author of SFF & YA books about intrepid heroines

Reviews of Tell Me My Name

Blog reviews:
From Tash McAdam, international bestselling author of the "Psionics" series:

Mary Fan is one of the most remarkable descriptive writers I have ever read. Tell Me My Name takes place in a single location, but soars across a world, tantalizing the reader with hints at the shape of the larger setting. Totally fantastical, while remaining original with the laws of the universe, Tell Me My Name was an emotional glimpse into the current, distressing situation of a young girl you immediately connect with. The flash back scenes are beautiful, the pacing perfect, and the set up for a larger story intriguing. Mary is an extremely talented writer with a penchant for descriptions that stay with you long after finishing the story. I'll be reading this one again, that's for sure! Can't wait for the series!
From publishing consultant Jacqueline Simonds:

Put this one on your “must read” list! A young woman awakes in an ice-clad room with no door and only a small window. More importantly, she has no idea who she is. Her only clues are the strange dreams she has, and bizarre encounters with an agony-inducing magician in black. The only bright spots in this hellscape: the beautiful blue butterflies outside her window, and the mage’s apparently rebellious apprentice. 

Fan’s suburb writing makes this claustrophobe’s nightmare intense and fascinating. The protagonist instantly captures your imagination and heart. And the revelation about who she is, and WHAT she is, will truly startle you. I don’t think anyone has attempted a YA with this sort of character. I look forward to the full series!

I received this book for review from the publisher.
From fantasy author Will Herr:

Fair disclosure: I received an early copy of this book, for review purposes. 

With this book, Mary Fan has broken away from what I once considered her comfort zone: jaunty Science Fiction NA/YA genre adventures with sassy heroines and brooding heroes. This book is a departure from that formula, and it is a wonderful one.

Tell Me My Name is, as the title suggests, about someone with amnesia. The book is set in a flamboyantly fantastical world, and is unapologetic about its appearance. If anything, it revels in its own impossibilities, and the reader revels with it. It is as if Mary Fan has drawn a line for the reader: "Step over this, and your reality crumbles." The reader does so with glee, and dances in the crumbs of what they once knew.

The book is also written in the first person, in a style that seemed reminiscent of Edgar Rice Burroughs, if Mr. Burroughs had written from a female perspective (someone enlighten me if he ever did). As well, the book is targeted almost exclusively toward a female audience: the only sympathetic male character has few lines. For this reason, I mainly recommend it toward a female audience.

Despite this, the character development is sound, and full. We understand the plight of the unnamed main character, and we see how she develops through her interaction with others. All plot points are tied neatly up with the ending, but ONLY those points which were necessary to the plot. Others offer a tantalizing look into Mary Fan's upcoming series, of which this is a part.

Do I recommend this book? Yes, especially to girls aged 12-16. The writing and style will be approachable, the plights of the main character comprehensible, the content is appropriate, and the action will excite. Also, at the current price it is a steal, a fitting excuse to bury one's self away from a harsh day, to dream in the dramatic flow of yesterday's dreams.

Five stars. Buy it.
From George Ebey, author of the "Phoenix Saga":

I received a pre-release copy of Tell Me My Name and I’m happy to report that it was every bit the treat I was hoping for. 

The story opens with a girl who wakes up in a cold dungeon with no idea of who she is or how she got there. The tension soon rises as she struggles to understand her situation and cope with the sinister forces that are working against her. 

Despite being set largely in a one-room cell, Mary does an excellent job of introducing us to a rich and lavish world that is truly clever and unique. The bad guy is particularly creepy and the ending will surely leave you wanting more. A solid work and a great read. 
From Elizabeth Corrigan, author of the "Earthbound Angels" series:

I loved Mary Fan's sci-fi books, so I was excited to see her branch out into fantasy. The world she has created in Tell Me My Name is unique, filled with trees that grow clocks, angel-like beings called ayri, and malevolent sorcerers, even though all we see of it is one icy cage. The for-now nameless main character strives to escape from her mysterious imprisonment---mysterious primarily because she cannot even remember her own name. Her captors---including a handsome apprentice who repeatedly risks punishment to be kind to her---hint that she has magical powers that she has no idea how to access. Her attempts to escape are hindered by her lack of memory. She doesn't know how good or bad or strong she is, or whether she has the ability or strength to bypass her binds. Full of vivid descriptions and heart-wrenching emotion, Tell Me My Name whets the appetite for further installments in the Fated Stars series.
Back