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These Starborn Secrets
After the destruction of the rebellion that killed her eldest sister, Zeline Solost wants nothing more than peace. But when you're the galaxy's most infamous assassin, and one of the heirs to the Galactic Order, peace isn't an option.
Wrestling with guilt over the lives she's taken, Zeline and her remaining siblings travel to the spacestation Starfire. But when the station falls under attack, Zeline must once again put on the mask of the Sword of the Order and eliminate any threats to her family's empire.
Forced to flee with a group of strangers, she vows to protect her siblings at any cost. But as strangers become family, she begins to realize there was more to her sister's death than she was told, and that perhaps the rebels aren't the villains she believed them to be.
Wrestling with guilt over the lives she's taken, Zeline and her remaining siblings travel to the spacestation Starfire. But when the station falls under attack, Zeline must once again put on the mask of the Sword of the Order and eliminate any threats to her family's empire.
Forced to flee with a group of strangers, she vows to protect her siblings at any cost. But as strangers become family, she begins to realize there was more to her sister's death than she was told, and that perhaps the rebels aren't the villains she believed them to be.
431 pages, Paperback
Published January 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 28, 2025
Ok, I’m actually in my sci-fi book era! 💙🌌🪐 Two books in a row?? And I absolutely ADORED this book!! IT’S ACTUALLY SO GOOD!!! 🤩 I highly recommend to Star Wars and six of crows lovers!
Plot: the plot was so interesting! There’s so many secrets and you don’t know who to root for or who to trust. I loved all the world building of the different planets, and learning about all the different kinds of shifters. Shapeshifters are my favorite 🤭🤭 Genuinely, this book wasn’t hard to follow at all. Sometimes, I fail to understand sci-fi, but this wasn’t too hard at all! And did I already mention all the plot twists?? No? Well, not to spoil, but they are twisting hard! I need book two yesterday! 😫😂
Characters: I LOVED all the characters so much. But Kai and Ander are my favorites, both together and separate. They’re both just so complex and intriguing! I can’t wait to see more of them in book 2! And also, I’m beyond excited to jump further into the characters of Newt and Darci, and the guild! I can’t wait! 😆
Romance: both of the romaces in this book are so cute! I need more immediately 🥹🥹 Kai and Ander’s enemies to lovers had be blushing hard in some places! Omg, I actually can’t 😍 And Luc and Zeline? 😭 I need to know what happens to all of them next! I loved how the romance was present and enjoyable, but it didn’t dominate the story or plot. Kendra really nailed balancing the two. Now, this is an upper ya, so there were a couple steamy moments, but they weren’t bad or overly descriptive.
Age rating (spice, cussing, gore): there’s a little steam, maybe a little more cursing than I personally thought was necessary, and minimal gore. Again, this is an upper ya, and is marketed as such. I’d give this a 15/16+ age rating.
I’m so excited for book two and to read anything else Kendra Niehaus writes!! 🫶🏽♥️
Plot: the plot was so interesting! There’s so many secrets and you don’t know who to root for or who to trust. I loved all the world building of the different planets, and learning about all the different kinds of shifters. Shapeshifters are my favorite 🤭🤭 Genuinely, this book wasn’t hard to follow at all. Sometimes, I fail to understand sci-fi, but this wasn’t too hard at all! And did I already mention all the plot twists?? No? Well, not to spoil, but they are twisting hard! I need book two yesterday! 😫😂
Characters: I LOVED all the characters so much. But Kai and Ander are my favorites, both together and separate. They’re both just so complex and intriguing! I can’t wait to see more of them in book 2! And also, I’m beyond excited to jump further into the characters of Newt and Darci, and the guild! I can’t wait! 😆
Romance: both of the romaces in this book are so cute! I need more immediately 🥹🥹 Kai and Ander’s enemies to lovers had be blushing hard in some places! Omg, I actually can’t 😍 And Luc and Zeline? 😭 I need to know what happens to all of them next! I loved how the romance was present and enjoyable, but it didn’t dominate the story or plot. Kendra really nailed balancing the two. Now, this is an upper ya, so there were a couple steamy moments, but they weren’t bad or overly descriptive.
Age rating (spice, cussing, gore): there’s a little steam, maybe a little more cursing than I personally thought was necessary, and minimal gore. Again, this is an upper ya, and is marketed as such. I’d give this a 15/16+ age rating.
I’m so excited for book two and to read anything else Kendra Niehaus writes!! 🫶🏽♥️
May 26, 2026
4 🌟
This is a criminally underhyped indie book. How does it only have 10 reviews on Goodreads? The author of this book is only 21 years old, and I anticipate that her next book will be 5 stars. Kendra is so young and talented and I have no doubt she will be extremely successful in the future! Let me be the one to convince you to support an indie gem I stumbled upon.
It is a high-stakes, cinematic space opera blending Star Wars-level epic world-building with all the romantasy tropes you love (multiple POVs, morally grey characters, hellhounds, dragons, vampires, thunderbirds) and it is action-packed from the very first page.
Strong female characters
I love a book with strong FMCs. This one has several. Zeline - They literally call our FMC the Sword of the Order, shes quite a baddie, who executes rebels to protect the galaxy and her family. I love that she chooses to free herself from self-sabotage and eventually opens up slowly. She is one very relatable FMC. I felt her emotions so deeply, from grief to loss, to happiness.
MMC
Luc Morano is the youngest Vampire King crowned in five centuries (he's charming and manipulative), but theres more beneath his elegance. I love that our characters are multi-layered! From the get go, the romance was magnetic. I love the diverse cast of characters and the multiple POVs. This was unique and pretty creative if I say so myself.
The Writing Style
The writing was definately character-driven and heavy on internal monologue. Every POV character has a distinct voice. The pacing was fast, the chapters are short and digestible, and the whole thing reads like a bingeable episodic series. Think Star Wars meets romantasy — but with court politics, shifter drama, and a cast of characters who are all wearing masks and lying to each other constantly. Bring on the DRAMA!
💬 Quotes
🩷 Tropes:
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
😤 Forced proximity
🚫 Yearning
🌙 Dragons, Shifters, Hellhounds, Thunderbirds, Vampires
🏹 Training Arc
🖤 Morally grey MMC
🔥 Strong FMC with Feminine rage
💔 Trauma Rep
💬 Banter
😭 Emotional damage
🎭 Hidden identity
🩷 Found family
🌶️ Spice:
No spice
Recommendation:
If you liked Spark of the Everflame, Powerless, or if you want an amazing found family and love characters who are monsters on the outside but secretly protective on the inside, this is for you. It is very character driven. The cast is stacked, the world is massive, and Book 2 is out now.
This is a criminally underhyped indie book. How does it only have 10 reviews on Goodreads? The author of this book is only 21 years old, and I anticipate that her next book will be 5 stars. Kendra is so young and talented and I have no doubt she will be extremely successful in the future! Let me be the one to convince you to support an indie gem I stumbled upon.
It is a high-stakes, cinematic space opera blending Star Wars-level epic world-building with all the romantasy tropes you love (multiple POVs, morally grey characters, hellhounds, dragons, vampires, thunderbirds) and it is action-packed from the very first page.
Strong female characters
I love a book with strong FMCs. This one has several. Zeline - They literally call our FMC the Sword of the Order, shes quite a baddie, who executes rebels to protect the galaxy and her family. I love that she chooses to free herself from self-sabotage and eventually opens up slowly. She is one very relatable FMC. I felt her emotions so deeply, from grief to loss, to happiness.
Another tear snakes down my cheek, this time for the person I once was. For the girl who loved art and literature and cinnamon sticks and starry nights, the one who used to look up at the sky and dare to dream of a better life. I loved her dearly, and yet, I gutted her from the inside out without a second thought. I destroyed her...
MMC
Luc Morano is the youngest Vampire King crowned in five centuries (he's charming and manipulative), but theres more beneath his elegance. I love that our characters are multi-layered! From the get go, the romance was magnetic. I love the diverse cast of characters and the multiple POVs. This was unique and pretty creative if I say so myself.
The Writing Style
The writing was definately character-driven and heavy on internal monologue. Every POV character has a distinct voice. The pacing was fast, the chapters are short and digestible, and the whole thing reads like a bingeable episodic series. Think Star Wars meets romantasy — but with court politics, shifter drama, and a cast of characters who are all wearing masks and lying to each other constantly. Bring on the DRAMA!
💬 Quotes
"Just because he's not my enemy doesn't mean he's trustworthy."
"Words are just as much of a weapon as vibroblades and blasters. Sometimes, they're even more dangerous. A single sentence can slay far more enemies than a hundred soldiers."
"Secrets really are starborn; they're beautiful, brutal, and connect to form breathtaking constellations."
"We're given souls for a reason, Zel... so don't be afraid to live. And don't be afraid to love."
🩷 Tropes:
⚔️ Enemies to lovers
😤 Forced proximity
🚫 Yearning
🌙 Dragons, Shifters, Hellhounds, Thunderbirds, Vampires
🏹 Training Arc
🖤 Morally grey MMC
🔥 Strong FMC with Feminine rage
💔 Trauma Rep
💬 Banter
😭 Emotional damage
🎭 Hidden identity
🩷 Found family
🌶️ Spice:
No spice
Recommendation:
If you liked Spark of the Everflame, Powerless, or if you want an amazing found family and love characters who are monsters on the outside but secretly protective on the inside, this is for you. It is very character driven. The cast is stacked, the world is massive, and Book 2 is out now.
March 10, 2025
Kendra created such a colorful and unique space-fantasy world! The characters are fun and engaging (I especially love Kai and Darci) and the romantic subplots WILL have you invested. But my favorite part of this book is probably the creative worldbuilding. You've got dragons, vampires, princes and princesses... in space! I can't resist a genre blend.
This book is especially great for teens (I'd say 15+) who love popular YA fantasy. This sort of gave me Throne of Glass in space vibes (maybe just because the FMC is a royal assassin). This is a promising debut sci-fi and I'm excited to see what Kendra writes in the future!
This book is especially great for teens (I'd say 15+) who love popular YA fantasy. This sort of gave me Throne of Glass in space vibes (maybe just because the FMC is a royal assassin). This is a promising debut sci-fi and I'm excited to see what Kendra writes in the future!
February 12, 2025
Absolute SCI-FI/ FANTASY PERFECTION! The found family, enemies to lovers and action packed scenes in this book are so expertly written. I had SO much fun with this book and every single character has so much depth and care put into them. I'm so proud of Kendra for making her debut with this phenomenal book and can't wait for more books in this series. Ander × Kai have my whole heart. So do Zeline and Luc, and Darci and Newt... I LOVE EVERY SINGLE CHARACTER YOUR HONOR. If you like good books, then read this ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 25, 2025
I had so much fun with this book! The fantasy meets sci-fi aspect was pulled off flawlessly, with different elements of each genre mixing together in fun and unexpected ways. The characters give off anime protagonist vibes in the best ways—bright, distinctive appearances with a lot of raw emotions and inner turmoil. Plus, who doesn’t love a healthy dose of yearning? Relationships play a huge role in this book—familial, friendly, romantic. Very “what would you do to defend those you love?”
The book boasts twist and turns—some expected, some very much not. The last few chapters had me manically flipping pages and wanting to go back looking for hidden clues. Will definitely be tuning in for book 2!
The book boasts twist and turns—some expected, some very much not. The last few chapters had me manically flipping pages and wanting to go back looking for hidden clues. Will definitely be tuning in for book 2!
February 1, 2025
This book was SO good and is definitely a favorite for me! I loved each character and all their different personalities! From shape shifters to so many gasping hidden secrets to literally laughing out loud at times… this book has everything! I love the Sci-fy with some Romantasy. It’s a great combination! I am more than ready and am already anxiously waiting for book 2 to come out!
April 15, 2025
I don't usually leave book reviews but I think this book deserves to be talked about. I LOVED this book. Am I biased? Probably. Do I think that affects my review at all? Absolutely not. This was honestly one of my favorite books to read. It was pulled off so well and I'm positive that I will be rereading it multiple times. It flawlessly mixes fantasy with sci-fi, adding in some romance while staying age-appropriate. The characters are so masterfully developed and have so much depth to them - especially Darci, in my opinion. I don't think I've ever read characters who are more authentic and real. Each one has a distinct personality that shines through, yet they all are such complex characters. The plot is also super intriguing and so impressive - I don't think I was bored for a single chapter, and I constantly found myself smiling at the book. There were so many aspects of it that I found interesting - all the secrets, adorable romances, and some of my favorite tropes - not to mention that the world building didn't even feel like world building. It was so easy to follow AND not at all boring. The plot twists were not at all predictable and left me contemplating everything I'd read before. I genuinely will be recommending this to so many people. I'm SO proud of Kendra for this and I can't wait for the next one!
April 7, 2025
4.50/5
found family, star wars meets acotar with superhero vibes
straight at the beginning I was in love and the writing truly incredible! zeline and darcy I don’t know who I love more! I’m not used to books with fantasy and space ships so that took abit of getting used to overall kendra did an amazing job putting the world together in a different way to usual romantasy books. there were so many scenes where I needed to highlight quotes which are truly amazing. my favourite ever scene was the ending! that was my highlight for this whole book. I was on the edge of my seat and it so reminded me of a twisted sister book for instance zodiac academy. I can’t get over the ending omgggg. luc I have the same feelings that zeline has for you lol. ander im here wishing for you x the only thing that I wish this book had was a bit more of a slow burn into the friendship and into the relationships that build. I just feel it needed that extra build to make it less sudden and I also would love to see more mythology stories in the next one which I know is something the author is already doing. the next one I know it’s gonna be a 5 star so very excited for book 2 !
found family, star wars meets acotar with superhero vibes
straight at the beginning I was in love and the writing truly incredible! zeline and darcy I don’t know who I love more! I’m not used to books with fantasy and space ships so that took abit of getting used to overall kendra did an amazing job putting the world together in a different way to usual romantasy books. there were so many scenes where I needed to highlight quotes which are truly amazing. my favourite ever scene was the ending! that was my highlight for this whole book. I was on the edge of my seat and it so reminded me of a twisted sister book for instance zodiac academy. I can’t get over the ending omgggg. luc I have the same feelings that zeline has for you lol. ander im here wishing for you x the only thing that I wish this book had was a bit more of a slow burn into the friendship and into the relationships that build. I just feel it needed that extra build to make it less sudden and I also would love to see more mythology stories in the next one which I know is something the author is already doing. the next one I know it’s gonna be a 5 star so very excited for book 2 !
June 12, 2025
This is a promising debut! Kendra created a rich and varied world, full of enchanting settings and interesting characters, all hiding secrets that could throw the Cassiopeia Cluster into chaos. The descriptions of the settings are immersive (seriously, I wish I could visit!), the lore is intriguing, and the twist at the end is incredible! It definitely cemented Darci, the youngest Solost heir, as my favorite character in TSS, and I will continue to cheer for her and Newt, the lovable mechanic with secrets of his own.
I do wish the relationships had a bit more time to develop and build, but if you love steamy fast-paced romances, this is definitely the book for you!
Fans of Crescent City will enjoy this book—if you’re looking for a YA space opera romance with secrets, vampires, and shifters, check out TSS!
I do wish the relationships had a bit more time to develop and build, but if you love steamy fast-paced romances, this is definitely the book for you!
Fans of Crescent City will enjoy this book—if you’re looking for a YA space opera romance with secrets, vampires, and shifters, check out TSS!
March 11, 2026
Incredible work from this debut author, These Starborn Secrets is a well written blend of fantasy and sci fi. Intricate world building, vivid characters, an imaginative setting all blends together beautifully to craft a new and imaginative story. I'd recommend this for young Star Wars fans who love shape shifters and romance.
September 1, 2025
Wow. 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
June 3, 2026
How does this book/series not have more hype! I demand my friends read this book!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews