Format: Hardback
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Page Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Wednesday Books (March 16, 2021)
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “You have bewitched me, body and soul.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
I knew I needed to read Namesake as soon as I finished Fable, so I was prepared. I read the two books in this duology back to back, and let me tell you, these are some of my most favorite books now.
Here’s a summary from GoodReads: Welcome to a world made dangerous by the sea and by those who wish to profit from it. Where a young girl must find her place and her family while trying to survive in a world built for men. With the Marigold ship free of her father, Fable and the rest of the crew were set to start over. That freedom is short-lived when Fable 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 the secrets her mother took to her grave 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.
There is nothing I do not like about Namesake. While Fable reached out and grabbed my heart, Namesake broke it into a million pieces and then glued it back together. This book kept me guessing from start to finish, and I could never quite put the pieces together in advance. Adrienne Young is such a master storyteller that I could somewhat see the ending coming, but I had no idea how we would get there...and boy, did we get there with a bang!
This book picked up right where Fable left off, and one thing to know going into this story is nothing is at it seems. Everything has layer upon layer built into the plot, and just when you think you know something...trust me when I say you don't know. Fable, West, Clove, and Saint are the stars of this story, and I love how Fable has her gang of pirates surrounding her...super hot pirates in West, Clove, and Saint. I'd love a sexy spin-off story with more Clove and Saint because I just KNOW they are both sexy as hell. The bond between Fable and her men is thick, and it is so endearing that she doesn't want to let any of them down.
Fable and West have an intense connection, and the connection has been forged through fire it seems. West's feelings for Fable run deep and true, and he would leverage just about anything he has to keep her safe. Their connection is unveiled slowly in this story, and we really begin to understand just what West has done for Fable...and what he is willing to do for Fable. This causes some resentment among his crew on the Marigold, but it takes some checks and balances for Fable and West to find their stride. They have to learn to trust each other long after they've fallen in love, and this is a hard lesson for both of them. All that being said, I love them together. These are two of my favorite YA characters I've ever read.
The unlikely trio that is Clove, Saint, and Fable is also super endearing. This aspect of the story nearly broke me in Namesake, truth be told. While I 100% rooted for Fable and West to forge their love connection forever, I did not want it to come at the expense of either Saint or Clove. I grew to love both of these characters throughout Namesake, and once you learn the depths that both Saint and Clove are willing to go for Fable...it will humble you. Fable has lost so much, but she never lost Saint or Clove, the true master manipulators of this story (IYKYK).
Overall, this is some of the best YA fiction I've read in a long time. I liked Namesake even more than Fable, and Fable was a solid 5 star read from me. Namesake pulled all the emotions out of me and put me back together again...not something I can say about a lot books!
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