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A review by iwasalilacsky
Fable by Adrienne Young
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Alexa, play Daddy Issues by The Neighbourhood
🎵Go ahead and cry, little girl
Nobody does it like you do
I know how much it matters to you
I know that you got daddy issues🎵
Thoughts:
Our story starts out with, Fable, a girl with a troubled past as her mother died and father, a well-known and feared trader, abandoned her on island. Trying to survive with the limited skills she has, she plans to get enough coin to take her across the sea in hopes of meeting her father again to be given what he promised was hers. While running off the island and fearing for her life, she plans to escape with the help of West, the helmsman, and his crew if only they will grant her passage on the Marigold. West and the crew take her aboard, but do not make it easy on her during the journey. Everyone has secrets that they are not willing to give. Survival is important, but choosing to surround yourself with those you would want to die next to is more. After being told many times that Fable is not meant for this world, she plans to prove them all wrong even with the dangers this brings to her.
Some kids grow up wanting to be an astronaut, a chef, a teacher, firefighter, etc. I wanted to be a pirate, so anything that is set in the open waters just appeals to me. However, I realized early on that I get seasick too easily, so the ‘agrrrr’ pirate’s life was not in the cards for me.
I wanted to love this book so much and after Daughter of the Pirate King (which is such a disappointing read for me), I was ready for a stand out with this one since it seems to be so loved… but it was only alright. I enjoyed it (I guess) at times, but it just felt too predictable. I didn’t dislike Fable or really like her either. I stand by the found family trope (as it is my favorite), so I love a-coming-together-of-misfits. Fable finding the crew and slowly all of them becoming familiar with each other is my favorite part of this book.
The romance aspect to this just wasn’t it for me for some reason. All she voiced was how attractive she thought he was and then we are supposed to be all in for the last 1/3 of the book. I’m a sucker for a slow-burn, but I just didn’t feel the yearning that I wanted if that is what we working with here. I did like the little romance scraps we get from the crew members, but they were basically non-existent for the most part! I think if more time was spent in character development and less on Fable giving us another past flashback or retelling, this could be phenomenal. Also, I am all for characters in touch with their feelings. You rightfully can be, but she just cried far too often. I had pause and cackle almost every time she had tears running down her face because at some moments, it just felt unnecessary. I digress – overall this was still good, but did not ‘wow’ me.
I will still consider reading the second one, but no promises that it will be soon. I need a moment to catch my sea legs (can’t help it with the dad jokes).
Would I recommend this and to who:
Sigh, I mean maybe. Too anyone who wants a decent on-the-seas read.
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book
How did I discover this:
Recommended by basically everyone on GR and my friend Maddie
Pace:
Medium
Cover thoughts:
So pretty! I am envious of her hair and cute freckles immediately!
POV:
Single - Fable
Quotes:
“Because that kiss broke open some dark night sky within me filled with stars and moons and flaming comets. That darkness was replaced by the blazing fire of the sun racing under my skin.”
“She was the pattern of stars that he navigated by, the sum of all directions on his compass. And he was lost without her.”
“We both know that surviving means sometimes doing things that haunt you.”
“He looked at me with a hundred stories lit behind his eyes.”
“Like a weary bird flying out over the most desolate sea, I finally had a place to land.”
Triggers:
Violence, Murder, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Bullying, Fire, Scars, Injury, Homophobia, Sexism, Swearing, etc.
🎵Go ahead and cry, little girl
Nobody does it like you do
I know how much it matters to you
I know that you got daddy issues🎵
Thoughts:
Our story starts out with, Fable, a girl with a troubled past as her mother died and father, a well-known and feared trader, abandoned her on island. Trying to survive with the limited skills she has, she plans to get enough coin to take her across the sea in hopes of meeting her father again to be given what he promised was hers. While running off the island and fearing for her life, she plans to escape with the help of West, the helmsman, and his crew if only they will grant her passage on the Marigold. West and the crew take her aboard, but do not make it easy on her during the journey. Everyone has secrets that they are not willing to give. Survival is important, but choosing to surround yourself with those you would want to die next to is more. After being told many times that Fable is not meant for this world, she plans to prove them all wrong even with the dangers this brings to her.
Some kids grow up wanting to be an astronaut, a chef, a teacher, firefighter, etc. I wanted to be a pirate, so anything that is set in the open waters just appeals to me. However, I realized early on that I get seasick too easily, so the ‘agrrrr’ pirate’s life was not in the cards for me.
I wanted to love this book so much and after Daughter of the Pirate King (which is such a disappointing read for me), I was ready for a stand out with this one since it seems to be so loved… but it was only alright. I enjoyed it (I guess) at times, but it just felt too predictable. I didn’t dislike Fable or really like her either. I stand by the found family trope (as it is my favorite), so I love a-coming-together-of-misfits. Fable finding the crew and slowly all of them becoming familiar with each other is my favorite part of this book.
The romance aspect to this just wasn’t it for me for some reason. All she voiced was how attractive she thought he was and then we are supposed to be all in for the last 1/3 of the book. I’m a sucker for a slow-burn, but I just didn’t feel the yearning that I wanted if that is what we working with here. I did like the little romance scraps we get from the crew members, but they were basically non-existent for the most part! I think if more time was spent in character development and less on Fable giving us another past flashback or retelling, this could be phenomenal. Also, I am all for characters in touch with their feelings. You rightfully can be, but she just cried far too often. I had pause and cackle almost every time she had tears running down her face because at some moments, it just felt unnecessary. I digress – overall this was still good, but did not ‘wow’ me.
I will still consider reading the second one, but no promises that it will be soon. I need a moment to catch my sea legs (can’t help it with the dad jokes).
Would I recommend this and to who:
Sigh, I mean maybe. Too anyone who wants a decent on-the-seas read.
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book
How did I discover this:
Recommended by basically everyone on GR and my friend Maddie
Pace:
Medium
Cover thoughts:
So pretty! I am envious of her hair and cute freckles immediately!
POV:
Single - Fable
Quotes:
“Because that kiss broke open some dark night sky within me filled with stars and moons and flaming comets. That darkness was replaced by the blazing fire of the sun racing under my skin.”
“She was the pattern of stars that he navigated by, the sum of all directions on his compass. And he was lost without her.”
“We both know that surviving means sometimes doing things that haunt you.”
“He looked at me with a hundred stories lit behind his eyes.”
“Like a weary bird flying out over the most desolate sea, I finally had a place to land.”
Triggers:
Violence, Murder, Death, Abandonment, Grief, Kidnapping, Alcoholism, Bullying, Fire, Scars, Injury, Homophobia, Sexism, Swearing, etc.