Fable by Adrienne Young

Fable by Adrienne Young

Fable is the first novel in The World of the Narrows series by Adrienne Young, a completed series that has several novels and a couple of short stories as well. This is a review of the book Fable, but if you are looking for a summary of the series, check out our The World of the Narrows series page. Fable is the Reese's Book Club Young Adult pick for October of 2020 and The World of the Narrows is a New York Times Bestselling Series. It deals with bulling, child abuse, death and death of a parent, physical abuse, general violence, blood, kidnapping, grief, murder, abandonment, and classism.

In Fable, the eponymous character is abandoned at the age of fourteen on an island after the death of her mother, telling her that if she can get herself off the island full of desperate people doing whatever they can to continue to survive and find him again, he will give her what she is owed. For Fable, that's a space next to him on his crew, since her father is one of the most powerful trader in the Narrows. It takes her years to save enough money to buy passage off the island and when it's finally time, she is given passage on The Marigold by the helmsman West. In the time it takes to reach her father, Fable begins to bond with The Marigold's crew and learn their secrets, making it that much harder to leave them to claim what is hers.

This book has been on my radar for years but I only just got around to reading it, and I should not have waited so long. A great story in a universe that is fairly well built, although it could have a little more explanation. The characters are fun and developed, with their sensibilities at war with the way the world around them works. Not as in depth or political as some of the more adult series that I've read, but not as superficial as many of the young adult books fantasy series out there. It grabbed me, it hooked me, I can't wait to read the next one, call me an official fan of Adrienne Young.

I'm giving Fable by Adrienne Young a 4.5 out of 5. A short fantasy novel that is lighter than some of the other options out there, a quick but enjoyable read. Keep an eye out for when I read the sequel, Namesake.

For more from Adrienne Young, check out her Instagram @adrienneyoungbooks

Pairs well with baked plums and being able to hold your breath for longer than 20 seconds. I surprised myself by making it to 42 seconds before someone called me and ruined my experiment.

Review of Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young