What do you think?
Rate this book
A Bride of Fallen Stars
Hidden passageways, secret meetings at midnight, five courts, a glass dance, and a tender-hearted mortal king in search of a wife, A BRIDE OF FALLEN STARS begins the BROKEN CONSTELLATIONS DUET. Perfect for fans of Once Upon a Broken Heart or closed-door romance that feels like a fairytale.
Cora and Adele were meant to inherit the heavens together, ruling as twin stars. But on the night of their ascension, Adele shatters the bond between them and steals the sky for herself.
In doing so, she unknowingly unleashes an ancient beast her sister had kept hidden in her veins. Once a bloodthirsty king, the creature takes a mortal host as it claws its way back to power.
Cora has fourteen nights to find him among the five mortal courts before he grows strong enough that the stars go dark forever. To do this, she aligns herself with the mortal king her sister once loved—posing as his Fallen Bride—for the duration of the Festival of Fourteen Nights, a season of masks and music honoring the beast’s fall centuries ago. They will search between dances and dinners, in secret passageways and glassy lakes, to find an ancient evil before the skies fall.
This year’s Festival of Fourteen Nights promises to be a ruinously romantic one. We hope you can attend.
Cora and Adele were meant to inherit the heavens together, ruling as twin stars. But on the night of their ascension, Adele shatters the bond between them and steals the sky for herself.
In doing so, she unknowingly unleashes an ancient beast her sister had kept hidden in her veins. Once a bloodthirsty king, the creature takes a mortal host as it claws its way back to power.
Cora has fourteen nights to find him among the five mortal courts before he grows strong enough that the stars go dark forever. To do this, she aligns herself with the mortal king her sister once loved—posing as his Fallen Bride—for the duration of the Festival of Fourteen Nights, a season of masks and music honoring the beast’s fall centuries ago. They will search between dances and dinners, in secret passageways and glassy lakes, to find an ancient evil before the skies fall.
This year’s Festival of Fourteen Nights promises to be a ruinously romantic one. We hope you can attend.
473 pages, Paperback
Published March 23, 2026
About the author
Victoria McCombs
27 books1,205 followersVictoria McCombs is the author of many YA novels, with hopefully many more to come. All her stories are no spice with no language or gore. She’s drawn to stories of stubborn courage, dangerous romance, and atmospheres thick with fairytale intrigue. When she isn’t drafting, she can be found raising four wildlings with her husband in Omaha, Nebraska, fueled by hazelnut coffee and an unwavering respect for her deadlines.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
Did Not Finish
August 14, 2026DNF due to dark & occult themes that went against my personal convictions
Content: astrology/“reading the stars” and finding omens in them, mentions of blood magic, queens who are essentially treated like goddesses, and the character referred to as “the Light” is actually the bad guy 😮💨 There was more, but those were the biggest hard nos for me.
This one was just really uncomfortable for me 😭
Content: astrology/“reading the stars” and finding omens in them, mentions of blood magic, queens who are essentially treated like goddesses, and the character referred to as “the Light” is actually the bad guy 😮💨 There was more, but those were the biggest hard nos for me.
This one was just really uncomfortable for me 😭
priority-tbr
August 4, 2026── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
ִֶָ. 𓂃˖꣹ pre-read ꧔⟢ ִֶָ࿐
"A king loved a star. But when he needed a celestial bride, the wrong sister fell."
i first saw this book on pinterest. immediately fell in love with the cover (hullo!? it's gorjisss)
but the blurb was what actually caught my attention instantly. (tho icl i skim-read it cs i'm such a spoiler magnet and i didn't want to take any chances lolol). but i think i got the gist of it? stars, hidden passageways, secret meetings and glass dance. bottom line? my dream book basically
the blurb also hints at a love triangle but i actually really don't mind love triangles (the opposite, actually- provided they're well written ofc lol).
mpb, i think i'll actually eat this uppp😋🤍
safe to say, my expectations are very high hehe🫡
ִֶָ. 𓂃˖꣹ pre-read ꧔⟢ ִֶָ࿐
"A king loved a star. But when he needed a celestial bride, the wrong sister fell."
i first saw this book on pinterest. immediately fell in love with the cover (hullo!? it's gorjisss)
but the blurb was what actually caught my attention instantly. (tho icl i skim-read it cs i'm such a spoiler magnet and i didn't want to take any chances lolol). but i think i got the gist of it? stars, hidden passageways, secret meetings and glass dance. bottom line? my dream book basically
the blurb also hints at a love triangle but i actually really don't mind love triangles (the opposite, actually- provided they're well written ofc lol).
mpb, i think i'll actually eat this uppp😋🤍
safe to say, my expectations are very high hehe🫡
August 14, 2026
This was a hard no for me.
There are very occult, dark magic themes especially in the first quarter of the book. Not something I love but also personally for me not something I will DNF over unless it’s extreme. It didn’t cross the line for me but I know many that it would have, and it was still annoying to have in the story nonetheless.
Let me back up for a second, this is a clean, no spice fantasy and it’s written by a Christian author, not a Christian book but suppose to be written by a Christian author. I was expecting a very clear and concise good and evil throughout the story because of that and it came up at times but it wasn’t the easiest thing to decipher which bothered me. Along with that the world building of this book was a bit confusing for me to follow. There was also a lot happening but nothing really happening at all until the end, which really annoys me in fantasy books.
Also Y’all. The big trope of this is imma get with my sister’s ex. That’s gross. Why is this a trope in any book??? Along with that the whole reason why in the beginning was for revenge, while that dissipated quickly with the FMC, I don’t think it was done well or really had any reason we were shown. The romance also moved super quickly and we didn’t really see why it should, which again annoying.
Now here is my biggest qualm with this book. This is labeled as YA, Young adults book are geared toward and marketed toward 12-18 year old. While this was no spice, it had some very sensual scenes that were in no way appropriate for this age group! Along with sexual longing, and needing of the MMC shown and thought, and the FMC thinking to herself she’ll do anything to get this guy to keep looking at her like that as she’s stripping off some of her clothes. HARD STOP. As a momma of 3 little girls, I’m appalled honestly that a clean fantasy author who is Christian would target something so sensual towards my children. This frustrates me to no end that I even have to worry about what toxic, inappropriate content is being pushed at my kids in the clean and Christian space. If this were written and directed as an adult clean fantasy romance, I still wouldn’t have loved it but I would have had a lot less problems and anger towards the book.
❗️Content & Trigger Warnings: some mentions of torture(briefly detailed), star magic, stars being worshiped by other stars as goddesses, magical flashbacks for the villain, blood, evil being taking a human host, evil beings essence consuming someone’s heart to pure darkness talked about, sensual kisses described, partly undressing in front of MMC, mentions of people spending the night in their bedchamber together, talk of turning each other on to each other, violence, revenge, toxic unhealthy romance shown.
There are very occult, dark magic themes especially in the first quarter of the book. Not something I love but also personally for me not something I will DNF over unless it’s extreme. It didn’t cross the line for me but I know many that it would have, and it was still annoying to have in the story nonetheless.
Let me back up for a second, this is a clean, no spice fantasy and it’s written by a Christian author, not a Christian book but suppose to be written by a Christian author. I was expecting a very clear and concise good and evil throughout the story because of that and it came up at times but it wasn’t the easiest thing to decipher which bothered me. Along with that the world building of this book was a bit confusing for me to follow. There was also a lot happening but nothing really happening at all until the end, which really annoys me in fantasy books.
Also Y’all. The big trope of this is imma get with my sister’s ex. That’s gross. Why is this a trope in any book??? Along with that the whole reason why in the beginning was for revenge, while that dissipated quickly with the FMC, I don’t think it was done well or really had any reason we were shown. The romance also moved super quickly and we didn’t really see why it should, which again annoying.
Now here is my biggest qualm with this book. This is labeled as YA, Young adults book are geared toward and marketed toward 12-18 year old. While this was no spice, it had some very sensual scenes that were in no way appropriate for this age group! Along with sexual longing, and needing of the MMC shown and thought, and the FMC thinking to herself she’ll do anything to get this guy to keep looking at her like that as she’s stripping off some of her clothes. HARD STOP. As a momma of 3 little girls, I’m appalled honestly that a clean fantasy author who is Christian would target something so sensual towards my children. This frustrates me to no end that I even have to worry about what toxic, inappropriate content is being pushed at my kids in the clean and Christian space. If this were written and directed as an adult clean fantasy romance, I still wouldn’t have loved it but I would have had a lot less problems and anger towards the book.
❗️Content & Trigger Warnings: some mentions of torture(briefly detailed), star magic, stars being worshiped by other stars as goddesses, magical flashbacks for the villain, blood, evil being taking a human host, evil beings essence consuming someone’s heart to pure darkness talked about, sensual kisses described, partly undressing in front of MMC, mentions of people spending the night in their bedchamber together, talk of turning each other on to each other, violence, revenge, toxic unhealthy romance shown.
June 16, 2026
This felt like a painting mixed with a symphony mixed with a ballet mixed with an opera mixed with a poem. In short, it was a work of art.
Every single sentence of A Bride of Fallen Stars is music to the reader's mind, a rich, vivid, incredibly descriptive setting brimming with magic, mystery, and the essence of fantasy itself.
With the incredibly luxurious courts, Victoria McCombs invites the reader into a stunning setting beyond their wildest dreams...a world of fallen stars, incredible magic, heart-wrenching relationships, and a fantastically creative world. The prose and imagery were just beautiful.
The setting alone was one of the best I have ever read, and I was completely and utterly transported into this world of pure imagination.
Normally, I dislike fantasy FMCs, but I actually really enjoyed Cora's growth into her confidence, her determination to do what was right, and her celestial nature. It was so lovely that she was calm and competent, but still cared and could fall in love.
Darius was a fantastic love interest; we need more king, bookish, glasses-wearing kings who care about their subjects! One thousand yesses!
Odette was amazing, and so were Adele and the other stars.
And the plot twist at the end?! Gah! Was. Not. Expecting. It. How am I supposed to wait until January for the sequel?
Also, this cover might be my favorite of the year! It is absolutely gorgeous, and I cannot wait to see the sequel.
If you are a fantasy fanatic or a lover of immersive worldbuilding, you absolutely must pick up this thrilling escape into a world far better than Caraval or Once Upon a Broken Heart. Both of those can be kicked out of the heavens with this new arrival.
My only critiques were that it was difficult to keep track of the five courts, both mortal and immortal, and I couldn't tell if Darius was the king over all mortals, or just the Court of Hearts. Additionally, it got a tiny bit repetitive when they attended all the dances and courts. Mainly, the setting, plot, FMC, and MMC carried the entire book, which I wasn't mad about. Normally, I am a fairly critical reader, but I was here for the vibes and loved them.
Review Edit: I originally had this at 4.5 stars rounded up, but after looking back, it's going to 4. While I absolutely love the vibes of this story and how Victoria handles fantasy, it just didn't stick as much in my mind as I thought it would and didn't meet a 5-star level.
Content:
Completely clean! Just some sword-fighting violence. I am beyond thrilled to have an auto-buy fantasy author who delivers every single time on the worldbuilding, entertainment, and vibes without sacrificing for content. I never felt guilty reading this, as I did with Caraval.
Every single sentence of A Bride of Fallen Stars is music to the reader's mind, a rich, vivid, incredibly descriptive setting brimming with magic, mystery, and the essence of fantasy itself.
With the incredibly luxurious courts, Victoria McCombs invites the reader into a stunning setting beyond their wildest dreams...a world of fallen stars, incredible magic, heart-wrenching relationships, and a fantastically creative world. The prose and imagery were just beautiful.
The setting alone was one of the best I have ever read, and I was completely and utterly transported into this world of pure imagination.
Normally, I dislike fantasy FMCs, but I actually really enjoyed Cora's growth into her confidence, her determination to do what was right, and her celestial nature. It was so lovely that she was calm and competent, but still cared and could fall in love.
Darius was a fantastic love interest; we need more king, bookish, glasses-wearing kings who care about their subjects! One thousand yesses!
Odette was amazing, and so were Adele and the other stars.
And the plot twist at the end?! Gah! Was. Not. Expecting. It. How am I supposed to wait until January for the sequel?
Also, this cover might be my favorite of the year! It is absolutely gorgeous, and I cannot wait to see the sequel.
If you are a fantasy fanatic or a lover of immersive worldbuilding, you absolutely must pick up this thrilling escape into a world far better than Caraval or Once Upon a Broken Heart. Both of those can be kicked out of the heavens with this new arrival.
My only critiques were that it was difficult to keep track of the five courts, both mortal and immortal, and I couldn't tell if Darius was the king over all mortals, or just the Court of Hearts. Additionally, it got a tiny bit repetitive when they attended all the dances and courts. Mainly, the setting, plot, FMC, and MMC carried the entire book, which I wasn't mad about. Normally, I am a fairly critical reader, but I was here for the vibes and loved them.
Review Edit: I originally had this at 4.5 stars rounded up, but after looking back, it's going to 4. While I absolutely love the vibes of this story and how Victoria handles fantasy, it just didn't stick as much in my mind as I thought it would and didn't meet a 5-star level.
Content:
Completely clean! Just some sword-fighting violence. I am beyond thrilled to have an auto-buy fantasy author who delivers every single time on the worldbuilding, entertainment, and vibes without sacrificing for content. I never felt guilty reading this, as I did with Caraval.
April 25, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
One of my favorite books by this author so far! I absolutely loved the setting, and while I would have loved more detailed world building, I was able to imagine the star courts really well. This is a fun story with a relationship. The ending wasn’t a huge cliff hanger for me (I thought everyone already knew what the big “reveal” was), but I am still so excited for the next book!
One of my favorite books by this author so far! I absolutely loved the setting, and while I would have loved more detailed world building, I was able to imagine the star courts really well. This is a fun story with a relationship. The ending wasn’t a huge cliff hanger for me (I thought everyone already knew what the big “reveal” was), but I am still so excited for the next book!
May 11, 2026
Okay, I am so in love with this romantasy with its beautiful celestial magic system and the sweet marriage of convenience filled will protective caretaking. The whimsy of the magic system put a lovely spin on the magic we love in a romantasy world. I loved how the stars are royalty and the dynamic between the stars and the human world ran by a human king. This sweet allies to lovers was more adorable than I could have ever imagined with genuine care between them and stolen kisses that meant more than the show they put on for the courts. And, the sweet sacrificial romance. 💞 The twists. Oh the twists 🥺
This book left me staring, jaw dropped 🥺 in the best way though! I don’t even know what to say about that ending except that I don’t think I was breathing the last 10% of the book 🤭 I’m going to need book two immediately!
💜 Marriage of Convenience
💜 Fallen Queen Goddess
💜 Betrayal
💜 Royal Balls
💜 Sweet Flirty Banter
💜 Celestial Based Magic
💜 Mortal Courts
💜 Celestial Court
💜 Magic Letter Writing
💜 Stolen Hidden Passageway Moments
💜 Questionable Allies
💜 Court Intrigue
💜 Twists
💜 Adult Characters
🫑🫑 no spice, kisses only, closed door, steamy tension
No Language
This book left me staring, jaw dropped 🥺 in the best way though! I don’t even know what to say about that ending except that I don’t think I was breathing the last 10% of the book 🤭 I’m going to need book two immediately!
💜 Marriage of Convenience
💜 Fallen Queen Goddess
💜 Betrayal
💜 Royal Balls
💜 Sweet Flirty Banter
💜 Celestial Based Magic
💜 Mortal Courts
💜 Celestial Court
💜 Magic Letter Writing
💜 Stolen Hidden Passageway Moments
💜 Questionable Allies
💜 Court Intrigue
💜 Twists
💜 Adult Characters
🫑🫑 no spice, kisses only, closed door, steamy tension
No Language
![Profile Image for Jacquelyn 💐 {This Rapunzel Reads} [Jesus Christ, my Living Hope].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1783567243i/169222098._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
April 16, 2026
3.5 stars. First, WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? Okay, I absolutely love this cover and is the reason I bought it. I’ve never read anything by Victoria McCombs before. This was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it. I was very confused for most of it. All of the stars and their powers and all of that stuff was really confusing and a lot to process. It was a bit weird too. I didn’t really understand the whole beast being trapped in her veins. I’m very wary when it comes to fallen stars and things like that as a Christian. I liked Cora. She was a strong and brave character. I really liked Darius. The two of them were perfect for each other and I was cheering them on from the start. It was a bit weird that he and her sister were together before. I didn’t like that. There was a bit too much kissing in my opinion. It was also quite violent in certain parts. I don’t know how to summon up this book really. There’s so much that happened and so many things that didn’t get answered. I’ll probably read the second book to see what happens next, but I don’t think I’ll read anymore by this author.
March 14, 2026
What a story! I was hardly able to put this one down and every time I had to the story just kept returning to my mind over and over again as I wondered what would happen next, and when I would be able to sit down and read again… but also I wasn’t ready for it to be over either. That ending had me dying for book two!
If you have read any of Victoria’s books then you know that her books just keep getting better and better somehow. I’m slowly collecting her older books because I want to own them all. This one definitely did not disappoint.
The idea of stars ruling as kings and queens is so intriguing to me. I’m still trying to wrap my head around all that I just read. Darius is my favorite character in this book and I need to know what happens next. Cora has such a soft heart and so many hard decisions to make throughout this story. Everyone thinks she’s weak but she’s been carrying a huge and dangerous burden all of these years and no one even realizes. I’m so eager to see where the story will take us next…
If you like reading books with things like:
•stars ruling as kings and queens
•secrets
•romance
•no spice
•five intriguing courts
•deception
•a mortal king in search of a wife
•beautiful descriptions
•sacrificial love
•good fighting against evil
…then you will love this one!
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
•••
March 27, 2026
“A Bride of Fallen Stars” by Victoria McCombs is an awesome new closed-door fantasy! It is the first book in the “Broken Constellations Duet.” I love the lush descriptions, unique and imaginative world, and storyline. It gave me “Once Upon a Broken Heart” vibes. I love the concept of characters who are stars and have special powers. Everything felt like it was out of a dream or a fairytale. I love how many balls there are, especially a masked ball. There is a whole mythology around this world that is fascinating. The romance is amazing! I could feel the chemistry between the two characters. In true McComb’s fashion, there were some great jaw-dropping moments. The Nightling is a great villain that we learn more about, mostly through flashbacks. I love the theme of light verses the dark. The book also has beautiful artwork. And what a cliffhanger!! I cannot wait for book two!
Content: I give this book a low PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: blood, gore, and torture (nothing too intense).
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Content: I give this book a low PG-13 rating. Some examples of the content: blood, gore, and torture (nothing too intense).
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
![Profile Image for Sara [semi ia].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1778364444i/184595227._UY200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
March 28, 2026
EEK the cover is so gorgeous!!!
im so excited for it!!!
The premise too??
I’m seated 🤭
Edit:
I finished it!!
im so excited for it!!!
The premise too??
I’m seated 🤭
Edit:
I finished it!!
Did Not Finish
August 13, 2026I’m sad to say I end up DNFing this book at 44%. Not because the book was bad or that I wasn’t enjoying it, I was actually loving it so much and it was looking like a 5⭐️ read for me. I just found out today that she uses AI for her artwork and I’m totally against that! I’m all for human artists and supporting them! I also feel like if you are okay using AI artwork then you would be okay in using AI to help you write the book and all of that is a hard no to me! This makes me so sad because I was loving this book so much and thought it was such a unique concept for a fantasy!😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all, thanks so much to Victoria McCombs for allowing me to read this before its release day!! I was thrilled to pick up my first arc 😌
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✢✢♕✢✢⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 by 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝒊𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐬
My Rating: 3.25 ★★★★
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
First of all, I really love Victoria McCombs as an author. I really enjoyed her Mortal Queens duology, and I also did enjoy Rune. She is an excellent fantasy author, and the concepts behind her books are always very interesting.
Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I wasn't really that invested in the characters, and the romance aspect was too insta-love for my personal tastes. I did love that the FMC wasn't quite as headstrong as in other books of McCombs'. Sometimes I feel like her girl main characters are a little too rash in their decision making lol.
The world was interesting, and in many ways it reminded me of Mortal Queens. I was not able to grasp this world though as clearly as I did in Mortal Queens. It was so...fantastical. Which is great, but I feel like the magic/world building could have been explained a bit better. There were a few instances where our main character would switch settings, but her moving from one place to another wasn't included. I was confused several times because I couldn't remember how we got from one place to another.
The romance aspect was sweet, but it was too instant for my tastes. Cora fell for Darius really quickly, and both of their plans to keep their relationship "business-like" were just forgotten. I feel like the romance was based more upon attraction and passion than actually getting to know one another.
All of that being said, I am curious to see what happens in the next book! Sadly, I picked this one up BEFORE realizing there was a cliffhanger (whoops) and I am eagerly awaiting book two.
𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 14+ for some passionate kissing.
➸𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭
Sexual
One mention of "not yet wanting to ruin someone's reputation" when a female character takes off an outer layer of clothing. A female character says she needs to "know a man better" before showing him her thigh. A female character puts her hands under a man's shirt to treat a wound. (not sexual). Some passionate kissing. One man kisses a woman up her arm and on her neck. One mention of a man and woman "sharing nights together" and remembering it. One man says he and a woman could find "plenty of ways to enjoy themselves" A male and female character feel each other's hair while kissing. A mention of thoughts drifting places they shouldn't.
Violence
Not a crazy amount. There is one mention of "flesh parting." There are some mentions of stabbing and clawing. A few mentions of blood and wounds. Nothing really sticks out as particularly gory.
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬?
Yes, if you enjoy ya fantasy that has kind of a mythical vibe. If you enjoyed Mortal Queens you would most likely enjoy this one, though Mortal Queens is better (in my humble opinion lol).
It wasn't my personal favorite but maybe it just wasn't for me 🤷♀️
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯✢✢♕✢✢⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
𝐀 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 by 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝒊𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐬
My Rating: 3.25 ★★★★
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
First of all, I really love Victoria McCombs as an author. I really enjoyed her Mortal Queens duology, and I also did enjoy Rune. She is an excellent fantasy author, and the concepts behind her books are always very interesting.
Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I wasn't really that invested in the characters, and the romance aspect was too insta-love for my personal tastes. I did love that the FMC wasn't quite as headstrong as in other books of McCombs'. Sometimes I feel like her girl main characters are a little too rash in their decision making lol.
The world was interesting, and in many ways it reminded me of Mortal Queens. I was not able to grasp this world though as clearly as I did in Mortal Queens. It was so...fantastical. Which is great, but I feel like the magic/world building could have been explained a bit better. There were a few instances where our main character would switch settings, but her moving from one place to another wasn't included. I was confused several times because I couldn't remember how we got from one place to another.
The romance aspect was sweet, but it was too instant for my tastes. Cora fell for Darius really quickly, and both of their plans to keep their relationship "business-like" were just forgotten. I feel like the romance was based more upon attraction and passion than actually getting to know one another.
All of that being said, I am curious to see what happens in the next book! Sadly, I picked this one up BEFORE realizing there was a cliffhanger (whoops) and I am eagerly awaiting book two.
𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 14+ for some passionate kissing.
➸𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭
Sexual
One mention of "not yet wanting to ruin someone's reputation" when a female character takes off an outer layer of clothing. A female character says she needs to "know a man better" before showing him her thigh. A female character puts her hands under a man's shirt to treat a wound. (not sexual). Some passionate kissing. One man kisses a woman up her arm and on her neck. One mention of a man and woman "sharing nights together" and remembering it. One man says he and a woman could find "plenty of ways to enjoy themselves" A male and female character feel each other's hair while kissing. A mention of thoughts drifting places they shouldn't.
Violence
Not a crazy amount. There is one mention of "flesh parting." There are some mentions of stabbing and clawing. A few mentions of blood and wounds. Nothing really sticks out as particularly gory.
𝐖𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬?
Yes, if you enjoy ya fantasy that has kind of a mythical vibe. If you enjoyed Mortal Queens you would most likely enjoy this one, though Mortal Queens is better (in my humble opinion lol).
It wasn't my personal favorite but maybe it just wasn't for me 🤷♀️
May 3, 2026
2.5 rounded down, review to come
EDIT: review is here!
“You’re taking this book too seriously, Leighton!” They cry.
There are some books where I would agree. Nod. Yes, I am taking a silly little story too seriously. But this one read all angsty, all melodramatic. It was screaming to be taken seriously, and so I tried.
I failed.
Victoria McCombs is such a sweet person and I love so many of her books, but she writes the same thing over and over, and it can get so…tiring. This is an easy read, but it was 400 pages of literally nothing happening. Everything in the plot was far too planned out and convenient, and the characters were head over heels in love in five days time (not an exaggeration) despite the dude literally being her sister’s ex 😭
Admittedly, a lot of the problems I have with this book could be solved in the sequel, but that doesn’t change how I feel about this one. There was so much that didn’t make sense to me, and I was disappointed in the worldbuilding. Not the worst book I’ve read but I had a hard time enjoying it and now desperately need something beautiful and deep to reset me.
SECOND EDIT: also forgot to mention that the usage of AI images is largely upsetting to me
EDIT: review is here!
“You’re taking this book too seriously, Leighton!” They cry.
There are some books where I would agree. Nod. Yes, I am taking a silly little story too seriously. But this one read all angsty, all melodramatic. It was screaming to be taken seriously, and so I tried.
I failed.
Victoria McCombs is such a sweet person and I love so many of her books, but she writes the same thing over and over, and it can get so…tiring. This is an easy read, but it was 400 pages of literally nothing happening. Everything in the plot was far too planned out and convenient, and the characters were head over heels in love in five days time (not an exaggeration) despite the dude literally being her sister’s ex 😭
Admittedly, a lot of the problems I have with this book could be solved in the sequel, but that doesn’t change how I feel about this one. There was so much that didn’t make sense to me, and I was disappointed in the worldbuilding. Not the worst book I’ve read but I had a hard time enjoying it and now desperately need something beautiful and deep to reset me.
SECOND EDIT: also forgot to mention that the usage of AI images is largely upsetting to me
April 4, 2026
Listen, when Victoria McCombs starts a series, personally, I'm buckling in and ready to go on an ADVENTURE. Her concepts are always fascinating, and this was no exception. The romance at the center of the story was very sweet, but I found myself more intrigued by the twists in the second half that kept me turning the pages (that ENDING?? crazy) Very excited to see where the back half of this duology will go! 4 stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
July 15, 2026
4.25 stars!
Exquisitely written and absolutely enthralling, A Bride of Fallen Stars by Victoria McCombs was such a good book! It has such a unique world lush with vivid imagery, and characters that tug at heartstrings. Cora’s growth throughout the story shone in a way that was honest and not without setbacks (much as our own growth is). Darius was a strong yet kind lead with genuine care for Cora, which created a special bond between the two of them. While it was a little fast of a falling for one another within the fake arrangement and a the fact that he was once in love with her twin felt a bit odd, their bond and sweet relationship was just so good it was impossible to not root for them! Also, the banter!!!
At times it did seem really fast for their relationship (though they knew each other previously), however the writing and pacing of the fourteen days made it feel as though it was longer. A situation of “oh it must have been longer” but then realizing it was only five or six days. Sometimes, the attending of dances for the different nights of the festival felt just a bit repetitive, but honestly, the descriptions of the different courts were worth it! (Remembering the various courts can be a little confusing).
This is a clean read! No spice (non-descriptive kisses only), no swearing, and mild infrequent innuendo. Other content considerations: non-graphic violence, betrayal, dark mythology, death, and injury.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend if you enjoy sweeping fantasy, unique mythology, clean content, and intriguing tales!!!
Happy reading :)
Exquisitely written and absolutely enthralling, A Bride of Fallen Stars by Victoria McCombs was such a good book! It has such a unique world lush with vivid imagery, and characters that tug at heartstrings. Cora’s growth throughout the story shone in a way that was honest and not without setbacks (much as our own growth is). Darius was a strong yet kind lead with genuine care for Cora, which created a special bond between the two of them. While it was a little fast of a falling for one another within the fake arrangement and a the fact that he was once in love with her twin felt a bit odd, their bond and sweet relationship was just so good it was impossible to not root for them! Also, the banter!!!
At times it did seem really fast for their relationship (though they knew each other previously), however the writing and pacing of the fourteen days made it feel as though it was longer. A situation of “oh it must have been longer” but then realizing it was only five or six days. Sometimes, the attending of dances for the different nights of the festival felt just a bit repetitive, but honestly, the descriptions of the different courts were worth it! (Remembering the various courts can be a little confusing).
This is a clean read! No spice (non-descriptive kisses only), no swearing, and mild infrequent innuendo. Other content considerations: non-graphic violence, betrayal, dark mythology, death, and injury.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and highly recommend if you enjoy sweeping fantasy, unique mythology, clean content, and intriguing tales!!!
Happy reading :)
May 4, 2026
Victoria has done it again! I think this might be my new favorite of her books so far! If you’re craving a tale full of stunning prose, vibes reminiscent of Once Upon a Broken Heart (with a much better romance in my opinion), high stakes and unique magic systems then this book is for you!
This book had me completely spellbound from page one! I loved Cora’s character so much! She was gentle and kind, yet strong and fiercely protective of the people she cared about. And Darius *sighs* he was the epitome of a great male main character! Gentle and strong, kind and intelligent, chivalrous and charming. I just loved their dynamic so much! Their romance was so well done! Cora and Darius are one of my favorite fictional couples now!!
The setting was absolutely stunning and I’ve come to expect nothing less from McCombs! The magic system and world building was so unique and enchanting with the stars and their different courts. I felt like I was completely transported to the Court of Heart and I loved it!!
I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the second installment, but in the meantime, I’m looking forward to rereading this stunning book and annotating all my favorite parts!!
Content Considerations: depictions of stars with constellation magic; some depictions of torture (briefly detailed); characters are burned with magical fire; magical flashbacks featuring the villain character; the Nightling takes a human host (not depicted in graphic detail, only appears in the last few pages).
This book had me completely spellbound from page one! I loved Cora’s character so much! She was gentle and kind, yet strong and fiercely protective of the people she cared about. And Darius *sighs* he was the epitome of a great male main character! Gentle and strong, kind and intelligent, chivalrous and charming. I just loved their dynamic so much! Their romance was so well done! Cora and Darius are one of my favorite fictional couples now!!
The setting was absolutely stunning and I’ve come to expect nothing less from McCombs! The magic system and world building was so unique and enchanting with the stars and their different courts. I felt like I was completely transported to the Court of Heart and I loved it!!
I don’t know how I’m going to wait for the second installment, but in the meantime, I’m looking forward to rereading this stunning book and annotating all my favorite parts!!
Content Considerations: depictions of stars with constellation magic; some depictions of torture (briefly detailed); characters are burned with magical fire; magical flashbacks featuring the villain character; the Nightling takes a human host (not depicted in graphic detail, only appears in the last few pages).
June 8, 2026
Magical worldbuilding and an intriguing storyline.
This book was the treat I promised myself as a reward for publishing my own book. What I loved the most about A Bride of Fallen Stars was the worldbuilding, which was complex and magical. I was enchanted by Victoria's descriptions of the various kingdom courts and traditions; they reminded me of the glittering Barbie movies I loved growing up, mixed with the storytelling and traditions of Chinese mythology. If this book were ever made into a TV series, it would be so pretty. The girl in me also loved the detailed descriptions of Cora's gowns.
The interweaving of a dangerous history and legends with the conflicts of the present was really engaging. I guessed many of the plot twists, but there were also some I did not see coming.
I liked the characters; I wouldn't say I fiercely loved any of them. Cora is easy to root for, but there were times when the descriptions of her feelings for her love interest got a bit extensive, and I felt like it bogged some scenes down. Along with that, there was a lot more kissing than suits my personal taste.
Victoria made a bold choice to end on a cliffhanger, but I didn't mind it. I think she built up to that cliffhanger well and did not just toss it in last minute for cheap thrills. Book 2 is set up to start with a bang and stay interesting all the way through.
A beautiful read if you like magical worlds, legends and lore, and well-constructed cliffhangers.
This book was the treat I promised myself as a reward for publishing my own book. What I loved the most about A Bride of Fallen Stars was the worldbuilding, which was complex and magical. I was enchanted by Victoria's descriptions of the various kingdom courts and traditions; they reminded me of the glittering Barbie movies I loved growing up, mixed with the storytelling and traditions of Chinese mythology. If this book were ever made into a TV series, it would be so pretty. The girl in me also loved the detailed descriptions of Cora's gowns.
The interweaving of a dangerous history and legends with the conflicts of the present was really engaging. I guessed many of the plot twists, but there were also some I did not see coming.
I liked the characters; I wouldn't say I fiercely loved any of them. Cora is easy to root for, but there were times when the descriptions of her feelings for her love interest got a bit extensive, and I felt like it bogged some scenes down. Along with that, there was a lot more kissing than suits my personal taste.
Victoria made a bold choice to end on a cliffhanger, but I didn't mind it. I think she built up to that cliffhanger well and did not just toss it in last minute for cheap thrills. Book 2 is set up to start with a bang and stay interesting all the way through.
A beautiful read if you like magical worlds, legends and lore, and well-constructed cliffhangers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2026
Cora is a star. She starts as a queen in the sky but becomes a bride to the mortal king. She is a new favorite heroine of mine, timid and finding courage but overall gentle. Then there was Darius, the mortal king who ruled with kindness.
This story was a fairytale that I had my attention from the first page. The world building was so beautiful—kingdoms in the sky and earth, courts, ballrooms, gowns, knights, and a secret cottage. A story with artwork between the pages.
Cora was betrayed but this does not stop her from wanting to protect the stars and mortals from the Nightling, an evil set to destroy.
I thought a theme from the story might be: keeping your heart soft despite the darkness that attacks. That’s what I really liked about Cora. She even had a tenderness toward her sister, who had betrayed her.
This story was a fairytale that I had my attention from the first page. The world building was so beautiful—kingdoms in the sky and earth, courts, ballrooms, gowns, knights, and a secret cottage. A story with artwork between the pages.
Cora was betrayed but this does not stop her from wanting to protect the stars and mortals from the Nightling, an evil set to destroy.
I thought a theme from the story might be: keeping your heart soft despite the darkness that attacks. That’s what I really liked about Cora. She even had a tenderness toward her sister, who had betrayed her.
April 6, 2026
I am not ok… how soon does the next book come out cause I need to know what happens next. Please
March 30, 2026
How to start? Overwhelming positives? Yes, Let's start there.
First, it's a relatively clean read, if that is something that is important to you (either for yourself or your teen readers). In the immortal words of Fred Savage, "Is this a kissing book?" Yes, there is some of that, but not a ton. See below for specifics.
Second, I LOVED the art included in it. I go bananas (in the BEST way) for authors who incorporate amazing character and background art into their books, both self-made work and that commissioned from other artists. It really was such a lovely touch to come across some of the moments described in the story represented visually. Since I didn't see an acknowledgment to an artist, I'll assume that the author did the art herself. Well done, you!
Third, this book is abso-freakin-lutely gorgeous. Soooooooo gorgeous, in fact, that I was almost tempted to purchase a hardback cover with the sprayed edges and all because GAH!!!!! It's just that gorgeous. But then I saw that it was on Kindle Unlimited and thought, "I should exercise some restraint and read it on KU first. Then, if I love it, I can get the hardcover. But, as much as I love shelf candy, I am glad that restraint ruled the day, because (for me) this book was not my favorite of this author's. If I’m honest, I am more than a little sad that didn’t love it because:
🔹1) I feel like I SHOULD have. I *wanted* to love this soooo hard. While I’m not the target demographic, I do read a lot of YA fantasy. I have quite a few friends who can’t keep up with the books their teens read. Many of them come to me to ask about content and recommendations. A large portion of that is fantasy because fantasy accounts for about 65% of my reads. With its fantastical setting, the celestial and mortal worlds colliding, familial and political betrayals, this book truly *should* have been right up my alley.
🔹2) I have several book loving friends that were so, so excited about this book’s release. I am almost dreading the moment I am asked my thoughts on this.
🔹3) That limited edition hardcover with the sprayed edges is so gosh darn gorgeous that it kills me to not have liked this book.
And this one is probably the most painful reason, but …
🔹4) The author is known for writing clean and age-appropriate YA fantasy romance - it’s an area which is sorely needed. There are so many readers looking for clean and quality reads, so I desperately *want* to support and encourage the authors who are making strides in this niche.
Actually, the more I think on it, the more I realize that it's not that I disliked the book as much as I was disappointed because I wanted better. And I do feel like this *could* have been better.
The setting was expansive, which initially excited me. (I do love an epic world build!) There were a lot of kingdoms, a lot of characters, a lot of details, and a surprising multiplicity of plot threads to follow. I assume that, at some point, they will all converge, but as of the end of this book, they were still woefully unresolved. I feel like I have a decent grasp of all of those things, but the devil is in the details, and the details felt inconsistent. There were several instances in which particulars didn’t line up throughout the book, where characters acted inconsistently with the details the author had given, where the reader would be told one thing but character actions would show another thing. This was true across the board with personal character/integrity, familial relationships, the romance, political strategy, and even in a detail as innocuous as how well the main character knew another character. Inconsistency was a huge part of what made this book not work for me, and the most glaring of places this occurred was in the character of the female protagonist. The fact that Cora’s actions didn’t seem to act consistently with her stated character and goals made it a challenge for me to invest in her.
My reading experience was also diminished by the fact that I didn’t know that this book was the first in a duology. I enjoy duologies and series, but I do like to know that information from the outset. I'll own that I probably should have read a synopsis in which I might have seen that this was the first book in a duology, but I didn't. (We've already discussed how easily I can be beguiled by an enchanting cover.) If there's something that I loathe (other than a stupid cliffhanger), it’s a book ending without resolution. Thus, as I was reading and the % completion markers crept ominously higher and higher with an insane number of questions remaining unresolved, the tension in my body was ratcheting … and not in a good way. The fault is my own - my expectations of this being a standalone book made the experience worse than it could and should have been. As I said before, we’ll hope that all of the things that were left unresolved
I do feel like this could have benefitted from additional editing and proofreading, both for the story/character inconsistencies, as well a few typos and misused words, the most notable of which was when the word "courtesan" was used in place "courtier" 😬 That one made my eyes goggle ...
There were a lot of wonderful things going on in this story. Unfortunately for me, what wasn’t working was enough to overshadow the reading experience. But ... I *did* finish it. Will I read the next one? ... not sure. but since I am unlikely to reread this, no gorgeous hardback shelf trophy for me.
LANGUAGE: none
INTIMACY: hand kisses, arm kisses, a neck kiss, several mouth kisses, reference to a couple spending several nights together
VIOLENCE: one person is turned to ash by a magic sword, a young girl hits an assassin with a rock and the assassin holds a knife to her neck, mention of assassin being killed, a knight dies in a struggle, memory account of a star’s (person) essence being extracted in a painful way, a king being poisoned
First, it's a relatively clean read, if that is something that is important to you (either for yourself or your teen readers). In the immortal words of Fred Savage, "Is this a kissing book?" Yes, there is some of that, but not a ton. See below for specifics.
Second, I LOVED the art included in it. I go bananas (in the BEST way) for authors who incorporate amazing character and background art into their books, both self-made work and that commissioned from other artists. It really was such a lovely touch to come across some of the moments described in the story represented visually. Since I didn't see an acknowledgment to an artist, I'll assume that the author did the art herself. Well done, you!
Third, this book is abso-freakin-lutely gorgeous. Soooooooo gorgeous, in fact, that I was almost tempted to purchase a hardback cover with the sprayed edges and all because GAH!!!!! It's just that gorgeous. But then I saw that it was on Kindle Unlimited and thought, "I should exercise some restraint and read it on KU first. Then, if I love it, I can get the hardcover. But, as much as I love shelf candy, I am glad that restraint ruled the day, because (for me) this book was not my favorite of this author's. If I’m honest, I am more than a little sad that didn’t love it because:
🔹1) I feel like I SHOULD have. I *wanted* to love this soooo hard. While I’m not the target demographic, I do read a lot of YA fantasy. I have quite a few friends who can’t keep up with the books their teens read. Many of them come to me to ask about content and recommendations. A large portion of that is fantasy because fantasy accounts for about 65% of my reads. With its fantastical setting, the celestial and mortal worlds colliding, familial and political betrayals, this book truly *should* have been right up my alley.
🔹2) I have several book loving friends that were so, so excited about this book’s release. I am almost dreading the moment I am asked my thoughts on this.
🔹3) That limited edition hardcover with the sprayed edges is so gosh darn gorgeous that it kills me to not have liked this book.
And this one is probably the most painful reason, but …
🔹4) The author is known for writing clean and age-appropriate YA fantasy romance - it’s an area which is sorely needed. There are so many readers looking for clean and quality reads, so I desperately *want* to support and encourage the authors who are making strides in this niche.
Actually, the more I think on it, the more I realize that it's not that I disliked the book as much as I was disappointed because I wanted better. And I do feel like this *could* have been better.
The setting was expansive, which initially excited me. (I do love an epic world build!) There were a lot of kingdoms, a lot of characters, a lot of details, and a surprising multiplicity of plot threads to follow. I assume that, at some point, they will all converge, but as of the end of this book, they were still woefully unresolved. I feel like I have a decent grasp of all of those things, but the devil is in the details, and the details felt inconsistent. There were several instances in which particulars didn’t line up throughout the book, where characters acted inconsistently with the details the author had given, where the reader would be told one thing but character actions would show another thing. This was true across the board with personal character/integrity, familial relationships, the romance, political strategy, and even in a detail as innocuous as how well the main character knew another character. Inconsistency was a huge part of what made this book not work for me, and the most glaring of places this occurred was in the character of the female protagonist. The fact that Cora’s actions didn’t seem to act consistently with her stated character and goals made it a challenge for me to invest in her.
My reading experience was also diminished by the fact that I didn’t know that this book was the first in a duology. I enjoy duologies and series, but I do like to know that information from the outset. I'll own that I probably should have read a synopsis in which I might have seen that this was the first book in a duology, but I didn't. (We've already discussed how easily I can be beguiled by an enchanting cover.) If there's something that I loathe (other than a stupid cliffhanger), it’s a book ending without resolution. Thus, as I was reading and the % completion markers crept ominously higher and higher with an insane number of questions remaining unresolved, the tension in my body was ratcheting … and not in a good way. The fault is my own - my expectations of this being a standalone book made the experience worse than it could and should have been. As I said before, we’ll hope that all of the things that were left unresolved
I do feel like this could have benefitted from additional editing and proofreading, both for the story/character inconsistencies, as well a few typos and misused words, the most notable of which was when the word "courtesan" was used in place "courtier" 😬 That one made my eyes goggle ...
There were a lot of wonderful things going on in this story. Unfortunately for me, what wasn’t working was enough to overshadow the reading experience. But ... I *did* finish it. Will I read the next one? ... not sure. but since I am unlikely to reread this, no gorgeous hardback shelf trophy for me.
LANGUAGE: none
INTIMACY: hand kisses, arm kisses, a neck kiss, several mouth kisses, reference to a couple spending several nights together
VIOLENCE: one person is turned to ash by a magic sword, a young girl hits an assassin with a rock and the assassin holds a knife to her neck, mention of assassin being killed, a knight dies in a struggle, memory account of a star’s (person) essence being extracted in a painful way, a king being poisoned
May 29, 2026
Now hear me out.
I get the idea behind this book. I really do. But I think the execution could’ve been *so* much better.
First of all, the world-building was confusing. I genuinely could not keep track of where the different courts were or how the FMC was traveling between them. One chapter she just appears somewhere out of nowhere and I’m sitting there wondering: did she walk? take a carriage? teleport? hitchhike? Sometimes they specifically take a carriage, other times she sneaks into other courts unnoticed. Which is fine, except the logistics make absolutely no sense when the entire story happens over the course of TWO WEEKS and somehow she visits basically every court in existence.
The romance also felt really flat to me. And I’m sorry, but the MMC being the FMC’s sister’s ex was just… awkward. The insta-love did not help. Her sister breaks his heart and then, what, some time and five business days later he’s declaring there’s only ever been her twin sister for him? Sir please process your emotions first. He’s also only 20/21, so it’s not like decades passed between relationships.
And the convenience in this plot??? Incredible.
The villain’s dangerous essences (basically horcruxes) are protected by eternal fire… except apparently any star can just stick their hand into the fire and pull them out because they heal quickly. So they’re not actually protected at all? Literally anyone with bad intentions could stroll in and grab one. Security level: decorative.
Also, every single time the FMC retrieves one of these essences, conveniently nobody is around to notice. Meanwhile her sister, the queen, is supposedly able to see everything happening from the sky and STILL has no clue what’s going on. Ma’am. Your sister is secretly collecting evil magical objects tied to an ancient villain and you’re not even mildly suspicious? You are doing a terrible job ruling this kingdom.
And don’t even get me started on the sister. One minute she’s threatening to kill the FMC “for her own safety,” the next she just… doesn’t. Then the FMC falls into the mortal realm and apparently that’s enough to solve everything? If you truly believed she’s a threat for the throne, why not simply follow her down there and finish the job? Later she literally comes down, sees her with her ex, gets furious, and STILL does nothing except fly back home to throw a tantrum and make more empty threats.
So yeah. There were definitely interesting ideas here, but the execution left me frustrated more often than invested. I didn’t hate it, but I kept noticing plot holes, conveniences, and character decisions that made no sense. This could’ve been so much stronger with tighter world-building and more believable relationships.
I get the idea behind this book. I really do. But I think the execution could’ve been *so* much better.
First of all, the world-building was confusing. I genuinely could not keep track of where the different courts were or how the FMC was traveling between them. One chapter she just appears somewhere out of nowhere and I’m sitting there wondering: did she walk? take a carriage? teleport? hitchhike? Sometimes they specifically take a carriage, other times she sneaks into other courts unnoticed. Which is fine, except the logistics make absolutely no sense when the entire story happens over the course of TWO WEEKS and somehow she visits basically every court in existence.
The romance also felt really flat to me. And I’m sorry, but the MMC being the FMC’s sister’s ex was just… awkward. The insta-love did not help. Her sister breaks his heart and then, what, some time and five business days later he’s declaring there’s only ever been her twin sister for him? Sir please process your emotions first. He’s also only 20/21, so it’s not like decades passed between relationships.
And the convenience in this plot??? Incredible.
The villain’s dangerous essences (basically horcruxes) are protected by eternal fire… except apparently any star can just stick their hand into the fire and pull them out because they heal quickly. So they’re not actually protected at all? Literally anyone with bad intentions could stroll in and grab one. Security level: decorative.
Also, every single time the FMC retrieves one of these essences, conveniently nobody is around to notice. Meanwhile her sister, the queen, is supposedly able to see everything happening from the sky and STILL has no clue what’s going on. Ma’am. Your sister is secretly collecting evil magical objects tied to an ancient villain and you’re not even mildly suspicious? You are doing a terrible job ruling this kingdom.
And don’t even get me started on the sister. One minute she’s threatening to kill the FMC “for her own safety,” the next she just… doesn’t. Then the FMC falls into the mortal realm and apparently that’s enough to solve everything? If you truly believed she’s a threat for the throne, why not simply follow her down there and finish the job? Later she literally comes down, sees her with her ex, gets furious, and STILL does nothing except fly back home to throw a tantrum and make more empty threats.
So yeah. There were definitely interesting ideas here, but the execution left me frustrated more often than invested. I didn’t hate it, but I kept noticing plot holes, conveniences, and character decisions that made no sense. This could’ve been so much stronger with tighter world-building and more believable relationships.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2026
I read A Bride of Fallen Stars on Kindle Unlimited and intend to get a hard copy.
I felt like I was swept away to another world reading A Bride of Fallen Stars. I was captivated by the cover and the description when Kindle suggested this book to me. I primarily read with audiobooks in tandem with ebooks before I purchase, to make sure it is a story I will love to revisit over and over. And A Bride of Fallen Stars delivered!
The story was new, different, and otherworldly. The world and the descriptions were vivid and vast. There was a lot to capture, and it did take a little time for the story to unfold. Learning the history, the magic system, and the world was well worth it. I have not experienced anything like this.
The descriptions could get a little convoluted and redundant at times, but these were minor in the grand scheme of the overarching story and experience. Things needed to be stated again because of the size of the world that was being created, the depth of it all. Like stepping onto a boat after being on land and taking a few minutes to steady yourself and become familiar with the rhythm of it all. And now that I am back on land, I am craving going back to the boat.
The characters had connections, depth, intrigue, and determination. How they intertwined and merged and diverged again, keeping their unique posture while going through trials and finding hope throughout it all. It was complex and uniquely satisfying, like a dance.
The story gave so many clues and hints; I understood the direction it was going, but I could not have imagined how it all went. I was distracted by the layers of emotions, the actions, and the twists, so I didn't have time to really think about how it was all coming together.
By the time I got to the last 100 pages. I was a wreck. I was fully invested in the characters' well-being, what they were doing, and why. I had to set the book down for an evening because the emotions ran so high.
This is a clean young adult read, no cursing, slow-burn romance with handholding and kissing and an enthusiastic makeout scene that was cut short.
There is action, political intrigue, death, grief, loss, treachery, secrecy, and passion for doing the right thing at any cost.
I look forward to reading A Dance of Endless Night, book two, in January. I am already excited to reread A Bride of Fallen Stars beforehand.
I felt like I was swept away to another world reading A Bride of Fallen Stars. I was captivated by the cover and the description when Kindle suggested this book to me. I primarily read with audiobooks in tandem with ebooks before I purchase, to make sure it is a story I will love to revisit over and over. And A Bride of Fallen Stars delivered!
The story was new, different, and otherworldly. The world and the descriptions were vivid and vast. There was a lot to capture, and it did take a little time for the story to unfold. Learning the history, the magic system, and the world was well worth it. I have not experienced anything like this.
The descriptions could get a little convoluted and redundant at times, but these were minor in the grand scheme of the overarching story and experience. Things needed to be stated again because of the size of the world that was being created, the depth of it all. Like stepping onto a boat after being on land and taking a few minutes to steady yourself and become familiar with the rhythm of it all. And now that I am back on land, I am craving going back to the boat.
The characters had connections, depth, intrigue, and determination. How they intertwined and merged and diverged again, keeping their unique posture while going through trials and finding hope throughout it all. It was complex and uniquely satisfying, like a dance.
The story gave so many clues and hints; I understood the direction it was going, but I could not have imagined how it all went. I was distracted by the layers of emotions, the actions, and the twists, so I didn't have time to really think about how it was all coming together.
By the time I got to the last 100 pages. I was a wreck. I was fully invested in the characters' well-being, what they were doing, and why. I had to set the book down for an evening because the emotions ran so high.
This is a clean young adult read, no cursing, slow-burn romance with handholding and kissing and an enthusiastic makeout scene that was cut short.
There is action, political intrigue, death, grief, loss, treachery, secrecy, and passion for doing the right thing at any cost.
I look forward to reading A Dance of Endless Night, book two, in January. I am already excited to reread A Bride of Fallen Stars beforehand.
April 19, 2026
I’m not even sure where to start with this book I absolutely loved it. The whole fairytale, Star Court celestial world is so enchanting. It truly felt like stepping into a fairytale. The details were incredible the pinks, the stained glass, the swans, all the different courts and how unique each one felt. It was pure magic.
I loved Darius and Cora. Watching their love bloom throughout the story was so special. The way he paid attention to her really noticing the little things made me fall in love with him every sweet moment between them melted my heart. You can tell they would do anything for each other.
One of my favorite parts was when Darius gave her a colorful dress, and then another in silver, saying it was for the girl who likes silver more than gold. That moment really stayed with me. Even though it happens early in the story, it showed how much he cared he noticed something so small, even when he didn’t have to.
I also loved their banter/ flirting between them made me giggle. I also truly loved her relationship with Vail.
And that plot twists! I can’t wait for book two.💗💗💗
I loved Darius and Cora. Watching their love bloom throughout the story was so special. The way he paid attention to her really noticing the little things made me fall in love with him every sweet moment between them melted my heart. You can tell they would do anything for each other.
One of my favorite parts was when Darius gave her a colorful dress, and then another in silver, saying it was for the girl who likes silver more than gold. That moment really stayed with me. Even though it happens early in the story, it showed how much he cared he noticed something so small, even when he didn’t have to.
I also loved their banter/ flirting between them made me giggle. I also truly loved her relationship with Vail.
And that plot twists! I can’t wait for book two.💗💗💗
June 8, 2026
I didn’t always understand what I was reading, but it always sounded cool. I liked this original idea and I’ll definitely be buying the next book when it comes out.
Cora is a powerful star and throughout the story, you see just how powerful she is and how much weight and burden she hides. I liked Darius for his constancy and goodness. He was someone Cora could truly trust for the first time, beyond any of her prior close relationships with her sisters and friends.
The settings were atmospheric and beautiful and things were slowly twisted and revealed all the way to the last page. In this book we uncovered the history of the five courts and how the celestial courts worked. It wasn’t always totally clear, but it was cool enough to read about and had enough detail I was able to follow mostly. Hoping there will be more details to understand the villain better and see more of how Cora’s decisions will impact both courts. There’s plenty more to still unravel so be prepared for a major cliffhanger. If you don’t like those I’d wait til January 2027 when the next book comes out!
Cora is a powerful star and throughout the story, you see just how powerful she is and how much weight and burden she hides. I liked Darius for his constancy and goodness. He was someone Cora could truly trust for the first time, beyond any of her prior close relationships with her sisters and friends.
The settings were atmospheric and beautiful and things were slowly twisted and revealed all the way to the last page. In this book we uncovered the history of the five courts and how the celestial courts worked. It wasn’t always totally clear, but it was cool enough to read about and had enough detail I was able to follow mostly. Hoping there will be more details to understand the villain better and see more of how Cora’s decisions will impact both courts. There’s plenty more to still unravel so be prepared for a major cliffhanger. If you don’t like those I’d wait til January 2027 when the next book comes out!
March 30, 2026
Somehow with each Victoria McCombs book, I end up with a new favorite
I absolutely ADORE this book! I love how fierce Cora becomes, I love how protective and genuinely good Darius is, I love Odette and her strength and sassiness. The flashbacks piecing everything together, all the twists at the end, I was weeping, and I need book two NOW!!!
ABOFS kept the same fast paced nature as Victoria’s other stories, but this one had more depth and detail than many of her others. It’s hard to put down. It is a masterful weaving of grit and endurance and pain along with the beauty and poetry of a fairytale.
I’d say this is more upper YA, just due to the depth and nature of the story, but stills reads entirely appropriate for teens AND adults. Enough romance to satisfy Romantasy lovers without the romance overtaking the main plot. Feels like OUABH but not as whimsical and way more depth. I absolutely LOVED this book!
I absolutely ADORE this book! I love how fierce Cora becomes, I love how protective and genuinely good Darius is, I love Odette and her strength and sassiness. The flashbacks piecing everything together, all the twists at the end, I was weeping, and I need book two NOW!!!
ABOFS kept the same fast paced nature as Victoria’s other stories, but this one had more depth and detail than many of her others. It’s hard to put down. It is a masterful weaving of grit and endurance and pain along with the beauty and poetry of a fairytale.
I’d say this is more upper YA, just due to the depth and nature of the story, but stills reads entirely appropriate for teens AND adults. Enough romance to satisfy Romantasy lovers without the romance overtaking the main plot. Feels like OUABH but not as whimsical and way more depth. I absolutely LOVED this book!
June 19, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: only kissing
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I was about halfway through, I was hooked and could not put it down! Can't wait for the next book to be released!
Spice: only kissing
It took me a while to get into this one, but once I was about halfway through, I was hooked and could not put it down! Can't wait for the next book to be released!
March 29, 2026
What happens when a Star Falls
A Bride of Fallen Stars tells the story of Cora, a Twin Star who is cast away from the Sky, falling into the arms of a mortal King who happens to be her sister's former love. This is undoubtedly a romantic story, with subtle references to the tale of Swan Lake.
The story about the Twin Stars and their reign over the Sky, presented at the beginning, immediately captivated me, but when Cora fell from the sky, the plot began to present some issues. The Five Courts seemed to be quite close to one another, since a simple day's carriage ride could take Darius and Cora from one Court to another. I wish I had seen a map of this world to understand the distances between each Court.
Cora and Darius made a beautiful couple, and their romance was sweet, but Darius didn't contribute as much to Cora's mission as she contributed to his. Cora is very powerful and quite capable of taking care of herself, despite being considered the shy twin. I liked Darius's gentle nature, but I would have preferred him to be a bit more proactive. As for Adele, she wasn't fully developed, and the reasons behind her actions are not satisfactorily explained. Her romance with Darius seemed to have been more of a whim on her part, since they never shared much with each other, and apparently it was only with Cora that he learned about the igniting of stars caused by strong feelings.
The twist at the end wasn't what I expected, and I definitely want to know what happens next; regarding Odette, I have my theories about why she was hidden, and I can't wait to see if I'm right or not. A Bride of Fallen Stars didn't quite live up to all my expectations, but it's the start of a story that, if well-developed, could grow spectacularly in its sequel.
A Bride of Fallen Stars tells the story of Cora, a Twin Star who is cast away from the Sky, falling into the arms of a mortal King who happens to be her sister's former love. This is undoubtedly a romantic story, with subtle references to the tale of Swan Lake.
The story about the Twin Stars and their reign over the Sky, presented at the beginning, immediately captivated me, but when Cora fell from the sky, the plot began to present some issues. The Five Courts seemed to be quite close to one another, since a simple day's carriage ride could take Darius and Cora from one Court to another. I wish I had seen a map of this world to understand the distances between each Court.
Cora and Darius made a beautiful couple, and their romance was sweet, but Darius didn't contribute as much to Cora's mission as she contributed to his. Cora is very powerful and quite capable of taking care of herself, despite being considered the shy twin. I liked Darius's gentle nature, but I would have preferred him to be a bit more proactive. As for Adele, she wasn't fully developed, and the reasons behind her actions are not satisfactorily explained. Her romance with Darius seemed to have been more of a whim on her part, since they never shared much with each other, and apparently it was only with Cora that he learned about the igniting of stars caused by strong feelings.
The twist at the end wasn't what I expected, and I definitely want to know what happens next; regarding Odette, I have my theories about why she was hidden, and I can't wait to see if I'm right or not. A Bride of Fallen Stars didn't quite live up to all my expectations, but it's the start of a story that, if well-developed, could grow spectacularly in its sequel.
March 27, 2026
An absolutely unique story and plot, with such a beautiful world and a romance that has all the sparks and tension without the spice.
A fallen star, Cora, is trying to save her world after her sister betrays her and steals both thrones, and to do it she falls to the mortal world and to gain the help of the mortal king she agrees to pose as his bride… but he also happens to be her sister’s former lover. It’s complicated, emotional, and full of tension in the best way.
This felt like a fairytale in the best way. The writing is so whimsical and it fully pulled me into the story. I could vividly walk through this world… from the glowing skies, to her fall into the mortal realm, and the swans!! I can’t not mention the swans. And Cora’s gowns… every single one felt so detailed and easy to picture.
Victoria’s writing just paints everything so clearly in your mind. It’s effortless to get lost in it, and I loved that feeling of being fully inside the story instead of just reading it.
It’s the kind of book that captures your attention right away, feels completely unique, and slowly pulls you in until you’re a little obsessed and already wanting more by the end. Because that end definitely had me screaming at said character, and I need the rest of the story immediately!
A fallen star, Cora, is trying to save her world after her sister betrays her and steals both thrones, and to do it she falls to the mortal world and to gain the help of the mortal king she agrees to pose as his bride… but he also happens to be her sister’s former lover. It’s complicated, emotional, and full of tension in the best way.
This felt like a fairytale in the best way. The writing is so whimsical and it fully pulled me into the story. I could vividly walk through this world… from the glowing skies, to her fall into the mortal realm, and the swans!! I can’t not mention the swans. And Cora’s gowns… every single one felt so detailed and easy to picture.
Victoria’s writing just paints everything so clearly in your mind. It’s effortless to get lost in it, and I loved that feeling of being fully inside the story instead of just reading it.
It’s the kind of book that captures your attention right away, feels completely unique, and slowly pulls you in until you’re a little obsessed and already wanting more by the end. Because that end definitely had me screaming at said character, and I need the rest of the story immediately!
April 24, 2026
This book would have hugely benefited from some more efficient editing. The story line was immediately gripping; however, there are way too many descriptive passages (like every single time the main character changes scenes, because she apparently can’t ever revisit the same place twice; so, instead of saying ‘she met the king in his conservatory’ it has to describe her walk there, the people she sees, the hallway she walks down, etc.). Less than a third of the way through, I began skipping entire paragraphs like this because I just couldn’t concentrate on trying to picture the muddled descriptions of every scene change.
And then we’re back to the problem many modern authors seem to have: character consistency. Is she a shy, reserved, constantly-worried queen-to-be, or a fierce, stubborn warrior princess who is confident in her own abilities? I understand that personalities have different facets and can change over time, but I felt like Cora changed completely, depending on what the scene needed. She was molded to the story, not the story to her. I was confused as to who she was and who she saw herself to be almost from the beginning.
And then there was the love story: they all of a sudden ‘fell in love’, three days in, of course, with nothing leading up to the sudden reciprocal fascination with each other.
Cora had flawed ideas about her sister: she wanted to make up when her sister was ready to KILL HER. She felt bad for pretending to be engaged to Darius after her own sister TRIED TO KILL HER. That’s some delusion!
Needless to say, I couldn’t find it in me to finish this story.
And then we’re back to the problem many modern authors seem to have: character consistency. Is she a shy, reserved, constantly-worried queen-to-be, or a fierce, stubborn warrior princess who is confident in her own abilities? I understand that personalities have different facets and can change over time, but I felt like Cora changed completely, depending on what the scene needed. She was molded to the story, not the story to her. I was confused as to who she was and who she saw herself to be almost from the beginning.
And then there was the love story: they all of a sudden ‘fell in love’, three days in, of course, with nothing leading up to the sudden reciprocal fascination with each other.
Cora had flawed ideas about her sister: she wanted to make up when her sister was ready to KILL HER. She felt bad for pretending to be engaged to Darius after her own sister TRIED TO KILL HER. That’s some delusion!
Needless to say, I couldn’t find it in me to finish this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
So good! This book definitely rivals on of my favorite books, Mortal Queens-also by Victoria McCombs. The author did an incredible job creating another enchanting realm with elegance, lovable characters, plot twists, and a sweet, closed door YA romance. My only problem with it; I have to wait for book 2!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews