Namesake

Namesake
By Adrienne Young

Summary:
The world goes dark and Fable wakes up on a rival merchant ship. She now has to follow orders and figure out what role she is supposed to play in the captain’s scheme. Fable finds herself tangled in a web of betrayal and lies when she meets Holland, a powerful gem trader who is more than she seems. She runs into an old friend, who seems to have changed alliances, and learns more of her family history. She must make some tough decisions in order to get back to the Marigold and the family that she made for herself.

My Review:
After reading Fable, which ends on quite a cliffhanger, I dove right into Namesake. It was definitely the second half of the story that Fable needed. The focus shifts a bit from world building and setting onto the characters, their relationships and the politics of the trade empire. I really enjoyed the shift because I felt like it brought the plot into the forefront of the story and let us dive deeper into the history of Fables family.

I mentioned in my review of Fable that I wanted more from the romance between her and West and I did feel like Namesake delivered on that. It was great to see them together and all of the ways they try desperately to protect each other. It really showed how much they loved each other and also that they were not as mature as they thought they were. It made them very relatable and was riveting to watch it unfold.

I feel as though Fable and Namesake could have just been one standalone book instead of a duology. It would have been a more satisfying story overall. It felt like the story was just one long narrative and the plot is just broken in half. Thinking back to the first book, it felt a little lackluster in the plot developments and really did feel like the first half of the story and not a story on its own.

Adrienne young’s writing style is stunning. She does a masterful job of pulling you in and making you feel like you are diving into the water with Fable and feeling the hum of the gems in the coral. The world that she has built is absolutely gorgeous and I would dive back into it any day.

Pros: The book is more plot focused than the first and it is a very satisfying ending to the story.
Cons: The duology could have been just one longer book.  

Namesake really wrapped up the story in a way that was engaging and satisfying. If you read Fable, Namesake is a must because it truly is just the second half of the story. The duology as a whole is a great read and a nice escape into a world of unparalleled beauty and adventure.

“We were salt and sand and sea and storm. We were made in the Narrows.” -Fable

Overall, I give Namesake 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

-Jacqui

Characters 4/5
Setting 4/5
Writing 5/5
Plot & Themes 4/5
Romance 4/5
Diversity 3/5

Author: Adrienne Young
Genre: YA Fantasy
Trigger Warnings: Child Abandonment, Loss of a Parent, Alcohol consumption, Drowning, Violence, Kidnapping
Age Recommendation: 14+
Length/Page Count: 8 hrs 53 min
Format & Source: Audiobook, Libby App
Narrator: Emma Lysy
Publishing Info: Macmillan Audio, 2021