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Starfall Quest
Adventure calls. The wrong party answers.Quirky girl Mira Olvidneth is her underground city’s Very Worst Engineer and its Most Despised Bachelorette—and this all before her nineteenth birthday.
When a goblin friend falls ill and the only cure can be found by the sea, Mira is willing to journey across Vindor’s vast forests to get it—even though she’s never spent a day in the above-ground world. What could go wrong?
To help her, Mira’s cousin sets her up with an adventuring party that’s “the best of the best,” including a centaur warrior, a samurai blademaster, a potion-making magician, and a world-famous navigator.
But as the party ventures into the wilderness, Mira discovers everything she’s been told about her companions is a lie. Which is … not particularly ideal, especially as the hopeless party bumbles into the clutches of Vindor’s most ruthless warlord.
When a goblin friend falls ill and the only cure can be found by the sea, Mira is willing to journey across Vindor’s vast forests to get it—even though she’s never spent a day in the above-ground world. What could go wrong?
To help her, Mira’s cousin sets her up with an adventuring party that’s “the best of the best,” including a centaur warrior, a samurai blademaster, a potion-making magician, and a world-famous navigator.
But as the party ventures into the wilderness, Mira discovers everything she’s been told about her companions is a lie. Which is … not particularly ideal, especially as the hopeless party bumbles into the clutches of Vindor’s most ruthless warlord.
- GenresFantasy
395 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 29, 2026
About the author
Emily Golus
5 books145 followersEmily Golus is an award-winning fantasy author with nearly 20 years of professional writing experience. Golus aims to engage, inspire, and show how small acts of courage and love can create meaningful change. Her books feature diverse cultures, authentic characters, and cinematic fantasy settings.
Her first novel, Escape to Vindor, won the 2017 Selah Award for Young Adult Fiction. A spin-off novel, Crack the Stone, won the 2024 Kudos Award for Fiction and was a finalist in the 2024 Realm Awards. Golus enjoys teaching workshops for teens and adults about storytelling, worldbuilding, and creativity.
Golus lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, Mike, who is her greatest supporter. They have two active little boys and enjoy hiking, making Thai food, and exploring small towns in the Carolinas.
Discover more at WorldofVindor.com and EmilyGolusBooks.com, and keep up with book news at Instagram.com/WorldOfVindor.
Her first novel, Escape to Vindor, won the 2017 Selah Award for Young Adult Fiction. A spin-off novel, Crack the Stone, won the 2024 Kudos Award for Fiction and was a finalist in the 2024 Realm Awards. Golus enjoys teaching workshops for teens and adults about storytelling, worldbuilding, and creativity.
Golus lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, Mike, who is her greatest supporter. They have two active little boys and enjoy hiking, making Thai food, and exploring small towns in the Carolinas.
Discover more at WorldofVindor.com and EmilyGolusBooks.com, and keep up with book news at Instagram.com/WorldOfVindor.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 29, 2026
It’s rare for me to award five stars to a book, but I parted with my carefully-hoarded rating with ease when I closed Starfall Quest.
There is such an appealing vitality to Emily Golus’s books. I’ve always found this author’s books deeply comforting. I can remember where I was and how I felt when I read each of her books (which is rare for my foggy memory), because each experience was so moving and healing. There is something so very wholesome about her books: they are brimming with good health: restoring your mind and emotions with gentle reminders of what really matters and what doesn’t.
Who would have thought a novel about a wandering pack of idiots would also feature so much restoration of order? For Starfall Quest tugs gently at the threads of false beliefs and toxicity and weaves them into a new pattern, showing us that it is possible to step away from old patterns and old dogmas about ourselves and the world around us. I got choked up more than once at the themes subtly hidden beneath the insanity.
And boy oh boy, was there b>plenty of insanity! I was laughing out loud so many times! Every time I thought these characters hit rock bottom on the Dumbo Meter, they started to dig! Each character was utterly hilarious (I have to admit, I had a soft spot for Bianca, the snobbish but fabulous diva centaur).
Never was there ever such a pack of rip-snorting goofballs—and yet each one of these goofballs ends up surprising the reader with their hidden strengths and redeeming qualities. It takes a deft hand to write dumb characters in a way where the reader still respects them.
In Starfall Quest, the reader not only still LIKES the characters, their faith in humanity in general is restored, for the book reminds us that even the most gullible, snobbish, and apathetic people all have something to offer, if someone will just encourage them to step up to the plate. It was such a delight watching this gaggle of woefully ill-equipped chickens (*winks*) learn to use the skills they have and to make the courageous choice to do what’s right, even if they aren’t qualified heroes!
(Also, can we just take a moment to squeal about the romance? This was, hands down, one of the best romances I have ever read. For ONCE we got a relationship that was healthy, realistic, and down-to-earth while still being sweet and very romantic! I absolutely adored this pair of cutie patooties who brought out one another’s strengths and who grew together into something strong and beautiful and more than the sum of their parts).
Starfall Quest is a medieval-esque road trip romp (with lots of free therapy) and Emily Golus’s signature worldbuilding that immerses the reader in the sounds, tastes, clothing, buildings, languages, and culture of Vindor in a seamless blend of high-jinks, high adventure (several sequences had me on the edge of my seat!), and heart.
Effortlessly combining tongue-in-cheek meta-humor with heartfelt themes about believing in people and focusing on the simple things in life, this book is perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Terry Prachett.
Long after I closed the final pages of Starfall Quest, I couldn’t stop smiling, and I dare you not to smile when you read it too!
Do yourself a favor and pick up this lovely little palette cleanser: you’ll be glad you did!
Note: I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required: my fangirling is entirely of my own volition.
There is such an appealing vitality to Emily Golus’s books. I’ve always found this author’s books deeply comforting. I can remember where I was and how I felt when I read each of her books (which is rare for my foggy memory), because each experience was so moving and healing. There is something so very wholesome about her books: they are brimming with good health: restoring your mind and emotions with gentle reminders of what really matters and what doesn’t.
Who would have thought a novel about a wandering pack of idiots would also feature so much restoration of order? For Starfall Quest tugs gently at the threads of false beliefs and toxicity and weaves them into a new pattern, showing us that it is possible to step away from old patterns and old dogmas about ourselves and the world around us. I got choked up more than once at the themes subtly hidden beneath the insanity.
And boy oh boy, was there b>plenty of insanity! I was laughing out loud so many times! Every time I thought these characters hit rock bottom on the Dumbo Meter, they started to dig! Each character was utterly hilarious (I have to admit, I had a soft spot for Bianca, the snobbish but fabulous diva centaur).
Never was there ever such a pack of rip-snorting goofballs—and yet each one of these goofballs ends up surprising the reader with their hidden strengths and redeeming qualities. It takes a deft hand to write dumb characters in a way where the reader still respects them.
In Starfall Quest, the reader not only still LIKES the characters, their faith in humanity in general is restored, for the book reminds us that even the most gullible, snobbish, and apathetic people all have something to offer, if someone will just encourage them to step up to the plate. It was such a delight watching this gaggle of woefully ill-equipped chickens (*winks*) learn to use the skills they have and to make the courageous choice to do what’s right, even if they aren’t qualified heroes!
(Also, can we just take a moment to squeal about the romance? This was, hands down, one of the best romances I have ever read. For ONCE we got a relationship that was healthy, realistic, and down-to-earth while still being sweet and very romantic! I absolutely adored this pair of cutie patooties who brought out one another’s strengths and who grew together into something strong and beautiful and more than the sum of their parts).
Starfall Quest is a medieval-esque road trip romp (with lots of free therapy) and Emily Golus’s signature worldbuilding that immerses the reader in the sounds, tastes, clothing, buildings, languages, and culture of Vindor in a seamless blend of high-jinks, high adventure (several sequences had me on the edge of my seat!), and heart.
Effortlessly combining tongue-in-cheek meta-humor with heartfelt themes about believing in people and focusing on the simple things in life, this book is perfect for fans of Dungeons and Dragons, The Emperor’s New Groove, and Terry Prachett.
Long after I closed the final pages of Starfall Quest, I couldn’t stop smiling, and I dare you not to smile when you read it too!
Do yourself a favor and pick up this lovely little palette cleanser: you’ll be glad you did!
Note: I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required: my fangirling is entirely of my own volition.
October 11, 2026
An absolute riot from start to finish!
Emily Golus has been an auto-buy author for me ever since I first read Escape to Vindor, and I am not the least bit surprised that this latest book is every bit as fabulous as her other works.
Starfall Quest is a hilarious romp of a story, with so much wit and absurdity per page that it ought to come with a warning label not to read it in quiet places, because you will snort-laugh constantly.
A trip to the seaside to watch a meteor shower should be a pretty straightforward quest, right? Yeah, no, not for this party of beloved idiots. Somehow these characters are equal parts endearing and annoying, and are simultaneously the worst adventurers in Vindor and actually quite perfectly matched for their task. (Mr. Ishida, you have my whole heart sir.)
From the giant chicken on the front cover to the Leroy Jenkins reference during the boss fight, (and with plenty of subtle Easter eggs to keep my D&D nerd heart happy) Starfall Quest is a ridiculous delight. Sequel, please? Pretty please?
***
I received a free advance copy from the author. My review was not required and all opinions are my own.
Emily Golus has been an auto-buy author for me ever since I first read Escape to Vindor, and I am not the least bit surprised that this latest book is every bit as fabulous as her other works.
Starfall Quest is a hilarious romp of a story, with so much wit and absurdity per page that it ought to come with a warning label not to read it in quiet places, because you will snort-laugh constantly.
A trip to the seaside to watch a meteor shower should be a pretty straightforward quest, right? Yeah, no, not for this party of beloved idiots. Somehow these characters are equal parts endearing and annoying, and are simultaneously the worst adventurers in Vindor and actually quite perfectly matched for their task. (Mr. Ishida, you have my whole heart sir.)
From the giant chicken on the front cover to the Leroy Jenkins reference during the boss fight, (and with plenty of subtle Easter eggs to keep my D&D nerd heart happy) Starfall Quest is a ridiculous delight. Sequel, please? Pretty please?
***
I received a free advance copy from the author. My review was not required and all opinions are my own.
September 18, 2026
Full Disclosure: I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. The following review is my honest opinion.
I have only read one other story by Emily Golus before this, which was a short story in the mermaid anthology that I reviewed earlier this year. (It was also set in the world of Vindor, but underwater in a mermaid city.) But I liked her writing style a lot and was more than happy to volunteer to get an ARC of this book when she was looking for readers.
Oh. My. Goodness. This was so much fun! I expected it to be fun based on the description, but I didn’t know what else was going to happen or how all the twists and turns would work out for our incompetent heroes. I was delighted to find that, despite their incompetence and silliness, all the characters were still well-fleshed out, fully developed characters in a very well-developed, detailed world.
Mira was hilarious with her need to boop every living animal on the nose, even without actually knowing what half the animals that live on the surface world are called. (Me yelling at the book: “Don’t boop the black and white bunny with a long tail, DON’T BOOP THE BLACK AND WHITE BUNNY WITH A LONG TAIL!!!”) But there were ways she was also deep (deeper than she believed even herself to be) and had her own pain points she was dealing with. Intelligence may not have been her strength, which she herself would admit, but she had heart, and I loved how she saw the best in everybody and helped them recognize their own strengths.
The rest of the crew were great as well. I don’t have the book in front of me right now, so pardon any name misspellings… But I loved Ishida and Nnaamdi in particular. Literally nobody signed up for the quest they ended up going on (poor Ishida thought he’d signed up for a nice, relaxing vacation. Ha. Hahahaha.) but in the end, they came together to survive their unexpected circumstances, and also do some good things for people who needed help along the way. Ishida turned out to be a great Quest Dad, and Nnaamdi was such a sweet soul. Nnaamdi and Mira had such a nice dynamic together, I loved them so much!
Bianca (a young, self-absorbed centaur) and Windswept (a very incompetent navigator) were… well… themselves. XD But even they had a part to play on the team, using their strengths, for what they were, to end up basically saving the world.
For all the hilarity, there were some very epic moments, too, and much more excitement and drama as the plot thickened than I initially expected. I love when a story starts out seeming simple and then gets complex and flips your expectations on their heads by the end, so this was right up my alley. One of my top favorite parts was a moment near the middle that involved a certain mythical creature and the moon, and that’s all I’ll say about that so I don’t spoil it for others. It was SO EPIC, though, and I could imagine it so vividly! It’s one of those moments where I wish I was a better artist so I could bring the picture in my head to life. I might still try at some point… We’ll see. :)
Anyway, I also loved how things wrapped up in the end. I truly didn’t know how things would work out for Mira’s situation after all the major drama was done, but she still had things to deal with at home, like saving her friend, and dealing with some ridiculousness of how the royal family (her family) wanted things to be. But it worked out in a way that was very satisfactory, and I especially loved how a certain somebody helped her get things to change. (And LOL that moment where her goblin bestie almost ambushed a certain somebody.)
To be honest, it kind of sounded like there is sequel potential here, and I would be 100,000,000,000% on board with that!
Definitely read this book if you’re in the mood to laugh, smile, and overall have a good time while going on an adventure!
Content Advisory:
The main character of this book is 18 years old and turns 19 during the story. This story is very appropriate for teens through adults. Honestly, I can’t think of any reason why middle school age kids couldn’t enjoy it, too.
Language:
None. “Darn” is used once or twice. Mira mentions occasionally that some people say things that sound not nice in other languages.
Violence/Scariness:
Not violent, but the reason Mira goes on the quest in the first place is because her best goblin friend developed a terrible goiter on her neck (described) that got so big it nearly cut off her airway, and Mira is told the cure for this illness is far away from her home.
There are more threats of violence than actual violence, and a lot of it leans more toward funny slap-stick happenings where nobody gets seriously hurt. The characters get into moments of peril, like rafting through rapids and falling out of the boat. One person gets trapped under the water, but is rescued. They get chased by a cockatrice, but nobody gets hurt. Mira gets held at weapon-point a few times, but doesn’t get hurt. She gets captured once and, upon escape, she’s chased, shot at with arrows, and has knives thrown at her. (None of them hit her, though they come close.)
The villain is said to have murdered people who won’t join her cult, but these deaths are never described.
The questing crew stumbles upon a small village that burned to the ground, and later discover that the fire was started intentionally, but there’s no evidence of bodies or death. (Mira gets very upset thinking that people did burn to death, though.)
There’s some fighting when an innocent village needs to protect itself from the villain, but no death. (It’s implied that the enemy are all either captured or scared away.) Hitting and swinging of weapons are described, but not injuries. Somebody gets pepper powder blown in their eyes. A bunch of crows attack somebody, pecking and pulling the person’s hair until they run off.
Big spoiler for the ending here:
Sexual/Romance:
(Mild SPOILERS for the romance, but I won’t name the love interest.)
Mira and a young man slowly and naturally develop romantic feelings for each other over the course of the story. They hug a couple times. She almost kisses him in relief at one point, but restrains herself. They hold hands later on, and the young man asks if she might run away with him. Due to her responsibilities at home, including saving her friend, she initially (very sadly) turns him down. Later, they do find a way that they can marry and share two not-described kisses.
Spiritual/Magic:
Mira and others initially think that one character is a magician because he carries a cauldron around, but it turns out he just uses that for dyeing fibers for his cord-making business. He later pretends it’s a magic cauldron to scare some enemies away from an innocent village.
An evil, manipulative enemy has started a cult where she says some spiritual entity (no evidence is given that this entity actually exists) has chosen her as its prophet, and she does fake magic tricks to convince people she has power so they’ll join her and fight in her army. The “magic” tricks involve using chemistry to make it look like she can summon fire, and she has her henchmen secretly catch crows and release them at a certain signal to make it look like she can control birds.
Mira, meanwhile, actually does seem to have a connection to crows, and we later find out But she doesn’t force the crows to do anything, she just asks them to do things that help her or others.
Mira initially believes that the amulet her cousin gave her is supposed to help her find the cure for her goblin friend’s goiter. (The cure is a kind of salt from seaweed.) Mira’s traveling companions comment that it looks kind of evil. Mira doesn’t believe this, but it later turns out
Mira and another female traveling companion get approached by They are the only two members of the traveling group that can see these animals, or the path of sparkles that the creatures leave behind. Nnaamdi speculates that this might be because these animals only appear to human women who are pure of heart. (Bianca can’t see them, but she’s a centaur. She’s also not necessarily pure of heart because she can be quite condescending and otherwise mean toward others.) The can do some supernatural things like giving the two women a vision of danger ahead, and physically holding back the moon’s progress across the sky in order to stop time to save two people who were cornered by someone evil who was about to kill them.
Other:
There are a couple of instances of Mira being given an alcoholic beverage for casual consumption, but she thinks they taste awful.
I have only read one other story by Emily Golus before this, which was a short story in the mermaid anthology that I reviewed earlier this year. (It was also set in the world of Vindor, but underwater in a mermaid city.) But I liked her writing style a lot and was more than happy to volunteer to get an ARC of this book when she was looking for readers.
Oh. My. Goodness. This was so much fun! I expected it to be fun based on the description, but I didn’t know what else was going to happen or how all the twists and turns would work out for our incompetent heroes. I was delighted to find that, despite their incompetence and silliness, all the characters were still well-fleshed out, fully developed characters in a very well-developed, detailed world.
Mira was hilarious with her need to boop every living animal on the nose, even without actually knowing what half the animals that live on the surface world are called. (Me yelling at the book: “Don’t boop the black and white bunny with a long tail, DON’T BOOP THE BLACK AND WHITE BUNNY WITH A LONG TAIL!!!”) But there were ways she was also deep (deeper than she believed even herself to be) and had her own pain points she was dealing with. Intelligence may not have been her strength, which she herself would admit, but she had heart, and I loved how she saw the best in everybody and helped them recognize their own strengths.
The rest of the crew were great as well. I don’t have the book in front of me right now, so pardon any name misspellings… But I loved Ishida and Nnaamdi in particular. Literally nobody signed up for the quest they ended up going on (poor Ishida thought he’d signed up for a nice, relaxing vacation. Ha. Hahahaha.) but in the end, they came together to survive their unexpected circumstances, and also do some good things for people who needed help along the way. Ishida turned out to be a great Quest Dad, and Nnaamdi was such a sweet soul. Nnaamdi and Mira had such a nice dynamic together, I loved them so much!
Bianca (a young, self-absorbed centaur) and Windswept (a very incompetent navigator) were… well… themselves. XD But even they had a part to play on the team, using their strengths, for what they were, to end up basically saving the world.
For all the hilarity, there were some very epic moments, too, and much more excitement and drama as the plot thickened than I initially expected. I love when a story starts out seeming simple and then gets complex and flips your expectations on their heads by the end, so this was right up my alley. One of my top favorite parts was a moment near the middle that involved a certain mythical creature and the moon, and that’s all I’ll say about that so I don’t spoil it for others. It was SO EPIC, though, and I could imagine it so vividly! It’s one of those moments where I wish I was a better artist so I could bring the picture in my head to life. I might still try at some point… We’ll see. :)
Anyway, I also loved how things wrapped up in the end. I truly didn’t know how things would work out for Mira’s situation after all the major drama was done, but she still had things to deal with at home, like saving her friend, and dealing with some ridiculousness of how the royal family (her family) wanted things to be. But it worked out in a way that was very satisfactory, and I especially loved how a certain somebody helped her get things to change. (And LOL that moment where her goblin bestie almost ambushed a certain somebody.)
To be honest, it kind of sounded like there is sequel potential here, and I would be 100,000,000,000% on board with that!
Definitely read this book if you’re in the mood to laugh, smile, and overall have a good time while going on an adventure!
Content Advisory:
The main character of this book is 18 years old and turns 19 during the story. This story is very appropriate for teens through adults. Honestly, I can’t think of any reason why middle school age kids couldn’t enjoy it, too.
Language:
None. “Darn” is used once or twice. Mira mentions occasionally that some people say things that sound not nice in other languages.
Violence/Scariness:
Not violent, but the reason Mira goes on the quest in the first place is because her best goblin friend developed a terrible goiter on her neck (described) that got so big it nearly cut off her airway, and Mira is told the cure for this illness is far away from her home.
There are more threats of violence than actual violence, and a lot of it leans more toward funny slap-stick happenings where nobody gets seriously hurt. The characters get into moments of peril, like rafting through rapids and falling out of the boat. One person gets trapped under the water, but is rescued. They get chased by a cockatrice, but nobody gets hurt. Mira gets held at weapon-point a few times, but doesn’t get hurt. She gets captured once and, upon escape, she’s chased, shot at with arrows, and has knives thrown at her. (None of them hit her, though they come close.)
The villain is said to have murdered people who won’t join her cult, but these deaths are never described.
The questing crew stumbles upon a small village that burned to the ground, and later discover that the fire was started intentionally, but there’s no evidence of bodies or death. (Mira gets very upset thinking that people did burn to death, though.)
There’s some fighting when an innocent village needs to protect itself from the villain, but no death. (It’s implied that the enemy are all either captured or scared away.) Hitting and swinging of weapons are described, but not injuries. Somebody gets pepper powder blown in their eyes. A bunch of crows attack somebody, pecking and pulling the person’s hair until they run off.
Big spoiler for the ending here:
Sexual/Romance:
(Mild SPOILERS for the romance, but I won’t name the love interest.)
Mira and a young man slowly and naturally develop romantic feelings for each other over the course of the story. They hug a couple times. She almost kisses him in relief at one point, but restrains herself. They hold hands later on, and the young man asks if she might run away with him. Due to her responsibilities at home, including saving her friend, she initially (very sadly) turns him down. Later, they do find a way that they can marry and share two not-described kisses.
Spiritual/Magic:
Mira and others initially think that one character is a magician because he carries a cauldron around, but it turns out he just uses that for dyeing fibers for his cord-making business. He later pretends it’s a magic cauldron to scare some enemies away from an innocent village.
An evil, manipulative enemy has started a cult where she says some spiritual entity (no evidence is given that this entity actually exists) has chosen her as its prophet, and she does fake magic tricks to convince people she has power so they’ll join her and fight in her army. The “magic” tricks involve using chemistry to make it look like she can summon fire, and she has her henchmen secretly catch crows and release them at a certain signal to make it look like she can control birds.
Mira, meanwhile, actually does seem to have a connection to crows, and we later find out But she doesn’t force the crows to do anything, she just asks them to do things that help her or others.
Mira initially believes that the amulet her cousin gave her is supposed to help her find the cure for her goblin friend’s goiter. (The cure is a kind of salt from seaweed.) Mira’s traveling companions comment that it looks kind of evil. Mira doesn’t believe this, but it later turns out
Mira and another female traveling companion get approached by They are the only two members of the traveling group that can see these animals, or the path of sparkles that the creatures leave behind. Nnaamdi speculates that this might be because these animals only appear to human women who are pure of heart. (Bianca can’t see them, but she’s a centaur. She’s also not necessarily pure of heart because she can be quite condescending and otherwise mean toward others.) The can do some supernatural things like giving the two women a vision of danger ahead, and physically holding back the moon’s progress across the sky in order to stop time to save two people who were cornered by someone evil who was about to kill them.
Other:
There are a couple of instances of Mira being given an alcoholic beverage for casual consumption, but she thinks they taste awful.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am such a fan of Emily Golus' Vindor books, so I was ECSTATIC over this newest addition! And even more so when I learned it'd have a comedic, D&D-style tone.
And oh my word. THIS BOOK.
STARFALL QUEST follows almost-19-year-old Mira Olvidneth, the soon-to-be Minister of Waterworks of her underground city...and the Bringer of Doom. She knows nothing about how to keep the waterworks going, which is kind of a problem when a whole civilization relies on it. When her best friend falls ill and the best cure is in the sea, Mira leaves her impending duties to embark on a quest in the topside world to retrieve the cure. And how lucky is she that her cousin has formed the perfect adventuring party to help her? Except when the quest is derailed and this group is forced to navigate the wilderness, the truth comes out that their supposed "skills" may have been a tad overstated.
This book was a hilarious time from the first sentence to the very last, all while still being full of heart.
The whole story is set up much like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and all the D&D references cleverly woven in had me ROLLING with laughter. One time I had to set the book down because I was laughing so hard. (Though the D&D references are subtle and this can be enjoyed by ANYONE, whether you're familiar with D&D or not, no worries there!)
We are taken on a bumbling adventure with a motley crew who really did not sign up for any of this, and one disaster after the next ensues as they try to survive trekking through the wilderness, running into giant birds, and accidentally making an enemy of a dangerous warlord. As one does.
The true gold of the story is the CHARACTERS. I loved this disaster crew SO. MUCH.
Mira, our protagonist, is the dearest, most whimsical soul. Maybe she doesn't always make the, uh, smartest decisions or grasp the full gravity of a situation, but her heart is in the right place. And how can you not love a girl who wants to boop the snoot of every single furry animal she comes across? (Her dedication to boop all the furry snoots was inspirational. XD) I LOVED being in her POV. She was such a darling. Also, she carried cookies in her pocket. Because everyone knows pocket cookies are a necessity of life.
The rest of our party was SUCH a riot as well.
Nnamdi was another dear soul with his boundless optimism (even if the poor boy really was hopeless at math). Ishida was entirely relatable, as his sole desire was to read and drink tea. The poor man definitely did NOT sign up for this. Bianca, the snobby centaur, had me giggling so much at her insistence on applying makeup...even in the wilderness, and how oblivious she seemed by how big she really was.
Then there was WINDSWEPT. Rhotan Windswept, the greatest navigator in all of Vindor. Or, at least, the self-proclaimed greatest navigator. Every single time this ridiculous, overly confident man opened his mouth, I was sent into fits of laughter. Please, if for nothing else, read this story for Windswept alone. He was so quotable.
But truly, the story had SO many hilarious quotes all around. It's one of the most quotable books I've read in a while! (Larry and Barry, you guys. iykyk)
I loved the dynamics formed amongst the crew (as well as the sweet little romance on the side!). It had everything you'd hope for in a D&D-style quest story about a group of unprepared strangers thrust into unknown dangers. Friendship was formed, peril was had, soup was (attempted to be) made, and there was maybe a touch of unexpected heroism on the side (even if it was sometimes accidental).
Despite all the mishaps and hijinks and hilarity, the core of the story has sweet themes of overcoming self-doubt, coming into one's own, and learning to ask for help. It's a comedy with a deep heart, which is my favorite. I have teared up near the end of every Vindor book so far. Having a lighter tone, I figured this one would be the one that broke that streak. WELP. Golus did it again. One particular part close to the end had me choking back happy tears. Golus is the master at the payoff. What may first seem like a story just full of adventure and a great quest, always ends up coming together to mean something much deeper to the character's inner journey, and Starfall Quest was no different.
I could go on and on. This book just DELIGHTED me.
If you're looking for a fun-filled read, full of colorful characters (who really don't know what they're doing but Try Their Best in the end) and hilarious mishaps, but with a depth of heart, I cannot recommend this one enough!
This is also very family-friendly. Though our protagonist is almost 19, the story is written to be enjoyed by middle-graders and adults alike.
Though it is set in the same world as the author's previous World of Vindor books, it is very much a standalone. There are a few cameos from the previous Vindor books, but you won't be missing anything if you haven't read them yet. (Though I HIGHLY recommend them. They're such good stories.)
NOTE: I was given a free ebook ARC copy by the author. All opinions are my own.
And oh my word. THIS BOOK.
STARFALL QUEST follows almost-19-year-old Mira Olvidneth, the soon-to-be Minister of Waterworks of her underground city...and the Bringer of Doom. She knows nothing about how to keep the waterworks going, which is kind of a problem when a whole civilization relies on it. When her best friend falls ill and the best cure is in the sea, Mira leaves her impending duties to embark on a quest in the topside world to retrieve the cure. And how lucky is she that her cousin has formed the perfect adventuring party to help her? Except when the quest is derailed and this group is forced to navigate the wilderness, the truth comes out that their supposed "skills" may have been a tad overstated.
This book was a hilarious time from the first sentence to the very last, all while still being full of heart.
The whole story is set up much like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, and all the D&D references cleverly woven in had me ROLLING with laughter. One time I had to set the book down because I was laughing so hard. (Though the D&D references are subtle and this can be enjoyed by ANYONE, whether you're familiar with D&D or not, no worries there!)
We are taken on a bumbling adventure with a motley crew who really did not sign up for any of this, and one disaster after the next ensues as they try to survive trekking through the wilderness, running into giant birds, and accidentally making an enemy of a dangerous warlord. As one does.
The true gold of the story is the CHARACTERS. I loved this disaster crew SO. MUCH.
Mira, our protagonist, is the dearest, most whimsical soul. Maybe she doesn't always make the, uh, smartest decisions or grasp the full gravity of a situation, but her heart is in the right place. And how can you not love a girl who wants to boop the snoot of every single furry animal she comes across? (Her dedication to boop all the furry snoots was inspirational. XD) I LOVED being in her POV. She was such a darling. Also, she carried cookies in her pocket. Because everyone knows pocket cookies are a necessity of life.
The rest of our party was SUCH a riot as well.
Nnamdi was another dear soul with his boundless optimism (even if the poor boy really was hopeless at math). Ishida was entirely relatable, as his sole desire was to read and drink tea. The poor man definitely did NOT sign up for this. Bianca, the snobby centaur, had me giggling so much at her insistence on applying makeup...even in the wilderness, and how oblivious she seemed by how big she really was.
Then there was WINDSWEPT. Rhotan Windswept, the greatest navigator in all of Vindor. Or, at least, the self-proclaimed greatest navigator. Every single time this ridiculous, overly confident man opened his mouth, I was sent into fits of laughter. Please, if for nothing else, read this story for Windswept alone. He was so quotable.
But truly, the story had SO many hilarious quotes all around. It's one of the most quotable books I've read in a while! (Larry and Barry, you guys. iykyk)
I loved the dynamics formed amongst the crew (as well as the sweet little romance on the side!). It had everything you'd hope for in a D&D-style quest story about a group of unprepared strangers thrust into unknown dangers. Friendship was formed, peril was had, soup was (attempted to be) made, and there was maybe a touch of unexpected heroism on the side (even if it was sometimes accidental).
Despite all the mishaps and hijinks and hilarity, the core of the story has sweet themes of overcoming self-doubt, coming into one's own, and learning to ask for help. It's a comedy with a deep heart, which is my favorite. I have teared up near the end of every Vindor book so far. Having a lighter tone, I figured this one would be the one that broke that streak. WELP. Golus did it again. One particular part close to the end had me choking back happy tears. Golus is the master at the payoff. What may first seem like a story just full of adventure and a great quest, always ends up coming together to mean something much deeper to the character's inner journey, and Starfall Quest was no different.
I could go on and on. This book just DELIGHTED me.
If you're looking for a fun-filled read, full of colorful characters (who really don't know what they're doing but Try Their Best in the end) and hilarious mishaps, but with a depth of heart, I cannot recommend this one enough!
This is also very family-friendly. Though our protagonist is almost 19, the story is written to be enjoyed by middle-graders and adults alike.
Though it is set in the same world as the author's previous World of Vindor books, it is very much a standalone. There are a few cameos from the previous Vindor books, but you won't be missing anything if you haven't read them yet. (Though I HIGHLY recommend them. They're such good stories.)
NOTE: I was given a free ebook ARC copy by the author. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the pleasure of recieving an ARC of this book from the author for enjoyment! All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!
Wow, this was such A FUN adventure! And by FUN, I also mean quite full of moments that had me chuckling quite a lot! This is especially if you wished "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor among ThieveS" movie was more family freindly (without the too much creepiness).
I just loved so many of the characters (except for two villians... one of whom I had my suspicions QUITE early on). Mira is SUCH a darling! She needed a hug... and her reactions to the world was SO hilarious! But to see her grow in the journey made it every bit satisfying!
What made it more enjoyable was seeing more of the world of Vindor through the eyes of the natives themselves!
Fantasy Comedy with DEPTH at it's finest!
Will be sharing a full review upon release day!
(I only enjoyed "Escape to Vindor", but I MIGHT check out Crack the Stone)
Wow, this was such A FUN adventure! And by FUN, I also mean quite full of moments that had me chuckling quite a lot! This is especially if you wished "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor among ThieveS" movie was more family freindly (without the too much creepiness).
I just loved so many of the characters (except for two villians... one of whom I had my suspicions QUITE early on). Mira is SUCH a darling! She needed a hug... and her reactions to the world was SO hilarious! But to see her grow in the journey made it every bit satisfying!
What made it more enjoyable was seeing more of the world of Vindor through the eyes of the natives themselves!
Fantasy Comedy with DEPTH at it's finest!
Will be sharing a full review upon release day!
(I only enjoyed "Escape to Vindor", but I MIGHT check out Crack the Stone)
Review of advance copy received from Author
One word: adorable.
Second word: fun.
Third word: heartwarming.
This style of book is not my normal go-to, but the hook for this story was just too appealing (Adventure calls; the wrong part answers), and sometimes you just need something lighter.
Lighter, but not shallow. This story was goofy but had a depth beneath the fun that had me coming back for more (and I have grown VERY picky over the years, possibly unfairly so).
And it delivered. It was funny enough to make me snort and smirk and chuckle aloud more than once, which is hard to do, and reminded me of the fun you can have with not taking life so seriously.
And it reads *fast.* I received an advanced copy of this book, and was worried I'd be too busy in life to finish by publication day, but the complete opposite happened. The author was kind enough to send it to me early, and I finished it before I should have originally received it!
It isn't an epic tale like LOTR, etc, but it isn't supposed to be. It was fun, quirky, amusing, encouraging, and I can think of no spots where it dragged.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more stories in the world of Vindor. The world could benefit from more stories like these.
I received an advanced copy of this book for free. This review is voluntary and are my honest thoughts on the book.
Second word: fun.
Third word: heartwarming.
This style of book is not my normal go-to, but the hook for this story was just too appealing (Adventure calls; the wrong part answers), and sometimes you just need something lighter.
Lighter, but not shallow. This story was goofy but had a depth beneath the fun that had me coming back for more (and I have grown VERY picky over the years, possibly unfairly so).
And it delivered. It was funny enough to make me snort and smirk and chuckle aloud more than once, which is hard to do, and reminded me of the fun you can have with not taking life so seriously.
And it reads *fast.* I received an advanced copy of this book, and was worried I'd be too busy in life to finish by publication day, but the complete opposite happened. The author was kind enough to send it to me early, and I finished it before I should have originally received it!
It isn't an epic tale like LOTR, etc, but it isn't supposed to be. It was fun, quirky, amusing, encouraging, and I can think of no spots where it dragged.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more stories in the world of Vindor. The world could benefit from more stories like these.
I received an advanced copy of this book for free. This review is voluntary and are my honest thoughts on the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanks Emily, for the ARC.
Admittedly, I'm a bit biased. I know Emily both in real life and in our biweekly DND games.
This was a ton of fun! It's technically a standalone novel in her Vindor series, but I'd highly recommend taking the rest.
This is written in such a way to evoke the feeling of playing DND, (Dungeons and Dragons) especially with our group. An absurly unlikely cast unqualified idiots (I use this term endearingly) thrust unwittingly in a situation they have no business being in and somehow they have to put what few braincells they can muster towards an attempt to figure it out. There's a lot of references to stuff we've done in game, some inside jokes, and a bit of commentary on some of the random equipment you get at the start of the game. For example: What's a piton and how do you pronounce it?
But beneath its unassumingly irreverent tone and seeming inability to take itself or its characters too seriously (or at all), it wrestles with real issues and genuine emotional struggles, such as self-doubt, narcissism (or overconfidence, at least), respect for others and their abilities (few as they may be, admittedly, in this particular case), and shame in seeking help or admitting you're in over your head.
The cast:
●Mira- Thinks she's the dumbest person in the room. Relatable.
●Rhotan Windswept- Overly Confident world adventurer. Based on one of Emily's husband's characters.
●A centaur from a military background who might be more at home in a shopping mall with the cast of My Little Pony
●Mr. Ishida- The best Quest Dad. Didn't sign up for this.
●Nnamdi- Somehow the most competent person here.
It's hilarious and you guys are in for a treat!
Admittedly, I'm a bit biased. I know Emily both in real life and in our biweekly DND games.
This was a ton of fun! It's technically a standalone novel in her Vindor series, but I'd highly recommend taking the rest.
This is written in such a way to evoke the feeling of playing DND, (Dungeons and Dragons) especially with our group. An absurly unlikely cast unqualified idiots (I use this term endearingly) thrust unwittingly in a situation they have no business being in and somehow they have to put what few braincells they can muster towards an attempt to figure it out. There's a lot of references to stuff we've done in game, some inside jokes, and a bit of commentary on some of the random equipment you get at the start of the game. For example: What's a piton and how do you pronounce it?
But beneath its unassumingly irreverent tone and seeming inability to take itself or its characters too seriously (or at all), it wrestles with real issues and genuine emotional struggles, such as self-doubt, narcissism (or overconfidence, at least), respect for others and their abilities (few as they may be, admittedly, in this particular case), and shame in seeking help or admitting you're in over your head.
The cast:
●Mira- Thinks she's the dumbest person in the room. Relatable.
●Rhotan Windswept- Overly Confident world adventurer. Based on one of Emily's husband's characters.
●A centaur from a military background who might be more at home in a shopping mall with the cast of My Little Pony
●Mr. Ishida- The best Quest Dad. Didn't sign up for this.
●Nnamdi- Somehow the most competent person here.
It's hilarious and you guys are in for a treat!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was my first introduction to this author, so I wasn't sure what to expect. The characters are a hilariously hapless bunch that by all accounts shouldn't be able to make it to the end of their quest alive, let alone save the world. Yet every seemingly random detail wove back together into a brilliant conclusion that left me delighted and satisfied. The cherry on top was a decided lack of objectionable content that would keep me from letting my kids read it. I look forward to introducing them to Starfall Quest!
I was given an advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my 100% honest review.
I was given an advance reader copy of the book in exchange for my 100% honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
After her best friend suddenly falls ill, Mira leaves her underground home and her hated vocation in search of a cure. She teams up with a mismatched group of adventurers who all happen to heading the same direction.
At first glance, Mira’s traveling companions don’t seem to have much in common, but as things go awry, as they are always apt to on a quest, Mira finds that maybe they have more things in common than she though and that maybe she can find a place to belong.
Full of heart, humor, and surprisingly poignant introspection, Starfall Quest is a fun, fantasy adventure for young adult and adult readers.
At first glance, Mira’s traveling companions don’t seem to have much in common, but as things go awry, as they are always apt to on a quest, Mira finds that maybe they have more things in common than she though and that maybe she can find a place to belong.
Full of heart, humor, and surprisingly poignant introspection, Starfall Quest is a fun, fantasy adventure for young adult and adult readers.
September 4, 2026
This book is funny. The story itself isn't silly—on the contrary, it's about a girl oppressed by tradition and how she learns there's more to life than a mold she never fit it as she embarks on a desperate quest to save the one friend she ever had. It has a significant emotional depth and substance that one can sink their teeth into. It has fantastic worldbuilding and clippy action and a battle against not only time, but personal conviction as life and love are weighed against each other. It has diabolical warlord-esses, giant birds with Bad Attitudes, angry plants, battles of mass intimidation, chases, escapes, true love, and lots and lots of crows. It is true and epic fantasy.
But it's comedic, delightfully so, and it's because the characters are atypical adventurers. Quirky and naive. Gullible. Snobbish. Delusional. Uninvested—not exactly the qualities befitting an usual questing party! Thrown together under pretenses, they make the Unlikeliest of Heroes. And yet. Yet they manage to overcome the obstacles before them, and not by dumb luck or trite plot devices, but by playing to each others' strengths (or giganticness) and working together (despite the odds), taking up courage (or unhinged confidence), and doing what's right (even if they didn't sign up for Danger).
The humor is rooted in who these characters are and how they navigate the pickle they find themselves in. The heart in this story is also rooted in who these characters are and how they navigate the pickle they find themselves in. Intrinsically intertwined, we get something wholly unique, something both terribly fun and entirely wholesome and just plain good.
But it's comedic, delightfully so, and it's because the characters are atypical adventurers. Quirky and naive. Gullible. Snobbish. Delusional. Uninvested—not exactly the qualities befitting an usual questing party! Thrown together under pretenses, they make the Unlikeliest of Heroes. And yet. Yet they manage to overcome the obstacles before them, and not by dumb luck or trite plot devices, but by playing to each others' strengths (or giganticness) and working together (despite the odds), taking up courage (or unhinged confidence), and doing what's right (even if they didn't sign up for Danger).
The humor is rooted in who these characters are and how they navigate the pickle they find themselves in. The heart in this story is also rooted in who these characters are and how they navigate the pickle they find themselves in. Intrinsically intertwined, we get something wholly unique, something both terribly fun and entirely wholesome and just plain good.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a delightfully silly romp! While it ties into the other book in the series that I’ve read, it is very accessible as a standalone (and I expect it will tie into other books also). It really brings to light the wonder of the everyday world around us and how we can get caught up in the silliest of things instead of finding true happiness in the simplicity of life and love and friendship. The tone is ridiculous in the way my favorite movie, The Emperor’s New Groove, is ridiculous. Despite the humorous tone, there are still wonderful heartfelt moments. Definitely would recommend as a light and fun getaway read.
I received an advance copy from the author and voluntarily provide my own opinion.
I received an advance copy from the author and voluntarily provide my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had the incredible privilege of beta reading this book, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s been one of my favorite reads of the year! This was a book I did NOT want to put down, and it had me laughing out loud on numerous occasions. (Usually anytime Windswept opened his stupid mouth. 😂)
The characters are all so well written, and Mira is such a lovable protagonist whom I immediately couldn’t help but root for. This story has so much heart as well, and despite being a comedy knows how to be serious when it needs to. (I love you Mr. Ishida, the bestest Quest Dad 😭🫶🏻) Emily has such an incredible writing quality that never fails to tug on my heartstrings.
All in all, Starfall Quest is a hilarious adventure and an excellent palette cleanser when you just want something FUN to read to escape from all the grimdark of most fantasies today.
The characters are all so well written, and Mira is such a lovable protagonist whom I immediately couldn’t help but root for. This story has so much heart as well, and despite being a comedy knows how to be serious when it needs to. (I love you Mr. Ishida, the bestest Quest Dad 😭🫶🏻) Emily has such an incredible writing quality that never fails to tug on my heartstrings.
All in all, Starfall Quest is a hilarious adventure and an excellent palette cleanser when you just want something FUN to read to escape from all the grimdark of most fantasies today.
September 30, 2026
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: 12/15
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: "Twenty minutes before the meeting that will seal my doom, I'm slurping a mug of tea across from a goblin"
First of all, I would love to thank the author for inviting me to read in advance her latest book. But even if she did not invite me, I would still apply for an ARC because I love how she writes. 😍
There is an author that I always recommend if you want something hilarious in fantasy. I am so glad to announce that Emily Golus would be added to my list of recommendations.
Starfall Quest is literally full of twist and wrong turns. 😂
She has written interesting characters and I always find myself waiting what will Windswept say next!
I want more of the crew's adventure!
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Fantasy
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: "Twenty minutes before the meeting that will seal my doom, I'm slurping a mug of tea across from a goblin"
First of all, I would love to thank the author for inviting me to read in advance her latest book. But even if she did not invite me, I would still apply for an ARC because I love how she writes. 😍
There is an author that I always recommend if you want something hilarious in fantasy. I am so glad to announce that Emily Golus would be added to my list of recommendations.
Starfall Quest is literally full of twist and wrong turns. 😂
She has written interesting characters and I always find myself waiting what will Windswept say next!
I want more of the crew's adventure!
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
October 14, 2026
THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD
I adore a good adventuring party styles book, and this one delivered such a brilliant twist on the usual genre. The characters were fun and hilarious, and I loved the way their weaknesses turned out to be their strengths, as well. The dynamics were INCREDIBLE (especially Mr. Ishida and Mira), and the plot was so brilliantly well thought out!! I loved it! And that ending made me EMOTIONAL in such a good way. There are also so many funny parts that will make you laugh so hard, and never be able to look at the name Larry the same way again. Or bunnies
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS
I adore a good adventuring party styles book, and this one delivered such a brilliant twist on the usual genre. The characters were fun and hilarious, and I loved the way their weaknesses turned out to be their strengths, as well. The dynamics were INCREDIBLE (especially Mr. Ishida and Mira), and the plot was so brilliantly well thought out!! I loved it! And that ending made me EMOTIONAL in such a good way. There are also so many funny parts that will make you laugh so hard, and never be able to look at the name Larry the same way again. Or bunnies
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS
Review of advance copy received from Author
What a wonderful adventure! Seriously perfect pacing, laugh out loud hilarious (like I drove my family nuts with my random cackling all weekend while I was reading this), with heartwarming character development, page-turning peril, and a sweet romantic subplot - maybe the best Vindor book yet? Soooo fun, so enjoyable, so easy to get immersed in, so easy to love and cheer on the characters - fabulous reading experience. Seriously considering flipping back to page one and starting again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a fantastically humorous fantasy. But even in the middle of all the humor, it doesn't fail to deliver a story with weight to it--something you can invest in. I loved Mira's journey as she learned to grow into who and what she is. I also loved getting to learn more about Elnat, which I've been meaning to do for a while now, so this new Vindor installment was just what I needed.
If you love to laugh but want to read a story that isn't just about humor, Starfall Quest is a must-read.
If you love to laugh but want to read a story that isn't just about humor, Starfall Quest is a must-read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If you're looking for a fun D&D style adventure with quirky characters this book is for you! Loved it!
October 16, 2026
Absolutely ICONIC. This book was so fun and sweet and funny, and the plot twists were FABULOUS. And the characters were INCREDIBLE!!!
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