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Beloved Villains #3
The Nameless Trickster
When Juliette’s older brother makes an astounding claim to save his own skin, Juliette is escorted to the palace, along with other magically gifted young women who are being taken from their villages so the king can choose a bride.
But Juliette’s brother lied. She has no magic. She’s a baker and a businesswoman, not a sorceress… and now she’s trapped, facing death if she displeases the king.
When a handsome tattooed man shows up and proposes a bargain, Juliette makes a deal with him out of desperation. But their collaboration results in a crisis neither of them expected, one with dire consequences—
Unless Juliette can learn the stranger’s true name.
This spicy grownup retelling of Rumplestiltskin is perfect for fans of romantasy & fantasy romance books, and it blends a cozy fantasy atmosphere with more intense, dark fantasy vibes. Reading guidance for the darker moments can be found in the front of the book.
But Juliette’s brother lied. She has no magic. She’s a baker and a businesswoman, not a sorceress… and now she’s trapped, facing death if she displeases the king.
When a handsome tattooed man shows up and proposes a bargain, Juliette makes a deal with him out of desperation. But their collaboration results in a crisis neither of them expected, one with dire consequences—
Unless Juliette can learn the stranger’s true name.
This spicy grownup retelling of Rumplestiltskin is perfect for fans of romantasy & fantasy romance books, and it blends a cozy fantasy atmosphere with more intense, dark fantasy vibes. Reading guidance for the darker moments can be found in the front of the book.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 28, 2023
About the author
Rebecca F. Kenney
78 books3,095 followersRebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
December 2, 2023
I just can’t believe she chose the name RUPERT for the uber-sexy elf man.
December 1, 2023
I really enjoy Rebecca F. Kenney's writing and she has quickly become a new favorite author this year. Her scenic descriptions and language are lovely, not to mention that the books are 😮💨🪭, not just well written. I like that she often retells a well-known fairytale, devoting more time to world-building and character development than setting up the story. Yet, despite the familiar framework, the plot was still captivating and surprising. The TWISTS! The TURNS! The TENSION! My heart nearly seized up in some places. Well strategized plot 👏🏻
Rumplestiltskin has always been a favorite fairytale, and this retelling did not disappoint. Juliette was such a powerful heroine, clever and capable. Can I just say how refreshing it is to have a strong, fat fantasy FMC????? I am so sick of reading SJM sticks (no hate, fantasy is just severely lacking in body diversity). And "Rupert" turned out to be SUCH a cinnamon roll 🥹
Not only was The Nameless Trickster a fun story, it's also a book about citizen agency and responsibility. Throughout the plot, Kenney's characters expand their worldview, compassion, and political awareness. When their eyes are opened to injustice, they do not stand idly by or escape to a HEA, they get involved to end others' suffering.
This book ended up being really cozy. It's kind of surprising that I enjoyed so much, because lately I only want to read the darkest, grimmest, most hopeless sh!t.
Add me on Instagram | StoryGraph | Fable
Rumplestiltskin has always been a favorite fairytale, and this retelling did not disappoint. Juliette was such a powerful heroine, clever and capable. Can I just say how refreshing it is to have a strong, fat fantasy FMC????? I am so sick of reading SJM sticks (no hate, fantasy is just severely lacking in body diversity). And "Rupert" turned out to be SUCH a cinnamon roll 🥹
Not only was The Nameless Trickster a fun story, it's also a book about citizen agency and responsibility. Throughout the plot, Kenney's characters expand their worldview, compassion, and political awareness. When their eyes are opened to injustice, they do not stand idly by or escape to a HEA, they get involved to end others' suffering.
This book ended up being really cozy. It's kind of surprising that I enjoyed so much, because lately I only want to read the darkest, grimmest, most hopeless sh!t.
Add me on Instagram | StoryGraph | Fable
July 1, 2026
Thank you to the publisher, author and narrators for my ALC . They did a phenomenal job and brought this story to life.
I love Rumplesiltskin retellings and have a mild dark one obsession from Once Upon a Time and so naturally had to grab this one! I really love Rebecca’s writing style she is great at world building, natural feeling emotions and describing her surroundings so you feel like you’re there. The pacing is great and moves pretty quickly. I personally was a little creeped out by rumple (getting turned on by the smell of her tears) but he’s def obsessed with our fmc in an endearing way. Overall fun time.
I love Rumplesiltskin retellings and have a mild dark one obsession from Once Upon a Time and so naturally had to grab this one! I really love Rebecca’s writing style she is great at world building, natural feeling emotions and describing her surroundings so you feel like you’re there. The pacing is great and moves pretty quickly. I personally was a little creeped out by rumple (getting turned on by the smell of her tears) but he’s def obsessed with our fmc in an endearing way. Overall fun time.
December 23, 2023
I’m disappointed in myself for simping so hard for a man named Rupert
July 2, 2026
I love this book 😭 almost everything about it was perfect. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 stars is because the pacing slowed down in the middle and stalled the romance a little bit in favour of moving the fantasy plot along. Rupert had been imprisoned and Juliette had to rescue him, this took a really long time and there were no scenes that took me back to the romance. It was necessary I think for them to be apart so Juliette could get Rupert’s true name and get him out of that bargain with the king, but it got a little bit boring for me 🥹
Juliette was amazing. Absolutely loved her. I’ve been complaining for weeks about how in every book I read, the fmc is the same stubborn argumentative girlboss type. Juliette is not that. She’s tender and sweet and caring, but she’s actually still a girlboss. Literally, she buys an inn at the end of the book and runs it with her bestie and her man. She’s in charge, but she’s still kind. She doesn’t argue with the mmc about every little thing. There’s no fighting for power, no competing over who gets to be the dominant one. It helps that Rupert just folds immediately lmfao
Rupert, my man. Absolutely pathetic (endearing). He’s in charge for a bit until he realises Juliette is better suited for it. He happily gets on his knees for her. He even earns his red wings! The only thing that could have made him better is if he begged and whimpered. He fucking YEARNED though. What a sweet man. I love when the love is sweet and gentle. It doesn’t have to be hyper aggressive and rough and quite frankly I’m sick of reading books where that’s the case. Give me like 50 more of this type of love please. This book was such a refreshing pallet cleanser 🥹
Their romance was more like instalust than a slow burn, it felt like they went from 0 to 100 really ridiculously quickly. As a lover of the slow burn, this did bother me a little. The book is quite short though so it kind of needed to start faster. The first half of the book was very entertaining. It wasn’t not entertaining in the second half but it did slow down quite a bit and it made me lose focus at times. I don’t need for action scenes to be happening all the time, but I’m here for the romance so if that’s good, I’m happy. The ending was great though, it picked back up after the initial slowdown of the pacing and then the epilogue was just cavity inducing.
The villain was almost two dimensional in that he was just a really despicable guy with no explanation. He didn’t have a tragic backstory or anything, he was just a gross rapist with an oversized ego and an undersized cock. I feel like there was the potential to expand more on everything in this story, but it’s also great as it is: rumplestiltskin but make him a hot elf who is immediately down bad for a random woman because her baking is so delicious and she’s also the only one who’s ever treated him like a person 😭
I laughed, I cried, I got wet. Normal reaction to a good spicy romantasy standalone. Thanks so much to RBmedia/Tantor for the ALC!
Juliette was amazing. Absolutely loved her. I’ve been complaining for weeks about how in every book I read, the fmc is the same stubborn argumentative girlboss type. Juliette is not that. She’s tender and sweet and caring, but she’s actually still a girlboss. Literally, she buys an inn at the end of the book and runs it with her bestie and her man. She’s in charge, but she’s still kind. She doesn’t argue with the mmc about every little thing. There’s no fighting for power, no competing over who gets to be the dominant one. It helps that Rupert just folds immediately lmfao
Rupert, my man. Absolutely pathetic (endearing). He’s in charge for a bit until he realises Juliette is better suited for it. He happily gets on his knees for her. He even earns his red wings! The only thing that could have made him better is if he begged and whimpered. He fucking YEARNED though. What a sweet man. I love when the love is sweet and gentle. It doesn’t have to be hyper aggressive and rough and quite frankly I’m sick of reading books where that’s the case. Give me like 50 more of this type of love please. This book was such a refreshing pallet cleanser 🥹
Their romance was more like instalust than a slow burn, it felt like they went from 0 to 100 really ridiculously quickly. As a lover of the slow burn, this did bother me a little. The book is quite short though so it kind of needed to start faster. The first half of the book was very entertaining. It wasn’t not entertaining in the second half but it did slow down quite a bit and it made me lose focus at times. I don’t need for action scenes to be happening all the time, but I’m here for the romance so if that’s good, I’m happy. The ending was great though, it picked back up after the initial slowdown of the pacing and then the epilogue was just cavity inducing.
The villain was almost two dimensional in that he was just a really despicable guy with no explanation. He didn’t have a tragic backstory or anything, he was just a gross rapist with an oversized ego and an undersized cock. I feel like there was the potential to expand more on everything in this story, but it’s also great as it is: rumplestiltskin but make him a hot elf who is immediately down bad for a random woman because her baking is so delicious and she’s also the only one who’s ever treated him like a person 😭
I laughed, I cried, I got wet. Normal reaction to a good spicy romantasy standalone. Thanks so much to RBmedia/Tantor for the ALC!
October 15, 2024
As always I love her books
June 9, 2026
I dont know what i expected, but it wasnt this
December 4, 2023
I’m leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s not a secret that RFK has become easily one of my most favorite authors over the course of the year since I’ve discovered her work, nor will it come as a shock to anyone to learn how much I loved this book— but here we are.
This author has such a way with spinning stories that you grow increasingly addicted to and yearn for another taste of—and she feeds us WELL.
Rupert and Juliette’s story is a heaping helping of deliciously spicy goodness wrapped up in a fast-paced and emotionally rousing Rumplestiltskin retelling that will bring you to tears equally as easily as it will provoke giggles to spill from between smiling lips.
TROPES Including but not limited to:
Elves
Magic
Clever and hardworking FMC
Morally gray trickster MMC
Fairytale retelling
Plus size FMC
SPICY cooking
Found family
Women empowerment
Fated mates
“In this moment, everything is golden.”
“If I like a thing, I don’t much care where it comes from.”
“You’re very lickable.” (SIR 👀)
I will never not rave about this author and her work. Beautifully done and always so vivid.
It’s not a secret that RFK has become easily one of my most favorite authors over the course of the year since I’ve discovered her work, nor will it come as a shock to anyone to learn how much I loved this book— but here we are.
This author has such a way with spinning stories that you grow increasingly addicted to and yearn for another taste of—and she feeds us WELL.
Rupert and Juliette’s story is a heaping helping of deliciously spicy goodness wrapped up in a fast-paced and emotionally rousing Rumplestiltskin retelling that will bring you to tears equally as easily as it will provoke giggles to spill from between smiling lips.
TROPES Including but not limited to:
Elves
Magic
Clever and hardworking FMC
Morally gray trickster MMC
Fairytale retelling
Plus size FMC
SPICY cooking
Found family
Women empowerment
Fated mates
“In this moment, everything is golden.”
“If I like a thing, I don’t much care where it comes from.”
“You’re very lickable.” (SIR 👀)
I will never not rave about this author and her work. Beautifully done and always so vivid.
January 14, 2024
3.5 stars
Another great entry into Rebecca F. Kenney"s ' For love of a villain' series. This was probably my last favourite so far, but it was still an excellent read - it's just that I liked the other two (especially Sea Witch) so much that the standards are high!!
I do wish I'd re-read the tale of Romplestiltskin before jumping into this, as I could only remember bits and probably missed a few references.
I felt like the pacing dragged every now and again in this one, and noticed a few typos here and there. The last act felt rushed, which was a bit disappointing because I was so bothered by some of the characters that I really would have liked to see justice done.
And perhaps that's part of the issue - this book had a lot of really good/interesting side characters who honestly fell off the page towards the end.
But I did love our main characters, and as always for this author, they had true chemistry.
Another great entry into Rebecca F. Kenney"s ' For love of a villain' series. This was probably my last favourite so far, but it was still an excellent read - it's just that I liked the other two (especially Sea Witch) so much that the standards are high!!
I do wish I'd re-read the tale of Romplestiltskin before jumping into this, as I could only remember bits and probably missed a few references.
I felt like the pacing dragged every now and again in this one, and noticed a few typos here and there. The last act felt rushed, which was a bit disappointing because I was so bothered by some of the characters that I really would have liked to see justice done.
And perhaps that's part of the issue - this book had a lot of really good/interesting side characters who honestly fell off the page towards the end.
But I did love our main characters, and as always for this author, they had true chemistry.
July 2, 2026
✨Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listening copy of this book✨
Wow. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this audiobook.
The narrators were fantastic, the pacing of the book was perfect and I absolutely raced through this in two days.
I’m a big fan of fairytale and folklore retellings but actually went into this completely blind and had no idea what a great time I was in for. The retelling was done really well, not super cliche or corny. Overall there was a perfect mix of characters who actually had personality, enough of a plot to keep things interesting, with fun spice and a bit of darkness thrown in. I really liked the way she wrote the romance too.
It definitely kept my attention the whole way through! This is the first book I’ve read by Rebecca F. Kenney and I will be reading more of her work if this is how she writes every book.
Wow. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this audiobook.
The narrators were fantastic, the pacing of the book was perfect and I absolutely raced through this in two days.
I’m a big fan of fairytale and folklore retellings but actually went into this completely blind and had no idea what a great time I was in for. The retelling was done really well, not super cliche or corny. Overall there was a perfect mix of characters who actually had personality, enough of a plot to keep things interesting, with fun spice and a bit of darkness thrown in. I really liked the way she wrote the romance too.
It definitely kept my attention the whole way through! This is the first book I’ve read by Rebecca F. Kenney and I will be reading more of her work if this is how she writes every book.
December 3, 2023
A spicy twist of a retelling on the classic tale of Rumplestiltskin. I loved the strong FMC. I enjoyed the inclusive nature of the book (sign language as a way to communicate). As always, the author does a great job mixing in old folklore into her tales to add depth to her stories.
March 14, 2025
3.75 stars
July 25, 2025
My Rating: 3.5 Stars
November 29, 2023
Loved it!
I didn't know how a retelling of Rumplestiltskin of all things would turn out - but Rebecca has woven yet another wonderful tale! Loved every moment of it, from their sweet first meeting to the very last word. Excellently told.
I didn't know how a retelling of Rumplestiltskin of all things would turn out - but Rebecca has woven yet another wonderful tale! Loved every moment of it, from their sweet first meeting to the very last word. Excellently told.
July 26, 2024
Meh this one was not it.
October 8, 2024
It is so bad, I wanna give you a 0. But that's not possible. So I give you a 1
December 14, 2023
I need to preface everything I'm about to say with the fact that I enjoyed this book. It's a good book and a fun read.
OK, now i have to say that this is my least favorite out of all of the books I've read by Rebecca Kenney. It didn't suck me in the way the others that I've read have.
The spice is still nice and spicy, the character development is still good, and the plot still has a good pace to it. It isn't a bad book at all. It just didn't have the punch that the other books I've read by Rebecca have.
I don't know if I just didn't have as much of an attachment to Rumplestiltskin as I did to the other fairytale inspired books or if Rebecca just didn't get as excited about this one. I felt about this book the way I thought I'd feel about Maleficent.
It's good, but probably not enough to make me want to dive into everything else she's ever written. Luckily this isn't the 1st book of hers I've read and I know how aweaome they are so I'm about to happily dive into some other ones to see what happens.
OK, now i have to say that this is my least favorite out of all of the books I've read by Rebecca Kenney. It didn't suck me in the way the others that I've read have.
The spice is still nice and spicy, the character development is still good, and the plot still has a good pace to it. It isn't a bad book at all. It just didn't have the punch that the other books I've read by Rebecca have.
I don't know if I just didn't have as much of an attachment to Rumplestiltskin as I did to the other fairytale inspired books or if Rebecca just didn't get as excited about this one. I felt about this book the way I thought I'd feel about Maleficent.
It's good, but probably not enough to make me want to dive into everything else she's ever written. Luckily this isn't the 1st book of hers I've read and I know how aweaome they are so I'm about to happily dive into some other ones to see what happens.
February 19, 2025
Despite the insta-love sort of trope here, I enjoyed it
Read
December 27, 2023✨ The Nameless Trickster by Rebecca Kenney ✨
Memorable Moments/Ideas:
💜 Kindness and Compassion
✨ Frosting 🥵
💜 Found Family
✨ Spicy Fairy Tale Retold
💜 Baking as a love language
I told myself I wasn’t going to read today, but quiet/nap time made it so. Having read a Court of Sugar and Spice the other day, I knew this would be a spicy, exciting retelling. I didn’t anticipate how heartfelt and emotional it would be as well.
I have always loved a good initially thought villain redemption storyline. The entire series Once Upon a Time? An absolute favorite of mine. I never think a villain is as two-dimensional as initially portrayed in children’s stories, and we see that layering redemption arc in Kenney’s Rupert. Rue - the man of many names - is a take on Rumplestiltskin, but just because someone has trickery and twists, they are not evil incarnate. That’s reserved for others who are devious and wicked.
Juliette, neither a trickster or deviant, is a strong, intelligent FMC. She’s also empathetic and connects with people. Bonus? She’s voluptuous and allows people with not only big hearts, but big bodies, to be seen, worshipped, and loved in literature. Anytime we see a strong willed women as a fat rep, I’m in. Add in the fact she’s not troped as funny, but someone who is serious and only silly behind closed doors, helps to normalize the representation of women as more than comedic or romantic stereotypes.
The storyline? Even better. I love who we see in the world, but the journey through it, also wonderfully described and detailed. I felt immersed in the world (more than I did with a Court of Sugar and Spice) and the fact that the book wasn’t lengthy at all showcases Kenney’s writing prowess at really showing without telling and using language precisely.
My favorite element in this story? The social commentary on staying silent in times of injustice and how enacting change can sometimes be extreme, but necessary. Without spoiling too much — Chapter 19 is golden — pun intended.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Recommend: YES.
Audience: People who love a good villain retelling arc. People who loved Once Upon a Time (ABC show). People who love social justice.
Memorable Moments/Ideas:
💜 Kindness and Compassion
✨ Frosting 🥵
💜 Found Family
✨ Spicy Fairy Tale Retold
💜 Baking as a love language
I told myself I wasn’t going to read today, but quiet/nap time made it so. Having read a Court of Sugar and Spice the other day, I knew this would be a spicy, exciting retelling. I didn’t anticipate how heartfelt and emotional it would be as well.
I have always loved a good initially thought villain redemption storyline. The entire series Once Upon a Time? An absolute favorite of mine. I never think a villain is as two-dimensional as initially portrayed in children’s stories, and we see that layering redemption arc in Kenney’s Rupert. Rue - the man of many names - is a take on Rumplestiltskin, but just because someone has trickery and twists, they are not evil incarnate. That’s reserved for others who are devious and wicked.
Juliette, neither a trickster or deviant, is a strong, intelligent FMC. She’s also empathetic and connects with people. Bonus? She’s voluptuous and allows people with not only big hearts, but big bodies, to be seen, worshipped, and loved in literature. Anytime we see a strong willed women as a fat rep, I’m in. Add in the fact she’s not troped as funny, but someone who is serious and only silly behind closed doors, helps to normalize the representation of women as more than comedic or romantic stereotypes.
The storyline? Even better. I love who we see in the world, but the journey through it, also wonderfully described and detailed. I felt immersed in the world (more than I did with a Court of Sugar and Spice) and the fact that the book wasn’t lengthy at all showcases Kenney’s writing prowess at really showing without telling and using language precisely.
My favorite element in this story? The social commentary on staying silent in times of injustice and how enacting change can sometimes be extreme, but necessary. Without spoiling too much — Chapter 19 is golden — pun intended.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5
Recommend: YES.
Audience: People who love a good villain retelling arc. People who loved Once Upon a Time (ABC show). People who love social justice.
July 4, 2026
Morally Gray Never Looked So Good
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy (ALC). All thoughts are my own.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into a Rumplestiltskin retelling, but this completely surprised me. I love a good fairy tale retelling, and this one pulled me in much more than I anticipated. Even though it’s the third book in the Beloved Villains series, I never once felt lost. It truly works as a standalone, with enough context to enjoy the story without feeling like I’d missed anything important. The worldbuilding was approachable, and I never felt buried under fantasy lore.
The chemistry between these two was immediate without feeling forced or creepy. I loved that the MMC completely fell first and was absolutely obsessed with her pleasure while still giving the FMC room to remain strong and capable in her own right. The spice definitely delivers (around a 4–5/5 for me), but it was the final 40% that really sealed the deal. I laughed, swooned, gasped, and found myself completely invested in how everything would come together. Charlotte Claremont was excellent as the female narrator, while Hugo Locke was a bit more hit-or-miss for me, though it didn’t take away from the overall experience.
If you enjoy dark romantasy, fairy tale retellings, morally gray characters, and fantasy worlds that don’t require pages of complicated worldbuilding to understand, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. The content warnings at the beginning are accurate and worth reading beforehand. And as someone whose pattern recognition is constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the story, I can confidently say an elf would never get one over on me. 😂 I’m giving this 4.5 stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
Who should read/listen?
Readers who love fairy tale retellings, dark romantasy, he-falls-first romances, strong heroines, morally gray characters, and spicy fantasy with accessible worldbuilding. Even if you haven’t read the earlier books, this one stands well on its own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy (ALC). All thoughts are my own.
I wasn’t sure what to expect going into a Rumplestiltskin retelling, but this completely surprised me. I love a good fairy tale retelling, and this one pulled me in much more than I anticipated. Even though it’s the third book in the Beloved Villains series, I never once felt lost. It truly works as a standalone, with enough context to enjoy the story without feeling like I’d missed anything important. The worldbuilding was approachable, and I never felt buried under fantasy lore.
The chemistry between these two was immediate without feeling forced or creepy. I loved that the MMC completely fell first and was absolutely obsessed with her pleasure while still giving the FMC room to remain strong and capable in her own right. The spice definitely delivers (around a 4–5/5 for me), but it was the final 40% that really sealed the deal. I laughed, swooned, gasped, and found myself completely invested in how everything would come together. Charlotte Claremont was excellent as the female narrator, while Hugo Locke was a bit more hit-or-miss for me, though it didn’t take away from the overall experience.
If you enjoy dark romantasy, fairy tale retellings, morally gray characters, and fantasy worlds that don’t require pages of complicated worldbuilding to understand, I definitely recommend giving this one a try. The content warnings at the beginning are accurate and worth reading beforehand. And as someone whose pattern recognition is constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the story, I can confidently say an elf would never get one over on me. 😂 I’m giving this 4.5 stars.
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5)
Who should read/listen?
Readers who love fairy tale retellings, dark romantasy, he-falls-first romances, strong heroines, morally gray characters, and spicy fantasy with accessible worldbuilding. Even if you haven’t read the earlier books, this one stands well on its own.
January 14, 2024
🌶️🌶️🌶️
What will they do to her when they find out she has no magic?
We have lore about the source of magic. Our Creator Goddess gave it to the Early Ones, also called the Kin, the Chosen, or the Elves. They used it to tend the woods, tame the seas, and improve the world.
I must remember my priorities. Fuck Juliette first. Then get her to bake for me.
“Didn’t need to. Wanted to.” He grins. “You’re very lickable.”
“Half-Elf. And I’d rather no one knew about it, so if you’ll kindly keep the knowledge to yourself, I’ll be grateful.”
“But I do need a corset. Without the support, my back starts to hurt.” “I can imagine, toting those things around…” I nod at her tits. “Fucking gorgeous, they are. I’ve never seen a pair so fine.”
My real name is a chain. A weapon. Shackles and slavery.
“I’m still a burglar and a brigand. A thief, a wanderer, a rogue, and a trickster.
“You don’t like full-figured women?” She plants both hands on her hips. “Oh, I like them very much.”
I’m a predator crazed with need, salivating for a taste of sweet flesh.
Every bit of me is trembling, turned to jelly by that magical tongue.
“So sweet, but there’s a spice to your flavor, too. I can’t get enough. Can you bake me a pie that tastes like your cunt?”
Real love doesn’t abandon, doesn’t forget. It ponders and works and plans. It searches out its object and will not be satisfied until it has found that other part of itself and become whole again.
But he’s drained now, helpless and empty, and he can’t rescue me anymore. I have to be the one who saves him, before it’s too late for either of us.
My responsibility to this group doesn’t end when the march does. A businesswoman is responsible for her employees, and a revolutionary is responsible for those who follow her, no matter how impulsively her revolution began.
I’m your slave, Juliette, and not by my name, or any compulsion except my love.”
What will they do to her when they find out she has no magic?
We have lore about the source of magic. Our Creator Goddess gave it to the Early Ones, also called the Kin, the Chosen, or the Elves. They used it to tend the woods, tame the seas, and improve the world.
I must remember my priorities. Fuck Juliette first. Then get her to bake for me.
“Didn’t need to. Wanted to.” He grins. “You’re very lickable.”
“Half-Elf. And I’d rather no one knew about it, so if you’ll kindly keep the knowledge to yourself, I’ll be grateful.”
“But I do need a corset. Without the support, my back starts to hurt.” “I can imagine, toting those things around…” I nod at her tits. “Fucking gorgeous, they are. I’ve never seen a pair so fine.”
My real name is a chain. A weapon. Shackles and slavery.
“I’m still a burglar and a brigand. A thief, a wanderer, a rogue, and a trickster.
“You don’t like full-figured women?” She plants both hands on her hips. “Oh, I like them very much.”
I’m a predator crazed with need, salivating for a taste of sweet flesh.
Every bit of me is trembling, turned to jelly by that magical tongue.
“So sweet, but there’s a spice to your flavor, too. I can’t get enough. Can you bake me a pie that tastes like your cunt?”
Real love doesn’t abandon, doesn’t forget. It ponders and works and plans. It searches out its object and will not be satisfied until it has found that other part of itself and become whole again.
But he’s drained now, helpless and empty, and he can’t rescue me anymore. I have to be the one who saves him, before it’s too late for either of us.
My responsibility to this group doesn’t end when the march does. A businesswoman is responsible for her employees, and a revolutionary is responsible for those who follow her, no matter how impulsively her revolution began.
I’m your slave, Juliette, and not by my name, or any compulsion except my love.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ALC
Rebecca F. Kenney has officially secured a spot as one of my top five favorite authors, and The Nameless Trickster is another reminder of why. Her books always have such effortless pacing, and the witty banter between the characters keeps me completely engaged. I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next, and I genuinely couldn't stop listening.
The story follows Juliette, who is betrayed and sent to an evil king because of a lie. Before she's taken away, she has a brief encounter with Rupert, sharing a muffin with him. Rupert is so enchanted by both Juliette and her baking that he can't let her fate stand, setting the stage for a fun, magical adventure. It's such a unique and charming way to kick off the romance, and their chemistry only gets better from there.
One of my favorite things about Rebecca F. Kenney's writing is how she transforms classic fairy tales into fresh, witty, and unapologetically adult retellings. She has a way of balancing humor, romance, and heart that makes her stories feel effortless to read (or listen to), and The Nameless Trickster is no exception.
My only critique is with the audiobook production. While I enjoyed both narrators, I wish it had been performed in duet style rather than having each narrator read every character's dialogue in their own chapters. For example, when Charlotte voiced Rupert's lines, it pulled me out of the story because I had already associated Hugo's voice with him. I think a duet narration, where each narrator consistently voiced their own character's dialogue, would have made the listening experience even more immersive.
That small production choice didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the audiobook overall. I had an amazing time with this story and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves spicy fairy tale retellings, lovable characters, witty banter, and romances that are equal parts funny and heartfelt.
Rebecca F. Kenney has officially secured a spot as one of my top five favorite authors, and The Nameless Trickster is another reminder of why. Her books always have such effortless pacing, and the witty banter between the characters keeps me completely engaged. I found myself constantly wanting to know what would happen next, and I genuinely couldn't stop listening.
The story follows Juliette, who is betrayed and sent to an evil king because of a lie. Before she's taken away, she has a brief encounter with Rupert, sharing a muffin with him. Rupert is so enchanted by both Juliette and her baking that he can't let her fate stand, setting the stage for a fun, magical adventure. It's such a unique and charming way to kick off the romance, and their chemistry only gets better from there.
One of my favorite things about Rebecca F. Kenney's writing is how she transforms classic fairy tales into fresh, witty, and unapologetically adult retellings. She has a way of balancing humor, romance, and heart that makes her stories feel effortless to read (or listen to), and The Nameless Trickster is no exception.
My only critique is with the audiobook production. While I enjoyed both narrators, I wish it had been performed in duet style rather than having each narrator read every character's dialogue in their own chapters. For example, when Charlotte voiced Rupert's lines, it pulled me out of the story because I had already associated Hugo's voice with him. I think a duet narration, where each narrator consistently voiced their own character's dialogue, would have made the listening experience even more immersive.
That small production choice didn't take away from how much I enjoyed the audiobook overall. I had an amazing time with this story and would absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves spicy fairy tale retellings, lovable characters, witty banter, and romances that are equal parts funny and heartfelt.
September 20, 2025
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 4/5
Narrator: no audio book ☹
Cliffhanger: 0/5
Spice: 4/5
Narrator: no audio book ☹
Cliffhanger: 0/5
My biggest issue with this book is that there is no audiobook. Though given audiobooks are thoroughly interwoven into my life and routine the fact that I carved out time to read this (and finish it) says a lot about how much I enjoyed it. I’d love to relisten to it but I don’t have the time to sit and reread.
In a world of five thousand Cinderella and Beauty & the Beast Retellings this was fun and refreshing and, damn, it takes talent to make Rumpelstiltskin sexy. And it was sexy. This is a pretty spicy book (not as spicy as her Wicked Darlings books but damn spicy.)
I loved that this is about ordinary people (and a half-elf) not about royals or novels or anyone elite (except the villain but he doesn’t count). Juliette is perfectly admirable and relatable, different from most MFCs as an energetic, hard-working, plus-sized, go-getter. The MMC is a damaged thief and con-artist, wandering around, doing little harm but no good until he meets Juliette and is inspired to save her, and ultimately become a better man.
I also loved the lore about the elves and how they interacted in this universe as well as how the author used every important piece of the Rumpelstiltskin story in new and inventive ways.
Personally, I could do without the icky details Rebecca F. Kenney provides when it comes to things like torture and menstruation, but I can respect and even admire that she is willing to step away from the pack and isn’t afraid to bring it to the next level.
I hope this and the rest of the Beloved Villains books do eventually come out in audio. This is my favorite collection of hers.
February 15, 2026
Like the stars say, it was ok.
I liked what it tried to do: be a fairy tale revamp with a political overtone.
Here's what worked/I found interesting
-I'm a sucker for meeting before knowing
*If you know, you know.
-Juliette's ambitions/How Rupert gets to know her
*He comes a across a list that's a mix of personal and professional goals and realizes "wow. This is the first time I've come across someone I wanna stick around and get to know the why's of her wants". She makes him want to be better.
-"Rupert" laughs at the idea of turning straw into gold.
-The egomania of the king/the fact that Juliette is caught between a rock and hard place for a while
*Our guy has an exaggeratedly handsome/well endowed (reaching his thigh, really?), and even if he doesn't believe/like their gift, he can still keep you as an on demand concubine.
*As for his other servants: mutilation is his weapon of choice (whether that's removing tongues or body parts below the belt). Yikes doesn't begin to cover it.
-A take down from the downstairs (the maids/Rupert are out to poison the king).
-The men in her village only want one side each: the baker or the buxom beauty
*A take on the Madonna/Whore complex.
But the pacing was soo slow. And if Juliette did manage to escape, she's a pretty competent baker/business woman. And with no family ties to bind her (fuck Prain. Yeah, I said it), Juliette could start fresh and not worry about some asshat stealing her money. There was also some low brow humor that went on a bit too long, and the modern word "ew" uttered by Juliette herself just took me out of this world every time.
We didn't get enough time on each element. It felt both too long and rushed. Which is a shame because I still stand by her Nutcracker reimaging.
I liked what it tried to do: be a fairy tale revamp with a political overtone.
Here's what worked/I found interesting
-I'm a sucker for meeting before knowing
*If you know, you know.
-Juliette's ambitions/How Rupert gets to know her
*He comes a across a list that's a mix of personal and professional goals and realizes "wow. This is the first time I've come across someone I wanna stick around and get to know the why's of her wants". She makes him want to be better.
-"Rupert" laughs at the idea of turning straw into gold.
-The egomania of the king/the fact that Juliette is caught between a rock and hard place for a while
*Our guy has an exaggeratedly handsome/well endowed (reaching his thigh, really?), and even if he doesn't believe/like their gift, he can still keep you as an on demand concubine.
*As for his other servants: mutilation is his weapon of choice (whether that's removing tongues or body parts below the belt). Yikes doesn't begin to cover it.
-A take down from the downstairs (the maids/Rupert are out to poison the king).
-The men in her village only want one side each: the baker or the buxom beauty
*A take on the Madonna/Whore complex.
But the pacing was soo slow. And if Juliette did manage to escape, she's a pretty competent baker/business woman. And with no family ties to bind her (fuck Prain. Yeah, I said it), Juliette could start fresh and not worry about some asshat stealing her money. There was also some low brow humor that went on a bit too long, and the modern word "ew" uttered by Juliette herself just took me out of this world every time.
We didn't get enough time on each element. It felt both too long and rushed. Which is a shame because I still stand by her Nutcracker reimaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2026
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this audiobook!
I love books written by Rebecca Kenney, but this was the first time listening to one of her audiobooks. The narrators did a great job with it. I usually prefer duet style, but here, each of the narrators did their own chapters, reading lines for all characters. I didn't mind, because both of them gave each character a different voice, it was very well done.
The story itself was great, as per usual from this author. Her stories just click for me, the FMC and MMC are always likeable and well portrayed, and even though the villains can make life extremely dangerous for the MCs, I can trust Ms Kenney to steer her stories towards a happy and satisfying ending.
Here as well, Rupert (love that name!) and Julliette make great protagonists. Julliette has been captured by the evil king to serve as one of his concubines, with the potential to earn the questionable privilege of becoming his queen. Oh, and he wants her magic.
Problem is, Julliette doesn't have any magic.
Rupert briefly spoke to Julliette before she was taken by the King's soldiers, and as their meeting left such an impression on him, he decides to follow her to the palace. There, he disguises himself as one of the servants and goes to find Julliette. When he does, he decides to help her with her little magic problem.
The king was pretty vile and disgusting, but fairly one dimensional. Not a big deal in this instance, because Rupert and Julliette carried this story, with the focus on their love and character development.
Overall, I am so glad I got the chance to listen to this lovely audiobook. Rebecca Kenney can do no wrong!
I love books written by Rebecca Kenney, but this was the first time listening to one of her audiobooks. The narrators did a great job with it. I usually prefer duet style, but here, each of the narrators did their own chapters, reading lines for all characters. I didn't mind, because both of them gave each character a different voice, it was very well done.
The story itself was great, as per usual from this author. Her stories just click for me, the FMC and MMC are always likeable and well portrayed, and even though the villains can make life extremely dangerous for the MCs, I can trust Ms Kenney to steer her stories towards a happy and satisfying ending.
Here as well, Rupert (love that name!) and Julliette make great protagonists. Julliette has been captured by the evil king to serve as one of his concubines, with the potential to earn the questionable privilege of becoming his queen. Oh, and he wants her magic.
Problem is, Julliette doesn't have any magic.
Rupert briefly spoke to Julliette before she was taken by the King's soldiers, and as their meeting left such an impression on him, he decides to follow her to the palace. There, he disguises himself as one of the servants and goes to find Julliette. When he does, he decides to help her with her little magic problem.
The king was pretty vile and disgusting, but fairly one dimensional. Not a big deal in this instance, because Rupert and Julliette carried this story, with the focus on their love and character development.
Overall, I am so glad I got the chance to listen to this lovely audiobook. Rebecca Kenney can do no wrong!
February 7, 2025
This is the third book in the Beloved Villains series. (standalone) It’s also the first one I have read from the series, but I own most of them. I have been wanting to pick this one up for a while now so I decided to simply go for it this month.
This book follows Juliette. She’s a baker with a great plan for her future, but her troublesome brother has been making it hard for her to really accomplish her dreams. He has a bit of a money problem and that tends to put him and their finances in high water. The book starts off with her realizing her brother has taken the hard-earned coin for the day and as if life cannot get worse. He. sells. her. out. to. the. king. Not in a turning her in for a crime type of turn in. No, this man made up a blatent lie that she has magic which just so happens to be what the king is looking for, to get some gold. Gold to pay off his most pressing debt. Being sold and under false pretenses, no less, isn’t even the worst of it. The king has been rounding up so many women with magical abilities in claims he is looking for a wife but it’s so much worse than that. This wrinkly old nasty bugger wants a handful of women to...uhh..bring to pound town? He not only wants to force these poor women to his bed, but if they pass his magical and pleasure tests, they will be forced to bear him children. If they fail, well, he’s not afraid to remove a limb or two.
In steps Rupert, well not really Rupert. That’s just the guise a half elf took on to get to Juliette before the king soils her. He wants her first. Despite that not being why Rupert came to Juliette for he decides to help her turn straw into gold. After a night of helping her his feelings change for what he wants from her and what she wants from him.
Things You Can Expect:
Baking gets spicy
Magically enhanced desserts?
Women Taking Back the Power
This book follows Juliette. She’s a baker with a great plan for her future, but her troublesome brother has been making it hard for her to really accomplish her dreams. He has a bit of a money problem and that tends to put him and their finances in high water. The book starts off with her realizing her brother has taken the hard-earned coin for the day and as if life cannot get worse. He. sells. her. out. to. the. king. Not in a turning her in for a crime type of turn in. No, this man made up a blatent lie that she has magic which just so happens to be what the king is looking for, to get some gold. Gold to pay off his most pressing debt. Being sold and under false pretenses, no less, isn’t even the worst of it. The king has been rounding up so many women with magical abilities in claims he is looking for a wife but it’s so much worse than that. This wrinkly old nasty bugger wants a handful of women to...uhh..bring to pound town? He not only wants to force these poor women to his bed, but if they pass his magical and pleasure tests, they will be forced to bear him children. If they fail, well, he’s not afraid to remove a limb or two.
In steps Rupert, well not really Rupert. That’s just the guise a half elf took on to get to Juliette before the king soils her. He wants her first. Despite that not being why Rupert came to Juliette for he decides to help her turn straw into gold. After a night of helping her his feelings change for what he wants from her and what she wants from him.
Things You Can Expect:
Baking gets spicy
Magically enhanced desserts?
Women Taking Back the Power
July 5, 2026
The Nameless Trickster by Rebecca F Kenney is a fast-paced, dark fantasy romance and Rumpelstiltskin retelling.
4/5 Stars
This was a great filler read if you want something quick and intense, but don't want to have to re-learn a whole fantasy or magic system. It was spicy with a side of plot. This was my first RFK book, and I thought her storytelling was easy to get lost in and fun. The author set a great pace and continued to pull one over on us. There were moments when I was on the edge of my seat, worried about the outcome, my stomach dropping multiple times as the gruelling anticipation eased. It was definitely easy to read and get lost in this one!
A little context: the FMC, Juliette, is taken by the king's guards after her POS brother gives them false information to save himself and take his sister to be part of the king's harem. Only, he told them she had magic, which she 100% does not. She is worried about her future, knowing it will be her who gets the punishment, not her brother. The trickster sees the FMC get picked up by the king's guards and thrown into a wagon. He decides he's interested enough to follow and see where the cards lay. Once he catches up with the carriage, he strikes a bargain with Scarlett, who is out of any other option.
I am pretty picky when it comes to voice actors. It can make or break a book for me, but I liked Charlotte Claremont and Hugo Locke, they did a great job bringing the story to life!
Big thank you to Tantor Audio, Rebecca Kenney, and NetGalley for the ALC. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
4/5 Stars
This was a great filler read if you want something quick and intense, but don't want to have to re-learn a whole fantasy or magic system. It was spicy with a side of plot. This was my first RFK book, and I thought her storytelling was easy to get lost in and fun. The author set a great pace and continued to pull one over on us. There were moments when I was on the edge of my seat, worried about the outcome, my stomach dropping multiple times as the gruelling anticipation eased. It was definitely easy to read and get lost in this one!
A little context: the FMC, Juliette, is taken by the king's guards after her POS brother gives them false information to save himself and take his sister to be part of the king's harem. Only, he told them she had magic, which she 100% does not. She is worried about her future, knowing it will be her who gets the punishment, not her brother. The trickster sees the FMC get picked up by the king's guards and thrown into a wagon. He decides he's interested enough to follow and see where the cards lay. Once he catches up with the carriage, he strikes a bargain with Scarlett, who is out of any other option.
I am pretty picky when it comes to voice actors. It can make or break a book for me, but I liked Charlotte Claremont and Hugo Locke, they did a great job bringing the story to life!
Big thank you to Tantor Audio, Rebecca Kenney, and NetGalley for the ALC. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 5, 2024
I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within this book. The main characters were Juliette and Rupert.
Juliette lives in a village with her brother. She has been running her family mill since her father passed away. Her brother likes to run off and gets into trouble a lot. This time, he does something that she has to help him with. Now she has to go to the palace. Because her brother told a lie. When she gets to the palace, she meets a man named Rupert. He is different from the rest of the guards.
Rupert is an elf. He also has another name. But if his other name is used, then he must do whatever that person wishes. While walking through the village, he meets a young woman.
She gets taken away to the palace, and he decided to follow them. When he finds out that the king has plans for her, he decides to help her. Because he knows magic.
This was a fun story to read. It has action, adventure, suspense, and drama throughout.
It had a few giggles within. This is the three book in a series. The series is called Beloved Villains. There is a bit of steamy throughout the story. It was a neat twist to the story of Rumplestiltskin.
I read the first book in this series of stories and decided to read the three books. I like the original story of Rumplestiltskin and wanted to read this. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Juliette lives in a village with her brother. She has been running her family mill since her father passed away. Her brother likes to run off and gets into trouble a lot. This time, he does something that she has to help him with. Now she has to go to the palace. Because her brother told a lie. When she gets to the palace, she meets a man named Rupert. He is different from the rest of the guards.
Rupert is an elf. He also has another name. But if his other name is used, then he must do whatever that person wishes. While walking through the village, he meets a young woman.
She gets taken away to the palace, and he decided to follow them. When he finds out that the king has plans for her, he decides to help her. Because he knows magic.
This was a fun story to read. It has action, adventure, suspense, and drama throughout.
It had a few giggles within. This is the three book in a series. The series is called Beloved Villains. There is a bit of steamy throughout the story. It was a neat twist to the story of Rumplestiltskin.
I read the first book in this series of stories and decided to read the three books. I like the original story of Rumplestiltskin and wanted to read this. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.
July 6, 2026
I started this book (audiobook) with some kind of expectations - it ended up not being my cup of tea.
Rupert’s voice felt forced from the start. His POV chapters early on were overly descriptive and hyper-explanatort and overall heavy-handed, it was hard to get through from the beginning.
The romance leans hard into instalove: they barely know each other before the stakes go sky-high. It never felt natural, for me. I also didn’t like the insta-possessiveness. Honestly, sleeping with someone to get him killed is something spies have done throughout history, that angle could have worked instead.
Juliette’s characterization was ok-ish, at least more than Rupert’s.
Rupert’s narration kept circling back to describing Juliette’s body, overtly so, almost every time he had a thought. It’s heavy to read/listen to, slows the plot down, and is packed with adjectives all over the place. Classic case of telling instead of showing — stop telling us how everyone feels and just show us, for f’s sake.
Too much sex, and written in a silly way. Full-grown adults going sex-crazy while trying to save the day: come on, are they teens? The plot stops for it constantly.
On a lighter note, the narrators’ attempts at opposite-sex voices were genuinely funny.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.
October 23, 2025
Loved loved loved it!
Wow just wow. I'm devouring these books. I love dark fantasy, and I'm also a fan of retellings. I've read only one other Rumplestiltskin retelling before and while I absolutely loved that one, this one takes the cake. The character development and world building was perfect. From the start, Rupert was kind of flighty and didn't much care for more than what fancied him, what amused him. Which is perfectly valid. After all, as half elf, half human, belonging no where, having no one, what else is one supposed to do? But from the first moment of meeting Juliette, he was obsessed, and slowly he changed. And Juliette. She's a strong woman, a business woman, a baker, struggling to make ends meet because a gambling brother and her love and loyalty to him. Until he gambles away her freedom, selling her to the King, lying about how she can spin straw into gold. Her love and her loyalty to him keep her quiet, but slowly, she comes into her own feminine power, fiercely, when faced with the cold reality of her fate. And meeting Rupert, him saving her, brings them together in an instant strong bond. Together they face danger and intrigue, never once wavering in their devotion to each other. I loved it, absolutely loved it.
Wow just wow. I'm devouring these books. I love dark fantasy, and I'm also a fan of retellings. I've read only one other Rumplestiltskin retelling before and while I absolutely loved that one, this one takes the cake. The character development and world building was perfect. From the start, Rupert was kind of flighty and didn't much care for more than what fancied him, what amused him. Which is perfectly valid. After all, as half elf, half human, belonging no where, having no one, what else is one supposed to do? But from the first moment of meeting Juliette, he was obsessed, and slowly he changed. And Juliette. She's a strong woman, a business woman, a baker, struggling to make ends meet because a gambling brother and her love and loyalty to him. Until he gambles away her freedom, selling her to the King, lying about how she can spin straw into gold. Her love and her loyalty to him keep her quiet, but slowly, she comes into her own feminine power, fiercely, when faced with the cold reality of her fate. And meeting Rupert, him saving her, brings them together in an instant strong bond. Together they face danger and intrigue, never once wavering in their devotion to each other. I loved it, absolutely loved it.
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