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Nameless
Nameless - Born in a dusty workhouse, a mere product of his oppressive environment, that is until he discovers that there's another world beyond the shelves & windows of his toil - But who is he, & does he have the right to freedom?
160 pages, Paperback
Published June 18, 2025
About the author
Alexander Way-B
5 books15 followersAlexander Way-B has a background in art and design and grew up in the south of England. He has travelled extensively, and lived and worked in Japan, and France. He loves camping and walking, cares deeply for the planet and for conservation – which features in his books.
He is dyslexic and only discovered the true enjoyment of reading fiction when his young daughter, Daisy-B, first pressured him into reading a novel to her! Since then, they have read hundreds of novels together. They can often be found immersed in the wonderful world of mystery and adventure or creating their own exciting tales. 'The legend of the Ultimate Treasure' is one of those tales – the first to be turned into an actual novel.
He is dyslexic and only discovered the true enjoyment of reading fiction when his young daughter, Daisy-B, first pressured him into reading a novel to her! Since then, they have read hundreds of novels together. They can often be found immersed in the wonderful world of mystery and adventure or creating their own exciting tales. 'The legend of the Ultimate Treasure' is one of those tales – the first to be turned into an actual novel.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 15, 2024
I wish to thank the author for kindly giving me an ARC copy!
This is the second Alexander Way-B book I have read, and I have seen improvements in the writing style while still retaining the author's voice. I can say with certainity the author's books will continue getting better and better.
It is quite hard to pinpoint an exact genre for Nameless (because I run the risk of spoilers). It combines the nihilism regarding childhood slavery of a Dickensonian novel, an amnesiac protagonist who may or may not be neurodivergent, lighthearted romancec, coming of age, and also mystery/thriller. While the book is clearly aimed at an older MG or even YA audience, it can very well be enjoyed by adult readers looking for a hero to root for in a grim world where things are not quite as they seem at first.
I can't easily talk about this book because I run the risk of spoiling the big plot twist. However, I started getting suspicious when certain things happen early in the story with no apparent explanation (they are not plot holes btw, there is a clear explanation that is revealed later on). When I noticed a few unusual things going on that reminded me all too much about the first Matrix film, I was starting to formulate my guess about the big plot twist. Lest to say, the books ends with a nice wrap up with no loose ends.
The Nameless protagonist is quite an endearing character and I also liked the female love interest Felicia as well. For the sake of avoiding spoiling the plot twist, we never get any chapters from Felicia's POV unless the writing is purposely written so that she is too distracted to give out her big secret ahead of time. There is zero spice in this love story, in case anyone is curious to know.
With a brisk pace and at only a bit over 100 pages, this is a fast paced book that can be enjoyed in just 90 minutes.
4.5 stars!
This is the second Alexander Way-B book I have read, and I have seen improvements in the writing style while still retaining the author's voice. I can say with certainity the author's books will continue getting better and better.
It is quite hard to pinpoint an exact genre for Nameless (because I run the risk of spoilers). It combines the nihilism regarding childhood slavery of a Dickensonian novel, an amnesiac protagonist who may or may not be neurodivergent, lighthearted romancec, coming of age, and also mystery/thriller. While the book is clearly aimed at an older MG or even YA audience, it can very well be enjoyed by adult readers looking for a hero to root for in a grim world where things are not quite as they seem at first.
I can't easily talk about this book because I run the risk of spoiling the big plot twist. However, I started getting suspicious when certain things happen early in the story with no apparent explanation (they are not plot holes btw, there is a clear explanation that is revealed later on). When I noticed a few unusual things going on that reminded me all too much about the first Matrix film, I was starting to formulate my guess about the big plot twist. Lest to say, the books ends with a nice wrap up with no loose ends.
The Nameless protagonist is quite an endearing character and I also liked the female love interest Felicia as well. For the sake of avoiding spoiling the plot twist, we never get any chapters from Felicia's POV unless the writing is purposely written so that she is too distracted to give out her big secret ahead of time. There is zero spice in this love story, in case anyone is curious to know.
With a brisk pace and at only a bit over 100 pages, this is a fast paced book that can be enjoyed in just 90 minutes.
4.5 stars!
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October 11, 2024Read for SFINCS 2. RTC.
January 14, 2026
If you were a fan of the 80s movie Electric Dreams, you will love Nameless. I was a bit lost at first, but as the story continued, pieces started to fit together, and I fell in love with the cute love story! Then, the ending was a twist I didn't expect!
Plus, the author is dyslexic, which only makes the story that much better, knowing how hard he worked on it!
If you're an IT person, a romantic, or just love a good indie read-this is the book for you!
Plus, the author is dyslexic, which only makes the story that much better, knowing how hard he worked on it!
If you're an IT person, a romantic, or just love a good indie read-this is the book for you!
May 5, 2025
This book is fantastic! I've read a couple of Way-B's other books and it's always a great time but this one was the best I'veread thus far.
It's a quick read so easy to pick up and finish in a weekend(or aftenoon if you read faster than me) and I can't recommend it enough for a nice weekend trip to a fun, different world.
It's impossible to not immediately feel for the boy in the workhouse being bullied around by an unforgiving caretaker/boss and rude customers. I loved the steampunk Victorian aesthetic and the slow unravelling of what's really going on and what kind of world the boy/Kentaro really lives in.
While the story overall is joyful and has a lot of sweet and light-hearted moments, it's also got undercurrents of darkness. Some scenes give off horror vibes in all the best ways and it kept me on the edge, fearing for Kentaro's life. I like the more existential and philospphical moments as well, for a short read, it really dealt with quite a lot and packed a punch.
I got vibes from a few popular movies but it's a bit spoilery so read those comps at your own descretion:
Overall this was a brilliant read and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting a short yet surprisingly deep story.
It's a quick read so easy to pick up and finish in a weekend(or aftenoon if you read faster than me) and I can't recommend it enough for a nice weekend trip to a fun, different world.
It's impossible to not immediately feel for the boy in the workhouse being bullied around by an unforgiving caretaker/boss and rude customers. I loved the steampunk Victorian aesthetic and the slow unravelling of what's really going on and what kind of world the boy/Kentaro really lives in.
While the story overall is joyful and has a lot of sweet and light-hearted moments, it's also got undercurrents of darkness. Some scenes give off horror vibes in all the best ways and it kept me on the edge, fearing for Kentaro's life. I like the more existential and philospphical moments as well, for a short read, it really dealt with quite a lot and packed a punch.
I got vibes from a few popular movies but it's a bit spoilery so read those comps at your own descretion:
Overall this was a brilliant read and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting a short yet surprisingly deep story.
December 29, 2024
As a picky reader I quite enjoyed this book. I especially liked the mystery of it and the way it surprised me, and that it did not stick to a sterotypic and predictable genre.
Hope to see similar works from the author in the future.
Marielle
Hope to see similar works from the author in the future.
Marielle
September 19, 2024
Curious!
I am speechless. One has to read this book to experience the curious feeling this book echoes!
I am speechless. One has to read this book to experience the curious feeling this book echoes!
July 2, 2024
Nothing is what it seems like at first glance in this story. I can't tell you what it's really about because that would be a huge spoiler so I would suggest you go with the flow and take the story at it appears . That's what the author intends after all to surprise you . So go ahead and let yourself be surprised.
I do want to say this thought, at the core this story is about three things love, freedom and self worth. Who we are is defined by our understanding of ourselves and what we believe we stand for irrespective of how others see us.
Love knows no boundaries, this story will truly show you that.
And lastly there is this thing called freedom which we often take for granted but there are so many out there who have never known it and live in a cruel, fettered world.
Irrespective of its origins and what Nameless is really about I believe this story should be dedicated to those who don't know freedom but need it. May they find what they don't even know what they are looking for. I commend the author for believing in such invaluable ideas and writing a book that would inspire a reader to dig deeper and discover ideas which inspire you to perhaps pick up the book again and look for all the hidden references you missed on first reading .
I do want to say this thought, at the core this story is about three things love, freedom and self worth. Who we are is defined by our understanding of ourselves and what we believe we stand for irrespective of how others see us.
Love knows no boundaries, this story will truly show you that.
And lastly there is this thing called freedom which we often take for granted but there are so many out there who have never known it and live in a cruel, fettered world.
Irrespective of its origins and what Nameless is really about I believe this story should be dedicated to those who don't know freedom but need it. May they find what they don't even know what they are looking for. I commend the author for believing in such invaluable ideas and writing a book that would inspire a reader to dig deeper and discover ideas which inspire you to perhaps pick up the book again and look for all the hidden references you missed on first reading .
June 27, 2024
I received this book as a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, now that’s out of the way, I read this book almost two weeks ago, and I’ve given myself some time to mull it over. I still have a clear memory of the story, which is unusual because I’m quite forgetful of things I’ve read.
First off, it’s a fantasy and sci-fi themed novella with a romance at the centre. A nameless worker in a Victorian-type workhouse (but it’s a library) retrieves information and writes or draws it to customer requirements at a service window. It is a monotonous life, but those are the specifications of his job, and it’s all he knows. He’s world is miniscule. One day, he meets a customer that he falls for, and it’s this relationship that moves the narrative forward.
The story itself is engaging, and it changes from environment to new environment quite quickly as “nameless” escapes and hides (he gets a name later on!).
The theme is always evolving, and it’s evocative. There’s a mystery in there waiting to be unravelled. It reminds me of Kafka novels in that something is happening to the protagonist but maybe you can’t quite grasp what it is because it isn’t based on the real world. At the beginning, you always get the feeling something is slightly off.
I’m being vague and I don’t want to give anything away. I enjoyed it, so it’s a five. I hope others will pick it up too!
Okay, now that’s out of the way, I read this book almost two weeks ago, and I’ve given myself some time to mull it over. I still have a clear memory of the story, which is unusual because I’m quite forgetful of things I’ve read.
First off, it’s a fantasy and sci-fi themed novella with a romance at the centre. A nameless worker in a Victorian-type workhouse (but it’s a library) retrieves information and writes or draws it to customer requirements at a service window. It is a monotonous life, but those are the specifications of his job, and it’s all he knows. He’s world is miniscule. One day, he meets a customer that he falls for, and it’s this relationship that moves the narrative forward.
The story itself is engaging, and it changes from environment to new environment quite quickly as “nameless” escapes and hides (he gets a name later on!).
The theme is always evolving, and it’s evocative. There’s a mystery in there waiting to be unravelled. It reminds me of Kafka novels in that something is happening to the protagonist but maybe you can’t quite grasp what it is because it isn’t based on the real world. At the beginning, you always get the feeling something is slightly off.
I’m being vague and I don’t want to give anything away. I enjoyed it, so it’s a five. I hope others will pick it up too!
June 27, 2024
Nameless
There is a wealth of allegory within the pages of this book, in that you have to really open your mind, relax and listen to what is being conveyed within its pages. It is a book that cannot be taken at face value, as there are signs at every corner that tell you, there is a deeper meaning to the story. As it unfolds it opens up your mind to a different perspective on what is man, and machine; it blurs the edges.
Alexander Way-B has constructed a book challenging the human definition of man, in that we ‘are’, because we ‘exist’. ‘Nameless’ will surprise you, it will also test your ability to what is right or wrong, while revealing the greed of large corporations, who will do anything to be the first in their research.
The main characters in this book will endear you as they fight for justice, and acceptance within society. It is a small book, but holds such a powerful message for this millennium. Never underestimate the power of love and freedom.
I highly recommend you to read this book.
There is a wealth of allegory within the pages of this book, in that you have to really open your mind, relax and listen to what is being conveyed within its pages. It is a book that cannot be taken at face value, as there are signs at every corner that tell you, there is a deeper meaning to the story. As it unfolds it opens up your mind to a different perspective on what is man, and machine; it blurs the edges.
Alexander Way-B has constructed a book challenging the human definition of man, in that we ‘are’, because we ‘exist’. ‘Nameless’ will surprise you, it will also test your ability to what is right or wrong, while revealing the greed of large corporations, who will do anything to be the first in their research.
The main characters in this book will endear you as they fight for justice, and acceptance within society. It is a small book, but holds such a powerful message for this millennium. Never underestimate the power of love and freedom.
I highly recommend you to read this book.
October 18, 2024
Alexander Way-B never disappoints. He creates a realistic, yet surprising world the reader will find at once familiar and unsettling with characters that defy traditional stereotypes. Beyond a simple love story, Nameless is both a coming of age story and an insightful look at what it means to be human and love. With rich description and complex characters, the reader is whisked away to a world just beneath our view and introduced to characters and a story that lingers. We should all be so bold, brave and adventurous.
Personally, any book by this author is fantastic! He and his young daughter also have a fantastic series of books that are equally great. I'm always on the lookout for Way-B stories.
Personally, any book by this author is fantastic! He and his young daughter also have a fantastic series of books that are equally great. I'm always on the lookout for Way-B stories.
July 22, 2024
I blasted through this book in a single day as the idea hooked me, and I've read other works by the author previously. I won't say too much so as not to give away the story arc but it starts out quite bleakly with glimmers of hope appearing - something we can all relate to at some point. From there the development is very interesting with plenty of action.
There are some compelling themes in here which will be sure to grab you, along with allegories which you may or may not work out! I personally really enjoyed the descriptions of the world which were rich and varied. All in all, a very interesting read and well worth picking up!
There are some compelling themes in here which will be sure to grab you, along with allegories which you may or may not work out! I personally really enjoyed the descriptions of the world which were rich and varied. All in all, a very interesting read and well worth picking up!
September 27, 2024
A quick read. It starts with leaving the reader with lots of questions to what is going on only to add more and more questions as the book moves along. I really enjoyed it. Overall the book is a fun read with an interesting concept.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews