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Kingdom of the Stars #1
The Starborn Prince
In Astoria, the Kingdom of the Stars, every subject may have one, single wish granted by their king. But as the population swells with refugees and a deadly plague sweeps through the streets, there are far too many wishes for any one person to grant.Prince Sterling saw his peoples’ needs long before the plague arrived, and so established his own guild, Hyperion, to aid them. He secretly stole his father’s wish-granting amulet, and as Guildmaster Orion, he helped as many as he could, eventually gathering a crew of misfits for guild members, who all pledged themselves to his service, in gratitude for all he had done for them. The moment the king learns of his actions, however, his time as Orion will be over.
Astrid was the first. The first person Orion saved, the first to pledge herself to him and his cause—despite his insistence on keeping his true identity secret, even from her. But as she watches Orion growing inexplicably closer with an alluring but rebellious refugee, and as a mysterious illness leaves tragedy in its wake, she can no longer refrain from asking the questions that have plagued her for so long.
Who is Orion? How is he able to save those stricken with the plague, that no herbalist, including herself, has any hope of healing? And what is the price that must be paid for every wish that is granted?
Filled with luscious world-building, magic, and characters hiding their own epic secrets. Perfect for fans of found family, friends to lovers, and royalty tropes.
*This is a clean, no-spice fantasy romance.*
Astrid was the first. The first person Orion saved, the first to pledge herself to him and his cause—despite his insistence on keeping his true identity secret, even from her. But as she watches Orion growing inexplicably closer with an alluring but rebellious refugee, and as a mysterious illness leaves tragedy in its wake, she can no longer refrain from asking the questions that have plagued her for so long.
Who is Orion? How is he able to save those stricken with the plague, that no herbalist, including herself, has any hope of healing? And what is the price that must be paid for every wish that is granted?
Filled with luscious world-building, magic, and characters hiding their own epic secrets. Perfect for fans of found family, friends to lovers, and royalty tropes.
*This is a clean, no-spice fantasy romance.*
257 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2024
111 people are currently reading
598 people want to read
About the author
K.S. Gerlt
10 books16 followersK.S. Gerlt is an award-winning artist and the author of The Werewolf’s Mask series. An avid reader herself, she has always loved diving into the magical worlds within books, from the classics to modern fantasy and adventure. She grew up in Southern California, where her pastimes include horseback riding, ice skating, and painting.
https://linktr.ee/authorksgerlt
https://linktr.ee/authorksgerlt
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 5, 2025
✮⋆˙My Review ✮⋆˙ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✮⋆˙ Plot ✮⋆˙ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So fast paced! It took me only two and half days to finish and I absolutely ATE this book up. I cannot wait for the second book! It’s dual POV as well. longest chapter I saw was 11 minutes. SO FAST PACED.
✮⋆˙Characters ✮⋆˙ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Astrid: I LOVED HER AS A FMC. Her character development throughout the story was top tier and I loved how she flowed well with Orion.
Orion: YES SIR. the way he just loved Astrid for who she was and like AHH
✮⋆˙Romance ✮⋆˙
THESE CHARACTERS GREW UP TOGETHER! WHICH MADE THE romance 1500000x better than it already was! The way they cared for each other and the way Astrid’s jealousy was portrayed throughout the book was top tier. It was clean as well!
✮⋆˙ World Building ✮⋆˙
YES. 100% YES. The way this fantasy world had me INVESTED was an understatement. Like the awesome Astoria land?! LIKE AAAAAAHHHH!!!
The second book can’t come any faster fr
✮⋆˙ Plot ✮⋆˙ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So fast paced! It took me only two and half days to finish and I absolutely ATE this book up. I cannot wait for the second book! It’s dual POV as well. longest chapter I saw was 11 minutes. SO FAST PACED.
✮⋆˙Characters ✮⋆˙ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Astrid: I LOVED HER AS A FMC. Her character development throughout the story was top tier and I loved how she flowed well with Orion.
Orion: YES SIR. the way he just loved Astrid for who she was and like AHH
✮⋆˙Romance ✮⋆˙
THESE CHARACTERS GREW UP TOGETHER! WHICH MADE THE romance 1500000x better than it already was! The way they cared for each other and the way Astrid’s jealousy was portrayed throughout the book was top tier. It was clean as well!
✮⋆˙ World Building ✮⋆˙
YES. 100% YES. The way this fantasy world had me INVESTED was an understatement. Like the awesome Astoria land?! LIKE AAAAAAHHHH!!!
The second book can’t come any faster fr
February 3, 2025
3.5⭐️ This was a really sweet, short read.
Orion or Sterling, a Prince in hiding, is GuildMaster at night serving his kingdom by healing others and granting wishes alongside his herbalist, Astrid. A plague has began to haunt the slums and with no found cure many are dying. Prince Sterling has been using the Kings amulet to grant wishes to save victims from the devastating disease and saving their lives but without a cure its began to use his own life force instead of starlight.
Nyra, a tribeswomen from the desert, is seeking safety and resources from the Kingdom as the oases are drying up and killing people from her tribe. Pleading with the King to grant her wish isn’t working so she attempts to convince Orion to help her convince him.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read! I wish a few pieces in the plot were explained better particularly in the backstory. There were some instances where an important piece of the story would randomly come up in conversation with no context. I liked the premise, and usually I’m not a fan of friends to lovers and love triangles but I think it was well-done here!
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, closed-door/YA read with some high stakes here and there this should be your next read!
Orion or Sterling, a Prince in hiding, is GuildMaster at night serving his kingdom by healing others and granting wishes alongside his herbalist, Astrid. A plague has began to haunt the slums and with no found cure many are dying. Prince Sterling has been using the Kings amulet to grant wishes to save victims from the devastating disease and saving their lives but without a cure its began to use his own life force instead of starlight.
Nyra, a tribeswomen from the desert, is seeking safety and resources from the Kingdom as the oases are drying up and killing people from her tribe. Pleading with the King to grant her wish isn’t working so she attempts to convince Orion to help her convince him.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read! I wish a few pieces in the plot were explained better particularly in the backstory. There were some instances where an important piece of the story would randomly come up in conversation with no context. I liked the premise, and usually I’m not a fan of friends to lovers and love triangles but I think it was well-done here!
If you’re looking for a fast-paced, closed-door/YA read with some high stakes here and there this should be your next read!
October 14, 2025
I really enjoyed this book!! It was so fast paced and fun, but I did have a couple problems that irked me.
First is the feeling of this being a prequel rather than the first book in the series. It threw me off because the first ninety percent of the book felt like the author was just trying to make sure we knew the backstory before the actual plot happened.
Second is the magic system was supposedly simple but so much of the mechanics were left out in a way that confused me whenever the magic was being used. I felt the same about how Orions mom died like she did with how powerful she was. Also, I was confused on where all the magic came from, we know the main magic came from the stars, and from fallen stars. But who even were the fallen stars, and how did they come about?
Third, the romance love triangle thing that made me want to slap Orion every five seconds. Without spoilers, it was really random and confusing for the sake of a plot twist I saw coming from a mile away. And though I love how Astrid and her feelings for Orion were portrayed, I didn’t really feel the chemistry, which might’ve been just me.
But, I did love things about this book too.
Castor and Nova were absolutely adorable I need more!! Honestly, all of the secondary characters felt very flushed out and real, sometimes more real than the mcs.
I love the adventure aspect of this book and the prince pretending to be a commoner trope is always lots of fun.
The world itself felt very real as well, with the history and the alliances. The politics of this book were also really interesting.
Character wise, at least, for the mcs, I do wish they had more flaws, they felt very perfect at times, which was hard to relate to. But they were good narrators, though sometimes it was hard to tell which one was which. Their inner voices were similar, as well as their personalities, which did make sense considering their friendship and childhood. I would have liked more diversity with the way they would react to things and situations though.
Overall, this was a quick read that kept me entertained. I did read the second book because I got attached to the characters but I think I’m gonna stop there. Read this if you want an easy to get into, fast read. It would be amazing for someone trying to get into fantasy.
First is the feeling of this being a prequel rather than the first book in the series. It threw me off because the first ninety percent of the book felt like the author was just trying to make sure we knew the backstory before the actual plot happened.
Second is the magic system was supposedly simple but so much of the mechanics were left out in a way that confused me whenever the magic was being used. I felt the same about how Orions mom died like she did with how powerful she was. Also, I was confused on where all the magic came from, we know the main magic came from the stars, and from fallen stars. But who even were the fallen stars, and how did they come about?
Third, the romance love triangle thing that made me want to slap Orion every five seconds. Without spoilers, it was really random and confusing for the sake of a plot twist I saw coming from a mile away. And though I love how Astrid and her feelings for Orion were portrayed, I didn’t really feel the chemistry, which might’ve been just me.
But, I did love things about this book too.
Castor and Nova were absolutely adorable I need more!! Honestly, all of the secondary characters felt very flushed out and real, sometimes more real than the mcs.
I love the adventure aspect of this book and the prince pretending to be a commoner trope is always lots of fun.
The world itself felt very real as well, with the history and the alliances. The politics of this book were also really interesting.
Character wise, at least, for the mcs, I do wish they had more flaws, they felt very perfect at times, which was hard to relate to. But they were good narrators, though sometimes it was hard to tell which one was which. Their inner voices were similar, as well as their personalities, which did make sense considering their friendship and childhood. I would have liked more diversity with the way they would react to things and situations though.
Overall, this was a quick read that kept me entertained. I did read the second book because I got attached to the characters but I think I’m gonna stop there. Read this if you want an easy to get into, fast read. It would be amazing for someone trying to get into fantasy.
December 31, 2024
Orion is an idiot, Astrid is amazing!
I am definitely ready to move into the next in the series! It’s an easy read that I finished in about 3 hours yesterday and 3 today. I was so drawn in that I couldn’t put it down!
SMALL SPOILER ALERT - THIS MIGHT CONTAIN a bit more than you want to know before getting into the story.
Orion was emotionally and mentally poisoned before he even considered it. I thought it happened pretty quick without him realizing something was up. The prologue has my mind going with each chapter, waiting for Sterling to realize how he lost his mom and how similar he is to her.
Astrid seems to know more about Sterling before learning that Orion is the prince. Then when she sees him what he has not let her see somewhat by accident, it all makes sense to her.
Sterling wants to save and protect his kingdom, but Orion is naive and does not understand the actual danger he puts himself in each moment Nyra is near. Astrid does not know what is going on but it is like she can feel that there is more Nyra is affecting than causing jealousy.
I am definitely ready to move into the next in the series! It’s an easy read that I finished in about 3 hours yesterday and 3 today. I was so drawn in that I couldn’t put it down!
SMALL SPOILER ALERT - THIS MIGHT CONTAIN a bit more than you want to know before getting into the story.
Orion was emotionally and mentally poisoned before he even considered it. I thought it happened pretty quick without him realizing something was up. The prologue has my mind going with each chapter, waiting for Sterling to realize how he lost his mom and how similar he is to her.
Astrid seems to know more about Sterling before learning that Orion is the prince. Then when she sees him what he has not let her see somewhat by accident, it all makes sense to her.
Sterling wants to save and protect his kingdom, but Orion is naive and does not understand the actual danger he puts himself in each moment Nyra is near. Astrid does not know what is going on but it is like she can feel that there is more Nyra is affecting than causing jealousy.
January 20, 2025
I really enjoyed The Starborn Prince by K. S. Gerlt. The world-building was immersive, and the characters felt genuine, with struggles and strengths that kept me invested. The story follows a young prince grappling with his destiny in a dangerous, divided world, and the twists kept me hooked. It had a great balance of action and emotional depth, making it hard to put down. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes in book 2!
June 24, 2025
What is the price to pay for each wish granted? A question that throbs from the first moment to the last in this book. A truly gripping story that begs you not to put it down. A particular situation as a scenario that questions so many principles. A magical setting for an incredible story. Strong characters like Orion who at a certain point finds himself in a dilemma to which only he can give an answer. A great read!
December 13, 2025
This is definitely a hidden gem! This book gives me so many feels. It is exciting, that's for sure. I felt frustrated most of the time that I was reading this. I was thinking of DNF just because I thought that the MMC was being so ridiculous. To his defense, thank goodness for the clues that he was being manipulated, or else, I might really stop reading this. I hated Nyra from the start. But boy, this book has me on the edge of my chair the whole time.
April 26, 2025
4/5 STARS! Whenever I read fantasy, I just want to have fun & enjoy the new world. This is fantastically unique, with interesting characters, & great world building. I love the idea of wishmakers & how the royalty was done in this. The ending left me wanting more & I'm super excited to check out book 2. Audiobook is well worth the listen!
May 22, 2025
Got me out of my reading slump!
I’ve been wanting to get back into reading for fun for a while now. I saw this book being advertised on a TikTok and decided to check it out! I wanted to support a small author anyway.
I was immediately hooked! I loved all of the characters and the story was very interesting. There was romance, action, and amazing fantasy elements!
I’ve been wanting to get back into reading for fun for a while now. I saw this book being advertised on a TikTok and decided to check it out! I wanted to support a small author anyway.
I was immediately hooked! I loved all of the characters and the story was very interesting. There was romance, action, and amazing fantasy elements!
February 16, 2026
Honestly? Disney’s Wish should have the star boy in it
The story was good
Sometimes it went on a slower pace
Sometimes it left me hanging when they mentioned events of the past that were mentioned or told before like it happens in the movies
It would be best to have it explained right after the character talks about it, instead of chapters ahead
Overall? A good book
The story was good
Sometimes it went on a slower pace
Sometimes it left me hanging when they mentioned events of the past that were mentioned or told before like it happens in the movies
It would be best to have it explained right after the character talks about it, instead of chapters ahead
Overall? A good book
March 26, 2025
A sweet story
This book is a sweet story about a prince who cares about his people and is willing to take great risks to help them. It has a love triangle and the prince in disguise as he tries to help his people.
This book is a sweet story about a prince who cares about his people and is willing to take great risks to help them. It has a love triangle and the prince in disguise as he tries to help his people.
May 3, 2025
This book read like a sequel with lots of references to past plot points, even thonit said "book 1". Decent enough plot. Fine for YA.
May 15, 2025
" Thought darkness falls, still the stars find their way"
June 29, 2025
The mix of mystery, royalty, and hidden identity really pulled me in. I loved the magical setup and the slow-burn tension. Great start to a fantasy series.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews