Literature & Fiction
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Saint: A Novel (The World of the Narrows, 1)
New York Times bestselling author Adrienne Young returns to the world of The Narrows with Saint, a captivating prequel to Fable and Namesake.
As a boy, Elias learned the hard way what happens when you don't heed the old tales.
Nine years after his lack of superstition got his father killed, he's grown into a young man of piety, with a deep reverence for the hallowed sea and her fickle favor. As stories of the fisherman's son who has managed to escape the most deadly of storms spreads from port to port, his devotion to the myths and creeds has given him the reputation of the luckiest bastard to sail the Narrows.
Now, he's mere days away from getting everything his father ever dreamed for him: a ship of his own, a crew, and a license that names him as one of the first Narrows-born traders. But when a young dredger from the Unnamed Sea with more than one secret crosses his path, Elias' faith will be tested like never before. The greater the pull he feels toward her, the farther he drifts from the things he's spent the last three years working for.
He is dangerously close to repeating his mistakes and he's seen first hand how vicious the jealous sea can be. If he's going to survive her retribution, he will have to decide which he wants more, the love of the girl who could change their shifting world, or the sacred beliefs that earned him the name that he's known for―Saint.
As a boy, Elias learned the hard way what happens when you don't heed the old tales.
Nine years after his lack of superstition got his father killed, he's grown into a young man of piety, with a deep reverence for the hallowed sea and her fickle favor. As stories of the fisherman's son who has managed to escape the most deadly of storms spreads from port to port, his devotion to the myths and creeds has given him the reputation of the luckiest bastard to sail the Narrows.
Now, he's mere days away from getting everything his father ever dreamed for him: a ship of his own, a crew, and a license that names him as one of the first Narrows-born traders. But when a young dredger from the Unnamed Sea with more than one secret crosses his path, Elias' faith will be tested like never before. The greater the pull he feels toward her, the farther he drifts from the things he's spent the last three years working for.
He is dangerously close to repeating his mistakes and he's seen first hand how vicious the jealous sea can be. If he's going to survive her retribution, he will have to decide which he wants more, the love of the girl who could change their shifting world, or the sacred beliefs that earned him the name that he's known for―Saint.
Editorial Reviews
"...a daring, swashbuckling adventure, complete with―no matter how hard they try to resist―a heaping helping of romance." -Booklist
"...Rich, poetic prose that beautifully underscores the two main characters' strengths, weaknesses, and beliefs...Returning and new readers alike will find much to love in this absorbing tale." - Kirkus
Praise for Adrienne Young
"A vividly drawn maritime setting, dramatic sea dives and daring rescues, not one but two formidable villains, and a swoony romance make this a treat for seafarers and landlubbers alike." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A dark maritime fantasy...immersive...and rich in sensory details. For readers who can't get enough of strong female protagonists..." - Kirkus
"The salty sea and the promise of something hidden in its depths, had me reading this book at a furious pace. You don't simply read Fable, you are ensnared by it. This is Adrienne Young's best work of storytelling yet!" - Shea Ernshaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep
"Gripping, immersive, and absolutely masterful, Fable reels you in with the promise of beauty, and holds you tight with Young's signature grit. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough." - Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All The Stars and Teeth
"This fast-paced tale with a Victorian feeling is filled with an abundance of scandal, high fashion, intrigue, and, of course, romance... the delightfully swoonworthy love story will keep readers engaged and the pages turning eagerly as they hurtle toward the book's satisfying conclusion. An entertaining story of forbidden love, family drama, and elegant couture." - Kirkus
"In this sumptuously rendered historical novel, Young deftly explores concepts of family, loyalty, and growing into one's destiny." - Publishers Weekly
"As an author, Young's strength is in her a...
"...Rich, poetic prose that beautifully underscores the two main characters' strengths, weaknesses, and beliefs...Returning and new readers alike will find much to love in this absorbing tale." - Kirkus
Praise for Adrienne Young
"A vividly drawn maritime setting, dramatic sea dives and daring rescues, not one but two formidable villains, and a swoony romance make this a treat for seafarers and landlubbers alike." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"A dark maritime fantasy...immersive...and rich in sensory details. For readers who can't get enough of strong female protagonists..." - Kirkus
"The salty sea and the promise of something hidden in its depths, had me reading this book at a furious pace. You don't simply read Fable, you are ensnared by it. This is Adrienne Young's best work of storytelling yet!" - Shea Ernshaw, New York Times bestselling author of The Wicked Deep
"Gripping, immersive, and absolutely masterful, Fable reels you in with the promise of beauty, and holds you tight with Young's signature grit. I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough." - Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of All The Stars and Teeth
"This fast-paced tale with a Victorian feeling is filled with an abundance of scandal, high fashion, intrigue, and, of course, romance... the delightfully swoonworthy love story will keep readers engaged and the pages turning eagerly as they hurtle toward the book's satisfying conclusion. An entertaining story of forbidden love, family drama, and elegant couture." - Kirkus
"In this sumptuously rendered historical novel, Young deftly explores concepts of family, loyalty, and growing into one's destiny." - Publishers Weekly
"As an author, Young's strength is in her a...
Readers Top Reviews
tpolen
Fable and Namesake were two of my favorite reads over the past couple years. But if there was ever a character I wanted to know more about, it was Saint, Fable’s father. This book was worth the wait. My first impression of Saint wasn’t good in Fable. He’d just lost his wife, and he abandons their teenage daughter on an island filled with thieves and little food. The guy certainly wasn’t in the running for a Parent of the Year award. Eventually the reader learns that Saint never does anything without reason, and his moves are strategic. Pieces are revealed about his life with wife Isolde, but this prequel fills in the gaps and answers many questions I had about both characters. It starts at the beginning of their epic love story. All I knew of Isolde was from Fable’s memories of her, so I loved meeting the actual character. She’s a privileged wealthy girl who’s on the run from her gem dealer mother, Holland – and with good reason. Love isn’t the driving force behind her mother’s search for her. Holland’s only interested in how Isolde (a dredger and gem sage) can increase her wealth. Isolde is brave and spirited, but also a little naive on her own in the real world. Believing she’s found a way to disappear, she soon learns she was deceived and is about to be sold to a trader. Saint is on the verge of finally receiving his trader’s license and fulfilling his father’s dream for him. He wants to help the Narrows by pushing back again the wealthy traders in the Unnamed Sea and certainly doesn’t need the distraction of a beautiful girl – no matter how much he’s attracted to her. When Isolde takes refuge on his ship, he’s determined to help her keep her freedom. Primarily cold and calculating in the Fable books, meeting Saint before Isolde’s death really humanizes him and explains his demeanor. The action sequences are nail-biters, and the scenes on the high sea are so vivid I could almost smell the salt air. I was delighted at the mention of West (a character in the other books) near the end. My ARC was an audiobook, and the narrators did an excellent job. If you’ve read the Fable series, don’t miss this prequel. But I recommend reading those books first. I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Olivia F.tpolen
SAINT is a riveting and consuming YA fantasy, written as a prequel to FABLE and NAMESAKE. The story takes the reader to Saint and Isolde, telling the story of how they met in alternating perspectives. Isolde is the daughter of Holland, a wealthy gem magnate whose relationships are all about utility. After her father's death, Isolde knows she needs to escape her mother, no easy feat considering her far reach. She plans to hitch a ride on a ship to the Narrows, working as a dredger. She finds someone who makes the connection, using the fake name Eryss and signing a contract. However, she is soon to learn that the ride she thought she was getting comes with dangerous strings. Saint has plans for the Narrows, and he wants to obtain a trading license, something that seems illusive and requires skirting the rules. He sails with his close friend and confidante, Clover, and they are closer than they have ever been to achieving what they have been working towards - and then they meet Isolde. As things get more complicated, Saint's carefully laid plans will need to change, potentially putting everything he he has worked for in jeopardy. What I loved: The writing pulls the reader in immediately and keeps the pages turning quickly. The alternating perspectives immerse the reader in Saint and Isolde's stories. While the title and synopsis suggest that the story focuses on Saint, this story really felt like Isolde's. Isolde is learning about the broader world, the truth of her mother and her reach, and what she wants for her own future. She is clever, bold, and learning quickly. While her main goal has been to escape her mother's reach, she is redefining what that means for her and her own future. This path is complex and composed of small decisions, but Isolde begins to reach further and reconsider what her longer-term paths may include. Saint has complex morality with rules mostly being flexible but some feeling sacred. His life was forever changed by his father's death and the responsibility he feels for it and the people close to him. He is shrewd in business and seems very regimented, but the reader also uncovers his passion for the people he cares about and for a feeling of justice. The Narrows are his, and he is determined to improve them, as well as his and Clover's own prospects. While this seemed like an origin story for the person who was partially the villain in the original books, it's so much more than that, breathing life into these characters who seemed larger than life in Fable's story. This is really the start of a great love, self-discovery, and the plots that created the legend. This was a really quick and highly consuming read in part for the themes around poverty, morality, corruption, human trafficking, found family, and the way love changes everything. Final verdict: With compelling characters and consum...
Lee A. WilliamsOl
I love the way the author writes. These are good stories, intriguing. Can't wait for more. They are romantic, fun reads
aggietwins03Lee A
Because I read the other 2 books first, I had a hard time imagining Saint as a young man with appeal, but eventually my mind shifted and the story was enjoyable.
