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Any Other Name
Never trust a human.
It was an easy rule to live by, especially if you knew you would kill most of the ones you met. They were the product of a deal. Their name traded for their mother’s escape. To gain a faery's name was to own it so since before their conception, their future had belonged to someone else.
They obeyed. They killed. They were merciful and quick, but never, ever, caring enough to linger. They grew up with blood and daggers always within arm’s reach, so they knew better than to be phased by either. By 16, they were the most feared person on the entire continent.
When Commanded to befriend the enemy kingdom’s princess before leading her to her doom, however, things went wrong in every way imaginable. Iron could make the fae weak but love could make the fae trust and there was nothing more certain to end in disaster than trusting a human.
Any Other Name is a YA fantasy romance (not that kind of fae romance though, they're teenagers) following an agender fae assassin and the girl they're compelled to doom.
But you, Chryssa. Nothing had ever prepared me for you.
It was an easy rule to live by, especially if you knew you would kill most of the ones you met. They were the product of a deal. Their name traded for their mother’s escape. To gain a faery's name was to own it so since before their conception, their future had belonged to someone else.
They obeyed. They killed. They were merciful and quick, but never, ever, caring enough to linger. They grew up with blood and daggers always within arm’s reach, so they knew better than to be phased by either. By 16, they were the most feared person on the entire continent.
When Commanded to befriend the enemy kingdom’s princess before leading her to her doom, however, things went wrong in every way imaginable. Iron could make the fae weak but love could make the fae trust and there was nothing more certain to end in disaster than trusting a human.
Any Other Name is a YA fantasy romance (not that kind of fae romance though, they're teenagers) following an agender fae assassin and the girl they're compelled to doom.
But you, Chryssa. Nothing had ever prepared me for you.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 12, 2022
2 people are currently reading
780 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 12, 2022
Idk if this is the general consensus yet but this is the best one I've put out so far. (I'm also fairly sure its the most spelly-errory one so apologies in advance). I wrote it so I'm in charge of declaring one the best and maybe it's because I'm self centered and this is also the first one with an agender lead but this one's the best and I will not be hearing any claims to the contrary
December 4, 2022
Intriguing Dark Fantasy, based loosely on the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale.
We have our MC who is Fae, who neither considers themselves daughter or son to an evil King, and has no name that is spoken aloud. Being Fae, it is only known to the King, who uses this to control them, and to utilize them as a hitman.
It's clear the immense pain the MC is in over the life they have lead, the numbness and endless horror experienced and perpetrated. When they are sent on a mission to fool a Princess and pretend to be a Prince from another Kingdom, actual feelings complicate matters.
Princess Chrysanthemum aka Chryssa, is sassy and competent, very much in control of her life, despite the rules of royalty and expectation from her mother and Kingdom, to marry this Prince to forge alliances. She makes a great impression on our MC and you can't help but root for both of them, and feel the desperation through both characters at the situation they find themselves in.
This is Dark fantasy at its best, where it isn't too dark, yet still twisted enough. Controlling magics, and sad and mysterious elements abound to give you deep feelings.
I would highly recommend it to lovers of dark fantasy retellings of fairy tales, and those who enjoy non-binary characters.
We have our MC who is Fae, who neither considers themselves daughter or son to an evil King, and has no name that is spoken aloud. Being Fae, it is only known to the King, who uses this to control them, and to utilize them as a hitman.
It's clear the immense pain the MC is in over the life they have lead, the numbness and endless horror experienced and perpetrated. When they are sent on a mission to fool a Princess and pretend to be a Prince from another Kingdom, actual feelings complicate matters.
Princess Chrysanthemum aka Chryssa, is sassy and competent, very much in control of her life, despite the rules of royalty and expectation from her mother and Kingdom, to marry this Prince to forge alliances. She makes a great impression on our MC and you can't help but root for both of them, and feel the desperation through both characters at the situation they find themselves in.
This is Dark fantasy at its best, where it isn't too dark, yet still twisted enough. Controlling magics, and sad and mysterious elements abound to give you deep feelings.
I would highly recommend it to lovers of dark fantasy retellings of fairy tales, and those who enjoy non-binary characters.
October 19, 2022
wow. the most beautiful writing I've ever read and I've marked so many stunningly written lines in this. tbh I didn't really think I was going to like the book since I am quite picky when it comes to fantasy books but this is now one of my favourite books- and that's saying something! also can I please have someone who speaks to me like Emery to Chryssa?! I'm now desperately urging you to read this book as well and you're so not going to regret it!!!
July 23, 2023
Alex owns my soul because, as always, I've been given the pleasure of reading an early copy of Any Other Name for free!
I normally breeze through all of Alex's books with no problem, but this one took me a bit longer than usual in part due to my crazy schedule the last two weeks or so, but also because I found that I wanted to savor each and every moment while reading this one. It wasn't even intentional at first but then I found myself putting it down more and forcing myself not to pick it up again because I enjoyed sitting with my thoughts and feeling after every reading session, reflecting on the characters and world-building. Oh boy, especially the world-building. I found myself imagining different stories and different characters because I enjoyed the lore of the fae and the book's world and history if only to prolong the story and experience a bit longer.
I figure I should also put a disclaimer: Any Other Name is supposed to be a Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale retelling — I will admit, apart from Shrek and the first season of Once Upon a Time, I've never actually read or seen anything relating to Rumpelstiltskin before. I think my lack of knowledge on it helped me enjoy this so much more than I might have, unconsciously comparing them throughout my reading.
I loved the main characters as well and especially Chryssa. Her full name Chrysanthemum is so silly but I think it fits with the story and her background, but Chryssa fits her so well and so much better, too. I love that she's tough but soft but also full of surprises, and I feel like I could just gush about her for ages!! I also love that both Chryssa and the main character are as dimensional as they are, and Chryssa reminds them (and readers) that the world is black and white and so many different greys in between.
What I especially loved about this one was we got to see another writing style! It's not your traditional first-person or even second-person, and it helps tell the story in a way that also ties into the story itself and the element of storytelling.
I love the ending and the book itself so much that I would kill to see more of the characters or even another story in the same world.
I normally breeze through all of Alex's books with no problem, but this one took me a bit longer than usual in part due to my crazy schedule the last two weeks or so, but also because I found that I wanted to savor each and every moment while reading this one. It wasn't even intentional at first but then I found myself putting it down more and forcing myself not to pick it up again because I enjoyed sitting with my thoughts and feeling after every reading session, reflecting on the characters and world-building. Oh boy, especially the world-building. I found myself imagining different stories and different characters because I enjoyed the lore of the fae and the book's world and history if only to prolong the story and experience a bit longer.
I figure I should also put a disclaimer: Any Other Name is supposed to be a Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale retelling — I will admit, apart from Shrek and the first season of Once Upon a Time, I've never actually read or seen anything relating to Rumpelstiltskin before. I think my lack of knowledge on it helped me enjoy this so much more than I might have, unconsciously comparing them throughout my reading.
I loved the main characters as well and especially Chryssa. Her full name Chrysanthemum is so silly but I think it fits with the story and her background, but Chryssa fits her so well and so much better, too. I love that she's tough but soft but also full of surprises, and I feel like I could just gush about her for ages!! I also love that both Chryssa and the main character are as dimensional as they are, and Chryssa reminds them (and readers) that the world is black and white and so many different greys in between.
What I especially loved about this one was we got to see another writing style! It's not your traditional first-person or even second-person, and it helps tell the story in a way that also ties into the story itself and the element of storytelling.
I love the ending and the book itself so much that I would kill to see more of the characters or even another story in the same world.
April 6, 2024
Rep: agender main character (uses he/she/they in the text, author has confirmed uses any pronouns), Black sapphic love interest, nb/f relationship
CW:
This book is a loose Rumplestiltskin retelling and it’s spectacular. We follow our protagonist, a faery whose human father has used their name to control them into being his personal assassin for their entire life. Through this their father has established himself as King, and he’s now sent her to kidnap the princess of their neighbouring country in order to destabilise relations between that neighbouring country and a third. Of course, our protagonist isn’t happy about any of this, and when they find himself falling for the girl she’s supposed to be delivering to his father it becomes a whole lot more urgent that they find a way to break free.
I really loved the protagonist! He’s magically compelled to follow their father’s instructions, no matter how much she might not want to, but throughout the whole book they always exert as much of her own free will as they possibly can by doing Exactly what he’s been told and no more. When Commanded to kill someone, she can’t spare them, but she can make it as quick and painless as possible, and she can pass on their last words, and she can make sure their loved ones are safe. When Commanded to kidnap a princess and bring her home on a journey that should take no more than a month, he can’t let that princess go free, but he can make sure to use every single second of that allowed month to give the princess as much time as possible to figure out a way to escape. The protagonist considers herself to be a monster, and has resigned himself to this, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The kidnapped princess, Chryssa, was also excellent. As the sole child of her country’s monarch, it’s expected that she’ll marry for the sake of a political alliance and that she’ll be Queen one day. She’s not exactly overjoyed about either of these prospects, but she’s determined to make the best of it, and during the first half of the book she shows herself to be a caring and friendly person who I’m not surprised the protagonist fell for. She’s also great during the second half. She isn’t easy to kidnap, she doesn’t go quietly, and she doesn’t simply just take it at face value that the protagonist isn’t doing this of his own free will. The protagonist is just as much a victim in this situation as Chryssa is, but they have to earn back Chryssa’s trust regardless, which just makes things even better once he has earned that trust but there’s still nothing either of them can do about the doom they’re hurtling towards.
The worldbuilding is loose and not very detailed. The main focus of this book is Chryssa, the protagonist, and the relationship between the two of them. We learn a good amount about the history between humans and fae, but ultimately this is a character focused novel and that doesn’t require a huge amount of lore to achieve. This may not be to everyone’s tastes, but I prioritise characters over worldbuilding so it was a non-issue for me.
The narrative style of the book was unusual! The entire book consists of the protagonist recounting everything that happened, addressing Chryssa the whole time. Due to this he refers to themself as ‘I’ and he refers to Chryssa as ‘you’. I’ve only ever read one other book like this, coincidentally I read it immediately before reading this one, and if these two books are anything to go by then I need more books written like this immediately because I thought it was so cool and it worked so well. And the final line of the book was really strong. I don’t remember the final line of many books, but I’m sure I’m going to remember the final line of this one for a long time.
A huge part of this book is the power that names can have and I’m honestly obsessed. The protagonist’s name is a major plot point, hence why I’m not directly saying it in this review. His father uses the name she was given by their mother when they were born in order to control him, and she’s been forbidden from giving that name to anybody else. In my opinion, it’s not a difficult name for the reader to guess, but that doesn’t matter. Chryssa has less information than the reader has, and she needs to be able to call them something, so she comes up with a new name to address him with.
Here’s the part I’m obsessed with, and this paragraph may be mildly spoilery but this plot point is so important to me that I’d be doing it a disservice if I didn’t talk about it. Plenty of real people, especially trans people, change their name at some point in their lives. Their old names, their ‘deadnames’, aren’t who they are and aren’t reflective of them. In this book the metaphor is made literal. The protagonist’s name is used to control him, and as long as that’s her name they’ll never be free to live his own life as they want to. This follows through to its natural conclusion, and if I could print this book onto my soul, I would. I’m not kidding.
It’s right there in the dedication! The book is dedicated to anyone who’s ever felt trapped by a name. Through this plot element, I’m sure this book will resonate with many.
I would recommend this to people who like fairytale retellings, character driven stories, and those who want to read something that truly encapsulates the importance of our names being our own, rather than simply an indicator or extension of our parents’ control over us.
Thank you to Alex and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.
[reaction immediately upon finishing book]
full review to come but holy shit
CW:
This book is a loose Rumplestiltskin retelling and it’s spectacular. We follow our protagonist, a faery whose human father has used their name to control them into being his personal assassin for their entire life. Through this their father has established himself as King, and he’s now sent her to kidnap the princess of their neighbouring country in order to destabilise relations between that neighbouring country and a third. Of course, our protagonist isn’t happy about any of this, and when they find himself falling for the girl she’s supposed to be delivering to his father it becomes a whole lot more urgent that they find a way to break free.
I really loved the protagonist! He’s magically compelled to follow their father’s instructions, no matter how much she might not want to, but throughout the whole book they always exert as much of her own free will as they possibly can by doing Exactly what he’s been told and no more. When Commanded to kill someone, she can’t spare them, but she can make it as quick and painless as possible, and she can pass on their last words, and she can make sure their loved ones are safe. When Commanded to kidnap a princess and bring her home on a journey that should take no more than a month, he can’t let that princess go free, but he can make sure to use every single second of that allowed month to give the princess as much time as possible to figure out a way to escape. The protagonist considers herself to be a monster, and has resigned himself to this, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
The kidnapped princess, Chryssa, was also excellent. As the sole child of her country’s monarch, it’s expected that she’ll marry for the sake of a political alliance and that she’ll be Queen one day. She’s not exactly overjoyed about either of these prospects, but she’s determined to make the best of it, and during the first half of the book she shows herself to be a caring and friendly person who I’m not surprised the protagonist fell for. She’s also great during the second half. She isn’t easy to kidnap, she doesn’t go quietly, and she doesn’t simply just take it at face value that the protagonist isn’t doing this of his own free will. The protagonist is just as much a victim in this situation as Chryssa is, but they have to earn back Chryssa’s trust regardless, which just makes things even better once he has earned that trust but there’s still nothing either of them can do about the doom they’re hurtling towards.
The worldbuilding is loose and not very detailed. The main focus of this book is Chryssa, the protagonist, and the relationship between the two of them. We learn a good amount about the history between humans and fae, but ultimately this is a character focused novel and that doesn’t require a huge amount of lore to achieve. This may not be to everyone’s tastes, but I prioritise characters over worldbuilding so it was a non-issue for me.
The narrative style of the book was unusual! The entire book consists of the protagonist recounting everything that happened, addressing Chryssa the whole time. Due to this he refers to themself as ‘I’ and he refers to Chryssa as ‘you’. I’ve only ever read one other book like this, coincidentally I read it immediately before reading this one, and if these two books are anything to go by then I need more books written like this immediately because I thought it was so cool and it worked so well. And the final line of the book was really strong. I don’t remember the final line of many books, but I’m sure I’m going to remember the final line of this one for a long time.
A huge part of this book is the power that names can have and I’m honestly obsessed. The protagonist’s name is a major plot point, hence why I’m not directly saying it in this review. His father uses the name she was given by their mother when they were born in order to control him, and she’s been forbidden from giving that name to anybody else. In my opinion, it’s not a difficult name for the reader to guess, but that doesn’t matter. Chryssa has less information than the reader has, and she needs to be able to call them something, so she comes up with a new name to address him with.
Here’s the part I’m obsessed with, and this paragraph may be mildly spoilery but this plot point is so important to me that I’d be doing it a disservice if I didn’t talk about it. Plenty of real people, especially trans people, change their name at some point in their lives. Their old names, their ‘deadnames’, aren’t who they are and aren’t reflective of them. In this book the metaphor is made literal. The protagonist’s name is used to control him, and as long as that’s her name they’ll never be free to live his own life as they want to. This follows through to its natural conclusion, and if I could print this book onto my soul, I would. I’m not kidding.
It’s right there in the dedication! The book is dedicated to anyone who’s ever felt trapped by a name. Through this plot element, I’m sure this book will resonate with many.
I would recommend this to people who like fairytale retellings, character driven stories, and those who want to read something that truly encapsulates the importance of our names being our own, rather than simply an indicator or extension of our parents’ control over us.
Thank you to Alex and NetGalley for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.
[reaction immediately upon finishing book]
full review to come but holy shit
November 28, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Alex Nonymous for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so achingly beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. I got swept up in the prose so easily and I fell more and more in love the more I read.
Chryssa is such a fantastic, badass love interest. I loved how fierce and wild and headstrong she was, and how big her heart was. To truly care for someone in that situation despite everything was just incredibly beautiful.
Emery is just…wow. What a tragic character. I felt so bad for them the entire time, and the more they said they couldn’t feel things, even while feeling them, the more my heart just ached for them.
I love that more than half of this book is JUST Chryssa and Em. It’s just them getting to know each other and falling in love, in this little bubble that’s just theirs.
Also, super weird aside, but I’d JUST said I’d love to read a Rumplestiltskin retelling and then this popped up on Netgalley. It was meant to be!
This book was so achingly beautiful and heartbreaking in equal measure. I got swept up in the prose so easily and I fell more and more in love the more I read.
Chryssa is such a fantastic, badass love interest. I loved how fierce and wild and headstrong she was, and how big her heart was. To truly care for someone in that situation despite everything was just incredibly beautiful.
Emery is just…wow. What a tragic character. I felt so bad for them the entire time, and the more they said they couldn’t feel things, even while feeling them, the more my heart just ached for them.
I love that more than half of this book is JUST Chryssa and Em. It’s just them getting to know each other and falling in love, in this little bubble that’s just theirs.
Also, super weird aside, but I’d JUST said I’d love to read a Rumplestiltskin retelling and then this popped up on Netgalley. It was meant to be!
September 9, 2022
Forgive me for my shitty review writing skills. This is the third book I've read by this author and by far the best. I've been craving a good angsty book, and this delivered . Some really memorable quotes and characters, with a very unique premise. Highly recommend :)
on-hiatus
June 25, 2022HOLY shit I’m hyped for this. I’m such a slut for queer remixes of classic stories add in assassins and knife to throat sapphics and I’m so gone for this book and it’s not out for another two months:’)
December 31, 2022
Well that was beautiful; from the dark and angsty atmosphere that just goes so well with old fairy tales to the many many lines that made my heart ache. I don’t think I can actually convey how deeply I love this story and how much I enjoyed reading it and being immersed in its universe.
September 14, 2025
CW: Transphobia, Violence, Child Abuse (Emotional, Physical), Death, Mentions of Suicide
5 / 5 Stars
I forgot to write a review right after finishing, so here’s me throwing something together quickly, because this book was amazing, and I’m 100% going to make sure all my friends read it.
The second I found out this was a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, I was down bad. Like, you don’t understand how badly I needed this to be good. I adore Beauty & the Beast, but if you asked me to pick a favorite fairy tale, I’d go with Rumpelstiltskin. And yet, I had never come across a queer retelling of it before. Maybe I just wasn’t looking in the right places, who knows—but I’ve been craving one since way before forever. So I went into this book both super hyped and super critical, because I have this terrible habit of setting expectations so high that no story can possibly reach them.
But this one did. I walked away with the goofiest grin on my face and the warmest feelings in my chest. Those five stars? They’re not just five stars—they’re shiny, golden, extra-special five stars.
I also loved how the enemies-to-lovers trope was handled here. It’s one of my favorites in theory, but it often gets ruined by authors mistaking sexual tension for genuine connection. Newsflash: that doesn’t work. This book, though? It nailed it. The friendship, the growing bond, the actual emotional connection—it was so well done that I was completely hooked. The story itself flows so smoothly and keeps you engaged nonstop, too. Honestly, I blinked and suddenly I had finished the whole thing.
Not gonna spoil the name reveal, but I’ll just say this: I had a hunch it would be something like that, and when I was right, I was sitting there with the silliest smile plastered across my face.
Truth be told, I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t like. So just imagine this review as a 10k-word laundry list of praise. Because I could write that, easily.
My only wish is that people don’t get put off by the cover. If they do, they’ll miss out on an absolutely stunning story.
Final Thoughts:
Buy it.
5 / 5 Stars
I forgot to write a review right after finishing, so here’s me throwing something together quickly, because this book was amazing, and I’m 100% going to make sure all my friends read it.
The second I found out this was a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, I was down bad. Like, you don’t understand how badly I needed this to be good. I adore Beauty & the Beast, but if you asked me to pick a favorite fairy tale, I’d go with Rumpelstiltskin. And yet, I had never come across a queer retelling of it before. Maybe I just wasn’t looking in the right places, who knows—but I’ve been craving one since way before forever. So I went into this book both super hyped and super critical, because I have this terrible habit of setting expectations so high that no story can possibly reach them.
But this one did. I walked away with the goofiest grin on my face and the warmest feelings in my chest. Those five stars? They’re not just five stars—they’re shiny, golden, extra-special five stars.
I also loved how the enemies-to-lovers trope was handled here. It’s one of my favorites in theory, but it often gets ruined by authors mistaking sexual tension for genuine connection. Newsflash: that doesn’t work. This book, though? It nailed it. The friendship, the growing bond, the actual emotional connection—it was so well done that I was completely hooked. The story itself flows so smoothly and keeps you engaged nonstop, too. Honestly, I blinked and suddenly I had finished the whole thing.
Not gonna spoil the name reveal, but I’ll just say this: I had a hunch it would be something like that, and when I was right, I was sitting there with the silliest smile plastered across my face.
Truth be told, I can’t think of a single thing I didn’t like. So just imagine this review as a 10k-word laundry list of praise. Because I could write that, easily.
My only wish is that people don’t get put off by the cover. If they do, they’ll miss out on an absolutely stunning story.
Final Thoughts:
Buy it.
July 30, 2025
Pretty much as soon as I heard the summary of this book and read a free sample on Amazon, I knew I had to finish reading this book. I came into expecting that I would enjoy it a lot. And I'm pleased to say that I was right!
What a fast-paced, wonderful read!
I really loved the world-building and character arcs of this book- our prickly fae narrator learning to change and open their heart, and accept her new self and his ability to create a new identity once freed from the shackles of Benton's toxic "love". (That scene with Benton at the very end, in the climax? Omg. Haunting.)
I also love how Chryssa came into her own, and how multifaceted she was. Her relationship with the narrator was a roller-coaster, and I was on the edge of my seat for practically every minute of it, especially once things kicked into high gear. I also love how this entire book was narrated to Chryssa, it was a unique narrative choice, that really conveys just how deeply the narrator was changed by their relationship with Chryssa.
Speaking of unique things about the book, I love the fae lore of this book so much.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to fans of fae-inspired fantasy.
(Note: I didn't refer to the narrator by their name because of spoiler purposes, and it's established in canon that they use he/she/they, any pronouns.)
What a fast-paced, wonderful read!
I really loved the world-building and character arcs of this book- our prickly fae narrator learning to change and open their heart, and accept her new self and his ability to create a new identity once freed from the shackles of Benton's toxic "love". (That scene with Benton at the very end, in the climax? Omg. Haunting.)
I also love how Chryssa came into her own, and how multifaceted she was. Her relationship with the narrator was a roller-coaster, and I was on the edge of my seat for practically every minute of it, especially once things kicked into high gear. I also love how this entire book was narrated to Chryssa, it was a unique narrative choice, that really conveys just how deeply the narrator was changed by their relationship with Chryssa.
Speaking of unique things about the book, I love the fae lore of this book so much.
All in all, I highly recommend this book to fans of fae-inspired fantasy.
(Note: I didn't refer to the narrator by their name because of spoiler purposes, and it's established in canon that they use he/she/they, any pronouns.)
September 29, 2022
I absolutely loved this book it had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end. The characters were really enjoyable and I loved the world. I'm a big fan of books including the fae and I loved how they were portrayed in Any Other Name. There were many aspects of tradition faery lore along with things I hadn't seen before, I also think the Rumpelstiltskin inspiration was a really cool detail that worked really well for this book.
I was a bit skeptical of the somewhat second person writing style at first, but it quickly grew on me and works really well for this specific book. Was also a big fan of the chapter lengths, they were absolutely perfect for me and I never found myself feeling like they were dragging on, perfectly paced.
I'd highly recommend this book to any fantasy or sapphic romance fans.
I was a bit skeptical of the somewhat second person writing style at first, but it quickly grew on me and works really well for this specific book. Was also a big fan of the chapter lengths, they were absolutely perfect for me and I never found myself feeling like they were dragging on, perfectly paced.
I'd highly recommend this book to any fantasy or sapphic romance fans.
November 15, 2022
This book, oh gosh, I don’t even know how to express how much I loved it. both lead characters were just so amazing, and the whole thing was just so perfect. it was dark, like really dark, but that just worked so perfectly for the story. OK, I hoped that if I waited a while to post this review, it might come out a little more coherent, but I don’t think that’s working so well. either way, I love this book, a lot. It’s one of those books that I know I will re-read often, and I know I’ll never forget.
November 21, 2022
I really like this book! I thought it had very compelling, well-developed characters (particularly the main characters) and was very wellwritten. A lot of core plot elements were also really interesting to me. This book definitely hooked me.
One minor issue I had with it was that I felt the ending was a little underdeveloped. I felt that I was left with a few questions in the end that weren't fully answered and they mainly had to do with the side characters. Still a great book though and would give it an overall 4/5 stars.
One minor issue I had with it was that I felt the ending was a little underdeveloped. I felt that I was left with a few questions in the end that weren't fully answered and they mainly had to do with the side characters. Still a great book though and would give it an overall 4/5 stars.
February 15, 2023
When a fairy turns evil. The story starts very dark and it takes a bit to understand what's going on. With the new quest the story plays with all classic fairy tale elements in a new way.
The faery transforms into a prince to propose and kidnap the princess of a neighboring kingdom. After a long journey through the forest returning to her master the reader starts to questioning will it end like a classic fairy tale or the ending will follow the different path.
The faery transforms into a prince to propose and kidnap the princess of a neighboring kingdom. After a long journey through the forest returning to her master the reader starts to questioning will it end like a classic fairy tale or the ending will follow the different path.
March 23, 2023
i don't typically read those self-published amazon books bc they're almost always riddled with grammar and spelling errors, have lame plots, think they're being cute/funny but aren't, etc.
HOWEVER. this one is good. docked a star for multiple spelling errors and one small section towards the end that didn't make sense (though i figured it out later). i will say tho, for the record, i love eragon so i called the ending so fast. hahahahaha. this was rly nice work!
HOWEVER. this one is good. docked a star for multiple spelling errors and one small section towards the end that didn't make sense (though i figured it out later). i will say tho, for the record, i love eragon so i called the ending so fast. hahahahaha. this was rly nice work!
September 17, 2023
I’m not going to lie to you I made a good reads account simply to leave a review here because wow. I am actually in shock I love this book so much I’m almost afraid it’s unhealthy. If you’re planning to read it you should do so right now and if you’re not you should do so anyways. I finished reading it and I was so sucked in I had to do a quick recap of when and where I was. Probably my favourite book of all time
December 8, 2022
Haven't felt so wrapped up and whole after reading a book in a long time
Just, such a heartfelt story, that is so sweet and wonderful. The narration is masterful to me, so beautiful. I related to the main character so hard, that I felt like my name was being called each time. I love the sweetness and I adore the fae and fairy tale premise I just I love it so much 💕
Just, such a heartfelt story, that is so sweet and wonderful. The narration is masterful to me, so beautiful. I related to the main character so hard, that I felt like my name was being called each time. I love the sweetness and I adore the fae and fairy tale premise I just I love it so much 💕
March 17, 2023
I received this book as part of a goodreads giveaway. This book was on my TBR because it was out of my comfort zone. I havent read enough a-gender protagonists, about faes or retold dark fairytales. I absolutely loved this book but it took me a while because it took me out of my comfort zone. I do think this is a great book for anyone looking for this type of genre.
August 4, 2023
I'm so glad I finally got myself to read this book! I think it was beautifully written. Reading helps me get through hard times when my own mind is against me and this just made me feel a little bit better. :]
September 20, 2023
I litterally cried this was AMAZING and the twists and turns and you never know what's gonna happen next and I was SO SCARED but then!! And the characters, oh god the characters are so awesome, and the emotions!! I'm obsessed if u were to read any Alex Nonymous books it's this one omg-
January 4, 2023
Never knew Rumpelstiltskin so this was all new. There was some really pretty lines in this book. I really liked it.
January 26, 2023
Great story telling…. Fantasy faerie adventure romance.. Very enjoyable read. Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to review
August 25, 2023
I’ve read this book 3 times and I think it’s my favorite book ever. I can’t even describe how much I love it in words it’s so good.
November 6, 2023
Delightfully angsty <3
April 2, 2024
the ending, the reveal EMERY BEING THEIR NAME AND CHRYSSA GAVE IT TO THEM
everything about this was perfect
in sapphic retellings i trust
everything about this was perfect
in sapphic retellings i trust
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2023
4/5
But first, I want to thank Alex Nonymous for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this book, and like the other books of Alex's, it is a very short and quick read which is perfect to read in one sitting:)
I absolutely loved the sapphic and non-binary representation, and the format of the story. I feel like this type of narration that makes it seem like a story written by one of the characters to the other, implying that the reader already knows how it ends, works really well here. I also love how we don't get to know the MC's name until the end.
I must admit, however, that I didn't feel really attached to the characters, and that the pacing felt weird at times. Overall, while it isn't my favourite book of Alex's, I still really enjoyed it!
But first, I want to thank Alex Nonymous for providing me with a review copy through NetGalley.
I really enjoyed this book, and like the other books of Alex's, it is a very short and quick read which is perfect to read in one sitting:)
I absolutely loved the sapphic and non-binary representation, and the format of the story. I feel like this type of narration that makes it seem like a story written by one of the characters to the other, implying that the reader already knows how it ends, works really well here. I also love how we don't get to know the MC's name until the end.
I must admit, however, that I didn't feel really attached to the characters, and that the pacing felt weird at times. Overall, while it isn't my favourite book of Alex's, I still really enjoyed it!
December 13, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers/author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I was interested in the aspect of this being a Rumplestiltskin retelling because I’ve never seen one of those before. I also like how all of the author’s covers have a very similar style to them.
This is a dark fantasy story about a fae who is forced to complete horrible tasks by their father who is a cruel king. They have bound their name to them and they are not allowed to disobey and they are used to complete murders for their father throughout the kingdom. They’ve made it clear they are non-binary and do not feel like a man or woman or anything in between. Their father tasks them with pretending to be the prince of a neighboring kingdom and kidnap the princess the prince is engaged to in order to create a war.
Chrysanthemum is a sassy princess who has the fae is slowly falling in love and they feel awful about the plan their father has forced them to carry out. I think Chryssa was my favorite character. She was smart and loyal and even though things got really hard for her she didn’t give up. She understand that the fae didn’t actually want to hurt her and she knew how to fight back while also be gentle and kind. The fae is bound to their name and can not tell anyone what it is. Chryssa’s only means of escape is figuring out their name in order to reverse the control their father has on them.
This was mostly a character and world building story and wasn’t as actiony as I had expected. I’m glad that the fae had a personality that was both sympathetic and complicated. There were times I was so mad at them but knew that they had no choice but to do what they were told. I also thought the end felt a bit rushed and like the story just needed to get wrapped up.
This story was written beautifully and I enjoyed all the characters and I thought it was both strange and unique that it was written like the fae was telling a story to Chryssa. I want to read more from this author so I hope I can find more from them in the future!
I was interested in the aspect of this being a Rumplestiltskin retelling because I’ve never seen one of those before. I also like how all of the author’s covers have a very similar style to them.
This is a dark fantasy story about a fae who is forced to complete horrible tasks by their father who is a cruel king. They have bound their name to them and they are not allowed to disobey and they are used to complete murders for their father throughout the kingdom. They’ve made it clear they are non-binary and do not feel like a man or woman or anything in between. Their father tasks them with pretending to be the prince of a neighboring kingdom and kidnap the princess the prince is engaged to in order to create a war.
Chrysanthemum is a sassy princess who has the fae is slowly falling in love and they feel awful about the plan their father has forced them to carry out. I think Chryssa was my favorite character. She was smart and loyal and even though things got really hard for her she didn’t give up. She understand that the fae didn’t actually want to hurt her and she knew how to fight back while also be gentle and kind. The fae is bound to their name and can not tell anyone what it is. Chryssa’s only means of escape is figuring out their name in order to reverse the control their father has on them.
This was mostly a character and world building story and wasn’t as actiony as I had expected. I’m glad that the fae had a personality that was both sympathetic and complicated. There were times I was so mad at them but knew that they had no choice but to do what they were told. I also thought the end felt a bit rushed and like the story just needed to get wrapped up.
This story was written beautifully and I enjoyed all the characters and I thought it was both strange and unique that it was written like the fae was telling a story to Chryssa. I want to read more from this author so I hope I can find more from them in the future!
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