What do you think?
Rate this book
The Half-Light Chronicles #1
Blood of the Stars
Harnessing the power in her blood could turn the tides of war—if it doesn’t destroy her first.
It’s been fourteen years since Prince Gaeren lost Aeliana, the childhood friend he’d sworn to protect. Haunted by the unfulfilled promise, he searches for a way to bring her home. But with threats against the kingdom from both a rebel faction in the south and Mayvus, a power-hungry priestess in the east, he only has time to follow one last clue across the seas.
Kidnapped as a child, Aeliana is desperate to be rid of the chaotic magic in her blood, magic her captors use to ravage the land. When she’s found by Gaeren’s rebel enemies, she joins their fight to rescue her mother from Mayvus, but her unwieldy power only serves to attract Mayvus' attention. Aeliana must learn to control her magic before they reach her mother, or risk becoming the weapon Mayvus needs to take complete control of the kingdom.
It’s been fourteen years since Prince Gaeren lost Aeliana, the childhood friend he’d sworn to protect. Haunted by the unfulfilled promise, he searches for a way to bring her home. But with threats against the kingdom from both a rebel faction in the south and Mayvus, a power-hungry priestess in the east, he only has time to follow one last clue across the seas.
Kidnapped as a child, Aeliana is desperate to be rid of the chaotic magic in her blood, magic her captors use to ravage the land. When she’s found by Gaeren’s rebel enemies, she joins their fight to rescue her mother from Mayvus, but her unwieldy power only serves to attract Mayvus' attention. Aeliana must learn to control her magic before they reach her mother, or risk becoming the weapon Mayvus needs to take complete control of the kingdom.
692 pages, Audiobook
First published March 7, 2024
51 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Karyne Norton
14 books181 followersWant a FREE short story from Karyne Norton?
Grab the prequel to her fantasy series, The Half-Light Chronicles, here: https://BookHip.com/BNBMKQG
Or grab a standalone sci-fi time travel novella here: https://BookHip.com/RMHZCDJ
Karyne Norton hasn’t found the key to time travel, immortality, or infinite lives, so she’s taking a break from nursing and photography to focus on raising four human beings while writing epic fantasy and science fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, which is why she’s also the host of the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, where she reads a new short story every week from a variety of fantasy authors. Blood of the Stars, the first book in the Half-Light Chronicles, is her debut fantasy novel and The Things We Can Change is her debut sci-fi time travel thriller.
On reviews: I usually give 4-5 stars to every book I finish because a) I don't have time to finish books unless I'm loving them b) even books that have content or themes I disagree with can positively impact me c) stars don't mean a ton to readers, but they mean a lot to the authors. If you want more detailed impressions on books I'm reading, come find me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karynenorton/) or head over to my website and sign up for my newsletter: https://karynenorton.com
Grab the prequel to her fantasy series, The Half-Light Chronicles, here: https://BookHip.com/BNBMKQG
Or grab a standalone sci-fi time travel novella here: https://BookHip.com/RMHZCDJ
Karyne Norton hasn’t found the key to time travel, immortality, or infinite lives, so she’s taking a break from nursing and photography to focus on raising four human beings while writing epic fantasy and science fiction. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, which is why she’s also the host of the Finding Fantasy Reads podcast, where she reads a new short story every week from a variety of fantasy authors. Blood of the Stars, the first book in the Half-Light Chronicles, is her debut fantasy novel and The Things We Can Change is her debut sci-fi time travel thriller.
On reviews: I usually give 4-5 stars to every book I finish because a) I don't have time to finish books unless I'm loving them b) even books that have content or themes I disagree with can positively impact me c) stars don't mean a ton to readers, but they mean a lot to the authors. If you want more detailed impressions on books I'm reading, come find me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/karynenorton/) or head over to my website and sign up for my newsletter: https://karynenorton.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
July 18, 2024
Ahh so fun! This is a coming of age fantasy that I had so much fun with. The magic system involving the stars and the sun, the push and pull of blood magic, and all that comes with it was so fascinating to me. I really liked our FMC and some of the struggles she had to go through. I wish I'd understood our MMC motives just a little more. He was so hyper focused on finding her, that sometimes I felt like he as a character got a little lost. I do wish the beginning half were a little tighter and not so drawn out, but I think the author has a good idea of where she's heading and the world she created. I'm looking forward to book 2!
March 18, 2024
4.5 stars
An awesome start to an epic fantasy story!
If you like…
✔️ Complexe magic system and lore
✔️ Adventure
✔️ Real slow burn
✔️ Dragon
✔️ Cinnamon roll FMC
✔️ Runaway prince
✔️ Driven characters
Then you might like this one!
I hadn’t read a real epic fantasy in a while and it was a great change of pace 😊
This is quite a chunky book, a lot happen and there isn’t really any down time.
Be aware that for now, the romance is a very very sub plot. It’s hinted at but nothing really happen. So if you are feeling in the mood for romance or spice, this is best kept for a later time!
An awesome start to an epic fantasy story!
If you like…
✔️ Complexe magic system and lore
✔️ Adventure
✔️ Real slow burn
✔️ Dragon
✔️ Cinnamon roll FMC
✔️ Runaway prince
✔️ Driven characters
Then you might like this one!
I hadn’t read a real epic fantasy in a while and it was a great change of pace 😊
This is quite a chunky book, a lot happen and there isn’t really any down time.
Be aware that for now, the romance is a very very sub plot. It’s hinted at but nothing really happen. So if you are feeling in the mood for romance or spice, this is best kept for a later time!
September 5, 2024
Wow, what a debut! This has powerful magic, political intrigue, and a story filled with great characters and unique world-building. It’s a dark, unpredictable world that has aspects that I really adore.
Aeliana, a determined but initially fearful protagonist, must learn to control her magic if she is to have any hope of saving herself and those she loves. Aeliana's character is complex and relatable. She was raised by two people who used her for her magic and allowed her to become addicted to dangerous blood magic. In the beginning, she is struggling and incredibly afraid of her own power. It's delightful to watch her grow, stumble, and get back up again. The magic system is super interesting in this one. Her willingness to see the good in monstrous creatures is a beautiful aspect of her character, one that I share with her. Her acceptance of the winex is a MAJOR highlight for me. I hope that is something that continues. I love how tied these creatures are to the lore.
Gaeren is haunted by the guilt of his past and driven by his sense of duty, as he embarks on his desperate mission to find Aeliana. Their relationship is complex and fascinating. The morally grey aspects of this novel are another highlight. The characters aren’t black-and-white heroes or villains; instead, they exist in that fascinating in-between space where their decisions are driven by survival, love, and sometimes unknown motives. This ambiguity, paired with the intricate bonds between characters, adds such emotional weight to the story. The connections between characters feel authentic and earned, which is not always easy to achieve in a fantasy setting with so many moving parts and so many characters!
This is the perfect read for anyone who loves epic fantasy with a touch of darkness, a lot of wonderful characters, and plenty of action. This story is full of unique bonds (LOVE those), hidden truths, and a thrilling quest for redemption. I am eagerly anticipating what comes next in this series! Highly recommend for your TBR if you’re a fan of high-stakes fantasy and beautifully crafted worlds.
Aeliana, a determined but initially fearful protagonist, must learn to control her magic if she is to have any hope of saving herself and those she loves. Aeliana's character is complex and relatable. She was raised by two people who used her for her magic and allowed her to become addicted to dangerous blood magic. In the beginning, she is struggling and incredibly afraid of her own power. It's delightful to watch her grow, stumble, and get back up again. The magic system is super interesting in this one. Her willingness to see the good in monstrous creatures is a beautiful aspect of her character, one that I share with her. Her acceptance of the winex is a MAJOR highlight for me. I hope that is something that continues. I love how tied these creatures are to the lore.
Gaeren is haunted by the guilt of his past and driven by his sense of duty, as he embarks on his desperate mission to find Aeliana. Their relationship is complex and fascinating. The morally grey aspects of this novel are another highlight. The characters aren’t black-and-white heroes or villains; instead, they exist in that fascinating in-between space where their decisions are driven by survival, love, and sometimes unknown motives. This ambiguity, paired with the intricate bonds between characters, adds such emotional weight to the story. The connections between characters feel authentic and earned, which is not always easy to achieve in a fantasy setting with so many moving parts and so many characters!
This is the perfect read for anyone who loves epic fantasy with a touch of darkness, a lot of wonderful characters, and plenty of action. This story is full of unique bonds (LOVE those), hidden truths, and a thrilling quest for redemption. I am eagerly anticipating what comes next in this series! Highly recommend for your TBR if you’re a fan of high-stakes fantasy and beautifully crafted worlds.
September 30, 2024
There's lots going on in this fantasy novel. Norton has crafted an immersive and mysterious world that made me very intrigued with the various ethical questions raised around different uses of magic. And the novel features perhaps my favorite unique fantasy race I've seen so far this year with a race that dies and rebirths itself every month or so. Really enjoyed the ways this race of creatures contributed to the overall story.
If you're looking for a classic adventure story with compelling protagonists, found family, and an intimidating dragon, this is an entertaining read!
If you're looking for a classic adventure story with compelling protagonists, found family, and an intimidating dragon, this is an entertaining read!
June 12, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
Video review to come!
Video review to come!
November 29, 2024
The Blood of Stars blew me away in more ways than one. This epic fantasy debut impressed me with its intricate and expansive world building, great pacing despite running well over 600 pages, and intriguing characters that kept me reading from beginning to end.
First off, the world building was top tier fantastic! So much attention to detail was made to EVERYTHING. From the geography, the political system, the history, the lore, and especially the magic system. Everything was clear and immersive and made me feel like I was in the world. There’s also dragons here. Despite it’s massive length, it’s well paced with the status quo not lasting for too long before another twist or change occurs, and the adventuring feel sticks around throughout. The prose was descriptive and clean, and in many spots, very emotionally moving. There’s some dark elements, but it doesn’t overwhelm the plot.
The characters are fleshed out and have the appropriate amount of depth according to their roles. We have three POV characters, Aeliana, Gaeren, and Orra, and all of them have great development throughout, as they learn and grow, since this is a coming of age story. This story also focuses on the bonds we make in many ways. There is a romance but it’s very much to the background for most of the story.
Aeliana is a priestess daughter having returned to her realm after many years of abuse and toxic beliefs placed by her handlers and after being rescued, has to learn how to embrace her magic and stand on her own two feet after her confidence has been ripped to shreds, if she hopes not to be torn apart by it. Gaeren has been spending most of his life searching for Aeliana so he can protect her. In a way, he’s hyper focused on said goal that he’s not focused at all on anything else like his role to protect her sister, the future queen or any other royal duties. A runaway prince in a sense. Orra is a wild card, and we get to know more about her role as the story continues. I love the mystery she sheds into the story.
If you’re a fan of expansive world building and a classic fantasy adventure, you can’t miss this book. While this is an adult fantasy, this book is PG-13 and suitable for teens, with no spice and no swearing. The coming of age aspects might appeal to them as well.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the Half-Light Chronicles!
*I received a review copy from the author. All opinions are my own.*
First off, the world building was top tier fantastic! So much attention to detail was made to EVERYTHING. From the geography, the political system, the history, the lore, and especially the magic system. Everything was clear and immersive and made me feel like I was in the world. There’s also dragons here. Despite it’s massive length, it’s well paced with the status quo not lasting for too long before another twist or change occurs, and the adventuring feel sticks around throughout. The prose was descriptive and clean, and in many spots, very emotionally moving. There’s some dark elements, but it doesn’t overwhelm the plot.
The characters are fleshed out and have the appropriate amount of depth according to their roles. We have three POV characters, Aeliana, Gaeren, and Orra, and all of them have great development throughout, as they learn and grow, since this is a coming of age story. This story also focuses on the bonds we make in many ways. There is a romance but it’s very much to the background for most of the story.
Aeliana is a priestess daughter having returned to her realm after many years of abuse and toxic beliefs placed by her handlers and after being rescued, has to learn how to embrace her magic and stand on her own two feet after her confidence has been ripped to shreds, if she hopes not to be torn apart by it. Gaeren has been spending most of his life searching for Aeliana so he can protect her. In a way, he’s hyper focused on said goal that he’s not focused at all on anything else like his role to protect her sister, the future queen or any other royal duties. A runaway prince in a sense. Orra is a wild card, and we get to know more about her role as the story continues. I love the mystery she sheds into the story.
If you’re a fan of expansive world building and a classic fantasy adventure, you can’t miss this book. While this is an adult fantasy, this book is PG-13 and suitable for teens, with no spice and no swearing. The coming of age aspects might appeal to them as well.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the Half-Light Chronicles!
*I received a review copy from the author. All opinions are my own.*
August 12, 2024
Number 6 of my SPFBOX reads
A quick note - I highly recommend reading the prequel The Light That Takes first, I thought it was a wonderful way to enter this larger world. Though if you are the kind of person that likes to go in blind, then read it after.
For fourteen years, Prince Gaeren has been hunting for Aeliana who was stolen away, bound by a promise he refuses to give up. But the duty of his royal title chafes at him and he hungers to escape to his ship and sail the seas. While Aeliana longs to escape her captors who use the magic in her blood for their dark purposes and find away to be free of the curse of magic. But when she finally secures a transport to her homeland, she is discovered by rebels and thrust into a brewing war set against the rulers.
I will admit, this chocker took me a long time to get through, but that’s just me and epics. Though once I got past the midpoint the action started building and it was hard to stop reading.
While Aeliana is a naive character, not through her own fault, she never dipped too far into self pity though I did want her to come into herself far soon. Her life has not been an easy one and it was easy to understand why she saw her magic as a curse rather than a blessing. Despite this she fights for what she believes in, and takes the harder paths by holding true to her beliefs.
Gaeren was an enjoyable character to watch, and his growth in this book was what I loved the most. His forced proximity with a close friend who betrayed him was so well done and a gut punch.
The world building slowly unfurls as we learn about this world along with Aeliana, though there are many question left answers most of them only added the pull to read into the next book. My only nag was that dark spirits were never explained and, to me, they felt a bit out of place in the story because of that.
The prose was wonderful and this book was so polished that one would never guess that it was a debut.
**POV?** Third person past tense with several POV characters
**Will it make you cry?** Likely - this has an epic climax
**Romance?** Romantic themes but only sparks of the real romance to come
**Humor?** A few humorous moments
**YA/NA?** This borders between YA and Adult - though I lean more to Adult. Though both our two main MC’s are younger, and Aeliana starts as quite a naive character, the themes we deal with are far more adult. A mature coming of age? An odd way to describe it, but the closest I can get.
**Fight Scenes?** Yes, we get both magical fights and sword fight. And the occasional fight against a dragon.
**Soft/Hard magic?** Hard - there is a very set magic system with hard rules and boundaries, though there are a few who can break these rules.
A quick note - I highly recommend reading the prequel The Light That Takes first, I thought it was a wonderful way to enter this larger world. Though if you are the kind of person that likes to go in blind, then read it after.
For fourteen years, Prince Gaeren has been hunting for Aeliana who was stolen away, bound by a promise he refuses to give up. But the duty of his royal title chafes at him and he hungers to escape to his ship and sail the seas. While Aeliana longs to escape her captors who use the magic in her blood for their dark purposes and find away to be free of the curse of magic. But when she finally secures a transport to her homeland, she is discovered by rebels and thrust into a brewing war set against the rulers.
I will admit, this chocker took me a long time to get through, but that’s just me and epics. Though once I got past the midpoint the action started building and it was hard to stop reading.
While Aeliana is a naive character, not through her own fault, she never dipped too far into self pity though I did want her to come into herself far soon. Her life has not been an easy one and it was easy to understand why she saw her magic as a curse rather than a blessing. Despite this she fights for what she believes in, and takes the harder paths by holding true to her beliefs.
Gaeren was an enjoyable character to watch, and his growth in this book was what I loved the most. His forced proximity with a close friend who betrayed him was so well done and a gut punch.
The world building slowly unfurls as we learn about this world along with Aeliana, though there are many question left answers most of them only added the pull to read into the next book. My only nag was that dark spirits were never explained and, to me, they felt a bit out of place in the story because of that.
The prose was wonderful and this book was so polished that one would never guess that it was a debut.
**POV?** Third person past tense with several POV characters
**Will it make you cry?** Likely - this has an epic climax
**Romance?** Romantic themes but only sparks of the real romance to come
**Humor?** A few humorous moments
**YA/NA?** This borders between YA and Adult - though I lean more to Adult. Though both our two main MC’s are younger, and Aeliana starts as quite a naive character, the themes we deal with are far more adult. A mature coming of age? An odd way to describe it, but the closest I can get.
**Fight Scenes?** Yes, we get both magical fights and sword fight. And the occasional fight against a dragon.
**Soft/Hard magic?** Hard - there is a very set magic system with hard rules and boundaries, though there are a few who can break these rules.
March 14, 2024
TW for self harm and physical/emotional abuse.
I have...complicated feelings about this book.
I know, I know, I'm an ARC reader, people expect me to gush with enthusiasm.
Well, I'd like to, but being honest comes first.
And honestly, I love what the author is trying to do. She's bringing topics of physical and emotional abuse and self harm into the light, she's letting the characters grapple and come to terms with their own sense of morality and self worth.
But I will never excuse a character who promises to be the Aeliana's "friend" intentionally triggering memories of past abuse and emotionally manipulating her for their own purposes. You cannot include that person in your list of "found family heroes." You can't excuse a teacher like that as just "being grumpy" or "having a tragic backstory" or "a difficult personality."
You can't.
He's the true villain of the story. Failing to recognize that destroys everything this book tries to accomplish.
Read the full review, complete with more details here: https://bookmarkedone.home.blog/2024/....
I have...complicated feelings about this book.
I know, I know, I'm an ARC reader, people expect me to gush with enthusiasm.
Well, I'd like to, but being honest comes first.
And honestly, I love what the author is trying to do. She's bringing topics of physical and emotional abuse and self harm into the light, she's letting the characters grapple and come to terms with their own sense of morality and self worth.
But I will never excuse a character who promises to be the Aeliana's "friend" intentionally triggering memories of past abuse and emotionally manipulating her for their own purposes. You cannot include that person in your list of "found family heroes." You can't excuse a teacher like that as just "being grumpy" or "having a tragic backstory" or "a difficult personality."
You can't.
He's the true villain of the story. Failing to recognize that destroys everything this book tries to accomplish.
Read the full review, complete with more details here: https://bookmarkedone.home.blog/2024/....
May 20, 2025
This is Karyne Norton’s debut novel, but it does not read like it. Her characters and world building read of a more seasoned author. She has a gift in her writing that draws you in and doesn’t let you go until the end. I don’t normally have the attention span for Epic Fantasy, but truly enjoyed this cover to cover!
March 3, 2024
Separated during a traumatic event in childhood, Gaeren has dedicated his life to searching for Aeliana, while she is just trying to survive, enslaved by a nasty couple who use her blood for unholy magic. She has known no other life. From these simple beginnings, a much larger story unfolds. One that will have far-reaching effects on the world on which they live.
This book has some solid world-building. The known world is separated by an impenetrable energy barrier which nobody can cross, at least without the magic of the mysterious star bridges, ancient artefacts of great power.
As a result, the cultures on either side have developed differently. This is especially seen in their differing theologies.
The book has a nicely defined magic system based on spokes of a wheel. Different characters have different abilities, depending on where they fall on the wheel, if at all.
I eat this kind of thing up. You can even take a test to see what form of magic you possess. Turns out, I’m a constructive pneumatic with the ability to sift the truth of someone’s soul, and I have the potential to develop water rim magic.
It’s very easy to develop a strong connection with the two heroes of this story. Gaeren and Aeliana are likeably sympathetic characters, and I was very invested in their childhood relationship. Of course, after almost 18 years, they are different people, so you can imagine their eventual meeting may not go entirely as Gaeren envisions. Part of the joy of reading this book was seeing them re-connect and build a new sense of trust and a touching bond of friendship.
Nothing is cut and dry in this world. There are strong political rivalries but picking a side can be challenging. This is most keenly felt through the point of view of Gaeren, who is caught in the middle and must make some extremely difficult decisions regarding his loyalty.
Norton has made use of the classic dragon in the world of this book, in a new and refreshing way, but she has also created her own unique fantasy creatures. I loved the winex. Such unique beings. They live a very short lifespan, only to be reborn without the memories of their previous iteration. Watch out for the character Felk. He’s awesome.
I enjoyed the way this book addressed the theme of compassion toward those who would be your enemy, and the consequences, both good and bad, that this can lead to.
I also really enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between Gearen and his former friend Riveren.
There are a lot of fascinating mysteries set up in Blood of the Stars. And we get certainly get a number of satisfying answers in this book, but there is plenty left to be explored in subsequent books in the series. Norton got the balance just right in this regard. I was given enough for a great experience, but can’t wait to learn more about some of these characters in the future.
All in all, Blood of the Stars was full of excitement, fantastically inventive, and emotionally moving.
The book sits in a place where it will appeal to a wide range of fantasy readers, from those who love Brandson Sanderson and Robert Jordan, to those who prefer YA fantasy. This is a series I think we can all enjoy and geek out over.
I highly recommend Blood of The Stars by Karynne Norton.
If you enjoy fantasy, you’ll want to check it out.
This book has some solid world-building. The known world is separated by an impenetrable energy barrier which nobody can cross, at least without the magic of the mysterious star bridges, ancient artefacts of great power.
As a result, the cultures on either side have developed differently. This is especially seen in their differing theologies.
The book has a nicely defined magic system based on spokes of a wheel. Different characters have different abilities, depending on where they fall on the wheel, if at all.
I eat this kind of thing up. You can even take a test to see what form of magic you possess. Turns out, I’m a constructive pneumatic with the ability to sift the truth of someone’s soul, and I have the potential to develop water rim magic.
It’s very easy to develop a strong connection with the two heroes of this story. Gaeren and Aeliana are likeably sympathetic characters, and I was very invested in their childhood relationship. Of course, after almost 18 years, they are different people, so you can imagine their eventual meeting may not go entirely as Gaeren envisions. Part of the joy of reading this book was seeing them re-connect and build a new sense of trust and a touching bond of friendship.
Nothing is cut and dry in this world. There are strong political rivalries but picking a side can be challenging. This is most keenly felt through the point of view of Gaeren, who is caught in the middle and must make some extremely difficult decisions regarding his loyalty.
Norton has made use of the classic dragon in the world of this book, in a new and refreshing way, but she has also created her own unique fantasy creatures. I loved the winex. Such unique beings. They live a very short lifespan, only to be reborn without the memories of their previous iteration. Watch out for the character Felk. He’s awesome.
I enjoyed the way this book addressed the theme of compassion toward those who would be your enemy, and the consequences, both good and bad, that this can lead to.
I also really enjoyed the exploration of the relationship between Gearen and his former friend Riveren.
There are a lot of fascinating mysteries set up in Blood of the Stars. And we get certainly get a number of satisfying answers in this book, but there is plenty left to be explored in subsequent books in the series. Norton got the balance just right in this regard. I was given enough for a great experience, but can’t wait to learn more about some of these characters in the future.
All in all, Blood of the Stars was full of excitement, fantastically inventive, and emotionally moving.
The book sits in a place where it will appeal to a wide range of fantasy readers, from those who love Brandson Sanderson and Robert Jordan, to those who prefer YA fantasy. This is a series I think we can all enjoy and geek out over.
I highly recommend Blood of The Stars by Karynne Norton.
If you enjoy fantasy, you’ll want to check it out.
March 27, 2024
The book contains unique ideas that build an interesting world. I had to read a few sentences over again to really understand what is being said about chaos and order. It was good to read something that took a little deeper thought and which had absolutely zero predictability. The magic is fairly realistic, and the storyline has a lot of depth.
Although the plot was completely engaging, it was the characters that really got me to keep reading. Author creates a multifaceted world with a detailed description, that is easy to understand. I loved the map in the beginning.
This book was extremely engaging. Author has developed a world that is so easy to get lost in. Full of magic and culture rich. You get so involved in characters, you will laugh and cry with them.
Simply put, I could not put this book down. You get caught up within the first few pages and it's the kind of story where you never know what's coming next. The ending was very well done, as it leads you in a new direction, thus encouraging you to go out and buy the next book in Half Light Chronicles.
Although the plot was completely engaging, it was the characters that really got me to keep reading. Author creates a multifaceted world with a detailed description, that is easy to understand. I loved the map in the beginning.
This book was extremely engaging. Author has developed a world that is so easy to get lost in. Full of magic and culture rich. You get so involved in characters, you will laugh and cry with them.
Simply put, I could not put this book down. You get caught up within the first few pages and it's the kind of story where you never know what's coming next. The ending was very well done, as it leads you in a new direction, thus encouraging you to go out and buy the next book in Half Light Chronicles.
August 6, 2024
This book was one of those books that I wish I wouldn’t have put off for so long because I didn’t know how good of a story I was missing! I definitely will be recommended to my friends and am greatly anticipating Book 2’s release.
I really enjoyed the themes of redemption and found family, the struggle between what is familiar and easy against what is new and challenging but often more growing and right. I look forward to seeing what happens as this series progresses!
I really enjoyed the themes of redemption and found family, the struggle between what is familiar and easy against what is new and challenging but often more growing and right. I look forward to seeing what happens as this series progresses!
June 20, 2024
This was a very good book, interesting characters and story. A fair amount of action, different magic. Some different species, bonding, controlling marks. A bit of everything. Now to wait for the next book to come out
April 25, 2024
This fantasy has quite a bit packed into its pages, namely the very talented prose of its author. Whether it’s a slower chapter with traveling or one of the numerous chapters with fast paced battles, the mysteries inside Blood of the Stars hardly let me put the book down.
Yes, this is a tale of a world divided between the sun and stars. But there is more to this story than creatures that come and go at the moon’s bidding and old rivalries. This is a story about the trauma and painful consequences cast on two young people because of past generations participating in this rivalry of power. Gaeren and Aeliana’s POVs are written beautifully with the choices to either crumble under its weight or find a way through their murky pasts.
The world itself is developed wonderfully! Stars dancing the skies, two competing religions (which set some characters into very realistic doubts about which one is right), a horrid darkness that tempts almost everyone, a dragon, and an entertaining crew setting out to sea. Almost every chapter introduces the reader to something new!
The magic itself was thoroughly developed - so much so that the author used it to hit the theme of the temptation within it. And she hits that theme hard! The author also uses the magic to highlight the trauma for one of the characters specifically. I was relieved to see a book with actual dangers about using that magic instead of just basic weaknesses!
The characters were great to read as well! Each of them had their own struggles and dreams in a way that was great to discover! And after finishing the book I have so many theories for where they will go next in the series! The only character I didn’t really like besides the cunning villainess was Sylmar. True, one does have to face their trauma but I didn’t really appreciate him forcing Aeliana to reopen those heavy wounds again so quickly (and almost emotionlessly). The consequences of that were almost just as bad as with those who gave her the trauma. And his almost constant lack of trust with her was a bit saddening to read. I am hoping we’ll see some changes in his methods in the second book. Other than him there are many delightful characters such as sweet Cyrus and curious Felk!
All in all, it’s a tale full of mystery and epic battles between people and doubts alike! By the end, you’re dying to know what happens next!
Romance/Sexual content: Mild (brief talk of girls at taverns, an affair - all without any details)
Violence: Mild +/Moderate (Battles with magic and dragons that do result in some painful deaths, but the author spares the reader from the worst of it. Self harm is present throughout the book, but the author deals with this gracefully so there are no details about that either.)
Profanity: Mild (Nothing but extremely mild sailor talk and made up curses that the fantasy genre usually has)
Yes, this is a tale of a world divided between the sun and stars. But there is more to this story than creatures that come and go at the moon’s bidding and old rivalries. This is a story about the trauma and painful consequences cast on two young people because of past generations participating in this rivalry of power. Gaeren and Aeliana’s POVs are written beautifully with the choices to either crumble under its weight or find a way through their murky pasts.
The world itself is developed wonderfully! Stars dancing the skies, two competing religions (which set some characters into very realistic doubts about which one is right), a horrid darkness that tempts almost everyone, a dragon, and an entertaining crew setting out to sea. Almost every chapter introduces the reader to something new!
The magic itself was thoroughly developed - so much so that the author used it to hit the theme of the temptation within it. And she hits that theme hard! The author also uses the magic to highlight the trauma for one of the characters specifically. I was relieved to see a book with actual dangers about using that magic instead of just basic weaknesses!
The characters were great to read as well! Each of them had their own struggles and dreams in a way that was great to discover! And after finishing the book I have so many theories for where they will go next in the series! The only character I didn’t really like besides the cunning villainess was Sylmar. True, one does have to face their trauma but I didn’t really appreciate him forcing Aeliana to reopen those heavy wounds again so quickly (and almost emotionlessly). The consequences of that were almost just as bad as with those who gave her the trauma. And his almost constant lack of trust with her was a bit saddening to read. I am hoping we’ll see some changes in his methods in the second book. Other than him there are many delightful characters such as sweet Cyrus and curious Felk!
All in all, it’s a tale full of mystery and epic battles between people and doubts alike! By the end, you’re dying to know what happens next!
Romance/Sexual content: Mild (brief talk of girls at taverns, an affair - all without any details)
Violence: Mild +/Moderate (Battles with magic and dragons that do result in some painful deaths, but the author spares the reader from the worst of it. Self harm is present throughout the book, but the author deals with this gracefully so there are no details about that either.)
Profanity: Mild (Nothing but extremely mild sailor talk and made up curses that the fantasy genre usually has)
March 26, 2025
Blood of the Stars is a YA epic fantasy with rich worldbuilding, a complex magic system, political intrigue, dragons, and more! I recommend this book for readers who enjoy books with secret rebel groups overthrowing corrupt governments.
I'll be honest, it took me a bit to get into this book. As the first installment of a series, there was quite a bit of groundwork that had to be laid. But once I got into it, I really enjoyed the latter half of it! I think this is shaping up to be a great series, and I'm excited to see where it goes.
I would have preferred a bit more wrap-up at the end. Some things happened in the climax that I didn't fully understand, and I felt like I wasn't quite sure where all the characters stood at the end.
It took me a while to grasp the magic system, too. There were quite a few terms, some of them Greek (and some of them didn't directly translate to what they were used to mean. E.g., pneumatic (pneuma = wind) was used to describe "soul" related powers. I kept forgetting this. But I understand why she didn't use the word "psychic"). In the early scene when the explanations were dumped during a training session, I didn't absorb much of it, and I found myself struggling to figure it out as the book continued.
Quite a bit happens in this book. The plot was intriguing and inventive.
All in all, I think it's worth the read! I'm really excited to see where the next book takes us!
I'll be honest, it took me a bit to get into this book. As the first installment of a series, there was quite a bit of groundwork that had to be laid. But once I got into it, I really enjoyed the latter half of it! I think this is shaping up to be a great series, and I'm excited to see where it goes.
I would have preferred a bit more wrap-up at the end. Some things happened in the climax that I didn't fully understand, and I felt like I wasn't quite sure where all the characters stood at the end.
It took me a while to grasp the magic system, too. There were quite a few terms, some of them Greek (and some of them didn't directly translate to what they were used to mean. E.g., pneumatic (pneuma = wind) was used to describe "soul" related powers. I kept forgetting this. But I understand why she didn't use the word "psychic"). In the early scene when the explanations were dumped during a training session, I didn't absorb much of it, and I found myself struggling to figure it out as the book continued.
Quite a bit happens in this book. The plot was intriguing and inventive.
All in all, I think it's worth the read! I'm really excited to see where the next book takes us!
March 7, 2024
Y'all, this is a thing of beauty. Not only is this book itself a piece of art inside and out, the story splayed across all 600+ glorious pages is a tale of ancient woes, future hope, broken relationships, and the road to healing and restoration. There's a depth to the worldbuilding that makes this place really feel lived in, inviting and delighting readers to explore the lush natural and political landscapes alongside a diverse cast of interesting characters—there's never a dull moment with these folks around!
Full of magic, intrigue, found family, reluctant royalty, slow-burn romance, and descendants of Stars on the brink of war (with dragons! And scary pixies!), this story is a sweeping tale of new beginnings full of heart, strung together by masterful storytelling, exciting action, powerful themes, and promise for more gripping adventures to come.
Full of magic, intrigue, found family, reluctant royalty, slow-burn romance, and descendants of Stars on the brink of war (with dragons! And scary pixies!), this story is a sweeping tale of new beginnings full of heart, strung together by masterful storytelling, exciting action, powerful themes, and promise for more gripping adventures to come.
March 17, 2024
I’m not sure why but I had a hard time getting through this book. There were a lot of characters who didn’t get the time they deserved to become important. The pace was very slow to the point where I wished they would do what they had planned to do three pages ago.
As a story that deals with abuse, it doesn’t sit well with me to use the abuse to teach a character especially when she’s not ready to use her powers. Forcing her to use it for the greater good in a situation like this felt insensitive.
The magic concepts introduced here were intriguing. The author has taken the time to build the world and magic system.
As a story that deals with abuse, it doesn’t sit well with me to use the abuse to teach a character especially when she’s not ready to use her powers. Forcing her to use it for the greater good in a situation like this felt insensitive.
The magic concepts introduced here were intriguing. The author has taken the time to build the world and magic system.
March 22, 2024
I loved Blood of the Stars. It’s adventurous, thought-provoking, and impossible to put down. Norton weaves many fun subplots and characters together, which gives the story a sweeping saga feel. This is definitely a top fantasy read of the year for me.
Sensitive Readers: This book deals with blood magic and mentions dark spirits. This is not graphic, and allows the characters to wrestle with concepts of right and wrong, compromise, temptation, and healing. I found it to be well done.
Sensitive Readers: This book deals with blood magic and mentions dark spirits. This is not graphic, and allows the characters to wrestle with concepts of right and wrong, compromise, temptation, and healing. I found it to be well done.
February 1, 2025
Dnf, page 150 for me. I loved the plot, I was really exited to see what happened, I just don’t love the darkness of it, I felt mislead by Goodreads sayings it’s Christian Fantasy but in my opinion it’s not, They worship the Sun and star’s and that gave me a really weird feeling. And all the blood stuff felt really demonic. And the main FMC is always getting cut in the beginning of the book. I thought it would stop at LEAST by page 150 but it just kept going. Soooo…y’a
January 30, 2024
So good! I fell down the steps while reading this because I couldn't put it down. Loved the dragon and welks and magic system. Both Gaeren and Aeliana are relatable, and when their paths joined, things really got engrossing. But what's going to happen with their bondmates？？？ Can't wait for the sequel.
March 18, 2024
Aeliana has been traveling with her guardians trying to find a way back to her home Vendaras. Her guardians, who she’s been with for the last 14 years, supposedly saved her from the witch burning that killed her parents, but Aeliana does not believe it. Her guardians need the energy in her blood for their magic. When they think they’ve found the right place to get back home, Aeliana is determined to get home on her own and leave them behind.
Gaeran has been searching for a way to find out how to get Daisy or Aeliana back. When he was 8, his mother would send him to a Stargazer where a priestess who watched over him was very kind and her daughter Aeliana he swore to protect. Until a bright light took her away. And now Gaeran is trying to find out how to get her back.
Aeliana does come back through the starbridge with Cyrus, but not the way she wanted meaning behind chaos and bringing an unwilling person with her and her guardians. There are two men waiting for her who tell her they are there to protect her due to a promise the Vendaran people made to protect their high priestess’ daughter, which is her. And they are determined to rescue her mother who has been missing for the last 14 years with her help.
This is a beast of a book, but once I hit chapter 5, I couldn’t stop. It was too interesting, intriguing, and the characters that were being introduced drew you in and you wanted to know more.
This had such a good balance between world and character building. The world is vast, it has unique magic that is based on the stars and maybe blood 👀 and so much thought went into the magic!
There’s unique beings that I want to know more of, and the worlds they access with star bridges and stars and just everything I want to know more of that I hope we will see more in the next book!
Oh, and there’s a dragon 🐉
The characters made this story though. The found family that builds as the story progresses was beautiful 👌🏻
We follow first the main characters who eventually meet up with their found families and converge into one and it was just wonderful! The friendships in here that are built truly became such wonderful friendships, some that were broken that were healed and some that just built as they journeyed together. You really connect with a lot of the characters because some are suffering from trauma and ptsd, as well as whether they’re worth it or not. Gaeran was one of my favorite characters because he was so good, but I think his growth was one of the biggest going from a prince who has no care in the world, to someone who realizes maybe he should do something, and then actually taking charge even if that means going against his own family only because it’s the right thing to do. I really admired him and his growth.
We also have some comedic relief, such as with adorable and sassy Velden. He really helped kind of break up the seriousness of many situations and I just wanted to kiss him each time 😂 He knew how to be positive even despite his rather dark and sad background.
Then the slooooow burn romance that you KNOW is going to happen, but no! That ending is leaving me WAITING.
But it’s fine. We love cliffhangers right!? 🤣
I will also say that I’m giving this 4.5 ⭐️ only because I’m still rather confused about the bondmate situation 😅 I think it’s just me not grasping it, but I’m confused as to whether they’re born with it, or these kids are randomly selected to be bondmate. And if that is so, then I’m confused about a couple of them as to why they were selected to be bondmates, but maybe I’ll understand more in the next book! I don’t want to spoil what I’m confused about 😆
I received a free digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Gaeran has been searching for a way to find out how to get Daisy or Aeliana back. When he was 8, his mother would send him to a Stargazer where a priestess who watched over him was very kind and her daughter Aeliana he swore to protect. Until a bright light took her away. And now Gaeran is trying to find out how to get her back.
Aeliana does come back through the starbridge with Cyrus, but not the way she wanted meaning behind chaos and bringing an unwilling person with her and her guardians. There are two men waiting for her who tell her they are there to protect her due to a promise the Vendaran people made to protect their high priestess’ daughter, which is her. And they are determined to rescue her mother who has been missing for the last 14 years with her help.
This is a beast of a book, but once I hit chapter 5, I couldn’t stop. It was too interesting, intriguing, and the characters that were being introduced drew you in and you wanted to know more.
This had such a good balance between world and character building. The world is vast, it has unique magic that is based on the stars and maybe blood 👀 and so much thought went into the magic!
There’s unique beings that I want to know more of, and the worlds they access with star bridges and stars and just everything I want to know more of that I hope we will see more in the next book!
Oh, and there’s a dragon 🐉
The characters made this story though. The found family that builds as the story progresses was beautiful 👌🏻
We follow first the main characters who eventually meet up with their found families and converge into one and it was just wonderful! The friendships in here that are built truly became such wonderful friendships, some that were broken that were healed and some that just built as they journeyed together. You really connect with a lot of the characters because some are suffering from trauma and ptsd, as well as whether they’re worth it or not. Gaeran was one of my favorite characters because he was so good, but I think his growth was one of the biggest going from a prince who has no care in the world, to someone who realizes maybe he should do something, and then actually taking charge even if that means going against his own family only because it’s the right thing to do. I really admired him and his growth.
We also have some comedic relief, such as with adorable and sassy Velden. He really helped kind of break up the seriousness of many situations and I just wanted to kiss him each time 😂 He knew how to be positive even despite his rather dark and sad background.
Then the slooooow burn romance that you KNOW is going to happen, but no! That ending is leaving me WAITING.
But it’s fine. We love cliffhangers right!? 🤣
I will also say that I’m giving this 4.5 ⭐️ only because I’m still rather confused about the bondmate situation 😅 I think it’s just me not grasping it, but I’m confused as to whether they’re born with it, or these kids are randomly selected to be bondmate. And if that is so, then I’m confused about a couple of them as to why they were selected to be bondmates, but maybe I’ll understand more in the next book! I don’t want to spoil what I’m confused about 😆
I received a free digital copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 27, 2024
If there's ever a book where I need the sequel to be released yesterday, it's this one. I wasn't sure what I was getting into when I started this as it's a debut work, but it honestly reads like the work of someone who has been publishing books for years. It's powerful, emotive, has amazingly strong characters, solid world building and a strongly woven narrative that stays tightly plotted despite the significant page length. There is very little here not to love.
We start the tale with our two leads Gaeren and Aeliana. Gaeren is a reluctant prince, forced into royal duties when his real focus is finding 'Daisy', a girl he knew as a child who was taken from her home whilst he was on placement. Unsurprisingly, Aeliana is 'Daisy' and has been on her own journey in the intervening years, blooded and used by her captors as they try to find a particular magical artifact. It could have been a very standard trope YA fantasy from there, but Karyne Norton bucks the trend and puts together one of the most well thought out epics I've read in a while, full to the brim with magical and political world building along with astounding character development throughout.
This is frankly, one of the best fantasy books I've read in a hot minute. And that's saying something, as I read a lot of fantasy books and a lot of them are awesome. What I really liked was how the characters grew and developed as they went, they change and grow with circumstance, learning from mistakes and starting to overcome their fears and traumas. They are absolutely human and you can see that in every page; from Gaeren's internal conflict between his family loyalty and his morals to Aeliana's hesitation over her magic and learning to use it rather than be used by it.
I also loved the world building; it's rich, detailed and comes alive around you - both in terms of the place and time to the political machinations going on that Gaeren is caught in the middle of. There's a wealth of magic here. Some of it is overt; healing, destruction, mind reading. But magic is etched into the very bones of this world and goes to the deepest levels, with entire relationships being based on the bonds that were drawn before the individuals were old enough to understand the implications. It's written in such a way that it's as natural as breathing in some cases. And talking about world building, I need to talk about the Winex. Rarely has an author made me feel so much for a completely new race they have created, particularly one that is initially described as animalistic and vicious. Anyone who doesn't fall in love with Felk has no damn soul.
All in all, this is a frankly astounding debut novel. In fact, we can scratch the debut. This is just an astounding novel.
We start the tale with our two leads Gaeren and Aeliana. Gaeren is a reluctant prince, forced into royal duties when his real focus is finding 'Daisy', a girl he knew as a child who was taken from her home whilst he was on placement. Unsurprisingly, Aeliana is 'Daisy' and has been on her own journey in the intervening years, blooded and used by her captors as they try to find a particular magical artifact. It could have been a very standard trope YA fantasy from there, but Karyne Norton bucks the trend and puts together one of the most well thought out epics I've read in a while, full to the brim with magical and political world building along with astounding character development throughout.
This is frankly, one of the best fantasy books I've read in a hot minute. And that's saying something, as I read a lot of fantasy books and a lot of them are awesome. What I really liked was how the characters grew and developed as they went, they change and grow with circumstance, learning from mistakes and starting to overcome their fears and traumas. They are absolutely human and you can see that in every page; from Gaeren's internal conflict between his family loyalty and his morals to Aeliana's hesitation over her magic and learning to use it rather than be used by it.
I also loved the world building; it's rich, detailed and comes alive around you - both in terms of the place and time to the political machinations going on that Gaeren is caught in the middle of. There's a wealth of magic here. Some of it is overt; healing, destruction, mind reading. But magic is etched into the very bones of this world and goes to the deepest levels, with entire relationships being based on the bonds that were drawn before the individuals were old enough to understand the implications. It's written in such a way that it's as natural as breathing in some cases. And talking about world building, I need to talk about the Winex. Rarely has an author made me feel so much for a completely new race they have created, particularly one that is initially described as animalistic and vicious. Anyone who doesn't fall in love with Felk has no damn soul.
All in all, this is a frankly astounding debut novel. In fact, we can scratch the debut. This is just an astounding novel.
July 15, 2024
I'll start off by saying I was INCREDIBLY daunted by the length of the book. 90 chapters? What a beast! I was wary that it would be full of rambling and/or fluff, but I am impressed to say that it was not! Every single page, every chapter, was highly enjoyable. Yes, it was slower, I wouldn't call this fast-paced for sure, but it was steadily moving along enough that I also wasn't tempted to jump ship for it progressing too slowly.
The WORLDBUILDING and MAGIC SYSTEM. You guys. It's so good. So well planned and consistent. So enthralling and realistic, it makes one ache to actually live there. The magic system is complex, but gently explained more than once, and you don't have to have it mastered to understand and enjoy the book anyway. I struggle to grip complex things like this, but even I still had a good enough understanding to not feel lost—or worse, like I was excluded from enjoying the world and story because I didn't have the wheel of magic memorized.
The characters are all so good, as well! Each with a backstory, whether it's revealed to us or not, as well as individual connections and goals and even ways of thinking, which can definitely be a challenge for a new author to manage so well. I am SO invested in all of them, even the minor characters like Gaeren's sailors. And Orra...so much is revealed about her, and yet there is SO much unearthed. I am so so excited to have more of her in the next book!! Such a captivating character!
Aeliana and Gaeren both have great and realistic character growth, and I sure love them both. They have become near and dear to me, and I'm sad to part ways with them until book 2, but thrilled that it will be another unhurried, lengthy adventure so I can soak it all in once more!
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
I LOVE the lore!!! (Something I never thought I'd say lol I don't usually care for much worldbuilding.) 5 different lands, all with different cultures and people, which we see 2 of. One where they worship the Stars, and one where they worship the Sun—which makes so much sense since the power in their blood is charged by the light of the Sun, while the others simply see the Stars dancing in the sky. So, so interesting. So unique, such a perfect idea!
Bonds and Branding! I don't have much I can put into words for this, but I just love it. I love it, I LOVE IT!
The WORLDBUILDING and MAGIC SYSTEM. You guys. It's so good. So well planned and consistent. So enthralling and realistic, it makes one ache to actually live there. The magic system is complex, but gently explained more than once, and you don't have to have it mastered to understand and enjoy the book anyway. I struggle to grip complex things like this, but even I still had a good enough understanding to not feel lost—or worse, like I was excluded from enjoying the world and story because I didn't have the wheel of magic memorized.
The characters are all so good, as well! Each with a backstory, whether it's revealed to us or not, as well as individual connections and goals and even ways of thinking, which can definitely be a challenge for a new author to manage so well. I am SO invested in all of them, even the minor characters like Gaeren's sailors. And Orra...so much is revealed about her, and yet there is SO much unearthed. I am so so excited to have more of her in the next book!! Such a captivating character!
Aeliana and Gaeren both have great and realistic character growth, and I sure love them both. They have become near and dear to me, and I'm sad to part ways with them until book 2, but thrilled that it will be another unhurried, lengthy adventure so I can soak it all in once more!
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS:
I LOVE the lore!!! (Something I never thought I'd say lol I don't usually care for much worldbuilding.) 5 different lands, all with different cultures and people, which we see 2 of. One where they worship the Stars, and one where they worship the Sun—which makes so much sense since the power in their blood is charged by the light of the Sun, while the others simply see the Stars dancing in the sky. So, so interesting. So unique, such a perfect idea!
Bonds and Branding! I don't have much I can put into words for this, but I just love it. I love it, I LOVE IT!
August 16, 2024
Aeliana was kidnapped as a child and fed lies by her captors for 14 years. They've also used the magic in her blood to hurt and kill others, but now she's finally back in the land she was kidnapped from and is free from her kidnappers. She joins a group of rebels to save her mother, but without knowing how to use her magic and being afraid of what it might do, it's a difficult task.
Gaeren is a prince and was tasked to look after Aeliana before she was taken. 14 years after the incident, he still hasn't given up hope and tries everything in his power to find her. But, there's a rebellion beating and evil Mayvus trying to take over the kingdom.
I really liked both of the main characters, even though Aeliana's actions often made me mad. Thinking about what she had to endure after being taken from her parents, I do understand these actions a bit more though. I still got annoyed a lot by her and have to say that it took me some time to actually warm up to her.
Gaeren, on the other side, I loved from the beginning, although I hated the scenes with his bond mate. Such an annoying character and I was hoping all the time that he would just get rid of her (I know, I know, I'm a bad person - but come on, you gotta understand me here😅). I'm not gonna say more, because Spoilers
My favorite character is Cyrus - the friendship he offers Aeliana, the way he is towards everyone and the love he showed for his grandparents in the early chapters totally won me over right there and then.
There are also a few characters to really hate. Best example are Vera and Ardin for the way they treat Aeliana - i was cursing all the way through the chapters with them/ one of them in it.
The magic system in this book is fascinating and it took me quite some time to understand the different kinds of magic and how who was able to use it. Once it clicked with me, I enjoyed the story even more and more I want more fantasy with a similar magic system.
Also, the religious/magical aspects with the Stars and the Sun was right up my alley.
I devoured this book in no time and can't wait for the next installment. Highly recommend this to readers who like epic fantasy with intriguing magic systems, fantastic characters and simply something that feels new and different.
Gaeren is a prince and was tasked to look after Aeliana before she was taken. 14 years after the incident, he still hasn't given up hope and tries everything in his power to find her. But, there's a rebellion beating and evil Mayvus trying to take over the kingdom.
I really liked both of the main characters, even though Aeliana's actions often made me mad. Thinking about what she had to endure after being taken from her parents, I do understand these actions a bit more though. I still got annoyed a lot by her and have to say that it took me some time to actually warm up to her.
Gaeren, on the other side, I loved from the beginning, although I hated the scenes with his bond mate. Such an annoying character and I was hoping all the time that he would just get rid of her (I know, I know, I'm a bad person - but come on, you gotta understand me here😅). I'm not gonna say more, because Spoilers
My favorite character is Cyrus - the friendship he offers Aeliana, the way he is towards everyone and the love he showed for his grandparents in the early chapters totally won me over right there and then.
There are also a few characters to really hate. Best example are Vera and Ardin for the way they treat Aeliana - i was cursing all the way through the chapters with them/ one of them in it.
The magic system in this book is fascinating and it took me quite some time to understand the different kinds of magic and how who was able to use it. Once it clicked with me, I enjoyed the story even more and more I want more fantasy with a similar magic system.
Also, the religious/magical aspects with the Stars and the Sun was right up my alley.
I devoured this book in no time and can't wait for the next installment. Highly recommend this to readers who like epic fantasy with intriguing magic systems, fantastic characters and simply something that feels new and different.
March 21, 2024
Blood of the Stars is a YA fantasy for readers who enjoy thick books with a thorough world building, a unique magic system and a big cast of characters. The two main characters are Aeliana, a magic-user with a great potential who was kidnapped as a child, and now that she has arrived back home joins the rebels to stop the big bad evil, and Gaeren, a prince who has spent the years since Aeliana’s disappearance to find her. Now as loyalties are tested, betrayal is around every corner and the intrigue of it all on an all-time high, the two former childhood friends find themselves on different sides of a bigger conflict.
The book deals with themes of abuse, physical harm, healing, and finding hope where there might feel like there’s no hope at all. Because someone might have made you a monster, doesn’t mean you are a monster. Aeliana has a hard time connecting with her magic, as it has been misused by others for years to cause harm, but her magic in itself isn’t evil and neither is she. I really appreciated how good and bad, like Aeliana magic and the “monster” character Felk, are portrayed in the book as not clear-cut good or bad. Things that might seem evil or bad, doesn’t have to actually be it.
But despite the many good things this book has, there were two major things that didn’t work for me. The first one was the slow pacing. The book isn’t short and while I appreciate the details that are put into the world-building and magic system, there were just big chunks of the book I feel I could have skipped and the story would be enjoyable. For the entire middle part of the book I kept turning the pages, but it never felt like it actually got anywhere. Usually I love when characters travel the fantasy world, but here it just was so slow. The book was almost a DNF because of it. The second thing was the characters. While both Aeliana and Gaeren was fine as characters, and Felk my special little guy, the rest were underwhelming. I was promised found family but didn’t get it, since everyone in Aeliana’s travel group just was just there for most of the story. I didn’t connect with any of them.
—
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for an e-arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.
The book deals with themes of abuse, physical harm, healing, and finding hope where there might feel like there’s no hope at all. Because someone might have made you a monster, doesn’t mean you are a monster. Aeliana has a hard time connecting with her magic, as it has been misused by others for years to cause harm, but her magic in itself isn’t evil and neither is she. I really appreciated how good and bad, like Aeliana magic and the “monster” character Felk, are portrayed in the book as not clear-cut good or bad. Things that might seem evil or bad, doesn’t have to actually be it.
But despite the many good things this book has, there were two major things that didn’t work for me. The first one was the slow pacing. The book isn’t short and while I appreciate the details that are put into the world-building and magic system, there were just big chunks of the book I feel I could have skipped and the story would be enjoyable. For the entire middle part of the book I kept turning the pages, but it never felt like it actually got anywhere. Usually I love when characters travel the fantasy world, but here it just was so slow. The book was almost a DNF because of it. The second thing was the characters. While both Aeliana and Gaeren was fine as characters, and Felk my special little guy, the rest were underwhelming. I was promised found family but didn’t get it, since everyone in Aeliana’s travel group just was just there for most of the story. I didn’t connect with any of them.
—
Thank you to Book of Matches Media and the author for an e-arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.
March 23, 2024
Karyne Norton did an absolutely amazing job with her debut novel Blood of the Stars, the truly knocked it out of the park. It surpassed my expectations that I have for epic fantasies and I fell in love with the characters. Also this book is thick! Just over 800 pages and fantastic from beginning to end! I feel like long books sometimes drag in the middle but that was not the case for this novel, held my attention the entire thing.
First off though, the cover is insanely gorgeous and I love the amount of details in the cover. I feel like I notice something new every time I look at it.
The world building was beautifully done. I was easily able to picture the characters and creatures, the world itself and everything that was happening. I love being able to lose myself in a book and I was able to do that here without ever feeling lost.
I expect there to be a good amount of characters in epic fantasy and Blood in the Stars had a really good amount. Not once was I confused who was who or who did what. Each character was so different, in a great way, from one another. I loved our MC Aeliana, who’s powerful but empathetic regardless to the fact that she wasn’t shown much empathy growing up. Prince Gaeren had the most character growth in my eyes. Then I loved loved loved Velden, his sass gave me life!
The magic system in this book is easily the best that I’ve seen in a long time. It was somehow incredibly intricate but easy to follow and understand. Oh and there’s a dragon!!
All in all, five stars across the board for Blood in the Stars, I look forward to continuing the series in the future! Don’t let the thickness of this book deter you from picking it up. It’s most definitely worth the read if you enjoy a slow burn epic fantasy without sex.
First off though, the cover is insanely gorgeous and I love the amount of details in the cover. I feel like I notice something new every time I look at it.
The world building was beautifully done. I was easily able to picture the characters and creatures, the world itself and everything that was happening. I love being able to lose myself in a book and I was able to do that here without ever feeling lost.
I expect there to be a good amount of characters in epic fantasy and Blood in the Stars had a really good amount. Not once was I confused who was who or who did what. Each character was so different, in a great way, from one another. I loved our MC Aeliana, who’s powerful but empathetic regardless to the fact that she wasn’t shown much empathy growing up. Prince Gaeren had the most character growth in my eyes. Then I loved loved loved Velden, his sass gave me life!
The magic system in this book is easily the best that I’ve seen in a long time. It was somehow incredibly intricate but easy to follow and understand. Oh and there’s a dragon!!
All in all, five stars across the board for Blood in the Stars, I look forward to continuing the series in the future! Don’t let the thickness of this book deter you from picking it up. It’s most definitely worth the read if you enjoy a slow burn epic fantasy without sex.
June 23, 2024
I’ve looked forward to reading this book for MONTHS. Now at last, I’ve dived into its pages and come out not a bit disappointed. This is a phenomenal debut! It’s epic, heartfelt, and engaging, with memorable characters, a lush and diverse world, complex politics, and a unique magic system that’s well structured without leaving me bewildered by the rules. All in all, a wonderful addition to the epic fantasy scape!
The lead characters, especially Aeliana and Gaeran, are sympathetic from their first introductions. They’re flawed, real, with pasts and plights that make their actions make sense. They do the best they can, while wrestling against past traumas and struggling with present motivations. There are moments I wanted to smack both of them — and others where I wanted to hug them tight — which is a great sign of well balanced leads. I also thoroughly enjoyed the third POV with Orra and her intriguing motivations.
I also loved the supporting cast, from grumpy Sylmar, to prickly Kendalyn, to the intriguing Felk (I loved how that plot thread worked out!), along with Lukai, Velden, Riveran, Durriken, and all the others.
The writing style is clean and straight-forward without being simplistic. It carries the story well, leading the reader along a journey not easily forgotten. After I finished, I found myself reflecting on the plot often while I let this review ruminate. I really want to dive into the next book—immediately. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. But you’d better believe I’ll be preordering book two asap!
Content: No strong language. No steam/spice. Does contain fantasy violence, including death, torture, and blood magic.
The lead characters, especially Aeliana and Gaeran, are sympathetic from their first introductions. They’re flawed, real, with pasts and plights that make their actions make sense. They do the best they can, while wrestling against past traumas and struggling with present motivations. There are moments I wanted to smack both of them — and others where I wanted to hug them tight — which is a great sign of well balanced leads. I also thoroughly enjoyed the third POV with Orra and her intriguing motivations.
I also loved the supporting cast, from grumpy Sylmar, to prickly Kendalyn, to the intriguing Felk (I loved how that plot thread worked out!), along with Lukai, Velden, Riveran, Durriken, and all the others.
The writing style is clean and straight-forward without being simplistic. It carries the story well, leading the reader along a journey not easily forgotten. After I finished, I found myself reflecting on the plot often while I let this review ruminate. I really want to dive into the next book—immediately. Unfortunately, that’s not possible. But you’d better believe I’ll be preordering book two asap!
Content: No strong language. No steam/spice. Does contain fantasy violence, including death, torture, and blood magic.
July 5, 2024
I didn’t know what to expect from this one. I didn’t read about it or anything, I just dove in head first and let me just say it was spectacular.
Aeliana (or Daisy) was 3 years old and Prince Gaeren was 8 when they were separated by a tragic kidnapping. Aeliana and her father, along with two strangers disappeared in a blinding flash of light leaving Gaeren feeling he failed in his promise to protect her, which wasn’t fair because he was so young. Fourteen years later he still searches for clues to where Aeliana and the father could be so he could fulfill his promise to be her protector. He followed a last clue across the sea to find a fabled Star Bridge so he could cross the barrier walls separating the different countries. He was almost out of time because trouble was brewing in the kingdom. A priestess who is power-mad on one side and a rebel faction on the other. Meanwhile, Aeliana's captors have used her powerful blood for evil using it to perform blood magic. Aeliana thinks her blood is tainted and wants to rid herself of magic. As Aeliana finally gets back to her homeland, she finds members of the rebel band waiting for her because they were told she would be back that year. She joins them on a rescue mission to save her mother from the priestess who happens to be her mother's sister. This was such a great story with many more things that happen. If you want to know more then you should dive in as well. You won’t be disappointed. Great characters, an a plot that will leave you wanting more. There is an intriguing magic wheel system, dragons, politics, and sailing. Simply outstanding and I would give more than 5 stars if I could.
Aeliana (or Daisy) was 3 years old and Prince Gaeren was 8 when they were separated by a tragic kidnapping. Aeliana and her father, along with two strangers disappeared in a blinding flash of light leaving Gaeren feeling he failed in his promise to protect her, which wasn’t fair because he was so young. Fourteen years later he still searches for clues to where Aeliana and the father could be so he could fulfill his promise to be her protector. He followed a last clue across the sea to find a fabled Star Bridge so he could cross the barrier walls separating the different countries. He was almost out of time because trouble was brewing in the kingdom. A priestess who is power-mad on one side and a rebel faction on the other. Meanwhile, Aeliana's captors have used her powerful blood for evil using it to perform blood magic. Aeliana thinks her blood is tainted and wants to rid herself of magic. As Aeliana finally gets back to her homeland, she finds members of the rebel band waiting for her because they were told she would be back that year. She joins them on a rescue mission to save her mother from the priestess who happens to be her mother's sister. This was such a great story with many more things that happen. If you want to know more then you should dive in as well. You won’t be disappointed. Great characters, an a plot that will leave you wanting more. There is an intriguing magic wheel system, dragons, politics, and sailing. Simply outstanding and I would give more than 5 stars if I could.
September 5, 2024
I just finished reading this book and could not wait to post my review - it is difficult even for me to choose just a few words to describe how much I loved this book. How about Amazing, Fantabulous, Edge of My Seat, Page-Turner, Worth More than 5 Stars...and SO MUCH MORE! As I write my review, I have no idea how this book has under 100 reviews because so many more people need to read this book!
This book was packed full of things I love - Dual POV, a unique magic system, a completely well-planned and mapped out world, a story that stays strong throughout the entire book, and oh so many wonderful characters with great backstory even. I really enjoyed learning how some of them intersected in each others' lives as well.
There are two sides praising the Stars or the Sun - which one is "right" or is there really a "right or wrong"? This book had a lot of meaning woven into each character's story and something I found refreshing is that every single character had something to contribute to the story and their adventures alike.
The narration for the audio was hands-down fantastic! I loved that there were different people doing the Dual POV and the inflection and feeling in their voices was just perfect. Apparently our author is extra talented because she (and her brother) narrated it!
This is a long book, but please don't let that dissuade you from purchasing - you will get through it in no time because you won't want to put it down! It isn't a spoiler to say this book has a fantastic ending which didn't leave me hanging - just looking forward to the continuation of the story in the next book.
This book was packed full of things I love - Dual POV, a unique magic system, a completely well-planned and mapped out world, a story that stays strong throughout the entire book, and oh so many wonderful characters with great backstory even. I really enjoyed learning how some of them intersected in each others' lives as well.
There are two sides praising the Stars or the Sun - which one is "right" or is there really a "right or wrong"? This book had a lot of meaning woven into each character's story and something I found refreshing is that every single character had something to contribute to the story and their adventures alike.
The narration for the audio was hands-down fantastic! I loved that there were different people doing the Dual POV and the inflection and feeling in their voices was just perfect. Apparently our author is extra talented because she (and her brother) narrated it!
This is a long book, but please don't let that dissuade you from purchasing - you will get through it in no time because you won't want to put it down! It isn't a spoiler to say this book has a fantastic ending which didn't leave me hanging - just looking forward to the continuation of the story in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews