Ava has done it again with this astounding dystopian romance. The characters are complex and flawed but so beautifully written that you get caught up in their story and are compelled to keep reading.

I am so glad I have pre ordered a Waterstones special edition of this.

Ava is one of my go to authors, everything they write is a must for me.

Intense and painful and so utterly, utterly heartbreaking. This was a tough read, considering current events - the misery of it all felt overwhelming at times. This is a massive compliment to Ava Reid, who continues to produce some of the best prose. Fable has an excellent concept and characters, but ultimately feels somewhat incomplete.

Dystopia is back, baby!

I have always been a big fan of Reid's writing style and of dystopian fiction, and knowing that The Hunger Games was a big source of inspiration for this story meant that my expectations were very high going into this.

This book felt like a love letter to dystopian books published during my teen years, and I felt so nostalgic whilst reading this – I really enjoyed it overall! I think because the writing felt very reminiscent of other dystopian books, the writing style felt different to Reid's other books I've read in the past, less dark and emotive, but still very well written.

I'm not sure whether this book is intended to be the beginning of a series or a standalone, but to me it very much felt like the beginning of a series; it made a great introduction to the world and characters, with definite room left to expand and explore in further books. I even feel like this book could have benefitted from being a bit longer, and perhaps more action could have taken place during the Gauntlet and more time been given for the development of the relationship between the main characters, as I do think the beginning and ending were the strongest sections of the story.

I really liked the dual POV and both Inesa and Melinoë as main characters, and liked that there were so many reflections of our society in the world-building, allowing Reid to explore relevant themes such as climate change, the use of AI, and the desensitisation in society from violent/graphic content on streaming sites and social media.

Overall I would definitely recommend this if you love dystopian stories, it left me NEEDING a second book!

This is a really great read. I was not aware of the authors love of the hunger games and that she was heavily into writing fan fiction about it until i read the authors note in the book. I have 3 sets of the hunger games so i understand her love of the books, but i will admit i was apprehensive about reading it incase it was too similar.

The book was a surprise, you can tell that the hunger games influenced it, and you can swap out characters easily, like Snow for Azrael, and Inesa for Katniss, Luka for Peeta, Azrael for Snow etc etc

That being said, the world is original, Inesa and her family live in a world that is run on a social credit system, i thought this was interesting because i think the uk will head that way in the future which is terrifying, and places like China already have it now. Due to not having lots of credits Inesa and her brother Luka live very poorly, they can barely afford food and have no lighting or heating. One day Inesa is nominated for the Gauntlet which is where an ordinary citizen is put up for it by their family to pay off their credit debt, in Inesa's case her own mother nominated her to pay off her drug debts (Charming), They are called Lambs and they are hunted by machines called Angels, who are part human and part machine.

I wont say anymore because i wont spoil it. This was a fast paced read, with strong world building and great characters. There is a f/f relationship in this which is written in a very sweet and tender way. The book ends on a cliffhanger and the author could carry on the story or she could leave it as it is, frankly i am of the opinion she should leave it. I thought it was a great ending and its left for the readers to figure out what happens next which makes the book that much better for me. Not everything needs a tidy ending, and this lends itself full circle for the authors fans to write fan fiction about it.

A superbly nostalgic read full of heart, emotion and so many cosy vibes. A must for all witchy vibes fans, as the brilliant Ava Reid does it again.

“The more I look at the photo, the father’s gaze seems turbulent, not hostile. It’s the mother’s eyes that have a sheen of malice in them, glossy and cold as water under moonlight.”

I cannot stress this enough, this was one of the most incredible books I’ve ever read. It combined politics, climate change, debt, radiation, fear, family and love into the most beautiful and haunting dystopian novel. I’m almost struggling to find words that convey exactly how this book made me feel. Melinoë and Inesa are both such beautiful characters. Seeing Melinoë develop the feelings that were taken from her, watching her realise that the lambs she had been sent to kill were as human as she was, made me feel anger and heartbreak for her. As a side note, there were elements of my relationship with my own mother reflected in this, and I think young adult me needed a book like this. Honestly, I think adult me needed a book like this too.
If you liked the hunger games, or any of the other dystopian novels from around that time period, you should absolutely read this book. If you like soft and emotional underlying romance, especially of a sapphic nature, you should absolutely read this book. If you are questioning whether or not to read this book, this is me saying that I think you should read it.

🦌I received an ARC of this book, and am leaving an honest review voluntarily 🦌

The worst thing about this was that it is a standalone.

This is what I feel like Lauren Roberts thought she was doing when she said she took inspiration from The Hunger Games and Red Queen. Ava Reid knows how to tell a story that is inspired by something she loves, not churn out a badly done copy/paste. You can easily spot the inspirations she leaned on in this story, but instead of copying them, she created her own unique twist, and it was a nice nod to the story Suzanne Collins told in the Hunger Games.

I feel like this could easily have been a duology, even a trilogy. The potential to expand on the world Reid created in this story is insane, and I'd happily have read three books about Inesa and Melinoe. I'm hoping she revisits this one day after deciding she doesn't want to leave the story how she did.

I devoured this and if you like anything even remotely dystopian, you'll like this.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Fable for the End of The World is a fast paced, YA dystopia from bestselling author Ava Reid. It's told from dual POV and follows two 17 year old girls in a terrifying cat and mouse chase to the death, broadcast to millions of viewers live.

This book is very reminiscent of The Hunger Games. So much so at the start I felt as though it was straddling the line between inspiration and plagiarism VERY closely. That being said, as the book progressed, it really took on a life of it's own and I found myself swept up in Mel and Inessa's world.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the world of Caerus. It was a super interesting mega-corporation that had literally taken over from the government but it mostly felt a bit like a looming shadow. I would have liked a bit more of the inside scoop on the business and various different characters within it, however overall, I think it made for an interesting villain (especially due to the current times we live in!)

Overall, a fantastic read!

"Because we've lived in this drowning world all our lives, I realise that we have to make our own hope"

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!

As soon as I read the words "The Last of Us meets The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes", I knew I had to get my hands on this book - and it did not disappoint!

Ava Reid's writing kept me hooked from the very beginning, the dystopian world was described beautifully and the connection I felt with the characters, specifically Inesa, was so strong. I sometimes struggle with standalones to build such a deep connection to characters, but I did not have that issue here.

The ending of the book was not what I expected and I was pleasantly surprised! Although throughout I had an idea of how it would end and in some ways I was disappointed with the ending, I feel like how the book ended is a perfect reflection of the story as a whole - it ends with hope.

Fable for the End of the World is a striking and clever book—one that is destined to take the world by storm. Ava Reid is undeniably a brilliant writer. While there have been moments when I wasn’t entirely on board with some of her plot choices or certain books overall (Lady Macbeth), it’s impossible to ignore that she is a rare talent. There’s something so uniquely magical about her work that I don’t find with other authors!

Fable is a deep departure from Reid’s previous novels. Gone is the dark fairytale-esque novels inspired by historical events that we have come to love and here is a dystopian tale mirroring the current world with chilling precision. Take a look at any headline from recent years, any major global events any political discourse online, and you’ll find echoes of that within these pages.

As a reader, dystopian is not a genre I reach out often. I’m not sure exactly why. But as a cinephile, dystopian is a genre I seek out frequently. The Last of Us comp was one of the biggest reasons why I was so keen on getting my hands on this book. Fable reads like a beloved dystopian film, and I would love to see it brought to life as a film one day. Ava calls Fable a “love letter” to the dystopian novels of the 2010s, and within this novel, you can sense how much those books mean to her and her craft. I think we’re going to see a big resurgence of dystopia in the upcoming months and years to come, and Fable will be an important part of this revival.

What stood out to me most in Fable was its commentary on desensitization and the commodification of human life and women. Living in an age dominated by the internet, it’s all too easy to become overwhelmed by the relentless barrage of news. We consume so much information, so much tragedy, that the lines begin to blur. And suddenly, mass violence, the climate crises, political chaos, and unimaginable suffering and devastation across the globe become just another post to scroll past. Reid captures this with heartbreaking clarity in way that is as thought provoking as it is unsettling. Beyond that, we also see commentary on climate change, artificial intelligence and technology, greed, and capitalism that is presented in a way that is suitable for a YA audience. Other adult readers may find these themes a tad bit heavy handed, but I’m sure younger readers will find a love to appreciate and learn from.

If you enjoy queer, and more specifically sapphic love stories, you will love this book. Sadly, sapphic books are still not as common, and I’ve noticed a disappointing reluctance to read them within the online bookish spaces. I hope Fable is a book people will love regardless as there is so much it offers. As a sapphic reader myself, I was so thrilled that Ava Reid wrote a book with a main sapphic relationship. There’s truly nothing better than reading a book with characters that represent you, in a world and story you love. The romance was gripping and my fav relationship yet from Ava’s books. I sincerely hope she has more plans for sapphic books in the future.

I cannot recommend Fable for the End of the World enough and I am so grateful to be blessed with an early copy. Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

I'll admit, I requested the ARC of this purely because I've loved all of Ava Reid's books, even though the premise of this was so different to what I usually read. I didn't rush to pick it up.
HOWEVER! I was hooked. I absolutely devoured this and hope there is more to come.
The plot is clever, weaving in current issues in a way which makes the story even more believable. I cared so much for the characters and want more of their story. I found the romance believable and not overwhelming.
The ending wasn't what I'd wished for but it was still satisfying and has left me hoping it continues.
Very well written and clever. The influence of The Hunger Games is strong but has been developed enough that it's not a simple copy. The writing style is beautiful and draws you right in, while the facing and tension keeps you hooked.
I'm so glad I read this, and thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a good read! It had a believable dystopian yet setting that wasn’t far fetched from reality and the heart-wrenching plight of the FMCs Inesa and Melinoë made for the perfect story. The only downside is I wanted to know what happened after the book ended and felt like I didn’t get the closure I needed - hopefully this means there will be a second book as I need to know what happens to our FMCs!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I had to sum this book up in a sentence: it’s like The Hunger Games meets The Last of Us, but with more slow-burn feelings and less adrenaline-pumping action. There’s a lot I liked about it, but something just didn’t quite land for me.
Let’s get into it.

The premise is wild. Basically, this mega-corporation called Caerus runs the world by keeping people drowning in debt. If you owe too much, they can offer you up to the Lamb’s Gauntlet — a televised bloodbath where assassins hunt down “Lambs” (aka unlucky people chosen as sacrifices) for entertainment. Think reality TV meets The Purge.

We meet Inesa, who’s just trying to get by in a crumbling town with her brother. She’s tough and resourceful — the type of character who’s survived on sheer grit. But then she finds out her own mother has signed her up to be the next Lamb. Brutal, right?

Cue Melinoë, the assassin tasked with hunting her down. Mel is practically a killing machine — cold, calculated, and always gets her mark. Except… she’s got a messy past and is kind of falling apart inside.

What follows is a tense cat-and-mouse chase through the wasteland, but there’s a twist: these two might just be catching feelings for each other along the way.

What I Loved: The Characters and Vibes

The characters are what kept me hooked.
- Inesa is no damsel in distress. She’s scrappy and determined, and you can’t help but root for her, even when she’s just barely surviving.

- Melinoë is where things get interesting. On the outside, she’s all ice queen assassin, but underneath, she’s haunted by her own trauma. Watching her unravel and question everything she’s been taught to believe is one of the best parts of the story.

Their dynamic is super intriguing. It starts off all “hunter vs. prey,” but as the story unfolds, there’s this slow shift to mutual understanding… and maybe more. It’s subtle, though. Don’t expect dramatic love declarations or over-the-top romantic moments — this is more of a “quiet looks across the campfire” type of thing.

What Didn’t Hit: The Pacing
I’ll be honest: the pacing dragged in parts. The first half is tense and keeps you on edge, but somewhere in the middle, the story slows way down. I kept waiting for the tension to spike or for the romance to pick up speed, but it never fully got there.
If you’re someone who loves a slow-burn story with a lot of introspection, you’ll vibe with it. But if you’re expecting fast-paced action or intense romance, you might feel a bit let down.

Themes: More Than Survival

What I did appreciate is how the book explores bigger questions beyond just “stay alive.” Both Inesa and Melinoë are trying to figure out if there’s more to life than just surviving. For Inesa, it’s about finding hope in a world that’s beaten her down. For Mel, it’s about realizing she’s capable of more than violence.
It’s a story about breaking out of the roles you’ve been forced into and figuring out what you actually want from life — which is pretty deep, when you think about it.

Final Thoughts: A Mixed Bag, But Worth a Read

So, would I recommend it? Yeah, but with some caveats. It’s not a fast-paced, action-packed dystopian story. It’s more character-driven and introspective, with a touch of romance. If you’re into slow-burn stories with morally complex characters and a bit of social commentary, you’ll probably enjoy it.

But if you’re looking for something with big twists, high-stakes action, or lots of romance? This might not scratch that itch.
For me, it was good, just not mind-blowing. I loved the vibes, and I liked the characters, but I kept wishing for a bit more intensity and depth. It’s one of those books where you appreciate what it’s doing, but you also know it’s not going to be a favorite.

Still, if you’re a fan of Ava Reid, it’s worth checking out. Just know that it’s more quiet reflection than explosive action — and adjust your expectations accordingly.

As soon as I read the blurb for this book I was really intrigued to find out how it would go. I got loads of nostalgia for when I used to read dystopian novels back in school which I did enjoy and was what I was looking for in this book. However, I feel it didn’t really bring anything new into the dystopian field. As stated by the author, elements of this book are very similar to The Hunger Games and I think because of this I was constantly comparing the two which reduced my enjoyment slightly. I also felt the romance was lacking - I never really felt I was fully rooting for the two of them. However, I did enjoy reading this book and got through it quickly ! If you’re needing a bingeable and entertaining dystopian read this is perfect for you!

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

A Hunger Games inspired dystopian romance about survival and sacrifice. While it lacks Reid's trademark lyrical writing style, it's an impactful commentary on capitalism, violence and the female body with a pacy plot and clever twists.

"Maybe enough fear can add up to love."

A great book choice to be my final read and review of the year! 🙌

Reid delivers again with a gorgeous writing style that immediately brings you into this new world; bringing together such striking contrasts between beauty and lethality of the world and its characters.

I loved that this brought back all the feelings of my obsession with dystopian, and romantic dystopian fiction of 2010s. I loved that this had themes of dystopia and fight against the system whilst bringing forth a new voice. I was excited to have the perspective of the Gauntlet's angel, this point of view brought to the reader behind the scenes of the usual, singular terror and voice from the victim of the story.

It was really enjoyable to feel the futility throughout the story. I think it was one of the most enjoyable factors of the story; the sense that the characters were completely in the hands of the Gauntlet's makers and even small acts of defiance were twisted in their meaning. The ever-presence of a low but constant horror that remains with each page turn.

All the characters were able to bring different aims and pushes to keep the story flowing. I loved the contrast between the Angels and the Lambs, but I loved that Reid was able to develop and expand on the differences and individualistic goals between the Angels themselves and the Lambs. The story is able to play on the drive of emotions and how it can change our viewpoints and our aims, how emotions can overwhelm. The romance in the story, not only coming from the main characters and their slow building emotional connection, but the love that held between so many of the characters. Love in so many different forms and types following and contrasting the constant terror.

Overall if you are seeking to jump back into feeling of 2010s dystopia please pick this book up in March!

Thank you to Del Rey for a proof copy, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

I had such a good time with this book. I really enjoyed it. I love Ava Reid’s writing style in this, this is my first book of hers and won’t be my last that’s for sure.

I loved the character on Inesa, she didn’t deserve what she had to go through at all, but she was amazing. I also loved Melinoe, her story was fantastic and also dark in parts, parts of her story were just heartbreaking and I just felt for her.

This book just had me constantly wanting more and I loved it. I haven’t read a book like this since I was teen, so it was just perfect.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and Del Rey for this wonderful ARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book!

This was a dystopian book that gave major Hingrr Games vibes but it just felt so slow and predictable therefore I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would and found myself flicking quickly through it without paying as much attention as inshouldb

Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors, I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and WOW it did not disappoint!!

I saw A Fable for the End of the World described as a “lesbian hunger games” and while there are elements of the story that feel reminiscent of that (the state of the world, a deadly contest) it is a new and fresh take from other dystopian novels I have read before.

the story pits Inesa against Melinoë, a deadly, part-human hunter who has been sent to track her down to pay her mothers debts in a televised fight for survival. But as their paths collide an unexpected bond forms, challenging everything they have learnt to believe.

Perfect enemies to lovers, beautiful sapphic love story and a gut wrenching ending 😮‍💨