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!

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 like a big fat juicy pirate story? Well me some times - but no matter because I loved this one!

Fable was abandoned by her father on an island of thrives and pirates to fend for herself for 4 years before she manages to escape with enough coin to gain passage in the Marigold to confront him. Cue more adventures, swashbuckling crew and danger.

This felt short. Fable is a strong heroine with cool abilities and I can’t wait to see how she develops further in the next book. There are a lot of intriguing questions/loose ends at this cliffhanger ending. I want to understand more about her parents, her sage gem abilities and what happens to the rest of the crew of the Marigold. I’m glad it’s a duology and I get to read the next book soon but I hope it’s longer! The author produced a fast paced, action packed book, that made my heart lurch in parts. Highly recommended. 4.25/5 stars.

I absolutely adore this book ! This is literally everything I wanted at the moment. I was going through a reading slump and once I picked it up, I knew I was hooked !
Let's talk about the main protagonist first. Fable is everything that you need in a heroine. She is smart, clever, tough, and a Survivor ! She was abandoned by her father on an island and thus began her journey.
Fable is definitely a fast paced book and Adrienne's written just makes it easier for the reader to read it in one sitting. I loved the world Adrienne created. It's definitely different from the YA books we usually read. It's like reading Pirates of the Caribbean but without any mosters or weird creatures in it. I honestly wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. But right now, all I want is the second book to know where the story proceeds. Also, did I mention that it ends on a cliffhanger ?

Fable has been left on the island by her father, after a great storm destroyed their ship and killed her mother. Now Fable wants to go back to her father and prove to him and the world that she can make it. That she is strong and she can actually live in this world.

The story starts off with action, and I thought this was a great way to kick things off. Fable is running barely making it onto the boat. It shows us immediately what kind of a character Fable is - strong, fighter, unwilling to give up.

I liked:

Although the world-building isn't as complex as I like it to be, it was a beautiful world nonetheless. The atmosphere is sort of grey, almost dark, and there's this feeling of tension in the air constantly. You can feel that this is a dangerous world, where no one is safe.

I loved the idea of a crew that felt like a family. Those were my favourite parts of the story.

I also loved learning more about Fable being a gem sage, this aspect was very interesting to me.

I didn't like:
Characterisation: All of the characters were flat. Nothing complex about them. Except for what motivates them from their past, we basically only scratch the surface with each of them. I wished we got more a deeper look into who they are, how they feel, how they act and react. Fable evidently grew throughout the story, especially after getting closure of some sorts in the middle of the story, but still...She felt too static. I feel like with more round, complex characters this story would have blown me out of the water.

I really wanted to like the romance too, but it felt less than exciting. It's fairly predictable.

As with any story, I want to like it and give it my all to understand it, and most of all feel it. Unfortunately, I just didn't feel excited, happy, thrilled, scared...It felt like a flat line from the beginning to the end.

The story ends with a predictable cliffhanger, but you can predict what will happen in the second book.

Who would like it: If you like YA fantasy, Sci-Fi, stories on the ship/sea, a unique world, crew life, a little bit of mystery.

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!

"What else have you done that haunts you?”
Fable is a memorable novel, fast paced with an incredible world building. I loved the way Adrienne Young wrote this tale. Thank you to the publishers, Netgalley and the author for providing me with an ARC for an honest review in return.
"It was the spot I’d sat every morning, waiting for my father’s ship to return, even though he’d told me he wasn’t coming back. It took me two years to believe him."
Fable is one of those stories that you loved alot, a book with a lot of potential yet you find it lacking in a few parts. The characters and the protagnist for one were bland and I couldn't care about their predicament or their situation at all. It would have been nice to be able to live through the stories with more perspectives and information. Second, However vast the world building seemed, when it comes to plot, it was unimpressive and predictable. Third, I loved the subtlety of the slow burn romance and the touch of the most beautiful scene that creeps up on you when least expected. It was magical yet rushed and poorly executed...
"He looked at me with a hundred stories lit behind his eyes."
Fourth, Gem Sage was damn intruiging, I NEED NORE INTEL on that. So I'd rate this a 3 star and I'd recommend it for those who are into pirates and if you are a fan of "Daughter of the Pirate King" by Tricia Levenseller. I believe the next book might have more in store for us because that ending, ended me and I can't wait to pick up Namesake.

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

Fable is what is best about YA fantasy adventure books. Enough action to keep your interest, strong feisty female lead, bunch of misfits who form an alternative family. There are some tense moments in the book but nothing that really has you on edge, it is definitely a YA book & sticks very much within its genre. I found it really easy to imagine the action like a film & enjoyed the sea setting. The characters are well set up for the sequel.

I think, within it's genre, this is a great read & I'll be looking out for the next one.

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.

‘Fable’ is an absolutely typical young adult fantasy book. For fans of the genre it makes an enjoyable enough read, but it lacks anything special to make it stand out.

Four years ago, Fable’s father – one of the most feared tradesmen in the Narrows – abandoned her on a remote island to prove her worth. Survive, and she’ll be allowed to come into her legacy. Anything else and she won’t be his daughter. Finally, Fable has scraped together enough coin to pay for passage off the island – but the seas are treacherous, and the man Fable enlists for help, West, is more than he seems. Fable’s salvation might turn out to be her downfall.

Fable couldn’t be a more typical YA protagonist. Lost her mother in a tragic accident? Check. Abandoned by her father to live as an orphan? Check. Possessing rare and unusual skills that she must keep secret from everyone else? Check. Beautiful despite years spent barely able to survive and feed herself? Check. Fable is determined and feisty, if very naive, and a likeable enough protagonist – but she doesn’t stand out. It can also be very irritating how she clings to her fathers rules and beliefs despite him being a horrible person. This is probably realistic, but it’s not pleasant to read.

The crew of the Marigold, the ship Fable escapes on, are an interesting bunch – although because they and Fable don’t trust each other one jolt, they remain a mystery for much of the book. Willa especially is a brilliant character, and West clearly has the obligatory tragic backstory for the main male character in a YA fantasy. It isn’t really a spoiler to call him the love interest because it’s so obviously choreographed from the beginning, and the plot is standard enough to throw up few surprises.

The best part about this book is the setting. The worldbuilding is exceptionally bare bones and basic, but most of this takes place on boats and the sea, and the way this is depicted is excellent. All the terminology is very well explained, without too much being dumped on the reader at once, and the highs and lows of life at sea are beautifully portrayed. There’s also a real sense of family amongst the crew – and clear reasons why this has to be the case. It’s a shame that everything else about the book is so bland, because the premise of rival merchant ship crews is packed with potential.

Overall, ‘Fable’ is a decent read, but lacks anything to make it stand out from other books in its genre. YA fantasy fans will likely enjoy it, but those who’ve read many YA fantasies before may find the story too familiar in territory.

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.

Fable follows the story of Fable, deserted on Island by her father four years ago, she finally has the means to escape and find her father to reclaim her place next to him.

The plot of the book follows Fable as she journeys towards her father and her dream, a lot of the focus is spent on her time at sea and to be honest it is not an interesting plot/story however I really liked the writing style and the characters which made up for the boring plot. The book is slow paced which I quite liked, it gave time to get to know the characters better and build up the world building really well, I did like the setting of the book. Fable is a really likeable main character, she has gone through a lot and her experiences allow her to be able to fend for herself and make her smart to the world around her, I did also like the side characters especially as their relationship with Fable was build up slowly because of the lack of trust. Even though the plot was not interesting, the book was still an enjoyable read and sets up for the second book really well.

I did like the pace of the book but towards the end things seemed rushed, a lot was going on and it was kind of disappointing to see a lot of build up towards something happening in the book get wasted. Also, I did not like the romance – there was very little of it and it was mainly towards the end, but those characters had no chemistry and their confessions were rushed.

3/5

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!