What do you think?
Rate this book
Birthing the Star-caller
Wizard-slayer. Blood of kings. Star-caller.
Wave bears many titles, but can any of them can save her?
War is brewing in the north while Wave is trapped in the wizards’ dungeon. Buried underground, she struggles to maintain her grip on reality as the unending darkness seeps into her mind. But in the depths of the sinister castle, will Wave meet her most unlikely ally of all?
Jessandra returns home a triumphant starkin but is surprised by her father sending her to the capital in his stead. When she’s introduced to the rebellion and their charismatic leader, her life becomes infinitely more precarious as she balances the many faces she must wear.
From different sides of Heredour, Wave and Jessandra fight for the rebellion in their own way. But will their efforts be enough to protect their people from the mad king—and an even greater danger coming towards them from across the sea?
In this spellbinding sequel to Unwinding the Spiral, true allegiances will be tested as an ancient enemy rises from the past.
Wave bears many titles, but can any of them can save her?
War is brewing in the north while Wave is trapped in the wizards’ dungeon. Buried underground, she struggles to maintain her grip on reality as the unending darkness seeps into her mind. But in the depths of the sinister castle, will Wave meet her most unlikely ally of all?
Jessandra returns home a triumphant starkin but is surprised by her father sending her to the capital in his stead. When she’s introduced to the rebellion and their charismatic leader, her life becomes infinitely more precarious as she balances the many faces she must wear.
From different sides of Heredour, Wave and Jessandra fight for the rebellion in their own way. But will their efforts be enough to protect their people from the mad king—and an even greater danger coming towards them from across the sea?
In this spellbinding sequel to Unwinding the Spiral, true allegiances will be tested as an ancient enemy rises from the past.
430 pages, Paperback
Published August 10, 2024
1 person is currently reading
29 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 23, 2024
Excellent read. If you like fantasy fiction this is definitely for you! This is a good book for teens as well. I enjoyed the cute coziness of the story.
July 7, 2024
This was a really fun read. I enjoyed reading this. The plot was amazing. i loved the characters. Definitely recommend if Magic is your thing
June 15, 2025
The second book in the series, and everything is developing so interestingly!
This is a fantastic journey, watching the different groups work through their own trials towards the end game. After the first book described particular characters in a certain light, this book takes us on the journey alongside them! We see the affect of time and trials on these characters, their actions and motivations, and it vividly displays how much life can change people. I think the most interesting part of that character's story though, is that whilst the path they're following is definitely questionable and morally grey, once they have the chance to explain the full story and intentions it's kind of hard to disagree with them. That's not just because I love to side with the villain, it really is just a horrible situation with no "good" outcome to be seen.
The story is beautifully twisty, I'm constantly questioning every character and allegiance, and thankfully it isn't stressful the whole time. It really does feel like there's a force behind the scenes pulling everything into place, and I'm excited to see how that plays out as well.
The magic system in this series is a work of art, different and so well explored as the book progresses, and I'm so excited to see how it develops further! The concept that the people have been taught they can only call to one god and use one power, only to discover that isn't true at all and then start combining and experimenting with it, has been such an interesting development and fascinating to read!
I'm so hyped for the next book in this series. I'm pretty sure we're on the precipice right now, everything is about to go royally to shit, and I'm so hyped to see it and watch the characters move through this new world, trying to make it a better place like the generation before them, and hopefully they don't fail this time.
This is a fantastic journey, watching the different groups work through their own trials towards the end game. After the first book described particular characters in a certain light, this book takes us on the journey alongside them! We see the affect of time and trials on these characters, their actions and motivations, and it vividly displays how much life can change people. I think the most interesting part of that character's story though, is that whilst the path they're following is definitely questionable and morally grey, once they have the chance to explain the full story and intentions it's kind of hard to disagree with them. That's not just because I love to side with the villain, it really is just a horrible situation with no "good" outcome to be seen.
The story is beautifully twisty, I'm constantly questioning every character and allegiance, and thankfully it isn't stressful the whole time. It really does feel like there's a force behind the scenes pulling everything into place, and I'm excited to see how that plays out as well.
The magic system in this series is a work of art, different and so well explored as the book progresses, and I'm so excited to see how it develops further! The concept that the people have been taught they can only call to one god and use one power, only to discover that isn't true at all and then start combining and experimenting with it, has been such an interesting development and fascinating to read!
I'm so hyped for the next book in this series. I'm pretty sure we're on the precipice right now, everything is about to go royally to shit, and I'm so hyped to see it and watch the characters move through this new world, trying to make it a better place like the generation before them, and hopefully they don't fail this time.
August 27, 2024
Birthing the Star-Caller by Peta Hawker is the second book in her Union trilogy.
The story carries on following Wave, Jessandra and our other characters as war is on its way to Heredour.
With unexpected twists and turns this book had me gripped from the start. In the same way as the first book, the author writes in multiple points of view, but by telling us where the character is at that point in time, I love this little twist and it really helped me connect with the world as well as the characters more.
I just love the story that the author came up with, I feel connected to the characters, I got mad at some of their actions and choices, frustrated and angry, but also celebrated with them with things went well and they had a breakthrough.
There is still one book to come in this trilogy, so this book ended on a cliffhanger, but I didn’t feel disappointed at the end, the author writes in a way that answers a lot of questions and even though the story isn’t complete and there is still a lot of things we do not know, I liked where she stopped this book.
I am excited for the third installment, I cannot wait to see where this story goes, I can only imagine the twists the author has in store for us.
The story carries on following Wave, Jessandra and our other characters as war is on its way to Heredour.
With unexpected twists and turns this book had me gripped from the start. In the same way as the first book, the author writes in multiple points of view, but by telling us where the character is at that point in time, I love this little twist and it really helped me connect with the world as well as the characters more.
I just love the story that the author came up with, I feel connected to the characters, I got mad at some of their actions and choices, frustrated and angry, but also celebrated with them with things went well and they had a breakthrough.
There is still one book to come in this trilogy, so this book ended on a cliffhanger, but I didn’t feel disappointed at the end, the author writes in a way that answers a lot of questions and even though the story isn’t complete and there is still a lot of things we do not know, I liked where she stopped this book.
I am excited for the third installment, I cannot wait to see where this story goes, I can only imagine the twists the author has in store for us.
August 4, 2025
Holy. Moley. Wow.
Unwinding the Sprail had me enthralled but Birthing the Star-caller had me in a chokehold. Hawker's writing style has matured and the level of skill and detail shows in the hard work and twists and turns of this novel.
Wave's journey, while way different to the first, has her growing stronger, coming into her power and really kicking some butt. She is such a strong voice and I loved reading and watching her grow through the story, just as Jessandra has. No longer the meek princess she once was, she is definitely Queen material in her action and the decisions she makes.
The twists and turns of BtSC were ones I didn't see and I love that. I love that Hawker has seemlessly blended the beauty of the country and land into this amazing world where the unexpected happens is a work of art.
All that I'm at a loss for is that I didn't savour it enough. I want to relive the book over and over again.
What an amazing follow up to a brilliant debut novel.
Unwinding the Sprail had me enthralled but Birthing the Star-caller had me in a chokehold. Hawker's writing style has matured and the level of skill and detail shows in the hard work and twists and turns of this novel.
Wave's journey, while way different to the first, has her growing stronger, coming into her power and really kicking some butt. She is such a strong voice and I loved reading and watching her grow through the story, just as Jessandra has. No longer the meek princess she once was, she is definitely Queen material in her action and the decisions she makes.
The twists and turns of BtSC were ones I didn't see and I love that. I love that Hawker has seemlessly blended the beauty of the country and land into this amazing world where the unexpected happens is a work of art.
All that I'm at a loss for is that I didn't savour it enough. I want to relive the book over and over again.
What an amazing follow up to a brilliant debut novel.
August 25, 2024
A decent sequel, following on quite recently from the ending of the first.
Utilising the same POV system as the first, with it following locations rather than specific people, the different view points all mesh together very well, with a few happening at the same time for us to see the different understandings and perspectives of characters not up to date with the most recent information.
Compared to the last, this one felt more like a deeper delve into specific factions and characters - we have Eckra and the Black Cloaks, with their mysterious powers. We meet those thrown into Buduwai and the secrets of what's actually happening there. We dive more into Frieda, a pitiful character through and through.
All the set up is leading towards an eventual big blowout, which I hope to read more of in the next book.
Utilising the same POV system as the first, with it following locations rather than specific people, the different view points all mesh together very well, with a few happening at the same time for us to see the different understandings and perspectives of characters not up to date with the most recent information.
Compared to the last, this one felt more like a deeper delve into specific factions and characters - we have Eckra and the Black Cloaks, with their mysterious powers. We meet those thrown into Buduwai and the secrets of what's actually happening there. We dive more into Frieda, a pitiful character through and through.
All the set up is leading towards an eventual big blowout, which I hope to read more of in the next book.
September 2, 2024
WOW! What a sequel! Sometimes the second book is a little flat but not this one! If anything, the story has gotten even more exciting and more daring as we follow Wave and the gang through their most challenging adventures.
I could not put it down....I was hooked from the first chapter right through to the final page.
Full of twists and turns, beautiful friendships, troubled family relationships, and navigation through difficult decisions as we watch the characters discover themselves and their place in the beautifully crafted world.
Expertly written and great for both teens and adults.
I could not put it down....I was hooked from the first chapter right through to the final page.
Full of twists and turns, beautiful friendships, troubled family relationships, and navigation through difficult decisions as we watch the characters discover themselves and their place in the beautifully crafted world.
Expertly written and great for both teens and adults.
September 6, 2025
Epic fantasy!
Book two takes many twists and turns as wave and her family tries to understand the powers she has been gifted, but wars hits the county and the people turn against a mad king leaving the events to come an up hill struggle as they try and gamble which paths to take through the on coming danger ahead.
There is some amazing battle scene written in this book that I'm still thinking about, also loved the dargons of course.
Book two takes many twists and turns as wave and her family tries to understand the powers she has been gifted, but wars hits the county and the people turn against a mad king leaving the events to come an up hill struggle as they try and gamble which paths to take through the on coming danger ahead.
There is some amazing battle scene written in this book that I'm still thinking about, also loved the dargons of course.
August 29, 2024
The second book in this great series and I couldn’t put it down. Well worth your time.
August 19, 2024
*I recieved an arc copy of this book for an honest review*
I just have to begin by saying I love multiple POV stories, I loved reading every POV in this story and got excited when certain situations were being showed in each POV as it was happening. It was exciting to be reading and making connections between the other timelines was such a satisfying feeling!
I had been so keen and eager to continue this story since I finished book 1, Unwinding the Spiral, and this story did not disappoint! There was so much being revealed in this one that I had been thinking about since book 1, and so many twists and nuggets of information I just didn't see coming which kept me turning the pages!
If you like stories about a corrupt king, dragons, elemental power, soft romance, budding friendships, huge character growth, a rebellion and a strong willed FMC. Then this seires would be perfect for you!
I highly recommend this series!
Peta is such an incredible writer and now I have to patiently wait for the next book in the series...
I just have to begin by saying I love multiple POV stories, I loved reading every POV in this story and got excited when certain situations were being showed in each POV as it was happening. It was exciting to be reading and making connections between the other timelines was such a satisfying feeling!
I had been so keen and eager to continue this story since I finished book 1, Unwinding the Spiral, and this story did not disappoint! There was so much being revealed in this one that I had been thinking about since book 1, and so many twists and nuggets of information I just didn't see coming which kept me turning the pages!
If you like stories about a corrupt king, dragons, elemental power, soft romance, budding friendships, huge character growth, a rebellion and a strong willed FMC. Then this seires would be perfect for you!
I highly recommend this series!
Peta is such an incredible writer and now I have to patiently wait for the next book in the series...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews