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...
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Thank you to NetGalley and Titan books for my eARC.

Adventure on the sea? "pirates"? Focus on father/daughter relationship? that's the book for me. Fable was a really nice discovery, i appreciated so much the unique world, sea adventures are not really popular now and that's exactly what i needed. it's difficult to talk about the story, because this books relies heavily on the second one, the story, the development of the characters and the relationships, i'm waiting to read Namesake to completely understand the meaning of this duology. for now, it's good, i really liked the characters (a bit less the romance, becase, i mean, it's barely there, so, next book?). i only have a question : why there people don’t call each other pirates when they obviously are? ugh.

My final and 100th read of the year and I am glad to say that it did not disappoint.

Fable has been abandoned on a ruthless island by her father. Helping her to survive her determination for getting off the island, finding her father and taking her rightful place beside him. As you can imagine this easier said than done.

If you are looking for an adventurous book set at sea then this is for you. This is my first book by Adrienne Young and I found it highly readable and atmospheric.

Let me start by saying that I honestly don't know what my rating should be. At first, the first 10% of the book I didn't understand much and as a result I didn't enjoy as much as I wanted. The world building was very interesting, but it was also confusing to me. Yes, this is something that happens to most fantasy worlds, but this felt more like historical , than fantasy if I'm being honest.

Fable was a strong heroine and I really liked her personality. I also liked Willa and West. They were definitely my favorites. The story was fast paced and the nautical world with ships, pirates, shipwrecks, definitely a beautiful and intriguing one.

There were some twists I didn't see coming and they made me wonder what other secrets lie on this world that the author has built. I really wish there was more romance in the story, but I can't complain with the few bits that I got. They were beautifully written and they left me with a smile on my face.

I can't wait to read the next book in the series, especially after this cliffhanger!

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.

Synopsis

Fable is the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows. She was raised on the sea that became partly her home. After the loss of her mother, Fable was left by her father on the island that is known for thievery and lack of food. After four years of hard work, she’s finally getting closer to go back to her father and demand her rightful place beside him and his crew. However, because of few obstacles, she has to ask for help from a young trader called West to take her on his ship.

During the voyage through the Narrows, she didn’t need to only convince the crew that she can be trusted, but she had to also come face to face with her father's rivalry. Together with West and his crew, they need to face the new dangerous adventures on their way. However, not everything is going her way. Especially that the goal she was dreaming about last few years isn’t ideal.

Book Review

Lately, I have started reading more books about the sea. This book was much different from the ones I read before. The story is very unique. The book is about traders, the sea, and a young girl with unique skills she needs to hide from people. Her biggest dream is to become a member of her father’s crew. To get there she needs to learn how to survive on her own and find her way back to her father.

Fable doesn’t trust anyone, after she was abandoned by her father, she had to live in poverty and surrounded by thieves. She’s very mature for her age, and also very mature. I adore her way of thinking and strategizing. She finds ways to solve a problem quicker than any other person that she knows. However, you can clearly see that she has a lot of sadness and disappointment in her life. The first moment she could finally fill her heart with happiness was when the crew of Marigold finally accepts her. She feels that after a long time she finally belongs somewhere.

I was a little bit disappointed with the scene when she finally met her father. I understand his behavior and why she treats her the way he does but I thought he will at least show some emotions that he missed her or he’s glad she’s alive. He feels empty after losing Fable’s mother. He doesn’t make sense with why he wants to keep Fable away. He says that life on the sea isn’t a life for her. However, the world where she alone isn’t safer. If West wouldn’t help her, she would already be dead.

West is an interesting character. What’s funny about him is that by looking only at his personality you may think that he’s a grown adult, while he’s still a young man. In the beginning, I thought he is at least 35 and then the author describes him as a young boy. He’s the most caring person in this book. Even if he doesn’t show it, he does everything for Fable’s well-being. He saves her at the moment she’s the most vulnerable and doesn’t stop looking out for her when their deal is off after the voyage.

The love plot in this book is adorable. It’s unexpected and cute in a way that you can feel some chemistry between them but on the other hand, you are not sure if it’s love or being grateful. It’s hard to love anyone in the lifestyle they both are leading. Fable’s parents are the best example of it. We get only one moment of them, but I don’t feel like there was more needed. Especially, with the values, they are sharing. They don’t want to risk their lives for a passionate moment.

I’m really curious about what’s going to happen in the next book. The ending of this book was great so I can’t wait to read the next part. I think it will be published on March 16th so there is a little time left until I can read it. I would like to thank Netgalley, Titan Books, and Adrienne Young for providing me an ARC copy of this book. I’m grateful for finally being able to read this book.

I enjoyed this very much. A page-turner with a strong female character and great group dynamics. Very cinematic so would make a great film or TV series!

"And like the turn of the wind before the most unpredictable of storms, I could feel that everything was about to change."
After a tragic shipwreck kills her mother, Fable is abandoned on an inhospitable island by her father and forced to survive and make her own way in the world against all odds in this tale of found family and swashbuckling adventures.
As someone who didn't fare well with this author's first novel, Sky in the Deep, I was dubious going into this one however I have been thoroughly converted to this author's work and thoroughly enjoyed this one. Needless to say, I will be picking up Namesake as soon as it becomes available to me.
The strongest element of this book is without a doubt the worldbuilding and atmosphere, which gripped me from the first chapter. I was really wrapped up in the setting and it felt very well fleshed out and explored.
Similarly to this, the writing was very good, it was easy to digest whilst still having a lot of meaning and emotion to it.
I really enjoyed Fable as the main character and her interactions with the other characters felt believable and accurate, I liked that more than anything it took time to build up these bonds and I am really hoping that now we have a strong foundation we will have more emotional moments in the second book.
This brings me to the next point, the plot was pretty straight forward and it was paced well without being action-packed. That being said I imagine that the next book will definitely ramp up in stakes and in complexity, I hope this is the case as I can imagine rating the book higher if it wasn't for this simplicity.
If you like pirate books and found family then I would highly recommend Fable.
Rated: 4 Stars

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!

A world of danger, not just from the sea but those who profit from it 🏴‍☠️🌊⠀
I loved this book! All the stars! ⭐️ ⠀
It gripped me from the first page and I didn’t want to put it down.⠀
It was full of adventure, a little romance with many interesting character developments. ⠀
Fable is a survivor who doesn’t give up during the dark days and that makes her a heroine in my eyes. ⠀
I love a sea fantasy adventure. I’ve read so many and Fable did not disappoint! 🐚🌊⠀

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

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.

Fable is the first book in the Fable duology by Adrienne Young. It is a oceanic ya fantasy about a girl who has to survive in this rough world all own her own and we follow her journey.
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Our protagonist Fable is a very inspiring character with a lot of staying power. She is hard working and clever and therefore manages to survive. Other people underestimate her and she was such a strong character and could not only surprise the people in her world, but also me as a readers. Her goal is to be reunited with her father and to demand answers of why she was left behind. Fable was so determined that she risked all for that.
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This brings her on the Marigold and away from the thief island Jewal. You follow along this journey that shows the rough life and struggles on sea, as well as other places in this world and the trading business. The world building is very vivid and atmospheric and how I imagined the oceanic life to be. My favorite scenes where when Fable dove underwater. This is also featured in the UK cover and I adored that.
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The crew of the Marigold was far from welcoming at first and they viewed her as a liability. But Fable has managed worse and slowly proves herself and they get closer. I especially liked West and Willa who you get to figure out more with each page. And I slowly started to like them as well. There was also a glimpse of romance between West and Fable and I hope this gets more explored in the next book.
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Overall, Fable was a stunning book with a atmospheric world and a strong female protagonist. I really liked it and I’m very excited for the sequel especially after the end of this book. 4,5 stars.

(ARC kindly provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Enjoyable read, loved the pirate aspect and it was a fantastic fantasy romp! Can't wait to read the sequel!