There are so many interwoven histories and relationships between characters in this duology and I love that we are given the chance to unravel some of them.

We also learn more about Isolde and Saint - while they aren't 'new' characters, we didn't really see them in Fable, so it felt like we were really coming to understand them both in Namesake. She's so smart and is able to maneuver people exactly where she wants them. She's cruel, manipulative, smart, and has a lot of plans for Fable's future. Instead, we are introduced to Holland, the mysterious woman who controls the gem trade in the Unnamed Sea, and wow, is she something else. We spend a lot more time with Zola in this book (as he has just kidnapped Fable), but he's not the most interesting villain. However, he needs to figure out how to do this if him and Fable have a chance together. We are also given the chance to see just how brutal West can be when the moment needs it - we got a taste of it in Fable with Craven's death, but Fable is forced to come to terms with this side of him and decide if she can truly love him. One of the big themes of this book is how little Fable really knows West and is she willing to accept him once she learns more? I loved seeing their relationship develop because they were only fully together briefly in Fable, whereas Namesake gives us the chance to really see them as a couple.and man, does West need to work on being part of a couple! To be fair, this is a guy that has been the problem-solver, leader, and protector of his friends and family for so long that I really do understand how hard it is for him to share the burden. Adrienne Young has created such a wonderful fantasy world and I'm thrilled to dive back into it.

Fable had ended on an intense cliffhanger and I was dying to know what happened next. I completely fell in love with Fable and it's amazing characters and storyline, so of course I was thrilled to get an ARC of Namesake. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adrienne young fable