Starlight and Storm

Compass and Blade #3

by Rachel Greenlaw

Mira is trapped in a deadly situation which could see the end of everything she has fought for. She must enter into one final desperate bargain, but this time, it’s with her greatest enemy, the ruling council. To save her life, her home, and the people she loves most, Mira is forced to compete in a series of terrifying trials filled with dark magic and dangerous monsters.

Her allies are scattered, her people without a home. With Eli lost in another world, Mira must shape herself into a weapon in order to survive. But with the true nature of the ruling council and their ambitions finally revealed, the battle for the future of the Fortunate Isles has become a war. And in war, there is only ever one victor . . .

Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance

Audible Audio

First published March 3, 2026

About the author

Rachel Greenlaw is the author of ONE CHRISTMAS MORNING, THE WOODSMOKE WOMEN'S BOOK OF SPELLS the COMPASS AND BLADE series and THE ORDEALS duology. She lives on an island in the middle of the Atlantic, where you'll find her wandering the white sand beaches, searching for cowrie shells and writing her next story.

For up to date information on Rachel's books, giveaways and news, sign up for her newsletter at https://rachelgreenlaw.com

And follow her on instagram and TikTok @rachelgreenlaw_ for a window into her world.

Reviews

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starlight and Storm is the third and final book in the Compass and Blade series. I’ve enjoyed the series and was excited to see how Greenlaw would wrap things up. I felt this was a satisfying conclusion that was well paced. This is one of those stories where having multiple POVs is essential. I’ve enjoyed watching Mira’s development journey. She’s grown so much as a character. I also love the world that Greenlaw created that blends sirens, witches, and humans. The audiobook narration was enjoyable. The narrator did well to balance the different POVs and making it clear which character was being featured. Overall, I’d recommend checking this series out.

ALC courtesy of Harlequin Audio

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟
I'm obsessed with these characters; world; lore and series. This series is one of the most criminally underrated series. Everyone needs to read it. It's one of the most well-crafted and intricate books I've read - let alone it being an amazing YA and coming age story.
The character arcs are genuinely insane and perfect. Also, even though some characters have little page time, I feel so attached to them. I love how the cast is large but highlights different personalities and cultures.
I liked how emotional and beautiful the romance was. It was such a small sub-plot but it added to the story. Eli and Mira are honestly so special because the author made me care about their individual stories as well as joint love story. They are the blueprint for a YA romance. Also, their personalities match each other so perfectly - it's aesthetic and jaw dropping. Even the side characters minimal romances tugged on my heartstrings like crazy.
This book (and series) contained some of the best action scenes I've read. I literally couldn't put this series down - it was so addictive and binge-able. I needed to know everything at once. The pacing was masterful - even but fast. Furthermore, I loved having 3 unique p.o.v's that I connected to and each held a completely different plot but interweaved perfectly.
Her writing is so atmospheric and enchanting. It's beautiful, raw and emotional without taking away from the story - just adding to how immersive it is. This is one of my favourite fantasy worlds for a reason. I swear she can't write a bad scene. The world-building and magic system is incredible as well. Her mind is on my rob list because I'm jealous of her talent.
🐉 read this if you like:
🧭 pirates, sirens, sea monsters, fantasy creatures, witches, shadow magic
🧭 intricate world-building
🧭 emotional romance as a (SUB-PLOT)
🧭 the best found family
🧭 historical fantasy
🧭 atmospheric writing
🧭 sacrifice and loyalty
🧭 addictive and binge-able fantasy books

[Elizabeth Merhi]

lovvvvved it
not what i expect though

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

So reflecting back on my final ratings: I gave the first book "Compass and Blade" 3 stars and the second book "Shadow and Tide" 3.5 stars. Comparing how I liked those with this one I am going to give this one 3.5 stars as well ⭐.

I am very conflicted with my thoughts on this one. I definitely liked it much better than the first in terms of the plot and fantasy/magical aspects. However, we loose the whole piratey, siren, swashbuckling thrill of the series in this book. It was more of a fantasy with magic and creatures like wyverns and drakes in terms of saving their world. I also felt like Mira's entire point of view in the first 75% of the book was an exact copy and past of the Hunger Games; which personally I was not vibing with. Now Brielle and Lowri's POVS were much better and I actually really enjoyed those a LOT!

I am kind of upset that all the romance was pretty much done in the second book. This had pretty much nothing, which is completely fine, but we lacked that little bit in there. If I could go back in time this wouldn't be a series I would rush or necessarily pick up again. I did enjoy it and had a good time, I don't think I will remember it too much though sadly. I DO REALLy like the covers, I think they are so cool and match super well! I am happy that everyone on the Fortunate Isles were able to by free again and rebuild their villages.

🐉🌩️⚡🧙‍♀️

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

Is it over 😭?? What a journey, I really fell inlove with this world and it’s complex, misunderstood and endearing characters. The story sadly concludes in this book with a lot unfolding.

I’m still a massive fan of multi POV especially in this book as our charactera are taking various paths that are all vital. There’s new creatures and worlds that expands the world building that little bit more and we get some hidden truths bought to light.

The story has a lot of heart and really captivated me, the way it all comes to a head, the magic and power was epic. I’m quite sad it’s come to an end but I’m satisfied with the ending even though I’ll hold out hope for a spin off or novella.

[Jenna Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen this a lot in fantasy trilogies: The plot is close and intimate in the first book, investing you in a few key characters and rich in suspense. But then, by the final book, character nuance takes a backseat to war, politics, giant casts that can be difficult to keep track of, and these grand, sweeping battles that make for epic scenery but just... aren't what drew me to the story in the first place. Like the characters get smaller to make way for The Cause, diminishing their individuality in favor of preachy inner monologues and fight scenes that stretch on for multiple chapters. I know some people are into this, and I can see how the cinematic nature of it may appeal to some. But it's not my cup of tea.

[Sifa Poulton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a review copy from the publisher as part of an interview over at UKYASpotlight. It has not affected my opinions.

Having sat with this series for a bit, I think the reason I've struggled so much with it (stress excepting) is that the series just constantly tosses out new ideas and ignores old ones. It doesn't feel like ideas from the previous book (or even the start of the current!) are revived, let alone built on. It's a constant stream of new things that don't feel set up and previous ideas never get their payoff because they don't come up again. And so you wonder why you should invest in the story if almost everything is discarded in favour of new shiny things.

A good example is the villain of this book. They come in about 20 pages into the end of B2, superseding the witches (who were the villains of B2) and the watch (who were the villains of B1 and we're in turn superseded by the witches.) It's a constant churn and so now you've got to care about these new people getting their comeuppance when none of the previous ones have. It's a broken trust between reader and author.

In SHADOW AND TIDE, Brielle was introduced as a new narrator and, here, we also get Lowri narrating in addition to Mira. There are at least character names in the chapter headings to make the switches less jarring (Mira is still first person while the others are third). However, it did feel like Mira got side-lined in this book. She has been the constant in the series, so it feels like it should be her story ultimately, all tying back to her and her emotional goals, but instead she feels like supporting cast to the two witches.

The pacing for this book was very good though - I raced through this one (unlike the other two). I'm not sure why this was the case - if anything, I felt like I was noticing the issues with the lack of payoff more now that I was three books in. Perhaps switching perspective so often helped as it meant that there was something happening somewhere, enough to pull the pacing along.

[Aura C · Rating 3 out of 5]

The atmosphere in this series continues to be its strongest feature. The world of the Fortunate Isles is rich, magical, and full of sea monsters, dark magic, ancient secrets, and high-stakes adventures. As an audiobook, the setting came alive beautifully, and I found myself easily swept into the story whenever I was listening.

Mira remains a character worth rooting for, and I appreciated seeing her growth as she faced impossible choices and fought for the people she loves. The found family elements, loyalty, sacrifice, and emotional moments all landed well, and there were several scenes that reminded me why I enjoyed this series in the first place.

That said, this final installment didn’t completely work for me. The pacing felt uneven at times, and while there was plenty happening, I never felt as emotionally invested as I wanted to be. Some storylines and character relationships felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting a little more depth and closure before reaching the end.

I listened to this one on audio, which definitely helped keep me engaged through the slower sections. The narration made the experience enjoyable, but I still found myself occasionally drifting and having to refocus on the plot.

Overall, this was a solid conclusion to a series with a wonderfully imaginative world. While it didn’t quite deliver the emotional impact I was hoping for, I’m glad I experienced Mira’s journey from beginning to end. If you enjoy YA fantasy with atmospheric worldbuilding, found family, magical trials, sea-inspired settings, and romance that stays in the background, this series is worth checking out. 📚✨🌊

[Luiza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bit of a bittersweet review for me because I absolutely loved the first two books in the Compass and Blade series, and they were easy 5 star reads for me. So my expectations for Starlight and Storm by Rachel Greenlaw were incredibly high.

Unfortunately, I struggled quite a bit with the structure of this instalment. The biggest challenge for me was the large number of POVs and the amount of characters competing for the spotlight. Because of that, it often felt like too many things were happening at the same time, without enough space for each storyline to fully develop. Several plotlines felt fragmented or rushed, and at times I felt like there were gaps in the narrative or that events happened without enough context or connection between them.

The overall style also felt quite different from the first two books, which personally didn’t work so well for me. The earlier instalments had a flow and focus that made them truly excellent reads.

That being said, there were still elements I really enjoyed. The themes of found family, strong female friendships, loyalty, and perseverance in pursuing your purpose were beautifully present throughout the story. And while the journey felt uneven at times, the conclusion itself was satisfying and offered a sense of closure for the characters.

Would I still recommend the series? Absolutely. The first two books are fantastic and well worth reading, and this final instalment still delivers a meaningful ending to the story.

*Thank you so much Netgalley, Harper Fire and HarperCollins for the gifted e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Booksy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Hearful Conclusion to a brilliant series!

If you followed Mira through Compass and Blade then you know the sea takes as much as it gives. In this final book Rachel Greenlaw gives us a conclusion that feels like a beautiful ache. It is a story about finding your way back to yourself when everything you love is at risk.

It is a deeply emotional look at sacrifice and the meaning of home. It captures that specific feeling of being lost between two worlds while trying to stay strong for the people you love.

Watching Mira transition from a girl running away to a leader standing her ground is empowering. Her journey is heavy with the weight of her choices.

This book is for anyone who has ever had to fight for their own peace. It is a bittersweet and lyrical end to a series that understands how much it costs to be brave. It leaves you feeling a little bruised but ultimately full of light and hope! Highly Recommend

*Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this amazing ARC and giving us a chance to read and review this early*

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll say this first because part of the problem is I came into this not realizing this was book 3 and it isn’t not in fact a series you can casually jump into book 3 without reading the others.

So while I was completely lost, I was also compelled to read it, even after I realized.

The audio was very clear and well produced. I feel like the narrator was a tad slow for my likely so I changed the speed to 3x and it still felt slower than I was eye reading. This isn’t one I would suggest immersive reading with for that reason.

The narrator did a good job differentiating the different characters during conversations and there weren’t any random pauses.

As for the story this is one I tried hard to get into but I was so lost that I don’t feel good giving a true review on its content. I think if I had read the whole series this would be a final book for the series and give it a true rating.

So my star review is solely for the audiobook. It gets a 3/5 stars.

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the audiobook

[MikeyReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75

A very, very solid conclusion to the trilogy that covers a lot of ground and perhaps lays the foundation for future stories in this world. Brielle really came into her own this book (after I struggled with her POV in Shadow and Tide) and I would love to see more of her in the future. Lowri’s chapters were a great addition to and, of course, my girl Mira was a phenomenal lead.

I do think the book could have been longer and I never really got the sense that Brielle and Rue (who is basically a cameo character at the start and the end) were interested in each other (even though the prose at the end claims them to be so).

What really shines through here is Rachel Greenlaw’s love for the Isles of Scilly (upon which the Fortunate Isles are based). It’s infused into every page, every sentence, every word. It radiates. And I hope she is proud of what she’s written because this was a very, very enjoyable trilogy.

[Charli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fantastic ending to an engaging and magical story.

Starlight and Storm was such an enjoyable read for me. I ended up giving it 4 stars because it struck a great balance between engaging storytelling and memorable characters. The cast was genuinely fun to follow, I found myself really caring about what happened to them and rooting for them the whole way through. This is a book with characters already developed through the previous books, so it was genuinely lovely to see them in their elements and achieving all that needed to be.

One of the highlights, as always,was the worldbuilding. It was well fleshed out without being overwhelming, and I never struggled to keep track of how everything worked and how characters interconnected, which made it easy to stay immersed in the story. Overall, it was a compelling and satisfying read that I’d definitely recommend.

[Carolyn Schaeperkoetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/25
Okay. I now feel as if the story has taken a sharp turn here from the last two books, even though The Trials have been previously mentioned in them. Seth's sudden death??!! Well that was anticlimactic. Now it seems we have a clone of The Hunger Games, but I'm playing the long game here, and I don't think it'll be exactly that. And I like learning about Clarus, the concept of facing that deepest part inside of you
6/26
Not a lot in terms of romance, but there sure is a lot of action and mystery here. Brielle being chased by hunters, Mira now playing court in the Trials, which proves to be a dangerous game, and Eli finding out more about the shadow world, of which there seems to be no escape. Stay tuned, folks.

[Beki W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dont know why it says its not out yet because it definitely is (UK at least)

I have loved this series from the start and what a way for it to finish. The characters are so well written and you are sucked into this world filled with sirens, wotches, magic and humans. I wasnt sure how it was going to end after the second book and this definitely was an awesome way for it to come to a conclusion! So much action, tense moments and deathly trials. Some of my favourite tropes.

Will forever reccomend this series with my whole chest 🤣

[Greer Rutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This tied together delightfully well! Mira's story ending was PHENOMENAL. Couldn't have asked for a better ending for Rosevar. It didn't overly neatly tie things up and explored the corruption of power very well.

I did finally grow to like Brielle and Lowry because I wasn't loving their storyline as much. They are not my fave as much as Mira but that might just be me loving the siren and sea life as a born ocean girly myself. Regardless... this was a well done conclusion, and I enjoyed this so much!!!

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a lovely ending to the series and very much didn’t expect it. while it wasn’t my favourite I still enjoyed the magic system and the storyline.
I will be on the lookout for more books by Rachel Greenlaw aswell!

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5* why do authors keep insisting on add POVs as the series goes on which just makes the story lose depth and end up feeling rushed as it doesn’t let you properly explore each plot point. IM SICK OF IT

[Sofia Dimas · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I should've re-read the other two because I had no clue what was going on for the first 100 pages. I think this, for me, was the weakest of the three but overall enjoyable and definitely more of a 3.5

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant end to the series. So much I did not expect and a lovely ending. Eli’s father’s world was interesting and provided a bit of insight into the magic and why witches burn out.

[Emma Renshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant conclusion to an epic adventure. I loved it, Five stars. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Rachel Greenlaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we are! The final book in the trilogy. Thank you so much to you, the readers for joining me on this wonderful journey!!

[Renee]

DNF @31%