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Beyond the Stars and Shadows
The night sky holds more mystery than every continent on Earth combined—at least that's what thirty-three-year-old Elara Friis believes. And why wouldn't she, when she's been named after one of Jupiter's many moons?
A long-time assistant to astrophysicist Professor Haven at the University of Colorado Boulder, Elara's unexpected change in employment status couldn't come at a worse time. Even more unnerving is the sudden disappearance of her professor just minutes after their last conversation—not to mention the fact that she's somehow traveled four days into the future . . . with no recollection of those days' events.
As more professors begin to go missing and the police begin to ask questions, there's yet another unexpected development in Elara's life: one that goes by the name of Xero Sivalla. A fellow assistant at the university, Xero seems to have inside knowledge on not only the growing number of faculty disappearances, but on Elara herself.
As Elara spends more time with Xero, the more she discovers just how wrong her assumptions about life, the cosmos, and existence itself have been. Blurring the lines of reality is one thing, but cracking the entire Universe wide open? She should be so lucky—that is, unless it's been predestined from the start.
A long-time assistant to astrophysicist Professor Haven at the University of Colorado Boulder, Elara's unexpected change in employment status couldn't come at a worse time. Even more unnerving is the sudden disappearance of her professor just minutes after their last conversation—not to mention the fact that she's somehow traveled four days into the future . . . with no recollection of those days' events.
As more professors begin to go missing and the police begin to ask questions, there's yet another unexpected development in Elara's life: one that goes by the name of Xero Sivalla. A fellow assistant at the university, Xero seems to have inside knowledge on not only the growing number of faculty disappearances, but on Elara herself.
As Elara spends more time with Xero, the more she discovers just how wrong her assumptions about life, the cosmos, and existence itself have been. Blurring the lines of reality is one thing, but cracking the entire Universe wide open? She should be so lucky—that is, unless it's been predestined from the start.
- GenresMystery
322 pages, Paperback
Published May 11, 2021
8 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Martin
13 books1,024 followersKRISTEN MARTIN is the International Amazon Bestselling Indie Author of THE ALPHA DRIVE trilogy and SHADOW CROWN series, the standalone novel BEYOND THE STARS AND SHADOWS, as well as nonfiction works, SOULFLOW and BE YOUR OWN #GOALS. She is also a writing coach, a YouTuber, a podcaster, and a full-time creative entrepreneur. Living in Southeast Texas with her husband and their six kids, she loves all things young adult, science fiction, and fantasy.
Kristen prides herself on helping aspiring authors reach their dreams of publication through her coaching program, Valiance. She loves connecting with other writers and readers, so be sure to reach out!
Stay connected on:
Instagram @authorkristenmartin
YouTube /authorkristenmartinbooks
Facebook /authorkristenmartin
Pinterest @authorkristenm
Fanmail Address:
Kristen Martin
P.O. Box 1151
Fulshear, TX 77441
Kristen prides herself on helping aspiring authors reach their dreams of publication through her coaching program, Valiance. She loves connecting with other writers and readers, so be sure to reach out!
Stay connected on:
Instagram @authorkristenmartin
YouTube /authorkristenmartinbooks
Facebook /authorkristenmartin
Pinterest @authorkristenm
Fanmail Address:
Kristen Martin
P.O. Box 1151
Fulshear, TX 77441
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 14, 2021
The Review
This was such a compelling and engaging read right from the start. As anyone who knows me can attest, I love a wide variety of books. As such, I was so thrilled when the story I thought I was reading took off in such an exciting new direction. The author’s writing is so inviting and draws the reader into the narrative and the lives of the protagonist with ease. Elara is a truly fantastic character, well-rounded and while many books take their characters through a total evolution in their story, it was refreshing to see the narrative really hinged on the growth of the characters, making her story so much more interesting.
What really drew me in though as a reader was the subject matter the book dealt in. While much of this book was fictional and truly mind-blowing, anyone who knows me knows that I am an avid fan of the paranormal. A lot of the subject matter the author discusses in the narrative are things that I myself have been researching over the last couple of years. For those who don’t know, I run a paranormal podcast and investigative team and will include a link to all our stuff here. What was so interesting was the inclusion of synchronicities.
The big reason I got into studying and investigating things like synchronicities, the quantum consciousness, and similar scientific and spiritual theories that somehow connect the paranormal, UFO phenomena, and even cryptids, was because of a show called Hellier. If you haven’t heard of it, I’ll link the show here, but this documentary series has changed my whole perspective on how to treat the paranormal, energy, and the universe as a whole.
This book really hit me like a synchronicity bomb, from the use of synchronicities to astral projection, the stars and even utilizing the Pleiades, which is something that comes up in the Hellier case later on. As the story progressed in this direction, I felt drawn further and further into the narrative until I was falling down the proverbial rabbit hole, and I couldn’t have been happier.
The Verdict
A masterful, beautifully written and thought-provoking tale that blends fiction with the world of spiritual thinking and high strangeness, author Kristen Martin’s “Beyond the Stars and Shadows is a must-read book of 2021, and a contender for book of the year on my site. It really engaged me both as a reader and as a fan of the high strangeness aspect of her narrative, and I highly recommend you guys check this amazing readout for yourselves. Filled with great characters, a strong narrative, and a touch of passion and romance that keeps the readers invested in the protagonist’s story, be sure to grab your copy of this fantastic book today!
This was such a compelling and engaging read right from the start. As anyone who knows me can attest, I love a wide variety of books. As such, I was so thrilled when the story I thought I was reading took off in such an exciting new direction. The author’s writing is so inviting and draws the reader into the narrative and the lives of the protagonist with ease. Elara is a truly fantastic character, well-rounded and while many books take their characters through a total evolution in their story, it was refreshing to see the narrative really hinged on the growth of the characters, making her story so much more interesting.
What really drew me in though as a reader was the subject matter the book dealt in. While much of this book was fictional and truly mind-blowing, anyone who knows me knows that I am an avid fan of the paranormal. A lot of the subject matter the author discusses in the narrative are things that I myself have been researching over the last couple of years. For those who don’t know, I run a paranormal podcast and investigative team and will include a link to all our stuff here. What was so interesting was the inclusion of synchronicities.
The big reason I got into studying and investigating things like synchronicities, the quantum consciousness, and similar scientific and spiritual theories that somehow connect the paranormal, UFO phenomena, and even cryptids, was because of a show called Hellier. If you haven’t heard of it, I’ll link the show here, but this documentary series has changed my whole perspective on how to treat the paranormal, energy, and the universe as a whole.
This book really hit me like a synchronicity bomb, from the use of synchronicities to astral projection, the stars and even utilizing the Pleiades, which is something that comes up in the Hellier case later on. As the story progressed in this direction, I felt drawn further and further into the narrative until I was falling down the proverbial rabbit hole, and I couldn’t have been happier.
The Verdict
A masterful, beautifully written and thought-provoking tale that blends fiction with the world of spiritual thinking and high strangeness, author Kristen Martin’s “Beyond the Stars and Shadows is a must-read book of 2021, and a contender for book of the year on my site. It really engaged me both as a reader and as a fan of the high strangeness aspect of her narrative, and I highly recommend you guys check this amazing readout for yourselves. Filled with great characters, a strong narrative, and a touch of passion and romance that keeps the readers invested in the protagonist’s story, be sure to grab your copy of this fantastic book today!
August 13, 2021
The concept is interesting, but the writing style is not for me. The novel contains some basic errors, like passive voice, inconsistent verb tenses and repetitive sentence structure.
The main character is a tad shallow and unrealistic; for instance, she is falsely blamed for an incident at work and terminated, but then immediately goes to get coffee and forgets about losing her job. Then she goes to an open mic and has fun with her friends. I do not know a 33 year old woman that would be so nonchalant about losing her livelihood, especially a woman that lives alone with no support. I am that woman -- I grew up with very little financial or emotional support, and it made me hungry for success. If I was fired, I would be searching for another job immediately and applying for unemployment insurance, as well as retaining a labour lawyer to discuss wrongful dismissal. I would definitely not hangout in a coffee shop all day and night, somehow completely forgetting what had happened. Employment = survival, and the protagonist, based on her upbringing and experiences, should have that burning passion to survive and push forward.
I feel like the main character is tied up in the trunk, held hostage by the plot. The plot is also so tightly controlled, I wonder if a proper outline and rewrite was conducted. Each action flows into another action; every step of daily life is broken out and dissected. When the author is in control of the plot, they can comfortably skip over the tedious details in a scene, like picking up a glass, cleaning a laptop, setting down keys, etc.
This novel would have benefited from a thorough rewrite and then a professional editor. No hate to the author at all, I know exactly how difficult it is to write a novel, and I applaud her for finishing this. The plot is interesting, and there are some genuinely humorous paragraphs that made me laugh. Try it out and see what you think, fellow readers.
The main character is a tad shallow and unrealistic; for instance, she is falsely blamed for an incident at work and terminated, but then immediately goes to get coffee and forgets about losing her job. Then she goes to an open mic and has fun with her friends. I do not know a 33 year old woman that would be so nonchalant about losing her livelihood, especially a woman that lives alone with no support. I am that woman -- I grew up with very little financial or emotional support, and it made me hungry for success. If I was fired, I would be searching for another job immediately and applying for unemployment insurance, as well as retaining a labour lawyer to discuss wrongful dismissal. I would definitely not hangout in a coffee shop all day and night, somehow completely forgetting what had happened. Employment = survival, and the protagonist, based on her upbringing and experiences, should have that burning passion to survive and push forward.
I feel like the main character is tied up in the trunk, held hostage by the plot. The plot is also so tightly controlled, I wonder if a proper outline and rewrite was conducted. Each action flows into another action; every step of daily life is broken out and dissected. When the author is in control of the plot, they can comfortably skip over the tedious details in a scene, like picking up a glass, cleaning a laptop, setting down keys, etc.
This novel would have benefited from a thorough rewrite and then a professional editor. No hate to the author at all, I know exactly how difficult it is to write a novel, and I applaud her for finishing this. The plot is interesting, and there are some genuinely humorous paragraphs that made me laugh. Try it out and see what you think, fellow readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2021
My new favorite! ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
August 15, 2021
Beyond the Stars and Shadows is like no book I’ve read before. It is a mind-bending metaphysical novel written in an eloquent, captivating way. After reading this book, I found myself questioning if things really are what they seem or if there is so much more to this Universe than what meets the eye. Personally, I love books written in a compelling manner which force you to think outside of the box. Beyond the Stars and Shadows does just that. Below is my review based on plot, setting, characters, writing style and overall opinion.
Plot: The story centres around a group of professors who go missing; however, it is so much more than your average mystery novel. The main character, Elara, has to go on a journey through space and time to discover the truth behind the missing professors as well as solve her own personal mystery surrounding the disappearance of her mother. ️
Setting: I loved the scene setting! From the cosy coffee shop to the more surreal aspects (which I won’t get into as I don’t want to give anything away) I found it all beautifully portrayed. ️
Characters: Elara is a very well-rounded, relatable character. She’s not your typical female protagonist. She’s somewhat gritty and rough around the edges. Yet that was exactly what I liked about her. Also, the light and dark sides of Xero, the love interest, are depicted in such a creative and unusual way. ️
Writing Style: The writing style is powerful and evocative. The author transports you to an entirely different world with her beautiful, detailed descriptions of the characters, events, and settings.
I thought I’d let the writing speak for itself by listing some of my favourite quotes:
“Even my sharpest edges. Even my darkest corners. Even my most reprehensible shadows. All of it… painstakingly beautiful.”
“What is life but a culmination of feelings?”
“To Akasha, I am love. An expression of the most powerful energy in this Universe. And as love is a choice, it is always free to choose.”
There are a few verbs/phrases I found to be a little repetitive/overused. Despite that, the overall writing flows in such an enchanting, eloquent way.
Overall Opinion: This is a wonderfully written, thought provoking book. I rarely read a book twice, but I’d make an exception for this one. I feel I need to give it a reread to fully absorb the messages, life lessons, truths and beauty contained within the pages of this novel. ️
I hope the author continues to write within the metaphysical realm as she has a true talent in capturing the nature of the multidimensional, magical, enigmatic Universe that we call home.
Plot: The story centres around a group of professors who go missing; however, it is so much more than your average mystery novel. The main character, Elara, has to go on a journey through space and time to discover the truth behind the missing professors as well as solve her own personal mystery surrounding the disappearance of her mother. ️
Setting: I loved the scene setting! From the cosy coffee shop to the more surreal aspects (which I won’t get into as I don’t want to give anything away) I found it all beautifully portrayed. ️
Characters: Elara is a very well-rounded, relatable character. She’s not your typical female protagonist. She’s somewhat gritty and rough around the edges. Yet that was exactly what I liked about her. Also, the light and dark sides of Xero, the love interest, are depicted in such a creative and unusual way. ️
Writing Style: The writing style is powerful and evocative. The author transports you to an entirely different world with her beautiful, detailed descriptions of the characters, events, and settings.
I thought I’d let the writing speak for itself by listing some of my favourite quotes:
“Even my sharpest edges. Even my darkest corners. Even my most reprehensible shadows. All of it… painstakingly beautiful.”
“What is life but a culmination of feelings?”
“To Akasha, I am love. An expression of the most powerful energy in this Universe. And as love is a choice, it is always free to choose.”
There are a few verbs/phrases I found to be a little repetitive/overused. Despite that, the overall writing flows in such an enchanting, eloquent way.
Overall Opinion: This is a wonderfully written, thought provoking book. I rarely read a book twice, but I’d make an exception for this one. I feel I need to give it a reread to fully absorb the messages, life lessons, truths and beauty contained within the pages of this novel. ️
I hope the author continues to write within the metaphysical realm as she has a true talent in capturing the nature of the multidimensional, magical, enigmatic Universe that we call home.
March 11, 2022
I've followed Kristen's author journey for a few years, but this is the first fiction book of hers I've read. Overall, it was a good story, I loved the mix of metaphysical and astrophysical links, and aside from a couple of inconsistencies that pulled me out of the world, I enjoyed it.
For example, there is an event early on involving police attendance and it seems they don't cordon off the area or take any evidence which baffled me - I can believe in the magical experiences and world she creates, but the police not doing a basic "we need to check for clues" just seemed so unusual. Especially when this wouldn't have caused an issue for the plot. Aside from a few niggles like that, it was an enjoyable read with some genuinely emotional scenes making me laugh or cry.
I would definitely read another fantasy book by Kristen in future.
For example, there is an event early on involving police attendance and it seems they don't cordon off the area or take any evidence which baffled me - I can believe in the magical experiences and world she creates, but the police not doing a basic "we need to check for clues" just seemed so unusual. Especially when this wouldn't have caused an issue for the plot. Aside from a few niggles like that, it was an enjoyable read with some genuinely emotional scenes making me laugh or cry.
I would definitely read another fantasy book by Kristen in future.
December 3, 2025
A mesmerizing, totally unique story!
This is the second 5-star, profound novel I’ve read from Kristen this month. I was hooked from the beginning and stayed up way too late turning page after page, trying to solve the mystery that is Elara’s story. Loved the twists and turns and metaphysical bent to this book. Recommend this for anyone going through a spiritual awakening. I feel like I’ve found a kindred spirit in Kristen after resonating so much with the spiritual and metaphysical themes of her books. Also recommend her newest novel, All We Keep Hidden, which I read right before this one and can’t stop thinking about. I feel like these two books are linked in a special way. Can’t wait to read more from her.
This is the second 5-star, profound novel I’ve read from Kristen this month. I was hooked from the beginning and stayed up way too late turning page after page, trying to solve the mystery that is Elara’s story. Loved the twists and turns and metaphysical bent to this book. Recommend this for anyone going through a spiritual awakening. I feel like I’ve found a kindred spirit in Kristen after resonating so much with the spiritual and metaphysical themes of her books. Also recommend her newest novel, All We Keep Hidden, which I read right before this one and can’t stop thinking about. I feel like these two books are linked in a special way. Can’t wait to read more from her.
April 30, 2022
The concept of this book intrigued me and I actually wanted to see how she had grown as a writer. Well….it seems not by much.
The one thing that irritated me the most is that a lot of the time there is a lot of telling the reader what the character knows instead of showing them and shoving it right in their faces like there! Take it!
I understood where the concept was trying to get at but it wasn’t very well managed that I was left feeling a bit confused by it all. This book needed to be more tightly together because it just all fell flat in the end.
The one thing that irritated me the most is that a lot of the time there is a lot of telling the reader what the character knows instead of showing them and shoving it right in their faces like there! Take it!
I understood where the concept was trying to get at but it wasn’t very well managed that I was left feeling a bit confused by it all. This book needed to be more tightly together because it just all fell flat in the end.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews