Imagine if a whimsical scholar of magical beings stumbled into a gothic fairy tale co-written by a master of dry wit and someone who understands cozy charm—that’s the kind of delightful alchemy this novel offers. How to Find a Nameless Fae is an enchanting blend of romantic fantasy and emotional depth, and I found myself thoroughly captivated from beginning to end.
The story centers on Princess Gisele, whose fate was sealed before she even drew breath—pledged to an unknown fae entity as part of a forgotten pact. Years pass with no sign of him, until the consequences of that ancient promise begin to unravel her life. Determined to confront her elusive would-be suitor, she instead discovers a mysterious fae noble who has lost his name and, with it, much of his identity. Bound together by magic and necessity, the pair embark on a quest to recover his true name and break the enchantment tethering them—though their mutual exasperation threatens to derail everything.
This book is brimming with the kinds of details that elevate a fantasy: a sarcastic feline sidekick, enchanted architecture with a mind of its own, elaborate masquerade balls in the fae courts, and a host of secondary characters who feel just as real and flawed as the leads. The setting is richly imagined, whimsical but grounded, and the prose is both witty and lush, creating an atmosphere I didn’t want to leave.
What truly shines here is the chemistry between the leads. Gisele is in her forties—a rarity in fantasy heroines—and brings with her a sense of maturity, self-awareness, and emotional nuance. Her counterpart, the unnamed fae she dubs “Malediction,” is equally compelling: flamboyant, haunted, and irresistibly chaotic. Their relationship develops slowly, full of tension, banter, and quiet longing. The connection between them feels earned and deeply human beneath the magical trappings.
Though their misunderstandings at times had me wishing for more direct communication, the emotional stakes and the influence of the curse made their missteps believable. And yes—there’s a romantic element with a touch of heat, written with care and emotional weight, making it feel integral rather than gratuitous.
The narrative unfolds at a gentle pace—never rushed, but never dull either. If anything, I wished for a bit more depth in the antagonist’s arc, as the final act wrapped up a bit too neatly. Still, the journey more than made up for it, and I closed the book feeling full in the best way.
In short: this is the kind of story that wraps around you like a warm, magical cloak. Charming, thoughtful, and utterly enchanting. I already miss these characters and sincerely hope there’s more to come from this world.
Grateful thanks to the author and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

"How To Find A Nameless Fae" is everything I want from a cosy fantasy romance: magical, meaningful, and thoroughly enchanting. A.J. Lancaster weaves a reverse Beauty and the Beast meets Rumpelstiltskin retelling with a deliciously original twist—a knife-wielding, forty-something princess seeking out the fae sorcerer she was promised to at birth... only to find a grumpy, nameless lord, a sentient house, and a telepathic cat instead.

Gisele is a relatable, refreshingly older heroine whose independence and quiet vulnerability shine through in every scene, and Mal—the misunderstood, mysterious fae mage—completely stole my heart. Their one-sided enemies-to-friends-to-lovers arc is beautifully paced with just the right amount of tension and tenderness (plus a good dose of sizzling chemistry).

The worldbuilding is rich, with a couple of nods to New Zealand’s flora and fauna that lend the setting a lush and distinctive charm (yay for NZ authors!). I loved the subtle humour, the emotional resonance, and the comforting magic that pulses through every page.

This is a story about names and bargains, yes—but at its core, it’s about loneliness, identity, found family, and learning to choose yourself. And best of all? No third-act breakup!

"How To Find A Nameless Fae" was my first A.J. Lancaster book, and it absolutely won’t be my last. A heartfelt recommendation for anyone who loves cosy, clever, and quietly powerful fantasy tales.

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.

5 Stars. No Notes. I need more of this world and these people/ Fae sooo bad. Seriously, don't get me started on Gisele and Mal because I would type you a book, almost. Loved it.

This book is a charming and whimsical escape into a world of fae magic, a sentient house, and slow burn mystery. What really stood out to me in this book was the character growth—Gisele’s journey from self-doubt to quiet strength was so satisfying to watch unfold, and Mal completely won me over with his unexpected depth and vulnerability. Their dynamic had me hooked, full of subtle tension, mutual respect, and just the right amount of banter. If you like cozy fantasy with a hint of mystery, then I highly recommend this book.


Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGally and the author for granting me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn to this book by the cute cover and fun name. However, this story is dialogue heavy and plot thin. I did love that our FMC is an adult and 40 at that!

I do think that people who enjoy, cosy fantasy, grumpy/sunshine pairings, and magical houses with personality will enjoy this story.

Holly Black meets Emily Henry in the shadow of the Brothers Grimm in this cosy, heart-flutteringly romantic take on the Rumpelstiltskin story.

Gisele is not your average princess. For one thing, at 40, she's rather aged out of most of the stereotypes, and for another she's cursed. The first-born of an unfulfilled first-born bargain, Gisele is suffused with unhappy magic, at her wit's end she decides to take matters into her own hands. Armed with knowledge, determination, and a knife, Gisele makes her way to Fairy, and the doorstep of the fae sorcerer who failed to claim her. Expecting an evil, cruel, terrifyingly powerful man, someone worthy of the nickname 'My Malediction', she is surprised to find a dandy, cat-eared, fae-male, a telepathic ginger tom-cat, and a overly friendly sentient house - none of whom are expecting her. What follows is a magical, romantic, humorous romp of a novel, as princess and sorcerer work together to uncover his name, and put the magic between them to bed... ideally without toppling into bed themselves.

Lancaster's How to Find a Nameless Fae is a hilarious, cosy, and touchingly romantic take on a fairy tale. Suffuse with old-school fairly rules, and populated with fantastical and beautiful people (and places) this is an adult novel overflowing with child-like wonder. Gisele is a powerhouse of a woman, determined, and wilful, she is all too aware of her own failings, and desperate to win her freedom. Malediction, as she calls the eponymous nameless fae, at first seems reserved, but his personality soon comes bursting through, and the two build a strong allyship. The relationships at the heart of this novel felt developed and well considered, no one fell into abiding love in mere hours. Of equal import was the undercurrent of loneliness, an aspect which touched almost all of the characters in this book, and made each newly forged friendship all the sweeter.

Emotionally complex, delightfully magical, and a touch emotionally devastating, this is one for readers who love the worlds of Holly Black, and the romances of Emily Henry. The perfect beach read for fantasy readers and romance readers alike.

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!

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.

This was so cute and cozy!!!!! Loved the characters and the story! I will be checking out the other book that goes with this!

Charming and thoroughly engaging from beginning to end! The witty dialogue and well-paced plot kept me hooked throughout. I especially appreciated that the female protagonist was in her forties — it's refreshing to see a romance novel featuring a more mature main character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It was a cute and light read with cozy vibes, a sentient house, a scatterbrained fae with cat ears and lion-like tail, and some creative anatomy spice. But sadly, it fell flat for me. I had a lot of hope, and it started out good, but the further I read, the less interesting it became.

The world-building, characters, and overall story lacked depth. I didn’t expect the miscommunication trope in a book about a 40-year-old woman. She made too many assumptions, and the main characters struggled to express themselves (though in Mal’s case it was understandable). For a supposedly dangerous fairyland, there was barely any threat, nearly every magical creature instantly befriended the FMC. The relationships, both between FMC & MMC and MCs with side-characters, felt surface-level.

Some themes didn’t work for me either, especially the abusive/toxic ex instead of a big magical evil.

I liked the idea with the missing name, and I enjoyed the cozy vibes. It's a perfect low-stakes palate cleanser.

I just expected and wanted more from the story.

I requested this book completely because of its cover, and I regret nothing.

This story has all the cozy fantasy ingredients I love as a reader: a fae bargain inspired by Rumpelstiltskin, a grumpy magical house with a mind of its own, and a sarcastic, telepathic orange cat who steals every scene. The writing reminded me a lot of Apprentice to the Villain, where the banter made the reading experience so much fun that I laughed out loud more than once. This is a whimsical, slow-paced romance, and I really enjoyed it.

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.

I was intrigued by the setup and really appreciated having a 40-year-old heroine (more of this, please!). The mystery behind the lost name and the magical debt was compelling, and I think fans of cozy fae stories will find a lot to enjoy here.

Although I really enjoyed the premise, there were a few elements that weren’t quite a match for me. I had hoped the male lead would lean more toward the morally gray side, and I found it hard to connect with his cat-like features, particularly the ears and tail. It caught me off guard, which is saying something, considering I’ve read my fair share of alien romances. It wasn’t poorly done, just not quite for me.

That being said, I still liked the book. I love how enemies slowly become friends and everything that comes with it. Readers who enjoy a slower pace, cozy fae magic, whimsical dreamscapes, and a touch of romantic mystery will likely find this a delightful and charming read.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and the A.J. Lancaster for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Princess Gisele has been waiting for an evil fae sorcere to claim her after her mother was tricked into a bargain. But he never shows up.... Gisele decides to hunt him down and force him to stop ruining her life...

Love that Gisele is older than the ingenue. The evil lord is a refreshing scholar. Love their banter... The magical tropes are fun. The talking animals are so funny too. A magically funny book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars!

I loved this charming Rumplestiltskin inspired trip to faerie so much!

I’m a big fan of A.J. Lancaster’s Stariel series so I was excited to have to opportunity to read this early. My expectations were high and it did not disappoint, the story is filled with whimsical fae, a few monsters and spice that shouldn’t work in a story this cozy but somehow does.

What I loved in particular:
- I liked Gisele and Mal together, they manage to each bring a touch of grumpy and a touch of sunshine to their relationship and the dynamic between the two of them worked so well.
- Zingiber- a smart mouthed talking cat who thinks that all problems can be solved by petting him.
-Skymallow- a sentient house that acts like Mal’s child and sometimes has to be bribed with domestic help to cooperate.

There is so much to love in this adorable story, anyone who loves cozy romantic fantasy should be adding this to their TBR.

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.