Starborn

Born Prophecy #2

by Katie MacAlister

A Fireborn woman and a Starborn man embark on a desperate sea voyage to save two kingdoms in a rousing fantasy from the New York Times-bestselling author.

The battle for sovereignty among the seven lands of Alba has ended. The prophecy of Peace appears to have come true. But appearances can be deceptive. A new battle is brewing. Its outcome is dependent on the retrieval of a sacred triad of artifacts . . .

The hunt for the three precious moonstones begins. For Allegria, Fireborn lightweaver, and her Starborn lover, Hallow, it means saving more than worlds. It means rescuing their friend Deo, prisoner in the shadowlands of Eris, where the secrets of the moonstones are buried. Steering Allegria and Hallow in their ocean quest is a mysterious lifebound captain. And he's setting sail with a No mere mortal has ever survived the journey to Eris, let alone come back alive . . .

As the bonds of friendship are threatened and the courage of three heroes challenged, the fate of two kingdoms will be at risk as bestselling author Katie MacAlister's breathtaking Born Prophecy saga continues.

Genres: Fantasy, Magic, Romance

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 10, 2019

About the author

For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.

Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books followed during the years after Noble's publication. Her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell, and for the mystery world as Kate Marsh.

Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online.

Reviews

[Marta Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to say it upfront and that is that I was disappointed with the first book but this sequel is one hundred percent better ! At the end of the last book Deo was taken prisoner by the evil and possibly crazy Racin and this follow up sees Allegria and Hallow doing everything they can to rescue him. First they have to find the magical moonstones and that means traveling to the land where Deo’s former lover lives which wouldn’t be so bad if she hadn’t gone and married his father ! Then there’s the very tricky but frequently hilarious Captain they meet but is he a help or a hindrance ? Yes the young lovers have their work cut out getting into the shrouded world of Eris but once there will it all go according to plan ? Plus there’s the trouble that Allegria is having with her at the moment non existing powers !
This couple are bawdry and just so in love they honestly struggle to keep their hands off each other which allowed the author to inject farcical situations into this story. This was just so entertaining and a joy to read and I’m so pleased that the author really found her stride with this book. I will most definitely be reading the next one.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
When this book came up for review, I quickly noticed that it was part of a series and with a fantasy novel, it’s so hard to skip around in the series, so I decided to read the first book before I picked this one up for review.

I am glad I noticed that this was part of a series because I would have been so lost without that first book so if you haven’t read the first book, stop and read it before moving on to this one!

When I read the first book there were a couple of small concerns I had going into this one, but not enough concerns about the story to not want to read this one, in fact I was hoping this one would be better than the first book.

In this series, Allegria is supposed to be the main protagonist but in the first book I was way more interested in Deo’s character which was one of the reasons I was looking forward to this book. In this book the characters have to rescue Deo so Deo’s plot kind of took a back seat to some of the other things going on in the novel which was a little frustrating since I liked him the best, but the overall story wasn’t bad by any means. In fact, I actually thought the pace and structure of this book was better than the first one. I mean there are still a number of POVs that shift and change throughout the narrative which can be disorientating and jarring, but frankly I was used to it thanks to the first book being much the same.

This book is marketed as fantasy—-which it is—but I would say it’s more in the vein of adventure and definitely more fantasy light. Die hard fans of fantasy who want massive world building would be disappointed as this book is more about the characters and their quest and less about the world around them etc.

At just over 230 pages, this was a quick read for me which was nice and refreshing, not to mention the dialogue had a lot of banter and humor which made it feel more fun than a hefty fantasy novel full or world building. The romance added a nice little overture to the story and in the end I thought it was an enjoyable read. I liked it much better than the first one in the series.

See my full review here

[Colleen Corgel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea of the book, and the series for that matter, but there's just something that is a little off about it. It could be that it is a bit of a mashup of about three different genres- fantasy, comedy, and romance. It takes elements of these genres sub genres, and at times it can be jarring. I of all people understand that high-fantasy can take itself a little too seriously, but when the author wants to hit hard on the comedy elements, she switches to a more modern style of expression, and it just feels off. Then there's using only Allegria's parts of the book as first person and the rest in third. It was distracting and annoying in the first book, and continues to be the same here. I don't get the point, other than it may signal that this Allegria is still the lead, even though it really is Allegria, Hallow, and Deo's story.

This book has more focus than the first - there's a lot a stake, and the author doesn't give her characters a lot of time to be overly silly. Allegria is still missing part of her magic - which bugs me as much as her - yet as integral as her magic is to her, there's no real effort in trying to figure out why its gone, or how to fix it. The book is mostly an extended rescue mission, and I thought that Allegria's regaining her powers would be integral to that. In that sense it was very disappointing, and some events that "even out" the playing field near the end of the book didn't help much. If she truly is the lead of this series, she didn't get a lot of growth or any type of movement. Everything was about finding Deo and Desa.

I am still interested in what happens as the series continues, as I think that this is worth a shot - it also is a pretty accessible high fantasy because of its romance and comedic elements, but it is hard to juggle all three. There's a lot to like from this outing, and I hope it continues to get better from here.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starborn is the second installment in the very original series The Born Prophecy by Katie MacAlister.

Hallow and Allegria are searching for three moonstones hidden by Queen Dasa. The moonstones are needed to allow Allergria to rescue Queen Dasa and Deo from Eris. And this is where I tell you if you haven’t read book 1, you will be utterly confused because this is not a stand-alone read.

Hallow and Allergria are told that they need to go to Eris, which was deemed hopeless, but the “Captain” who they meet along their way quickly jumps on board the crazy mission. Magic, Mayhem and Evil are just a few of the obstacles keeping Hallow and Allergria from conquering their goals. Pick up Starborn to join their adventure.

I liked Starborn but didn't love it. I found Allergria was irritating and not very likeable even if she was having magic troubles. Hallow was even a bit annoying. The captain was funny. And overall, the biggest hang up I had connecting to the story was the switch between POVs and the cliffhanger, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers.

That being said, I still found the book entertaining, with great humor injections into serious situations and unexpected plot directions that still kept me invested to the end.

I received this ARC copy of Starborn from Kensington Books - Rebel Base Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Starborn is set for publication December 10, 2019.

My Rating: 3 stars
Written by: Katie MacAlister
Paperback: 228 pages
Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation (December 10, 2019)
ISBN-10: 1635730767
ISBN-13: 978-1635730760
Genre: Epic Fantasy

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Starborn-Katie...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/star...
Itunes: https://books.apple.com/au/book/starb...

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

Allegria and Hallow are back and this time they are on a mission together to find the three moonstones that have been hidden. With these moonstones they can open a portal to Eris, to rescue Queen Dasa and her son, Deo.

I enjoyed this installment a bit more than the first one. The mission seemed more focused and it was easier to follow everyone’s movements and motivations.

We were introduced to some new characters, like Quinn and Dexia, who were quite interesting and diverting. I still found Allegria annoying, and Hallow wasn’t much better. I did like Deo a lot, and Idril played a big role as well. She turned out to be quite a pleasant surprise. And for all that Deo is capable of extremely strong magic and has proven himself in the previous battles, his parents still treat him as if he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

Each chapter was written from a different character’s viewpoint, and it was easy to figure out who the focus is on each time. The only thing that was a bit jarring, was that Allegria’s chapters were written from the first person perspective (hers), and all the other chapters were not. It would have been better to use the same voice throughout.

I’m still interested in reading more about them, so waiting for the next book.

I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Karen ⚜Mess⚜ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Katie MacAlister's books, but I have to admit Born Prophesy is my favorite series written by her.

Enriched world and character building gives Starborn all the stars. Katie MacAlister effortlessly delivers voice and sight to her storytelling making my reading experience exceptional.

Katie MacAlister is on my top author list. I highly recommend Born Prophesy series to fantasy readers.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

[Cathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like fantasy. I like romance. I like banter.

But I didn't like this. Maybe it was too lighthearted in the face of danger? Maybe it was the conversations about bestiality? Maybe because I hadn't read book 1?

I quit reading at 47 %

I read an ARC from Netgalley.

[Gwendalyn Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Kensington Books - Rebel Base Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

A wonderful second installment Starborn, b Katie MacAlister, captivated me from the first page I was completely engaged , I flew through the pages at lighting speed. It is an addictive, dramatic and hugely gripping story that flawlessly entwines fantasy adventure along with the perfect blend of romance.

The magic and drama throughout this book was breathtakingly and riveting,
that it was a not stop read for me.

Peace is among the seven lands of Alba but looks can be very deceiving. The survival of the fittest and a rescue mission when Allegria and her lover Hallow must rescue their friend Deo from prison with all at stake for the seven lands due to these precious moonstones that could change the course of time. Secrets unlock, and trials flare during the quest and are things really what they seem and will they ever rescue Deo and finish the quest with everything at stake.

This was edge of your seat roller coaster fantasy with engaging excitement.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Source* Publisher
*Genre* Fantasy / Romance
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

Starborn, by author Katie MacAlister, is the second installment in the authors Born Prophecy series. There are actually (3) main characters that are featured in this story. Allegria Hopebringer, Hallow, and Deosin Langton. Allegria and Hallow, who are now married, are searching for (3) moonstones that were hidden by Queen Dasa. These moonstones are the only thing able to allow Allegria to rescue Deo and Queen Dasa from Eris. I think that if you read the first installment, that you will better understand the struggles that this book focuses on.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...

[Erika Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starborn takes place in the aftermath of a great war, but its clear from the opening chapters that this is but a temporary lull for our heroes. Allegria is our main protagonist, I assume, as her perspective is the first one we are introduced to and hers is in first person versus every one else's third. Unfortunately, this doesn't really add anything to the narrative and comes off as gimmicky. Allegria and her husband Hallow are on a mission to rescue their friend Deo from behind enemy lines. Allegria and Hallow are the world's most annoying couple, you know they ones that make you want to barf because they can't keep their hands off of each other. Specifically, they like to pinch each other on the behind. It's like their thing or something. I was desperate for some variety in their interactions before I was halfway through.

The rest of the plot bounces around all over the place. Part of the blame is on the number of perspective characters. There are only twenty-two chapters divided among at least six point of view characters ( I stopped counting after a while). Including a prologue from a character we never hear from again, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. The other problem is that there are a lot of time skips in the narrative that seem to avoid major plot points. For instance, they need moonstones to go rescue Deo, and they don't know where they are exactly, let alone how to find them. The next chapter has them running away with the recently stolen moonstone with no explanation as to how they acquired it other than the stealing bit.

Or later when we catch up to other characters and have to find out about major events after the fact. It's like having someone explain the plot of the movie to you, robbing you of all the joy of watching it yourself. Plus since I came into this series on book two, I wasn't really invested in any of the characters. None of them were really given any time to shine. Of course, Allegria and Hallow had bored me to the point where I was just trying to get through it as quickly as possible. There were also some faint attempts at humor, but they were so forced it was like the novel equivalent of adding a laugh track. The one liners didn't feel genuine, it felt tacked on in an attempt to try to give these characters some personality.

I'm sure there are people out there who would enjoy Starborn. Maybe people who enjoyed Outlander since neither seems to know what genre it wants to belong to. However, it was definitely not the book for me. Two out of five, would not read again.

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Starborn through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Starborn is the second novel in Katie MacAlister’s Born Prophecy series. Following the events in Fireborn – our leading characters are now faced with a world that has seemingly accepted peace. And yet Deo is still being held prisoner, and they have yet to complete the set of tasks at hand.
Allegia is Fireborn, a lightweaver and a stubborn yet amusing woman. She’s determined to follow her new path in life and doesn’t regret leaving behind her monastery. She finally has the life she’s always wanted, and is able to use her powers for their intended purpose.
Hallow is the Starborn. He’s also Allegria’s lover, and has somehow become the leader for something much larger than a simple movement. He’s determined to work alongside Allegria to save their friend, Deo. Meanwhile, poor Deo has been captured and taken to the shadowlands of Eris.

“I didn’t dare glance behind me to see how close the spirits were, having had ample proof from my brief skirmish with the thane to know that spirits can move very quickly when they choose to do so.”

I am so glad that I took a risk and ended up reading Starborn. I didn’t end up loving Fireborn, but I had decided that Starborn would be worth giving a chance anyway. And it was absolutely the right decision.
Starborn was everything I wanted from Fireborn. It was intense, full of fantasy and magic, and more than a little bit of amusement and laughter. That’s the balance I’ve come to expect from Katie MacAlister. And that is exactly what was given to me here.
I honestly think that Starborn has to be one of the more entertaining novels I’ve read this year. Deo, Hallow, and Allegria’s quest was epic, of course. But it was also inane and full of moments that cause a break in tension. And okay, they also leave plenty of room for laughter as well. It was exactly what I was looking for. And it’s a perfect break from all of the heavy and foreboding books out in the wild.
If you’ve found yourself hesitating about picking up Starborn (because you didn’t enjoy Fireborn all that much), I strongly urge you to give Starborn a try. Hopefully you’ll find the risk worth it, just like I did.

For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

[Johanna Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

Prequel to my review... so this is not a standalone book but part of a series, so in warning, if you read book one, you may need a reread, or you will not understand much going into this book. The author does not back track just picks up where book one left off, which is great if your just finishing the first book, but for me it was like three hundred books ago. So I kept going since I five starred the first book, but I love this story.

My review....

In book one Deo took off after his mother, and now Allegria and Hallow are left behind searching for a way to get Deo back. That really is the gist of part two, the hunt to be reunited with Deo.

What did I like? So for me it’s a surprise that Allegria chose Hallow, because in book one I felt Allegria pined for Deo but I guess it was just really pining to be in the fight. Deo was just a means to get there. In book two we see why Hallow and Allegria are the perfect match, and I just loved the subtlety of it. The author goes through a story filled book but still lets you see why she chose Hallow for Allegria, and I find it an amazing match.

Would I buy this book? Yes, my book shelves are filled with this author, and I love this series. She has some beautiful covers for this series and the story is enriched and beautiful.

Thoughts for the author? A novella would not be remiss right now to give people a peek into a private scene between Hallow and Allegria....or Deo and his lady love. I would love to be a fly on that wall during a cabin sex scene of that trunk and Hallow having his way with Allegria. I can’t be the only one. Congrats on your release! Amazing book! Five star’s of entertainment!

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Starborn
Author: Katie MacAlister
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

After all the danger, fighting, and wars, peace now reigns in the seven lands of Alba. But Allegria and Hallow want to rescue their friend Deo, trapped in the shadowlands of Eris. And to do that , they need the three moonstones hidden years before.

As they search for the moonstones, they realize things aren’t quite as peaceful as they seem. Their captain—lifebound for many long years—warns them against heading to Eris by ship, but they are determined to rescue their friend. Even if it means their own deaths.

The banter and snarky humor make this a fun read, but I did feel some of the action was a bit rushed. I enjoyed the read, but it wasn’t as engrossing as the first one was, although if you need a dose of snarky humor and sarcasm, this is a sure bet.

(Galley courtesy of Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day

[CR · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book two was so much better than book one. I don't get to say that enough for book two's. This fantasy was one that was full of magic and drama. It was beautiful and addicting as I finished this in one sitting. Characters go through a bunch of trials and a quest that must be finished. This was one hit out of the park!! I will totally be picking up the next title.

Book one had a few issues with me for pacing and the writing but this one has it all cleaned up. I loved it!

[Gina Gallo · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are sooo out there. Epic fantasy adventure with a ton of horny people. Gods, goddesses, pirates who can’t die, horrid children who eat everything and a wooden bird that just won’t shut up, but who made me cry in this book. I can’t wait for the next one!!!

[Book Lovers Hangout · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the world building, the characters, and the creativity in this story. It is really beautiful and I am excited to read more and to further delve into this world.

[Shasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

The comedy was out of tune with the fantasy. Allegria and Hallow were annoying. I gave up.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio so renewed at least once. Different magical.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Will they be able to defeat the enemy again? Allegria & Hallow know that they have to try and find Deo & the Queen before it is too late but things haven't been going the way they planned. They haven't been able to find all the moonstones and now they have to find a madman to take them by ship to Eris to find Deo. But Allegria realizes that things are only going to get worse as Deo is free and he wants to completely destroy everything but before he can destroy the enemy their leader Racin has escaped through a portal and they have just learnt the truth of why he was put on this island they have to find him before he starts over their world. Is it too late? Hallow knows that nothing will ever be the same again, this trip has changed him and he has no idea if the priests will still accept him as their master as the new magic has changed him? He needs to find a new body for Thorn after was destroyed. Allegria hopes that they will be able to face the next battle but she knows that the goddess has left her so how will she be of any help? What will Lord Israel do now that he has been called a traitor? Will the queen accept her new life? What will Deo's destiny be now? A good read in the series. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Kensington Books - Rebel Base Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

The magic and drama throughout this book was breathtakingly addictive that I could not stop reading. Fantasy books are always a necessity in our collection and are very popular and we are so thrilled to have found this book. Peace is among the seven lands of Alba but looks can be very deceiving. Then it all becomes survival of the fittest and a rescue mission when Allegria and her lover Hallow must rescue their friend Deo from prison with all at stake for the seven lands due to these precious moonstones that could change the course of time. Secrets unlock, and trials flare during the quest and are things really what they seem and will they ever rescue Deo and finish the quest with all at stake. This was edge of your seat excitement bound to want more. I know our teen book club will certainly love this book and want to read more like it.

We will consider adding this title to our Fantasy collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Danae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starborn by Katie Macalister is one of those sagas where it is so bad, and yet somehow, it is so good. I could not put this book down even with those few moments that made me want to. Do not ask me to describe the book because its hard to put into words. There are a lot of horny moments, and honestly, mos,t of the time, it felt like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I loved the characters even as they all started to blur together, there was not a lot to distinguish between the characters. The only thing I did not enjoy was the prologue because the main character in that blurb was so annoying, and I have no clue if it takes place before or after the story. Although I loved the ending where one of the characters is now a wanted fugitive. I'm curious to see where it goes because somehow everything worked together, and I cannot imagine the book any other way.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantasy book according to my heart, definitely better than the first one.
The world building is great and interesting, the plot well crafted and gripping, the cast of characters well developed and likeable.
I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.