Asteria

by Rachel Leigh

Asteria is an immersive fantasy built like a puzzle box—filled with layers of meaning, multiple POVs, converging storylines, ancient secrets, and answers hiding in plain sight. It blends mystery with monsters . . . and a little bit of magic.

--
Asteria is dying. Its kingdoms are fractured, its people warring, its magic faltering—and anyone who could save it has vanished.

On Earth, Conor will do whatever it takes to keep her head down and her sister alive. She’s a shadow in her own life—until the night her classmate Jaime drags her into the woods and through a rift between worlds.

Trapped in the mysterious realm of Asteria, Conor has no choice but to flee with him through dark forests and even darker tunnels. As they race to evade prowling fexes and sentinels, she searches for something—anything—that could get her home.

She’s not the only one desperate to escape. In the sea’s shadowy depths, a thief and an assassin hunt for answers that might save their doomed city. Atop floating towers, a reluctant queen uncovers ancient secrets. As storms rise and dragons stir, she longs only to disappear. Across the wintry meadows below, an exiled heir fights to outwit an unsettling captor—all while plotting to reclaim her stolen throne.

Their paths are converging.

Something in Asteria is waking.

And nothing will ever be the same.

--

What readers are saying:

“Asteria is the kind of story that doesn’t just open a door to another world—it yanks you through it, heartbeat first, and dares you to keep up. Just when you think you’ve found your footing, the narrative shifts: a thief and assassin in the deep, a queen burdened by secrets, an exiled heir sharpening her vengeance. Each thread feels like a different storm brewing—and you know they’re going to collide.” — Goodreads, InkedSirenXO ★★★★★

“Every chapter brings new twists, and just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, the story shifts again in the most compelling way. There’s so much going on, but it never feels chaotic, just rich, immersive, and impossible to put down.” — Goodreads, Armando ★★★★★

“Asteria had me hanging on to every word, theorizing every chapter, and clutching the pages for my life.” — Goodreads, Jenna ★★★★★

“Wow doesn’t even begin to cover it! Epic is an accurate word. The scale of this book is astounding. Following quite a few characters doing seemingly disparate things in wildly far-flung places, everything eventually comes together in a way I never could have imagined.” — Goodreads, EvanKnitsThings ★★★★★

“Holy cow . . . what an epic fantasy read! Asteria is an immersive, layered fantasy packed with massive world-building, intersecting POVs, dragons, monsters, magic, mystery, betrayal, and secrets. Asteria truly feels like it could be the next big fantasy phenomenon!” — Goodreads, The Nerdy Bookshop ★★★★★

“This is one of the best fantasy stories I have read in a really long time. It’s complex; it’s rugged; it’s emotional; it’s a rollercoaster in the best way.” — Goodreads, Michelle ★★★★★

“If you love sprawling fantasy with depth, atmosphere, and intelligent storytelling, Asteria delivers. A rewarding, ambitious read that trusts its audience and fully commits to its world.” — Goodreads, Nicole ★★★★★

Genres: Adventure

527 pages, Paperback

First published May 27, 2026

Reviews

[The Nerdy Bookshop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to author Rachel Leigh and Left Field Publishing for providing an advanced reader copy of Asteria in exchange for an honest review.

Holy cow.. what an epic fantasy read! Asteria is an immersive, layered high fantasy novel packed with massive world building, multiple intersecting POVs, dragons, monsters, magic, mystery, betrayal, and secrets. This is the kind of story where you truly can trust no one.

Conor and Jamie are deep in a forest on Earth when they stumble through a rift into another world.. Asteria. Immediately thrown into danger, they encounter monsters, underground tunnels, terrifying creatures, and endless forests. With no way back or clear direction, they press deeper into this strange realm.

An exiled Princess Evangeline is captured by Miah, a powerful immortal Harbinger with shape-shifting magic, who intends to deliver her to his kingdom of Turpin as a prisoner destined for death. But Evangeline turns the tables, kills him.. or so she thinks.. and escapes.

Queen Skyye and her devoted handmaiden Eden live trapped within a court that uses Skyye as a political pawn. Despite it all, they share a deep, unconditional love. When Skyye is led by a knight into the dragon lair, she bonds with her dragon.. but betrayal follows, Eden is killed, and Skyye flees on dragonback.

Azra, a street urchin from an underwater realm, and an assassin Salara, uncover hidden books, secret chambers, and ancient runes in the kingdom’s library. After Azra awakens a mysterious orb, Salara reveals she is a Harbinger and takes Azra from their world, pulling him into a dangerous journey far beyond anything he’s ever known.

As these stories unfold, it becomes clear Asteria is dying.. the magical veil is collapsing, monsters from the Beyond are breaking through, and war is looming. The scattered relics known as the sphaira, orbs of powerful magic, may be the only hope of saving it.

I couldn’t predict where this story was going next! This book blends epic high fantasy, sci-fi, and Lord of the Rings style world building into one gripping adventure with massive scope and constant twists.

Highly, highly recommend! Asteria truly feels like it could be the next big fantasy phenomenon!

[Tay's Next Chapter · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Review of Advanced Copy received from author✨: Asteria by Rachel Leigh is an immersive fantasy, thick with world building, complex characters and interconnected stories. I loved that each character is so uniquely themselves and has their own entertaining dialogue. The author wrote them in a way that even if a character frustrates you, you can understand why they are the way they are. But remember, trust no one.

My favorite things: unique characters & world, epic banter, & hilarious pop-culture references. The story follows several characters, which was a bit difficult to follow at first, but everyone’s story is a piece of the puzzle. They all exist in the same time, which I admittedly didn’t realize until later in the book. There is a lot world building in the beginning, but be patient! Every detail the author provided was laying the groundwork for this intricate story.

There are so many twists & turns in this book! Every time I thought I figured something out, I ended up with more questions. This book was the perfect crossover between worlds (quite literally). To me, the big message of this book was that anyone can be brave or choose differently. Something gathers, something comes…..

If you enjoy:
🌎Heavy world building
👥 Multiple POVs
🔮 Unique magic
⚔️ Entertaining characters

Asteria is the book for you!

[enid r. laureano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Review Copy

To be extremely vague, Asteria has this type of slow, storm‑in‑the‑distance kind of feeling that sneaks up on you. The world is dark and tense, yet strangely beautiful in which Rachel Leigh leans into that atmosphere more than anything else. It’s the kind of setting that leaves you unsettled, and something is watching from the edges, even when nothing is happening.


Conor was easy to connect with because I would also react the same way she does. Like a confused, scared, and stubborn girl trying her best even when she’s in way over her head. Jaime though…. What is up with him? It leaves me wondering how the sequel will plot out.

The pacing does kinda dip in the middle, and a few characters feel more like interesting ideas than fully developed people. The constant POV change makes it a bit confusing and hard to connect with some characters.

But the mood and tension do help the reader not to lose their attention span on the story. Even with the critics and flaws, Asteria leaves you curious and a little unsettled; it's as if you’ve only seen the first crack of lightning before the actual storm hits.

RATING

4 (3.7 rounded up) out of 5

[Randi Hawley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC (thank you author) and it was a pretty good read. I gave it three stars because I can’t do half ratings (would rather give it 3.5) and because I did struggle a bit in the beginning of the book and got kind of frustrated to the point I had to put it down for a bit and then go back with a game plan. There are quite a few POV’s on different planes to keep track of. I found myself having to keep notes on who and what was happening so I wasn’t like wtf is going on. Once the story lines started merging it got a better. I did enjoy the lore/world building in this novel but with the multiple POV’s it did get a bit overwhelming. I enjoyed the political tension being built and the separate POV’s were very interesting in their own right. I am curious as to what happens with the plot though because I can tell this is going to be an in depth world. If you are into very heavy world building and multiple POVS’s this is definitely for you. I plan to try rereading it at a later date to see if it’s easier for me to comprehend and digest.

[Anna Berger · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

The premise of Asteria was so captivating. The world building in this book was absolutely incredible. The author did a great job at making describing everything and setting up the scenery of the plot. Each character was so unique and I definitely wasn’t expecting many of the plots that were revealed in this book.

The book definitely had a lot of POVs but it’s wasn’t an unmanageable amount. The book really gave the vibes of the Throne of Glass tandem read time terms of the number of POVs and plots.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I’m hopefully that there will be more to come because I still have so many questions that NEED answering about what’s to come next

⭐️4.5/5

[An · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the privilege of being one of the early readers for this book! Thank you so much!

I hope this review does not feel too harsh because I enjoyed reading the book and found it very compelling, especially in the second half. It's so important for us to support independent publishing companies and authors who value human creativity. Down with AI! BURN IT!

Now, to get the negative stuff out of the way first:

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
- The prologue: I know it was intentionally ambiguous who the people were and what exactly was happening, but the complete lack of setting was disorienting. I also am not personally a fan of present tense, and I think that the combination of the tense and the attempt at more formal language clashed oddly. I wonder if the prologue, being set in the past, could be in past tense.
- Single-sentence/dramatic line breaks: they're not bad per say, they just lose their impact because they're used so often, especially in the prologue and the first few chapters.
- The first line of Evangeline's first chapter: marriage never comes up again for her, so what is the point of that sentence? It doesn't feel like the strongest way to introduce the character.
- Gender power imbalances: most of the time, male characters had more information or power or experience in a given situation than female characters, who tended to be more passive in their stories when men were present.
- Misogynistic Jamie: When he kissed Sabel, I literally wrote in my notes, "JAMIE, GET CRUSHED BY A TREE AND SET ON FIRE YOU MISOGYNISTIC SHIT" because that was assault and I cannot tell if he is romanticizing this memory of if the story is. Either way, yuck. No. Just because she foresaw it and still showed up, doesn't mean she consented to being kissed by a drunken piece of shit. I really don't know if his character is supposed to be sexist or if that's just how that part was written.
- Tell not show: it felt like some of the writing was the characters telling us about themselves rather than actually letting the readers learn about the characters based on their actions, words, and responses to situations. For example, also in Evangeline's first chapter, "I yell a lot---on account of my salty disposition coupled with the obscene horrors I'm forced to endure." Also, in that first chapter, there's a long physical description of Tryp's beautiful face and self instead of any indication of his facial expression or anything that tells us about him as a person. This sort of thing popped up a few times throughout the book.
- Underutilized dragon: she showed up to save the day a few times, but I didn't get to know her! I need a full in-depth interview with Aurora. Who IS this dragon?
- Implying that the pyramids weren't from Earth: my racism alarm bells started going off real hard. We already have too many people who actually believe that aliens built the pyramids because they refuse to believe that Africans would be capable of creating such engineering marvels. Please don't do that. Don't take the achievements of an oppressed group and attribute them to some fantasy world.
- Killing your queers: why is the only major character who dies the racially ambiguous queer woman? That ain't a good look. I sincerely hope she's actually alive somehow because my dear, that ain't queer representation. That's tokenism.
- Orbs: WHY. Here I am thinking that people's eyes have been replaced by marbles or ping-pong balls that have been painted fun colors. Or ORBEEZ. Just say eyes.

And now for the positive things!!

THINGS I LIKED:
- Character dynamics once the main characters got together: I loved the way the characters quipped off each other and had such realistic interactions! I think the characters (NOT JAMIE) were an absolute highlight of the book for me. I especially liked Conor and Azra.
- Conor in general: love her. Just love her. It's a bummer she spent most of the first half of the book just running for her life because I wanted to see more of her being herself and actually being allowed to say things (SIGNIFICANT LOOK AT JAMIE (but also very understandable that he wasn't going to explain stuff while being actively hunted by hundreds of murderous monsters)). Conor felt very authentic, and all her little references felt genuine and fitting in the story. She had such good energy. I hope she punches more people in the face in future books.
- Submarines. Did not see that coming, but there is nothing as horrifying nor as whimsical as a submarine. I imagine Azra's sleep paralysis demons were all singing "We All Live in a Yellow Submarine" for that whole trip.
- The final battle/confrontation thing was so very compelling and I had to put down the book and pace around my room between pages a few times because I could feel the tension in the rooom! That whole part was quite well-written. Even the action was good, and action scenes are often where I zone out. Conor threw helmets at people. I liked that part too.
- Scope of the world: it felt like the characters actually travelled and the landscape felt vast. I think a lot of books gloss over the travel bits and make it seem like characters teleport. It never felt like that in this story except for when they actually teleported.
- Magic isn't overused: the magic is not just an everyday thing! It's treated with wariness and respect and I liked that it wasn't just constantly being thrown around to solve problems. The lack of magical power use by main characters (regardless of whether or not they are magical *sparkle sparkle*) provided opportunities to display the characters' problem-solving abilities and cunning. The stabby stab that Evangeline did to Miah and also putting him face-down in the mud was excellent. I also liked how Conor (my GURL) got the monsters off their tail using bloody clothes. I love that she paid attention in science class.
- Romance wasn't centralized: too often, fantasy books act as though romance is necessary for an interesting story, and far too often, those romantic subplots usurp the plot. I love that the romance that was present wasn't overpowering, and I liked that not every character was in a romantic relationship. And also there weren't really love triangle things. I don't count the thing with Abalon because Skyye noped out of there pretty quick.
- Maps: I like books with maps. I unfortunately don't look at them enough, but I appreciate their presence.
- Azra's bits in Meeran were really compelling to me. I liked how the city had a distinct feeling to it. I think the wilderness also had this strong sense of setting, especially when the gang was all together by the river.
- Conor: again, I just like her. She's fun. She did have that Not-Like-Other-Girls vibe at the start, which is fitting given the time period she comes from, but it was cool to see her grow and be supportive of other women. Woot!

Thank you once again for the opportunity to have an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, and I'm so excited to see where this story goes next!

[Desiree' DeWeese]

This author still needs ~70 ARC readers!!

[Chrys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you again to author Rachel Leigh and Left Field Publishers for the chance to read an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

First of all, I want to say this book isn't exactly my cup of tea. Its character tropes are not my favorite, and occasionally it wandered too close to romantasy for my taste. But for folks who like fantasy with a healthy dose of romance, enemies to lovers (to enemies), feisty women and morally grey men, references to mythology and folklore, and multiple point-of-view stories, this book is perfect for you!

I really liked this book's approach to a fantasy world. A lot of fantasy books take place in a world that's, if not thriving, at least surviving. But Asteria is a fractured, dying world—one might say a pre-apocalyptic one. Its patchwork of kingdoms—Aeris, a kingdom suspended in the sky; Meeran, a world sealed inside the ocean; Acadia, a pastorale land crawling with cursed monsters; and Turpin, a desert city of powerful immortals—are isolated, corrupted, and actively rotting from the inside. Nothing is as it seems, and everyone is grabbing for the power to further their goals—survival, revenge, escape, redemption. The imperialistic threat that eventually emerges from Turpin feels like a natural outgrowth of the world's desperation and decay, like how real-life fascists swoop in and promise to fill the holes in a struggling society. I could also feel Asteria's decay throughout the entire book, in the descriptions, in the monsters, and in the undercurrent of anxiety, confusion, and fear that permeates every character's point of view. It's a fresh approach, one I found fascinating and compelling. And of course, this gloom makes the moments of kindness, connection, and hope shine all the brighter.

My biggest gripe with this book was how it treated Eden, girlfriend to Skyye, the POV character from Aeris. I was really excited about Asteria's tags including "LGBTQ+ stories," and Skyye and Eden's relationship was a highlight of the book for me. However, I wish Eden had a more active role in Skyye's story. Throughout, Skyye works with a mysterious guardsman named Abalon to uncover the secrets she needs to escape Aeris and her role as a powerless figurehead queen. As Skyye's handmaiden, Eden could have been invalueable to this mission, able to access supplies, information, and a certain invisibility Skyye does not have. However, Eden spends most of her time in Skyye's chambers, fretting and weeping and offering her partner emotional support. She felt pretty and passive, a treasure Skyye defends, like the stereotypical wives of straight heroes in a lot of fantasy adventures. The day before the big escape, the plot suddenly decides to make Eden pull off an impossible, extremely important task, with her servant status as explanation/justification. But given her passivity up until that point, it feels like plot convenience more than anything. And then something terrible happens to her just to traumatize Skyye.

Additionally, the book has each POV woman—Conor, Evangeline, and Skyye—team up with a man who knows more than he's letting on. Even Azra, a male POV character with a major secret, is paired with Salara, the queen's assassin and niece. In three of the four, the POV character is crushing on their counterpart. Half the book is dedicated exclusively to these four straight duos, which felt repetitive and overwhelmingly heterosexual. Eden had a lot of potential to disrupt that pattern by working alongside Skyye and Abalon, giving her relationship with Skyye a narrative weight more equal to the other straight pairs. It also could have let her intelligence, kindness, and insight shine. Insead, she felt underused, reduced to a stay-at-home girlfriend (which is not a bad thing irl but is overused in books), rather than someone with agency in her own right. Given that she is the primary LGBTQ+ representation (other than Skyye and a sorta trans woman/genderfluid shapeshifter), and an ambiguously racialized queer woman at that, I found Eden's treatment disappointing.

That said, I did enjoy reading this book and found it quite compelling. When the characters converged about 2/3rds of the way through the book, I couldn't put it down! From that point, the book really came into its own, with solid pacing, gripping action sequences, an abundance of twists and turns, and opportunities for the characters and their dynamics to shine. The book's bite-sized chapters ensured I was never stuck with one character for too long and made for a quick, satisfying read (even if you're not a fan of multiple POVs!) And of course it had fascinating worldbuilding; beautiful scenery descriptions; and some truly impactful lines. For people who love the tropes it uses and subverts, I think Asteria is absolutely worth reading!

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, I want to thank the author for allowing me the opportunity to be an ARC reader.

I feel it is important to start my review by saying that Asteria is a fantasy unlike what I normally gravitate toward. I generally stay in the realm of fantasy/romantasy and Asteria definitely is more of an epic fantasy type of read.

Think “A Wrinkle in Time” crossed with “Game of Thrones” except there’s a crumbling magic system and most all the characters are teens or young adults still naive to the realities of life.

The story follows multiple characters, told from multiple POVs, during their journey through the land of Asteria. Somehow despite each of them coming from different places, having different struggles, and seemingly little in common they each coalesce to create one wild journey.

First we have Jaime, the teen basketball star who one days finds himself randomly pulled through the time space continuum to Asteria. After helping to save the planet and build an entire life over the course of 20 something years, he is shoved back through some version of a time vortex to Earth; where he finds that he is once again just a normal teenage boy. Desperate to find a way back to the life he built Jaime makes it his sole to get back to Asteria. However, if he is able to get home who’s to say time won’t have caused major changes to Asteria as he once knew it?

Que the entry of Conor. Conor is the outcast teenage girl who is hopelessly in love with Jaime. To her own detriment she finds herself wrapped up in more than just a teenage crush. However, don’t let Conor’s seemingly dimwitted blind attraction for Jaime fool you; she has sass, wit, and maybe just enough determination to survive on a random planet she suddenly finds herself thrown onto.

Next up is Evangeline. Evangeline is the badass girl who life has shit on repeatedly and as such she has grown bitter, hard, and perhaps a bit too jaded. Having to always be the protector with no one to protect her may lead to her ultimate downfall. However, is it possible to learn to open her heart not only to friendship, but perhaps to love as well?

Along comes Azra. Another forgotten soul who has a dangerous secret, one that if the wrong people found out would place not only him, but all of Asteria in danger. However, when a lethal beauty named Salara shows up and threatens to turn Azra’s entire life upside down will he be able to overcome his own self doubts and self imposed inadequacies to seek out the answers and truths he so desperately seeks?

Finally we have Skyye, the sheltered young queen . However, she is a queen in title only as she has no power over her own kingdom. As such Skyye spends her days wishing that her ideas and voice would be heard however, without being married and having a husband to speak for her this will never happen. Will Skyye find a way to rule as the queen she has the ability to be or will she cower and run from the responsibility? Oh, did I mention she also has a dragon!

These are just the main characters, all of which are introduced within the first 100 pages. There are several other important side characters; which I strongly recommend paying close attention to.

Taking into consideration the plot, world building, writing, and overall execution I would rate the book a solid 4 ⭐️. This book does not have what I would consider spice, rather a few fade to black scenes therefore I give it a 🫑.

While I don’t feel I’ll be joining the epic fantasy reader club anytime soon, especially when multiple POVs are involved, I am able to recognize and appreciate the authors work and what she produced. With that being said if epic fantasy is your thing this book is most likely for you.

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

** Received as an ARC -- Thank you to the Author and their team on allowing me to read this story This may contain what some consider spoilers, although not really**

If you enjoy multiple POVs and both urban (contemporary feel) and epic (other-worldly) fantasy you may enjoy this plot.

The story revolves around 5 main characters and you follow their individual and then integrated storyline from their POVs as the book progresses.

You have Jaime: who is probably the most mysterious of all 5 characters and seems to be a human that lived an entire life in Asteria before being sent back to contemporary Earth as a teenager only to return to Asteria towards the first part of the book.

Connor: a teenager human who has a big crush on Jaime and older sister to Olivia - which isn't introduced in this book but the readers are made to believe something bad happened to Olivia that causes Connor be overly protective of her sister and that is the main cause of her angst and need to return to Earth after being transported to Asteria with Jaime at the beginning of the book.

Skyye: A "token" queen and originally planning to run away from her duties with her lover - when their plan goes astray and she is forced to leave on her own.

Evangeline: the "true" heir and should be queen, escapes her assassination attempt and tries to live a quiet life with her found family. She is eventually discovered and her story starts to unfold. Eventually her path leads to the rest of the characters.

Azra: an heir for the "old" kingdom of Asteria, hidden and living in the (Meeran) ocean world of Asteria. Eventually is discovered and travels through submarine with Salara to Turpin Kingdom. Taken hostage, real identity is later discovered when he professes his feelings to Salara.

I believe the multiple POVs was ambitious in the overall layering of the plot and the momentum of the story. Unfortunately for me, the multiple POVs did not add to the overall story nor did I feel connected to any of the 5 main characters. While ambitious, having so many POVs so soon in the story did not allow for me to build any emotional connection for the character's based on the lack of their backstory and the superficial information we were provided.

I think a lot of my issues with the book were due to the prose and the 1st person POV for each character. I found the prose itself taking me out of the world and I could not imagine the world nor connect with the characters. The climax of book 1 and the ending did not move me, and so for me - the overall payoff was not enough to ignore the aspects of the book that disengaged me.

Weighted Rating:
📖 Storyline / Plot 15%
✍️ Prose & Writing Style 15%
💕 Romance Chemistry 15%
🌍 World-Building 15%
🎭 Character Development 10%
⚡ Pacing & Structure 10%
😮 Emotional Impact 20%
Overall (rounded) score: 3 Stars

[Sydney Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review:

First, thank you to the author for including me in the ARC review. I appreciate writers who value opinions from the community and those who are passionate about the genre.

My overall opinion is that I do think this book has something special in the YA market regarding the worldbuilding and character tropes. The tone of this novel reads similarly to the Lorien Legacy series (I Am Number Four), and I also think fans of The Maze Runner or even Percy Jackson would enjoy this. Since I am more into reading new adult, I believe my younger self (as a teenager) would have enjoyed this book more than my current self (mid-twenties).

I noticed in the reviews so far that the multiple POVs have been a hot topic, so I will give my take. On the positive side, since there was such a focus on worldbuilding, it is immersive as a reader to be taken through many different sides of the world. In some other novels, I feel disappointed if the world seems insane and complex but we only see it through a small lens. Here, we see through multiple lenses, which lets the different cultures, cities, and inter-dimensional lore shine.

On the critical side, I felt as though many of the POV characters had similar voices. A good test for this is whether, if the character name was not at the top of the page, the reader would really know who is speaking just from the dialogue. For most of the characters, the tone felt very much hero/heroine, snarky, and haughty. This can be seen in the way they tend to “argue” with other characters in scenes and then make interrogative statements after another character presents a counterpoint. It often read as, “Can you really believe this guy? They don’t understand my struggle.” It also made it difficult to parse the POV characters’ ages. I do believe there was effort to differentiate them, for example, Conor (young character) cursed much more than the other characters, but some of the older characters still did not speak or think in a particularly adult way.

I didn’t mind jumping between the different points of view. It was challenging at first, but I got into it once the first conflicts started. My favorite character was Skyye, as I think her struggle was the most interesting to read, and the minor characters around her were very amusing to me.

I definitely think this is worth the read for the epic fantasy atmosphere and the sense of adventure the premise evokes. I give this four stars because I would recommend this to a friend interested in the genre, though perhaps not to someone who is not typically interested in YA fantasy.

[Jae Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

TL;DR: If you love layered fantasy, multiple POVs, hidden connections, and stories that make you actively theorize while reading, this is absolutely worth checking out.

Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Asteria is one of those books that feels less like a straightforward fantasy and more like slowly unlocking a mystery box. With multiple POVs, converging storylines, hidden connections, ancient secrets, and clues scattered throughout the narrative, this is very much a fantasy written for readers who love theorizing and piecing things together.

I’ll admit that, at first, I struggled a little to find my footing. I don’t read a ton of multi-POV fantasy where the storylines eventually converge, so it took me some time to settle into each character’s perspective and understand what was happening within their individual spheres. But once the structure clicked for me, I became completely invested. It genuinely started to feel like solving a mystery — trying to figure out how all the threads connected and what larger picture was forming beneath the surface.

One thing I really appreciated was that the characters didn’t feel trapped within obvious fantasy archetypes. No one fully fit into a neat box, which made the story feel less predictable and allowed me to stay immersed because I truly didn’t know what to expect from each person. While this first book focuses heavily on laying the groundwork, I thought the characters were given enough depth and structure to make me excited to see them become even more fleshed out in future installments.

My favorite POV was Conor’s. She felt the most emotionally relatable to me while still carrying the strength and resilience I love in fantasy FMCs. What I appreciated most was that her reactions felt realistic — she responds to fear, confusion, and uncertainty like an actual person would, but she never allows herself to become passive within the story.

And honestly? Some of the connections and reveals were incredible. A few genuinely caught me off guard in the best way, and once the pieces started coming together, the payoff absolutely worked for me. The final cliffhanger especially left me desperate for the next book.

I’d recommend this most to readers who enjoy layered fantasy, multiple POVs, mysteries woven into world building, and stories that encourage active theorizing rather than handing readers all the answers upfront. If you’re looking for something a little different from the current fantasy landscape — something immersive, intricate, and intentionally built to keep you guessing — this is definitely worth picking up.

[Sara The Story Lover · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Why would books ever be forbidden? Except if there's something to keep hidden? What reasons other than selfishness or strategy would cause someone to restrict access to knowledge, to ideas, to histpry, to our repository of human thought?"

"It was love, of course. Such a painful, horrible feeling—to know that one's hopes and dreams and deepest longings have molded into the shape of a person, and to know that person now has the power to crush them all."

If you are looking for a funsy, flimsy romantasy with your usual shadow daddies and warrior princess heroines, this is not your book. However, if you want to get immersed in an unusual but unique world with complex heroes in its center with an interesting plotline, you have to read this book.

Asteria is not a casual read: there are multiple POVs (all very unique) and from the beginning, you need to pay attention to keep all the information straight. The world building is beautiful and well-paced: you learn everything piece by piece, enough to understand, but not too much so that you still want to know more. There are different realms, magic, dragons, terrifying creatures, secrets and heart-wrenching (closed-door) romance as well. The plot is good, though this book definitely felt like the build up for the rest of the series: we get to know the characters, the main issue, the goal. I feel like there could have been some more clarity on some background stories, but I'm sure everything will be answered in future installments. And this book did a great job preparing for what's coming: all the pieces are

For me, tough, the strongest part of this book were the characters. We have five main characters whose POVs we see during the book, each of their voices very unique. We have a young girl finding herself in a strange, magical world by accident, a boy who despite appearances has already lived a life full of magic, a struggling queen trying to find her power, a warrior fighting for her loved one's lives and a young man trying to discover ancient secrets. They are flawed, some of them even a bit unlikeable at times. They struggle, they make bad decisions and better ones, but more importantly, they learn to trust and to love.

Asteria needs, but more importantly, deserves your full attention, and now I can't wait for the next book!

Thank you to the author, Rachel Leigh for providing an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Zero · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ARC Book Review✨

3/5⭐

This book is written in first person, present tense. It has 5 different povs.

The worldbuilding, plot, political intrigue, hints of romance, soft moments, magical worlds, stake! It is all there! So why did I give only 3 stars?

Honestly, post the 60% mark saved this book for me. Before chapter 64, none of the characters ever meet besides Jamie and Conor who we are both in Conor's first chapter.

The entirety of the first half of the story, each of the 4 main characters (I'm lumping Conor & Jamie together for this) each have their own stories and motices. It is nice to see each character being their own character, but at the same time I would easily get lost or confused. This is because I wouldn't know location and with the first person present tense I'd often have to go back to the begining of chapters to see who was the pov. Honestly until they all meet I couldn't tell who was who, besides Jamie for his few and far between chapters. This made me lose interest and getting to the half way mark felt like trudging through quicksand.

Don't get me wrong, each story was beautifully crafted and the writing itself was well done. Though every time we switched perspectives there was a thought in the back of my head about if there was a better way of doing this. You can definitely tell that the author knew where everything was going and was going to be combined.

Around chapter 69 we get 4/5 all together. This is where I feel we finally piece together the overarching plot.
Then at chapter 84 we have the final character meeting the group. That is so long to not have all your characters together in my mind.

While yes this story is beautiful, do realize what you are getting into.
If this story hadn't been so confusing for the first 15% for me then kept feeling like one really long prologue until 61% I would have put this at 4 or maybe even 5 stars. Honestly it was going to be a 2 star until it seemed to get moving as a group and not every character's individual plotline in the second half of the book.

Though I'm excited to see where the next book takes us as there are still many things that need explained! (If these is a book two with that cliffhanger of an ending). That epilogue. Wow. /Pos
To end this off. I don't care that he's evil, Miah my beloved <3

Face characters: Eden, Miah, Evangeline, and Azra
Fave plotline: Early on Miah & Evangeline and Azra's fear of the dark before being found by the group

[C.C. Gravehart · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: This is an ARC review. Thank you, Rachel Leigh, for inviting me into your world! I am honoured to have been one of the first people to read Asteria (2026).

'Asteria' is a multi-POV, portal fantasy novel. It’s got dragons, sunken kingdoms, mysterious magics and an ancient enemy that threatens the balance of the universe. (YESSS!)

BEWARE, HERE BE SPOILERS!

What I loved:
That in medias res opening. Super gripping. BAM! We…are…in!

In general, Leigh is great at creating intriguing characters. Jaime and Evangeline’s introductory chapters preserved the high of the prologue. Jaime maintained the sense of mystery while Evangeline’s perspective opened up the harsh yet wondrous fantasy world.

I also just love multi-POV fiction!!

Speaking of world-building, I loved the sphaíra lore. The land of Asteria is so rich with history and complex politics, and the Turpin harbingers’ plot to round up heirs to awaken the sphaíra was so well crafted! Leigh masterfully lays a trail of breadcrumbs towards the climax and never makes things too obvious.

What I questioned:
I want to preface by saying I though 'Asteria' was a good book and that I do recommend it. However, I have a few criticisms…

Firstly, pacing. To me, 'Asteria' felt very quick. Chapters are structured largely with short paragraphs and dialogue, making it feel as though we’re racing through. Consequently, although Leigh’s world is rich I did not always feel grounded in it. Overall, I think the book could have benefitted from more detailed setting descriptions.

Additionally, the intimate scenes. I liked Azra and Salara’s romance moment. However, I was unconvinced both by Abalon and Skyye’s kiss as well as Evangeline and Miah’s intimate night in the cave. These romance scenes felt very out of character for the people Leigh constructs Skyye and Evangeline to be.

For one, Skyye adores Eden. I didn’t think there was a believable reason why she would kiss Abalon. To feel free? I disagree. Loving Eden, a maid, is already Skyye’s way of defying her role and duty as the queen of two kingdoms.

Plus, Evangeline’s personality is very abrasive. Survivalist. In the cave, had she tried to seduce Miah (her kidnapper) to get him to lower his guard, that would have made sense. But, no? She just felt horny? The scene also had a Stockholm Syndrome vibe.

These scenes didn’t hit for me personally.

Final thoughts:
Asteria (2026) is a strong debut novel from Rachel Leigh and is a passionate text oozing with creativity. I hope that Leigh decides to continue the series, to tie up loose threads and take us on another daring adventure!

You can support Rachel Leigh here:
@asteriathebook (Instagram)
@rachelleigh.author (Instagram)

Thanks for reading,
C.C.

[Gina May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy. Asteria is a multi-POV fantasy with layered worldbuilding, political intrigue, fractured realms, time distortion, and slowly converging storylines. By the time I reached around 65–70%, the plot threads finally started weaving together in a satisfying way, and I was genuinely glad I stuck with it.

That said, this was a difficult book for me to get into.

The first half felt extremely dense and disorienting with so many POVs (5 total), new settings, political systems, lore, and timelines introduced before I felt emotionally grounded. I understand the slow buildup was intentional, but personally, it took too long for things to click. Around the 40% mark I started understanding the larger structure of the story, and by the final third the convergence became much more rewarding.

Some POVs worked much better for me than others. Jaime’s storyline immediately intrigued me emotionally, especially with the grief and time-displacement elements, while Evangeline’s survival-focused personality helped ground the story. Other perspectives took much longer for me to connect with.

The world itself is imaginative and atmospheric — underwater cities protected by barriers, shifting winters, ancient mysteries, and fractured worlds all created a very cinematic feel once the pieces started coming together.

Readers should also know this book contains some fairly graphic gore/body horror imagery.

One thing I did appreciate was that while there is romance, this is written in a very restrained closed-door style. There’s very little explicit buildup or spice-heavy tension, which I personally preferred.

Overall, I think readers who love slow-burn epic fantasy with multiple POVs and delayed payoff may enjoy this more than I did. While the pacing and structure weren’t a perfect fit for my tastes, I can see why other ARC readers are rating it highly once the story finally settles into itself.

There is some language (from one character specifically) and one same-sex couple. And some darker themes which might upset some readers ( I.e. death, talk of suicide, drugs, struggles with fitting in).

[InkedSirenXO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Advanced Copy received from Author


Asteria is the kind of story that doesn’t just open a door to another world—it yanks you through it, heartbeat first, and dares you to keep up.

From the very first page, the world of Asteria feels like it’s unraveling in slow motion—fractured kingdoms, fading magic, danger coiled beneath every shadow. And right in the middle of it all is Conor, a heroine who doesn’t stride in with confidence and destiny blazing—she survives. She endures. She feels achingly real. Watching her get pulled from the quiet desperation of Earth into something far more perilous is like witnessing a spark catch in dry tinder.

The pacing? Relentless in the best way. Forest chases, shadowy tunnels, creatures lurking just out of sight—it all moves with this breathless urgency that mirrors Conor’s own desperation to get home. But what really elevates this book is its layered storytelling. Just when you think you’ve found your footing, the narrative shifts: a thief and assassin in the deep, a queen burdened by secrets, an exiled heir sharpening her vengeance. Each thread feels like a different storm brewing—and you know they’re going to collide.

And when they do? Magic.

The atmosphere is rich and cinematic—floating towers, storm-heavy skies, dragons stirring like old gods remembering their power. There’s a quiet melancholy woven through it all, like the world itself is holding its breath, waiting to either be saved or finally fall apart.

What truly makes this a five-star read is how everything balances: action with emotion, mystery with character depth, sprawling world-building with intimate stakes. Every perspective adds weight, not noise. Every reveal feels earned.

By the end, you’re left with that delicious, aching realization: something ancient has awakened—and you are absolutely not ready for what comes next.

If you love fantasy that feels vast yet personal, dangerous yet hauntingly beautiful, Asteria will wrap around your imagination and refuse to let go. ✨

[Drie Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Advanced Reader Copy Review:

Asteria by Rachel Leigh is the kind of fantasy that slowly pulls you in without you even realizing it. The whole book has this storm-brewing atmosphere where everything feels tense, dark, and slightly unsettling, even in the quieter moments. Rachel Leigh really leans into the mood and worldbuilding, and it makes the story feel immersive from the very beginning. Between the fractured kingdoms, fading magic, lurking danger, and dragons woven into the story, the world feels rich and cinematic.

One of the strongest parts of the book is Conor. She feels believable and relatable because she reacts the way most people probably would if they were suddenly thrown into a dangerous, unfamiliar world. She’s stubborn, overwhelmed, scared, and constantly trying to keep up with everything happening around her, which makes her easy to connect with. Jaime is also really interesting, though honestly he leaves behind more questions than answers, and I’m still not sure what to think about him—in the best possible way.
I loved Azra, my favorite little thief. Who doesn’t love a good morally-grey character?

The story has multiple POVs and several different plotlines happening at once, which gives the book that familiar fantasy feel. Some of the perspective shifts can get a little confusing at times, and a few characters could have used more development, especially in the middle where the pacing slows down a bit. Even during those slower sections, the atmosphere and tension kept the story engaging for me!

What really stood out to me was how everything feels like it’s building toward something massive. Every reveal feels important, and there’s this constant feeling that the world is unraveling right alongside the characters. By the end, it honestly feels like you’ve only seen the beginning of a much bigger story.

Overall, Asteria is a strong fantasy debut with an incredible atmosphere! If you like fantasy with rich worldbuilding, multiple POVs, and darker, cinematic vibes, this is definitely worth a read!

[LeeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Rachel Leigh for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Asteriais an ambitious multi-POV epic fantasy filled with fractured kingdoms, faltering magic, converging storylines, and the sense that something much larger is awakening beneath the surface.

This is very much a Book 1 of an epic fantasy series—the kind where much of the experience is spent assembling the chessboard before larger pieces begin to move. Early on, the multiple POVs felt somewhat disconnected for me, but as the story progressed and the various threads began converging, the world and larger narrative became much clearer.

What worked particularly well for me was the momentum. Despite the substantial page count, I kept reading because I genuinely wanted to know what would happen next, and by the end I found myself invested enough to continue the series.

Where the book didn’t fully land for me -yet- was emotional connection. I connected with a few characters and could feel the beginnings of attachment, but I wanted more time spent with each POV before the story accelerated toward convergence. As a very character-first fantasy reader, emotional investment matters a lot for me.

That said, I can absolutely see readers who love expansive epic fantasy, large casts, and slowly unfolding convergence stories connecting deeply with this.

Depth: The worldbuilding and ambitious multi-POV structure gradually came together into a compelling larger picture.

Connection: I connected with several characters, though I never fully reached the “I care deeply” emotional investment level.

Momentum: Strong—I read 600+ pages and absolutely need to know what happens next.

Who it’s for: Readers who enjoy large-scale epic fantasy, multiple POVs, gradual convergence, and expansive worldbuilding.

Who it may not be for: Readers who need deep emotional attachment to characters early in the story.

Shelf Decision: Conditional Stay — Book 2 will decide.

[Katasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this ARC

I want to start by saying this book was not at all what I was expecting. I wish I could give spoilers on this because there’s so much I want to say but I would be robbing you of the full experience.

With that said, this book is written in a multiple pov style that took a bit to get used to. I didn’t know where the story was going at first and struggled to grasp onto what was going on who was what. But things started clicking as the characters started revealing more.

Not only is it multi pov, it is also spread across different worlds and timelines, but the timelines aren’t linear? Stay with me. Things are technically happening at the same time but in different worlds. You have a modern world, desolate worlds, an aquatic one, etc. The settings were so complex and vivid that I found myself imagining these characters in these worlds.

I found the characters to be relatable. The banter was so realistic that I found myself going through waves of emotions and irritation (in a good way). Especially in the beginning Conor and Jaime, I’m talking about you!

The internal monologue vs what was said sometimes is what had me nodding my head like, “yeah, I get it.” I love how the characters expressed their fear in their heads but was very regal and calm outwardly. I loved how each character had their own story but all of it came together to connect the plot towards the second half.

The magic, the dragons, the monsters, all of the signs and connections. Ugh! How I want to experience reading this for the first time again. This is one of those books that makes you sit up and think about all the time. I loved every minute of it. Please know that I WILL be back to see what everyone else’s thoughts are so we can yap about it!

[Chris Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of Asteria from the author, and it completely pulled me in from the start. This isn’t the kind of fantasy that slowly eases you into the world—it throws you right into the middle of chaos, danger, and unraveling kingdoms, and honestly, I loved that about it.

What stood out most to me was Conor. She doesn’t come across as some perfect chosen hero with everything figured out. She feels real, someone just trying to survive while being dragged into something way bigger than herself. Watching her go from the struggles of Earth into the madness of Asteria made it easy to connect with her. The pacing kept me hooked the whole time. Between the chases, hidden tunnels, lurking creatures, and constant tension, there was never really a dull moment. But the story also does a great job balancing all of that action with deeper character storylines. Every new perspective, whether it was the assassin, the queen, or the exiled heir, added something important instead of slowing things down.

The world-building was probably one of my favorite parts. The imagery felt huge and cinematic: floating towers, dark skies, dragons waking like ancient forces returning to life. There’s also this underlying sadness throughout the story that makes the world feel like it’s right on the edge of collapse.

What really made this a five-star read for me was how balanced everything felt. The action, mystery, emotion, and character development all worked together naturally, and every reveal actually felt earned. By the end, I was left with that feeling where you immediately want the next book because you know something massive is coming.

If you enjoy fantasy that feels immersive, emotional, dangerous, and visually vivid, Asteria is definitely worth picking up!!

[Katie Raygoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of “Asteria” by Rachel Leigh. This book is a complicated, puzzle-box, multi-layer, multi-POV, fantasy. 5 different storylines all have their own complications but all have a similar problem, the darkness is awakening and something is coming.

There is massive world building with amazing attention to detail that fully immerse you into the world of Asteria. Jaime is from Earth but has been to Asteria before. Time moves differently in Asteria.

Jaime lived a full life before being sent back to Earth through the rift. He longs to go back. Connor is just a high schooler who doesn’t quite fit in. She likes Jaime and ends up with him when he gets sent back to Asteria. But, now what? The world Jaime was in before is not the same. The world is fractured; danger lurks around every corner. Can he fix it or keep himself and Connor safe?

Azra lives on the streets and steals books and knowledge from a secret library. He is destined for more but keeps the information secret. The Queen’s bodyguard, Salara, finds him and uses him to uncover how to escape the underwater city they live in. Think Atlantis.

Skyye is Queen of the sky city, she may be queen in title but the council of men do not consider her a ruler. They do not let her into council meetings and do not listen the thoughts of a woman. She is in love with her handmaiden. She longs for justice and to be treated with respect. Abalon is a soldier who wants her to be the queen they need.

Evangeline lives in the outskirts of town, she was to be queen but her parents were killed and she had to escape. She hunts for her food and takes care of her younger brothers. She is kidnapped by Miah, a harbinger, who knows who she really is and is taking her to Turpin.

This epic story was hard for me to read at first because I really had to pay attention to each story line. However, I felt it was worth it in the end. There is a lot of betrayal and twists that I never saw coming. I still am unsure who to trust! I am excited to read book 2 and see what happens next!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is a part of a Advanced Reader Copy provided by the author for an honest review :

I’m not allowed 1/2 stars but this was a solid 4.5 for me. This is an immersive fantasy read. Think big world building. If you love mysteries, epic prophecy style arcs then I would suggest you pick it up. Be warned this is told from multiple POVs and at times can be jarring and for some that might be a deal breaker. At times I was annoyed but it felt true to the story. The world itself is a bit “Alice in wonderland” tipsy turvy. You peel pack each layer trying to understand and make sense of the world we are thrust into but pieces are missing. You have time travel, centuries of change and different story coming from different characters. The question is- what is truth. The characters are diverse and dynamic. My options with them changed and waned with the story and their paths. Then the book ended and I was left speechless. I flipped but no more pages and I couldn’t fathom if I read the words wrong. The whole time you question everything you had read prior. It left anticipation and excitement for the story to continue. Frustration from the cliff hanger sure and maybe the lack of answers but that’s a good in depth fantasy when you are not sure what happened but went along for the ride. If you read “wheel of time” or in that scope level of yarn to unravel, that is the level my brain went as I dissected back character and each interaction. This book is not light, it is not for those looking for a “quick read”. It is jumping into a pool on a moonless night wondering which end is the deep end and which is the shallow and hopping there is even a bottom to touch in the first place.

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Advanced Reader Copy Review✨

Rating: 3.9/5 ⭐️
Genre: fantasy/epic fantasy
Spice: 🫑

Asteria is a sprawling fantasy written from multiple POVs that will leave you guessing well past the point that the tapestry of characters is finally woven together. Reminiscent of Game of Thrones, it follows several characters as they navigate through the world(s) until they finally intersect and travel along their path together.

Each character has a unique voice of their own. Jaime who ebbs and flows between his past on earth and his time spent in Asteria; Conor who knows Jaime from high school and struggles to with applying logic to her new reality; Evangeline who wars with her anger and her love for others; Skyye who fights against her palace prison to find her strength; and Azra and his never ending search for answers.

If you like fantasy that is light on romance, big on world building, and heavy on mystery, Asteria is a book I’d recommend. I found the characters to be complex, and generally likable, and once the plot really started moving (probably around the 60% mark) it was a fast read.

That being said, the first 60% was on the slower side with some interspersed action, but most of that time was spent setting up the plot and world building. I did have some issues with the world building itself. Much of the story is more uncover-as-you-go type mystery. I do like my world building itself to be more upfront. There was a feeling of being left in the dark while trying to understand what was happening. For a fantasy book that felt more ya than adult, I would expect fewer questions than answers. Hopefully I get all my answers in the second book!

Thank you to Rachel Leigh and Left Field Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[imk629 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a highly unique book. There are four different stories each told by a different POV. There are multiple main characters who are living separate lives in Asteria until all of them merge in the second half of the book. So we are following four different plots and how their different lives are important in different ways which leads to them coming together. There are so many different elements in this book of which the various characters navigate. There’s magic and dragons and harbingers. There are monsters of all sorts living in the different lands. There is an underwater submarine from a city under the sea. The story keeps moving and Asteria (the realm the story takes place) and its different kingdoms fall into chaos where their realm is on the verge of collapse. As each of these people from the various kingdoms end up together in the city of Turpin they must try to work together to figure out how to save the realm from evil and restore the lands to peace. The relationships between all the characters were strained. They found it difficult to get along and trust each other. There many unpredictable plot twists at the end that I wondered when the next surprise twist would drop. That cliffhanger ending was a shock and sets up for book 2. The situation at the end is very messy with questions about where they end up and still no answers as to what they need to do to survive and save the realm. It’ll be interesting to see the new adventures in the next book. Half this book focuses on the individual stories with it all coming together near the end. Now that they’ve all found one another it’ll be up to them to try and work together. Looking forward to book 2.

[Sophia Moser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this arc and am leaving a voluntary review.
Where do I begin? This book really said “here’s five different storylines, good luck” and somehow I was still fully invested. 😂 The world building and character backstories are massive here — every POV feels like its own fantasy novel at first. Different storylines, which were great on their own. But I’ll be honest — in the beginning I was a little confused trying to piece together how all these stories were supposed to connect. There’s SO much setup and backstory happening early on. Connor’s broody and trying to survive, Evangeline’s running from her past, Jaime’s convinced he belongs somewhere else entirely, and Azra’s over here trapped in a dark underwater world trying to uncover secrets all while having his own. .

It did take me a little while to keep track of everyone because there is SO much happening, Once the plot starts coming together around the halfway point though? That’s when this book locked me in. Suddenly the worlds start colliding, the characters finally cross paths, and all the little clues about the magic orbs, the dying kingdoms, the harbingers, and the heirs start making sense. Then it turns into nonstop action, betrayals, escapes, dragons, found family, dimension hopping, ancient secrets, and people discovering they’re way more important than they realized. it all turned into one huge fantasy puzzle I needed answers to.

And that ending?? Excuse me?? I still have questions about Jaime, because I still do not fully trust that man. I have to know who these people really are and if they can really save the world, and I absolutely need the next book immediately.

4.5⭐️

[Courtney Grover]

ARC reader review:

I have not yet fully finished the book although I am 80% through.

At first, this was a tough story for me to get into. There’s a lot of character POVs and the story line is intentionally confusing. I was highly intrigued but the beginning was slow for me.

However, I quickly realized how artful the writing was. The parallels created between characters and chapters that had no correlation were incredible. I loved trying to find the similarities and patterns. It drew me in and made me want to solve the mystery.

The reason I give this story 4 instead of 5 ⭐️ is simply because I did not fall in love with all of the characters. I know I know I’m a harsh critic. But I wasn’t moved to tears when characters died. I was definitely sad but not completely moved (and I often cry over side character deaths).

I’ll return to update when I fully finished the book but I highly recommend this to anyone that loves a complicated, well evolved, and unique fantasy world!

UPDATE:

Okay I finished the book… and the ending was phenomenal. All of the story lines masterfully came together in a way that didn’t feel cheesy or forced.

There was the right amount of intrigue, betrayal, emotion, and character growth. I still can’t give it a full five for the reasons stated above, however the end left me WANTING for more in the best way. I already need the next book so that I can learn why these characters ended up where they did.

If you love a fantasy (romantasy, high fantasy, etc.) you will love this book. It truly makes you think and try to solve its mysteries the entire way through.

[Sophia White · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review:

Ok, so I'll be very up front, the beginning is slow. It can also be a bit confusing with multiple character point of views, and that it is literally pulling you in every which direction. (You may need to take notes or notations at first to keep it all straight, which is why I give it the four stars). With that being said, it has a slow tension filled under current to it, that slowly begins to culminate. Think like tsunami, at first, it begins as this little wave, but as you get further and further, the waves builds and then collides (as it does with all the characters). The book is hefty, and it is long, but I promise, if you have patience, and you take the time, it is such a unique fantasy world building book, which feels special to come by these days with the fantasy oversaturation it feels we see at times. Especially because she took the time to make each of her characters distinct from one another, and it made it easier to care for them as I continued reading, which is a feat to do with one or or two, but she did this with more than double that (One of the worst feelings is reading and not caring about your main characters).

Rachel wrote something uniquely her own, and for that I give her all her flowers. Also, I loved little tidbits that tied to real classic stories or myths that we know of (shout out to Atlantis). As someone who loves history and literature, those little carrots gave me the warm fuzzies.

Also, I want to give Rachel a very big thank you for providing me an advanced reader's copy. It felt beyond special to have been chosen, and I'm so grateful to have been entrusted with the opportunity to read and review. 🩷

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Review of Advanced Copy received from Author*

This book is one of the most unique and refreshing fantasy books I've read in a long time! If you like thrillers or mysteries and fantasy, this book is for you.

Asteria has 5 POVs that it tells the story of a dangerous, dying world that exists between rifts with disappearing magic and kingdoms at war. Its leading characters have complicated pasts and differing goals and journeys, and the story weaves together in surprising ways.

What I loved:
-Conor's sass and banter with everyone
-Evangeline's boldness and do what it takes attitude
-Learning about the different kingdoms
-Seeing how the different characters' journeys intertwine
-The vengeance and betrayals a plenty
-Unique magic
-The current culture references dropped into Asterian conversations by Conor

This book did take me a while to get into, but after 50%, I flew through it needing to know what was next. This is the first book in a planned series, so I do have questions and am so curious about more of the magic and world...and what will happen after that ending!

The author intentionally leaves you guessing and speculating from the beginning and trying to figure out how things and people and places work together in this realm. It read as sort of an escape room book in my opinion. Like you read something and don't know what it means but then you stumble upon another piece and it makes sense together, and it keeps building from there. It was unique in that way.

Definitely worth a read (and a trophy copy - such a cool cover with so many easter eggs and bits of Asteria!), and I am so curious to see where this goes next!

[Christina Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

Asteria will be released May 27, 2026.

The plot did a lot of heavy lifting to keep me reading this book.

As an epic fantasy with multiple POVs, some of the characters felt unnecessary. My first few notes as I was reading were mostly on this particular grievance. I also found some of the descriptive text to be unnecessary filler or forced romanticization of a moment.

That being said, I was deeply intrigued by the world building and, as I mentioned, pulled in by the plot. At this point in time, a lot of media (popular or otherwise) is an amalgamation of the author's favorites. We see this in marketing with summary phrasing like "this meets that" or "a retelling of...".

Asteria falls into this category as it heavily references various popular fantasy work either directly by name or in unmistakable mention and they tie directly into the plot.

Fortunately I pushed aside the irk of it and, ultimately, found it to be an interesting premise for the existence of world setting.

I felt annoyed, betrayed, and grief stricken. Sometimes alongside the characters, sometimes because of them.

The writing is well paced and the tone is mostly consistent. Each POV is easily identifiable in their voice and perspective.

I'm surprised to find myself in the predicament of having finished an arc...knowing there is a long wait to the second in the series.

I give this a 4.25 because, despite my trivial grievances I'm left desperate to find the answer to a single question: Jaime. What the F are you up to?