Ash of the Fallen Star

by Eira Novane, Anne-Marie Rutella (Editor)

Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner – August 2025

She restores the city's shattered past, but her own is a mystery that could burn the world to ash.

Caelin is a restorer of broken things. In the city of Elowen's Fall, built on the ruins of a divine catastrophe, she lives a life of logic and precision. But her carefully ordered world is fracturing. Vivid dreams of falling with impossible violet wings and a man's voice calling a name that isn't hers haunt her nights.

The dreams are just the beginning. Ancient glyphs blaze with light at her touch. A searing pain awakens a strange, wing-shaped mark on her skin. Caelin’s analytical mind is crumbling, replaced by a magic she can neither explain nor control.

Then he finds her.

Lucan is a man who shouldn't exist, a revenant torn from death's embrace, his very existence tethered to hers. He has searched for centuries for the divine being he swore to protect, the seraph whose love shattered the heavens. Now he's found her in Caelin, but she doesn't remember him, their bond, or the cataclysmic choice that cost them everything.

With every moment of her disbelief, Lucan's borrowed time runs out, threatening to unravel him into nothingness. To save him, Caelin must embrace the impossible truth of her identity. She must unravel the secrets of the Collapse, confront a divine sibling who embodies merciless law, and reclaim a power so immense it once broke the world.

But if remembering her past broke the heavens once, what will happen when she chooses to love him again?

A sweeping epic fantasy romance for those who crave forbidden love, fated mates, soulmarks, gods and mortals, ancient secrets, and a love powerful enough to rewrite destiny, you won't be able to put down this breathtaking work.

Perfect for Listeners Who

Slow-burn fantasy romance with star-crossed soulmates

Atmospheric worldbuilding with forgotten cities and ancient magic

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy

289 pages, Paperback

Published July 14, 2025

Reviews

[Jennifer Wycech · Rating 3 out of 5]

Single narration - Jeannie Sheneman
3rd Person
Great voice she did a wonderful job

Content Warnings from the author:
Violence (fantasy and emotional)
Psychological trauma and memory loss
Loss of identity and existential dread
Brief depictions of death or past destruction
Themes of sacrifice, war aftermath, and fate
No graphic sexual violence, abuse, or highly disturbing material. The tone leans lyrical and emotional rather than brutal.

This was a good Romantasy. I found the world building to be easy to understand and well written. The author built the world in your mind. The characters were loveable and I enjoyed listening to their story.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is definitely a different writing style. You are dropped into the middle of everything. In story there is no buildup to it. It's just wham bam thank you ma'am
And then after a while, you start getting little bits and pieces as her memory comes back as to what happened. And why she's a fallen angel. So the lore is very thick in this book they took a bunch of different godhood type, lore and angel lore and kind of smooshed it, and reformed it. And took a little bit of license here. And there so it's not what you would think if you are a history or lore buff of creation. And angels, this is not by any means that kind of book.Yes, it does have that in it.But it's completely revamped.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eira Novane’s Ash of the Fallen Star is an ambitious, gorgeously written epic that blends metaphysical exploration with deep emotional resonance. This isn’t your standard, fast-paced action fantasy; instead, it is a story that pulses with spiritual depth and lyrical prose. It centers on characters who grapple with memory, identity, and transformation in a realm shaped as much by thought as by stone.

The writing is undeniably beautiful, utilizing vivid imagery and dream-like metaphors that will enchant readers who crave a more literary style. Because the prose is so rich, the sheer density of the philosophical introspection requires a patient reader. It is a story that demands you slow down to fully absorb the weight of its divine revelations and complex lore.

At the heart of the narrative are Caelin Wenriel, a historical preservationist haunted by dark dreams, and Lucan, an undead being tied to her forgotten past. Their connection is handled with immense tenderness, evolving from a mysterious spiritual pull into a complex, soul-deep bond marked by fate and longing. The slow reveal of their shared history keeps the emotional stakes high throughout the journey.

As Caelin seeks to reclaim her identity, she inadvertently draws the attention of ancient enemies, setting a stage where the restoration of balance rests on her shattered memories. The magic system—vividly realized through glowing glyphs and soulmarks—adds a tactile, mystical layer to the experience. I found myself hooked by the creative use of magic and the "goosebumps" moments it provided.

The experience is further elevated by Jeannie Sheneman’s narration, which captures the intensity of the lore and the shifting emotional landscape perfectly. While the pacing occasionally slows to make room for the worldbuilding, the final chapters offer a luminous payoff. The story shifts toward a tone of warmth and healing that feels like light breaking through a long storm.

If you enjoy fantasy defined by soulmates, forgotten past lives, and a romance that simmers with divine drama, this sweeping saga is a deeply satisfying read. It is a soulful and poetic experience that ultimately rewards the reader with a massive emotional payoff that absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Latasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ash of the Fallen Star follows Caelin, a restorationist working among the ruins of Lowen’s Fall, where ancient glyphs hum with forgotten power and memories refuse to stay buried. Haunted by dreams of violet flame wings and a voice calling her by a name that isn’t hers, Caelin begins to realize the past isn’t as distant as it seems—especially when relics respond only to her touch. When Lucan, a long-dead guardian, awakens from his tomb bound to her by a soul-mark and an oath erased by time, two fractured stories begin to converge.

This audiobook feels less like a traditional epic fantasy and more like a dream you slowly wake up inside. It’s lyrical, spiritual, and atmospheric, with a story that unfolds in fragments—intentionally so. The plot mirrors Caelin’s own fractured memories, revealing truths piece by piece until everything suddenly aligns and you’re left reeling. It’s the kind of slow, immersive build where confusion turns into clarity in the most satisfying way.

Jeannie Sheneman’s narration elevates the entire experience. Her voice carries a quiet reverence that perfectly matches the spiritual, haunting tone of the story. She brings a soft intensity to Caelin’s inner world and a solemn, aching weight to Lucan that makes their connection feel ancient and inevitable.

If you love dreamy, myth-soaked fantasy that unfolds like a half-remembered past—and audiobooks that feel almost sacred in tone—this one is absolutely worth the listen. 🌙✨

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this book and decided to give it a chance. I’m sorry to say it just didn’t work for me. The writing style is nice, but I felt as though I was dropped in the middle of a story. I didn’t have a good grasp on the time and place and felt lost. I also tired of reading descriptions comparing things to stars and memory and time. So many mentions of things that “predated mortal language” and descriptions like “flavor of vanished starlight” saturated the book. It seemed the author was intent more on writing flowery prose than on fleshing out the characters and setting. The book had a very metaphysical tone, and the author repeated phrases and descriptions time and again. And so much of what happened was described as rewriting reality, things too intense for human eyes and existential questions about divine law. In the end, the book read more like a combination of overwrought poetry and a treatise questioning divinity and mortality.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amour.Rebelle.Reads (Bran.d) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeannie Sheneman did a great job with this narration. Her voice fits Caelin perfectly—calm, thoughtful, and emotionally grounded—and she handled the lyrical writing really well. I especially liked how smoothly she moved through the darker, dreamlike moments without losing clarity or pacing. The emotional beats felt natural, and her performance made it easy to stay fully immersed in the story. A solid, enjoyable listen overall.

[MHT Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ash of the Fallen Star was an amazing fully immersive Romantsy that I got lost in. The audiobook is narrated by the very talented Jeannie Sheneman and she really gave it her all. You get dropped right in to the world and you piece together the story as you go. It’s most definitely a deep love story between Lucan and Caelin and all they went through to be together before…. I don’t want to give too much away but this is a beautifully written book that I will be thinking about for a long time.

[Kaitlyn Raasveld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It was a lot. There was a lot going on and the story was very intense and very deep lore wise. I liked the characters interactions and how they grew as well. All in all it was really good.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CrysTellsReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 ᴀꜱʜ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ꜱᴛᴀʀ
✍️ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙʏ: ᴇɪʀᴀ ɴᴏᴠᴀɴᴇ
🎧 ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ: ᴊᴇᴀɴɴɪᴇ ꜱʜᴇɴᴇᴍᴀɴ (ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ɴᴀʀʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ)
👁️ ᴘᴏᴠ: 3ʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ
⭐️ ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 4 ѕᴛᴀʀѕ
🎙️ ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴇᴅ ʙʏ: ʜɪɢʜ ɢʀᴀᴠɪᴛʏ ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴꜱ
Okay so… this book does not hold your hand. It straight up drops you in the middle of the cosmos like, “Good luck, bestie.” 🌌✨ And honestly? I kind of loved that.
Ash of the Fallen Star is ambitious and gorgeously written—more epic fantasy meets metaphysical fever dream than sword-swinging action fest. The vibe is spiritual, lyrical, and dreamy, and the plot unfolds like a memory returning in fragments… because that’s literally what’s happening. The more Caelin’s memory stitches itself back together, the more the story clicks into place—piece by piece—until you’re sitting there like: ohhhh. OH. 😳
What really anchored it for me was Caelin + Lucan. Their bond has this tender, aching intensity that evolves into something deeply familial and unbreakable. It’s romantic without being fluffy, emotional without being melodramatic, and it’s heavy on that longing + fate + soul-deep connection energy. (Yes, I stared into the void a little. It’s fine. 🥲)
If you’re into:
✨ vivid, otherworldly imagery
🕯️ a realm shaped by thought, intention, and divine forces
💫 memory + identity + transformation
🖤 a forgotten love + a guardian returned from the dead
…this one will absolutely scratch that “I want my fantasy to feel like a spiritual experience” itch.
Content Warnings: ⚠️🩸🖤💀 (violence, grief/loss, death themes, dark moments)
Jeannie Sheneman’s single narration really helped keep the tone grounded and immersive, especially with how poetic and metaphysical the writing can get.

[Eira Novane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Editorial Reviews for Ash of the Fallen Star:

"The emotional threads between Caelin and Lucan...left me feeling wrung out in the best way."

—Literary Titan