The Last Starborn Seer

Chronicles of Arcelia #1

by Venetia Constantine

Bloomsbury presents The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine, read by Gaia Wise and Maxim Ays.

***

Leilani Stellarion is cursed.

The last of a ruined bloodline, she’s shunned for her volatile Starborn magic, which grants her prophetic visions but is slowly corrupting her mind. Branded a pariah, Leilani is blamed for the Sickening, a wasting curse that fractured the realms of Arcelia and plunged
them into war.

When her dying mother’s health deteriorates and a forced marriage threatens her future, Leilani seizes the chance to reclaim her fate. A prophecy speaks of an ancient relic that could end the Sickening – and she’s determined to find it.

To retrieve the sceptre, she must survive the deadly climb to the Astral Mountain, forge alliances with enemies, outwit rebel forces, and navigate her own treacherous feelings for a rival envoy, which grow under the watchful eye of her betrothed.

Hunted by a vengeful spectre and haunted by her magic, Leilani must decide what she’s willing to sacrifice in the name of redemption – before her powers consume her.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Audiobook

17 pages, Audible Audio

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Venetia 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.

Reviews

[Venetia Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 💜💫

[DianaRose]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

unfortunately, dnf @ 25% — another fairyloot L 🫩 i fear that i may need to stay away from romantasies for a while because they are truly becoming repetitive, and while it’s understandable, still very disappointing as i am trying to expand to new authors in the genre.

i could not tell you the characters’ names or the plot… and maybe that’s my fault, but my god this did not grab my attention at all.

another reviewer and mutual reviewed this book perfectly by saying this book put every romantasy trope into a blender and added moon/stars as a unique quality.

anyways, maybe i just need to read some contemporary/literary novels for a while and get refreshed. at least my fairyloot edition is gorgeous?

——

diving into my audiobook (because my libby hold is expiring, and i am really racing the clock!) also, my fairyloot edition is stunning o m g

[Alex Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Samantha Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.’

[Emily-Rose At The Rose House]

Do 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

[Ashleigh (a frolic through fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!]

[Luce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to start this review by saying that the cover of the The Last Starborn Seer is absolutely stunning. Shoutout to the artist as it really sets the tone for an epic fantasy and was one of the things that drew me in.

Unfortunately, the story itself didn't quite live up to my expectations.

This book feels like an extended prequel to what will eventually become the main story. There's a lot of world-building; political tensions, magic systems and history but it doesn't really lead to much. Honestly, by the time I finished this book I felt like I needed book 2 immediately to actually get to the point of the story.

The dual POV between Leilani (heir to the throne) and Astrophel (her reluctant betrothed) didn't fully work for me. I didn't care for Astrophel's POV to be quite honest and it didn't add much to the story. If you're picking this up expecting a strong romance, it is a subplot that is barely scattered throughout this book.

That said, I really enjoyed the quest itself. I love reluctant allies having to band together for a common cause, especially with all the different dynamics within the group. It leaves you feeling uneasy and I love that. I would have loved more development between Leilani and Blayze, their dynamic was a lot more interesting compared to Leilani and Astrophel.

The first 30% of this book is very, very, VERY slow. There is a lot of world-building and at times very overly complicated and dense. Funnily enough, once you get into the story it's pretty simple to understand but the information dumping definitely over complicates it. If you're someone who struggles with slower-paced fantasies, I would genuinely recommend the audiobook for this one. The narrators definitely made this more enjoyable for me and I'd like to thank the publisher for advanced listening copy.

Overall, I'm disappointed and this wasn't what I was expecting. The pacing didn't work for me at all but I might pick up book 2 as I feel that is where the story will really hit its stride.

I received an advanced copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor]

DNF 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.

[Frances White · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.)

[Stephanie Davy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rarely give this rating and only for specific reasons, so I will explain as fully as I can.

I went into The Last Starborn Seer wanting to enjoy it. I can see what it was aiming for, and I will say upfront that the final third was stronger than what came before. Unfortunately, the first portion left such a poor impression that the improvement later could not redeem the overall experience.

First, a note on positioning. This is being marketed as adult I believe, but it reads firmly as YA in tone, structure, conflict, and emotional handling. The hazy, dreamy quality makes sense once you know The Last Unicorn was an inspiration. The vibe, the softness, and even the way the main character is appears all align with that influence. If this had been presented clearly as YA escapism, I think I would have read it with a different set of expectations. As an ‘adult’ fantasy, though, it lacks the depth, grit, and sustained tension that I feel adult readers will reasonably anticipate. One of the characters - from a fire country - is called Blayze. Nothing wrong with that in itself, but names and other elements just didn’t point to the adult category.

The prose was pretty but worked against my immersion. At times the writing became cluttered with descriptive choices that did not add atmosphere and sometimes leaned into the dramatic, flattening the impact overall. The settings often lacked grounded presence and prose was so heavily laden with moon and stars that it was easy to get confused. I felt this also impacted pacing, which was slow, particularly in the first 30%.

The stakes were another issue. The story repeatedly gestures at danger, but it rarely commits. There are multiple near-death moments that boil down to trips, falls, or conveniently softened peril. It became a pattern of ‘they nearly died, but not really,’ and because so many of these moments were not driven by meaningful conflict, they did not build tension. I felt that due to Leilani being so sheltered, it was easy to hide behind her for the grittier moments. She would always turn away or simply not be present right where the best of the impact would land.

On the romance side, the love triangle and the familiar romantic tropes will be recognisable and I can see the intention. The problem is that the chemistry did not support what the plot kept telling me was occurring. The only convincing chemistry, to me, was between Blayze and Maris, which made it difficult to understand why Blayze would be interested in Leilani at all, let alone confide in her. That lack of emotional grounding fed into a wider issue with character believability.

Unfortunately, I found both Leilani and Astrophel deeply unlikeable. Astrophel came over as xenophobic, emotionally abusive and cowardly, yet his ‘redemption’ felt almost instantaneous. His being radicalised didn’t really help. There was little sense of reckoning, and more time was given to one act against one person than all the other harmful traits he displayed to multiple others. I found him difficult and unpleasant to read, an issue considering he is the second POV.

Leilani’s wrongs were also repeatedly smoothed over with quick forgiveness. She apologises, then continues violating boundaries, breaking promises, keeping secrets, and pushing through other people’s limits to get what she wants. On top of that, she is generally rude, whiny and selfish. Despite her motivation being a somewhat understandable one, her attitude made it difficult to truly root for her, and I struggled even more to understand why anyone else seemed to keep believing in her.

That said, my biggest concern is sensitivity and framing. The book uses casual language around commodification and hierarchy that, that felt gratuitous rather than purposeful, particularly up to the 30% mark. I understand these are fictional dynamics and not direct depictions of real groups, but tone and framing still matter. Astrophel, in particular, constantly uses xenophobic language and I initially felt sympathy for him being judged for his low birth, but he became just as nasty and judgemental as those he resented. If the goal was commentary, it needed clearer intent and stronger narrative challenge particularly when he realises he was radicalised. As written, it felt beyond what was necessary to serve his arc.

The objectifying body descriptions also bothered me. One example that really did not sit right with me was the line describing a woman as having ‘the generous swell of hips and breasts, evident even beneath the loose tunic she wears’. Paired with use of ‘the’ to describe people’s bodies, it landed as distancing and dehumanising.

There were also troubling tropes that felt unexamined. Elvi being forced to be whipped in place of her mistress is already loaded material. Layering that with her speaking ‘Peaktois’, which is similar in sound to Patois, created an uncomfortable slave-narrative echo. Making her not have brown skin does not change what the framing evokes. These are the sorts of choices that require extreme care, and I did not feel that care on the page.

As mentioned before, the last third was better. I could feel the narrative trying to tighten and move and some of the reveals, while expected, did help clarify the thought behind that first 30%, which would otherwise have been even more concerning. There was not much there that I have not seen before, which will be a plus to some.

In the end, the book felt like it sacrificed tension and depth in service of gentler escapism. That can work, and it has a strong audience, so no doubt it will do well on that basis, but the combination of pacing issues, cluttered prose, unearned character arcs, and the sensitivity concerns meant I could not recommend it.

[Jessica Juby | jesshidesinbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 😍

[Brooke Kathrene · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is how you write a fantasy with a romance subplot and a quest!! I knew from the first 20 pages that this was going to be a banger.

I love Venetia’s unique and rich writing style, and the world she created is one of the most beautiful worlds I’ve ever read. If I had the chance to live there, I totally would.

The way the plot is set up was absolutely perfect as well. It started out as this unlikely group of people going on a quest and turned into something so much deeper than just them working towards a common goal. There were secrets and complicated relationships and tough decisions. The stakes kept getting higher and higher with every decision these characters made, and the ending had me absolutely gagged.

To say I am invested in this story is an understatement. I am going to be camping out at the bookstore until book 2 is released!

If you love the world building of When the Moon Hatched and the quest in The Hobbit, this book is for you.

[Abbie Toria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has great potential, and the worldbuilding and lore are obviously well thought out, as the first pages of the book show. The author has a way with words and there are striking descriptions of the world throughout. The cover is absolutely stunning, too—it is an excellent design that catches the eye immediately.

However. The book is way too long and repetitive. I can handle jumping back and forth between character viewpoints, if it’s done well, but it needs work here, mostly because some characters aren’t particularly likeable (I’m looking at you, Astrophel). Also, the info dumping is near constant for quite a while, and the lore gets confusing. Names for things were so similar as to cause even more perplexity (Star- and Moon- come to mind). I think this could be much better if it were edited down to under 400 pages.

Constantine is a good writer, and I’d like to see more from her. As it stands, I give this book a 3.5, rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for an advance copy. I am writing this review voluntarily.

[Sanja ✵ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the closest to a DNF I’ve come without actually dropping the book entirely. But from page 70 I skimmed the entire thing.

Every single page was just like a wall of text being slammed into your face. And I disliked both the main character and her love interest. One of the love interests even has his own POV, so I guess we are supposed to root for him? But he was awful and seemed like he got off on being rude, condescending and backstabbing the main character.

The cheesy named didn’t help either. The first comment I made was “how imaginative” and that was before the prologue even started.

The second I had finished skimming this I sold my copy. I will not continue the series.

[Kha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kind of reminded me of When the Moon Hatched, with all those new terms I had to learn before I could really dive into the story. I did try reading the glossary, I promise! But my brain cells just couldn’t keep up, you know.🤭 So the beginning was a bit of a struggle for me.

The world-building was luscious, I have to say. Sadly though, I just couldn’t seem to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to.

I also felt like the book could’ve been trimmed down a bit, especially in the first half. There were parts that felt like extra words that didn’t really add much (at least for me). But maybe that’s just me!

Still, the last part had me invested again, so I guess I’m not done with this series yet.


Thank you to the author, publisher & NetGalley for this ARC.

[Luke Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 😩

[☀︎El In Oz☀︎]

DNF at 25%

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc!

Unfortunately this book just is not working for me. I didn’t know this was a love triangle when I requested it and the framing of the story knowing there will be one is so odd. Why does only one of the MMCs have a POV?? Why would we root for the other guy if he doesn’t have one??

Astrophel is a very interesting morally grey character, and I really really did enjoy reading about him because of how interesting he was.

Unfortunately, Leilani, our main character, was very annoying to me. I didn’t like her. I’ve said it before, but stories where characters hate their magic are hard sells for me. Hearing her complain about her magic time and time again just got very grating.

I feel like we know a lot about the creation of the world (which is super cool!), but nothing about any of the other countries/kingdoms.

There is real potential in this story and I do think people will love it, but as I’m not vibing with it, I’m going to stop my reading here!

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars I absolutely loved The Last Starborn Seer!
The world-building is so rich and beautiful, with layers of lore that completely pulled me in from the first page . The characters were absolutely wonderful and I got so attached to their journey. The writing itself is stunning and the magic system is SO unique and interesting and exactly up my street
I’m always a sucker for a good quest so i absolute ate the plot up. I’m so excited to see how it progresses! Also sorry but a lush fantasy atmosphere with a subtle slow-burn? Of COURSE I loved it!!

[D. ‧₊˚❀༉]

I usually don’t like people on covers but this one is super cute !! I’m very excited to read this ꉂ(˵˃ ᗜ ˂˵)

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine
I was absolutely pulled into this adventurous high fantasy tale of a prophecy, an unseen enemy, a perilous quest, blood rites, cursed lands and ancient relics. The characters really stand out and the amusing love triangle relationship is entertaining. Beautifully written, The Last Starborn Seer is an unmissable debut novel.

Leilani Stellarion is the last of a ruined bloodline, heir to a tainted throne, branded a pariah and reluctantly betrothed to Lord Astrophel. Her volatile Starborn magic gives her prophetic visions and is slowly corrupting her mind. She must climb the deadly Astral Mountain to save her people and end the Sickening.

The Last Starboard Seer is a compelling and richly imagined world and a strong start to a series that will have you hooked.

Now to wait patiently for the next book, what a suspenseful ending.

Publication Date 03 March 2026
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

Thank you so much to the lovely team @bloomsburypublishing for a copy of the book.

[Laura.has.too.many.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Leilani is the only living heir of the King of Estelia, but she has not lived a pampered life by any stretch of the imagination. As she is Starcursed, giving her prophetic visions and volatile magic that she cannot control, making her a danger to everyone around her. Now she is coming of age, the moment were her magic will manifest with its full power, but her cruel father is planning to marry her off on the same day, making sure Leilani will never be able to reach her full potential. But a sickening of all the realms threatens them all and Leilani will embark on a quest that will try to save her subjects and bring enemies closer together then ever before.

Pro's:
+ Leilani is being kept very small by her father and she has some standard royal prospects looming over her head, but I feel like the author did a great job at telling a story about getting to know yourself and your strenghts and healing the abuse done to you by others.

Con's:
- I recoiled when I opened this book and was presented with nine pages of introduction that was not written into the story itself. Stuff like that I always forget immediately and I feel like this was a big miss on the authors part.
- Even though there is a lot happening in this book and there was a certain amount of fighting and drama, I was bored for a lot of it. We are too much in Leilani's head and with her feelings to really let the rest of the story make an impact.

Even though this book was set-up from the first page as a set-up for a story about feminine power, most of this story sadly fell flat on its face. There were to many elements taken from other books that are currently popular to make this story stand out and the story itself never became memorable or interesting. There was too much talk about Leilani's feelings and since she is not a likable character by any means, it just did not help my opinion of this book at all. The Fairyloot edition of this book, that I read, was really pretty, but this will not be a series that I'll be recommending at all.

[Geertje ~ witchybookmom · Rating 2 out of 5]

thank god for the audiobook, I didn't have to sit down and read it with my eyes

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Aube Bruyneel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those rare books where words almost fail you. It is magical, mysterious, and deeply epic in a way that lingers long after you turn the final page.

This story made me feel everything. The worldbuilding is breathtaking, rich with wonder and secrets. The characters feel alive, and the quest at the heart of the story pulls you deeper and deeper into the world with every chapter.

Leilani is such a fascinating and complex FMC. I didn’t always agree with her choices…but I understood them. Her decisions raise questions, sometimes leading her down the wrong path, sometimes the right one. Yet there is always a purpose behind them, a goal guiding her forward, even when the way is uncertain.

That final choice completely caught me off guard. But the more I think about it, the more I wonder… was it truly her choice at all?

I finished this book with so many questions swirling in my mind, and now I desperately need book two in my hands for answers.

Reading this story felt almost ethereal at times, like stepping into a dream woven from starlight and fate. The entire experience reminded me of one piece of music that captures that same feeling perfectly: Lothlórien by Howard Shore.
✨🪞💜

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off… the cover of this book is absolutely stunning.

I wish the story had been equally enthralling. First, the beginning is a glossary of terms, places, and names. Without any context from reading the book, this is purely an infodump, and within the first page, my eyes glazed over. This is the perfect kind of thing to include in an Appendix at the end of the book. Not the beginning. Putting it at the beginning almost made me DNF before I even started. Everything in that section gets covered in the book anyway, so I’m really not sure why it was necessary. Getting the info organically throughout the story makes it much easier to retain anyway.

I also realize the stars are an important element of this book, but everything being “star-something” just got redundant and tiresome. Ultimately, I did DNF around 25%. The pace was so slow - most of it was all world-building.

I know this is meant to be book 1 of a series, so I will probably return to it once the second book is out. I may also try the audiobook to see if changing the format helps me retain some of the info. Really want to love this off the cover design alone. But books that feel like long prequels or set up for the story to continue in the next book(s) just aren’t doing it for me right now.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA/Aria, for an advance review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

[alivia ☆ · Rating 1 out of 5]

wow how many unlikable entitled characters can we fit into one book! read to find out!!!

yesss so much chemistry in the love triangle!! it was SO hard to choose who to root for between the xenophobic coward man 1 and xenophobic cheating man 2 😍😍 cant forget the super cute nicknames of “sparkles” and “peacock” 🥰 swoon🥰🥰😍😍

cant forget the fmc either! i love that she was a classist entitled brat with no loyalty whatsoever! my fav part was when she kissed her friend’s man and barely cared!! all while stringing along man 1!!! woohoo!!!

the story started off so confusing with all the moon-derived words. i dont get why fantasy books feel the need for make fantasy words for EVERYTHING. like man just say day or week… it makes it so hard to follow along at times when theres 500000 moon references in one paragraph

also the main group of characters never felt like they became friends?? it felt like they barely had any interaction throughout the book. even with blyze (man 2), they trauma dumped together like twice and then she was mooning over him??

also hard to sell the whole “omg my magic chips away my soul and makes me lose feelings and become evil” when the main character is unlikable off the bat… like girl u were already half way there?

[Ali · Rating 1 out of 5]

before i get to everything i hated— i will say, this has potential. it needs more edits and needs to be portrayed properly in terms of being a romantasy book. otherwise, this was not good.

started out strong, i enjoyed the prologue about the magic/world. thennnn starts first person pov (can netgalley please put the POV for books?) and i just got annoyed, this is VERY slow paced. now it wasn’t bad for first person pov but this is romantasy, not fantasy like some special edition book subs are pushing. i went into this thinking it would have older characters and be more mature, with a proper fantasy world building and magic system.

also….. every single chapter in the MMC’s POV could have been removed, they felt unnecessary and didn’t add much, i would have preferred to not know any of his thoughts regarding the quest or FMC, i think it would have made their tense relationship more appealing.

anyone saying this is LOTR adjacent makes me question if they ever read those books😭😭 yes there’s a plot to overthrow ancient evil with a group setting off together but …. this is like the author wanted to write a romantasy lotr but threw every trope to see what stuck, the evil doesn’t seem big, I felt no urgency within the plot, author tried to have the FMC wear a necklace “like the one ring” but it made no sense, half the book takes place in an icy mount range, but the magic system isn’t good. AND with unlikable side characters very much unlike lotr. the dynamic between our FMC and MMC was just enough to keep me reading

seriously why was every trope here😭 a pointless love triangle that made zero sense (like the author forced the FMC to like the 2nd LI), abusive dad that the mom is straight up blind to (lady that man is beating your child but you don’t know?? and we’re supposed to believe the FMC’s reasoning for wanting to save her mom who’s done jack shit for her?), the FMC is a martyr of a main character that is insufferable, hypocritical, selfish, and ofc is the chosen one, there’s horrible communication that if the author had more tact could be spun better, everyone hates each other is classist/xenophobic.

and the racism? was i just being sensitive? because half the thoughts of our main characters for awhile were about how everyone was beneath them and dirty blood and using slurs? like i get environment the main characters grew up in a very racist society towards outsiders but christttt i was uncomfortable. even when you think they started seeing how much they were lied to the MMC still calls their party members slurs in head after they’ve proven time and time again they’re the same as them😭

i’m not kidding the author FORCES the 2nd male love interest down our throats, whereas in actions and in writing there’s NO pull, no attraction, so it left me feeling annoyed and ruined the last 20% of the book for me.

also this didn’t read adult to me at all, just YA enough, so there’s that.

*ARC courtesy of netgalley*

[ThianeJansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Star · Rating 2 out of 5]

Updated Review: 2.5 rounded down. I mourn what this could have been without the romance. The world building is so, so good. You can tell alot of care was put into it. It was honestly the best part of the book for me. It still kept a lot of the repetitive item names and language from the ARC -- star cursed, star born, moon cake, moon, star stone, star staff, star necklace. SO MANY STARS it's everywhere. Despite that, the authors writing is very strong, and I want to read more from this author. I'll probably try the next book, especially since the story, history and world are set up now. The world and overall story feels like a fairytale. Not to mention they were going on a quest and combined with a chosen one trope with Sailor moon vibes. There's a lot about this to love. It all just comes down the overuse of a couple of words and the romance that affected my feelings towards this.

I keep hearing people want Romantasy with more world building, and well, this has it! I just wish the romance part of this was up to the level of literally everything else and it felt a little less like I was reading a YA novel.
--
ARC Review: 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.