A sweet cosy fantasy with a little romance, involving a mature (40yo) FMC and a "young" fae MMC. Plus a sentient house, a talking cat and some nosy neighbors making the cutest found family.

The world isn't intricately built and fairly typical for faerie stories, but that's because it's not the important part. The lack of detail thankfully doesn't lead to plot holes either. Skymallow, the magic house and surroundings is such a cute side character itself, but really all the side characters are adorable in their own way, even if not very detailed, they're still characters that stand on their own.

The writing was just so enjoyable to read, did a perfect job at creating the cosy warm atmosphere, and kept me engaged throughout.

I'm very curious about the author's other work now, and if she has other cosy books, I'm most definitely adding them to my tbr. It was a perfect afternoon read outdoors for me.

*• I received an ARC for this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and I appreciate both your work and commitment to this project. The following opinion is my own and holds no major spoilers. •*

The premise of this book kept me hooked from the start: our heroine is sick and tired of waiting to be fetched by the fae to whom her mother promised her before she was born as payment for a debt. On top of that, the more she waits, the more it seems like some kind of curse is keeping everyone away from her, and now even the little social life she had is flying out the window. There’s only one solution for it all: she’ll go after the fae by herself and make him fix it, no matter what. The plot alone kept me hooked and I didn’t falter for half of the book.

However (and unfortunately, because I was *loving* this book until 60% of it) the plot doesn’t thicken enough to keep it steady. The two main characters have their own issues to be solved but their developments stale to the point it gets boring at some point. We have some side characters that have little to no necessity to exist and that are so fleeting that I couldn't connect to them at all.

But I think the one thing that bothered me the most was the fact that we had a small but really amazing potential plot device - the fact that our FMC has a twin brother - and it was barely used in a proper way to make the story more complex or even create some kind of interesting plot twist. I was waiting for it to be useful somehow but it turned into almost nothing. A shame, really.

I also need to mention, like usually, that the explicit intimate scenes had no importance for the plot and were there just for the sake of smut, which always bums me out, especially when a story has an YA vibe but porn-like sex scenes. It’s a starking and uncomfortable contrast.

To wrap it up, How to Find a Nameless Fae had a lot of potential and I had a lot of fun with it until it absolutely went downhill and turned into a generic romantasy. That being said, if you’re looking for a light and unpretentious reading, this book might be the one for you.

An absolutely delightful little romp! Lancaster truly has a way with making lovable and a little unhinged characters that you will be rooting for from beginning to end. (and maybe for a few weeks after!) The sentient house was such a wonderful character and the whole setting felt like a warm cup of tea on a cool rainy night. I truly loved every page!

I'm a huge fan of the Stariel series, and I knew from the first pages I would love this standalone story from AJ, too!
I thought Gisele was such a unique character, and at the same time very relatatable. Mal was a blend of all the qualities I look for in a book boyfriend--fun, handsome, a little magical and a little (or a lot) naughty!
Their banter was great and their dynamic felt refreshing. The spice was unexpected but oh so good!
As a lover of side characters and what they bring to the story, Apfela and Nissa really hit the spot. I feel like it would fun to get a novella about what happens next with them, too! The house being a character in its own right was also one of my favorite aspects; it added that whimsical element that tied the story together beautifully.
And the ending! We love a woman making her own path, even when it's not the obvious or easy choice. <3
As always, I'm excited for whatever AJ releases next!

“What if Rumplestiltskin was a hot, traumatized forest cryptid with trust issues and you decided to confront him about it... with sass?”

That’s the vibe of this book. And I devoured every quirky, soft, whimsical page of it.

This is cozy fantasy with actual substance. No soggy plots or yawn-inducing “and then we baked scones” energy—nope. Instead, we get a 40-year-old woman named Gisele who’s been cursed with involuntary social exile thanks to a decades-old bargain her mother made before she was even born. Tired of being ghosted by destiny, she stomps into Fairyland and demands answers like the ✨emotionally repressed icon✨ she is.

Enter Malediction (Mal for short) : broody, reluctant, ruggedly magical, and in no way prepared for the force of nature that is Gisele. He just wanted to hermit in peace, but now his magical cottage is matchmaking, his blood pressure is up, and he’s one stolen kiss away from spontaneously combusting. I love this for him.

🖤 The slow-burn mutual pining? A+
🛋️ The house magic? Skymallow?? ICONIC.
💋 The romance? Tender, mutual, and steamy in the mature emotional intimacy kind of way. (And okay, also the hot fae thirst kind of way.)
👩‍🦳 A heroine over 40 being desired and respected? YES. GIVE ME MORE.

Sure, the pacing lags slightly in the middle, and yeah, you might clock a few of the twists—but when the vibe is this immaculate, who cares?

It’s a little Rumpelstiltskin. A little grumpy x determined sunshine. A little haunted forest and a lot of healing. It’s two people saving themselves and each other in the most magical way.

Thank you, AJ Lancaster and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC!

Do I recommend it?
Absolutely. Now get in, we’re storming the Fae realm with emotionally repressed forest men and houseplants with feelings.

4.5 stars.

This book was so much fun!! Perfect for fans of Holly Black and Heather Fawcett. Mal is incredibly endearing and I found myself disappointed that he and Gisele's story ended so soon. Thank you so much to AJ Lancaster and the team at Victory Editing for sending me an ARC of this book! I'm looking forward to reading more by the author.

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.

Long before she was born, Gisele’s mother made a bargain with a mysterious sorcerer that has ruined her life. Anyone who tries to get close to her becomes averse and uncomfortable which has led to a very lonely and unfulfilling life as Gisele has been waiting her entire 40 years for this sorcerer to come and collect what he is due - her. After waiting literal decades to no avail, Gisele takes matters into her own hands and marches straight into Fairy Land to find the man responsible. When she finds a reluctant, recluse hermit - who is actually quite handsome - with a magical cottage who is just as confused at her state as she is, her plans to blackmail and coerce him into giving her life back go awry. She realizes that to help herself, she needs to help him and the pair forge an unlikely alliance to get what they both want - freedom.

This is my new favorite cozy fantasy! Most books deemed a cozy fantasy follow a very mundane plot with almost no stakes and in some cases that can be monotonous, but this is not the case with How To Find a Nameless Fae. From the get-go we are literally stumbling upon the doorstep of a new magical world and introduced to a number of quirky and endearing fae folk. There’s mystery, magic, lover’s scorned, magical maladies, and a lovely will-they-won’t-they angsty steamy romance!

The dynamics in this novel are so refreshing, we have our female main character Gisele, who is not the typical heroine. She is 40 years old, lonely, and feels unwanted but she brings a maturity, kindness and wisdom to the table that only comes with having experienced life. I love that Mal is able to show her that she is beautiful and desired and freaking sexy just the way she is, and her age has nothing to do with her worth. She knows who she is and what she wants and Mal sees that and respects and WANTS her for it. Their relationship was so sweet, and it’s not just the guy swooping in to save the day. They both save each other and make each other more confident and better people. They are equal, which is exactly what I love to see in my fictional relationships. I also love seeing a man that is so down bad and has to really keep his self-control in check around her.

The fantasy aspect of this book was so fun! I like that it stays true to traditional fae rules and is still quirky and has that magical feeling all throughout the book. Skymallow has to one of my favorite parts, I loved reading about the house magic and its relationship with its inhabitants.

The plot was a bit predictable, and the pacing was a little slow at parts, but this was such a delightful cozy fantasy read for me. It’s really about two lonely people finding each other and overcoming their pasts and inner demons together to find themselves and their freedom. I definitely recommend!

4.5 stars!

*Received as a free ARC*
I didn't super care for this at first, which was disappointing because I enjoyed Lord of Stariel. However, it picked up around the halfway point. I enjoyed the world building and supporting characters far more than the romance, but that was decent too. Would certainly recommend as a (mostly)(currently) standalone fantasy for the romantasy set.

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!

More retelling like this please!!

Such a great idea to explore this “what if” scenario we see all the time in fairytales. It also meant that our FMC was in her 40s which was so refreshing. Also having the “evil sorcerer” be a Chaotic Bi was brilliant. The world of faerie and its magic was so well developed as we’re all the twists in the plot relating to their bond/curse. It does have some very cosy fantasy elements but doesn’t sacrifice any world building for that feeling, so I hesitate to put it in that category but I definitely think cosy fantasy readers will enjoy it. There is a sentient house and a cat that can communicate how could it not be cosy. The romance developed in a wonderful slow burn, never overlooking how complicated it was between them but also working through it.

I had read from this author before so I was familiar with her writing style and sense of humour, for some it might take a second to get used to or need to be in the right mood. I definitely recommend giving it a try though as Gisele is a character you quickly bond with and relate to. As the author states this book is mainly about loneliness and how hard it can be to break out of that bubble. To manage to get across such a normal everyday feeling in the midst of faerie and all its wonders is a true skill.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by AJ Lancaster in the future.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Can we start with a round of applause for a FMC over the age of 18?! It was so nice to have a mature lady with life experience and quiet confidence.

This is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling with a HEA. Gisele is sweet but ready to go for what she wants in life and Mal is a true dandy with hidden depth.

Is this book action packed? No. And I would have preferred a different catalyst (personal preference), but if you're looking for a cozy, adult fairytale with cottagecore vibes, then this will not disappoint and Skymallow will definitely steal your heart.

I recommend this book if you enjoy:
✨️ Fairytale retellings
✨️ Sentient homes
✨️ Fae
✨️ Slow burn

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I've read How to Find a Nameless Fae, written by AJ Lancaster. This Arc has given to me in exchange for an honest review, this by Netgalley, Victory Editing Netgalley Co-Op.

The story is about princess Gisele, a 40 year old woman who has been cursed and the Fae are coming to get her as a firstborn. But she waits and is done waiting, so she's going to look in Fairyland for this Fae. But she's not finding the one she has always been expecting...

This book is cosily written, it's a lighthearted romantically story. For me this book earns a 4 star read, because maybe I'm almost at the age of princess Gisele, I don't want to feel like this and I need to feel younger, so my FMC's need to be younger.. I know, it's a bit weird, but I don't like being almost 40 myself.

Nonetheless, it's worth your while!

How To Find A Nameless Fae by @a.j.lancaster

Oh my goodness this book was so good!
I was sucked into the story from the first page.

This is a fairytail retelling of Rumplestilskin that goes horribly wrong for poor Gisele and her Malediction.

She waits for years to be taken away by an "evil fae" and then decides if he can't be bothered to come for her she's going to go to the land of the fae and see him herself but what she discovers is the complete opposite of what she expected.
He is not evil, terrifying or cruel. Instead he is a sweet, nerdy cinnamoroll character.

I love all the quirky characters found in this book from a sentient house to a food obsessed talking cat. It is filled with magical theory, curses and accidental magical bonds. (including some spicy shared dreams).

Overall, A.J Lancaster wrote an amazing book that I would definitely reccomend you read as soon as its widely available. I am so incredibly lucky to have received an arc copy of this book from @netgalley

4/5🌟
2/5🌶️

*spoiler ahead*
My favourite quote of the book is:

"I think I half fell in love with you the moment you proposed to bandage me immediately after poisoning me"

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.

A delightfully fun and cozy retelling of the classic fairytale of Rumplestiltskin!

Gisele has been waiting for forty years for the fae who made a bargain with her mother to spin straw into gold to come and collect her as his prize. Except when he never showed. Tired of the negative way the curse impacts her life, she makes the decision to find him on her own. But he is hiding from a curse of his own, and the loss of his name has left him powerless to break the bargain bond between them. Together, along with a magical cat and a cast of fae with their own problems, they must rediscover his real name before his enemy can find them.

I was so happy we actually got an adult peotagonist and it wasn’t another teenager hooking up with a faerie male 500 years older than her! Gisele is practical, knows her own mind and strengths, but also understanding of the world around her, having experienced being ostracized because of her own curse. It was wonderful to see her create friendships, which she had been denied, and to learn to trust in her own magic.

The best parts about cozy fantasy is the vibes. Everyone wants a magical house that anticipates your every need, a talking cat that likes to boss you around, and a handsome shape shifting water fae to deliver your mail. The friendships and the found-family feels were the best parts of the book!

The romance was wonderful. I absolutely adored Gisele and Mal’s witty and playful interactions, but also their multual compassion for each other and their determination to free each other from the burdens the bargain had brought them. There is a bit of a trigger warning for dubious consent at the begining considering the bond between them pulls them together, including sharing each others’ dreams when both think they are aimple fantasies, and neither can be sure how much its influence over them is distorting their own thinking/feelings.

Overall this was a wonderful spin on a classic fairy tale that makes it new and fresh and exciting. I would love to read more about these characters and their adventures together!

This is one of the best cozy fantasy romances I have ever read! Give me more books about 40 year old princesses breaking out of the situation she has been forced into and taking her life into her own hands. Adventure, romance, personal growth and a sentient house!

Gisele is the first born princess who her mother promised to a fae sorcerer in exchange for a magical wish, however, Gisele's been stuck at home for 40 years because the sorcerer has apparently forgotten about her. She's tired of her life becoming smaller and her curse affecting everyone around her so she goes in search of the sorcerer. When she finally finds him, she's surprised to see he's a kind man hiding away from the world in a beautiful magical house. They become a whole lot closer as they are pulled together to break the curse.

A charming, lighthearted read. Our 40 year old FMC, Princess Gisele, is done being cursed and sets off on a journey to Fairyland to find the evil fae sorcerer who’s supposedly to blame. Instead, she finds a scatterbrained, scholarly fae; a hilariously cheeky, smart-mouthed cat named Zingiber; and a cozy magical house with a personality in spades.

This book is brimming with charm, and even includes some unexpected spice for a cozy fantasy. I was pulled in from the very beginning and finished it in a single day. The characters are well-developed and likable, and the writing style felt refreshingly different.

I’d highly recommend this to fans of cozy fantasy.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook reviews will be posted on the publication date: June 26, 2025. Links will be added once live.

How To Find A Nameless Fae.
Published 26th June

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Run, dont walk for this amazing, cosy, witty and smart romantasy.

If you like yearning, fae bargains, magical worlds and fairytales, this is the read for you.

A sentient house that you adore ✅️
A funny, witty and heartwarming read✅️
Set in the land of fae and magic✅️
Magical bargains and quests to fix it✅️
An incredible fairytale retelling✅️

If you loved my feral romance, youll love this one! Im a sucker for a book where the main characters try to dislike eachother but end up being perfect for eachother. I love the yearning and the development of a friendship to lovers situation. This one made me chuckle and smirk along with the story and I couldn't put it down. I didn't even read the whole blurb... I was sold as soon as the first line mentioned a fae bargain.

Parts of this book had me gasping, giggling and on the literal edge of my seat. There must be crack in this because how have the characters been written to be so wholesome, loveable and kind. Left me wishing I was living in the fae world with them. An excellent read in my opinion and I will be buying a shelf trophy of it!!!

Not me crying happy tears at the end. Adored this book.

(Posted to goodreads and will go on tiktok and insta)

Gisele has waited 40 years for the forbidding fae sorcerer to claim her, as part of the first-born bargain he made with her mother. When he doesn't arrive, and magical consequences start piling up, Gisele heads out to save herself. What she finds in Mal (Malediction, her nickname for him) isn't at all what she was expecting.

I loved this story. It's a wonderful addition to the cozy fantasy genre, adding in a fairy tale retelling. For those unfamiliar with cozy fantasy, prepare for the stakes to be low, for fairyland to be welcoming and cozy, not dark and dangerous, and for the burn to be slow. For those familiar with the genre, be prepared for the spice to be high!

Other reviewers have remarked on the use of the miscommunication trope. Usually I also hate when miscommunication is used to further the plot. In this case it didn't bother me, I think in part because the assumptions are natural and not willful. Sometimes miscommunication is used as "I don't want to talk about this thing because it's uncomfortable or it will change things" but in this book it was more, "how would I even know to ask that?!" Or a natural extension of the curse, which made it feel part of the plot rather than a plot manipulation, if that makes sense?

Lovely story about found family, forgiveness, curses, healing. Content warning for toxic/controlling relationships. Plus! Talking cats, sentient houses, gardens, and magic. Really wish this book was getting more buzz.