The Sky is Starless

by M.R. Pritchard

Her memories were stolen.
Her nightmares won’t let her forget.
And now, the shadows are coming for her.

Caught between worlds, Rue fights to unravel the truth of her past while resisting the dark pull of Dacre, the one man she shouldn’t trust—but can’t stay away from. Love was never meant to be easy, but for Rue, it could be deadly.


You can’t outrun your bloodline... or the shadows it casts.

Rue is determined to live a normal life, far from the dark legacy of her family. College is supposed to be her fresh start—a chance to blend in, bury her secrets, and maybe even discover who she truly is. But when shadowy figures begin stalking her and nightmares plague her nights, normalcy slips further out of reach.

Her parents’ solution? A bodyguard.

Nothing could be more infuriating than Dacre, the mysterious, maddeningly handsome man assigned to shadow her every move. Rue’s stubborn streak refuses to make it easy for him—until she notices her nightmares quiet when he’s near, and when shadow demons attack, Dacre sends them back to the darkness with startling ease.

Rue’s missing memories hold the answers she needs, but everyone—including Dacre—seems determined to keep her in the dark.

Dark secrets.
Forbidden love.
A battle for her soul.

The Sky is Starless is a spellbinding dark fantasy romance perfect for fans of supernatural intrigue, steamy tension, and heroines fighting for their destiny.

Genres: Fantasy

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2025

About the author

M. R. Pritchard is a two-time Kindle Scout winning author and her short story "Glitch" has been featured in the 2017 winter edition of THE FIRST LINE literary journal. She holds degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. She is a northern New Yorker transplanted to the Gulf Coast of Florida who enjoys coffee, mint chocolate, cloudy days, and reading on the lanai.

Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You'll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.

Reviews

[SassypantsReading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, so here’s the thing. I REALLY loved the storyline of The Sky Is Starless. The writing was awful, though. The writing style was tedious (Rue got coffee, Rue sat at her table, etc). The third-person POV didn’t work because we switched from narrator to narrator from one paragraph to the next. That makes the story choppy and confusing. We jump from scene to scene without much build up or details about the journey. I was so confused so many times because I felt like I was missing those details. The intimate scenes were soooo bland and lacking. The chemistry between Rue and Dacre was nonexistent. Honestly, I think this book has SO much potential, it just really needs to be polished and tightened up. I wanted to DNF this so many times, but I really was invested in the story arc.

I received a copy of The Sky Is Starless from BookSirens. I am leaving my opinion and review voluntarily.

[Chelbie Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked by this book immediately. The cover snagged me first and although I didn’t read it right away, I thought about it and anticipated reading it.

Now having read it, I see why I was itching to dive in.

I loved it. Pretty much everything about it too. Angels, demons, Hellions, her kitten companion Lucipurr, all of it.

Each character was intriguing. Rue, our FMC was adorable and relatable. Dacre, our MMC was fiercely protective and encompassed the trope “touch her & d*e”. Evelyn, the loyal best friend, LOVED her. She was snarky, funny, unapologetically herself & lovingly forced Rue to have fun when she was overworking herself.

I rated this 4.5 stars but rounded up for Goodreads because it rates so closely to a 5 star book! The only reason I didn’t give it that extra 1/2 star is because the very end seemed a bit rushed. Although still a good HEA and overall, a great ending.

This was such a fun read and I can’t wait to read more by Pritchard!

[Angelbabybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

started out great

Sorry, started out great and I was invested. As the story went on it was very predictable and the spicy scenes were to say the least very lacking.

[BookWormlet · Rating 4 out of 5]

༺The Sky is Starless༻

✨Spoiler free review✨

Rue is a strong and determined young girl who just wants to attend college and graduate within the year. From the outside, she looks calm, collected and at peace. In truth? She's battling horrific nightmares every time she closes her eyes and shadows lurk in every corner, just waiting for the opportunity to snatch her away. She has no memories following on from an epic, world shattering battle and knows that every person around her is lying to her. And another thing? Her mother is the Queen of Hell and her father the King of Heaven.

Life takes an unexpected turn when Rue finds out that her parents hired a bodyguard who's been living in the apartment below her for over 6 years and that he has been the only thing between Rue and the hellish shadows for the majority of her life.

In this book we follow Rue and her bodyguard, Dacre, as she sets out to uncover her lost memories despite her entire family and Dacre telling her it's a bad idea.

I loved the journey we went on throughout this book. It was full of twists, turns and action. I adored the side characters, especially Remington and Evelyn. I read a snippet of The Night Is Endless and I cannot wait for it to get released.

This book was really fast paced and easy to follow. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to delve into the world of magic, monsters and a little bit of forbidden love.

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Tropes:

♥️ - Vampire FMC
♥️ - Shifter MMC
♥️ - Forbidden love
♥️ - Touch her and d*e
♥️ - Bodyguard/Princess dynamic

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

Fantasy: 🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️🧚‍♀️
Spice: 🌶️
Plot: 📖📖📖
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧⋄⋆⋅⋆⋄✧

*This book was provided to me as an ARC by Booksirens in return for my honest review. All feedback and thoughts are my own. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.*

[Melli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty cute book! Filled with family secrets and forbidden love in a world where angels and demons exist, who could ask for more! The main couple is pretty cute- she's a mixed angel demon whose trying to get her degree in the human world and he's her protector, always in the shadow and ready to protect her from all evils. When past nightmares and memories come to haunt her, will she be able to withstand all the lies that have been fed to her. A low stakes supernatural book, mixed with realism that was easy to read but still enticing you to read more!

** I recieved a free copy and leaving this review voluntarily **

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the idea of this book. I did not read any of her mom’s series.

The FMC is alright but isn’t very strong. She’s born of monsters but never demonstrated any strength. She cannot really protect herself and yet remains extra stubborn. And obsessed with school - to explore her own heritage.

The author is funny, the internal monologues and sometimes the banter are pretty fun, too.

Then there is this mysterious cat. Named Luci-purr. That’s honestly my favorite part of the story.

There wasn’t much world building because maybe it was assumed I’d understand their realms and creatures. Like hellions. They just kept saying hellion. ..

The MMC is brooding and such, but the relationship development between the two is stunted at best. There are a lot of moments just sorta brushed over. The idea of the bond is good.

This is a behind closed doors spice, even when we are in the room with them.

This is a quick read. Definitely read it if you read the others in her larger series.

[Dark Bedroom Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ Stars: 4.5/5
🌶️ Spice: 1.5/5
“Every treasure has a dragon.”

This book explores the next generation of the Veil of Shadows series. (I haven’t read that series yet - but it’s on my TBR now, because I’m intrigued!)
Good news? Even if you haven't read the original series, you can dive straight into The Sky is Starless without feeling lost.
The worldbuilding here is rich, welcoming, and super easy to sink into.
The plot? Totally captivating. There’s no peace - secrets, creatures, dangers, and doubts keep crashing in from every side.
Can a dark fantasy romance feel light and warm-hearted? Yes. That’s exactly how this one felt for me. Even though the story winds through danger, blood, and dread, the good characters made it warm and a genuinely fun place to be.
The characters? They felt like my parallel-world family and friends.
I really liked the main cast - Rue’s family, and Rue herself? Yeah, she’s a princess, but she’s doing everything she can to live like a normal human and there’s a powerful reason behind that.
Evelyn is the firecracker who pushes Rue out of her shell, while Dacre - the handsome, otherworldly-beautiful bodyguard - is the anchor who keeps her grounded when chaos hits. He’ll do anything to protect, to ease pain, to soothe. A ray of sunshine who carries his own dark past. Or the only bright star in a starless sky.
The tension? Like a ribbon pulled tight.
The spice? Oh, delicious! But for my liking, a bit too diplomatic. In Those moments, the details kind of vanished. Still, their connection is so charged and beautiful, it was more than enough to set my imagination on fire. 😈
One thing though - this is a classic example of why I’m not a huge fan of 3rd person POV. In the beginning, it felt like an endless parade of he-she-her-his-they, which made it a little harder to connect at first. Later it balanced out, but I still believe the emotional pull would have been even stronger in 1st person…
In the end? This world, its unique magic system, and its creatures are something special.
I got this ARC via @booksyrens and I’m mega-grateful - because honestly, this universe has carved out its own little space in my heart. 🖤✨

[Diana Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rue and Dacre’s story is one not of fated mates, but mates by circumstance. Rue is the daughter of the Queen of Hell and a King of Heaven, she is a twin and should have grown as her brother did, but circumstances again stepped in and changed her. Dacre is a shifter of Hell, the last of his kind and Rue coming into his life at her age of 15 changed everything . There is no way to say more about their circumstances without giving away the whole story, and believe me, the story is one you want to read if you like Paranormal Romance or Urban Fantasy. This story rolls the history of the nephillim and humanity into one you want to read from start to finish ! It takes place on a University campus in real time, with portals to Hell. It also through Rue’s nightmares takes us back and forth 9 years from her 15th year until now. You get glimpses of other Heavenly beings as well as creatures of Hell along the way. We also have Lucipurr her cat , and Evelyn her best friend to round out most of the cast of characters. I wasn’t sure what I was getting when I signed up for this ARC, but I’m so glad I did, even though it doesn’t fit within a certain trope I really enjoyed the story and the characters, and I believe Evelyn’s story is coming up and I’m sure we will see more of Rue, Dacre, Lucipurr and maybe Rue’s twin Remington. 5✨’s. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Candi.Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Sky is Starless started off with such a strong pull — witchy vibes, a morally gray bodyguard, a cat named Lucipurr (iconic), and the promise of dark secrets in a starless world. The setup had me hooked: Rue finally forcing her uncle to help restore her memories, Dacre knowing more about her past than he let on, and hints at a possible mated bond. I was eating it up.

But I feel like I got lost and definitely had a lot of missing information through the entire book. And the tedious writing structure…

Somewhere near the end, I found myself losing interest. The tension and mystery that carried the first half didn’t quite hold up, and the ending didn’t deliver the same spark the beginning promised.

I also found her friend Evelyn just annoying…

Overall → if you love dark romantasy setups with gothic vibes and familiars, it’s worth a try. For me, it was a good read but not a new favorite.

[Mia Brattain-Halcomb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Am I blown away? No. But I do feel like the author gave great effort. I felt like it was slow at certain times, but still had some suspense and mystery that keeps you hanging on. Our MC’s needed more character development as well. For over 300 pages, I would expect more character development. Anytime I got a glimpse into the past of Dacre, it was shallow. I want to know what makes these characters who they are. Romance was definitely a slower burn as well. I struggled to understand Dacre’s fascination with the FMC, as the chemistry wasn’t there for me. I did enjoy the glimpses of the past and future Rue provided. It often gave or revealed critical information for the storyline. Overall, It was okay. I’m glad I got to read it.

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

[Flor Arasco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing read! It felt different to every other fantasy book I’ve read lately. At first I wasn’t vibing with the third person POV and the constant repetition of her name before every action, but as soon as we got to the Halloween party and met Dacre, I was hooked.

Rue really portrayed the struggles of trauma and feeling different from others, while still trying to connect and live a normal-ish life.

The glimpses into the past and the future were super interesting to see the bigger picture, I also loved her family and the way they tried to protect her and allow her to try and live the life she wants even if they don’t understand it.

Can’t wait to read the next book, it’s a really great world that the author built!

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

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5/5

I really enjoyed the premise and the plot of the book. I think the characters were a bit frustrating, particularly Rue. However, I do think that fits with a teenage girl and her attitude. For me, I didn’t find Dacre and Rue to have a lot of chemistry and their “banter” was just a bit too dry for me. I didn’t mind the slow burn but it was the writing that made it a slog. As I mentioned, I did like the plot but the writing made it difficult to get through. I almost DNF the book but I liked the plot enough to try and continue.

I received a free advance reader copy of this book from Book Sirens/M.R. Pritchard in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the chance to read this book!

[María Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 star✨ slow start

Rue is a princess (of both hell and heaven) who doesn’t want to be a princess, and Dacre is the shifter bodyguard with secrets that falls for her. She also has amnesia and doesn’t recall most of what happened during the childhood. These memories come to her now as nightmares that haunt her, but Dacre is there to literally save her continuously from more than her shadows.

The story, the plot and the world here is very intriguing and captivating. If you're a fan of supernatural and paranormal fantasy this is for you.

In this Dark Fantasy Romance you get:
🍓 Angels
🍓 Demons
🍓 Shifters
🍓 Touch her and ☠️
🍓 Kitty companion 🐈‍⬛
🍓 Royalty + Bodyguard
🍓 Memory loss

I was given a copy of this ARC through BookSirens and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Cindy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give this a 6⭐️ if I could so 5 will have to do!!!

I absolutely loved this book, only started reading it last night and totally smashed it out this morning. I just could not put it down. I’m so eager to read The Veil of Shadows series now ( The stories of Rue’s parents Meg & Sparrowman)
Ah man it was easy to follow, the character development is on point, world building is brilliant , the plot was awesome just an all round fabulous book ❤️
I can wait to read The Night is Endless which is a standalone interconnected book about Rue’s twin brother Remington & her best friend Evelyn :) If you haven’t read any books by M.R Pritchard I suggest you do, there’s so many to chose from!

[Mandi Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a quick, easy read with likable characters and an interesting plot. I was quite impressed with the quality of writing.

Although I enjoyed the book, I did find myself wanting a bit more. More plot, more backstory, more action, more tension, and higher stakes. There is so much here… real quality story and craft.. it felt like there was so much more I needed to know simmering below the surface. I didn’t quite get enough. It had all the potential, just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

This is the start of a series that takes place in the Veil of Shadows and I’m hoping the next books bring more of this world building, backstory, tension etc into the mix.

Overall, it was a fun read! And I enjoyed it.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story! It weaves together all sorts of paranormal and mythical elements, from the realms of Heaven and Hell to runes and those intense blood bonds.

The writing is captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat! It’s filled with danger, action, and just the right amount of romance and spice. The tension and thrills come at you fast, making this standalone adventure an exhilarating journey into the next generation of the Veil of Shadows. It’s a perfect read for anyone craving a mix of intrigue and excitement!

[Kerin Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I literally read this in 1 day. It is so good! I couldn’t put this sucker down (pun intended) haha. Oh man the MMC brooding arrogant touch her and die vibes. YES PLEASE dark in all the yummy ways. And Evelyn, Rues bestie I just love her and she had me cracking up laughing multiple times! LOL angels and demons. Ancient findings. Academia. Memory loss. Trauma. It’s so good and will keep you on the edge of your seat with anticipation throughout the entire book! Loved it!! -Kerin

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely can stand alone but it's easy to want to seek out the other books. I had read an earlier trilogy written in this same world and so was excited when this book popped up. The themes of trust and growing up are woven throughout this book and show good character development. Throw in the world of demons and angels and a host of others for a fast paced read that kept me turning pages. I received this book from Booksirens and am happy to leave this review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't fight your destiny, but maybe you can tweak it

The memories of her kidnapping ordeal were blocked to protect her mental health, but she relives them every night in her nightmares. With shadow demons stalking her, Rue and Dacre race against the odds and time to neutralise the threats.

M.R. Pritchard weaves a gripping dark fantasy full of wonderful world-building and fantastic characters.

I received an advanced copy from the author

[Massiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sky is Starless is the perfect continuation of the Veil of Shadows world. Rue, on the Earthen plane, is facing some challenges that require her to have a bodyguard. It just happens to be Dacre, who saved her when she was 15 years old she just doesn’t remember it.
The relationship between Rue and Dacre was hard won but the journey was great to read. This was a wonderful start to the next series of books.

[Madds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well all I can start by saying is that I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I was instantly sucked into Rue’s world starting on page one, and was hungry to devour every word of it. Pritchard does a wonderful job of weaving a story full of suspense, twists and turns, and a good dose of fantasy. The only downfall was that I was constantly wanting more! Any fan of fantasy should delve into this book.

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rue & Dacre

This story is truly a unique story in this world. From Rue's background, to her relationship with Dacre, which I really enjoyed. Rue separated form her twin, learning of it, and the truth behind it, brings so much more to this story! I loved it!!! No Spoilers!! I highly Recommend as an outstanding story!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Misty Stringer]

I truly enjoyed this book. The story line was unique enough that I didn't feel like I was reading the same book over and over, author by author. The characters are engaging and the story ended a good break. It ends knowing more is to come but not with the heart stopping cliff hanger of other books. Great read and great job by M.R. Pritchard.

[Tonia Rodriguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was entertaining. Dacre and Rue had the chance to be phenomenal, but for me they were simply… entertaining. The storyline too. I expected so much more from it, but it fell a little flat for me. It was enjoyable, but simply that.

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

[tre.wandereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story! It was equal parts amusing and enthralling. I love the dynamic between the two leads. I also love the comedy of the other characters and the little kitty! I didn't think I'd enjoy reading this book so much. I hope we get to see more of the rest of the character's lives as I feel there's much to explore in this world!

[Tia Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this was a cute little fantasy book! Got through it pretty quick, I loved the format with it having short chapters. I liked that Rue was dedicated to her education. I was a little lost on her parents being like “oh you got this!” When it comes to fighting demons or whatever and she was so utterly helpless. Loved Dacre.

[Shana · Rating 1 out of 5]

At this rate, I need to stop buying books off the tiktok shop. The idea is good, but the story needs a lot of work. there was so much information given that I didnt really feel compelled to continue reading what the story is about, and the characters were never really established in who exactly they are.

[Kim Finazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veil of Shadows The Next Generation book 1. Always a pleasure to read any of M. R. Pritchard’s. The Sky is Starless is about Rue and Dacre. You can read this series before the original Veil of Shadows series. I would definitely say to read VOS. You get to learn about Rue’s parents and how Rue got to where she is.

[Madi • SleuthingInk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a mix of a bunch of my favorite genre/tropes (bodyguard, dark romantasy, shifters, and a dash of mystery). It was an amazing ride! The main characters have good chemistry and seem very real.

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

[Melissa Tonche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much. Veil of Shadows is one of my favorite series ever and I love the next generation series already. Not only is Meredith an amazing author she's an amazing human being. Make sure to read all of her books.