The epic sequel to The Sky Called Her Home continues the Song of Stars trilogy—where love is a weapon, vengeance is sacred, and destiny always demands a cost.
Imprisoned in Kryntar Castle after Kael’s betrayal, Elyssara endures torment that blurs the line between nightmare and reality. In the shadows of her cell, she learns that some monsters wear human faces—and trust can be the cruellest illusion of all.
Kael Thorne traded her to save his sister. Now he’ll defy kings and gods alike to save the woman who haunts his every breath. But when he seeks support from allied kingdoms, he discovers that nothing is as it seems.
Wealth, memory, and royalty are the currencies of corruption—and Elyssara may be the only one who can set them right.
With the realms on the edge of ruin, her allies must descend into the Underbelly to recover an ancient tome, awaken a god to break an endless curse, and endure losses that will change the world forever.
But as long-buried secrets rise, alliances shift, and forgotten bloodlines return, one truth becomes clear: the cost of destiny is everything.
Because when light finds a home in the darkness… even the stars will tremble. A lush, lyrical epic where the magic is cosmic, the love is ruinous, and the prose cuts like a blade.
If you love: - morally grey, unhinged MMCs who would burn kingdoms for love - torment-to-triumph heroines - prophecy-driven destiny - dragons, witches, and quests - found family, vengeance arcs, devotional romance - celestial magic systems - banter and humor
…then The Darkness Remembered Her Name will ruin you in all the best ways.
Perfect for fans of The Plated Prisoner, Legends of Thezmarr, and The Empyrean Series, The Darkness Remembered Her Name delivers a sweeping romantasy steeped in obsessive devotion, brutal magic, dragon lore, witchcraft, and a heroine forged in both starlight and suffering.
B J Wilde is the author of The Sky Called Her Home & The Darkness Remembered Her Name — a lyrical, soul-stirring romantasy about magic, rebellion, and remembering who you are. She writes stories for the wild-hearted, lives by the sea in Australia, and believes art is how we remember.
If I could give this book more than five stars, I would.
There’s something about fantasy that mirrors a truth you already carry in your chest— the strength, the grief, the defiance.
The Darkness Remembered Her Name is steeped in that truth.
This world is shaped by the oppressed—survivors who refuse to be silenced, rebels bound by grief, purpose, and stubborn hope. BJ writes these echoes with such intention: the symbols, the histories, the quiet acts of resistance that feel painfully familiar. They’re never heavy-handed, never overshadowing the story. They move beneath it like an undercurrent—steady, powerful—until the plot crashes back over you and sweeps you straight into the storm book one left behind.
No easing in. No hesitation. Just: Run.
Elyssara — our starlight. Watching her face her demons, confront wounds she never asked for, and still find the strength to rise felt like witnessing someone remember the shape of their own soul. Her resilience isn’t easy or pretty. It’s jagged. Honest. Fought for. And that makes every moment of her healing feel earned.
Kael — our beast of a man. Every time he opens his mouth, it’s devotion. Longing. A love that stays steady even when the world does not. His strength is undeniable, but it was his restraint that undid me—the way he fought for Elyssara while giving her space to breathe, heal, and reclaim her power. He doesn’t just love her; he honors her. And that made me fall for him all over again.
The found family is everything. The shared history, the scars, the stubborn hope—they are the heartbeat of this story. Ronyn, my beloved silly goofy menace, still owns my entire heart. Seeing him step into his strength without losing that spark? Perfect.
And then there’s Jax. She wasn’t easy in book one, but that’s the beauty of her. She’s messy, flawed, hurting—human. She’s proof that a person cannot be measured by their scars alone, and that forgiveness—especially the kind we owe ourselves—is one of the hardest wars any of us will ever fight. Like Elyssara, I understand her. Deeply.
And through it all is BJ Wilde’s writing, which is its own kind of magic.
There’s a rare, luminous quality to her prose—as if every sentence is a breath exhaled directly onto the page. Her writing glows with its own heartbeat, equal parts fragile and fierce, carrying the weight of pain and the promise of hope in the same shimmering breath.
She doesn’t just create worlds; she animates them. Her stories feel inhabited—alive with spirit, memory, resistance, and love. Reading her work is like touching something sacred and startlingly human, something that reminds you why stories matter and why they endure.
Her words don’t just live on the page. They live in you.
Thank you for letting me ARC read another masterpiece. I can’t wait for the rest of the world to be changed by this story the way I was 🤍
'He tastes like war and worship. And I'm done pretending I want peace. I want ruin.'
Book one of the Song of Stars trilogy, The Sky Called Her Home, was the breath of wind, beautiful, stirring, creating a ripple in the water that turns into the tidal wave of book two, The Darkness Remembered Her Name.
These words... they are ruin and restitution, a sharpened blade, a call to war. Witchcraft, straight to the vein.
This is an fmc who not only refuses to be broken, but endures with a quiet fury. An mmc who repents with devotion and wrath. A found family whose loyalty is a vow.
This is horror and healing. Destruction and desperation. Rage and redemption. Solace and salvation. Love made worship. A soul deep intimacy that is emotional and raw.
This book reads like poetry. The world building unfolds in vivid detail, a sensory smorgasbord of sight, smell, sound and taste. This is true immersion, rich in metaphor, emotive and powerful.
Full to the brim with humour and shenanigans, cosmic chaos, unexpected revelations, fury, love, family, devastation and straight out AUDACITY, add this series to your tbrs if you are craving something just a little bit MORE. Something with depth and layers and meaning, something that feels like true art. Like folklore.
On a personal note - The Darkness Remembers Her Name immortalises words of mine on paper (spicy ones at that), and introduces a character who is named after me. Brit, I cannot put into words what this means to me. The fact that my words were included in a scene that is so incredibly heartfelt and beautiful, and to share a name with a character who is going to be a FORCE, fills my soul with Starlight.
Standing ovation Brit. It is an absolute fcking honour to be on this crazy ride with you.
What a whiplash of emotions. Britt didn’t just put my nervous system through it, she catapulted it into another dimension lol. I don’t even know how to describe the experience of reading this without laughing at myself, because I truly ran through the entire spectrum of human emotion in a matter of hours. I was glued to the edge of my seat the entire time… and yes, there was a very real imprint of my ass on this couch after devouring the book in basically one sitting. Zero regrets. 🤣
But Elyssara… my god. This woman has been through hell, and continues to walk through it, and every single time she emerges stronger, fiercer, more resilient. She doesn’t just survive, she rises. There’s a strength in her that I admire beyond words, something luminous and cosmic. She feels like a constellation made flesh, a brilliant, unstoppable force of nature I can’t help but be in awe of. A queen in every sense of the word, and somehow even more.
And the way she and Kael find their way back to each other? Heart. In. Shreds. Watching Kael slowly, steadily, fiercely earn back Elyssara’s trust was one of the most meaningful parts of this story for me. He never once wavered. It didn’t matter how long it took, how much patience or pain or persistence was required, he was hers, wholly and without question.
Then the plot twists?! The revelations?! My jaw lived on the floor. I swear, it was one hit after another, bam, bam, bam, and I never once knew what was coming next. Some reveals were exhilarating, some were devastating enough to make my chest physically ache, but every single one felt purposeful and powerful. The emotional payoff? Absolutely worth the journey.
I loved this. I inhaled it. That ending left me with hope, pride, and full body chills. I genuinely cannot wait to see where this story goes next. If Britt wanted to own my entire soul, she succeeded.
"Serve your king with courage, conviction, and no mercy. And get me my fucking Queen." . The magical world that B.J created in book one is followed up just as powerfully in book two. The absolute wizardry of her words will wrap you up in a lyrical cocoon, immersing you in a world in which you wish you existed, before it splits you open & has you begging for mercy on your knees. The character arcs in this book are well executed, the twists are devastating & the way the prophecy is woven so seamlessly in not only the first book, but also this book is nothing short of magic. . Book two begins right where we were left off, in the dungeons of Kryntar with Elyssara having recently been betrayed by the person she trusted the most, Kael. Elyssara is one of the most badass FMC's I've read in recent times. The darkness this woman has to overcome in her lifetime would buckle the best of us, but always firm by her side, on the other end of the tether is the devoted Kael. (Yes the betrayal will end up making sense.) He is everything you want in a MMC. Strong, fierce, loyal, patient, reverent, not afraid to be the bad guy, symmetrical & knows his way around a mirror. BUT, most of all, my favourite quality is that he is THERE for Elyssara. He knows how to hold space, how to comfort, how to walk alongside her, let her know she isn't alone. He emboldens her to be her truest self, despite any self doubts she might have, and when you get to the last 20% of the book, you see what a woman supported in her power can do! Kael is a shadow daddy with all the green flags!
One of the hardest things about reading so many fantasy books, it that sometimes the stories can start to feel a little bit the same - the plot, the tropes, the spicy scenes. And while you might find some elements familiar, (If you know Maxantarius & Tisaanah, or Slade Ravinger & Auren), but honestly TDRHN is truly in a world of its own. The pacing, the lore, the world building, the prophecy, ALL OF IT, a lyrical masterpiece that I predict will be devoured by many fantasy readers who will be like me, left begging for more. . I can't finish this review without a quick mention of the rest of the crew. Teddy gets a lot of air time & we get to see a side of him we haven't been introduced to yet. Seren & Ronyn have some pretty big things happen to each of them, the biggest character arcs of the book to be honest, & Jax actually became likeable! Be prepared for total immersion. You will laugh, you will definitely cry, you will be lost when it's all over, & you'll even have the urge to go & buy yourself a giant mirror. . Book 2 is released Dec 2025. A very honoured ARC reader. -------------------------------- Quotes
"No one is ever there. Not really. Not when I need them. Not when I'm the one who's breaking."
"But that's why we're different - I don't fear the dark, I fucking savor it."
"Rotting flesh mingles with the perfume still lingering on my gown, and it feels like a mirror for my life - sinister rot covered with pretty illusions."
"I am the wolf at your campfire, circling, waiting for the perfect moment to bare my teeth and rip your fucking throat out."
"Tyrants always call it protection when what they mean is control."
"Do you feel safe? Do you feel protected? Open your eyes! Power always rewrites its own crimes as safety."
"I want my woman, my war and my throne, and I'll meet the Final Gate before I back down."
"The body doesn't care about words. The body remembers."
"Darling, you think I'm afraid of monsters? I'm at home with them. I am one. The only souls who aren't monsters are the ones who deny what lurks within. I want all of you. I can handle you. Burden me with your rage and pain, Elyssara. Let me help you hold it."
"That's all it takes; remove everything that makes a person free - coin, strength, food, choice, knowledge - and then keep it just out of reach with a promise of 'soon'. And just like that, freedom becomes a cage."
✨ 𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎✨ The Darkness Remembered Her Name by B.J. Wilde
Every time B.J. Wilde releases something, my brain goes... oh, so sanity is gone today? Cool. 😂 So I had to sit with this one. Gather my scrambled thoughts because this was astonishingly good storytelling!!!
If you haven’t read The Sky Called Her Home, please fix that asap. Because once The Darkness Remembered Her Name hits Dec 15, you’re going to want to roll straight in..trust me.
There’s something unique about B.J. Wilde’s writing. It’s stunningly poetic, and it just grips me! I find myself losing time inside her storytelling. I feel every extreme on my emotional spectrum. It’s an experience that feels wholly unique to her books. It's a gift.
After the ending of TSCHH, I knew we were in for something wild with TDRHN, but she STILL surprised me. These character arcs aren’t small shifts.. they’re ground-shaking ones that will make these characters stand the test of time. Elyssara My girl went THROUGH IT. Every fear. Every nightmare. Every “I need to set this down” moment. And she still rises. Still fights. Still knows exactly who she is. I adore her. Respect her. Want to wrap her in a blanket and also watch her burn the world down. Kael Y’all… I thought I loved him in book one. No. THIS book shows the real Kael. His devotion, that reverence, the way he looks at her like she’s home AND holy ground.. I was unwell 😭 He is everything I want in an MMC. Ronyn My spirt animal /chaotic comfort character had an insane transformation but still was hilarious and optimistic. I would die for him 🥹 Teddy Still a badass ✔️ And that dance scene 🤭🤭 still cackling. Seren Her power, and her confidence were a wholevibe.. She's giving main character energy 👀 Death Shows up briefly. Somehow iconic. I’m obsessed.
This was such a powerful continuation of a breathtaking story. You will be on your toes. You will have butterflies and you will be destroyed in ways we readers cannot get enough of. It's phenomenal and I'm yearning for book three already. I never wish to be parted from these characters😭( pls tell me you heard that in Darcys voice😂
Thank you, Britt,for this incredible opportunity! 💚💚💚
5-star read! More people should pick this up! So a lot is happening and sometimes a bit to fast to my liking but the found family/the deception/ the magic/amazing world building/ mfc that would destroy worlds for our fmc.
The final book is releasing in may 2026 and i can’t wait
If book 1 was beautiful, captivating and magical.. Book 2 is devotion, war and ruin.
Bj Wilde doesn’t just write, she has a way of weaving words that hit you straight into your soul. I had goosebumps in certain scenes.
Kael is unwavering in his devotion and loyalty to Elyssara and his family. His patience and strength with all that happens was everything.
Elyssara remains fierce and unyielding. Her sharpness is her armour and I felt all she endured. She continues to embrace her sharp edges to become who she needs to be.
Ronyn.. chaotic, hilarious, perfect Ronyn cutting through the tension at every moment. Every story needs a Ronyn.
Forever grateful to be part of this incredible ARC team. To be mentioned in a book acknowledgments is just surreal.
There’s no other option than 5 and infinite stars for this book! Like it ripped my heart out, devastated me and remade it again. I would want to forever live in the story of Kael and Elyssara. I used to always think that nothing can be better than the first book in a series, my my does the author like to prove you wrong. My expectations have been exceeded and how. The emotions I felt during this book, it was a rollercoaster! I felt things I can’t even name at this point!
Let me start by saying what I loved about the book. The storyline is as gripping as ever. The character development was beautifully written. Not one steamy or romantic scene felt forced or rushed. Every thread had an end. And the biggest of all the writing, god her writing is magical! I’ve not read such a well written fantasy like this one I swear.
Let me talk about the negatives…well what are you waiting for??? There’s none! Didn’t you get it by now? I LOVED IT. LISTEN.. For a 500+ page book 2 in the series, you want answers to mysteries, you want answers regarding the magic systems, you want the enemies to lovers to LOVE, and you want action. And she DELIVERS. My heart genuinely believe I was doing cardio while I was reading this!
Elyssara heart and soul was already captured, but now her body is captured too. But during her time in captivity she finds a strange ally who will potentially aid her in escaping. But going back to the man who helped her get caught, how will she do that? But her friends are with that man as well. And even though they couldn’t break her spirit, her heart is broken. How is it going to mend? And then there’s the mission of saving her realm. Will she be able to mend what’s broken and claim what’s right fully hers???
Look no word can capture the essence of this devastatingly beautiful book. Like every word that Kael speaks is a prayer. Kael is the daddy of all the daddy’s out there. And Ronyn, he’s the absolute best part of this book!!! Please please do yourself a favour and READ THIS BOOK!!!!!
B. J. Wilde has done it again! The Darkness Remembered Her Name is book 2 in The Song of Stars trilogy. I was hooked from the first line, captivated completely, I couldn't for the life of me put this book down! If book one was an awakening then this is a reckoning!
The writing is stunningly poetic, she can take war and ruin and make it beautiful. I felt every single emotion as if it were my own, so raw and so real. Every single character, no matter how big or small, is so well rounded and so thoroughly fleshed out. You will find yourself wanting to be a part of this found family.
Elyssara is absolutely in her Aelin era. She has been through so much and built herself up from it. She's a phoenix rising from her ashes and she is stronger and more fierce than ever before.
Kael is a man yearning, pining and now repenting. Take every book boyfriend you have, throw them off the shelf, because Kael is the only one you'll need!
The way that these two find their way back to each other after everything they've both been through? I have never read a connection like the one they share, my heart has been torn apart, shredded and put back together all in the space of a book!
Every single page turn in this book was a punch in the face (some good and some devastating) we had twists and turns that I never saw coming and advanced the plot to places I could only dream to be! There is not a single word in the book that isn't there for a reason and this series is a work of pure literary genius!
The Darkness Remembered Her Name is releasing December 15th and if you haven't read book 1, The Sky Called Her Home yet what are you waiting for?!
This book held my heart hostage, took it on a roller coaster of emotion and has kept it forever. I love a book that makes me feel all the things, and this book delivered!
If the first book in The Song of Stars series, The Sky Called Her Home, was adventure and revelations, then The Darkness Remembered Her Name is ruin and redemption.
B.J. Wilde takes us back into the world of Aevryn, where she weaves this world in such a way that had my jaw dropping in awe of the beauty, and my nose wrinkling at the smell of those unwashed bodies. The characters I came to love in her first book are now snuggled into my heart, and through them, this book had me feeling ALL the feels!
From rage to jealousy to despair. From hope to ecstacy to joy. From hate to reverence to soul-deep love. This book will had me experiencing it all and then some, right alongside the characters. Real life tears were shed, and laughs were had out loud.
Our Elyssara goes THROUGH it. Her story takes her to the absolute brink of destruction, where trust is frayed and hope is an illusion. I love that her journey is not linear or simple. It is an ongoing push and pull. A re-learning.
Kael knows their path home to each other will be one of repentance, and he will do whatever he can to repair her trust in him, aid her healing, and reclaim her mind, body, heart and soul. "Because I will hold her together until she remembers how to do it herself."
My favourite found family add so much depth and laughs to this epic story. Their stories are engaging, important and epic, with incredible character arcs. We get to understand them better, we get to witness as they undergo mind-blowing evolutions, step into their power and enjoy bloody good banter.
All while overthrowing thrones, finding allies, dealing with traitors and fighting for their people and their thrones of course!
I love a story with layers, and The Darkness Remembered Her Name has many, with a plot that unfolds in a way that blew my mind, including a character reveal that had me snort out loud in disbelief. I love being surprised like that!
B.J writes with her whole heart and soul, with a talent for building worlds and characters that will have you hooked in and feeling all the feels. Then you'll be wanting to join them for a drink (and a dance) at the tavern or by the campfire, because you love them so much you want to be a part of the crew.
I felt a thousand shades of emotions and no less than thirty-two separate occasions of full body chills throughout The Darkness Remembered Her Name. I'm a very grateful ARC reader, and I think we'd better strap ourselves in, because I can't wait to see where B.J Wilde takes us next.
4.5 Stars. What an incredible second instalment in the Song of Stars trilogy — just wow!
"Darkness remembered her name, but it’s her light that will immortalize it."
The Darkness Remembered Her Name is a storm of emotions. Just when you think you’ve got a grasp on everything that’s happening and your emotions in check a tornado swoops in and you find yourself in another plot twist with your jaw on the floor, and holding your chest.
B.J Wilde takes you to new landscapes where secrets have you shocked and betrayals have you gasping! All of which are connected to the prophecy you follow so closely in The Sky Called Her Home, which in turn continues to evolve and take you to uncharted paths and new depths in book 2.
Like book one, book two is so beautifully written it is poetry on the pages with characters penned that are beyond devoted to one another its impossible to not be attached to the found family and love story that will literally burn down realms to be together.
Elyssara. Lightborne. Starbound. Queen. Duskae. You really are the spark left in the world and prove not only to yourself but all of those that underestimate you, that you will not yield. She is the definition of a fierce FMC that you would go to war for!
"I am not their wound anymore. I am the blade that will unmake them all."
Kael you truly showcase what sacrifice means and what true devotion looks like. This man has me all kinds of swooning! He will give up everything and every part of himself for the ones he loves and watching him prove this to El… urgh my heart!
"She isn’t just light. She’s the mirror of my shadow. The reason my war has a home to return to. "
And Ronyn! New favourite side character unlocked! The banter and the humour he brings is literally everything in this book guys!
Thank you Brit for letting me ARC read The Darkness Remembered Her Name, loved it and desperate for book 3 now!
I will love this book From now…Until the Stars claim me. 😭😭
This is a beautiful masterpiece of a book. The themes of trauma, healing, forgiveness, and CHOOSING to not let trauma build walls are impeccably written.
Elyssara goes through so much in this second installment of the Song of the Stars trilogy. I love her fierce spirit and refusal to break. Her refusal to let this define her.
Kael. 😭 Kael is amazing. His steadfast love and devotion makes this a love story for the ages. A love to surpass time itself.
The side characters are just as important to me as the main characters and I am so excited about where their stories are going!! This is the best found family. 😭
I love the plot and the lore so much and I’m so excited for the third and final installment in May! But also I don’t want it to end.
Tropes: ❤️MMC who would burn the world down for her 🗡️found family ❤️dragons & witches 🗡️perfect banter & humour ❤️prophecy-driven destiny
I am completely obsessed with this series. The writing is absolutely stunning; the prose is lush, lyrical, and emotionally devastating in the best way, with descriptions that feel both vivid and intentional.
Every element of the world and its magic is carefully explained without ever feeling heavy, and it makes the story incredibly immersive.
The characters are so well crafted—each one feels real, layered, and flawed, with distinct quirks, strengths, and weaknesses that make their choices hit harder.
The romance is beautifully woven into the story: emotional, intense, and deeply satisfying without overpowering the larger plot… and the mirror scene🪞? Absolutely unhinged in the best way.
The plot twists were clever, shocking, and genuinely earned, raising the stakes while expanding the world in such an exciting direction.
This book had me emotionally wrecked, in awe, and desperate for more. It truly deserves far more hype, and I cannot wait to see how everything unfolds in book three.
“I will love her until the stars claim me. Every second without her is like the air being stolen from my lungs.”
✨ Dual POV ✨ Star-bound mates ✨ Prophecies & ancient magic ✨ Rebuilding trust after betrayal ✨ Found family growth ✨ War, destiny, and heartache woven tight
This sequel feels like a love letter to Elyssara and Kael’s relationship - the good, the broken, the healing, all of it - set against the backdrop of a war that’s inching closer by the page. Where book one built tension, book two cracks them open and asks what survives when fate, fear, and history all want a say.
“There is no end to the way I want you, Elyssara. Every part of you. The broken, the bruised, the beautiful.”
Elyssara’s strength shines here: sharper, braver, more certain of who she is becoming. Kael? Still broody, still intense, still willing to burn the world down for her, but he’s also softer in painful, beautiful ways. Their connection feels deeper, rawer, and more intentional.
“He is my weakness. The chink in my armour. The one place I can’t fight my way out.”
The found family continues to be a highlight (Seren thrives, Ronyn steals scenes), and the world expands with history, bloodlines, and magic that raises the stakes every chapter. And the twists… honestly, they come rapid-fire. Like the book took personal offence at your emotional stability.
“Love would not be love without the risk of ruin.”
A powerful, emotional second instalment that is intimate, devastating, and clearly gearing up for a finale that’s going to wreck us beautifully.
Thank you to B.J. Wilde for gifting me this ARC ✨
Chaos, vibes, and opinions are all my own ✨ please give credit if you share.
This book ruined me in the best possible way. I literally cried, gasped, wept, and then giggled with glee - sometimes all within the same chapter.
If you read The Sky Called Her Home, you NEED this sequel. The way B.J. Wilde weaves Elyssara and Kael's story from where book one left us broken is nothing short of masterful. Without spoiling anything, watching these characters navigate the aftermath of that betrayal while the world burns around them?
The writing is lyrical and poetic without feeling like you're wading through Shakespeare - it flows naturally while still giving you lines that stop you in your tracks. "I won't spend another day withholding my heart for fear it'll break. The risk of it breaking is how I know this is love." I mean, come ON. That hit me right in the chest.
What really got me was the found family dynamics and how every character grew throughout this book. Seren's confidence arc particularly resonated with me, and the friendships here feel real and messy and earned. This isn't just about the romance (though Kael's devotion will absolutely wreck you) - it's about people choosing each other again and again despite everything.
As a writer, I'm in awe of the world-building here. It's immersive without info-dumping, and the way the prophecy threads through everything feels organic rather than forced. This is the kind of story-driven fantasy that made me fall in love with reading in the first place.
I genuinely couldn't pick up another book for days after finishing because nothing could match this calibre. If you miss getting completely lost in a book like we used to before adulting took over, please read this book. This series deserves to be shelved right next to Quicksilver and Legends of Thezmarr - it's criminally underhyped.
Fair warning: you will lose sleep, you will feel everything, and you will immediately need book three. This changed my whole perspective on why we love with our whole hearts despite the risk. Because that's the point, isn't it? The risk is how we know it's real.
B.J. Wilde, if you're reading this - you have years of understanding people and what draws us in, and it SHOWS. Thank you for reminding me why I love epic romance. Now excuse me while I go shove this book at everyone I know.
What a beautiful extension of this series this book is. After the events at the end of The Sky Called Her Home, I was sure my opinions of certain characters couldn’t be swayed but BJ Wilde did the impossible and made it so I could not only overlook the betrayals from book 1, but forgive those actions as well. This story and these characters are so well thought out and beautifully written, and you won’t be able to help but love them all.
Our girl Elyssara really goes through it in this one. There’s no sugar coating it. Things get dark and traumatic, but she not only finds a way to endure - she overcomes. I loved that Elyssara has moments of vulnerability, where she didn’t necessarily rise above but wallows. It made her so much more real, and it also made the moment she picks herself up that much more powerful. She’s truly a force to be reckoned with and I loved her journey here.
But as much as I love our main mc’s, the found family in this series truly shines. This cast of characters compliment each other so well and I’m just as invested in their individual storylines alongside Elyssara and Kael.
While there is more to come with this story, this book had a very satisfying conclusion. It was a breath of fresh air after the painful cliffhanger in book one and I really loved how powerful the last leg of this book was, and that so much was tied up so nicely.
What you can expect: •𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 •𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 •𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗳𝗺𝗰’𝘀 •𝗛𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 •𝗔 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝘀 •𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀 •𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 •𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺𝘀 •𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 •𝗟𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
From the very first page, B.J. Wilde enchants. Her writing is new, lush, lyrical, and emotive, carrying you through the story with ease, written not just to tell a story, but to make you feel it.
The plot for the second installment of The Song of Stars trilogy moves seamlessly, weaving surprises and revelations into the narrative with masterful timing. Twists land with both elegance and impact and just when you believe you’ve found your footing, the story shifts beneath you in a way that feels both shocking and inevitable.
This book is a roller-coaster of emotion in the best possible way. It brings tears, longing, heartbreak, and undeniable heat, all woven into a romance that feels deeply human despite its fantastical setting. The chemistry between Elassara and Kael flows from tender one moment, devastating the next, and always compelling.
The magic system is rich, cohesive, and intricately tied to the characters’ journeys. It’s the kind of world-building that makes you ache to stay longer: cultures that feel lived-in, landscapes that breathe, and lore that unfolds naturally through the story. Nothing is info-dumped, yet everything is vivid.
Each character is layered and flawed in the most captivating way. Their stories are intricately weaved, their fears feel real, and their growth is beautifully intertwined with the larger narrative.
This is the kind of fantasy romance that reminds you why you love the genre: immersive, heart-wrenching, magical, and unforgettable. A breathtaking read that lingers long after the final page
This story pulls you right back into Elyssara and Kael’s worlds after the cliffhanger of book 1. I enjoyed the first book in the series, but this next installment really takes things to the next level when it comes to the writing, the storytelling, the twists and turns, the intricate storylines and prophecy, the emotional nuance, and the character growth, to name a few. B.J. Wilde is a great writer and storyteller, and she really found her stride in this book. I can’t wait to reread it and re-immerse myself in this world.
There’s adventure, prophecy, sacrifice, found (chosen) family, quests, battles. But, the heart of it is the unwavering connection between Kael and Elyssara, even as they have to find their way back to themselves and to each other. It’s tender, heartfelt, sexy, steadfast, and emotionally vulnerable. And Kael really proves his unwavering commitment to Elyssara, even when she can’t accept or believe it at the start. Seeing them work to rebuild trust and forge an even stronger bond, is so rewarding.
This series stands beautifully on its own, but if you enjoyed Devney Perry’s ‘Shield of Sparrows’ or Danielle L. Jensen’s ‘The Bridge Kingdom’ with bada** heroines and down bad heroes, you do not want to miss this. Definitely recommend!
These books will have you thinking about them long after you finish turning the pages, and I can’t wait to see how she wraps up the trilogy. B.J. Wilde is definitely one to watch.
I am grateful to have received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The story continues with Elyssara’s rise & Kael’s heart. Good gods, these two.
Elyssara doesn’t crumble. She endures. She burns. She rises. Every betrayal, every burden, every step through the dark only makes her sharper—an unbreakable sword made flesh. She carries trauma and expectation without letting the world break her. Watching her reclaim herself after devastation was honestly the most powerful part of this book.
And Kael. The betrayal, the fallout, the tether between them—it aches.The yearning in this book is almost unbearable. But the way he continues to show patience, steadfastness, reverence…he doesn’t demand forgiveness; he earns it. He is willing to burn or bow if it means she stands taller. Their reunion is rough, raw & intimate, and worth EVERY page.
The expanded world-building and lore deepens the prophecy threads, and the side characters shine—Teddy’s arc was surprisingly craved, Seren and Ronyn’s growth hit and even Jax..reminds me A LOT of Imogen (if you know, you know).
The roller coaster rarely slows, leaving little room for breath. The final battle was EPIC (think The Riders of Rohan entering the chat at the battle of Helm’s Deep) leaving me with full-body chills and a spark of hope for our MC’s in book three.
I absolutely adore how B.J. Wilde writes: real characters with raw human emotion. She brings this epic fantasy with a love story to life with an authentic, emotional depth that I haven’t read elsewhere.
Incredibly honoured to receive an ARC for the second book in the Song of Stars Trilogy. We begin where we left off in Book 1 on the brink of war diving deep into the POVs of our favourite lead characters: our strong FMC, Elyssara, and MMC, her Starbound, swoon-worthy, Kael. What Elyssara must endure is traumatic – yes, she descends into darkness with nothing to anchor her however she also rises again with a repentant Kael by her side. His reverent dedication to not let her hold this alone yet letting her be the heroine of her own healing. Real, raw and honestly, so refreshingly authentic - pulling you deeper into the story and anticipating how this is all going to unfold.
The lyrical, poetic writing, the romance with intimacy that adds meaning, and the lore that continues the world-building – the magical system, the prophecy intertwined with fate, the associated relics, the exiled Gods, and the oppression the people suffer. Immensely rich in detail and with relevance in our world today. So, this isn’t just another romantasy book series – instead with Book 2, this is shaping up to be an amazing trilogy that takes you on an emotionally real journey as a reader with characters that you can’t help falling for.
Left wanting more, I can’t recommend this book highly enough – and will keep talking about it! Can’t wait for Book 3!
The Stars Called Her Home (book 1) was in my top 3 reads of the year, full of enchantment and lyrical writing, with such intelligence and a love so deep and unconditional it transcended everything - it was fantasy and light. The Darkness Remembered Her Name is its perfect match, but the shadow version. The first few chapters are emotionally intense with their darkness and pain (think: Aelin in the coffin), but all of it is necessary and becoming ❤️🩹
This entire book made me feel so much, the goosebumps were endless. Each character truly feels like a close friend, and the 🌶️ scenes were written to perfection, with techniques and energy that will stay with me for a long time 🥵 (I've never read these scenes with such beauty and heat before, there's also the perfect amount of it throughout the book, other books can be overbearing and unrealistic but this was perfect).
When the book seemingly ended around the 90% mark, I was very satisfied with the finale. But then it *really* ended (you'll see!) and I was left in utter awe 😮💨🔥
The acknowledgements were unlike anything I've read before - Britt is such an empowered woman, clearly living out her soul's purpose by sharing this channelled storytelling with wit, expertise, poetry, and skill 🙏🏼🤍 I thank you so much for sharing these gifts with us!
While this book felt like a warm-up for what's to come in the finale, it was enticing and captivating every single moment - full of twists, explanation, and rich storytelling, yet still leaving you hanging for more. I cannot wait for the final instalment! ❤️🔥
Firstly with one of the things I admire most about @bjwildewrites writing, the way she understands people. Their relationships, their complexity, their emotions and their truths. There's a rawness to the way she writes that is sooo honest and beautiful. The writing makes me laugh, makes me cry and touches something very real inside me.
This incredible world deepens and darkens in book 2 with all my favourite things from TSCHH still present but being built on. These characters feel real, layered, and unforgettable. I felt their pain, their sorrow and their moments of joy and light that is found in each other despite the darkness and heaviness that surrounds.
I love a found family and characters that you become invested in, especially when it extends to not only main FMC and MMCs but everyone else. My god tier series with an unforgettable found family is The Kingdom of Lies by Stacia Stark and now joining it... The Song of Stars Trilogy by @bjwildewrites In her own words this is "A story of meaning, reverence, and devotion"
Brit you are amazing. Your writing is divine. I could highlight every word you pour into your work and I am so incredibly grateful to have been a part of your journey and being able to ARC read for you. I cannot wait to get a physical trophy of this book to have and to treasure on my shelves and to continue to follow all you have to come!
This was an incredible sequel to The Sky Called Her Home. Honestly, this series is so underrated it hurts. From the very first chapter, this book brings you straight back into the world and refuses to let you go.
One of my favourite aspects of this book was the growth and development of the two main characters (Kael and Elyssara). Watching them come into their own, face their fears, and begin to understand both themselves (their relationship) and their abilities added so much depth to the story. Certain discoveries in relation to the magic system and the secrets woven into this world felt incredibly natural, they were layered at the right pace. Even with the introduction of new magic, new people, and deeper lore, nothing ever felt overwhelming or confusing, which is such a testament to the Wilde's storytelling.
The romance in this instalment is absolutely everything. It’s emotional, tender, and perfectly woven into the larger story rather than overpowering it. Every interaction feels earned and the connection between the characters deepens in such a satisfying, heart-aching way.
What also stood out to me, was the cast of characters. Each character is so well thought out and clearly serves a purpose within the story. Their individual personalities really shine in this book, making every perspective and interaction feel meaningful and real. No one feels like filler...everyone matters.
The only thing I could critisise is that some things within the book I was able to predict, however I do not think this takes away from the book in any way.
The Darkness Remembered Her Name expands on the already in-depth world, raises the stakes, and delivers an emotionally rich reading experience that left me thinking about this book long after I turned the final page. If you haven’t started this series yet, please do, it deserves so much more love than it currently receives!
💫“I thought survival meant keeping everyone out. But maybe healing means letting them in.”💫
This book was an emotional rollercoaster - in the best way. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the The Darkness Rememered Her Name, not long after I finished reading The Sky Called Her Home.
What I loved most in this book was Elyssara’s strength. She is so resilient as she is thrown more than one curveball in this book. Even in her darkest moments, she never loses that spark, and watching her and Kael find their way back to each other...so good. Their connection feels so real and earned- it’s maturely written, and you can feel every ounce of devotion Kael has for Elyssara, even when the odds are stacked against them.
🔥 The spice is immaculate - perfectly balanced with emotion that connects to the story and characters. The mirror, IYKYK. 🔥
Also some fantastic side characters. Ronyn steals the show for me. Every time he’s on the page, you can count on a laugh.
This sequel takes everything I loved about The Sky Called Her Home and turns it up a notch. There are higher stakes, deeper emotions and more character and relationship development. Thank you Britt for your beautiful words, characters and giving me the chance to read this in advance of the 15 December release! I'm on the edge of my seat for Book 3!
"Love would not be love without the risk of ruin. And still here we are." This book picks up from the beautifully laid ground work of book one and ran away with my emotions.The writing is deep, descriptive and poetic while keeping the story fast paced. Parts of this book were visceral, evocative, heart warming and even funny and I loved it all. The characters all continued to develop naturally and I loved finding out back story for some and having secrets revealed for others. Elysarra remains a strong fierce FMC despite everything she goes through "I wasn't born to appease men and play their silly games. I was born to rule them." Kael is still the ever protective and possessive MMC but by god does this man go to work in this book doing penance on his knees and I loved every moment of it. The Darkness Remembered Her Name is a sequel that soars. I loved the character arcs and the battle scenes and I can't wait to see how the trilogy wraps up.
If you love beautifully descriptive writing, reminiscent of Sarah A Parker or Rachel Gillig combined with fated mates, unique magic systems and devoted found family this series is for you. Check out book one The Sky Called Her Home with book two The Darkness Remembered Her Name out December 15th.
Thank you to the beautiful author for allowing me to share in this journey and read this as an eARC.
Devastating. Heartbreaking. Captivating. Addictive. Moody, unsettling, and threaded with tension, this is the kind of book that keeps you turning pages because you need answers… even if you’re not sure you’re ready for them.
The Darkness Remembered Her Name hurt in ways I wasn’t prepared for. This is not a soft fantasy. It’s heavy, raw, and emotionally brutal at times. The kind of story that sits in your chest while you’re reading and doesn’t leave straight after you finish.
The atmosphere is thick with unease from the very beginning. There’s this constant sense that something is wrong — that the past is watching, waiting. The tension never really lets up, and I found myself reading faster and faster just to make the discomfort stop… but also not wanting it to.
The main character is messy, broken, and painfully human. I didn’t agree with every choice she made — but I felt every one of them. Her pain is complicated. Her healing is not neat. And that’s what made it feel real. There were moments that genuinely made my chest ache.
The relationships are charged and unstable in the best way. Trust feels dangerous. Love feels risky. Everyone is carrying something, and it shows in how they hurt each other — and how they try (sometimes badly) to protect one another.
This book makes you sit in the confusion. It withholds answers. It lets the darkness linger. And when the truth finally starts to surface, it doesn’t arrive gently — it hits.
This is not a comfort read. It’s not light. It doesn’t wrap everything up neatly. It lingers after the final page.
B.J. Wilde's world building is incredible to say the least. She weaves a world for the imagination to bask in. The magic system feels truly mystical, otherworldly and honestly straight up spiritual. There are twists and turns around every corner and yet, they never feel random to the story.
The love story between Elyssara and Kael is electric. Their romance is devotional, and deeply healing. Their spicy scenes are sexy and so beautifully written. Every page is full of purpose. Each chapter deepens the story. Starforged and starbound.
An incredible sequel that grounds the story introduced in the first with deep layers of emotion, beauty, and triumph. Honestly this story is one of my favourites ever. And the second book is almost even better than the first.
I have come to adore every character in this found family so, so much. This book gave me such a heart expanding love and empathy for them all. Even for those characters that don't seem as easy to love at first, which is honestly such a gift.
This story is deep. The ending? Truly beautiful.
Even though I am sure there is much to come - trials and tribulations, triumphs and transcendence - this book left my heart feeling full.
I love you B.J. Wilde, thank you so much for writing this story.
The Darkness Remembered Her Name is the second book in the trilogy. The magical world that B.J created in book one is followed up just as powerfully in book two. Her words will wrap you up in a lyrical cocoon, immersing you in a world in which you wish you existed, before it splits you open & has you begging for mercy on your knees. The character arcs in this book are well executed, the twists are devastating & the way the prophecy is woven so seamlessly in not only the first book, but also this book is nothing short of magic itself.
This world is shaped by the oppressed—survivors who refuse to be silenced, rebels bound by grief, purpose, and stubborn hope. BJ writes these echoes with such intention: the symbols, the histories, the quiet acts of resistance that feel painfully familiar. They’re never heavy-handed, never overshadowing the story. They move beneath it like an undercurrent—steady, powerful—until the plot crashes back over you and sweeps you straight into the storm book one left behind.
Then the plot twists?! The revelations?! My jaw lived on the floor. I swear, it was one hit after another, bam, bam, bam, and I never once knew what was coming next. Some reveals were exhilarating, some were devastating enough to make my chest physically ache, but every single one felt purposeful and powerful. The emotional payoff? Absolutely worth the journey.
One of the hardest things about reading so many fantasy books, it that sometimes the stories can start to feel a little bit the same - the plot, the tropes, the spicy scenes. But honestly The Darkness Remembered Her Name is truly in a world of its own. The pacing, the lore, the world building, the prophecy, ALL OF IT, a lyrical masterpiece that I predict will be devoured by many fantasy readers who will be like me, left begging for more.
Be prepared for total immersion. You will laugh, you will definitely cry, you will be lost when it's all over, & you'll even have the urge to go & buy yourself a giant mirror.
This is the second book in the Song of Stars Trilogy which follows the story of Elyssara as she navigates a realm on the edge of war, a cursed wasteland of buried truths, and a shadowweave warrior sworn to kill what she is destined to become. Book 2 picks up right where Book 1 left off (pure devastation) and "as long-buried secrets rise, alliances shift, and forgotten bloodlines return, one truth becomes clear: the cost of destiny is everything. Because when light finds a home in the darkness... even the stars will tremble."
✨My Thoughts✨
Well folks, @bjwildewrites has done it again. The second instalment in the Song of Stars Trilogy is filled with humour, heartbreak & an epic story delivered in BJs signature lyrical prose. These books read like poetry and should be added to your TBR immediately!
The plot is well balanced with action & world building. And BJ doesn't just write spice, she paints a picture of intimacy that is equal parts emotive and really f'ing hot. The redemption arc is beautiful & the found family in this book is just so so good.
What to expect: ✨Found Family ✨ Prophecy ✨Badass FMC ✨Hidden identity/magic ✨Lost Memories ✨Fated Mates ✨Dragons ✨Political Games/Rebellion ✨Banter & lols
Brit has created an absolute masterpiece and I’m calling it now — She’s on her way to becoming one of the iconics. The kind of bestselling author we’ll be recommending for generations to come. Her writing isn’t trending, it’s timeless. She is a true artist of words.
The Writing — Powerful, lyrical, perfection. Her prose feels alive, like every story has its own heartbeat. The Story — Strap in. You’re about to feel every emotion possible and come out the other side a different person. It’s haunting, it’s heartbreaking, it’s healing. The Characters — Every single character is carved with intention. This cast is genuinely one of the best I’ve read — Your love, hate and obsession with them… it’s visceral. The Spice — I don’t think I’ve ever said this before, but it never takes from the storyline, it only enhances it. It’s raw, real — it’s devotion.
This series is already cementing itself as a favourite and I cannot wait to have book three in my hands.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read an ARC Brit 🤍