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Force of Gravity #1
Star Dust
A case of mistaken identity triggers a reign of terror.
The night of her Tauri masque, Oriana meets a handsome stranger, but soon finds out he’s not whom she thought. Her innocent mistake sets off a course of action she never would have anticipated. When an unknown enemy attacks, Oriana’s world is all but destroyed forcing her to seek the help of a neighboring kingdom.
When Oriana stumbles across his planet, prince Lucian knows he must help her find those responsible, in order to stop the attacks that span the solar system and clear the name of his kingdom.
Worlds are conquered, lives torn apart, and destruction reigns, while Oriana unknowingly holds the key to salvation. Now a princess who needs saving, must save herself, the man she loves, and the Universe, before it is destroyed beyond repair.
The night of her Tauri masque, Oriana meets a handsome stranger, but soon finds out he’s not whom she thought. Her innocent mistake sets off a course of action she never would have anticipated. When an unknown enemy attacks, Oriana’s world is all but destroyed forcing her to seek the help of a neighboring kingdom.
When Oriana stumbles across his planet, prince Lucian knows he must help her find those responsible, in order to stop the attacks that span the solar system and clear the name of his kingdom.
Worlds are conquered, lives torn apart, and destruction reigns, while Oriana unknowingly holds the key to salvation. Now a princess who needs saving, must save herself, the man she loves, and the Universe, before it is destroyed beyond repair.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
Unknown Binding
First published May 1, 2016
About the author
Ali Winters
32 books506 followersBorn and raised in the PNW, Ali Winters is a USA Today bestselling and the award-winning author of The Vampire Debt series and The Hunted series.
She’s been mesmerized by the extraordinary worlds within books for as long as she can remember. One evening an idea for a book formed and refused to leave until she wrote it. She jumped headfirst into the career that has called to her since she opened her first book. And there hasn’t been a single moment without a story begging to be told since.
Follow Ali on these platforms:
www.aliwinters.com
www.facebook.com/authoraliwinters
www.instagram.com/authoraliwinters
www.twitter.com/aliwinters_
www.bookbub.com/authors/ali-winters
Ali's Books
The Hunted series (complete)
The Reapers
The Exodus
The Moirai
The Fallen
Flirting with Death
The Hunted omnibus (complete series set)
In The End (complete)
Sound of Silence
Light in Darkness
In The End omnibus (May 2021)
Shadow World
www.thevampiredebt.com
The Vampire Debt
The Vampire Curse
The Vampire Court
The Vampire Oath
The Vampire Crown (March. 2022)
The Vampire Betrayal (A prequel/origin bonus story. Release date: TBD)
She’s been mesmerized by the extraordinary worlds within books for as long as she can remember. One evening an idea for a book formed and refused to leave until she wrote it. She jumped headfirst into the career that has called to her since she opened her first book. And there hasn’t been a single moment without a story begging to be told since.
Follow Ali on these platforms:
www.aliwinters.com
www.facebook.com/authoraliwinters
www.instagram.com/authoraliwinters
www.twitter.com/aliwinters_
www.bookbub.com/authors/ali-winters
Ali's Books
The Hunted series (complete)
The Reapers
The Exodus
The Moirai
The Fallen
Flirting with Death
The Hunted omnibus (complete series set)
In The End (complete)
Sound of Silence
Light in Darkness
In The End omnibus (May 2021)
Shadow World
www.thevampiredebt.com
The Vampire Debt
The Vampire Curse
The Vampire Court
The Vampire Oath
The Vampire Crown (March. 2022)
The Vampire Betrayal (A prequel/origin bonus story. Release date: TBD)
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 28, 2016
Read this review and more at The Bohemian Housewife Blog
I have been in a funk for a few weeks. I just didn't want to read, at all. When I picked up this book, I was wondering how I was going to get it done with my recent snail-like reading pace. After a small amount of reading time, my son says 'Mom, I want lunch now please.' - What is this kid thinking? I just made him breakfast. NOPE. I didn't realize I had been reading so long...I look down and had just hit 50%! This book not only got me out of my reading funk, but I'm craving more of this story.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. Oriana was so relatable, and I loved her. Her anxiety, while inconvenient at times, it was her reality. A 'young' girl with little knowledge of the worlds, being thrown into this wouldn't have an easy time. I'm so glad the author didn't turn her into a superhero in a matter of hours. She had doubts, and fears - I just loved that. I enjoyed the love interest as well. He was HER sidekick, not the other way around. I do have a few questions about the story, but I'm sure they will be answered in the coming books. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and I think most YA fans will love this story.
I did receive this book for an honest review, but as always, my thoughts are my own.
I have been in a funk for a few weeks. I just didn't want to read, at all. When I picked up this book, I was wondering how I was going to get it done with my recent snail-like reading pace. After a small amount of reading time, my son says 'Mom, I want lunch now please.' - What is this kid thinking? I just made him breakfast. NOPE. I didn't realize I had been reading so long...I look down and had just hit 50%! This book not only got me out of my reading funk, but I'm craving more of this story.
From the first chapter, I was hooked. Oriana was so relatable, and I loved her. Her anxiety, while inconvenient at times, it was her reality. A 'young' girl with little knowledge of the worlds, being thrown into this wouldn't have an easy time. I'm so glad the author didn't turn her into a superhero in a matter of hours. She had doubts, and fears - I just loved that. I enjoyed the love interest as well. He was HER sidekick, not the other way around. I do have a few questions about the story, but I'm sure they will be answered in the coming books. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series, and I think most YA fans will love this story.
I did receive this book for an honest review, but as always, my thoughts are my own.
May 3, 2016
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.co...
3 stars -- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This one just wasn't quite my cup of tea. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the setting and the world that Ms. Winters developed, but my bread and butter for stories is always characters, and I just wasn't enthralled with either Oriana or Lucian. I think I just tend to be more drawn to sassier heroines, and as such Oriana came across a bit drier to me... It was like I was missing the sparkle from her personality...I wanted something more there. Occasionally I did get glimpses of it, but just not enough to satisfy me (and mostly not til the end of the book). I think I was stuck on the stupid detail of her age as well. It wasn't until the end of the book where the delightful solar system map is (LOVE those details btw, and the chapter titles?? GORGEOUS) that I discovered that Soleis is the closest planet to the sun (closer than Mercury), and so 100 Soleis years is significantly less days than I was expecting (b/c I was still thinking Earth years -- and so I was wondering what she was doing with herself for 100 Earth years of time and not having learned anything about ruling and whatnot, or so it seemed). I mean, I knew it was her coming of age, so 18 year equivalent, but I guess I just thought they lived a lot longer, and...well, you know, I got confused and started wondering things that are kind of irrelevant now. But it still does seem kind of crazy to me that she was that sheltered from all political life...but wait Lenore, does it? Hmmm...brain won't shut off.
And Lucian was hard for me to read...I don't know if it was the mood I was in while reading, but occasionally he just came across somewhat jerk-ish, and so I just didn't find myself falling in love with him. Truthfully, of all the secondary characters, I was most intrigued by Erik.
I found the pacing to be a bit off for me as well. I can't tell if it's a me thing or not, but it just didn't feel like it was building to one big climax for a while there, and I was missing some tension or something. It just felt like they were doing one thing, then the next, then the next, and I guess I wanted something...it sucks when you don't know what makes books work for you, you just know when they're not working for you, you know? I'm so articulate today, you're all welcome.
I also found that the hints given to the readers were too big sometimes (about her pendant for example), and so after a few hints I just kind of got frustrated...maybe it'd be different if the characters were noticing the hints too, but they were still oblivious. I don't know. You know what, I don't know what I'm saying anymore.
So yeah, TL;DR, most of this book just didn't work for me. I found the beginning with the ball to be a bit long, I reached the first bit of action and was actually REALLY drawn in (almost cried and everything, there was a lot of emotion in that part and it was really effective), then I lost my verve for the story for quite a while, and then it ramped up again at the end with the climax. Sorry for all the rambling. I tend to do that when I don't enjoy something that I was expecting to, like I'm justifying my thoughts to myself. *rolls eyes* Do I have a complex much? :P
EDITED TO ADD: after talking to my husband, I want to emphasize that this is NOT a sci-fi novel. I think my brain had a hard time wrapping around that since it’s set on other planets and stuff, but then I had a hard time suspending my disbelief b/c there were so many things that couldn’t happen b/c of science, you know? (like you just can’t live on half the planets, some because they are made of GAS, and some b/c of being too close to the sun, etc). So just think of this as a FANTASY novel and NOT sci-fi, and it might work better for you.
3 stars -- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
This one just wasn't quite my cup of tea. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the setting and the world that Ms. Winters developed, but my bread and butter for stories is always characters, and I just wasn't enthralled with either Oriana or Lucian. I think I just tend to be more drawn to sassier heroines, and as such Oriana came across a bit drier to me... It was like I was missing the sparkle from her personality...I wanted something more there. Occasionally I did get glimpses of it, but just not enough to satisfy me (and mostly not til the end of the book). I think I was stuck on the stupid detail of her age as well. It wasn't until the end of the book where the delightful solar system map is (LOVE those details btw, and the chapter titles?? GORGEOUS) that I discovered that Soleis is the closest planet to the sun (closer than Mercury), and so 100 Soleis years is significantly less days than I was expecting (b/c I was still thinking Earth years -- and so I was wondering what she was doing with herself for 100 Earth years of time and not having learned anything about ruling and whatnot, or so it seemed). I mean, I knew it was her coming of age, so 18 year equivalent, but I guess I just thought they lived a lot longer, and...well, you know, I got confused and started wondering things that are kind of irrelevant now. But it still does seem kind of crazy to me that she was that sheltered from all political life...but wait Lenore, does it? Hmmm...brain won't shut off.
And Lucian was hard for me to read...I don't know if it was the mood I was in while reading, but occasionally he just came across somewhat jerk-ish, and so I just didn't find myself falling in love with him. Truthfully, of all the secondary characters, I was most intrigued by Erik.
I found the pacing to be a bit off for me as well. I can't tell if it's a me thing or not, but it just didn't feel like it was building to one big climax for a while there, and I was missing some tension or something. It just felt like they were doing one thing, then the next, then the next, and I guess I wanted something...it sucks when you don't know what makes books work for you, you just know when they're not working for you, you know? I'm so articulate today, you're all welcome.
I also found that the hints given to the readers were too big sometimes (about her pendant for example), and so after a few hints I just kind of got frustrated...maybe it'd be different if the characters were noticing the hints too, but they were still oblivious. I don't know. You know what, I don't know what I'm saying anymore.
So yeah, TL;DR, most of this book just didn't work for me. I found the beginning with the ball to be a bit long, I reached the first bit of action and was actually REALLY drawn in (almost cried and everything, there was a lot of emotion in that part and it was really effective), then I lost my verve for the story for quite a while, and then it ramped up again at the end with the climax. Sorry for all the rambling. I tend to do that when I don't enjoy something that I was expecting to, like I'm justifying my thoughts to myself. *rolls eyes* Do I have a complex much? :P
EDITED TO ADD: after talking to my husband, I want to emphasize that this is NOT a sci-fi novel. I think my brain had a hard time wrapping around that since it’s set on other planets and stuff, but then I had a hard time suspending my disbelief b/c there were so many things that couldn’t happen b/c of science, you know? (like you just can’t live on half the planets, some because they are made of GAS, and some b/c of being too close to the sun, etc). So just think of this as a FANTASY novel and NOT sci-fi, and it might work better for you.
May 3, 2016
https://versusthewriter.wordpress.com...
Wow! Once again Ali Winters created a world that is so unique I was left in awe of it. I have enjoyed going through the intergalactic adventure even though it was a bit tiring since it wasn’t a leisurely visit for Oriana.
To be honest, it started a bit slow for me so I didn’t expect much from it. But as I read along, I found myself getting pulled in deeper into the story. I love the setting. I love the characters and since it’s not unusual for me to get swayed more by the minor characters, I think it won’t be a surprise to say, it was Prince Erik that had marked to me the most. I liked him the first time I read his name in the story. I don’t know how I’d feel if he didn’t turn out to be what I expected of him. Truth is, I don’t like Oriana at the start of the story but I liked how her character developed through it all. Same thing goes with Prince Caelan
The conflict was kinda predictable for me but the plot as a whole was good. There were just a couple of scene that threw me off a bit. One is the way Lucian acted in the middle of the story. That’s probably why I didn’t warm up to him very much. The second, I was not satisfied with the explanation on how the villain pulled it off.
The story had me felt different emotions, sadness, confusion, irritation and amusement. I always like stories that make me feel. And since I mentioned I like Prince Erik the most, the ending sure makes me want to read the next one soon.
Wow! Once again Ali Winters created a world that is so unique I was left in awe of it. I have enjoyed going through the intergalactic adventure even though it was a bit tiring since it wasn’t a leisurely visit for Oriana.
To be honest, it started a bit slow for me so I didn’t expect much from it. But as I read along, I found myself getting pulled in deeper into the story. I love the setting. I love the characters and since it’s not unusual for me to get swayed more by the minor characters, I think it won’t be a surprise to say, it was Prince Erik that had marked to me the most. I liked him the first time I read his name in the story. I don’t know how I’d feel if he didn’t turn out to be what I expected of him. Truth is, I don’t like Oriana at the start of the story but I liked how her character developed through it all. Same thing goes with Prince Caelan
The conflict was kinda predictable for me but the plot as a whole was good. There were just a couple of scene that threw me off a bit. One is the way Lucian acted in the middle of the story. That’s probably why I didn’t warm up to him very much. The second, I was not satisfied with the explanation on how the villain pulled it off.
The story had me felt different emotions, sadness, confusion, irritation and amusement. I always like stories that make me feel. And since I mentioned I like Prince Erik the most, the ending sure makes me want to read the next one soon.
May 1, 2016
*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an HONEST review*
This. Was. AMAZING. I love science fiction in my books, and this one was threaded through with romance, mystery, suspense, intrigue, EVERYTHING! The characters or Oriana, Lucian, and Eric seemed to come to life the most for me, but really, all of the characters were so very well written.
I loved the form of travel between worlds, it was fun and scary all at once, and it's not something that I've seen a lot of or felt like it just thrown in for convenience.
The relationships felt genuine. The losses, especially one in particular early on, hurt me. I think this was superbly done, and have a feeling this will be a re-read for me. I also think I'll be adding this to my favorites of 2016 list!
Bob says: 4.like6or7or8 Platypires, rounding up to 5!
This. Was. AMAZING. I love science fiction in my books, and this one was threaded through with romance, mystery, suspense, intrigue, EVERYTHING! The characters or Oriana, Lucian, and Eric seemed to come to life the most for me, but really, all of the characters were so very well written.
I loved the form of travel between worlds, it was fun and scary all at once, and it's not something that I've seen a lot of or felt like it just thrown in for convenience.
The relationships felt genuine. The losses, especially one in particular early on, hurt me. I think this was superbly done, and have a feeling this will be a re-read for me. I also think I'll be adding this to my favorites of 2016 list!
Bob says: 4.like6or7or8 Platypires, rounding up to 5!
April 21, 2016
Wow! I absolutely loved this book. It was a fantastic otherworldly adventure that swept me off my feet and transported me to the stars!
From the first page I got sucked in and loved the journey each of the characters took. Orianna and Lucian were well developed and easy to like and root for. I loved the mystery, romance and tension with the characters and in the story.
It says book one so I'm hoping that there's more books in the works. After reading, there's still some questions that weren't answered for me so hopefully this book confines into a series.
There's a whole other world out there that's waiting to be explored and I want to know about the other planets and the different characters.
From the first page I got sucked in and loved the journey each of the characters took. Orianna and Lucian were well developed and easy to like and root for. I loved the mystery, romance and tension with the characters and in the story.
It says book one so I'm hoping that there's more books in the works. After reading, there's still some questions that weren't answered for me so hopefully this book confines into a series.
There's a whole other world out there that's waiting to be explored and I want to know about the other planets and the different characters.
May 4, 2016
Star Dust by Ali Winters... where to begin with this... okay, so first of all i LOVE this book. I'm an English Literature graduate and I've read A LOT of stuff over the past 3 years, so much so that i haven't really picked up a book in the last six months because everything just seems like work to me. THIS DID NOT. This was the first book I've picked up in a long time that had my heart pounding in my chest and my pulse racing. The plot is beautifully executed and the concept is PHENOMENAL. This book has definitely been my favourite read of the last few years.
I've been around the block a few times with regards to science fiction and fantasy, but I've never read anything like this and the world that miss Winters has created is absolutely breathtaking. Her characters, particularly Lucian were stunningly portrayed and completely three dimensional. I find nowadays with so much erotica and romance finding it's way into the limelight that many male protagonists have become either 'the perfect man' or 'the dark tortured type', Lucian for me in this book had a beautiful character ARC which speaks about so much more than just him personally, but about the nature of what it means to be human in a galaxy where we are but embryonic in our development. Oriana's character to me was also believable in that she wasn't coming out guns blazing, as a sheltered princess of Soleis who is but one hundred years old, but still strong enough to learn and develop slowly (and therefore in a way that is believable) throughout the story.
Now the universe, because of the name and setting i can see how many people may confuse this kind of title with something in the realms of science fiction. Star Dust isn't that. Star Dust is for the imagineers, the believers, those readers who are open minded enough to take what the author is writing and run with it full throttle. This isn't science fiction, but science fantasy so to speak. So if you're the type of reader who needs every spec of lore explained in full detail this book probably isn't for you. What this kind of quantifiable abandon results in however is something which transcends fantasy as we know it today, taking the universe we so know and loves and turns it into something both fantastical, awe inspiring and sublime. Speaking as a fan of the sublime and all things nature i cannot explain how well written this book is. The biomes and surroundings of each planet took on an identity of their own, with an anthropomorphism of the planets themselves carrying the story and it's characters forward in a way I've seldom seen in other science fiction novels about the solar system, and a way never seen to me before in fantasy.
This isn't your average fantasy, because nothing about this novel is even remotely average. It is spectacular, it is extraordinary. If you want something safe, this isn't it. But if you're willing to take a chance on the spectacular, on the magic of storytelling and on something entirely unique and never before seen. This is it.
I've been around the block a few times with regards to science fiction and fantasy, but I've never read anything like this and the world that miss Winters has created is absolutely breathtaking. Her characters, particularly Lucian were stunningly portrayed and completely three dimensional. I find nowadays with so much erotica and romance finding it's way into the limelight that many male protagonists have become either 'the perfect man' or 'the dark tortured type', Lucian for me in this book had a beautiful character ARC which speaks about so much more than just him personally, but about the nature of what it means to be human in a galaxy where we are but embryonic in our development. Oriana's character to me was also believable in that she wasn't coming out guns blazing, as a sheltered princess of Soleis who is but one hundred years old, but still strong enough to learn and develop slowly (and therefore in a way that is believable) throughout the story.
Now the universe, because of the name and setting i can see how many people may confuse this kind of title with something in the realms of science fiction. Star Dust isn't that. Star Dust is for the imagineers, the believers, those readers who are open minded enough to take what the author is writing and run with it full throttle. This isn't science fiction, but science fantasy so to speak. So if you're the type of reader who needs every spec of lore explained in full detail this book probably isn't for you. What this kind of quantifiable abandon results in however is something which transcends fantasy as we know it today, taking the universe we so know and loves and turns it into something both fantastical, awe inspiring and sublime. Speaking as a fan of the sublime and all things nature i cannot explain how well written this book is. The biomes and surroundings of each planet took on an identity of their own, with an anthropomorphism of the planets themselves carrying the story and it's characters forward in a way I've seldom seen in other science fiction novels about the solar system, and a way never seen to me before in fantasy.
This isn't your average fantasy, because nothing about this novel is even remotely average. It is spectacular, it is extraordinary. If you want something safe, this isn't it. But if you're willing to take a chance on the spectacular, on the magic of storytelling and on something entirely unique and never before seen. This is it.
May 29, 2016
*** 3.5 Cranky Stars ***
I am in two minds about this book. On the one hand, the book delivers an excellent story line. The strong female lead, Orianna, heir apparent to the planet of Soleil, with two handsome powerful men interested in her, Prince Lucien of Earth and Prince Caelan of Jupiter. She is attracted to one and betrothed to the other.
It is an interesting adventure/mission to quell an intergalactic coup. One man accompanies her on the adventure, while the other stays to take care of his battered planet.
Introductions to fantastical planets, interesting practices and the love triangle all promise an interesting read.
On the other hand, I found that the book rambled in places and detracted from the story line. I found the typos another distraction, as well as incoherent scenes or sentences.
Some of the descriptions of the planets and the palaces were superficial in as much as I did not really get a complete picture of any planet.
I concede that building a whole new world is a daunting task and maybe too much was attempted in the first novel of the series by introducing 6 planets and trying to acclimate the reader to all of them. Maybe it could have been split up.
In saying that, I feel this is still a book worth reading and look forward to the rest of the series.
http://twistedbookcur.blogspot.ch/201...
May 1, 2016
Imagine if Cinderella lost a necklace instead of a shoe. And what if she were a strong girl and not someone afraid to take a risk? This is the setup of Ali Winters’ latest book, “Star Dust”. Don’t look for an evil stepmother, but there are evil characters. Prince Charming stumbles into his role.
I enjoyed Winters’ story. The plot intrigued me, but it was the characters which sold me on the book. I love strong, female characters. Oriana is the opinionated daughter of the King of Soleis, a fictitious planet between the Sun and Mercury. She’s willing to do her part and honor her betrothal to a man she never met, but she’s not delighted about it. Oriana hates the frilly garments she’s forced to wear and the fake persona she has to assume too. Then she meets Prince Lucian. He appreciates her candor, her independence. I admired his desire to do the right thing. The man was so honorable it had to be painful. I can’t tell you who the villain was in this story, but Winters chose a perfect one. This character doesn’t have a redeeming bone in his or her body.
I have to admit that the puzzle kind of solved itself midway into the story. I figured out who the bad person was and why things were happening. That discovery, however, did not take away from the story. I kept reading because I wanted to see if I were right, and I wanted to see what would happen with the characters.
My favorite part of the book came when Oriana had a moment of clarity. She summed up the message behind the story so well. “Star Dust” is about greed and people will let it destroy friendships, bonds, and even peace.
I highly recommend “Star Dust”. Winters is a talented, imaginative writer and I look forward to reading more by her.
I enjoyed Winters’ story. The plot intrigued me, but it was the characters which sold me on the book. I love strong, female characters. Oriana is the opinionated daughter of the King of Soleis, a fictitious planet between the Sun and Mercury. She’s willing to do her part and honor her betrothal to a man she never met, but she’s not delighted about it. Oriana hates the frilly garments she’s forced to wear and the fake persona she has to assume too. Then she meets Prince Lucian. He appreciates her candor, her independence. I admired his desire to do the right thing. The man was so honorable it had to be painful. I can’t tell you who the villain was in this story, but Winters chose a perfect one. This character doesn’t have a redeeming bone in his or her body.
I have to admit that the puzzle kind of solved itself midway into the story. I figured out who the bad person was and why things were happening. That discovery, however, did not take away from the story. I kept reading because I wanted to see if I were right, and I wanted to see what would happen with the characters.
My favorite part of the book came when Oriana had a moment of clarity. She summed up the message behind the story so well. “Star Dust” is about greed and people will let it destroy friendships, bonds, and even peace.
I highly recommend “Star Dust”. Winters is a talented, imaginative writer and I look forward to reading more by her.
May 3, 2016
https://celebrityreaders.wordpress.co...
OMG look at this cover!?!?!?!?! Isn’t it georgeous? I’m not usually one for covers but Mrs. Winters has always had excellent taste in covers. This story was original and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The chemistry between Oriana and Lucian was playful and innocent. It felt very effortless as I read it. The only thinig that confused me were the inner/outer ring references. But that could just be me, I have been known to be a dense reader at times.
Oriana barely has time to get used to her new life when it seems disaster after disaster stikes. This was a pretty fast paced book with loads of action. I really like how she gets to travel all over the universe meeting all sorts of different species. And some of the people she meets are so cool. Liek the Neptunes princesses, they were my favorite!
The world building in this book was fantastic in my opinion. I felt like I was on a intergalactic tour! Each planet had its own unique setting and the descriptions were really easy to understand. Sometimes I get lost with all the descriptive talk but in this book it wasn’t over done.
I enjoyed how Lucian battled between what he felt in his heart and what he felt in his head. His constant tug of war with his feelings gave him a lovely depth of character that I enjoyed immesnsely. And Oriana had a great sense of dutry for one who wasn’t really trained for it. She stuggled a bit with her self-confidence but never did she give up.
I am super excited to see what this author comes up with next since this one was such a homerun for me. Defenitely recommend it.
OMG look at this cover!?!?!?!?! Isn’t it georgeous? I’m not usually one for covers but Mrs. Winters has always had excellent taste in covers. This story was original and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The chemistry between Oriana and Lucian was playful and innocent. It felt very effortless as I read it. The only thinig that confused me were the inner/outer ring references. But that could just be me, I have been known to be a dense reader at times.
Oriana barely has time to get used to her new life when it seems disaster after disaster stikes. This was a pretty fast paced book with loads of action. I really like how she gets to travel all over the universe meeting all sorts of different species. And some of the people she meets are so cool. Liek the Neptunes princesses, they were my favorite!
The world building in this book was fantastic in my opinion. I felt like I was on a intergalactic tour! Each planet had its own unique setting and the descriptions were really easy to understand. Sometimes I get lost with all the descriptive talk but in this book it wasn’t over done.
I enjoyed how Lucian battled between what he felt in his heart and what he felt in his head. His constant tug of war with his feelings gave him a lovely depth of character that I enjoyed immesnsely. And Oriana had a great sense of dutry for one who wasn’t really trained for it. She stuggled a bit with her self-confidence but never did she give up.
I am super excited to see what this author comes up with next since this one was such a homerun for me. Defenitely recommend it.
May 1, 2016
This was a surprisingly different book and I very much so enjoyed it!! Ali Winters did a wonderful job with the descriptions and writing that you could easily visualize the scenes. This was a fast paced book and once you start reading it stays with you until you finish. Good luck putting it down. I am giving this book 5 stars.
Princess Oriana is from the Kingdom of Soleis, one of the planets in the Inner Ring Alliance. This story starts out with Oriana coming upon her engagement party during the festival of the rising sun and moon (Udaya) and also her centennial birthday party. This is a Masquerade Party and all the men are dressed alike which turns to interesting events. She meets a Prince that really leaves an impression on her, unfortunately it is not who she hoped it would be. Her engagement to the Prince of Jupiter was prearranged at her birth.
A short time later, Chaos ensues. Someone is attacking the palace. Orianas hand maiden takes her place while telling her to hide. Once everything quiets down, Oriana comes out of hiding. Everyone is dead. She finds a piece of evidence leading to a guess as to who the perpetrators are. She makes it to the gateway and starts opening doorways to the other planets only to find the same chaos there. She stumbles upon Earth and Lucian, whom she met earlier, and with his help she sets about trying to solve the puzzle of who did this. Can they solve the problems that are causing destruction for the planets?
I loved the twists that this book has in it!! Thank you very much Ali Winters for your story. I will be looking out for the next one!!!!
Princess Oriana is from the Kingdom of Soleis, one of the planets in the Inner Ring Alliance. This story starts out with Oriana coming upon her engagement party during the festival of the rising sun and moon (Udaya) and also her centennial birthday party. This is a Masquerade Party and all the men are dressed alike which turns to interesting events. She meets a Prince that really leaves an impression on her, unfortunately it is not who she hoped it would be. Her engagement to the Prince of Jupiter was prearranged at her birth.
A short time later, Chaos ensues. Someone is attacking the palace. Orianas hand maiden takes her place while telling her to hide. Once everything quiets down, Oriana comes out of hiding. Everyone is dead. She finds a piece of evidence leading to a guess as to who the perpetrators are. She makes it to the gateway and starts opening doorways to the other planets only to find the same chaos there. She stumbles upon Earth and Lucian, whom she met earlier, and with his help she sets about trying to solve the puzzle of who did this. Can they solve the problems that are causing destruction for the planets?
I loved the twists that this book has in it!! Thank you very much Ali Winters for your story. I will be looking out for the next one!!!!
August 11, 2016
*I received a copy of Star Dust in exchange for my honest review.*
I am in awe! I was hooked from the very first page! This was the first book I've ever read about an intergalactic universe! Ali did an amazing job creating a universe so cool you'd wish you were a part of any of the other planets!
Oriana was one heroic heroine! I really like how Ali managed to keep the Wow-factor coming, once you guessed or thought of what would happen next it turned into something more out of this world than the previous scene! I enjoyed how the Royals transported through the worlds. She did an incredible job making the rooms so life-like you practically felt like you were living in the book! The fights and tears, the panic and the fears were so life like! Her characters were very unique and I enjoyed going to each world and learning what the people of that world were like, their clothes, hair, skin, eyes, all so very fascinating.
Thank you Ali for a chance to read an amazing book and become probably your #1 fan!
I am in awe! I was hooked from the very first page! This was the first book I've ever read about an intergalactic universe! Ali did an amazing job creating a universe so cool you'd wish you were a part of any of the other planets!
Oriana was one heroic heroine! I really like how Ali managed to keep the Wow-factor coming, once you guessed or thought of what would happen next it turned into something more out of this world than the previous scene! I enjoyed how the Royals transported through the worlds. She did an incredible job making the rooms so life-like you practically felt like you were living in the book! The fights and tears, the panic and the fears were so life like! Her characters were very unique and I enjoyed going to each world and learning what the people of that world were like, their clothes, hair, skin, eyes, all so very fascinating.
Thank you Ali for a chance to read an amazing book and become probably your #1 fan!
May 9, 2016
An Epic love story that Reaches Beyond the Stars! Ali Winters Weaves pure magic U feel like UR living the story with her characters Star Dust is absolutely breathtaking the perfect mix of out of this galaxy fairy tale romance mystery betrayal suspense laugh out loud fun and sci-fi adventure!
This amazing book needs to be made into a movie!!! The story kept My heart racing and a big goofy smile on my face never wanted it to end!!!
Oriana & Lucian are to die for an intergalactic Romeo & Juliet!!!!
Oriana is one of My new fave heroines beautiful inside and out feisty loving and courageous! I loved the way her heart falls for Lucian even when she's fighting it U know he's one for her!
I totally fell in love with Lucian he was devilishly funny smart mouthed strong and tender his love for Oriana was unconditional and heart meltingly sweet!
I'm completely addicted can't wait for the next book in The Force of Gravity series
NEED MORE Oriana & Lucian!!!
This amazing book needs to be made into a movie!!! The story kept My heart racing and a big goofy smile on my face never wanted it to end!!!
Oriana & Lucian are to die for an intergalactic Romeo & Juliet!!!!
Oriana is one of My new fave heroines beautiful inside and out feisty loving and courageous! I loved the way her heart falls for Lucian even when she's fighting it U know he's one for her!
I totally fell in love with Lucian he was devilishly funny smart mouthed strong and tender his love for Oriana was unconditional and heart meltingly sweet!
I'm completely addicted can't wait for the next book in The Force of Gravity series
NEED MORE Oriana & Lucian!!!
May 8, 2016
This book right here is seriously amazing. Ali Winters rocked my little world with this story of Princess Oriana. She created a perfect story that unleashed her vivid imagination onto the reader. From the opening scene to the final word, I was hooked on this story. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, Winters threw a curveball at my head.
It has action, love, and plenty of suspense. More importantly it has a strong female character that comes into her own. The characters are perfectly layered little onions, with each scene, you get to see what makes them tick and continue on. The dialogue is plausible, the action is suspenseful, and the characters are easy to relate to.
I loved reading about the other worlds and with the words of the author, it was easy to imagine. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this story. Kudos to Ali Winters for writing another amazing book.
I will be recommending this book to others. I give it 5/5 Platypires.
It has action, love, and plenty of suspense. More importantly it has a strong female character that comes into her own. The characters are perfectly layered little onions, with each scene, you get to see what makes them tick and continue on. The dialogue is plausible, the action is suspenseful, and the characters are easy to relate to.
I loved reading about the other worlds and with the words of the author, it was easy to imagine. I cannot wait to see what happens next in this story. Kudos to Ali Winters for writing another amazing book.
I will be recommending this book to others. I give it 5/5 Platypires.
May 16, 2016
what an amazing start to this series. ali winters definitely delivers, and i cant wait for more. there was action, mystery and love all entwined together in one great package. if you love fantasy for those reasons, check out the book now!!!
June 23, 2017
I have become a huge fan of Ali Winters work. She is an amazing author. This book does not disappoint. It's everything you could want in a Sci-Fi Fantasy. I love the imagery and the characters are enjoyable. If you are ready to go on an adventure across the planets.... then this is a good read for you!
October 26, 2016
Loved this! The writing really flowed beautifully, and the descriptions painted a vivid picture in my mind, creating a lush and interesting world. I love the whole premise of this book, and I loved that it had to do with the planets because I love Astronomy, and I find planets so cool! Oriana is Star Princess of the planet Soleis, and the book opens on her preparing for a masquerade party to celebrate her 100th year and to announce her arranged engagement to the Prince of Jupiter. Oriana hasn't meet the Prince of Jupiter before, but she is willing to do right by her Kingdom and enter into this arranged marriage, and this party is the first time she will meet the Prince of Jupiter. I love that each of the planets has their own royalty, and there are unique characteristics to each race of people from each planet! Oriana ends up meeting Lucien at the party, and feels a connection with him, but the initial meeting between the two turns sour when new information is brought into the light, so the two go their separate ways. After the party, someone begins attacking each of the planets and killing a lot of people, but Oriana happens to escape and is on a mission to find who would do such a horrible thing, and how she can stop them from doing further damage to the planets. Along the way, she meets back up with Lucien, who has a stake in finding the culprits as well, so he decides to help Oriana solve the mystery. I love that we get to see the characters travel to each of the planets, and I loved how we got to see each planets environment! I also loved that there is a bit of a mystical aspect to the story, and I love when characters go on epic adventures! The romance was so sweet, and I loved that we get to watch it grow throughout the book. Oriana is a really strong character, and I loved that she doesn't let fear rule her. Lucien is adorable and wonderful! It great that we get POV from both characters, and this doesn't have a cliffhanger! This book is definitely entertaining and interesting, and I will definitely read more books in this series and by Ali Winters!
May 8, 2016
After reading The Reapers, I was really keen to read another of Ali Winters' books. When Star Dust showed up on Goodreads, I was captured by both the cover and the blurb. I knew I had to read it and I expected it to be another brilliant book by Ali. I wasn't wrong. She genuinely outdid herself with this book. It was captivating, exciting and packed with brilliant detail.
I loved the world created. Winters paid attention to every detail, and explained them in such a way that it felt like an art. I was able to slip into the world and truly feel as though I was a part of it, rather than just seeing it on a page. I loved the time taken to describe the world around the characters and really bring it to life.
Winters has a way with creating characters. Whether they are in the book for you to love or hate, she gives each adequate time, to really let you get to know them. You are able to picture them, know what to expect from them and really get to know their personalities. I liked the blend of personalities, which gave us a very rounded cast, throughout the book. I also liked that secondary characters were just as easy to get to know. I found myself really connecting to the story.
With the excellent plot and the way Ali carried it out, I was pulled into the story, from page one. I really connected with and cared about the characters, what the story meant for them and what was going to happen. I found myself describing the story to my husband, on several occasions, to see what he thought of the situation, just because I loved it so much.
Overall, this is an absolutely brilliant and captivating read. I would definitely class is as a must read. I look forward to reading more of this series, and seeing just how brilliant Ali's next book will be.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I loved the world created. Winters paid attention to every detail, and explained them in such a way that it felt like an art. I was able to slip into the world and truly feel as though I was a part of it, rather than just seeing it on a page. I loved the time taken to describe the world around the characters and really bring it to life.
Winters has a way with creating characters. Whether they are in the book for you to love or hate, she gives each adequate time, to really let you get to know them. You are able to picture them, know what to expect from them and really get to know their personalities. I liked the blend of personalities, which gave us a very rounded cast, throughout the book. I also liked that secondary characters were just as easy to get to know. I found myself really connecting to the story.
With the excellent plot and the way Ali carried it out, I was pulled into the story, from page one. I really connected with and cared about the characters, what the story meant for them and what was going to happen. I found myself describing the story to my husband, on several occasions, to see what he thought of the situation, just because I loved it so much.
Overall, this is an absolutely brilliant and captivating read. I would definitely class is as a must read. I look forward to reading more of this series, and seeing just how brilliant Ali's next book will be.
**I received this book for free in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
May 2, 2016
This story is unlike any other that I have read. The author did an amazing job creating a believable fantasy world. In this story, every planet has a kingdom and those that live on each planet, have characteristics mimicking the details of their planet. She creates stunningly beautiful worlds.
Each planet was described in incredible detail and they were completely different from each other. I could envision each world clearly as if I had just landed on it.
The story had me laughing, crying, worrying, cheering, and a whole bunch of other emotions throughout each chapter. The characters were well developed and brought to life in such detail that I had to remind myself that I don’t personally know these characters.
The author did a great job at keeping the reader guessing about the mystery. I tried guessing several times what I thought the outcome was going to be. Not only did my guess change from chapter to chapter, I was never right I love when an author can do that.
I definitely recommend this book and am very excited that this is the start of the series. I can’t wait to see where the author goes with this story!
Each planet was described in incredible detail and they were completely different from each other. I could envision each world clearly as if I had just landed on it.
The story had me laughing, crying, worrying, cheering, and a whole bunch of other emotions throughout each chapter. The characters were well developed and brought to life in such detail that I had to remind myself that I don’t personally know these characters.
The author did a great job at keeping the reader guessing about the mystery. I tried guessing several times what I thought the outcome was going to be. Not only did my guess change from chapter to chapter, I was never right I love when an author can do that.
I definitely recommend this book and am very excited that this is the start of the series. I can’t wait to see where the author goes with this story!
May 10, 2016
This is the first book I've read by this author and I really enjoyed it! The fantasy/romance was a nice change from what I've been reading. It was refreshing reading about the different worlds the author created and I found I read through it fairly quickly as the storyline kept me engaged and intrigued. The description of the different worlds was done quite well. It wasn't overly done, and I felt like I could picture the worlds easily from the details.
I fell in love with Lucian and Oriana and the ease of their interactions. Lucian with his teasing and genuineness and Oriana with her naivety and ability to overcome the devastation surrounding her so well even though she was quite sheltered. Obviously I was rooting for these two throughout the whole story, despite Oriana's arrangement.
I'm looking forward to reading about more of the other characters and worlds this author created. What a great start to this series!
B2B Kristina M
I fell in love with Lucian and Oriana and the ease of their interactions. Lucian with his teasing and genuineness and Oriana with her naivety and ability to overcome the devastation surrounding her so well even though she was quite sheltered. Obviously I was rooting for these two throughout the whole story, despite Oriana's arrangement.
I'm looking forward to reading about more of the other characters and worlds this author created. What a great start to this series!
B2B Kristina M
April 24, 2016
Ali Winter's story drew me in from the very beginning. I loved the concept of royalty on different planets and the interaction between these differing peoples. I had a hard time putting the book down because I was so intrigued by both the storyline and the characters. I also believe that this book is a great beginning to what could be a super interesting series consisting of stories about the royalty from the other planets. I cannot wait to see where Winters takes this concept in her later books. As a final note, I also LOVED the names she chose for all of her characters. They were all very unique and not at all stereotypical like many of the characters in modern books. Definitely a 5 star book and I will be anxiously waiting for the sequel!
May 1, 2016
The book was just released and I'm already done! I'm not big on regular romance but this is set amongst the stars and planets. It shows how a young princess who wants to be strong yet finds that she still had so much to learn. I found the way the author changed the princess well done and provide a touching ending. This is a beautiful clean YA. Ms. Winters descriptions made you see the planets you were on, the rooms you were in, the characters you were introduced to. This will be a series; but from my understanding they may be light years apart. I highly recommend this book.
August 21, 2017
Out of this world
Heart warming, heroic, goosebumps. So much about this story I love! I love that there is dancing, forbidden love and worlds saving adventure! I couldn't put it down! I read it in a day! I love Ali Winters! 💖
Heart warming, heroic, goosebumps. So much about this story I love! I love that there is dancing, forbidden love and worlds saving adventure! I couldn't put it down! I read it in a day! I love Ali Winters! 💖
May 13, 2016
Rating: 3.5 stars
Okay first of all, I absolutely adore the cover art for STAR DUST. If nothing else, this would have made me pick the book without even reading the back cover but fortunately I received in exchange of an honest unbiased review. Second, I love the adventure and the descriptions for each and everything ms. Winters has written. They vibrant and easy to understand and visualize without being boring. I could see all the planets through Orianna's eyes as she explores various planets in search for answers. STAR DUST is fast-paced with almost non-stop action with some really poignant moments that stole my breath. Some of the twists especially in the climax stole my breath. The characters Orianna, Lucian and Caelan are heroes with flaws, uncertainties and insecurities as real as us. I loved that ms. Winters did not resolve their problems all at once and made them grow as characters throughout the book.
So why am I giving 3.5 stars to it? To be honest, I am not really sure. I kept rolling between 3 & 4 before settling for a 3.5. There were times I was completely in the story, running with it and other times I pulled back and wondered at the other possibilities. Some things seemed too easy while some of the twists including who the bad guy was, I figured a couple chapters before the actual revelation. A few things here and there which bothered me which I am finding hard to pinpoint and it sucks because it really is a good book. It's just that there were time expected something more and got less. There were a few scenes which made me emotional (which I love) but from that high, again the expections rose and fell and rose. Kind of like a roller coaster ride. Both Prince Lucian and Prince Caelan were a tad bit disappointing in their roles. I loved them as people but as heroes, I expected something more. Best thing was Princess Orianna, who really grew into her role and Prince Erik. Now that is one character I am really looking forward to seeing more of.
All in all, STAR DUST is one vivid, beautiful fantasy adventure you can visualize and live through the characters. Young lot and fans of YA will love this. Looking forward to reading the next book soon which I have high hopes for especially after that brilliant epilogue. Blew me away.
ARC received in exchange of an honest review.
Okay first of all, I absolutely adore the cover art for STAR DUST. If nothing else, this would have made me pick the book without even reading the back cover but fortunately I received in exchange of an honest unbiased review. Second, I love the adventure and the descriptions for each and everything ms. Winters has written. They vibrant and easy to understand and visualize without being boring. I could see all the planets through Orianna's eyes as she explores various planets in search for answers. STAR DUST is fast-paced with almost non-stop action with some really poignant moments that stole my breath. Some of the twists especially in the climax stole my breath. The characters Orianna, Lucian and Caelan are heroes with flaws, uncertainties and insecurities as real as us. I loved that ms. Winters did not resolve their problems all at once and made them grow as characters throughout the book.
So why am I giving 3.5 stars to it? To be honest, I am not really sure. I kept rolling between 3 & 4 before settling for a 3.5. There were times I was completely in the story, running with it and other times I pulled back and wondered at the other possibilities. Some things seemed too easy while some of the twists including who the bad guy was, I figured a couple chapters before the actual revelation. A few things here and there which bothered me which I am finding hard to pinpoint and it sucks because it really is a good book. It's just that there were time expected something more and got less. There were a few scenes which made me emotional (which I love) but from that high, again the expections rose and fell and rose. Kind of like a roller coaster ride. Both Prince Lucian and Prince Caelan were a tad bit disappointing in their roles. I loved them as people but as heroes, I expected something more. Best thing was Princess Orianna, who really grew into her role and Prince Erik. Now that is one character I am really looking forward to seeing more of.
All in all, STAR DUST is one vivid, beautiful fantasy adventure you can visualize and live through the characters. Young lot and fans of YA will love this. Looking forward to reading the next book soon which I have high hopes for especially after that brilliant epilogue. Blew me away.
ARC received in exchange of an honest review.
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July 14, 2016Neeny Boucher
Star Dust by Ali Winters, 3 Stars
I read this book for the Twisted Book Curmudgeon and give it three cranky stars. It started off slowly and I have to say, I was a little confused. I checked to see if I had inadvertently picked up the second book in a series, but I hadn’t. I found the glossary of terms and the map at the back semi-helpful, but I think a little more world-building in the front would have given me a stronger framework to sink my teeth into.
Star Dust centers on Princess Oriana, heir apparent of the planet Soleil or, as I like to think of it, she from a Galaxy Far, Far Away. We meet her as she’s coming of age and is about to be betrothed to Prince Caelan of Jupiter. At her masquerade ball, she meets Prince Lucien of Earth and is intrigued. If I’m being really honest, she acts a little bratty.
As events unfold, there is an intergalactic coup, which targets royal houses. Reeling from an attack, Oriana undertakes a mission to stop the nefarious plot and save her universe.
My main issue I have with this story links back to what I’ve written in the opening paragraph. As there was no real explanation of the historico-socio-politico context of Oriana’s world, there was no real foreshadowing of why an intergalactic coup would be on the horizon.
As such, Star Dust rises and falls on whether you find Oriana engaging enough to see events through her eyes or bond with her. Now look, I like difficult and strong heroines. I can even get behind bratty, but I struggle with self-absorbed and entitled.
This work has a lot of promise. I really enjoy fantasy and look forward to seeing that promise realized.
Star Dust by Ali Winters, 3 Stars
I read this book for the Twisted Book Curmudgeon and give it three cranky stars. It started off slowly and I have to say, I was a little confused. I checked to see if I had inadvertently picked up the second book in a series, but I hadn’t. I found the glossary of terms and the map at the back semi-helpful, but I think a little more world-building in the front would have given me a stronger framework to sink my teeth into.
Star Dust centers on Princess Oriana, heir apparent of the planet Soleil or, as I like to think of it, she from a Galaxy Far, Far Away. We meet her as she’s coming of age and is about to be betrothed to Prince Caelan of Jupiter. At her masquerade ball, she meets Prince Lucien of Earth and is intrigued. If I’m being really honest, she acts a little bratty.
As events unfold, there is an intergalactic coup, which targets royal houses. Reeling from an attack, Oriana undertakes a mission to stop the nefarious plot and save her universe.
My main issue I have with this story links back to what I’ve written in the opening paragraph. As there was no real explanation of the historico-socio-politico context of Oriana’s world, there was no real foreshadowing of why an intergalactic coup would be on the horizon.
As such, Star Dust rises and falls on whether you find Oriana engaging enough to see events through her eyes or bond with her. Now look, I like difficult and strong heroines. I can even get behind bratty, but I struggle with self-absorbed and entitled.
This work has a lot of promise. I really enjoy fantasy and look forward to seeing that promise realized.
May 10, 2016
Not just a new world, but a new universe for readers to explore. Star Dust by Ali Winters, is the first novel in the Force of Gravity series. From the first page, I found it hard to tear myself away.
Oriana is the princess of Soleis, who with the help of Lucian – an Earthen prince- must find a way to save not only her planet, but the whole universe, clear Lucian’s name, and repair the reputation of Earth.
After an attack on her home planet, Oriana stumbles onto Earth where she meets with her unlikely companion, Lucian. The two hesitantly begin their quest, but the further they go, and the more they learn, the more they find comfort in one another.
The worlds they visit are lush and interesting. The way she describes these new places drew me into the story, making me feel a part of it. Each planet and its people had a unique look and feel. I would love to spend more time in each of them.
Oriana’s combination of naiveté, courage, and intelligence made her an intriguing character. She is the kind of princess little girls grow up wanting to be. Lucian’s cockiness and passion, combined beautifully with his vulnerability when it came to Oriana. He is the kind of man that girls, and women, strive to find for themselves. Neither were perfect, which made them even more so.
I loved the story, the worlds, and the characters. There were several grammatical mistakes that pulled me briefly from the story, but the desire to see what happens next pulled me through. This is a beautiful book, with amazing characters and worlds. I can’t wait to read what Ali comes up with next.
Oriana is the princess of Soleis, who with the help of Lucian – an Earthen prince- must find a way to save not only her planet, but the whole universe, clear Lucian’s name, and repair the reputation of Earth.
After an attack on her home planet, Oriana stumbles onto Earth where she meets with her unlikely companion, Lucian. The two hesitantly begin their quest, but the further they go, and the more they learn, the more they find comfort in one another.
The worlds they visit are lush and interesting. The way she describes these new places drew me into the story, making me feel a part of it. Each planet and its people had a unique look and feel. I would love to spend more time in each of them.
Oriana’s combination of naiveté, courage, and intelligence made her an intriguing character. She is the kind of princess little girls grow up wanting to be. Lucian’s cockiness and passion, combined beautifully with his vulnerability when it came to Oriana. He is the kind of man that girls, and women, strive to find for themselves. Neither were perfect, which made them even more so.
I loved the story, the worlds, and the characters. There were several grammatical mistakes that pulled me briefly from the story, but the desire to see what happens next pulled me through. This is a beautiful book, with amazing characters and worlds. I can’t wait to read what Ali comes up with next.
September 1, 2016
Not just a new world, but a new universe for readers to explore. Star Dust by Ali Winters, is the first novel in the Force of Gravity series. From the first page, I found it hard to tear myself away.
Oriana is the princess of Soleis, who with the help of Lucian – an Earthen prince- must find a way to save not only her planet, but the whole universe, clear Lucian’s name, and repair the reputation of Earth.
After an attack on her home planet, Oriana stumbles onto Earth where she meets with her unlikely companion, Lucian. The two hesitantly begin their quest, but the further they go, and the more they learn, the more they find comfort in one another.
The worlds they visit are lush and interesting. The way she describes these new places drew me into the story, making me feel a part of it. Each planet and its people had a unique look and feel. I would love to spend more time in each of them.
Oriana’s combination of naiveté, courage, and intelligence made her an intriguing character. She is the kind of princess little girls grow up wanting to be. Lucian’s cockiness and passion, combined beautifully with his vulnerability when it came to Oriana. He is the kind of man that girls, and women, strive to find for themselves. Neither were perfect, which made them even more so.
I loved the story, the worlds, and the characters. There were several grammatical mistakes that pulled me briefly from the story, but the desire to see what happens next pulled me through. This is a beautiful book, with amazing characters and worlds. I can’t wait to read what Ali comes up with next.
Oriana is the princess of Soleis, who with the help of Lucian – an Earthen prince- must find a way to save not only her planet, but the whole universe, clear Lucian’s name, and repair the reputation of Earth.
After an attack on her home planet, Oriana stumbles onto Earth where she meets with her unlikely companion, Lucian. The two hesitantly begin their quest, but the further they go, and the more they learn, the more they find comfort in one another.
The worlds they visit are lush and interesting. The way she describes these new places drew me into the story, making me feel a part of it. Each planet and its people had a unique look and feel. I would love to spend more time in each of them.
Oriana’s combination of naiveté, courage, and intelligence made her an intriguing character. She is the kind of princess little girls grow up wanting to be. Lucian’s cockiness and passion, combined beautifully with his vulnerability when it came to Oriana. He is the kind of man that girls, and women, strive to find for themselves. Neither were perfect, which made them even more so.
I loved the story, the worlds, and the characters. There were several grammatical mistakes that pulled me briefly from the story, but the desire to see what happens next pulled me through. This is a beautiful book, with amazing characters and worlds. I can’t wait to read what Ali comes up with next.
November 16, 2016
* Note : I was given a free copy for review purposes. This does not influence my thoughts toward this book in any way, form, fashion, or thought. All words below this note are my own thoughts and opinions over this book. *
This. Was. Beyond. Amazing. BEYOND FREAKIN' AMAZING.
Ok, for anyone who knows me, they know that I am a HUGE junkie for well-created worlds, and this magical and beyond-the-stars universe created by Ms. Winters goes well and truly beyond my standard of “OMG I NEED MORE RIGHT MEOW” for books. It was a truly fantastic otherworldly trip to the beyond that dragged me in from the start of the book and would not let me go until I finished it, no matter how late it was. ( I mean , not sleeping to stay up and read a totally awesome book isn't that bad.... is it? Or is it just the inner Slytherin in me that makes me not want to stop until I have managed to finish the book? ) Either way, Ms. Winters has managed to create a magical journey between Princess Oriana and her destined Prince, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat until you have finished the book.
Definitely an amazing work of sci-fi that includes a ton of suspense, drama, and anything else that could possibly happen in a magical world like this! Now.... if you'd excuse me, I shall now find a comfy pile of pillows and lay there until I can get the second book.... because I MUST KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS FANTABULOUS WORLD AND THE STORYLINE!
Signing off,
Promisary <3
This. Was. Beyond. Amazing. BEYOND FREAKIN' AMAZING.
Ok, for anyone who knows me, they know that I am a HUGE junkie for well-created worlds, and this magical and beyond-the-stars universe created by Ms. Winters goes well and truly beyond my standard of “OMG I NEED MORE RIGHT MEOW” for books. It was a truly fantastic otherworldly trip to the beyond that dragged me in from the start of the book and would not let me go until I finished it, no matter how late it was. ( I mean , not sleeping to stay up and read a totally awesome book isn't that bad.... is it? Or is it just the inner Slytherin in me that makes me not want to stop until I have managed to finish the book? ) Either way, Ms. Winters has managed to create a magical journey between Princess Oriana and her destined Prince, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat until you have finished the book.
Definitely an amazing work of sci-fi that includes a ton of suspense, drama, and anything else that could possibly happen in a magical world like this! Now.... if you'd excuse me, I shall now find a comfy pile of pillows and lay there until I can get the second book.... because I MUST KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS FANTABULOUS WORLD AND THE STORYLINE!
Signing off,
Promisary <3
February 12, 2017
A wonderful book!
In a society of order and correctness, Princess Oriana of planet Soleis has yet to find her place in the world. When her kingdom gets attacked overnight, she takes responsibility to find the source behind it, and joined by Prince Lucian, tries her best to restore peace.
Betrayal and hidden truths don't make her journey any easier but Oriana remains determined to stop the destruction and gives her all for her and her galaxy's safety.
As Oriana learns she holds the key to harmony amongst the planets, she is even more convinced to fight.
Hurl yourself into this fascinating adventure of trust and unity and read that great book! :)
In a society of order and correctness, Princess Oriana of planet Soleis has yet to find her place in the world. When her kingdom gets attacked overnight, she takes responsibility to find the source behind it, and joined by Prince Lucian, tries her best to restore peace.
Betrayal and hidden truths don't make her journey any easier but Oriana remains determined to stop the destruction and gives her all for her and her galaxy's safety.
As Oriana learns she holds the key to harmony amongst the planets, she is even more convinced to fight.
Hurl yourself into this fascinating adventure of trust and unity and read that great book! :)
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