Full Title: The Name-Bearer: Flowers of Prophecy Book 1
Author: Natalia Hernandez
Published: October 11, 2022 by Amazon Publishing (KDP)
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, LGBTQ+, Hispanic & Latino American Literature
Edition Details: 296 pages, ebook
Source: Purchased
Rating: {4/5 stars}
This is a spoiler-free review. No details will be shared from the storyline itself that aren’t available or inferred from the book jacket and online descriptions.
First Glance
I remember when I first ran across this author on TikTok (@NataliaHernandezAuthor), long before her books came into being. She had just experienced a wild dream, one with flowers that named the royals as they were born.
I’m so happy she decided to take that idea and run with it! I picked up this book when I was lucky enough to do so for free during a sale.
Positive Bits
This world is unique and interesting as we explore it via the main character’s life. The author used Guatemalan culture and mythology to color her worldbuilding, and it comes through as rich and beautiful descriptions of the people and locales of the story. The bits of Spanish woven in have their meanings generally spelled out or clear within context, whether you would choose to look up their translations or not. You don’t have to speak the language to enjoy the story, while it enriches the world by reminding us of the source inspirations.
The plot of this story is what originally drew me in, and it doesn’t disappoint. I can’t get into specifics without spoilers, but overall the Name-Bearer weaves in friendship and romance as subplots that fit into the bigger story being told. I also appreciate that she explains the meanings of names (as knowing them has been part of her training). As a writer, I know how much thought you can put into the meaning behind names… and this seems like the perfect plot-appropriate way to share those meanings with the reader. And in a world where magical Flowers name the royals, it makes sense that people would be more selective and purposeful in naming their children as a whole.
I think the setup for Book 2 has been done well, as far as hints dropped within Book 1. I’ll only know for sure when I read Book 2 down the road, but it seems like important characters are given their own goals and reasons to continue being part of the story. I have theories…
Less Enjoyable Bits
As a queer polyamorous person, I’m fiending for clarity on the romance front. I knew to expect a female romantic interest, but there are layers to the Name-Bearer’s experience that leave me wondering if there’s going to be a choice in the future. I’d love to see a “why choose” style situation instead, but I’m biased! Mostly, the romantic options seem a little too ill-defined as we meet Person 1, Person 2, and what appears to be Person 3. I was left trying to track where the romance was heading, and it disappointed me.
This book is written to cover about a decade of the Name-Bearer’s life in one story. This isn’t a spoiler so much as a warning. I started reading the 13 year old girl’s story with the expectation that the first chapter was a prologue… only to discover that we would follow her life between the moment of the Flowers refusing to name the Prince to adulthood. If you don’t like time jumps or struggle to stay on track, consider this a warning.
While I enjoyed this book and didn’t put it down unless required (for work or parenting duties), the style is something that didn’t connect for me personally. The format of the story reminds me of listening to a storyteller or reading a screenplay. Descriptions of scenes and the locations they occurred in were extremely detailed, but the actions of the characters themselves were often described to the reader rather than shown on the page. For example, the Name-Bearer could ask someone where they came from, and that person would then have a paragraph along the lines of “he proceeded to describe his childhood, here are the details he shared”. With how elaborate the scene setting was written, it left me yearning for the characters’ voices rather than a summary of what they said.
Tidbits Worth Repeating
For the goddess Danray is the goddess of both battle and transition. That is why both the butterfly and the phoenix are so prevalent in Danrayen culture. They are both creatures undone to become something more than they once were.
Is it worth the coin?
Yes – if this sounds like your cup of tea or ran across your FYP at some point before it was written, consider picking it up. Book 2 is coming out at the end of June 2023, so you won’t have to wait long to continue the story.
Larissa Lee 