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Singularity #1
Through The Folded Stars
Saira Andromeda might have discovered the key to time travel, but the timing couldn't be worse. On one hand, she and her father have just enough supplies to travel through parallel universes. Unfortunately, there isn't time to save her family from being destroyed by an oncoming asteroid.
Like any intrepid scientist, Saira's willing to embark into the unknown to find a haven for her family's escape. Loaded with survival gear, a sense of curiosity, and a drive to collect samples, nothing stands in Saira's way of saving her family. Except for everything that keeps trying to eat her. She barely used a treadmill between experiments in the lab — now she's running for her life. This is not what she signed up for.
When a black wolf saves her from a bear attack, Saira's intrigued to discover she's landed in a matriarchal shifter society run by Kalliope, the lordess of Illorna. Hoping this might be a safe place for her family, Saira immerses herself in the new world and the unexpected romance between the commanding lordess and her irreverent consort, Legend.
Saira may have all the time in the world, but the clock is ticking. Her family will remain dead if she can't find the answers she's looking for. Unfortunately, she's less welcome in this world than expected. Thrust into unexpected politics and shifter conflict, Saira must decide whether her heart or her family is more important.
And it may turn out to be the hardest decision of her life.
Through the Folded Stars is Book 1 in The Singularity Series, offering the adventure of Doctor Who, the writing style of Ali Hazelwood, and the culture clash of Outlander.
Like any intrepid scientist, Saira's willing to embark into the unknown to find a haven for her family's escape. Loaded with survival gear, a sense of curiosity, and a drive to collect samples, nothing stands in Saira's way of saving her family. Except for everything that keeps trying to eat her. She barely used a treadmill between experiments in the lab — now she's running for her life. This is not what she signed up for.
When a black wolf saves her from a bear attack, Saira's intrigued to discover she's landed in a matriarchal shifter society run by Kalliope, the lordess of Illorna. Hoping this might be a safe place for her family, Saira immerses herself in the new world and the unexpected romance between the commanding lordess and her irreverent consort, Legend.
Saira may have all the time in the world, but the clock is ticking. Her family will remain dead if she can't find the answers she's looking for. Unfortunately, she's less welcome in this world than expected. Thrust into unexpected politics and shifter conflict, Saira must decide whether her heart or her family is more important.
And it may turn out to be the hardest decision of her life.
Through the Folded Stars is Book 1 in The Singularity Series, offering the adventure of Doctor Who, the writing style of Ali Hazelwood, and the culture clash of Outlander.
425 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2025
2 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Jenna Avery
4 books15 followersThe origin story of Jenna Avery is complex, weird, and requires numerous alcoholic beverages to regale. The current story? She's an elder millennial with a penchant for evolving and growing. This is a polite way of saying her ADHD makes her choose a new hobby every three months. By the time you read this, who knows what she'll be into. Just ask. Otherwise, she lives with her horde of kids and pets, a golden retriever husband, and rotating residency of soon-to-be-dead plants.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 19, 2025
From the opening scene to the cliffhanger... Woof.
The prologue set us up well and was interesting enough, but was too vague for me to consider it our real starting point. Chapter one, though? Hooked. Immediately.
At first, it was a little off-putting that our main character, Saira, is a virgin. It makes sense, though, and narratively, I understand. Society has just ingrained a specific world view into my head, and I have to make the conscious decision to not be a judy bitch. And in the end, her inexperience worked for the story. It added depth to her character and made her sympathetic. Really, I think it made the romance sweeter for the fact that she got to experience so many firsts in a healthy environment where she was loved deeply.
The characters were so distinct and interesting, having such in depth back stories and individual personalities. And Saira’s dark humor? Chef’s kiss. Even the secondary characters were unique without making the story feel like it was dragging.
The tension. The build up. The longing. Exquisite. “Will you forgive me for not making it more painful for him?” Cue a proper and ear splitting screech from me.
The relationships all developed so naturally, so organically. Not just the romantic ones, but the purely platonic ones as well. The depth these characters feel for each other is apparent as they grow closer through the story. And Kalliope and Ginger’s hug right before Kalliope enters that arena? Me, a puddle of tears.
The story as a whole, though? Page turner. There were some parts that felt like they were just a bit of fluff, but not in a way that took me out of the story. More just the natural “let’s not have every moment be tension filled so the reader’s nervous system doesn’t explode” way. You need some calm jaunts in town so the characters have time to bond and get to know each other naturally.
The pacing was overall perfect. The tension filled moments zipped you along while the sweeter moments made you sit back and kick your feet.
The descriptions and details were so intricate and thought out. It’s obvious the setting of this world was a labor of love. My favorite part was the consistent imagery of the partially shifted people of court. The varying degrees of shift and how it played into their society. So much detail in one novel without feeling bulky.
My overall, final thoughts are that the whole concept and execution are a fresh and ridiculously interesting and excruciatingly well done blending of science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
The science is accessible. While it was relatively specific, it was explained in a way that wouldn’t leave someone new to science fiction feeling alienated.
The prologue set us up well and was interesting enough, but was too vague for me to consider it our real starting point. Chapter one, though? Hooked. Immediately.
At first, it was a little off-putting that our main character, Saira, is a virgin. It makes sense, though, and narratively, I understand. Society has just ingrained a specific world view into my head, and I have to make the conscious decision to not be a judy bitch. And in the end, her inexperience worked for the story. It added depth to her character and made her sympathetic. Really, I think it made the romance sweeter for the fact that she got to experience so many firsts in a healthy environment where she was loved deeply.
The characters were so distinct and interesting, having such in depth back stories and individual personalities. And Saira’s dark humor? Chef’s kiss. Even the secondary characters were unique without making the story feel like it was dragging.
The tension. The build up. The longing. Exquisite. “Will you forgive me for not making it more painful for him?” Cue a proper and ear splitting screech from me.
The relationships all developed so naturally, so organically. Not just the romantic ones, but the purely platonic ones as well. The depth these characters feel for each other is apparent as they grow closer through the story. And Kalliope and Ginger’s hug right before Kalliope enters that arena? Me, a puddle of tears.
The story as a whole, though? Page turner. There were some parts that felt like they were just a bit of fluff, but not in a way that took me out of the story. More just the natural “let’s not have every moment be tension filled so the reader’s nervous system doesn’t explode” way. You need some calm jaunts in town so the characters have time to bond and get to know each other naturally.
The pacing was overall perfect. The tension filled moments zipped you along while the sweeter moments made you sit back and kick your feet.
The descriptions and details were so intricate and thought out. It’s obvious the setting of this world was a labor of love. My favorite part was the consistent imagery of the partially shifted people of court. The varying degrees of shift and how it played into their society. So much detail in one novel without feeling bulky.
My overall, final thoughts are that the whole concept and execution are a fresh and ridiculously interesting and excruciatingly well done blending of science fiction, fantasy, and romance.
The science is accessible. While it was relatively specific, it was explained in a way that wouldn’t leave someone new to science fiction feeling alienated.
September 10, 2025
What I loved most about this story is it is grounded in our real world reality, but there’s sci-fi and fantasy weaved into it in a realistic way.
I struggle with fantasy myself. I find that when worlds are complex with magic systems and fantastical world building, it pulls me out of the story. But this is the perfect balance that I can follow along and enjoy the story, and imagine what’s happening to Saira the FMC is actually happening to me. I love it when characters are relatable and I can see them making real choices grounded in both their characterizations and in reality. Saira was just that!
The love story was beautiful, full of tension and the perfect amount of angst. I loved that it was polymarious, and that the author wrote the romantic dynamic so beautifully.
The writing itself was great, easy to follow along but not too simple. Not flowery either to where it pulled you out of the story. It was bingeable for sure.
Also though the love story is poly, I think I would also consider it sapphic too. My favorite part was how Saira yearned for Kalliope, the female love interest, throughout the book. More please! Give me all the sapphic yearning please! Just perfect.
I struggle with fantasy myself. I find that when worlds are complex with magic systems and fantastical world building, it pulls me out of the story. But this is the perfect balance that I can follow along and enjoy the story, and imagine what’s happening to Saira the FMC is actually happening to me. I love it when characters are relatable and I can see them making real choices grounded in both their characterizations and in reality. Saira was just that!
The love story was beautiful, full of tension and the perfect amount of angst. I loved that it was polymarious, and that the author wrote the romantic dynamic so beautifully.
The writing itself was great, easy to follow along but not too simple. Not flowery either to where it pulled you out of the story. It was bingeable for sure.
Also though the love story is poly, I think I would also consider it sapphic too. My favorite part was how Saira yearned for Kalliope, the female love interest, throughout the book. More please! Give me all the sapphic yearning please! Just perfect.
November 26, 2025
I have a new obsession, and it's a place called Ilorna. 💙
Through The Folded Stars is about a scientist who travels through time to try to save her family from Earth's destruction.
After witnessing Queen Marie Antoinette's beheading in an tech savy, Paris, landing at Wake Island during WW2, getting attacked by a giant shark in the middle of the ocean, and escaping to a world of literal fire tornados. Saira lands in a quiet forest with no idea where she is. Eventually, a stupid hot shifter saves Saira from death by bear. Little does she know she has been saved by Kalliope, lordess of Ilorna.
I am absolutely obsessed with this book. Kalliope, Legend, Saira, Ginger, Zenab, Daeva, literally every single character was so well written.
I loved that this book centered around a Matriarchy. It wasn't in your face "women are the only ones that matter feminism". There were valid and very well explained reasons for why women were in charge and the men weren't just slaves. They were still an important part of society and showed how well a Matriarchy could work.
I felt as though I was immersed in this new world with all of the amazing but not excessive descriptions. The banter was off the charts and I could literally go on forever.
I am so excited to see where Saira's adventure takes her in book 2.
Through The Folded Stars is about a scientist who travels through time to try to save her family from Earth's destruction.
After witnessing Queen Marie Antoinette's beheading in an tech savy, Paris, landing at Wake Island during WW2, getting attacked by a giant shark in the middle of the ocean, and escaping to a world of literal fire tornados. Saira lands in a quiet forest with no idea where she is. Eventually, a stupid hot shifter saves Saira from death by bear. Little does she know she has been saved by Kalliope, lordess of Ilorna.
I am absolutely obsessed with this book. Kalliope, Legend, Saira, Ginger, Zenab, Daeva, literally every single character was so well written.
I loved that this book centered around a Matriarchy. It wasn't in your face "women are the only ones that matter feminism". There were valid and very well explained reasons for why women were in charge and the men weren't just slaves. They were still an important part of society and showed how well a Matriarchy could work.
I felt as though I was immersed in this new world with all of the amazing but not excessive descriptions. The banter was off the charts and I could literally go on forever.
I am so excited to see where Saira's adventure takes her in book 2.
December 3, 2025
This book thoroughly surprised me. While I did struggle with it in the beginning, I am so glad that I continued reading! What I loved most about this story is how it stays grounded in our real-world reality while weaving in sci-fi and fantasy elements. Immersive without overwhelming! Saira is incredibly relatable, making choices that feel authentic and rooted in reality, which made her such a standout FMC. The love story was beautiful, full of tension, yearning, and the perfect touch of angst, and I adored the polyamorous dynamic and how thoughtfully it was written. The writing itself is clear and engaging without being too simple or too flowery, making the whole book effortlessly bingeable. Even though it’s a poly romance, the sapphic energy shines, especially through Saira’s longing for Kalliope honestly one of my favorite parts. Give me all the sapphic yearning, please, because it was perfect.
December 3, 2025
This book is unlike any I've read and I absolutely loved it! Saira lived the quiet life of a scientist until she has to travel to different dimensions to find a safe haven for her family and I was hooked from start to finish.
After a few obviously unsafe realms, she lands in Ilorna, and her sass and wit captures the attention of Kalliope and Legend. They're a true power couple with more than enough love to share in a world where polyamorous relationships are the norm.
Kalliope's fierceness helps bring out Saira's own and Legend is the perfect male that everyone deserves in their lives. Not only did I love the three of them together but the banter between the rest of the found family is brilliant and I did not see the twists coming.
This is the first part of a duology and it has me obsessed. I cannot wait to read the second book, eager to find out what adventure Saira is on next and how it all ends.
After a few obviously unsafe realms, she lands in Ilorna, and her sass and wit captures the attention of Kalliope and Legend. They're a true power couple with more than enough love to share in a world where polyamorous relationships are the norm.
Kalliope's fierceness helps bring out Saira's own and Legend is the perfect male that everyone deserves in their lives. Not only did I love the three of them together but the banter between the rest of the found family is brilliant and I did not see the twists coming.
This is the first part of a duology and it has me obsessed. I cannot wait to read the second book, eager to find out what adventure Saira is on next and how it all ends.
September 29, 2025
My first F/F/M book
Star: 4 out of 5
Spice: 3 out of 5
My very first thought is “LOVE THE COVER”. It caught my eye with the colors and it made me want to open to the book instantly. Now diving in, the first chapter got me hooked with time traveling. Count me in. Especially the line from Saira: “One does not simply travel through time and ‘have fun,’ Pipes.” I loved this line and it set the tone perfectly.
It laid a perfect and intriguing concept with time traveling. But where Saira ends up is not what she expected. It feels like an entirely different world. There were some quiet, heartbreaking moments where Saira made me want to cry. How her mission is, what she’s going through, and how she just wanted very simple things during those hard times, something to feel like home. . Those scenes hit me so hard.
Despite it all though, Saira’s humor is on point and her inner thoughts feel so relatable. The characters all here felt messy and real and deeply in love. The story is simple yet layered in the best way. As someone who typically reads F/M and now to read F/F/M, I will say, the dynamic amazed me. The moments between Kalliope and Saira had me screaming, grinning, and gushing HARD. The way Saira yearns for her as she struggles with her feelings but overall, she still desperately wants Kalliope to notice her, to love her. I was basically screaming, “GO GET HER GIRL”. For example, where Kalliope teaches Saira how to bow? Or when Saira looked at her and kept describing her to be the most beautiful person ever? UGH, got me kicking and giggling. I NEED THAT. I won’t lie, the moments between Saira and Legend also got me screaming but I personally felt more an emotional connection with kalliope and Saira.
I will admit the poly relationship felt complex at first. I did not fully understand it. The more I read, the more it made sense. The love felt so deep and full of understanding, especially between all three of them. The way Saira fit into it filled my heart. If you love time travel that is not just lighthearted adventure but real and emotional, with love found in unexpected ways and a journey of resilience, this book is worth reading.
On top of that: I need more, thank you.
Star: 4 out of 5
Spice: 3 out of 5
My very first thought is “LOVE THE COVER”. It caught my eye with the colors and it made me want to open to the book instantly. Now diving in, the first chapter got me hooked with time traveling. Count me in. Especially the line from Saira: “One does not simply travel through time and ‘have fun,’ Pipes.” I loved this line and it set the tone perfectly.
It laid a perfect and intriguing concept with time traveling. But where Saira ends up is not what she expected. It feels like an entirely different world. There were some quiet, heartbreaking moments where Saira made me want to cry. How her mission is, what she’s going through, and how she just wanted very simple things during those hard times, something to feel like home. . Those scenes hit me so hard.
Despite it all though, Saira’s humor is on point and her inner thoughts feel so relatable. The characters all here felt messy and real and deeply in love. The story is simple yet layered in the best way. As someone who typically reads F/M and now to read F/F/M, I will say, the dynamic amazed me. The moments between Kalliope and Saira had me screaming, grinning, and gushing HARD. The way Saira yearns for her as she struggles with her feelings but overall, she still desperately wants Kalliope to notice her, to love her. I was basically screaming, “GO GET HER GIRL”. For example, where Kalliope teaches Saira how to bow? Or when Saira looked at her and kept describing her to be the most beautiful person ever? UGH, got me kicking and giggling. I NEED THAT. I won’t lie, the moments between Saira and Legend also got me screaming but I personally felt more an emotional connection with kalliope and Saira.
I will admit the poly relationship felt complex at first. I did not fully understand it. The more I read, the more it made sense. The love felt so deep and full of understanding, especially between all three of them. The way Saira fit into it filled my heart. If you love time travel that is not just lighthearted adventure but real and emotional, with love found in unexpected ways and a journey of resilience, this book is worth reading.
On top of that: I need more, thank you.
September 21, 2025
4.5⭐️ I literally couldn’t put this book down after I started reading it!! I absolutely love Saira! Smart funny sassy and strong all in one! I love Kalliope and Legend so much and their friends. There were so many parts of this book that I giggled at and the banter and jokes were pretty funny! I can’t wait for more and the adventures Saira goes on!
September 14, 2025
Absolutely loved this book
November 8, 2025
"Through the Folded Stars" is an absolutely amazing book filled with originality and heart. One of the things I loved most was how beautifully the love story between the main characters unfolded. So many authors rush straight into steamy scenes without letting the relationship breathe, not Jenna Avery. She took her time, letting the emotions and connection develop naturally. The result is a romance that feels genuine and deeply satisfying.And that ending? Stunning. The final chapters left me smiling through tears, and the epilogue, oh my lord!!! Was everything I could have hoped for and more. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next. Truly a remarkable read. Well done, Jenna!
December 15, 2025
Let me tell you, being queer is not a choice. I should know because I hate men and yet, am married to one. With that said…I would die for these women.
As for Jenna Avery….i hope I never see her in a dark alleyway…going to prison for murder isn’t on my bingo card this year.
As for Jenna Avery….i hope I never see her in a dark alleyway…going to prison for murder isn’t on my bingo card this year.
September 28, 2025
this is not the normal type of book that I read. I have to say though I am really glad I picked this book up and read it. I really loved it a lot.
I would recommend this even if you think it might not be something you would normally read. The author did an amazing job of sucking me into this story and making me fall in love and care for the characters.
this book is a must read.
I would recommend this even if you think it might not be something you would normally read. The author did an amazing job of sucking me into this story and making me fall in love and care for the characters.
this book is a must read.
December 18, 2025
Through The Folded Stars has a very engaging storyline that captures the audience’s attention pretty quickly into the book, which is great. Some time-travel stories can feel very tiresome and unoriginal and I wouldn’t say this book was either of those things in terms of plot. I thoroughly enjoyed jumping from event to event at the start, and I like some of the fantastical concepts. Science fiction fantasy combinations can sometimes be done poorly, so I’m glad this wasn’t. The rules of the time-travel made sense and the rules of each place were flexible without feeling ridiculous. I also loved the poly rep, as there really isn’t much of that in other books, along with the fact that queerness was just treated as something very natural.
The characters are not particularly special but are also not over the top or cliche. I could understand Saira’s intentions and decisions (most of the time), and I could root for her without issue. I like the fact that she has a realistic body size/shape, unlike a lot of characters in romance fiction. I will admit that she acts a little too young for a supposed 26-year-old, which was a little difficult to ignore, but not extremely so. Kalliope is a fairly well-written love interest, and I do like the fact that she has a personality outside of the love interest and she has interactions with plenty of other characters. Her personality is consistent and doesn’t drastically flip chapter to chapter, which I do appreciate. Legend is a little harder to appreciate, although I wouldn’t say he was a bad character. The attraction seems a little forced with both love interests, stopping the reader from fully enjoying and connecting with the romance, but it’s not so instant as to immediately throw off the story.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I have to say that the writing style is quite irritating. Saira, as the narrator, interjects a lot in a way that is meant to be quirky but comes across as nearly insufferable (similar to the interjections in ‘A Five-Letter Word For Love’) and there is quite a lot of lore dumping in a way that doesn’t feel natural to the story. For example, there are instances where details about characters are just slapped in the middle of a chapter without being integrated into the text properly, and some of the dialogue is incredibly off-putting in the sense that characters discuss or mention things the other characters should already know. There’s limited use of subtext, which makes the reading experience somewhat poor, and sometimes the discussions between characters are just very unrealistic in a way that takes the reader out of the story. These occurrences of near-insufferable narration and awkward dialogue continue until the very end of the book, with the epilogue being filled with plenty of forced quirky humour that honestly made me want to cry.
Overall, I think this book had so much potential and I did enjoy the story, but I’m not convinced the writing was as good as it could have been. Still, I’d suggest giving it a shot if you like the premise.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters are not particularly special but are also not over the top or cliche. I could understand Saira’s intentions and decisions (most of the time), and I could root for her without issue. I like the fact that she has a realistic body size/shape, unlike a lot of characters in romance fiction. I will admit that she acts a little too young for a supposed 26-year-old, which was a little difficult to ignore, but not extremely so. Kalliope is a fairly well-written love interest, and I do like the fact that she has a personality outside of the love interest and she has interactions with plenty of other characters. Her personality is consistent and doesn’t drastically flip chapter to chapter, which I do appreciate. Legend is a little harder to appreciate, although I wouldn’t say he was a bad character. The attraction seems a little forced with both love interests, stopping the reader from fully enjoying and connecting with the romance, but it’s not so instant as to immediately throw off the story.
As much as I enjoyed the story, I have to say that the writing style is quite irritating. Saira, as the narrator, interjects a lot in a way that is meant to be quirky but comes across as nearly insufferable (similar to the interjections in ‘A Five-Letter Word For Love’) and there is quite a lot of lore dumping in a way that doesn’t feel natural to the story. For example, there are instances where details about characters are just slapped in the middle of a chapter without being integrated into the text properly, and some of the dialogue is incredibly off-putting in the sense that characters discuss or mention things the other characters should already know. There’s limited use of subtext, which makes the reading experience somewhat poor, and sometimes the discussions between characters are just very unrealistic in a way that takes the reader out of the story. These occurrences of near-insufferable narration and awkward dialogue continue until the very end of the book, with the epilogue being filled with plenty of forced quirky humour that honestly made me want to cry.
Overall, I think this book had so much potential and I did enjoy the story, but I’m not convinced the writing was as good as it could have been. Still, I’d suggest giving it a shot if you like the premise.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 20, 2025
Soft Polyamory, Sapphic Yearning, and Stars That Shine With Feeling
Through the Folded Stars by Jenna Avery is everything I want in a character-driven sci-fi: emotionally rich, beautifully written, and filled with the kind of slow, tender connection that aches in the best way. But what truly made this a five-star read for me was the sapphic yearning—specifically the raw, delicate way Saira yearns for Kalliope, the magnetic female love interest who quietly steals the breath right out of the book.
This isn’t just your typical poly romance. It’s layered, respectful, and deeply human. The way Saira’s feelings evolve feels organic, messy, and real—she’s navigating intense relationships across boundaries of power, identity, and emotion. The polyamorous dynamics are never forced or idealized; they’re vulnerable and complicated, just like the people involved.
But oh, Kalliope. She’s everything—mysterious, strong, quietly intense. Every time she entered a scene, I felt it. And the way Saira longs for her, even when she doesn’t fully understand what that longing means yet, gave me chills. There’s a tenderness in that connection that builds slowly, with so much tension in every glance, every touch not taken. It’s the kind of slow-burn sapphic tension that leaves your heart aching and your chest full. It was, quite honestly, perfect.
Even aside from the romance, the story stands strong on its own. The worldbuilding is clean and immersive, the plot is full of heart and tension, and the emotional depth never lets up. It’s hopeful, it’s painful, it’s full of little moments that make you pause just to feel them. And yes—that cliffhanger is no joke. I finished the book feeling completely emotionally wrecked… and already desperate for the next one.
If you love soft queer sci-fi, complex poly relationships, yearning that builds like gravity, and women loving women in space, then this book is not just a recommendation—it’s a must-read. Jenna Avery, give me all the sapphic yearning forever. I’m in.
Through the Folded Stars by Jenna Avery is everything I want in a character-driven sci-fi: emotionally rich, beautifully written, and filled with the kind of slow, tender connection that aches in the best way. But what truly made this a five-star read for me was the sapphic yearning—specifically the raw, delicate way Saira yearns for Kalliope, the magnetic female love interest who quietly steals the breath right out of the book.
This isn’t just your typical poly romance. It’s layered, respectful, and deeply human. The way Saira’s feelings evolve feels organic, messy, and real—she’s navigating intense relationships across boundaries of power, identity, and emotion. The polyamorous dynamics are never forced or idealized; they’re vulnerable and complicated, just like the people involved.
But oh, Kalliope. She’s everything—mysterious, strong, quietly intense. Every time she entered a scene, I felt it. And the way Saira longs for her, even when she doesn’t fully understand what that longing means yet, gave me chills. There’s a tenderness in that connection that builds slowly, with so much tension in every glance, every touch not taken. It’s the kind of slow-burn sapphic tension that leaves your heart aching and your chest full. It was, quite honestly, perfect.
Even aside from the romance, the story stands strong on its own. The worldbuilding is clean and immersive, the plot is full of heart and tension, and the emotional depth never lets up. It’s hopeful, it’s painful, it’s full of little moments that make you pause just to feel them. And yes—that cliffhanger is no joke. I finished the book feeling completely emotionally wrecked… and already desperate for the next one.
If you love soft queer sci-fi, complex poly relationships, yearning that builds like gravity, and women loving women in space, then this book is not just a recommendation—it’s a must-read. Jenna Avery, give me all the sapphic yearning forever. I’m in.
January 8, 2026
I absolutely adored this book, it was 5 stars all around. I loved how dynamic and real-life seeming the characters were. It wasn’t a typical one dimensional tiny / whiny FMC but an actual complex human being with flaws she has to face and overcome in Saira.
The hook draws you in right away with how creative it is and how much tension is built. I wanted to keep on reading to see what would happen next, especially when Saira first embarks on her time traveling journey.
I also loved that the history in the book is reimagined while still feeling grounded in reality. When she arrives in 1700s Paris, the descriptions were so astute you could almost sense the air (and the smells) like you were there with the FMC in that time period. But then bringing in the twist of them having modern tech was really cool! The author really shines with creativity and bringing a fresh take on story to the genre.
I typically don’t read a lot of science-fiction if it feels too intense with explanations and magic / world rules; however, this book guides you through the science behind everything seamlessly. It didn’t feel overwhelming to read the why and how of her time traveling, it felt immersive and real while not being boring or overly descriptive.
The relationships in the book really took center stage, as every character jumped off the page as having their own dynamic, complex backgrounds, and you can tell the author took a lot of time and care into developing them as individual people making choices that make sense for them, even if at times you want to yell at them to choose differently (which is part of the fun of this book, that you keep turning the page to see what will happen next). The love story was so unique and well done, and I really appreciated how deeply the characters impacted one another. From the tension-packed dangerous moments to the quieter more intimate calmer moments throughout, I loved seeing the character’s growth.
I can’t recommend this book enough! I was so entertained the whole way through.
The hook draws you in right away with how creative it is and how much tension is built. I wanted to keep on reading to see what would happen next, especially when Saira first embarks on her time traveling journey.
I also loved that the history in the book is reimagined while still feeling grounded in reality. When she arrives in 1700s Paris, the descriptions were so astute you could almost sense the air (and the smells) like you were there with the FMC in that time period. But then bringing in the twist of them having modern tech was really cool! The author really shines with creativity and bringing a fresh take on story to the genre.
I typically don’t read a lot of science-fiction if it feels too intense with explanations and magic / world rules; however, this book guides you through the science behind everything seamlessly. It didn’t feel overwhelming to read the why and how of her time traveling, it felt immersive and real while not being boring or overly descriptive.
The relationships in the book really took center stage, as every character jumped off the page as having their own dynamic, complex backgrounds, and you can tell the author took a lot of time and care into developing them as individual people making choices that make sense for them, even if at times you want to yell at them to choose differently (which is part of the fun of this book, that you keep turning the page to see what will happen next). The love story was so unique and well done, and I really appreciated how deeply the characters impacted one another. From the tension-packed dangerous moments to the quieter more intimate calmer moments throughout, I loved seeing the character’s growth.
I can’t recommend this book enough! I was so entertained the whole way through.
November 26, 2025
I had so much fun with this book. The premise hooked me immediately! A scientist from our world flinging herself through time to save her family, only to land in a matriarchal society full of shapeshifters? Immediately yes.
Saira is such an easy character to love. Her scientist brain, her humor, her vulnerability, her curiosity all makes her feel so real. I loved seeing her navigate this new world while still holding onto the mission that drives her. And the way she approaches everything with equal parts fear, wonder, and sarcasm is perfect.
The shifter society was one of my favorite parts. The culture, the court, the little details about how shifting works all felt vivid and fresh without ever getting overwhelming. It’s such a cool blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance woven together in a way that feels effortless.
And the romance… I absolutely adored it. The poly dynamic is written with so much care, emotion, and genuine connection. The tension, the longing, the softness all hit exactly right. Watching Saira open up, discover new sides of herself, and fall for these characters felt so natural and so deeply satisfying.
The found family vibes, the sweet friendships, the gentle emotional moments that sneak up on you all made this such an immersive, bingeable read. It’s the kind of story that balances science, feeling, desire, and adventure.
What to expect
-time travel
-polyamorous romance
-shifters
-sapphic yearning (!!)
-science-meets-fantasy worlds
-a heroine who is clever, funny, and easy to root for
Saira is such an easy character to love. Her scientist brain, her humor, her vulnerability, her curiosity all makes her feel so real. I loved seeing her navigate this new world while still holding onto the mission that drives her. And the way she approaches everything with equal parts fear, wonder, and sarcasm is perfect.
The shifter society was one of my favorite parts. The culture, the court, the little details about how shifting works all felt vivid and fresh without ever getting overwhelming. It’s such a cool blend of sci-fi, fantasy, and romance woven together in a way that feels effortless.
And the romance… I absolutely adored it. The poly dynamic is written with so much care, emotion, and genuine connection. The tension, the longing, the softness all hit exactly right. Watching Saira open up, discover new sides of herself, and fall for these characters felt so natural and so deeply satisfying.
The found family vibes, the sweet friendships, the gentle emotional moments that sneak up on you all made this such an immersive, bingeable read. It’s the kind of story that balances science, feeling, desire, and adventure.
What to expect
-time travel
-polyamorous romance
-shifters
-sapphic yearning (!!)
-science-meets-fantasy worlds
-a heroine who is clever, funny, and easy to root for
September 24, 2025
Through The Folded Stars absolutely wrecked me in the best way.
The plot? Was PLOTTING. The worldbuilding was so vivid without ever being too much or feeling like fluff. It all blended so seamlessly, like a place I could actually step into… and now I’m depressed I can’t. 🥲
But the romance... Oh the romance. I’m a sucker for why-choose, and this book delivered it perfectly (FFM). The dynamic wasn’t forced or over the top. It was messy, raw, and real. As an avid romance/why-choose reader, I loved that it was there without overshadowing the story.
“For the first time, love feels like a curse; an unshakeable burden shackled to my soul. I hate it. I can’t live without it.”
The way I had to stop and take a moment after reading that line.. So beautifully raw. The FMC, Saira? One of the most relatable FMCs I’ve ever read. From the witty banter to the raw emotions, you feel everything with her. I need more of her ASAP.
BUT what I truly adored was how the author didn’t lean too heavily on tropes or force relationships. Everything unfolded so naturally that it kept me hooked the entire way.
And that cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal. I love and hate it at the same time.
The plot? Was PLOTTING. The worldbuilding was so vivid without ever being too much or feeling like fluff. It all blended so seamlessly, like a place I could actually step into… and now I’m depressed I can’t. 🥲
But the romance... Oh the romance. I’m a sucker for why-choose, and this book delivered it perfectly (FFM). The dynamic wasn’t forced or over the top. It was messy, raw, and real. As an avid romance/why-choose reader, I loved that it was there without overshadowing the story.
“For the first time, love feels like a curse; an unshakeable burden shackled to my soul. I hate it. I can’t live without it.”
The way I had to stop and take a moment after reading that line.. So beautifully raw. The FMC, Saira? One of the most relatable FMCs I’ve ever read. From the witty banter to the raw emotions, you feel everything with her. I need more of her ASAP.
BUT what I truly adored was how the author didn’t lean too heavily on tropes or force relationships. Everything unfolded so naturally that it kept me hooked the entire way.
And that cliffhanger? Absolutely brutal. I love and hate it at the same time.
January 16, 2026
Through The Folded Stars is now the second book of Jenna’s that I have read in a couple weeks, and can say that she is a fantastic storyteller. This one is loaded with thrills and action, twists, romance and spice; with her wonderful dialog and strong character work shining on each page. I look forward to being back in this world sometime.
This story is easy to recommend, as the author is easy to be a big fan of.
This story is easy to recommend, as the author is easy to be a big fan of.
December 3, 2025
After five years of labor, this baby is BORN! FFM Why Choose with sapphic yearning, a relatable FMC, not trope driven, AND diversity? Hells yeah!
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