Wings of Stars

Fallen Destiny #1

by R.L. Caulder, M. Sinclair

Comply and excel, or, fail and fall.

Welcome to Alfemir.

FULL BLURB COMING SOON.

Author note: Wings of Stars is book one in the Fallen Destiny trilogy. Follow Kieran and her possessive, obsessive angel mates as they unravel the secrets in the stars that were buried by the gods themselves. Book one will end in a cliffhanger. Content intended for mature audiences, which includes, but is not limited to: Sexual scenes, violence, blood, displays of traumatic moments including mental and physical abuse.

Genres: Fantasy, Why Choose, Romance, Angels, Paranormal, Romantasy, Dragons

478 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2024

About the author

R.L. Caulder is a USA Today bestselling author who lives in her writing cave away from the intense heat of the Florida sun with her husband and furry writing assistants, MeowMeow and Winrey. Life is never boring for R.L., who has hundreds of imaginary friends constantly vying for her attention and begging for their stories to be told.

If you're looking for ways to interact with R.L., you can find her on Facebook, in her group:
The Cauldron: R.L. Caulder Reader Group

Reviews

[lex (samkiel’s version ⚡︎) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ☆

the way that I DEVOURED this book is insane. I don’t even remember blinking. I couldn’t tell you at what point I decided that I absolutely needed to finish before I went to sleep, but it happened because here I am, awake far too late, staring at my blank kindle screen, wondering how I’m supposed to proceed as normal after this.. 🫢😭

kieran and the guys are EVERYTHING to me. I quite literally don’t know who I’m more obsessed with. actually that’s a lie. it’s clearly Niz, the magical “pet” Wyvern that can shift from the size of your average cute & cuddly house cat to deadly, ferocious and roughly the size of a barn lol 🫶🏼 truly though, this book quickly reminded my why I am absolutely a Why Choose girlie, because each of these characters were delicious!

I found Kieran, with her dry, witty humor and overwhelming sense of familial duty, both relatable and engaging from the beginning. as the impending deadline of finding her affinity approaches, her relationship with her father has grown more volatile. she’s forced to make hard choices about her future, and I love that she can find the strength to remain kind and loving at her core despite the circumstances of her life. she’s such a wonderful FMC & I’m rooting for her to grow even more bold as this series goes on.

and the guys… I truly can’t explain how much I love each and every one of them. Ronan and his adorable obsession with feeding her. Gabe and his soft touches and dreamy green eyes. Bastian and his unhinged, but tender, nature. Steele and his sharp tongue and pointed glances. OMFG. I could go on and on, but each of these men is unique. watching them find a comfortable dynamic, one with her at the center and priority, was so freaking cute.

✨ Beauty
✨ Little Star
✨ Darling
✨ Princess

swooning.

and the twists had my jaw on the floor! I was on my toes, guessing at what was coming next & I can only imagine how intense book 2 will get for our little harem, especially after that cliffhanger.

Thank you to R. L. Caulder and M. Sinclair for providing an ARC of this book for me to review!

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kieran is our compassionate and resilient angel FMC who has struggled to earn and find her place among her people. Nearing her deadline, she must find her affinity or risk shaming her family legacy and becoming ostracized forever…

Faced with a horrible situation with dire choices, Kieran takes a leap of faith that sends her on a wild journey of discovering of truths about herself, ancient prophecies, and conspiracies. Along the way, she forms special connections with some interesting MMCs that fall fast and hard…

Tropes/themes:
🪽Multi POV
🪽Resilient FMC
🪽Why choose
🪽Training
🪽Prophecies & powers
🪽Wyvern sidekick
🪽“Who did this?”
🌶️

I was immersed in the world the authors created- we get the academia vibes with the high stakes of an ongoing conflict between the angels and the “fallen.” The world building was descriptive and each love interest and relationship is decidedly unique. I don’t want to spoil anything about the MMCs but they include some nurturing, possessive, unhinged, loyal, and unexpected ones!

I’m looking forward to Kieran coming into her unknown power and exploring her future with some hot hot guys by her side 🔥

Wings of Stars is a fun spicy read filled with lots of delicious angst, intriguing characters, and a cliffhanger that leaves you winded and looking forward to the next book!

I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Huge thanks to R.L. Caulder and M. Sinclair for the opportunity!

[MarissaIsBooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I had a great time with this. It’s spicy and full of angst. I loved Kieran and am really excited to get a new series with an FMC who is such a strong survivor.

As for the men, I’m so happy they were each written with such different personalities & distinctive powers. Sometimes in a why choose I feel like the guys can blend together but these each stood out. Since this is a series, I’m interested to see how each relationship develops/pans out.

PS….that cliffhanger!!! I need book 2 asap.

Highlights:
- Why choose
- Dark fantasy romance
- Angels
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Friends-to-lovers
- Who did this to you

Note: I received an advance copy from the authors. Decision to read/review was my own. Opinion is my own.

[ritika · Rating 2 out of 5]

1. why does the synopsis say “kieran and her mates” when nothing mate-y even happened????? did the synopsis just spoil the series???

2. oh no poor kieran FOUR (4) guys (and 1 wyvern) all want her oh woe is me boo hoo

3. please come up with better pet names because “beauty” gave me the world’s largest ick

4. what on earth was that ending????

[Adrienne McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blown! I always know that I am in for a fantastic story when M. Sinclair and RL Caulder join forces. The storyline is complex and written to hold your attention. The characters are multi-faceted. The surprise at the end of the cliffhanger left me desperate for more. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[ROMEOISNOTFUNNY · Rating 4 out of 5]

That ending!

How did I not see that coming. Niz oh Niz!!!
this RH angels civil war paranormal discovery book is filled with cute, funny, snarky, steamy moments. With dark hits, thrilling spins, and alphahole, "you serious!" Moments.

I love Kerian character. She's in her 20s, trying to find herself under the pressure of an abusive father. she's been brought up in a world with strict expectations and a narrow world view.
There is no real world build around how the world came to be. Instead, we are thrown right into her life at the changing point. we hitch a ride, discovering as she does. Glimsping heated moments with the different men appearing in her life. It's not slowly built up, but once they are all together, it is slow building and exploding.

I love the unhinged ones, so yea, Bastian is one my fav. Steel is the alphahole. Roland and Gab are the strong, caring sweethearts. With Roland having more to his and Niz story than we know.

oh, an Niz!! that sweet Wyvern!!

I want more, I want to book 2 out in audio now!!! I need to know what happens! but not really with the power thing, I need to know about the.... well, cliffhanger!

But one thing is the whole power and world structure thing. While I feel the pressure to hold the politics as the main story....it's just not built well enough for me to care. I would be happy if it was still about the discovery of power and men in any story world and task. The whole thing around her powers isn't impressive enough...sorry, I wish it was, but it's just not built enough to feel the weight of it all.... so 3.8 stars

[The_Book_Brat · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Reverse Harem
*Fantasy
*Multi-PoV
*Angels
*Unique FMC
*Prophecy
*Instalove
*Building Harem (4?)
*Mid-burn
*1/3
Super series starter
There’s some brilliant tropes in this to draw you in - including the ones listed there’s enemy and friends to lovers, “who hurt you?”, found family, and guys fall first! Then the character relations and plot just keep you going ☺️
The story follows Kieran an Angel who’s been downtrodden her whole life by her father as she has shown no inkling of having magic at all 😣 and with this she risks being banished …
Yet a chance encounter throws a whole other option her way - one that might just show her her own worth 💪 although it might just provide the answers she needs it’s not without peril 😮
The best thing for me is the characters in this book! Kieran just keeps going and never gives up, she knows how she should be treated and is steadying to find her vogue to match that inner strength ☺️ Roman is such a caretaker who gave up his world for our girl; Gabe is her protector and os willing to stand against all those he knows for Kieran; Bash is full on batsh!+ creating some hilarious situations but all for the girl he now centres on; then we have the token @$&h0!€ Steele who can’t process his feelings creating an undeniable connection 🥰 and then the Wyvern companion Niz who is an absolute gem and we all need a Niz 😍
And just a warning prepare yourself for that little well large twist right at the end 🙈

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.25 - I've read closed door romance with more tension than this. giving this a half star for each member of kieran's harem but my lord was this disappointing. the plot might've had potential but the bad writing and lack of spice/chemistry made this almost unfinishable

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCUSE ME?!
all praise daddy bastian 🧎🏽‍♀️
listen, this book takes you on a RIDE.
THE ENDING? shooketh.
so much happened and i loved every second of it 😭
Kieran is amazing, we love her and she’s perfect. she’s strong and human in the way where she’s working through a lot of shit to better herself while also being so hard on herself
Ronan - s’cute. he’s the one who takes care of her in the most nurturing way. i wouldn’t have expected it from how we met him.
Niz - OHMYGOD we love a cute wvyern!!! all his little scenes had me melting. idk when he’s in his mini form i pictured a little fly noise 🤣
Bastian - 🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️🧎🏽‍♀️i love a grippy sock character
Gabe - i’m excited to read more about him! i wish we would’ve gotten the scene in the library as a bonus content!
Steele - love to hate you 😭 but i also sense a lot more background story work coming soon.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well... staying up to 2 am to read Wing of Stars wasn't exactly the plan... but I suppose that's my bad for starting a why Choose fantasy book at 9pm. Like... I should known better


I am absolutely obsessed with this book. The world building is incredible, and I love the way different elements are brought in. It was really cool to see the world expand as the main character's understanding of the world did too!


Really like the character dynamics. There's a little bit of everything - the grumpy one, the protector, the care taker, the one with a questionable grip on reality, and the cliffhanger one... I love it when books it ALL my favorite romance dynamics

I really appreciated the trigger warnings - I'd just like to make it clear that the abuse was between a parent and child. I did have to skim a couple pages, but I don't feel that that took away from my experience reading.


I really enjoyed this book! Thank you for the ARC authors, I can't wait for the next in the series!!!

[Hannah Blackwell]

DNF @ 16% no rating. I wanted to love this book! Unfortunately the writing style wasn’t for me, all telling not showing in terms of the emotions n chemistry… and then we didn’t get to even see the meet cutes cuz they already happened.

[Jens_Book_Cubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wings of Stars is the first book In the Fallen Destiny Trilogy. It is a why choose, paranormal romance with enemies to lovers themes and a very surprising ending.

I loved this book! I adored the characters and was instantly hooked on the story. It has intrigue, mystery, suspense, a prophecy, and some super steamy moments. I was very entertained by the witty banter between the characters as well.

As with all the books by this spectacular writing duo, the writing, flow, and pace of the story is flawless, as is the character development, relationship development, storytelling, and world building.

I’d definitely recommend this book and am very much looking forward to the next one.

[Gabrielle · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 72% ….. this is apparently a hot take.

I liked the premise of this book and was excited for a why-choose exciting fantasy romance. but both the plot and the romance fell flat for me.

the romance was a mixture between insta-lust and off page “established” relationships. for example, we are constantly told how Ronan was super hard on the FMC during school and how they hated eachother, but the first time we meet Ronan he is like head over heels for her? I would have liked a little lead up. the only relationship I truly felt build was with grumpy rebel leader dude (sorry I don’t remember his name that’s how little impact this had on me)

the plot could have been so cool!!!!! but I swear i’ve read this book a million times. maybe I’m just being cynical, but this was predictable and a little slow for me

[dom☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫(3.75)

I enjoyed this book, I liked Kieran as a FMC. The story and the plot was pretty cool too. It was an interesting storyline that kept me interested. Especially since it was a reverse harem and enemies to lovers which I always enjoy🤭. Overall it was a good read.

[Shamell Klinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

In love

I am in love with this book. It has it all romance, action, feelings, spice. And an epic cliffhanger that for once didn't piss me off. Just made me even more excited.

[BalzOfSatan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot was promising but the male love interests ruined it. All the horrible pet names. I dropped @300 pages in. FL is just cringe

[Laura J (allbooksniceandspice) · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5

What a book! I fell deep after only a few pages and knew this was going to be a winner!

This was the first of a series and it blew my mind. I found myself reading at every spare moment I had (this would have been read within 24 hours had I not had other responsibilities)!

I absolutely adored this, it had everything you could possibly want in a book. You had an action packed storyline, a fiesty FMC, several brooding and overprotective MMC’s, a whole bunch of crazy, a cute but fierce little companion, a sizzling amount of tension, a boat load of heartache and enough plot twists to keep you guessing for a week.

This is a dark, why choose fantasy romance. I recommend checking the TW/CW before starting this. The content, both on and off page, may not be for everyone.

I LOVED the characters to no end. I’m very much team Bastian; he’s a loveable, possessive and crazy fool. He would burn the world for his girl. Kieran is a strong cookie and this develops further throughout the book. Her resilience is nothing short of amazing and her attitude rocks.
I am OBSESSED with Niz, I wanna put him in my pocket and just love him! Ronan is the loving caregiver, his main priority is to look after Kieran in every way. Gabe is her fierce warrior, he will protect and worship her at all costs. Steele is not in my good graces; the unlucky bad egg of the group.

The twists and turns in this book will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The world building was top notch, the character development and depth were amazing. The same level of detail was also given to the side characters. The descriptive settings were phenomenal. You could vividly picture the scenes as you were reading. This book brought strong emotions to the surface, it was full of heartache, angst, anger and sadness. It was emotionally devastating at certain points.

🌶️Why choose
🌶️Enemies and friends to lovers
🌶️Guys fall first
🌶️Who did this to you?
🌶️Possessive men
🌶️Wyvern companion
🌶️Angels

Would recommend to those on the search for a dark why choose fantasy that grips you from the very beginning♥️

[Verv · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Wings of Stars' by RL Caulder and M Sinclair is a celestial adventure that had me utterly captivated from the first page to the explosive, cliffhanger ending. As a huge fan of magical worlds filled with mystery and romance, this book was like a feast for my imagination. The story of Kieran, a seemingly powerless angel living in the shadow of her Archangel father's expectations, is both heart-wrenching and inspiring in her resilience as she battles for her place.

The authors have created a fantasic academic world within Alfemir that's as intriguing as it is dangerous. Kieran's struggle against the ticking clock to find her magic before facing exile is a compelling hook that draws you in, but it's the richly detailed characters and her relationships with the MMCs that keep you burning through the pages. The why Choose dynamic introduces us to the MMCs that are as diverse as they are delightful. Each of Kieran's companions, from the nurturing Ronan to the enigmatic Steele, adds a unique flavor to the story, making the dynamics between them absolutely irresistible.

Gabe is a standout favorite for with his protective nature for me, I love a man that would go against anyone for his woman. The best part though is that, just like Kieran, you don't have to pick just one, as the different personalities and unique dynamics between them all brings to balance light-hearted moments with intense action and drama throughout.

The cliffhanger ending left me breathless and eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series. This book is a brilliant blend of spicy romance, intriguing and shocking plot twists, and character dynamics that I have come to anticipate from each author individually but was electric together. 'Wings of Stars' is a testament to the power of believing in oneself and the strength found in the families that we forge.

Thank you so much for the ARC!

[Dearna (Words of the Roses) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

For full review: https://wordsoftheroses.com/2024/02/1...

“Tomorrow is a new day, Beauty. Don’t bring today’s problems into it. No day is guaranteed.”

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to R.L Caulder and M. Sinclair for sending a copy my way!

This was my first time reading anything from both R.L. Caulder and M. Sinclair, and I adored it. Wings of Stars is a fantastic start to a new paranormal, why choose romance. We have angels, a corrupt government, hidden magic, and a beautifully slow-burn romance and the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Kieran is the daughter of an Archangel and has spent most of her life thinking that she is a failure because she has not found out what her affinity is. In Alfemir, failure is not an option. Any angel who doesn’t have an affinity is stripped of their wings and cast down to live among humans. At this point, Kieran thinks she is destined to lose her wings. However, everything changes when she bumps into a Fallen angel. He tells her there is another option if she is brave enough to fall. She takes that plunge after her father attacks her, with three unlikely companions. The group finds the Resistance, a camp of Fallen angels. Kieran discovers a history the Archangels’ of Alfemir have kept hidden and a series of affinities they have destroyed. And maybe she is not powerless as Alfemir would have her believe.

The romance here is a deliciously slow burn, which I really love in a why choose. It gives Kieran time to get to know each of the guys. Also, the slow pace allows her time to process the developing feelings she has for all four guys. Most of the guys seem to be on board with a why choose relationship because they just want Kieran to be happy. So sweet!

Also, we have dragons! Niz is the absolute sweetest! I adore the connection he has with Kieran. I also love that he spends most of his days as this adorable little wyvern who can sit on your shoulder but will go full beast mode if those he loves are in danger.

[Dawn Bankes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wings of Stars is a why choose fantasy of an angel that is forced to make a life-altering decision that throws her into a world she’s only ever heard stories of. As secrets come to light that affect her own destiny she’s faced with even more life-altering decisions…and that doesn’t even include the several men she’s drawn to which creates another layer of complications altogether!

I really enjoyed this story and have never been more thrilled with a cliffhanger! The promise of SO much more has me on edge until the next book of what is positioned to be a trilogy.

There’s so much tension and angst I could not put this down! The range of personalities across all the male characters keeps things interesting and has you continually coming back for more. Book two promises LOTS of groveling! The red flags be greening 🚩

The plot itself opens the door for what seems to be a a really interesting storyline. But that brings me to a couple points and why I gave it 4/5 stars. The pacing was just off for me. I felt like it dragged at some points and could have moved along faster with less filler. I don’t think we got a lot of the actual story in the first book but I love the prospect of what it promises to be.

I also think the character development was a little lacking. I loved each character but felt they needed a little more depth to be well-rounded. We fall in love with characters because of the way they make us feel days and days later when we just can’t stop thinking about them. This just wasn’t quite there for me. Maybe we’ll get that in the next books.

Important things to know when going in:
✨ Instalove
✨ Why choose
✨ Check trigger warnings (I’d really like to emphasize this one as there are on page scenes that could be triggering for some)

Overall, this was an easy to read why choose with lots of promising developments in the next book!

[Mom Reads Romance · Rating 3 out of 5]

This duo LOVES to write their characters biting and chewing their lips. 2 stars off for that bullshit. Do better. It doesn’t matter how many times you find a way to say it differently it still the same thing. Repeated over and over. As readers we don’t need to know these people have lip chewing problems. 🤮🤮🤮If you are trying to express confusion or whatever there are tons of other ways to write and express it. Once or twice is cool. But every chapter? For fucks sake. Yall gettin paid for this shit. 🙄😝🤣🤣🤣🤣wtf.
Ok. That sort of shit makes me mad. I think it’s menopause. Sorry yall. But I go thru my day teaching Pilates and at times see 60 people and never ONCE have I had a client chew or bite her lip.

Ok. On to the good. This was a fun read. 3 stars. Nothing too deep though. Don’t expect world building at a high level or characters that have growth arcs. But overall it held my attention and the plot was creative and fun to read.

I hate Steele. Doesn’t matter how many sob stories he has. He is a fucking dickhead. I hope they don’t get together.

The rest of the guys are great. Not bullies. Love them all. I am not seeing Steele really fit in here but of course OF COURSE these authors want the most difficult non redeemable idiot asshole to be tied to the fmc in such a way they cannot avoid one another.

Make it make sense. Blech.

I like the fmc. 🤷🏻‍♀️She’s ok. A bit of Mary Poppins by book 2 perfectly perfect in every way. I could see the beginnings of that shit here in book one.

RH unsure if any MM no FF
No spice this book except some heavy petting.
KU
Finished trilogy
Formulaic writing but interesting plot
Authors like to use repeated phrases and words in their books and are doing the same thing here again.
I don’t think there is any OW/OM drama-there wasn’t any this book

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kieran is an angel who has yet to find her magical speciality. Which is a problem, because she has one month left before they cut off her wings and throw her down to Earth if she can’t prove useful.
It starts off slow (and somewhat repetitive) but picks up a little in pace as it progresses. There’s not really much that actually *happens* in this story, and I did find it to drag in places.
Each of the guys is introduced individually and in different circumstances, so we have the framework of a harem, but it’s not quite there yet. With some of the options on the table, I’m not even sure I want it to be. There’s a little bit of sexy times, but Kieran honestly has more important things to deal with.
There’s not much in the way of answers (or questions really) and I loved the twist at the end. Lots of potential fun brewing there.

[Ashley S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wings of Stars" is a captivating novel that truly shines as a page-turner. With a unique and engaging plot, this book stands out from the crowd. The magic system within the story is not only fascinating but also adds an extra layer of excitement to the narrative. The well-developed characters are incredibly compelling, drawing readers in and making them emotionally invested in their journey. Fans of fast-paced storytelling, strong female leads, themes of found family, and slow burn relationships will find this book to be a must-read. Overall, "Wings of Stars" is a thrilling adventure that I highly recommend to anyone looking for an immersive and entertaining read. I can’t wait for the next book!

[Cheyyleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid three, I'll be transparent and say I forgot I was even reading this and didn't remember until I logged back into Kindle. I think it has potential but the characters have fallen into the normal stereotypes and it almost ruins the book. Psycho, chosen one, caring loving one, the asshole, and the caregiver but at points it's on steroids. Ill keep reading but hopefully they even out a bit.

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wings of Stars

Full of action and what a cliffhanger! The story is captivating and I will say i can't decide if Bastian or Niz is my favorite character. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took a bit to get going but I’m totally invested. I definitely shed a few tears a different points. The guys are all unique and that cliffhanger!!! Like WTF….

[Angela Denny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a story. You really feel for all the Kieran is forced to go through. Each of her men are needed for different reasons. Kieran is stronger than she realizes and has powers they barely understand. That ending was brutal and I need to know what happens next.

[KK 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure. Interesting world and some characters are more interesting than others. I’ll definitely be giving that 2nd book a try. Not a lot of spice.

[Lolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.8⭐️
Meh writing
Plot is not developed enough
I hate Steele

[Becca Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean not the best. BUT I’m here for the drama of one girl and five guys. Lol gotta wait till September to see what happens