What do you think?
Rate this book
Burning Stars: Blackout
- GenresDragons
529 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2026
About the author
Rurik Redwolf
4 books14 followersI like dragons.
Reading order, since I can't change it on Goodreads:
Main Series:
Ashen Dreams
Blackout
Side stories:
Requiem (Read after Ashen)
Afterdark (Read after Ashen)
Marooned (Read after Blackout, not yet released)
Reading order, since I can't change it on Goodreads:
Main Series:
Ashen Dreams
Blackout
Side stories:
Requiem (Read after Ashen)
Afterdark (Read after Ashen)
Marooned (Read after Blackout, not yet released)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 16, 2026
After the loss of a dear friend, Virith is now filled with grief and rage towards the Cult of Prazia. She wants nothing more than to go out there and eradicate every being infected by the virus. To do that though, she needs to become Valkyrie. But the pressure of her own failures is weighing down on her and makes her feel unworthy of the title. Is she ready to bear such responsibilities?
To put it bluntly, I am in awe with this book. There's a deep level of psychology and discovery that wasn't present in prior entries. Without going into details, Virith figures out a lot about herself here, which makes me appreciate her character a lot more than I used to.
Blackout was also really good at messing with my trust. I often found myself suspecting anything and everything. Rightfully so or not, I often couldn't bring myself to feel safe for the main character. There is however a lot of room to breathe throughout the story, and thankfully so, because when there is action, there is no holding back.
The book also takes the time it needs to look back at not only everything that happened up to this point, but also the victims, something I really appreciate after Ashen Dreams kinda shrugged them off with time skips.
Overall, I had a great time with Blackout. It held my attention the whole way through. Amazing book. Looking forward to see where the story goes next.
To put it bluntly, I am in awe with this book. There's a deep level of psychology and discovery that wasn't present in prior entries. Without going into details, Virith figures out a lot about herself here, which makes me appreciate her character a lot more than I used to.
Blackout was also really good at messing with my trust. I often found myself suspecting anything and everything. Rightfully so or not, I often couldn't bring myself to feel safe for the main character. There is however a lot of room to breathe throughout the story, and thankfully so, because when there is action, there is no holding back.
The book also takes the time it needs to look back at not only everything that happened up to this point, but also the victims, something I really appreciate after Ashen Dreams kinda shrugged them off with time skips.
Overall, I had a great time with Blackout. It held my attention the whole way through. Amazing book. Looking forward to see where the story goes next.
July 1, 2026
It is the kind of series that take intrigue to quite a level, here leveraging the fantasy/scifi elements to their full.
Some questions get answered, leading to others, actually broader avenues being opened.
The exposure and hinting are handled to keep theories running.
If you like that kind of teasing, you've come at the right place.
There is also a fair amount of character introspection that balances well with the more action / reveal scenes.
A great continuation, a lot of promises and I'm confident in the planning, given what I've read until now. So, no pressure.
One sure thing, though. If fiction characters could sue their author, Rurik would definitely be amongst those in dire need of an army of really skilled layers. :-D
But, would readers who paid for that, be liable too ? Now that's scary. Good thing they can't sue. Sorry guys !
Some questions get answered, leading to others, actually broader avenues being opened.
The exposure and hinting are handled to keep theories running.
If you like that kind of teasing, you've come at the right place.
There is also a fair amount of character introspection that balances well with the more action / reveal scenes.
A great continuation, a lot of promises and I'm confident in the planning, given what I've read until now. So, no pressure.
One sure thing, though. If fiction characters could sue their author, Rurik would definitely be amongst those in dire need of an army of really skilled layers. :-D
But, would readers who paid for that, be liable too ? Now that's scary. Good thing they can't sue. Sorry guys !
June 28, 2026
Dark fantasy, meets Sci fi, with a little splash horror, all while having dragons as its main cast. A great and promising followup from the authors previous entry. If you loved the previous book Ashen Dreams, you can expect more character development from both the main and supporting cast, as well as a good deal of lore and world building in this book.
Action is toned down from the previous entry in favor of exploring character relationships, as well as the main characters internal struggle. Virith, the books primary mc, deals with a heavy load of guilt, and self hatred. After the death of a dear friend, she and other cast members are struggling to heal after the sudden tragedy. Virith especially struggles as the book explores her deteriorating mental health as she slowly reaches her breaking point, all while juggling her duties and responsibilities while being in the crossfire of a world war.
Sethral, the books secondary mc, holds many secrets as he acts as the vehicle that slowly unravels a much more deeper, sinister thread of dangers and world building. Much more layers are added to an already solidly fleshed out plot and cast of characters.
As the plot thickens, so too does the feeling of danger.
Definitely a great read if you love a sci fi setting, or if you like a good dark and mysterious atmosphere. I will be reading the next entry! :)
Action is toned down from the previous entry in favor of exploring character relationships, as well as the main characters internal struggle. Virith, the books primary mc, deals with a heavy load of guilt, and self hatred. After the death of a dear friend, she and other cast members are struggling to heal after the sudden tragedy. Virith especially struggles as the book explores her deteriorating mental health as she slowly reaches her breaking point, all while juggling her duties and responsibilities while being in the crossfire of a world war.
Sethral, the books secondary mc, holds many secrets as he acts as the vehicle that slowly unravels a much more deeper, sinister thread of dangers and world building. Much more layers are added to an already solidly fleshed out plot and cast of characters.
As the plot thickens, so too does the feeling of danger.
Definitely a great read if you love a sci fi setting, or if you like a good dark and mysterious atmosphere. I will be reading the next entry! :)
July 2, 2026
Blackout is a step up from Ashen Dreams, which was a step up from Afterdark.
A big standout is character development. It takes its time to build these developments convincingly, and while there are powerful moments, much of what grows and nuances the characters and their views happens in the quieter ones.
The worldbuilding feels unobtrusive because it's woven well, even when it's the focus of a given moment in the story.
A couple segments, not all, of the narrative prose in the fight scenes are structurally repetitive and mechanical, and sometimes the action and dialogue name tags come in spades, not all of which are necessary. If the prose were stronger, the book would basically be perfect. Regardless, all the conversations have particularly natural dialogue.
There are so many subtle hints and little details to ponder while reading; Ashen Dreams had them too, but Blackout has more, some to pique your curiosity, and others to make you anxious. At the same time, the main plot remains easy to follow.
If you liked Ashen Dreams, you'll like Blackout. And if you didn't like Ashen Dreams, you might find yourself enjoying Blackout more than you expect, the reasons for which I shall avoid spoiling and end the review here.
A big standout is character development. It takes its time to build these developments convincingly, and while there are powerful moments, much of what grows and nuances the characters and their views happens in the quieter ones.
The worldbuilding feels unobtrusive because it's woven well, even when it's the focus of a given moment in the story.
A couple segments, not all, of the narrative prose in the fight scenes are structurally repetitive and mechanical, and sometimes the action and dialogue name tags come in spades, not all of which are necessary. If the prose were stronger, the book would basically be perfect. Regardless, all the conversations have particularly natural dialogue.
There are so many subtle hints and little details to ponder while reading; Ashen Dreams had them too, but Blackout has more, some to pique your curiosity, and others to make you anxious. At the same time, the main plot remains easy to follow.
If you liked Ashen Dreams, you'll like Blackout. And if you didn't like Ashen Dreams, you might find yourself enjoying Blackout more than you expect, the reasons for which I shall avoid spoiling and end the review here.
July 8, 2026
In some ways Blackout was not the book I expected it to be.
There are areas in which it was, in particular the complexity of the issues it tackles, the character conflicts, and the general quality of the story are on par with what can be expected, and one character in particular was a standout in how well the cracks are gradually and subtly revealed. Rurik Redwolf is developing his skills as an author, and the progress of it can be traced throughout the stories he puts out. I've reread Afterdark prior to diving into Blackout and the improvement is more than clear.
It's a new age for Fatea. While I won't go into detail as to why, change is coming, and it's one that makes me even more excited for future projects. Afterdark gives a taste of what's to come. Ashen Dreams sets the stage. Blackout is where the path is paved, direction set, and what will follow is, I imagine, thrusters roaring and full speed ahead.
Action scenes, in particular the fights, remain a weak point of the series to me. There's improvement from earlier projects, but they leave more room to improve further still. The core of what I love about this series, however, are the characters and the world, so this aspect ends up being a minor criticism in the big picture of Burning Stars. There's a couple more minor issues I could name, but those'd be spoilers to the story. Suffice it to say they're as I called them: minor, and don't detract from Blackout being another fantastic entry in this epic.
Burning Stars is not a typical story, even among dragon xenofic. It's weird in places, unexpected, unique, bold. It takes risks, and most of them pay off, and even those that for some might not should be appreciated for the novelty they bring.
If you've read the previous entries, you'll very likely enjoy Blackout as well. And if you haven't, why are you reading this review? Go treat yourself to Ashen Dreams and lose yourself in the tale of an unforgettable draken and all that is thrust upon her.
There are areas in which it was, in particular the complexity of the issues it tackles, the character conflicts, and the general quality of the story are on par with what can be expected, and one character in particular was a standout in how well the cracks are gradually and subtly revealed. Rurik Redwolf is developing his skills as an author, and the progress of it can be traced throughout the stories he puts out. I've reread Afterdark prior to diving into Blackout and the improvement is more than clear.
It's a new age for Fatea. While I won't go into detail as to why, change is coming, and it's one that makes me even more excited for future projects. Afterdark gives a taste of what's to come. Ashen Dreams sets the stage. Blackout is where the path is paved, direction set, and what will follow is, I imagine, thrusters roaring and full speed ahead.
Action scenes, in particular the fights, remain a weak point of the series to me. There's improvement from earlier projects, but they leave more room to improve further still. The core of what I love about this series, however, are the characters and the world, so this aspect ends up being a minor criticism in the big picture of Burning Stars. There's a couple more minor issues I could name, but those'd be spoilers to the story. Suffice it to say they're as I called them: minor, and don't detract from Blackout being another fantastic entry in this epic.
Burning Stars is not a typical story, even among dragon xenofic. It's weird in places, unexpected, unique, bold. It takes risks, and most of them pay off, and even those that for some might not should be appreciated for the novelty they bring.
If you've read the previous entries, you'll very likely enjoy Blackout as well. And if you haven't, why are you reading this review? Go treat yourself to Ashen Dreams and lose yourself in the tale of an unforgettable draken and all that is thrust upon her.
July 6, 2026
I definitely recommend making sure you've read Ashen Dreams and Afterdark recently before reading this book, as quite a lot of important plot points in the previous novels are hinted at, expanded upon, and moved forward. Reading it with the other books freshly read will help a lot to understand some of the more nuanced aspects of the previous books, especially scenes that involve either Kal, Serthal, and the Theater, or involve Et'Ral and the Prazians. There is a lot of foreshadowing and open mysteries that are chipped away slowly while reading this book, and these scenes are often critical to understanding and appreciating it.
That being said, Virith and her friends, family, and allies are written in a way that is top-notch and very enjoyable to read. The emotional depth of the characters in this book reaches a level that tops even Ashen Dreams. I love reading all the interactions between the characters. The cast is wide, rich, and well-done. You can look forward to a lot more touching and emotionally rich scenes in this book.
And, of course, it's never ambiguous that you are reading about a world filled with dragons and their allies. The prose clearly shows, time after time, that these characters are dragons or other fantasy species and races. That aspect of the book I immensely enjoy. I spent a while trying to figure out how dragon chairs work.
If you love dragons, definitely read this book and the others in the series!
That being said, Virith and her friends, family, and allies are written in a way that is top-notch and very enjoyable to read. The emotional depth of the characters in this book reaches a level that tops even Ashen Dreams. I love reading all the interactions between the characters. The cast is wide, rich, and well-done. You can look forward to a lot more touching and emotionally rich scenes in this book.
And, of course, it's never ambiguous that you are reading about a world filled with dragons and their allies. The prose clearly shows, time after time, that these characters are dragons or other fantasy species and races. That aspect of the book I immensely enjoy. I spent a while trying to figure out how dragon chairs work.
If you love dragons, definitely read this book and the others in the series!
June 9, 2026
Really good book blending sci-fi with fantasy and dragons with interesting developments that build upon the questions raised in the first book and add new ones to be answered in the next books. Easy and enjoyable to read
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews