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Starian Cycle

Knight of Staria: A Starian Tale

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A Starian folktale comes to life…

Eli was hanged as a traitor and buried in a pauper’s field, only to be brought back to life by the king of the Wild Hunt. Placed under a curse until he recovers the king’s missing sword, Eli wanders the countryside alone. When he finds the man who stole the sword—a shapeshifting trickster named Rey—Eli is thrust back into the world he left behind. Eli and Rey return to Duciel, where Eli was hanged five years before, to find the only man who can retrieve the sword and break Eli’s curse: Eli’s brother, Sabre de Valois.

250 pages, Paperback

Published January 16, 2024

7 people are currently reading
77 people want to read

About the author

Iris Foxglove

27 books186 followers
Iris Foxglove is the shared pen name of Avon Gale (she/her) and Fae Loxley (he/him). Avon and Fae met in fandom in 2019, and began writing fanfiction together in 2020 during lockdown. They eventually decided to collaborate on original fantasy fiction, and haven't looked back since.

They write queer fantasy with an emphasis on biological imperative, natural power exchange dynamics, complex worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.

You can follow Iris on twitter @irisfoxglove, or sign up for Iris' newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrhA6z

Iris also has a brand-new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/irisfoxglove

Iris' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

You can also follow the authors individually on Twitter and Facebook:

Avon Gale
Twitter: https://twitter.com/avongalewrites
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/2p8hz4fv

Fae Loxley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fae_loxley
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/mrxt2fnn

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5 stars
49 (64%)
4 stars
19 (25%)
3 stars
6 (7%)
2 stars
2 (2%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Smutty  Sully.
895 reviews252 followers
May 31, 2025
“Let a man put some pants on before you start talking about flogging.”

Definitely my favorite book from the 5-book series and 2 same-world books.

Obviously going in I knew it was going to be angsty and painful, considering everyone thought Eli was dead, because he was hanged.

By page 9, it was already climbing that angst meter:

Eli was going to die in a shift, with his hair curled and the wrong name read by the king’s heralds. After everything he did, after following orders and being dutiful and good and ruthless while writing to mercenaries and flirting with the Chastains, no one would ever call him by his true name. His mother would never love him.


But I was still impressed by the painful parts, and I really enjoyed Eli's dominant scenes (nonsexual and sexual), and the redemption arc that included Eli facing all of the previous MCs was very emotional.


This book tied up the series perfectly, although I wouldn't say no to more adventures from this world.

I know there's a Yves & Charon book coming out soon, but I really want a book about Xavier, the lovesick runaway turned pirate!


Best line:

“...I wasn’t trying to kidnap you—you just kept running away.”

Tags: not a standalone, fantasy romance series, biokink, trans MC, height difference (30cm/1ft), ginger, immortals, violence, death, a little gore, edging, spanking, D/s, magic, duels, swordfights, angst, hanging, transphobic parent, murder, threats of sexual assault, vomiting, death of an animal, violence, PIV sex
Profile Image for Iris Foxglove.
Author 27 books186 followers
Read
December 20, 2023
Coming soon!

A brand-new Starian Tale about Eli de Valois, hanged as a traitor with his mother when he was barely sixteen. M/M fantasy romance featuring a trans!MC and was written entirely by Fae Loxley, one-half of the Iris Foxglove duo.
Profile Image for Elle Porter.
Author 7 books62 followers
January 21, 2024
No one had ever been his champion when he needed one, so he became theirs.

I probably should sit on this story for a few days before writing this review. At least until I stop tearing up and feeling sick every time I think about it, right? Fuck, where do I even start...

Acknowledging past injustice and doing better by those harmed is such a quintessential theme of the Starian Cycle, and Knight of Staria poignantly hits that mark. There is something so refreshing and cathartic about the way Foxglove writes Eli—as a trans character; as a sometimes unknowing participant in local folklore; as a once-disgraced child not necessarily seeking redemption or closure but in desperate need of both. Even characters who might have received their own happily ever after are not entirely absolved of their mistakes, and it hurts so fucking good to examine that from Eli's perspective.

Knight of Staria's expansion on this series' otherworldly lore feels purposeful and fitting to the already established canon, which speaks volumes to the care and attention these characters have and continue to receive. There were lines (like the one at the beginning of this review) that absolutely broke me, and while a decent portion of that is attributed to the larger context established in previous books, Knight of Staria still stands as its own unique examination of how stories change as they travel, how they collect enough power to become truth, and how a storyteller can wield truth as either curse or cure.

I always love returning to the original Starian crew, but I was not expecting Knight of Staria to floor me as much as it did. The prose is gorgeous, the themes feel effortlessly woven together, the dialogue switches from giddily humorous to emotionally gutting within pages, and I am so, so grateful this story exists.
Profile Image for J.L..
Author 14 books72 followers
January 16, 2024
I’ve been addicted to every book set in this expansive and unique fantasy world since reading the first installment, The Traitor’s Mercy. I was incredibly impressed that two additional books featured redemption arcs for villains in the first book that absolutely worked, leaving me caring for and supportive of the characters. Since then, the authors have expanded significantly upon this world, giving us tales far beyond the borders of Staria with such incredible worldbuilding that the biological kink imperative that originally intrigued me about these books has become secondary in my interest in what comes next.

This latest book brings us right back to where everything started, providing another redemption arc that we didn’t even know we needed. It has always been too easy to lump Sabre’s younger sister into the same camp as his mother, assuming that both women were complicit in the scheme to overthrow the Starian crown. However, like Devon and Marius Chastain before him, the beginning of this book immediately reframes Eli de Valois’ potential role in the events that kicked off The Traitor’s Mercy. Our discovery that “Elise” is actually Eli does not convey immediate forgiveness, but instead sets up the framework to show how Eli became as much a victim of his mother’s manipulations as his father and brother.

Along with another emotional redemption arc, this book shows that there is even worldbuilding left to do for the mythology of simple-seeming agricultural Staria. Foxglove takes inspiration from elements of European folklore and gives it the same imaginative twist as the epic gods of greater Iperios, rooting Staria’s magic in the power of story itself. Eli is “rescued” (interpretations of this act may vary) from the grave by the king of the Wild Hunt and given a proper quest. However, Eli doesn’t consider himself any sort of hero, which makes his personality as a snarky bastard a joy to read as an anti-hero. His unintended partner-in-crime, Reynard the trickster god, is Eli’s perfect foil in both personality (he is an absolute delight) and as equally unintended romantic interest. Though their romance is secondary to the main quest that is equal parts epic and tragic, the connection that grows out of their friendship is as integral to the story (and as emotional) as Eli’s reunion with his brother Sabre.

My sole critique of this book is that I was so much more invested in the inevitable meetings between Eli and faces from his past than in the book’s actual climax involving the Wild Hunt. After all, we know that Eli and Rey will survive that battle and live happily ever after, in whatever form that may take. Resolution between Eli and Sabre (and certain other members of the Starian nobility) is less certain, leaving each confrontation fraught with potential.

Even though this book is written by half of the usual “Iris Foxglove” writing duo, the quality of both writing and storytelling lives up to all expectations. As much as I adore Sabre, I might have a new favorite de Valois, and I cross my fingers that Eli and Rey continue to show up across Iperios in other tales set in this expansive world, bringing with them the power of story and snark.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the authors.
Profile Image for Jem Zero.
Author 9 books33 followers
January 21, 2024
Absolutely obsessed! Eli consumed my heart

I was chomping at the bit for this book from the first minute I heard it was coming out. I am a major fan of the Starian Cycle and all related books. The whole cast lives cozily, rent-free, deeply-embedded in my brain. I will never try to get them out, and no attempt will succeed. Eli and Rey absolutely lived up to that.

Eli is everything I hoped he would be, and more. One great thing about this series is its ability to portray a character as awful in a previous book and then believably redeem them as the story continues, without removing accountability from the equation (Hello, Emile). It was the same with Eli — we were primed to see Sabre’s sibling as “bad” when we found out “she” was planning on eliminating him, but it was also acknowledged that Eli was a child and should have been given other chances. Well, this is the ‘other chance’! Maybe not the greatest, but he makes the best of it.

I really go soft for a half-feral trans guy with a weapon. Eli filled that niche perfectly. And uh, Rey was nice too (I’m joking). Rey was fun and loveable, and his sentimental moments were so tender, especially when he gentled and soothed Eli’s roughened edges. He took a weary, scrappy guy-with-a-curse and turned him into a beloved Knight. The importance of Stories through the book really built up the ending perfectly.

The reunion of the de Valois siblings truly clawed at my heart. Sabre’s wholehearted love and acceptance and Eli’s confusion and guilt was worth every minute of the wait (maybe not to them, but to I, the reader).

So? Five stars, no complaints, done & done. This WILL be a frequent reread.
Profile Image for Siobhan.
5,018 reviews597 followers
January 18, 2024
My introduction to Iris Foxglove came through the first book in the Immortals Descending series, and I was instantly hooked. Since then, I have been eager to jump into each new release, needing more of the world. As the books by the author are connected, I decided to try the Starian Cycle series, where the world started, and I found it to be enjoyable. Not as enjoyable as the Immortals Descending series, but still an enjoyable read. While I still need to finish that series, I could not turn away from Knight of Staria when I found out about it. It sounded like another wonderful read, and I was eager to dive in.

I will be honest and say that this was more of a four-point-five-star rating that I opted to round down. It’s a wonderful novella that adds something great to the world, ensuring that I devoured the story in a single sitting. I adored the characters and the way their story developed, being hit by the emotions throughout. I had so much fun watching all the pieces come together, and I would have gladly read a full-length novel of the story. Which is where my rounded down rating comes from. There was so much to this story that I adored, and there were a few elements I wanted to explore in a bit more detail. The folklore aspect of it was amazing, so unique and fun, yet there were some elements that I wanted to understand better. There were also elements related to it that I would have liked to see expanded, to allow me to create a bigger picture. It was not enough to lessen my enjoyment of the story – I absolutely adored it – yet it did leave me wanting a little bit more. Not enough to be disappointed, but just enough for me to round my rating down.

All in all, Knight of Staria is a wonderful addition to the universe created by Iris Foxglove. If you’re a fan of the world, this is certainly worth the read. It’s a powerful read that will have you unable to put it down.
Profile Image for Debby.
1,728 reviews78 followers
January 16, 2024
As a teenager, Eli was hung as a traitor and left in pauper’s field. He was brought back to life by the king of the Wild Hunt and cursed until he recovered the king’s sword stolen by his ancestor. After five years, he finds the trickster who helped steal the sword but soon they realize they need Eli’s brother, Sabre de Valois, to help retrieve it.

Eli had a tough life. He was hanged beside his mother as a traitor. She would not allow Eli to live his life as he should. His mother dressed him as girl and everyone thought that was his identity. When he was brought back to life, he had to learn so much and he had many issues surviving due to the curse. Then he met Rey, a wily fox shifter. Rey had helped his ancestor steal the sword and could help him find it. Eli finds himself back in Duciel where he had met his fate five years before. With the help of magic, and some subterfuge, Eli and Rey may just survive. Brilliantly written, we find ourselves falling for our heroes in spite of their imperfections which really are normal as none of us are prefect. These two find themselves with each other and have a purpose. What will happen when that purpose is realized? You will need to read this incredible story to find out.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and it was my pleasure to voluntarily leave this review.
Profile Image for Scatteredashes.
437 reviews5 followers
January 17, 2024
You'd never know that this was written by just half of the lovely Iris Foxglove. It feels perfectly suited for the rest of the Starian novels and I highly recommend reading the Starian Cycle first in order to see the series of events from the other's perspectives first. Though, if you must, you could jump right in with this one. I think a few of the background events may loose some of the nuances, but overall you would be able to follow along. Eli is a character that doesn't believe in himself or that he deserves happiness for quite some time. Rey is convinced that he will always be a coward who run at the first sight of trouble. These two together still have much to go through but they bolster each other and I absolutely loved how both flawed and perfect they are. This is a beautifully written story about one man's journey to not just end a curse but to also accept the goodness in himself and I can't recommend it highly enough. It's light on heat, but there when it fits. I always get highly attached to all these characters. I adored seeing Saber, Laurent, and the other Onyx members again. I can't wait to see what else these amazing authors have in store for us!
106 reviews
Read
January 21, 2024
The characters are lifelike, and fascinating. Eli is criminal and cursed man, on a mission and suffering terribly. He makes sense, a boy in wrong body, failed by everyone and killed for a crime he did while being manipulated and lied too. He blames himself and others, and makes it up to. Like all characters in the series he becomes better version of himself. The best part for me was him seeing his brother and their relocation, and him facing Isidore. Baz on the other hand, didn't stand out much. He is spirit and ex king but he is too much like any other. Their romance felt more like friendship and lacked intensity of previous ones.
Profile Image for Juniper.
3,391 reviews24 followers
January 16, 2024
This is an immersive and compelling read: fascinating characters, intriguing lore and world building, and a narrative that deftly weaves together both character and plot development. It makes for a satisfying novella, but at the risk of being *that* reviewer, I will say that I think it could’ve shone even more in a longer form— there’s so much depth and potential here. As complaints go, however, this is a minor one, and the tl;dr here is that this story is well worth a read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
1,847 reviews3 followers
February 20, 2024
Gripping

This series almost feels like you are reading a dream world with fanciful and cruel humans and inhumans. The characters are always very vivid and this story is really set up to be a quest book. Great to see Sabre and Laurent and crew again as we watch Eli walk in a redemption story towards his fate.
Profile Image for Jamie.
151 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2024
I really enjoyed this addition to the series. The magic in this world is really interesting. But this story in particular and some of the others make it really difficult to see Isiodore and Emile as sympathetic characters.
Profile Image for Batwoman.
533 reviews6 followers
February 3, 2024
Absolutely loved reading this book. Made me miss this very unique world that’s been created. Eli and Rey created such an amazing story. I loved reading how Eli grew so much in such a short time with Rey around. Very highly recommend!
1 review
January 18, 2024
Love it

I NEED MORE OF ELI!!! It's great to finally see what happened to him and how everyone else has grown. Needs to be longer
Profile Image for yazaleea.
707 reviews4 followers
September 2, 2025
I love a pathetic fox-trickster guy and his strong stern knight

But now it’s FINALLY time for Yves and Charon’s story!!
64 reviews
August 23, 2025
I LOVE that Iris Foxglove brought Eli back to life in such an amazing and wonderful way. I feel like this story added another fantastic element to this world and I enjoyed every second of it. And I loved that Sabre was given even more of a happy ending. And I got to read about Hekor and Flick again. And I just love how Eli got his redemption! And I also love that he found a great love in Rey.

I love this series so much and hope the author writes more books in this world.
Profile Image for Kori.
47 reviews
July 22, 2025
Loved it!

First, I loved that one of the MCs was a wild anti-hero *and* trans. So many authors seem to be afraid to write trans characters that are anything but perfect and pure. In short, Eli was *awesome*.

Rey was adorable and it was honestly funny how a trickster spirit was the one trying to rein in his partner's more feral tendencies.

I loved seeing characters from the previous books. I especially loved Eli and Sabre slowly rebuilding their relationship.

I literally just finished this book and I already want to read it again!
Profile Image for sas.
258 reviews14 followers
May 27, 2025
This book is everything I wanted and didn't know.

We follow Eli, a character that was almost forgotten after the first book in the Starian series, but this book lets us see what happened. Honestly, I don't think anyone could have seen where he ended up.

It's a beautiful story, that grabs you immediately and keeps you with it right to the end. It hurts in such a good way, and then Eli gets what I think is a perfect ending.
Profile Image for Hani.
864 reviews
November 8, 2025
HOW DO THEY MANAGE TO MAKE A WELL-ESTABLISHED WORLD-BUILD SO FRESH???

I want a serial built out of the shenanigans of Starian spirits now.
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