Title: Fable

Author: Adrienne Young

Pub. Date: September 1, 2020

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

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As the daughter of the most powerful trader in the Narrows, the sea is the only home seventeen-year-old Fable has ever known. It’s been four years since the night she watched her mother drown during an unforgiving storm. The next day her father abandoned her on a legendary island filled with thieves and little food. To survive she must keep to herself, learn to trust no one and rely on the unique skills her mother taught her. The only thing that keeps her going is the goal of getting off the island, finding her father and demanding her rightful place beside him and his crew. To do so Fable enlists the help of a young trader named West to get her off the island and across the Narrows to her father.

But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him and Fable soon finds that West isn’t who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they’re going to stay alive.

Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men.

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This will be a spoiler free review. Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This wasn’t my planned post for today, but I just finished this book and omfg, I cannot believe that’s how it ended.

Basically, my feelings are super fresh and potent and all over the place, and I need to just scream about this book.

I read The Girl the Sea Gave Back and really wasn’t a fan. I never read Sky in the Deep and I didn’t know that TGTSGB was a sequel/companion novel. So, I was a little wary about this book, but it sounded like something I would enjoy – I love books that take place on (pirate)ships/the ocean – so I wanted to give it a chance. Then everyone I know on Twitter decided to read it at the same time (at least it felt this way) and everyone was loving it. They all said the same thing – you won’t be prepared for the ending.

So, of course, my gut reaction upon finishing the book –

YO WHAT THE FUCK IS THE ENDING TO FABLE. YOU CAN’T HAVE THEM DO THAT AND THEN HAVE THAT HAPPEN TO HER.

I’m still not over it.

I’m really annoyed that this book isn’t even out yet, because it means an even longer wait for Namesake and how am I supposed to cope and be okay?

Honestly, I just want to scream right now, but it’s like 1:15 AM and I don’t think the other members of my family would be okay with me doing that. So, I’m sitting here quietly, writing this post, hating the fact that I finished it at 1:15 in the morning and every person I could talk to about this book is sleeping like a normal person.

I don’t know what to say next because I’m not okay, I’m currently stuck with my thoughts and feelings and I don’t know how to word them that isn’t just a scream.

I love West. I loved him fully by the 50% mark, and I didn’t even know if he was going to be the love interest. At that point I’d hoped he be.

Ship captains y’all. A weakness. I love them.

Stoic, moody, seemingly hard ass ship captains.

I’m sunk.

And ugh, that moment under the water between him and Fable. Fuck yes.

And then his heartfelt speech.

*screams emotions*

I also really liked Fable. I wasn’t sure I was going to at first, but ultimately, I did. I also loved how her story/backstory unfolded in this book. That we got bits and pieces as she remembered them, and as they were needed. I also loved that despite everything she goes through, she still comes across as very young in some moments. She’s survived so much, but there are certain moments where you can just tell that her childhood was ripped from her, and a part of her longs for the safety she had before her life fell apart. She’s felt so alone for so long, that when the mere hope of finding someone safe, somewhere safe, she either breaks down, or nearly breaks down and then does whatever she can to keep ahold of that person or place.

Unlike with The Girl the Sea Gave Back I cared about what happened in this book, what happened to the characters. I wanted to keep reading, keep turning the page to find out what happens next. I wanted the characters to be okay and to get through the hard times.

I will say that I felt like the relationship between Fable and West felt rushed, up until the moment where he basically bares his soul and then it all made sense, and suddenly it didn’t feel borderline insta-love-y.

So glad I was wrong, and I’m still very much in love with West. I can’t help it okay.

I did get the forboding sense that something bad was going to happen. Despite all of Twitter telling me that I wasn’t going to be prepare for the ending, I got a sense from the story that shit was going to hit the fan. I will say that it didn’t hit the fan in the way I thought it was going to. I had some dread filled suspicions and I’m just really glad they weren’t true.

Overall, I really enjoyed this, and I’m so glad I did. I’m glad I gave Adrienne’s books a third try. I’m pretty sure I would have been bummed if I hadn’t. I definitely recommend this book. It’s so enjoyable, so good and will leave you desperate for the next one – I promise. You won’t be ready for the ending, but it’ll leave you hooked.  I’m heading off to go preorder my copy, as should you. Fable is out September 1, so make sure you pick up your copy!