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The Nameless
IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY.
In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number.
To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian Autokratōr.
With the world's fate hanging in the balance, Seven's journey sparks rebellion, hope, and the reclamation of individuality.
But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge and love.
In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number.
To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian Autokratōr.
With the world's fate hanging in the balance, Seven's journey sparks rebellion, hope, and the reclamation of individuality.
But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge and love.
- GenresScience FictionDystopia
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 30, 2023
48 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 9, 2025
The Nameless by Stuart White
Between 3 and 3.5 out of 5 stars
When I had the opportunity to read The Nameless I instantly jumped on the chance. The book compares itself to The Hunger Games, Divergent etc. And I really love those series. So I just had to read this book.
In the book we follow Seven. He is in the Greenhorn training camp and they are about to take part in the caste test. The test will determine if you will be part of the military, the academics or if you fail miserably you'll be cast out and forgotten. If you get to be part of the realm and serve the Autokrator you'll take part in the naming ceremony and finally find out your name.
Seven's sort of foster mom always called him Cas. But he wants to know what his real name is and who his real family are. His best friend is Six and they have each other's backs unconditionally.
We quickly learn how cruel and harsh this world is. If you don't belong in the realm you'll get castrated before you're thrown out.
And right before Six's name is announced chaos breaks out. Seven gets taken away. His DNA has been tampered with and suddenly he has to make an impossible choice. But the chaos isn't stopping at that and the rebels take him with them.
And that's what kickstarts this beautiful story and book. It's a story about finding out who you truly are. Who you can trust. And which side of the war you are on. It's about how far you are willing to go and which choices matter most.
I really enjoyed the story overall. It has great bones and I liked how the story progressed. But the pacing of the story was really off.
The start of the books was the best part of the book. But it went by way too quickly. The introduction, caste test, the tumultuous events are over in a heartbeat. I really wished the author took more time to work those chapters out. The pace was so fast that it was hard to truly connect with Seven and his friends. I liked his character. But I didn't fall in love with him. And then the middle part starts. And that part is so crazily slow. It almost dragged. Not a lot happens and a lot of time is spent on walking around and talking.
And when Seven finally goes on his mission at the end, that also was over in a blink of an eye. Especially the last 3 or 4 chapters. They are short, factual and just miss a lot of heart.
In the middle of the book a huge revelation takes place in Seven's life. And his reaction was so... underwhelming. He hardly reacts at all. I assumed it would have invoked a lot more emotions in him. And that was a huge missed opportunity in my opinion.
I really hope that the sequel will be better divided pace wise so that the story will shine even more. And so that I as a reader can connect with the characters even more.
Overall still a fun and entertaining book. Which I enjoyed reading! Between 3 and 3.5 stars from me overall. ♥
Between 3 and 3.5 out of 5 stars
When I had the opportunity to read The Nameless I instantly jumped on the chance. The book compares itself to The Hunger Games, Divergent etc. And I really love those series. So I just had to read this book.
In the book we follow Seven. He is in the Greenhorn training camp and they are about to take part in the caste test. The test will determine if you will be part of the military, the academics or if you fail miserably you'll be cast out and forgotten. If you get to be part of the realm and serve the Autokrator you'll take part in the naming ceremony and finally find out your name.
Seven's sort of foster mom always called him Cas. But he wants to know what his real name is and who his real family are. His best friend is Six and they have each other's backs unconditionally.
We quickly learn how cruel and harsh this world is. If you don't belong in the realm you'll get castrated before you're thrown out.
And right before Six's name is announced chaos breaks out. Seven gets taken away. His DNA has been tampered with and suddenly he has to make an impossible choice. But the chaos isn't stopping at that and the rebels take him with them.
And that's what kickstarts this beautiful story and book. It's a story about finding out who you truly are. Who you can trust. And which side of the war you are on. It's about how far you are willing to go and which choices matter most.
I really enjoyed the story overall. It has great bones and I liked how the story progressed. But the pacing of the story was really off.
The start of the books was the best part of the book. But it went by way too quickly. The introduction, caste test, the tumultuous events are over in a heartbeat. I really wished the author took more time to work those chapters out. The pace was so fast that it was hard to truly connect with Seven and his friends. I liked his character. But I didn't fall in love with him. And then the middle part starts. And that part is so crazily slow. It almost dragged. Not a lot happens and a lot of time is spent on walking around and talking.
And when Seven finally goes on his mission at the end, that also was over in a blink of an eye. Especially the last 3 or 4 chapters. They are short, factual and just miss a lot of heart.
In the middle of the book a huge revelation takes place in Seven's life. And his reaction was so... underwhelming. He hardly reacts at all. I assumed it would have invoked a lot more emotions in him. And that was a huge missed opportunity in my opinion.
I really hope that the sequel will be better divided pace wise so that the story will shine even more. And so that I as a reader can connect with the characters even more.
Overall still a fun and entertaining book. Which I enjoyed reading! Between 3 and 3.5 stars from me overall. ♥
October 19, 2023
The Nameless is basically what you get if you put Divergent on a steroids and testosterone regime. Everybody probably says Hunger Games too though really the brutal tests and training mostly reminds me of Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, only with the exception that Seven doesn’t seem special or brilliant like Ender.
I like how the opening chapter leaves you wondering several questions particularly what happens if they fail and don’t get a name. I was really surprised when Seven was faced with ... well spoiler ... but I was surprised he actually did it. As a main character Seven is believable, I think, and that is probably the most important thing about an MC.
The book is much more violent and brutal than I’d expect from a YA. I know other books in the genre can have some fighting and violence, but The Nameless definitely takes it up a notch! If that is something you are sensitive about, it might not be for you, but otherwise it is well worth a go!
It’s a solid 4 stars from me.
I like how the opening chapter leaves you wondering several questions particularly what happens if they fail and don’t get a name. I was really surprised when Seven was faced with ... well spoiler ... but I was surprised he actually did it. As a main character Seven is believable, I think, and that is probably the most important thing about an MC.
The book is much more violent and brutal than I’d expect from a YA. I know other books in the genre can have some fighting and violence, but The Nameless definitely takes it up a notch! If that is something you are sensitive about, it might not be for you, but otherwise it is well worth a go!
It’s a solid 4 stars from me.
October 19, 2023
This book reminded me so much of The Hunger Games, from the cover to the concept to the rules of the game, and it is similarly captivating.
As a word of warning though, if you are a sensitive person and tend to shy away from violence in your books then you should read the content warnings of this book and believe them. This book is brutal – a lot more violent than I would have expected from a Young Adult novel. There are brutal deaths and killings, and nothing is really left to the imagination, and for my personal taste it was a bit too much at times, especially because it is marketed as YA, but if you are handling things like that alright you should be fine!
Seven is a likeable and definitely also believable main character, hoping for a better life after he has been given his name. I loved his tentative, gentle relationship with Six, and I was glad that he had at least one good friend in that regime of terror. Even though Seven is such a likeable character, he doesn’t always act upon what you would expect from him, and I have to say I was shocked when he… well, I don’t want to spoiler, but those who have read it will probably know what I mean. How could he DO that?!? Another point added on the brutality list, that’s for sure.
I think the author has done a great job with the worldbuilding. Everything in this place screams futuristic dystopia, and while reading you can see these bleak surroundings for yourself, it’s like you’re right there with Six and Seven (which is a rather unsettling feeling, not gonna lie).
There were some minor things that bugged me, like at the start of the book they get their very first shower of their lives EVER, and I thought it was kind of brushed off rather quickly. Like, the first proper shower as an almost-adult has got to be a big deal, no? Then my overthinking brain started wondering if they had lice or other health problems because of all the dirt and germs and sweating from all the training, but that is probably just me overthinking things again, so we can all forget about that lol, but I did wonder wouldn’t that have been cause for a bit more excitement?!
Despite minor points like that, The Nameless had me rooting for E820907 (aka Seven) from the start, and his biggest goal in life – earning a name, a real name to make himself feel human for the first time – is very believable, and so you hope he passes the tests and gets closer to his goal and the promise of a better life quickly.
The Nameless is dark, brutal and raw, and once you start you cannot stop reading. If you are a fan of YA dystopias, or dystopias in general, then you HAVE to give this one a go! I bet you won’t regret it!
4 stars from me!
My full review can be found on my blog:
https://theartsyreader.com/book-revie...
As a word of warning though, if you are a sensitive person and tend to shy away from violence in your books then you should read the content warnings of this book and believe them. This book is brutal – a lot more violent than I would have expected from a Young Adult novel. There are brutal deaths and killings, and nothing is really left to the imagination, and for my personal taste it was a bit too much at times, especially because it is marketed as YA, but if you are handling things like that alright you should be fine!
Seven is a likeable and definitely also believable main character, hoping for a better life after he has been given his name. I loved his tentative, gentle relationship with Six, and I was glad that he had at least one good friend in that regime of terror. Even though Seven is such a likeable character, he doesn’t always act upon what you would expect from him, and I have to say I was shocked when he… well, I don’t want to spoiler, but those who have read it will probably know what I mean. How could he DO that?!? Another point added on the brutality list, that’s for sure.
I think the author has done a great job with the worldbuilding. Everything in this place screams futuristic dystopia, and while reading you can see these bleak surroundings for yourself, it’s like you’re right there with Six and Seven (which is a rather unsettling feeling, not gonna lie).
There were some minor things that bugged me, like at the start of the book they get their very first shower of their lives EVER, and I thought it was kind of brushed off rather quickly. Like, the first proper shower as an almost-adult has got to be a big deal, no? Then my overthinking brain started wondering if they had lice or other health problems because of all the dirt and germs and sweating from all the training, but that is probably just me overthinking things again, so we can all forget about that lol, but I did wonder wouldn’t that have been cause for a bit more excitement?!
Despite minor points like that, The Nameless had me rooting for E820907 (aka Seven) from the start, and his biggest goal in life – earning a name, a real name to make himself feel human for the first time – is very believable, and so you hope he passes the tests and gets closer to his goal and the promise of a better life quickly.
The Nameless is dark, brutal and raw, and once you start you cannot stop reading. If you are a fan of YA dystopias, or dystopias in general, then you HAVE to give this one a go! I bet you won’t regret it!
4 stars from me!
My full review can be found on my blog:
https://theartsyreader.com/book-revie...
October 25, 2023
This book has very strong Divergent and Hunger Games vibes, which is fabulous. I’m not a huge fan of dystopian novels but there are a few that I really enjoy. The Nameless is one of them. I thought that Seven’s need to find his name was a great story. He had such a need that it drove him on his path. I really liked him and his relationship with Six. He was forced to do some ruthless things, however, and the fact that he did them just reinforced his desire to find his name and place in the world. This book is very dark, violent and gruesome. There is a lot in here that could trigger someone, especially a person with a not so very strong constitution. However, if you can look past all of that, this is an excellent book.
February 6, 2025
The Nameless was the 16th place finalist in BBNYA 2024!
About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Book Details
Length: 334 Pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian
Age Category: Young Adult
Date Published: August 30, 2023
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/0ZNRt6r (Canada) https://a.co/d/emAwqrt (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/hbRrRYO (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a...
Blurb
For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES.
The YA debut from award-winning author, Stuart White.
IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY.
In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number.
To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian Autokratōr.
But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge, love and discovering his identity.
Author Bio
Stuart is an award-winning author and secondary school teacher. He has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing and founded, and now runs, WriteMentor. In 2020 and 2022 he was placed on the SCWBI Undiscovered Voices longlist and named as an Hononary Mention for his novels ‘Ghosts of Mars’ and ‘Astra FireStar and the Ripples of Time’. In 2023, he won the WriteBlend award for his middle grade debut, Ghosts of Mars.
Stuart was included in The Bookseller’s 2021 list of Rising Stars in the publishing industry.
I will start off with wow! This has been a truly amazing book and I can't wait for another!
This is book truly gives divergent and maze runner vibes. And those are another series I did enjoy.
You follow the story of seven to find his name and purpose in this world of Nameless and named.
Along the way he finds what he was believing in before to be a horrible reality of dicationship and death. And the Nameless aren't the bad guys after all.
With this bombshell that shakes his world another comes about who his parents are.... and it's not something he is comfortable with and is struggling to believe.
But with all this new information he finds his purpose and what really matters.
Left on a cliffhanger I can't wait to find out what else happens in this world.
A huge thank you to @thewritereads and Stuart white.
About BBNYA
BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors, ending with 15 finalists (16 in 2024) and one overall winner.
If you want some more information about BBNYA, check out the BBNYA Website https://www.bbnya.com/ or take a peek over on Twitter @BBNYA_Official. BBNYA is brought to you in association with the book blogger support group @The_WriteReads.
Book Details
Length: 334 Pages
Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian
Age Category: Young Adult
Date Published: August 30, 2023
Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/0ZNRt6r (Canada) https://a.co/d/emAwqrt (USA) https://amzn.eu/d/hbRrRYO (UK)
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Story Graph Link: https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/a...
Blurb
For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES.
The YA debut from award-winning author, Stuart White.
IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY.
In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number.
To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian Autokratōr.
But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge, love and discovering his identity.
Author Bio
Stuart is an award-winning author and secondary school teacher. He has a Masters Degree in Creative Writing and founded, and now runs, WriteMentor. In 2020 and 2022 he was placed on the SCWBI Undiscovered Voices longlist and named as an Hononary Mention for his novels ‘Ghosts of Mars’ and ‘Astra FireStar and the Ripples of Time’. In 2023, he won the WriteBlend award for his middle grade debut, Ghosts of Mars.
Stuart was included in The Bookseller’s 2021 list of Rising Stars in the publishing industry.
I will start off with wow! This has been a truly amazing book and I can't wait for another!
This is book truly gives divergent and maze runner vibes. And those are another series I did enjoy.
You follow the story of seven to find his name and purpose in this world of Nameless and named.
Along the way he finds what he was believing in before to be a horrible reality of dicationship and death. And the Nameless aren't the bad guys after all.
With this bombshell that shakes his world another comes about who his parents are.... and it's not something he is comfortable with and is struggling to believe.
But with all this new information he finds his purpose and what really matters.
Left on a cliffhanger I can't wait to find out what else happens in this world.
A huge thank you to @thewritereads and Stuart white.
October 21, 2023
The Nameless is such a brutal yet brilliant YA dystopian full of twist and turns that can get a bit emotional at times.
I love the premise of not knowing your name until you have completed years of training and then a final test to see which sector you will be stationed in, that’s if you are lucky. However, a handful are very unlucky, fail and then become exiled and therefore remain nameless. I can see why this is similar to divergent but I really liked how much more violent this is. The author really doesn’t shy away from showing us how savage and dire this new world is. This is also a good place to warn you that if blood and gore is not one for you, just take that into consideration before reading as it can get bloody! I’m not usually that squeamish but I even found myself wincing at the brutality of some things. But this just goes to show how inhumane this world can be.
The main character E820927, better known as Seven is a great main character and very believable. It was really refreshing to have a main character that was kind, considerate and strong but not totally invincible. For once as well, I wasn’t shouting at the book for the stupid mistakes the characters were making which really surprised me. Seven really is a character you can root for from beginning to end. I also loved his relationship with Six, you can tell there is a lot of history and years behind their friendship.
Overall, The Nameless is a dark, ruthless dystopian that is definitely worth the read! I read this extremely quickly as I really couldn’t put it down. I’m a big fan of dystopians and especially loved this one because of how ruthless it actually was. I can’r recommend this book enough if you are a dystopian lover!!
I love the premise of not knowing your name until you have completed years of training and then a final test to see which sector you will be stationed in, that’s if you are lucky. However, a handful are very unlucky, fail and then become exiled and therefore remain nameless. I can see why this is similar to divergent but I really liked how much more violent this is. The author really doesn’t shy away from showing us how savage and dire this new world is. This is also a good place to warn you that if blood and gore is not one for you, just take that into consideration before reading as it can get bloody! I’m not usually that squeamish but I even found myself wincing at the brutality of some things. But this just goes to show how inhumane this world can be.
The main character E820927, better known as Seven is a great main character and very believable. It was really refreshing to have a main character that was kind, considerate and strong but not totally invincible. For once as well, I wasn’t shouting at the book for the stupid mistakes the characters were making which really surprised me. Seven really is a character you can root for from beginning to end. I also loved his relationship with Six, you can tell there is a lot of history and years behind their friendship.
Overall, The Nameless is a dark, ruthless dystopian that is definitely worth the read! I read this extremely quickly as I really couldn’t put it down. I’m a big fan of dystopians and especially loved this one because of how ruthless it actually was. I can’r recommend this book enough if you are a dystopian lover!!
September 21, 2023
I adore this cover and would have bought this book on that alone. I love this genre and The Nameless had huge dystopian feels; right up my street!
Great concept - to feel worthless without a name and long to be someone with a place in the world, brilliant.
Stellar first chapter - short and full of tension. Great sensory details and descriptive writing. I was right there. Loved the line... My bones ache at the thought of belonging. A perfect line to coincide with the books concept yet a line that could be relatable to life, I think we've all felt that way!
Without spoilers there was an early, unexpected scene that caused me to shed a tear and this incident really drove the plot into action at an early stage.
With a love triangle that creeps up on you and an ending that leaves you with unanswered questions; there needs to be more coming!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC and wishing The Nameless every success.
Great concept - to feel worthless without a name and long to be someone with a place in the world, brilliant.
Stellar first chapter - short and full of tension. Great sensory details and descriptive writing. I was right there. Loved the line... My bones ache at the thought of belonging. A perfect line to coincide with the books concept yet a line that could be relatable to life, I think we've all felt that way!
Without spoilers there was an early, unexpected scene that caused me to shed a tear and this incident really drove the plot into action at an early stage.
With a love triangle that creeps up on you and an ending that leaves you with unanswered questions; there needs to be more coming!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC and wishing The Nameless every success.
October 21, 2023
I went into this blind, and I didn't have a clue what to expect, but it paid off as I devoured 60% in one day. I really really enjoyed it. It's an easy, fast-paced, YA dystopian read with plenty of action. There was always something in every chapter to keep you reading. I would say a little bit of romance involved, too, with the main character 7 (no names) trying to save the girl he loves and play the hero. With the ending left like that, I instantly wanted more and hope there will be a follow-on book I can devour. Would highly recommend! A well-deserved five stars from me. Brilliant.
February 3, 2025
A superb new YA dystopian fantasy perfect for fans of The Maze Runner, The Hunger Games or Divergent series with a dash of Orwell's 1984 and Atwoods The Handmaid's Tale, we see a futuristic world set on creating perfect humans and weeding out genetic abnormalities, where someone is always watching and violence and an army of guards threaten every move. It is a totally believable totalitarian regime. The protagonist, Seven, hopes to pass his caste test to discover his birth donor family and his name. His identity has been hidden alongside all the other Nameless ones training alongside him in camp. His girlfriend Six being one of them. They share such beautifully sweet and caring moments in the midst of sheer violence. There are some quite brutal scenes in the battle to discover an identity and then in a bid to unearth the truth at the heart of this new world order. A fast-paced, gripping, and lethal read. #the nameless #stuartwhite #thewritereads #blogtour
October 27, 2023
4.5 ⭐️s
A brilliant, fast-paced YA dystopian novel that’s gritty, brutal, and packs an emotional punch. The amazing, futuristic world-building, action packed plot, and gripping revelations made this a thrilling page-turner!
The story cleverly explores identity – knowing who they are and their parentage, being told who they are meant to be, and forging an identity on their own terms. It delves into the meaning of identity and its link to our humanity and raises some thought-provoking questions.
White crafts a bleak future where everyone is just a number and the opportunity to be given a name is held over the Realm hopefuls forcing blind loyalty and obedience. Individuality is eradicated and emotions are suppressed. It’s a frightening, isolating world where those in charge rule through fear and pain. As the chapters move forward a sense of foreboding infiltrates the pages, it’s tense and unexpected, and the danger and desperation are tangible.
Seven is ambitious, brave, and so much more than a name! I was engrossed in his story, he endures so much and his entire belief system is shattered. As secrets and lies stack up, he doesn’t know who he can trust and is forced to make impossible choices with heartbreaking consequences!
I really enjoyed the relationship between Six and Seven. Six is smart, loyal, and their close bond was touching to see through the dark times. It was a bonus to hear the thoughts of Six and to experience some of the chapters from her perspective.
With help from unlikely allies and with the burden of knowledge weighing him down, Seven must decide what’s important in his quest for the truth and the ultimate fight for a better tomorrow.
The Nameless is an entertaining story about revenge, love, family, and survival. I can’t wait to see where Seven’s journey takes us next!
For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES.
With thanks to @The_WriteReads, @WriteReadsTours, and @StuartWhiteWM for a place on the tour.
A brilliant, fast-paced YA dystopian novel that’s gritty, brutal, and packs an emotional punch. The amazing, futuristic world-building, action packed plot, and gripping revelations made this a thrilling page-turner!
The story cleverly explores identity – knowing who they are and their parentage, being told who they are meant to be, and forging an identity on their own terms. It delves into the meaning of identity and its link to our humanity and raises some thought-provoking questions.
White crafts a bleak future where everyone is just a number and the opportunity to be given a name is held over the Realm hopefuls forcing blind loyalty and obedience. Individuality is eradicated and emotions are suppressed. It’s a frightening, isolating world where those in charge rule through fear and pain. As the chapters move forward a sense of foreboding infiltrates the pages, it’s tense and unexpected, and the danger and desperation are tangible.
Seven is ambitious, brave, and so much more than a name! I was engrossed in his story, he endures so much and his entire belief system is shattered. As secrets and lies stack up, he doesn’t know who he can trust and is forced to make impossible choices with heartbreaking consequences!
I really enjoyed the relationship between Six and Seven. Six is smart, loyal, and their close bond was touching to see through the dark times. It was a bonus to hear the thoughts of Six and to experience some of the chapters from her perspective.
With help from unlikely allies and with the burden of knowledge weighing him down, Seven must decide what’s important in his quest for the truth and the ultimate fight for a better tomorrow.
The Nameless is an entertaining story about revenge, love, family, and survival. I can’t wait to see where Seven’s journey takes us next!
For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES.
With thanks to @The_WriteReads, @WriteReadsTours, and @StuartWhiteWM for a place on the tour.
October 27, 2023
The Nameless by Stuart White
“A better tomorrow is about seeing past yourself and doing things for other people. It's what she did. It's a hard thing to accept, that there are bigger things in the world than yourself. That everything you do is insignificant, but that it's super important you do it, anyway.”
The Nameless is as dystopian as you can get, it draws a lot from popular stories we already know, hunger games, death maze , divergent and in some parts it felt very westworld-y.
We follow Seven, who after completing his loyalty test for the realm is broken out by a rebel faction of exiles, the nameless who failed their respective tests and were discarded from society who are keen to overthrow the realms leaders.
What follows is a lot of politics, death and cannibalism. Whilst I would have liked more world building for this, there was enough to get a sort of idea at the state of the world but not enough to fully understand how everything came to be.
The cast is decent enough there are a lot of names but like more dystopian books you don’t need to remember them all for too long.
The pacing is spot on and I hit the last page without realising and was like I BEG YOUR PARDON! So I am desperate to find out what happens next.
The concept is really great, seeing how far someone would go to find out their birth name and family.
If you are a fan of YA Dystopian fiction this is a really easy read, it’s a little lighter on the gore than other books but it still hits all the right notes!
Thank you to writereads for hitting me up with the epub of this book and I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes next.
“A better tomorrow is about seeing past yourself and doing things for other people. It's what she did. It's a hard thing to accept, that there are bigger things in the world than yourself. That everything you do is insignificant, but that it's super important you do it, anyway.”
The Nameless is as dystopian as you can get, it draws a lot from popular stories we already know, hunger games, death maze , divergent and in some parts it felt very westworld-y.
We follow Seven, who after completing his loyalty test for the realm is broken out by a rebel faction of exiles, the nameless who failed their respective tests and were discarded from society who are keen to overthrow the realms leaders.
What follows is a lot of politics, death and cannibalism. Whilst I would have liked more world building for this, there was enough to get a sort of idea at the state of the world but not enough to fully understand how everything came to be.
The cast is decent enough there are a lot of names but like more dystopian books you don’t need to remember them all for too long.
The pacing is spot on and I hit the last page without realising and was like I BEG YOUR PARDON! So I am desperate to find out what happens next.
The concept is really great, seeing how far someone would go to find out their birth name and family.
If you are a fan of YA Dystopian fiction this is a really easy read, it’s a little lighter on the gore than other books but it still hits all the right notes!
Thank you to writereads for hitting me up with the epub of this book and I’m looking forward to seeing where this story goes next.
November 8, 2023
What you have in this book is something like 1984 but with a lot more violence in it. It seems to take place in Europe which is in a war with Asia. The European section is headed by a dictator, the Autokrater.
Below him is a organization which involves, among other things, raising young people up to take a Caste Test which will determine what part of the society they will function in. This includes soldiers, academics, Black Knights (elite military group) and the Exiles, those who fail the test.
Outside the citadel is a very run-down world where the Exiles live but also there are actual cannibals there also.
The story centers on one group who has had training and now has final testing to determine which group they will fall in 'to serve the Realm.'
There's a lot going on including a forced execution, a romance, a mystery and a whole lot of fighting.
There are parts of the story that are extremely dark but that is to be expected with the nature of the political situation.
I think this book would make a very interesting movie. The characters and situations are done in a manner that is easy to see in one's mind, there is a lot of action, some romance and basically a warning that someday we could become something like the Realm.
Below him is a organization which involves, among other things, raising young people up to take a Caste Test which will determine what part of the society they will function in. This includes soldiers, academics, Black Knights (elite military group) and the Exiles, those who fail the test.
Outside the citadel is a very run-down world where the Exiles live but also there are actual cannibals there also.
The story centers on one group who has had training and now has final testing to determine which group they will fall in 'to serve the Realm.'
There's a lot going on including a forced execution, a romance, a mystery and a whole lot of fighting.
There are parts of the story that are extremely dark but that is to be expected with the nature of the political situation.
I think this book would make a very interesting movie. The characters and situations are done in a manner that is easy to see in one's mind, there is a lot of action, some romance and basically a warning that someday we could become something like the Realm.
December 30, 2023
A must read for fans of The Hunger Games. Chaos breaks out just as Seven is about to find out who he is. He has a decision to make, one that will have consequences for the rest of his life. All of a sudden him and a friend are thrust into a life they had never planned for or contemplated. Will the end be what they want? A brilliant story about decisions, friendship and finding out what's really important in life. I couldn't put this down, I needed to know how it ended and I wasn't disappointed. I really hope there is another one on the way!
September 12, 2023
Action, adventure, not to mention twists, turns, and one very devastating scene near the start of the book, awaits you within these pages. You want your Dystopia dark? Then read this with a flashlight on! Bleak in the nicest possible way, The Nameless fires on all cylinders, and shows that no matter what happens, there is always hope. That, and Eagle (my favourite character).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2023
Lucky enough to get an early copy of this. It's a thrilling ride, following Seven on his journey, with many twists and turns I didn't see coming. Thoroughly enjoyed it - and great for fans of The Hunger Games and Maze Runner. I hope we'll get to hear more about Seven soon...
August 31, 2023
How far would you go to find your name?
This book will have you gripped from the start. Fast-paced and with characters you want to route for from the first page. Perfect for fans of dystopian.
This book will have you gripped from the start. Fast-paced and with characters you want to route for from the first page. Perfect for fans of dystopian.
January 2, 2024
Couldn't put it down
Strange changed world with relatable and believable characters, interesting plot with plenty of action. I can't wait for the next installment.
Strange changed world with relatable and believable characters, interesting plot with plenty of action. I can't wait for the next installment.
November 11, 2023
I love dystopian YA and I've read a lot of it, some great and some not so impressive. With that in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed The Nameless by Stuart White, and would place it up there with some of my favourite novels in this genre. It takes you on a thoroughly engaging, action packed, and thought provoking ride.
What would it be like to not have a name? To have to fight for the government and prove your loyalty for the chance to earn your name? How far would you go to get your name and discover who you are?
At the beginning of the book we meet '7' - one of many teenagers who've come to the end of their training and are about to get the chance to learn their name. But just when 7's long dreamed of plans are in sight, unforeseen events turn his world upside down.
A thrilling, pacy story with strong characters worth rooting for. I recommend this to all YA and adult readers who like thrilling action that packs an emotional punch. You don't need to like dystopian or speculative fiction to like this, it is rooted enough in reality for anyone. But if you do, then this novel is a definite must read for you to try!
What would it be like to not have a name? To have to fight for the government and prove your loyalty for the chance to earn your name? How far would you go to get your name and discover who you are?
At the beginning of the book we meet '7' - one of many teenagers who've come to the end of their training and are about to get the chance to learn their name. But just when 7's long dreamed of plans are in sight, unforeseen events turn his world upside down.
A thrilling, pacy story with strong characters worth rooting for. I recommend this to all YA and adult readers who like thrilling action that packs an emotional punch. You don't need to like dystopian or speculative fiction to like this, it is rooted enough in reality for anyone. But if you do, then this novel is a definite must read for you to try!
Read
October 11, 2023DNF.. sounded good. Was not.
January 5, 2025
This book was good, a little more fast paced than I’m used to but I still loved it nonetheless. The reason for the 4 stars is the cannibalism scene. It will haunt me.
December 12, 2023
Stuart White has created a disconcertingly possible future world, where a dictator demands obedience and service. Children are trained and placed in the area of their strength (military, science, environment) to further the realm. Those who do not meet the standard are discarded from the walled city and left to their own devices and at the mercy of the other Nameless groups out there, some of which have turned brutally cruel, without an identity.
This obviously leads to rebellion, spies, treason and war.
Seven sits the tests … but will he ever find out who he is, who his parents are, why his foster mum protects him and refuses to answer his questions? Full of self doubt, fear and infinite questions that he frustratingly rarely gets full answers to, his journey takes him to places he never imagined, meeting people he didn’t even know existed, making him decide where his loyalties lie, despite knowing very little about the sides he is choosing between.
He also struggles with his purpose. Is it to protect his friends or lead a group who resent him? Will his impetuous decision making put him and others in even more danger? Will his training help or hinder him?
I recommend reading to find out the answers to all these questions. The author leaves us with some of the story resolved but waiting in expectation for Book 2 to take Seven’s journey on further. As a reader, this made me sympathise with Seven, not getting all the answers to my questions straight away! I look forward to accompanying him on his next chapter.
Trigger warning: this book is not for the faint hearted, it is bloody and involves torture.
Thanks to @StuartWhiteWM and @The_WriteReads for the eARC.
This obviously leads to rebellion, spies, treason and war.
Seven sits the tests … but will he ever find out who he is, who his parents are, why his foster mum protects him and refuses to answer his questions? Full of self doubt, fear and infinite questions that he frustratingly rarely gets full answers to, his journey takes him to places he never imagined, meeting people he didn’t even know existed, making him decide where his loyalties lie, despite knowing very little about the sides he is choosing between.
He also struggles with his purpose. Is it to protect his friends or lead a group who resent him? Will his impetuous decision making put him and others in even more danger? Will his training help or hinder him?
I recommend reading to find out the answers to all these questions. The author leaves us with some of the story resolved but waiting in expectation for Book 2 to take Seven’s journey on further. As a reader, this made me sympathise with Seven, not getting all the answers to my questions straight away! I look forward to accompanying him on his next chapter.
Trigger warning: this book is not for the faint hearted, it is bloody and involves torture.
Thanks to @StuartWhiteWM and @The_WriteReads for the eARC.
May 26, 2025
Best book I've ever read! Need I say more?
June 27, 2024
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: The Nameless
Author: Stuart White
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Yes, very good. But it’s crying out to be a trilogy. So get writing Mr White. I will be buying book two when it hits Amazon..” Girl, aged 16
“A little futuristic tech, but not too much. Good balance there. The setting is cool – sort of dark, gritty. If you enjoy books like THG, you’ll probably enjoy this. The protagonist is determined, battling the odds.” Boy, aged 15
“I liked the ‘nameless’ plot. That’s super clever. The author’s a good writer. I never got lost, I never guessed what was going to happen and I enjoyed the ending. But where’s book two?😊” Girl, aged 16
“Cool adventure story for teenagers. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and the second half (which is the best half) has a lot of suspense. I think most 13 – 16 year olds will get a kick out of it.” Boy, aged 14
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced thriller with a cast of memorable characters A GOLD MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: The Nameless
Author: Stuart White
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 10/10
Cover: 5/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
15 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 8 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 3 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
15 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“Yes, very good. But it’s crying out to be a trilogy. So get writing Mr White. I will be buying book two when it hits Amazon..” Girl, aged 16
“A little futuristic tech, but not too much. Good balance there. The setting is cool – sort of dark, gritty. If you enjoy books like THG, you’ll probably enjoy this. The protagonist is determined, battling the odds.” Boy, aged 15
“I liked the ‘nameless’ plot. That’s super clever. The author’s a good writer. I never got lost, I never guessed what was going to happen and I enjoyed the ending. But where’s book two?😊” Girl, aged 16
“Cool adventure story for teenagers. I enjoyed getting to know the characters, and the second half (which is the best half) has a lot of suspense. I think most 13 – 16 year olds will get a kick out of it.” Boy, aged 14
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced thriller with a cast of memorable characters A GOLD MEDAL WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
February 7, 2025
I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with The Write Reads.
This is a YA dystopian novel. Admittedly, I'm not usually a big reader of this genre, but I was very intrigued by the cover art and the description. I found it a little bit mind-boggling, but also intriguing, to imagine a society where numbers were used in place of names. I was curious to see how the author would bring the characters to life on this basis, and it surprised me.
As I followed the story, I found it quite thought-provoking in a way, as it occurred to me that names may not matter. After all, we don't decide who we like or dislike, based on names; names have nothing to do with it. A society without names would be different from the world as we know it, but it could still function. I think that when reading a book, the names of the characters may not matter to the reader. If you connect with a character, I don't think names really come into it.
I found this a darker and more intense read than I anticipated at the start, but I felt there was a lot of suspense there, and that kept me turning the pages. It was hard to choose a favourite character, though I did find myself feeling attached to some of them, as the story progressed. I think The Nameless definitely has an audience; I think a lot of young adult readers will love it.
Thank you to The Write Reads, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
This is a YA dystopian novel. Admittedly, I'm not usually a big reader of this genre, but I was very intrigued by the cover art and the description. I found it a little bit mind-boggling, but also intriguing, to imagine a society where numbers were used in place of names. I was curious to see how the author would bring the characters to life on this basis, and it surprised me.
As I followed the story, I found it quite thought-provoking in a way, as it occurred to me that names may not matter. After all, we don't decide who we like or dislike, based on names; names have nothing to do with it. A society without names would be different from the world as we know it, but it could still function. I think that when reading a book, the names of the characters may not matter to the reader. If you connect with a character, I don't think names really come into it.
I found this a darker and more intense read than I anticipated at the start, but I felt there was a lot of suspense there, and that kept me turning the pages. It was hard to choose a favourite character, though I did find myself feeling attached to some of them, as the story progressed. I think The Nameless definitely has an audience; I think a lot of young adult readers will love it.
Thank you to The Write Reads, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
October 27, 2023
The Nameless is a dark gritty novel that follows in the wake of some familiar and popular favourites while still managing to forge its own path.
Our main character is, you guessed, ‘nameless’ he literally doesn’t have a name, at least not an official one. He is simply E820927, or Seven to his friends. In the dark and intimidating world of the Autocrator children have to earn their names via a series of tests and trials, each one worse than the next. Seven is put through hell and its a testament to the writing that the author keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. I have seen several others name dropping some big name books that it reminds them of and I certainly agree, particularly divergent.
The highlight of the book for me though was the relationship with Six. In a world of brutally and violence it was not too see something sweet and innocent.
Overall its a four star read for me. Very well written and definitely recommended to fans of the genre.
Our main character is, you guessed, ‘nameless’ he literally doesn’t have a name, at least not an official one. He is simply E820927, or Seven to his friends. In the dark and intimidating world of the Autocrator children have to earn their names via a series of tests and trials, each one worse than the next. Seven is put through hell and its a testament to the writing that the author keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. I have seen several others name dropping some big name books that it reminds them of and I certainly agree, particularly divergent.
The highlight of the book for me though was the relationship with Six. In a world of brutally and violence it was not too see something sweet and innocent.
Overall its a four star read for me. Very well written and definitely recommended to fans of the genre.
October 18, 2023
The Nameless by Stuart White is a YA dystopian fantasy/sci fi set in a futuristic world where a name is something you must earn. I’m a fan of the genre and so I jumped at the chance of getting a copy. I And have to say I do not regret it. This book rocks. And it rocks from the very first page of the brilliant opening chapter.
You are instantly rooting for the main character, E820907, ie Seven’ and his best friend ‘Six’. The idea of not having a name, and wanting one so bad, and not believing you are even human until you get one is great. And I love how in secret his foster mum has a name for him(even though he thinks it doesn’t count).
You can see influences from all over in this, particularly, Divergent, The Hunger Games, Enders Game and the Maze Runner. And if you like any of them you will like this. Its dark, gritty and emotional and I give it 5 stars!
You are instantly rooting for the main character, E820907, ie Seven’ and his best friend ‘Six’. The idea of not having a name, and wanting one so bad, and not believing you are even human until you get one is great. And I love how in secret his foster mum has a name for him(even though he thinks it doesn’t count).
You can see influences from all over in this, particularly, Divergent, The Hunger Games, Enders Game and the Maze Runner. And if you like any of them you will like this. Its dark, gritty and emotional and I give it 5 stars!
August 30, 2023
Dystopian done right!
In a world where your name is something you must earn and ultimately fight for, you cannot help but root for hero Seven. All he wants is to know who he is and to protect his friend Six, but things are never that easy... especially in the dominion of the Autokrator and his rules. Thrust into a situation not of his own doing, Seven must make tough choices and learn just how hard an existence being Nameless truly can be.
This was a page-turner for me, and I loved the twists and turns and the edge-of-the-seat action. So looking forward to reading more within this world.
Recommend for fans of The Hunger Games/Divergent/Maze Runner/The Loop - you won't be disappointed!
In a world where your name is something you must earn and ultimately fight for, you cannot help but root for hero Seven. All he wants is to know who he is and to protect his friend Six, but things are never that easy... especially in the dominion of the Autokrator and his rules. Thrust into a situation not of his own doing, Seven must make tough choices and learn just how hard an existence being Nameless truly can be.
This was a page-turner for me, and I loved the twists and turns and the edge-of-the-seat action. So looking forward to reading more within this world.
Recommend for fans of The Hunger Games/Divergent/Maze Runner/The Loop - you won't be disappointed!
October 19, 2023
The Nameless is a great YA dystopian novel very much in the mode of those ones that were super popular and even became big movies a few years ago.
In this dystopian, totalitarian society of the Autocrator children aren’t given names at birth, they are just assigned numbers. A name is something you have to earn, and until you do, you aren’t even considered a proper person.
The main character, Seven, is really likable (while not being a Mary Sue) and the sort of boy you just want to cheer along. I love his relationship with Six. Overall The Nameless is a dark, gritty page turner that almost anybody who like YA dystopia is almost guaranteed to like. I'd definitely be interested in reading more books by this author.
Thanks to twr and the author for sending me a copy!
In this dystopian, totalitarian society of the Autocrator children aren’t given names at birth, they are just assigned numbers. A name is something you have to earn, and until you do, you aren’t even considered a proper person.
The main character, Seven, is really likable (while not being a Mary Sue) and the sort of boy you just want to cheer along. I love his relationship with Six. Overall The Nameless is a dark, gritty page turner that almost anybody who like YA dystopia is almost guaranteed to like. I'd definitely be interested in reading more books by this author.
Thanks to twr and the author for sending me a copy!
January 3, 2024
2.5 DNF at 55%
Starting the year off rough 😭 I guess this is unpopular opinion everyone seems to have liked this book.
This started off strong and very interesting, and then it fell once they got to the settlement. Apparently there was secret stuff about him and every time he was close to getting told, all of a sudden something happened and it had to be put off. This could’ve been a lot shorter too much unnecessary filler with action scenes of them getting hunted that just told us nothing. I found myself annoyed with the main character everything he said just felt bogus. I didnt like him. I found him very cringy not to mention I saw the “ secret ” from a mile away. Overall the concept was interesting, this had so much potential but it just fell flat.
Starting the year off rough 😭 I guess this is unpopular opinion everyone seems to have liked this book.
This started off strong and very interesting, and then it fell once they got to the settlement. Apparently there was secret stuff about him and every time he was close to getting told, all of a sudden something happened and it had to be put off. This could’ve been a lot shorter too much unnecessary filler with action scenes of them getting hunted that just told us nothing. I found myself annoyed with the main character everything he said just felt bogus. I didnt like him. I found him very cringy not to mention I saw the “ secret ” from a mile away. Overall the concept was interesting, this had so much potential but it just fell flat.
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