I love everything by Ava Reid and this was no exception. This was one of my most anticipated reads for 2025 and I am SO grateful to have received this ARC. I wish I could give it infinity stars. It’s just immaculate. I already preordered the hardcover with the sprayed edges! Can’t wait to get that beauty in my hands.

if you are looking to scratch the suzanne collins itch, this book is for you. if you love the ya dystopian genre but wish there was more sapphic representation, this book is FOR! YOU!

in ava reid’s latest triumph, she has perfectly captured the spirit of the dystopian classics i grew up on—books that earned that title not because they were set in some vaguely distorted version of our future, but rather because they have something to say about the world as it is now and thus the world we are on track to become. in FABLE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD, inesa lives in a version of our world that is flooded by the ramifications of climate change, irrevocably altered by nuclear war, and ruled by an oppressive corporatocracy. caerus, the corporation that controls all aspects of life, provides a simple way to erase your debts if they pile up too high: offer up a loved one as a sacrificial Lamb to be hunted by their Angel assassins. these hunts, called Gauntlets, are televised and widely consumed by the public.

as the next Gauntlet begins, reid weaves a dual-pov story of inesa, the Lamb, and melinoe, her Angel. when the Gauntlet goes wrong, when the cameras go out, the two forge an unsteady alliance in the name of survival. but the longer they spend together, the more they end up deconstructing each other’s world views, and realise that they were never really on opposite sides of this world, simply pawns pitted against each other for the sake of entertainment and power. the result is an incredibly moving story about love and humanity in the face of a world stripped of both.

it is, in turn, heartwarming and heartbreaking, eye-opening and introspective. when this book releases in print, you best believe i will be making a shrine for it. i will be placing it among my dystopian hall of fame alongside suzanne collins and james dashner and marie lu and veronica roth and lois lowry. thank you thank you thank you to netgalley and harpercollins for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is everything I wanted from Ava Reid's YA debut!

Think Ready Player One meets The Hunger Games but a sapphic romance and complicated family dynamics mixed in there.

The way Ava Reid writes young women will never cease to make me feel seen and understood as a person and her world building is just incredible.

My only gripe with this book is that it does read young but that's what it's supposed to do. The characters are 15-17 and I'm almost 26 I just need to accept that I may not be able to relate quite as much

i HATE to say it. i really do. but i fear this one disappointed me a smidge 🫣 based on the description and comparisons to dystopian classics, i was truly hoping this would be an homage to the good ol’ days, but i felt it was lacking in not only stronger world building but character empowerment that would really solidify reid’s attempt at this genre. while this didn’t hit for me, im SURE to still be checking out her future books!

I couldn’t put Fable for the End of the World down! It’s every bit as captivating as people say, blending the gritty survival feel of The Last of Us with the high-stakes intensity of The Hunger Games. The characters were so well-developed that I genuinely felt connected to their journey and relationships. The world-building felt incredibly real, and the tension kept me on the edge of my seat. Action, suspense, romance—it had it all. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I already can’t wait to re-read it. Highly recommended!

A dystopian, Hunger Games inspired, book that I could not put down! I am usually not a big YA reader these days, but I easily devoured this book, as it brought me back to 2012 when I was reading the Hunger Games for the first time. Also, I will basically read anything Ava Reid puts out into the world at this point. This book brings you taxidermy, cyborg romance, and mutant animals and people, all wrapped up in a dystopian political world building shaped bow.

I guess I expected more out of this one? Ava Reid is known for her gothic stories and I have enjoyed Juniper & Thorn so the shift to dystopian for her first sapphic story was unexpected (and maybe disappointing on my end). Her gothic writing is very atmospheric and while Fable is well-written (better than other YA if you'll allow me this one) it's not a marvel of atmosphere, worldbuilding, or romance. It was, unfortunately, boring.

Fable gives off strong 2014YA dystopian clearly inspired by the Young Adult stories I read when I (and likely Ava Reid) too was a teenager. The problem with me having read so many of them back when it was popular was that it made Fable seem uninspired and predictable. So you've got an Hunger Games-like class division with televised suffering of the poors without the thoughtful exploration of the Hunger Games because here it's just set dressing. You've got an emotionless android assassin who feels things and can't kill her target (I guess Crier's War and then a mix of other older titles).

I am going to be fair and say that I really enjoyed Inesa's brother helping her out and being a strong figure in her life even though that fizzles out very quickly.

It is not a book that captured my interest, I was bored and i didn't like the characters that felt like clichés of the genre. The romance was only interesting in the originality of the ending and that's all. It's not a very good book or even a good dystopian. What are we exploring? The government streams the deaths of people in exchange for debts. Okay, capitalism and television, is there anything original or well-explored? I'll say it, Inesa's mother was the most complex part of the book and the only thing that made me feel for this book.

Overall, this book is written like the first in a duology or trilogy, and if it is, I am going to be mad that we live in a world where we no longer announce those things. However, I'm not interested. I'm tired of surprise duologies.

A book inspired from hunger games and you can definitely see that in this dystopian world know as Caerus. The sacrificial ‘Lamb’ is chosen by a family member once they have used up the generous 500,000 coins given to them by the city. Overall, this book was good and follows Inesa and Melinoe. Inesa, who was given up for sacrifice by her “lovely” mother. And Melanie, one of the human Angels apart of angel program, chosen to specifically target Inesa. I feel as though this story could have deviled deeper into the the history of Caerus, as I still ended the book with questions. And it’s important to note that this isn’t a HEA. Which I feel honestly makes sense given the world they live in. Ava always writes beautifully and she definitely did in this story.

Ava Reid has done it again! This has to be my new favorite of her books and one of my favorite books I've read this year! Ava explains that this story was inspired by the Hunger Games, but what I loved is that it really was its own story. It did not feel too similar to other dystopian novels and I really enjoyed the world building. I was completely consumed with this story to the point that it was all I could think about! The characters were so complex and I became attached to them within the first few chapters.There were so many parallels to our current reality such as the horrors of climate change, corporate greed, wealth inequality, and technology.  
This sapphic dystopian story follows Inesa and Melinoë. Inesa lives in a town that is half-destroyed by flood waters with her mother and brother just trying to survive. When her mother falls into debt with Caerus (the city), Inesa finds herself entered into the Gauntlet. She has 12 hours before she is hunted for her life by one of Caerus's Angels.
Melinoë is an Angel--a half human, half killing machine created by Caerus. She is designed to track and kill the Lambs that enter the Gauntlet. While she is made up of advanced technology, she still has human aspects that impact her ability to be a ruthless killer. After she experiences trauma following her previous Gauntlet, Melinoë is assigned to hunt Inesa to redeem herself and her worth to Caerus so that she does not become decommissioned. 
This story was very different from Ava's other work, but it has me convinced that she can write about anything! PLEASE GIVE US A SEQUEL TO THIS ONE, AVA! You cannot leave me with this cliff-hanger. 

P.S. I already pre-ordered the hardcover to keep forever on my bookshelf because I adored this book so much!!

Fable for the End of the World is a dual POV, sapphic dystopian novel that immerses readers in a familiar, yet uniquely crafted story. Inspired by the foundations of YA dystopian classics like The Hunger Games, there’s definitely something nostalgic about it, bringing back those familiar, intense vibes while still giving us a story that feels fresh and unique.

This book serves as a warning about where we could end up if certain things in our world keep going the way they are. There’s a big, greedy corporation controlling everything, and it keeps the rich and poor in their places, all while profiting off violence through televised “gauntlets.” It’s eerie how real it feels, with the normalization of violence and murder, social media, and issues around women’s autonomy all coming into play. Reid does an awesome job of weaving these themes in without making it feel heavy-handed—it’s easy to get into, but there’s a lot to think about too.

The plot is straightforward, and while there aren’t a ton of shocking twists, it works perfectly for the kind of story it’s telling. The only thing that kept this from being a full 5-star read for me was the ending. I wanted something more conclusive, but it leaves things a bit open-ended. Though it wraps up well enough to stand alone, a sequel would be most welcome to provide further closure.

Fable for the End of the World is an impactful, nostalgic, and socially relevant read. Highly recommended for anyone looking to revisit classic dystopian vibes with a modern twist!

While this was better than Lady Macbeth by miles, I found that I wasn't super invested until about the 65% mark.

I struggled maintaining the POVs between characters and didn't find their relationship very deep. The "I love you" from both felt over serious and out of place during the climax. I also dislike this is marketed as a standalone when a sequel was obviously set up. I think it just felt similar to other media I've consumed and it didn't offer anything to the genre as a whole.

Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC.

A sapphic dystopian story about two girls pitted against each other for the entertainment of their society. It seems interesting on paper but as a standalone story could not achieve the depth of its predecessor.

I need to stop reading author's notes because they set up a precedence that is hard to ignore. In her note, Reid states her inspirations which include her experience in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, pros and cons of growing up in the internet, and the profound influence of The Hunger Games on her writing journey. Fable acts as a "love letter to dystopian YA fiction I grew up with in the 2010s". Unfortunately, because of this, I kept comparing the story to THG and that made for an unsatisfying reading experience.

Fable was a decent read until it wasn't. There were a few fragments I did like but the execution with lack of tension made for a very unfulfilling read. There were alot of frustrating issues brought up that felt more like they were brought just for the sake of pointing them out with no motion to undue these systematic oppressions that pitted these girls and others against each other.
As a standalone book, there was not enough time to do that which is disappointing because I think the setup and characters actually had potential to be truly great. I wanted to root for these girls. I wanted to see more of their journey. Despite liking the characters, I didnt like their relationship. It happened so quickly, at the flip of a dime.
They were together for less than two weeks and half that time they weren't in the agreement to not kill each other. Nah. It was so unconvincing. But I could see them falling for each other, just not with how it was executed in this book.

Honestly it may have made for a novella or something shorter than what it was because it gets repetitive and muddled in the middle.

Also there are wendigos in this story. They are called Wends and instead of them partaking in human flesh they come to be from consuming enough mutated animals. Which.. I hated. For a good bit I thought there was going to be a reveal that the mutated animals were actually people. But the Wends didnt really go anywhere except to show what people outside of the current society could potentially fall into because of lack of resources. But they were only there to cause some trouble and then never showed up again lmao
Something about using a creature/spirit/being from indigenous folklore (in this case from the Algonquian tribe) in this way felt odd. I wish I could express why this rubs me the wrong way but at the moment I cannot.

I liked the ending (I think)... But because everything leading up to it was lackluster, it didn't leave a very strong overall impression.

I didn't like A Study in Drowning or Lady Macbeth. So this one was my last try with this author. I think I could have liked it if it didn't rely so much on THG nostalgia and had the opportunity to be more fleshed out.

The cover is cool though as most of her covers tend to be

Fable for the End of the World follows Inesa and Melinoe in a dystopian, post-climate change world. An entity known as Caerus supplies everyone with huge lines of credit that people are allowed to run up - to a certain point. Once you hit 500,000 credits, they come to collect. If you can’t pay you can put up a sacrificial ‘Lamb’ instead. This Lamb is then killed publicly via a one-on-one Hunger Games-esque Gauntlet.

Overall the plot was pretty straight forward. There weren’t a lot of twists or turns that I found unexpected. The world itself has good bones and the promise of being something interesting, but I would have loved to have seen it more fleshed out. You don’t get much background on how Caerus came to be until the last 100 pages or so in the book. There was also a lot going on with the Angel program that I wish had been explored and developed more.

The relationship between Inesa and Melinoe had good chemistry but occurred on a pretty fast turnaround. Both characters had things I liked and disliked about them. For someone who isn’t supposed to be able to feel much, Melinoe exhibits strong feelings rather frequently throughout the story. There wasn’t really a good explanation of mechanics for this either except that she was overcoming some of her Angel programming.

Overall it was a decent story. It felt a bit too much like the Hunger Games to feel wholly novel. The ending left me wondering if this is a standalone or part of a series given how open it is. If we do get more of Inesa and Melinoe’s story, I’d love to see more character development from both of them.

I'm super glad I read the introduction, because I would have found this increasingly derivative had I not been prepared. That said, it was better.

Dystopian lovers rejoice! Ava Reid strikes yet again, this time delivering a captivating story capturing the heart of the nostalgic dystopians we grew up loving (looking at you Hunger Games).

As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I think I read it in three settings, which is near impossible for me these days. I immediately was taken back to my middle school days of devouring any and all dystopians I could find. This story presents a cautionary tale of what could be a very real future if certain aspects of today's world were to continue. The idea that the economy was built around this capitalist company that controls nearly all aspect of their lives, and therefore divides the people, felt so real and was easy to understand. The livestreaming of the Gauntlets and showcasing all the ways people profit off its violence felt like it could have been plucked out of today's media. I also appreciated the portrayal of the unrealistic standards that women are up against in terms of beauty, temperament, and how we present ourselves to others.

I only reason this wasn't a 5 star read for me is because of the ending. I was expecting a more decisive ending and was presented a more open-ended one. I'm hoping it is because a sequel will be coming and just hasn't been announced. However, it does end in a way that if it were a standalone it holds up.

Everyone please go read this one!!

Huge thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Publishers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

To be fair, I would read something Ava Reid wrote on a cocktail napkin, but, this book defied all expectations I had for it. I knew I was going to like it. I didn't know it was going to keep my up all night reading it and then linger in my mind for days afterwards. What makes dystopian stories powerful is when the world they set up and at once alien and hauntingly familiar to our own. The "future" Reid describes in her beautiful, yet bleak prose, is a punched up version of what many people in the United States are experiencing right now: natural disasters, limited federal aid, debt accumulated through sickness, lack of community support, and circumstance. The story here is one of perseverance and the human ability to not only physically survive, but mentally and emotionally continue to move forward even when every day is a struggle. There is not happy ending, just a hopeful one.

Ava Reid succeeds yet again in writing a very moody and atmospheric novel that draws the reader in. I was really satisfied with the story and even the bittersweet ending, which might be the most divisive point for readers. She continues to set herself apart from others in the YA space.

Thank you to Harper Collins for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review!

Yet again Ava Reid has crafted such a complex and well crafted story. This dystopian enemies to lovers definitely filled me with a sense of nostalgia for the early dystopian titles (Hunger Games, etc). In a world run by a singular corporation, when a debt reaches its maximum, a “lamb” can be put up for the Gauntlet in exchange for the exoneration of the debt. They are led to slaughter by the Angels, beautifully & perfectly crafted assassins (à la blade runner, ghost in the shell, terminator type cyborg - human).

In addition to weaving an emotionally charged story, it had clear parallels to current society and can be considered a cautionary tale of what could happen if capitalism continues unchecked and the what happens with the dehumanization of peoples trauma through voyeurism and societal expectations.

I felt the story was strongest in its commentary of those things as well as Ava’s ability to make the story feel like a real possibility (with the inclusion of current pop culture - streamers, etc). The world-building in this was thorough and not overwhelming.

I did struggled with the love between Mel & Inesa because it essentially started with “love/attraction” at first sight…and it didn’t sit as right with me given the rest of the story. However, I still very much believed them as a couple despite my hang-ups. Overall, I felt more connected to her relationship with her brother - but that probably has to do with me being an older sister to a brother. That being said, thinking those things about M & I’s relationship did not stop the tears from flowing at the end. WHAT WAS THAT ENDING AVA!? *minor spoilers*

I know what it was, you gave us hope and sometimes that’s the best and the worst thing to give.

Another stunner and I can’t wait to read even more Ava books!

I devoured this book! It took me a short period of time to get hooked. The author does mention this book was inspired by hunger games. It does have some hunger game vibes. It also has some Divergent vibes. This book is so much more. I do hope a sequel will be written. It was left off where there could be a sequel. I felt the balance doing back and forth with POVs of the two main characters was fitting and beautifully written. This is my first book I read by this author and I can't wait to pick up more.

This review is posted on goodreads.

hello. i am hurting. this book. oh my god.

i cannot function.

first, thank you to the publisher for the ARC through NetGalley.

second, i’ll try to sum up my feelings.
the first 30% were very interesting. the idea of this dystopia is so clever and truly resembling the hunger games, but with its very own plot and twists and ideals. my favorite character is definitely luka. he has a great personality.

the middle 45% were also quite decent, although it felt that some things were too on the nose, and i felt that dystopias always hit harder when there’s more to interpret, which i feel was sometimes taken away here.

the last 25% then broke me beyond repair. the beautiful writing of this author is … crazy. every conversation between everyone, every line of thought, was just so full of true, raw feelings. it was so good, so cleverly and masterfully written.

the ending of this book is perfect to the main theme of the book: a spark of hope. i feel like this is what distinguishes this book from every other dystopia; although most of them deal with dreams and ambitions, this book has its very own twist to hope that is portrayed perfectly in the ending. i won’t speak further about it to avoid spoilers.

truly amazing book, at least for the standard of a dystopia. it is comparable to the hunger games- although not quite as good- but certainly worth a great mention.