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Remember the Stars : Book One in the Tales of the Selyento
In a world of forbidden magic, two wolves fight for a lost soul. All Clarisse wants is to be free. Her life has been governed by abuse, control, and the Church of Light. Tired of ritual exorcisms and condemnations, she’s at the brink of exploding. Her power is a curse—the reason she can’t be free. Clarisse never asked to be in the center of a centuries-long battle between Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue, and Death, himself. If she has to spend one more minute under the controlling thumb of her parents and the Church of Light, she’ll die. In order to escape, she must choose a Death is convinced that mortals wielding power is a recipe for disaster and damnation. Terrence believes magic is a mortal’s key to freedom, enlightenment… maybe immortality. Will she follow the light of the stars? Or will she let herself fall into the grasp of the shadows?
- GenresFantasy
213 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2021
About the author
Eris Marriott
12 books35 followersEris Marriott is a fantasy author living in Virginia with her menagerie of animals. She loves wiener dogs, saddlebred, and any manner of creature that looks cute and noodly.
She writes immersive fantasy novels that typically exist in the same world; she has been working on building her universe and magic system since she was fourteen years old.
Author of the Tales of the Shadow Folk and Tales of the Selyento, Eris specializes in tugging heart strings, weaving together mystery, suspense, and magic, as well as keeping you on your toes with every turn of the page.
She writes immersive fantasy novels that typically exist in the same world; she has been working on building her universe and magic system since she was fourteen years old.
Author of the Tales of the Shadow Folk and Tales of the Selyento, Eris specializes in tugging heart strings, weaving together mystery, suspense, and magic, as well as keeping you on your toes with every turn of the page.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 14, 2021
4.5 stars!
I was really hesitant about reading this one. I've never liked to read books dealing with abuse, and I was especially hesitant since the trigger warnings listed for this book describe them as being graphic. However, the synopsis just sounded way too good to pass up.
Now that I have read it, I'm very happy that I didn't pass this one up! I loved it and can't wait for the rest of the series!
This one was a fast paced read that I did not want to put down! It was definitely heart breaking at times, but there was also some cheesy-ness spread throughout that helped lighten things. It was quite different from any of the other books I've read - I haven't really read any other books dealing with cults and exorcisms, even the types of characters were a change from what I normally find in my fantasy books. It was an interesting change that I enjoyed. I think this book/series would make for an awesome movie series!
Lastly, how awesome is this cover?! (All the heart-eyes)! It is what drew me into this book in the first place!
I was really hesitant about reading this one. I've never liked to read books dealing with abuse, and I was especially hesitant since the trigger warnings listed for this book describe them as being graphic. However, the synopsis just sounded way too good to pass up.
Now that I have read it, I'm very happy that I didn't pass this one up! I loved it and can't wait for the rest of the series!
This one was a fast paced read that I did not want to put down! It was definitely heart breaking at times, but there was also some cheesy-ness spread throughout that helped lighten things. It was quite different from any of the other books I've read - I haven't really read any other books dealing with cults and exorcisms, even the types of characters were a change from what I normally find in my fantasy books. It was an interesting change that I enjoyed. I think this book/series would make for an awesome movie series!
Lastly, how awesome is this cover?! (All the heart-eyes)! It is what drew me into this book in the first place!
August 28, 2021
OH MY..............This book Pulled and ripped my heart out.......but in a good way!
I loved this heartbreaking story, told from the perspective of the main female character, Clarissa. This story begins with Clarissa as a child who discovers she has the ability to bring stars to the world. a very strong magic that is wanted by very bad and dark things....fast forward to to her late teenage years where she is visited by shadow wolves who explain that her magic can come at a cost. Now the 2 wolves are known to Clarissa as Terrance and Death. They are with her throughout the book. I cannot tell you more without giving away spoilers and that would ruin this story. I will say that he story takes you through Clarissas struggle and abuse by those who should be trusted and it will break your heart.
I cannot recommend this book enough. You will face all kinds of emotions while reading. When a book can bring me to the heights of the emotion that I felt, you know its a great book. take my word for it...you will fall in love with this book. I give it a very well deserved 5 stars...thank you to Eris Marriott for giving me an ecopy of this book.
I loved this heartbreaking story, told from the perspective of the main female character, Clarissa. This story begins with Clarissa as a child who discovers she has the ability to bring stars to the world. a very strong magic that is wanted by very bad and dark things....fast forward to to her late teenage years where she is visited by shadow wolves who explain that her magic can come at a cost. Now the 2 wolves are known to Clarissa as Terrance and Death. They are with her throughout the book. I cannot tell you more without giving away spoilers and that would ruin this story. I will say that he story takes you through Clarissas struggle and abuse by those who should be trusted and it will break your heart.
I cannot recommend this book enough. You will face all kinds of emotions while reading. When a book can bring me to the heights of the emotion that I felt, you know its a great book. take my word for it...you will fall in love with this book. I give it a very well deserved 5 stars...thank you to Eris Marriott for giving me an ecopy of this book.
August 12, 2021
I LOVED THIS!!
The book feels like it has two parts to it. The first is Clarisse trying to escape the people in her life. Then the second part is her trying to decide who really has her beat interest in mind. While also going through her own internal progression.
I loved Clarisse's progression from someone meek and unwilling to stand up for herself to someone who could finally stand on her own two feet and be a smartass when she needed to be. Her strength over the course of the book was astonishing given how her parents and father Simmons treated her.
There was also a found family aspect to her interactions with Terrance and Death that was great. They had their own faults but treated her better than her own "family", (I can only use that term loosely with them). They basically allowed her to learn to thrive and start thinking for herself. Yet there was some questioning as to their own motives.
The ending though, was surprising and makes me very glad there is going to be another one! Really good start and introduction to this world!! Very glad again for an arc of this.
The book feels like it has two parts to it. The first is Clarisse trying to escape the people in her life. Then the second part is her trying to decide who really has her beat interest in mind. While also going through her own internal progression.
I loved Clarisse's progression from someone meek and unwilling to stand up for herself to someone who could finally stand on her own two feet and be a smartass when she needed to be. Her strength over the course of the book was astonishing given how her parents and father Simmons treated her.
There was also a found family aspect to her interactions with Terrance and Death that was great. They had their own faults but treated her better than her own "family", (I can only use that term loosely with them). They basically allowed her to learn to thrive and start thinking for herself. Yet there was some questioning as to their own motives.
The ending though, was surprising and makes me very glad there is going to be another one! Really good start and introduction to this world!! Very glad again for an arc of this.
December 24, 2021
A beautiful sad story!
In a world where magic is seen as evil, a fake religious cult is brain washing students and parents to believe in a fake god,(makes me think of real life religions and the rules and things they teach that go against god, because all he ever taught was to love thy self and love thy neighbor). A young girl, Clarisse gifted with magic is seen as a witch by her parents and abused her whole life. Only when she meets a shadow wolf named Terrence does she find true freedom. With freedom comes the ability to practice her magic more and more until the consequences are realized too late!
I liked how this book brought up the question of ‘why do we have to die?’ I also liked how Death was an actual character in the book but that he wasn’t the true villain.
This book definitely questioned my own beliefs of death but also agreed with me that death is not something to be afraid of!
In a world where magic is seen as evil, a fake religious cult is brain washing students and parents to believe in a fake god,(makes me think of real life religions and the rules and things they teach that go against god, because all he ever taught was to love thy self and love thy neighbor). A young girl, Clarisse gifted with magic is seen as a witch by her parents and abused her whole life. Only when she meets a shadow wolf named Terrence does she find true freedom. With freedom comes the ability to practice her magic more and more until the consequences are realized too late!
I liked how this book brought up the question of ‘why do we have to die?’ I also liked how Death was an actual character in the book but that he wasn’t the true villain.
This book definitely questioned my own beliefs of death but also agreed with me that death is not something to be afraid of!
September 17, 2021
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
From the very few pages, the story left me in awe because of the powerful beginning it had. The book begins with Clarisse who answers to the voices and lets her light come to life then suddenly we end up with her dad shoving a lighter on her face almost burning her and calling her a witch. Both of her parents are full of alcohol and clouded judgment and no one seems to understand the child – on the contrary, this event isn’t the first one, Clarisse enduring abuse over abuse.
The story contains a lot of touchy and sensitive subjects such as: Abuse, PTDS, Mental Manipulation subjects that made me feel enraged because no one seemed to try to understand Clarisse, on the contrary from her parents to the priest they abused her in so many ways and they were wolves in sheep's skin. There’s also the cult subject and we get a glimpse of the toxicity this cult in the book can be and how big manipulators they can be for their own good. The book can also have some gruesome scenes – they’re not very detailed but for some people might be triggering.
The character that really made me uncomfortable has been Father Simmons and his cult, even tho he was calling it The Church of Light, he gave me so many weird vibes and I couldn’t find him being genuinely worried about Clarisse, on the contrary, he always had a hidden agenda and I really hope that on the 2nd book he is going to get what he deserves.
Terrence for me has been half and half – at the beginning, he was very friendly and helping with Clarisse he even tried to help her with her self love issues, but then there was this moment where he became such an insufferable character and tried to manipulate Clarisse in doing what he wants without being too honest with her. This part in the book really made me confused, because it went back and forth about Terrence’s past the Death trying to convince Clarisse, Clarisse being confused and this part in the book felt a little bit too dragging.
The best moment for me from the book was when Clarisse has found her voice and stood up for herself – even tho she was using her magical powers and was freaking out her parents, that moment where she spoke up was the best. The book for me has been like a wake up to the reality because no one knew what Clarisse is going through until towards the end of the story when she spoke up to more people than just Terrence and sadly that can also be someone’s reality in our days – but the moment where she’s spoken up was the cherry on top and such a perfect moment.
The book from the beginning has really drawn me in and it switched so quickly from one moment to another and the scenes were so intense that I’ve been in awe most of the book. The fantasy side of the story combined with the very touchy and sensitive subjects made this story a really great one. I’m really excited about the next one because I hope Clarisse is going to receive the perfect ending that exists.
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From the very few pages, the story left me in awe because of the powerful beginning it had. The book begins with Clarisse who answers to the voices and lets her light come to life then suddenly we end up with her dad shoving a lighter on her face almost burning her and calling her a witch. Both of her parents are full of alcohol and clouded judgment and no one seems to understand the child – on the contrary, this event isn’t the first one, Clarisse enduring abuse over abuse.
The story contains a lot of touchy and sensitive subjects such as: Abuse, PTDS, Mental Manipulation subjects that made me feel enraged because no one seemed to try to understand Clarisse, on the contrary from her parents to the priest they abused her in so many ways and they were wolves in sheep's skin. There’s also the cult subject and we get a glimpse of the toxicity this cult in the book can be and how big manipulators they can be for their own good. The book can also have some gruesome scenes – they’re not very detailed but for some people might be triggering.
The character that really made me uncomfortable has been Father Simmons and his cult, even tho he was calling it The Church of Light, he gave me so many weird vibes and I couldn’t find him being genuinely worried about Clarisse, on the contrary, he always had a hidden agenda and I really hope that on the 2nd book he is going to get what he deserves.
Terrence for me has been half and half – at the beginning, he was very friendly and helping with Clarisse he even tried to help her with her self love issues, but then there was this moment where he became such an insufferable character and tried to manipulate Clarisse in doing what he wants without being too honest with her. This part in the book really made me confused, because it went back and forth about Terrence’s past the Death trying to convince Clarisse, Clarisse being confused and this part in the book felt a little bit too dragging.
The best moment for me from the book was when Clarisse has found her voice and stood up for herself – even tho she was using her magical powers and was freaking out her parents, that moment where she spoke up was the best. The book for me has been like a wake up to the reality because no one knew what Clarisse is going through until towards the end of the story when she spoke up to more people than just Terrence and sadly that can also be someone’s reality in our days – but the moment where she’s spoken up was the cherry on top and such a perfect moment.
The book from the beginning has really drawn me in and it switched so quickly from one moment to another and the scenes were so intense that I’ve been in awe most of the book. The fantasy side of the story combined with the very touchy and sensitive subjects made this story a really great one. I’m really excited about the next one because I hope Clarisse is going to receive the perfect ending that exists.
Follow me on my social media for more than just reviews:
BookBub
Reedsy
Blog
September 13, 2021
Remember the Stars is a wonderful character-oriented story that sheds light on some of the issues in society. It was a heartwarming plot that showed the character's strength to get through tough situations.
Clarisse's life is not easy. Her parents are abusive and members of a cult led by Father Simmons. And, she has had the power to create stars from her hands ever since she was little. Her parents are scared of her and make her undergo exorcisms and abuse her every step of the way.
She is sick and tired of being controlled by everyone around her and wants to be free. She meets a shadow wolf that talks to her and help her out of the situation. Her journey after meeting the wolf was intriguing and beautiful. She finally found a friend who understood her situation, sympathized, and helped her escape.
How do you tell someone you’re running away from home because your parents are trying to cleanse you of your demons?
But her new friend has secrets of his own. He is Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue who is being hunted by the Grim Reaper, Death himself. Death warns Terrence from meddling in Clarisse's life but he is not ready to go down without a fight.
It was very sad when everybody Clarisse had in her life was abusive and used her for their own needs. She finally found a friend but it was not an easy relationship. But it gave her the strength to leave her parents to live on her own and be free. She meets a wonderful person who is eager to reach out and help her out. It was endearing to watch their interactions.
“I’m not taking your deal, Death. Show’s over. You can’t scare me with threats of dying. Don’t you see? I’ve been dead my whole life. I’m alive now.”
But Terrence's hidden agenda turns out to be harmful to Clarisse and Death regularly telling her about the harm she will face in the future if she heads down this path confuses Clarisse every step of the way.
I loved the interactions between Terrence and Clarisse. It was heartwarming to see her act like a teenager. But Terrence had a lot of secrets and it felt like he had mood swings a lot of times. Death and Terrence kept confusing Clarisse about their intentions towards her till the end, which was confusing to me as well.
“How did we, as a community, miss this girl? How did we fail her for so long? How is it that no one that saw her said anything? Did anyone know? Did anyone suspect anything? And why not file a report or ask for an investigation?”
I went through so many emotions while reading this book. It was heart-wrenching and all I wanted was to protect Clarisse! She deserves so much more!!
It was an intriguing story with so many emotions but there were instances that confused me a lot. But it was a touching story and I enjoyed reading it!
Clarisse's life is not easy. Her parents are abusive and members of a cult led by Father Simmons. And, she has had the power to create stars from her hands ever since she was little. Her parents are scared of her and make her undergo exorcisms and abuse her every step of the way.
She is sick and tired of being controlled by everyone around her and wants to be free. She meets a shadow wolf that talks to her and help her out of the situation. Her journey after meeting the wolf was intriguing and beautiful. She finally found a friend who understood her situation, sympathized, and helped her escape.
How do you tell someone you’re running away from home because your parents are trying to cleanse you of your demons?
But her new friend has secrets of his own. He is Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue who is being hunted by the Grim Reaper, Death himself. Death warns Terrence from meddling in Clarisse's life but he is not ready to go down without a fight.
It was very sad when everybody Clarisse had in her life was abusive and used her for their own needs. She finally found a friend but it was not an easy relationship. But it gave her the strength to leave her parents to live on her own and be free. She meets a wonderful person who is eager to reach out and help her out. It was endearing to watch their interactions.
“I’m not taking your deal, Death. Show’s over. You can’t scare me with threats of dying. Don’t you see? I’ve been dead my whole life. I’m alive now.”
But Terrence's hidden agenda turns out to be harmful to Clarisse and Death regularly telling her about the harm she will face in the future if she heads down this path confuses Clarisse every step of the way.
I loved the interactions between Terrence and Clarisse. It was heartwarming to see her act like a teenager. But Terrence had a lot of secrets and it felt like he had mood swings a lot of times. Death and Terrence kept confusing Clarisse about their intentions towards her till the end, which was confusing to me as well.
“How did we, as a community, miss this girl? How did we fail her for so long? How is it that no one that saw her said anything? Did anyone know? Did anyone suspect anything? And why not file a report or ask for an investigation?”
I went through so many emotions while reading this book. It was heart-wrenching and all I wanted was to protect Clarisse! She deserves so much more!!
It was an intriguing story with so many emotions but there were instances that confused me a lot. But it was a touching story and I enjoyed reading it!
September 15, 2021
Huge thank you to Eris Marriott and Book of Matches Media for sharing this e-arc with me! The following review is my honest opinion and reflects my reading experience.
I hadn’t heard anything about Remember the Stars prior to working with Book of Matches Media. I was super intrigued by the cover and synopsis. This cover is definitely one of my favorites. It is seriously gorgeous!
Remember the Stars is a young adult dark fantasy story that tells the story of Clarisse, a young woman with magic who has been abused her entire life. It is the first book in a new series called Tales of the Selyento. This story was told in two parts . . . the first is Clarisse’s journey to free herself from the abusers in her life + the second is Clarisse trying to decide what path to take and who to trust. I will say everyone needs to take the time to read the trigger/content warnings prior to reading Remember the Stars. I have included the warnings with the synopsis and at the end of my review.
One of the reasons I was so intrigued by the blurb for this book was the darker themes and cult-like elements of the story. It sounds so weird, but I am totally fascinated by true crime and cults. I thought that Eris Marriott did an excellent job of incorporating the cult (The Church of Light) into the story. She did such a great job showing the manipulation of the cult and all of the people/creatures in Clarisse’s life. There were definitely scenes that were difficult to read . . . again please check out the trigger/content warnings. I will say that I struggled with Clarisse and Terrence’s relationship. The whole thing felt very toxic and full of manipulation, but I think that was the author’s intent.
One of the most unique parts of Remember the Stars is Clarisse’s magic. It sounds so pretty!! It also seems to have no limit in terms of what her magic can do. Although, there are consequences for magic. This is a major part of Clarisse’s journey and it definitely kept me on my toes!
I have a couple of qualms . . . actually just one major one . . . the arachnid centaur demon creature. That is something I definitely did not need in my life lol. The author did too good of a job depicting that image!
REMEMBER THE STARS WAS ALREADY RELEASED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE TODAY! IT’S ALSO ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!!
TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF ABUSE, VIOLENCE, AND MENTAL MANIPULATION
I hadn’t heard anything about Remember the Stars prior to working with Book of Matches Media. I was super intrigued by the cover and synopsis. This cover is definitely one of my favorites. It is seriously gorgeous!
Remember the Stars is a young adult dark fantasy story that tells the story of Clarisse, a young woman with magic who has been abused her entire life. It is the first book in a new series called Tales of the Selyento. This story was told in two parts . . . the first is Clarisse’s journey to free herself from the abusers in her life + the second is Clarisse trying to decide what path to take and who to trust. I will say everyone needs to take the time to read the trigger/content warnings prior to reading Remember the Stars. I have included the warnings with the synopsis and at the end of my review.
One of the reasons I was so intrigued by the blurb for this book was the darker themes and cult-like elements of the story. It sounds so weird, but I am totally fascinated by true crime and cults. I thought that Eris Marriott did an excellent job of incorporating the cult (The Church of Light) into the story. She did such a great job showing the manipulation of the cult and all of the people/creatures in Clarisse’s life. There were definitely scenes that were difficult to read . . . again please check out the trigger/content warnings. I will say that I struggled with Clarisse and Terrence’s relationship. The whole thing felt very toxic and full of manipulation, but I think that was the author’s intent.
One of the most unique parts of Remember the Stars is Clarisse’s magic. It sounds so pretty!! It also seems to have no limit in terms of what her magic can do. Although, there are consequences for magic. This is a major part of Clarisse’s journey and it definitely kept me on my toes!
I have a couple of qualms . . . actually just one major one . . . the arachnid centaur demon creature. That is something I definitely did not need in my life lol. The author did too good of a job depicting that image!
REMEMBER THE STARS WAS ALREADY RELEASED AND IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE TODAY! IT’S ALSO ON KINDLE UNLIMITED!!
TRIGGER/CONTENT WARNINGS: GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF ABUSE, VIOLENCE, AND MENTAL MANIPULATION
September 11, 2021
Thank you so much to Books of Match Media and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book ripped out my soul... multiple times and I’m desperate for more.....
So.... this book was SO SAD omg. The main character just went through so much traumatic and heart wrenching pain and there was NOOOO END OF IT. Did the author want me to sob throughout the entire book because that is exactly what happened. The plot would kill you with a sad moment, then pick you up with a cute moment, and then it would murder you with sadness again. My poor heart just couldn’t take it!!
The concept of the book was so good and I really enjoyed the characters, but I felt like the writing was just a little toooooo wordy for me. The author went into such great detail about a lot of the things and I thought the story and the dialogue got a little lost because of it. I found myself skimming at times because it would take a LOT of words to get a point across. I had to go back and read some things on occasion.
The book was told in multiple perspectives as well which I enjoyed, but it could get a little confusing at times and I found myself having to go back and read things to understand the overall plot. I also felt the villainous element was a little too much. The parents were against the main character for a reason and so was the Church of Light, but for another reason it got a little weird and confusing. I wish it had just chosen one villain to get the plot’s point across.
I also felt the presence of Terrence didn’t really make sense.... I didn’t really understand what he wanted from Clarisse and how even found her to be honest. The whole reaper world was so interesting and I just wish the author had carved more time out of the plot to explain it to the reader. I’m hoping more will be revealed in the next installment because I am so curious about the dynamics of the world of Death.
I also didn’t quite understand what Clarisse’s power exactly was.... Did she actually have the power of the stars or the power of light? I was so confused....
Although I struggled with the execution of the plot, I was a massive fan of Clarisse and her story. She really just stole my heart and I want to see her get a happy ending because she freaking deserves one! The ending ripped my heart into a MILLION pieces and I want to know what happens next!
Overall, although there were a few bumps in this read for me, I loved the overall message and I can’t wait for the next one!
So.... this book was SO SAD omg. The main character just went through so much traumatic and heart wrenching pain and there was NOOOO END OF IT. Did the author want me to sob throughout the entire book because that is exactly what happened. The plot would kill you with a sad moment, then pick you up with a cute moment, and then it would murder you with sadness again. My poor heart just couldn’t take it!!
The concept of the book was so good and I really enjoyed the characters, but I felt like the writing was just a little toooooo wordy for me. The author went into such great detail about a lot of the things and I thought the story and the dialogue got a little lost because of it. I found myself skimming at times because it would take a LOT of words to get a point across. I had to go back and read some things on occasion.
The book was told in multiple perspectives as well which I enjoyed, but it could get a little confusing at times and I found myself having to go back and read things to understand the overall plot. I also felt the villainous element was a little too much. The parents were against the main character for a reason and so was the Church of Light, but for another reason it got a little weird and confusing. I wish it had just chosen one villain to get the plot’s point across.
I also felt the presence of Terrence didn’t really make sense.... I didn’t really understand what he wanted from Clarisse and how even found her to be honest. The whole reaper world was so interesting and I just wish the author had carved more time out of the plot to explain it to the reader. I’m hoping more will be revealed in the next installment because I am so curious about the dynamics of the world of Death.
I also didn’t quite understand what Clarisse’s power exactly was.... Did she actually have the power of the stars or the power of light? I was so confused....
Although I struggled with the execution of the plot, I was a massive fan of Clarisse and her story. She really just stole my heart and I want to see her get a happy ending because she freaking deserves one! The ending ripped my heart into a MILLION pieces and I want to know what happens next!
Overall, although there were a few bumps in this read for me, I loved the overall message and I can’t wait for the next one!
September 16, 2021
3.5/5
This book was completely different than what I imagined. It was an interesting take on “Death” or the “Grim Reaper”. The things that Clarisse had to suffer through was very sad and unfortunate. But even though the book was more sad than anything, it did have its moments where it made your heart happy.
I enjoyed getting to watch her grow into herself and become a stronger character. The progression that she went through was amazing and she really found her voice.
I’m not sure if I like Terrence or not. At times I was okay with him, but other times I felt weird vibes. He was pretty shady and I kept giving him the side eye.
I liked Death mainly because his intentions were honest and up front from the beginning. I am curious to see how he develops in the next book.
There are still a lot of questions that are unanswered, that I’m hoping will be cleared up in the sequel.
Overall I enjoyed the book and am curious about what comes after!
This book was completely different than what I imagined. It was an interesting take on “Death” or the “Grim Reaper”. The things that Clarisse had to suffer through was very sad and unfortunate. But even though the book was more sad than anything, it did have its moments where it made your heart happy.
I enjoyed getting to watch her grow into herself and become a stronger character. The progression that she went through was amazing and she really found her voice.
I’m not sure if I like Terrence or not. At times I was okay with him, but other times I felt weird vibes. He was pretty shady and I kept giving him the side eye.
I liked Death mainly because his intentions were honest and up front from the beginning. I am curious to see how he develops in the next book.
There are still a lot of questions that are unanswered, that I’m hoping will be cleared up in the sequel.
Overall I enjoyed the book and am curious about what comes after!
September 15, 2021
This book was so sad, but it was a good book. The book is broken down into two parts - Clarisse trying to escape the abuse from her home and Clarisse learning to trust others.
The plot was so good. Marriott did a brilliant job in weaving the two storylines into one beautiful book. The story flowed and never seemed like two different stories. The only thing I wished could have been talked about in the book, was Clarisse's magic. I would have loved to learn more about it.
Clarisse is a beautiful character. She was well developed and it was easy to love her. The strength development done was so amazing. I love how Marriott grows her.
Overall, I loved this book. It was sad, but it was also beautiful. This book showed Clarisse's journey to becoming the best version of herself.
*Thank you BOMM and Eris Marriott for the gifted book in exchange for my honest review.*
The plot was so good. Marriott did a brilliant job in weaving the two storylines into one beautiful book. The story flowed and never seemed like two different stories. The only thing I wished could have been talked about in the book, was Clarisse's magic. I would have loved to learn more about it.
Clarisse is a beautiful character. She was well developed and it was easy to love her. The strength development done was so amazing. I love how Marriott grows her.
Overall, I loved this book. It was sad, but it was also beautiful. This book showed Clarisse's journey to becoming the best version of herself.
*Thank you BOMM and Eris Marriott for the gifted book in exchange for my honest review.*
September 16, 2021
This story was amazingly written the out main character is such a strong lead she has a way to keep the story flowing and wanting me rooting for her. This character Clarisse was put in such an interesting cult like situation and given the gift that she has she’s been through a lot. This book is very much clearly an amazing read for spooky season. This book deals with cults, exorcism abuse. This would be the trigger warnings I would advise people to think off before picking up but the plot was unique something I myself haven’t dive into with many of my other reads ans I can’t wait to read more from this author.
September 17, 2021
Thank you to Book of matches media and Eris Marriott for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I wasn’t totally sure about this one when I started it – there is a lot of abuse in the first part, and it didn’t feel like it was really addressed or fit with the rest of the plot – I would have liked to see Clarisse address her past a little bit more. (TWs: Graphic Depictions of Abuse, Violence, and Mental Manipulation) But I did like the idea of the two wolves, Death and Terrence (I’m a sucker for a story with wolves), and seeing how Clarisse learns to trust. The characters are definitely where this book shines – the plot is sometimes rushed or slow, but the characters are likeable and well developed. Overall a fun read! 3.5 stars.
I wasn’t totally sure about this one when I started it – there is a lot of abuse in the first part, and it didn’t feel like it was really addressed or fit with the rest of the plot – I would have liked to see Clarisse address her past a little bit more. (TWs: Graphic Depictions of Abuse, Violence, and Mental Manipulation) But I did like the idea of the two wolves, Death and Terrence (I’m a sucker for a story with wolves), and seeing how Clarisse learns to trust. The characters are definitely where this book shines – the plot is sometimes rushed or slow, but the characters are likeable and well developed. Overall a fun read! 3.5 stars.
September 15, 2021
This is a really great book for spooky season! Character driven, haunting. I can’t put my finger on it but there was something about it that wasn’t for me. But overall it was an interesting read!
September 17, 2021
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for my ARC of this book. The cover of this one grabbed me right away and the synopsis sounded interesting. It’s a YA dark fantasy story that tells the story of Clarisse who has the ability to bring forth stars to the world, a very powerful and sought-after power.
She’s had to deal with abuse, control and manipulation all her life from her parents and at the hands of the Church of Light; a cult led by Father Simmons.
We see Clarisse struggle with who to put her faith in, and her journey to free herself from her abusers. She meets an unlikely friend in Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue who is being hunted by the Grim Reaper, Death himself. Again, Clarisse must decide who to put her trust in. Death is convinced that mortals wielding power is a recipe for disaster and damnation. Terrence believes magic is a mortal’s key to freedom, enlightenment, and maybe immortality.
What I loved about this book was Clarisse’s perseverance and journey of self-discovery, it was great seeing her become stronger and surer of herself. I enjoyed Terrence’s involvement but was left a little confused by what he wanted from her. I liked the idea of the reaper world but would have liked to have delved a little deeper into it, hopefully we’ll get more of that in book two.
I also loved Clarisse’s powers, but again was left a bit confused as to what she could do, and what was the point behind it.
Although I struggled with some aspects of the plot, I really enjoyed this book, and it was well-written. It was an interesting concept, and it gave me all the feels, it’s a bit of an emotional roller coaster and I was left sobbing! Which to me is always a sign of a good book. I look forward to finding out more in book two.
She’s had to deal with abuse, control and manipulation all her life from her parents and at the hands of the Church of Light; a cult led by Father Simmons.
We see Clarisse struggle with who to put her faith in, and her journey to free herself from her abusers. She meets an unlikely friend in Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue who is being hunted by the Grim Reaper, Death himself. Again, Clarisse must decide who to put her trust in. Death is convinced that mortals wielding power is a recipe for disaster and damnation. Terrence believes magic is a mortal’s key to freedom, enlightenment, and maybe immortality.
What I loved about this book was Clarisse’s perseverance and journey of self-discovery, it was great seeing her become stronger and surer of herself. I enjoyed Terrence’s involvement but was left a little confused by what he wanted from her. I liked the idea of the reaper world but would have liked to have delved a little deeper into it, hopefully we’ll get more of that in book two.
I also loved Clarisse’s powers, but again was left a bit confused as to what she could do, and what was the point behind it.
Although I struggled with some aspects of the plot, I really enjoyed this book, and it was well-written. It was an interesting concept, and it gave me all the feels, it’s a bit of an emotional roller coaster and I was left sobbing! Which to me is always a sign of a good book. I look forward to finding out more in book two.
August 20, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars
Thank you to Bookofmatchesmedia and Eris Marriott for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Remember the stars is about Clarisse, who wants to be free of her parents and The Church of Life, who believe she is cursed.
The book feels like it has two storylines. The first storyline, the beginning, is about Clarisse trying to escape her home, trying to get away from all the abuse that has been happening for years. The second storyline is more about her trying to find herself in the world and trying to find out if Death or Terrance has her best interest at heart.
The story takes place in the modern world, but with magic added. The magic was a bit vague from time to time and I would’ve liked a bit more explanation as to what it could do and the costs. Also, the other worlds that were briefly mentioned grabbed my attention, but not much was said about them.
I loved reading about Clarisse’s progression from someone who was constantly beaten down to someone who stood up for herself and took matters in her own hands. Her strength development was truly amazing. She did sometimes seem younger than she was, but that could also be because of the sheltered way she grew up. All of it added to making very realistic characters. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Terrance at the beginning. It all just seemed a bit to convenient and I had my doubts. He did really redeem himself in the second part of the book. The same could be said about Death. Both treated Clarisse way better than anyone before and in the way they thought was best. Both wanted her to prosper and tried helping her in any way they could. It had a bit of found family vibes which I really liked.
The ending was completely heartbreaking but super realistic and, in my opinion, the perfect ending to this book. It was surprising and not at the same time.
Overall, it was a very beautiful book about finding one’s strength and learning to stand on your own feet in the world. I’m looking forward to more in this world.
Thank you to Bookofmatchesmedia and Eris Marriott for gifting me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Remember the stars is about Clarisse, who wants to be free of her parents and The Church of Life, who believe she is cursed.
The book feels like it has two storylines. The first storyline, the beginning, is about Clarisse trying to escape her home, trying to get away from all the abuse that has been happening for years. The second storyline is more about her trying to find herself in the world and trying to find out if Death or Terrance has her best interest at heart.
The story takes place in the modern world, but with magic added. The magic was a bit vague from time to time and I would’ve liked a bit more explanation as to what it could do and the costs. Also, the other worlds that were briefly mentioned grabbed my attention, but not much was said about them.
I loved reading about Clarisse’s progression from someone who was constantly beaten down to someone who stood up for herself and took matters in her own hands. Her strength development was truly amazing. She did sometimes seem younger than she was, but that could also be because of the sheltered way she grew up. All of it added to making very realistic characters. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Terrance at the beginning. It all just seemed a bit to convenient and I had my doubts. He did really redeem himself in the second part of the book. The same could be said about Death. Both treated Clarisse way better than anyone before and in the way they thought was best. Both wanted her to prosper and tried helping her in any way they could. It had a bit of found family vibes which I really liked.
The ending was completely heartbreaking but super realistic and, in my opinion, the perfect ending to this book. It was surprising and not at the same time.
Overall, it was a very beautiful book about finding one’s strength and learning to stand on your own feet in the world. I’m looking forward to more in this world.
August 30, 2021
Thank you to the author and Book of Matches Media for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book broke my heart in the best possible way.
This is a very character driven story which begins with our MC, Clarisse, as a child learning she has a very specific magic ability that is wanted by very bad people. For the first part of the story, Clarisse is trying to escape her home and the abuse she has suffered there. For the second part of the story, Clarisse is trying to figure out herself and her place in the world as well as show she can trust.
I really enjoyed seeing Clarisse grow into a strong young woman. Sometimes characters in YA books tend to feel a lot older than they are supposed to be however Clarisse sometimes felt younger which was a lot more authentic due to how she was raised.
I was completely surprised by the ending and am impatiently awaiting the sequel!
This book broke my heart in the best possible way.
This is a very character driven story which begins with our MC, Clarisse, as a child learning she has a very specific magic ability that is wanted by very bad people. For the first part of the story, Clarisse is trying to escape her home and the abuse she has suffered there. For the second part of the story, Clarisse is trying to figure out herself and her place in the world as well as show she can trust.
I really enjoyed seeing Clarisse grow into a strong young woman. Sometimes characters in YA books tend to feel a lot older than they are supposed to be however Clarisse sometimes felt younger which was a lot more authentic due to how she was raised.
I was completely surprised by the ending and am impatiently awaiting the sequel!
August 31, 2021
Remember the Stars was an absolutely gut wrenching roller coaster ride. This page-turner had me hooked from the very beginning and I found myself absolutely devouring it all in one sitting. My heart broke for Clarisse and everything that was done to her by the people that were supposed to protect her. I really enjoyed watching Clarisse evolve into a fierce and brave young woman.
I loved the friendship between Clarisse and Terrence because he helped her change for the better. I absolutely love and adore Death so much. Am I the only one that found him swoon worthy? There is something intriguing about him that really draws me in. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book especially after that cliffhanger.
I loved the friendship between Clarisse and Terrence because he helped her change for the better. I absolutely love and adore Death so much. Am I the only one that found him swoon worthy? There is something intriguing about him that really draws me in. I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book especially after that cliffhanger.
August 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this Dark Fantasy! It has a lot of fun elements, particularly the magic system and the concept of good and evil...and how hard it is to tell because there is so much fabulous gray area.
Clarisse has such a difficult life. She has magic that she's been taught it evil. Her caretakers are abusive and deranged.
Then a wolf shows up and changes EVERYTHING.
Buckle up for a fantastic ride through many unknowns in this debut novel.
If you're looking for a good read, especially as we head into spooky season, this one is for you!
Clarisse has such a difficult life. She has magic that she's been taught it evil. Her caretakers are abusive and deranged.
Then a wolf shows up and changes EVERYTHING.
Buckle up for a fantastic ride through many unknowns in this debut novel.
If you're looking for a good read, especially as we head into spooky season, this one is for you!
February 21, 2022
Disclaimer: I received this e-book from the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Remember the Stars
Author: Eris Marriott
Book Series: Tales of Selyento Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, dark fantasy
Publication Date: August 31, 2021
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (cult, religion, abuse (graphic), religious abuse (graphic), grief, death, violence, gore, mental abuse)
Explanation of Above: The main focal point of the book is this religious cult. There is religious abuse shown, mental abuse, and child abuse shown, both of which are graphic. There is grief and death mentioned in this book as well as violence and gore.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 213
Synopsis: In a world of forbidden magic, two wolves fight for a lost soul. All Clarisse wants is to be free. Her life has been governed by abuse, control, and the Church of Light. Tired of ritual exorcisms and condemnations, she’s at the brink of exploding. Her power is a curse—the reason she can’t be free. Clarisse never asked to be in the center of a centuries-long battle between Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue, and Death, himself. If she has to spend one more minute under the controlling thumb of her parents and the Church of Light, she’ll die. In order to escape, she must choose a side: Death is convinced that mortals wielding power is a recipe for disaster and damnation. Terrence believes magic is a mortal’s key to freedom, enlightenment… maybe immortality. Will she follow the light of the stars? Or will she let herself fall into the grasp of the shadows?
Review: For the most part I liked this book. I thought the book did well to show the harm of religious cults and to give hope to people who might read the book who are in the same predicament. The book was intriguing and kept me interest from start to finish. The book also did well with character development for the most part and world building.
However, some of the details of the book are a bit confusing, such as how Terrence finds Clarisse and how exactly her powers work. I think the book is just a bit too short and if it was expanded it could have been more impactful and gave the author more time to explore the little confusing bits. I also felt some of the pacing was off in a few places.
Verdict: It was good!
Book: Remember the Stars
Author: Eris Marriott
Book Series: Tales of Selyento Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: young adult readers, dark fantasy
Publication Date: August 31, 2021
Genre: YA Dark Fantasy
Age Relevance: 16+ (cult, religion, abuse (graphic), religious abuse (graphic), grief, death, violence, gore, mental abuse)
Explanation of Above: The main focal point of the book is this religious cult. There is religious abuse shown, mental abuse, and child abuse shown, both of which are graphic. There is grief and death mentioned in this book as well as violence and gore.
Publisher: Indie Published
Pages: 213
Synopsis: In a world of forbidden magic, two wolves fight for a lost soul. All Clarisse wants is to be free. Her life has been governed by abuse, control, and the Church of Light. Tired of ritual exorcisms and condemnations, she’s at the brink of exploding. Her power is a curse—the reason she can’t be free. Clarisse never asked to be in the center of a centuries-long battle between Terrence, a Reaper-wolf gone rogue, and Death, himself. If she has to spend one more minute under the controlling thumb of her parents and the Church of Light, she’ll die. In order to escape, she must choose a side: Death is convinced that mortals wielding power is a recipe for disaster and damnation. Terrence believes magic is a mortal’s key to freedom, enlightenment… maybe immortality. Will she follow the light of the stars? Or will she let herself fall into the grasp of the shadows?
Review: For the most part I liked this book. I thought the book did well to show the harm of religious cults and to give hope to people who might read the book who are in the same predicament. The book was intriguing and kept me interest from start to finish. The book also did well with character development for the most part and world building.
However, some of the details of the book are a bit confusing, such as how Terrence finds Clarisse and how exactly her powers work. I think the book is just a bit too short and if it was expanded it could have been more impactful and gave the author more time to explore the little confusing bits. I also felt some of the pacing was off in a few places.
Verdict: It was good!
September 15, 2021
🐺Clarisse was born with magic. She can shoot stars from her hands. But she was never able to enjoy the magic because the moment her parents found out, they began to beat her and belittle her for it. Up until they enrolled her into a false school and church, a cult. After that they let the priest do the beating for them, disguised as exorcisms.
🐺When she meets Terrance, a previous reaper for Death, it seems like she might be able to dig herself out of the hole that her life is. But is everything as it seems? Or are his motives false and full of selfishness? Clarisse meets Death, the Death with a capital D, and he tries to convince her Terrance is actually hurting her and cutting her life short. But how can she believe the Deity that takes people's lives over someone that got her away from the abuse?
🐺Throughout the story Clarisse learns a lot about herself. She is in a deep deep spiral of mentally disparaging herself because others have done it her whole life. She has to push through to become the woman she is meant to be and she has to learn to think for herself. It’s a heartbreaking story about loss, abuse, and mental health.
🐺As fantasy is my favorite genre I would have loved more fantasy aspects in this book, but that’s just a small thought. Overall I loved this book, even if it was inexpressibly sad. The end was a giant cliffhanger in my opinion, and I can’t wait to read the next one.
🐺When she meets Terrance, a previous reaper for Death, it seems like she might be able to dig herself out of the hole that her life is. But is everything as it seems? Or are his motives false and full of selfishness? Clarisse meets Death, the Death with a capital D, and he tries to convince her Terrance is actually hurting her and cutting her life short. But how can she believe the Deity that takes people's lives over someone that got her away from the abuse?
🐺Throughout the story Clarisse learns a lot about herself. She is in a deep deep spiral of mentally disparaging herself because others have done it her whole life. She has to push through to become the woman she is meant to be and she has to learn to think for herself. It’s a heartbreaking story about loss, abuse, and mental health.
🐺As fantasy is my favorite genre I would have loved more fantasy aspects in this book, but that’s just a small thought. Overall I loved this book, even if it was inexpressibly sad. The end was a giant cliffhanger in my opinion, and I can’t wait to read the next one.
June 14, 2025
Please make sure you read the trigger warnings before starting this, it touches on some very sensitive topics that might not be for everyone!
My review: 4.5/5 stars. The book is set in our world in a cult like community not far from Asheville which happens to be an area I’m familiar with! It follows the story of a girl who discovers as a child she has some sort of magic that can form tiny little stars! Instead of praising her, her parents take this as a sign she’s evil and moves them to a cult community that follows a trickster fake priest who says he can fix her, but really he’s just hurting her and taking all her parents money! As she is about to turn 18 and be able to be free herself, the priest comes up with a plan to end her and get money from a massive life insurance policy, but just in time a magical stranger comes in to save her! She is able to free herself, but was she too trusting of this man/being that is more powerful than she realized? Then death himself makes an appearance and turns her whole world upside down! The fast pace flow is this book was great to read and I can’t wait to get to the next books of this series to find out which of the two supernatural beings ends but being the true bad guy!
My review: 4.5/5 stars. The book is set in our world in a cult like community not far from Asheville which happens to be an area I’m familiar with! It follows the story of a girl who discovers as a child she has some sort of magic that can form tiny little stars! Instead of praising her, her parents take this as a sign she’s evil and moves them to a cult community that follows a trickster fake priest who says he can fix her, but really he’s just hurting her and taking all her parents money! As she is about to turn 18 and be able to be free herself, the priest comes up with a plan to end her and get money from a massive life insurance policy, but just in time a magical stranger comes in to save her! She is able to free herself, but was she too trusting of this man/being that is more powerful than she realized? Then death himself makes an appearance and turns her whole world upside down! The fast pace flow is this book was great to read and I can’t wait to get to the next books of this series to find out which of the two supernatural beings ends but being the true bad guy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2025
3.5⭐️/5, rounded up
In a town where magic is considered evil, Clarisse’s family is involved in a cult-like “church” to try to rid her of her powers. Facing exorcisms, beatings, and abuse from her priest and parents, Clarisse is desperate for something to change. This change comes to her in the form of a giant, magic wolf named Terrence who promises to guide her and help her on her quest to escape the abuse and discover her true power. This is complicated when Terrence’s enemy, Death, comes into the picture, planting seeds of doubt regarding Terrence’s intentions into Clarisse’s mind.
As she learns about her abilities, she notices that using her powers drains her mortal life. Who can she trust? Who is looking out for her best interests? Will Clarisse survive her own power?
In a town where magic is considered evil, Clarisse’s family is involved in a cult-like “church” to try to rid her of her powers. Facing exorcisms, beatings, and abuse from her priest and parents, Clarisse is desperate for something to change. This change comes to her in the form of a giant, magic wolf named Terrence who promises to guide her and help her on her quest to escape the abuse and discover her true power. This is complicated when Terrence’s enemy, Death, comes into the picture, planting seeds of doubt regarding Terrence’s intentions into Clarisse’s mind.
As she learns about her abilities, she notices that using her powers drains her mortal life. Who can she trust? Who is looking out for her best interests? Will Clarisse survive her own power?
September 7, 2021
3.5 stars
Remember the Stars is a haunting contemporary fantasy about power and its consequences. It follows Clarisse, a girl who has been controlled by her parents and the cultish Church of Light due to the magic power that allows her to control the stars. When she turns eighteen, Clarisse soon finds herself in the middle of a power between ancient forces including Death himself. I will always be here for the story of a girl who has suffered from abuse freeing herself from it and claiming her own power. Clarisse, while I felt who was naive at times, has really good character development and good drive that propels the plot forward. The books strongest in its darker moments when Clarisse is kicking butt with her powers and freeing herself from the people who control her. That is paralleled with the struggle with Death and Terrance she finds herself in the middle of, and I thought the inherent lore of this struggle was cool as well. I really liked Death and Clarisse's connection and hope to see more of that in future books. I will say pacing was touch and go for a lot of the book, but overall I thought REMEMBER THE STARS was a pretty good contemporary paranormal fantasy.
Remember the Stars is a haunting contemporary fantasy about power and its consequences. It follows Clarisse, a girl who has been controlled by her parents and the cultish Church of Light due to the magic power that allows her to control the stars. When she turns eighteen, Clarisse soon finds herself in the middle of a power between ancient forces including Death himself. I will always be here for the story of a girl who has suffered from abuse freeing herself from it and claiming her own power. Clarisse, while I felt who was naive at times, has really good character development and good drive that propels the plot forward. The books strongest in its darker moments when Clarisse is kicking butt with her powers and freeing herself from the people who control her. That is paralleled with the struggle with Death and Terrance she finds herself in the middle of, and I thought the inherent lore of this struggle was cool as well. I really liked Death and Clarisse's connection and hope to see more of that in future books. I will say pacing was touch and go for a lot of the book, but overall I thought REMEMBER THE STARS was a pretty good contemporary paranormal fantasy.
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