such as inflation and debt, which are the things that ultimately led to the Gauntlet. Similar to The Hunger Games, the Gauntlet is televised and most people turn a blind eye to the reality of killing children as well as keeping the majority of citizens in poverty. The romance between our two main characters, Melinoe and Inesa, was beautifully crafted and didn't seem at all out of place despite the fact that Melinoe was hunting Inesa to the death.

"We're not uniquely weak or uniquely indulgent or uniquely stupid, no matter what Caerus would have us believe"

I am once again blown away by Ava Reid's writing. I enjoyed A Study in Drowning immensely, though that likely has more to do perhaps with my propensity for dark academia than any true difference between the quality of these two novels.

I know that the book was written based on Reid's experience with Hurricane Sandy, but reading as someone whose community was affected, though not as greatly as others, by Hurricane Helene, the book was especially harrowing at times, and I haven't stopped thinking about it since finishing.

As I walked into the dentist's office this morning to be quoted a prohibitive cost for necessary dental work, I thought about the Caerus credit system, about the people I had walked past on the street moments ago for whom even the greatly lessened cost my insurance provided broken down into the monthly financing fee would make the operation an impossibility.

As I turn on the news, or open my social media accounts in the morning to see the horrors occurring daily in Gaza, I think about the quote included at the top of this review. I do agree with Reid's opening letter about the impacts of The Hunger Games on this story, but I think moreso than The Hunger Games, this book felt as though it was speaking to the right now. I think the only way people are able to separate themselves from what occurs elsewhere in the world or in their cities is to pretend that it would not happen to them, or that when it is happening to them, it is a temporary setback, on their way to climb the corporate ladder, to achieve the unachievable American dream. They do not fault the billionaires because they hope that one day when they found Amazon, they too will be awarded the tax cuts, etc.

I truly think this might have been a perfect book at a perfect time. I thought that the platonic love between Inesa and her brother, the romantic love between Inesa and Melinoë, the discussions of the weight of please and thank you in a society built around debt. This book is a masterpiece and will be joining the twelve books that worm their way into my mind, framing the way that I think about society.

Please let her write for as long as she wants to about whatever she wants to. I'll buy ten copies of each book if I need to.

I really liked this book. The tone was set early, and the suspense kept me reading. I loved the character development. I do wish we had more exploration of the characters' feelings about each other earlier on. It felt like it all came on a little too quickly. Some of the world building felt a little heavy handed. There were sections that over explained how capitalism and climate change got us to this point. I think the reader had gotten that prior, and didn't need it spelled out for them. Overall, a great read.

ava reid was the first author i ever read an ARC for, so it’s such a fun full circle moment to have been approved for this arc.

that said, i have complicated feelings about this book. it’s atmospheric, the writing is beautiful, and we have ava reid’s great characterization— but i can’t help feeling that this ending isn’t the one we would have gotten if this book was m/f. NONE of ava reid’s m/f books have a similar ending. it’s disappointing, it’s abrupt, and i absolutely hated it…. unless this is meant to have a sequel, because it is a very cliffhanger ending on a lot of fronts.

we’ll see. i’ll settle on a three star for now.

Holy shit I loved this book. It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve been completely and totally hooked on a book. I ate this up in two days.

I really didn’t know what to expect because the only book of Ava Reid’s that I’ve read thus far was Juniper and Thorn, and I DNF’ed that at about 25% through. This has such a different vibe to it though. I loved Mel’s character so much, and the dual POV was awesome for this whereas it’s not always something I appreciate.

I think my rating kind of depends on whether this is a stand-alone or if it will have a sequel. I understand this is probably meant to be a stand-alone, but there is so much to elaborate on still AND I think this book has serious potential to be very, very popular. I’ll rate as a stand-alone, but if this book were to have a sequel that would expand upon Azrael, Mel’s past, her former best friend, etc then this would easily be 5 stars.

The thing is, I need more. I need more info on how Mel came to be there. I need closure on Keres. I need more description of the aftermath of the Gauntlet. I need Azrael’s background. I need everything!

My two main gripes though:
1.) This book is notably inspired by The Hunger Games, but it felt really, really similar to it. Unfortunately though, I feel as though it’s hard to write any dystopian novel with governments killing its civilians without it feeling similar to THG. There are only so many ideas in this world so it’s inevitable for some to be similar. Also…I love THG so I’m not really complaining much about a book being so much like it.
2.) Why the hell was Inesa not trying harder to find Luka after they got separated?! He fought so hard for her when he could have just stayed at home in safety, and she’s just like “well maybe we’ll happen upon him in the woods again soon” what?! Justice for Luka, seriously,

Anyways, 4.25 stars. I ate this up but I want MORE. Please god.

PS I feel like this cover and title don’t really quite match the dystopian feel of the book. Too fantasy-ish while the book is way more sci-fi feeling.

“And yet not a moment of it will feel like a waste. Because I know that when our eyes meet, through the glass, over the heads of strangers, in the bright, shining dawn or the soft, fading twilight, she’ll remember.”

Thank you NetGallery for the eARC!! 4.25 ⭐️

MY HEART IS BURSTING BC OF THE ENDING.

I cannot believe that there is not an on page reunion between Mel and Inesa. I mean, I think it’s the perfect ending, but my heart cannot handle this! Doomed yuri always out to get me I swear.

This book definitely redeems Ava Reid as an author for me. I really truly despise A Study in Drowning, but this was so yummy. She absolutely crushed the dystopian genre, creating just enough originality combined with known tropes that make it delicious.

I quite enjoyed Mel and Inesa’s characters. Mel being this sort-of plastic, robotic human struggling with the question of what it means to be human, paired with Inesa struggling to feel human (being lower class, shit mother) was intriguing. They were a great couple, which makes my heart hurt in the ending all the more.

Problems I have are mostly on the amount of unanswered questions I have. There was a little background with Caerus, but I feel there is still a lot of world building to be had. Who is Azrael?? How did he create the Angels? What’s his motivations as the antagonist? What’s going to happen with Keres? Say Inesa does find Mel, what then? Where is Inesa and Luka’s father? Does the Gauntlet just continue? Is there no sort of revelation from seeing Angels be human? Each of these questions I feel would be more explored in an adult book rather than YA, but they are still present.

Overall, this was an intriguing novel. I would really like to see more from this world. There is so much potential in going back and showing off the first Gauntlet. Ugh please give me more context!!

Definitely recommend giving this a read to fill that desire of dystopian YA.

It is a dystopian world where corporate power, Caerus, and the underclass collide, creating a bleak, suspenseful atmosphere. Caerus manipulates the debt of its citizens for its entertainment, turning their lives into a brutal spectacle. Inesa is a survival-hardened character sacrificed to the Lamb's Gauntlet, a televised, deadly assassination game to cover her mother's debt, and is hunted for sport. Melinoë, the assassin, embodies the ruthless machinery Caerus has modified her to be. Marred by the reconditioning, her breakdown after her last assassination and her subsequent need for redemption humanize her. The chase between Inesa and Melinoë builds tension and takes an emotional and psychological toll on both characters. Inesa realizes there is more to life than survival, balanced with Melinoë's growing self-awareness of a killer.

The world-building feels empty and broken, the essence of a hopeless dystopian society. The corporation controls everyone's life, always looking to create optics above the gritty reality and the brutality around them. And you will love to hate them. This complex emotional layer complements the action and raises stakes beyond the usual dystopian fight for survival. This story is an homage to the Hunger Games. This version is not a new story but focuses on a different aspect, creating a unique twist. It's like when a career tribute realizes they are just a cog in the wheel. It offers commentary on control, violence, and where survival is not the only thing worth fighting for when there is the redemptive power of love.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Fable for the End of the World is a readable addition to the dystopian YA genre. I really love Ava Reid's other books (I think they're all 5-star reads for me) and her writing is great here as well. However, the dystopian YA genre never really did anything for me at its peak and this book doesn't really do anything different or unique in terms of worldbuilding - although it was nice to see a near-future dystopia rather than a distant one, with many recognizable aspects. I would say it's a solid addition to the canon of YA dystopia although not something that transcends the genre. If you enjoy Ava Reid as an author, you'll probably find this an enjoyable read, and if you like the genre of YA dystopia, you'll probably love this.

Bonus points for an ending that's much more Ava Reid-y than YA dystopian.

Fable For The End Of The World is just what I needed, to get me out of my reading slump. The world building is impressive and flows well, however, I did have a little trouble understanding the reasoning someone can volunteer another family member, it would make sense for a parent to be able to put up a child under 18, but I don't get how they are still able at 19, or how an adult is able to put up a grandparent. Maybe I missed the explanation or maybe it wasn't explored in depth. But I desperately need it clear for how someone is able to have someone else as their sponsor for the gauntlet other than just simply being a family member. Or the author should have simply never mentioned the adult putting up their grandparent in the beginning (as it wasn't even relative to the story) and I never would have questioned it and just assumed it was just parents nominating their under age children.
While it has a vibe similar to The Hunger Games, this story definitely stands out and has its own identity.

This book was so good, absolutely amazing from start to finished. The world building was done beautiful. I also really enjoyed the romance between the Paedyn and Kai. You could feel the chemistry between them and their banter was amazing. A great read, if your looking for a fast paced romantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this book! Ava Reid is one of my favourite authors so I was really excited about this book, but there's so many issues I have with it beyond the obvious, and I will try to outline them below. My overall rating for this book is 1.5/5.

First, however, I want to note the positives:
- the world is really well done, I loved the idea of animal mutations and the people who eat them also becoming corrupted, as well as the idea of a corporation handing out flavored water packets, food, etc.
- I loved Melinoe's character
- I like open endings, so I did really enjoy the ending as well. It almost made up for how much I hated the rest of the book.

Now, the negatives. I will mark spoilers with a warning in case you haven't read the book! I also apologize if I randomly start using all-caps, as I am really upset that I didn't enjoy this book, since I've been obsessed with the idea of a sapphic dystopia by Ava Reid since I heard of it. I even went onto Reid's Pinterest before requesting, because I was THAT excited for the dystopian world.

1. Relying on Nostalgia

I did read the author's note at the beginning of this book, which mentioned how she was inspired by her favorite dystopias. However, there are so many areas where she just relies on the nostalgia for her book, and so many times the "Why" behind plot decisions boil down to "because it'd be a copy of The Hunger Games if it wasn't".

A) The quote: "I know there are going to be hundreds of clips of us, maybe thousands. Of our kiss and more. [...] even if we both survive, we'll never escape this. one way or another, we'll always be on this gauntlet" is Literally the exact same thing Haymitch says to Katniss in Catching Fire when he tells her that they will be mentors year after year and the Capitol will replay her love story with Peeta every single year: "You never get off this train."

B) I don't have the exact quote, but at one point a character says "the odds will never be in my favor" and it's so questionable.

C) The entire first half reads like the part in THG (Book 1) where the careers and Peeta are hunting Katniss, and the second half reads like the scene with Katniss and Peeta in the cave, but extended for half of the book.

D) I elaborate on this in the Romance and Character Motivations section, but I truly believe that Luka's existence is solely for the fact that if Inesa had the skills Luka did, it would be too much like Katniss in the Hunger Games. I really think the author wanted to write THG from the point of view of a defenseless character like Prim but realized too late that it'd make no sense for her to be able to survive, and hence added Luka. Because after the 40% mark, he's literally forgotten by Inesa despite the text's allegations that she loves him and cares for him.



2. Odd Placement of Theme

A) Although I loved the commentary on climate change, it was so bizarre to see it spelled out for the reader. At one point, the characters see snow and then go into an entire conversation where one of them asks "can we fix the world bc climate change is so bad” and then the other character says, and I quote: "I dont know about people as a whole, but i think individuals are capable of compassion. and maybe thats all that takes—at least at the beginning. a few people who care. and that caring matters, even if it can’t cool the earth or lower sea levels or turn back time to before a nuclear blast." It feels insulting because like ... I think teenagers can understand that without you literally pausing your plot to spell it out. I also think that dystopias are at their best when they invite discussion, instead of hammering down one message. Letting the world breathe would allow teens to learn and research more about climate change and how to stop it—instead of boiling it down to "caring matters" and explicitly going into a monologue about it in the text.

B) Towards the ending, Mel literally says something along the lines of "Inesa was right, love is the solution after all." and it feels so cheap and sounds like the author doesn't trust the readers at all.



3. Plot Convenience
A) The mutations were such an interesting idea but they conveniently had maybe 3 total appearances before disappearing.

B) Inesa's entire personality is that she doesn't know how to survive because her brother is the one who saves her at LEAST 4 times in the first 40% and she has no observation skills (which is fine on its own like yes show me more loser girls in fiction!) But then she suddenly develops skills like checking for trip wires and land mines and hunting and stuff like ???? she never had these skills before, and she's never had eyes this good.



4. Character Motivations
A) I DESPISED Inesa's character for several reasons. This part is slightly spoilery, but I don't reveal any major plot twists.

Around 40%, her brother Luka disappears when they're attacked by the human mutations and she falls down a ravine, but her brother fights them off for her (she NEVER offers to help her brother even though they're on the verge of death, though she can help Melinoe pretty soon after) and the entire book, the reader is TOLD that she'd die for her brother but instead of finding him, she goes and finds Mel and asks her to help her survive the woods. It makes no sense bc Mel is HELLA injured, like she cant walk on her own at all, let alone fire a gun... so why would Inesa "use" Mel for her skills in fighting off the mutations (this was her motivation) instead of... trying to find her brother?

Then, from 40 to like 90%, Inesa literally forgets about her brother who she's supposed to have an undying love for bc she never . NOT ONCE . tries to find him. EVER. IN THE ENTIRE BOOK. She never tries to retrace her steps or even thinks about him beyond the memories she has as a child. There's never a situation when she's with Mel and thinking even a thought that's like "omg i miss my brother luka so bad </3 wish he was here"

B) Spoilers.

Around 90%, Luka gets kidnapped by the government and is forced to say scripted lines via tv to Inesa (sounds familiar? yes, you're right, it's LITERALLY peeta in mockingjay) and Inesa's like "let's run away together beyond the government's hold" and MEL is the one who has to remind her "hey what about your brother". LIKE WHAT????? and Inesa has no answer to that, and the narration says, and I quote: "After that, all the color drains from Inesa's face." And then Mel is once again the one who's like "don't worry, they wont kill Luka he's the darling of the govt" (again, sound familiar? yes, it is INDEED what Joanna said to Katniss about Prim: "Prim is the darling of the capitol, if they hurt her, forget the districts, there would be riots in the damn capitol"



The Romance:

A) No spoilers, but every time Inesa and Melinoe see each other they talk about each other's features like Melinoe's stark blonde hair and how pretty she is and Inesa's warm brown eyes and stuff. And then when they meet, it's cute on the surface, but it's so odd when you think about it for like, more than two seconds.

The first time Inesa sees Melinoe (after two-three tries of Mel trying to literally kill her and her brother), Melinoe is injured so Inesa bends down to help her up (which is fine because Inesa is kind), and she tells herself "I'm only doing this because of instinct, nothing more" LIKE GIRL WHY WOULD IT BE MORE? YOU'VE NEVER EVEN SEEN HER BEFORE EXCEPT FOR THINKING ABOUT HOW PRETTY SHE IS. It's so bizarre because you're told that Inesa is kind-hearted, but it makes no sense why she'd feel *something more* for Mel even if she's that kind. It really feels like Inesa was into Mel because the author wanted her to be, and because Mel is conventionally attractive and has a sad look in her eyes. I don't know, if an attractive woman with sad eyes tried to kill my brother, who I allegedly would die for and love more than anyone else in the world, I would maybe be kind and help her up, but I would not be thinking about how it's possible that I'm doing this because I'm into her. The attraction just makes no sense because it's literally at first sight.

The author tries to convince you it's a slow-burn, but since they don't interact for the first 40%, the romance starts at that point, and they're immediately into each other and willing to let go of sibling bonds that they would die for, for no discernible reason other than that they're both attractive.

B) At one point theyre in a cave because Melinoe is injured and she falls asleep (you know, like Peeta and Katniss), and Inesa's like "wow she looks so harmless and fragile" and it's so odd because... girl, YOUR BROTHER IS HARMLESS AND FRAGILE AND PROBABLY DEAD. But I guess we had to pause that plotline for the romance, even though it'd make no sense for her character, right?

C) Spoiler.

When an Angel retires, they're wiped of their memories and married to old creepy men from the corporation. So when Inesa sees the interview with Luka (where he's reading scripted lines from Caerus after being tortured), INESA IS MORE UPSET ABOUT MEL HAVING HER MEMORY WIPED THAN LUKA BEING LIKE KIDNAPPED AND ON THE VERGE OF DEATH. I just don't understand why add the entire plotline about Inesa's love for Luka if she simply does not care about him apart from like the first few chapters.



Conclusion:

The worst part is the original lore Ava Reid added—the mutated animals and the gauntlet and the commentary on the online sexualization of women and the idea of a ruthless beautiful killer who is a product of capitalism—were all so interesting, but Reid leaned too much into the nostalgia and similarity to THG that it just reads like a BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES fanfiction rather than its own story. It relies so much on nostalgia that it fails to build its own world, its own characters, its own themes, even its own iconic quotes ("We'll always be on this gauntlet").

Any excitement that rises because of the interesting world is immediately crushed because the character motivations make no sense, and are easily replaceable because the author said so. Why doesn't Inesa try to find Luka? Because she's trying to protect herself from the mutations, and has to approach Mel for that. Why approach Mel, who's more of a liability because she does not have strength to walk, let alone protect both Inesa and herself? Because the author wanted to further the romance. Why doesn't Inesa care more about what will happen to Mel, when her brother is literally kidnapped by her government? Because the author wanted to further the romance. It's so bizarre, because so much of this could've been fixed if the author focused on creating her own story instead of going in with the idea that she wanted to write a Katniss-Peeta-esque or Lucy Gray-President Snow-esque star-crossed romance, because the romance doesn't work if the reason they 1) approach each other and 2) like each other make no sense.

The ideas were right there, but underexplored: the themes of commodities and corporations-as-government and class disparities and how they're intricately tied to climate change. The idea that a romance like theirs would always end in tragedy. It could've all been... so good. And it wasn't.

Fable for the End of the World is a love letter to the YA dystopian fiction most of us grew up with in the 2010s, and reading Inesa and Melinoë’s journey brought me back to that time.

The two girls are pitted against each other in the Gauntlet, fighting for survival. The thing is that Inesa is not a killer and lacks a single violent bone in her body, whereas Melinoë was created for that exact purpose. She can fire a bullet without hesitation–killing is instinct for her.

The two contrasting personalities make for an interesting relationship, but it turned romantic too early for me. I would have preferred the rivalry to last longer, given the circumstances. I also felt a bit indifferent toward Inesa. I didn’t love her or hate her. Melinoë is the character I was most fascinated with, and I liked being in her head.

I haven’t read dystopian YA in years, but several scenes in Fable felt familiar. It made me remember specific moments in The Hunger Games, and I can see where Ava’s love for the series shows up in Fable. However, this book differs from her previous books, especially with the prose. The writing isn’t as flowery, which is perfectly fine. Much like other dystopian fiction, acknowledging the comparisons between the fictional world and our world is unavoidable. In Fable, there is injustice and agony, and people are stripped of their humanity.

While I still enjoyed the story, Fable was not my favorite by Ava, nor was it even my second favorite. I’ve always loved her writing style and the atmosphere she creates, but this one didn’t give me that buzz her other books do.

Thank you, Netgalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books, for an e-ARC of this book.