Fable | Adrienne Young
5 Stars
STORY
Characters | 5 Stars
There is a pretty small cast, so I would have liked to learn more about each of the crew, but what we did learn ticked all my boxes. I love a "band of misfits" story and to have this one be crewing a trading ship was unique to me. Fable is hardened from her time having to survive alone, but still vulnerable and in no way the ultimate badass who can take on any foe. She's believable. Her skill is hinted at here and there in the beginning and we don't discover more until well into the story, which was a welcome aspect to add to her development. The crew of the Marigold is tightly knit, and we don't as readers get to know them until the second half, which aids in our connection to Fable as an outcast searching for her place.
I had wondered if there was even going to be a romantic element aside from the secondary cast, and liked the story even more for it, but when it did come it was natural and only after we had become familiar with each of the characters. It never felt forced, or like it was a driving force of the story (although love in general is a key element), which is how I like my romance in fantasy.
Plot | 5 Stars
The plot is somewhat basic - girl is on a hunt to prove herself and claim her birthright, chasing after her father's acceptance. It is really all she does and who she meets along her journey that make this story special, and while certain twists are to be expected I liked how each one was done, and was still surprised by a few.
Setting | 5 Stars
I feel like I've read another book in the past few years about a girl on a ship, but that's all I can remember. FABLE is going to stick in my memory for a long time. Maybe because it was a surprise--I had not heard of this book before being offered it--but it is likely a mix of that and the fact that it was superbly done. The depictions of the sea and different ports, of each ship and the intricacy with which Young clearly knows boats and the ocean painted a stunning picture.
TECHNICAL
Writing | 5 Stars
The most mesmerizing part of the entire tale was the knowledge and descriptions of the sea and ships. I would say the author did some thorough research, or grew up around boats because this was one of the most believable shipmates' story I've read.
Editing | 4 Stars
This was an ARC (thank you NetGalley!) so I am sure a last round of revisions will catch the missing words and minor grammatical issues.
Execution | 5 Stars
The world-building is light, but for our scope of the tale we got all that is needed, and the way Young feeds us information gradually is perfectly done. No long info-dumps, and all the right mysteries surrounding the characters and their journey until the answers are naturally revealed. The pacing is just right, never too slow in development or too fast in the action.
Emotional Rating | 5 Stars
So I think it's safe to say I loved this and I'll be picking up a hard copy when it's released. I can see this being a story I reread for the feeling of being at and under the sea alone. Here's hoping I can snag an advanced copy of the sequel because I am craving more and I don't want to wait until next year...2020 is long enough!