4.5 ⭐️

“Survival is the most natural thing in the world, as natural as breathing. Stripped down to its essence, any creature will choose to save itself. Even if it means stealing the breath from another”

FftEotW is a story that follows two ‘sides’ of a not so distant dystopian future. A society that feeds on the desperation of those living without basic necessities. Inesa is struggling to make ends meet, living in a world where getting into debt could lead you to be hunted for the entertainment of the masses. Melinoe is a tool used by the capital, manipulated and physically enhanced to be the ultimate killer. The only chance of survival for either of them is the destruction of the other. The ‘Angel’ vs the ‘Lamb’.

This is a little different to the other work I’ve read of Ava Reid’s. The atmospheric dark gothic vibes of her other work was replaced with a thought provoking sapphic dystopian story about love, family and hope. This was a lot less whimsical, it was gripping, gruesome and I was hooked. Like many The Hunger Games series is one of my all time favourites and it holds the torch for the champion of dystopian literature. This felt like such a fantastic homage to that series, I had such nostalgia reading Ava’s take on the issues facing the world today - climate change, capitalism, women’s body autonomy and the perception and expectation of women in society.

This was a quick read, the duel perspective worked fantastically and I loved seeing both the Angel and the Lamb’s perspective of both the world around them and the Gauntlet they were forced into. I think what stopped it from being 5 stars was that the romantic relationship felt a little rushed and underdeveloped, I can understand from a YA perspective why it played out this way but I just wanted a little more time and progression spent of their relationship. I did however really love the prose and the internal monologue about how each character felt about the other.

I wasn’t sure how the story would be resolved, I was anxious if there was any chance for a happy ending for anyone, the ending left me both heartbroken but also full of hope - which I guess is the ultimate message.

Thank you Ava for writing this story. It was everything I needed and wanted and like all of her other works it stayed with me long after turning the last page.

Thank you Netgalley, Del Rey and Ava Reid for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

There’s always something so beautiful and so tragic about Ava Reid’s books that leaves me hooked.

Melinoe and Inesa are from completely different worlds in this very dystopian story. Melinoe is a young teenage girl transformed by her handler, Azreal. Melinoe is an assassin who hunts down those entered into the gauntlet, anyone entered into the gauntlet usually by a loved one to clear a debt is called a “Lamb”, essentially they are being led to the slaughter and Melinoe is the wolf hunting them in this case.

Inesa is a young woman of a similar age to her predator, her mother enters her into the gauntlet and this betrayal cuts deep, though it is not surprising. Inesa is courageous and kind, she is really tested throughout.

If you like elements of the hunger games with its theatrical murder and game like scenario then you’ll love this.

Hunger games but make it ✨️lesbic✨️. Amazing! Fable for the end of the world is a love letter to all of those dystopian novels that I read and loved growing up.
Is also, of course, a story of the impact of the clima change, inequality and the poor use of technology presented in a very scary tale of what may happen (or is actually happening already with our current society).

The best thing for me about this book is that I ate it up in almost one sitting cause the narration and the plot kept me deeply engaged.
There's a mayor theme of exploring the dehumanizing reality of what could be entertainment and also the expectations on beauty standards for women in media.

My bigest problem with this book its that first, doesn't feel as beautiful and well crafted in terms of setting and worldbuilding, like previous books by Ava, and also, I get it's YA, but I needed it more from the romantic aspect of the story.

Personally I think that with this book, the author gets the job done. It's not a groundbreaking take on "clasics" dystopian novels, but its entertaining and scratch the itch of the nostalgia.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

A gripping, hopeful dystopian YA adventure perfect for fans of The Hunger Games. I really enjoyed this and thought the world building and character development were excellent. The plot is intriguing and fast-paced.

Ava Reid’s newest novel gives a contemporary twist to the classic dystopian stories of The Hunger Games and Divergent by exploring the devastating impacts of the climate crisis and how it could shape our world. Reid is such a beautiful writer and incredible storyteller, and “Fable for the End of the World” is a true culmination of her wonderful talents as a writer. She always makes a social commentary within her books and this one was truly like no other— capitalism, media literacy, body politics (especially of women), consumerism, climate change… all the fun stuff! Which meant this book was on the darker side, definitely her darkest to date but she handled the topics with so much eloquence and grace as she always does.

Hoping for a sequel after that ending👀

Set in the not so distant future, the world is ravaged by climate change and nuclear wars and people are split into the upper echelons who live in the city - where money is no object but nothing is real, or the outliers where people have had to find ways to eke out a living in their new reality. Inesa and her brother Luka are from an outlying town, Esopus Creek, where Luka hunts and Inesa performs taxidermy on the animals he kills, in order to preserve normal specimens that have not yet been touched by mutations from radiation. Everybody in the country has a "choice" they can either scrimp and save and do whatever they can to survive, or they can use credit given by Caerus, a massive corporation that owns most of the country. If you run up debt to the tune of 500,000 credits then the debt is called to be repaid and someone must be nominated for the gauntlet - and chased down by a modified part cybernetic human, in this case Melinoe, with the whole ordeal being streamed live across the tablets that everybody relies on.

The worldbuilding was great, I was fully invested in Inesa and Melinoe and the different struggles they faced throught the book. As the author said, this is heavily influenced by The Hunger Games series (not a bad thing by any means) but there is a lot of things that are pulled directly from it (city dwellers youth treatments, the dogs in particular, the entire spectacle aspect of the trial).

I thought the whole thing was really believable, to the point I was really quite annoyed on behalf of a lot of the characters due to the things that were happening to them that they had little to no control over!

Really good dystopian 2000's flashback fare.

Only Ava Reid could make me feel nostalgic for the dystopian reads of my teens whilst breathing fresh air into the genre. Reading "Fable For the End of the World" was like a fever dream, I felt transported to my childhood bedroom curled up under the covers reading into the early morning despite knowing my alarm will soon blare out for school.

Reid has created a fast paced read that despite this, still provides a fully fleshed out world that seems scarily real. The tale feels eerie in its description, something that could happen in our near future. It questions if love is truly strong enough to break though, exploring the difference between living and merely surviving.

Definitely an homage to 00s dystopia. A strong, engaging read right up until the end, it will absolutely be a hit with anyone after YA Hunger Games vibes. Unfortunately, it was much more YA than I expected, which just isn't my cup of tea, but definitely will be for those who don't mind it!

Ava Reid’s Fable for the End of the World is a hauntingly beautiful tale that masterfully blends lyrical prose with an emotionally resonant narrative.A captivating story filled with rich characters and a heartfelt romance. The main characters are relatable and face their own challenges in a world facing destruction. Their relationship is both sweet and complicated, showing how love can thrive even in tough times. Reid’s writing brings their emotions to life, making their journey truly memorable. This novel is a beautiful mix of hope and heartache, making it a must-read! Set in a richly imagined world, the story explores themes of love, loss, and the fragility of humanity in the face of impending doom. Reid’s characters are vividly drawn, each navigating their struggles with depth and authenticity. The atmospheric writing envelops you, making it impossible to put down. . A truly captivating read!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I've read and loved Ava Reid's books in the past, so I was eager to read this new title from her.
And this may be her best yet. So spic and beautifully written.
I can't see myself not picking up any future titles from Ava Reid in the future!

Of course - tysm to NetGalley and Random House UK for this arc :)
now for the actual review!

ratings:
- plot: 7.5/10
- characters: 8/10
- character development: 8.5/10
- originality: 5/10
- themes: 9/10
- overall: 3.75/5

Overview: the opening of this book really hooked me. I think the dual perspective really does hook you into reading into the different lives of the 2 girls. For those who may have not read the blurb, it follows 2 girls - Inesa, which basically lives in the poor part of the country and Melinoe (with those 2 dots), who is an Angel: a 'machine' designed to kill 'lambs'. I have read so much dystopia but just not much that are related to the environment so I thought the way that Inesa worked around that was really interesting.

INESA: I thought her character was really well developed, and even though it is dual, i feel like she was a bigger main character in my head. Her character is different from what i've read most of the time, very soft and quiet but not in a way that makes her boring. She has less character development that Melinoe in my opinion but I think her morals are really strong and she knows what she's after.

MELINOE: She was definitely my favorite in the beginning although towards the middle, I liked them equally the same. I thought her position as an Angel was really interesting and it reminded me of putting a lamb with wolf clothing. I think her trauma is thought out and it doesn't just randomly disregard anything.

5 STARS? i personally didn't rate this 5 stars because I felt like the romance was a little too rushed and present for my liking. I understood that they were in this situation and perhaps it's because it seems to me to be written like a standalone but I think that the romance jumped rather than glided?

TW: domestic abuse, violence, family trauma

I went into Fable for the End of the World a little hesitant after Ava Reid’s last release left me very conflicted, but this was an absolute winner from the very start. It is a love letter and homage to the dystopian craze of the late 2000’s-2010’s, whilst being extremely relevant to now (as all the best dystopians seem to be.) I loved how simultaneously far-fetched and realistic the situation was. The writing, as always with Ava Reid, was hauntingly beautiful, with so many lines that give you pause.
The sapphic romance was both heart-warming and heart-breaking. Both protagonists were well developed as individuals, and I really enjoyed the scenes of them opening up to each other. The actual relationship timeline felt a little rushed and insta-lovey, but I’ve had that opinion for every one of Ava Reid’s books so far - it was not enough to diminish the enjoyment of the relationship or the story overall.
I think a lot of people will really adore this story and look forward to it coming out.
Thank you to Del Rey, Random House UK, Cornerstone , and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

I was sooo excited to read this, and even more excited to have access to it early! Hunger games, sapphics, Ava Reid; all great ingredients for a novel.

I loved the world building. All the subjects the novel touched upon hit close to home, and I liked how they were handled. Climate change, poverty, debt, and so on. I enjoyed everything about the gauntlet and the streams and all that side of things: it truly was a devastating love letter to THG. The story starts strong, really throwing us into the world and showing us who our characters are. I enjoyed the characters and arcs, finding them compelling. The way the characters got to know each other felt organic and raw.

The romance felt a bit rushed, but that's personal preference! Inesa describing the bruise on her neck from Mel strangling her, whilst being attracted to her, gave me whiplash. Especially because I thought Inesa should be more worried about her brother.
The plot twist I predicted, but enjoyed all the same. The part with Luka confused me (I thought the public liked him??) but other than that, I even liked the ending, although it devastated me. I wasn't really sure how the book would end, and I always like that!

This smart, haunting HungerGames esque outing is a humming piece of dystopian YA. Ava Reid’s talent for world building and character forming is clear here as we follow two very different women. I adored this

Firstly, thank you to Cornerstone and @netgalley for supplying me with this ARC to review.

Fable for the End of the World is billed as The last of Us meets The Hunger Games, and it does not disappoint in that category. This is a return to 2010 YA dystopian fiction, which feels even more prevalent today in the face of climate change and unrest. Set in a world where one corporation effectively runs the country, people live in a cycle of debt, with those the most in debt faced with The Gauntlet - where they or someone they sponsor must try to survive against The Angels.

FftEotW follows the story of Inesa, who lives in the slowly sinking town of Esopus Creek with her brother and sick mother. When she is selected for the Gauntlet due to huge debt, she must try to survive the Angel, Melinoë, despite having limited survival skills.

The world building was great in this, and I found myself transported to the waterlogged forests around Esopus. the story moved very organically, with the sapphic romance elements not feeling forced or clunky. The commentary on society, debt and media consumption was also thought-provoking - because in reality, so much of life is online and we are guided by these companies that are constantly expanding into other areas.

However, some of the commentary felt too-heavy handed,
when I wanted it to be more subtle. This book also felt a little too Hunger Games at times, with many key tropes in parallel. I wanted more information on aspects of the world, and how much the city was aware of the outlier struggles.

Overall, this book felt like a fun/while also quite stressful) nostalgia trip, in a world I'd be keen to see expanded. If, like me, you loved the dystopian books phase, I'm pretty sure you'll like this too.

Fable for the End of the World is out 4th March 2025

3 stars - I loved the concept and enjoyed the first part of the book, but overall it felt a bit too derivative of The Hunger Games for me to enjoy this. Even considering that this is YA, it feels like everything is spelled out a bit too clearly for the reader instead of letting them put anything together themselves, and it lacks some of the depth and worldbuilding that most dystopian books rely on. Some of the relationships developed a bit too quickly to be believable for me.

I did enjoy reading Melinoe's point of view, especially towards the start, and would have loved to dive deeper into her upbringing and world. There was also some nice writing, but most of it felt a bit clunky and over-explained.

tldr; not for me but I haven't read Ava Reid's other books so may not be a fan of her writing in general.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK for the arc!

Fable for the End of the World is a Hunger Games inspired book about a seventeen year old girl, Inesa, who is forced to fight for her life after being sacrificed by her mother. However, instead of fighting the assassin that is trained to kill her, Inesa and Melinoë fall in love.

As a major fan of both Ava Reid and The Hunger Games series, I was beyond excited to give this book a go, and it did not disappoint. I enjoyed the characters and plot, watching Melinoë's development. Though, I do think this book could've done with a bit more tension and world building, rather than half of the book being set in the woods. I know the book's focus is on Inesa and Melinoë, but it also would've been nice to get a deeper look into the other assassins (known as Angels) and characters.

Despite this, I enjoyed the book and strongly think we need to bring back the dystopian genre! Will definitely be being a physical copy when published.
Rating: 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publishers for giving me an ARC. I really appreciate it.

Fable for the End of the World is a sapphic dystopian perfect for fans of The Hunger Games. The world is intriguing with a unique take on dystopian storytelling and I really enjoyed Ava Reids lyrical prose in crafting such an insightful story. Exploring themes of human nature, morality and the fragility of society, the author creates a compelling backdrop for our two main characters to reflect on their struggles and battle to overcome them.

Reminiscent of the dystopian novels I loved and adored as a teenager I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and I am grateful to Netgalley and Random House UK for providing me with the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

𝐀 𝐅𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 🌊✨

When I heard @avasreid upcoming (March 2025) novel A Fable for the End of the World is going to be a blend of The Hunger Games and The Last of Us, I was sold! Massive thank you to @netgalley and @delreyuk (@randomhouse ) for granting me access to the e-arc!

No spoilers from me BUT for a brief synopsis of the plot, we follow the dual POVs of Inesa and Melinoë. Inesa finds herself as The Lamb aka the latest sacrifice in The Gauntlet (this worlds version of The Hunger Games, where the public watches a contestant try to survive against an Angel) while Melinoë is her Angel, tasked with killing Inesa while the world watches the livestream😱🔪

The story is fast-paced, sapphic and the world building is really excellent! It really did feel like a love letter to the dystopian YA novels I grew up with and I had such a blast reading it 🥹🫶

And thank you to everyone who gave me so many amazing dystopian recs to add to my TBR! I can’t wait to get stuck into them 📚♥️

The Hunger Games meets a climate-ravaged watery corporate-capitalist nightmare world.
A love letter to the 2010s YA dystopians I grew up on.

I have to say I am kind of disappointed. I wasn’t a huge fan of Lady Macbeth and was hoping this would return to Reid’s earlier works - a dark study of characters and society. Instead, this felt so familiar in a mediocre way.

Inesa lives in a half-sunken town trying to keep afloat (figuratively and literally) alongside her brother. However, everything changes when her mother enters her into the Gauntlet to pay off her debts. She is to be hunted down by Caerus’s Angels - weapons created by the corporation that controls everything through their credit system.

Melinoë is a Caerus assassin, trained to track and kill the sacrificial Lambs. She is a living weapon, human parts, hormones, and reconditioning. She will do anything to avoid the being decommissioned and Wiped to become a corporate concubine.

This is very different to what Reid has written previously. Less horror and folklore dark, and more dystopian trauma.
This is blatantly a story about the horrors of climate change, wealth inequality, corporatocracy, and technology; made all the more scary by the reality.

“The world can break anything," she says. "Then maybe no one has ever really been in love," I suggest dryly. "Maybe you have too much faith in people."

Caerus uses the Gauntlets to keep New Amsterdam both riveted and cowed. Entertained and subjugated. They promise advancement, but through restriction and subjugation.

I think the blurb basically tells you the entire story. What is on the package is what you get, so there wasn’t as much tension and stress which is what you want with a story like this.

This sounds all negative - it shouldn’t be. I binged this in under 3 hours and I think Reid made very valiant points about humanity’s future and our attitude. It was just very guessable. More young adult than I had thought it would be. It also lacks Reid’s also usual beautiful, stunning prose.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me an arc in exchange for a review.