The Hero: Kassen - he lives alone in the mansion, formerly called “Fables”. Kassen is a tortured soul who has buried his memories of a terrible past deep behind a wall within his mind. However, that wall has been breaking down more than ever and after capturing Gemma in his house, his walls seem paper thin. There is a little bit of romance in this book, but it is subtle at the beginning and it evolves in a sweet and somewhat realistic way considering the characters' situation. There is only the fact that West implies that he had had feelings for her for a while that seems strange since she was a dirty homeless girl for most of the two years that he had known her and they exchanged only a few sentences when they would do business together. He never did or say anything that would let her believe that he cared about her in the slightest, so that "revelation" was surprising.

I enjoyed reading this. It was so sad and heartbreaking. You just want to jump into the book and then jump into the past and save all those kids! The other major issue I had with Fable was that it made me bored. Reading this book felt like a task, like a job I had to complete, and I read for entertainment and escapism, so when that happens it's never a good sign. EMMA NORRY wants all children, but especially those from the care system to ‘feel seen’ with her latest book, Fablehouse. Heather, Pal and friends set off to rescue children who have been taken to this threatening underworld. No child will be forgotten on their watch. Heather and friends realise they have been specially chosen for this quest. They must use the talents they've been given in the battle to save Fablehouse and all the children who have found shelter there.

A powerful and important book, bursting with hope and wonder. Fablehouse is a glorious celebration of friendship ' - Tola Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun This story continues to be an angst filled Rollercoaster ride gone rogue. Heartache on a loop that keeps playing over and over again. And we readers don't wanna get off in any case. But her father’s rivalries and the dangers of his trading enterprise have only multiplied since she last saw him, and Fable soon finds that West isn't who he seems. Together, they will have to survive more than the treacherous storms that haunt the Narrows if they're going to stay alive. I fell right in love with each member of the Marigold crew! This journey was not the best or safest journey and there were a few rough things that happen. Fablehouse is a children's home like no other. Heather and her friends who live here have magic at their fingertips. The children have a powerful friend in Pal, an Arthurian knight who teaches them to harness the powers they find within themselves. But not everyone the children meet is on their side.

Fable is one of my new spirit animals!! I love her so much! She went through a lot in her young life and she’s just trying to find her way. A few years ago, her father left her on this horrible island to fend for herself. There were other people there but it was a pretty bad place. The Romance: This is, to me, perhaps the most surprising part, unexpectedly laying waste to my heart as the line they draw in the sand to stay distant is wiped clean with their growing trust, as he bares himself to her after only allowing her broken pieces of himself, as he softens for her despite being all sharp edges. I think this is less a romance about falling in love and more one of coming to understand the love that had formed between them and futilely attempting to guard against it but failing miserably. Their efforts feel too late, their surrender inevitable in the best way possible. It’s a love that rings desperate, so pent up and intense, so hidden but revealing itself slowly and pleadingly.The characters were so complex, it was almost inevitable to fall for them but man...they made me cry so much. I am so in love with every word author Winters write...its so poetical and touches your heart. The confessions of their heart, their refusal, consciousness...it feels so real...more like a movie playing behind my eyes. His meaning filled the small bit of space between us, making me feel like the walls were creeping in. Because I knew why he’d said it. It was in the way his eyes dropped to my mouth sometimes when he looked at me. It was in the way his voice deepened just a little when he said my name. West was taking a different kind of risk by voting me onto his crew, and at this moment, he was letting me see it.

Fablehouse’ draws on the legends of King Arthur, folklore and history to create a captivating read. I finished it in one sitting, unwilling to leave the fiercely loyal, brave band of children on their quest. The inclusion of Palamedes may well introduce readers to a new thread of the Arthurian legends which are not a widely known as the stories including Lancelot, Gawain, Galahad or Tristan.The Nottinghill Carnival takes central stage in this story about families, memories and the power of dance and festivals. Author Yaba Badoe tells... BUT - I'm excited for book 3 - can't wait to see how this all ends. And after that, I'm excited to read the next book! We have so many Fable kids to find a HEA for! 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. Fable takes you on a spectacular journey filled with romance, intrigue, and adventure. I loved learning more about his time spent with the only family he connected with, the family he saved, the family he loved unconditionally even if it had mean't putting himself in harm's way broke my heart imagining everything he'd endured alone. In the end, if there was one thing this book had to say, it’d be that people are a whole being onto themselves, out of our control no matter what we do, and to care is to hand over your control, hand over reins with power over you, to those you care for and to all who would use them against you. And in this world, that is something to fear. For West or Saint, people carved from stone with an iron grip, that is the ultimate fear.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Children’s Books & Beatrice Cross for an early read of this fascinating book! Fablehouse is a gorgeously magical and heartfelt adventure in a richly detailed historical setting that more people need to know about. There are some light magical elements to this that I hope are built out a bit more in the second book. Fable's ability at reading gems is unique and I want to know more. The main theme of the book is friendship, and the power and beauty it can bring to the life of a lonely, abandoned child. The Roamers form a formidable team, and when battling the Champion in Fae Feld, Heather tells him "Friendship is a magic that you'll never understand".Fable has spent the last few years abandoned on an island full of thieves and criminals after her father left her there (because she needed to "learn how to survive" apparently) and now that she can finally pay her passage off of the island, she is on a mission to find her father and claim her place by his side. She boards onto The Marigold where she meets a small crew of five young and secretive men and women. After years of barely surviving on her own, she slowly learns to trust again and even to make friends. Plot twist, of course, things are not that easy! Fable needs to prove her worth and find her place in this world of crime and piracy. Growing up in the care system from 16 months right up until I was 17 has definitely shaped me as a person, positively and negatively. Positively, I am extremely adaptable, resilient, and empathetic. I coped through my younger years by being curious and that quality has carried me through many difficult times, including a massive breakdown when I was 26 which involved being diagnosed as bipolar. Negatively, I do have issues believing in my abilities and trusting my own instincts. I often feel like I don’t fit in and am on my own. I don’t ever set goals or plan ahead or dream, because my past showed that doing those things was a waste of time. On the plus side, it means that I very much live in the present and because I don’t expect anything, am rarely disappointed. In fact, I’d say my ability to reframe almost anything negative into a positive is why I’ve survived as long as I have. Gemma is torn between leaving and staying to take care of Kas, while he's not even sure what's real and what's in his head.