Fable

I was so excited to read this because I love pirates and although it wasn’t what I expected I still liked it. I’ve seen mixed reviews for this and I’m somewhere in the middle.

The storyline in this book was okay, I felt that not much really happened until the end. The plot is Fable the main character goes to find her father who is a well known pirate. So this book has a lot of sailing and being on a boat which I expected but I just had higher expectations. There’s also debts and bargains which was a good thing to add in. The book felt a little slow to me and honestly I was shocked that it ended how it did as it just stopped and I felt there should have been more but I guess I’ll have to wait until book 2.

The characters were okay, they were pretty simple really. Fable is the main character and she was okay. She has some unique gift for recognising gems. But most other character fell a little flat to me, I wish they were built up more. I still managed to like most of them.

I really liked what I saw in the worldbuilding. The places that were in the book were good to see and I wish more time was spent on them. There’s a lot of time spend on ships which was okay. I think the world could have been expanded more and I wanted more history.

Overall I enjoyed the book but I just expected a little more than I actually got. I think I would recommend this if you want a YA Fantasy with a little piracy.

If you know me you’ll know I love the sea, I grew up on the coast (ish) and I’ve since lived totally landlocked here in the middle of the UK for the last seven years – so when a book has even the slightest bit of ocean it kicks off some kind of primal happiness to just be back by the sea albeit fictionally. Fable was definitely another one of those books for me.

I have had a rocky relationship with YA in the last year or so – something about it just wasn’t hitting home the way it used to – but reading Fable felt like a return home to the kind of book I loved when I started blogging. Is it familiar and fun because it’s kind of tropey? Yes. But who ever said that was a bad thing?

So we have the main character, Fable, and she is a strong female character the likes of which I would have idolised when I was a teenager. What I liked about Fable is that she’s quite a quiet main character, by which I mean she isn’t always making comebacks and quipping. She’s got some wit to her – make no doubt – but she doesn’t feel like a one-liner in a corset. I think it helps that Fable has a skill that isn’t just ‘good with sword/bow/[insert weapon here’. While I’m not going to knock ‘girls with swords’ I thought it was cool to explore a character with a more…marketable skill? Fable is a dredger, which essentially means she dives in order to retrieve and sell crystals of varying kinds. Unsurprisingly this skill comes into play at various points in the book to great effect. It’s not that Fable can’t fight or sneak around or any of the other classic YA Hero aspects – but I enjoyed that her strongest suit is a skill that isn’t really combat based.

I had a strange time with the romance – which was purely my own fault – I read the age of one of the characters wrong and so in my mind he was essentially an old man and not a strapping romantic lead. That’s not a comment on the book and more of a ‘do not do what Judith did’ kind of comment. Once I got my head straight on that one I thought it was a very nice romance – I can’t say it totally blew my socks off but I’m quite particular as to my romances. I liked the way that the relationship progressed and I liked that, at least some of the time, it was two characters communicating rather than just being angsty on opposite sides of the ship. I have a sneaking suspicion that I’ll get a bit more out of this on a reread since it won’t take me so long to work out that there is in fact a romance…

I thought the setting was solid – well…it’s on water but you get what I mean. I’ve read books set on enormous tall ships and loved them so it was interesting to look at life on a smaller trading vessel. Not only does this amp up a lot of the tensions between the smaller crew but it also gives you that good found family vibes for which I am a sucker. On top of that it amplifies the ‘outsider’ feelings Fable has at the start of the book when she first joins the journey. I also thought the wider setting was interesting. I wouldn’t say there is oodles of detail as to the world and the culture of various places but I think this is a case of this particular story being quite isolated with the potential to develop those ideas in later books.

I had a very good time reading this book, I found it compelling and entertaining which is what I look for in a YA fantasy book. I’ll be very interested to read the next book to find out what happens to Fable and the crew – I’ll just be here twiddling my thumbs until that book comes out.

My Rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own.

A big thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC and perhaps introducing me to one of my top 10 books of the year... i'm still feeling the stress.

This book was easily a solid 4* read for me throughout the book; the worldbuilding was clear and really easy to follow and although we're dropped into the story I never felt lost in the plot and could easily follow Fable and her experiences. I think Young does well of building a backstory for Fable that is simple but full of depth; you can understand Fable's pain and desire but also clearly see how she develops as the story goes on. Also, i'm starting to realise I might just be a sucker for stories about female pirates... quite a few of my favourite books have been about them or about stories set at sea!

The only thing i'll say about the plot in terms of what I didn't enjoy, is that there was a lack of action at times in the book and although events did happen we sometimes came in at the end of them. But I think by the end of the book it became clear that the story wasn't about the action or plot twists, it was about the characters and the relationship they build AND ALSO THAT BLOODY TURN AT THE END WHICH I'M STILL FEELING SO STRESSED ABOUT. Honestly.

In terms of the characters, I bloody love Fable. She's fierce and sharp but also so so human; all she wants is to be loved and accepted by her father and to try and understand more about why he did what he did and she makes mistakes. I love a main character who isn't perfect and who gets things wrong and makes mistakes, and Fable does this. But she learns throughout the book and you can really see her character arc develop. She doesn't change who she is but she definitely grows from what she goes through.

West is delightfully broody and the glimpses of what we got of his backstory made me so sad for him. I love his interactions with his crew and how protective he is (and I don't even mind the romance). The crew of the Marigold are all wonderful and I love their little family!! Give me more backstory on them all please, or just a separate story on Paj and Auster and their love story please?

NOW. Let's talk about that ending Adrienne shall we. I knew this was a duology going in and so for the last 20% of the book or so I could literally feel my heart in my throat just waiting for a twist or something to happen that would leave this on a cliffhanger to set up for the next book. I honestly felt so incredibly stressed just reading the last pages wondering where it was going to come from and whether one of my favourites was going to betray. So when the ending did happen and that cliffhanger... I just sat in shock, utterly stressed, utterly devastated that I cannot get my hands on Namesake yet. I just need it right now please???

I've read all of Adrienne Young's books, and whilst I enjoyed the first two, they were definitely missing something for me and I think Young found it in this book. Her writing feels so matured and developed in this book and I would say this is easily her best book by far. I've already ordered myself a beautiful hardback copy of this book and pre-ordered Namesake because I have no restraint. So now I will just be sitting here... waiting... stewing on that ending... I highly recommend reading this book!

"I didn't really choose this life. It's just the only one I have".

This book is so so good! I love a story set at sea, and this one didn't disappoint. Read it all in two days and then devoured the sequel. Highly recommend

This book was amazing! I devoured it in one sitting. it was so well written, the story was gorgeously woven and immersive that you felt instantly part of the world. I feel like I could picture every rusty nail, every scratched plank of wood, every cobblestone. Fable was such a great main character and I found it so easy to empathise with her journey. It was gritty, treacherous and everyone was out for themselves, which made for extremely interesting and complex pirate politics. I've not read many pirate books and this book just solidified my love for them and the worlds they create.

The touch of mystery surrounding her parents was really interesting and I liked that the romance was not the centre of the book, but I did wish there was more in the story, it was definitely a slow burn. I was sure how the sea was going to be explored in book, as it didn't say much in the blurb, but Fable being a dredger and all the deep diving, was different and something I haven't seen before. A lot of the book, including West's character gave me Six of Crows vibes. All in all a great read and I can’t wait for the concluding part of the duology. I loved all the side characters, I also enjoy it when there is a group of friends in a book so the fact there was a crew in this book was perfect - there were a host of different character relationships and I'm just so excited to see them develop more in the sequel. That ending though! I was utterly surprised and did not see it coming. I'm so excited for sequel and too see what happens. Overall, an amazing read!

Absolutely exquisite. I was completely submerged in the story, and even after finishing it, I still couldn't let it go. As with all of Adrienne's books, it took a little while to get into, but once I did, I was wholly transported. I could smell the salt of the sea, feel the wetness of the water and experience the wind whipping at my hair. I cannot wait to read Namesake, I am so excited.

Thank you, Sarah and Titan Books, for granting me an ARC of Fable! While I overall enjoyed the book, my expectations (especially after AtSaT) fell a little flat. Let's find out why!

Trigger Warnings: Violence, blood, murder.

WHAT I LIKED

Going through Goodreads, the world of Fable was criticised as "generic" and "unoriginal". To be honest, I think there is no strong need to come up with an exceptionally unique world when 90% of the story happens on the high seas and in port cities. Although it was somewhat simplistic at times (so much can happen out at sea beyond storms, like pirates, famine, malady, to mention but a few), I massively appreciated Fable for the care and attention the author put in using correct nautical terminology and recreating the feel of a ship faithfully. I could feel the burn of the ropes, the flap of the sails, the kiss of the sun and the sting of the cold water - what an experience!

Individually, each character presented a multi-layered personality and original traits. Each had something going for them, stories and secrets that are not revealed. I was hooked! I wanted to know more about them, their stories, what brought and kept them together. Particularly, I liked Fable herself: she's tough as nails but hasn't given up on her softness, which is an incredibly brave choice. "Found family" is also a trope I don't see often, so that was a definite plus. The author manages to strike a good balance between wholesomeness and hard, gritty reality.

Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read that got me out of a reading slump! The action in this novel really kept me on the edge of my seat: intense, fast-paced, bloody. WOW. I didn't expect it just by looking at the cover, but it definitely did not disappoint. It added some pacing to a story that otherwise risked getting too bogged down in brainy intrigue and money exchanges.

WHAT I LIKED A LITTLE LESS

Fable is a gem sage! Cool! Now what? Not enough importance is placed on Fable's ability, making it seem somewhat superficial. If taken out, the story could unfold almost exactly in the same way. It felt very much like, "this independent, smart, resourceful woman who can deep dive, survive poison, fight and reach all her goals and has special heritage and this badass scar and unique red hair can also do this". I also didn't really understand the whole controversy around gem sages; surely guilds would like to protect them to bring more profit to their business?

While characters individually are interesting, the web of relationships among them feels thin. I would have liked more time and hardship to make the crew of the Marigold bond together. True, there is a storm, how much harder can hardship be? But there isn't a lot of bonding to be done if Fable spends most of it locked below deck. There is literally a 180° turn in the crew's attitude towards her; the love confession genuinely jumps out of the blue and races past so fast it left me more confused than satisfied.

Fable's relationship with her father was... very unclear. Whether this was the purpose or not, it ended up being quite underwhelming. If Saint cared about Fable, no one in their right mind would have left their daughter (still a minor) on an island full of thugs. Even if they did, he isn't very consistent with how he wants Fable to grow: first he wants her to toughen up, then when she puts into practice what he has taught her and uses his weakness against him to reach her own goals, he basically goes "Well, I don't like that". Surely that shows she can survive in a tough world? I get that the author was probably aiming to portray Saint as a man who, under all the scheming and business genius, is fallible and makes mistakes, but I think it could have been handled a bit more coherently.

For half the book, I was convinced the goal was "finding Saint", but this is reached exactly at the halfway mark. While it was cool to feel the wind being taken out of your sails just like Fable, it didn't do wonders in terms of narrative structure. The story became a bit like a ship without a helm: from a clear and charted direction, it turned into "(mostly unfortunate) things happen to a bunch of people". It felt more like a long character arc than a story with a clear goal. Not that that in itself is a negative thing, but the story is not set up as such from the beginning. This is also why the ending, while certainly a plot twist, reads exactly as one: a plot twist and not an ending. There just isn't enough story-focused build-up to it; it's very much a "another thing just happened to these people."


Although this exciting YA fantasy has a lot going for it, I feel it would make a better screenplay than a novel. Great action, interesting characters and potential for an intricate tale of intrigue and subterfuge, but unfortunately all within a weak framework. Had Fable's goal been reached around the 80% mark, it probably would have given the story more time to breathe and unfurl, and solve most of my issues with it. Notwithstanding, I am curious to see where the second instalment will take us and what other secrets it'll uncover!

A pretty good read. Nice writing and good world building. Quite a but darker than expected (or other similar) YA stuff, but that's not a bad thing - we just have to keep that in mind when hand selling.

Actual rating: 3.5

<b>Short review:</b>
A lovely nautical tale, more of a slice of life than epic adventure. I picked this up for the complicated father-daughter relationship and was rewarded with many gut punches.

<b>My advice:</b> this is NOT a fantasy with mermaids (that's what I thought lol). It is about traders, sea life, found families.

<b> Story, no spoilers</b>
This was such a surprise for me, it gave me Robin Hobb vibes, but on a YA level, almost a Liveship Traders for beginners type of story.

So if I'm honest, I had no plans of ever reading this. But then I saw a few people I follow give it 4 and 5 stars it sparked my curiosity.  Again in all honesty I thought I would DNF it. Turns out it's a lovely and heartfelt tale.

It's very slow, not much happens, mostly following Fable trying to escape a cursed island and get to her father. But it didn't feel slow for me personally. From the beginning it is clear this isn't a wacky action packed pirate tale. It is a slice of life, a beautifully written tale, about a girl finding her place in this world.

I could tell the author was trying hard to craft a bit of intricate politics and nautical rules, but it felt awkward, it either should have all been left vague and basic or expanded upon this and have a larger book with subplots.

I hated the ending. It just felt like the book was ripped in half. I can't call it a cliff hanger because it just broke off almost mid sentence.

<b>Characters</b>

Fable, poor soul, she is such a fighter and feels so much, I really just wished the best for her constantly. She does her best to stay afloat and even through there were a lot of convenient things happening, I still felt for her.

Fable's relationship with her father, Saint, was the most interesting aspect to me. Her yearning of his affection, her conflicting loyalties and blind faith (to a point) were heartbreaking to watch.

The other characters aren't very well developed, although I am very interested to read more of Willa, and indeed Saint.

I wish the romance had been more of a slow burn rather than it being suddenly revealed to us in one tiny paragraph. I did feel a vibe there, but it skyrocketed suddenly at the end, literally from 0 to 100. I preferred feelings to be built up, slowly releavel in small gestures etc.

West was the typical tortured brooding man, not much to say on that.

<b>Overall</b>, a pleasant surprise.
This should have been one novel, the emotional torment is too much to carry on in a second installment. But I will read it when it comes out :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for this honest feedback.

I'll start with the couple of negatives I came across with this book. For me, it took a little while to get into this story as the plot and the characters didn't seem fully fleshed out at first. One of the characters is like this for practically the entire book, and if I wasn't writing this straight after finishing, then I wouldn't have even remembered his name (Hamish).

Once I pushed through Fable being on Joval it started to get better. Fable is all about survival and family and what we make of ourselves when we found ourselves in situations that are for lack of a better word difficult. Fable as a character has gone through a lot and shows remarkable resilience and finds herself on the Marigold which has West as it's Helmsman.

The crew of the Marigold has its fair share of problems and it is something we get to unravel slowly as we make our way through. Although the world feels very small, I have a feeling that we'll get to see much more of it in Namesake.

This is one I would carry on with due to the cliffhanger that we're left on.

Fable was one of my last reads of 2020, and it easily earned a spot among my favourite reads of the year. This had everything I look for in a YA fantasy: adventure, secrets, a fascinating (if horrible) world, and just the right mix of romance and darkness.

The worldbuilding was done incredibly well here. I often have an issue with this in reading fantasy, where it sometimes seems there are either massive info-dumps or no explanation at all and we're just supposed to somehow... know it? Definitely not the case here! The characters' experiences, dialogues and moments of introspection allowed me to feel like I was really getting the essence of what it meant to grow up and live in the Narrows, not just witnessing a long history lecture. Now, don't get me wrong - the Narrows sound awful and I would never, ever want to visit them, but they were also the perfect setting for this story.

The plot itself is actually quite thin, mostly following Fable as she tries to reunite with her father. But somehow I was still glued to the page, wanting to know where the characters would go next or what new disaster was waiting for them just around the corner. This is a rather dark book, with plenty of violence and cruelty, and most of the characters (especially some of the minor ones) are really ruthless. Nevertheless, I didn't feel at all put off by this (which sometimes happens) and I really enjoyed watching Fable fight to stay alive while remaining true to herself.

I loved the characters, especially West's crew. They keep secrets and are very guarded (and rightfully so), and it just felt right for their world that they would not easily welcome a newcomer in their midst. I would have liked to see some of them be slightly more developed, but even so it just worked. I also really liked Fable, even though sometimes she didn't feel quite as fleshed out as a character as she could have been. But watching her grow and try to survive while going through an inner conflict was one of my favourite things in this book. I also loved that she had actual professional skills to draw on and to carve herself a place in the ship crew. This feels actually quite rare for a strong female protagonist in YA fantasy, and I really appreciated reading it.

My biggest moan with this is the ending. It ends rather abruptly and the story feels incomplete. This will probably be resolved with the second installment in this duology - I expect it will eventually read like a single story in two volumes - but it just felt... off.

Overall, this was a really pleasant, if at times dark, read. If you're looking for a fast-paced YA fantasy with piraty vibes and a strong set of characters, Fable is the one for you. Now, please hand me book two as soon as possible!

<i>3.5</i>

Going into this book, I hadn't done any research reading the blurb, and I was pleasantly surprised to read a found-family, pirate(ish) book!

The characters are definitely the highlight of this book, the depth of these characters is so realistic. While they sometimes fall into tropes, the characters of the Marigold are so realistic, they feel like a genuine family. The dynamics and interactions between them feel very real, I'm excited to get to know them further.

It would be fair to say that I know lots more about 'dredging' than I ever did before reading this book, and the way it's described is so cinematic, I kept imagining this book being adapted into a full-on movie. Also, I volunteer to play Fable!!

Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you like oceans, picturesque descriptions and family drama at sea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for providing me the ARC for exchange honest feedback.

Fable is where a girl searching for her father, Saint who abandoned her on an island, Jeval. 4 years later, she managed to escape the island and hitch a ship named Marigold. From there, she begun her journey, getting new friends and a lover. Also, uncover the secret of why her father abandoned her 4 years ago.

Overall, it is a simple story, the plot is not that really amused, characters slowly build their personality and the reason the 1st book is created was answered here. Find her father and make him 'walk the talk'. Maybe everything has been written in 2nd book? I believe so. I sensed that there is more secret to be digging in between of Saint and Isolde, Fable's parent. They must an adventurous couple. I need a novell of their love story. It is obviously how survivalness is vital for MC, Fable. Abandonment by parents is also portrayed and relationship among sailors are highlighted. All is well enough. I amazed that women are portrayed easily to work on ship. I was imagining Pirates of The Carribean vibes here.

The plot twist that never crossed in my mind is just secret siblings relationship. Usually when there are two girls, one of them overpowered but I was wrong. For romance part, so-so for me. Not that it is so charming. YA style I guess. Applaud to the author for doing a different themes of YA, jumps into sea and sailing. Her usage of words and sentences building are really charming and that's made this story looks interesting.

3.5 stars

Fable is an amazing adventure on sea, with likable characters and a strong female lead.

Fable is the daughter of one of the powerful traders in the Narrows, an unforgiving sea. When her father leaves her behind on Jeval, a tiny island where everybody has to survive on their own, she is determined to return to him and make him give her what she is owed. When she finally escapes the island four years later, she tags along with West and his crew on the Marigold. Surviving the harsh seas and her father’s rivals while working with the crew of the Marigold almost seem like the worst choice when compared to Jeval.

The writing in Fable is great. The characters mostly feel real and likable, the pacing of the story was good (enough moments to catch a breath, which is something a lot of books lack), and the story itself was predictable, but fun.

World-building wasn’t very special, but there wasn’t some enormous magic system to explain, so that made sense. The world did feel very small, probably because only a few island were visited, while you’d expect more when a story takes place on the seas.

The one thing that bothered me was the romance, it felt extremely sudden and random to me. There was no real build-up towards it, which made it a very difficult romance to believe in.

The book ends with a great cliffhanger, making me want to dive into the second one right away. I can’t wait to read Namesake and I definitely recommend Fable to anyone looking for a fun and exciting YA fantasy novel.

Fable took me somewhat by surprise, and though it was an incredibly frustrating ending and my irritation at having to wait for book two before I find out what I need to know is high, I can’t rate this highly enough.
Our main character is hardy and spirited, not necessarily through choice, and I couldn’t help but hope for the best for her from the outset. Clearly talented, the skills Fable has around gems suggests there’s more info to come.
We are encouraged to jump into her adventures immediately, watching as she ekes out a living dredging what she finds at the bottom of the ocean. We quickly learn that one of the merchants who is feared by many has more of an interest in Fable than she is able to reveal, and she has to decide who to trust in order to get what she wants.
Full of adventure and more than enough hints at an intriguing backstory. I am desperate to know exactly how Fable’s mother fits into this, what West is hiding and exactly why Zola is so keen to have done what he has.
I got caught up in this immediately, couldn’t wait to learn more and am desperate to be approved for book two on NetGalley (strong hint).

Of course is this only my personal opinion on the book and just because i give this rating to the book doesn’t mean, that everyone will have that opinion.

Last year I developed a love for pirate books and I can’t get enough of them. Fable war on my Want to Read List since the first edition came out and I was very excited when Titan gave me an ARC of Fable.

This is the first book in a duology and i can’t wait for the second book. The cliffhanger at the end is not that bad but nevertheless i am excited.

But now to the important points:

I liked the characters from the start and took Fable and the crew to my heart. They are all kind of unique and i adored the dynamics between the characters

I really liked the progression of the story and liked reading how the crew was along for the ride. However, while reading it, sometimes I kind of felt like I overread or forgot a part because certain events were covered very quickly. Maybe it’s a me problem but i was surprised how fast the book was to read.

I am curious to see how the plot develops in the second book and am already looking forward to reading it.

Conclusion
A great pirate book, for all the people with wanderlust

I give 4,5 from 5 Stars

Fable is a High Fantasy mostly set on the sea. Fable is 17 and has been abandoned on a ruthless island by her father four years before our novel starts. Her father is the most powerful trader in the Narrows and Fable is a secret, almost no one knows he has a daughter, let alone who that is.
Fable finds herself having to run from that island after someone tried to kill her. Many things happen next.

This was an enjoyable read. The character were interesting and well rounded. I liked the plot but I wasn't 100% engaged. I liked it, I will read the sequel but I just didn't fully connect with the characters, so I had some trouble staying completely focused. I still really liked the "found family" that was on the boat, that was the best part for me.
I did read it in one sitting, it's definitely an engaging book that makes you want to know what happens next.
Anyway, this was really nice, and I definitely recommend it if you like any kind of pirate or pirate adjacent novels.

This was a very interesting journey. I loved the geology of this book (nerd!) and the sea setting.

The story begins small with high stakes then branches out into a larger scale. It all made sense and there wasn't a single turn or twist that felt off or weird. I loved how the love triangle was not about the main character at all - that was a refreshing twist :)

I loved how the story starts with some action in the first few chapters before settling down. Then a new wave of action came.

The world is well built. Most of the world-building is done when needed so it doesn't feel too much. It all relies on where she is. The character builds the world based on her location and her parents past. It felt natural and not forced which was nice and well done.

Fable is the main character and narrates the book. She has been dumped on an island and told to make her way home by herself. And this is where the story starts with her making those final choices that get her home. I loved Fable and her resourcefulness.

Very well written! I was almost impressed by it. Maybe I went in with minimal expectations but I now want to read everything by Adrienne Young. I loved the writing style as well as her linguistic skills.

In summary, a very enjoyable read in a lovely setting. The characters were great and someone I could invest in. I will pick up the sequel whenever that comes out :)

Fable was left on an island by her father several years ago and has struggled to survive ever since. After spending all her time dredging for gems to sell to traders, Fable is finally able to pay for passage across the sea. West, the captain of the trader ship she has sold most of her gems to, reluctantly agrees to take her, much to the ire of his crew. With everyone on the ship keeping secrets, Fable is in good company, she has some of the biggest secrets of all.

I’ll start by saying I absolutely loved the characters in this one. From Fable herself, to West, Willa and the rest of the crew, they were all well developed enough to have stories of the their own! The world building of the dark and gritty places they visited was also detailed enough to have me feeling like I was right there beside them. But, although I wanted to know what was going to happen, I found the story a little slow. There was just too much sailing jargon and not enough action for a lot of the book. I know less than nothing about ships so I felt myself skimming over all the technical descriptions of what they were doing – they just didn’t interest me. I would have preferred more of that time be devoted to the actual storyline. To be fair, Sky in the Deep was one of my favourite books when I read it and what I adored most was the breathtaking, non-stop action. So maybe I was expecting more of the same and I just …. didn’t quite get it. That by no means makes Fable a bad book, just a little different to what I was expecting.

This is definitely one of those books though, that despite feeling a little unmemorable for me, I absolutely have to read the sequel because I NEED to know what happens next 😅 The ending was a clear cliffhanger with a couple of reveals in the last few pages and I’ve got to admit, I love it when books end that way!

Firstly, huge thank you to Titan Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Four years ago Fable was left abandoned on an island by her father, the most dangerous and powerful trader on the seas, after his prize ship sinks taking his beloved wife, Fable’s mother, with it. Ever since, Fable has been determined to get off of the island and find her father to prove she has what it takes to be a member of his crew. After all these years she’s survived by her father’s rules: don’t trust anyone or reveal what’s important to you, but can she still keep to these rules when she has to rely on a young trader called West to get across the sea to her father...?

Fable, our protagonist, is a fiery young woman who is doing everything she can to survive. At first I was worried that she may be too perfect and would easily breeze through certain situations, however, I was pleased to see this wasn't the case. As her story began to develop and we learn more about the world - she very much fits perfectly into it. I loved how she would throw herself into anything - wanting to prove herself. I also liked how she was determined to lock all her emotions away, so when we did see a flicker of something it was much more meaningful. What I also loved about all the characters in this novel is how they all exist very much in the grey area. It isn't completely clear if they are "good" or "bad", they are much more complex than that with pasts that we barely scratch the surface of in this first instalment.

I don't think that I have ever read a fantasy novel that mostly takes place across the sea. This made the novel refreshing to read and also a really interesting take on the fantasy genre. I’m always really intrigued by the politics and lore of fantasy novels; so I particularly enjoyed this different set of politics among the ships and traders. I would have loved to have learned even more about them but as this is the first novel in the series, it was very much setting up for the rest of the series. I would have liked the novel to have been a little longer to develop certain aspects of the world a bit more but I also enjoyed how the novel ended and it has definitely left me wanting more.

Overall, I thought this was a great start to the series, which has a lot of potential, and I'm very excited to see what adventures await Fable, as well as what other secrets she will discover on the seas. Especially with the cliffhanger we are left on!

Thank you to Titan Books for providing me with a digital copy for review via Netgalley. Fable released last year in the US, so I saw a lot of people loving it, and the hype definitely made me want to check it out. It releases on January 21st in the UK! I also haven’t read many fantasy books set at sea either so I was excited to see if I would enjoy this. I think the sequel is coming out this year in the US so I’m glad I don’t have to wait as long.

Fable is a YA fantasy primarily set at sea and on islands. In this world, trading by sea is how most people make their living. However, when she was younger Fable was abandoned by her father on a remote island and left to fend for herself after her mother drowned in a storm. She has to be very careful while living on Jeval, because no one would hesitate before taking advantage of her. However, she has to put her trust in a trader named West so that she can get off the island and find her father. However, West and his crew are hiding a lot of secrets, and there is a lot of danger in being a trader…

I really enjoyed the details on trade, such as gem trading, and Fable’s occupation as a dredger. This is a fantasy, but the magic is subtle, and while the characters are more traders than pirates, they definitely have questionable morals and actions. Not a huge amount happened at the beginning, but I still read it quickly. What I will say is that this book is SO fast-paced – I read almost half the book in just one sitting, and it only took me two days to read it. The plot really got interesting in the second half, but there were still some parts that I expected more from or seemed a bit rushed. Still, I was always motivated to keep picking up the book, and the chapters were short too.

I think one of the reasons I didn’t fall in love with this book is that I didn’t fall in love with any of the characters. I definitely didn’t hate any of them, but I didn’t really connect with them either. West was okay, but I didn’t feel attached to him really. I was honestly more interested in reading about Saint and Isolde, and I loved the bits of backstory we heard about them – I especially enjoyed this at the end, and there were hints we’d learn more in the next book. I really liked Willa too, and she was probably the side character that stood out the most to me. However, I did enjoy reading about the main character, Fable, and I think we’ll see a lot more development from her in the second book.

I believe this book is part of a duology, and the ending definitely made me want to pick up the sequel. I do think that the ending seemed like a shock factor just to make people want to read the next book – it was a very sudden ending that seemed to come out of nowhere. I probably would not be as invested in reading the sequel if the ending was different. Saying that, the technique worked and I do want to know what will happen! Duologies aren’t too much of a commitment, and I do think this book was slightly lacking in plot and character development so I would be interested in seeing where the story goes.

Overall, I had a fun experience reading this book! I wasn’t fully invested in the characters, and I had a few small issues with the plot, but I still couldn’t help flying through this book. The ending definitely made me intrigued to read the sequel, especially because it’s a duology. I also enjoyed this more than the other one of Adrienne Young’s book I’ve read, The Girl the Sea Gave Back.

3.5/5 stars

*I was given an ARC of Fable in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Titan books and Adrienne Young.*

Fable is a story about a girl’s journey to find a family. The story follows Fable, who is the daughter of a powerful trader. At just thirteen years old Fable lost her mother to the sinking of their ship and subsequently, she lost her entire family. Her father did not die, instead, he took Fable to the island of Jeval and left her there. Giving her the challenge of finding a way off the Island, Fable become a dredger and sold her findings at a trade market. Here a handsome trader called West, who is the helmsman of the Marigold brought every piece that Fable brought him.

After a bad run-in with a Jevali dredger, Fable escapes Jeval and pays for passage on the Marigold to Ceros. Here she will be reunited with her father.

I really enjoyed this book, it was not really what I was expected. But it was still enjoyable.

The plot was somewhat slow and I really had no idea where it was going to go or how long it was going to take to get there. However, when it did pick up, somewhere after the halfway mark, I really enjoyed it.

Character-wise this book was okay. No one was really too interesting, other than Fable’s talent with gems which I would like to know a lot more about. West didn’t really ‘come out of his shell’ until the very end and the romance felt very rushed.

I really wanted to like Willa and I thought she had a lot of potential to be a great character. However, she and the rest of the crew fell quite flat for me. Hopefully, in the next book, we will get more of an insight into their lives and why they are on the Marigold as I do think they could all be great.

I kept forgetting how old Fable was during this book and the fact that West was older than her felt wrong. However, it was completely fine as Fable is 17 and I was picturing West as being somewhere around 30. So that problem is on me and my bad memory, sorry.

Anyway back to the romance. The blurb of this book actually says that it is ‘filled with romance’. I would not agree with that statement. This is probably best described as a slow burn, but it’s definitely the slowest burn I’ve ever seen. You don’t even realise that the characters like each other until the very end where they apparently love each other. Personally, it seemed a little out of place.

The best part for me was definitely the world-building. It felt like I was really on all of these interesting Islands and honestly I wish you got to spend more time on them. The traders market in Dern was definitely one of my favourites and I wish you got to see more of it when Fable and the crew were selling there.

As I already knew that this will be a duology I did start getting nervous near the end as I knew something was going to happen. Oh my did something happen. I cannot wait to read the next installment Namesake and I really hope that unlike Fable the UK will receive it at the same time as the US.

I’m not sure if this review makes it seem like I liked this book, but I promise I did. I would have just liked to see a little more from it. Fable has definitely set up the next book well and I can’t wait to see what the crew of the Marigold get up to next.

***I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley (thank you Titan Books) in exchange for a honest review.***

I’ve hear a lot of praise of this book and I was not disappointed. I was completely hooked from the very first page and it was absolutely impossible to put down. Fast paced, beautiful world building and interesting, lovable characters and a perfect slowburn romance.

Ever since her entire life was turned upside down four years ago Fable has been on her own, barely managing to survive by selling pyre to a young trader named West. After a series of rather unfortunate, although not entirely unexpected, events Fable manages to barter West into giving her passage across the Narrows to the island where her father resides.
But everything is not what it seems and Fables father isn’t the man she remember growing up. But Fable isn’t one to give up and her journey has just begun.

The only negative thing I have to say about the book is the ending; how on earth am I going to survive until I can get my hands on the sequel? I know it’s only a few moths away but still… I need more now! My only consolation is that I have yet to read Adrienne Young’s other books, otherwise I would be in for a major book hangover right now.

If you haven’t read Fable already, you should definitely check it out!

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.

Warnings: Blood, Murder, Death by Drowning

This was such a good read! I loved the detail of what Fable had to as a dredger and just to survive. I would say this book is more character-based than plot-based, HOWEVER, it was still excellent, and the journies on the boat didn't seem to drag as the book felt fast-paced which gave it the sense of action and adventure that kept me hooked (no pun intended).

The romance in this is more of a backburner but still incredibly sweet nonetheless. The book includes a pretty cool crew and I loved them all, especially as I learnt more about them. Fable is also really cool as a character and is such a badass- I love her!

I wasn't fond of the cliff-hanger at the end as I am not into them but that is okay because the sequel is coming soon!
Rating: 4.5⭐
Would I Read It Again? Yes and I cannot wait for the sequel!
Would I Recommend it? Yes

For a book about diving and dredging, it has perfectly captured the feeling of being underwater - smooth, cool, and slightly cut off from the rest of the world. It feels exactly like gliding through water, everything painted that blue-green of clear, deep water. The prose flows so well, and to evoke an atmosphere that completely is very impressive.

This is not just found in the prose, but in the pacing and plot too. There's a tranquillity to this book that her Viking duology didn't have. It's not obviously building and rising to a big confrontation at the end - it's not frantic and sharp, but more observational and languid feeling. There is forwards progression, but it's much more relaxed, more interested in building the world and characters than demanding a big action sequence.

The ending, therefore, doesn't feel much like you'd expect in YA fantasy. It's not desperate and pulse-pounding - there is a cliff-hanger, but it feels more inevitable and very open, rather than the definitive end to a book. I guess it's like the last scene before an ad-break - there's a beat of tension, but it doesn't feel resolved because you know there's more to come. Unlike the first book in a more traditional YA fantasy duology, where it feels like the ending is the end of an episode.

I really liked it, because it suited the book so well, and I wanted to read something gentle but moving, a book that felt more like a setting and an escape to a real seaside world. Given everything that's happening, to be able to really feel like I was on a boat on blue waters (to me, it feels like the Greek islands in aesthetics, if not in culture), was something special.

Well after a bit of a confusing start this one turned into quite an adventure!

I think, for me, there was too much happening in the beginning for me to keep track of. There are a lot of names thrown about, and Fable is diving in the sea, then she’s on a boat, then she’s in the sea again. I’m going to blame the fact I was reading this book with a horrendous toothache but honestly, it was all just a bit confusing.

Thankfully things started to get a bit clearer and I found myself enjoying it a lot more, especially once we meet West and crew. Young does a wonderful job of describing the ship and life at sea, some of her descriptions were beautiful, yet there was also a sense of danger that never quite went away.

I loved Fable right from the start. She’s a very resilient heroine who has dealt with a lot in her life already, she’s determined and has the grit to pull through even when the odds are stacked against her. At the start she’s very closed off to others but as the story continues you get a glimpse of how she slowly starts to show her vulnerable side. I was always interested in her journey and her past, which slowly unravels throughout the book. Her relationships were some of my favourite aspects.

I love the found family trope and this book is stuffed full to the brim with it. There’s a bit of romance which, honestly, didn’t really connect with me very much, I’m hoping its expanded more in the sequel. It just seemed to come out of nowhere. Her friendships with the others though–especially Willa–were lovely. Best of all though was Fable’s connection with her father, how they both treat one another. They have a very subtle relationship and most of what they feel for one another you have to read between the lines to see the extent of it. I can’t wait to see how their relationship develops in the next book.

Highly recommended to all those ya fantasy fans who enjoy a fast-paced, swashbuckingly fun adventure. I cannot wait to read the sequel when it comes out!

Such a great read, I love this author and I find this one fantastic!It was fast paced and I was intrigued and excited while I was reading it!Loved the world build up! Fable is amazing, such a badass and strong heroine!

There is action and I liked the romance a lot!I fall in love with the characters!Such a unique story!

Looking forward for the next book!

Adrienne Young’s books are always fast-paced and incredibly readable. She has an easy way of writing that makes you feel like you’re really flying through the pages.

In FABLE, she throws us into a world of cut-throat pirates with just a hint of magic in Fable’s ability to ‘understand’ the gems she finds.

What I loved most about this book were the settings. The locations in FABLE are so vivid and so clear, and you become completely and utterly immersed in the world the author has created. From a castaway, gem-seekers’ island, to a bustling, back-stabbing port city, you can’t help being right there at Fable’s side.

I’ve read a few YA pirate stories in recent years and the thing that always disappoints me is when an author skimps on the actual sea-faring, living-aboard-a-ship aspect of pirating. FABLE don’t fall into that trap and you get a really good sense of the crew and of The Marigold itself. Young throws in all sorts of details about sailing and ship-building and, while I’ve no idea if any of it’s true, it really makes the sea and the ship come alive into a character all it’s own.

FABLE is an exciting first half of a duology, and one that should appeal to lovers of pirates, found families and thieves.

Ships, treasure, romance, the high seas! Does it get any better?
It took me a page or two get used to the nautical terminology (it's been a while since I was into pirates) but after that - it was amazing.
It had such wonderful characters with such a rich story. It was full of adventure and betrayal but also friendship and connection through all odds.
The storytelling was vibrant and the descriptions are intense. Scenes where our main character, Fable, dives into the water and stays under for whole passages makes you want to read it while holding your breath just to see if you can do it too.
My only qualm is the number of questions I have once it finished. What is going to happen next? How will they survive this? Will all these questions be resolved.
Duologies are my favourite because I feel they are the perfect length for a story. You get just enough actions and adventure with just enough heartbreak and the story is not too long nor is it too short.
Cannot wait to pick up the sequel!

I really enjoyed this book and became completely lost in this wonderful pirate inspired fantasy novel. I enjoyed the whole atmosphere, the world and the characters. It is well written and easy to follow and the author did a great job of creating emotion and tension throughout. The plot is simple, but immersive, and you can’t help but get completely engrossed in the world. There is a nice balance of the life on land and days out at sea. There are no intense sword fights or fast action-packed scenes but in all honesty I didn’t miss this at all. There is, however, a lot of conflict between the traders of different ships which adds drama and excitement.

The setting is richly described as are the towns encountered en route, the imagery the author creates is brilliant. I found the dredger and deep sea diving aspect fascinating and I was almost gasping for air reading about Fable’s exploits underwater. The Gem Sages, or people with an affinity and understanding of gem stones - they can sense them and feel them hum, is really intriguing and I hope this is explored further in the next instalment.

The characters are complex and well developed and I really warmed to the crew of the Marigold. I enjoyed following the growth and development of these characters and their back histories subsequently revealed. Our main character is Fable, who has made her way in the world as a Jevali dredger or deep sea diver. She’s the daughter of Saint, the infamous trader, who abandoned her when she was 14 years old, leaving her in Jevali to fend for herself. She is strong willed, fearless and determined to succeed in this ruthless world despite all the odds being against her. Saint is portrayed as a questionable character but there is a very emotional and touching scene with his daughter at the end of the book, which has stayed with me. West is the captain of the Marigold who cares deeply about his crew and takes their problems on board. He’s handsome and mysterious, and there are hints there is more about him to be revealed. The delightful slow burn romance between Fable and West doesn’t overpower the story, it blooms very subtly and it doesn’t come to fruition until towards the end of the book. The underwater kiss scene is magical, I can say no more.

Fable is the perfect start to this duo of books, and although it’s a fairly short at 276 pages, it sets the scene and leaves us with an amazing cliffhanger and twist at the end. It is a well executed, character-driven story with a simple but engaging plot. I did feel the book ended rather abruptly, the story had just begun to unfold and I turned the last page expecting more. I really enjoyed this author’s writing style and I now want to go back and read her previous work.

Thank you Titan Books for the early review copy - my blog review is on its way.

Fable was a really solid fantasy novel, I really enjoyed how it was written, all of the lore was really interesting and the characters were definitely multidimensional. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Who doesn't want a grand adventure on sea!
A perfect combination of great plot and great characters, this book takes readers on a truly amazing ride.

Fierce, independent and refusing to bow down to others' whims, Fable is stunning as a MC. Abandoned by her father on a rugged island that is a home of cutthroat criminals, Fable, not only survives, but makes her own way in the sea.

West and the crew of Marigold proved to be a great supporting cast. Saint was a pretty excellent example of a morally grey character.

The plot was fast and full of twists, which is exactly how I love my books. The stakes were very high, as were the risks. The author did not try to soften the blow on any of the downfalls faced by our cast. So when something goes wrong for our characters, it hits us hard.

The ending was superb! Just enough of a cliffhanger to make readers crave the next book, and perfectly written so as to give some information to the readers and not just tease them.

To cumulate my review in a word, I would only say this - Perfect!

✨Fable✨

Thank you to Netgalley, Titan Books and Adrienne Young for the e-arc

Summary: Abandoned on the island of Jeval by her father, a powerful trader, seventeen year old Fable has one goal, to find a way off the island and find her father to claim her rightful place at his side crewing on his ship. Along the way Fable will have to barter and steal, find people to trust in a world where trusting people can lead to death, but most importantly she will have to find herself and her place in a mans world.
✨
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Review:

Fable is an enchanting tale of learning to find yourself, learning to survive and learning to trust. It’s a tale of chosen family, growing up and finding your way.

Books set on the ocean are a favourite of mine and this book ticked all the boxes. Pirates, sailing, rivalries, high stakes and the fight for survival. This is a story you can easily live, it pulls you in and you start to feel like you’re on the ship, bartering with the merchants or diving in the sea.

While there is a glimmer of romance, it only really starts to develop at the end of the book, it’s definitely not at the forefront but that’s okay because the story is so captivating that you don’t miss that element.

I really enjoyed this story, I wish there was more explained about each of the guilds and being a gem sage, we got some information but I hope it’s elaborated on in book two.

If you like pirates, adventure and books set at sea then this is the book for you!

Thank you Titan for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

An entrancing adventure story, an easy read you will not regret picking up!

If you’re not easily persuaded by the gorgeous cover, I am not sure how the rest of this will go for you, its sticky sweet and cute from here on out.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT
Fables father is a powerful trader (pirate). At 13 Fable’s mother drowns during a storm and the next day her father leaves her alone and penniless on an unforgiving island. At 17 she is almost ready to leave the island, find her father and join his crew. To do this she enlists the help of West, a young trader that reluctantly takes her across the sea.

Fable’s father is more powerful and dangerous than she first thought and together with West , who is not who he seems, they need to survive more than storm to stay alive.

SPILL THE TEA BUT NO SPOILERS I PROMISE
I have to admit, pirates and the sea were not intriguing enough for me to be excited about this novel but it’s much more than that and I loved every page.

It’s very very young adult, I felt a lot of the time certain situations were really brushed over but of course for the sake of a “clean” YA , I understand why. But also in saying that, the plot was very predictable but I overlooked the cheesy and focused on just enjoying the story.

I did not enjoy all the tears from Fable – I felt she would have been much less emotional but it is what it is.There weren’t any heart-pounding moments but it was such a joy each time I dived back into this world. (see what I did there) ALSO :THIS IS HOW YOU DO SLOW BURN ROMANCE.

I cannot express how much I adored it. There is something very soothing about this writing , the pacing was perfect and although I would of loved a little more character development it was such a fun, stress-free read. I really love this author now and I hope to read more of her soon.

This very much reminded me of Laini Taylors books and I feel this would impress anyone, so give it a chance, it really is a page turner!

Rating: 3.8
Fable by Adrienne Young
Duology : Namesake comes out the 21st March 2021
Publish Date: 26 January 2021
Cover Rating: 8/10
Young Adult – Fantasy - Adventure - Romance

Oh, Fable. You have a place in my heart, a rather large one infact.

Adrienne Young has absolutely written an unforgettable book here. One that captured my heart and my imagination and did not let go. Fable is a wonderful, strong, intelligent woman who fights to survive the whole way through. I’ve read a few pirate based books recently but something about Fable just makes it stand out.

This book is hugely character driven, and with characters like this it’s just unputdownable. Between Fable and West the story is stunning, add in the rest of them and it’s just a joy. It’s a pretty dark version of the pirate books we’re all reading right now. It’s not high seas travel and epic fights but a story of survival, and discovery and family. One of the rules is don’t fall in love, but we see several relationships and root for some more.

I was absolutely captivated, and the book finished on a massive cliff-hanger. So I’m anxiously awaiting the next installement so I can keep experiencing this incredible story.

I've liked Adrienne's work since reading Sky In The Deep when that first came out, and loved the way that she was able to blend fantasy elements with very realistic, grounded worlds, something that she was able to do with her second book, The Girl The Sea Gave Back. When I found out that she was bringing out a new duology, another fantasy series, and that this time it would feature pirates and adventures at sea I was excited to get my hands on the book.

However, I wasn't quite expecting it to be as good as it was, I read the entire thing in a single sitting and was really upset that it ended so soon and I had to wait for the next book; not that the book was short by any means, it's over 350 pages. No, the book just felt too short because it drew me in so much, it made me desperate to find out what happened next and kept reading even when I should have taken a break because the story and the characters were so compelling and engaging that I just couldn't do anything but read it all.

The book follows a young woman named Fable, who has spent the last three years on a remote island, a place home to cutthroats and killers. She was dumped there by her father the day after their ship sank at sea, an event that also caused the death of her mother. She was left with nothing but the clothes she was wearing, a series of cuts her father carved into her arm, and the instructions to survive, to find a way off the island, and to track him down. Since that day Fable has convinced herself that if she can buy her way off the island her father will finally give her the love she desperately craves, and will let her crew on his new ship with him.

Unfortunately, getting off the island is easier said than done. Diving the local reef, Fable has used her strange affinity to gems and precious stones to slowly gather these expensive items, which she's been selling to a trader named West, who visits the island every few weeks. However, her unusual success with her dives, and her mounting pile of coins, has made her a target for some of the islands inhabitants, and when she's forced to fight for her life Fable manages to convince West to take her across the Narrows to her father. But little does she know she's just set out on an even more dangerous journey.

Like I said earlier, this was a book that I had a hard time putting down, and I found myself reading the entire thing in one sitting. Whilst the story was a big part of this, and Young manages to weave a layered and detailed tale across the course of the book, it was the characters that really grabbed me and made me want to keep reading.

Fable herself is probably my favourite of Young's protagonists to date, and I adored how this tough young woman we meet in the first few chapters, a woman who's had to fight every day for years to survive in an environment that would kill most people slowly evolved over the course of the book and showed us that there's more to her than meets the eye. When the story begins Fable is closed off, not trusting anyone, believing that the only person that she can ever rely on is herself. She's unwilling to believe that people would be willing to help others purely out of the kindness of their heart, and that people will always be trying to get something out of you. She's got a pretty cynical outlook, but one that you can understand given the circumstances.

However, after a while we begin to see this hard exterior begin to crack, Fable starts to see that some people actually can care for others, that not everyone is motivated by greed or hatred, and that love and affection can be powerful forces too. West and his crew are a big part of this change in her, and it's brilliant getting to know them as Fable does, seeing this handful of people trying to keep her at arms length to begin with, but watching as they, and her, slowly begin to open up. These interpersonal relationships are one of the highlights of the book, and I adored seeing how these characters got to know each other, and how Fable would come to care for them over time.

It's not all interpersonal relationships, however, we also get regular ships! The book is full of sea action, with big storms, dangerous reefs, dodgy dealings and smugglers, and inter-ship rivalries and vendettas. There's a lot of stuff going on around Fable that the story never feels dull, and you're always waiting to find out what adversity is about to rear its head to get in the way of her plans, whether it's bad weather, or other crews trying to destroy West and his ship.

The one and only criticism of the book is that it's a duology. This isn't really a bad thing, as it means that we're going to get a whole second book with these characters, and there's promise of big and exciting things to come in the second book, but it means that I have to wait to find out what's going to happen next; and that's just not fair.

I adored this book, and can't wait until the next part in the story comes out. Adrienne Young has once again crafted a story that manages to include brilliant fantasy elements, yet feels grounded and believable, like it could have happened in our own world. She's very quickly become a writer whose work I adore, with three books of hers that are some of my favourites, and a fourth that looks set to join them. If you've never read any of her work before this is the perfect jumping on point, though be warned, you'll end up wanting to read everything she's written by the time you're done.

4 / 5 ✪

https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2021/01/24/fable-by-adrienne-young-review/

As the daughter of trade magnate Saint, Fable once enjoyed a childhood of love and adventure. With her mother and father, she sailed the Narrows and Unnamed Sea, learning the skills of trading and dredging that Fable once hoped would earn her a place by her father’s side when she came of age.

That all changed the night her mother died.

The next day Saint abandoned her on Jezal, an island and pit of thieves, murderers, the desperate and unwashed. In their final moments together, he told her to survive and seek him out, to trust no one and never make herself beholden to another ‘man. Then—after dragging a knife through the flesh of her arm—he left.

Fours years later, Fable still hasn’t seen her father. She still lives on Jezal, but not for much longer. Using her unique and inherited skillset, she nearly has enough coin to escape the island, and claim her place at Saint’s right hand. But to make this dream a reality, first she must make her way across the Narrows to the mainland. Which forces her to place her trust in an ambitious young captain and his ferociously loyal crew. And even if Fable is able to cross the sea without incident, the dream she’s held to for so long may not prove the reality. But that’s a chance she’s willing to take.

“You were not made for this world, Fable.”

This is the story of Fable, pure and simple. It’s not really a dip into a bigger world that’s going to appear in later books (minus the second half of the duology), not is it a story of adventure itself. One of the main complaints I saw beforehand was that there wasn’t enough swashbuckling, action, or tangible fulfillment. And yeah, this is all pretty much true. But the story I was sold on was that of a girl herself, lost in a grander scheme, a grander world, one that she is desperate to find her place in. And with that as a premise, Fable did not disappoint.

Specifically, I found the book boiled down to three major points of emphasis: Fable’s relationship with her father, her place in the world around her, and her growth as a person.

Fable’s relationship with her father is the most tricky. While I won’t go deep into this because of potential spoilers, I could write my entire review on her… (I absolutely hate the term “daddy issues”, but) well, you know. She remembers her childhood spent with her parents aboard the Lark as seen through a rose-tinted glasses. She was happy. Her parents were happy. Life was perfect. Until her mother died.

Her father closed off, scarred her, then abandoned her in a pit of thieves. To say she loves him would be accurate; to say she hates him would be accurate. To say she seeks his approval is also true. It’s certainly complicated, and Young devotes a lot of time to this relationship.

Fable’s place in the world around her is another important aspect of this book. I think that all of us at one time or another struggle with this. Who we are, how we fit, what role we have, what our future holds. It’s something that I’ve yet to come to terms with in my own life. And it’s something Fable is constantly challenged with in hers. Is she a thief? Is she a dredger? Is she a daughter, a lover, a friend, all of these, none of them, more? I’d say this is something that helps humanize her, makes her feel real, more than just a character in a book. It’s not a perfect depiction, to say the least, but it’s done well enough.

Fable’s character development is my third important point, and I’m just going to gloss over it. It’s… there IS development, but it seemed to me it all came too quickly, with no sense of fulfillment. Additionally, there was a romance attached to it, which didn’t feel romantic—minus one or two brief moments—and didn’t really feel real. It’s the same kind of love-at-first-sight story featured in the other Adrienne Young book I’ve read, The Girl the Sea Gave Back. I didn’t buy it there, either. The one in Fable isn’t nearly that bad, but not infinitely better.

TL;DR

Fable is quite literally the tale of Fable, daughter of a big-name trader, cast off on a lawless island hell and told to survive and seek out her father if she manages to escape it. As a tale of a girl growing up and finding her place in the world, Fable is a huge success. As a romance or swashbuckling adventure, it falls a bit short. I mean, there’s certainly adventure, but not a ton. There’s certainly a romance, it just sucks. Not much swashbuckling, though.

I really enjoyed Fable as a fable about Fable. It’s about a girl in search of her father, but moreover searching for her place in the world. There’s a lot to relate with there. It’s an experience, and tells a good and enjoyable story along the way. Fable even introduces a few twists and turns I didn’t see coming. I never had any problem reading this, and thoroughly enjoyed my time doing so. I’ll definitely read the followup, but only hope that the romance has been fixed in it.

Thank you to Sarah at Titan Books for approving my copy of this book via Netgalley. I saw the hardback edition released last year and I loved the cover. When I saw the ebook was on NetGalley I was so excited to be approved.

This book is a story of a young girl trying to find not only herself but also a family. In a world full of thieves, grudges and pirates it's not easy for Fable to find anyone she can trust. She is however extremely determined. She never gives up, every time she's knocked down she gets back up again. I really liked Fable.

I really loved West and the crew on the Marigold. I think Willa was my favourite of the crew. She might seem like a tough girl on the outside but on the inside, she's just as scared as the rest.

This book had lots of interesting themes. There was a big focus on how love can make you weak. How others can hold that power over you. Its a theme I have seen before but it still makes me very sad. That people are afraid to fall in love because of what they can lose.

Adrienne has done an excellent job with the world-building in this book. I loved the different islands and boats. The writing style is very easy to read and I found I was absorbed into the book without even realising it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to see what happens in book 2!

Adventures on the high seas are getting popular at the moment. I suspect it’s the appeal of a tight crew or found family battling both nature’s dangers as well as human ones sailing on it. Be they the pirate-based TV show Black Sails, RJ Barker’s wonderful Tide Child series or the recent The Forever Sea by Joshua Phillip Jackson there are tales offering adventure and a journey through new varied worlds. Adrienne Young who wrote the excellent Sky In the Deep has moved from Vikings to the oceans in the charming novel Fable focused on a young woman trying to rescue herself and finally find her father but no journey is ever simple.

Fable four years ago lost her mother while she was sailing on her father Saint’s main ship in a terrible storm. Saint a man known more for practicality than emotion decided at that moment the best thing for Fable would be to leave her on a dangerous island full of thieves alone with nothing. He does however promise her that if she ever gets home to meet him, she can get what she deserves. Fable learns theft, bargaining and the skill of dredging (picking treasure from the sea floor) and slowly has created a nest egg of copper while gaining a reputation for finding the best precious ore the sea floor has to offer. Unfortunately, she has also attracted the attention of the more dangerous population and so now desperately needs to escape her home before she is killed. Her one hope is the simple trading vessel The Marigold captained by the taciturn young West who has become her best customer. Unwillingly West agrees and the ship begins an uncertain voyage to where Saint resides. Fable though is about to find nothing is quite as straightforward as it seems.

I really enjoyed this tale for its elegant simplicity. It has a nice snowball effect of a simple scene building up both characters and plot so by the time we get to the end of this first volume in the planned duology we are in a very different type of story. Fable is key to this story’s success she comes across as young, ambitious and in desperate need to see and get approved by her father. Young gives her both a confidence and sense of yearning/loneliness that four years alone has built up into some walls that will be finally broken. She is no nonsense and doesn’t think of any danger in her actions if she thinks it’s the right thing to do from diving to the bottom of the sea on a dare to jumping into a dangerous port at night. There is though a morality at her heart – she is not a pirate she is a trader who doesn’t mind bending rules sometimes. This gives the story a nice contrast with Saint who though we only see him a few times looms large over the tale. An absent father who can be both scary due to his more criminal enterprises and yet I felt you can see that he feels a lot of emotion for his daughter but rarely ever lets it show. It’s an unusual parental dynamic and I loved the turns it took to drive the story giving it some real heart.

The other element that appeals is the crew of the Marigold. This is a small ship (crew of four) and in particular Fable and the handsome but secretive West add some mystery to the tale to resolve. Initially everyone is unwelcoming to Fable’s arrival, so the first half of the story is getting them each to know each other and eventually they find common goals and enemies to resolve. This adds intrigue, humour, action and romance as we move across seas and ports and meet rivals both of West and Saint who find Fable adds a new factor. There is a sense of a wider tale starting too as we hear of different factions squabbling on the seas and an interesting subtle use of magic – Fable can sense gems and metals which makes her a great dredger but also a decent gem trader when required. I look forward to seeing how this story develops as it ends on quite a cliff-hanger.

This is a charming adventure story that subtly tells us a story of a woman growing up out of her father’s shadow and gives us some high seas adventure on top. Young is a great storyteller, and I loved that emotional driver of Saint and Fable which I think make this worth a look.

If you follow me, you’ll know that I do read many fantasy books but I’m so grateful to the publisher for this review copy because it’s one of my favourite books of the year.
There’s no such thing as the perfect hero or heroine but the author has managed to draw me in this story from the first chapter to the last and to love the main characters so much. She has flaws and insecurities, she’s scared and young, but she’s also strong and driven to work out her way into the life she was thrown in.
It’s a magical story that will spread her spell on you throughout the pages and keep you waiting on the edge for the next books in the series because the adventure has just begun.
I can not recommend it enough.

Last year everyone was talking about this book, so I was intrigued and I had to read it. I can see why it was liked so much.
The thing is, usually, when it comes to books on the sea there are two ways they can turn out: mermaids or pirates. In this one, we have a ship crew, but it does not go around with a pirate flag doing pirates things. And the protagonist does not turn half fish when touching water. So, I'll say this is the reason why it was liked so much: a new take on the "ships in the sea books". This is the reason why I liked it too. At the beginning I was a bit skeptical, not sure how much interesting these not-pirates-or-mermaids could be, but they were. The "main" cast was small, but this allowed the author to characterize them very well, and the reader is able to know all the "main characters" even if it's only the actual main character that is narrating. In particular, I'm in love with West (who could not?): new book-boyfriend, hello. Though, I must say, the author was a bit fixated on his hair: yes, I understood they are "gold" and "sun-kissed", can we please not add the color every time Fable mentions his hair? Still, it's not because of this that you will not enjoy this book, you will--read it.
Moreover, I liked reading the book because the pacing was good, the "big revelations" are well-divided across the book, but it's not like there are "dead periods" in between: some action or, better, something to move forward the story is always happening. So yes, I really liked the author writing style. I'll read the sequel, obviously, and I'll probably read also other books of the author (yes, this was my first "experience" with Adrienne and she did not disappoint).

Note: I do not know enough on ships to say if what was said in this book is accurate, but I can say it seemed professional and research enough that if something really was wrong it went unnoticed to the inexperienced reader. Also, while there are a lot of these technicisms, I must say they did not bore or slow down my read.

We meet Fable four years after her mother was drowned in a shipwreck and her father left her on an island to fend for herself. It’s an island where you have to keep your wits about you, a place you could never call home, a place that is dangerous. Fable has spent the four years dredging, making and saving money to be able to leave the island and return to her father.

Things are never that simple though and Fable has many battles to fight along the way, she has to prove her worth and in doing so a fantastic character has been born. Fable is only 17 but god does she have balls, she’s feisty, determined and down right gutsy. I loved her.

The story is actually full of fantastic characters whether you love them or loathe them they certainly come to life.

I adored the setting for Fable, Adrienne Young has written a story filled with detail which makes it so easy to visualise. I’d love this to be made into a film or tv series. That would absolutely make my day.

With a hint of romance, danger, many obstacles to over come and masterfully crafted characters this was a gripping read. I was totally drawn into this story and when it ended I felt bereft, thank goodness it’s not too long until the sequel, Namesake is released.

I’ll definitely be recommending Fable to all, it’s a story I can’t wait to reread and it’s a definite 5 stars from me.

Massive thanks to Titan Books for the arc via NetGalley.

I've been waiting for pirates to make a comeback for a long time and Fable has answered my prayers. All I want is to sail the seas with a bunch of morally grey found family in search of glory and continued survival. I'm happy to say I found that in this fast-paced adventure book featuring a girl abandoned on a dangerous, corrupt island and told to find her way back to her father. It was so much fun; I read it all in one sitting!

I love a good sea adventure! A bunch of people who may or may not get along in close quarters? Yes please, I live for that drama. Bad weather, stormy seas, and danger around every corner! A pirate story would struggle to be boring because there are so many exciting elements. I'm glad to say Fable lived up to all of that. I loved the selfishness of all the characters, the tendency to be dishonest, and how everyone hid what was important to them. Not only did I have great fun with this book, but it's also inspired me to hunt down more of the pirate fiction that I've been missing.

I also enjoyed how Fable had slightly darker elements to it while remaining a young adult read. I'm enjoying this turn in young adult towards slightly more serious topics and darker themes. Pirate stories are always going to be a bit gritty and violent. I'm glad the book didn't shy away from tackling that!

The romance scenes were some of the most fun I've read! Perhaps it could have been a little more slow-growing. The relationship doesn't start quickly, but it all seems to happen at once. I could see people finding it a little jarring how quickly the tides turned. However, you can't be too critical of a romance that brought us an underwater kiss scene! Underwater kiss scenes are something I never knew I needed, but now I need more of them immediately.

The family dynamic in the book was wonderfully complex. We don't get to know too much about Fable's mother as she died in a shipwreck. Fable's father is a notorious and powerful pirate. The day the shipwreck that killed her mother happened he carved up her arm, left her on an island, and told her she'd get what she's owed if she could find him. Talk about a dysfunctional father figure! Fable's whole life revolves around this one objective, and let's just say the reunion isn't what she expected…

I do have a few criticisms. Mainly, I wanted more detail in just about everything. I'm not expecting heavy worldbuilding, but a little bit more would be nice. There's some identifying-gems magic that Fable has that's not touched upon in detail, and the way the world functions isn't fully explained either. I know we were on the sea for most of the book, but I want to know more.

The found family element was also a little bit disappointing. The lack of detail carries across to the characters and makes them difficult to truly love, a few I couldn't even tell apart. I understand why they're closed off and secretive, but I'm hoping the found family shines more in the next book because there's a lot of potential there!

Overall, Fable is a wonderfully fast-paced adventure that was so much fun to read! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book because I'm certain this series is going to be great.

* A big thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy!

Fable really reminded me of what it’s like to read a good and fast paced YA book, it was so enjoyable.
We follow Fable who was dumped on this island by her father Saint where she was told that she had to learn how to fend for herself.

Everyone on this island is rather ruthless and so Fable has had to learn how to become quite ruthless herself, and I loved it. I also really liked this complicated relationship between Fable and Saint, especially because when he dropped her off, Fable’s chances of survival weren’t that high...
The writing is atmospheric and I was able to picture everything perfectly without feeling like it was becoming info dumpey. There’s a reaaaaal slow slow-burn romance too and I’m HERE FOR IT.

If you’re a fan of books like Daughter of the Pirate King and are looking for a similar story with a badass heroine set on sea this is definitely the book for you and I’d highly recommend it!

Oh my word, that was fantastic! This book really had it all and it deserves all the stars. The story was absorbing, exciting- the characters were ones you could get behind- there was a significant theme of belonging/not belonging which was very moving. I was so keen to have a happy ending and I read faster and faster to get to the end without anything bad happening- you’ll just have to read it yourself to find out whether I got my wish! Many thanks to Netgalley for an arc of this book.

Incredible.
Fable has taken a top spot as one of my favourite books of all time. From start to finish I was hooked.
Everything about it was perfect. We have a strong female lead, found family, a runaway crew, and a slow burn romance (also I normally HATE slow burn’s with my a passion but my, oh my, I was living for this one).
The setting was incredible. I felt like I was there, with Fable and the crew of the Marigold. It’s been a long time since I felt a book transported me into its setting, but I followed Fable along the Narrows and I loved every second.
I am absolutely ITCHING to read Namesake! I can’t wait! I’m going to have the biggest book hangover after this one... is it too soon to reread??? Asking for a friend...
•
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for my eARC.

Fable is a fast paced and action packed novel set mostly at sea as the main character desperately tries to reunite with her father. I love a pirate themed novel, and Fable was no different, it had traitorous rogues, life-threatening storms and an adventure filled with intrigue and excitement! We meet our main character, Fable as she tries to gather the remaining coins she needs to leave the island she was abandoned on four years ago by her father. She’s a very typical main character who was left to fend for herself on an island of ruthless castaways, however I couldn’t help but root for her from the very first page. Fable runs into trouble almost instantly in her quest to gather more resources to sell, leading to a fast-paced chase through the island to supposed freedom. If novel includes thrilling action from the beginning, I am most definitely hooked!

The story of Fable is one of the best told fantasy stories I have read in a while, I was fully immersed in this tale from the very beginning. I was sailing the Narrows alongside Fable and the crew of the Marigold, I was dredging up pyre from the bottom of the sea bed and facing down enemies with an angry glare (I can’t fight)! Fable definitely succumbs to a few popular story tropes, but when you’ve read as many pirate themed novels as I have you can’t not expect the same tropes every now and again, so I was totally on board with them all.

However although there were some elements of the story that I predicted quite quickly, there were also parts that left me surprised. Just after halfway through reading Fable, the story took a turn I wasn’t expecting and I loved the fascinating turn of events. Sign me up as the next crewmate for the Marigold, as I am desperate for the sequel to this story! Fable and her crewmates have utterly bewitched me with their wit and camaraderie. If you’ve been considering adding Fable to your TBR or are looking for your next swashbuckling tale, then I highly recommend this fun and fantastic story.

Such a great read, I love this author and I find this one fantastic!It was fast paced and I was intrigued and excited while I was reading it!Loved the world build up! Fable is amazing, such a badass and strong heroine!

There is action and I liked the romance a lot!I fall in love with the characters!Such a unique story!

Looking forward for the next book!

Thank you very much to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this one early.

What. A. Ride.

First things first: this book is absolutely phenomenal.

The world building is fantastic. I was immediately sucked into Fable‘s world and it was navigated with such ease and colour that I felt like I was going on her adventure with her.

I absolutely love the Characters. I am generally a huge sucker for the found family trope and Fable and her rag tag team of sailors were exactly that. The slow trust they build with each other was... gods, *chef‘s kiss*. I loved the diversity as well. White and straight definitely isn’t the default here and honestly, Fable‘s thoughts about skin colour and same-Sex love? Non-existent beyond noticing. Everyone is just so freaking valid to her and everytime something happens to her that isn‘t good? I wanted to scream. Because Fable is precious and needs to be protected.

I am already so freaking excited for book 2 and to see where this adventure goes. I am already suiting up to come along. This is the adventure story we all need and deserve. So please Go Read!!!

4.5 stars

This book has content warnings for: death of a parent (not on-page), parental abandonment, scarring, burns, violence, murder, kidnapping, mentions of drowning.

Thanks to Titan for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Every now and then, a fantasy novel comes along that captivates me completely. The narrative, characters, and world-building all work together seamlessly to produce an exceptional story. Fable was that fantasy for me.

I read Adrienne Young’s The Girl the Sea Gave Back a few years ago and enjoyed it, so I expected to enjoy this too. I didn’t expect to find a new favourite and end up desperate for the sequel.

The story begins with Fable working hard to survive on the island of Jeval after her father marooned her there four years previously. We learn that Fable is a dredger; someone who dives deep into the reef to scavenge for pyre and other gems.

West is captain of the Marigold and a trader who has been coming to buy Fable’s pyre for a few years. When he sees that she has enough coin to buy a passage to the Narrows (to try and find her father) he reluctantly agrees to take her on board the ship.

West is a very private, impassive character, to the point of being stoic. We rarely get glimpses of how he’s feeling but when we do see his emotions, it makes those scenes the more special because he’s usually so stolid. He’s basically a fondant; firm on the outside, soft on the inside.

I loved Fable and West’s dynamic because they’re a variation of the grumpy/sunshine trope. He’s stern and serious and she’s determined and passionate. And the only time we see West truly break his controlled exterior is when he’s worried about Fable.

There’s a particular scene when doesn’t know if she’s OK and he YELLS her name and I melted into goo.

Although I liked West and Fable, my favourite character was undoubtedly Willa. She’s tough and intelligent but compassionate too. I adored the way her able Fable’s relationship progressed from Willa actively distrusting Fable, to them being almost sister-like in their companionship.

The other members of the crew, Paj, Auster, and Hamish, bring the ship to life, creating one big found family.

I really enjoyed the witty, humorous dialogue between the crew and this has got to be one of my new favourite YA squads. (Yes, friends, it’s a squad. I said it.) There’s also a gay romance which gives us some really sweet scenes that I loved.

One of the best aspects of the book is how well the action scenes are spaced out. There’s some form of action, drama, or romantic tension in every chapter, which kept things exciting and meant the pacing was SPOT ON.

If you enjoy squad goals, high seas action, a slow-building romance, underwater kissing, and hints of magic and mystery, I’d highly recommend picking up Fable. It’s fun, fast-paced, and riveting from start to finish