3.5


Introduced as 'a love letter to the dystopian YA fiction (Reid) grew up with' Fable for the End of the World is a gripping tale set in post-apocalyptic 'New Amsterdam' where the lines between power hungry corporations and government have been blurred, and the gap between those who have it all, and those who have nothing is stark.

Reid tackles themes of inequality, climate change and capitalism's relentless attack on the fundamental human desire to be in community with one another. Fable was fast paced, intensely readable and a lot of fun, although in my opinion, falls slightly short of the classics from the genre.

Whoaaaaaa what a read!!!!

I loved this story and felt like it was fast paced. The world building and storyline had me at the edge of my seat!!!

The cover of this book was why I initally requested, it us stunning!! Ava has not dissapointed me with any of her books although A Study of Drowning is my favourite still!

“In order for some creatures to live, there are always others that have to die.”

I am shooketh, I knew that this book was going to be incredible from the moment I read the description and queen Ava Reid did not disappoint. This was sold to me as a lesbian Hunger Games and it is everything I didn’t know I needed. It took me back to my youth reading and loving YA books and it’s reinstated my love of dystopian fiction.

The world building was flawless and I was immersed immediately as this book was action packed from the very first page. Inesa finds herself being hunted by the stunning and feline Angel who is sent to track her down to pay for her mother’s debts. Her brother Luka, the hunter, is able to help her survive for a time until they are separated and Inesa must survive alone. Soon she realises that perhaps Melinoë isn’t the cold blooded killer she thought she was.

A true enemies to lovers book, this was gut wrenching and cinematic. I also love the LGBT+ representation. It’s not often that I feel so seen in my romance books and this beautiful love story has made this one of my favourite reads of 2024!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. I am truly blessed with incredible books right now 🙏🏻

This book was good, but it didn't wow me. It was essentially The Hunger Games, but make it sapphic.

I liked the dual POV element as it helped shoulder some of the world building and detail about how the Gauntlet works without being a boring info-dump.

My main critique of this book is that it's just not terribly original. Young adult dystopian books that focus around games or trials with a romantic subplot have been done many times before. While the setting adds a little bit of uniqueness, I found that the plot was a little lacklustre and predicatable for the most part. The blurb tells you absolutely everything you need to know, so I found that it wasn't itching to pick up this book very much. Also, the ending was a little anti-climactic. It would make more sense if it was going to have a sequel, but it's listed as a standalone, so that's what I'm basing my opinion off.

The writing is fine, but it lacked the beautiful, lyrical prose that I fell in love with in A Study In Drowning. And while I understand that poetic writing may not have been a fitting choice for a YA dystopian novel, there was just nothing special about it.

I think this book would be perfect for a young teen who wants to try the dystopia genre for the first time. It's not too heavy on the worldbuilding. It's not too tense or graphic, and the romance is minimal.

Overall, it was good, but not great. It lacked a big twist or a few more exciting events that could have pulled it up to 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a privilege, really, to desire, to imagine, to believe.

Thank you to Harper Collins and Net Galley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. (Yes, I didn’t stop grinning all day when my request got approved.)

Inesa lives in a hyper-capitalist, dystopian society, and her family are struggling to get by. Melinoë is a weapon of the state, used in the Gauntlet spectacles to hunt and kill ‘sacrifices’ of the debt-ridden classes. When Inesa learns that her mother has racked up significant debts, her path crosses with Melinoë’s.

Having read Ava Reid’s A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth, this sapphic, YA dystopian love-letter to The Hunger Games was very different to her recent gothic works. As a huge dystopian fan, I loved it!

I loved Inesa and Melinoë’s characters, and I also loved Inesa’s brother, Luka.

I thought there were a few plot holes and world building issues, but Ava Reid’s ability to create an immersive world is unparalleled.

For anyone who loves dystopian fiction, I would recommend this!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Sapphic max level yearning with a bit too close for comfort dystopian drowned world, that has its roots firmly in the 2010s dystopian heyday that we know and love.

What Ava's writing does best is being so poetic and atmospheric that you truly feel like you are present at all times.

When dystopian gets scary as a genre is when it holds up a mirror to your current world and reflects back a version that is so wrong but so close to happening you can't help letting it devour you.

A fable for the end of the world does this perfectly!
This book centres on a capitalist regime that's gone so far it's eradicated the last semblance of humanity in the place of survival.

When Inesa finds herself in the spotlight for her mothers debts she is forced into a hunger games style live broadcast fight for survival. Inesa is pitted against Melonie one of the regimes perfect killers part human part machine as they clash and come together it raises all the questions about what it means to be human and what the worst of humanity looks like.
If you love the dystopian genre this one is really worth giving a go! •

"Maybe l've survived this long so I could know how it feels to hold her. Maybe all my life has been one long gauntlet, running, fighting, searching for her."°

Ava Reid is amazing at setting the tone and this is no exception. This story is one that will sit with you for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

An original dystopian creation, I was hooked right from the beginning. The premise was really interesting, and the characters were all beautifully crafted with their own unique nuances and personalities.

In a wet and polluted landscape, where society is controlled by a male dominated company, we are introduced to Inesa who is essentially just trying to survive running a taxidermy shop with her brother. Their mother lives at home where she locks herself away believing she is suffering from a number of ailments and creating massive debts for the treatments (and treats) she is buying herself on credit. In order to clear her debt, she enters Inesa into The Gauntlet to be hunted by an Angel- enter Melinoë (a trained assassin artificially enhanced to seek out targets).

Inesa and Melinoë are two really strong female characters each with her own story and fight which are brought together in the most brutal way. I adore the way Reid has built up these independent, loveable women and crafted such a tender love story despite the overwhelmingly misogynistic, sexist society they are stuck in.

The world building from the start of the book is compelling and gives great atmosphere for the plot to unfold, this is maintained throughout the book as we move through different landscapes on the mission to survive. I did find some of the wording was a bit repetitive at times, but this may be fixed before the final version is published. There are elements to the plot you might be able to guess along the way.

Will definitely be a hit for fans of dystopian works like The Hunger Games.

Ava Reid’s A Fable for the End of the World is a haunting and lyrical tale that beautifully weaves emotion and survival. Set in a world teetering on collapse, the story explores themes of resilience, identity, and the fragile ties that bind people together. Reid’s writing is lush and evocative, painting a vivid picture of a crumbling world while delving deeply into the characters’ struggles and choices. Some parts of the pacing felt uneven, but the raw emotions and poetic prose make this a captivating and thought-provoking read that lingers long after you’ve turned the final page.

Fable For the End of the World

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Having loved A Study in Drowning and Lady Macbeth, I was so excited to get approved for this on Netgalley and it did not disappoint! I finished it in a couple lf days because I was completely hooked on the story. It was very different from Ava Reid's other work that I've read, but I enjoyed it just as much.

I haven’t read much YA dystopian since The Hunger Games and Divergent and everything tht came out then but this reminded me of everything I love about the genre. Its also sapphic enemies-to-lovers, which I loved!

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fast-paced read with romance and high stakes.

WOW. Ava Reid is one of my favorite authors, and this did not disappoint.

A fantastic dystopian novel reminiscent of classics like The Hunger Games. I loved the world-building, and the characters were well-written and complex. I’m completely captivated by her writing style and was hooked from the very first page!

The exploration of debt was fascinating, and the way the main character ends up participating in the Gauntlet is both cruel and heartbreaking.

The ending was absolutely perfect for me. It definitely had *Black Mirror* vibes, and overall, I just loved this book!

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this arc!

I’ll preface this review by saying I am not into sapphic romances; but if you like stories about lesbian encounters during assassination games then we might have just the book for you!

The author (Ava Reid) does a pretty good job of making you want to root for the protagonist(s), given how natural it is to want to hate the antagonist, which largely comes in the form of the generically evil corporation, Caerus and its iron cold leaders. Although, in truth, Inesa is as contemptible as a simpering weakling much of the time, and the way the characters are constantly apologising to each other almost becomes agonising--- but, I suppose I get it, when characters are shy and fancy each other, they apologise for the slightest wrongs they commit—I suppose.

Also the author seems at pains to tell us why the story didn’t go in another direction when a character’s death could’ve alleviated a threat, by telling us how they couldn’t bring themselves to kill a brutal assassin who wants them dead—it’s just a tad unbelievable as everyone in Esopus Creek (the town Inesa-- one of the main characters-- is from) seems so heartless and affected with an inhuman quality.

That is one of my biggest gripes with the book, that no character really reflects or strives for a transcendental quality, beauty, truth, goodness, and in fact I don’t think I really liked any of the characters in the book, though I probably sympathised with the female assassin, Mel, the most, not that she was likable, far from it in fact.

Still, the plot makes for something of a riveting one: some (light) spoilers (but basic to the plot) in the city people who rack up debt may be selected for a gauntlet in which an ‘Angel,’ a beautiful female killing machine, something more bionic than human, or so we’re apparently led to believe, tracks them down and kills them in the wilderness outside the city (if they get that far anyway), all the while the show is live streamed on the internet for the callous enjoyment of modern spectatorship. I must say I never figured out where all the cameras were in the wild, perhaps I missed something somewhere, but it seemed rather fantastical that everything could’ve been filmed.

The book is largely well written, and I do think if you like YA you would probably like this book; but reading it reminds me of why I dislike so much of contemporary fiction: grim, Godless, and gay. Definitely a book aimed at entertaining rather than edifying; but I will end by saying it is not a sort of book I would recommend, as I think if one is going to read futuristic escapism, whatever the genre, it should offer spiritual nourishment, this one certainly didn’t offer much in that department, but ends with the feeling of misery consistent with a dystopian novel, and with the sense that hope is about as effective as a thimble full of water in a sweltering desert.

What an absolute banger of a book.
Fable For the End of the World has ignited a passion in reading that I have not felt in a very long time. The narrative felt unique and the plot advanced in a way that made me really believe the development of the romance between the two love interests. I could feel an almost tangible shift in emotions and myself experienced many emotions through my reading experience. I couldn't put the book down, it was too addictive. While the world building could have been slightly expanded on I appreciate that we see the story from two characters who don't know a lot about the world around them and that it is only a standalone novel.
The ending was satisfying in a way I couldn't predict and it has permeated my brain for the past few days as I soak in the reality that was this book.

I had to sit in silence for a few minutes after I finished reading this book, Ava Reid's dystopia was both hopeful and heartbreaking. I both want a sequel immediately and I don't because this was a love letter to dystopia in all its forms. In my head I'll forever picture Mel and Nesa at that cabin and in the words of Hadestown, maybe it'll turn out this time.

This book completely took me by surprise. It does have plenty of similarities with Ava Reid's previous works, but also very distinct. This is a dystopian book, with a fascinating take on "debt" - not just financial debts, but also of how a society that refuses to be indebted to anyone (for example, not saying thank you, refusing help from neighbours) would look like.

The trademarks of Ava Reid are here though: water, and the stomach gripping anxiety that won't leave you (to be clear, I love that about Ava Reid's book).

Fable for the End of the World is Ava Reid channeling the dystopian heartache of the 2010s, and I am thriving. It’s sapphic Hunger Games with a brutal, corporate dystopia steeped in climate catastrophe and bloodsport livestreams, and honestly? I ate it up. The prose, as always with Reid, is lush and haunting, but even if it wasn’t, I’d still be hooked on the raw, messy tension between Inesa and Melinoë.
 
Melinoë, a stoic bio-enhanced assassin , and Inesa, a desperate contender in the deadly Lamb’s Gauntlet, are tossed together in a way that’s grim, gripping, and a little heartbreaking. Their dynamic is tangled in violence and vulnerability, and it left me kicking my feet and grinning like an idiot. The worldbuilding is biting and evocative—corrupted ecosystems, voyeuristic violence, and the commodification of bodies all feel chillingly close to reality.
 
Is it perfect? No. The pacing wobbles a bit, and the supporting cast feels very underexplored. But the vibes? Immaculate.

Reid’s crafted something that feels nostalgic yet fiercely original that serves up the perfect mix of dystopian drama and sapphic yearning, and I am already hoping for a sequel. Fans of morally complex characters and YA dystopian angst will absolutely eat this up.

A big thank you to the author, Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Umm WHAT THE F***.
I honestly can't describe @avasreid writing. My friends know that I love the dark and twisty (Call me Meredith Grey) so Ava's writing was written FOR ME. No one else! You can't have her!

No, in all reality I love her books so much and I want everyone else to read and be enamored by her as well. I love reading stories that make you go "ew what?!" or just take you on a complete psychological trip. Ava is fantastic at both. Boy does #fablefortheendoftheworld take you on a wild ride! The opening scene alone is enough to make you go 🤢 gimme more!!!

If I had to sum up this story in one sentence it would be a darker, creepier Hunger Games but instead of a random choosing, the parents put up their own kids in exchange for their debt. Like I said, WHAT THE F***.

I loved this story's prose and the way that Ava's writing makes you feel things deep in your gut. She will always be an auto-buy author for me.

The greed, the hatred, the dehumanization, the family love, the sapphic love. It was just overall a really good read!

Make sure to pick up your copy on March 4th!!

Thank you so much to @delreyuk for creating this absolutely STUNNING arc. My gosh it's beautiful!

#hygge #hyggeaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #bookhygge #avasreid #avareid #delrey #delreyuk

- Enemies to lovers
- Sapphic
- Dystopian
- Dual pov

With claims of being inspired by The Hunger games, this absolutely did it justice! I also felt this gave Westworld vibes and a little bit of The Last of Us too, which I loved!
I found the first 10% quite confusing with the credit system but this all gets explained later on in such a clear way that I quickly forgot about feeling lost at the beginning.

I did feel like the romance was a bit empty to begin with but by the last 20% and especially the last few chapters I was totally enthralled and loved them together - I’m also glad it wasn’t a typically happy ending as I finished the book absolutely wanting more and I’m praying there is a second book!

As always, I found Ava Reid’s writing very atmospheric and immersive and ultimately this was a very binge-able book. The only reason it wasn’t a 5 star for me is it does read quite YA at times which isn’t my general thing and also I did want more - not necessarily a bad thing as it just means I loved the story and I just craved even more depth to everything!

This had some beautiful quotes throughout the book and I will be going back through when I have a physical copy to tab them!

Ava Reid has done it again. Fable For the End of the World is a beautifully dark dystopia set in a world that is grappling with the aftermath of climate change and societal evolution.

Inesa is a strong, believable protagonist who is responsible while her mother is not. It is her mother’s actions and neglect that lead to Inesa being forced to face the gauntlet as a (sacrificial) Lamb.

While Melinoë is a ruthless Angel, sent to kill Inesa in the gauntlet in order to restore her own reputation. However the simple murder does not go to plan when the pair are forced to rely on each other to survive the treacherous world riddled with irradiated species, and the consequences of their consumption.

This book was a stunning original novel, set in a world reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but set apart by the depth of the characters dealing with the consequences of climate change (as opposed to war). Fable for the End of the World is a dystopia of a calibre I have not read since the 2010s.