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The Stargazer
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26In a world where power is everything, Wren has none.
Among the Sideri—a magical people defined by the ember they carry within—Wren is an aberration. No ember manifested when she came of age. No power. No place. She has spent years confined to the Citadel, catalogued as defective, watched over by monks who measure the stars and know far more about her fate than they will say.
The Citadel children are raised on a story so beautiful it never occurred to Wren to question it: that they were chosen, that their births under the alignment were sacred, their years of preparation a gift, their futures already written in starlight.
Then a stranger appears in the dark of the catacombs—armed, lethal, and belonging to a world the Citadel had spent years convincing her didn't exist. Griffon is the queen's former assassin, one of the most feared men in the kingdom, and he is very much being hunted. He doesn't offer rescue. He offers one brutal truth: for someone like her, the only fate is an early death.
Wren runs.
What follows is an escape across a continent she has never seen—through a city built beneath the sea, aboard an airship that falls from the sky, and into the court of a foreign king whose hospitality may be more dangerous than the tracker still on Griffon's trail. At every turn, Wren finds that the world is nothing like she was taught—and that nearly everything the Citadel taught her was designed to keep her from questioning it.
Griffon is many things: a deserter, a killer, a man who grips a malachite dagger the way others touch a talisman. He did not agree to protect her. He did not agree to stay. He keeps doing both anyway. She is sharp and relentless and strange, and he has stopped pretending her presence doesn't change something. The feelings building between them are inconvenient, irrational, and, given that someone is still trying to separate his head from his shoulders, profoundly ill-timed.
Beyond the Citadel, everything Wren thought she knew about herself begins to unravel. The farther she runs, the more she suspects the Citadel was never afraid of what she lacked—but of what she might be.
The Stargazer is a slow-burn NA romantasy for readers who like their magic systems detailed, their banter sharp, their heroines more likely to solve a ancient puzzle than wait to be rescued, and their romantic tension stretched to the absolute limit. It is the first book in the Embers of Distant Suns series.
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Content warnings: violence, death, captivity, threats of slavery, threats of execution, religious oppression, substance use, panic attacks, trauma flashbacks, and grief over the loss of family. The romance is slow-burn; this book contains no explicit sexual content.
Among the Sideri—a magical people defined by the ember they carry within—Wren is an aberration. No ember manifested when she came of age. No power. No place. She has spent years confined to the Citadel, catalogued as defective, watched over by monks who measure the stars and know far more about her fate than they will say.
The Citadel children are raised on a story so beautiful it never occurred to Wren to question it: that they were chosen, that their births under the alignment were sacred, their years of preparation a gift, their futures already written in starlight.
Then a stranger appears in the dark of the catacombs—armed, lethal, and belonging to a world the Citadel had spent years convincing her didn't exist. Griffon is the queen's former assassin, one of the most feared men in the kingdom, and he is very much being hunted. He doesn't offer rescue. He offers one brutal truth: for someone like her, the only fate is an early death.
Wren runs.
What follows is an escape across a continent she has never seen—through a city built beneath the sea, aboard an airship that falls from the sky, and into the court of a foreign king whose hospitality may be more dangerous than the tracker still on Griffon's trail. At every turn, Wren finds that the world is nothing like she was taught—and that nearly everything the Citadel taught her was designed to keep her from questioning it.
Griffon is many things: a deserter, a killer, a man who grips a malachite dagger the way others touch a talisman. He did not agree to protect her. He did not agree to stay. He keeps doing both anyway. She is sharp and relentless and strange, and he has stopped pretending her presence doesn't change something. The feelings building between them are inconvenient, irrational, and, given that someone is still trying to separate his head from his shoulders, profoundly ill-timed.
Beyond the Citadel, everything Wren thought she knew about herself begins to unravel. The farther she runs, the more she suspects the Citadel was never afraid of what she lacked—but of what she might be.
The Stargazer is a slow-burn NA romantasy for readers who like their magic systems detailed, their banter sharp, their heroines more likely to solve a ancient puzzle than wait to be rescued, and their romantic tension stretched to the absolute limit. It is the first book in the Embers of Distant Suns series.
Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout.
Content warnings: violence, death, captivity, threats of slavery, threats of execution, religious oppression, substance use, panic attacks, trauma flashbacks, and grief over the loss of family. The romance is slow-burn; this book contains no explicit sexual content.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Evren Marlow
1 book3 followersEvren wrote The Stargazer because she wanted to give her daughters a heroine who wins with her brain instead of a blade—in a story about what it means to be told you're not enough, and what becomes possible when you finally stop listening. A fantasy novel seemed less awkward than another dinner table conversation.
She lives in Pennsylvania with her family, who are her favorite people and have been very patient about the years it took her to write something she continually described as “almost done.” The Stargazer is her debut novel. She is currently working on Book 2, which is, well…almost done.
She lives in Pennsylvania with her family, who are her favorite people and have been very patient about the years it took her to write something she continually described as “almost done.” The Stargazer is her debut novel. She is currently working on Book 2, which is, well…almost done.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 18, 2026
Well, if The Stargazer by Evren Marlow is any indication of what’s to come, I may have just discovered a new author to obsess over.
The annoying part?
It isn’t even released yet and I already need the next book!!
I genuinely couldn’t put this one down. The pacing was perfect ✨ it’s quick without feeling rushed, and there was always enough happening to make me want to read “just one more chapter”… which, as usual, was a terrible decision for my sleep schedule.
The world concept has a learning curve, with new terminology, rules and concepts to get your head around, but I never found it overwhelming. Information is revealed gradually and naturally, so by the time I realised how much I’d learned about the world, I was already completely invested in it. There are clearly things we haven’t been told yet, but I’m loving the journey.
Wren is our FMC and I absolutely loved her. Shes smart, witty and brave, but what really made her stand out to me was that she actually feels like a person.
She’s clumsy. She’s silly. She makes questionable decisions. She reacts emotionally to situations that would make any normal person react emotionally.
And honestly? Thank you Evren..
Sometimes fantasy heroines can feel like a ‘copy, paste’. Wren isn’t like that and I found her to be a breath of fresh air.
Griffon is mysterious enough to keep me interested, morally grey enough to make me suspicious, and clearly hiding a lot more than he’s letting on. I spent a good portion of the book trying to work him out, and I’m still not convinced I have.
There is definitely a history there, and I have a feeling we’ve only scratched the surface of what Griffon has done, who he was, and what he’s capable of. I really enjoyed that Marlow didn’t feel the need to immediately explain everything about him. There’s just enough information to keep you intrigued without completely giving the game away.
And now I’m left sitting here wondering: What else are you hiding, Griffon?
Overall, The Stargazer was exactly the kind of fantasy read I love discovering unexpectedly. It’s fast-paced, imaginative, funny in the right places, and populated by characters I genuinely want to spend more time with.
Most importantly, it made me care about what happens next. And considering this book isn’t even officially released yet, that’s both exciting and mildly infuriating.
Because now I have to wait, so please excuse me while I stare dramatically into the distance waiting for book two.
I received an advance reader copy of The Stargazer by Evren Marlow in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own and are not influenced by receiving an ARC.
The annoying part?
It isn’t even released yet and I already need the next book!!
I genuinely couldn’t put this one down. The pacing was perfect ✨ it’s quick without feeling rushed, and there was always enough happening to make me want to read “just one more chapter”… which, as usual, was a terrible decision for my sleep schedule.
The world concept has a learning curve, with new terminology, rules and concepts to get your head around, but I never found it overwhelming. Information is revealed gradually and naturally, so by the time I realised how much I’d learned about the world, I was already completely invested in it. There are clearly things we haven’t been told yet, but I’m loving the journey.
Wren is our FMC and I absolutely loved her. Shes smart, witty and brave, but what really made her stand out to me was that she actually feels like a person.
She’s clumsy. She’s silly. She makes questionable decisions. She reacts emotionally to situations that would make any normal person react emotionally.
And honestly? Thank you Evren..
Sometimes fantasy heroines can feel like a ‘copy, paste’. Wren isn’t like that and I found her to be a breath of fresh air.
Griffon is mysterious enough to keep me interested, morally grey enough to make me suspicious, and clearly hiding a lot more than he’s letting on. I spent a good portion of the book trying to work him out, and I’m still not convinced I have.
There is definitely a history there, and I have a feeling we’ve only scratched the surface of what Griffon has done, who he was, and what he’s capable of. I really enjoyed that Marlow didn’t feel the need to immediately explain everything about him. There’s just enough information to keep you intrigued without completely giving the game away.
And now I’m left sitting here wondering: What else are you hiding, Griffon?
Overall, The Stargazer was exactly the kind of fantasy read I love discovering unexpectedly. It’s fast-paced, imaginative, funny in the right places, and populated by characters I genuinely want to spend more time with.
Most importantly, it made me care about what happens next. And considering this book isn’t even officially released yet, that’s both exciting and mildly infuriating.
Because now I have to wait, so please excuse me while I stare dramatically into the distance waiting for book two.
I received an advance reader copy of The Stargazer by Evren Marlow in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own and are not influenced by receiving an ARC.
August 18, 2026
Review of advanced copy from publisher
✨
This one had me hooked from the beginning! It was such a fast read because the flow of the words and the incredible storytelling had me finishing in just under 2 days.
I absolutely loved Wren’s personality-she’s smart, witty, and has the kind of quick comebacks that make her so much fun to follow.
She begins the story as a sheltered, naive, helpless FMC, and watching her navigate everything being thrown at her while she transformed into a woman who used her incredible mind to outwit all the men in the story was one of my favorite parts.
And then there’s Griffon. 👀 Morally gray, mysterious, carrying a seriously dark past, and giving major “I shouldn’t want you, but I absolutely do” energy. The touch her and die aspect made their relationship even more interesting, especially because they’re constantly forced into situations where they have to trust one
The romance is definitely a slow burn, with forced proximity and forced allies gradually turning into something much deeper. The tension between Wren and Griffon is chef’s kiss. 🔥
If you love forced allies-to-lovers + forbidden touch + morally gray men + magical mysteries, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
✨
Plot Breakdown:
At nineteen, Wren has spent her entire life knowing she is different. She is a Sideri-one of the rare people born when an asteroid passes between Gemini’s Castor and Pollux. But unlike the Sideri of legend, Wren has no ember, the magic that should have marked her as extraordinary. And with Sideri women mysteriously unable to conceive for nearly two centuries, their existence is becoming increasingly threatened.
Wren’s life inside the Citadel takes a dangerous turn when she is forced into an unlikely alliance with Griffon, a morally gray man carrying a dark and complicated past.
When the two are forced to escape the Citadel together, Wren finds herself following Griffon to the Tenabris Forest in search of a secret village rumored to shelter free Sideri. What begins as a fight for survival slowly becomes something much more complicated as the pair are forced into close proximity-and forced to rely on each other.
✨
This one had me hooked from the beginning! It was such a fast read because the flow of the words and the incredible storytelling had me finishing in just under 2 days.
I absolutely loved Wren’s personality-she’s smart, witty, and has the kind of quick comebacks that make her so much fun to follow.
She begins the story as a sheltered, naive, helpless FMC, and watching her navigate everything being thrown at her while she transformed into a woman who used her incredible mind to outwit all the men in the story was one of my favorite parts.
And then there’s Griffon. 👀 Morally gray, mysterious, carrying a seriously dark past, and giving major “I shouldn’t want you, but I absolutely do” energy. The touch her and die aspect made their relationship even more interesting, especially because they’re constantly forced into situations where they have to trust one
The romance is definitely a slow burn, with forced proximity and forced allies gradually turning into something much deeper. The tension between Wren and Griffon is chef’s kiss. 🔥
If you love forced allies-to-lovers + forbidden touch + morally gray men + magical mysteries, this one is definitely worth adding to your TBR.
✨
Plot Breakdown:
At nineteen, Wren has spent her entire life knowing she is different. She is a Sideri-one of the rare people born when an asteroid passes between Gemini’s Castor and Pollux. But unlike the Sideri of legend, Wren has no ember, the magic that should have marked her as extraordinary. And with Sideri women mysteriously unable to conceive for nearly two centuries, their existence is becoming increasingly threatened.
Wren’s life inside the Citadel takes a dangerous turn when she is forced into an unlikely alliance with Griffon, a morally gray man carrying a dark and complicated past.
When the two are forced to escape the Citadel together, Wren finds herself following Griffon to the Tenabris Forest in search of a secret village rumored to shelter free Sideri. What begins as a fight for survival slowly becomes something much more complicated as the pair are forced into close proximity-and forced to rely on each other.
Review of advance copy
I loved this book, and kept finding moments to dip into it until I finished. Wren is a fantastic blend of naive and innocent and whipsmart and radical. I loved her relationship with Griffon, an equally complicated character.
The worldbuilding was just complex enough to be interesting without being overwhelming. Nice bit of intrigue and adventure and some very high stakes.
My favorite parts were the slow burn--the romance evolved slowly and organically and viscerally. Wren's intelligence and knowledge paired well with Griffon's fighting skills and competence. If I could have, I would have rolled right into the next book!
This story is great for fans of begrudging partnership, a protective male protagonist and a brilliant female protagonist, found family, ride-or-die friendships, quests, corrupted worlds, and deep, slow-burn romances.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The worldbuilding was just complex enough to be interesting without being overwhelming. Nice bit of intrigue and adventure and some very high stakes.
My favorite parts were the slow burn--the romance evolved slowly and organically and viscerally. Wren's intelligence and knowledge paired well with Griffon's fighting skills and competence. If I could have, I would have rolled right into the next book!
This story is great for fans of begrudging partnership, a protective male protagonist and a brilliant female protagonist, found family, ride-or-die friendships, quests, corrupted worlds, and deep, slow-burn romances.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
Wonderful! I feel like this was written just for me. Wren, the FMC is beautifully sarcastic and honestly hilarious. Her brain is her weapon even though she doesn’t think of it like that. Griffon is mysterious and dangerous, but Wren eventually brings out another side, and it is worth the wait to see it. Their story is wrapped up in an awesome epic adventure under the stars. I highly recommend this book, and hope that the sequel is “almost done” soon!
I received this ARC from Book Sirens and the author, and am leaving my feedback voluntarily.
I received this ARC from Book Sirens and the author, and am leaving my feedback voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
5 infinity stars. This book could’ve been over 1000 pages and I would’ve gladly read each and every one. Multiple plot points and endless adventure.
Wren with her intelligence, wit, quick banter, yet absolutely zero common sense. Relatable character and fits the sunshine persona so well. Griffon the grumpy one. Hardened by a life of violence, but opens up for Wren.
I’m excited for the second book. I’ve already begun to tell my friends about this book. I even plan on getting myself a little trophy copy. My favorite read of 2026 thus far.
Wren with her intelligence, wit, quick banter, yet absolutely zero common sense. Relatable character and fits the sunshine persona so well. Griffon the grumpy one. Hardened by a life of violence, but opens up for Wren.
I’m excited for the second book. I’ve already begun to tell my friends about this book. I even plan on getting myself a little trophy copy. My favorite read of 2026 thus far.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Such a fun read! It took me a little longer to get into it than I would usually like, but it was a good story! The characters were interesting and all complemented each other well. I do think it was a fairly short read and quicker build in their relationship than what you normally see- but that isn't necessarily a bad thing! I'm excited to see how it continues to play out in the future, and I hope we see Salma again. (This was an unpaid ARC provided by the author!)
Review of advance copy
Stargazer captivated me from page one it was hard to put the book down. The descriptions of inner doubt of the MFC Wren and the beautiful scene set before me were amazing. I loved the growing adventures and the humor in times of crisis
I can't wait to see what comes next.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I can't wait to see what comes next.
I received a complimentary advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy
This was a pleasantly surprising read that I finished in 2 days - I couldn't put it down. I quickly became attached to the characters and the storyline. It was interesting, unexpected, and relatable all at once. There is a beauty to it. I am looking forward to book 2.
Full disclosure: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Full disclosure: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews