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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Namesake by Adrienne Young
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: violence
Namesake by Adrienne Young is the second book in the Fable duology. Although I did enjoy reading this one, it felt a little weird not interacting with the crew the Marigold as much, but we did get some good background on Fable's family.
We pick up from that awful cliffhanger from last book, with Fable being captured by Zola and his crew. Fable soon finds out that she's not a prisoner per se, but is expected to be a part of the crew and to do the tasks that Zola wants done. Part of the problem is that Zola knows Saint is her father, because his old navigator, Clove, now works for him, leaving Fable feeling betrayed. Cue the intrigue.
As I said before, we get to learn more about Fable's mother as she learns for the first time about her mother's past. Turns out she was running from her powerful mother. Similarly, we get to learn more about Saint, and he and Fable finally get to have a touching moment that humanizes him.
I found West to be quite annoying this book. The whole I -went -behind -your -back-and-and-decisions-you-wouldn't-like-because-i-love-you-so-much reads to me as unhealthy and, honestly, overdone. West seemed more flat in this book instead of growing. Instead of his love for Fable helping him see the error of his ways, he uses it as justification of his behavior.
We get a little more background on Paj and Auster, but we get nothing about the other crewman, Hamish (the ship nerd 🤓). I loved that Fable's rivalry with Koy from the beginning of the first book comes full circle, and they become reluctant allies.
All in all, I thought it was a good wrap on the series, I just wish there had more growth for our main characters.
Namesake by Adrienne Young is the second book in the Fable duology. Although I did enjoy reading this one, it felt a little weird not interacting with the crew the Marigold as much, but we did get some good background on Fable's family.
We pick up from that awful cliffhanger from last book, with Fable being captured by Zola and his crew. Fable soon finds out that she's not a prisoner per se, but is expected to be a part of the crew and to do the tasks that Zola wants done. Part of the problem is that Zola knows Saint is her father, because his old navigator, Clove, now works for him, leaving Fable feeling betrayed. Cue the intrigue.
As I said before, we get to learn more about Fable's mother as she learns for the first time about her mother's past. Turns out she was running from her powerful mother. Similarly, we get to learn more about Saint, and he and Fable finally get to have a touching moment that humanizes him.
I found West to be quite annoying this book. The whole I -went -behind -your -back-and-and-decisions-you-wouldn't-like-because-i-love-you-so-much reads to me as unhealthy and, honestly, overdone. West seemed more flat in this book instead of growing. Instead of his love for Fable helping him see the error of his ways, he uses it as justification of his behavior.
We get a little more background on Paj and Auster, but we get nothing about the other crewman, Hamish (the ship nerd 🤓). I loved that Fable's rivalry with Koy from the beginning of the first book comes full circle, and they become reluctant allies.
All in all, I thought it was a good wrap on the series, I just wish there had more growth for our main characters.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence