NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICK Filled with all of the action, emotion, and lyrical writing that brought readers to Sky in the Deep, New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns with Fable, the first book in this new captivating duology. Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. … dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.
As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.
But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn’t who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they’re going to stay alive.
Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue and adventure.
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Be prepared heartache and determination; loss and betrayal.
I feel in love with this author after reading “The GirlThe Sea Gave Back” so I was excited to read another story set on the high seas. This is a world of cutthroats, though – a world full of thieves and liars who would like nothing more than to exploit your greatest weakness -love. Your love for your family, your love for your friends, even a significant other. It’s all knowledge used to barter with your enemies. That’s why Fable knows that she can’t ever trust anyone with her secrets, can’t ever get closer. When her father abandoned her, it has been her mission to find a way to return to him. She just needs the trader, West’s help to get off the cursed island to make it happen. But not all is as it seems. Some secrets lie on the surface whole others are buried deep.
As Fable and the crew of the Marigold make their way across the Narrows secrets come to light that will change things forever for the crew and Fable. Things will never be the same in Fable’s eyes again. And as the story ends we are left wondering what is in store for her next.
It’s a wonderfully told story about the strength of one girl – her grit and determination in the midst of her survival. The complexity of how she chooses to see the world is interesting because she chooses to let her mother ‘guide’ her and not be the cold, hard person her father is. I really enjoyed the many aspects of not only Fable’s character but the other crew’s characters. I really am looking forward to where this story is going. I finished it in a couple hours, I was just so invested in the story. I couldn’t believe it was over. Hope the next one comes out soon.
** I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. **
Keep your knife where you can reach it.
Never, ever owe anyone anything.
Nothing is free.
Always construct a lie from a truth.
Never, under any circumstances, reveal what or who matters to you.
What the what?
Holy shit, this was phenomenal!
It was exactly what I wanted. Starting from the breathtaking cover (seriously look at that fucking cover! Hands down one of the best of 2020!), feminist YA fantasy storyline, LGBTQIA representation, badass pirates, adventure with a touch of action in the high seas and let’s not forget the well-considered controlled pacing romance between West and Fable that wasn’t rushed nor forced—It was damn near unputdownable!
Besides the epic adventure the author takes readers on, what I enjoyed the most was the authors writing. The author’s writing has improved drastically since ‘The Girl the Sea Gave Back’ and dare I say, the ‘Fable’ series is her best work yet. She was able to captivate me far more with the main characters than imaginable and what led the Marigold crew to cross paths, well paced plot, remarkable supporting characters whose backstories I hope is further explored in the ‘Namesake’ including Fable’s parents Saint and Isolde, the strong friendships and broken families ties. And that cliffhanger though! Take notes authors because that’s how you get readers amped for the sequel.
I seriously can’t remember the last time I raved so wholeheartedly for a young adult fantasy novel. I thought for a second I was in a rut but hell to the naw! ‘Fable’ resurrected me from the slump grave and I’m nearing sitting on the edge of my seat eager to get my hands on the next installment, ‘Namesake’ because it’s going to blow everything else out the water.
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Fable by Adrienne Young is an excellent and thrilling book that is part historical fiction, part fantasy with wonderful elements of romance, adventure, and epic storytelling all fused into one excellent novel. This book is marketed as young adult, however as an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I feel that this can easily appeal to audiences that include young adults and young adults alike.
I loved reading about this alternate world of far away seas, islands, ships abound, and competing and rival pirating/trading groups that created wonderful images of a new age, time, and place where magical things could happen any day.
I loved learning more about boating, ships, navigation, and survival on the relentless sea. I loved the action, adventure, twists, turns, and the cliffhanger. But most of all, I loved the characters. Fable, West, Willa, Saint, Paj, Hammish, and Auster. The descriptions of their physical attributes, the complex histories, the flaws, their loyalties, and their relationships won me over. I love Fable and Wes (but Fable most of all). She is strong, growing, maturing, seems to find herself into spots of trouble, but she is kind, passionate, and loyal to no end. I cannot wait to read what happens next!!!!
5/5 stars enthusiastically
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St Martin’s Press for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.