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Witches, Wings, and Fluttering Things
Iris is a witch with a secret. It's not that they're a lesbian (that cat's been out of the bag since they were seven), it's not even that they're a witch (it's become so mainstream now that their school even has clubs). No, Iris's secret, like all the best things, is a magical girl. The faery they accidentally summoned at six then kept meeting up with in secret.
Until Agnes suddenly decided that she was bored with them a few years ago and stopped visiting.
When Iris's secret comes out and they realize that their connection to Agnes might be their ticket to finally being noticed in the human realm, they summon her at a party. But when an attempt to trick Agnes into staying longer goes wrong, she ends up trapped in their realm, gradually becoming weaker as her connection to Faerie fades. If only the only way to set things right wasn't offering the girl who now hates Iris back safe haven, as their roommate.
Until Agnes suddenly decided that she was bored with them a few years ago and stopped visiting.
When Iris's secret comes out and they realize that their connection to Agnes might be their ticket to finally being noticed in the human realm, they summon her at a party. But when an attempt to trick Agnes into staying longer goes wrong, she ends up trapped in their realm, gradually becoming weaker as her connection to Faerie fades. If only the only way to set things right wasn't offering the girl who now hates Iris back safe haven, as their roommate.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 12, 2022
8 people are currently reading
1212 people want to read
About the author
Alex Nonymous
26 books560 followersAlex is trying to publish 22 sapphic YA books before she turns 22. The only flaw in the plan so far is that they only finished 1 before turning 20...
He uses any pronouns so its incredibly easy to talk about Alex behind her back (just please stop adding me to 'women writers' lists oh my god) and they're still trying to figure out how to present themself as a professional a full year into publishing.
If you want to join their email list for updates on book release dates, early reader copies, and to vote on genre polls to control the next book they write, email them at alexnonymouswrites@gmail.com to let her know!
Alex also writes books for queer teenagers and recognizes that a lot of the people who need those kinds of stories the most can't safely be purchasing them, fill out this form for free discrete ecopies of anything he's written! https://forms.gle/ZSAoMh59oLVjz97F8
He uses any pronouns so its incredibly easy to talk about Alex behind her back (just please stop adding me to 'women writers' lists oh my god) and they're still trying to figure out how to present themself as a professional a full year into publishing.
If you want to join their email list for updates on book release dates, early reader copies, and to vote on genre polls to control the next book they write, email them at alexnonymouswrites@gmail.com to let her know!
Alex also writes books for queer teenagers and recognizes that a lot of the people who need those kinds of stories the most can't safely be purchasing them, fill out this form for free discrete ecopies of anything he's written! https://forms.gle/ZSAoMh59oLVjz97F8
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 10, 2022
EARLY READER COPIES OUT!
Writing Update (2022-11-07): I feel the need to make it expressly clear that this has a lot of angst? It's also super cheesy but the description definitely gets that part across i'm on my first read thru and forgot that it's also very angsty mwahahha
Writing Update (2022-11-06): GUESS WHO WROTE THE WHOLE THING IN 48 HOURS! NEW RECORDDD
Writing Update (2022-11-06): y'all if I finish this last 10kish words in 6 hours I'll have officially wrote the whole thing in 48 hours. Wish me luck.
Genre poll OFFICIALLY CLOSED! "Urban Fantasy" won.
Brief rough description:
Iris is a witch with a secret. It's not that they're a lesbian (that cat's been out of the bag since they were seven), it's not even that they're a witch (it's become so mainstream now that their school even has clubs. Iris has never been invited). No, Iris's secret, like all the best things, is a magical girl. The faery they accidentally summoned at six then kept meeting with in secret.
Until Agnes suddenly decided she was bored with them a few years ago and stopped visiting.
When Iris's secret comes out and they realizes that their connecting to Agnes might be their ticket to finally being noticed in the human realm, they summon her at a party. But when an attempt to trick Agnes into staying longer accidentally results in her becoming incapable of returning to Faerie, Iris almost causes a war between the two realms. If only the only way to placate the fae wasn't offering the girl who now hated Iris safe harbour in their realm. As their roommate.
Writing Update (2022-11-07): I feel the need to make it expressly clear that this has a lot of angst? It's also super cheesy but the description definitely gets that part across i'm on my first read thru and forgot that it's also very angsty mwahahha
Writing Update (2022-11-06): GUESS WHO WROTE THE WHOLE THING IN 48 HOURS! NEW RECORDDD
Writing Update (2022-11-06): y'all if I finish this last 10kish words in 6 hours I'll have officially wrote the whole thing in 48 hours. Wish me luck.
Genre poll OFFICIALLY CLOSED! "Urban Fantasy" won.
Brief rough description:
Iris is a witch with a secret. It's not that they're a lesbian (that cat's been out of the bag since they were seven), it's not even that they're a witch (it's become so mainstream now that their school even has clubs. Iris has never been invited). No, Iris's secret, like all the best things, is a magical girl. The faery they accidentally summoned at six then kept meeting with in secret.
Until Agnes suddenly decided she was bored with them a few years ago and stopped visiting.
When Iris's secret comes out and they realizes that their connecting to Agnes might be their ticket to finally being noticed in the human realm, they summon her at a party. But when an attempt to trick Agnes into staying longer accidentally results in her becoming incapable of returning to Faerie, Iris almost causes a war between the two realms. If only the only way to placate the fae wasn't offering the girl who now hated Iris safe harbour in their realm. As their roommate.
December 27, 2022
3.5 stars 🌟
I enjoyed this book until the end.
There was nothing really that wrong with the ending; I kinda just felt flat and just like ‘oh!’
But I would 100% read another book by this author 📖
I enjoyed this book until the end.
There was nothing really that wrong with the ending; I kinda just felt flat and just like ‘oh!’
But I would 100% read another book by this author 📖
February 6, 2023
Precious perfection
This was the bonking cutest lil faerie love story I have ever read and so beautifully queer, the perfect fluffiest escapist delight
This was the bonking cutest lil faerie love story I have ever read and so beautifully queer, the perfect fluffiest escapist delight
February 9, 2023
3.5
I know this authors whole thing is a book a month but oh my god imagining what this book could be with some more work and fleshing out?? I love the world building, it's a really cool urban fantasy, and I really believe the characters and their relationships for the most part. The only piece that bothered me was the flashback chapters felt very unnecessary or like they should have been a prologue, the ending half was much more rushed than the first half, and the short paragraph/one line chapters got old.
I know this authors whole thing is a book a month but oh my god imagining what this book could be with some more work and fleshing out?? I love the world building, it's a really cool urban fantasy, and I really believe the characters and their relationships for the most part. The only piece that bothered me was the flashback chapters felt very unnecessary or like they should have been a prologue, the ending half was much more rushed than the first half, and the short paragraph/one line chapters got old.
May 31, 2023
I love my autistic faery Agnes
We deserved more of Thomas!
We deserved more of Thomas!
January 14, 2023
I found Alex’s books through a TikTok ad and could not resist checking them out, and I’m so glad I did! I read 85% of this book in one day and absolutely adored every second of it. Both Iris and Agnes are such great characters, and the world created in this story is so much fun. Can’t wait to check out more of her books!!
April 10, 2023
I enjoyed the story, but the actual writing seemed rushed and the overuse of pronouns was confusing.
I loved that the story had a main character with they/them pronouns, but using them so frequently tangled the characters and I had to reread paragraphs several times to follow the thread to the right person.
I loved that the story had a main character with they/them pronouns, but using them so frequently tangled the characters and I had to reread paragraphs several times to follow the thread to the right person.
December 18, 2022
I know I say this all the time but Alex delivers, as always!!!
While I do enjoy fantasy as a genre, I tend to steer away from them because it's a lot of information and world-building and a lot of times that's too much for me wee little brain
What I think makes Witches, Wings, and Fluttering Things work so well is that there is world-building, but not over the top. It focuses on Iris and Agnes and their story. And I absolutely love, love, love the relationship and chemistry between them as well as who they are as individuals. Iris is confident and unapologetic in who they are, which makes them so badass??? They're still a teenager so of course we see bits and pieces beneath that hard exterior, of their insecurities and fears and doubts, and I always love to see different aspects of characters and their personalities.
And Agnes, oh sweet Agnes 😍😍😍 Just knowing she disappears on Iris when they were kids makes me dislike her at the beginning, but I just loved her as a character so much. As we go through the conflict and see Agnes open up more and her perspective of past and present events.
I also really loved that it ties in with the holidays, not just because Christmas is almost here but also because the Christmas-themed adventures Iris takes Agnes on for her first experiences, and it's super cute and soft and sapphic and ❣️❣️❣️
I was very satisfied with the ending and how the conflict was tied up. It was paced extremely well throughout the story and I'm a big sucker for open endings when it comes to Alex's books! I think it works well to end it there but also open enough if Alex ever revisits Iris and Agnes's story 👀
Basically, I love Agnes and Iris, this made my gay lil heart grow 10 sizes bigger, and I want to see more of them in the future 🥺
While I do enjoy fantasy as a genre, I tend to steer away from them because it's a lot of information and world-building and a lot of times that's too much for me wee little brain
What I think makes Witches, Wings, and Fluttering Things work so well is that there is world-building, but not over the top. It focuses on Iris and Agnes and their story. And I absolutely love, love, love the relationship and chemistry between them as well as who they are as individuals. Iris is confident and unapologetic in who they are, which makes them so badass??? They're still a teenager so of course we see bits and pieces beneath that hard exterior, of their insecurities and fears and doubts, and I always love to see different aspects of characters and their personalities.
And Agnes, oh sweet Agnes 😍😍😍 Just knowing she disappears on Iris when they were kids makes me dislike her at the beginning, but I just loved her as a character so much. As we go through the conflict and see Agnes open up more and her perspective of past and present events.
I also really loved that it ties in with the holidays, not just because Christmas is almost here but also because the Christmas-themed adventures Iris takes Agnes on for her first experiences, and it's super cute and soft and sapphic and ❣️❣️❣️
I was very satisfied with the ending and how the conflict was tied up. It was paced extremely well throughout the story and I'm a big sucker for open endings when it comes to Alex's books! I think it works well to end it there but also open enough if Alex ever revisits Iris and Agnes's story 👀
Basically, I love Agnes and Iris, this made my gay lil heart grow 10 sizes bigger, and I want to see more of them in the future 🥺
November 6, 2025
I sped through the first 200 pages over the weekend and then I realized I didn't want it to end. I loved how much the faerie inability to lie was used in the dialogue. (Like Iris pointing out when Agnes is avoiding the truth) (Iris's exaggerations that are taken literally by Agnes) (Iris understanding the rules with pronouns and yes/no questions) I think Agnes is the first faery character I've ever liked because she had so much depth and meaning behind her actions. I loved both of the characters and their relationship and the world and everything. I especially loved chapter 19 and chapter 21 and chapter 39 if I had to pick a top three. If I had to teach a faery how to roast marshmellows, I too would show her how to do it the proper way. (Good job Iris) Sort of sad we skipped over Halloween though since I got to the day after Halloween on the day after Halloween, and it's probably the most perfect holiday of all of them for Agnes. Will probably reread this maybe at new years, and I'll update my review to be more sophisticated as this book deserves
December 13, 2022
While this isn't my typical genre read at all, I was absorbed from the very beginning. The representation given by Iris as a character is fantastic, something I would love to see more of as a reader. The cuts between angst and the relationship aspect are well balanced and a few scenes even gave me some laughs. The setting felt well explained and the characterization was natural, Agnes felt particularly comedic in a few scenes.
I cannot recommend this book enough if you're looking for a queer novel with representation that isn't centered on coming out. It's all around a great read for someone who just wants to have a good time and relax with a little bit of urban fantasy and faery magic.
I cannot recommend this book enough if you're looking for a queer novel with representation that isn't centered on coming out. It's all around a great read for someone who just wants to have a good time and relax with a little bit of urban fantasy and faery magic.
April 27, 2023
*I received an eARC only to get hit with a slump like halfway through reading
I feel like it read like fanfiction in the best of ways, and the rink scene made me so soft. However I feel like the book could have been a tad longer as I prefer my endings to be drawn out and I felt like this was like a one and done. I love the short chapters though, and they fit this book so much more than longer ones' would.
Overall this is just a quick soft read that I would be able to read multiple times as a pick me up between other books and I cannot wait to pick up another book by this author.
I feel like it read like fanfiction in the best of ways, and the rink scene made me so soft. However I feel like the book could have been a tad longer as I prefer my endings to be drawn out and I felt like this was like a one and done. I love the short chapters though, and they fit this book so much more than longer ones' would.
Overall this is just a quick soft read that I would be able to read multiple times as a pick me up between other books and I cannot wait to pick up another book by this author.
May 11, 2023
My first book I read from Alex Nonymous -- so good! They are such a talented author, I loved this book! The storyline pacing is perfect, and supporting characters are well-developed too, which is always nice! The tension between the two main characters felt so realistic. A quick read, mainly because it is just so good you won't want to stop!
Overall, this was a great read, and I am now wanting to read many more books from this author! Alex Nonymous also has a monthly email you can sign up for, with updates for new books - I love this connection and outreach the author does with readers!
Overall, this was a great read, and I am now wanting to read many more books from this author! Alex Nonymous also has a monthly email you can sign up for, with updates for new books - I love this connection and outreach the author does with readers!
January 5, 2024
I read this book a while back and realised I’ve never written a review for it for some reason. I still think about this book everyday (this is not an exaggeration and meant to be taken literally), I read this during the summer last year. I physically can’t put my love for this book into words!! The characters were amazing, the plot was amazing, the ending was amazing, everything else was also amazing! I’m tempted to make a PowerPoint on this book for fun tbh
December 13, 2022
I loved the story! I wanted to read it all in one sitting. The characters are likeable, I liked the plot, the representation was great (I was especially pleased to see a mixed race character who is white and Asian like myself) and it was interesting reading a book about a witch and faery. I highly recommend this book c:
P.s Thank you again Alex for letting me be an early reader c:
P.s Thank you again Alex for letting me be an early reader c:
September 15, 2023
I'll be honest i was going to give it a 4 stars but then the last part of the book was litterally amazing, the way the emotions are portrayed and how we go from not really liking any of the characters to understanding them n loving them and I just wow this was so good I'd DEFINITELY recommend
Agnes is my favourite and she's amazing and I love her (iris is cool too but mannnn Agnes is awesome)
Agnes is my favourite and she's amazing and I love her (iris is cool too but mannnn Agnes is awesome)
November 29, 2022
thanks for letting me be an early reader!!
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book as it's not my usual genre, but I absolutely loved it! the chemistry between the main characters was great and everything about their story was so well written.
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this book as it's not my usual genre, but I absolutely loved it! the chemistry between the main characters was great and everything about their story was so well written.
July 6, 2023
This was a cute faerie story that I mostly enjoyed. However, for me the second half of the book seemed rushed, especially the ending. I wish there was more, I felt like I was just getting invested in the characters and it was over.
I received a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads contest.
I received a digital copy of this book in a Goodreads contest.
December 7, 2022
**4.5
Loved this one!
Such a cute, witchy and surprisingly Christmassy read.
♥ 'That was all that really mattered, in the end. That they'd loved each other enough to do it realms apart.' ♥
Loved this one!
Such a cute, witchy and surprisingly Christmassy read.
♥ 'That was all that really mattered, in the end. That they'd loved each other enough to do it realms apart.' ♥
December 26, 2022
Excellent
Very very good, awesome.mix of magic and live and angst and happiness, and sadness and faeness hightly recommended... A weird mix of new and old and just excellent :)
Very very good, awesome.mix of magic and live and angst and happiness, and sadness and faeness hightly recommended... A weird mix of new and old and just excellent :)
dnf
October 2, 2023DNF @ 19% I received a copy of this ebook in a Goodreads giveaway. I wasn’t really engaged in the story.
January 1, 2024
I loved it.
August 4, 2024
Picked up another Alex nonymous book and was not disappointed! It made me want to yell and cry but also laugh ! This book along with its sequel are absolutely worth picking up
March 22, 2024
Rep: biracial Chinese-American non-binary lesbian main character, sapphic love interest, nb/f relationship, gay side character
CW:
I really enjoyed reading this! It’s been a long time since I read a whole book in one day, but with this one it was so easy.
This book follows Iris, a non-binary witch who used to be best friends with a faery, Agnes, who effectively ghosted them when they were twelve. Now sixteen, Iris tries summoning Agnes again, succeeds, and also manages to trap Agnes in this realm, forcing them to let Agnes stay with them while they try to figure out how to get her back home. Agnes is far from happy to be trapped here, and she makes sure that Iris knows it.
If I were to use ao3 tags to describe this book, the ones I’d pick are childhood friends to enemies to lovers, sickfic, hurt/comfort, and angst with a happy ending. It quickly becomes apparent that things are a lot more serious than Iris and Agne had initially realised, and the hunt to find a way to get Agnes back home has a time limit that isn’t just how long Iris can stand sharing their bedroom with somebody who hates them. Please take the content warnings I’ve laid out seriously, because they are serious.
I liked Iris as a main character! They’re confident in who they are and refuse to compromise on any part of themself or their identity in order to make people around them more comfortable. They’re non-binary, they’re a lesbian, they’re a witch, and they’re not going to twist their presentation of any of these things no matter how much wider society wishes they would. Partially as a result of this, and partially as a result of them dedicating their childhood years when they should’ve been developing social skills to befriending a faery, they don’t have many friends, and they’re holding on to a lot of grief from when they were a kid. When Ages ends up back in their life to a much larger degree than they’d hoped for or anticipated, I think they handle the situation about as well as could possibly be expected of them, and even when they’re at their angriest they’re still too good of a person not to help Agnes out.
Agnes is a trickier case. I didn’t like her at first, because of how she’d ghosted Iris when they were kids and because her initial attitude towards Iris now is quite mean and spiteful. However, as the book went on and Agnes gradually explains her thought processes and why she did the things she did, I grew to like her a whole lot more, and by the end I found I was liking her possibly more than I like Iris. She was just doing what she thought was right with the information she had. Were her decisions the right ones? Rarely! But she really wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. Also, as a faery, Agnes cannot lie, and there’s a lot of fun (and emotion) that comes from that.
I also liked the reoccurring plot point of a faery promise, that if a faery imbues a promise with a teesy tiny bit of their magic then that promise cannot be broken under any circumstances unless that faery voids it. Expect to see this be used a lot throughout this book.
If you like faeries, witches, unbreakable promises, and strongly emotional stories, then you’ll absolutely enjoy this book!
I received an early copy from the author in return for some feedback, so there may be some differences between this and the published version. I’m writing this honest review entirely voluntarily.
[thoughts immediately upon finishing the book]
full review to come but ow, hurt comfort & angst with a happy ending hits so good
CW:
I really enjoyed reading this! It’s been a long time since I read a whole book in one day, but with this one it was so easy.
This book follows Iris, a non-binary witch who used to be best friends with a faery, Agnes, who effectively ghosted them when they were twelve. Now sixteen, Iris tries summoning Agnes again, succeeds, and also manages to trap Agnes in this realm, forcing them to let Agnes stay with them while they try to figure out how to get her back home. Agnes is far from happy to be trapped here, and she makes sure that Iris knows it.
If I were to use ao3 tags to describe this book, the ones I’d pick are childhood friends to enemies to lovers, sickfic, hurt/comfort, and angst with a happy ending. It quickly becomes apparent that things are a lot more serious than Iris and Agne had initially realised, and the hunt to find a way to get Agnes back home has a time limit that isn’t just how long Iris can stand sharing their bedroom with somebody who hates them. Please take the content warnings I’ve laid out seriously, because they are serious.
I liked Iris as a main character! They’re confident in who they are and refuse to compromise on any part of themself or their identity in order to make people around them more comfortable. They’re non-binary, they’re a lesbian, they’re a witch, and they’re not going to twist their presentation of any of these things no matter how much wider society wishes they would. Partially as a result of this, and partially as a result of them dedicating their childhood years when they should’ve been developing social skills to befriending a faery, they don’t have many friends, and they’re holding on to a lot of grief from when they were a kid. When Ages ends up back in their life to a much larger degree than they’d hoped for or anticipated, I think they handle the situation about as well as could possibly be expected of them, and even when they’re at their angriest they’re still too good of a person not to help Agnes out.
Agnes is a trickier case. I didn’t like her at first, because of how she’d ghosted Iris when they were kids and because her initial attitude towards Iris now is quite mean and spiteful. However, as the book went on and Agnes gradually explains her thought processes and why she did the things she did, I grew to like her a whole lot more, and by the end I found I was liking her possibly more than I like Iris. She was just doing what she thought was right with the information she had. Were her decisions the right ones? Rarely! But she really wasn’t trying to hurt anyone. Also, as a faery, Agnes cannot lie, and there’s a lot of fun (and emotion) that comes from that.
I also liked the reoccurring plot point of a faery promise, that if a faery imbues a promise with a teesy tiny bit of their magic then that promise cannot be broken under any circumstances unless that faery voids it. Expect to see this be used a lot throughout this book.
If you like faeries, witches, unbreakable promises, and strongly emotional stories, then you’ll absolutely enjoy this book!
I received an early copy from the author in return for some feedback, so there may be some differences between this and the published version. I’m writing this honest review entirely voluntarily.
[thoughts immediately upon finishing the book]
full review to come but ow, hurt comfort & angst with a happy ending hits so good
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews