Namesake by Adrienne Young

*Spoiler free*

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.

After reading Fable, I was interested in reading Namesake. Fable had such a unique and cool feel to it, with diving for gems, gorgeous writing, and an interesting take on found family. I wasn’t sure when I would to try Namesake, since I didn’t fall head over heels for Fable. But, one of my friends did fall head over feels for Fable and was excited to read Namesake. I was craving more of Young’s writing, so I decided to kind of buddy read with her!

I am very, very happy to say that I have fallen completely in love with my first Adrienne Young book. Her writing is so gorgeous, but I’ve had a hard time connecting with the stories. But, I loved Namesake so much.

Young’s writing feels like the setting of this world. The clear sky, infused with salt from the clear ocean water, gems hidden in reefs, and families found on ships. Her writing always amazes me and it’s so easy to fall in love with.

I think what made me love this book so much is that it doesn’t try to be anything other than what it is. I feel like the world has the potential to be huge, the kind of expansive you see in six book fantasy series. Yes, I think it would have been cool if this world was expanded more than it was, but I also loved that it stayed simple. This book stuck to what it was trying to do. It expanded where it needed to to progress the plot, and that was enough. What new parts of this world that were explored were absolutely fascinating. I fell in love with this world. The ships, the ports, the gems, the diving, the politics of people trying to climb to the top. Really, the best way for me to describe is that I found it super cool. I know that doesn’t seem like the best way to describe it, but just know that this world is one that I love.

I also had a few qualms with the characters. I felt like the development of a lot of them were pushed to the side, but once again, I didn’t really mind. Yes, I would have liked to see more of some characters and I’m not quite sure I like the development of one of them. Despite this, I can’t help but loving the what was in the book. This complicated found family, these people who are trying to find their place in a cut throat world. Again, this book didn’t try to be anything else other than what it was, and that includes the characters. I found myself loving them all, even if I wanted more of them. I loved what was there and I love what was done with what was there. Fable and West and Willa and Auster and Paj and Hamish and pretty much everybody were all fantastic.

Though, I had a bit of a hard time figuring out what everybody’s ages were supposed to be. In the first book, I thought West as an old man at first. I thought somebody was older and then there was something that would make me think they were a teenager. It was weird going back and forth.

Speaking of characters, I love what the villain was. I don’t want to give much away, which makes it hard to say much about what this character was. But, I found it unique and honestly just fantastic more around. Please, give more of these types of villains.

Moving from characters, let’s talk relationships. Again, I had some things that I would have liked to see differently or relationships that I didn’t quite get why such an emphasis was put on them. But, I couldn’t help but appreciate what was done. Because, when it all came together in the end, I got it. I got what these books were leading too and the ending to a certain chapter kind of made me want to scream. Yes, this book ended in such a great way.

I know it’s so weird that I’m saying I love this book when I had a good number of things that I would have liked to see differently. Yes, I had a few frustrations with this book. But, I still found myself completely in love with it. I think it’s because this world is put together so well, with all its gems and diving. Plus, the main character is full of stubbornness and willingness to claw her way to what she wanted. Really, I fell completely in love with this duology from this book and I’m very, very glad that I read it. It’s amazing.

Namesake comes out March 16, 2021! You can add it on Goodreads and pre-order a copy in the meantime!