Fragments of a Fallen Star

by Viano Oniomoh

Moira Karl-Fisher is ready to do anything to bring her parents back from the dead, even embark on a desperate trip across the sea in an attempt to find the missing pages of a spell to turn back time.

She’s barely spent one night away from her island when she’s nearly killed for being a MagiK, and now owes her life to the eccentric Nailah, another MagiK who apparently runs her own ship, and makes Moira’s insides twist with unwanted heat.

After agreeing to aid Nailah on a quest that promises magic, danger, and adventure, Moira finds her search for a happiness she thought long gone, turning into so much more.

FRAGMENTS OF A FALLEN STAR is a New Adult standalone F/F fantasy adventure romance about grief, healing, and falling in love.

Genres: Fantasy, Lesbian, Romance, Queer, LGBT, Pirates, Fiction

350 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 11, 2016

About the author

Viano Oniomoh is a passionate reader and writer, who was born and raised in Nigeria. She spends fifty percent of her time writing, forty percent reading, and the other ten listening to BTS. She may or may not use magic to get everything else in her life done. She also has no idea how to write about herself in the third person.

Find more about her at vianooniomoh.com

You can also connect with her on social media:

Viano Oniomoh on Facebook
@vianoniomoh on Twitter
and @vianoniomoh on Instagram.

Reviews

[Viano Oniomoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote a literal fairy tale featuring Black Girl Magic; it's a romantic fantasy adventure about grief, healing, and falling in love.

I hope you enjoy it!

[Grapie Deltaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical, warm, and lovely.

Moira isn’t coping well with the recent death of her parents and sends herself on a journey to find a spell to get them back, getting into trouble before getting rescued by a VERY attractive pirate early on in this quest.

And I fell in love with Captain Pirate Nailah from the moment she was introduced

Watching these women go a long, daring quest, fall in love, and form a found family with the ragtag members of Nailah’s crew was something I couldn’t tear my eyes away from. The novel reads as one epic fairytale with deeply interesting world-building and lore within this queer-normative setting.

I think the ending is a bit rushed but I’m also glad things were wrapped up to make this a stand-alone because I’m not sure how well I would’ve stuck through this journey if it had been broken into 2 books.

All in all: I’m a very big fan of Viano Oniomoh


CW: dead loved ones, grief, violence, kidnapping, references to past medical trauma/forced amputation, brief sexual content, harassment

[amarachireads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read, I had some issues but overall it kept me interested. This is a diverse fantasy romance and the fmc runs away from her home to find a spell or something that can make her turn time back. She gets into quite the adventure and ends up on a sentient ship(?) with the love interest and gets to know them more and grabble with her grief.

I thought the writing in this book was good and lyrical at times with the prose. I liked the worldbuilding we got and exploring more of the world and how it ran. I don't know if the author is Nigerian but I loved the aspects of Naija culture and lore that was infused in it. I liked how gender and sexuality positive and inclusive in the world. I thought the romance was a good slow burn and liked the love interest but the main fmc annoyed me at times, especially with her thought process and actions. There were some spicy scenes that were well done and I really like the main characters together. There were pacing issues and I did get bored at times but overall I thought this was good.

Read for:
- Black female main characters
- Sapphic romance
- Pirates and ships
- Grief and loss themes
- Magic

3.25/5

[Angela (angie's cozy corner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a sweet story, at some times a bit slow though.
it was a shame though that the actual fragments of the fallen star only came into the story in the last 1/3 of the story, if not later. It felt a bit thrown in randomly

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sapphic Swashbuckling Adventure with BIPOC characters? Yes, please!

This is an enchanting little standalone that masterfully blends queer swashbuckling adventure with a heartfelt exploration of grief, healing, and falling in love. Moira’s desperate quest to bring her parents back from the dead leads her on a perilous journey across the sea. The world-building is exquisite—the magic is inventive, featuring cool little magical creatures and even fish-based cursing that nods to Moira’s island roots. These simple but unique elements really make it stand out.

What makes this story truly shine is its rich, diverse cast and the genuine, tender sapphic romance at its heart. The dynamic between Moira and Nailah is layered with realistic, complicated emotions. I especially loved the demi representation in their relationship; the yearning and slow discovery of each other felt refreshingly authentic, adding an extra layer of depth to their connection. The crew on the ship forms a warm, healthy found family where every character’s pronouns and emotions are respected, making the story feel inclusive and sincere. It felt like a book that prides itself on inclusion and it feels like a warm hug of belonging.

Another standout aspect is how the author withholds certain details of the characters’ pasts, which builds anticipation and keeps you eagerly turning the pages. I also enjoyed the healing present in this story.

Overall, this is a diverse, queer romp of a story—a beautifully written adventure that’s cozy, character-driven, and inclusive.

[Leigh Kramer]

DNF at 42%

After thoroughly enjoying Just for the Cameras, I was excited to try more by this author, especially when I spotted this fantasy romance. The two books couldn’t be more different—and not just because they’re entirely different subgenres. I’m bummed this didn’t wind up working for me.

Moira is grieving her parents to the exclusion of all else. She’s rude to the people who still care about her. She’s reckless and doesn’t care about anyone or anything that isn’t her foolish quest to bring back her parents from the dead. Ah, yes. Because forbidden dark magic like necromancy works so well for everyone. Moira ignored many of her mother’s magical lessons growing up so she’s not a particularly good MagiK, which makes this endeavor an even bigger leap. There’s no explanation for why she’s so willing to flout magical law. It’s true that everyone grieves differently and there’s no one right way to grieve but this was quite the leap.

A character like Moira means there’s room for an incredible character arc. However, you have to stick with them while they’re still the worst until that growth happens and their actions have to make sense to the reader in the meantime. That’s not really happening here. Moira felt much younger than her 20 years. At a certain point, I started thinking of her as a 13 year old, which worked well until she started having aggressively horny thoughts about Nailah.

Now Nailah I was into. She’s the quintessential sapphic ship captain with magical powers. I wanted to know her whole backstory. I wished she was our POV character instead of Moira. Unfortunately, her inexplicable interest in Moira made me question her judgment. I was very puzzled by her being drawn to Moira of all people, especially after the siren incident where Moira purposefully put the entire ship at risk. I don’t know about you but that would have been a guaranteed interest-killer.

In light of all that, I don’t buy the romance. I hope for her sake Moira grows up soon but I won’t be sticking around to see it.


Characters: Moira is a 20 year old lesbian Black MagiK. Nailah is a demisexual Black ship captain and MagiK in her 20s.

Content notes: abduction, physical assault, Nailah’s mother has a rare incurable disease, past death of Moira’s parents at this point, it’s not completely clear what happened to them. I surmise her ship captain dad was killed while at sea. Her parents seemed to have made some kind of pact and my assumption is that her mom agreed to die by suicide if and when he died. But I could be wrong., drug assault of secondary character’s drink by FMC, past death of Nailah’s guardian, secondary character with prosthetic legs, past war, chewing tobacco (secondary character), smoking tea leaves

[Kelsey Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love Black Girl MagiK, found family, queer normativity, the physical descriptions of characters, araeri, and quests.

Did not love Moira, how thin the characters are, and pieces of the plot (am I the only one who thought the MagiK with the time reversal spell would make a reappearance?)

I liked this but I wanted to love it and that just kind of leaves me a little disappointed. I’d still read more from this author though.

[Brianna]

DNFed at 34%
I didn't like Moira at all. I get everyone grieves differently, but the way she treats people pissed me off and all her actions are selfish in a way I can't vibe with. She lost me for gopd when she decided she was going to endanger the whole ship by taking out her earplugs around sirens. Everyone knows you use earplugs for sirens!!! And she's on her way to try and resurrect her parents, but thinks she doesn't need earplugs?!?!?! Please. I kept waiting for her to gain a likeable trait, for me to care about her goals and desires, but no dice. I' upset because I love pirates and stories with pirates and I kinda hated this one. Justice for Nailah! I'd love her if she was in a different story.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is saved from 1 star because I liked the magic, Nailah, and a few sections of the story did genuinely hold my attention.

I really wanted to love this and gave it the benefit of the doubt through the whole book. Unfortunately, the writing feels rushed and a little un-edited - and its true sin for me as a reader is that I didn’t like Moira. I hoped she’d grow into someone I liked but she just didn’t. I found her selfish and unpleasant and I just can’t get behind a protagonist I dislike. :(

Cry count: 0 times.

[Jonelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I needed from a romantasy. Two women finding their way to each other while on their own journeys. The slow burn was also so well done. Yes the main character is pretty questionable with her decisions as she works through her grief, but I love the growth. I was so pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. This will easily go in my top 10 for the year (I average about 8 books a month).

[Asha Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING BOOK! I loved every second of it! Viano Oniomoh is becoming one of my favorite authors. I initially started reading the book online and about 2 chapters in HAD to stop and get the physical copy. I knew it was gonna be a favorite to read,reread, and share with all my friends.

The Black Sapphic Magical Fantasy Romance I’ve been WAITING FOR :)

[Etinni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I read this book when i was in a weird place. I didn’t love it but I also didn’t hate it idk. I’ll probably reread it again eventually. There was just something about it that didn’t fully capture me as a reader which is weird cause this book has everything I love so…idk. I might reread it i might not

[Victoria (Eve's Alexandria)]

DNF @ 31% I’m afraid.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I hate anything to do with pirates and ships, so this wasn't for me

[Nia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute book. I feel like the ending with her parents could have been fleshed out more. But definitely worth the read.

[Margaret Hinojosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked this book. Some parts were slow but the story was fun.

[allie · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[George Hobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rainbow Book Crate edition

[Feyintoluwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥹🥰💘
This was one of those books that will remain stapled to my bedside table, worn, torn, and battered with love- there to return to whenever I need a little warmth!

[Mackeda(islandgyalreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love the power of friendship type reads or in this case the power of WLW

[Thistle & Verse · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @80%

Enjoyable fluff but with the promises of action in the summary, I was hoping the stakes would feel more real. Fun fashion and sapphic pining, but aspects of the relationship, while cute, felt very unrealistic given that this was both participants' 1st relationship.

I'd try shorter work from this author, like a novella or a novel under 300 pages.

[Lex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was far from perfect, but it was so heartwarming and enjoyable that I can’t give it less than 4 stars. The big pulling point for me was the sea fantasy setting and the focus on sea adventure. This setting and type of story is always a big win for me; I’m just so enchanted by life on the sea and the types of challenges and situations that arise from this - like storms and sea monsters, but also elements like the ship being your home and the crew being your family while you travel the world. All these things were featured brilliantly here.

The plot was also really fantastic. It’s about much more than the synopsis suggests, meaning that you don’t really know what’s going to happen next but in a GOOD way, in a “this plot is definitely going somewhere, I just don’t know where” way. I loved how the stories of Moira and Nailah were mirrored in one another, in that they were both going through grief over losing family, and also going through the journey of finding family, too. Their character development was super solid along these lines, and made me love their romance more as both characters felt fully realised outside of it (and they had so much in common emotionally).

So yes, I also adored the romance. Moira and Nailah’s emotional chemistry was bang on, and they had countless meaningful conversations that really showcased the depth of that connection. They were sweet and affectionate with each other - the idea that no one loves a woman like another woman has never been more true than in them. Their physical chemistry was also wonderful; the scenes where Oniomoh was building their sexual tension were unreal. Disappointingly the sex scenes themselves were a bit of a let down; they needed more detail and length. But Moira and Nailah are a couple that just made so much sense, that developed so naturally, and that I can see staying together forever.

Found family is another strong element of this story. This is another trope that strikes straight at my heart if it’s done well, and it was done well here. The ribbing, the bonding, the coexisting, the staying together forever - all of it is in this book. I like how the found family was gradually built up, as there is a lot of trauma (shared and individual) in the crew. I loved how being enveloped by the crew helped Moira in her grief, too.

There’s lots to love about this story, but there were some pitfalls, too. The world-building was all over the place, particularly in the juxtaposition of modern technology and classical high fantasy world-building. For example, styrofoam exists but the use of hot water taps is a novelty to the MC. I could have done without this kind of inconsistency and dichotomy. It made it hard to envision the world as a whole.

My other criticism is that things often either come too easy for the MC, or there aren’t consequences for things that should have them. I did write down examples for these points at the time of reading this book over a year ago but didn’t elaborate, and now I don’t know what I meant by what I wrote. I’m going to put what I wrote in spoilers for anyone who might decipher it:

Learning magic or stealing things; the fact that the compass and map were in possession of Reosal; the maze; Rose Diamond getting through the test of pure intentions; nothing happens with the purple being Moira saw from her monumentally failed spell at the beginning, or with Motule never being confirmed dead. (Almost certainly some of these names “autocorrected” on my phone and won’t be spelled correctly, but I can’t find a character list to correct them.)

All in all I’d love to read more from Oniomoh and would recommend this book.

[Sapphova · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I didn't really connect with this book. One huge disclaimer is that I did read it whilst being super stressed about other things as well as starting to fall out of a fantasy mood and get into a gothic one, and as a mood reader this likely affected my reading experience. Taking that into account, i don't want to say that overall this is a bad book, just that it didn't really vibe with me right now.

There were lots of elements that I did really enjoy. There was an obvious attention payed to world building which definitely helped to create a unique world for these characters. I enjoyed the beautiful maps in the beginning! And the magical lore! One thing I liked was all the fish references throughout in sayings and things just because it really added to the realism / making me feel like i was in another world with its own customs. The author did a really good job with describing things throughout so that I got a really vivid image of who people were and the settings they were in, which I really appreciated!

I also enjoy the concept of the book, as in this girl running away to bring back her parents, grappling with her grief, meeting a crew of pirates and falling for the beautiful pirate captain, adventuring ensues. But I just kind of struggled to actually connect with what I was reading. I think a big downfall was the length. For a huge majority of the book I had the feeling I was waiting for something to happen. This really took away from the reading experience because I was just like constantly waiting and expecting something. I'm wondering if romantasys aren't my thing tbh

Sometimes i found the dialogue a little idk clunky maybe? Sometimes it just gave me pause and didn't feel very natural is all. Also, sometimes I found the writing slightly train of thought-esque, like where it will bring something up then dismiss it then another thing and another thing and maybe it's this but probably not ..... I don't think the writing was bad! It's just a personal thing i don't like too much whilst reading.

Also, there were many decisions the characters made throughout the book which just confused me. However, the ending was pretty satisfying for all the characters and I do think Moira showed personal growth at the end.