Foiled Stars

by Jennifer Ascienzo

He came to conquer Earth. She just wanted to survive college.

Autumn Ramon thought her freshman year of college would be easy, but her summer takes a turn for the worse after her mom's tragic death, her boyfriend's betrayal, and her struggles to pass her road test. Love is the furthest thing from her mind until she encounters a mysterious stranger after an earthquake, in her Upstate NY hometown of Monroe, who turns up everywhere, including her dreams.

Crown Prince Dante Martyne, ruthless conqueror of the Universes, has Earth next on his list. When a spaceship oversight leaves him and his crew stranded on this quaint little planet, he must reconsider his beliefs and sense of duty as his plans are derailed by an unexpected romantic infatuation with a human girl.

As their worlds collide, they must navigate the complexities of love, duty, and unravel secrets that could challenge the course of fate and shatter their lives.

Fans of Beauty and the Beast, The Vampire Diaries, and Dragon Ball Z will enjoy the first installment in this sweeping new dark sci-fi romance series.

Genres: Science Fiction, Romance, Fiction

444 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2024

About the author

From a young age, Jennifer Ascienzo developed her love of Science Fiction. Whether it was watching Star Wars, Star Trek, or Alien, she’s always dreamed of life on other planets. She began creating worlds as a child by drawing comic books and role-playing characters with her younger brother. She has always been an avid reader of Fantasy and Science Fiction but has a particular love of manga and fanfiction. It wasn’t until adulthood that Jennifer began writing the stories that had lived inside of her head the entire time and needed to be told.

Jennifer likes the hero but LOVES the villain. She writes sweeping romances where the villain gets the girl and as a Latina American, she writes from her own perspective.

She has a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from The City College of New York and works as a Certified Paralegal by day. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, star gazing, spending time with her friends and family, reminiscing about her days as a competitive artistic gymnast, and hosting monthly writing challenges on Instagram under the handle @themidnight_novelist.

Reviews

[Jennifer Ascienzo]

Hi Everyone! I'm the author of FOILED STARS and I'm so excited to be here!!! Thank you so much for checking out my stories! <3

FOILED STARS is Upper YA and is perfect for fans of Hades and Persephone, The Vampire Diaries, and Bulma and Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z! If you love Vegebul this series is perfect for you!

**Please note that this is a dark sci-fi romance and there are a few trigger warnings:

Unaliving, on screen stalking, violence in the form of martial arts fighting, toxic romance, morally gray characters, complicated relationships, drama, evil villains, alien abduction, mourning over the death of a parent, and some language**

As far as spice goes FOILED STARS is a no-low spice book .5-1 chili pepper. And Book 2 THE MIDNIGHT PRINCE and Book 3 THE LOST EMPRESS are 3 chili peppers.

This multi-POV series is meant to portray the journey of a super villain becoming a super hero who reforms his evil ways all for the love of a human girl and a strong heroine who finally gets the love she deserves! Another major theme in my series is karma. What goes around comes around. Also family is everything.

Thank you again for checking out my stories!! <3

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF, this copy was provided by Book Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

The story started out strong and I loved the concept however the execution was terrible and it was just all over the place and the characters were one dimensional, and the tone of the story was a bit on the comedic side for something that was supposed to be a dark sci-fi fantasy.

Dante was supposed to be this ruthless conqueror yet he spent a lot of his time just doing things that didn’t make sense and the author tried to show him as this tough ruthless leader by having him just senselessly killing his men, which was just pointless and added nothing to the story.

His obsession with autumn would’ve made more sense if the author gave a reason, like she could’ve made them be mates or have a bond, but just being obsessed with her because she’s beautiful was ridiculous.

Autumn’s character was OK, but I lost interest in the whole plot by that point so I just wasn’t invested.

The story felt kind of high school ish, the tone was just
juvenile and was just all over the place. This was just not for me.

[Rachel Hanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first alien romance—and I was obsessed!!! Star eyes, star struck, I now need to get my hands on as many of these romances as I can.

The whole plot felt a little fantastic and dramatized, but for the most part it really worked for the story and Dante and Autumn. I found it hilarious, and entertaining, and it took me worlds and worlds away. I was in tears with that surprise twist of an ending. I can’t remember the last time I cried from a book…

I really cannot wait to pick up the next books.

Such a fun read—highly recommend.

[Madelyn Grey]

Despite YA not being my genre of choice, I'd wanted to read this novel ever since seeing the gorgeous cover (and loving the title). The setting was split between Autumn's hometown and space, and Ascienzo's descriptions of the stars, planets, and skies were always so gorgeous. One of my favorite scenes was when Dante created prom for Autumn -- since she never got to go -- and she was able to appear in a dress (featuring the titular "foiled stars") while they floated/danced through the sky. Beautiful moment! I feel like my young cousins would swoon over something like this.

[David Blankenship · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun scifi story worth the read!

I've just finished reading Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo, book 1 in the series. It was a lot of fun to read and felt like watching a movie. A quick description is Dragon Ball Z meets Twilight. The young protagonist falls for a stranger who turns out to be super powerful. I appreciated the implanted title with the double meaning. Overall, this was very creative and imaginative, and the climax was insanely cool. Well done!

[Roz MacLaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those books that I never wanted to finish. I really enjoyed this one. Even though I started it quite slowly, thinking I wasn't going to enjoy it hugely, I ended up tearing through it.

Whilst it's quite a long book, the short chapters divide it into bite-sized pieces so I progressed through it very fast.

I received this book as part of the Stag Beetle Books Street Team and this review forms my own unbiased thoughts and opinions.

I initially selected this book to review as the next in the series is due out in July and I thought I'd read this one first. The title and cover image caught my attention.

Foiled Stars is the first in a trilogy about an alien called Dante, who is on a mission to conquer Earth, and Autumn, a human girl with whom he falls in love.

What I loved:

The characters. Dante is flawed enough to be realistic but not enough to hate him.

The storyline. There's a great mix of action and adventure.

The villains. From snotty girls at school to universe-destroying aliens, the author does a great job at depicting villains.

The descriptions. The author is skilled at painting word pictures so you can see and feel everything that goes on. Autumn's work as a waitress, her ill-fated venture to a party, Earth through an alien's eyes - it's all beautifully done.

What I didn't love so much:

Literally every guy who meets Autumn falls for her. She has four men who want to go out with her. This seems a bit unrealistic.

The ending. The ending felt a little abrupt - so much so that I was trying to turn the page without realising I'd got to the end of the book. It also didn't end particularly happily but as it's a trilogy I'm hoping the action will pick up where the first book left off.

I'll definitely be picking up the next one. I can't wait to explore more of Dante's home planet and there are some unresolved questions in the first book (like who killed Autumn's Mum and what was Maeve like?) that I hope will be answered in the trilogy.

[Niki Kitson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC copy for an honest review.

Foiled Stars gave me 'Cinderella Story meets  Twilight'

Jennifer clearly has a passion for storytelling, and a raw talent for writing, but this first book feels like her testing ground. She's finding her style and exploring the ideas, and I hope she builds on this potential in her next books.

The plot is very intriguing, and I can definitely see where her inspiration from mythology and the relationship of Hades and Persephone has influenced the scenes. However, this novel is a strange mix of Teen/YA tone but with swearing, references to sex, and some triggering content/red flag behaviour. It makes it hard to know who the target audience is.

I struggled with the naivety of Autumn (who came across as younger than 18), and I really did not like the toxicity of Dante. He's meant to be the dreamy alien bad boy, but he had no redeeming qualities (except being super hot?) Perhaps he will have a lot of character growth in the second book to make his relationship with Autumn a bit more palatable to the reader. If he turns out anything like Zuko from ATLA then my inner teen will be very happy, and I'll be totally on board!

Always good to support new writers, so give it a go if you like:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Morally Grey Characters
- Multiple POV
- Twilight (but Aliens!)

Also wanted to say that the cover design for this series is beautiful and really caught my attention.

[Wren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foiled Stars sparkled as if it were a star in the night sky; a welcome surprise for someone who is particularly picky with science fiction stories. It was humorous, with the alien ( Dante, MMC ) making assumptions on human culture and objects, and it painted the imperfectly perfect picture of a struggling college student ( Autumn, FMC ). The cast of characters felt authentic, too. Autumn's friends and acquaintances, and Dante's, had diverse, distinctive personalities that set them apart, forming compelling relationships. As a romance, if you're a reader who isn't interested in relationships with problems, this may not be the book for you—but if you're into miscommunication, monsters, the touch her and you die trope, and handsomely arrogant men, read it immediately. Immediately. This'll be a book I will reread at least once a year.

✨ I appreciate being chosen to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

( FMC ) Female main character.
( MMC ) Male main character.

[Ana Arellano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel so grateful right now that I was able to be an arc reader for this...absolutely stunning debut! I've been following Jennifer's journey to publication the last few years and I'm so glad she finally got this series published. It is FANTASTIC!

[ML · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall this book was a good read the story was an interesting take on sci-fi romance and it had great character development I found myself identifying with the characters especially tech. Already ordered book 2 and can't wait for book 3!!!!

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was one of a handful to have the pleasure of reading the first 2 books of this trilogy before they were published. I can't wait to read the third!

[S.J. Pratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foiled Stars is a sci-fi take on Beauty and the Beast set primarily on Earth (and a little bit on a spaceship). Overall, I enjoyed this read - it hooked me from the first page. It's not often we get to start off my hearing from a world conqueror, and I absolutely loved it. The stakes are set: He's off to earth! Can he be stopped?

The pacing started off really well, I literally HAD to keep turning those pages. A scene that stood out to me was Dante and Autumn's first date, how he says such awkward things (which we, as readers, know is because he's an alien but Autumn doesn't know that so it's fun to watch their dynamic). The stakes are high, because her planet is literally on the line, and there's all those questions of will they/won't they, when will she find out he's an alien, etc.? Really great first half!

Then, for me, the pacing and captivating nature of the story slowed. The book turned to be primarily about Autumn's love interests, including introducing a new one in the latter half of the book that I hoped would turn into an intriguing character but felt a little bit like a filler while she's not with Dante.

I really like how well developed each POV is. Autumn is a relatable teenage girl and the author writes her journey in a totally relatable way. Dante, on the other hand, is different not only in his customs but in the way we follow his POV. The author doesn't miss a beat when it comes to things he'd be experiencing for the first time, and uses language he'd use. Like, instead of "he turned on the car" the book says "the land vehicle ignited". I love this level of detail, it really lets the reader get into his head and his story.

Now to the romance! At first, I loved the dynamic between Autumn and Dante. They riffed off each other, had fun, their early dates were awkward and then you could feel them falling for each other, which I think is no easy feat for the author to have pulled off given that we, the readers, know he destroys planets for a living. But in the second half it turns a bit toxic as Dante becomes possessive and a bit creepy, so I was a touch disappointed by this turn of events. I hope he redeems himself in book 2.

I also think the author does a great job of showing vulnerability, especially when Dante shows her his true form. Oh, and props for exploring the real life of a waitress - people who are normally overlooked and underpaid and it was awesome (and sometimes heart breaking) to see just how hard work this job is and how terribly waitresses can be treated.

Heads up, this book ends on a cliffhanger. I love a good cliffhanger, but I know some people don't and this one is quite a cliffhanger. Be prepared for questions lingering at the end, but that's why we all just need to read Book 2, right? Overall, an enjoyable read!!

[Merryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Jennifer crafted a sophisticated narrative where you have to pay attention to hints and clues along the way in order to understand the entire picture. If you blink, you might miss something.

Dante the alien prince crashes to Earth with his team of men with every intention of conquering the planet but instead, he develops an infatuation with a human girl, Autumn.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

Autumn reminds Dante of his dead love interest Maeve. Yes, she's beautiful to him at first and he does stalk her a bit but once he gets to know her on a deeper level, he loves her as a person as well.

Seriously what guy isn't attracted to a girl initially by her beauty? I found this to be very realistic.

Dante does do bad things but they stem from a deep rooted insecurity of not feeling like he's good enough. This is a villain romance after all so expect him to be a villain, an actual villain. Everything he does is for his love for Autumn. By the end of the story, he deeply regrets his actions and will do anything for her forgiveness.

His redeeming quality is he defies his master and his father and saves the planet at the end of the story because of his love for Autumn.

Autumn is young and naive. She's imperfect as well and also a bit immature. She's sad all the time because of the death of her mom and because her ex-boyfriend cheated on her (which is understandable.)
She dreams of becoming a doctor because she wants to help others.

Autumn is also the victim of bullying and Dante is there to protect her every step of the way. Who wouldn't want their own personal body guard??

Autumn is also popular with the guys. This is a college romance. I think girls that don't get any attention from guys in real life can't understand this but believe me girls like this exist!

Although this book doesn't end on a happy note, this is an enemies to lovers series so I have no fear!!!!

As for the romantic aspect of this story, it's clear that this book is written from a Christian perspective as the author has her characters abstain from sex until marriage which is very refreshing to read in this world of hookup culture. I wish there were more stories like this.

This was a great combination of Hades and Persephone with vampire romance influence and yes Dragon Ball Z!!!

I'm so excited to read Jennifer's future books!!!!!

[Gillian Elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is definitely written for the YA/NA audience. While I don’t fall into either category, I’ll try to write this with the perspective of my 18-year-old self in mind.

Autumn begins the story grieving for the loss of her mother, while wanting to maintain a normal life. When she meets Dante, that life begins to unravel. As an adult reading her story, I often wanted to assume the role of a protective aunt and jump into the text to save her some heartbreak. There will be times as a reader where you want to scream at her, especially if you’ve gone through manipulative relationships yourself. However, when I thought of how terrible my own decision making was as a teen, especially when it came to a first love, it gave me a better perspective. Through all of this Autumn maintains a normal facade, but behind that is a broken and uncertain person whose choices ultimately lead to the final outcome of the story.

Concerning Dante, it is overwhelmingly obvious when Ms Ascienzo says she loves the villain of a story. Dante is the most intriguing of all her characters, and I often wondered if he was the novel’s antagonist. Being an egotistical alien prince with a ruthless backstory, his only “redeeming features” are filled with toxicity and manipulation. Although he cares for her, in his own strange way, it somehow always comes down to his desires over hers. (Not relevant to the story but the author’s BS in Psychology does shine a bit with this character.) My prediction for the trilogy will be that he goes through a redeeming character arc, but I’ll have to read more to find out.

Long story short, fans of Twilight will really like this book, and I do see a lot of similarities with the story of Hades and Persephone. I’d recommend this to anyone who loves a good YA/NA. However I hesitate to suggest that younger teens read it, mostly due to the less-than-ideal relationship that Autumn and Dante currently have.

Adult Me: 3.5 out of 5 stars.
YA Me: 4 out of 5 stars.
Average: 3.75 out of 5 stars.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did receive this book as an advanced review copy for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. Everything about it made me want to read it, the cover, the summary, that it was part of a series… and then I read it.

Don't get me wrong, the book was okay and I do think other people will enjoy it, it just wasn't for me.

The main characters of Autumn and Dante seemed like they would have an interesting relationship as she was human and he was an alien. Autumn was trying to enjoy the rest of her summer before college after a disastrous loss of her mother and the ending of her relationship with her boyfriend. She was going to work, spending time with friends and her dad, and getting ready to attend college. It seemed she was moving on just like a regular 17 year old girl. Then Dante came crashing into her life (literally) and started to pursue her… relentlessly.

The dynamic between the two started out okay, but then became toxic and annoying. Dante continued to pursue Autumn even though she made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him, especially once she found out he was violent. Dante did "try" to be a good boyfriend by keeping her safe and giving her space, but he just kept messing up.

The story line did keep me reading as I was interested to see if Dante could redeem himself and to see what Autumn chose to do as she could have been a really good FMC that you wanted to root for. I would have rated this book another star if the dynamic between the two would have been better as in if Dante would have actually changed his ways and if Autumn wouldn't have flip flopped between so many love interests.

Unfortunately I will not be continuing on with this series.

[Beth Troxel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never thought an alien romance would be so good. Normally, I tend to stick with *spicy* romance that doesn’t really have much plot, but this one was really good. It didn’t have the spiciness that I normally read but was still worth the read.

From the first word, I was hooked. It flowed decently, and I didn’t have to deal with massively choppy dialog. And the plot worked well. In the beginning, I had questions, and most were answered at the end of the book. Like I said, this isn’t really a book I would typically pick up, but it kept me interested to the point I couldn’t put it down.

But the more I read, the more I noticed my mind drifting and the plot dragging on. I get that Dante does this and he does that, and Caleb is a royal jerk, but does it have to be all this book is about? Maybe if more conflict of different reasons would’ve been good. In the beginning, I was rooting for Autumn and Dante, but at the end, I had no idea who I wanted to root for. It left me feeling conflicted. And the ending… Whew. Even if I didn’t like it (which I did), I would still have to get the second when it comes out, so I know how it ends.

Now for the real-world aspect. I respect the heck out of waiters and waitresses. Have you seen the people they have to deal with? This book does them justice and shows readers parts of their world. I felt so bad for Autumn. How she had to deal with a nasty manager and how she had to stay professional to her bullies.

All in all, this was a decent book. Something that broke my monotony and refreshed my reading. I can see certain things I would’ve done better or something that can be done differently, but I liked it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Terror F · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think this one is for me, it took me a bit to finish and I briefly thought about DNF-ing but decided to stick with it through the end.

This story starts with a spaceship crash, a girl, and an alien that thinks she’s hot. An Alien that then goes on to stalk her and just be mean and demanding. Dante committed so many crimes, and generally was not very nice to Autumn or her friend’s and family, I think his bad way outweighed his good. He also seemed to assume Autumn knew everything, there was a lot of “Well I assume you’ve already figured out that I have two stomachs because that is knowledge you would totally have about my alien body”. (Just an example not a spoiler I swear). Her finding out about his true identity kind of felt heavy on the “It’s so obvious” exposition.

The romance was confusing, it was hard to keep track of who was who, because for some reason Autumn attracted 4 dudes to her, many of whom fight each other at every chance. I honestly could not tell who was an alien and who was a creepy serial killer.

I do appreciate how Autumn refused to stoop down to any of her bullies levels, even when they were physically violent with her, she held her ground and was kind till the end.

I think others may enjoy this book more than I did, I feel like Dante was a murderous, brutish, bully and was not a very convincing love interest.

Thank you to the Author Jennifer Ascienzo and BookSirens for my ebook copy of “Foiled Stars”.

I received an advance review copy at no personal cost and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Βίκυ Χ. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foiled Stars is the first book in Foiled Stars series, a YA Dark Sci-fi Romance series, penned by Jennifer Ascienzo. It's an engaging debut that swept me away from the very beginning.
On an ominous night, Autumn Ramon and Dante Martyne cross paths at Farrah Falls, a popular hiking site near the town of Monroe, New York. Their encounter is anything but ordinary: Dante’s spaceship crashes, leaving him stranded on Earth. Autumn, a human, and Dante, an alien, find themselves drawn together despite their vastly different personalities and cultural backgrounds. As their worlds collide, the fate of their friends and families hangs in the balance.
The opening sentence—‘Conquering forty-seven planets in fifty-three days was a record for Dante’—immediately ensnares the reader. Despite Dante being the villain, I find myself inexplicably drawn to him. Jennifer Ascienzo’s writing style is cinematic and effortlessly readable, breathing life into both main and side characters. The intricate world she weaves promises even greater revelations in the sequel.
All in all, 'Foiled Stars' is a fast-paced sci-fi romance tale that can easily fascinate readers regardless their age. Whether you’re a romance enthusiast or a fan of Star Wars and Star Trek, this book promises an unforgettable journey.
Many thanks to Jennifer Ascienzo for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC of her beautiful debut.

[belovedbookwormIV]

This is a DNFed, ARC read. While this book wasn't for me, it might be something you like. If you find it interesting, consider reading it.

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The author has a trigger warning post somewhere on her instagram.
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This book is in 3rd person POV. It's the romance of Autumn and Dante. Autumn is a human that is going through a lot, such as dealing with the loss of her mom and going to college. Dante is a warrior alien on a mission that involves conquering Earth. His ship ends up crashing on Earth though and now he's stranded until help arrives. Dante encounters Autumn and ends up captivated by her.

Some things I liked
I liked the main characters. Autumn is a hardworking, eighteen year old who strives to be independent. I found her likeable and relatable. Dante is a cocky, morally grey alien who I liked. I found him amusing, especially when he was petty. Their romance was interesting. They have different values and come from different planets. They won't have an easy road to a HEA, which makes me curious how their romance will progress through the series.

Some things that didn't work for me
I found most of the side characters to be irritating. I struggle with reading books that have characters I don't like. I also needed to feel more invested with the book. I wasn't the right person to fully appreciate this book. I wasn't the target audience.

[Stephie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dante and Autumn

Foiled Stars for me, was a good read. The plot was solid and a bit different for me. Foiled by stars is well written and really pulled me in and kept my interest throughout. I am far from being YA and very much enjoyed Foiled Stars, which speaks the authors ability to reach across the different age groups. I must admit that I did find it a bit long and believe that some parts could have been left out, however this did not take away from the book.
As it relates to the MCs, In the first half I kind of liked Dante and his cluelessness while on earth. His irritation and dislike of humans kind of left me offended but in a good way (I often found myself saying “we don’t much like you either”). But towards the end of the book my thoughts toward Dante changed dramatically. I may have had a slight change of heart toward the very, very end and felt that much of what he did was out of desperation. It remains to be seen whether the end justifies the means. Autmun Roman, what can I say, I love her but let’s just say I think her manager was correct in her assessment. I think she grew a bit towards the end and hope to see more growth in book two.
I would definitely recommend this book if you are into sci-fi, arrogant alien life forces seeking to take over the earth, closed door, good girl meets alpha bad boy, college romance.

[Lindsey C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. It took me longer than expected to finish, and I even considered DNF-ing, but I pushed through.

The story opens with a spaceship crash, a girl, and an alien who immediately fixates on her. Dante, the alien, was a tough character to root for — his actions often felt controlling, harsh, and at times downright cruel. The romance was confusing, with multiple love interests and frequent fights between them, which made it hard to keep track of who was who.

That said, I really liked Autumn’s character. She stayed kind, strong, and grounded, refusing to stoop to her bullies’ level, even when faced with violence.

While this wasn’t the right book for me, I think other readers may enjoy it more — especially if they’re into morally gray, complicated alien love interests.

Thank you to Jennifer Ascienzo and BookSirens for my eARC of Foiled Stars. I received an advance copy at no personal cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chiareads98 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. Everything about it made me want to read it, the cover..the summary… and then I read it.

At first my attention was grabbed but the more I read the more I struggled to pay attention. I noticed my mind drifting and the plot dragging on. I get it, Dante this Dante that, Caleb this Caleb that. It became repetitive and made it hard to maintain interest. After all I had learned I found myself hoping she wouldn’t choose either of them.
The dynamic between her and Dante just seemed toxic. The lengths at which he pursued her, and disregarded her feelings/wishes was by no means appealing and I’m a dark romance lover.

I did keep reading to see if Dante could redeem himself and to see who Autumn chose and what she would choose to do as she could have been a really good FMC.

[April Pereira · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to start with the disclaimer that this isn't my usual jam. However, I was intrigued by the premise and decided to give it a shot. In the end, while this story may appeal to some, it just wasn't for me.

The word choice and phrasing were awkward at times - for example, "[his] mouth coiled" - which pulled me out of the story. I also found the characters a bit one-dimensional with personalities that rely too heavily on tropes. The only real growth is the male main character who then resorts to extortion to get his own way.

The book has an interesting premise and there is potential here. I think with a bit more character development it could really shine.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Hilma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo is an alien (none spicy) romance story between Autumn, a human girl, and Dante, conqueror of stars.

From the first I was immersed into this story. Dante crashes into Autumn’s life and as their relationship build, both have to understand each other’s cultures and background. The story has twists and turns and a good plot and story-line. The world-building is amazing and I loved Dante: he is an alien on Earth, and after meeting Autumn he does everything he can to win her over.

Foiled Stars was my first alien romance and I just loved it. I can’t wait to read the sequel!

[Tzippy Sheffi Elgar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo is the first book in a series. Alien Dante and human girl Autumn Ramon are well-developed characters. Autumn is sweet and insecure. She must cope with the tragic death of her mother, a breakup with her boyfriend and preparing for college. And then Dante, an alien whose aim is to destroy Earth crashes into her life. He is infatuated with her but he is also manipulative and arrogant. The story is very original and unpredictable. The world-building is wonderful and very unique. I enjoyed the book very much and I hope Dante redeems himself in the next books in the series.

[Amanda Snodgrass · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is cute and the summary of the book caught my eye. But that was about it for me. I didn’t connect with, and honestly despised, almost all of the characters. There was no story payoff, which is staggering for over 400 pages. Dante and Autumn are so incredibly toxic together, and that’s on top of Autumn’s rapid fire bouncing into relationships. It’s definitely YA aimed, and maybe if I was reading it as a contemporary age with the characters, I might feel differently. As it is, I just wanted to shake them all. I sadly will not be continuing the series.

I received a review copy through BookSirens, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[JoAnn W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had fun reading Foiled Stars by Jennifer Ascienzo. Foiled Stars had some great twists and turns and a great plot. In the beginning of the book we meet the hot (and very tall) alien Dante who crash lands on Earth. The world building is great and I loved the concepts, but I just could not get behind Autumn and Dante's relationship. Their interactions felt off. I also felt like this book dragged on... What could have been said in a page, took a chapter to get through at times. I can't wait to see what else this author has coming!

[Mappy BookGirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not at all what I was expecting and I loved every second of it! This was well written and the plot was interesting. I absolutely love Dante, he comes to earth as his last in a long list of places to conquer and ends up breaking all the rules he's ever known, ignores his duty to his people, and does everything he can for Autumn. Sure, it's not always good things but he does them with good intentions. I was hooked into this story, it's not very spicy but I'm sure things will pick up in the next book :) definitely recommend for anyone looking for this type of book.

[Ashley Henning · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. The cover is stunning and the blurb on the back sounded so interesting to me.

The relationship between Autumn and Dante was extremely different to read. Their reactions felt forced and the relationship was very toxic. Autumn bounced around between relationships too often and plots became repetitive. The story was very fast paced and became hard to understand what was happening at some points.

This is geared towards YA, so I think someone of that age group would definitely enjoy this more than me.

[glee book adventures · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a upper YA, dark sci-fi romance. The story is told in split locations (the FMC hometown, and space). I loved all the descriptions of how the author painted a picture so you felt teleported into the read. The alien prince crashes earth, but he fell for the human Autumn. All while autumn is grieving her mother. There were suprising elements, and unlike any other read i have read to date. The pace was good, and characters were relatable. This is a villian becoming a hero story, and redemption. This is a trilogy, software book 1 ends on a cliffhanger.