Crown of Starlight

Scepter Series #3

by Anne Zoelle

The final book in the Scepter Series... Unmasked, hunted, devastated, revealed... Kaveh, Nin, Taline, and Rone must decide what is worth fighting for—and who can be trusted to change the world. Crown of Starlight is the satisfying conclusion to the events that started in House of Scepters and that came to a head in Cage of Shadows.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2020

Reviews

[Sara XuHerondale · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 reluctant stars
First book finished in 2025, lets go.
Well, this was intense. The third and final book in this series about Ren Crown's ancestors, definitely wasn't what I expected, in literally every way possible. I didn't expect this setting, I thought it would be a bit closer in age to Ren ( just a couple of centuries away), but I was wrong. Right here I got me a trilogy about power, politics, ruling, overcoming the shadows of one's past. I also got to meet one my favorite characters, dark shadow general supreme, Kaveh, who was by far the highlight of this trilogy for me (carried + showed everyone how the most powerful shadow lord character should act). One of the less pleasant moments was Rone with his pathetic, self-deprecating, self hating, brother-hating thoughts and words which were rather embarrassing, but it's alright, at least his blonde mental illness contributed to serving the absolute hardest scene in the book (we'd be nowhere without you king uh). As for everyone else, I gotta give special shout out to the baddest bitch Nera uh Fehl, for being the absolute worst, but also the ultimate manipulating girl boss (she appeared like 3 times total in the trilogy but her aura is too strong, lowkey cheered every time she was seen or mentioned).
All in all, a pretty decent trilogy, and a nice beginning to the 2025 reading journey.

[☂️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

the way I won in every single way <3 this book gave me everything I wanted and MORE!!!

10/10 thank you for my life @ nin kaveh taline & rone

[Navdha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know what we did to deserve this, but this book and this series is a treasure that I will cherish forever and ever more. Full review to come.

[anam · Rating 5 out of 5]

the covers for this entire series are elite can i just say???????? also nin and kaveh one of my favourite relationships ever i adore them

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and strong finish to the series! I love the characters and their motivations and evolution. Such a great read!

[Aisha Reads Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's nice to read such a tightly written series.

Big fan of antagonistic relationships that soften so this entire series has been great when you have a character like Kaveh.

There were a couple of bits that even when reread them and slowed down my reading didn't make sense, but I can see how that might be a fault of my own and not the writing.

I believe there's one other Anne Zoelle series out there, and hopefully if I ever find any other pseudonyms I can read other works.

[Mariu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tengo que decir que fue un muy buen final, pero eso no quita lo pesado que se me hizo el libro.

Aros tiene el cetro, está buscando a Nin, pero ella está escapando con Rone, Taline y Kaveh, están tratando de recuperar los poderes de Kaveh porque es la única esperanza que tienen de ganar la batalla. Hay un montón de cosas pasando pero no podía concentrarme en nada más allá del odio que me generaba Rone cada vez que narraba o lo mencionaban, no hacía más que hablar mierda de Kaveh o burlarse de su falta de poderes. Si entiendo que todo era una proyección por el mismo sentirse un monstruo pero igual me daban ganar de abandonar solo por él.

Kaveh tuvo más desarrollo como personaje. Empieza deprimido, pasa a la frustración, llega a la desesperación de hacer un trato con la oscuridad por sus poderes. Obviamente sale mal eso. Pero el punto es que pasa por muchas etapas y aprende en el camino muchas cosas sobre la vida, sobre vivir sin ser un monstruo y eso me gustó. Amé como se da cuenta del mal que el emperador le hizo a su madre. Me encanta como no dejaría morir a Taline y Rone solo porque son importantes para Nin. De verdad no pensé que lo podía amar más pero si pude.

Taline también estaba como en plan odio a Kaveh pero su confianza en Nin hizo que se le pasara rápido. Tenía dudas sobre poner al príncipe en el trono pero igual le dio la oportunidad. Hay un punto donde tiene que tomar una decisión muy fuerte que me frustró pero me gustó cómo se desarrolló, no fue para nada fácil elegir pero terminó haciendo lo mejor para ella.

Nin siguió constante en su plan de querer salvar a todos, cree que la manera de hacerlo es devolviéndole el poder a Kaveh. Amo que nunca traicionó la confianza de Rone a pesar de que estaba siendo un idiota y no ayudaba. Siento que eso es lo que la hace ella y no me hubiera gustado si dejaba de serlo. Me fastidió que se quisiera sacrificar aún todo el tiempo, pero llega un punto donde dice que quiere salvar a todos pero también quiere vivir ella y la amé por eso.

Por fin ninkaveh se besan, estuvo buenísimo, creo que fue el momento perfecto. Igual creo que estaría genial más contacto en la trilogía.

Me gustó el final. Taline acorralado a Etelian y salvando a más chicas de lo que ella sufrió para darles el poder de vengarse de su abusador. Nin encerrada con la persona que más odia compartiendo historias, lo buena que es cambia los planes de Osni, termina ayudándola a ganar. Kaveh y Rone trabajan juntos por fin luego de tanto estrés.

Entre todos logran retomar el poder y entre todos reconstruyen el imperio no a base de miedo sino de respeto y cosas buenas

Amé como al final Kaveh vuelve a visitar a Irsula para darle los restos de Ifret y darle las gracias por haber estado siempre con él. Me pareció hermoso como ese ser tan peligroso puso su único sentimiento en una sombra y se la dio como regalo a su hijo en parte por curiosidad de que sería en la vida, en parte para guiarlo y protegerlo y en parte para quitarse esa debilidad y que el emperador no lo pudiera usar en su contra. Me hizo muy feliz que recibiera a Ifret y solo por eso le subí una estrella al libro.

De verdad la trilogía en general me gustó mucho. La escritura no fue mi cosa favorita en el mundo pero valió la pena por la historia y más que todo por NinKaveh.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started this series, I thought I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I already knew about the Pentalayerverse from the author's other series, but I was very intrigued with the setting and the magic of the past that was introduced: scepters, gates, ripgates, shadows, powers that lock your magic within you- it all started this way for it to evolve into the present time magic use of the other series.

I also looked forward to the romance in this series, Nin and Kaveh made a great couple because they both worked so well together and Nin helped Kaveh change and become someone better, someone who could help the empire and their people evolve and look forward to a rich future of knowledge and improvements, while Nin learned to be more than her bloodline and strive to be the best she could be. Taline and Rone, while rough with each other at first, definitely was a ride to see them accept each other and prove that they are better than their powers, Rone with his both bloodlines, and Taline with her weaker magic but she was still strong; I adore these two couples!

I can see the similarities between Ninli and Ren, they're both selfless and self-sacrificing, thinking of others and how to protect those they care about and also how to help, how to better the world for everyone, and both have overly strong powers that are used for good. Nin is a gatemaker, able to port and open ripgates, while Ren is and Origin Mage, or a worldbreaker as they're known in this time period, with the ability of creation. Not only that, the quartet are all powerful magi who band together to essentially save their world. The epilogue intrigued me with the mention of Nin and Kaveh's children and Taline and Rone's children and that "even today, there are descendants roaming the layers, with the gifts of their ancestors in their hearts and hands." because they could have already shown up in the Ren Crown series, or maybe they'll make some appearances in the future.

This series has been a fun experience, not to mention the amazing covers! All of her books have beautiful covers. I look forward to reading the next series Ms. Zoelle has in store for us.

[Amilee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came to this series after reading Anne's Ren Crown Series. It did not stand out to me quite as much, but that might be because Ren Crown is one of my favorite series there is.

I really like Anne's style of writing. She is wonderful at world building and story telling.

I had to read all three books one after another. I did not want to wait to find out what happened.
The story is very good and written well. I enjoyed the characters and all the books.

[Malena · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3,5 I am in love with kaveh, nin, taline and rone. Thank you anne zoelle for the kiss scene THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤️

[say · Rating 5 out of 5]

anne zoelle really did a great job with this series *chef's kiss*

[gael · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 for rone taline and 1 for nin

[Nini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe it too me two months to come back to goodreads to write this review. But if not this book I probably wouldn't even have found the motivation to come back at all so..

This series is the best thing that happened to me this year. If you’re friends with me, you already know this because I haven’t been able to shut up about these books ever since August. The impression they left on me is so strong that I haven’t been able to pick up another book or series since I finished reading this one.

After reading Ren Crown series, Anne became one of my favorite authors. After reading Scepter series she became my favorite author period. There’s something about her characters and stories that resonates so deeply with me. Her books have become the source of comfort and happiness when I need it the most, so I’m forever grateful to her for creating them.

I already said in my reviews for House of Scepters and Cage of Shadows what Nin, Kaveh, Tali and Rone have come to mean to me so I won’t ramble mindlessly here. I will just say that this was a stunning conclusion to one (I say one because the other is Ren Crown obviously) of the best series I have ever read. It kept me at the edge of my seat the and like with all the other books by Anne, I couldn’t wait to see them triumph and find their much deserved happiness after all the hurdles and pain they had to endure. My love for these characters is infinite.

[Sasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't believe it, Anne Zoelle broke her no-kissing policy in this book. This is the first of eight books and one novella that the author has published under this name with kissing. I am very pleased.

Did I like Nin as much as I liked Ren and Kaveh as much as I liked Alexander Dare? Not quite, no...but considering that my heart was torn out over the two of them in the other series, I am quite content to settle for a little less liking and a lot more happiness.

Also! What a baller move for Anne Zoelle to release all three of these books so close together!! She is a benevolent goddess! Who clearly understands the pain of waiting!

One last note—Anne zoelle’s books always make me self-reflect. She writes characters with so much love and caring for the people around them, characters who put others before themselves and consistently try to make their friends’ lives better. You can’t help taking a good look at your own life and your approach to it, and seeing areas where you might improve, people that you might show your appreciation for more often. I think this, more than anything, demonstrates the power of the author’s writing.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Light shining in the darkness...that's starlight. It illuminates the dark, and shows its beauty. It shows that a canvas of darkness bespeckled by light can be a glorious sight. And you are my light."

Good conclusion to the series and so much character development throughout and in this book alone.