I am soooo bummed to say this but... meh?

The book felt a bit derivative and like it wasn't saying anything too new. Capitalism sucks, we're all monsters, the rich get richer etc etc All messages I get and agree with, but I didn't feel like I had a new thought while exploring this world or that it made me question any of my preconceptions. Maybe that's too lofty of an expectation, it is a YA after all. I just have a very high bar for Ava Reid as I've loved their adult works. I think they shine best when they can fully go to the darkest extent. That might be a misassumption on my part as I haven't read their other YA.

The characters fell flat for me, I didn't connect with them or their relationship. I liked Inessa a bit more and did feel her relationship with her brother was interesting. But the main relationship felt rushed and I wasn't convinced that they really knew each other or were in love.

The world is also a bit too busy, there's just so many aspects and messages. Which is fine, real life is messy. But in a fictional story, it means we don't cover one facet well enough.

And I just kept thinking of Hunger Games and I'm sorry... but this book looks soo underbaked in comparison. This is more in the realm of Divergent.

All of that makes it sound really harsh - the book wasn't bad. But I do think the author can do better and there is a tighter, more interesting story in there somewhere. So the feeling I'm left with is disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I enjoyed the premise of this book and The Hunger Games inspiration behind it. The dystopian vibes were on point, the setting was atmospheric and I loved the concept behind New Amsterdam and how it ended up the way it was.

I found the first part of the book really interesting, but unfortunately found myself getting a bit bored by the 50% mark. I also found the romance happened way to fast so this made it feel less believable and I didn't really ever get fully behind it. I also found the ending a bit rushed so it fell a bit flat for me.

Overall I did like the book, but it didn't blow me away. I would still recommend it to those who like dystopian YA books as the concept was really interesting and it was a quick easy read.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

There's a definite nostalgia hidden inside dystopian novels, a yearning to be as widely adored as The Hunger Games was in the 00s. When things get a THG comparison it almost sets the reader up for disappointment because it's never quite *there*.

The climate-ravaged, corporate, capitalistic themes are strong, the premise is cool, if not very subtle. Ultimately this is very readable and binge-worthy, skewing slightly younger and less 'horror' than Ava Reid's usual work, but still undoubtedly dark and poignant.

l've never really read a dystopian kinda book, but starting off with a sapphic one is probably the best way to go about it.

"She grows like ivy on the insides of my eyelids. The roots of her are in my rib cage, winding up around my heart.I can't help imagining what her bare skin would feellike under my hands."

Towards the end, this book had so many beautiful quotes! I loved the setting and hunger games-esque elements within it.

I’ve been excited about this book since I first heard about it. A young adult, sapphic, dystopian book is right up my alley and this book delivered! I loved both Inesa and Melinoë and really rooted for them. Their ending was so gut-wrenching and they deserved so much better. My only complaint is that the pacing felt a bit off around the middle, but I’m willing to chalk it up to the fact that there are so many topics that need to be touched on and explored in a standalone dystopian book and so little time to do it. Overall, I really enjoyed Inesa and Melinoë’s story!

Ava Reid does it again!


Thank you to the author and publisher for sending me a free review advanced reader copy.

I did not like this book. The first 100 pages were amazing and so addicting. I loved the world, the characters, the writing. But the romance happened way too fast so that it was very unbelievable for me and I didn't really care. The story started to drag and the ending was very rushed and somehow I was not satisfied with it? I wanted to love it so badly.

I really enjoyed this! The premise was unique yet had the familiar touch of dystopian fiction I love. The author’s writing style was fantastic and I really cared about the characters, and the concept of the Angels and the Lamb’s Gauntlet added plenty of tension. I would love to see more books like this from the author because I think she did a fantastic job with dystopian fiction, and I really want to read more!

such a cool premise with such poor execution 😕 i found the worldbuilding quite shallow and the relationship dynamic between inesa and mel was flimsy at best. i was hoping this dystopian world would be explored in more depth (i love lore-dumping but even just brief descriptions/depictions would’ve been cool), but it seems worldbuilding was sacrificed for the sake of a focus on characters that wasn’t even fully crafted either. i could tell which moments were supposed to me climatic, but i wasn’t excited by almost any of them 😞

I love the premise of this book and the Angels were such a cool concept. Unfortunately, this book didn’t scratch that itch for me that I get from a great dystopian read. Everything felt very surface level and nothing felt fully explored. There were key scenes in the book that didn’t feel natural or believable and that took me right out of the story. I felt like it was just going through the motions. I can see why people found the ending unsatisfying but, for me, this was actually one of the better parts of the book as it felt like the most realistic ending for the story.

"The more powerless you are, the better any shred of power tastes."

FABLE FOR THE END OF THE WORLD is a run-of-the-mill YA dystopia, very reminiscent of the 2010 era of dystopian novels. You can tell it is heavily inspired by The Hunger Games, and I would say that in some aspects, it holds some similarities to Private Rites too, but both were more ambitious and clever. This felt very generic at times.

That's not to say it's a bad book, though. It features lovely prose, a well-developed enemies-to-lovers lesbian romance, and offers some insightful commentary on environmentalism and corporate power's role in driving wealth inequality and over-consumerism. However, I thought the world-building could have been slightly more expansive, the bad guys not so caricatured, and I'm not quite sure I liked the ending. It felt very unfinished and I wasn't happy with the lack of closure.

Overall, I would recommend if you're looking for a quick read with a sapphic romance.

This was a hauntingly beautiful read. Set in a dystopian future where a corporation called Caerus controls society through debt, the story follows Inesa, a young woman who becomes a target in a deadly livestreamed event known as the Lamb's Gauntlet. Melinoe, a genetically modified assassin, is sent to hunt her down. As they clash their journey becomes one of survival, self discovery and unexpected connection.
Reid's writing is lyrical and evocative, drawing you into a world that's both brutal and tender. The characters are complex and well developed, each grappling with their own demons and desires. The themes of power, identity and resistance are explored with depth and nuance. It is a story that stays with you long after the last page.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 - I ate this up! This was the best Dystopian I’ve read in a long while.Nostalgic of the Dystopian novels we all love but unique enough to not feel like a repeat.

🖤 Dystopian YA
🖤 FF Relationship
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Hunted vs Hunter
🖤 Action Packed

Mel is a sweet angel and you can’t convince me otherwise. The way Inesa and Mel’s relationship developed was so pure and tender and a true joy to experience. All the twists, turns, betrayals, adventure and excitement wouldn’t have been nearly as impactful without Mel and Inesa’s connection.

This was so nostalgic toward the classic YA dystopia we know but with a modern element in what I envisioned as a Times Square style Screening of the ‘gauntlet’ (similar but not the same as the reaping from the hunger games). The way Reid wove those nostalgic, familiar elements into something unique is a true testament to her ability as an author.

It was such an easy read. Ava Reid has a way of creating deep characters and stories that just fly off the page. She’s always a delight to read and I am oh so hoping for a sequel after that ending!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Del Rey and Ava Reid for the EARC of this book 🖤

Dystopian sapphic romance…I’m in!
Terrifying lessons to be learned from this book like don’t sit and watch other people’s suffering online, you never know, one day it could be you!
Ava’s character building skills meant that I didn’t know who I should have been rooting for with lots of turns in the story. I was kept on my toes with this one.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this eARC.

I adored the concept of this novel - a modern and ever relevant exploration of technology and wealth with a sapphic romance to melt your heart. Personally, I would have liked more world building as the premise had so much potential and would have enjoyed more build up to the romantic tension which would have made this a 5 star. However this is a fresh dystopian, which was executed well and written with all the prose one expects from Ava Reid.

Never did I expect to pick up a book with such beautiful, whimsical writing yet haunting and bleak subject matter.

I’ll admit, Fable for the End of the World is the first dystopian I’ve read since the boom in the 00’s (The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Maze Runner etc) and aspects of this book definitely felt Hunger Games esque. Particularly when our two FMC decide their love will allow them for a rebellion attempt and change their fates.

Both FMC are equally fantastic and flawed. I loved the concept of a soft, untrained, liability which we get with Inesa and the hard, expertly trained assassin with the best weapons money can buy Melinoë, and as the book progresses, this reverses as they grow ever closer and begin to rely on and trust one another through necessity.

Up until the end, I had zero notes. I had genuinely enjoyed every page and it made me fall in love with reading dystopian again.

However, the no HEA? How could the author do this to us?? I am BROKEN. I needed them to beat the system, I needed them to find the drowned lands and discover that simple, survival life with each other that they so deserve. I understand that the narrative is showing that it is difficult for the small fry’s in the world to defeat the government/corrupt state. That their money means unimaginable power, when this is coupled with a population who would rather accept than challenge any chance of a successful rebellion falls flat. But I remain devastated that I did not get to witness their happy forever on the page.

Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

As an avid Ava Reid enjoyer I was looking forward to reading this a lot and it did not disappoint me. I loved it from the beginning to the end. I especially enjoyed the whimsical writing and the dystopian world the story took place in. Couldn't help but feel slight Hunger Games vibes throughout but it didn't dampen my enjoyment at all.

I would definetely recommend this book to fans of dystopian fantasy genre; especially if they like a splash of romance.

At this stage I was not unfortunately able to read this arc before the book was released but I am still excited to read it and have in fact bought it.

The main protagonist, Inesa, is thrust into the deadly “Lamb’s Gauntlet” due to her mother’s debts to the oppressive Caerus corporation. Alongside her, we follow Melinoe, an assassin programmed by Caerus but fighting against her own conditioning. Inesa’s brother provides the emotional heartbeat of her journey, as his fate becomes a powerful motivator for her actions.

While the characters are emotionally grounded, Melinoe’s perfect-assassin exterior belies the nuanced personality and inner rebellion that drive much of the tension. The evolving relationship between Inesa and Melinoe from hatred to reluctant partnership anchors the story’s emotional arc.

The plot is straightforward: in a world ravaged by climate disaster, Inesa must survive the Lamb’s Gauntlet while evading Melinoe, the assassin sent to eliminate her. While the setup is tense and action-packed, the narrative unfolds in a linear, predictable fashion, punctuated by some emotional twists, especially tied to Inesa’s brother and the manipulations of Caerus. Despite some familiar dystopian beats, the personal journeys of the protagonists keep you engaged.

Set in a collapsing Earth dominated by corporate overlords, the world feels both immediate and claustrophobic. The tension-filled atmosphere reflects the characters’ inner turmoil: as Melinoe struggles against her programming and Inesa confronts her shattered reality, the crumbling world mirrors their unraveling identities. The setting amplifies the story’s weight, blending action with the suffocating presence of corporate surveillance and environmental decline.

Key themes include survival, isolation, corporate greed, and the complexity of human connection under oppressive systems. It examines how both protagonists navigate their personal traumas and adapt when forced into collaboration. Isolation is a potent undercurrent, particularly for Melinoe, whose life as an assassin has cut her off from real human bonds. The corporate manipulation and environmental decay mirror real-world anxieties, giving the novel allegorical depth.

Ava Reid’s prose is emotionally driven, balancing tension with introspective moments. The dual perspectives are accessible, even as Melinoe’s potentially unreliable narration adds complexity. The writing leans more toward dystopian sci-fi, with romance and emotional stakes woven through the action, rather than a purely speculative or literary style.

This novel fits comfortably within dystopian fantasy/sci-fi, with strong appeal for readers who enjoy enemies-to-lovers romance, LGBTQ+ narratives, and climate fiction. Fans of more traditional, structured story arcs will find it satisfying, while readers seeking experimental or deeply layered speculative fiction might crave more nuance.

Positives of Fable for the End of the World
Emotionally complex dual protagonists
High-tension enemies-to-lovers dynamic
Sharp commentary on corporate greed and survival
Strong LGBTQ+ and dystopian themes
Negatives of Fable for the End of the World
Predictable plot points
Familiar dystopian tropes
Some readers may want deeper world-building or thematic exploration
Fable for the End of the World delivers an emotionally charged dystopian adventure with compelling dual protagonists, tense action, and thought-provoking themes. While some plot points feel predictable, the character relationships and emotional undercurrents make this a worthwhile read for fans of dystopian romance and survival stories.

So I have been holding off on reading this one for some time, and I’m not entirely sure why, but I think it was more that I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the hype that I had seen at the time. However, this book was fantastic!

From the get go I was hooked. The world building was so vivid, that even now I’ve finished it, I can still envision so many of the places that were described in the book. The dystopian world in this was so well thought out, and I loved the idea of the gauntlet as a ways of paying back debt from the poor and providing entertainment to all.

Obviously from the start I developed a fast dislike/hatred for the fmcs mother, and that became more obvious as the story developed. But I really liked how well rounded all the characters were. The sapphic romance in this was so beautifully written. And it is very much a forbidden love.

I can’t belive that I devoured this book within a day. I literally couldn’t put it down! And without going too far into spoiler territory, that ending destroyed me! I had so much hope!!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review.