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Fortune Favors the Fae #1

A Fae Coin Transported Me Into Another World and Now I'm the Gay Holy Maiden

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What happens when you fall and hit the webtoons trope tree? You get killed by Truck-kun, get transported to a fantasy world by a sentient Fae coin, and become the first gay holy maiden.

Jake Alexander is Not Happy to be sure. Fortunately in Jake’s case, part of the trope tree includes the gorgeous Duke of the North, Theon. And starting a business from scratch, which he’s always wanted to do. And revitalizing his new country which is on the verge of collapse.

He could do without the killer miasma and corrupted kings and the singing magic and a sentient coin that doesn’t shut up, however.

Jake’s not sure if he should thank or melt the Fae coin into *ahem* something more useful.



Fell on the trope tree and hit every branch going down, truck-kun, fae duke of the north, holy maiden, miasma threat, Jakes needs singing lessons, duke needs to take a business course, magic coin is about to be melted into a cock ring, bingo card for tropes, dragons, contracts are Jake’s love language, potato soup cures all, potatoes are friends, fourth wall who, basically I took all of the webtoon tropes and crammed them in

394 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 30, 2024

601 people are currently reading
1040 people want to read

About the author

A.J. Sherwood

82 books2,026 followers
AJ Sherwood believes in happily ever afters, magic, dragons, good men, and dark chocolate. She often dreams at night of delectable men doing sexy things with each other. In between writing multiple books (often at the same time) she pets her cats, plays with her dogs, and attempts insane things like aerial yoga.

She currently resides in Tennessee with aforementioned cats, dogs, and her editor/best friend/sister/partner in crime.

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5 stars
1,215 (55%)
4 stars
596 (27%)
3 stars
272 (12%)
2 stars
83 (3%)
1 star
34 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
7 reviews1 follower
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April 15, 2024
If you want to read the light novel and manga this fanfic is based on, it’s at the very least: The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter by Yatsuki Wakatsu (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) fanfic. Instead of fighting the miasma as holy maiden, Kondou fought it as an accountant with little magical resistance in Bean Counter. This fanfic seems to be a what if he was the holy maiden instead scenario. What makes Bean Counter work is that Kondou doesn’t want to be the lead nor the holy maiden. It could also be a mash up between Bean Counter and Dear Sister, I’ve Become a Blessed Maiden, but rather than read a slash fanfic or fanfic of the stories, it would be better to read the originals. Yes, this particular author has written fanfic/slash fic based on anime/manga before, but this time it’s so blatant it’s sad really.

Read the original Bean Counter. I promise it’s worth it. This is not it.
Profile Image for Elodie Melody .
265 reviews19 followers
May 30, 2024
What an adventure… in a bad way 🙃

Being a HUGE fan of Isekai, I was expecting quite a lot from this book.
It started good, with a death by truck-kun obviously and bringing into another world ~ ending up in the bed of a dark haired elf, yes sign me in.
The holy maiden thingy is just recycle ♻️ again and again that honestly if there is no holy maiden, I’m like “what?” So I was not surprised by that.

Those isekai stories take time, like A LOT of time. Doing that in one book was a good challenge for the author but unfortunately I was not sold.
It’s tag “gay romance” but the romance is really secondary and felt weird. Like I passed all sex scene because I was really not into this couple at all. I really could use more romance in that book…. But that’s a me thing.
Also I’m really not a fan of calling his boyfriend/date/love interest > “my dude” 🙃

The adventure takes a lot of space, maybe too much space as this story has only 400+ pages and no book 2.
Lots of food talking, potatoes lots and looooots of potatoes 🙃 damn I was fed up of those potatoes at some point.
The author took too much time introducing the whole thing, which I understand, and less on the actual plot (quest, vilain etc)

The “vilains” are only here after 90% and the protagonist kidnapped…. Way waaaay too late in the story, to my taste. 😶 and it was resolve so quickly that… honestly it could have been either early or not here at all.
Even the “conquest cleared” was like … what ? Really?

The coin was a running joke the whole time, and has little add on to the story. It was not helpful until the quest was done, saying “that’s why I brought you here”
Like wtf you could have easily told that earlier in the story dude ! 🪦

To sum it up, it was a miss for me.
BUT I applause the author for trying. It is not an easy task to do and I am sure if she could have written 2/3 books of it, it would have been better.
After 60/70% of the book you feel it’s kinda rushed-ish because the story needs to end.

That’s probably the issue with Isekai’s
They are long
It takes time
And after some point they get boring 🙃
361 reviews41 followers
June 6, 2024
It was an easy read, had some really cute moments, some sexy times, and humor. It was good, but not great. I mean, there was some drama, some issues, but it was just....I don't know. I'm not sure if it was the pacing or the focus, but, sometimes it seemed like this big, scary miasma was taking a backseat to...business deals? Seriously? I get he's a businessman and new to the whole 'holy maiden' thing, but...I don't know. It was a little frustrating at times.

They were very cute together, though. Seemed like a good match.

I'm curious enough about the other authors--especially since I haven't read them all--so I'll continue to check out the books in this series.
Profile Image for Leah.
318 reviews10 followers
March 15, 2025
42% DNF
I was so excited for this book. A self-aware isekai? Sounds fantastic! But it is really just kind of boring. The main characters just constantly are commenting on how the other is so kind and perfect for them. How happy they are from them to be in their lives. And nothing has happened in the plot. There is no tension. No bad guys. No question of anyone's position. Also, everyone talks like the modern earth MC which is just weird because it is supposed to be a different fantasy world. There is a lot of business talk and none of it interesting. Sigh so much unused potential....

Also I need people to know the sentence I DNF'd on was: Daw, they were good puppers. I'd sneak them some meat later. (said about some wolves).
Profile Image for Lisa KK.
200 reviews7 followers
dnf
June 14, 2024
After the initial meeting there was zero chemistry between the MCs
Profile Image for Cadiva.
4,016 reviews446 followers
September 27, 2024
First solo read of this author and it was fun

I've not read AJ's solo work and I'm probably one of the extreme minority who has zero interest in all things Asian webtoons, music etc, so a lot of the references in this meant nothing to me.

But, it still stands on its own as a really funny fantasy story with a solid narrative and two really interesting characters I was rooting for from the off.

Loved the idea of a holy maiden being a man instead and using the power of dodgy song lyrics to cure a curse.

Loads of times I was laughing at the antics of Jake as he got used to being sent to a fantasy world and the sparks were great between him and Theon, who's kingdom he has to rescue.

Part of the interconnected series, I'm looking forward to what else Coin is going to get up to.
Profile Image for Dan.
1,751 reviews49 followers
June 5, 2024
I expected a lot from this book, and I'm pleased to say it lived up to my expectations. I loved seeing Jake out of place and getting into shenanigans. I expected the crown to be a bigger threat than they ended up being, but otherwise it was great
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,825 reviews30 followers
August 15, 2024
August 2024
Kindle edition

Truck-kun isekai! I liked Jake, he was a strong character from the get go. The divorce and how he got his revenge was great. There were cute bits, but mostly along the checkpoints of an otherworlder. Making friends, medicine and learning how to wield divine powers. The talking coin was interesting, so curious about that. I did like that Jake didn't need to be rescued. The dragons were adorable. Other than that it felt like a comfort blanket of fluff. 3.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Cee.
3,268 reviews165 followers
June 4, 2024
I really wanted to love this since I love isekai/portal stories. The pacing was off though. Like they fell in love or almost love in less than a week. That portion of time took the majority of the book too and then time skip and everything just kinda happens one after the other. There was just so much to accomplish in not enough pages. This easily could have been a duet.

That all being said, I really enjoyed the beginning and the end -- middle dragged a wee bit-- and laughed a few times. I love the concept. It really felt like The Greatest Estate Developer which is one of my favorite web comics on Webtoons which made seeing the story in this one entertaining.
Romance is super sweet.
Profile Image for rebecca.
631 reviews21 followers
November 18, 2024
That was fun, heart-warming and incredibly ridiculous. Really, just far too uncomplicated and almost too joyful.

But somehow I liked it that way.

“Jake, I love you very much. The words feel wholly inadequate sometimes, like they don’t convey enough of how I feel for you. I do not want you to leave me, ever.”
Profile Image for Nina .
399 reviews11 followers
dnf-but-try-again-later
October 15, 2024
Dnf at 65%

It was cute, I just couldn’t get into it.
Profile Image for Catharina.
102 reviews15 followers
March 11, 2025
Dnf at 70% The pacing just drove me crazy, I really don't need to know in details about every little thing that happens in the span of just a few days. There is a deathly miasma but considering how they are bumbling about, it gives the feeling like it is no threat at all. Hoped some exciting action would happen when they finally set off to the capitol
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,134 reviews521 followers
June 19, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars


This is the first book in the Fortune Favors the Fae multi-author series, a fifteen-book collection by various authors, each of which is a standalone book of mischief and romance instigated by a fae coin. This book has a particular flavor that may not be to every reader’s taste. Rather than being a standard portal fantasy, this is more the novelization of a web novel and is more a slice of life story than anything else. There’s farming, flirting, and food. And in the last chapter or so, evil villains who are banished through the power of business acumen.

If you’re looking for a light, no-stress, no-angst read where a decent person ends up being rewarded for being kind, you might enjoy this book. But if you’re looking for something more character driven or more plot driven, you might be left wanting. Still, if you give this book a try, I do hope you like it!

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.



Profile Image for Sunne.
Author 4 books25 followers
June 23, 2024
What can I say? I really liked it. I liked that large parts were really uncomplicated, there was no real personal drama, everything was more problems from the outside. And I like that, when the MCs behave like people with mostly rational minds. Of course I sometimes wondered how much they could do in one day, but hey, it's a fantasy book. The coin's comments were funny, the "potatoes" were a great plot device. I wondered why they used magic to accelerate the growth of potatoes, but never thought of doing that with grain, for example? Yes, of course, the book definitely has logical flaws. But it was simply fun to read.
Profile Image for Trip .
923 reviews30 followers
June 29, 2025
I had so much fun reading this book, captured my heart from start to finish and the story is full of so much to enjoy. Jake & Theon have a sweet romance, slow burn feels and heat once they get together.

The world building is stunning along with the various characters in the Duchy, the location comes to life on the page as explore the city and the miasma. Seeing the development of their home through Jake's business ideas, his work as the holy maiden and everyone's support is wonderful.

I loved all the little details the flowers and their many uses, on the wall, potions & flower crowns. All of the potatoes, who doesn't enjoy the variety of foot options that comes with them. The love of fries, the fear of root veg and various differences from earth that Jake slowly learns throughout.

Also I adore that Jake embraces his time in this new world instantly, he isn't the type to freak out and it was fun to see him adapt his earth skills to his new environment. The contracts, farming, cooking and buildings - got to have that running water and comforts from home.

Oh I can't forget the Coin, I adore his role in the story so much. Lots of humour from his one liners and mischief, Jake being done with him just made me smile throughout. I loved the role the coin played in the story.

Theon is easy to fall in love with right alongside Jake, as they have so many soft and sweet moments. The singing & guitar together, supporting one another with their journey as they fall in love along the way.

So many incredible characters I'd struggle to list them all, as every one brings their own sparkle to the story. From the bodyguards, knights, merchants, families, cooks and everyone in the duchy is amazing to see shine.

The way they finally removed the miasma is amazing and added a lovely end to the story, with the cute baby dragons.

Honestly the temple bit felt last minute add on and not needed, but I did love it for showing Jake's growth/full circle aspect. Being able to stand up for and rescue himself, along with his finally having people back him up and there to save him too.

The ending is beautiful and so fitting to Jake's journey, getting his happy ending with Theon and a home where he belongs 💛

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Raven and Chris.
3,334 reviews31 followers
June 1, 2024
Perfection!

I laughed out loud more than once reading this. Whether you are new to this author’s work or not, this book is excellent! Jake as the “holy maiden” to save Theon’s duchy from destruction was so much fun to read. Jake is fabulous and I dare somebody to say otherwise! Theon and his people didn’t stand a chance again this force of nature.
Profile Image for Libros y Citas.
225 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2024
Why does the author use the world “planet”? Makes more sense use “world”, which she uses sometimes. In fact, she mix the two of them all the time. No one else is bothered by this? Is this sci-fi or fantasy?
I was also very confused with Theon understanding some expressions like “hit a switch” or “online” when he has no idea what electricity or the internet is. This happens at the beginning, later he express his confusion, which is weird, I think it should be the other way around, being confused at the beginning but learning them when they spent more time together.
The story is a bit long (with some repetition) in my opinion but, despite the weird things mentioned above, okay-ish. It gets only one start because the author didn’t credit the story that must have inspired his, with the “Holly maiden” thing it’s improbable to be completely original, which is completely fine, but crediting the story that inspired you is a must, not doing it is wrong and I won’t have it.

«No one deserved to huddle under mental scars for the rest of their life».
Profile Image for molly.
389 reviews7 followers
July 14, 2024
I almost didn’t finish this, and only bothered because I was stuck riding in the car 🤦🏼‍♀️. I am rarely this confused by reviews, but can’t quite figure out how this book has SUCH good reviews / so many stars? The idea was cute and different and silly - in a good way; however, the execution left a lot to be desired in my opinion. And wasn’t anyone else really bored? The only real action happened in the last 30 mins of the book! The chemistry between the couple was non-existent and I skipped the sex scenes for the first time ever 🤣… I just wanted to be done with the book. It’s obvious by the good reviews the author has a following and people enjoyed it, so that’s great! Not for me though.
Profile Image for Trio.
3,628 reviews209 followers
June 28, 2025
I have a mixed relationship with A.J. Sherwood and I hate to say that A Fae Coint Transported Me into Another World and Now I'm the Gay Holy Maiden really didn't work for me. I found it prety silly and over the top.

The audio version of A Fae Coin is performed by Zachary Zaba and Tor Thom, and sadly they didn't work for me either. I have never enjoyed Tor Thom, but I usually do like Zachary Zaba - I just didn't feel their voices really suited their characters.
135 reviews
August 29, 2024
DNF @ 68%. This one kind lost me about halfway through. The two MMCs go from attraction from afar to having sex one time to just being in love and wanting to be married? And then their romance gets super boring and feels unrealistic and wasn't really enough anymore to keep me engaged in the plot.
Profile Image for Erica.
1,691 reviews37 followers
December 30, 2024
This book desperately needed some conflict.
Profile Image for Connie53.
1,242 reviews3 followers
November 7, 2024
Ik heb echt van dit boek genoten hoewel het redelijk absurd is wat Jake allemaal kan doen. Maar hij heeft dan ook een hoeveelheid goddelijke magie gekregen. Jake is tamelijk ongelukkig, zijn ouders keuren eigenlijk alles af wat hij doet en zijn altijd teleurgesteld in hem. Op een dag raapt hij van de straat een muntje op en als hij zijn ogen weer opendoet ligt hij in een vreemde kamen in het bed van een vreemde man. En blijkt hij ook nog op een andere wereld te zijn beland. De vreemde man is Theon, een heel aantrekkelijke jonge man. Theon blijkt een Fae te zijn en de hertog van een stuk land met een soort landhuis en een omringend dorpje. Theon en Jake voelen zich onmiddellijk tot elkaar aan getrokken. En Jake blijkt een aanzienlijk grote vorm van magie te bezitten. Aangezien Jake niet kan stilzitten begint hij maar wat werk te doen met die magie om de levens van de dorpelingen aangenamer te maken.
Het dorp wordt omringd door een ziekmakend nevel die steeds dichterbij komt en terwijl de liefde tussen Theon en Jake steeds groter wordt probeert Jake ook een einde te maken aan de nevel en daarvoor moet hij naar de bron.
Dit boek staat bol van magische wezens, Trollen, Orcs, Gnooms en Draken. Het is luchtig geschreven met veel gevoel voor humor en ook wat expliciete seksscènes, die ik maar een beetje geskimmed heb.
Profile Image for Jude.
1,173 reviews6 followers
October 18, 2024
I usually find Sherwood's stories to be 4s ( with a few hidden gems). but this is a five just for the giggles.
Snappy, quick moving and funny. Yes Sherwood ignores all sorts of plot rules and potatoes magically grow where root vegetables have never existed. Somehow she makes it work and even the holes didn't do more than snag my attention , and then I would be off on a chase for the next giggle. Probably more like a 3/5 if I take it apart, but truthfully a story that makes you laugh is priceless.
Profile Image for Kayla Jean.
110 reviews
June 5, 2024
I had great hopes for this, and was excited to read it, but it was just meh. I would have given it a two stars if not for the overall concept. I read a lot of Isekai webtoons and I love this kind of trope.

The fantasy aspects were lacking, I would have enjoyed more in-depth training and learning how to combat the miasma, more examples of the OP power. I didn't really like the singing, bard like, elements. It felt a little lazy, like the writers wanted the MC to be able to use the magic, even though they didn't want to describe how they learned it or invent a magic system.

I also didn't like how the main character fell in love with the first hot person they saw, immediately after becoming single. Gross. MC just got divorced in the real life, and then is being pushed into marriage... This would have been better as a slow burn romance. As it was, I just couldn't get into it.
1,022 reviews42 followers
August 15, 2024
This one was difficult for me. I’m a huge AJ Sherwood fan, Love their work, their humor, and their writing style. Unfortunately, this one was more of a miss than a hit for me. The beginning started off strong and I was merrily going along and then it seemed to be stuck for a bit, just slowly creeping along, then the end picked up a bit and we had some action. There wasn’t really much plot going on, just a fluffy little story with some funny bits.
Profile Image for Nanna Mørk-Sander.
711 reviews43 followers
August 17, 2024
This was a fun read.

I found myself mainly drawn to the World itself and the development of it more than Jake and Theon as a couple. That was also the main focus of the book, and that is what would have kept me coming back to the story, if more books were to come.

The love story was just okay; pretty straightforward and without drama.
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