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Souls in the Stars
A TEENAGE GIRL MUST RESCUE HER LITTLE BROTHER AFTER HE DIES AND IS TRAPPED AS AN ORB OF LIGHT.
Bay Lilly knows what happens when people die—but, that doesn't mean she's okay with her little brother Ash’s looming form-death.
And now, after eighteen years in her human form, Bay is expected to take her spiritual test. Except she’s far from ready. She’s horribly unspiritual and can hardly control her thoughts and emotions, especially when it comes to her brother.
When Ash’s death goes very wrong, Bay finds herself facing a reality where he’s stuck forever in the in-between. With a crew of unlikely people at her side, Bay sets out on a trek across the unforgiving island jungle, determined to free her brother’s soul and, along the way, forced to better understand her own destiny.
A thought-provoking sci-fi with your favorite tropes: chosen one, dystopia/utopia (yes, both), jungle adventure, mystical island, love triangle romance, telekinesis, magical systems, reincarnation, reluctant heroine, new-age-type society. (Think Hunger Games meets Avatar.)
Souls in the Stars explores science vs faith in a nuanced way and highlights the similarities we share as humans no matter where we land on the belief spectrum. It's an emotional story about grief, love, growing up, and finding our true selves.
Bay Lilly knows what happens when people die—but, that doesn't mean she's okay with her little brother Ash’s looming form-death.
And now, after eighteen years in her human form, Bay is expected to take her spiritual test. Except she’s far from ready. She’s horribly unspiritual and can hardly control her thoughts and emotions, especially when it comes to her brother.
When Ash’s death goes very wrong, Bay finds herself facing a reality where he’s stuck forever in the in-between. With a crew of unlikely people at her side, Bay sets out on a trek across the unforgiving island jungle, determined to free her brother’s soul and, along the way, forced to better understand her own destiny.
A thought-provoking sci-fi with your favorite tropes: chosen one, dystopia/utopia (yes, both), jungle adventure, mystical island, love triangle romance, telekinesis, magical systems, reincarnation, reluctant heroine, new-age-type society. (Think Hunger Games meets Avatar.)
Souls in the Stars explores science vs faith in a nuanced way and highlights the similarities we share as humans no matter where we land on the belief spectrum. It's an emotional story about grief, love, growing up, and finding our true selves.
366 pages, Paperback
Published June 4, 2024
2 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Sara Jane Triglia
4 books6 followersSARA JANE TRIGLIA is a mindfulness teacher and novelist. Her 2024 debut novel, Souls in the Stars, is one of the first of its kind—a young adult novel that combines mindfulness and sci-fi. As a sensitive person who craves depth and meaning, she loves to bring these elements to her stories for young readers.
In 2021, she illustrated her first mindfulness children's book, The Littlest Magnolia, which she wrote for her daughter when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Sara enjoys sharing her passion for mindfulness on social media. She holds a degree in psychology and is a certified behavioral therapy practitioner. When she is not writing or making content, you can find her homeschooling her kids, swimming at the beach, or folding a massive pile of laundry.
In 2021, she illustrated her first mindfulness children's book, The Littlest Magnolia, which she wrote for her daughter when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Sara enjoys sharing her passion for mindfulness on social media. She holds a degree in psychology and is a certified behavioral therapy practitioner. When she is not writing or making content, you can find her homeschooling her kids, swimming at the beach, or folding a massive pile of laundry.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 31, 2024
One thing I’m noticing looking through different reviews on this book, and then looking at the reviewers, is that a common theme among the less favorable reviews (who often say “the idea was great but not executed well”) is that the reviewers seem to read lots of Christian books. Guys, this is NOT a Christian book.
As someone who favors science and likes to explore different ideas, this fiction book hits home.
We follow Bay, an about to be 18 year old girl, as she comes of age and is learning who she is. She lives on an island where reincarnation is believed to be the ultimate truth. When her brother dies from a disease, they use a machine to track his soul and it goes awry. Leaving Bay to rescue him.
It was a very emotional read.
I enjoyed following Bay’s spiritual journey and watching her overcome her weaknesses. The end was so well executed and presented an idea I had never thought of, which is what I look for what I know I’m reading a “thought-provoking” read.
The hunger games mixed with Avatar promise is delivered and satisfied. Lots of adventure, sci fi tech, spirituality, romance, and a great ensemble of characters. I was glued from cover to cover.
I’m running to tell my friends about it now.
As someone who favors science and likes to explore different ideas, this fiction book hits home.
We follow Bay, an about to be 18 year old girl, as she comes of age and is learning who she is. She lives on an island where reincarnation is believed to be the ultimate truth. When her brother dies from a disease, they use a machine to track his soul and it goes awry. Leaving Bay to rescue him.
It was a very emotional read.
I enjoyed following Bay’s spiritual journey and watching her overcome her weaknesses. The end was so well executed and presented an idea I had never thought of, which is what I look for what I know I’m reading a “thought-provoking” read.
The hunger games mixed with Avatar promise is delivered and satisfied. Lots of adventure, sci fi tech, spirituality, romance, and a great ensemble of characters. I was glued from cover to cover.
I’m running to tell my friends about it now.
June 10, 2024
Firstly, huge thanks to Snowfire Publishing, author Sarah Jane Triglia, and NetGalley for letting me dive into this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, this story really got to me and is certainly one I will not forget. I was moved to tears multiple times.
It had everything—adventure, romance, grief, hypocrisy, spirituality, and some seriously cool sci-fi tech. The "Hunger Games meets Avatar" pitch is delivered upon, but the stakes are totally different, making it a story all its own.
While it's definitely accessible for high-school-aged readers, the themes and impact of the relationships give it a crossover appeal similar to the Hunger Games.
I really connected to Bay’s struggle with perfectionism, and her journey to self-acceptance and letting go of things beyond her control hit me hard. The dialogue even called me out a bit, reminding me that sometimes I just need to have faith, even as someone who leans more toward science than spirituality.
Ash's character was so lovable, and his passing hit me hard, right alongside Bay. The line, "having him in my life, even if only for eight years, was better than not having him at all," stuck with me long after finishing the book.
The world-building was solid. It was a bit confusing at times, albeit adding to the story's uniqueness. Much of the confusion is intentional and made clear by the ending though, so stick with it! The storytelling was immersive, painting vivid images that pulled me into the setting, the action, and the characters' dynamics.
As someone who wants to get the quote "We are all stardust" tattooed, the overall message really resonated with me. It's ultimately about accepting that sentiment, no matter where you fall on the belief spectrum. The story touched on grieving someone who's still alive, how grief affects relationships, and the universal desire to be seen for who we truly are.
And that ending! Easily my favorite part. It was totally unexpected but made perfect sense with the hints dropped along the way. It tied up loose ends while leaving me with new questions to ponder long after finishing.
While the amount of things I enjoyed about this book far outweighs the things I didn’t, there were a few things I didn’t love:
• Some references, like the significance of being barefoot versus wearing shoes, felt unresolved.
• Gemma, a mother-like figure, also felt underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more from her character.
• There were also some subtle digs at "millennial culture" and the "wokeness" trend that some were funny and others didn't land, but I didn't see exactly how it connected to the themes
• The use of modern slang like "vibes" and "fire" seemed forced and added little to the overall message. Perhaps the intention was to annoy the reader for the sake of it, but I didn't understand the purpose.
Overall, this is a strong debut novel, and I'm already telling my friends to keep an eye out for it when it's published!
I have to say, this story really got to me and is certainly one I will not forget. I was moved to tears multiple times.
It had everything—adventure, romance, grief, hypocrisy, spirituality, and some seriously cool sci-fi tech. The "Hunger Games meets Avatar" pitch is delivered upon, but the stakes are totally different, making it a story all its own.
While it's definitely accessible for high-school-aged readers, the themes and impact of the relationships give it a crossover appeal similar to the Hunger Games.
I really connected to Bay’s struggle with perfectionism, and her journey to self-acceptance and letting go of things beyond her control hit me hard. The dialogue even called me out a bit, reminding me that sometimes I just need to have faith, even as someone who leans more toward science than spirituality.
Ash's character was so lovable, and his passing hit me hard, right alongside Bay. The line, "having him in my life, even if only for eight years, was better than not having him at all," stuck with me long after finishing the book.
The world-building was solid. It was a bit confusing at times, albeit adding to the story's uniqueness. Much of the confusion is intentional and made clear by the ending though, so stick with it! The storytelling was immersive, painting vivid images that pulled me into the setting, the action, and the characters' dynamics.
As someone who wants to get the quote "We are all stardust" tattooed, the overall message really resonated with me. It's ultimately about accepting that sentiment, no matter where you fall on the belief spectrum. The story touched on grieving someone who's still alive, how grief affects relationships, and the universal desire to be seen for who we truly are.
And that ending! Easily my favorite part. It was totally unexpected but made perfect sense with the hints dropped along the way. It tied up loose ends while leaving me with new questions to ponder long after finishing.
While the amount of things I enjoyed about this book far outweighs the things I didn’t, there were a few things I didn’t love:
• Some references, like the significance of being barefoot versus wearing shoes, felt unresolved.
• Gemma, a mother-like figure, also felt underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more from her character.
• There were also some subtle digs at "millennial culture" and the "wokeness" trend that some were funny and others didn't land, but I didn't see exactly how it connected to the themes
• The use of modern slang like "vibes" and "fire" seemed forced and added little to the overall message. Perhaps the intention was to annoy the reader for the sake of it, but I didn't understand the purpose.
Overall, this is a strong debut novel, and I'm already telling my friends to keep an eye out for it when it's published!
May 18, 2024
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book but, man, did it deliver.
Bay has a lot to face in her life, but the thing that upsets her the most is her grapple with her brother’s form-death. On her eighteenth birthday, her spiritual test begins and this forces her on her path. As she is doubting her spirituality, her brother’s death goes badly, and she must confront her doubts or otherwise her brother will never be free.
This book had me turning the pages, and I loved how different it was… and yet still familiar in its tropes. I found myself completely immersed in this world and the way it was weaved had me asking questions and the answer were revealed at the right time. I love when this happens, it’s so satisfying. This book had the perfect balance of romance, action/adventure, and mind boggling sci fi!
The ending was not what I expected, but in the best way. It had me thinking all night. If you loved Divergent or any sci fi that makes you think, you will dig this book. Pick it up!
Thanks to Sarah Jane Triglia and BookSirens for my ARC copy. I wrote this review of my own free will with my own opinions.
Bay has a lot to face in her life, but the thing that upsets her the most is her grapple with her brother’s form-death. On her eighteenth birthday, her spiritual test begins and this forces her on her path. As she is doubting her spirituality, her brother’s death goes badly, and she must confront her doubts or otherwise her brother will never be free.
This book had me turning the pages, and I loved how different it was… and yet still familiar in its tropes. I found myself completely immersed in this world and the way it was weaved had me asking questions and the answer were revealed at the right time. I love when this happens, it’s so satisfying. This book had the perfect balance of romance, action/adventure, and mind boggling sci fi!
The ending was not what I expected, but in the best way. It had me thinking all night. If you loved Divergent or any sci fi that makes you think, you will dig this book. Pick it up!
Thanks to Sarah Jane Triglia and BookSirens for my ARC copy. I wrote this review of my own free will with my own opinions.
May 29, 2024
Thanks to Snowfire Publishing, author Sarah Jane Triglia, and NetGalley for letting me discover this treasure-worthy ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Where to begin? This book is something else. Something I didn’t know I needed, but once I started flipping through its pages, I felt a sense of healing.
“Souls in the Stars” blends fantasy, sci-fi, and a unique kind of faith. Not a religious faith, but an inner belief that every human being possesses.
If you have ever looked at a sunset and thought, “Wow, this is stunning,” or observed a colony of ants bringing food to their nest and thought to yourself, “How organized and committed they are,” this is the type of faith I am talking about.
A love of nature, an understanding that everyone and everything has a role in this world, and that every role is equally important. It’s about seeing everything as an opportunity to grow and reflect.
This book is about a girl named Bay who lives and works in a desert town, trading her farm products in the island's largest city for survival items like water to grow her plants and for her own needs.
Ash, her little brother, suffers from a fatal disease that brings him closer to his form-death each day. However, the spiritual people view this state as something liberating. They believe that this is when the soul leaves one form to reach another, moving forward in its journey.
It's a form of reincarnation, if you will. The spiritual people, who embrace this mindset, celebrate this event. Some other people, though, try to study it, and eventually attempt to control it. That’s when troubles being for Ash, and Bay.
Bay must follow her brother’s soul journey to save it from endless frustration, as it appears to be trapped and unable to enter another form.
Accompanied by an improvised and improbable team, she must navigate the jungle covering her island, avoiding deadly snake bites, being eaten by behemoths, or being mercilessly killed by the Helio.
Oh, I haven’t mentioned the Helio yet, have I? They are native people of the island with distinct features that set them apart from humans, such as their green skin and lilac-gray hair. They are known for being savage, cruel killing machines.
And we know how humans typically react to differences—especially when there is a negative background involved—they create legends to depict them as monsters.
The humans in power have halved the Helio population to seize control of water sources, mines, and the prime land for cultivation, leaving the uninhabitable areas to everyone else, whether human or Helio.
Throughout the book, you will encounter the theme of social differences, as various levels of discrimination are explored. We learn that communication, open-mindedness, and kindness are the keys to overcoming any conflict.
As long as someone believes they have more right than others to do, be, or possess something, there will be conflicts.
This applies not only to humans but also to the Helio. Conflict resolution requires both parties to take steps toward understanding and compromise.
But how could two different cultures communicate, share their needs and perspectives, when they hate each other, think of each other as soulless monsters, and practically do not speak the same language? Well, this is where Bay’s newfound passion comes into play. But I’ll let you discover how, when, and why on your own.
I won’t delve into each character, but I would love to highlight the incredible achievement of the author in building the simple yet complex relationships between them.
Parents who, at some point in their lives, have distanced themselves from their parenting role. Siblings who would give everything just to see the other smile. Soulmates who feel peace, serenity, and a sense of belonging together.
Another spectacular theme is the inherent power of people—their words, actions, and even thoughts.
Bay often blames herself for feeling frustrated, angry, or grieving, believing that these emotions are not very spiritual. However, every emotion is important, and we should explore, understand, and open up to them. Only then can we truly see, put things into perspective, move on, and grow.
Our beliefs are soon reflected in our actions, which may or may not consider others' points of view, feelings, or needs. Does that make us monsters? No, it just makes us human.
Humans may cause conflicts, but they are not inherently bad. Conflicts highlight crises. What elevates us is the ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes.
The fantasy elements in this book are unveiled through the manifestation of our inner power—the power to listen, act, help, protect, and heal.
For those whose beliefs don’t include reincarnation, this concept could serve as another fantasy element within the book.
Personally, I don’t know what to believe, but this book made me think a lot. It made me feel that, as painful as it is at first, losing someone is never a “goodbye,” but a “see you later.”
This book reminded me that life is beautiful as it is because we are a part of it, and our journey never truly ends.
The people who leave us in this life will find their way back to us.
There is romance in this book, but it is powerful and spiritual, not physically manifested through descriptions or full chapters. So, if you're looking for a traditional romance novel, this might not be the right fit. The relationships among them are based on loyalty, faith, benevolence, understanding, belonging, peace, and confidence. You will feel all of these emotions, I can guarantee it.
This book was a balm for my soul that I didn’t even know I needed, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre or wants to experience the feelings it evoked in me.
I would definitely love to read it again because, as part of our human experience, our limited minds need to be reminded of these truths from time to time.
Where to begin? This book is something else. Something I didn’t know I needed, but once I started flipping through its pages, I felt a sense of healing.
“Souls in the Stars” blends fantasy, sci-fi, and a unique kind of faith. Not a religious faith, but an inner belief that every human being possesses.
If you have ever looked at a sunset and thought, “Wow, this is stunning,” or observed a colony of ants bringing food to their nest and thought to yourself, “How organized and committed they are,” this is the type of faith I am talking about.
A love of nature, an understanding that everyone and everything has a role in this world, and that every role is equally important. It’s about seeing everything as an opportunity to grow and reflect.
This book is about a girl named Bay who lives and works in a desert town, trading her farm products in the island's largest city for survival items like water to grow her plants and for her own needs.
Ash, her little brother, suffers from a fatal disease that brings him closer to his form-death each day. However, the spiritual people view this state as something liberating. They believe that this is when the soul leaves one form to reach another, moving forward in its journey.
It's a form of reincarnation, if you will. The spiritual people, who embrace this mindset, celebrate this event. Some other people, though, try to study it, and eventually attempt to control it. That’s when troubles being for Ash, and Bay.
Bay must follow her brother’s soul journey to save it from endless frustration, as it appears to be trapped and unable to enter another form.
Accompanied by an improvised and improbable team, she must navigate the jungle covering her island, avoiding deadly snake bites, being eaten by behemoths, or being mercilessly killed by the Helio.
Oh, I haven’t mentioned the Helio yet, have I? They are native people of the island with distinct features that set them apart from humans, such as their green skin and lilac-gray hair. They are known for being savage, cruel killing machines.
And we know how humans typically react to differences—especially when there is a negative background involved—they create legends to depict them as monsters.
The humans in power have halved the Helio population to seize control of water sources, mines, and the prime land for cultivation, leaving the uninhabitable areas to everyone else, whether human or Helio.
Throughout the book, you will encounter the theme of social differences, as various levels of discrimination are explored. We learn that communication, open-mindedness, and kindness are the keys to overcoming any conflict.
As long as someone believes they have more right than others to do, be, or possess something, there will be conflicts.
This applies not only to humans but also to the Helio. Conflict resolution requires both parties to take steps toward understanding and compromise.
But how could two different cultures communicate, share their needs and perspectives, when they hate each other, think of each other as soulless monsters, and practically do not speak the same language? Well, this is where Bay’s newfound passion comes into play. But I’ll let you discover how, when, and why on your own.
I won’t delve into each character, but I would love to highlight the incredible achievement of the author in building the simple yet complex relationships between them.
Parents who, at some point in their lives, have distanced themselves from their parenting role. Siblings who would give everything just to see the other smile. Soulmates who feel peace, serenity, and a sense of belonging together.
Another spectacular theme is the inherent power of people—their words, actions, and even thoughts.
Bay often blames herself for feeling frustrated, angry, or grieving, believing that these emotions are not very spiritual. However, every emotion is important, and we should explore, understand, and open up to them. Only then can we truly see, put things into perspective, move on, and grow.
Our beliefs are soon reflected in our actions, which may or may not consider others' points of view, feelings, or needs. Does that make us monsters? No, it just makes us human.
Humans may cause conflicts, but they are not inherently bad. Conflicts highlight crises. What elevates us is the ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes.
The fantasy elements in this book are unveiled through the manifestation of our inner power—the power to listen, act, help, protect, and heal.
For those whose beliefs don’t include reincarnation, this concept could serve as another fantasy element within the book.
Personally, I don’t know what to believe, but this book made me think a lot. It made me feel that, as painful as it is at first, losing someone is never a “goodbye,” but a “see you later.”
This book reminded me that life is beautiful as it is because we are a part of it, and our journey never truly ends.
The people who leave us in this life will find their way back to us.
There is romance in this book, but it is powerful and spiritual, not physically manifested through descriptions or full chapters. So, if you're looking for a traditional romance novel, this might not be the right fit. The relationships among them are based on loyalty, faith, benevolence, understanding, belonging, peace, and confidence. You will feel all of these emotions, I can guarantee it.
This book was a balm for my soul that I didn’t even know I needed, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre or wants to experience the feelings it evoked in me.
I would definitely love to read it again because, as part of our human experience, our limited minds need to be reminded of these truths from time to time.
May 8, 2024
Note to other readers: this isn't the Author's page or book listing. This is a duplicate.
But, I'll leave my review here as well:
Wow, wow, wow. This was just the book I needed. The perfect combo of science fiction and spirituality. I love how that’s even reflected in the title. This book is an adventure book that explores a lush island jungle and in a world where reincarnation is proven real. There aren’t too many current YA fiction books that explore reincarnation, and not in the way this book has.
This is one of those books that is going to stay with me. I could relate to Bay from the start. That pull to be perfect in an imperfect world. The characters were a nice blend of personalities that were fun to follow. I loved the foreshadowing that took place in her dreams. After the ending, I went back and browsed the book for the parts I remembered pointed to the end. Very well-written.
Once the initial conflict (her brother’s soul being stuck in a pod) was over, the action slowed down while Bay gathered her bearings in the new place she landed in. I found it interesting to explore this new place with her. I also enjoyed the character development and romance that happened in this portion of the book. I can see how this change in pace might be a shift some readers don't like but the action picked back up towards the end.
The end! Okay, this is one of those endings that people are either going to love or hate. And I fall in the love category. Predictable endings are boring, and this one was quite the twist. But once you go back and read through the book you can see all the subtle clues leading to it. I don’t want to give too much away but the ending was my favorite part.
5/5 for this book. I’ll be getting myself a hardcopy for my bookshelf. Thank you to Snowfire and Netgalley for my advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
But, I'll leave my review here as well:
Wow, wow, wow. This was just the book I needed. The perfect combo of science fiction and spirituality. I love how that’s even reflected in the title. This book is an adventure book that explores a lush island jungle and in a world where reincarnation is proven real. There aren’t too many current YA fiction books that explore reincarnation, and not in the way this book has.
This is one of those books that is going to stay with me. I could relate to Bay from the start. That pull to be perfect in an imperfect world. The characters were a nice blend of personalities that were fun to follow. I loved the foreshadowing that took place in her dreams. After the ending, I went back and browsed the book for the parts I remembered pointed to the end. Very well-written.
Once the initial conflict (her brother’s soul being stuck in a pod) was over, the action slowed down while Bay gathered her bearings in the new place she landed in. I found it interesting to explore this new place with her. I also enjoyed the character development and romance that happened in this portion of the book. I can see how this change in pace might be a shift some readers don't like but the action picked back up towards the end.
The end! Okay, this is one of those endings that people are either going to love or hate. And I fall in the love category. Predictable endings are boring, and this one was quite the twist. But once you go back and read through the book you can see all the subtle clues leading to it. I don’t want to give too much away but the ending was my favorite part.
5/5 for this book. I’ll be getting myself a hardcopy for my bookshelf. Thank you to Snowfire and Netgalley for my advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
May 29, 2024
I finished this book a few days ago, and I am still thinking about it. "Souls in the Stars" feels both deeply nostalgic and completely new at the same time. The novel’s description compares it to "Hunger Games meets Avatar," and I completely agree, yet it feels original as well. I believe the reason for this is the character arc.
Our female main character (FMC) is striving to live an enlightened spiritual life while struggling with not feeling very spiritual or enlightened at all. She has a vision of what a spiritual leader or a highly spiritual person should look like and always feels like she is missing the mark. We begin this story with Bay wanting to be anywhere but at home, longing to be in a spiritual community but knowing she can't leave her brother. When her brother contracts the Hackles, a dangerous and fatal illness, she wrestles with herself. Knowing that she should feel happy for her brother as he passes into another form, she can't help but grieve that he will no longer be there. Wrestling with questions of what life means, who she is outside of her family dynamics, and everyday struggles creates a beautiful character arc that many people can relate to. We can also relate to those moments when we discover that everything we believed to be true may not be, and the people we trust may be only in it for themselves.
This novel is deeply spiritual and left me with some thought-provoking questions that I am still mulling over days later. The concept of a spiritual world war is interesting and one that I could see happening in an enlightened society.
I truly appreciate that the romantic subplot in this novel is fade to black and more innocent in nature. It is refreshing.
Thank you so much to the author, Sara Jane Triglia, for an advanced copy so that I could provide an honest review.
Our female main character (FMC) is striving to live an enlightened spiritual life while struggling with not feeling very spiritual or enlightened at all. She has a vision of what a spiritual leader or a highly spiritual person should look like and always feels like she is missing the mark. We begin this story with Bay wanting to be anywhere but at home, longing to be in a spiritual community but knowing she can't leave her brother. When her brother contracts the Hackles, a dangerous and fatal illness, she wrestles with herself. Knowing that she should feel happy for her brother as he passes into another form, she can't help but grieve that he will no longer be there. Wrestling with questions of what life means, who she is outside of her family dynamics, and everyday struggles creates a beautiful character arc that many people can relate to. We can also relate to those moments when we discover that everything we believed to be true may not be, and the people we trust may be only in it for themselves.
This novel is deeply spiritual and left me with some thought-provoking questions that I am still mulling over days later. The concept of a spiritual world war is interesting and one that I could see happening in an enlightened society.
I truly appreciate that the romantic subplot in this novel is fade to black and more innocent in nature. It is refreshing.
Thank you so much to the author, Sara Jane Triglia, for an advanced copy so that I could provide an honest review.
June 2, 2024
If Hunger Games, The Giver and Avatar (the film) had a combo spin-off, it would be this book. This book is centered around a sibling bond, but it also has adventure, romance, and dystopia.
That said, it just did not work for me personally. I did not feel that the two halves of the text went together because of the very different settings and character arcs. There were also a number of over-used tropes and language that was so hyperbolic: “This kiss led us into a night of bringing masculine and feminine energy together as one.” Later, “His soul entered mine, and I couldn’t separate me from him…I knew then that we were soulmates.” As a parent, educator, and former teen girl, I am extremely leery of exposing the teen girls in my life against such droll that equates sex to he’s-forever-my-soulmate overdramatics. At other times, there were sloppy edits of sentences missing verbs, which came across incoherently.
The ending of the book was interesting and I feel that is the true story in the text. The book, like so many other I have received an ARC for, is trying to be All The Things for Every Reader Out There, when it would have benefitted greatly from a better editor who helped to shape the focus a bit more.
That said, it just did not work for me personally. I did not feel that the two halves of the text went together because of the very different settings and character arcs. There were also a number of over-used tropes and language that was so hyperbolic: “This kiss led us into a night of bringing masculine and feminine energy together as one.” Later, “His soul entered mine, and I couldn’t separate me from him…I knew then that we were soulmates.” As a parent, educator, and former teen girl, I am extremely leery of exposing the teen girls in my life against such droll that equates sex to he’s-forever-my-soulmate overdramatics. At other times, there were sloppy edits of sentences missing verbs, which came across incoherently.
The ending of the book was interesting and I feel that is the true story in the text. The book, like so many other I have received an ARC for, is trying to be All The Things for Every Reader Out There, when it would have benefitted greatly from a better editor who helped to shape the focus a bit more.
June 10, 2024
The first half of this book was fantastic. The world building, the connections between the characters, the daring rush through forbidden territory to preserve Bay's brother's soul was beautifully done, and I really enjoyed the book. However, once the main characters made it to Halcyon, where the "most" spiritual people live, I feel like the book got convoluted, and I lost the connection with the characters.
Part of it might have been that I was sick of Bay trying to tell us that she was nothing special despite everything pointing at her being different from other people in her community. The other big part is that I caught onto what the author's big reveal would be at the end of the story, and that disengaged me even further. To be fair, most readers probably didn't put the pieces together as quickly as I did, but I really liked the adventure part of the story up until Halcyon and the slightly-contrived love triangle that popped up.
Great idea and execution for the first half but definitely lost its charm and the core of its story after the quest for Bay's brother reached its conclusion.
Part of it might have been that I was sick of Bay trying to tell us that she was nothing special despite everything pointing at her being different from other people in her community. The other big part is that I caught onto what the author's big reveal would be at the end of the story, and that disengaged me even further. To be fair, most readers probably didn't put the pieces together as quickly as I did, but I really liked the adventure part of the story up until Halcyon and the slightly-contrived love triangle that popped up.
Great idea and execution for the first half but definitely lost its charm and the core of its story after the quest for Bay's brother reached its conclusion.
May 21, 2024
Souls in the Stars is a thoughtful and emotionally driven short novel. Overall I found myself enjoying the book and the journey through its various twists and turns.
Very early on we get to see the author's considerate approach to grief, and I found myself far more invested that I would have expected. Sara Jane Triglia does a great job humanizing our protagonist and really leaning into nuanced and often conflicting emotions.
Plot-wise, Souls in the Stars was interesting enough, but it didn't shine quite as bright as Triglia's character work. The plot shifts direction pretty radically after the first act, and while it wasn't necessarily unenjoyable, it was quite unexpected. There is also an eleventh-hour plot twist that I felt the book would have been stronger without (and without the moments peppered within to set it up).
Overall I was impressed with Triglia's character work and nuance, and those strengths more than made up for any plot quibbles I might have.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Very early on we get to see the author's considerate approach to grief, and I found myself far more invested that I would have expected. Sara Jane Triglia does a great job humanizing our protagonist and really leaning into nuanced and often conflicting emotions.
Plot-wise, Souls in the Stars was interesting enough, but it didn't shine quite as bright as Triglia's character work. The plot shifts direction pretty radically after the first act, and while it wasn't necessarily unenjoyable, it was quite unexpected. There is also an eleventh-hour plot twist that I felt the book would have been stronger without (and without the moments peppered within to set it up).
Overall I was impressed with Triglia's character work and nuance, and those strengths more than made up for any plot quibbles I might have.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 9, 2024
This book....dissapointed me in the end. I gave this story 4 stars because I DID love it but I feel a few more tweaks would have made it so much better.
The story starts out phenomenal! And I mean its got good pace, great characters, intriguing plot. It drew me in and I couldnt get enough. Life after death is one of my all time favorite topics! BUT! About 60 percent of the way in you completely lose all that made it good at the start. And thats not saying the plot or story was terrible. There was just so much extra twists and side storylines thrown in you kinda lose what made it magical at the start. And I know the base base plot was there but it started turning into so much more. Which can be a great thing and it did add to the story. However, the pace started failing because things were being done and thrown in and completed faster and faster to get to the end.
I did enjoy this overall though. And the ending albeit, rushed it really did make you smile and feel happy. I do still recommend this to anyone who wants to read it! For a debut this is really good and unique.
I also want to thank the author for this gift to read early.
The story starts out phenomenal! And I mean its got good pace, great characters, intriguing plot. It drew me in and I couldnt get enough. Life after death is one of my all time favorite topics! BUT! About 60 percent of the way in you completely lose all that made it good at the start. And thats not saying the plot or story was terrible. There was just so much extra twists and side storylines thrown in you kinda lose what made it magical at the start. And I know the base base plot was there but it started turning into so much more. Which can be a great thing and it did add to the story. However, the pace started failing because things were being done and thrown in and completed faster and faster to get to the end.
I did enjoy this overall though. And the ending albeit, rushed it really did make you smile and feel happy. I do still recommend this to anyone who wants to read it! For a debut this is really good and unique.
I also want to thank the author for this gift to read early.
September 6, 2024
I'm not one to write reviews and a 5⭐ is also not too often happening here. But this ending 🤯🥰 so freaking good. I won't ruin it because it's just so awesome. There is a lot going on in the book and all of it is 'the good parts'. It had a slow start for me but I'm so glad I kept reading. About a third in the adventure starts and I realized I definitely needed all the info from the beginning. I wished a would have savored it a bit more. But that's always how it goes with a really really good one. ❤️
“One of the hardest, most important life lessons is simple yet challenging. It’s the task to see when we are the bad guy as you call him, and to choose differently. We all think we are the hero and our task is to understand that we aren’t. We must see our own insanity and not only the insanity of others. "
“One of the hardest, most important life lessons is simple yet challenging. It’s the task to see when we are the bad guy as you call him, and to choose differently. We all think we are the hero and our task is to understand that we aren’t. We must see our own insanity and not only the insanity of others. "
May 27, 2024
Souls in the stars follows Bay Lilly as she navigates loss, love, friendship, and spirituality in this distopian, coming of age, debut novel. The message this book portrays is genuine and heartfelt. It really makes you ponder the deep aspects of sonder while exploring what makes us individuals. The author really takes the time to dig deep into the emotional inner workings of her main character, in sometimes very raw, intense ways.
The plot is well fleshed out and delivered clearly in an easy to figure way. There were definitely some really cool tech aspects. I felt that the book was inspired by Hunger Games and Avatar, but in a unique way that felt both new and familiar. The ending, while not what I expected was 🤌 chefs kiss! Very impactful.
All in all I feel this is a great debut novel. It is an emotional, cozy read that really pulls at the heart strings.
The plot is well fleshed out and delivered clearly in an easy to figure way. There were definitely some really cool tech aspects. I felt that the book was inspired by Hunger Games and Avatar, but in a unique way that felt both new and familiar. The ending, while not what I expected was 🤌 chefs kiss! Very impactful.
All in all I feel this is a great debut novel. It is an emotional, cozy read that really pulls at the heart strings.
May 21, 2024
What a wonderful book! "Souls in the Stars" by Sara Jane Triglia was a unique read mixing magic, spiritualism, sci-fi and adventure. Overall, I truly enjoyed the overall writing of this book, the imagery was beautiful. I loved the characters and romance aspects. Also, this book handles grief and loss so well. My only complaint is that the plot feels a bit rushed towards the end.
June 3, 2024
A thought and emotion provoking adventure with an interesting take on death and the after-life.
Light mysticism, magic and time travel.
Wonderfully written, I truly felt the story came to a beautiful conclusion, almost as if a bow were wrapped it up.
Easily the best book I've read in a while, worth every minute of enjoyment. It was a fairly easy read but still very enjoyable.
Light mysticism, magic and time travel.
Wonderfully written, I truly felt the story came to a beautiful conclusion, almost as if a bow were wrapped it up.
Easily the best book I've read in a while, worth every minute of enjoyment. It was a fairly easy read but still very enjoyable.
June 4, 2024
Bay Lilly is a girl with a destiny larger than she has ever dreamed for herself. As she sets out to save her brother's soul, she discovers she's destined for greater things than just her world.
This book is a unique, emotional story. I honestly had no idea where the author was going with this book 90% of the time, and I didn't see the ending coming at all. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It's a great read, very entertaining, but it also evokes many emotions throughout.
This book is a unique, emotional story. I honestly had no idea where the author was going with this book 90% of the time, and I didn't see the ending coming at all. Overall, I very much enjoyed this book. It's a great read, very entertaining, but it also evokes many emotions throughout.
June 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It had such a great story line, it is well written and has a great twist at the end. Definitely worth a read.
May 14, 2024
First of all, thank you to Snowfire Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of the book follows Bay Lily’s journey as she tries to save what she believes is her brother’s soul. At 8 years old, her younger brother died due to an incurable illness- and due to grief, their mother tries to follow his soul as it leaves his body to see what form it will take next. The experiment goes wrong and Bay almost dies while trying to correct it. This portion of the book was fast-paced and well-written, but the second half of the book shifted to a different plot entirely and lost its momentum. Bay discovers her gift and must use it to halt a war before casualties begin. It felt like this portion of the book was supposed to be reflective and illuminating, but it felt rushed and like the plot was too heavily focused on an attempt to be inspiring to actually achieve its goal. The ending made very little sense to me and came out of nowhere compared to how previous events unfolded.
Overall, it was an okay book. I think it was a good debut YA novel, and it definitely had its strengths and likable moments/characters. I think the premise was sound, but just fell short by the end.
The first half of the book follows Bay Lily’s journey as she tries to save what she believes is her brother’s soul. At 8 years old, her younger brother died due to an incurable illness- and due to grief, their mother tries to follow his soul as it leaves his body to see what form it will take next. The experiment goes wrong and Bay almost dies while trying to correct it. This portion of the book was fast-paced and well-written, but the second half of the book shifted to a different plot entirely and lost its momentum. Bay discovers her gift and must use it to halt a war before casualties begin. It felt like this portion of the book was supposed to be reflective and illuminating, but it felt rushed and like the plot was too heavily focused on an attempt to be inspiring to actually achieve its goal. The ending made very little sense to me and came out of nowhere compared to how previous events unfolded.
Overall, it was an okay book. I think it was a good debut YA novel, and it definitely had its strengths and likable moments/characters. I think the premise was sound, but just fell short by the end.
May 8, 2024
Wow, wow, wow. This was just the book I needed. The perfect combo of science fiction and spirituality. I love how that’s even reflected in the title. This book is an adventure book that explores a lush island jungle and in a world where reincarnation is proven real. There aren’t too many current YA fiction books that explore reincarnation, and not in the way this book has.
This is one of those books that is going to stay with me. I could relate to Bay from the start. That pull to be perfect in an imperfect world. The characters were a nice blend of personalities that were fun to follow. I loved the foreshadowing that took place in her dreams. After the ending, I went back and browsed the book for the parts I remembered pointed to the end. Very well-written.
Once the initial conflict (her brother’s soul being stuck in a pod) was over, the action slowed down while Bay gathered her bearings in the new place she landed in. I found it interesting to explore this new place with her. I also enjoyed the character development and romance that happened in this portion of the book. I can see how this change in pace might be a shift some readers don't like but the action picked back up towards the end.
The end! Okay, this is one of those endings that people are either going to love or hate. And I fall in the love category. Predictable endings are boring, and this one was quite the twist. But once you go back and read through the book you can see all the subtle clues leading to it. I don’t want to give too much away but the ending was my favorite part.
5/5 for this book. I’ll be getting myself a hardcopy for my bookshelf. Thank you to Snowfire and Netgalley for my advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
This is one of those books that is going to stay with me. I could relate to Bay from the start. That pull to be perfect in an imperfect world. The characters were a nice blend of personalities that were fun to follow. I loved the foreshadowing that took place in her dreams. After the ending, I went back and browsed the book for the parts I remembered pointed to the end. Very well-written.
Once the initial conflict (her brother’s soul being stuck in a pod) was over, the action slowed down while Bay gathered her bearings in the new place she landed in. I found it interesting to explore this new place with her. I also enjoyed the character development and romance that happened in this portion of the book. I can see how this change in pace might be a shift some readers don't like but the action picked back up towards the end.
The end! Okay, this is one of those endings that people are either going to love or hate. And I fall in the love category. Predictable endings are boring, and this one was quite the twist. But once you go back and read through the book you can see all the subtle clues leading to it. I don’t want to give too much away but the ending was my favorite part.
5/5 for this book. I’ll be getting myself a hardcopy for my bookshelf. Thank you to Snowfire and Netgalley for my advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
May 22, 2024
Souls in the Stars
ARC REVIEW
Rating: 🌟⭐️🌟
Clean read with minor language
I initially loved the idea of this book. The whole premise and story was unique and intriguing. And then our little adventure with the brother ends and it gets boring. Then it goes from boring to weird. Essentially this story exists as a wishful thought that true peace, within one’s self and society, can exist simply by understanding one another and one another’s perspectives. While that’s a pretty thought, it’s not what I choose to read a fantasy (or in this case Sci-fi) novel about. The author’s writing is decent quality but I feel like there was such a cool idea here for fiction and instead of writing a compelling story, she wrote a mindfulness project. Nothing against mindfulness projects but they aren’t fiction novels designed to entertain and this fell flat as entertainment.
ARC REVIEW
Rating: 🌟⭐️🌟
Clean read with minor language
I initially loved the idea of this book. The whole premise and story was unique and intriguing. And then our little adventure with the brother ends and it gets boring. Then it goes from boring to weird. Essentially this story exists as a wishful thought that true peace, within one’s self and society, can exist simply by understanding one another and one another’s perspectives. While that’s a pretty thought, it’s not what I choose to read a fantasy (or in this case Sci-fi) novel about. The author’s writing is decent quality but I feel like there was such a cool idea here for fiction and instead of writing a compelling story, she wrote a mindfulness project. Nothing against mindfulness projects but they aren’t fiction novels designed to entertain and this fell flat as entertainment.
July 9, 2024
This wasn't for me. I don't enjoy sci-fi and fantasy that focus entirely on the romance aspect unless it's an actual romance novel! This was very true to style for this author as I've read some of her short stories. For grown adults that want an escapist, G-rated love story, this would probably work. I think it's too dangerous to give to young, impressionable women because of the weakness of the main characters and reliance on others and a relationship to "fix" their mental health issues.
This reminded me of The Prince & The Apocalypse which had the same dangerous theme.
The plot is somewhat engaging and the story moves along at an average pace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This reminded me of The Prince & The Apocalypse which had the same dangerous theme.
The plot is somewhat engaging and the story moves along at an average pace.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 13, 2025
Yes, it does give Hunger Games and Avatar vibes. I liked the concept of sci-fi with elements of magic, and spirituality. It is a story about grief, loss, coming of age, love, family, and going against the norm. Bay's community is very spiritual. She's surrounded by spiritual people but she is a skeptic. She learns that her brother is going to die. So, she wants to do whatever she can to save him. His soul gets trapped in soul orb. Through these spiritual trials Bay is challenged with what she believes in and why . This book is great for YA readers. I think it can bring great questions and discussions to the table.
It was so heartbreaking at times. It truly makes you think about life and how little control we have over things.
It was so heartbreaking at times. It truly makes you think about life and how little control we have over things.
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