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How to Find a Nameless Fae
What happens when a first-born bargain goes wrong?
Princess Gisele was pledged in payment before she was even born, after her mother failed to guess a fae sorcerer’s true name. Gisele has spent her life dutifully preparing for the day that fearsome mage will return to claim her.
But it’s been decades, and he still hasn’t shown up.
Which would be great, if the unfulfilled fairytale-debt wasn’t wreaking increasing havoc on her life. When it reaches unbearable levels, Gisele takes matters into her own hands. Terrifying sorcerer or not, she’ll hunt him down and force him to relinquish the debt.
But instead of the evil mastermind she expects, she finds a nameless lord of a magical house. He wants nothing to do with the angry knife-wielding spinster on his doorstep, but the fairytale-debt has other ideas.
Now magically bound to her lifelong nemesis, the only way to break the magic between them is to work together to find the nameless lord’s lost name. Assuming they don’t strangle each other first.
Princess Gisele was pledged in payment before she was even born, after her mother failed to guess a fae sorcerer’s true name. Gisele has spent her life dutifully preparing for the day that fearsome mage will return to claim her.
But it’s been decades, and he still hasn’t shown up.
Which would be great, if the unfulfilled fairytale-debt wasn’t wreaking increasing havoc on her life. When it reaches unbearable levels, Gisele takes matters into her own hands. Terrifying sorcerer or not, she’ll hunt him down and force him to relinquish the debt.
But instead of the evil mastermind she expects, she finds a nameless lord of a magical house. He wants nothing to do with the angry knife-wielding spinster on his doorstep, but the fairytale-debt has other ideas.
Now magically bound to her lifelong nemesis, the only way to break the magic between them is to work together to find the nameless lord’s lost name. Assuming they don’t strangle each other first.
410 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2025
394 people are currently reading
1431 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Lancaster
10 books622 followersAJ Lancaster lives in New Zealand and writes romantic, whimsical fantasy in a house containing two ridiculous cats and many plants.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 242 reviews
July 14, 2025
•*⁀➷ 3.75 stars ˙⋆✮
Whimsically warm and wonderfully sweet, A.J. Lancaster’s new cosy fantasy ‘How to Find a Nameless Fae’ follows the journey of Gisele, a 40 year old angry princess who decides to hunt down her own fate… literally. Only, when she finds the almighty terrible fae sorcerer who claimed her in a first-born bargain all those years ago, he might not be as terrible as the stories make him out to be…
⁀➷ What to expect ᝰ.
➸ cosy fantasy romance
➸ rumpelstiltskin retelling
➸ forced proximity
➸ magical bond/curse
➸ human x fae
⁀➷ My thoughts ᝰ.
This novel was such a sweet little breath of fresh air. It ticked off many boxes: a magical bond that refuses to be broken, mature main characters who love tenderly, a talking cat who demands attention, and even a living house with a personality of its own. Gisele and Mal (a nickname Gisele gave him as he quite literally lost his name) both want the bond as little as each other in the beginning, and watching them slowly start to yearn for one another was just what I was looking for.
I enjoyed Lancaster’s take on the faerie world. Her lush prose and vivid descriptions painted such a magical picture, I could see the sentient house (Skymallow - what a name) bursting with life and moving things about as if I was watching a cosy cartoon. Moreover, though my overall feelings towards this book aren’t as intense as they could have been and though the plot progressed slowly at times (which could partly be put down to the genre), I really appreciated how the story tied together at the end.
Perfect for those chasing that feeling of being wrapped in a warm blanket.
꒰ Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.☘︎ ݁˖
───୨ৎ─── ───୨ৎ─── ───୨ৎ───
Pre read
Got another arc 👀🎉🎊
Publication date: June 26th 2025
Whimsically warm and wonderfully sweet, A.J. Lancaster’s new cosy fantasy ‘How to Find a Nameless Fae’ follows the journey of Gisele, a 40 year old angry princess who decides to hunt down her own fate… literally. Only, when she finds the almighty terrible fae sorcerer who claimed her in a first-born bargain all those years ago, he might not be as terrible as the stories make him out to be…
⁀➷ What to expect ᝰ.
➸ cosy fantasy romance
➸ rumpelstiltskin retelling
➸ forced proximity
➸ magical bond/curse
➸ human x fae
⁀➷ My thoughts ᝰ.
This novel was such a sweet little breath of fresh air. It ticked off many boxes: a magical bond that refuses to be broken, mature main characters who love tenderly, a talking cat who demands attention, and even a living house with a personality of its own. Gisele and Mal (a nickname Gisele gave him as he quite literally lost his name) both want the bond as little as each other in the beginning, and watching them slowly start to yearn for one another was just what I was looking for.
I enjoyed Lancaster’s take on the faerie world. Her lush prose and vivid descriptions painted such a magical picture, I could see the sentient house (Skymallow - what a name) bursting with life and moving things about as if I was watching a cosy cartoon. Moreover, though my overall feelings towards this book aren’t as intense as they could have been and though the plot progressed slowly at times (which could partly be put down to the genre), I really appreciated how the story tied together at the end.
Perfect for those chasing that feeling of being wrapped in a warm blanket.
꒰ Thank you so much to the author, NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.☘︎ ݁˖
───୨ৎ─── ───୨ৎ─── ───୨ৎ───
Pre read
Got another arc 👀🎉🎊
Publication date: June 26th 2025
June 16, 2025
Witty, warm, and wonderfully weird—this fairytale retelling is like wrapping yourself in a magical weighted blanket. ✨
AJ Lancaster has spun gold from the familiar bones of Rumplestiltskin and filled it with biting banter, mature romance, and a heroine who is gloriously done with waiting around for destiny to show up.
Princess Gisele has trained her whole life to be sacrificed to a terrifying fae sorcerer—only to be stood up. Now, armed with determination and a knife or two, she goes hunting for him herself... and finds not a monster, but a fussy, bookish fae lord with no name, no interest in romance, and a sentient house that absolutely ships them. 🏠 💖
It’s witty. It’s magical. It’s got spice, sass, and a slow-burn that simmers with depth. I adored the middle-aged protagonist, the mature emotional beats, and the clever take on fairy debt and found connection.
Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, cosy fantasy, grumpy/sunshine pairings, and magical houses with personality. One of the most original fairytale retellings I’ve read in years!
AJ Lancaster has spun gold from the familiar bones of Rumplestiltskin and filled it with biting banter, mature romance, and a heroine who is gloriously done with waiting around for destiny to show up.
Princess Gisele has trained her whole life to be sacrificed to a terrifying fae sorcerer—only to be stood up. Now, armed with determination and a knife or two, she goes hunting for him herself... and finds not a monster, but a fussy, bookish fae lord with no name, no interest in romance, and a sentient house that absolutely ships them. 🏠 💖
It’s witty. It’s magical. It’s got spice, sass, and a slow-burn that simmers with depth. I adored the middle-aged protagonist, the mature emotional beats, and the clever take on fairy debt and found connection.
Perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, cosy fantasy, grumpy/sunshine pairings, and magical houses with personality. One of the most original fairytale retellings I’ve read in years!
July 6, 2025
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
4 out of 5 stars.
Funny, cozy, and delightfully whimsical—a charming twist on Rumpelstiltskin with witty banter, heart, and just the right amount of magic. A feel-good fairytale retelling you won't want to put down!
4 out of 5 stars.
Funny, cozy, and delightfully whimsical—a charming twist on Rumpelstiltskin with witty banter, heart, and just the right amount of magic. A feel-good fairytale retelling you won't want to put down!
August 8, 2025
huge thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc !!
🧚♂️ soundtrack 🧚♂️
laura marling - wild once
sarah jaffe - clementine
the tallest man on earth - the gardener
the decemberists - the crane wife 3
the hush sound - magnolia
the head and the heart - library magic
of monsters and men - slow and steady
anna bates - last man on earth
iron and wine - flightless bird, american mouth
among the oak & ash - peggy-o
lord huron - lonesome dreams
the oh hellos - hello my old heart
marika hackman - time's been reckless
bright eyes - bells and whistles
kate bollinger - yards / gardens
brooke waggoner - i am mine
kishi bashi - marigolds
adrianne lenker - dragon eyes
the shins - a comet appears
tom odell, aurora - butterflies
gregory alan isakov - second chances
novo amor - from gold
lucy dacus - trust
🧚♂️ my thoughts 🧚♂️
as every good cozy fantasy should be, this was very sweet and now i feel all warm and fuzzy :) who would've thought i'd ever read a cute and heartwarming rumplestiltskin retelling of all things - i've always hated that specific fairytale as a kid, but this new spin on it has definitely won me over.
we follow our protagonist gisele, a princess in her 40s who has been cursed by an evil faerie lord at birth. she was supposed to be bargained off to him, but somehow he never showed up to "collect" her. so, after decades of suffering the consequences of her curse, gisele has had enough of this nonsense and decides to take matters into her own hands: she seeks out her Malediction, as she calls him, to demand he release her from his curse. the only problem: not only does he not remember his true name and therefore doesn't have the power to undo his magic, but he's also not the evil mastermind gisele expected.. at all.
this definitely has the warm and whimsical vibe we all want when we pick up a cozy fantasy, but it still doesn't shy away from exploring deeper things, which i personally really liked. the key theme of this book is loneliness - or rather, finding the one person to share and ultimately shed that loneliness with after years of feeling isolated and misunderstood. stories with this theme almost always hit home for me, and this was no exception.
both gisele and mal have been incredibly lonely for a good portion of their lives and have resigned to the thought that they might continue to be lonely for the rest of it. as a result, they also struggle with feelings of their lives passing them by, of their loneliness and lack of social connections somehow making them less "worthy" or less "whole" than others, as if this stuff is something you need to catch up on but might never get the chance - something that also hits home for me quite a bit. seeing them slowly realize that they no longer have to be on their own, that they've finally found someone who not only understands their specific pain but also truly sees and accepts them, was really lovely.
the romance, despite being at the center of the story, unfolds at a relatively slow pace - which is necessary because it wouldn't make sense for the characters otherwise. due to their magical bond there is a certain spark between them from the moment they meet (and there are some spicier scenes later on), but still the books lets gisele and mal take the time they need to fully let each other in - and also to find out what works best for them as people who haven't really been in intimate relationships for a long time. the book handles all of this very maturely, which i really appreciated.
on a lighter note, there's also a talking (or rather telekinetic) cat, a sentient house with a love for lifestyle magazines and extravagant decorations, lots of other whimsical creatures inhabiting this world (a lot of which are queer, including the mmc, so that was nice to see!) and many magical shenanigans that dissolve into chaos (side note: as a native german speaker, it's always really fun when fantasy books incorporate the language into their worldbuilding!).
literally my only criticism is that it took me some time to get attuned to the writing style and the plot tends to drag a bit occasionally, but honestly who really reads cozy fantasy for the plot.
if i had to describe the vibes of this through other books i've read/movies i've seen, i'd say it's giving howl's moving castle x emily wilde x the princess bride x hints of bridgerton, so if that sounds like a good time to you, you'll probably have a good time with this book too. although i've been eyeing her 'stariel' series for a while now, this was my first book by aj lancaster - it definitely won't be my last tho!
🧚♂️ soundtrack 🧚♂️
laura marling - wild once
sarah jaffe - clementine
the tallest man on earth - the gardener
the decemberists - the crane wife 3
the hush sound - magnolia
the head and the heart - library magic
of monsters and men - slow and steady
anna bates - last man on earth
iron and wine - flightless bird, american mouth
among the oak & ash - peggy-o
lord huron - lonesome dreams
the oh hellos - hello my old heart
marika hackman - time's been reckless
bright eyes - bells and whistles
kate bollinger - yards / gardens
brooke waggoner - i am mine
kishi bashi - marigolds
adrianne lenker - dragon eyes
the shins - a comet appears
tom odell, aurora - butterflies
gregory alan isakov - second chances
novo amor - from gold
lucy dacus - trust
🧚♂️ my thoughts 🧚♂️
as every good cozy fantasy should be, this was very sweet and now i feel all warm and fuzzy :) who would've thought i'd ever read a cute and heartwarming rumplestiltskin retelling of all things - i've always hated that specific fairytale as a kid, but this new spin on it has definitely won me over.
we follow our protagonist gisele, a princess in her 40s who has been cursed by an evil faerie lord at birth. she was supposed to be bargained off to him, but somehow he never showed up to "collect" her. so, after decades of suffering the consequences of her curse, gisele has had enough of this nonsense and decides to take matters into her own hands: she seeks out her Malediction, as she calls him, to demand he release her from his curse. the only problem: not only does he not remember his true name and therefore doesn't have the power to undo his magic, but he's also not the evil mastermind gisele expected.. at all.
this definitely has the warm and whimsical vibe we all want when we pick up a cozy fantasy, but it still doesn't shy away from exploring deeper things, which i personally really liked. the key theme of this book is loneliness - or rather, finding the one person to share and ultimately shed that loneliness with after years of feeling isolated and misunderstood. stories with this theme almost always hit home for me, and this was no exception.
both gisele and mal have been incredibly lonely for a good portion of their lives and have resigned to the thought that they might continue to be lonely for the rest of it. as a result, they also struggle with feelings of their lives passing them by, of their loneliness and lack of social connections somehow making them less "worthy" or less "whole" than others, as if this stuff is something you need to catch up on but might never get the chance - something that also hits home for me quite a bit. seeing them slowly realize that they no longer have to be on their own, that they've finally found someone who not only understands their specific pain but also truly sees and accepts them, was really lovely.
the romance, despite being at the center of the story, unfolds at a relatively slow pace - which is necessary because it wouldn't make sense for the characters otherwise. due to their magical bond there is a certain spark between them from the moment they meet (and there are some spicier scenes later on), but still the books lets gisele and mal take the time they need to fully let each other in - and also to find out what works best for them as people who haven't really been in intimate relationships for a long time. the book handles all of this very maturely, which i really appreciated.
on a lighter note, there's also a talking (or rather telekinetic) cat, a sentient house with a love for lifestyle magazines and extravagant decorations, lots of other whimsical creatures inhabiting this world (a lot of which are queer, including the mmc, so that was nice to see!) and many magical shenanigans that dissolve into chaos (side note: as a native german speaker, it's always really fun when fantasy books incorporate the language into their worldbuilding!).
literally my only criticism is that it took me some time to get attuned to the writing style and the plot tends to drag a bit occasionally, but honestly who really reads cozy fantasy for the plot.
if i had to describe the vibes of this through other books i've read/movies i've seen, i'd say it's giving howl's moving castle x emily wilde x the princess bride x hints of bridgerton, so if that sounds like a good time to you, you'll probably have a good time with this book too. although i've been eyeing her 'stariel' series for a while now, this was my first book by aj lancaster - it definitely won't be my last tho!
July 12, 2025
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖 (I was so bored)
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (I wanted way more development in these scenes but it did have things I liked. I felt like they had an emotional pull I appreciated)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (It’s pretty short, a few paragraphs to a page)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (they are pretty short)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person point of view from heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in – 6% (chapter 3 of 42)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy in e-book form through NetGalley
Why I chose this book: I love fairy tale retellings and this is a Rumplestiltskin spin...
Mains: This is a M/F romance between a fae hero and human heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I think this is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
Gisele has been waiting 40 years for the sorcerer her mother bargained with to show up – she’s done waiting and decides to find him and demand her life back.
Give this a try if you want:
- fantasy romance
- Rumplestitlskin inspired
- princess heroine
- fae hero / human heroine
- close proximity – she finds him and they work to break the curse together
- a magical house and animal friends with telepathy
- he cooks for her
- magic
- lower steam – there’s 3ish full scenes but they are shorter and it’s a long book
Ages:
- heroine is 40, I didn’t catch him but he’s older (as he made a bargain with her mother...)
First line:
On her fortieth birthday, Princess Gisele of Isshia realised she was going to have to save herself.
My thoughts:
I’m so sad this one didn’t work for me because I loved the setup. Honestly Rumplestiltskin is one of my least favorite fairy tales because it’s kinda creepy (I mean, I guess they all are on some level) but I was curious how this one would spin. And I loved the idea of a bargain made and them being connected together by a bond. And how she goes to find him. I loved that. I loved the house and the magic elements.
But this book was so boring to me. So, so boring. Two people moping around a house for hundreds of pages….I wanted better sexual tension at least. And when we did get to the sex it was disappointing. The scenes were so short and over before I even realized they were starting. (and like….he has a knurl??? for pleasure??? and it’s BARELY MENTIONED WTF. Why even give it to him?)
I did find the chapters really jarring. Some of them would end in a spot that felt abrupt to me and then just kind of continue on. I didn’t see the point of the point breaking in the middle of a conversation and then continuing especially when there was no perspective shift or like suspenseful action or change of scenery.
So overall this was a miss for me. But if you want a gentle fantasy read with some light steam and magical elements I’d give this one a go.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
World Building/Hero notes
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdowns mean, where to find me, and book clubs
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖 (I was so bored)
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋 (I wanted way more development in these scenes but it did have things I liked. I felt like they had an emotional pull I appreciated)
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑 (It’s pretty short, a few paragraphs to a page)
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥 (they are pretty short)
Humor: Yes
Perspective: third person point of view from heroine
More character focused or plot focused? character
How did the speed of the story feel? slow
When mains are first on page together: pretty soon in – 6% (chapter 3 of 42)
Cliffhanger: No, this ends with a happily ever after
Epilogue: No
Format: voluntarily read an advanced reader copy in e-book form through NetGalley
Why I chose this book: I love fairy tale retellings and this is a Rumplestiltskin spin...
Mains: This is a M/F romance between a fae hero and human heroine
(Descriptions found at end of my review)
Should I read in order?
I think this is a stand alone?
Basic plot:
Gisele has been waiting 40 years for the sorcerer her mother bargained with to show up – she’s done waiting and decides to find him and demand her life back.
Give this a try if you want:
- fantasy romance
- Rumplestitlskin inspired
- princess heroine
- fae hero / human heroine
- close proximity – she finds him and they work to break the curse together
- a magical house and animal friends with telepathy
- he cooks for her
- magic
- lower steam – there’s 3ish full scenes but they are shorter and it’s a long book
Ages:
- heroine is 40, I didn’t catch him but he’s older (as he made a bargain with her mother...)
First line:
On her fortieth birthday, Princess Gisele of Isshia realised she was going to have to save herself.
My thoughts:
I’m so sad this one didn’t work for me because I loved the setup. Honestly Rumplestiltskin is one of my least favorite fairy tales because it’s kinda creepy (I mean, I guess they all are on some level) but I was curious how this one would spin. And I loved the idea of a bargain made and them being connected together by a bond. And how she goes to find him. I loved that. I loved the house and the magic elements.
But this book was so boring to me. So, so boring. Two people moping around a house for hundreds of pages….I wanted better sexual tension at least. And when we did get to the sex it was disappointing. The scenes were so short and over before I even realized they were starting. (and like….he has a knurl??? for pleasure??? and it’s BARELY MENTIONED WTF. Why even give it to him?)
I did find the chapters really jarring. Some of them would end in a spot that felt abrupt to me and then just kind of continue on. I didn’t see the point of the point breaking in the middle of a conversation and then continuing especially when there was no perspective shift or like suspenseful action or change of scenery.
So overall this was a miss for me. But if you want a gentle fantasy read with some light steam and magical elements I’d give this one a go.
Few random reading stats for this author
# of books read: This is my first
Average rating from me: 3 stars
Favorite book: This one by default
World Building/Hero notes
Content warnings: (This should be taken as a minimum because I could have missed some!)
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes, safe sex, consent, pregnancy/child in the story:
Extra stuff like what my review breakdowns mean, where to find me, and book clubs
July 2, 2025
Damn okay. Well, I wasn’t expecting this! (In a good way!)
When I first read the blurb I was like okay sounds interesting… but i was really happy with how the author went about treating certain topics and what the MC has to go through.
It wasn’t just some ‘silly cute’ story despite having its cute and funny moments, it def had a layer to it. It was a nice balance.
I think that if you enjoyed books like Emily Wilde that can be whimsy and a bit interesting prose wise, than you’ll most def enjoy this one too!
When I first read the blurb I was like okay sounds interesting… but i was really happy with how the author went about treating certain topics and what the MC has to go through.
It wasn’t just some ‘silly cute’ story despite having its cute and funny moments, it def had a layer to it. It was a nice balance.
I think that if you enjoyed books like Emily Wilde that can be whimsy and a bit interesting prose wise, than you’ll most def enjoy this one too!
June 17, 2025
4.5 stars!
This book felt like if T. Kingfisher and India Holton wrote Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries together. I know that sounds weird, but it works so well. I loved every magical, cozy minute of it!
How to Find a Nameless Fae is a beautifully written cozy fantasy romance that completely swept me away. Princess Gisele was promised to a fae sorcerer before birth as payment for a magical bargain, but decades have passed and he’s never come to collect. When the lingering debt begins to ruin her life, Gisele sets out to confront him... only to find a reluctant, nameless fae lord instead of the villain she expected. Now magically bound together, they must work to uncover his true name to break the spell—if they don’t strangle each other first.
This story has everything I love: a sentient house, shared dreams, magical bonds, curses, a talking cat companion, a fae ball, found family, and real emotional stakes. The world is lush and whimsical, but never shallow. It’s full of sharp banter, slow-burn tenderness, and characters who actually feel like people!
Gisele and the nameless fae (whom she nicknames "Malediction" because, well, he lost his name) were the absolute highlight for me. Gisele is forty years old (a grown-up fantasy heroine!), and she reads like it. She’s practical, sharp, and emotionally complex. And Mal (his nickname) gives off major Howl vibes in the best way: dramatic, magical, a little bit of a mess. Their romance was everything I wanted; slow, full of tension and mutual pining, but also incredibly sweet. They’re both so lonely when they meet (or when Gisele barges into his crumbling house and stabs him, as one does), and watching them slowly open up and fall in love was honestly so satisfying. The yearning is real! I did want them to talk through their misunderstandings more instead of making assumptions, but given the curse and the stakes, it made sense.
Also: there is spice! I’m someone who doesn’t really need spice in a book (and sometimes I even dislike it), but I really liked how it was written here! It was emotionally grounded and felt like a natural extension of their relationship.
The plot itself moves at a cozy pace, and while it’s a little slow in places, I didn’t mind at all. The writing is warm and immersive, and I just wanted to stay in this world. There’s also a villain (one who’s genuinely intriguing) but I do wish we’d gotten to explore him a bit more. The final confrontation wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the journey.
Overall, How to Find a Nameless Fae was such a delight! It gave me exactly what I was craving: heartfelt fantasy, deep characters, and a romance that felt earned and full of magic. I already miss Gisele and Mal, and yes, I am manifesting more books about the side characters! No pressure, though.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
This book felt like if T. Kingfisher and India Holton wrote Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries together. I know that sounds weird, but it works so well. I loved every magical, cozy minute of it!
How to Find a Nameless Fae is a beautifully written cozy fantasy romance that completely swept me away. Princess Gisele was promised to a fae sorcerer before birth as payment for a magical bargain, but decades have passed and he’s never come to collect. When the lingering debt begins to ruin her life, Gisele sets out to confront him... only to find a reluctant, nameless fae lord instead of the villain she expected. Now magically bound together, they must work to uncover his true name to break the spell—if they don’t strangle each other first.
This story has everything I love: a sentient house, shared dreams, magical bonds, curses, a talking cat companion, a fae ball, found family, and real emotional stakes. The world is lush and whimsical, but never shallow. It’s full of sharp banter, slow-burn tenderness, and characters who actually feel like people!
Gisele and the nameless fae (whom she nicknames "Malediction" because, well, he lost his name) were the absolute highlight for me. Gisele is forty years old (a grown-up fantasy heroine!), and she reads like it. She’s practical, sharp, and emotionally complex. And Mal (his nickname) gives off major Howl vibes in the best way: dramatic, magical, a little bit of a mess. Their romance was everything I wanted; slow, full of tension and mutual pining, but also incredibly sweet. They’re both so lonely when they meet (or when Gisele barges into his crumbling house and stabs him, as one does), and watching them slowly open up and fall in love was honestly so satisfying. The yearning is real! I did want them to talk through their misunderstandings more instead of making assumptions, but given the curse and the stakes, it made sense.
Also: there is spice! I’m someone who doesn’t really need spice in a book (and sometimes I even dislike it), but I really liked how it was written here! It was emotionally grounded and felt like a natural extension of their relationship.
The plot itself moves at a cozy pace, and while it’s a little slow in places, I didn’t mind at all. The writing is warm and immersive, and I just wanted to stay in this world. There’s also a villain (one who’s genuinely intriguing) but I do wish we’d gotten to explore him a bit more. The final confrontation wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the journey.
Overall, How to Find a Nameless Fae was such a delight! It gave me exactly what I was craving: heartfelt fantasy, deep characters, and a romance that felt earned and full of magic. I already miss Gisele and Mal, and yes, I am manifesting more books about the side characters! No pressure, though.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!
June 19, 2025
I received a free copy from Victory Editing Co-op via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date June 26th.
I devoured AJ Lancaster's Stariel series in about a week, so I was happy for a early chance to snap her latest novel up. In How to Find a Nameless Fae, Gisele was bargained away to a fairy as a baby--but he never showed up, and now she's forty. Determined to end her worsening curse, Gisele plots to track down the fairy and threaten him into freeing her...
This fantasy romance had a relentlessly sensible older protagonist with a love for gardening which reminded me strongly of T Kingfisher's fairy tale romances, and a touch of Howl's Moving Castle about the plot. Unsurprisingly, I had a blast with a book that reminded me of two of my favorite authors. It's immensely readable. I started reading at 9 pm at night and finished by 7 am (Regret). Lancaster wields an expert's touch with the romance, which contains an outrageous quantity of pining tempered by Gisele's inherent practicality and prior sexual experience. The endlessly inconvenient curse forces a sort of empathetic emotional connection between the two of them, which is a fun romance trope.
The majority of the plot is set in the fae's house, which has a strong personality of its own, playfully moves rooms around, and in a particularly delightful touch, subscribes to interior design magazines. The nameless fae himself is about the sort of man you'd expect to live in a playful sentient manor with an overgrown garden and a gorgeous yet disorganized library, with the addition of cat ears and a tail. The reason he cursed Gisele is a complex story that the novel takes its time revealing, and he's spent forty years hiding in the manor from an enemy. Ultimately, the plot twists are fairly predictable, but in a way I found satisfying rather than frustrating.
My only complaint is that this book didn't include more graphic scenes of Gisele gardening. A VERY crunchable novel. If you enjoy T Kingfisher's fairy tale romances, run, don't walk, to pick this novel up.
I devoured AJ Lancaster's Stariel series in about a week, so I was happy for a early chance to snap her latest novel up. In How to Find a Nameless Fae, Gisele was bargained away to a fairy as a baby--but he never showed up, and now she's forty. Determined to end her worsening curse, Gisele plots to track down the fairy and threaten him into freeing her...
This fantasy romance had a relentlessly sensible older protagonist with a love for gardening which reminded me strongly of T Kingfisher's fairy tale romances, and a touch of Howl's Moving Castle about the plot. Unsurprisingly, I had a blast with a book that reminded me of two of my favorite authors. It's immensely readable. I started reading at 9 pm at night and finished by 7 am (Regret). Lancaster wields an expert's touch with the romance, which contains an outrageous quantity of pining tempered by Gisele's inherent practicality and prior sexual experience. The endlessly inconvenient curse forces a sort of empathetic emotional connection between the two of them, which is a fun romance trope.
The majority of the plot is set in the fae's house, which has a strong personality of its own, playfully moves rooms around, and in a particularly delightful touch, subscribes to interior design magazines. The nameless fae himself is about the sort of man you'd expect to live in a playful sentient manor with an overgrown garden and a gorgeous yet disorganized library, with the addition of cat ears and a tail. The reason he cursed Gisele is a complex story that the novel takes its time revealing, and he's spent forty years hiding in the manor from an enemy. Ultimately, the plot twists are fairly predictable, but in a way I found satisfying rather than frustrating.
My only complaint is that this book didn't include more graphic scenes of Gisele gardening. A VERY crunchable novel. If you enjoy T Kingfisher's fairy tale romances, run, don't walk, to pick this novel up.
June 16, 2025
Fun cozy fantasy romance! In this Rumpelstiltskin retelling, a woman trades a sorcerer her firstborn child for straw turned to gold, but the sorcerer never comes for the child. The child comes looking for the sorcerer in her 40s to break her curse and adventure ensues!
This book is told from a limited omniscient third-person POV of the FMC. The FMC is very endearing and independent and makes for a good viewpoint. I appreciated her being older (40s), which is very uncommon in this genre, in my experience. The MMC is very sweet without being over the top. Their one-side-mistaken-enemy to friends to lovers relationship was well-paced and believable. The side characters were enjoyable, especially my favorite kinds of fantasy supporting characters, sentient magical house and talking cat.
I read this very quickly and loved there wasn't the dreaded third act breakup. How To Find a Nameless Fae had everything I like in this genre, and I'm sure other cozy fantasy readers will enjoy this. I've never read anything by this author before, but I'd be interested in reading more.
Thank you to the author for the arc!
This book is told from a limited omniscient third-person POV of the FMC. The FMC is very endearing and independent and makes for a good viewpoint. I appreciated her being older (40s), which is very uncommon in this genre, in my experience. The MMC is very sweet without being over the top. Their one-side-mistaken-enemy to friends to lovers relationship was well-paced and believable. The side characters were enjoyable, especially my favorite kinds of fantasy supporting characters, sentient magical house and talking cat.
I read this very quickly and loved there wasn't the dreaded third act breakup. How To Find a Nameless Fae had everything I like in this genre, and I'm sure other cozy fantasy readers will enjoy this. I've never read anything by this author before, but I'd be interested in reading more.
Thank you to the author for the arc!
June 7, 2025
This book is such a gem. It’s cozy, sexy, and smart. Gisele being a capable and competent woman who just turned forty is a breath of fresh air. Mal is wonderful.
Mal gets the zoomies in the middle of the night, and I’m still laughing about it. Ten stars.
Mal gets the zoomies in the middle of the night, and I’m still laughing about it. Ten stars.
May 29, 2025
This book is stunningly good, my HEART. You want to read it, I promise, run don't walk. Maybe I will manage eloquence about this in the future, but right now my brain is just reveling in magic. It's romantic and *fun* and wise and painfully sweet and clever and achingly truthful and absolutely pitch perfect. Absolutely masterful.
August 29, 2025
It’s giving…ACOCAE: A Court of Cats and Eyeshadow.
TL; DR: Capitalizing on the romantasy and fairy tale retellings so prevalent in today’s reading society, How to Find a Nameless Fae is equal parts charming and painful, never quite hitting the highs of its compatriots while giving a decent story that’s sure to ruffle some skirts.
I wasn’t a fan of this one. There were parts I laughed at, certainly, but it felt like there were far more when I rolled my eyes or wrinkled my nose. That’s the kind of book this was though: very specifically generated for a very specific audience.
Characters: How did they manage to be delightful while I simultaneously didn’t like them at all? And impressive feat. I’ll be the one to make the comment that I feel I’m making more often than I should, that I liked the side characters so much more than I like the main two. It was painful sometimes with their chemistry which, while believable, was a lot of harrumphs and gasps of affront. In contrast, the side characters had quite a bit of spark and originality and I was glad to see them included, though disappointed their part was as little as it was.
Setting: Love Skymallow, and I think I’ll cheat and put it here so I can talk about it separately. The house was charming and I think I appreciated it the most out of anything in this book. It was believable and touching in a lot of ways and the descriptions lent to it were complimentary for all the pieces involved.
Story: It was fine. I was pleased at the beginning, but as it went on, I became less charmed. It felt like every other page was a reference to ‘the predicament’ and I couldn’t get away. I didn’t get to enjoy the rest of the story because it came up every four seconds and I was just tired of it by the end. Also, the dream sequences were some of the biggest eye rolls.
Writing: It was *fine*; I didn’t like it, but it was serviceable to a point. It felt like a less refined version of Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, but I actually liked that book.
It was ok; I get why it has high reviews; I think this is one of those books where the specific audience it’s meant for is going to love it, but it’s not anything spectacular in a vacuum and it’s worse when compared to others, so here we are: an ok book that fits its people perfectly while offering some things for others, but not enough. It’s ok, I don’t think the people who like it will mind.
2.5 🌟
TL; DR: Capitalizing on the romantasy and fairy tale retellings so prevalent in today’s reading society, How to Find a Nameless Fae is equal parts charming and painful, never quite hitting the highs of its compatriots while giving a decent story that’s sure to ruffle some skirts.
I wasn’t a fan of this one. There were parts I laughed at, certainly, but it felt like there were far more when I rolled my eyes or wrinkled my nose. That’s the kind of book this was though: very specifically generated for a very specific audience.
Characters: How did they manage to be delightful while I simultaneously didn’t like them at all? And impressive feat. I’ll be the one to make the comment that I feel I’m making more often than I should, that I liked the side characters so much more than I like the main two. It was painful sometimes with their chemistry which, while believable, was a lot of harrumphs and gasps of affront. In contrast, the side characters had quite a bit of spark and originality and I was glad to see them included, though disappointed their part was as little as it was.
Setting: Love Skymallow, and I think I’ll cheat and put it here so I can talk about it separately. The house was charming and I think I appreciated it the most out of anything in this book. It was believable and touching in a lot of ways and the descriptions lent to it were complimentary for all the pieces involved.
Story: It was fine. I was pleased at the beginning, but as it went on, I became less charmed. It felt like every other page was a reference to ‘the predicament’ and I couldn’t get away. I didn’t get to enjoy the rest of the story because it came up every four seconds and I was just tired of it by the end. Also, the dream sequences were some of the biggest eye rolls.
Writing: It was *fine*; I didn’t like it, but it was serviceable to a point. It felt like a less refined version of Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love, but I actually liked that book.
It was ok; I get why it has high reviews; I think this is one of those books where the specific audience it’s meant for is going to love it, but it’s not anything spectacular in a vacuum and it’s worse when compared to others, so here we are: an ok book that fits its people perfectly while offering some things for others, but not enough. It’s ok, I don’t think the people who like it will mind.
2.5 🌟
August 11, 2025
This was so enjoyable! A Rumpelstiltskin retelling with a mature FMC, magic, whimsy and chock full of fairytale vibes. I absolutely loved the dry wit in Gisele and Mals interactions, and while there are so many cosy elements, there is also a touch of spice for readers. Taking her destiny in her own hands, we see Gisele set out to find the fae who cursed her through her mother, and we are treated to found family, secret identity and the perfect happily ever after.
Bonus Points to the sentient house Skymallow (think Casita from Encanto).
Bonus Points to the sentient house Skymallow (think Casita from Encanto).
July 4, 2025
Breath of fresh air
This felt like Howl’s Moving Castle meets Emily Wilde. There’s a talking cat, a magical house, a curse and a romance. Exactly what was needed after a bit of a reading slump!
This felt like Howl’s Moving Castle meets Emily Wilde. There’s a talking cat, a magical house, a curse and a romance. Exactly what was needed after a bit of a reading slump!
August 16, 2025
Quite fabulous. I love that she pretty much rescues herself and then also saves him.
September 2, 2025
Cozy, creative & whimsical!
Very unique & satisfying read.
Very unique & satisfying read.
July 1, 2025
I loved it! This author is a great story teller. The characters are sweet and funny and I can't pick a favorite because I adored them all. Discovering where the Name has been kept all these years was just perfect! I enjoyed this book very much. ARC netgalley.com
June 30, 2025
So disappointed with this book especially with all the great reviews. I DNF at page 127. I was bored to tears. Not for me.
June 17, 2025
HOW TO FIND A NAMELESS FAE is a book about a 40-year-old cursed human princess who can't stand being a silent spectator to her life going to waste anymore. She's going to hunt for the big, bad fae who had cursed her, and she's going to end up... quite surprised.
I loved everything about this book. From the whimsical, cozy worldbuilding to the characters and narration (which I'm very familiar with. I've read all of A.J.'s books, and her style always amazes me―it's like a warm blanket for my soul).
The plot rate is mixed. It starts fast, then flows quite slow, only to speed up so fast, you have to hold on to something not to lose your brain in the process. All of the characters are remarkable. Princess Gisele is a total badass FMC, whose combination of socially rusty behavior and a big, empathetic and kind heart is the sweetest balm for any sorrows. Her nemesis, the Nameless Fae, is not the kind of MMC I was prepared for... I was ready for a pompous fae lord, who would argue his way to prove his motives were well justified. Well, not in this case...
He's that kind of guy that just admits, that yeah... He made a shit-stupid mistake, and he's admitting it FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. My lords, this is the sexiest thing I've read. And I didn't know I needed it this much.
Fear not, my Friends, not only are the main leads magnificent, because here, I present to you ........ THE SIDE CHARACTERS. And by that I mean the coolest, most demanding, Sabrina-style cat in the world―ZINGIBER; the absolute coolest and sweetest sentient house (yes, HOUSE)―SKYMALLOW; and fearie folks.
ZINGIBER is the sort of cat that will give you an impression that he just doesn't give a fork about anything other than food and hugs ("PET ME HUMAN, I see you have your hands free" kind of attitude), but he's the most loyal and intelligent companion one could have asked for.
SKYMALLOW, ah SKYMALLOW... A.J. did it AGAIN. You'd never imagined developing warm feelings for a HOUSE (for goodness sake!), but yeah, this is the thing about a good written fantasy, apparently. Even houses (and lands, if you're familiar with other A.J.'s works) can find a special place in your heart.
There are a few more characters important for this story, each one different in its own way, each one interesting and in some ways relatable. Overall, the perfect cast to the perfect story.
The story is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, but mainly, it's about loneliness. It's about discovering the true YOU―accepting it, fighting for it, and loving it. It's about friendships and finding a place in society. This story is heartwarmingly wise, and I will recommend it to anyone.
(Also, this book is considered steamy, but fear not, my nospice-folks, the scenes are easy to skip if that's not your cup of tea―there are not many).
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🐱 Antagonists to lovers
🏠 Protagonists over 35
🐱 Cursed princess FMC
🏠 Dramatic Howl-esque MMC
🐱 Magical house that does its own dishes
🏠 Nerd/nerd
🐱 He has cat ears that show his moods
🏠 Magic proximity bond
🐱 They share dreams
🏠 Banter
🐱 Medium-burn spice
I loved everything about this book. From the whimsical, cozy worldbuilding to the characters and narration (which I'm very familiar with. I've read all of A.J.'s books, and her style always amazes me―it's like a warm blanket for my soul).
The plot rate is mixed. It starts fast, then flows quite slow, only to speed up so fast, you have to hold on to something not to lose your brain in the process. All of the characters are remarkable. Princess Gisele is a total badass FMC, whose combination of socially rusty behavior and a big, empathetic and kind heart is the sweetest balm for any sorrows. Her nemesis, the Nameless Fae, is not the kind of MMC I was prepared for... I was ready for a pompous fae lord, who would argue his way to prove his motives were well justified. Well, not in this case...
He's that kind of guy that just admits, that yeah... He made a shit-stupid mistake, and he's admitting it FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. My lords, this is the sexiest thing I've read. And I didn't know I needed it this much.
Fear not, my Friends, not only are the main leads magnificent, because here, I present to you ........ THE SIDE CHARACTERS. And by that I mean the coolest, most demanding, Sabrina-style cat in the world―ZINGIBER; the absolute coolest and sweetest sentient house (yes, HOUSE)―SKYMALLOW; and fearie folks.
ZINGIBER is the sort of cat that will give you an impression that he just doesn't give a fork about anything other than food and hugs ("PET ME HUMAN, I see you have your hands free" kind of attitude), but he's the most loyal and intelligent companion one could have asked for.
SKYMALLOW, ah SKYMALLOW... A.J. did it AGAIN. You'd never imagined developing warm feelings for a HOUSE (for goodness sake!), but yeah, this is the thing about a good written fantasy, apparently. Even houses (and lands, if you're familiar with other A.J.'s works) can find a special place in your heart.
There are a few more characters important for this story, each one different in its own way, each one interesting and in some ways relatable. Overall, the perfect cast to the perfect story.
The story is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, but mainly, it's about loneliness. It's about discovering the true YOU―accepting it, fighting for it, and loving it. It's about friendships and finding a place in society. This story is heartwarmingly wise, and I will recommend it to anyone.
(Also, this book is considered steamy, but fear not, my nospice-folks, the scenes are easy to skip if that's not your cup of tea―there are not many).
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🐱 Antagonists to lovers
🏠 Protagonists over 35
🐱 Cursed princess FMC
🏠 Dramatic Howl-esque MMC
🐱 Magical house that does its own dishes
🏠 Nerd/nerd
🐱 He has cat ears that show his moods
🏠 Magic proximity bond
🐱 They share dreams
🏠 Banter
🐱 Medium-burn spice
June 25, 2025
5 stars
Content warning: emotional neglect from family, isolation from being cursed, toxic past relationship, injury detail, blood
AJ Lancaster's writing is always a balm to the soul, and How to Find a Nameless Fae is a perfectly cosy world to retreat into. I absolutely adored both main characters, and how they interacted, thanks to a firstborn curse going awry, was enchantingly hilarious. As a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, the parameters were familiar enough, but Lancaster put a delightful spin on it by setting it forty years after the curse came into play. With a no-nonsense FMC and an overly extravagant and cowardly MMC, this story gifts joy to fans of Howl's Moving Castle with its similarly coded characters, and the sentient house Skymallow and cat Zingiber.
I enjoyed the endless banter between Gisele, Mal, and the side characters a lot, but where this book truly shines is in its character development, by highlighting the vulnerabilities of Gisele and Mal. The longer they are entwined together, the more openly they share their decades-long hurts and loneliness, and it makes for a well-built connection. Sure, there was attraction from the start, but having that morph into something deliciously brimming with tension and emotion made the romantic portion of this tale entirely worth it. Lancaster has always written delightful love stories with well-thought out characters, and even though I knew I would revel in the romantic elements, Nameless Fae delivered on wholesome yearning, and spicy scenes that left more than just the characters bereft when they didn't quite eventuate fully. These mature characters approach love and life together in a way that was relatable - even with the whimsical backdrop of Faerie.
How to Find a Nameless Fae is mostly low stakes with cottagecore vibes and humbling side characters that live nearby to cause grievances to those dealing with the curse inside Skymallow. There is, however, a villain in the story, and whilst I didn't entirely care for that plot line, it did lead into the penultimate moment of uncovering Mal's true name, and I loved how it was delivered. I also really enjoyed the plot twist surrounding Mal's name that led Gisele and Mal back to the human lands, and feel that the author gave good thought to the original fairytale while creating her own story here. I'd love to continue in this world, especially with some of the side characters we met in this book, and I also adored the nod to the novella set in the same world.
If you love cosy fantasy, with sentient houses, and Howl-coded characters, then I urge you to pick up this read. It has been my favourite thing I've read so far in June.
Thank you to the author for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
Content warning: emotional neglect from family, isolation from being cursed, toxic past relationship, injury detail, blood
AJ Lancaster's writing is always a balm to the soul, and How to Find a Nameless Fae is a perfectly cosy world to retreat into. I absolutely adored both main characters, and how they interacted, thanks to a firstborn curse going awry, was enchantingly hilarious. As a Rumpelstiltskin retelling, the parameters were familiar enough, but Lancaster put a delightful spin on it by setting it forty years after the curse came into play. With a no-nonsense FMC and an overly extravagant and cowardly MMC, this story gifts joy to fans of Howl's Moving Castle with its similarly coded characters, and the sentient house Skymallow and cat Zingiber.
I enjoyed the endless banter between Gisele, Mal, and the side characters a lot, but where this book truly shines is in its character development, by highlighting the vulnerabilities of Gisele and Mal. The longer they are entwined together, the more openly they share their decades-long hurts and loneliness, and it makes for a well-built connection. Sure, there was attraction from the start, but having that morph into something deliciously brimming with tension and emotion made the romantic portion of this tale entirely worth it. Lancaster has always written delightful love stories with well-thought out characters, and even though I knew I would revel in the romantic elements, Nameless Fae delivered on wholesome yearning, and spicy scenes that left more than just the characters bereft when they didn't quite eventuate fully. These mature characters approach love and life together in a way that was relatable - even with the whimsical backdrop of Faerie.
How to Find a Nameless Fae is mostly low stakes with cottagecore vibes and humbling side characters that live nearby to cause grievances to those dealing with the curse inside Skymallow. There is, however, a villain in the story, and whilst I didn't entirely care for that plot line, it did lead into the penultimate moment of uncovering Mal's true name, and I loved how it was delivered. I also really enjoyed the plot twist surrounding Mal's name that led Gisele and Mal back to the human lands, and feel that the author gave good thought to the original fairytale while creating her own story here. I'd love to continue in this world, especially with some of the side characters we met in this book, and I also adored the nod to the novella set in the same world.
If you love cosy fantasy, with sentient houses, and Howl-coded characters, then I urge you to pick up this read. It has been my favourite thing I've read so far in June.
Thank you to the author for a digital copy to review. All thoughts are my own.
June 21, 2025
Oh this was absolutely delightful!!
I absolutely love books about fae but I’m always reluctant about them because a lot of people just write them as like… hot elves, basically? Like, totally normal people with pointy ears and magical powers. That’s so boring. I want them to be weird little freaks! And this book DELIVERED. Mal with his little cat ears and tail were EVERYTHING. All the other fae characters were delightfully weird too, and I’m obsessed. I will absolutely be reading more of this author’s work about the fae.
If you like the vibes and aesthetic of The Cruel Prince but you want something a little more cozy this is definitely for you. It’s definitely still got high stakes, but the vibes are very cozy overall. It also has a very sweet found family that I’m obsessed with.
The only reason this went down a star was because the main character– while she was VERY likable and fun 90% of the time– had moments of willfully not understanding what was going on. There were moments it was extremely clear how serious Mal’s situation was and she continuously got upset with him because she refused to understand that. Similarly, the miscommunication when he clearly wanted her but was keeping his distance to protect her but she was so certain he just didn’t want her but it was so obvious that wasn’t the case. It was slightly infuriating! Not enough to ruin the book by any means but just enough to knock it down a star.
I also didn’t like all the words that were used during the spicy scenes but that’s just a personal preference thing.
Anyway, overall this book was absolutely adorable and so sweet and full of things I love. I absolutely recommend it and will be reading more by the author!!
Thank you to the folks at NetGalley and Victory Editing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely love books about fae but I’m always reluctant about them because a lot of people just write them as like… hot elves, basically? Like, totally normal people with pointy ears and magical powers. That’s so boring. I want them to be weird little freaks! And this book DELIVERED. Mal with his little cat ears and tail were EVERYTHING. All the other fae characters were delightfully weird too, and I’m obsessed. I will absolutely be reading more of this author’s work about the fae.
If you like the vibes and aesthetic of The Cruel Prince but you want something a little more cozy this is definitely for you. It’s definitely still got high stakes, but the vibes are very cozy overall. It also has a very sweet found family that I’m obsessed with.
The only reason this went down a star was because the main character– while she was VERY likable and fun 90% of the time– had moments of willfully not understanding what was going on. There were moments it was extremely clear how serious Mal’s situation was and she continuously got upset with him because she refused to understand that. Similarly, the miscommunication when he clearly wanted her but was keeping his distance to protect her but she was so certain he just didn’t want her but it was so obvious that wasn’t the case. It was slightly infuriating! Not enough to ruin the book by any means but just enough to knock it down a star.
I also didn’t like all the words that were used during the spicy scenes but that’s just a personal preference thing.
Anyway, overall this book was absolutely adorable and so sweet and full of things I love. I absolutely recommend it and will be reading more by the author!!
Thank you to the folks at NetGalley and Victory Editing for the arc in exchange for an honest review!
July 30, 2025
5⭐s
I came for a break, but stayed for the fae!
I picked this up after needing a break from the current book I'm reading, which was an emotional beast of a book. Beautiful, yes, but filled with trauma that hit a little too close to home. I needed something to soothe my brain. Honestly, I thought I’d read a chapter or two of this and then bounce back to the heaviness then bounce back to this when needed. It would have been my palette cleanser in between the heaviness of the current book I'm reading.
Voiceover: She did not bounce back from the first break...
Yup, I devoured it. I was planning to finish it, but not in one sitting.
"How to Find a Nameless Fea" was everything I didn’t know I was craving. It’s cozy, clever, and full of charm. Like being wrapped in a blanket made of magic, mischief, and a little romance. I laughed, I swooned, and I fell completely in love with the story. I didn’t expect to get hooked, but there I was, up way too late turning pages.
And let me just scream this from the rooftops... the FMC is in her 40s! FORTIES!! I cannot express how deeply satisfying it was to see a smart, complex, magical woman at that age taking the lead in a romantasy. More of this, please and thank you. Did she have issues? Absolutely. But she wasn't whiny.
What I adored most? It didn’t try too hard. So many romantasies feel the need to cram in every trope and trauma to make it “hit,” but this one? It kept things simple and soft in the best way. Familiar tropes, yes, but used like a seasoned chef uses salt... gently and just right. Comfort food for the fantasy soul.
Now I want to read everything this author has ever written. Immediately.
I came for a break, but stayed for the fae!
I picked this up after needing a break from the current book I'm reading, which was an emotional beast of a book. Beautiful, yes, but filled with trauma that hit a little too close to home. I needed something to soothe my brain. Honestly, I thought I’d read a chapter or two of this and then bounce back to the heaviness then bounce back to this when needed. It would have been my palette cleanser in between the heaviness of the current book I'm reading.
Voiceover: She did not bounce back from the first break...
Yup, I devoured it. I was planning to finish it, but not in one sitting.
"How to Find a Nameless Fea" was everything I didn’t know I was craving. It’s cozy, clever, and full of charm. Like being wrapped in a blanket made of magic, mischief, and a little romance. I laughed, I swooned, and I fell completely in love with the story. I didn’t expect to get hooked, but there I was, up way too late turning pages.
And let me just scream this from the rooftops... the FMC is in her 40s! FORTIES!! I cannot express how deeply satisfying it was to see a smart, complex, magical woman at that age taking the lead in a romantasy. More of this, please and thank you. Did she have issues? Absolutely. But she wasn't whiny.
What I adored most? It didn’t try too hard. So many romantasies feel the need to cram in every trope and trauma to make it “hit,” but this one? It kept things simple and soft in the best way. Familiar tropes, yes, but used like a seasoned chef uses salt... gently and just right. Comfort food for the fantasy soul.
Now I want to read everything this author has ever written. Immediately.
September 10, 2025
“We are part of the world, and the words if part of us. Our magic flows through our veins, through our breath, as intrinsic to our nature as flesh and bone. We are made of magic, and so is everything else.”
You know the story: an evil sorcerer demands the firstborn child in payment for his magical favour, and on the child’s sixteenth birthday, the sorcerer comes to collect. Only that the parents, usually royal or a very good fairy has somehow found a loophole and everything is dealt with in time for the happily ever after at the end. How to Find a Nameless Fae takes all of that into account, and then asks: what happens when a first-born bargain goes wrong?
For Princess Gisele, the first-born child promised in said bargain, she has spent her entire life waiting and preparing for a terrifying, fearsome mage to turn up and claim her. But it’s been decades. And he still hasn’t shown up. Which you would think was a good thing, but unfortunately for Princess Gisele, it is wreaking havoc on her life. So, on her fortieth birthday, she decides to take things into her own hands, cross to the land of Faerie, find this sorcerer for herself and demand the bargain be broken. Except, she doesn’t find a scary evil sorcerer, but rather a nameless lord of a magical house who has no idea who she is. Their magical bond and eagerness to be free of one another, Gisele and the nameless lord set out to find his lost name and break the bargain. Assuming they don’t strange each other first.
How to Find a Nameless Fae was a warm, wonderfully witty and very weird fairytale retelling. And I loved it. A J Lancaster enchants you with every word, bringing new life and magic to a tale we all know: Rumpelstiltskin. It was full of whimsy, full of banter, romance and a memorable heroine who refused to wait around to be rescued any longer.
A super cosy fantasy with the adorable setting of a sentient cottage. Every little detail was magical and felt so unique, though as familiar as your favourite cardigan or blanket. Lancaster’s lush prose and beautiful descriptions of Faerie were so wonderfully written. It was bursting with life. The characters were a joy to read about, a joy to get to know and to love. If you’re craving a good-feel fairytale with a swoon-worthy romance with yearning and tension and so much magical whimsy, then How to Find a Nameless Fae is your next read.
Thank you so much to Victory Editing for this eARC!
Out now on Kindle Unlimited!
You know the story: an evil sorcerer demands the firstborn child in payment for his magical favour, and on the child’s sixteenth birthday, the sorcerer comes to collect. Only that the parents, usually royal or a very good fairy has somehow found a loophole and everything is dealt with in time for the happily ever after at the end. How to Find a Nameless Fae takes all of that into account, and then asks: what happens when a first-born bargain goes wrong?
For Princess Gisele, the first-born child promised in said bargain, she has spent her entire life waiting and preparing for a terrifying, fearsome mage to turn up and claim her. But it’s been decades. And he still hasn’t shown up. Which you would think was a good thing, but unfortunately for Princess Gisele, it is wreaking havoc on her life. So, on her fortieth birthday, she decides to take things into her own hands, cross to the land of Faerie, find this sorcerer for herself and demand the bargain be broken. Except, she doesn’t find a scary evil sorcerer, but rather a nameless lord of a magical house who has no idea who she is. Their magical bond and eagerness to be free of one another, Gisele and the nameless lord set out to find his lost name and break the bargain. Assuming they don’t strange each other first.
How to Find a Nameless Fae was a warm, wonderfully witty and very weird fairytale retelling. And I loved it. A J Lancaster enchants you with every word, bringing new life and magic to a tale we all know: Rumpelstiltskin. It was full of whimsy, full of banter, romance and a memorable heroine who refused to wait around to be rescued any longer.
A super cosy fantasy with the adorable setting of a sentient cottage. Every little detail was magical and felt so unique, though as familiar as your favourite cardigan or blanket. Lancaster’s lush prose and beautiful descriptions of Faerie were so wonderfully written. It was bursting with life. The characters were a joy to read about, a joy to get to know and to love. If you’re craving a good-feel fairytale with a swoon-worthy romance with yearning and tension and so much magical whimsy, then How to Find a Nameless Fae is your next read.
Thank you so much to Victory Editing for this eARC!
Out now on Kindle Unlimited!
July 2, 2025
If cozy fantasy had an awards show, How to Find a Nameless Fae by AJ Lancaster would be winning Best Ensemble Cast in a Heartwarming Yet Chaotic Adventure. This book is an absolute delight—a charming mix of humor, magic, and just the right dose of existential fae drama wrapped in a story as comforting as your coziest blanket.
At its core, the story follows Princess Gisele in her attempt to solve her unfulfilled fae debt, but of course, nothing in her world is as simple as ticking a task off a to-do list. Enter the paranoid and absolutely exasperating fae sorcerer who is determined that he doesn’t need help—but spoiler alert, he totally does. Their dynamic is a delightful dance of sarcasm, reluctant teamwork, and growing mutual reliance that practically sparkles with humor and heart.
The real MVPs of this story? The side characters, who are anything but "side." There's the chaotic cat (because no cozy fantasy is truly cozy without a pet making trouble) and a sentient house with a full-blown obsession with interior decorating magazines. Yes, you heard that right. The house itself has schemes—not the mildly annoying kind, but the ones that make you burst into laughter and wonder, "Why isn’t this a trend in fantasy books?"
Easily one of my new favorite reads, How to Find a Nameless Fae is the perfect mix of cozy, funny, and heartwarming. Whimsical, relatable, and unforgettable!
At its core, the story follows Princess Gisele in her attempt to solve her unfulfilled fae debt, but of course, nothing in her world is as simple as ticking a task off a to-do list. Enter the paranoid and absolutely exasperating fae sorcerer who is determined that he doesn’t need help—but spoiler alert, he totally does. Their dynamic is a delightful dance of sarcasm, reluctant teamwork, and growing mutual reliance that practically sparkles with humor and heart.
The real MVPs of this story? The side characters, who are anything but "side." There's the chaotic cat (because no cozy fantasy is truly cozy without a pet making trouble) and a sentient house with a full-blown obsession with interior decorating magazines. Yes, you heard that right. The house itself has schemes—not the mildly annoying kind, but the ones that make you burst into laughter and wonder, "Why isn’t this a trend in fantasy books?"
Easily one of my new favorite reads, How to Find a Nameless Fae is the perfect mix of cozy, funny, and heartwarming. Whimsical, relatable, and unforgettable!
June 23, 2025
How to Find a Nameless Fae is a story that follows our protagonist (Princess Gisele) trying to undo a Firstborn curse placed upon her due to a bargain her mother struck with a Fae before she was born.
When we meet Gisele, she is well into adulthood and pondering why the evil fae sourcerer who bargained for her has not yet claimed her. As the ramifications of the agreement not being met progress every day, Gisele decides to take matters into her own hands and travels to Faeirie, demanding the bargain be fulfilled.
However, she learns that executing the bargain is far more complicated than she could have imagined.
I loved this book. A retelling of a classic fairy tale (Rumpelstiltskin) that truly felt unique and kept me entertained the entire time. I often find retellings of classic stories hard to do right, and often too gimecky, however, this book did not cross that line for me at all. Not to mention how mesmerising and easy to follow the world-building was.
This is a classic enemies-to-lovers that I am certain fans of Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries will love and devour. The tension, the pining, the will-they-wont-they of the book was addictive, and I could not have asked for anything more.
Overall, a book that I highly enjoyed, and I cannot wait to dive into more of A.J Lancaster's novels.
When we meet Gisele, she is well into adulthood and pondering why the evil fae sourcerer who bargained for her has not yet claimed her. As the ramifications of the agreement not being met progress every day, Gisele decides to take matters into her own hands and travels to Faeirie, demanding the bargain be fulfilled.
However, she learns that executing the bargain is far more complicated than she could have imagined.
I loved this book. A retelling of a classic fairy tale (Rumpelstiltskin) that truly felt unique and kept me entertained the entire time. I often find retellings of classic stories hard to do right, and often too gimecky, however, this book did not cross that line for me at all. Not to mention how mesmerising and easy to follow the world-building was.
This is a classic enemies-to-lovers that I am certain fans of Heather Fawcett's Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries will love and devour. The tension, the pining, the will-they-wont-they of the book was addictive, and I could not have asked for anything more.
Overall, a book that I highly enjoyed, and I cannot wait to dive into more of A.J Lancaster's novels.
August 8, 2025
It's very pleasant to read the works of an author who delivers each time good characters and warm stories. Nameless was pleasant to read, with its touches of magic, its stuff from faerie land and its relationships. I liked Gisele and it was strange all along to have the point of view of a 40 years old woman (as I'm around this age and don't stumble often on characters in their 40s). She's a princess but she's also strong minded, kind and lonely. Her malediction was well described and it was easy to grab how it affected her daily life in frustrating ways. She came more of less for revenge and discovered a magic house and new friends. Mal was also an interesting and likable character, even if he was too much awesome and cute to be realistic. I enjoyed how their relationship developed and all the thoughts Gisele had along the way, she was really fleshed and easy to read for me. The bond helped to understand Mal's feelings but some chapters from his point of view would have been welcome. Even if there was few action, the story flew well and was entertaining.
June 26, 2025
'How to Find a Nameless Fae' by A.J. Lancaster, its a fairytale retelling.
A cosy fantasy romance novel, that tells the tale of a cursed princess and her search of a fae lord with no name. Throughout the increasing havoc on her life, the FMC will stop at nothing until she finds him.
Full witty and whimsically quirky, scenes. This slow-burn mature romance is simply adorable. A wonderful cosy read for all who love this genre. I recommend it.
In this book you will find:
- Grumpy/sunshine pairings
- Protagonists over 35
- Cursed princess FMC
- Howl-esque MMC
- He has cat ears
- A magical and sentient house
- Banter and Wittiness
- Mild Spice (this book is considered steamy... but in my opinion is almost to none)
A cosy fantasy romance novel, that tells the tale of a cursed princess and her search of a fae lord with no name. Throughout the increasing havoc on her life, the FMC will stop at nothing until she finds him.
Full witty and whimsically quirky, scenes. This slow-burn mature romance is simply adorable. A wonderful cosy read for all who love this genre. I recommend it.
In this book you will find:
- Grumpy/sunshine pairings
- Protagonists over 35
- Cursed princess FMC
- Howl-esque MMC
- He has cat ears
- A magical and sentient house
- Banter and Wittiness
- Mild Spice (this book is considered steamy... but in my opinion is almost to none)
July 9, 2025
Thank you to the author and Behind the Pages LLC for accepting me for this ARC! This book had everything that I wanted in a cozy fantasy! Cute and awkward banter, shared dreams, a quirky and sentient house that does my dishes (say less), and even a troublesome orange cat named Zingiber.
A refreshing twist on the after effects of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, with relatable characters with beautiful complexities that add to their dynamics throughout the story. Having Gisele being a 40ish FMC was perfect, allowing a 4th wall break and chiding herself on things that most readers call out for other younger FMCs.
I had such a good time with this read and highly recommend for those who still love fantasy and retellings, but need a breather in between high stakes battles.
Also, including this link for you to visit and see my own personal Zingiber who invaded my photo shoot to promote this release: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLXhusZRv...
A refreshing twist on the after effects of the tale of Rumpelstiltskin, with relatable characters with beautiful complexities that add to their dynamics throughout the story. Having Gisele being a 40ish FMC was perfect, allowing a 4th wall break and chiding herself on things that most readers call out for other younger FMCs.
I had such a good time with this read and highly recommend for those who still love fantasy and retellings, but need a breather in between high stakes battles.
Also, including this link for you to visit and see my own personal Zingiber who invaded my photo shoot to promote this release: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLXhusZRv...
June 4, 2025
A 40-year-old no-nonsense FMC who is sick of waiting around to be saved (or claimed) after a curse before she was even born? Sign me up immediately! AJ Lancaster creates the cosiest, coolest books. A sentient house and a cat-eared fae dressed like a dandy. A needy ginger cat. A host of amazing side characters, and a curse that needs to be broken. The undeniable attraction that grows between Gisele and Mal is believable, natural and sweet, even if theyre both terribly conflicted about the whole thing. I loved every moment of this book - and that shouldn't have surprised me considering how much I adored the Stariel series. Hugely recommend to anyone who likes the idea of light academia, fairies, a sprinkle of spice and an older FMC.
A huge thank you to the author for an e-ARC in exchange for my review!
A huge thank you to the author for an e-ARC in exchange for my review!
July 5, 2025
*ARC review*
This is definitely going to be good for someone dipping their toes into fantasy for the first time or fans of cosy romantasies.
This is a whimsical, cosy rumplestiltskin retelling with an FMC in her 40s which i loved about this book, we need more mature fmcs in our fantasies lol
I did however find this story slow in places and found myself skipping parts, plus the MMC wasn't as morally grey as I would liked him to be.
That being said we can't all like the same things in books we read can we as reading is subjective.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the eArc copy in exchange for an honest review
This is definitely going to be good for someone dipping their toes into fantasy for the first time or fans of cosy romantasies.
This is a whimsical, cosy rumplestiltskin retelling with an FMC in her 40s which i loved about this book, we need more mature fmcs in our fantasies lol
I did however find this story slow in places and found myself skipping parts, plus the MMC wasn't as morally grey as I would liked him to be.
That being said we can't all like the same things in books we read can we as reading is subjective.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the eArc copy in exchange for an honest review
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