Review: Fable (Fable #1)

Fable (Fable #1)
By Adrienne Young

Published By: Titan Books
Publication Date: September 1, 2020
Date Read: June 6, 2021
Genre: YA – Fantasy
Source: Bought – Fairyloot
Format: Hardback
Pages: 357

From Goodreads:
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.

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.

“Nothing comes free, Fable. We both know that surviving means sometimes doing things that haunt you.”

Fable is one of those books that has been sat on my shelf for the longest time. It’s been one I’ve been meaning to read for so long. I fell head over heels in love with Adrienne Young’s writing and storytelling a couple of years ago when I read Sky in the Deep. It completely blew me away and I had been meaning to pick up more of her books since then but just never seemed to get around to it. Fast-forward to June 2021 when my book club on Goodreads chose Fable as the book of the month, I finally picked it up. Why did I wait all this time? Fable was such an enjoyable read!

Fable follows the story of a girl, left abandoned on a treacherous and dangerous island, fighting to survive. She has managed to survive thus far but when she gets caught up with some dangerous individuals she has to bargain with the captain of a ship in order to get out. But will she find what she is looking for, or is she destined to be alone and in danger?

Fable is such an intriguing story right from the start. It is quite slow to begin. I wasn’t quite sure whether I loved it or not for the first 50 pages or so but I was really interested in who Fable was… what has happened to her to make her family abandon her on Javali? I was really interested in her story and that kept me reading. I was so so glad that I did carry on because Fable completely blew me away by the ending. I am so in love with this story and the characters in this amazing novel.

I loved Fable… she is such a fantastic character to follow on this story. She is completely badass and has to fight for her survival, but she is also completely vulnerable. I really loved seeing that mix in her. Often in fantasy books you find heroines who don’t show weakness or vulnerability so seeing Fable struggle and need help… I really loved that. Then enter West… the cold and aloof captain who saves her life. He is withdrawn at times but you just know there is something hidden behind that cool exterior. Together… you have the best, most satisfying slow burn romance you could ever ask for.

I loved every moment of Fable. It was such a phenomenal, action packed adventure and it has left me wanting to leave my life and become a pirate. Who wouldn’t want to find the love of their life while sailing in the middle of the beautiful ocean. Let’s just humour me here guys, and ignore the fact that I would be terrible and there are various dangers of being out at sea. I can dream!! I absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on Namesake and dive back into the waters of this stunning and beautiful tale.

“The only thing I feel truly afraid of is something happening to you.”

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