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The Star Branded Chronicles #1
The Last Starborn Seer
Not yet published
Expected 5 Mar 26Leilani Stellarion is cursed.
The last surviving member of an ancient bloodline, she’s shunned for the volatile Starborn magic that grants her prophetic visions – and is slowly corrupting her mind. Branded a pariah, Leilani bears the legacy of the Sistertouched, who unleashed the Sickening: a deadly curse that’s dragged the four realms of Arcelia into war and ruin.
Heir to a tainted throne, Leilani’s father brokers an arranged marriage with her childhood rival to wrest the line of succession away from her. And to make matters worse, her mother’s health is failing by the day, and Leilani believes her magic is to blame.
When a prophecy reveals the existence of a relic that could end the Sickening, Leilani seizes her chance to escape the court and reclaim her fate. To recover the lost sceptre, she must survive the perilous journey to the Astral Mountain and perform an ancient blood rite – one that demands unity between the feuding realms.
If she’s to succeed, Leilani must forge an uneasy alliance with sworn enemies, outwit rebel forces, and hide her growing feelings for a rival envoy, all under the gaze of her watchful fiancé. But something sinister hunts them through the mountains: a faceless spectre with a centuries-old grudge, determined to claim the lost sceptre for herself.
As darkness poisons her mind, Leilani must confront the truth of her magic – before it consumes her, and everything she loves.
The last surviving member of an ancient bloodline, she’s shunned for the volatile Starborn magic that grants her prophetic visions – and is slowly corrupting her mind. Branded a pariah, Leilani bears the legacy of the Sistertouched, who unleashed the Sickening: a deadly curse that’s dragged the four realms of Arcelia into war and ruin.
Heir to a tainted throne, Leilani’s father brokers an arranged marriage with her childhood rival to wrest the line of succession away from her. And to make matters worse, her mother’s health is failing by the day, and Leilani believes her magic is to blame.
When a prophecy reveals the existence of a relic that could end the Sickening, Leilani seizes her chance to escape the court and reclaim her fate. To recover the lost sceptre, she must survive the perilous journey to the Astral Mountain and perform an ancient blood rite – one that demands unity between the feuding realms.
If she’s to succeed, Leilani must forge an uneasy alliance with sworn enemies, outwit rebel forces, and hide her growing feelings for a rival envoy, all under the gaze of her watchful fiancé. But something sinister hunts them through the mountains: a faceless spectre with a centuries-old grudge, determined to claim the lost sceptre for herself.
As darkness poisons her mind, Leilani must confront the truth of her magic – before it consumes her, and everything she loves.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published March 3, 2025
51 people are currently reading
10039 people want to read
About the author
Venetia Constantine
1 book59 followersVenetia Constantine is an Anglo-Italian-Bermudian writer. She read English at King's College Cambridge and holds a PhD in Art History from the Courtauld Institute. She paused a much-cherished career in the art world to pursue her dreams of becoming an author, swapping galleries for an enchanted windmill, where she now writes full-time. Venetia lives in London with her husband, three children, and their growing pack of Bengals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
January 24, 2026
Hi Everyone,
I’m the author of THE LAST STARBORN SEER and will shortly be deleting my Goodreads app so this can remain a reader-only space, but I just wanted to thank you for giving my book a chance and I really hope you enjoy it.
It means a huge amount to me, and was written during a very difficult period of my life. I hope its central themes of healing and self-acceptance with resonate with readers.
Happy Reading 💜💫
I’m the author of THE LAST STARBORN SEER and will shortly be deleting my Goodreads app so this can remain a reader-only space, but I just wanted to thank you for giving my book a chance and I really hope you enjoy it.
It means a huge amount to me, and was written during a very difficult period of my life. I hope its central themes of healing and self-acceptance with resonate with readers.
Happy Reading 💜💫
October 11, 2025
The Last Starborn Seer is a wonderful mix of Epic Fantasy and Romantasy, with its lofty world building and political plot having a side of romance that's hard to look away from. This book hits all the must-haves for readers who love an immersive world with enough grit to sink your teeth into, and takes you on a journey of unique magic and political manoeuvrings to thoroughly get wrapped up in. While I struggled at first to become invested in the characters and their camaraderie, Constantine's writing is one I kept wanting to return to, and come the end the plot had me captured. A stunning debit of epic proportions, The Last Starborn Seer introduces readers to a rich world and grand journey that is bound to leave a lasting impression.
[Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book!]
[Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book!]
October 7, 2025
My quote:
‘A Tolkienesque journey through a gorgeous, shimmering world, The Last Starborn Seer will enchant both new and loyal readers of epic fantasy. This story is clearly a labour of love, each facet realised and polished with the utmost care. Venetia Constantine is a bright new star.’
‘A Tolkienesque journey through a gorgeous, shimmering world, The Last Starborn Seer will enchant both new and loyal readers of epic fantasy. This story is clearly a labour of love, each facet realised and polished with the utmost care. Venetia Constantine is a bright new star.’
January 17, 2026
Let’s put every romantasy trope in a blender, add some moons and stars and see how many words off 500 pages we are.
The Last Starborn Seer is described as an epic romantasy. If you love, and I mean, love romantasy, you have a good chance of liking this book, but if you've read much high fantasy/romantasy then I daresay you'll leave this feeling disappointed.
I've seen this described as "Tolkienesque". That, in my opinion, is vehemently disrespectful to Middle Earth.
It felt as though the author tried to fit as many regularly occurring romantasy tropes as possible into this, then just mashed them together with a semblance of plot, vague and haphazard character development, and as many references to Stars and Moons as possible. Honestly, if you've read a romantasy at any point before, then you've read this book.
There are some shining moments. The lore and history of the world is really interesting, the three ages and societies' different outlooks on them and how they impact the present is fleshed out, well written, and a nice - and not overly clunky - way to frame the story.
But to me, that's about all I can leave this saying was well crafted.
The characters are downright unlikeable, everyone is self-centred, at times legitimately foolish leading to plot points that could have easily been resolved by any logical person, and the writing feels like it's missing a bit of polish.
I don't mind a good romantasy, but I think as a genre, there's so much better on offer, and I'll struggle to recommend this as a genre-defining piece of work. It's filled with angst, moodiness, and will they won't they, but in a way that feels like I'm reading a fan-fiction as opposed to a (soon-to-be) published piece of work.
That said, I appreciate this is a proof and an advance copy, so many of my criticisms of the writing and above points could be ironed out prior to release. If that happens, I think this is legitimately an interesting concept and story, and has the potential to flourish into a well-received series.
2.0/5.0
As always, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.
The Last Starborn Seer is described as an epic romantasy. If you love, and I mean, love romantasy, you have a good chance of liking this book, but if you've read much high fantasy/romantasy then I daresay you'll leave this feeling disappointed.
I've seen this described as "Tolkienesque". That, in my opinion, is vehemently disrespectful to Middle Earth.
It felt as though the author tried to fit as many regularly occurring romantasy tropes as possible into this, then just mashed them together with a semblance of plot, vague and haphazard character development, and as many references to Stars and Moons as possible. Honestly, if you've read a romantasy at any point before, then you've read this book.
There are some shining moments. The lore and history of the world is really interesting, the three ages and societies' different outlooks on them and how they impact the present is fleshed out, well written, and a nice - and not overly clunky - way to frame the story.
But to me, that's about all I can leave this saying was well crafted.
The characters are downright unlikeable, everyone is self-centred, at times legitimately foolish leading to plot points that could have easily been resolved by any logical person, and the writing feels like it's missing a bit of polish.
I don't mind a good romantasy, but I think as a genre, there's so much better on offer, and I'll struggle to recommend this as a genre-defining piece of work. It's filled with angst, moodiness, and will they won't they, but in a way that feels like I'm reading a fan-fiction as opposed to a (soon-to-be) published piece of work.
That said, I appreciate this is a proof and an advance copy, so many of my criticisms of the writing and above points could be ironed out prior to release. If that happens, I think this is legitimately an interesting concept and story, and has the potential to flourish into a well-received series.
2.0/5.0
As always, thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Read
January 25, 2026Do a shot every time you read the word star 🌟, your liver won’t survive page one 🙊
Sadly this book didn’t work for me, it might for you! I love heavy world building but the terms were too similar to keep up with on audio
Star beam
Star stone
Star cursed magic
Star flower
Star ether
“Stars above”
“Thank the stars”
Star cursed hair was my undoing 🙃 DNF at 22%
——-
Moon cake
Moon rising
Moon cycle
Moon quarter
Moon lute
Sadly this book didn’t work for me, it might for you! I love heavy world building but the terms were too similar to keep up with on audio
Star beam
Star stone
Star cursed magic
Star flower
Star ether
“Stars above”
“Thank the stars”
Star cursed hair was my undoing 🙃 DNF at 22%
——-
Moon cake
Moon rising
Moon cycle
Moon quarter
Moon lute
December 28, 2025
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine, to be published on March 5th, 2026.
It’s a good book, the first of a trilogy. According to the marketing everywhere, I thought something different. Not what I expected. Anyway, I know many people will enjoy it much more than me.
It’s a good book, the first of a trilogy. According to the marketing everywhere, I thought something different. Not what I expected. Anyway, I know many people will enjoy it much more than me.
May 10, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy from the Tandem Weekender after hearing the author speak and I couldn't wait to dive in.
What a refreshing read. Venetia has a lyrical way with words that stays consistent throughout the narrative - it is such a beautifully written book.
The sensory descriptions do amazing wonders for the worldbuilding which is so delightful. There's truly loving care and attention that's been heaped into this world and the author's passion is clear. The imagery is just chefs kiss. I loved the different realms and how each race were presented so uniquely. I enjoyed the political and social tension wrought because of this, forcing the characters to face their prejudices. I honestly can't praise the worldbuilding enough. It was amazing, I feel like I've been on holiday there.
I loved the character development, given to us front and centre through dual first person POVs. The pacing was great and compelling, and the romantic tension perfect.
I sensed there was a betrayal of some kind on the horizon, but the unfolding of it and the circumstances of it still came out of the blue and ripped my heart from my chest.
I loved the unreliable narrators too, getting me really emotionally invested in the character, knowing they were potentially misreading situations.
My heart was put back in my body and it ended up in my throat at the ending as the MC is faced with a choice, and my heart broke for her. I don't agree with her decision but I'm excited for the story to continue as she faces the consequences of her actions.
My one and only complaint about this is book two must be so far away 😭😭😭 however, it means I get to do a re-read nearer the release so I can enjoy this stunning creation again.
A new favourite for sure 😍
What a refreshing read. Venetia has a lyrical way with words that stays consistent throughout the narrative - it is such a beautifully written book.
The sensory descriptions do amazing wonders for the worldbuilding which is so delightful. There's truly loving care and attention that's been heaped into this world and the author's passion is clear. The imagery is just chefs kiss. I loved the different realms and how each race were presented so uniquely. I enjoyed the political and social tension wrought because of this, forcing the characters to face their prejudices. I honestly can't praise the worldbuilding enough. It was amazing, I feel like I've been on holiday there.
I loved the character development, given to us front and centre through dual first person POVs. The pacing was great and compelling, and the romantic tension perfect.
I sensed there was a betrayal of some kind on the horizon, but the unfolding of it and the circumstances of it still came out of the blue and ripped my heart from my chest.
I loved the unreliable narrators too, getting me really emotionally invested in the character, knowing they were potentially misreading situations.
My heart was put back in my body and it ended up in my throat at the ending as the MC is faced with a choice, and my heart broke for her. I don't agree with her decision but I'm excited for the story to continue as she faces the consequences of her actions.
My one and only complaint about this is book two must be so far away 😭😭😭 however, it means I get to do a re-read nearer the release so I can enjoy this stunning creation again.
A new favourite for sure 😍
did-not-finish
January 28, 2026DNF at 28% (page 101)
I hate DNF-ing ARCs, but I’ve reached a point where I don’t think this book is going to get any better for me, and I’m actively forcing myself to read it. I really think this is entirely a me problem. Sometimes, for inexplicable reasons, certain books just don’t work for you at all, and that’s what this ended up being for me.
While I can, in theory, appreciate the immense worldbuilding and in-depth characterization, in practice I found it to be an absolute slog. We’re introduced to a large cast of characters, all with their own distinct personalities, motivations, and biases, which is why I think others may love this, but for me, it felt overwhelming. Not every character needs to be a special blorbo with layers upon layers; someone needs to be the foil that allows the important characters to shine. Because of this, my attention felt constantly dragged from character to character, all vying for my interest and memory, yet none of them sticking the way they might have if the focus were narrower.
The worldbuilding suffered from a similar issue. The author clearly has a lot of cool ideas for their universe, but they aren’t presented in a way that’s accessible to the reader. There’s no glossary, and the approach seems to be constantly throwing made-up fantasy terms at you with little to no explanation or contextual clues. The story’s focus makes the Tolkien/LOTR inspiration clear, but the execution doesn’t always feel accessible enough for a story of that scale. I wouldn’t be surprised if the book improves later on once things really start moving and you get a better grasp of what’s happening, but for me it wasn’t worth the time it takes to get there. I have a firm rule that if I’m still not invested or the plot hasn’t picked up by page 100, the book probably isn’t for me, and unfortunately, that’s where I landed with this one.
With my points above, I don’t feel I have enough information from the portion I read to give an accurate rating of the book as a whole; these only informed my decision to stop reading. That said, there are a few things I think are serious issues worth mentioning regardless of my percentage read. The author aims for a morally grey approach with several characters, but in practice this manifests as most of them holding one or more intense prejudices against other groups of people. In particular, Astrophel was infuriating. As a POV character, we spend an unfortunate amount of time in his head as he belittles and misunderstands the main character, clings to harmful stereotypes, spews vitriol, and generally behaves like a deeply self-centered, certified loser. Again, I can imagine there might be payoff later on, but it wasn’t worth the misery of reading from his perspective. I knew he was one point of a love triangle and held out hope for the other love interest to appear, only for Blayze to be just as disrespectful to the main character. There was truly no one to root for!!
Overall, this simply wasn’t the right fit for me as a reader, and I don’t think my experience is necessarily reflective of how others may feel. I think this would be a great fit for readers interested in a lore-heavy, LOTR-style fantasy told through a female author’s lens. My decision to DNF ultimately came down to personal reading preferences rather than any lack of effort or creativity on the author’s part, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to read this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I hate DNF-ing ARCs, but I’ve reached a point where I don’t think this book is going to get any better for me, and I’m actively forcing myself to read it. I really think this is entirely a me problem. Sometimes, for inexplicable reasons, certain books just don’t work for you at all, and that’s what this ended up being for me.
While I can, in theory, appreciate the immense worldbuilding and in-depth characterization, in practice I found it to be an absolute slog. We’re introduced to a large cast of characters, all with their own distinct personalities, motivations, and biases, which is why I think others may love this, but for me, it felt overwhelming. Not every character needs to be a special blorbo with layers upon layers; someone needs to be the foil that allows the important characters to shine. Because of this, my attention felt constantly dragged from character to character, all vying for my interest and memory, yet none of them sticking the way they might have if the focus were narrower.
The worldbuilding suffered from a similar issue. The author clearly has a lot of cool ideas for their universe, but they aren’t presented in a way that’s accessible to the reader. There’s no glossary, and the approach seems to be constantly throwing made-up fantasy terms at you with little to no explanation or contextual clues. The story’s focus makes the Tolkien/LOTR inspiration clear, but the execution doesn’t always feel accessible enough for a story of that scale. I wouldn’t be surprised if the book improves later on once things really start moving and you get a better grasp of what’s happening, but for me it wasn’t worth the time it takes to get there. I have a firm rule that if I’m still not invested or the plot hasn’t picked up by page 100, the book probably isn’t for me, and unfortunately, that’s where I landed with this one.
With my points above, I don’t feel I have enough information from the portion I read to give an accurate rating of the book as a whole; these only informed my decision to stop reading. That said, there are a few things I think are serious issues worth mentioning regardless of my percentage read. The author aims for a morally grey approach with several characters, but in practice this manifests as most of them holding one or more intense prejudices against other groups of people. In particular, Astrophel was infuriating. As a POV character, we spend an unfortunate amount of time in his head as he belittles and misunderstands the main character, clings to harmful stereotypes, spews vitriol, and generally behaves like a deeply self-centered, certified loser. Again, I can imagine there might be payoff later on, but it wasn’t worth the misery of reading from his perspective. I knew he was one point of a love triangle and held out hope for the other love interest to appear, only for Blayze to be just as disrespectful to the main character. There was truly no one to root for!!
Overall, this simply wasn’t the right fit for me as a reader, and I don’t think my experience is necessarily reflective of how others may feel. I think this would be a great fit for readers interested in a lore-heavy, LOTR-style fantasy told through a female author’s lens. My decision to DNF ultimately came down to personal reading preferences rather than any lack of effort or creativity on the author’s part, and I truly appreciate the opportunity to read this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
Lord of the Rings but make it sparkle ✨
Venetia has crafted the perfect world that portrays her vibes as a person.
This is high fantasy, rich with lore, a group of unlikely allies taking on a monumental task, a magical world and with such descriptive writing.
I normally struggle with heavy world building and usually take a while to get through books of an epic scale but TLSS grabbed me within the first couple of chapters.
The story itself was gripping, a slow start but a necessary slow start due to how much lore Venetia was feeding us and I was lapping it up.
Honestly this was everything I knew it would be, from the creatures of the world to the magic system and the plot itself.
I had my ups and downs with the characters and their choices but in a book with such a variety of a cast, I’d expect nothing less.
You can tell Venetia poured her heart into these pages and I can’t wait for more readers to enter this world.
And now the wait for the sequel begins 😩
Venetia has crafted the perfect world that portrays her vibes as a person.
This is high fantasy, rich with lore, a group of unlikely allies taking on a monumental task, a magical world and with such descriptive writing.
I normally struggle with heavy world building and usually take a while to get through books of an epic scale but TLSS grabbed me within the first couple of chapters.
The story itself was gripping, a slow start but a necessary slow start due to how much lore Venetia was feeding us and I was lapping it up.
Honestly this was everything I knew it would be, from the creatures of the world to the magic system and the plot itself.
I had my ups and downs with the characters and their choices but in a book with such a variety of a cast, I’d expect nothing less.
You can tell Venetia poured her heart into these pages and I can’t wait for more readers to enter this world.
And now the wait for the sequel begins 😩
anticipated-౨ৎ
January 25, 2026I usually don’t like people on covers but this one is super cute !! I’m very excited to read this ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)
September 15, 2025
I was gifted an ARC of this book from Head of Zeus. Thank you!
Here's my blurb: 'Fantasy with a capital F. Every inch of Constantine's world dazzles with magic and depth, as do the characters that inhabit it. The Last Starborn Seer has all the makings of a fantasy sensation.'
And here's my non professional screaming: This book is so freaking good. I'M OBSESSED. It reminded me why I love epic fantasy so much, and was so nostalgic while also fresh. I love how much it leaned into the pure fantastical aspects. We have lots of unique races, brightly coloured hair, and a land so rich with history and magic I felt bereft to leave it.
Also I will fight anyone for Astrophel (the endearing little shit.)
Here's my blurb: 'Fantasy with a capital F. Every inch of Constantine's world dazzles with magic and depth, as do the characters that inhabit it. The Last Starborn Seer has all the makings of a fantasy sensation.'
And here's my non professional screaming: This book is so freaking good. I'M OBSESSED. It reminded me why I love epic fantasy so much, and was so nostalgic while also fresh. I love how much it leaned into the pure fantastical aspects. We have lots of unique races, brightly coloured hair, and a land so rich with history and magic I felt bereft to leave it.
Also I will fight anyone for Astrophel (the endearing little shit.)
Want to read
December 3, 2025need this stunning book <3
August 4, 2025
ad Thank you to Head of Zeus for gifting me an early copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
I absolutely have to start off by discussing the author’s immersive writing style. Parts of this read like epic fantasy but with romantic fantasy elements that I love. The world building was so lovely to read and felt so vivid.
I was also especially drawn to the character dynamics. Astrophel, Leilani, and Blayze each bring different aspects to the story and I really enjoyed the slow burn romance.
The Last Starborn Seer really weaves together themes of heritage, power, and personal growth which we follow alongside Leilani’s journey to find a lost relic. I was really invested in the storyline and can’t wait for the next instalment!
I absolutely have to start off by discussing the author’s immersive writing style. Parts of this read like epic fantasy but with romantic fantasy elements that I love. The world building was so lovely to read and felt so vivid.
I was also especially drawn to the character dynamics. Astrophel, Leilani, and Blayze each bring different aspects to the story and I really enjoyed the slow burn romance.
The Last Starborn Seer really weaves together themes of heritage, power, and personal growth which we follow alongside Leilani’s journey to find a lost relic. I was really invested in the storyline and can’t wait for the next instalment!
January 25, 2026
Thank you netgalley and Bloomsbury for an advanced copy!
Unfortunately I dnf’ed this book at about 56%, I really tried to push through. The prologue and beginning of the book we’re very strong and intriguing, unique lore and world. But, around 20% I felt like things just got muddied and slowed down when all the characters for Leilani’s quest to find the scepter were introduced. The group partakes in a epic quest across their world, but I just felt like something was missing to make the setting, lore, and characters all mesh for me.
Unfortunately I dnf’ed this book at about 56%, I really tried to push through. The prologue and beginning of the book we’re very strong and intriguing, unique lore and world. But, around 20% I felt like things just got muddied and slowed down when all the characters for Leilani’s quest to find the scepter were introduced. The group partakes in a epic quest across their world, but I just felt like something was missing to make the setting, lore, and characters all mesh for me.
September 23, 2025
Leilani Stellarion is a Princess who is Brandmarked (this basically means she has magic powers). Her power? That of starlight! 💫
Her biggest wish is for her sick mother to recover, and to not have to marry Astrophel, her betrothed. On the eve of her marriage (the Binding) to Astrophel, she gets a letter that gives her the hope that both her wishes can come true. For this, she needs to gather representatives from the other 3 lands. And most importantly, they cannot know what she's really after or they may not want to help her...
Leilani and Astrophel go on a journey with the other realms' reps and their Guardians (=magical creatures), which is reminiscent of LOTR The Fellowship of the Ring, except this time the MC isn't as innocent as Frodo...
With an ending that made me want to throw the book against the wall and ask the author wth she was thinking, this book was a fantastic journey. It's brutal, it's gritty, but it's also beautifully written, and the characters feel like real, flawed people.
Now that I've finished book 1, I find myself with a hangover, missing all the characters, needing to know how the story will continue.
This book has got:
🪄 an interesting magic system
🌎 in-depth world-building
🖤 morally grey 3D characters (incl the MC)
💓 romance (love triangle, E2L)
🧙 reminiscent of traditional epic fantasy
If this sounds right up your ally add this book to your TBR asap!
A special thank you to Venetia for sending me A free ARC of TLSS
Her biggest wish is for her sick mother to recover, and to not have to marry Astrophel, her betrothed. On the eve of her marriage (the Binding) to Astrophel, she gets a letter that gives her the hope that both her wishes can come true. For this, she needs to gather representatives from the other 3 lands. And most importantly, they cannot know what she's really after or they may not want to help her...
Leilani and Astrophel go on a journey with the other realms' reps and their Guardians (=magical creatures), which is reminiscent of LOTR The Fellowship of the Ring, except this time the MC isn't as innocent as Frodo...
With an ending that made me want to throw the book against the wall and ask the author wth she was thinking, this book was a fantastic journey. It's brutal, it's gritty, but it's also beautifully written, and the characters feel like real, flawed people.
Now that I've finished book 1, I find myself with a hangover, missing all the characters, needing to know how the story will continue.
This book has got:
🪄 an interesting magic system
🌎 in-depth world-building
🖤 morally grey 3D characters (incl the MC)
💓 romance (love triangle, E2L)
🧙 reminiscent of traditional epic fantasy
If this sounds right up your ally add this book to your TBR asap!
A special thank you to Venetia for sending me A free ARC of TLSS
October 8, 2025
I was lucky to receive an ARC for this book from NetGalley and I am so glad they did. As soon as I saw the name, cover and read the blurb I just knew I needed to read this.
The Last Starborn Seer is a story of self discovery, found family and love. It is a dual POV book where we get to know Leilani, the FMC, and Astrophel, the MMC. I enjoyed both of their chapters a lot, and liked both of them individually. Both of them are very different people at the beginning of the book and it was a joy to watch them develop over the course of the book.
The book also boasts a cast of excellent side characters who all have their own personalities that add to the story greatly. I particularly liked Blayze and Tansy! Also the magical creatures that supported the human characters was a great touch. Briar, the sylvanmare, reminded me a lot of Peter S. Beagle’s “The Last Unicorn.”
The book was filled with magic and lore that I was obsessed with. At the beginning, there was a lot of world building down to the naming of the months, years and passage of time. Once I understood these things it only helped embed the flow of the story in me more.
I absolutely adored this story and the world that Constantine created. I cannot wait for the next one!
The Last Starborn Seer is a story of self discovery, found family and love. It is a dual POV book where we get to know Leilani, the FMC, and Astrophel, the MMC. I enjoyed both of their chapters a lot, and liked both of them individually. Both of them are very different people at the beginning of the book and it was a joy to watch them develop over the course of the book.
The book also boasts a cast of excellent side characters who all have their own personalities that add to the story greatly. I particularly liked Blayze and Tansy! Also the magical creatures that supported the human characters was a great touch. Briar, the sylvanmare, reminded me a lot of Peter S. Beagle’s “The Last Unicorn.”
The book was filled with magic and lore that I was obsessed with. At the beginning, there was a lot of world building down to the naming of the months, years and passage of time. Once I understood these things it only helped embed the flow of the story in me more.
I absolutely adored this story and the world that Constantine created. I cannot wait for the next one!
October 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, publishers and Author for this Arc
Leilani is the last heir to a cursed bloodline, feared for her unstable Starborn magic that grants visions while slowly breaking her mind. Cast out by her own family and forced into an arranged marriage with her childhood rival, she believes her magic is even killing her mother.
When a prophecy hints at a relic that could end the deadly plague her ancestor unleashed just before the wedding Leilani escapes the court and embarks on a perilous journey to the Astral Mountain determined to reclaim her fate and prove she’s more than the monster they believe her to be.
The Last Starborn Seer is beautifully written with its rich world building and unique magic system. The lore is weaved so naturally into the book which just adds depth into the book.
Perfect for readers who love fantasy that feels alive, layered, and full of characters you genuinely want to follow.
Leilani is the last heir to a cursed bloodline, feared for her unstable Starborn magic that grants visions while slowly breaking her mind. Cast out by her own family and forced into an arranged marriage with her childhood rival, she believes her magic is even killing her mother.
When a prophecy hints at a relic that could end the deadly plague her ancestor unleashed just before the wedding Leilani escapes the court and embarks on a perilous journey to the Astral Mountain determined to reclaim her fate and prove she’s more than the monster they believe her to be.
The Last Starborn Seer is beautifully written with its rich world building and unique magic system. The lore is weaved so naturally into the book which just adds depth into the book.
Perfect for readers who love fantasy that feels alive, layered, and full of characters you genuinely want to follow.
January 26, 2026
4.5
Re-read via audio and I enjoyed it even a bit more the second time around. It is a great and epic story in scope, it does feel like we have only discovered a tiny fragment of what's about to come in next instalments but I am here for it.
The characters were all distinct and fleshed out beautifully and I have enjoyed my time listening to the two narrators immensely. I cannot wait to explore other lands in this realm even if I have a bit of waiting time for the next book to come out.
Re-read via audio and I enjoyed it even a bit more the second time around. It is a great and epic story in scope, it does feel like we have only discovered a tiny fragment of what's about to come in next instalments but I am here for it.
The characters were all distinct and fleshed out beautifully and I have enjoyed my time listening to the two narrators immensely. I cannot wait to explore other lands in this realm even if I have a bit of waiting time for the next book to come out.
dnf
January 28, 2026Thank you Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the ALC! Unfortunately, I decided to DNF this at 23%, and those 100 or so pages were a struggle to get through. Even if the second half of this is much stronger than the first, I’m pretty confident that I won’t end up liking this book.
Let’s start with the good: I liked the audio book narrators! I’d happily listen to them again.
That being said, I don’t think this book necessarily lends itself to that particular format. There’s a lot of new fantasy terms, many of which sound similar to each other, and it would’ve been helpful to be able to refer to a glossary. The writing is very flowery as well, which at times makes it hard to follow, and I sometimes struggled to pay attention. Speaking of writing, everything and everyone in this book is named after the stars and moon. There are sooo many star-related similes and metaphors; it got annoying and distracting fast.
My biggest issue by far was the pacing and the constant, heavy info-dumping. Every scene is interrupted by several tangents about the world, lore, history, myths and legends, or some character’s backstory. These tangents are often longer than the scenes themselves. It was exhausting to read, and the momentum and tension of the story are constantly undercut. As a result, the pace is very slow. At 23%, very little had happened. The quest we’re promised in the blurb hadn’t started, and the second love interest hadn’t even shown up yet.
On top of that, I strongly disliked the MMC, Astrophel. At one point, he witnesses the FMC, Leilani, being physically abused by her father, and while his initial reaction is that no man should ever lay a hand on a woman (correct!), his second thought is that, well, she’s not like other women and probably needs the discipline. I’m sure he improves over the course of the book, but the prospect of watching Leilani fall in love with this man was very unappealing to me.
Leilani herself is pretty bland. She’s stuck in an abusive environment and doesn’t seem to have any real friends, which is not something I personally enjoy reading about. Her primary motivation seems to be helping her sick mother, but unfortunately we see very little of their relationship on page, so I found it all fairly unconvincing and unengaging.
Overall, I just found it boring and generic. I’d probably recommend it to fans of slow-paced romantasy, flowery prose and very intricate world-building and lore.
One last note: An enemy people is referred to as “barbarians” and “sand-rats” several times (and not just by the antagonists!), and that did not sit well with me at all. Maybe the racism is handled well going forward, but I don’t trust the author enough to find out.
Let’s start with the good: I liked the audio book narrators! I’d happily listen to them again.
That being said, I don’t think this book necessarily lends itself to that particular format. There’s a lot of new fantasy terms, many of which sound similar to each other, and it would’ve been helpful to be able to refer to a glossary. The writing is very flowery as well, which at times makes it hard to follow, and I sometimes struggled to pay attention. Speaking of writing, everything and everyone in this book is named after the stars and moon. There are sooo many star-related similes and metaphors; it got annoying and distracting fast.
My biggest issue by far was the pacing and the constant, heavy info-dumping. Every scene is interrupted by several tangents about the world, lore, history, myths and legends, or some character’s backstory. These tangents are often longer than the scenes themselves. It was exhausting to read, and the momentum and tension of the story are constantly undercut. As a result, the pace is very slow. At 23%, very little had happened. The quest we’re promised in the blurb hadn’t started, and the second love interest hadn’t even shown up yet.
On top of that, I strongly disliked the MMC, Astrophel. At one point, he witnesses the FMC, Leilani, being physically abused by her father, and while his initial reaction is that no man should ever lay a hand on a woman (correct!), his second thought is that, well, she’s not like other women and probably needs the discipline. I’m sure he improves over the course of the book, but the prospect of watching Leilani fall in love with this man was very unappealing to me.
Leilani herself is pretty bland. She’s stuck in an abusive environment and doesn’t seem to have any real friends, which is not something I personally enjoy reading about. Her primary motivation seems to be helping her sick mother, but unfortunately we see very little of their relationship on page, so I found it all fairly unconvincing and unengaging.
Overall, I just found it boring and generic. I’d probably recommend it to fans of slow-paced romantasy, flowery prose and very intricate world-building and lore.
One last note: An enemy people is referred to as “barbarians” and “sand-rats” several times (and not just by the antagonists!), and that did not sit well with me at all. Maybe the racism is handled well going forward, but I don’t trust the author enough to find out.
December 9, 2025
*thanks very much to netgalley and aria & aries / head of zeus for providing this e-arc, and thanks to the author Venetia Constantine for this story! this is my completely honest review*
5⭐️
the last starborn seer end up becoming my 1st and one and only 5⭐️ read this year (out of the ~40 fantasy books i read this year)!!!! 💕💕💕
the world is incredibly ethereal and beautifully written, with lyrical prose that feels really smooth and immersive 🌙✨
the world is quite big in scope, so the story started a bit slow in the beginning due to the world building; there’s a section before the story that explains the main terminology, and i actually found it very helpful 🫶reading that first made the opening chapters much easier to follow. once the plot really begins, the story becomes super engaging and easy to stay hooked 🫶
the story uses first-person multi pov, mainly from fmc leilani and mmc astrophel (he is one of the mmc / leilani’s love interests) 💛
i really liked seeing how the same events could feel completely different to each of them. it added depth and I as the reader get to live through leilani and astrophel’s emotional journey, which made their emotional reactions feel very grounded, and i connected to both of the characters deeply💭
there’s a love triangle going on, and the romance is done really well without taking over or overwhelming the book 💌
all of the characters involved are flawed, morally grey, and very multi-dimensional. nothing feels flat or simple, and their relationships really feel very layered and complex and realistic in a way that makes perfect sense for the story 💫
i think the character development is my fav part of this book 🥰🥰 leilani’s character development is very clear and strong, but the other main characters also change meaningfully throughout the book ❤️
it felt satisfying to watch them evolve, especially during the quest part of the story, which I really really enjoyed 💕💕
the ending is def unexpected and has a cool plot twist!! i think it sets up the rest of the planned trilogy really strongly, and i’m genuinely so intrigued to see where the story goes next!!! 😳📚
overall, the world is intriguing, the characters’ quest/journey is bery fun to follow, the romance is so well done, and the plot/pacing is also well-structured 🫶🫶
this was truly a standout read for me this year and the best book i’ve read this year (this being my one and only 5⭐️ read, now you know how much i love it!!! 💕💕✨✨)
it’s just so beautifully written with very interesting characters and engaging plot!! 🧚🏻✨
this book is coming out in march 2026 (i read the e-arc this month - in december 2025) 🪽
and i highly highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys romantic high fantasy with emotional depth and a strong sense of adventure!!! ❤️❤️
5⭐️
the last starborn seer end up becoming my 1st and one and only 5⭐️ read this year (out of the ~40 fantasy books i read this year)!!!! 💕💕💕
the world is incredibly ethereal and beautifully written, with lyrical prose that feels really smooth and immersive 🌙✨
the world is quite big in scope, so the story started a bit slow in the beginning due to the world building; there’s a section before the story that explains the main terminology, and i actually found it very helpful 🫶reading that first made the opening chapters much easier to follow. once the plot really begins, the story becomes super engaging and easy to stay hooked 🫶
the story uses first-person multi pov, mainly from fmc leilani and mmc astrophel (he is one of the mmc / leilani’s love interests) 💛
i really liked seeing how the same events could feel completely different to each of them. it added depth and I as the reader get to live through leilani and astrophel’s emotional journey, which made their emotional reactions feel very grounded, and i connected to both of the characters deeply💭
there’s a love triangle going on, and the romance is done really well without taking over or overwhelming the book 💌
all of the characters involved are flawed, morally grey, and very multi-dimensional. nothing feels flat or simple, and their relationships really feel very layered and complex and realistic in a way that makes perfect sense for the story 💫
i think the character development is my fav part of this book 🥰🥰 leilani’s character development is very clear and strong, but the other main characters also change meaningfully throughout the book ❤️
it felt satisfying to watch them evolve, especially during the quest part of the story, which I really really enjoyed 💕💕
the ending is def unexpected and has a cool plot twist!! i think it sets up the rest of the planned trilogy really strongly, and i’m genuinely so intrigued to see where the story goes next!!! 😳📚
overall, the world is intriguing, the characters’ quest/journey is bery fun to follow, the romance is so well done, and the plot/pacing is also well-structured 🫶🫶
this was truly a standout read for me this year and the best book i’ve read this year (this being my one and only 5⭐️ read, now you know how much i love it!!! 💕💕✨✨)
it’s just so beautifully written with very interesting characters and engaging plot!! 🧚🏻✨
this book is coming out in march 2026 (i read the e-arc this month - in december 2025) 🪽
and i highly highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys romantic high fantasy with emotional depth and a strong sense of adventure!!! ❤️❤️
December 9, 2025
A decent debut, just not quite my cup of tea.
The Last Starborn Seer revolves around Leilani, the "tainted" daughter of the King who carries a powerful prophetic bloodline that could change the world as she knows it; however her arranged marriage to Astrophel proves to be a hinderance to her plans.
I think this will check a lot of boxes for a number of people, but I really struggled to connect with the characters and the plot. For one, the names of everything felt a little cheesy to me. I know that's personal preference, but every common thing had a weird name and I got tired of reading them :'D
Finally, I think the writing style just needs some finessing. It felt a little too stoic/dull at times and I felt like I needed to skim through parts of it.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy.
The Last Starborn Seer revolves around Leilani, the "tainted" daughter of the King who carries a powerful prophetic bloodline that could change the world as she knows it; however her arranged marriage to Astrophel proves to be a hinderance to her plans.
I think this will check a lot of boxes for a number of people, but I really struggled to connect with the characters and the plot. For one, the names of everything felt a little cheesy to me. I know that's personal preference, but every common thing had a weird name and I got tired of reading them :'D
Finally, I think the writing style just needs some finessing. It felt a little too stoic/dull at times and I felt like I needed to skim through parts of it.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm so sorry to do this, but this is a tentative dnf for me. The writing felt so cumbersome to read. The descriptors and cheesy item names the author uses are very repetitive to the point it's distracting. It made it a slog to read an otherwise what would be a really strong set up for a fantasy novel. This is an ARC so all of this could change in the final version of the book. Not a permanent dnf, hoping the audio helps to get through the writing.
Big thank you to netgalley for this arc.
Big thank you to netgalley for this arc.
January 15, 2026
“It was here before this very portrait that I learned why people hated the Branded - it’s where I learned to hate myself. Still I can’t deny the thrill, the powerful sense of kinship. The Elemagi bore my same curse; it’s a bond that transcends the ages. This is where my morbid fascination with forbidden, tainted artifacts began - the moment I realized I was a tainted artifact myself.” - Leilani
Leilani is a cursed (last of her line, very dangerous magic) and hated princess (mostly by her father, but her magic can be a little scary and her ancestors did some not so great things), that goes on an epic journey to save the world (and her mother) all while battling her own self loathing and fleeing an arranged marriage. There is so much rich world building in this story, and surprisingly a thoughtful examination of generational trauma, that I really wasn’t expecting.
Constantine describes The Starborn Seer as a Romeo and Juliet/LOTR mash up with big stakes, dark themes, and a mix of beauty and destruction. Which I am hundred percent here for all of that. However, of less interest to me is a love triangle. I just don’t like them, and regretfully there is one in this story. Though, Constantine describes this as a “true enemies to lovers” story.
My main complaints with this book are the slow pacing and I didn’t do much care for Astrophel’s pov in the beginning. However, Constantine drew me in with Leilani’s pov and then Astrophel’s story as it went on (to the point where I actually didn’t like Leilani as much at the end and actually liked Astrophel more). The entire story sort of felt like a slow climb, but once at the peak, I really did enjoy this debut. I also think it’s interesting Leilani was so determined that she was a monster in the beginning, that she started to turn into one with her choices. I am interested to see more healing and self acceptance in future books/in her journey.
✨3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Aria for this e-arc. The Last Starborn Seer comes out March 3, 2026.
Leilani is a cursed (last of her line, very dangerous magic) and hated princess (mostly by her father, but her magic can be a little scary and her ancestors did some not so great things), that goes on an epic journey to save the world (and her mother) all while battling her own self loathing and fleeing an arranged marriage. There is so much rich world building in this story, and surprisingly a thoughtful examination of generational trauma, that I really wasn’t expecting.
Constantine describes The Starborn Seer as a Romeo and Juliet/LOTR mash up with big stakes, dark themes, and a mix of beauty and destruction. Which I am hundred percent here for all of that. However, of less interest to me is a love triangle. I just don’t like them, and regretfully there is one in this story. Though, Constantine describes this as a “true enemies to lovers” story.
My main complaints with this book are the slow pacing and I didn’t do much care for Astrophel’s pov in the beginning. However, Constantine drew me in with Leilani’s pov and then Astrophel’s story as it went on (to the point where I actually didn’t like Leilani as much at the end and actually liked Astrophel more). The entire story sort of felt like a slow climb, but once at the peak, I really did enjoy this debut. I also think it’s interesting Leilani was so determined that she was a monster in the beginning, that she started to turn into one with her choices. I am interested to see more healing and self acceptance in future books/in her journey.
✨3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Aria for this e-arc. The Last Starborn Seer comes out March 3, 2026.
October 27, 2025
When I say I screamed in excitement when I was accepted to read an eARC of this book, I’m not even exaggerating.
Thank you so much to Venetia Constantine, Aria Books, and NetGalley for the review copy!
In The Last Starborn Seer, we follow Leilani Stellarion - the last of an ancient bloodline whose Starborn magic gives her these haunting, prophetic visions that could easily destroy her. She’s the reluctant heir to a corrupted throne, stuck in a court full of secrets, politics, and betrayal. With an arranged marriage looming and danger closing in, she ends up on a quest that’s equal parts epic and terrifying, involving ancient relics, blood rites, uneasy alliances, and a darkness that’s always one step behind her.
This was a phenomenal book. From the first page I was completely immersed - the writing is so lyrical, and the world-building is simply breathtaking. The lore is so beautifully intricate that I could picture every scene vividly, like I was walking through the world myself.
It felt like a really unique approach to a magic system as well, with the political and social tensions woven into every aspect of the story, you truly understand each character’s motivations and their development.
The characters completely stole my heart. They’re so wonderfully flawed and real, making every emotion hit harder. The unreliable narration had me second-guessing everything (in the best way!), but it also gave such a deep insight into both the Leilani and Astrophel. I loved being inside their heads and seeing how differently they viewed the same moments - I was genuinely shouting at both of them at different points.
This is definitely more of an epic fantasy with a romance subplot, but the characters are so gorgeously written, so compelling, that even if you’re not usually an epic fantasy reader, you’re going to love this!!
And that ENDING… I was absolutely floored. My heart was in my throat and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I need the next book immediately!!
A stunning, emotional, and completely captivating read - easily one of my top books of 2025!
Thank you so much to Venetia Constantine, Aria Books, and NetGalley for the review copy!
In The Last Starborn Seer, we follow Leilani Stellarion - the last of an ancient bloodline whose Starborn magic gives her these haunting, prophetic visions that could easily destroy her. She’s the reluctant heir to a corrupted throne, stuck in a court full of secrets, politics, and betrayal. With an arranged marriage looming and danger closing in, she ends up on a quest that’s equal parts epic and terrifying, involving ancient relics, blood rites, uneasy alliances, and a darkness that’s always one step behind her.
This was a phenomenal book. From the first page I was completely immersed - the writing is so lyrical, and the world-building is simply breathtaking. The lore is so beautifully intricate that I could picture every scene vividly, like I was walking through the world myself.
It felt like a really unique approach to a magic system as well, with the political and social tensions woven into every aspect of the story, you truly understand each character’s motivations and their development.
The characters completely stole my heart. They’re so wonderfully flawed and real, making every emotion hit harder. The unreliable narration had me second-guessing everything (in the best way!), but it also gave such a deep insight into both the Leilani and Astrophel. I loved being inside their heads and seeing how differently they viewed the same moments - I was genuinely shouting at both of them at different points.
This is definitely more of an epic fantasy with a romance subplot, but the characters are so gorgeously written, so compelling, that even if you’re not usually an epic fantasy reader, you’re going to love this!!
And that ENDING… I was absolutely floored. My heart was in my throat and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I need the next book immediately!!
A stunning, emotional, and completely captivating read - easily one of my top books of 2025!
November 29, 2025
4.5💜✨
Holy crap!!
Magical, beautiful, high fantasy with romance.
I am absolutely obsessed with this actually. More to come ✨
Holy crap!!
Magical, beautiful, high fantasy with romance.
I am absolutely obsessed with this actually. More to come ✨
December 11, 2025
Leilani Stellarion, the last of a cursed bloodline, born with volatile Starborn magic that gives her prophetic visions while slowly eroding her mind. Feared by her court, trapped in political maneuvering, and pushed toward an arranged marriage designed to strip her power, Leilani is running out of time.
A prophecy reveals a relic that could end the plague destroying the realms, and Leilani seizes her only chance at freedom. Her journey to Astral Mountain unravels into an epic quest filled with ancient rites, uneasy alliances, court secrecy, and a faceless evil stalking her every step. The world is lush, dangerous, and deeply mythic and Leilani’s unraveling mind sits at the heart of it.
Tropes and vibes in this lush world:
✴️ Epic-fanta-mance (epic fantasy somewhat romantasy)
🌌 Ancient prophecy a d cursed magic
👑 Reluctant heir
🗡️ Mythic quest
🔥 Slow burn tension
🌫️ Love Triangle
✨Mental deterioration as magic
🧭 Found family alliances
🪷 Tolkien-coded landscapes
This world hooks you instantly with its scale and atmosphere, but it’s the magic that steals the show! The prophecy, corruption, and Leilani slowly losing herself in ways that are equal parts haunting and heartbreaking.
Not everything lands perfectly: the middle stretch lingers a little too long in detail, a few side characters could have been sharpened, and the worldbuilding occasionally outpaces the plot. But the emotional beats hit hard, the tension is high, and the ending is the kind that makes you sit up, blink twice, and mourn that book two isn’t already in your hands.
If you want an epic that blends prophecy, politics, slow burn yearning, and a world dripping in lore, this is it. A stunning debut that feels both classic and new.
I do think you need to be emotionally prepared for the world building and not think this is like every other romantasy. This leans a LOT more to epic in how the lore and world building is done, which was fantastic for me but doesn’t make for an ‘easy’ read.
Braincells required: 🧠🧠🧠🧠/5
Read if you like: When The Moon Hatched, Heavenly Bodies, Tolkien-esque worlds.
Highlight: UNIQUE and I loved the mental health rep.
A prophecy reveals a relic that could end the plague destroying the realms, and Leilani seizes her only chance at freedom. Her journey to Astral Mountain unravels into an epic quest filled with ancient rites, uneasy alliances, court secrecy, and a faceless evil stalking her every step. The world is lush, dangerous, and deeply mythic and Leilani’s unraveling mind sits at the heart of it.
Tropes and vibes in this lush world:
✴️ Epic-fanta-mance (epic fantasy somewhat romantasy)
🌌 Ancient prophecy a d cursed magic
👑 Reluctant heir
🗡️ Mythic quest
🔥 Slow burn tension
🌫️ Love Triangle
✨Mental deterioration as magic
🧭 Found family alliances
🪷 Tolkien-coded landscapes
This world hooks you instantly with its scale and atmosphere, but it’s the magic that steals the show! The prophecy, corruption, and Leilani slowly losing herself in ways that are equal parts haunting and heartbreaking.
Not everything lands perfectly: the middle stretch lingers a little too long in detail, a few side characters could have been sharpened, and the worldbuilding occasionally outpaces the plot. But the emotional beats hit hard, the tension is high, and the ending is the kind that makes you sit up, blink twice, and mourn that book two isn’t already in your hands.
If you want an epic that blends prophecy, politics, slow burn yearning, and a world dripping in lore, this is it. A stunning debut that feels both classic and new.
I do think you need to be emotionally prepared for the world building and not think this is like every other romantasy. This leans a LOT more to epic in how the lore and world building is done, which was fantastic for me but doesn’t make for an ‘easy’ read.
Braincells required: 🧠🧠🧠🧠/5
Read if you like: When The Moon Hatched, Heavenly Bodies, Tolkien-esque worlds.
Highlight: UNIQUE and I loved the mental health rep.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5⭐
The Last Starborn Seer is one of those books that as soon as you start you completely forget that you are reading, it is very heavy on worldbuilding and lore so it is definitely a book that you need to take your time with to fully understand but once you do it makes the reading experience so much more fulfilling as the author weaves together a beautiful story straight from the start.
The descriptions, the vivid imagery are so vibrant and intense and so breathtaking that makes it all so easy to visualise while reading and it is down to just how stunning the authors writing is and the storytelling that has been created, you can truly tell the time and dedication that has been taken in creating this intriguing and immersive story of a cursed princess and even more so when it comes to the interesting magic system and how unique and complex it is. There is a love triangle that slowly develops but it is done in such a good way that really works especially as I feel it is more of a subplot to the overall story that makes it more impactful as the world and everything about bout it is so beautifully planned out.
The main characters growth from start to finish is phenomenal and there are so many wonderful side characters that makes the found family aspect of the story even better as they are all so important to the story in their own way even the animal companions who I absolutely adored. There were so many moments and plot points that I wasn't expecting, some even made me tear up and the ending has me excited for book two. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough it is truly amazing and such a beautiful story.
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.
The Last Starborn Seer is one of those books that as soon as you start you completely forget that you are reading, it is very heavy on worldbuilding and lore so it is definitely a book that you need to take your time with to fully understand but once you do it makes the reading experience so much more fulfilling as the author weaves together a beautiful story straight from the start.
The descriptions, the vivid imagery are so vibrant and intense and so breathtaking that makes it all so easy to visualise while reading and it is down to just how stunning the authors writing is and the storytelling that has been created, you can truly tell the time and dedication that has been taken in creating this intriguing and immersive story of a cursed princess and even more so when it comes to the interesting magic system and how unique and complex it is. There is a love triangle that slowly develops but it is done in such a good way that really works especially as I feel it is more of a subplot to the overall story that makes it more impactful as the world and everything about bout it is so beautifully planned out.
The main characters growth from start to finish is phenomenal and there are so many wonderful side characters that makes the found family aspect of the story even better as they are all so important to the story in their own way even the animal companions who I absolutely adored. There were so many moments and plot points that I wasn't expecting, some even made me tear up and the ending has me excited for book two. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough it is truly amazing and such a beautiful story.
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I know we aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover but this has to be one of the most beautiful covers I've seen.
On the outside, it's a pastel dream…but on the inside?
It’s packed with intense world-building, fascinating lore, and magical creatures. All of my favourite things 🤍
This is a classic romantic fantasy book…
✓ arranged marriage
✓ enemies/ rivals-to-lovers
✓ love triangle*(🤮)
✓ a perilous quest
✓ very naughty baddies
✓ found family
✓ heart wrenching moments
✓ magical creatures (in abundance 🤍)
✓ slowburn/ yearning
It's not a spicy book… well not yet. The slow burn is still a meagre little flame but this is a trilogy so my fingers are crossed for the next book. 🤞
*Trigger warning for my fellow trope-haters: there is a love triangle.
The worst part? Normally I have a favourite so I lean one way but I love them both 😢
…and I think it’s safe to say this won’t lead to a "why choose" scenario.
I can't wait to explore more of this world.
This book gradually gets more bleak/ somber and I think we're going to be in for a yummy dark turn with the next books.
Also, branching out to the different locations is going to be a highlight for me. I can't wait to see what new magical creatures will pop up.
I read this as an advance reader copy in audiobook format.
I can be quite picky when it comes to narrators but this book was a massive win. The voice was soft and serious, perfectly matching the FMC. Gaia Wise really did the character justice.
The dual POV is cleverly done with this book and works really well.
Venetia... I think I speak on the behalf of both current and future fans of this book… we NEED Blayze POV chapters in the sequel 💁♀️
This is a tidy start to what has the potential to be a banging trilogy and I genuinely had a lot of fun reading it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Head of Zeus and Venetia Constantine for the audiobook ARC! 💜✨
On the outside, it's a pastel dream…but on the inside?
It’s packed with intense world-building, fascinating lore, and magical creatures. All of my favourite things 🤍
This is a classic romantic fantasy book…
✓ arranged marriage
✓ enemies/ rivals-to-lovers
✓ love triangle*(🤮)
✓ a perilous quest
✓ very naughty baddies
✓ found family
✓ heart wrenching moments
✓ magical creatures (in abundance 🤍)
✓ slowburn/ yearning
It's not a spicy book… well not yet. The slow burn is still a meagre little flame but this is a trilogy so my fingers are crossed for the next book. 🤞
*Trigger warning for my fellow trope-haters: there is a love triangle.
The worst part? Normally I have a favourite so I lean one way but I love them both 😢
…and I think it’s safe to say this won’t lead to a "why choose" scenario.
I can't wait to explore more of this world.
This book gradually gets more bleak/ somber and I think we're going to be in for a yummy dark turn with the next books.
Also, branching out to the different locations is going to be a highlight for me. I can't wait to see what new magical creatures will pop up.
I read this as an advance reader copy in audiobook format.
I can be quite picky when it comes to narrators but this book was a massive win. The voice was soft and serious, perfectly matching the FMC. Gaia Wise really did the character justice.
The dual POV is cleverly done with this book and works really well.
Venetia... I think I speak on the behalf of both current and future fans of this book… we NEED Blayze POV chapters in the sequel 💁♀️
This is a tidy start to what has the potential to be a banging trilogy and I genuinely had a lot of fun reading it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley, Head of Zeus and Venetia Constantine for the audiobook ARC! 💜✨
February 3, 2026
The Last Starborn Seer 💫✨
I have just finished reading this book and I still can’t quite put into words how much I adore this book. The magic the stars the characters are still lingering in my head 🥹💜. It’s whimsical nostalgia epic and just damn right beautiful.
Let’s talk about the world building and writing.
What I really loved about The Last Starborn Seer is how nice it felt to live in this world for a while. The worldbuilding doesn’t overwhelm you it gently pulls you in. You learn things the same way the characters do, through movement, ritual, history, and quiet moments, not lectures. It feels intuitive and immersive, like the world trusts you.
The magic is woven into everyday life in such a satisfying way. It’s not just something characters use its something they live with.
Venetia’s writing style is a huge part of that magic. It’s soft, lyrical, and intentional. Nothing feels wasted. The prose lingers just long enough to let emotions settle, to let scenes breathe. Absolutely written so beautifully I cannot describe.
Let’s talk characters and romance, we have multiple POVs which is always a fave. Astrophel Lelani and Blayze each bring something so special and unique to the story I especially loved Astrophels POV it really gave us an insight into his feelings. We have a slowwww burn romance ❤️🔥 which I’m not mad about.
This book understands that destiny isn’t romantic it’s lonely, complicated, and deeply human. And somehow, that makes the love and choices hit even harder.
The ending ✨- well we all know how I feel about this let’s just say I stopped breathing my heart was in my throat I’m keeping this spoiler free.
If High fantasy, beautiful world building lyrical poetic prose along rich lore celestial vibes is calling your name then I highly recommend the last starborn seer this book now lives rent free in my head! ✨💜
I have just finished reading this book and I still can’t quite put into words how much I adore this book. The magic the stars the characters are still lingering in my head 🥹💜. It’s whimsical nostalgia epic and just damn right beautiful.
Let’s talk about the world building and writing.
What I really loved about The Last Starborn Seer is how nice it felt to live in this world for a while. The worldbuilding doesn’t overwhelm you it gently pulls you in. You learn things the same way the characters do, through movement, ritual, history, and quiet moments, not lectures. It feels intuitive and immersive, like the world trusts you.
The magic is woven into everyday life in such a satisfying way. It’s not just something characters use its something they live with.
Venetia’s writing style is a huge part of that magic. It’s soft, lyrical, and intentional. Nothing feels wasted. The prose lingers just long enough to let emotions settle, to let scenes breathe. Absolutely written so beautifully I cannot describe.
Let’s talk characters and romance, we have multiple POVs which is always a fave. Astrophel Lelani and Blayze each bring something so special and unique to the story I especially loved Astrophels POV it really gave us an insight into his feelings. We have a slowwww burn romance ❤️🔥 which I’m not mad about.
This book understands that destiny isn’t romantic it’s lonely, complicated, and deeply human. And somehow, that makes the love and choices hit even harder.
The ending ✨- well we all know how I feel about this let’s just say I stopped breathing my heart was in my throat I’m keeping this spoiler free.
If High fantasy, beautiful world building lyrical poetic prose along rich lore celestial vibes is calling your name then I highly recommend the last starborn seer this book now lives rent free in my head! ✨💜
December 17, 2025
Oh I loved this so much.
The Last Starborn Seer is a beautifully-written and highly immersive blend of high fantasy and romantasy, with a fresh premise centred around Leilani, the last surviving member of an ancient bloodline and heir to her father’s throne, as she embarks on a quest to recover a lost relic that she hopes will end the curse that has plagued her, and spiralled her realms into war and ruin.
I’m really looking forward to seeing where the rest of this trilogy goes. This is a beautiful world with captivating and well-fleshed out characters, and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. I was so engrossed in Leilani’s journey of self-discovery and how she developed through the story, as well as the actual physical journey itself, and I’m absolutely foaming at the mouth for the second book.
I was very kindly sent an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. This was wonderful!
The Last Starborn Seer is a beautifully-written and highly immersive blend of high fantasy and romantasy, with a fresh premise centred around Leilani, the last surviving member of an ancient bloodline and heir to her father’s throne, as she embarks on a quest to recover a lost relic that she hopes will end the curse that has plagued her, and spiralled her realms into war and ruin.
I’m really looking forward to seeing where the rest of this trilogy goes. This is a beautiful world with captivating and well-fleshed out characters, and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. I was so engrossed in Leilani’s journey of self-discovery and how she developed through the story, as well as the actual physical journey itself, and I’m absolutely foaming at the mouth for the second book.
I was very kindly sent an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. This was wonderful!
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