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Any Other Name
Jonathan Rosewood thought he was going to die when a truck hurtles toward him. But, saved by Afterlife Social Services, he's instead turned into a cat familiar and sent to the Waxing Weather Warlock School for the magically gifted.
Once there, he becomes fast friends with ferret familiar Simon and Fox Sarah. Together with their Witches and Wizards they train to protect the world from invasion by the things that exist beyond it.
As Jonathan navigates his new life and the horrors of first love, he finds himself at the center of a war that has lasted for centuries--and with more questions than answers. Why do some people have access to magic and others don’t? What really are the creatures he's being trained to fight? And why is 'he' a girl in cat form?
Any Other Name is a trans, queer young adult fantasy perfect for fans of Little Witch Academia and The Worst Witch.
Once there, he becomes fast friends with ferret familiar Simon and Fox Sarah. Together with their Witches and Wizards they train to protect the world from invasion by the things that exist beyond it.
As Jonathan navigates his new life and the horrors of first love, he finds himself at the center of a war that has lasted for centuries--and with more questions than answers. Why do some people have access to magic and others don’t? What really are the creatures he's being trained to fight? And why is 'he' a girl in cat form?
Any Other Name is a trans, queer young adult fantasy perfect for fans of Little Witch Academia and The Worst Witch.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 14, 2022
2 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 24, 2022
A fun romp
The author introduces us to an engaging coming into their own cast of characters facing impossible odds and quite frankly. I need more of this universe 💗
The author introduces us to an engaging coming into their own cast of characters facing impossible odds and quite frankly. I need more of this universe 💗
August 5, 2022
Witches, familiars, queer romance, and trans discovery, some of my favourite things all packed into this story, and it is one that I have absolutely loved. The tale is cute and endearing, the characters relatable, drawing you into their lives and struggles as they learn about the world of magic and what it means to them, as they find their place in it, and go through their journeys to discover themselves. I have gushed over this story in a number of places, and really, I can't recommend it enough and look forward to seeing the sequel.
February 25, 2025
It was a very nice and easy book to read, especially once you get into the flow of it. There were some things which made me lose the flow or which came across as very odd regarding the pacing. I wish this book was a bit longer because some things felt a bit rushed, especially in the last few chapters.
What I liked the most about this book is that it really triggered my own fantasy and that there is so much potential with the world. Reading it felt like a breeze and it was hard to stop. My sleep was sacrificed sometimes haha.
I definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for the second one to come out.
What I liked the most about this book is that it really triggered my own fantasy and that there is so much potential with the world. Reading it felt like a breeze and it was hard to stop. My sleep was sacrificed sometimes haha.
I definitely recommend this book and I can't wait for the second one to come out.
May 24, 2022
The world of Any Other Name is a vibrant one. The author mixes the fantastical with the mundane so well you don’t notice that you’re enjoying a chapter on school work or picking a dorm room. Every character is like able and you never get the feeling that you just want to get through a chapter to get back to another character.
Any Other Name quickly became one of my favorite books and is just as much fun to reread.
Any Other Name quickly became one of my favorite books and is just as much fun to reread.
September 8, 2023
I think if this book was polished up a bit, it would be golden. But even in its current state I really enjoyed it.
Having a magical academy setting will always endear a book to me; this was no different. Bambust did a great job at constructing the academy, making sure to include delightful details like how the dorms worked and what kind of classes the MC was taking. It felt like a wonderful place to live and study in. The reader learns about the magical world at this academy through the eyes of the MC. And what an incredible magic system! I can tell that Bambust was thorough in the way she gave historical context, an explanation for why children were involved in protecting the magical world, limits to magic, and more. I was fascinated by how familiars worked: their recruitment, the ritual, their magic and transformation, and how their experience of the academy was different. I loved how the transformative element of being a familiar was the catalyst for the MC realising they were trans.
The MC’s queer discovery is the focus of their character development. As the MC adjusts to being in a safe space for the first time, they are able to explore their identity. Seeing them grow to know themself was a delight, enhanced by the acceptance they were given in their new environment. Adding to this trans joy was a super sweet and earnest romance that developed naturally and only added to the story. Aside from their trans identity, the MC was also loveable because of their curiosity, which rendered them a capable and creative magic user, and their desire to help, which was just this innate drive they never questioned.
The SCs were similarly endearing, just generally being quite wholesome and amusing. The MC and SCs formed a little found family, headed by their carer Charlie. It was incredibly heartwarming to observe this dynamic throughout the book. I was just so happy that the MC had found a place to be loved.
Something that will bring joy to many hearts is that this book uses every opportunity to take a dig at HP. I was FULLY on board. I loved how it pointed out the ludicrousness of JKR’s world-building while at the same time providing a more sensible alternative.
My biggest issue with this story was the pacing and plot direction. Given where the story went, we needed to have been introduced to the villain and their corresponding plot line earlier in the book so that it didn’t feel so thrown in and rushed towards the end. It was also sometimes a little too convenient that the characters could learn and implement complex magic so quickly as near beginners. Finally, the ending muddied things in an unnecessary way. I believe the book should have ended a little before the close of the penultimate chapter, the extra context saved and expanded upon in a sequel (which it looks like Bambust is gearing up for).
Rep: sapphic trans MC, sapphic LI, trans SC, gay SCs
Having a magical academy setting will always endear a book to me; this was no different. Bambust did a great job at constructing the academy, making sure to include delightful details like how the dorms worked and what kind of classes the MC was taking. It felt like a wonderful place to live and study in. The reader learns about the magical world at this academy through the eyes of the MC. And what an incredible magic system! I can tell that Bambust was thorough in the way she gave historical context, an explanation for why children were involved in protecting the magical world, limits to magic, and more. I was fascinated by how familiars worked: their recruitment, the ritual, their magic and transformation, and how their experience of the academy was different. I loved how the transformative element of being a familiar was the catalyst for the MC realising they were trans.
The MC’s queer discovery is the focus of their character development. As the MC adjusts to being in a safe space for the first time, they are able to explore their identity. Seeing them grow to know themself was a delight, enhanced by the acceptance they were given in their new environment. Adding to this trans joy was a super sweet and earnest romance that developed naturally and only added to the story. Aside from their trans identity, the MC was also loveable because of their curiosity, which rendered them a capable and creative magic user, and their desire to help, which was just this innate drive they never questioned.
The SCs were similarly endearing, just generally being quite wholesome and amusing. The MC and SCs formed a little found family, headed by their carer Charlie. It was incredibly heartwarming to observe this dynamic throughout the book. I was just so happy that the MC had found a place to be loved.
Something that will bring joy to many hearts is that this book uses every opportunity to take a dig at HP. I was FULLY on board. I loved how it pointed out the ludicrousness of JKR’s world-building while at the same time providing a more sensible alternative.
My biggest issue with this story was the pacing and plot direction. Given where the story went, we needed to have been introduced to the villain and their corresponding plot line earlier in the book so that it didn’t feel so thrown in and rushed towards the end. It was also sometimes a little too convenient that the characters could learn and implement complex magic so quickly as near beginners. Finally, the ending muddied things in an unnecessary way. I believe the book should have ended a little before the close of the penultimate chapter, the extra context saved and expanded upon in a sequel (which it looks like Bambust is gearing up for).
Rep: sapphic trans MC, sapphic LI, trans SC, gay SCs
November 1, 2024
Overall: An amazing book which stands out in the self-published fantasy queer world.
The main character is very likeable and we get to follow their issues, thoughts and life throughout the novel as they learn their identity and how to deal with their new reality full of magic, wonders, sometimes romance, and villains!
The story is paced well, with a gradual shift of the tone. The "bad guy" is introduced at the right time and the romance feels organic.
A must-read for queer-loving readers.
The main character is very likeable and we get to follow their issues, thoughts and life throughout the novel as they learn their identity and how to deal with their new reality full of magic, wonders, sometimes romance, and villains!
The story is paced well, with a gradual shift of the tone. The "bad guy" is introduced at the right time and the romance feels organic.
A must-read for queer-loving readers.
Read
February 21, 2023DNF @ 38%. Very Roald Dahl/Diana Wynne Jones-esque (ie that British children’s book with dark edge, clearly also a JKR response as well), I thought the premise was cute and the stuff in the pre-magical beginning about his horrible parents was very charmingly dour. However this is very YA-feeling (if not middle grade) and I yet again… can’t do it.
Read because it was excerpted in an anthology I read a while back.
Read because it was excerpted in an anthology I read a while back.
February 27, 2025
THIS IS SO FUCKING GOOD I HOPE MORE PEOPLE READ IT I LOVED IT!!!!!!!
March 1, 2023
I grew up very into hp and this is a stellar rebuttal of everything its author stood for, replicating the charm, the magicalness, the britishness, without the bigotry and maintenance of the status quo. I love the characters, the romance, the gender, and the action. It's got YA energy and I like YA so that is great, honestly. It's very special.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews