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Caldryn Parliament #1
Stars Die
Welcome to Caldryn Parliament. Golden Age mysteries in the Realm of science fiction and fantasy.
Recalled from the frontier, the new Warden of Caldryn Parliament is well aware she’s not a popular choice, but she never expected to portal into a murder scene.
Nor did she anticipate acquiring such a unique partner.
Now, Vanda Kavanagh must discover the truth of a politician’s death, unravel the mystery of her sabotaged wards, and survive her family.
***
Stars Die is a magic parliament mystery. If you've ever wished that Agatha Christie included magic or that Sherlock Holmes fought space pirates, this is the series for you!
Recalled from the frontier, the new Warden of Caldryn Parliament is well aware she’s not a popular choice, but she never expected to portal into a murder scene.
Nor did she anticipate acquiring such a unique partner.
Now, Vanda Kavanagh must discover the truth of a politician’s death, unravel the mystery of her sabotaged wards, and survive her family.
***
Stars Die is a magic parliament mystery. If you've ever wished that Agatha Christie included magic or that Sherlock Holmes fought space pirates, this is the series for you!
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2025
718 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Schwartz
110 books575 followersAustralian science fiction and fantasy author.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
Avid reader.
Jenny Schwartz has a degree in sociology and history, and a lifelong fascination with understanding people. Her character-driven science fiction and fantasy novels explore other worlds and how people navigate strange situations and complicated emotions, while retaining their sense of self. Her plots are twisty and unexpected.
***
I've curated my bookshelf to share books which I hope readers of Caldryn Parliament will enjoy. With the older books, please be aware that they are a product of their times and read with care.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
September 15, 2025
Terrific SF-fantasy with a wonderful FMC
Vanda Kavanaugh is a 27-year-old, powerful wardkeeper who has been called back to the home planet from the interplanetary frontier by her grandmother, the matriarch of the illustrious Kavanaugh clan. Vanda has been appointed to the intergenerational Kavanaugh position as Warden of the Caldryn Parliament, at the seat of the government of the Realm.
Vanda's adventures begin from the moment she arrives through an interplanetary portal. She has encountered and saved from certain death a magical creature called a gremlin, which she encountered inside the portal. The tiny creature does not share his true name with her, but he and Vanda settle on his using the convenient name, Giddy. The adorable gremlin has an enormous store of magical power, and Giddy becomes her closest friend and protector throughout what will eventually be a trilogy.
I really enjoyed this story. Vanda is my favorite type of FMC, ethical, compassionate, intelligent, insightful and someone who knows what she wants and never gives up going after it. What she wants is to do her best to honorably act as Warden, protecting the Realm, in spite of multiple enemies standing in her way.
I have so far read 10 or 12 books by this author and enjoyed them all. As always, she does a wonderful job of world building in this novel. She typically writes a fascinating combination of fantasy and science fiction, and it is particularly well done in this series. She also typically includes a romance in her stories, sometimes as the main plot and at other times, as in this series, as a secondary plot. That's very important to me personally because I am a huge fan of the romance genre. What she also does extremely well is create an FMC who is outstanding at attracting a coterie of close associates who are as honorable as she is, forming a dynamic team. Among these, Giddy is my favorite and is absolutely wonderful.
The moment I finished this novel, I immediately began reading the second book in the series. I am greatly looking forward to the third book in this trilogy, as well. I have pre-ordered it. It will be released November, 2025.
Vanda Kavanaugh is a 27-year-old, powerful wardkeeper who has been called back to the home planet from the interplanetary frontier by her grandmother, the matriarch of the illustrious Kavanaugh clan. Vanda has been appointed to the intergenerational Kavanaugh position as Warden of the Caldryn Parliament, at the seat of the government of the Realm.
Vanda's adventures begin from the moment she arrives through an interplanetary portal. She has encountered and saved from certain death a magical creature called a gremlin, which she encountered inside the portal. The tiny creature does not share his true name with her, but he and Vanda settle on his using the convenient name, Giddy. The adorable gremlin has an enormous store of magical power, and Giddy becomes her closest friend and protector throughout what will eventually be a trilogy.
I really enjoyed this story. Vanda is my favorite type of FMC, ethical, compassionate, intelligent, insightful and someone who knows what she wants and never gives up going after it. What she wants is to do her best to honorably act as Warden, protecting the Realm, in spite of multiple enemies standing in her way.
I have so far read 10 or 12 books by this author and enjoyed them all. As always, she does a wonderful job of world building in this novel. She typically writes a fascinating combination of fantasy and science fiction, and it is particularly well done in this series. She also typically includes a romance in her stories, sometimes as the main plot and at other times, as in this series, as a secondary plot. That's very important to me personally because I am a huge fan of the romance genre. What she also does extremely well is create an FMC who is outstanding at attracting a coterie of close associates who are as honorable as she is, forming a dynamic team. Among these, Giddy is my favorite and is absolutely wonderful.
The moment I finished this novel, I immediately began reading the second book in the series. I am greatly looking forward to the third book in this trilogy, as well. I have pre-ordered it. It will be released November, 2025.
December 3, 2025
This author has definitely become a favorite, and I'm excited to see this series continue to unfold. It's layered, complex, and fascinating.
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it has so much setup/world building to do that at time it is overloading, and I had trouble keeping track of it all. But regardless, I was riveted and stayed up until nearly 3:30am last night to finish it.
Can't wait for the next one!
The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it has so much setup/world building to do that at time it is overloading, and I had trouble keeping track of it all. But regardless, I was riveted and stayed up until nearly 3:30am last night to finish it.
Can't wait for the next one!
unfinished
April 10, 2025Could not get into this
February 28, 2025
love it!
All the complex, wonderful storytelling I expect from a Jenny Schwartz novel. The main character and her sidekick have me looking forward to the next story. And rooting for them.
The world, the characters, the plot, the history of this universe, well done and so appealing.
Highly recommend!
All the complex, wonderful storytelling I expect from a Jenny Schwartz novel. The main character and her sidekick have me looking forward to the next story. And rooting for them.
The world, the characters, the plot, the history of this universe, well done and so appealing.
Highly recommend!
February 28, 2025
Not up to her usual standard.
I love Ms. Schwartz stories. I think most of her series are first class books. BUT the main character Vanda here is just sadly inconsistant ...in one paragraph she is an intelligent mature woman.. Then a couple of pages later she is a naive immature nitwit. So Frustrating to try to stay in the story and just be entertained. Also the editing here is not up to her usual standard. I was so excited when this hit pre-order ...now? (sigh) just so disappointed! I pre-ordered the other books in the series but if the 2nd one is just as bad I won't be getting the 3rd.
I love Ms. Schwartz stories. I think most of her series are first class books. BUT the main character Vanda here is just sadly inconsistant ...in one paragraph she is an intelligent mature woman.. Then a couple of pages later she is a naive immature nitwit. So Frustrating to try to stay in the story and just be entertained. Also the editing here is not up to her usual standard. I was so excited when this hit pre-order ...now? (sigh) just so disappointed! I pre-ordered the other books in the series but if the 2nd one is just as bad I won't be getting the 3rd.
March 18, 2025
Parts of this were very enjoyable. I liked Vanda and her competence. I liked how she is restoring the office of warden. I liked how she is making friends. Giddy was cute, but also more inconsequential than I would have liked. And the whole murder business was clunky. Vanda just happens to stumble on information, people make idle remarks that guide her thoughts, and somehow, she leaps to conclusions and finds the murderer. The political stuff surrounding the murder is where I lost interest. I would give this 3.5 stars, and am rounding down.
July 27, 2025
Excellent sci fantasy adventure
The worldbuilding is unique and fascinating, and the story is thrilling with elements of found family, mystery, and intrigue. Vanda is a wonderful narrator and main character. Giddy is charming and loveable. The supporting characters that are becoming a found family are interesting, likeable, and diverse. The hints of romance add to the story. I read Stars Die in KU but will buy it to reread (yes, I love Vanda and Giddy that much).
The worldbuilding is unique and fascinating, and the story is thrilling with elements of found family, mystery, and intrigue. Vanda is a wonderful narrator and main character. Giddy is charming and loveable. The supporting characters that are becoming a found family are interesting, likeable, and diverse. The hints of romance add to the story. I read Stars Die in KU but will buy it to reread (yes, I love Vanda and Giddy that much).
October 11, 2025
Giddy is such a cutie
March 1, 2025
Stars Die
Wow. Jenny Schwartz has written a book of political intrigue, and family power struggles set in a magical and technology driven society. Strong characters, lots of action, interesting world building! Can't wait for the sequels.
Wow. Jenny Schwartz has written a book of political intrigue, and family power struggles set in a magical and technology driven society. Strong characters, lots of action, interesting world building! Can't wait for the sequels.
August 26, 2025
I'm not sure why, but this reminded me a bit of a McCaffrey novel. I'm looking forward to starting the next in the series.
March 12, 2025
wonderful new sci/fi series
Stars Die has a bag load of interesting characters not the least of which is a newly created gremlin the size of a kitten. Reminiscent of Jayne Castle’s wonderful Harmony series that includes dust bunnies as partners Dizzy is an integral part of the story. Love the world building and great story. Looking forward to book 2.
Stars Die has a bag load of interesting characters not the least of which is a newly created gremlin the size of a kitten. Reminiscent of Jayne Castle’s wonderful Harmony series that includes dust bunnies as partners Dizzy is an integral part of the story. Love the world building and great story. Looking forward to book 2.
March 4, 2025
Compelling tale
I do love a competent idealist out to rescue society from itself. The story unfolds in front of a well developed world building and a fascinating magic system.
I do love a competent idealist out to rescue society from itself. The story unfolds in front of a well developed world building and a fascinating magic system.
April 6, 2025
Ticks All The Boxes
From the very first page this book grabbed my attention and would not let go. Jenny Schwartz is from Western Australia, so it is nice to be able to find a great book written by a fellow Australian. There was not one moment when I felt like there were other things I could be doing. Why? What is it that takes a book from good to great?
First of all, this book is in the Cosy Mystery Genre with no explicit swearing, sex or violence which means it is suitable for a school library and both male and female readers of all ages. There are no romantic moments, but definitely a few men who are interested in Vanda Kavanagh, and we see some quiet heroism displayed at the crisis point by Captain Carter Forbes who is an interesting foil to the charismatic sportstar politician, Justus Lumikko, with whom she has two mutually beneficial public dates. Understated romance, observed with a keen wit, definitely can make a good book great, but it is in the portrayal of well rounded minor characters that Shakespeare's successors will be found.
And what a richness of minor characters there are to delight us in this fantasy Golden Age Mystery! Giddy the cute kitten-like Gremlin who will one day become a mighty Djinn; the detective's niece and nephew who enjoy the Parliamentary Mage Hounds; four useless and untrustworthy wardkeepers, a werewolf, kitsune and a vampire; enough witches and relatives to fit in this wonderful worldbuilding that is the Caldryn Parliament, and the author has devoted a blog that illustrates it beautifully. The illustrations are so delightful, that I feel that they would greatly add to a digital edition. The only minor character I found annoyingly immature was Harlowe, who still hasn't told her 27 year old daughter who her father is.
As for the magical element, the author manages to keep us intrigued with the defensive and offensive nature of the magical wards that protect the Parliament, and clearly Vanda is highly competent in her Warden role, if not so competent with the social and political aspects. I certainly enjoyed the political and magical discussions, and thankfully the philosophical references were brief, and there were no scientific explanations which confused and baffled me in other books she has written.
Not only is there never a dull moment (like Robert Louis Stevenson), you want to turn the page and keep reading (like Charles Dickens), but there are laugh out loud moments and sparkling dialogue (like Jane Austen). There are characters with strong ethics and ideals, wanting to make their world a better place. There are inspirational and aspirational quotes, moments celebrating new friendships - and yes, these are the kind of book friendships that could ride out a very long series.
I love to read the low star book reviews on Amazon Kindle, before, during and after I read the books. Sometimes the reviews are more entertaining than the books. Often I will wait until I have read the first few chapters before I check the reviews, because I prefer to go in unprepared. If I really like the book I will not bother to read any reviews until I have finished, as with this book. If I do not like the story, I will read the lowest starred reviews to see how accurately they pinpoint the flaws. I have read all of the low star reviews for this book on both Kindle and Goodreads and only one of them had any justification.
A 2 star (GoodReads) reviewer complained that Vanda was an "inconsistent naive immature nitwit" while I found her very likeable and competent, with high character values. The only time she is knocked off-balance is after dealing with her grandmother Evelyn Kavanagh.
A 3 star (GoodReads) reviewer complained that the murder mystery was substandard. On one level they could be right, but they rather missed the point of this book. There are several much more intriguing mysteries than the double homicide on the first page for Vanda. And she is definitely not Nancy Drew or Miss Marple. It is the vampire and the werewolf who pressure her into getting the murderer to confess to the detective. The thing is, whoever siphoned off the magic was much more dangerous, and whoever organised the sniper attack on the parliament, and whoever Evelyn had done backroom deals with - those mysteries are much more important for Vanda to solve. At the end of this book we are still unsure if the four wardens working for her are incompetent or untrustworthy. We also are left wondering about the wards on her house and if they have been compromised by her cousin or grandmother. Only one mystery is solved and it was not the focus of this story.
A Kindle reviewer complained that this story was not up to the author's usual standard. So I went and read a few of Jenny Schwartz's other books. Not one of them was in the same class, but there are still quite a few I haven't read, so this paragraph might get amended as I read the rest of her books. Dragon Knight came closest so far in entertainment value, with its hilarious board meeting. If the reviewer was expecting a romance with intimacy on the first date, well then yes, they would have been disappointed.
Another complaint was that Vanda's first meeting with Witch Guildmaster Dana was off-page, as was Giddy's healing by Major Tran. A bigger complaint should be that Major Tran's tour of Military Headquarters for Giddy was not recorded, I am sure that would have been much more entertaining to read. It is indeed possible that all 3 scenes will be in future books. Hexes Fly may well have their first meeting as a retrospective, as it would be more relevant for a book featuring the Guild of Witches. And Giddy's drama with Major Tran might be addressed in a future book concerning a military mystery.
The other complaint concerned typos, spelling and grammar. I found one typo first time through. By my 3rd reading I had found that 3 of the typos I had spotted were already corrected by the author on my Kindle edition. But there were still another 3 errors and two continuity mistakes that a proofreader should have picked up. But I am assuming that Jenny is an Independent Author, and since there is no list of editors, proofreaders, beta readers or ARC readers, she has done it all herself. From my own bitter experience, no matter how wonderful I am at spotting typos, once I get past 20,000 words, I no longer read what is there but what I think is there. Slow reading aloud can help, but it is best to get any help you can from other people to make your stories more readable. Readability is key. If readers have to research words and concepts, and get confused by unusual spellings, then they are more likely to get sidetracked and add it to the DNF pile. (Did Not Finish)
What I have found is that Content Editing is probably the biggest deal for most authors - cutting out what is unnecessary so that what is left shines and sparkles - and in Stars Die I found no need for any further content editing. It is a great example of an exciting, entertaining and readable story. I would like to encourage aspiring writers to read this book as it ticks so many boxes of what readers like and enjoy.
From the very first page this book grabbed my attention and would not let go. Jenny Schwartz is from Western Australia, so it is nice to be able to find a great book written by a fellow Australian. There was not one moment when I felt like there were other things I could be doing. Why? What is it that takes a book from good to great?
First of all, this book is in the Cosy Mystery Genre with no explicit swearing, sex or violence which means it is suitable for a school library and both male and female readers of all ages. There are no romantic moments, but definitely a few men who are interested in Vanda Kavanagh, and we see some quiet heroism displayed at the crisis point by Captain Carter Forbes who is an interesting foil to the charismatic sportstar politician, Justus Lumikko, with whom she has two mutually beneficial public dates. Understated romance, observed with a keen wit, definitely can make a good book great, but it is in the portrayal of well rounded minor characters that Shakespeare's successors will be found.
And what a richness of minor characters there are to delight us in this fantasy Golden Age Mystery! Giddy the cute kitten-like Gremlin who will one day become a mighty Djinn; the detective's niece and nephew who enjoy the Parliamentary Mage Hounds; four useless and untrustworthy wardkeepers, a werewolf, kitsune and a vampire; enough witches and relatives to fit in this wonderful worldbuilding that is the Caldryn Parliament, and the author has devoted a blog that illustrates it beautifully. The illustrations are so delightful, that I feel that they would greatly add to a digital edition. The only minor character I found annoyingly immature was Harlowe, who still hasn't told her 27 year old daughter who her father is.
As for the magical element, the author manages to keep us intrigued with the defensive and offensive nature of the magical wards that protect the Parliament, and clearly Vanda is highly competent in her Warden role, if not so competent with the social and political aspects. I certainly enjoyed the political and magical discussions, and thankfully the philosophical references were brief, and there were no scientific explanations which confused and baffled me in other books she has written.
Not only is there never a dull moment (like Robert Louis Stevenson), you want to turn the page and keep reading (like Charles Dickens), but there are laugh out loud moments and sparkling dialogue (like Jane Austen). There are characters with strong ethics and ideals, wanting to make their world a better place. There are inspirational and aspirational quotes, moments celebrating new friendships - and yes, these are the kind of book friendships that could ride out a very long series.
I love to read the low star book reviews on Amazon Kindle, before, during and after I read the books. Sometimes the reviews are more entertaining than the books. Often I will wait until I have read the first few chapters before I check the reviews, because I prefer to go in unprepared. If I really like the book I will not bother to read any reviews until I have finished, as with this book. If I do not like the story, I will read the lowest starred reviews to see how accurately they pinpoint the flaws. I have read all of the low star reviews for this book on both Kindle and Goodreads and only one of them had any justification.
A 2 star (GoodReads) reviewer complained that Vanda was an "inconsistent naive immature nitwit" while I found her very likeable and competent, with high character values. The only time she is knocked off-balance is after dealing with her grandmother Evelyn Kavanagh.
A 3 star (GoodReads) reviewer complained that the murder mystery was substandard. On one level they could be right, but they rather missed the point of this book. There are several much more intriguing mysteries than the double homicide on the first page for Vanda. And she is definitely not Nancy Drew or Miss Marple. It is the vampire and the werewolf who pressure her into getting the murderer to confess to the detective. The thing is, whoever siphoned off the magic was much more dangerous, and whoever organised the sniper attack on the parliament, and whoever Evelyn had done backroom deals with - those mysteries are much more important for Vanda to solve. At the end of this book we are still unsure if the four wardens working for her are incompetent or untrustworthy. We also are left wondering about the wards on her house and if they have been compromised by her cousin or grandmother. Only one mystery is solved and it was not the focus of this story.
A Kindle reviewer complained that this story was not up to the author's usual standard. So I went and read a few of Jenny Schwartz's other books. Not one of them was in the same class, but there are still quite a few I haven't read, so this paragraph might get amended as I read the rest of her books. Dragon Knight came closest so far in entertainment value, with its hilarious board meeting. If the reviewer was expecting a romance with intimacy on the first date, well then yes, they would have been disappointed.
Another complaint was that Vanda's first meeting with Witch Guildmaster Dana was off-page, as was Giddy's healing by Major Tran. A bigger complaint should be that Major Tran's tour of Military Headquarters for Giddy was not recorded, I am sure that would have been much more entertaining to read. It is indeed possible that all 3 scenes will be in future books. Hexes Fly may well have their first meeting as a retrospective, as it would be more relevant for a book featuring the Guild of Witches. And Giddy's drama with Major Tran might be addressed in a future book concerning a military mystery.
The other complaint concerned typos, spelling and grammar. I found one typo first time through. By my 3rd reading I had found that 3 of the typos I had spotted were already corrected by the author on my Kindle edition. But there were still another 3 errors and two continuity mistakes that a proofreader should have picked up. But I am assuming that Jenny is an Independent Author, and since there is no list of editors, proofreaders, beta readers or ARC readers, she has done it all herself. From my own bitter experience, no matter how wonderful I am at spotting typos, once I get past 20,000 words, I no longer read what is there but what I think is there. Slow reading aloud can help, but it is best to get any help you can from other people to make your stories more readable. Readability is key. If readers have to research words and concepts, and get confused by unusual spellings, then they are more likely to get sidetracked and add it to the DNF pile. (Did Not Finish)
What I have found is that Content Editing is probably the biggest deal for most authors - cutting out what is unnecessary so that what is left shines and sparkles - and in Stars Die I found no need for any further content editing. It is a great example of an exciting, entertaining and readable story. I would like to encourage aspiring writers to read this book as it ticks so many boxes of what readers like and enjoy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2025
intricate and addictive read
This is a fascinating new world from Jenny Schwartz, who has created a complex and well thought out story. I’m really looking forward to the next two volumes. I love her characters, who are smart, have good EQ and learn and grow.
This is a fascinating new world from Jenny Schwartz, who has created a complex and well thought out story. I’m really looking forward to the next two volumes. I love her characters, who are smart, have good EQ and learn and grow.
July 28, 2025
I've read a few series by Jenny Schwartz and I enjoyed them all, with the exception of Pax Galactica (I still liked them) I gave all a solid 4 stars. This is the first time I gave 5 stars.
This book has everything I enjoy - interesting characters, politics, found (or rather intentionally built) family, a mystery and enough threads left hanging that I will be back for more. It even has a medical emergency, although that was disappointingly mostly handled off-page.
The one thing that made me a bit wary when I read the blurb was the magic aspect. But it was presented in a way that reminded me very much of the Arthur C. Clarke quote “Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.” It never felt jarring in a scifi setting and the ward keepers' work looked more like a psychic ability to me. Very much appreciated.
I'll be back in June for book 2.
This book has everything I enjoy - interesting characters, politics, found (or rather intentionally built) family, a mystery and enough threads left hanging that I will be back for more. It even has a medical emergency, although that was disappointingly mostly handled off-page.
The one thing that made me a bit wary when I read the blurb was the magic aspect. But it was presented in a way that reminded me very much of the Arthur C. Clarke quote “Magic's just science that we don't understand yet.” It never felt jarring in a scifi setting and the ward keepers' work looked more like a psychic ability to me. Very much appreciated.
I'll be back in June for book 2.
September 2, 2025
I liked it but the romantic in me would have liked to have a bit more of romance, there was barely any
May 24, 2025
Stars Die, the first book in the Caldryn Parliament series, is a fabulous read.
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Jenny Schwartz is a new author for me but after this book she’s immediately on my must read list. Stars Die, the first book in the Caldryn Parliament series, is a fabulous read.
The world building is layered and intriguing, yet so vivid and large that you can see how she will be exploring it further in the series. And even farther.
The characters themselves are incredibly complex. Each has their own histories that are only partially revealed here, multiple agendas, and completely diverse backgrounds.
This is magic, science fiction and realism all combined into a compelling narrative.
And Schwartz has beautifully crafted even more fascinating storylines that work together to create a fascinating tale of dynastic power, intrigue, galactic politics, mystery and chaos. All with an overlay of magic.
It begins with the incredible character of Vanda Kavanagh, whose powerful grandmother has recalled her from her duty on a frontier planet to become new Warden of Caldryn Parliament.
Such a simple sentence that is so powerful a statement of a woman’s heart and journey to her own path. Vanda is an incredible character. And she is accompanied by a very special companion, Giddy.
Giddy is part of the murder mystery that Vanda sets out to solve, as part of her plan and as part of a larger underlying problem.
There’s an entire excellent cast of equally important and well defined characters. Many of which I expect to develop and expand as the series continues.
This is a complex, emotional, exciting novel. There’s a potential for a romance but it’s not a romance story. It’s a political thriller, albeit one that is a magical science fiction novel.
So highly recommended and I’m extremely excited for the next book to be released.
And can I say how much I love these covers?
Caldryn Parliament:
Stars Die #1
Hexes Fly #2 - July 26, 2025
Rogues Lie #3 - November 29,2025
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Jenny Schwartz is a new author for me but after this book she’s immediately on my must read list. Stars Die, the first book in the Caldryn Parliament series, is a fabulous read.
The world building is layered and intriguing, yet so vivid and large that you can see how she will be exploring it further in the series. And even farther.
The characters themselves are incredibly complex. Each has their own histories that are only partially revealed here, multiple agendas, and completely diverse backgrounds.
This is magic, science fiction and realism all combined into a compelling narrative.
And Schwartz has beautifully crafted even more fascinating storylines that work together to create a fascinating tale of dynastic power, intrigue, galactic politics, mystery and chaos. All with an overlay of magic.
It begins with the incredible character of Vanda Kavanagh, whose powerful grandmother has recalled her from her duty on a frontier planet to become new Warden of Caldryn Parliament.
Such a simple sentence that is so powerful a statement of a woman’s heart and journey to her own path. Vanda is an incredible character. And she is accompanied by a very special companion, Giddy.
Giddy is part of the murder mystery that Vanda sets out to solve, as part of her plan and as part of a larger underlying problem.
There’s an entire excellent cast of equally important and well defined characters. Many of which I expect to develop and expand as the series continues.
This is a complex, emotional, exciting novel. There’s a potential for a romance but it’s not a romance story. It’s a political thriller, albeit one that is a magical science fiction novel.
So highly recommended and I’m extremely excited for the next book to be released.
And can I say how much I love these covers?
Caldryn Parliament:
Stars Die #1
Hexes Fly #2 - July 26, 2025
Rogues Lie #3 - November 29,2025
August 17, 2025
very disappointing, and even more confused because the ratings are so high? did i read the same book as them? is this like one of those self published online series with zero editors and beta-readers?
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July 18, 2025
This was a completely random find that came from a request for recommendations to help fill my teams bingo squares. I needed something with song lyrics in it and this was one of the suggestions. The blurb looked interesting and KU is my friend and off we go. It turns out that it was an absolute gem of a find and I'm eagerly waiting for the next book to release later this month.
Vanda is recalled from the frontiers to take her place as Warden of Caldryn Parliament. She knows she wasn't her grandmother's first, second or even second to last choice and she knows the matriarch of the family has only called her in to fire fight before making a concerted effort to oust her from the position. That doesn't stop Vanda from being determined to do her best. And her best doesn't just involve fixing the mess her cousin made of the wards and defying her grandmother. Having rescued a gremlin on her trip across the void she becomes embroiled in an incredibly strange mystery indeed.
I was hooked on this almost from the first pages. Vanda is a well drawn protagonist; competent, slightly snarky and with enough flaws and issues to keep her human. The family politics, betrayals and machinations made for interesting reading and I felt the characterisations across the family were done well. But Giddy the gremlin was the absolute star of the show. Almost from the moment he was introduced, he was my new favourite character and agent of kitten sized chaos. He's both adorable and a fascinating character in and of his own right which meant he lit up every page he showcased on and that's most of them.
I also felt the world-building was strong, although there was a lot going on and a lot of characters with various ties to different elements of the world. It was sometimes difficult to keep track of who was who and what faction/individual they are associated with and therefore what relevance they had to the thread of narrative at hand at the time. I enjoyed the political machinations and Vanda's quest to unearth the possibilities behind the corruption at the Wardhouse, but when the novel goes off into the mystery elements it was sometimes very tricky to keep track of who was important and why.
That said, I flew through this novel and would more than recommend it. It's great fun, has quirky characters and frankly the gremlin alone would probably have won my heart even without a solid narrative, cast and world. Thankfully it has all of the above in addition to the cute chaos gremlin, so bonus points.
Vanda is recalled from the frontiers to take her place as Warden of Caldryn Parliament. She knows she wasn't her grandmother's first, second or even second to last choice and she knows the matriarch of the family has only called her in to fire fight before making a concerted effort to oust her from the position. That doesn't stop Vanda from being determined to do her best. And her best doesn't just involve fixing the mess her cousin made of the wards and defying her grandmother. Having rescued a gremlin on her trip across the void she becomes embroiled in an incredibly strange mystery indeed.
I was hooked on this almost from the first pages. Vanda is a well drawn protagonist; competent, slightly snarky and with enough flaws and issues to keep her human. The family politics, betrayals and machinations made for interesting reading and I felt the characterisations across the family were done well. But Giddy the gremlin was the absolute star of the show. Almost from the moment he was introduced, he was my new favourite character and agent of kitten sized chaos. He's both adorable and a fascinating character in and of his own right which meant he lit up every page he showcased on and that's most of them.
I also felt the world-building was strong, although there was a lot going on and a lot of characters with various ties to different elements of the world. It was sometimes difficult to keep track of who was who and what faction/individual they are associated with and therefore what relevance they had to the thread of narrative at hand at the time. I enjoyed the political machinations and Vanda's quest to unearth the possibilities behind the corruption at the Wardhouse, but when the novel goes off into the mystery elements it was sometimes very tricky to keep track of who was important and why.
That said, I flew through this novel and would more than recommend it. It's great fun, has quirky characters and frankly the gremlin alone would probably have won my heart even without a solid narrative, cast and world. Thankfully it has all of the above in addition to the cute chaos gremlin, so bonus points.
November 28, 2025
I saw this book on Kindle Unlimited, borrowed it on a whim...and then took like 6 months before I read it. It was much better than I was expecting, and I'm almost sad I waited so long. However, I started it at kind of the perfect time (right before a work trip). It was entertaining enough that I finished it the first night I was out of town, and was lucky enough to have the second book loaded up on my Kindle.
Any book that is entertaining enough that I immediately start reading the next in the series and therefore keeps me from moping around a hotel for three nights deserves 3 stars out of the gate.
While not as complex (from either a world-building or character standpoint) as Shadows of Self by Sanderson, it had kind of an echo of that feeling to it, mixed with...I don't know, maybe some McCaffrey? I don't usually do comparisons, but this book felt comfortingly familiar in some ways.
Some minor nitpicks: As with many (almost all) of the books I've read in the last 4 or so years, it would have benefitted from a strong editor. There were some jarring transitions, some inconsistencies with how Giddy is referred to (sometimes it, sometimes he), and it would have been nice to have a little bit more depth to the worldbuilding. That aside, it was just a really fun book to read, and I genuinely enjoyed both it, and the next book in the series, so it gets 4 stars just for being fun.
Any book that is entertaining enough that I immediately start reading the next in the series and therefore keeps me from moping around a hotel for three nights deserves 3 stars out of the gate.
While not as complex (from either a world-building or character standpoint) as Shadows of Self by Sanderson, it had kind of an echo of that feeling to it, mixed with...I don't know, maybe some McCaffrey? I don't usually do comparisons, but this book felt comfortingly familiar in some ways.
Some minor nitpicks: As with many (almost all) of the books I've read in the last 4 or so years, it would have benefitted from a strong editor. There were some jarring transitions, some inconsistencies with how Giddy is referred to (sometimes it, sometimes he), and it would have been nice to have a little bit more depth to the worldbuilding. That aside, it was just a really fun book to read, and I genuinely enjoyed both it, and the next book in the series, so it gets 4 stars just for being fun.
March 14, 2025
Political intrigue, family drama, murder, and a cute gremlin! A tiny hint of romance that might develop in later books, and since I light slow burn, that worked for me.
Vanda arrives home to take over Caldryn Parliament as the new Warden. She's not a popular choice, especially with her controlling Grandmother, but she's the only one capable of cleaning up the mess left by her cousin. Upon her arrival, she learns that the Gate she was travelling through was used for murder, and that she might have been the target.
Everything above is in the first few pages. Vanda spends most of the book fortifying her position as Warden, seeking allies, undermining her Grandmother's plans, and holding her own. Also, befriending a gremlin. The gremlin was cute, and I absolutely adored it!
Even though it was important to the story line to have a lot of characters, I still felt there were too many. The author was good at making the important ones memorable, but the sea of one scene characters was a bit much.
I liked Vanda and the gremlin, and I enjoyed all the machinations, so I'll be continuing the series.
Vanda arrives home to take over Caldryn Parliament as the new Warden. She's not a popular choice, especially with her controlling Grandmother, but she's the only one capable of cleaning up the mess left by her cousin. Upon her arrival, she learns that the Gate she was travelling through was used for murder, and that she might have been the target.
Everything above is in the first few pages. Vanda spends most of the book fortifying her position as Warden, seeking allies, undermining her Grandmother's plans, and holding her own. Also, befriending a gremlin. The gremlin was cute, and I absolutely adored it!
Even though it was important to the story line to have a lot of characters, I still felt there were too many. The author was good at making the important ones memorable, but the sea of one scene characters was a bit much.
I liked Vanda and the gremlin, and I enjoyed all the machinations, so I'll be continuing the series.
May 9, 2025
Vanda has been called home to take over the important job of Warden (the defender of the Caldryn Parliament's wards). She arrives to a mess - not only are the wards weakened and the previous Warden missing, but there's a murder of a parliamentarian and his aide that she needs to investigate. And she'll need to find friends and allies as fast as possible, if she wants to succeed. Plus start raising a baby gremlin...
An intriguing series-starter. There's a lot of worldbuilding to set up, and at times this overwhelms the plot. At 85% through, I thought for sure the book would end in a cliffhanger, because I couldn't see how everything could be tied up in time. And I'm not sure this wouldn't have been the better choice; the ending is very rushed and feels a bit "pulled out of a hat".
However, the worldbuilding is strong, and the characters - although shallowly sketched so far - are interesting. I think the next two books in the series will find a better worldbuilding-to-plot balance, now that such a solid chunk has already been explored. It would also be good to see Vanda struggle with something; so far she has been pretty much perfect in every way.
An intriguing series-starter. There's a lot of worldbuilding to set up, and at times this overwhelms the plot. At 85% through, I thought for sure the book would end in a cliffhanger, because I couldn't see how everything could be tied up in time. And I'm not sure this wouldn't have been the better choice; the ending is very rushed and feels a bit "pulled out of a hat".
However, the worldbuilding is strong, and the characters - although shallowly sketched so far - are interesting. I think the next two books in the series will find a better worldbuilding-to-plot balance, now that such a solid chunk has already been explored. It would also be good to see Vanda struggle with something; so far she has been pretty much perfect in every way.
August 12, 2025
Stars Die is an enjoyable read
Stars Die is well written, interesting blend of science fiction, magic, detective/murder mystery, and family drama. Pretty much covers most genres that I enjoy reading. (Normally I’m not a family drama reader, but this is well handled.)
I am looking forward to the next book which I’m about to start.
The protagonist has a strong sense of duty, mastery of complex, magical theorems, and the family dynamic that makes you wanna crawl under a rock. She comes in to take over a new job, and discovers that’s never as easy as it seems. While she does wrap up the basic mystery, the book does end on a cliffhanger note. She still has many problems to face and solve. It’s a good start for the series, and I’m looking forward to the next book.
(It did have spot/glitch that really threw me… a telephone conversation between the protagonist and her predecessor/cousin… I had to read it three times just to understand and I hadn’t missed something. It’s almost like a couple of sentences got dropped off from the manuscript explaining she had placed a phone call.)
Stars Die is well written, interesting blend of science fiction, magic, detective/murder mystery, and family drama. Pretty much covers most genres that I enjoy reading. (Normally I’m not a family drama reader, but this is well handled.)
I am looking forward to the next book which I’m about to start.
The protagonist has a strong sense of duty, mastery of complex, magical theorems, and the family dynamic that makes you wanna crawl under a rock. She comes in to take over a new job, and discovers that’s never as easy as it seems. While she does wrap up the basic mystery, the book does end on a cliffhanger note. She still has many problems to face and solve. It’s a good start for the series, and I’m looking forward to the next book.
(It did have spot/glitch that really threw me… a telephone conversation between the protagonist and her predecessor/cousin… I had to read it three times just to understand and I hadn’t missed something. It’s almost like a couple of sentences got dropped off from the manuscript explaining she had placed a phone call.)
September 25, 2025
I really enjoyed the characters and the world and see a lot of potential for future books. I just wished two problems were solved in the next book.
1. The world building is lacking in some aspects but overwhelming in others. There was no clear descriptions of all of the institutions in the beginning of the book (i.e. mendates, power, internal structure, relation with other institutions). While still confused about that lack of information, Vanda then meet a LOT of new characters to the point of being overwhelming. This is the first time I read a book where I feel there is both too much information to retain and not enough. Was there another book I should have read before Stars die so that I could fully understand it? I still don't know. An index listing all institutions and their description would have been really helpful here.
2. The flow from one scene to another is sometimes confusing. At one moment Vanda is talking with someone then getting lost in her thought. Suddenly, we get out of her thoughts and she's doing something else and the other person is just gone. What happened to the previous discussion? How did it end?
1. The world building is lacking in some aspects but overwhelming in others. There was no clear descriptions of all of the institutions in the beginning of the book (i.e. mendates, power, internal structure, relation with other institutions). While still confused about that lack of information, Vanda then meet a LOT of new characters to the point of being overwhelming. This is the first time I read a book where I feel there is both too much information to retain and not enough. Was there another book I should have read before Stars die so that I could fully understand it? I still don't know. An index listing all institutions and their description would have been really helpful here.
2. The flow from one scene to another is sometimes confusing. At one moment Vanda is talking with someone then getting lost in her thought. Suddenly, we get out of her thoughts and she's doing something else and the other person is just gone. What happened to the previous discussion? How did it end?
January 31, 2026
Stars Die took its time. A lot of time. The first half is heavy on exposition and worldbuilding, and I spent a good chunk of it trying to orient myself rather than feeling pulled along by the story. There’s a solid world here, but it’s delivered more through telling than showing, which made the early pacing feel sluggish.
That said, once I settled in, the book won me over in quieter ways. Vanda is a likeable, capable lead, and her gremlin companion adds just the right amount of personality and charm. I especially appreciated that she doesn’t let her narcissistic grandmother get the last word — it’s immensely satisfying to root for a protagonist who pushes back and holds her ground.
The mystery itself felt underdeveloped; the murder and intrigue take a backseat to character and political setup, which may frustrate readers coming in expecting a stronger whodunnit element. Still, the story has strong bones, and by the end I found myself invested not so much in the plot as in Vanda herself.
The fact that I’m picking up the next book immediately probably says it best: uneven execution, yes — but compelling characters, and a world I’m willing to spend more time in.
That said, once I settled in, the book won me over in quieter ways. Vanda is a likeable, capable lead, and her gremlin companion adds just the right amount of personality and charm. I especially appreciated that she doesn’t let her narcissistic grandmother get the last word — it’s immensely satisfying to root for a protagonist who pushes back and holds her ground.
The mystery itself felt underdeveloped; the murder and intrigue take a backseat to character and political setup, which may frustrate readers coming in expecting a stronger whodunnit element. Still, the story has strong bones, and by the end I found myself invested not so much in the plot as in Vanda herself.
The fact that I’m picking up the next book immediately probably says it best: uneven execution, yes — but compelling characters, and a world I’m willing to spend more time in.
June 18, 2025
A bit of a hit and miss. It's more cozy mystery than anything truly exciting, but the world-building is interesting and rich. The main character is sympathetic enough. It's a rare treat to see tech and fantasy merged so well, although the tech part could have benefited from additional expansion. I was curious to see space shuttles shooting off to orbit, but sadly they were only referred to. I read everything in one go, slightly disappointed that the MC solved the problem so neatly and somehow without obvious struggles. It feels almost more like a slice of life fantasy than anything else.
A lot of courtly drama - well, family drama, actually - with a scheming grandmother, who's not so evil in the end, I suspect. The side character gremlin didn't truly live up to its reputation and also left me wanting. Imagined a rainbow-colored Gizzmo from the Gremlins movie. Cute but very much underused. I would have wanted to see him create true mayhem, but disappointingly he was too well-behaved. If I were a newly embodied Ifrit, I'd be much more mischievous and prone to random... naughtiness.
A lot of courtly drama - well, family drama, actually - with a scheming grandmother, who's not so evil in the end, I suspect. The side character gremlin didn't truly live up to its reputation and also left me wanting. Imagined a rainbow-colored Gizzmo from the Gremlins movie. Cute but very much underused. I would have wanted to see him create true mayhem, but disappointingly he was too well-behaved. If I were a newly embodied Ifrit, I'd be much more mischievous and prone to random... naughtiness.
August 21, 2025
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
4.25*
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
4.25*
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes
------------
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
September 30, 2025
Baffled and Intrigued at the same time! 3.75 Stars
I find myself a bit uncertain on how to review this book. On the one hand the story was pretty intriguing and very captivating. I really liked the FMC character Vanda. The way she tries her best to understand the political players, while trying to do her job to the best of her abilities, which she handles very well due to her background, her sharp mind, good heart, getting a feel of her new surroundings as well as making new friends. She is also having to deal with her grandmother’s machinations who is trying manipulate her and use her for her own selfish reasons. On the other hand, this is not an easy read. The author’s writing style is somewhat abrupt at times, the use of a non-friendly vocabulary, plus a complicated magic system had me feeling confused on some instances. Having said that, the story itself is super intriguing and engaging, the characters are interesting and very colorful and even though I had issues with the above mentioned, I just couldn’t stop reading it!!! Recommended 😍
I find myself a bit uncertain on how to review this book. On the one hand the story was pretty intriguing and very captivating. I really liked the FMC character Vanda. The way she tries her best to understand the political players, while trying to do her job to the best of her abilities, which she handles very well due to her background, her sharp mind, good heart, getting a feel of her new surroundings as well as making new friends. She is also having to deal with her grandmother’s machinations who is trying manipulate her and use her for her own selfish reasons. On the other hand, this is not an easy read. The author’s writing style is somewhat abrupt at times, the use of a non-friendly vocabulary, plus a complicated magic system had me feeling confused on some instances. Having said that, the story itself is super intriguing and engaging, the characters are interesting and very colorful and even though I had issues with the above mentioned, I just couldn’t stop reading it!!! Recommended 😍
October 27, 2025
Wow did this outpace all of my expectations for it. The writing was good at a prose level, and the world was interesting, but what really pulled me in was Vanda. I've been increasingly annoyed recently by characters who have the ONE Major Weakness that they Must Overcome in the course of the story, but don't have any minor weaknesses, any times when they behave suboptimally because it's too loud, or they have a headache, or they're uncomfortable and it's not central to the plot. Vanda felt like a real person, with a real person's multitude of flaws and strengths.
I also LOVED that Vanda consistently made the common sense choice when in most other books she would have hidden something or delayed a decision for no reason other than to create tension.
This is, fundamentally, a book about soft power (because, as Vanda says, she has the hard power, she needs to cultivate the soft power). It's not a high conflict book, there are no dramatic fights, but I was fully engaged throughout and immediately bought the sequel.
I also LOVED that Vanda consistently made the common sense choice when in most other books she would have hidden something or delayed a decision for no reason other than to create tension.
This is, fundamentally, a book about soft power (because, as Vanda says, she has the hard power, she needs to cultivate the soft power). It's not a high conflict book, there are no dramatic fights, but I was fully engaged throughout and immediately bought the sequel.
June 26, 2025
Jenny Schwartz has become an auto buy author for me. I love her hopeful science fantasy books in which good, competent people work together to solve problems and improve their society. This new series looks to be just as addictive as all the others I’ve read.
Vanda is called back to the planet Zam to take the place of ward keeper when her cousin goes missing. She’d left years earlier when she was passed over for the role given to that less qualified, but favored cousin. On arriving, Vanda steps right into a murder and the deadly politics of Caldryn Parliament.
One of the things I enjoy about Schwartz’s books is the thoughtful, proactive process that most of her main characters use to manage their situations- from finding the right clothes to hiring personnel and curating their images. Stars Die has a good example of that as Vanda organizes her office and home when arriving on the planet. There also always a strong them of protecting people and
Several of Schwartz' series are science fantasy, combining spaceships and science fiction with magic. This story leans a bit more heavily into fantasy with Ward magic, witches, djinn, werewolves and kitsune alongside AI and space travel.
Vanda is called back to the planet Zam to take the place of ward keeper when her cousin goes missing. She’d left years earlier when she was passed over for the role given to that less qualified, but favored cousin. On arriving, Vanda steps right into a murder and the deadly politics of Caldryn Parliament.
One of the things I enjoy about Schwartz’s books is the thoughtful, proactive process that most of her main characters use to manage their situations- from finding the right clothes to hiring personnel and curating their images. Stars Die has a good example of that as Vanda organizes her office and home when arriving on the planet. There also always a strong them of protecting people and
Several of Schwartz' series are science fantasy, combining spaceships and science fiction with magic. This story leans a bit more heavily into fantasy with Ward magic, witches, djinn, werewolves and kitsune alongside AI and space travel.
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