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A review by riley_rogers
Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Fable for the End of the World is a sapphic dystopian novel set in a ravaged post-war society, reminiscent of The Hunger Games, but with a darker edge. Those in the dregs of society are suffocated by crushing debt, to the point where families can willingly choose to send their relatives to the Gauntlet to be slaughtered against the ethereal assassins – known as Angels. All for the purpose of entertaining the masses, of course.
Inesa is 17 and works at her families taxidermy shop, barely scraping by with the help of her brother, Luka. Their mother, mentally ill and addicted to buying things she doesn’t need, is consumed by debt and spends well beyond their means. As a result, her mother offers her up as a Lamb for the Gauntlet – sent to the slaughter and broadcast to millions.
“Don’t you try and make me feel guilty.” Mom’s pitch rises, and color comes into her cheeks. “It’s my right, as your mother. Neither of you would be here without me.”
Melinoë on the other hand is a man-made weapon, made to kill Lambs for the enjoyment of all those watching the livestream. She’s cold, calculating, and has never failed to kill a mark. Together, they’re pitted against one another in a stunning, brutal gauntlet – and as the timer ticks down, so does their fleeting time with each other.
However, the corporation backdrop in this is an eerie reminder of the current state of the world. Caerus controls all in this riveting dystopia – all the products you buy, what you search, what you talk about – all to sell you more products, to keep you subservient and in debt. Furthermore, the corporation backdrop was also laced with subtle feminist sentiments. Melinoë struggles with her marks, but also has the drive to continue due to the “decommissioning” process all Angels eventually go through.
“Once I realized it was a fight for survival. Every Lamb I kill is more distance between Visser and me, more distance between a final Wipe that will turn me into an empty, mindless doll, opening my legs numbly for a husband three times my age who I barely know and could never love.”
It was heartbreaking to see both sides of the story, from both perspectives. One turned more machine than human, and the other scrambling for survival in a world that spits on their lives, the only value being their death for entertainment purposes.
What I truly enjoyed about this was not only the budding romance and watching Melinoë and Inesa fall for each other against all odds; but the courageous fight they put up for each other and against Caerus. Their love for one another was sweet yet defiant, a ray of sunshine peeking through on a cloudy day.
“It’s a privilege, really, to desire, to imagine, to believe.”
The ending was left quite open, and left space for another book – potentially a series? Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review. *
Inesa is 17 and works at her families taxidermy shop, barely scraping by with the help of her brother, Luka. Their mother, mentally ill and addicted to buying things she doesn’t need, is consumed by debt and spends well beyond their means. As a result, her mother offers her up as a Lamb for the Gauntlet – sent to the slaughter and broadcast to millions.
“Don’t you try and make me feel guilty.” Mom’s pitch rises, and color comes into her cheeks. “It’s my right, as your mother. Neither of you would be here without me.”
Melinoë on the other hand is a man-made weapon, made to kill Lambs for the enjoyment of all those watching the livestream. She’s cold, calculating, and has never failed to kill a mark. Together, they’re pitted against one another in a stunning, brutal gauntlet – and as the timer ticks down, so does their fleeting time with each other.
However, the corporation backdrop in this is an eerie reminder of the current state of the world. Caerus controls all in this riveting dystopia – all the products you buy, what you search, what you talk about – all to sell you more products, to keep you subservient and in debt. Furthermore, the corporation backdrop was also laced with subtle feminist sentiments. Melinoë struggles with her marks, but also has the drive to continue due to the “decommissioning” process all Angels eventually go through.
“Once I realized it was a fight for survival. Every Lamb I kill is more distance between Visser and me, more distance between a final Wipe that will turn me into an empty, mindless doll, opening my legs numbly for a husband three times my age who I barely know and could never love.”
It was heartbreaking to see both sides of the story, from both perspectives. One turned more machine than human, and the other scrambling for survival in a world that spits on their lives, the only value being their death for entertainment purposes.
What I truly enjoyed about this was not only the budding romance and watching Melinoë and Inesa fall for each other against all odds; but the courageous fight they put up for each other and against Caerus. Their love for one another was sweet yet defiant, a ray of sunshine peeking through on a cloudy day.
“It’s a privilege, really, to desire, to imagine, to believe.”
The ending was left quite open, and left space for another book – potentially a series? Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair, unbiased review. *