Namesake Book Review

Namesake is the final book in the Fable duology by Adrienne Young.

BLURB

Trader. Fighter. Survivor.

With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and its crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when she becomes a pawn in a notorious thug’s scheme. In order to get to her intended destination she must help him to secure a partnership with Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems.

As Fable descends deeper into a world of betrayal and deception she learns that her mother was keeping secrets, and those secrets are now putting the people Fable cares about in danger. If Fable is going to save them then she must risk everything, including the boy she loves and the home she has finally found.

REVIEW

Namesake started right after the cliffhanger of Fable. Young has done a fantastic job developing Fable and West as we delve into Fable’s background. I thoroughly enjoyed being transported back into the open seas with Fable.

I truely enjoyed seeing a new side of Fable as she actually learns more about Saint and West as well as Clove’s motive for being on the Luna. Across the book, Fable’s changing feelings towards Clove was seen. The parts that stood out was when she first saw her on the ship.

I froze when I saw Clove at the helm, tucking myself into the mast’s shadow. My teeth clenched, a bitter fury covering every inch of my skin as I watched him. I had never imagined a world in which Clove could betray Saint. But the worst part was that she’d trusted him-my mother. She’d love Clove like a brother and the thought that he could betray her was unfathomable.

Over time, her feelings about Clove change as she realises that he is actually protecting and looking out for her just like when she was a child.

…I threw my arms around him. The cry that had been trapped in my throat finally escaped, and I leaned into him, my fingers clutching his jacket. I didn’t care that it was weak. That it was an admission to how scared I was. I only wanted to feel like for a moment, I wasn’t alone…I curled my arms into my chest and let him hold me tighter, closing my eyes.

Through Fable’s interaction with Clove, we gain insight into her past as well as how much Saint truely cares for her. This is highlighted through his acknowledgement of her being his daughter and their relationship changes after that point.

On behalf of my daughter and her ship, the Marigold.

Young does a fantastic job weaving complications into Fable’s relationships with West and the crew of the Marigold as well as introducing a familial relationship of a maternal grandmother. Fable learns more about her mother’s side of the family and I enjoyed exploring with Fable.

The relationship between West and Fable was challenged in this book through their trust in one another and sharing the truth with the other. The ending of the book was exactly what I was wanting and I will definitely be reading it again. I would love to read more about Fable and Saint as their relationship is starting a new and more about her relationship with West.

5/5 stars