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To Drown Among The Stars
In an unprecedented turn of events, Bastion emerges from his Trial of Knighthood a failure.
Certain the gods have abandoned him, he travels down the coast on a leave of absence, looking for solitude. Instead, he walks into trouble in the wake of a series of pirate attacks on seaside villages, where he meets Ulla, a deaf dragon-kin healer with secrets of her own.
Despite their initial, disastrous meeting, they’re drawn together by their mutual loneliness. Then, they discover the attacks aren’t random - they’re coordinated. The pirates are planning a large-scale attack on Moonwatch, the kingdom’s naval base, with the intent of stealing an ancient secret.
Together, Bastion and Ulla race to Moonwatch only to learn the commander has been drawn away by the attacks. Unable to deny his duty or his very nature, Bastion takes command of their diminished forces in the face of a pirate fleet armed with a mysterious weapon.
When Ulla is wounded, the world comes crashing down on Bastion and he must reveal his darkest secret to save her, even though it may mean losing her, after all.
This is a prequel that can be read as a standalone. It's an action/adventure, slow-burn romantasy featuring knights, pirates and semi-aquatic dragon people. It will appeal to fans of The Legend of Zelda, Tamora Pierce's Tortall books and Sabriel.
Certain the gods have abandoned him, he travels down the coast on a leave of absence, looking for solitude. Instead, he walks into trouble in the wake of a series of pirate attacks on seaside villages, where he meets Ulla, a deaf dragon-kin healer with secrets of her own.
Despite their initial, disastrous meeting, they’re drawn together by their mutual loneliness. Then, they discover the attacks aren’t random - they’re coordinated. The pirates are planning a large-scale attack on Moonwatch, the kingdom’s naval base, with the intent of stealing an ancient secret.
Together, Bastion and Ulla race to Moonwatch only to learn the commander has been drawn away by the attacks. Unable to deny his duty or his very nature, Bastion takes command of their diminished forces in the face of a pirate fleet armed with a mysterious weapon.
When Ulla is wounded, the world comes crashing down on Bastion and he must reveal his darkest secret to save her, even though it may mean losing her, after all.
This is a prequel that can be read as a standalone. It's an action/adventure, slow-burn romantasy featuring knights, pirates and semi-aquatic dragon people. It will appeal to fans of The Legend of Zelda, Tamora Pierce's Tortall books and Sabriel.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
May 11, 2026
I received an eARC directly from the author and this is my honest review.
- single POV
- deaf rep
- green flag MMC
- fated mates
- pirates
- no spice
Overall, this was a three star read for me. Below I will explain why I had mixed feelings about this book.
First, the single POV of this book was the MMC's, which was unique! Books in this genre that are from a single POV are almost always from the MFC's POV. Therefore, it was nice to have a change up in the approach.
Generally, the MMC was a more mature and green flag MMC. He was thoughtful, kind, and understood the impact of his behavior on other people. For example, he made a few mistakes towards the MFC. He reflected and realized he was discriminating against MFC due to the fact that she was deaf. He then made an intentional choice to change his behavior and not to define her by her deafness. He also apologized when he made mistakes, he owned his behavior. I really loved all of this.
The MMC was also a very prideful man and his pride/ego was wounded. He failed his trial to be a knight and, therefore, became this self-deprecating man. This self-deprecation caused him to make huge mistakes and emotionally hurt the MFC. He was then challenged by many people in his life, causing him to grow quite substantially. He again owned his behavior and became a better person.
This little information given about the MFC showed that she was also an incredibly mature woman. She did not see failure as a flaw and challenged the MFC to get over it. She was kind, healed others, and stood up for herself, often and towards anyone.
The book was moderate to fast paced the whole time. There were several battle scenes that were action packed. There was a found family that already existed and a new one that developed quickly, all of which I enjoyed. There were also several twists and turns, some were predictable tropes in the genre and I expected them, but some were surprises. I liked the hybrid of being surprised while also guessing things correctly. Lastly, I appreciated the diversity represented in this book, from different species falling in love to the MFC being deaf and fighting society to not define her by this.
Why three stars and not more?
While I get that this book was shorter (under 300 pages), it lacked any world building. I was confused at times about where the characters were, who were the gods, what was happening, etc. This book would have been much better if some time, not a lot, had been dedicated to showing us more about the world.
Second, at 35% into the book, I really knew nothing about the MFC, even though she was a main character. By the end of the book, I still felt this way. This book had very little dedicated time to who the MFC was and the MC's interacting to establish and develop their relationship. This book, unfortunately, was a great example of when a fated bond does not explain why these two love each other. Yes, there was one small moment where the MMC shared that he was attracted to the MFC beyond her looks and then described the characteristics he loved about her, but that was it. These two fought battles together and saved each other because they had a connection (the bond), but that was really it.... We were just told they loved each other. There were almost no moments between them that created a relationship. Because of this and the book being from the MMC's POV, I really knew nothing about the MFC. I was bummed about this.
Additionally, I was confused by MFC's behavior. For example, during one part of the book, the MFC saved the MMC, left her own people for him, rescued a child with him, but then eyed him suspiciously AND showed him her fangs when he wanted to take the child on a horse with him? What? She just did all of this for and with him... he saved the child. Yet, she is acting like this? Since there was no explanation about her thoughts and feelings, I didn’t understand her behavior. I genuinely did not know her by the end.
Lastly, since this was a short book I was confused on why so many pages were retelling the details of the events that happened earlier in the book. For example, the MMC survived many battles, which we were shown. Then, later, there are pages about the MMC telling his friend, and then AGAIN later to the king, about the battles. We already know what happened, why are we being told again and again? This happened a few times. I did not get why so many pages were retelling us what happened when there were so many details missing from the book. I wished the author had one sentence stating, "and I told her everything that happened the last few weeks." The author could have saved us time from rereading the same information AND opened up space to spend more time giving us more depth about the characters and world. Also, because this book was so short, we JUST read those battle scenes, we did not need them repeated. If this were a 700 page book and the battle happened at page 50 and we are now on page 650, fine, a reminder maybe was warranted, but the whole book being less than 300 pages to be shown/told the same two battles...
- single POV
- deaf rep
- green flag MMC
- fated mates
- pirates
- no spice
Overall, this was a three star read for me. Below I will explain why I had mixed feelings about this book.
First, the single POV of this book was the MMC's, which was unique! Books in this genre that are from a single POV are almost always from the MFC's POV. Therefore, it was nice to have a change up in the approach.
Generally, the MMC was a more mature and green flag MMC. He was thoughtful, kind, and understood the impact of his behavior on other people. For example, he made a few mistakes towards the MFC. He reflected and realized he was discriminating against MFC due to the fact that she was deaf. He then made an intentional choice to change his behavior and not to define her by her deafness. He also apologized when he made mistakes, he owned his behavior. I really loved all of this.
The MMC was also a very prideful man and his pride/ego was wounded. He failed his trial to be a knight and, therefore, became this self-deprecating man. This self-deprecation caused him to make huge mistakes and emotionally hurt the MFC. He was then challenged by many people in his life, causing him to grow quite substantially. He again owned his behavior and became a better person.
This little information given about the MFC showed that she was also an incredibly mature woman. She did not see failure as a flaw and challenged the MFC to get over it. She was kind, healed others, and stood up for herself, often and towards anyone.
The book was moderate to fast paced the whole time. There were several battle scenes that were action packed. There was a found family that already existed and a new one that developed quickly, all of which I enjoyed. There were also several twists and turns, some were predictable tropes in the genre and I expected them, but some were surprises. I liked the hybrid of being surprised while also guessing things correctly. Lastly, I appreciated the diversity represented in this book, from different species falling in love to the MFC being deaf and fighting society to not define her by this.
Why three stars and not more?
While I get that this book was shorter (under 300 pages), it lacked any world building. I was confused at times about where the characters were, who were the gods, what was happening, etc. This book would have been much better if some time, not a lot, had been dedicated to showing us more about the world.
Second, at 35% into the book, I really knew nothing about the MFC, even though she was a main character. By the end of the book, I still felt this way. This book had very little dedicated time to who the MFC was and the MC's interacting to establish and develop their relationship. This book, unfortunately, was a great example of when a fated bond does not explain why these two love each other. Yes, there was one small moment where the MMC shared that he was attracted to the MFC beyond her looks and then described the characteristics he loved about her, but that was it. These two fought battles together and saved each other because they had a connection (the bond), but that was really it.... We were just told they loved each other. There were almost no moments between them that created a relationship. Because of this and the book being from the MMC's POV, I really knew nothing about the MFC. I was bummed about this.
Additionally, I was confused by MFC's behavior. For example, during one part of the book, the MFC saved the MMC, left her own people for him, rescued a child with him, but then eyed him suspiciously AND showed him her fangs when he wanted to take the child on a horse with him? What? She just did all of this for and with him... he saved the child. Yet, she is acting like this? Since there was no explanation about her thoughts and feelings, I didn’t understand her behavior. I genuinely did not know her by the end.
Lastly, since this was a short book I was confused on why so many pages were retelling the details of the events that happened earlier in the book. For example, the MMC survived many battles, which we were shown. Then, later, there are pages about the MMC telling his friend, and then AGAIN later to the king, about the battles. We already know what happened, why are we being told again and again? This happened a few times. I did not get why so many pages were retelling us what happened when there were so many details missing from the book. I wished the author had one sentence stating, "and I told her everything that happened the last few weeks." The author could have saved us time from rereading the same information AND opened up space to spend more time giving us more depth about the characters and world. Also, because this book was so short, we JUST read those battle scenes, we did not need them repeated. If this were a 700 page book and the battle happened at page 50 and we are now on page 650, fine, a reminder maybe was warranted, but the whole book being less than 300 pages to be shown/told the same two battles...
June 25, 2026
3,5⭐
Bastion emerges from his Trial to become a knight knowing that the gods didn't speak to him, and that then he has failed. He begins to travel the surrounding area and ends up in a village which was attacked by pirats; there, he helps the locals and meets Ulla, a deaf healer that inmediately captures his attention.
As they got to know each other, they go in a travel together, to alarm about the attacks, that may be not that random.
It really surprised me that the book only had one POV, the male character's, Bastion's. I think it's the first time, at least that I can recall, that I've read a book like that, and I have to say I really enjoyed the experience.
I enjoyed a lot the way the fights are written, because they convey really well the speed of the movements; along with the settings, especially the sea and the stars around.
I also loved that Bastion, even thought he acts a bit like a stupid at times to be fair, is a total green flag. I love the way he treats Ulla, how he doesn't focus on what she can't do, but rather on her strenght, her desire to help others, her intelligence, her resilience, her heart.
Ulla is my favourite character in the entire book, the way she keeps moving forward no matter what, the rage and anger she can summo when needed, how she never gives up, and all the questions and thoughts she asks Bastion and that ends up making you, as reader, question things too.
"You cannot control your first thought- only the second and your actions."
I wanted to mention Finn too, the horse who made much of the story possible, and who I'd probably run to hug; I don't care that he is supposed to be kind of dangerous. 😅
I belive Bastion learnt a lot throughout the story thanks to many of the people around him, even Rowan, despite him being a child. Some of the lessons this book highlights include the idea that your actions matter more than where you come from or who your parents are, the importance of forging your own path even when others say the contrary, the need to believe in yourself and not blaming yourself for things you could not have changed. That falling down is not failing, and that failing is not the end.
-"Failure is inevitable! Try again or move on!"
-"Do not betray yourself to be understood or accepted. Make your own wind."
-"If you don't know the sound of your own voice, it's difficult to distingish which thoughts are yours and which aren't. I wanted to find out who I was without the input of so many others."
Thanks to the author, L. K. Frost, for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Bastion emerges from his Trial to become a knight knowing that the gods didn't speak to him, and that then he has failed. He begins to travel the surrounding area and ends up in a village which was attacked by pirats; there, he helps the locals and meets Ulla, a deaf healer that inmediately captures his attention.
As they got to know each other, they go in a travel together, to alarm about the attacks, that may be not that random.
It really surprised me that the book only had one POV, the male character's, Bastion's. I think it's the first time, at least that I can recall, that I've read a book like that, and I have to say I really enjoyed the experience.
I enjoyed a lot the way the fights are written, because they convey really well the speed of the movements; along with the settings, especially the sea and the stars around.
I also loved that Bastion, even thought he acts a bit like a stupid at times to be fair, is a total green flag. I love the way he treats Ulla, how he doesn't focus on what she can't do, but rather on her strenght, her desire to help others, her intelligence, her resilience, her heart.
Ulla is my favourite character in the entire book, the way she keeps moving forward no matter what, the rage and anger she can summo when needed, how she never gives up, and all the questions and thoughts she asks Bastion and that ends up making you, as reader, question things too.
"You cannot control your first thought- only the second and your actions."
I wanted to mention Finn too, the horse who made much of the story possible, and who I'd probably run to hug; I don't care that he is supposed to be kind of dangerous. 😅
I belive Bastion learnt a lot throughout the story thanks to many of the people around him, even Rowan, despite him being a child. Some of the lessons this book highlights include the idea that your actions matter more than where you come from or who your parents are, the importance of forging your own path even when others say the contrary, the need to believe in yourself and not blaming yourself for things you could not have changed. That falling down is not failing, and that failing is not the end.
-"Failure is inevitable! Try again or move on!"
-"Do not betray yourself to be understood or accepted. Make your own wind."
-"If you don't know the sound of your own voice, it's difficult to distingish which thoughts are yours and which aren't. I wanted to find out who I was without the input of so many others."
Thanks to the author, L. K. Frost, for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
July 3, 2026
thank you l.k. frost for the eARC—all thoughts are my own!
✦ publication date: june 21, 2026
i had a great time reading this. the representation of a deaf fmc was handled beautifully, and i really appreciated the extra detail of writing out the signs. it’s a fast paced story with a cute romance that kept me smiling. it’s a perfect pick for anyone who wants a light but exciting adventure. i can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series! 🤭
—꒰ 🔮 ꒱ 3.85 stars
✦ publication date: june 21, 2026
i had a great time reading this. the representation of a deaf fmc was handled beautifully, and i really appreciated the extra detail of writing out the signs. it’s a fast paced story with a cute romance that kept me smiling. it’s a perfect pick for anyone who wants a light but exciting adventure. i can’t wait to dive into the rest of the series! 🤭
—꒰ 🔮 ꒱ 3.85 stars
May 31, 2026
REVIEW OF ADVANCED COPY RECEIVED FROM AUTHOR
First, thank you so much to the author for providing me with the ARC! It was truly a privilege to be able to read this as my first arc read!
Overall, this was a fun book. I really did enjoy the prose and the writing style, and I could easily imagine what was going on in my mind. The pacing was good. The fight seems were written so well, and I did appreciate a point of view from a MMC which is unusual in romantasy books!
That being said, I so wish we got the point of view of Ulla as well. I would’ve loved to see her thought process and just see things from her view.
I will also say that I think there needed to be more world building for me to understand context and characters and plot points. It felt like being dropped into the middle of a story you’ve never heard of before, and trying to make sense of certain things. From my understanding this is a stand alone prequel that sets up a much larger story, but I truly feel that there needs to be more world building in this as I did feel so confused at times. I do not think the method of having a prequel be published first works here… if ever.
I am interested to see where this goes, though! I would be interested in more stories down the line once the world is expanded!
Favorite quote: “Failure is inevitable. Try again or move on!”
First, thank you so much to the author for providing me with the ARC! It was truly a privilege to be able to read this as my first arc read!
Overall, this was a fun book. I really did enjoy the prose and the writing style, and I could easily imagine what was going on in my mind. The pacing was good. The fight seems were written so well, and I did appreciate a point of view from a MMC which is unusual in romantasy books!
That being said, I so wish we got the point of view of Ulla as well. I would’ve loved to see her thought process and just see things from her view.
I will also say that I think there needed to be more world building for me to understand context and characters and plot points. It felt like being dropped into the middle of a story you’ve never heard of before, and trying to make sense of certain things. From my understanding this is a stand alone prequel that sets up a much larger story, but I truly feel that there needs to be more world building in this as I did feel so confused at times. I do not think the method of having a prequel be published first works here… if ever.
I am interested to see where this goes, though! I would be interested in more stories down the line once the world is expanded!
Favorite quote: “Failure is inevitable. Try again or move on!”
Did Not Finish
May 23, 2026Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC.
I just wasn't feeling this one at all.
There was a severe lack of world building. Way too much telling rather than showing. A great deal of times when a character would tell us how another character was feeling with absolutely nothing to back it up.
Overall, disappointed.
I just wasn't feeling this one at all.
There was a severe lack of world building. Way too much telling rather than showing. A great deal of times when a character would tell us how another character was feeling with absolutely nothing to back it up.
Overall, disappointed.
June 29, 2026
3.5 out of 5 stars; rounded up to 4 stars on Goodreads.
Thank you so much to the author for providing an ARC! Review is my own.
There is a super minor spoiler towards the end of my review to explain why I didn’t like something, so you’ve been warned!
This was such a pleasure to read (ironic considering how dark it was). We follow Bastion who failed to receive a godmark that will mark him as a knight. So he takes a leave of absence as the prince’s bodyguard and takes a break to figure out what went wrong. However, he gets thrusted into a battle with pirates and comes across Ulla, a Yvri (a species that are semi-aquatic and live in pods by the sea). Bastion and Ulla team up to take on the pirates and to protect the kingdom while also falling for each other.
I will start my review with what I’ve enjoyed about the book. I loved most of the characters in this book! Bastion was such a pleasure to read from his POV and we really got to understand his struggles and motivations. The more we learn about him throughout the story, the more I fell in love with him. All the characters were rounded, well-developed - including my favorite minor character Princess Nesrin, who is a total badass.
I also enjoyed the pacing of the story. There was no point where it lulled or felt boring; there was always something happening and it was all connected. The battle scenes were well-written and it felt like you were actually there witnessing the battle happening right in front of you.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the romance, which is ironic considering it is a big chunk of the plot. I just didn’t feel a connection between Bastion and Ulla. Maybe if we had more scenes that just focused on their relationship being developed it would feel more realistic to me. Also, a main part for me was Ulla is Deaf (and it was super well done by the author!) and her main form of communication is with sign language.
**MINOR SPOILER AHEAD**
Bastion didn’t seem too keen on learning sign language to communicate with her, only talking and having her read his lips, and she would write in a book to talk with him. If Bastion truly loved her, he would learn her communication style. As a hard of hearing person, if my significant other didn’t learn sign language for me, I would be devastated. This may be a me thing and I may be the only one bothered by this, but this really soured their romance for me.
**END SPOILER**
Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
Thank you so much to the author for providing an ARC! Review is my own.
There is a super minor spoiler towards the end of my review to explain why I didn’t like something, so you’ve been warned!
This was such a pleasure to read (ironic considering how dark it was). We follow Bastion who failed to receive a godmark that will mark him as a knight. So he takes a leave of absence as the prince’s bodyguard and takes a break to figure out what went wrong. However, he gets thrusted into a battle with pirates and comes across Ulla, a Yvri (a species that are semi-aquatic and live in pods by the sea). Bastion and Ulla team up to take on the pirates and to protect the kingdom while also falling for each other.
I will start my review with what I’ve enjoyed about the book. I loved most of the characters in this book! Bastion was such a pleasure to read from his POV and we really got to understand his struggles and motivations. The more we learn about him throughout the story, the more I fell in love with him. All the characters were rounded, well-developed - including my favorite minor character Princess Nesrin, who is a total badass.
I also enjoyed the pacing of the story. There was no point where it lulled or felt boring; there was always something happening and it was all connected. The battle scenes were well-written and it felt like you were actually there witnessing the battle happening right in front of you.
The only thing I didn’t enjoy was the romance, which is ironic considering it is a big chunk of the plot. I just didn’t feel a connection between Bastion and Ulla. Maybe if we had more scenes that just focused on their relationship being developed it would feel more realistic to me. Also, a main part for me was Ulla is Deaf (and it was super well done by the author!) and her main form of communication is with sign language.
**MINOR SPOILER AHEAD**
Bastion didn’t seem too keen on learning sign language to communicate with her, only talking and having her read his lips, and she would write in a book to talk with him. If Bastion truly loved her, he would learn her communication style. As a hard of hearing person, if my significant other didn’t learn sign language for me, I would be devastated. This may be a me thing and I may be the only one bothered by this, but this really soured their romance for me.
**END SPOILER**
Otherwise, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
June 21, 2026
I was so excited to receive this ARC from the author — thank you so much! First of all, this cover? Gorgeous. A Zelda-inspired romantasy with an Aragorn-coded MMC? Yes please!
This story is told from Bastion’s point of view, which was a little unexpected, but I really enjoyed it. It begins after what he believes is a failed trial for knighthood. He decides to go on a walkabout to figure things out before returning to the capital to meet his fate.
He comes upon a beautiful dragon-kin named Ulla at the beach. He later meets her again as she is healing villagers that have been attacked by pirates. This begins their journey together to warn the fort at Moonwatch of the pirates’ newly discovered plans.
They are taken hostage, rescue a young boy, get to know a god-touched Tharion horse named Finn, and meet new people along the way as well as discover a budding bond between them. But is that enough?
I really loved our characters in this book. Ulla is strong, fierce, unafraid and unapologetic while also being feminine and gentle. Bastion wrestles with feelings of not being enough, but is unafraid to stand up for what’s right and speak his mind. I really loved the small moments between them — when he signs to her, when she shares her feelings with him, it’s all so beautiful.
Bastion’s character arc in this book is so lovely and inspiring. The things holding him back, he realizes are not the important things. I loved watching the development from utter defeat to realizing his worth and what is worth fighting for.
“You are enough.”
I am so intrigued by the world, the gods, the turnip imp?! I really hope more books are out soon in this world as so many things are still hanging in the balance. I really hope this is just the beginning of the story of Bastion, Ulla, Rowan, and Finn.
Thank you L.K. Frost for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
This story is told from Bastion’s point of view, which was a little unexpected, but I really enjoyed it. It begins after what he believes is a failed trial for knighthood. He decides to go on a walkabout to figure things out before returning to the capital to meet his fate.
He comes upon a beautiful dragon-kin named Ulla at the beach. He later meets her again as she is healing villagers that have been attacked by pirates. This begins their journey together to warn the fort at Moonwatch of the pirates’ newly discovered plans.
They are taken hostage, rescue a young boy, get to know a god-touched Tharion horse named Finn, and meet new people along the way as well as discover a budding bond between them. But is that enough?
I really loved our characters in this book. Ulla is strong, fierce, unafraid and unapologetic while also being feminine and gentle. Bastion wrestles with feelings of not being enough, but is unafraid to stand up for what’s right and speak his mind. I really loved the small moments between them — when he signs to her, when she shares her feelings with him, it’s all so beautiful.
Bastion’s character arc in this book is so lovely and inspiring. The things holding him back, he realizes are not the important things. I loved watching the development from utter defeat to realizing his worth and what is worth fighting for.
“You are enough.”
I am so intrigued by the world, the gods, the turnip imp?! I really hope more books are out soon in this world as so many things are still hanging in the balance. I really hope this is just the beginning of the story of Bastion, Ulla, Rowan, and Finn.
Thank you L.K. Frost for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
July 4, 2026
3.5 ✨ rounded up!
This was unique and surprising romantasy!
You’ll love this if you like:
🗡️Legend of Zelda inspired tale
🌊fmc with magic powers
🗡️sassy horse friend
🌊pirate enemies
🗡️knighthood drama
🌊a deep and stunning love bond
Some of the thoughts that stand out for me right away are that the slow burn was stunning, but that the story felt told to me in too much detail. The battles and fight scenes were told so descriptively and I found I was wanting more story being told over time. The fight scenes were also a tad graphic! I wish I had the cozy feeling Zelda gave me like in the village, doing all the tasks! I did die at the Epona mention!!!
Otherwise, a great time!
Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
This was unique and surprising romantasy!
You’ll love this if you like:
🗡️Legend of Zelda inspired tale
🌊fmc with magic powers
🗡️sassy horse friend
🌊pirate enemies
🗡️knighthood drama
🌊a deep and stunning love bond
Some of the thoughts that stand out for me right away are that the slow burn was stunning, but that the story felt told to me in too much detail. The battles and fight scenes were told so descriptively and I found I was wanting more story being told over time. The fight scenes were also a tad graphic! I wish I had the cozy feeling Zelda gave me like in the village, doing all the tasks! I did die at the Epona mention!!!
Otherwise, a great time!
Thank you to the author for the arc in exchange for my honest review!
June 16, 2026
To Drown Among the Stars was such a fun read! It had all the best elements of an epic adventure: a soldier on his quest to become a Knight, a failed trial, an epic adventure, friends, a siege, a girl, a ship, and pirates!
After a failed attempt at becoming a knight, Bastion finds himself on leave searching for some quiet time. On his travels he comes across a village that's been attacked by pirates. There he meets Ulla, a deaf dragon kin healer.
As they investigate what happened, they discover that the attacks are coordinated attacks, and that these are covering for a bigger attack on Moonwatch. Bastion and Ulla immediately start heading for Moonwatch to warn everyone.
As the plot twists, we find out that both Bastion and Ulla have been keeping secrets. Will everything be alright when they come clean, or will this tear them apart?
Overall, a really cute story and I loved it! Can't wait to hear what these characters will be up to next!!!
After a failed attempt at becoming a knight, Bastion finds himself on leave searching for some quiet time. On his travels he comes across a village that's been attacked by pirates. There he meets Ulla, a deaf dragon kin healer.
As they investigate what happened, they discover that the attacks are coordinated attacks, and that these are covering for a bigger attack on Moonwatch. Bastion and Ulla immediately start heading for Moonwatch to warn everyone.
As the plot twists, we find out that both Bastion and Ulla have been keeping secrets. Will everything be alright when they come clean, or will this tear them apart?
Overall, a really cute story and I loved it! Can't wait to hear what these characters will be up to next!!!
May 18, 2026
Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this phenomenal story.
I loved the premise, loved the magic and the world building. There were very few lags and everything seemed well thought out and thoughtfully included. Not a single page seemed wasted.
The cover art is what captured my interest initially and I must commend the author and her art team for integrating the ethereal imagery with the book’s content.
I did not catch any grammatical errors or instances of failed continuity, which is a huge plus in my eyes!
I loved the premise, loved the magic and the world building. There were very few lags and everything seemed well thought out and thoughtfully included. Not a single page seemed wasted.
The cover art is what captured my interest initially and I must commend the author and her art team for integrating the ethereal imagery with the book’s content.
I did not catch any grammatical errors or instances of failed continuity, which is a huge plus in my eyes!
May 24, 2026
ARC received from the author.
Wow! I really enjoyed this book! It did take me a little time to get into it, but, once I did, I was invested.
I really liked Bastion as the MMC. He’s a great character, with a good heart. I also liked Ulla, the FMC. She has a great personality and they both have wonderful chemistry.
This book is definitely just the beginning. I feel there is so much potential when it comes to world building, and of course Ulla and Bastion’s relationship. I really hope the next book gets into that more.
It was a fun read and I can’t wait for more!
Wow! I really enjoyed this book! It did take me a little time to get into it, but, once I did, I was invested.
I really liked Bastion as the MMC. He’s a great character, with a good heart. I also liked Ulla, the FMC. She has a great personality and they both have wonderful chemistry.
This book is definitely just the beginning. I feel there is so much potential when it comes to world building, and of course Ulla and Bastion’s relationship. I really hope the next book gets into that more.
It was a fun read and I can’t wait for more!
June 24, 2026
I LOVED this book. I have been busy and in a slump, and this story pushed me back to the surface.
Bastion, the failed knight, reminded me so much of Chaol in Queen of Shadows and Tower of Dawn. When honor is everything, failure lurks like Death waiting to pull us under. I love him, and he needs a hug and an apple tart after all those physical and moral injuries.
Ulla reminded me of Neytiri meets Yrene—a ferocious healer willing to carve her own path. Her frustration with Bastion, care for _____, and insightful notes were delightful to read. I want to be her when I grow up.
A special mention for Finn: The horse with ✨attitude✨ and Minato, who was so tired of watching people do stupid things.
The writing was clear, concise, and beautiful. For only 290 pages I finished with 89 highlights. I watched the whole book in my head like a movie—especially Moonwatch and the Rainbow. Iykyk. This is a new book I’ll never shut up about.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! In my humble and honest opinion, inject it into my veins.
Bastion, the failed knight, reminded me so much of Chaol in Queen of Shadows and Tower of Dawn. When honor is everything, failure lurks like Death waiting to pull us under. I love him, and he needs a hug and an apple tart after all those physical and moral injuries.
Ulla reminded me of Neytiri meets Yrene—a ferocious healer willing to carve her own path. Her frustration with Bastion, care for _____, and insightful notes were delightful to read. I want to be her when I grow up.
A special mention for Finn: The horse with ✨attitude✨ and Minato, who was so tired of watching people do stupid things.
The writing was clear, concise, and beautiful. For only 290 pages I finished with 89 highlights. I watched the whole book in my head like a movie—especially Moonwatch and the Rainbow. Iykyk. This is a new book I’ll never shut up about.
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review! In my humble and honest opinion, inject it into my veins.
May 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
3.5✨
It’s probably my own fault, but I wish I knew this was a prequel to a series that hasn’t been written before I started. Now knowing that and finishing, it does make sense. It’s a short read with good back bones to the set up of whatever the future series will entail. It did move quickly, not letting you really connect to characters or get full explanations but again, it was a short prequel where maybe more will be answered in the future.
The writing was easy to follow for the most part and it was strange but refreshing to be reading from the MMCs perspective the entire book.
Am I intrigued enough to pick up the series when it exists? Maybe - I’ll have to wait and see.
3.5✨
It’s probably my own fault, but I wish I knew this was a prequel to a series that hasn’t been written before I started. Now knowing that and finishing, it does make sense. It’s a short read with good back bones to the set up of whatever the future series will entail. It did move quickly, not letting you really connect to characters or get full explanations but again, it was a short prequel where maybe more will be answered in the future.
The writing was easy to follow for the most part and it was strange but refreshing to be reading from the MMCs perspective the entire book.
Am I intrigued enough to pick up the series when it exists? Maybe - I’ll have to wait and see.
![Profile Image for Jamey [Longhollow.Lore].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1751370206i/7284478._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
May 15, 2026
3.5 ⭐️’s feedback to follow
June 7, 2026
4.5
ARC REVIEW
I want to thank the Author for this advanced reader copy.
Man!!!! I absolutely fell in love with this book. The plot and main characters had me hooked. The story of how they fall in love with each other had me on the edge of my seat! I was going thru it yall!! This author had me in my feels 😤😤💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
For some reason I had predetermined Bastion (the MMC) as like having a golden retriever personality….BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! The man was a freaking bad ass of a soldier. He was so strong and capable and had the highest regard for Ulla (the FMC) I was fan girling whenever he’d be yearning for her and then yelling at him when he’d put distance between them 😆 the man had his reasons but still!! 😭 Bastion for me was the literal definition of “touch her and die” and it wasn’t cringy or stupid or out of place. The author did a phenomenal job in writing his character.
Ulla 🥹🥹my girl!! She wasn’t some damsel in distress…she was feisty and damn it the woman HELD her own!! She didn’t let her disability stop her. Those closes to her tried to but her in a box because they saw her as fragile BUT She proved them wrong!! I absolutely loved her confidence and out look on life. She was definitely the strongest character in the book and it was portrayed in such a way you didn’t need a major back story to know all she had to go through to become the woman she was when Bastion met her.
(Muah! Chefs kiss)
The side characters were also heartwarming. Nesrin….my hero 🤩. Endre ever the optimist 🤣🤣 i absolutely loved him even tho he wasn’t in the book a lot. And little Rowan….can I adopt him please 😭😭that little boy was so precious.
I absolutely loved the authors writing style. The book is fast paced and the plot was clear to follow. We follow Bastion as he’s internally navigating his self worth after failing the most important test of his life to become a knight. While on leave he finds out his kingdom is about to face a big threat, meets Ulla and is now trying to get word to his King before it’s too late. The book was only 200 + pages but so much happened!!! And I’m super SUPER excited for book two!!
Cons:
This story was so damn good but I personally wanted more!
This story reads like I was thrown into the middle of a situation with no explanation of the world or what was happening. I found myself thinking I was reading a sequel and had missed all the information of the world building. It is explained as you read and of course I understood there was magic in this book, but personally for me I wanted a bit more lore.
Also, there wasn’t enough back story on Bastion. Yes, it’s explained towards the end and it makes sense to why he made certain decisions but I found myself having a hard time emotionally responding to his reactions/behaviors because of it. Especially when he was the one character that was going thru the most character development.
Other than these two things I absolutely loved it. Bastion and Ulla are my new favorite couple!!! ♥️♥️🥹🥹
ARC REVIEW
I want to thank the Author for this advanced reader copy.
Man!!!! I absolutely fell in love with this book. The plot and main characters had me hooked. The story of how they fall in love with each other had me on the edge of my seat! I was going thru it yall!! This author had me in my feels 😤😤💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
For some reason I had predetermined Bastion (the MMC) as like having a golden retriever personality….BOY WAS I WRONG!!!! The man was a freaking bad ass of a soldier. He was so strong and capable and had the highest regard for Ulla (the FMC) I was fan girling whenever he’d be yearning for her and then yelling at him when he’d put distance between them 😆 the man had his reasons but still!! 😭 Bastion for me was the literal definition of “touch her and die” and it wasn’t cringy or stupid or out of place. The author did a phenomenal job in writing his character.
Ulla 🥹🥹my girl!! She wasn’t some damsel in distress…she was feisty and damn it the woman HELD her own!! She didn’t let her disability stop her. Those closes to her tried to but her in a box because they saw her as fragile BUT She proved them wrong!! I absolutely loved her confidence and out look on life. She was definitely the strongest character in the book and it was portrayed in such a way you didn’t need a major back story to know all she had to go through to become the woman she was when Bastion met her.
(Muah! Chefs kiss)
The side characters were also heartwarming. Nesrin….my hero 🤩. Endre ever the optimist 🤣🤣 i absolutely loved him even tho he wasn’t in the book a lot. And little Rowan….can I adopt him please 😭😭that little boy was so precious.
I absolutely loved the authors writing style. The book is fast paced and the plot was clear to follow. We follow Bastion as he’s internally navigating his self worth after failing the most important test of his life to become a knight. While on leave he finds out his kingdom is about to face a big threat, meets Ulla and is now trying to get word to his King before it’s too late. The book was only 200 + pages but so much happened!!! And I’m super SUPER excited for book two!!
Cons:
This story was so damn good but I personally wanted more!
This story reads like I was thrown into the middle of a situation with no explanation of the world or what was happening. I found myself thinking I was reading a sequel and had missed all the information of the world building. It is explained as you read and of course I understood there was magic in this book, but personally for me I wanted a bit more lore.
Also, there wasn’t enough back story on Bastion. Yes, it’s explained towards the end and it makes sense to why he made certain decisions but I found myself having a hard time emotionally responding to his reactions/behaviors because of it. Especially when he was the one character that was going thru the most character development.
Other than these two things I absolutely loved it. Bastion and Ulla are my new favorite couple!!! ♥️♥️🥹🥹
June 23, 2026
Thank you L.K. Frost for the gifted copy!
This book grabbed me from the very beginning. There was a moment early on where I wasn’t completely sure where the story was going, and I worried it might not live up to my expectations, but everything came together quickly and pulled me in.
There is very little about this story that I didn’t love. It was original, immersive, and incredibly engrossing. I loved the author’s take on Ulla’s species, especially the combination of dragonborn and mermaid elements. It was such a unique addition to the fantasy world and made her character stand out in a way I haven’t seen before.
The story was also packed with action, but it still made room for meaningful character moments and emotional depth. Bastion and Ulla’s connection was such an enjoyable part of the story, and I loved seeing them find understanding and companionship in each other.
While the book had a satisfying ending, I am so excited that this is only the beginning of the series because I absolutely want more from this world and these characters.
This book grabbed me from the very beginning. There was a moment early on where I wasn’t completely sure where the story was going, and I worried it might not live up to my expectations, but everything came together quickly and pulled me in.
There is very little about this story that I didn’t love. It was original, immersive, and incredibly engrossing. I loved the author’s take on Ulla’s species, especially the combination of dragonborn and mermaid elements. It was such a unique addition to the fantasy world and made her character stand out in a way I haven’t seen before.
The story was also packed with action, but it still made room for meaningful character moments and emotional depth. Bastion and Ulla’s connection was such an enjoyable part of the story, and I loved seeing them find understanding and companionship in each other.
While the book had a satisfying ending, I am so excited that this is only the beginning of the series because I absolutely want more from this world and these characters.
June 22, 2026
✨ 𝑻𝒐 𝑫𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑨𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑳.𝑲. 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒕 ✨
a fast-paced fantasy romance filled with pirates, adventure and a unique representation rarely seen in fantasy
⭐ 2.5 out of 5 stars | fantasy romance | adventure | Ⓟⓘⓡⓐⓣⓔⓢ | slow burn | water creatures |
| Book Series: Standalone |
[ E BOOK ]
| advanced review copy |
⚓ 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤
To Drown Among the Stars by L. K. Frost is a fantasy romance featuring pirates, adventure, mystery and a slow burn romance. One of the main characters communicates through sign language and lip reading, bringing a type of representation that is still far too rare in fantasy books.
⚓ 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮
When I started this book, I was honestly excited. The premise sounded incredibly interesting and the writing style immediately pulled me in. It was one of those books where you sit down intending to read a few pages and suddenly realize you're already ten percent into the story without even noticing.
One thing I absolutely loved from the beginning was the representation. Seeing a main character communicate through sign language and lip reading was genuinely refreshing. It's something we still don't see nearly enough in fantasy, and I really appreciated how naturally it was incorporated into the story. That alone earned a lot of goodwill from me because it added something unique and meaningful to the reading experience.
Unfortunately, despite enjoying the writing style and appreciating the representation, I never truly connected with the story itself.
The strange thing is that quite a lot happens throughout the book. There are adventures, dangers, romantic moments and new developments constantly appearing. Yet somehow I always felt like I was standing outside the story looking in rather than actually experiencing it with the characters.
The deeper I got into the book, the more I realized that I was struggling to find a strong emotional connection to either the characters or the plot. Events happened, new problems appeared and were resolved, but I rarely felt invested in what was going on.
At times, the story felt less like one continuous journey and more like a series of separate events connected together. One storyline would be introduced, then another would take over, then a different conflict appeared, followed by romance drama. While each individual part often had potential, I struggled to see the larger thread connecting everything together into one cohesive narrative.
And honestly, that was probably my biggest issue with the book.
I think this story will work very well for readers who want a fast-paced fantasy romance without spending hundreds of pages on worldbuilding, explanations or complex political plots. There's absolutely an audience for that, and I can understand why many readers would enjoy it.
For me personally, though, fantasy books need either a strong emotional connection or a plot that completely hooks me from the start. Since neither of those happened here, I found myself becoming more detached the further I read.
What made it even more frustrating was that there were genuinely sweet moments throughout the book. There were scenes that should have worked perfectly for me. Scenes that were cute, emotional and clearly written to create a strong reaction. I could see exactly what the author was trying to achieve, but for some reason I just never felt those moments as deeply as I wanted to.
There was even a point where I thought this might become one of my favorite reads of the month. The setup had so much potential and I really wanted to love it. That's probably why it felt so disappointing when I realized I was slowly losing interest instead of becoming more invested.
The ending was actually pretty decent and wrapped things up in a satisfying enough way. But unfortunately, by that point, I had never managed to build a real connection to the story. Because of that, the emotional impact simply wasn't there for me.
⚓ 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨
The characters had a lot of potential, especially because of their unique backgrounds and dynamics.
I particularly appreciated the inclusion of sign language and lip reading as part of the story. It added depth and representation that felt meaningful rather than forced.
Unfortunately, despite liking certain aspects of the characters, I never fully connected with them emotionally. I understood them, but I rarely felt invested in their journeys.
⚓ 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜
The writing style was probably one of the strongest aspects of the book.
It's smooth, accessible and incredibly easy to read. The pages fly by, making it a very quick read despite the fantasy setting.
Ironically, the writing was strong enough that I kept reading even when the story itself wasn't fully working for me.
⚓ 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧
The cover perfectly captures the adventurous fantasy atmosphere and immediately caught my attention. It fits the tone of the story very well an i really love it.
📌 𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩
A book with wonderful representation, an easy-to-read writing style and several genuinely sweet moments, but one that never managed to create the emotional connection I needed to fully enjoy it.
💬 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
What's more important to you in fantasy romance: a strong emotional connection to the characters or an exciting plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish? 📖✨⚓
a fast-paced fantasy romance filled with pirates, adventure and a unique representation rarely seen in fantasy
⭐ 2.5 out of 5 stars | fantasy romance | adventure | Ⓟⓘⓡⓐⓣⓔⓢ | slow burn | water creatures |
| Book Series: Standalone |
[ E BOOK ]
| advanced review copy |
⚓ 𝙂𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙛𝙤
To Drown Among the Stars by L. K. Frost is a fantasy romance featuring pirates, adventure, mystery and a slow burn romance. One of the main characters communicates through sign language and lip reading, bringing a type of representation that is still far too rare in fantasy books.
⚓ 𝙎𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮
When I started this book, I was honestly excited. The premise sounded incredibly interesting and the writing style immediately pulled me in. It was one of those books where you sit down intending to read a few pages and suddenly realize you're already ten percent into the story without even noticing.
One thing I absolutely loved from the beginning was the representation. Seeing a main character communicate through sign language and lip reading was genuinely refreshing. It's something we still don't see nearly enough in fantasy, and I really appreciated how naturally it was incorporated into the story. That alone earned a lot of goodwill from me because it added something unique and meaningful to the reading experience.
Unfortunately, despite enjoying the writing style and appreciating the representation, I never truly connected with the story itself.
The strange thing is that quite a lot happens throughout the book. There are adventures, dangers, romantic moments and new developments constantly appearing. Yet somehow I always felt like I was standing outside the story looking in rather than actually experiencing it with the characters.
The deeper I got into the book, the more I realized that I was struggling to find a strong emotional connection to either the characters or the plot. Events happened, new problems appeared and were resolved, but I rarely felt invested in what was going on.
At times, the story felt less like one continuous journey and more like a series of separate events connected together. One storyline would be introduced, then another would take over, then a different conflict appeared, followed by romance drama. While each individual part often had potential, I struggled to see the larger thread connecting everything together into one cohesive narrative.
And honestly, that was probably my biggest issue with the book.
I think this story will work very well for readers who want a fast-paced fantasy romance without spending hundreds of pages on worldbuilding, explanations or complex political plots. There's absolutely an audience for that, and I can understand why many readers would enjoy it.
For me personally, though, fantasy books need either a strong emotional connection or a plot that completely hooks me from the start. Since neither of those happened here, I found myself becoming more detached the further I read.
What made it even more frustrating was that there were genuinely sweet moments throughout the book. There were scenes that should have worked perfectly for me. Scenes that were cute, emotional and clearly written to create a strong reaction. I could see exactly what the author was trying to achieve, but for some reason I just never felt those moments as deeply as I wanted to.
There was even a point where I thought this might become one of my favorite reads of the month. The setup had so much potential and I really wanted to love it. That's probably why it felt so disappointing when I realized I was slowly losing interest instead of becoming more invested.
The ending was actually pretty decent and wrapped things up in a satisfying enough way. But unfortunately, by that point, I had never managed to build a real connection to the story. Because of that, the emotional impact simply wasn't there for me.
⚓ 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨
The characters had a lot of potential, especially because of their unique backgrounds and dynamics.
I particularly appreciated the inclusion of sign language and lip reading as part of the story. It added depth and representation that felt meaningful rather than forced.
Unfortunately, despite liking certain aspects of the characters, I never fully connected with them emotionally. I understood them, but I rarely felt invested in their journeys.
⚓ 𝙒𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜
The writing style was probably one of the strongest aspects of the book.
It's smooth, accessible and incredibly easy to read. The pages fly by, making it a very quick read despite the fantasy setting.
Ironically, the writing was strong enough that I kept reading even when the story itself wasn't fully working for me.
⚓ 𝘾𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧
The cover perfectly captures the adventurous fantasy atmosphere and immediately caught my attention. It fits the tone of the story very well an i really love it.
📌 𝙋𝙞𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩
A book with wonderful representation, an easy-to-read writing style and several genuinely sweet moments, but one that never managed to create the emotional connection I needed to fully enjoy it.
💬 𝙌𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨
What's more important to you in fantasy romance: a strong emotional connection to the characters or an exciting plot that keeps you hooked from start to finish? 📖✨⚓
June 14, 2026
Rating: 4.25 ⭐️
No spice but does have some language!!
“Do not betray yourself to be understood or accepted. Make your own wind.”
To Drown Among the Stars is just what I needed after 2 weeks of reading books that are 400-600 pages long. I finished the majority of it all in just a day. It’s fast paced and short, sweet and easy to read, and overall enjoyable. It’s beautifully written. I especially love how kind and sweet Bastion is. In most fantasy books these days we get morally gray men (which I love too, don’t get me wrong), but not Bastion. He’s such a green flag, just trying to do what’s right, and prepared to stand by Ulla’s side. Which, don’t discount Ulla! Maybe she can’t hear or speak, but she’s very badass. I also liked that the story was told from Bastion’s POV. I expected it to be from Ulla’s POV to show us her experiences seeing as she’s deaf, but we almost never see just male POV’s, so I did really enjoy it!
However, I did have a few minor issues. (1) I was spacing out a bit while reading, but I’m not sure if that was because of the writing or just me, since I really did like the story. (2) I feel like we were kind of thrown into the plot with little world building or explanations. (3) I wish the Bastion and Ulla’s relationship was developed a bit more. The book could’ve been a little longer in order to achieve that.
I’m not sure if this is a standalone or if there will be any more books in this series, but I will 100% be reading them (and other works by the author) if there are!
“How did he tell Endre that it wasn’t her appearance that drew him to her? That it was her ferocity and tenderness, her determination and bravery–the fact that she didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought?“
No spice but does have some language!!
“Do not betray yourself to be understood or accepted. Make your own wind.”
To Drown Among the Stars is just what I needed after 2 weeks of reading books that are 400-600 pages long. I finished the majority of it all in just a day. It’s fast paced and short, sweet and easy to read, and overall enjoyable. It’s beautifully written. I especially love how kind and sweet Bastion is. In most fantasy books these days we get morally gray men (which I love too, don’t get me wrong), but not Bastion. He’s such a green flag, just trying to do what’s right, and prepared to stand by Ulla’s side. Which, don’t discount Ulla! Maybe she can’t hear or speak, but she’s very badass. I also liked that the story was told from Bastion’s POV. I expected it to be from Ulla’s POV to show us her experiences seeing as she’s deaf, but we almost never see just male POV’s, so I did really enjoy it!
However, I did have a few minor issues. (1) I was spacing out a bit while reading, but I’m not sure if that was because of the writing or just me, since I really did like the story. (2) I feel like we were kind of thrown into the plot with little world building or explanations. (3) I wish the Bastion and Ulla’s relationship was developed a bit more. The book could’ve been a little longer in order to achieve that.
I’m not sure if this is a standalone or if there will be any more books in this series, but I will 100% be reading them (and other works by the author) if there are!
“How did he tell Endre that it wasn’t her appearance that drew him to her? That it was her ferocity and tenderness, her determination and bravery–the fact that she didn’t give a fuck what anyone else thought?“
May 14, 2026
ARC READ 🩵✨
A million thank you’s to the author and publisher for letting me have the opportunity to read this book ahead of release.
3.7 Stars ⭐️ For this being the prequel (thanks for dropping that tidbit in the discord), I am pleasantly impressed! I usually steer clear of books that are like “omg this is like this other piece of media!!!” But this actually does a pretty good job at differentiating itself from Zelda. You only really get aspects of the story if you’re played the game and you recognize some of the same themes.
What I think stood out to me the most about this book is that we have a deaf main character. Throughout the story, we learn to communicate with her and how her voice plays a role in the decisions being made, even if she doesn’t actually speak. I thought it was a really unique experience and gave some nodes to the fact that link in the game doesn’t speak (I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but I loved it). Thank you to the author for writing out the signs as well. I think that was a nice touch.
All-in-all, I think this was a great and short read!! I loved the action scenes in this and the overall plot/characters. I think one thing I would love to see more is an expanded world building, which I’m sure we will get in the rest of the series.
I recommend this for anyone needing a lighter story read or just loves Zelda!! The romantic subplot in this is adorable and will leave you kicking your feet wanting more. 🩵
A million thank you’s to the author and publisher for letting me have the opportunity to read this book ahead of release.
3.7 Stars ⭐️ For this being the prequel (thanks for dropping that tidbit in the discord), I am pleasantly impressed! I usually steer clear of books that are like “omg this is like this other piece of media!!!” But this actually does a pretty good job at differentiating itself from Zelda. You only really get aspects of the story if you’re played the game and you recognize some of the same themes.
What I think stood out to me the most about this book is that we have a deaf main character. Throughout the story, we learn to communicate with her and how her voice plays a role in the decisions being made, even if she doesn’t actually speak. I thought it was a really unique experience and gave some nodes to the fact that link in the game doesn’t speak (I don’t know if that was intentional or not, but I loved it). Thank you to the author for writing out the signs as well. I think that was a nice touch.
All-in-all, I think this was a great and short read!! I loved the action scenes in this and the overall plot/characters. I think one thing I would love to see more is an expanded world building, which I’m sure we will get in the rest of the series.
I recommend this for anyone needing a lighter story read or just loves Zelda!! The romantic subplot in this is adorable and will leave you kicking your feet wanting more. 🩵
June 20, 2026
Wow, what are beautiful short story! It is captivating and super refreshing to see our MMCs perspective on it all. This one is definitely for the boys!
Sir Bastion, our MMC, is struggling with his self worth. His self esteem is pretty much non existent when we first meet him and we get to gradually see him find himself and accept that he is worthy, no matter how many times he might fail.
Ulla, our FMC, she's a total badass. I absolutely loved her. She's fierce and protective. She doesn't let her disability define her.
The connection/bond that forms between Ulla and Bastion is felt. It pulled at my heartstrings. 🥺
Roman! My sweet, sweet boy Rowan was definitely one of my favorite side characters. And how could we forget about Finn? Haha one of the best animal companion you could have, even with all the sass and trouble 😅
I absolutely loved all the Zelda references.
Even though this is a short read, we get a lot of action and you can tell it isn 't rushed or forced. Everything is played out so well you can see yourself there and being a part of the story.
Sir Bastion, our MMC, is struggling with his self worth. His self esteem is pretty much non existent when we first meet him and we get to gradually see him find himself and accept that he is worthy, no matter how many times he might fail.
Ulla, our FMC, she's a total badass. I absolutely loved her. She's fierce and protective. She doesn't let her disability define her.
The connection/bond that forms between Ulla and Bastion is felt. It pulled at my heartstrings. 🥺
Roman! My sweet, sweet boy Rowan was definitely one of my favorite side characters. And how could we forget about Finn? Haha one of the best animal companion you could have, even with all the sass and trouble 😅
I absolutely loved all the Zelda references.
Even though this is a short read, we get a lot of action and you can tell it isn 't rushed or forced. Everything is played out so well you can see yourself there and being a part of the story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have just finished reading To Drown Among The Stars by @L.K. Frost. A slow burn, action packed romantasy, with knights, pirates, semi aquatic- dragon characters and a very peculiar horse.
What I liked the most about this book is how vulnerable, unique, kind-hearted and real, both, the MMC and the MFC are. Bastion, a soon to be knight, faces a situation that shattered once of his high desires. In searching for answers and ways to deal with the disappointment, he intends to isolate himself, yet he comes across with a deaf semi-aquatic female, Ulla, with struggles on her own, and who will challenge him to truly face and find his true heart, purpose and soul. This beautiful story is written in such a way that made me love and feel empathy for the main characters, but also in many instances made me reflect on my own vulnerabilities.
I highly recommend it.
To Drown Among the Stars is released on June 21st 2026
What I liked the most about this book is how vulnerable, unique, kind-hearted and real, both, the MMC and the MFC are. Bastion, a soon to be knight, faces a situation that shattered once of his high desires. In searching for answers and ways to deal with the disappointment, he intends to isolate himself, yet he comes across with a deaf semi-aquatic female, Ulla, with struggles on her own, and who will challenge him to truly face and find his true heart, purpose and soul. This beautiful story is written in such a way that made me love and feel empathy for the main characters, but also in many instances made me reflect on my own vulnerabilities.
I highly recommend it.
To Drown Among the Stars is released on June 21st 2026
June 15, 2026
I want to thank the author for sending me a earc so I could read this book early, all my opinion are my own.
I devoured this book in just three days, it was so good! I honestly didn’t know what to say after finishing it. The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because there were a few scenes that felt a little confusing.
Sir Bastion and Ulla completely stole the show for me. Their relationship was easily the highlight of the story, and I found myself looking forward to every scene they shared.
I also really hope we get to return to this world in a future book. The world-building has so much potential, and I’d love to explore it with a little more depth and understanding.
Overall, this was a really solid read. I loved how fast-paced it was. By Chapter 5 they’re already kidnapped by pirates, and I was like, YES! This is how you high key start a book!!!! 🏴☠️
I devoured this book in just three days, it was so good! I honestly didn’t know what to say after finishing it. The only reason I’m giving it 4 stars is because there were a few scenes that felt a little confusing.
Sir Bastion and Ulla completely stole the show for me. Their relationship was easily the highlight of the story, and I found myself looking forward to every scene they shared.
I also really hope we get to return to this world in a future book. The world-building has so much potential, and I’d love to explore it with a little more depth and understanding.
Overall, this was a really solid read. I loved how fast-paced it was. By Chapter 5 they’re already kidnapped by pirates, and I was like, YES! This is how you high key start a book!!!! 🏴☠️
June 21, 2026
"A question hung heavy in the air between them. Would he reduce her to her deafness or let her define herself?"
To Drown Among the Stars is a fantastical adventure of what it means to love and what failure means. It's the story of Bastion, a royal guard who has just done his Trial of Knighthood but feels he has failed as his experience is different from the accounts of others. And about Ulla, an Yvri healer he meets when a coastal village is attacked by pirates.
Together they go through hell and highwater to uncover the mystery of a weapon that is sought after by the pirate Cutthroat Buck and his crew.
There were so many beautiful moments in the story throughout, heartbreaking and invigorating too. It was a true page turner that I couldn't put down. If you love magic, pirates, fantasy adventures, Zelda and Lord of the Rings, you should definitely pick up To Drown Among the Stars. This was definitely only the beginning.
To Drown Among the Stars is a fantastical adventure of what it means to love and what failure means. It's the story of Bastion, a royal guard who has just done his Trial of Knighthood but feels he has failed as his experience is different from the accounts of others. And about Ulla, an Yvri healer he meets when a coastal village is attacked by pirates.
Together they go through hell and highwater to uncover the mystery of a weapon that is sought after by the pirate Cutthroat Buck and his crew.
There were so many beautiful moments in the story throughout, heartbreaking and invigorating too. It was a true page turner that I couldn't put down. If you love magic, pirates, fantasy adventures, Zelda and Lord of the Rings, you should definitely pick up To Drown Among the Stars. This was definitely only the beginning.
May 25, 2026
Review of ARC directly from the author.
This Zelda-inspired adventure is a truly unique one. It isn’t often I have found books like these told solely from the MMC’s point of view, but I can’t say I’m disappointed! Bastion is prideful and strong, yet lost and broody. His story is one of discovering self-worth while yearning over and protecting a truly magical FMC.
Where I found this story to be lacking was the world and character building. While I did like the cast, it was hard to connect with them. They were missing depth and back story. Many of the characters were introduced solely from Bastion’s POV, and he didn’t give us much. The imagery in the battle scenes was wonderful, but again, the lack of world building made it hard to connect to the land.
Overall a three star read for me. I truly hope to see more depth in the characters and the world throughout the rest of the series!
This Zelda-inspired adventure is a truly unique one. It isn’t often I have found books like these told solely from the MMC’s point of view, but I can’t say I’m disappointed! Bastion is prideful and strong, yet lost and broody. His story is one of discovering self-worth while yearning over and protecting a truly magical FMC.
Where I found this story to be lacking was the world and character building. While I did like the cast, it was hard to connect with them. They were missing depth and back story. Many of the characters were introduced solely from Bastion’s POV, and he didn’t give us much. The imagery in the battle scenes was wonderful, but again, the lack of world building made it hard to connect to the land.
Overall a three star read for me. I truly hope to see more depth in the characters and the world throughout the rest of the series!
May 19, 2026
Thank you to the author for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this book! All my opinions and thoughts are my honest and genuine ones!
I really liked this story from page one! Bastion is the absolute cutest MMC and the greenest flag! He’s not only kind, thoughtful and cute: he also stands for what’s right and is brave! I also really liked the FMC Ulla, a badass deaf semi aquatic dragon kin who takes no shit. Who doesn’t want that? And I absolutely loved the crazy horse as well. He was also a badass one😌🤭
I really liked that the story starts right away and that the action and mystery takes speed from the start! I really like the author’s writing style! It flowed really nice and I easily got a feel for the vibe and characters. And to get the story mostly from the MMC point of view was really refreshing.
A really good book inspired by Zelda that includes pirates, knights, slow burn, “touch her and die” and deaf representation🫶🏻
I really liked this story from page one! Bastion is the absolute cutest MMC and the greenest flag! He’s not only kind, thoughtful and cute: he also stands for what’s right and is brave! I also really liked the FMC Ulla, a badass deaf semi aquatic dragon kin who takes no shit. Who doesn’t want that? And I absolutely loved the crazy horse as well. He was also a badass one😌🤭
I really liked that the story starts right away and that the action and mystery takes speed from the start! I really like the author’s writing style! It flowed really nice and I easily got a feel for the vibe and characters. And to get the story mostly from the MMC point of view was really refreshing.
A really good book inspired by Zelda that includes pirates, knights, slow burn, “touch her and die” and deaf representation🫶🏻
June 21, 2026
I am so grateful for the opportunity to have read this as an arc copy and I hope to get my hands on a physical copy soon 💙
This was such an enthralling, and easily devourable read!
What originally drew me in was that it was semi based off of the legend of Zelda, which, if you don’t know, is one of my all-time favourite games 🙌
The story follows Bastion, a disgraced knight, struggling with failure and self doubt. And Ulla a deaf, dragon-kin, healer with secrets of her own
What starts as a almost dream like first meeting, followed by an official meeting during an unfortunate devastation to a small fishing town, their relationship develops into a touching bond built on trust, understanding, and shared loneliness
Their dynamic felt truly genuine and not forced unlike a lot of other main character relationships in fantasy’s! The world building was beautiful and immersive and the combination of knights, pirates, the yvri ,and a really angry, but trustworthy horse 🐎 created such a wonderful story. I constantly felt kept on my toes through this novel and I absolutely can’t wait to see what LK Frost comes out with next 💜
This was such an enthralling, and easily devourable read!
What originally drew me in was that it was semi based off of the legend of Zelda, which, if you don’t know, is one of my all-time favourite games 🙌
The story follows Bastion, a disgraced knight, struggling with failure and self doubt. And Ulla a deaf, dragon-kin, healer with secrets of her own
What starts as a almost dream like first meeting, followed by an official meeting during an unfortunate devastation to a small fishing town, their relationship develops into a touching bond built on trust, understanding, and shared loneliness
Their dynamic felt truly genuine and not forced unlike a lot of other main character relationships in fantasy’s! The world building was beautiful and immersive and the combination of knights, pirates, the yvri ,and a really angry, but trustworthy horse 🐎 created such a wonderful story. I constantly felt kept on my toes through this novel and I absolutely can’t wait to see what LK Frost comes out with next 💜
June 23, 2026
The book definitely has a lot of potential and it was such an interesting concept. I loved the storyline and the Disability Rep. The writing also made it very easy to read.
But the thing that was lacking in the book was the world building and any description of the magic system.
It made me feel like I started in the middle of the series rather than the prequel as it was difficult to understand what was happening.
I would still recommend reading this book and I am excited to know what happens in this world with the new series.
But the thing that was lacking in the book was the world building and any description of the magic system.
It made me feel like I started in the middle of the series rather than the prequel as it was difficult to understand what was happening.
I would still recommend reading this book and I am excited to know what happens in this world with the new series.
June 26, 2026
3 stars!
Thank you to Victory Editing, L.K. Frost, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
I am extremely late on ARCS - I apologize!
I found this book extremely easy to start and get into - and it was fun to read from the MMC's perspective over the FMC
Bastion was a pretty good MMC, he has his flaws and things that make him human, but keeps his secrets where he can and wants to do good to save as many people as he can
I LOVED Ulla as a character, and its so good to see deaf representation!! It definitely made her scenes feel more powerful and meaningful
However, I felt that the worldbuilding fell a bit short for me, and I didn't really feel I was understanding the story. Sometimes the writing could feel a bit choppy and disrupt how I was understanding and reading some scenes, but overall it was alright! I absolutely loved the ending though, and this book really pulled through with the slow burn trope
It was enjoyable, I liked the characters a whole lot and I had fun with it!!
Thank you to Victory Editing, L.K. Frost, and Netgalley for the ARC!!
I am extremely late on ARCS - I apologize!
I found this book extremely easy to start and get into - and it was fun to read from the MMC's perspective over the FMC
Bastion was a pretty good MMC, he has his flaws and things that make him human, but keeps his secrets where he can and wants to do good to save as many people as he can
I LOVED Ulla as a character, and its so good to see deaf representation!! It definitely made her scenes feel more powerful and meaningful
However, I felt that the worldbuilding fell a bit short for me, and I didn't really feel I was understanding the story. Sometimes the writing could feel a bit choppy and disrupt how I was understanding and reading some scenes, but overall it was alright! I absolutely loved the ending though, and this book really pulled through with the slow burn trope
It was enjoyable, I liked the characters a whole lot and I had fun with it!!
May 18, 2026
Absolutely loved this prequel! 💕
Bastion is such a cinnamon roll for her 😍 and as an orphan who made sure being a knight would be everything he felt unworthy after failing his trial. Bearing no godmark but little did he know the gods had a different plan for him 🤭
Ulla is such a fierce woman 🔥 she never went down without a fight and how she made sure Bastion would regret his actions of thinking of letting her go.
Nearing the end it felt like the chapters became longer and it felt a bit prolonged but them coming together was well worth the wait 🥹
Recommend this to all Romantasy lovers that love a pining cinnamon roll mmc that will gladly bleed and die for her ⚔️✨
Bastion is such a cinnamon roll for her 😍 and as an orphan who made sure being a knight would be everything he felt unworthy after failing his trial. Bearing no godmark but little did he know the gods had a different plan for him 🤭
Ulla is such a fierce woman 🔥 she never went down without a fight and how she made sure Bastion would regret his actions of thinking of letting her go.
Nearing the end it felt like the chapters became longer and it felt a bit prolonged but them coming together was well worth the wait 🥹
Recommend this to all Romantasy lovers that love a pining cinnamon roll mmc that will gladly bleed and die for her ⚔️✨
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