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Flowers of Prophecy #1
The Name-Bearer
For her entire life, the Name-Bearer’s sole purpose has been to receive and deliver the names of the future monarchy from the Flowers of Prophecy. But when the child is finally born and the Name-Bearer is sent to the Flowers, they refuse to name him. Instead they deliver a prophecy; another child was born who is more worthy of the Naming, and if they are found and brought before them it will usher in a reign of peace.
Having failed in her duties the Name-Bearer is considered a traitor to the crown, and must hide among an elite sect of warrior women where she experiences friendship, found family, and love. Her training as a warrior helps prepare her to embark on her quest to find the Unnamed Prince, clear her name, and bring peace to her realm.
A story of magia, warrior women, found family and love - and not accepting who you are told to be, but embracing who you are destined to become.
Having failed in her duties the Name-Bearer is considered a traitor to the crown, and must hide among an elite sect of warrior women where she experiences friendship, found family, and love. Her training as a warrior helps prepare her to embark on her quest to find the Unnamed Prince, clear her name, and bring peace to her realm.
A story of magia, warrior women, found family and love - and not accepting who you are told to be, but embracing who you are destined to become.
290 pages, Paperback
First published October 11, 2022
457 people are currently reading
11547 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 586 reviews
December 8, 2022
[3⭐️] Let me start with the things that I liked. The cover? Gorgeous. Stunning. We love. Diversity? 100%. Queer, Latinx characters? Ate that shit up. Less than 300 pages? Count me in. Very low stakes in finishing the book. I also enjoyed some of the anecdotes about the deities in the story. That was cool.
That being said, I did struggle a bit to finish this book. I think the root of all my issues is the writing. This book felt like a draft. It borderline read like an outline because the vast majority of this story was told via summary. Chapter 5 was 10 pages long and it took 7 pages to reach a conversation. Because so much of the book was summary, I found it difficult to connect to any of these characters or to buy into how deep these relationships are.
Also, I don’t know if this was supposed to be an adult book, but there was so much telling and not showing in this book that it came across as middle grade. There was no room left for interpretation, no conclusions to be drawn because Hernandez will tell you. Several times. And in different ways. Leading to another issue I had which was the wordiness. For instance, “A while later another girl joined their group, arriving to their meal late.” Obviously, the girl arrived late because we know that she joined the group later. You see what I mean? It just— I don’t know. It just feel like this book could have used some more rounds of editing.
The book has an interesting and unique premise. I was very excited to read it because of the TikToks I saw, but I wish that I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed looking at the cover 🙇🏾♀️
TW: Bullying, gore, murder, mentions of human trafficking, threats of sexual assault, PTSD,
Rep: Latinx MC, sapphic MC/SC, possibly an ace/demi character, non-binary minor character
That being said, I did struggle a bit to finish this book. I think the root of all my issues is the writing. This book felt like a draft. It borderline read like an outline because the vast majority of this story was told via summary. Chapter 5 was 10 pages long and it took 7 pages to reach a conversation. Because so much of the book was summary, I found it difficult to connect to any of these characters or to buy into how deep these relationships are.
Also, I don’t know if this was supposed to be an adult book, but there was so much telling and not showing in this book that it came across as middle grade. There was no room left for interpretation, no conclusions to be drawn because Hernandez will tell you. Several times. And in different ways. Leading to another issue I had which was the wordiness. For instance, “A while later another girl joined their group, arriving to their meal late.” Obviously, the girl arrived late because we know that she joined the group later. You see what I mean? It just— I don’t know. It just feel like this book could have used some more rounds of editing.
The book has an interesting and unique premise. I was very excited to read it because of the TikToks I saw, but I wish that I enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed looking at the cover 🙇🏾♀️
TW: Bullying, gore, murder, mentions of human trafficking, threats of sexual assault, PTSD,
Rep: Latinx MC, sapphic MC/SC, possibly an ace/demi character, non-binary minor character
January 31, 2023
FULL VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/YNxtTybAWms
September 19, 2022
I received an ARC of this book and I’m leaving an honest review.
The Name-Bearer is a Latinx inspired fantasy with queer rep ✨ The descriptions are so beautiful and rich they managed to make ME (someone who sees nothing when reading) imagine what the world was like.
Somehow Natalia managed to make me get attached to EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER. 😭💕 and I can’t wait to see them all again in the next book. I hope to see more of Axchel because I was starting to like him a lot… I’m pretty excited to eventually see the girls reunited, as well.
I also would like to point out that I LOVE books that include other languages (especially languages that I can speak, like in this case).
The only thing that could maybe annoy some people is that it starts a couple different storylines without actually concluding them but it personally didn’t bother me. I know that this is only the first book in a series so obviously we’ll find out what happens to everyone later on.
The Name-Bearer is a Latinx inspired fantasy with queer rep ✨ The descriptions are so beautiful and rich they managed to make ME (someone who sees nothing when reading) imagine what the world was like.
Somehow Natalia managed to make me get attached to EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER. 😭💕 and I can’t wait to see them all again in the next book. I hope to see more of Axchel because I was starting to like him a lot… I’m pretty excited to eventually see the girls reunited, as well.
I also would like to point out that I LOVE books that include other languages (especially languages that I can speak, like in this case).
The only thing that could maybe annoy some people is that it starts a couple different storylines without actually concluding them but it personally didn’t bother me. I know that this is only the first book in a series so obviously we’ll find out what happens to everyone later on.
July 22, 2024
1.5 stars
book review: my goodreads friends know my hatred of purple prose. i need people to say what they mean, stop wasting pages with aesthetic nonsense, and get the plot going! the name-bearer is chock full of it. it is simultaneously one of the most overwritten books i've ever read while achieving very little at the same time. the plot (if you can call it that) was nonexistent and the readers were told everything rather than shown things about the character and the world. if condensed and fleshed out, this could have been a successful middle grade story but instead it's a below average-YA snoozefest.
july 19: i had a worrisome exchange with the author about the cover artist for this series never being credited and it possibly being generative AI. there's a pattern of authors handing off their work to third-party companies for their covers and it sucks because stolen art generated by AI is growing within these companies (see 'when oceans rise'). they've also resorted to using AI to generate images for amateur artists to trace over and resell which makes spotting fakes even more difficult. i kept seeing people ask post after post "who's the artist? artist credit?" only to be met with silence. the author immediately answered once i'd started insinuating that it's stolen art generated by AI. i apologized after she became adamant about being against AI but she still wouldn't credit the artist. the closest i got to an answer was that she worked with a third-party company who formats and designs book covers (ebooklaunch). designing and formatting a book cover IS NOT the same as drawing cover art. i contacted ebooklaunch asking about the cover artist and their art process and am still waiting for their response regarding the artist.
at best, this is a case of an artist not getting credit (which sucks). natalia hernandez claimed that the unnamed artist would do progress check-ins with her from start to finish. i'm just gonna say with a few seconds of this youtube video here that it's getting easier to dupe people into believing process art videos as generative AI continues to advance and hurt artists. it wouldn't be hard to pass off a sketch, lineart, etc as your own work and it's shady that the artist's name has been withheld for two years. there isn't a single mention of an artist portfolio or social media on ebooklaunch's website either. i hope this book isn't in any way related to AI and that it's an actual artist not getting credit (which again, sucks). it's getting harder for even the most seasoned artists to be able to differentiate real vs stolen art so i get it. i want to trust that ebooklaunch is doing right by the artists they employ as well as their authors. an artist not getting credit is an easy fix compared to outright using AI. artists need to eat too so please credit the people who are pulling in your readers and avoid generative AI at all costs.
edit: my bookish friend and super-sleuth zana found on ebooklaunch's website that they DO use generative AI to produce their covers and authors need to manually opt out (comment outlining their policy). even if they claim otherwise, how can we trust a company's word especially when they don't have any artists credited as illustrators and they use generative AI meant to replace artists? how do we know they're not tracing the work of existing artists? 🤔 i don't know a single artist who pursued the career professionally, especially artists who illustrate digitally, who didn't have social media and/or a website portfolio prior to getting hired so all of this is looking more and more suspicious.
july 21st edit: final update because i'm sick and tired of playing ring-around-the-rosie with these full-grown adults. this avoidant behavior is tiring, extremely disrespectful to artists (and public intelligence tbh like they think we're dumb), and is a reminder of how devalued artists are. and all of this started because i asked, "who is the artist?" like it should NOT be this hard to get a name 🥴
i asked ebooklaunch what their art commissions process was like, how they are able to prove to their authors that they do not use stolen art to generate their covers, and to please link the social media/portfolios of illustrators they commissioned. someone named "dane" replied back saying, "we don't commission artists, because trust me, and we have a portfolio on our website and our instagram." meanwhile the portfolio doesn't list a single artist's name/social media.
(gif from meme of mohamed hoblos saying "brother ewww!"; youtube)
promoting your own product while hiding behind the artists who you continue to exploit—whether it's the ones you stole from generated AI pieces or actual artists you won't name? pathetic and shameful.
please support artists by reaching out directly and commission them, whether it's for your professional or personal projects! i've created a list of illustrators i follow/support (click here) who may have commissions open and will continue to update it. please support artists and divest your monetary support for people and companies who don't care.
book review: my goodreads friends know my hatred of purple prose. i need people to say what they mean, stop wasting pages with aesthetic nonsense, and get the plot going! the name-bearer is chock full of it. it is simultaneously one of the most overwritten books i've ever read while achieving very little at the same time. the plot (if you can call it that) was nonexistent and the readers were told everything rather than shown things about the character and the world. if condensed and fleshed out, this could have been a successful middle grade story but instead it's a below average-YA snoozefest.
july 19: i had a worrisome exchange with the author about the cover artist for this series never being credited and it possibly being generative AI. there's a pattern of authors handing off their work to third-party companies for their covers and it sucks because stolen art generated by AI is growing within these companies (see 'when oceans rise'). they've also resorted to using AI to generate images for amateur artists to trace over and resell which makes spotting fakes even more difficult. i kept seeing people ask post after post "who's the artist? artist credit?" only to be met with silence. the author immediately answered once i'd started insinuating that it's stolen art generated by AI. i apologized after she became adamant about being against AI but she still wouldn't credit the artist. the closest i got to an answer was that she worked with a third-party company who formats and designs book covers (ebooklaunch). designing and formatting a book cover IS NOT the same as drawing cover art. i contacted ebooklaunch asking about the cover artist and their art process and am still waiting for their response regarding the artist.
at best, this is a case of an artist not getting credit (which sucks). natalia hernandez claimed that the unnamed artist would do progress check-ins with her from start to finish. i'm just gonna say with a few seconds of this youtube video here that it's getting easier to dupe people into believing process art videos as generative AI continues to advance and hurt artists. it wouldn't be hard to pass off a sketch, lineart, etc as your own work and it's shady that the artist's name has been withheld for two years. there isn't a single mention of an artist portfolio or social media on ebooklaunch's website either. i hope this book isn't in any way related to AI and that it's an actual artist not getting credit (which again, sucks). it's getting harder for even the most seasoned artists to be able to differentiate real vs stolen art so i get it. i want to trust that ebooklaunch is doing right by the artists they employ as well as their authors. an artist not getting credit is an easy fix compared to outright using AI. artists need to eat too so please credit the people who are pulling in your readers and avoid generative AI at all costs.
edit: my bookish friend and super-sleuth zana found on ebooklaunch's website that they DO use generative AI to produce their covers and authors need to manually opt out (comment outlining their policy). even if they claim otherwise, how can we trust a company's word especially when they don't have any artists credited as illustrators and they use generative AI meant to replace artists? how do we know they're not tracing the work of existing artists? 🤔 i don't know a single artist who pursued the career professionally, especially artists who illustrate digitally, who didn't have social media and/or a website portfolio prior to getting hired so all of this is looking more and more suspicious.
july 21st edit: final update because i'm sick and tired of playing ring-around-the-rosie with these full-grown adults. this avoidant behavior is tiring, extremely disrespectful to artists (and public intelligence tbh like they think we're dumb), and is a reminder of how devalued artists are. and all of this started because i asked, "who is the artist?" like it should NOT be this hard to get a name 🥴
i asked ebooklaunch what their art commissions process was like, how they are able to prove to their authors that they do not use stolen art to generate their covers, and to please link the social media/portfolios of illustrators they commissioned. someone named "dane" replied back saying, "we don't commission artists, because trust me, and we have a portfolio on our website and our instagram." meanwhile the portfolio doesn't list a single artist's name/social media.
(gif from meme of mohamed hoblos saying "brother ewww!"; youtube)
promoting your own product while hiding behind the artists who you continue to exploit—whether it's the ones you stole from generated AI pieces or actual artists you won't name? pathetic and shameful.
please support artists by reaching out directly and commission them, whether it's for your professional or personal projects! i've created a list of illustrators i follow/support (click here) who may have commissions open and will continue to update it. please support artists and divest your monetary support for people and companies who don't care.
February 25, 2024
I really wanted to like this book but the pacing wasn't good. The whole middle section of the book in the temple just dragged on and was far more about a character that just dips out. Additionally I think the plot more so happens to the main character than her actually being an active part of it. She was so passive in her own story. I thought the premise was cool but I'm not sure it delivered on what I was expecting.
Rep: latine indigenous
Rep: latine indigenous
October 11, 2022
3.5⭐️ rounded up to 4 for goodreads
September 28, 2022
3.75!
I love a world where I feel like I belong 💖
This was a beautiful story about strength and finding your true self.
The world is very vivid and engaging. The characters are diverse and pretty endearing! Loved the creativity and passion that went into the story.
Things I did not love:
1) We start a lot of threads that do not resolve or are left without much mention
- This is especially true when thinking about the driving force of the story and how it isn’t relevant for over 40%
2) We we’re still getting background information of the world 90% into the story.
3) a lot of the character motivations were not clear
*I was provided an arc of this book by the author in exchange of an honest review*
TW:Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Xenophobia
I love a world where I feel like I belong 💖
This was a beautiful story about strength and finding your true self.
The world is very vivid and engaging. The characters are diverse and pretty endearing! Loved the creativity and passion that went into the story.
Things I did not love:
1) We start a lot of threads that do not resolve or are left without much mention
- This is especially true when thinking about the driving force of the story and how it isn’t relevant for over 40%
2) We we’re still getting background information of the world 90% into the story.
3) a lot of the character motivations were not clear
*I was provided an arc of this book by the author in exchange of an honest review*
TW:Abandonment, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, War, Colonisation, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, Violence, and Xenophobia
July 1, 2023
Oh, I was really disappointed by this one! It was such an interesting concept but the writing really fell flat. Everything was told to the reader and almost nothing was shown. Also the way it ended was just really lame (but at least it gave me an excuse to stop!)-- it's the end of a book, not a season finale! Absolutely nothing happened in this book to make it feel like a complete story. I won't be reading book 2, but books 1 & 2 probably should have been a single book.
October 26, 2022
DNF 20%
Красивый стиль и яркий детальный мир, но автор вообще не шарит в композиции, и в итоге простенький сюжет хромает на все ноги разом.
Красивый стиль и яркий детальный мир, но автор вообще не шарит в композиции, и в итоге простенький сюжет хромает на все ноги разом.
September 3, 2023
"The Name-Bearer" by Natalia Hernandez is a captivating tale of destiny, identity, and the power to shape one's own path in a world defined by magical prophecies.
The story revolves around the Name-Bearer, whose lifelong duty has been to receive and deliver the names of future monarchs from the mystical Flowers of Prophecy. However, when the Flowers refuse to name the newborn prince and instead provide a prophecy about another child who can bring peace to the realm, the Name-Bearer's world is turned upside down. Branded a traitor to the crown for her perceived failure, she seeks refuge among a group of elite warrior women.
What unfolds is a beautifully woven narrative that explores themes of identity, friendship, found family, and the acceptance of one's true self. The world-building in the story is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a realm where magic and destiny hold significant sway over the characters' lives. The characters themselves are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique struggles and strengths. The Name-Bearer's journey of self-discovery and transformation is a central focus, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she seeks to clear her name and fulfill the prophecy.
While the book offers a compelling narrative and a richly imagined world, the pacing can be a bit uneven at times, and it feels like a setup for future installments. I feel like it would have been best served as one longer novel. Nevertheless, the strengths outweigh the pacing issues.
The story revolves around the Name-Bearer, whose lifelong duty has been to receive and deliver the names of future monarchs from the mystical Flowers of Prophecy. However, when the Flowers refuse to name the newborn prince and instead provide a prophecy about another child who can bring peace to the realm, the Name-Bearer's world is turned upside down. Branded a traitor to the crown for her perceived failure, she seeks refuge among a group of elite warrior women.
What unfolds is a beautifully woven narrative that explores themes of identity, friendship, found family, and the acceptance of one's true self. The world-building in the story is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a realm where magic and destiny hold significant sway over the characters' lives. The characters themselves are well-developed and relatable, each with their own unique struggles and strengths. The Name-Bearer's journey of self-discovery and transformation is a central focus, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she seeks to clear her name and fulfill the prophecy.
While the book offers a compelling narrative and a richly imagined world, the pacing can be a bit uneven at times, and it feels like a setup for future installments. I feel like it would have been best served as one longer novel. Nevertheless, the strengths outweigh the pacing issues.
October 17, 2022
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
Where do I begin?
I have been following Natalia Hernandez and the whole creation process of The Name-Bearer and Flowers of Prophecy since the first skit. Soon The Name-Bearer became one of my most anticipated releases.
The Name-Bearer is a saphhic, Lantix fantasy novel, which follows the main character, The Name-Bearer, who takes her duty very seriously. Until a series of events destorys her reality. These events set The Name-Bearer on a life-alternating journey to train with an elite all female warrior group, The Danrayens.
The Name-Bearer is everything I want a fantasy novel and then some. Natalia Hernandez has a way with words that truly makes the story come alive. It did not feel like I was reading but watching a television or movie. I loved the characters, the world, the plot, and the writing. My only issue is it felt as though it was missing part of the story. Like if you took a book and divided it into seperate parts. I hope that makes sense.
I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy.
Where do I begin?
I have been following Natalia Hernandez and the whole creation process of The Name-Bearer and Flowers of Prophecy since the first skit. Soon The Name-Bearer became one of my most anticipated releases.
The Name-Bearer is a saphhic, Lantix fantasy novel, which follows the main character, The Name-Bearer, who takes her duty very seriously. Until a series of events destorys her reality. These events set The Name-Bearer on a life-alternating journey to train with an elite all female warrior group, The Danrayens.
The Name-Bearer is everything I want a fantasy novel and then some. Natalia Hernandez has a way with words that truly makes the story come alive. It did not feel like I was reading but watching a television or movie. I loved the characters, the world, the plot, and the writing. My only issue is it felt as though it was missing part of the story. Like if you took a book and divided it into seperate parts. I hope that makes sense.
I highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy.
October 11, 2022
The Queer, Latinx Fantasy book our community has been needing.
The premise is so unique and one of a kind, I was instantly hooked on it.
I have this thing with fantasy where I feel like I miss key details and then I don't know where to turn back to, to recoup and continue, and it may have happened once or twice. But the good thing about this book the plot does develop enough, and we get a continuous historical references that would truly help me catch up.
Over all I truly LOVED the sapphic and Latinx rep in this book and look forward to book 2!
The premise is so unique and one of a kind, I was instantly hooked on it.
I have this thing with fantasy where I feel like I miss key details and then I don't know where to turn back to, to recoup and continue, and it may have happened once or twice. But the good thing about this book the plot does develop enough, and we get a continuous historical references that would truly help me catch up.
Over all I truly LOVED the sapphic and Latinx rep in this book and look forward to book 2!
November 4, 2022
*Spoiler* I enjoyed the culture aspect of this book and the concept but overall it was very slow and I could read chapters and feel like nothing of note actually happened. In one chapter essentially the reader was told years had gone by and the group of girls had a sparring session and everyone was fine, but it was literally drawn out in a whole chapter. I probably won’t read the next books to be honest.
The cover art of the book is really beautiful though
The cover art of the book is really beautiful though
September 11, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive and ARC of this gorgeous story. The world building is beautiful and it made me massively nostalgic for Guatemala. Plus it’s a queer fantasy coming of age story with a badass warrior MC (basically all of my favourite things!)! After that ending, I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book!
March 1, 2024
Actual rating: 2.75
Young end of YA for sure. Lots of telling instead of doing.
The premise is really interesting, and the diversity rep (Latinx + queer) is excellent.
I really enjoyed the setup but this book could've easily been half the length and it wasn't even 300 pages. And yet the ending was entirely unsatisfying but I guess it's meant to make you want to read the second book which I won't be doing.
The POV was the Name Bearer for maybe 90% of the book but then we'd get short, disjointed POVs from 4 different characters in the last part of the book with no explanation which seemed incredibly strange.
Overall, exciting premise but not executed too well, and the book also skewed too young for what I tend to enjoy.
Young end of YA for sure. Lots of telling instead of doing.
The premise is really interesting, and the diversity rep (Latinx + queer) is excellent.
I really enjoyed the setup but this book could've easily been half the length and it wasn't even 300 pages. And yet the ending was entirely unsatisfying but I guess it's meant to make you want to read the second book which I won't be doing.
The POV was the Name Bearer for maybe 90% of the book but then we'd get short, disjointed POVs from 4 different characters in the last part of the book with no explanation which seemed incredibly strange.
Overall, exciting premise but not executed too well, and the book also skewed too young for what I tend to enjoy.
August 9, 2023
I like the plot. The story is very interesting and I do want to read the 2nd one to see how it ends. But the writing is… not great. It’s very slow. It took my a long time to get into the story. I feel like this could’ve been one standalone book if some things were cut down. They whole initial opening took 5 chapters and it really should’ve only been one.
January 15, 2024
One star because I enjoyed it at first and one star for a unique idea and lots checking lots of diversity boxes. The thing is this book is just not executed well in my opinion, and there is a lot of plain stating what happened like " they climbed the cliff face. They saw a beast." listing the things that happened rather than describing it as they go. And then later saying " a lot of time has passed it felt like ages"-ok. There was a lot of potential and perhaps it was meant to be simplified to be read by a younger audience but I've read books that are YA that are beautifully written, I don't think it's necessarily a reason for a book to feel like a draft.
November 21, 2023
Thank you so much to Natalia for sending me this book!!!! I loved it! I was invested in the characters (especially the gay ones) and I loved the world building! I’m so excited to read the next one
February 7, 2024
This book had a lot of good qualities…
🌸Lush rich settings
🌸interesting characters
🌸lgbtq rep (FF romances and maybe MM 👀)
🌸diverse cast of characters
🌸interesting magic
And while I loved the settings and the journey our characters took I really struggled with the structuring of the POVs. Because this is written in 3rd person and POVs would change throughout a chapter it made connecting to the characters POV a bit clunky and took me out of the story when I realized I needed to be thinking from a new perspective. I think I just didn’t mesh with this writing style as much as others.
Other than that I adored the characters and what they all went thru. The quests had purpose and I’m really interested in what comes next for the band of misfits. There’s a lot of unanswered questions. Book 2 should be a lot of fun.
🌸Lush rich settings
🌸interesting characters
🌸lgbtq rep (FF romances and maybe MM 👀)
🌸diverse cast of characters
🌸interesting magic
And while I loved the settings and the journey our characters took I really struggled with the structuring of the POVs. Because this is written in 3rd person and POVs would change throughout a chapter it made connecting to the characters POV a bit clunky and took me out of the story when I realized I needed to be thinking from a new perspective. I think I just didn’t mesh with this writing style as much as others.
Other than that I adored the characters and what they all went thru. The quests had purpose and I’m really interested in what comes next for the band of misfits. There’s a lot of unanswered questions. Book 2 should be a lot of fun.
March 19, 2024
3.5 rounded up. The cover is so pretty 😍 but this book dragged for me. There was a lot that felt unnecessarily drawn out and then the ending (which was more interesting and paced much better) felt rushed in an effort to remind the reader that there will be more books. I don't know if reading the physical copy would have been better but the audio version just didn't do it for me.
March 10, 2024
4.5 Stars, I feel like this is an amazing debut novel. The world building and situations that the characters go through are very well thought out and executed. The lore of the magic is interesting, I hope that the author explores that more in the second book. Recommend!
August 20, 2025
* 3.25
this sadly felt a lot like a filler episode but it‘s the first book in a series… it was entertaining and i liked the protagonist but this book was building up towards something but it never really came in this part :/ i will continue the series because i‘m still intrigued but really hoping it‘ll get better!
this sadly felt a lot like a filler episode but it‘s the first book in a series… it was entertaining and i liked the protagonist but this book was building up towards something but it never really came in this part :/ i will continue the series because i‘m still intrigued but really hoping it‘ll get better!
August 30, 2022
I was so lucky to have come across an ARC of this stunning novel.
I wish 15 year old me had the chance to read this novel, a character that looks like me, I’m in awe of the world building and the scenery is just absolutely beautiful.
“I have no doubt Natalia Hernández is the new voice of authenticity we were all looking for. Her Queer Fantasy debut novel “The Name Bearer” brings readers an unique Latinx experience filled with Folklore, traditions,secrets, loyalty and love. An inspiring tale para la raza!”
A young adult fantasy Sapphic novel filled with LGTBQ+ representation is all we need right now. Please add this to your TBR ✨NOW✨
I wish 15 year old me had the chance to read this novel, a character that looks like me, I’m in awe of the world building and the scenery is just absolutely beautiful.
“I have no doubt Natalia Hernández is the new voice of authenticity we were all looking for. Her Queer Fantasy debut novel “The Name Bearer” brings readers an unique Latinx experience filled with Folklore, traditions,secrets, loyalty and love. An inspiring tale para la raza!”
A young adult fantasy Sapphic novel filled with LGTBQ+ representation is all we need right now. Please add this to your TBR ✨NOW✨
November 2, 2022
3.75 stars, rounded up for GoodReads
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The representation was great, the story was unique, the characters interesting and well developed. I am a huge fan of our main character. Her development as a character felt very realistic, and I loved reading her journey. The side characters were all very distinct people, and I loved watching her relationships with each one progress and develop. This book has one of the most unique plots that I’ve read, and I love the diversity included in this book within the Latinx and LGBTQ communities.
The biggest critique I have of this book is the writing itself. I recognize this book is an independently published book and is the authors first novel, so I am overlooking simple editing errors in grammar, punctuation, sentence structure etc. (I’m no editor, so I can’t reliably comment on those anyways). However, many of the large plot points and scenes were quickly glossed over and briefly explained rather than shown, which threw the pacing off and left me feeling slightly unfulfilled. I think this book would have greatly benefited with an extra 50-100 pages to really fill out the story and add the detail, world building, and development of side characters that I felt was missing. As this is the first book in a series, I have confidence that it will only improve, though I wish we got to see more of what was happening with other characters later in the book, and got more context with the world earlier in the book. The ending was also very abrupt, and left me feeling confused.
That is all to say that I want more from this book! I think this is a great start for this author and series, and I will be continuing the series once the next books come out. I can’t wait to see how this author improves in the next books, and to see what happens next to our MC!
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The representation was great, the story was unique, the characters interesting and well developed. I am a huge fan of our main character. Her development as a character felt very realistic, and I loved reading her journey. The side characters were all very distinct people, and I loved watching her relationships with each one progress and develop. This book has one of the most unique plots that I’ve read, and I love the diversity included in this book within the Latinx and LGBTQ communities.
The biggest critique I have of this book is the writing itself. I recognize this book is an independently published book and is the authors first novel, so I am overlooking simple editing errors in grammar, punctuation, sentence structure etc. (I’m no editor, so I can’t reliably comment on those anyways). However, many of the large plot points and scenes were quickly glossed over and briefly explained rather than shown, which threw the pacing off and left me feeling slightly unfulfilled. I think this book would have greatly benefited with an extra 50-100 pages to really fill out the story and add the detail, world building, and development of side characters that I felt was missing. As this is the first book in a series, I have confidence that it will only improve, though I wish we got to see more of what was happening with other characters later in the book, and got more context with the world earlier in the book. The ending was also very abrupt, and left me feeling confused.
That is all to say that I want more from this book! I think this is a great start for this author and series, and I will be continuing the series once the next books come out. I can’t wait to see how this author improves in the next books, and to see what happens next to our MC!
January 15, 2023
I wanted to like this so badly but I found the writing leaned too far towards telling, with odd overviews and a lot of info-dumping, and the story meandered mostly towards nothing (I know there's a sequel but we didn't really move the plot on at all in this book imo). The characters were nice enough but I struggled to really care about them because I never really felt their emotions; I was just told about them. Ultimately, had promise but it's not for me and I don't think I'll be continuing the series.
September 8, 2022
wow. I just finished and I need time to process but omg FIVE STARS IT WAS SO GOOD IM SO HAPPY TO HAVE GOTTEN AN EARC omg
January 11, 2024
2024: 4.5
F/F, Trans, NB
F/F, Trans, NB
Read
December 13, 2023The Name-Bearer came highly recommended to me by a friend. I fell in love with the cover and it is one of my favourites. The story has a gripping start. As is customary, a young child is taken from her family and she becomes the Name-Bearer. When the time comes, she must go to the Flowers of Prophecy and get the name of the next ruler. Till that point, she has had little contact with people, studying about her place in society, her customs and rituals she must uphold in solitude. When the Flowers of Prophecy refuse to give a name to her, this young girl is thrown into an identity crisis and is at the centre of a huge political upheaval.
With help from a prominent figure in the royal household, she makes her way to the warrior women at the Temple of Danray where she forges a new identity and makes new friends. The chapters about Phanessa growing up were engaging and her growth as a warrior is one I watched with fondness for a younger sibling. Most of the girls around her have their buried past so it is refreshing to them all to get a new start through their education. I liked the friendships that were cultivated and how the girls supported each other through the good and bad times. Eventually, the time comes for them to go their separate ways and Phanessa gets back on track to find the rightful heir to the throne, the one the flowers would name. I liked how she embraced this destiny and how much being with the warrior women was the making of her.
The second half of the book dives more into politics and hatred between different tribes and the monarchy. I liked getting a broader sense of the world and seeing how Phanessa’s original departure from the palace had affected the common people. I didn’t find the second half as engaging but I liked the book enough to complete this duology when I get a chance!
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
With help from a prominent figure in the royal household, she makes her way to the warrior women at the Temple of Danray where she forges a new identity and makes new friends. The chapters about Phanessa growing up were engaging and her growth as a warrior is one I watched with fondness for a younger sibling. Most of the girls around her have their buried past so it is refreshing to them all to get a new start through their education. I liked the friendships that were cultivated and how the girls supported each other through the good and bad times. Eventually, the time comes for them to go their separate ways and Phanessa gets back on track to find the rightful heir to the throne, the one the flowers would name. I liked how she embraced this destiny and how much being with the warrior women was the making of her.
The second half of the book dives more into politics and hatred between different tribes and the monarchy. I liked getting a broader sense of the world and seeing how Phanessa’s original departure from the palace had affected the common people. I didn’t find the second half as engaging but I liked the book enough to complete this duology when I get a chance!
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
October 9, 2022
If you are looking for a diverse, immersive fantasy, this is the book for you!
I absolutely adored the uniqueness of this book in so many ways. From the depth of the culture to the plot and its focus on identity, there is so much about the book that has never before been put together into one novel. It was so full of culture that there wasn't a single page where I didn't feel so fully immersed in the world, as though I was a character myself. It wove a story of a girl into a story of a people and their culture, and it also made them one and the same.
The story is one that really focuses on identity and self-awareness. It is such a beautiful story of someone who has no identity aside from her service to her people, someone stripped of her identity by the world around her. But she discovers herself throughout the story and becomes someone that she is proud to look at in the mirror. She discovers her self-worth, what she wants from life, and she doesn't shy away from those things. She allows herself to create the person she wants to be, and she doesn't allow the world to take that away from her. It's a hard lesson, but it's so beautifully captured in this story.
At first I was worried that the pacing was going to be way too fast, and I am very glad it ended how it did, because I know I was going to need more of the story! It still felt a bit too fast at times, but I think the way the story was captured really did it justice. The blurring together of the parts of her life feels poetic for how she really has no identity or sense of self for so long.
If you're a fantasy lover, check this new voice out!
I absolutely adored the uniqueness of this book in so many ways. From the depth of the culture to the plot and its focus on identity, there is so much about the book that has never before been put together into one novel. It was so full of culture that there wasn't a single page where I didn't feel so fully immersed in the world, as though I was a character myself. It wove a story of a girl into a story of a people and their culture, and it also made them one and the same.
The story is one that really focuses on identity and self-awareness. It is such a beautiful story of someone who has no identity aside from her service to her people, someone stripped of her identity by the world around her. But she discovers herself throughout the story and becomes someone that she is proud to look at in the mirror. She discovers her self-worth, what she wants from life, and she doesn't shy away from those things. She allows herself to create the person she wants to be, and she doesn't allow the world to take that away from her. It's a hard lesson, but it's so beautifully captured in this story.
At first I was worried that the pacing was going to be way too fast, and I am very glad it ended how it did, because I know I was going to need more of the story! It still felt a bit too fast at times, but I think the way the story was captured really did it justice. The blurring together of the parts of her life feels poetic for how she really has no identity or sense of self for so long.
If you're a fantasy lover, check this new voice out!
July 1, 2025
Okay, I really enjoyed this - I remember seeing her TikToks way back in the day describing the dream she had that became this book. I was captivated by the story and characters - I liked that our FMC was strong but also vulnerable, growing to trust a select few but always sticking to her convictions. It would've been easy to see her as a Mary Sue type, immediately good at everything she does, but instead we see her work hard and growt. I don't usually go for YA anymore but this didn't feel juvenile.
I would rate this higher but unfortunately it falls into pitfalls that a lot of debut novels do - some parts are clunky and don't really flow well. It teeters over the edge of info-dumping at times (I'm thinking particularly near the end when we get a full breakdown of magia users at a moment where we really should've been healing). There's a lot of flowery language (pun very much intended) that wasn't really descriptive enough to get in-depth. And there are so many unresolved threads masking as "foreshadowing".
Overall I really love the story and characters but think maybe another draft was needed. Will definitely be continuing with the story!
I would rate this higher but unfortunately it falls into pitfalls that a lot of debut novels do - some parts are clunky and don't really flow well. It teeters over the edge of info-dumping at times (I'm thinking particularly near the end when we get a full breakdown of magia users at a moment where we really should've been healing). There's a lot of flowery language (pun very much intended) that wasn't really descriptive enough to get in-depth. And there are so many unresolved threads masking as "foreshadowing".
Overall I really love the story and characters but think maybe another draft was needed. Will definitely be continuing with the story!
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