Five Golden Names

by M.S. Weaver, Meadoe Hora, Sara Wright

Not all that glitters is gold.
For the fifth time, a fairytale name generator inspired creativity in a diverse group of authors. From medieval kingdoms to futuristic worlds, this collection of clean fantasy stories will take you on a sparkly adventure where danger and fortune await.
Follow the ancient map to five islands filled with mystical riches. Join a young fae and his sidekicks searching for the golden dragon egg in an enchanted forest. Embark on the post-apocalyptic treasure hunt or travel into the past with the help of a coin to collect forbidden artifacts.
Root for the exiled prince to restore five golden corals and save the sea. Cheer the siblings on the pilgrimage to rescue their village and prove their worth. Sneak into a glittery fae masquerade where shiny slippers and hearts get lost. Catch a glimpse of the firebird as it feeds on golden apples.
Resolve the mystery behind disappearing names and memories or get spooked by the ghouls protecting treasure in the hunted house. Unlock a treasure box with a secret. Search for five golden rings. Watch the elven maid resist the golden greed and fulfill the prophecy. And much more.
Get ready to be dazzled by these unique tales from award-winning and up-and-coming authors.
All proceeds are donated to charity in support of reading and literacy.

Genres: Anthologies

401 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

M. S. Weaver writes dark fantasy romance and romantasy steeped in myth, magic, and emotional depth. Her stories explore cursed love, haunted landscapes, and bonds that defy fate. She also pens whimsical fantasy fairytales for charity, where hope blooms in the darkest woods.

She lives on a farm in South Africa with her husband, three children, an overenthusiastic golden retriever, and a judgmental cat. In her free time, she loves stargazing with her kids, whispering dreams into the night sky.

Step into her world—but beware the shadows. They bite.

Reviews

[Kris Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

21 stories that will inspire, enchant, amuse, entertain, or haunt you.

Don't ask the book's AI! Read the book for yourself; it will be worth the time.

[Astrid V.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treasured Destiny by MS Weaver
- Quest to bring dragon eggs to the hatching grounds
- Fae-human encounter
- Battle brigands and monsters
- Fun, action-packed story


The Golden Touch by Meadoe Hora
- King Midas retelling
- Let go what doesn’t serve you
- Interesting use of the thread of life concept
- Great moral


The Last Coral by Sara Wright
- Heist for a magical object
- Interesting post-apocalyptic world
- Masquerade ball
- Prince in disguise


Namebearer by Marie-Helene Lebeault
- The power of names
- Outcast becomes hero
- Breaking a curse
- Whimsical, dreamy style


The Five-Fingered Wand by Kristin Harley
- Careful what you wish for
- Beautiful life lesson
- Curse or blessing, it’s the mind that decides
- Fun low fantasy read


Time Travel and Other Disasters by Elena Shelest
- Time travel
- Pride and Prejudice retelling
- Quirky banter
- Fast-paced and fun


His Dog by L.S. Wolf
Dystopian
Post-apocalyptic world
Human-canine companionship
Beautifully tragic ending


To Have a Heart by Sky Sommers
- Thief at the ball
- A truly “it’s complicated” relationship
- We give up the best things in life when we are so afraid to get hurt we lock our hearts away
- Quirky, but also softer, sadder


In the Quiet I Find Peace by Cody Steffenson
- Gaslamp meets portal fantasy
- Salt of the earth MC
- Fun monsters
- Failure is just one step on the road to success


In the Heart of the Lynx by Jo Holloway
- A beautiful examination of true worth
- Quest to find a magical item
- Lots of laughs
- Temperamental hedgehog sidekick


Binary Sense by Loki Pistris
- Post-apocalyptic future
- Main character is a robot
- Robot-human interactions


The Golden Princess by Astrid V.J.
- Heists for magical artefacts
- Chaotic trio: forgetful prince, talking fox, go-getter princess
- Retelling of The Golden Bird


Bonfire Night by Marie Reed
- Travelling merchant’s daughter
- Abandoned, haunted wizard’s house
- Ghost stories and a town mystery
- Teens getting up to no good


Darkbow: Guardian of Hollow Clouds by Alex Stubblefield
- Trolls hunting a unicorn
- Unexpected revelations
- Duty to protect a town
- Fun adventure


The Women’s Treasure by Eurelia Winters
- Dystopian future
- Friendship and connection
- Weird and wonderful mutated creatures
- Surprising ending


The Lost Lyric by Ashley Steffenson
- Musical magic system
- Quest to save the world
- Good intentions aren’t enough to correctly fix things
- Beautiful reminder about self-care


Tattered Beauty by E.G. Moore
- High fantasy
- Rescue kidnapped sister
- Prophecy
- Sweet story about sibling duty and protectiveness


A Treasure for the Future by Orion Silver
- Rite of passage
- Dystopian world
- Search for lost knowledge
- Quest to save their people


The Rings of Chaos by Donna White
- High fantasy
- Humorous
- Magical artefacts
- Quirky


The Ascent by Kasandra Hughey
- Personal quest
- Moving message about grief
- Himalayan setting
- Low fantasy


The Five Golden Isles by Samantha Shaye
- Pirates
- Lost treasure
- Magical artefacts
- Searching for her father’s legacy

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read “The Last Coral” by Sara Wright. It was interesting story that’s part sci fi and part fantasy. I enjoyed reading it. It’s an easy read too! I received an early copy of The Last Coral by Sara Wright". She’s a strong writer and I look forward to reading more of her stories/books!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! 21 stories that kept me captivated.

[CMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of The Last Coral by Sara Wright and it was such an enjoyable read! Although it is short, it had depth, strong writing, and a great story line. I look forward to checking out the rest of the anthology.

[The Book Dragon's Hoard by A.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly a magical collection of short stories, each offering a taste of he authors’ styles and hints at their other works. I’ve read all the volumes in this series, and honestly they just get better and better. This anthology is definitely golden!

I love how the stories play on the theme, exploring ideas of treasure and offer meaningful examinations of what true, valuable treasure really is. There are also several tales playing on the number five, as this is the fifth volume. And the names! They are so much fun too.

Here are my thoughts on the individual stories:


Treasured Destiny by MS Weaver [4 stars]
Fantastic quest-based adventure. It’s action-packed and intense, just like all stories by this author. Unfortunately, some equine anatomical impossibilities slipped through and that’s a pet peeve of mine, otherwise this would have been a 5-star read.

The Golden Touch by Meadoe Hora [5 stars]
A truly excellent King Midas retelling that comes with a strong reminder of what’s truly important in life. I’ve really enjoyed each standalone story featuring Vika, and this one is another gem. Love it.

The Last Coral by Sara Wright [4.5 stars]
Oh what a wonderful blend of historical and futuristic! I absolutely love how it all comes together to create a really unique world with both magic and technology. The message about the powers of our intentions also adds so much to this action-packed heist.

Namebearer by Marie-Helene Lebeault [5 stars]
Totally fantastic. I was utterly spellbound by this incredible story. The name magic is absolutely brilliant and the message about the true treasures of life being intangibles like the laugh of a child and a mother’s smile just resonated so strongly for Best story in an excellent collection.

The Five-Fingered Wand by Kristin Harley [5 stars]
This contemporary low fantasy story has such a wonderful message about wishing and the true power of the mind. I thoroughly enjoyed the moral and how everything came together in a gentle and fun teaching moment for teens that makes for an equally good reminder for adults.

Time Travel and Other Disasters by Elena Shelest [4.5 stars]
This time travel story is a fun mystery, in which Lizzie discovers what happened to her father and why he disappeared. It’s also a really quirky Pride and Prejudice retelling. I’ve always loved Shelest’s stories, and this one doesn’t disappoint.

His Dog by L.S. Wolf [4.5 stars]
Beautifully tragic, this dystopian story set in a post-apocalyptic world is a real treasure. It surprised me in its simplicity, and I absolutely love the message about what the real treasure is.

To Have a Heart by Sky Sommers [5 stars]
Oh, I’m delighted to see Mellie and Tam. I loved their fated to fail relationship in Your Heart to Seek, and getting this snippet of what happens next and how they meet again after years of separation is tantalising. But Melisandra is still selfish and has a long way to go.

In the Quiet I Find Peace by Cody Steffenson [4 stars]
We outgrow the wishes and dreams of our past selves, but clinging to the unchanged dream will only bring disaster. Lovely moral about what’s truly. Waning fuel in life, and to treasure those moments.

In the Heart of the Lynx by Jo Holloway [5 stars]
Oh, what an amazing read! I am filled with so much joy after reading this one, which is the perfect magical package for an intense and deep exploration of worth and how our beliefs impact our perceptions. Totally loved it! And I can’t wait to read more about this character and his hilarious hedgehog sidekick.

Binary Sense by Loki Pistris [3.5 stars]
This one wasn’t my cup of tea. It’s a very dry account of a group of robots encountering a pair of humans, helping them out, and then parting ways. I struggled to stay engaged, although I understand the attempt to portray everything in tune with the robot protagonist’s AI mind. I get the impression there was supposed to be a twist with the ending, but it’s unclear and I’m not certain I understood it correctly.

Bonfire Night by Marie Reed [5 stars]
This is a really excellent creepy story. While it toes the line to Horror, it’s cleverly done and still suitable for young readers. Unexpectedly dark ending too. Ooooh. Gave me the shivers.

Darkbow: Guardian of Hollow Clouds by Alex Stubblefield [4 stars]
This action-packed adventure features a magical heirloom, a unicorn, and a trio of trolls. It also connects up with Leonna’s adventure in the previous volume of this series, which is a fun extra I quite enjoyed.

The Women’s Treasure by Eurelia Winters [4.5 stars]
This dystopian future featuring a world of zombies and mutated monster creatures like raccoon-moose (truly hilarious!) was a real surprise. I thought it would be an apocalyptic story, but it’s nothing of the sort. This is about connection, trust, and safety, and I absolutely adored the unexpected twist at the end which turned this into a truly wholesome story.

The Lost Lyric by Ashley Steffenson [5 stars]
What an incredible story and so beautifully written! The message about putting oneself first, and to simply be, to exist in all one’s glory, is wrapped in a fantastical tale that made my heart sing. I absolutely love the musical magic and the quest for renewal. Simply beautiful!

Tattered Beauty by E.G. Moore [4 stars]
A kidnapping, followed by a daring rescue, reveals magic and secrets. Fun high fantasy story.

A Treasure for the Future by Orion Silver [4 stars]
This is an interesting post-apocalyptic world. I particularly enjoyed the blend of fantasy and sci-fi elements that help to create a very unique environment. The quest is pretty straightforward; at least it’s interesting enough.

The Rings of Chaos by Donna White [4.5 stars]
Fun, action-packed, and lighthearted as always, this story connects up with the preceding volume, but can stand on its own very well. It’s a fun high fantasy adventure with a quick epic battle thrown in and some fun magic added.

The Ascent by Kasandra Hughey [5 stars]
I was utterly captivated by this intense story of one person’s quest to honour the dead and achieve something meaningful through their grief. It comes with an empowering message and a beautiful reminder that we do not have to carry our grief alone.

The Five Golden Isles by Samantha Shaye [3.5 stars]
Not quite my cup of tea. I was okay with the story itself until the ending turned into a let-down. I think if it were a longer story, the characters developed better and the final outcome changed to give a more meaningful message, it could be amazing.


My absolute favourites in this collection are Namebearer, In the Heart of the Lynx, and The Lost Lyric. Each one of these captivated me and pulled on my heartstrings. They made a thoroughly enjoyable collection absolutely unforgettable. In total, I give this anthology 4.5 stars.

[Marie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely fantastic collection. It might be my favorite out of the What's in a Name anthologies so far. I've reviewed all stories but my own.

Treasured Destiny by M.S. Weaver
5* super cute story and fun side characters. The two MCs are also fantastic and I would love more of all of them.

The Golden Touch by Meadoe Hora
5* I absolutely loved this version of the tale of King Midas. The focus on breaking his curse worked so well with Vika's journey.

The Last Coral by Sara Wright
5* I love everything about this! The blend of scifi and fantasy that created the setting, the characters, the heist. I definitely need more.

Namebearer by Marie-Hélène Lebeault
5* I swear every single story I've read becomes my new favorite. The worldbuilding in this one is astounding and I would love to see more about how everyone's names shape the world around them.

The Five-Fingered Wand by Kristin Harley
5* This was such a cool "be careful what you wish for" kind of story. I've honestly been wondering what that title was about since I first saw it and it makes so much sense now!

Time Travel and Other Disasters by Elena Shelest
4* I will never get enough of Pride and Prejudice themed stories, and this one was so creative! I would really love a full length version.

His Dog by LS Wolf
4* Wolf builds up such a large backstory and setting in so few words. The characters themselves are a bit of a mystery, but that's what makes you want to continue reading.

To Have a Heart by Sky Sommers
4* Loved seeing this little callback to the end of Sommers' Cinderella tale and more depth to Melisandra. All of her stories make me want to read the rest of them and see all the parts twisted together to make the full tapestry of the story.

In the Quiet, I Find Peace by Cody Steffenson
4* I really love the world created here and the couple in the story. They are so supportive of each other! I would love some more snippets into their life story.

In the Heart of the Lynx by Jo Holloway
5* So many emotions in this one! Lark's journey takes him all over, and bringing in Darcy and Soren made me laugh out loud (not the good ladle!). The Cursed Globe series has such great characters and I love all of the different worlds included. This was a great addition.

Binary Sense by Loki Pistris
5* I loved seeing this version of the aftermath of nature's destruction and the rise of robots through the circuits of one of the sentient robots. The writing style matched really well and the descriptions were really well done.

The Golden Princess by Astrid V.J.
5* I can't wait to read more of this tale. This was a fantastic stopping point in the whole adventure and I'm so happy to get more of Véronique, Tube, and Georgie (even though he won't remember any of it).

Bonfire Night by Marie Reed
Oh, it's me! And lucky number 13 too. I wonder what that means for my MC...

Darkbow: Guardian of Hollow Clouds by Alex Stubblefield
5* I've really loved watching these characters grow through their adventures and am super excited to see where Darkbow goes next.

The Women's Treasure by Eurelia Winters
4* This seems like a really unlucky post apocalyptic world that I would love to see more stories from. So many disasters all at once, it's amazing that anyone made it through. What else have these survivors experienced?

The Lost Lyric by Ashley Steffenson
4* There is such a good lesson and such depth to this story! Another world I would love to see expanded into more stories.

Tattered Beauty by E.G. Moore
5* I'm ready for the epic fantasy world introduced here to expand into a Lord of the Rings level journey. I loved the description and how devoted the two sisters are to each other.

A Treasure for the Future by Orion Silver
5* I loved the universe that Silver introduced in Four Names of Fortune that was also in this story, but this one feels much earlier, or a more primitive group of survivors. I would love an expansion on this timeline too, with more information about how the village works and why they named everyone after birds.

The Rings of Chaos by Donna White
4* Another fun tale from White. There's always at least a line or two in her stories that make me laugh out loud, and this one was no exception.

The Ascent by Kasandra Hughey
5* I loved this one! It's a perfect standalone story, with nothing that feels unanswered or needing expanded. I often say I wish for more, not because the story feels unfinished, but because the world create feels so vast that more has to happen there. This is the perfect snippet of a world telling Oria's grandest adventure. I felt her desperation, her anguish, and her triumph. Beautiful story.

The Five Golden Isles by Samantha Shaye
4* The world introduced here is really cool, and I loved all of the characters. I would love an expansion of this story and more time with the characters.

[Chad Barrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this anthology from one of the authors and though a review wasn’t required, I wanted to offer my honest, voluntary impression of these stories.

This anthology is 21 short stories which basically have the main characters discovering their true worth and what really matters to them as the opportunity for riches is within their grasps.

For all but one they wrestle with their desires for what they want but also see what giving into desires have caused others!

Each story lets you examine how you would feel if you were in their shoes and forced to make the choice yourself. Discovering who you are sometimes is much more rewarding and immensely more satisfying when in your quests you gain insights you didn’t know beforehand!

The one hold out in this series has two more stories to tell and by the time it wraps up she’ll either remain as wicked as she is now or just maybe see the light because she now holds something from another who gave it up because she broke his heart!

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend this anthology to one and all! The stories are well written and cause the reader to ponder as the stories reveal themselves!

We all have to make decisions and those decisions have consequences good or bad depending on our choices. These stories reflect courage and determination when a choice is made to see it through even though the path is more than likely fraught with danger and obstacles!

I enjoyed these stories and believe you will as well!

[Crystal Anne Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a change from my norm. I do not know if I have ever read a collection of short stories before. I love fantasy and this was like a buffet of delicacies from a sampler platter of authors. It was a bit like being at a fair and going from ride to ride! Wheeeeee!

It was fun and easy to take breaks. It was sad to say goodbye to the characters so quickly but the author info at the end of each story lets you get to have seconds and thirds, etc from the same source. Quickly you bounce back because you go right into another adventure! This was a lot of fun and I have many new authors to explore now.

[MGB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology brings together a diverse group of writers and their very diverse collection of the written word. All the stories are worthy of a read on their own. Some are truly excellent stories all on their own.

There are stories of courage. Stories of searching for self or family history. There are heroes and ordinary folks. All the stories are short enough to be able to slip them into those few minutes of free time when you need the diversion to a fantasy, or magic, or struggles to achieve.

Read this story and enjoy!

[E.G. Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many wonderful retellings and new ideas on gold, fairy tales, and the significance of names and the number five. You won’t find familiarity in these tales, just whispers of stories that paved the yellow brick road to some extraordinary new adventures. The authors got the assignment and did not disappoint. I was so impressed with all the new takes on magic systems and worlds, and will list a few of my favorites below.

Time Travel and Other Disasters by Elena Shelest – A fun time travel twist on Pride and Prejudice

Namebearer by Marie-Hélène Lebeault – A deep dive into the importance of names in an atmospheric journey with a shunned, gifted girl.

In the Heart of a Lynx by Jo Holloway – Made me laugh out loud and nearly wake my husband at the interactions between characters as a half-lynx learns to understand his worth on an almost impossible mission alongside a humorous bard.

This speculative fiction YA anthology has something for everyone and is a great way to meet new authors. I also love that it supports literacy programs.

I received an advance copy of this book, but pre-purchased my own copy to revisit and connect with the authors whose stories I loved.

[Freytag's Lab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc copy of The Last Coral from Sara Wright and it was a wonderful way to unwind after a long week of classes! Even though it was only one chapter, it felt easily like an entire story took place. The character interactions contributed to this feeling significantly! The dialogue spoke volumes beyond the narration and evoked the tension and history of each relationship. One of the reasons Sara Wright will remain a familiar name on my TBR!

[Renee Marski · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the Last Coral:
A wild ride!

Collent is a sea guardian on a mission to steal back a golden coral and save her friend.

Sneaking into the ball with Prince Remi is easy. Getting out with the coral is gonna be so much harder. And the king thinks he can control her.

A fast paced start to what I am sure is going to be an amazing story! Loved it.

[Raeleane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This anthology is one of the best anthologies I've ever read. It is incredibly captivating with many authors adding their short stories and each one being so remarkably different. Each story talked about or hinted of the unique power behind a persons name. The characters in each story felt real and are engaging and well written. Their personalities were fun and easy to get to know. And the different worlds each author built were unique, brilliant and so magical it kept me turning pages and captivated. I was really impressed with The Last Coral. It was intriguing and I really wanted more from it. I absolutely enjoyed this anthology and highly recommend reading it!