Every time I start one of Adrienne Young’s books, I’m instantly transported to these vividly depicted worlds that teem with a harsh beauty you won’t soon forget. It often feels like her words are subtle but carry tremendous power that goes on page after page, building into something very lovely at the end. Struggle is a theme among all of Adrienne’s characters, but none of them have suffered as much as Fable. Reading this story felt like stepping into a world where everyone is an enemy, especially when you once knew the safety of love and family. Definitely add it to your TBR, because you won’t want to miss this one. If that’s not enough to entice you, just know that you won’t have to wait long for the sequel to this book as it comes out March 2021. Before making the choice to read this book, if you’re sensitive to reading about violence, murder, and assault, you might approach it with caution.
This story is about Fable, a young woman who has only ever known the sea due to her father being the most powerful trader in the Narrows. For Fable, it’s been four years since the night her mother drowned and her father abandoned her on an island full of thieves and little to survive from. Since then, she’s fought to survive on the skills passed on to her by her mother. Her goal is to get off of the godforsaken island and find her way home to her father and demand her rightful place at his side with his crew. Fable will enlist a young man and his crew to help her in her quest, and in doing so, will uncover that her father’s enemies have multiplied since she last saw him and the young man who helped her, isn’t quite who he says he is.
Let’s start this by talking about Fable. She’s fierce, and tries to wear her strength on her sleeve knowing that it’s the only way she can survive on an island full of thieves. She’s still vulnerable though, and that’s what I feel helped me connect more with her throughout the story. My favourite aspect about her is that she won’t stop fighting because she’s not strong enough. She’ll find a way, even if it means she’s going to wind up meeting the floor with you when she takes you down. Despite her father’s betrayal, she does long to be able to trust and be trusted in kind. She still has hope.
While this story is only told in Fable’s perspective, we do get to know quite a bit about our Captain West. First of all, don’t let that tough cookie exterior fool you. The man is all cinnamon roll, glaze and all. I loved his character because he spends so much of his time trying to be mysterious that he just winds up laying all his cards on the table without meaning to. His crew is equally lovable, and I love how they all work together to help each other survive. The glimpses you get of these characters add another layer to the story that makes you want to keep going. I like that I’m not just invested in Fable and West, but I genuinely want to know more about the crew as well.
Much of this story is a journey, and Fable is continuing to learn some pretty rough truths, especially those surrounding her father. There’s so much about their relationship that I want to continue to explore, and unlike Adrienne’s previous novels, this one is a duology! There’s still so much left to uncover between these two and the antagonist that I am DYING to know. The story ends on a bit of a cliff hanger, and my mouth definitely dropped because I was definitely not expecting that curveball.
I felt that this story moves at a pretty decent pace in terms of what’s going on, but takes the time to make sure the reader is well oriented with the Narrows. Adrienne’s story imagery is what makes this story come to life so well. The cast of characters isn’t so many that it’s overwhelming or like they are just background noise. Also, if you’re a fan of reading the last lines of chapters like me, Adrienne has written some ending hooks that will keep you turning to the next page. Truly, I enjoyed reading this story.
I’m rating it a 10/10. It’s brutal, but unlike her previous stories, which I felt dealt in savage brutality (because vikings, which I loved too), this one is caused more by man/woman choices rather than the elements of nature and war. Something else I’m excited about is the fact that the sequel will be out just a few months after. Adrienne Young talked about it on social media as a sort of experiment that the publisher is trying out, and I’m all for it (for authors that are able to maintain this writing pace). I’m excited to dive into the next story and can’t wait for what lies in store for Fable next.
Fable is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 1st 2020.
Will you be picking up Fable? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
