This is a totally different style to what Ava normally writes, but with the same beautiful writing and characters you can't help but love.

Think of an apocalyptic love story, throw in betrayal, a journey or discovery and heart break you get Fable for the end of the world.

Just perfect!

Absolutely devoured this. My first Ava Reid and it was so good! A dystopian YA novel that really threw me back to the 2010s when I first read The Hunger Games so it felt super nostalgic. Sapphic YA dystopia in a drowned, climate ravaged , hyper corporate/capitalistic world with a live-streamed assassination gauntlet. Was hooked and captivated throughout, highly recommend and will definitely be picking up more of Ava Reid’s work!

2.5-3 stars

Really disappointed by this one but I *did* have a fun time reading it. One thing Ava Reid has is that even if I hate everything else, I can still sail through her books because of the writing. It just works for me - this one isn't as lyrical as her previous books, but it still flows and is very immersive.

The other thing I loved about this book was the worldbuilding! I think the set up was really clever and you can tell a lot of thought has gone into exploring this dystopian future.

The problem for me is I think this book was trying to balance too much - it was about climate change, exploitation, capitalism, abuse, relationships with a power imbalance, familial bonds in a difficult world - and it made it seem quite shallow in the end. The plot had more holes than a slice of swiss cheese, the characters were a little bland, and I could tell by the end that I wasn't going to get a satisfying ending that I wanted.

I think having such a close plotline to the hunger games is going to do this book a disservice because that series does exploitation and overcoming corruption incredibly well, balancing romance alongside that. I don't think this book is aiming to do that, but because it's set up in a similar way, it kind of makes you think it's got something to say about these evil corporations that do evil things. But it kind of doesn't, which is a shame.

I hope this book finds its audience as I think some people will really like it - especially if you're after a YA romance.

Ava Reid’s storytelling is as stunning as ever—lush, intricate, and deeply moving. This book is a mesmerizing blend of folklore and philosophy, offering a thought-provoking and beautifully written tale that stays with you.

I know Ava Reid is one of my favourite authors when she can take my least favourite genre (dystopian, I’m sorry!) and turn it into a heart wrenching and propulsive story that I read from start to finish in one day. I simply couldn’t put it down. Ava’s note about the the Hunger Games inspiration was definitely apt - so much of the feelings I remember from reading the trilogy in my teens came back when reading Fable. The claustrophobic world where you feel both powerless and enraged, the hostile natural world, the watching eyes - the romance that was very real but was manipulated for the viewers. The pacing was fantastic and I loved the dual POV, especially from an author who usually writes single narration. The cat and mouse between Inesa and Mel kept me on the edge of my seat, and I loved the slow but believable shift in feelings between them. The ending left me reeling…. And surely, SURELY a sequel is on the cards. I simply need to see these two get their happy ending!

It took me a little bit to get into this book but 2nd half saved it for me. The first half was alot background and introduction which is needed for the 2nd half.

It really did remind me of a sapphic hunger games which I really enjoyed. The characters grew on me and together their journey was emotional. There was part of me that wanted more from the story and certain aspects explained and I found it very YA.

In a (probably not so far away) future, in a world ravaged by climate change and ruled by capitalism, anyone who finds themselves in a crippling debt can nominate a person to a gauntlet. A televised hunt of a Lamb, the nominated person, by an Angel, a perfect killing machine. Inesa is the newest Lamb, nominated by her mother. And the girl who will be hunting her is Melinoe who is still trying to move past her last gauntlet.

I thought it was a really interesting concept that felt like a homage to dystopian movies and books. It was also a really well executed YA novel. I think the level of political commentary was perfect for a younger audience and it was easily relatable to the current state of the world. I really enjoyed the main characters, I thought their relationship was build up realistically enough in the drastic circumstances they found themselves in and I liked how they both brought out different things in each other and helped each other grow.

I will say, the world building was a little inconsistent at times but it was easy to move past those little moments. I really hope we can expect a sequel with how the book ended. I would love to read more of Inesa's and Melinoe's story.

I'm a bit conflicted here. Because it's a young adult book and so I feel I should be reviewing it from that perspective, however I am not in the YA category anymore and so can only review it as me.

What I will start with is saying that a new Ava Reid book day is always a good day. But I did have some issues with this.

Somehow she has managed to combine a futuristic situation with what feels, at times, to be an ancient setting, and yet neither feel out of place. It's sewn together so well.

It always worries me when a book that is meant to be dystopian actually doesn't feel all that far off to being real, and there's definitely elements from this that are worrying.

I believe this is Ava's first foray into the world of YA and it didn't quite hit the highs I was expecting, but still enjoyable.

I found it hard to connect with the main character of Inesa. There was nothing intrinsically wrong with her, but she didn't leap off the page. For me, she sort of just sat on the page blending in with the other characters which made it quite flat at times. The foil to her is Melinoë, who again I didn't really gel with. None of the characters are overly absorbing sadly. I also felt the romantic angle was a bit forced. Sometimes it was okay, and at times I felt it was quite well developed for a YA novel, but for me it just didn't natural and more just felt like she had to have a romance in it even if it didn't fit.

This is a book I've had on my personal wishlist for ages, but in hindsight I probably wouldn't have wanted to spend my money on it. I'm glad I've read it. Ava is a unique writer and there were some really good bits and overall it was enjoyable, but just falling short of what I was expecting. It had promise. The opening was good and really set the story up, but around about 20% it started getting too convoluted but flat at the same time, and I just didn't really feel all that much of anything towards the rest of it.

*thank you to net galley for an e-arc in return of an honest review*

Both characters in this really have you rooting for them. It’s a story of humanity, even when it tries its hardest to be cut out from us. My only gripe is the ending left with so many questions, it didn’t feel like it wrapped up quite as beautifully as the rest of the book. A little bit more clumpy. But I really did enjoy this. Gorgeous.

I love Ava's writing and how all of her stories are so unique and nothing like I have previously read! This was a dystopian tale with action, romance and adventure! The characters were well written and the world building was fascinating! I look forward to reading more of Ava's books in the future!

Set in the not-too-distant future, we are introduced to a world that has been profoundly ravaged by climate change, rampant consumerism and unchecked corporation monopolies. Then in steps our sapphic enemies to lovers and I am immediately interested.

There was so much potential here and the set up did does a really good job for getting us invested in what’s to come. Unfortunately, I felt that the rest of the book just didn’t follow through.

Let’s start with the worldbuilding. I loved some of the premises here but it needed more work. A lot more work actually, in order to make this world feel rich and immersive.

I also think the similarities to other dystopian stories really hindered my enjoyable here as it just didn’t feel like a really original world. While I absolutely love that the author acknowledged the huge influence Hunger Games had on their writing, it still felt too much like a knock-off Hunger Games. I love dystopian fiction and there are lots of books that have successfully included elements of the Hunger Games into their dystopian novels but this just didn’t work for me.

In terms of characters and relationships, we got glimmers of what could be but relationships and character arcs all just fell a bit flat for me. While romance in YA can be a tricky affair, finding the balance between tension and chemistry without going too far, I really struggled to buy into Inesa and Mel’s love. I just don’t think there was enough bonding and conversation between them for this to feel tangible.

As for the plot, well it’s minimal at best. I think we could all have predicted the plot and there were some plot drivers here that were just a bit painful to read. I don’t mind a cliché but they need to at least be better imbedded.

Even the ending... it just didn’t pack a punch for me. It came so close to doing something but just couldn’t follow through. It all just felt lacking.

I will say that I enjoyed the writing style and it was very easy to read. I sat down in the afternoon and read the whole book in one sitting easily (that may be in part due to knowing if I stopped, then I’d struggle to pick it back up). Someone else said it but I was thinking the same – as I was reading this, I kept thinking there is no scenario where I would pick this up over the hunger games.

While I know this review feels really negative, I have opted for 3 stars as it’s not a bad book. It’s not badly written and there are many, many worse novels out there. This just didn’t work for me at all but I’ve no doubt there are others who will love it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an E-ARC

DNF

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Before I start this review, know as a disclaimer that I didn't get very far into this at all, and that I think this is a book that just isn't for me. When I was approved for this E-ARC, this book/genre/style and author was something I was very much into, but my reading tastes have changed a lot since then.

Something that's important to me when reading a book is that it feels original and unique, but this to me was so clearly trying so hard to be every other YA dystopian that has been published, particularly The Hunger Games. I don't mind taking inspiration from previous stories, but I could already tell this was going to feel like a near-carbon copy of many book that I've already read. The first chapter is in the character Inesa's POV, and I was almost immediately put off by her, so, without that connection the characters, I doubt I would get much enjoyment/satisfaction out of this.

Based on some other reviews I've read, I think not continuing with this book is for the best, as it just doesn't suit my tastes at all, but I hope some people will enjoy this book.

The thing I love most about Ava Reid is that no two books feel the same. She masters every genre and subgenre she turns her hand to.

Fable for the End of the World is no exception. A true dystopian novel - a society that feels not too wildly out of reach - modern consumerism stretched to an extreme, where heavy debts inspire families to turn on each other, offering a family member up to run the Gauntlet - a death match against a technologically enhanced soldier. A country, flooded and warped, where global warming reached a point of no return and the everyday folk had to learn to manage whilst the rich stay secluded in their artificial communities, a warping of nature so extreme that it results in physical mutations of animals and humans living in the toxicity. An obsession with reality tv, with turning a blind eye to the plights, troubles and despairs of your fellow man, in order to avoid unwanted attention on you, while peeking at the screen watching the horror that befalls them - a peverse satisfaction that "at least it's not me". Honestly, this world is just like a hall of mirrors to the modern world - stretched and exaggerated, but still recognisable, and that makes it scary all on its own.

That Inesa and Mel meet each other, and find a way to see past their expected roles - that of hunter and prey - is an expression of hope in the most bleak of times, the human connection winning through. Until, of course, it doesn't. The climax and ending of this tale - one poised on the knife-edge of hope and despair - did not go how I expected, and I can't help but wonder which feeling Reid wanted us to be left with. Is it a warning, or an expression of hope? I'm sure it will take me a lifetime to puzzle it out.

Oh we are SO back – this is for the girlies who were obsessed with The Hunger Games. I devoured this in one sitting!

Ava Reid delivers a bleak, all-too-plausible vision of the future. One where climate disasters abound, a corporatocracy basically controls everyone’s lives, and survival hinges on a credit-based system. The existential dread was soo real with this one.

If you’ve read her previous books, Reid’s haunting signature style is definitely present. From the start, the world-building is extremely compelling, with super vivid descriptions of this post-nuclear world. I was absolutely riveted! We have mutant, radiation-scarred animals, bionic/chemically-engineered female assassins known as Angels, and the Gauntlet – a live-streamed death show with millions of viewers hungry to witness a violent death.

The book leans heavily into commentary on climate change, capitalism, AI, and social media – sometimes a little on the nose, but always thought-provoking. In the age of Twitch streams and reaction videos, the Gauntlet in particular felt eerily familiar. There’s a clear parallel to our world, with the desensitisation of violence on social media. Reid doesn't just create a dystopian bloodsport with the Gauntlet – she shows us how easily we'd consume it. The viewers don't see people anymore, just content to engage with: reactions to share, deaths to timestamp, moments to clip and remix. It's a dark mirror of how we already treat human tragedy on social media, just taken one step further.

Beneath all that, there’s also an underlying theme of hope and gratitude as a currency, which Inesa struggles with and that I found super interesting.

I also loved how Reid dives into the experience of womanhood, especially through the Angels. Melinoë and her trauma was so well written. The parallels to today’s impossible beauty standards and the rise of AI-generated content were amazing. Reid truly specialises in dark, haunting, feminist stories.

Inesa and Melinoë were great protagonists and I loved the dual POVs. It's gutting to watch their parallel struggles – one becoming more machine than human, the other fighting to survive in a world that only values her potential death.

The romance, of course, is a highlight. I was so invested in their relationship and praying for a happy ending. It could have used a bit more build-up, but overall it was beautifully written. I also adored the sibling relationship between Inesa and her younger brother Luka. The relationships truly ground this story imo.

In contrast, you do have to be willing to ignore the thin plot in favour of these relationships. There are contrived plot drivers that seem a little too convenient. Because of this, I thought the pacing in the middle suffers. However, that ending? Not only does it make the slower moments worth it, but it leaves the door tantalizingly open for more (perhaps a sequel??? 👀).

This book captures something special - that mix of dread and hope that made us fall in love with dystopian fiction in the first place. I felt so nostalgic reading this; I truly hope this and Silver Elites pave the way for a dystopian genre comeback. If you like YA or if you got into reading during the 2010s dystopian genre boom, this is for you!

I'm pretty sure the only way to make a sapphic Hunger Games even better is to have Ava Reid it write it.

I was invested in this story from page one. I loved the juxtaposition between the two points of view with one seeing the poorest situation and the other seeing plenty in the city, but both girls being subject to the whims of Cearus so neither was free. It painted a really dark and depressing image of the world and how little is thought of human life, especially women and girls.

There are echoes not only of other dystopian YA books, but sci-fi films and games as well, which I really appreciated as a fan of the genre. You can tell that this was almost a love letter to Reid's favourite inspirations, that and her love for her characters really shine through.

I loved the exploration of memory throughout the book. Although Melinoë's memory is regularly "wiped" the idea that she still carries echoes within her and that these help to make her more human as the story progresses is both beautiful and sad.

While the book touches on a lot - including how capitalism ruins literally everything, even the way people are able to express love - I think the idea of people always finding hope even in the face of defeat is my favourite theme. Despite not achieving what she hoped for, the fact that Inesa can still hope for the love and life she wants at the end really was bittersweet.

I'm so glad that this is a standalone as I want to be able to write my own end for the characters in mind. I want to hope that it all works out.

Surprisingly, this is my first Ava Reid. And it will not be my last.

I really enjoyed the world building, romance and story telling in this title.

It was easily consumable but very enjoyable;.

Okay Ava Reid, I see you. This book caught me off guard. The first couple of chapters, I wasn't too sure. I thought it started off slow and I was a little confused but then out of no where, I just couldn't put this down! This was only the second thing I've read by Ava Reid and I'm quickly learning that she knows how write an atmosphere. It felt damp. It felt uncomfortable. It really adds to the believability of the story. Highly recommend.

I could not put this book down. If you enjoy YA dystopian fiction then you have to read it! The world created highlights climate change and classism cruelty. It is vivid, raw and dark. We have two points of view that are worlds apart and clash together. The survival for both parties is so interesting to read. I saw this was a mix of The Last of Us and The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes and it certainly did not disappoint. The Gauntlet is intense and terrifying. Against the odds the main characters have a special connection that creates a sense of hope in such an oppressive environment. I love a survival story, add in some action, a taxidermist and an assassin and it becomes so so much more. Also a special mention needs to go out to the weird creatures, this added to the atmosphere immensely. Highly recommend this. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This book caught me off guard with how good it was. I was a little unclear at the start on the gauntlet but I was soon swept up in it.

Ava Reid has proven again that she is an astonishing, skilled writer who handles bold and thought provoking topics deftly for a YA audience.

I loved that in this dystopian setting we had an eternal optimist in the form of Inesa. Her inability to see the worst in the world, despite every sign that she should, made her so endearing. I loved the storyline of the Angels and I think Melinoés character arc was superb.

Definitely recommend!

Ava Reid can do no wrong! Her influences from classic YA dystopia really showed through, and as always her characters are multifaceted and sympathetic. Love