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Fable for the End of the World
CCBC Review:
In a future time when water levels have risen and the wealth gap has widened, brown-skinned Inesa sells non-mutated, taxidermied animals hunted by her brother, Luka. It’s barely enough to keep the family afloat, and the siblings learn just how far their mother has sunk them into debt when Inesa is declared the next Lamb for the Gauntlet, a livestreamed event in which cyborg hunters called Angels track and kill the Lamb within a set time frame. In return, the Lamb’s family’s debt will be forgiven. Melinoë (white), the Angel pursuing Inesa, has been suffering flashbacks to her last hunt, in which she was filmed having a (too-human) breakdown after killing a little girl. Despite reprogramming wipes, she has struggled to regain her single-minded, emotionless persona. Quickly the Angel catches up with the Lamb—but when Melinoë is injured, Inesa shows her compassion, delaying the Gauntlet’s inevitable end. As the two develop feelings for one another, Melinoë feels the pressure grow: Failure to kill Inesa will lead to forced retirement from her role as an Angel and marriage to a man wealthy enough to buy her. It’s her life or Inesa’s. While the queer romance in this high-stakes dystopian novel may feel rushed, the rich world-building, fast pace, and frighteningly believable culture make it an immersive page-turner. ©2026 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
CCBC Age Recommendation: Age 14 and older
Age Range:
Grades 9-12 (Age 14 and older)
Format:
Novel
Subjects:
Activism and Resistance
Class Issues
Competitions and Contests
Dystopias
Lesbians
Science Fiction
Diversity subject:
LGBTQ Character/Topic
Publisher:
Harper
Publish Year: 2025
Pages: 371
ISBN: 9780063211551
CCBC Location: Fiction, Reid