What do you think?
Rate this book
Gifts of the Auldtree #1
Starlight Jewel
The Starlight Company’s survival depends on thieving and assassinating without upsetting the humans around them.
Axly, like all hybrids, is Company property—from the rings on her fingers to her woody bones and the skin that covers them. Her rank as the Starlight Jewel affords her some freedom in the city of Minalav, where the hybrids of the Starlight Company follow a code to keep balance between humans and sprygans. Axly isn’t bound by this code, especially when it conflicts with protecting her human half-brother. She’ll do anything to keep him safe—even if it means damaging company property or destroying Minalav’s balance to do it.
General Arthur Grimwalt is only in Minalav to secure a deal to protect his country, not be romanced and robbed by the infamous Starlight Palace’s lavish balls. Securing such a deal has left Grim with more than he bargained for and vague memories as to how it happened.
If the Starlight Company won’t let Axly go, then she’ll give the gluttons what they want and more. No one leaves this tale unscathed.
Warnings:
Graphic: This book has scenes of graphic violence, a bit of torture, and some death.
Non-graphic/implied: Prostitution kind of, ritualized consensual sacrificial procreation, matricide, dismemberment, and possibly some other stuff that readers may find disturbing. It’s been described as having a “splash of grimdark,” but overall is pretty tame. There is no on-the-page spice or SA.
The named dog in the series, Cleatus, is safe and will not at any point die.
This is not a romantasy novel, most of the side-plot romance is in the first half of the book. 3rd person close PoV, Past Tense.
No generative AI was used in the writing or illustrating of this book or its cover.
Axly, like all hybrids, is Company property—from the rings on her fingers to her woody bones and the skin that covers them. Her rank as the Starlight Jewel affords her some freedom in the city of Minalav, where the hybrids of the Starlight Company follow a code to keep balance between humans and sprygans. Axly isn’t bound by this code, especially when it conflicts with protecting her human half-brother. She’ll do anything to keep him safe—even if it means damaging company property or destroying Minalav’s balance to do it.
General Arthur Grimwalt is only in Minalav to secure a deal to protect his country, not be romanced and robbed by the infamous Starlight Palace’s lavish balls. Securing such a deal has left Grim with more than he bargained for and vague memories as to how it happened.
If the Starlight Company won’t let Axly go, then she’ll give the gluttons what they want and more. No one leaves this tale unscathed.
Warnings:
Graphic: This book has scenes of graphic violence, a bit of torture, and some death.
Non-graphic/implied: Prostitution kind of, ritualized consensual sacrificial procreation, matricide, dismemberment, and possibly some other stuff that readers may find disturbing. It’s been described as having a “splash of grimdark,” but overall is pretty tame. There is no on-the-page spice or SA.
The named dog in the series, Cleatus, is safe and will not at any point die.
This is not a romantasy novel, most of the side-plot romance is in the first half of the book. 3rd person close PoV, Past Tense.
No generative AI was used in the writing or illustrating of this book or its cover.
595 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2022
19 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
E.L. Lyons
3 books58 followersReader and writer of SFF, employee of several cats, feeder of raccoons and opossums.
If you've finished Starlight Jewel and are wondering when the sequel, Austringer's Wrath, comes out, it's sometime this year (2024). I'm doing line edits and waiting on the cover art now, but the edits do take some time.
If you want updates, you can contact me through my website to get my only-when-I-publish-a-book newsletter and/or follow me on Twitter.
If you've finished Starlight Jewel and are wondering when the sequel, Austringer's Wrath, comes out, it's sometime this year (2024). I'm doing line edits and waiting on the cover art now, but the edits do take some time.
If you want updates, you can contact me through my website to get my only-when-I-publish-a-book newsletter and/or follow me on Twitter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
September 29, 2022
Disclaimer: I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for this wonderful book.
The main character of this book, Axly, is so entertaining, and I love her. She's morally gray, incredibly loyal, and fierce. However, if I'm honest, it's the side characters who own my heart in this book. Just wait until you're introduced to [one I can’t mention due to it being a spoiler] and Henry—my favorites.
This book has impressive world-building, spans several countries and kingdoms, and has a rich magical foundation. We're introduced to sprygans and the complex history that's shaped the nations and the leaders within.
However, it's more than just about the broad strokes of the world. Axly's life, choices, and family (born and chosen) shape so much of her character arc. I enjoyed her story so much, and I can't wait to see where it goes. The author is working on book two right now, and I can't wait to get my greedy hands on it.
This is an excellent debut by a new author.
The main character of this book, Axly, is so entertaining, and I love her. She's morally gray, incredibly loyal, and fierce. However, if I'm honest, it's the side characters who own my heart in this book. Just wait until you're introduced to [one I can’t mention due to it being a spoiler] and Henry—my favorites.
This book has impressive world-building, spans several countries and kingdoms, and has a rich magical foundation. We're introduced to sprygans and the complex history that's shaped the nations and the leaders within.
However, it's more than just about the broad strokes of the world. Axly's life, choices, and family (born and chosen) shape so much of her character arc. I enjoyed her story so much, and I can't wait to see where it goes. The author is working on book two right now, and I can't wait to get my greedy hands on it.
This is an excellent debut by a new author.
August 18, 2023
Thanks to E.L. Lyons for a giveaway copy of this, a self-published fantasy debut with some fairytale retelling woven in.
I'm amazed at the quality of this gorgeous hardcover and its jacket art; epic fantasies really require investment and it's on full display here. [Also, that cover art - if you know my taste, you know I was chanting TREE MAN TREE MAN TREE MAN from the get-go.] There are 48 individually named chapters, a technical aspect I was quite impressed with as well.
It has been a while since I jumped into a new fantasy world, and it's often daunting, right? Settings, magical systems, character naming styles. And this book may trip into the "slow" fantasy pitfall for parts, in the interest of establishing the aforementioned stuff, but I commend a lot of worldbuilding falling to dialogue that still read as organic conversation. Starlight offers a compelling story, and multiple POVs keep things moving along.
I also just love assassin or thief characters with a secret, and fierce lady ones are even better. Axly's inhuman senses, alluded to early on, immediately had my attention, as did her very gray moral compass. I really enjoyed Grim, a stoic archetype, my fave. And he has a dog!
Plus, the ending did a great job at luring readers into book two. Looking forward to even more action and romance.
I'm amazed at the quality of this gorgeous hardcover and its jacket art; epic fantasies really require investment and it's on full display here. [Also, that cover art - if you know my taste, you know I was chanting TREE MAN TREE MAN TREE MAN from the get-go.] There are 48 individually named chapters, a technical aspect I was quite impressed with as well.
It has been a while since I jumped into a new fantasy world, and it's often daunting, right? Settings, magical systems, character naming styles. And this book may trip into the "slow" fantasy pitfall for parts, in the interest of establishing the aforementioned stuff, but I commend a lot of worldbuilding falling to dialogue that still read as organic conversation. Starlight offers a compelling story, and multiple POVs keep things moving along.
I also just love assassin or thief characters with a secret, and fierce lady ones are even better. Axly's inhuman senses, alluded to early on, immediately had my attention, as did her very gray moral compass. I really enjoyed Grim, a stoic archetype, my fave. And he has a dog!
Plus, the ending did a great job at luring readers into book two. Looking forward to even more action and romance.
April 27, 2024
I've been meaning to read this for the last year, but never got around to it, so I'd like to thank the SFF Insiders Discord server for organising a buddy read and finally pushing me to do it.
I loved Starlight Jewel just as much as I was expecting to. The writing and the world immediately drew me into the story, but the characters were my favourite by far.
Axly's shenanigans were so fun to follow, she's the best main character and I feel for her because of everything she went through. She has a strong protective instinct towards her brother and would do anything to keep him safe.
Their relationship was so sweet to me, until they "reunited" when it got a bit strained. I was just waiting for them to fist bump it (since Greg doesn't like to be touched) out and that didn't exactly happen. I know that Axly isn't very fond of his gifts, and has her reasons for wanting to keep a distance, but it kept eating at me every time she wasn't nice to him or vice versa.
I JUST WANT THEM TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE. CRY.
That wasn't the only thing that caused me pain though, oh no, the worst pain came in the form of Grim and something relating to him that I can't spoil. So you'd better go and read this book so I can rant, thank you!!
Grim changed a lot from start to finish, and not just because of the thing I mentioned, I like to think that Axly changed him for the better, bit by bit.
We got crumbs of their romance and those were enough to make me giddy, I ship them so hard, even if they have a hard road ahead. If Axly and Grim have one shipper left, it's me, if Axly and Grim have no shippers left, I'm no longer in this world. I'M COMMITTED NOW, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME!!
I also fell in love with Ramus, Kyper, Tarley, Jory, Cira'lav, Fria'lav, Roarik...even Henry (kinda) by the end. There's probably someone I forgot to mention, but really, all the characters are so well developed that you can't help but get attached.
The world is so rich with lore that it will make you want to explore every nook and cranny of it, and considering there's some travel going on we do get to see parts of it.
A lot of travel is skipped for the story's benefit and probably the reader's too. I only have a slight complaint in regards to that, it would happen in the same chapter and just a paragraph later. You're suddenly a month or a year later into the story and it can take a few seconds to adjust. It's not a huge bother though, I just would've preferred it to be a bit more separated.
The magic system is super intriguing, you can tell the author worked hard on developing it. Impartation is my fav fav gift though. You already know why (duh, Grim). I just really like the idea of it, and of Axly being able to help Grim (or anyone she touches) see the world a bit clearer, with heightened senses.
The ending though...if I had a physical book to throw at the wall, that's likely where it would've ended up, sorry! I'M STILL SO MAD. SO SO MAD. AFTER EVERYTHING...THAT HAPPENS. GAH.
Book two can't come soon enough, I'll be counting down the days.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I loved Starlight Jewel just as much as I was expecting to. The writing and the world immediately drew me into the story, but the characters were my favourite by far.
Axly's shenanigans were so fun to follow, she's the best main character and I feel for her because of everything she went through. She has a strong protective instinct towards her brother and would do anything to keep him safe.
Their relationship was so sweet to me, until they "reunited" when it got a bit strained. I was just waiting for them to fist bump it (since Greg doesn't like to be touched) out and that didn't exactly happen. I know that Axly isn't very fond of his gifts, and has her reasons for wanting to keep a distance, but it kept eating at me every time she wasn't nice to him or vice versa.
I JUST WANT THEM TO GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY WERE. CRY.
That wasn't the only thing that caused me pain though, oh no, the worst pain came in the form of Grim and something relating to him that I can't spoil. So you'd better go and read this book so I can rant, thank you!!
Grim changed a lot from start to finish, and not just because of the thing I mentioned, I like to think that Axly changed him for the better, bit by bit.
We got crumbs of their romance and those were enough to make me giddy, I ship them so hard, even if they have a hard road ahead. If Axly and Grim have one shipper left, it's me, if Axly and Grim have no shippers left, I'm no longer in this world. I'M COMMITTED NOW, YOU CAN'T GET RID OF ME!!
I also fell in love with Ramus, Kyper, Tarley, Jory, Cira'lav, Fria'lav, Roarik...even Henry (kinda) by the end. There's probably someone I forgot to mention, but really, all the characters are so well developed that you can't help but get attached.
The world is so rich with lore that it will make you want to explore every nook and cranny of it, and considering there's some travel going on we do get to see parts of it.
A lot of travel is skipped for the story's benefit and probably the reader's too. I only have a slight complaint in regards to that, it would happen in the same chapter and just a paragraph later. You're suddenly a month or a year later into the story and it can take a few seconds to adjust. It's not a huge bother though, I just would've preferred it to be a bit more separated.
The magic system is super intriguing, you can tell the author worked hard on developing it. Impartation is my fav fav gift though. You already know why (duh, Grim). I just really like the idea of it, and of Axly being able to help Grim (or anyone she touches) see the world a bit clearer, with heightened senses.
The ending though...if I had a physical book to throw at the wall, that's likely where it would've ended up, sorry! I'M STILL SO MAD. SO SO MAD. AFTER EVERYTHING...THAT HAPPENS. GAH.
Book two can't come soon enough, I'll be counting down the days.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
June 5, 2023
Just give me a moment. I need to collect my thoughts because my world has just been ROCKED.
I think I need to reevaluate my whole rating system because giving this only 5 stars seems to be an injustice. Ok, enough with the dramatics but I am serious that I was NOT expecting what I got from this book.
1. An actual badass heroine who isn't sheltered, pure, naive, and trying to come to terms with her strength/power. Nah, she owns it from page one and it never feels arrogant.
2. World building that happens without exposition. We're talking an entire world that feels so real you can't help but get lost in it, and you aren't bogged down by Tolkien'esque adverbs.
3. A romance that is built, and rebuilt - not on trust - but on the faith in being able to trust. Real emotions are at play among these characters which I personally feel it's impossible to not relate.
4. Dialogue that puts Hannibal Lecter and Sherlock Holmes to shame; exchanges are so expertly crafted between certain characters.
5. A 'magic' system that just makes sense. It doesn't come across as forced, or overly complicated.
I could keep going but I don't know how to without completely spazzing out and taking a nose dive into the proverbial weeds, nor inadvertently dropping spoilers. This is now my new personality for the foreseeable future. #sorrynotsorry
Also, can y'all just read it so I can scream about the ending?!?!?!
I think I need to reevaluate my whole rating system because giving this only 5 stars seems to be an injustice. Ok, enough with the dramatics but I am serious that I was NOT expecting what I got from this book.
1. An actual badass heroine who isn't sheltered, pure, naive, and trying to come to terms with her strength/power. Nah, she owns it from page one and it never feels arrogant.
2. World building that happens without exposition. We're talking an entire world that feels so real you can't help but get lost in it, and you aren't bogged down by Tolkien'esque adverbs.
3. A romance that is built, and rebuilt - not on trust - but on the faith in being able to trust. Real emotions are at play among these characters which I personally feel it's impossible to not relate.
4. Dialogue that puts Hannibal Lecter and Sherlock Holmes to shame; exchanges are so expertly crafted between certain characters.
5. A 'magic' system that just makes sense. It doesn't come across as forced, or overly complicated.
I could keep going but I don't know how to without completely spazzing out and taking a nose dive into the proverbial weeds, nor inadvertently dropping spoilers. This is now my new personality for the foreseeable future. #sorrynotsorry
Also, can y'all just read it so I can scream about the ending?!?!?!
April 2, 2024
4.5 stars.
I've seen a few people who have assumed that this is a fantasy romance based on the cover, and it does have some romance elements, but from reading it, I wouldn't call it a fantasy romance as one of its main selling points. A new cover is intended to distance the book from that presumption, so it will be interesting to see if more readers (or just a different type of reader) pick it up once that launches.
This one surprised me a little because I went into it mostly blind, but my friend Esmay read it shortly before I did and said that she didn't think it was going to be a book for me. We have very different tastes but we do align quite well with our fantasy and over the last year or so I think we've got quite good at judging each other's fantasy tastes, which is really good when it comes to recommending books. I'm pleased to say though, that Esmay was wrong with this one as I did have a really good time with it.
The main element for me is the worldbuilding. You have sprygans in this world—essentially treemen—and then you've got hybrids as well who are human–sprygan half-breeds, and these hybrids have the gifts of the Auldtree that allow them to be much more than human in many respects. They might have quickstep or keenears, and one of the rarer, and I think more interesting abilities is effacing, which is the gift of memories. This allows a hybrid to remove the memories of a human. Hybrids themselves are immune to effacing, they can't have their memories taken, but humans can and this plays a really important part of the story.
For the story itself, we have a main character who is one of these hybrids and she's got the whole gamut of the gifts of the Auldtree, except for effacing, and she's trying to keep her brother safe, keeping him not just out of sight but out of knowledge of pretty much the entire world. She doesn't want anyone to know what he is and I like how we don't know what he is either until we get deeper into the book.
It's unveiled to us gradually in terms of who he is, what he is, what he can do, and what the impact of that power getting into the wrong hands could be. I like how we see individual aspects of it opening up as we learn more about the character and we learn more about the world. Our main character is part of the Starlight Company, who are essentially the lords of the underground. She is a seductress, a thief, and an assassin. She will get herself close to a human through means of seduction, steal from him, and then her team will efface him, taking away his memories of her so he won't know what's happened, who has robbed him, etc.
I think that's a really quite interesting element. The effacing is described almost as the taking away of faces, and one of the key aspects of the story does revolve around this memory stealing. You can't have your memories given back, they are destroyed, so you have the exploration of two people who know each other, but one of those has ‘forgotten’ (or had their memories removed) that second person. Only the physical aspect of the memory has gone though, you can't remove the feelings, so someone might have a connection to somebody but they don't know why because the memories themselves have gone. They’ll just be a bit fuzzy about what happened over the past few days.
I thought it was really interesting because there are other stories that deal with memory loss and even forced memory loss in different ways, and I’ve seen examples where a character has a journal, for instance, written in his own hand which tells him who he is and who he can trust. In here we don't have any of that but we do have little bits here and there that explain why that isn't possible and I like the way it was explored and the way it asks the question of how to prove to somebody that they know you if they've got no recollection of you whatsoever.
There are a few threads that go from the start to the finish of the book but it is otherwise a book of little subplots rather than one key thing that takes you from A to B. It all flowed very nicely and you will have little time jumps every now and then between these key parts. Despite being well-written, I think that’s maybe the one thing that acted as a slight drawback for me. You do have threads that go all the way from the start, the key one being the protection of the brother, but I do feel like there could have been something that just held it all together a little bit better. It wasn't disjointed at all but it did sometimes feel like I was reading a few key events from the overall story rather than reading the overall story in itself.
Part of that, I would say, is by design because you have to learn various aspects of the history and the world before you can learn all of these things about the brother, for instance, and why he is so important and potentially dangerous, so I definitely appreciated that. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, with some exquisite worldbuilding elements, some really interesting characters and story ideas, and it’s one that I highly recommend.
I've seen a few people who have assumed that this is a fantasy romance based on the cover, and it does have some romance elements, but from reading it, I wouldn't call it a fantasy romance as one of its main selling points. A new cover is intended to distance the book from that presumption, so it will be interesting to see if more readers (or just a different type of reader) pick it up once that launches.
This one surprised me a little because I went into it mostly blind, but my friend Esmay read it shortly before I did and said that she didn't think it was going to be a book for me. We have very different tastes but we do align quite well with our fantasy and over the last year or so I think we've got quite good at judging each other's fantasy tastes, which is really good when it comes to recommending books. I'm pleased to say though, that Esmay was wrong with this one as I did have a really good time with it.
The main element for me is the worldbuilding. You have sprygans in this world—essentially treemen—and then you've got hybrids as well who are human–sprygan half-breeds, and these hybrids have the gifts of the Auldtree that allow them to be much more than human in many respects. They might have quickstep or keenears, and one of the rarer, and I think more interesting abilities is effacing, which is the gift of memories. This allows a hybrid to remove the memories of a human. Hybrids themselves are immune to effacing, they can't have their memories taken, but humans can and this plays a really important part of the story.
For the story itself, we have a main character who is one of these hybrids and she's got the whole gamut of the gifts of the Auldtree, except for effacing, and she's trying to keep her brother safe, keeping him not just out of sight but out of knowledge of pretty much the entire world. She doesn't want anyone to know what he is and I like how we don't know what he is either until we get deeper into the book.
It's unveiled to us gradually in terms of who he is, what he is, what he can do, and what the impact of that power getting into the wrong hands could be. I like how we see individual aspects of it opening up as we learn more about the character and we learn more about the world. Our main character is part of the Starlight Company, who are essentially the lords of the underground. She is a seductress, a thief, and an assassin. She will get herself close to a human through means of seduction, steal from him, and then her team will efface him, taking away his memories of her so he won't know what's happened, who has robbed him, etc.
I think that's a really quite interesting element. The effacing is described almost as the taking away of faces, and one of the key aspects of the story does revolve around this memory stealing. You can't have your memories given back, they are destroyed, so you have the exploration of two people who know each other, but one of those has ‘forgotten’ (or had their memories removed) that second person. Only the physical aspect of the memory has gone though, you can't remove the feelings, so someone might have a connection to somebody but they don't know why because the memories themselves have gone. They’ll just be a bit fuzzy about what happened over the past few days.
I thought it was really interesting because there are other stories that deal with memory loss and even forced memory loss in different ways, and I’ve seen examples where a character has a journal, for instance, written in his own hand which tells him who he is and who he can trust. In here we don't have any of that but we do have little bits here and there that explain why that isn't possible and I like the way it was explored and the way it asks the question of how to prove to somebody that they know you if they've got no recollection of you whatsoever.
There are a few threads that go from the start to the finish of the book but it is otherwise a book of little subplots rather than one key thing that takes you from A to B. It all flowed very nicely and you will have little time jumps every now and then between these key parts. Despite being well-written, I think that’s maybe the one thing that acted as a slight drawback for me. You do have threads that go all the way from the start, the key one being the protection of the brother, but I do feel like there could have been something that just held it all together a little bit better. It wasn't disjointed at all but it did sometimes feel like I was reading a few key events from the overall story rather than reading the overall story in itself.
Part of that, I would say, is by design because you have to learn various aspects of the history and the world before you can learn all of these things about the brother, for instance, and why he is so important and potentially dangerous, so I definitely appreciated that. Overall, this was a very enjoyable book, with some exquisite worldbuilding elements, some really interesting characters and story ideas, and it’s one that I highly recommend.
December 30, 2024
“Liking is calm and reasonable. Love is fierce and chaotic, as is hate. If I get a man to hate me—just a little—I’m a breath away from making him love me.”
i actually enjoyed this more than i was expecting! i was a bit put off seeing that it was 100 pages longer in this republishing than the original, and truthfully i think it could've been edited down.
however! it was good! it's a unique magic system of sprygans, tree-like creatures with enhanced abilities and varying gifts of power and their hybrid offspring living in a teetering, liminal place between both sprygans and humans.
axly is a flawed fmc, but in a way that makes her engaging and intriguing. she's definitely in the category of "bad ass fmc's" who fight, but her constant reassessment of loyalties and morals keeps you invested. she's funny, she's sassy, she's trying to figure out how to not let the most important people to her die but is also willing to take down whoever she needs to, including her own. thus makes for a great lead.
there were times when the action was going i was completely sucked into the book, then there were times of info dumping and conversational summaries of the plot that made this a little long and drag, but i certainly was also emotionally invested in multiple characters. what IS the prince's intentions? what will happen with grim?
overall i do want to see what happens in the next installment and have high hopes for it. i feel like fans of more detailed epic fantasy and stories like mask of mirrors will be into this!
i actually enjoyed this more than i was expecting! i was a bit put off seeing that it was 100 pages longer in this republishing than the original, and truthfully i think it could've been edited down.
however! it was good! it's a unique magic system of sprygans, tree-like creatures with enhanced abilities and varying gifts of power and their hybrid offspring living in a teetering, liminal place between both sprygans and humans.
axly is a flawed fmc, but in a way that makes her engaging and intriguing. she's definitely in the category of "bad ass fmc's" who fight, but her constant reassessment of loyalties and morals keeps you invested. she's funny, she's sassy, she's trying to figure out how to not let the most important people to her die but is also willing to take down whoever she needs to, including her own. thus makes for a great lead.
there were times when the action was going i was completely sucked into the book, then there were times of info dumping and conversational summaries of the plot that made this a little long and drag, but i certainly was also emotionally invested in multiple characters. what IS the prince's intentions? what will happen with grim?
overall i do want to see what happens in the next installment and have high hopes for it. i feel like fans of more detailed epic fantasy and stories like mask of mirrors will be into this!
January 5, 2025
It's not that bad for a debut novel. Honestly, I liked the world building and I didn't mind the POV at all. But it wasn't for me.
First, amidst all the romantasy books that are released these days and readers wanting more romance in their books, I admire the author for selling this as fantasy with only some romance. If I understood correctly, she had the cover changed because the previous (but beautiful) one suggested romance. I like fantasy with or without romance, so I didn't care. But I was slightly disappointed that the romance was so present in the whole book. It was mostly kisses and glimpses, but there was a lot of talk about their feelings/relationship. I wouldn't say the romance part wasn't important.
I had a hard time reading this. Dialogues felt unnatural, almost like a script where the characters were talking about how things worked. A lot of telling instead of showing. You know how sometimes, there's too much description and details? Well it wasn't enough for me here.
I spent a good amount of time between the one-year skip and the end of the book looking for a plot. I mean a general plot. I truly didn't know where the story was going and what was the point. I had to force myself to finish the book, not because it was bad, but because I couldn't see the point of continuing.
One thing I did enjoy though is how the FMC remained morally gray and didn't change because of love or whatever usually make MCs change.
I'm not sure whether I'll read the next book, this one didn't really captivate me.
Thanks to NetGalley and E.L. Lyons for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First, amidst all the romantasy books that are released these days and readers wanting more romance in their books, I admire the author for selling this as fantasy with only some romance. If I understood correctly, she had the cover changed because the previous (but beautiful) one suggested romance. I like fantasy with or without romance, so I didn't care. But I was slightly disappointed that the romance was so present in the whole book. It was mostly kisses and glimpses, but there was a lot of talk about their feelings/relationship. I wouldn't say the romance part wasn't important.
I had a hard time reading this. Dialogues felt unnatural, almost like a script where the characters were talking about how things worked. A lot of telling instead of showing. You know how sometimes, there's too much description and details? Well it wasn't enough for me here.
I spent a good amount of time between the one-year skip and the end of the book looking for a plot. I mean a general plot. I truly didn't know where the story was going and what was the point. I had to force myself to finish the book, not because it was bad, but because I couldn't see the point of continuing.
One thing I did enjoy though is how the FMC remained morally gray and didn't change because of love or whatever usually make MCs change.
I'm not sure whether I'll read the next book, this one didn't really captivate me.
Thanks to NetGalley and E.L. Lyons for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2023
This review was originally posted on Before We Go Blog
Starlight Jewel is a story that is unconventional in every sense of the word, and yet that’s exactly where its charm lies. Filled with intriguing sprygan folklore, cutthroat political scheming, a guild of dangerously seductive assassins and thieves, dysfunctional yet wholesome family dynamics, and some delicious dashes of slow-burn romance, this wonderfully complex gem of a fantasy novel will keep you on your toes from start to finish.
For the past year, the human-sprygan Axly has been living in hiding from the Starlight Company in order to protect her peculiar human half-brother. But now, her past as an assassin and seductress thief has come calling again, and she is brutally drawn back into her role as the Starlight Jewel. Her latest mark offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, and even as love, lust, duty, divided loyalties, and fate start to intertwine, Axly will stop at nothing to protect those she loves.
Starlight Jewel has a lot of things going for it, especially in terms of how wholly unique and refreshing it is. The world building is incredibly imaginative, and I loved learning about the sprygan culture and their wondrous magical abilities. What’s more, the complex inner workings of the alluring undercity of Minalav and the Starlight Company had me glued to the page, as betrayal and deceit are lurking around every corner there.
This diverse cast of enigmatic characters also really pulled me in, especially because they were all equally charming and fearsome. The dangerously thin line between love and hate is masterfully explored here, which is exactly what makes all the character dynamics so compelling and complex. Themes of friendship, parenthood, found family, loyalty, memory, and forgiveness just permeate every aspect of this story, and that only made the characters feel more realistic and relatable to me.
Lyons also absolutely shines in the way she writes her dialogue, and all the interactions between these characters just had my heart in my throat. I especially loved the dynamic between Axly and her mark Grim, which is one of the most complicated yet beautiful love stories I have ever read. Axly definitely doesn’t make it easy for you to love her, but her sheer badassery and willingness to make morally questionable choices to protect those she loves is ultimately why I ended up rooting so hard for her.
Now, I do have to admit that I personally had quite a rough time getting through this book as I simply couldn’t seem to find my footing. The first couple of chapters are quite chaotic, and after that the story transforms into the most slow-burn of slow-burns I have ever read. For a long time, the plot felt rather aimless to me and I found some unexpected time jumps and shifts in perspective quite jarring, especially as each character’s inner voice felt so indistinctive to me.
However, every time I came close to putting the book down (which was more often than I’d like to admit), there was a new intriguing reveal or a compelling shift in the character dynamics that just roped me straight back in. You see, this story is practically oozing with intrigue on every single page, so I simply could not stop reading.
There is zero exposition and hand-holding in this story, which you are either going to love or hate. Some of the reveals or explanations could have come a little earlier so I wouldn’t have felt so lost, but in the end I can only applaud Lyons for how well-crafted her world is. If you are willing to be patient and put a lot of trust in the author, Starlight Jewel will be an absolute treat for you to sink your teeth into.
All in all, I am quite impressed by this highly ambitious and wholly original debut novel. If you like the sound of an incredibly slow-burn and character-driven fantasy novel that will ensnare you with its rich complexity, dangerously alluring characters, and wondrous world building, then you have to check out Starlight Jewel!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Starlight Jewel is a story that is unconventional in every sense of the word, and yet that’s exactly where its charm lies. Filled with intriguing sprygan folklore, cutthroat political scheming, a guild of dangerously seductive assassins and thieves, dysfunctional yet wholesome family dynamics, and some delicious dashes of slow-burn romance, this wonderfully complex gem of a fantasy novel will keep you on your toes from start to finish.
For the past year, the human-sprygan Axly has been living in hiding from the Starlight Company in order to protect her peculiar human half-brother. But now, her past as an assassin and seductress thief has come calling again, and she is brutally drawn back into her role as the Starlight Jewel. Her latest mark offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, and even as love, lust, duty, divided loyalties, and fate start to intertwine, Axly will stop at nothing to protect those she loves.
Starlight Jewel has a lot of things going for it, especially in terms of how wholly unique and refreshing it is. The world building is incredibly imaginative, and I loved learning about the sprygan culture and their wondrous magical abilities. What’s more, the complex inner workings of the alluring undercity of Minalav and the Starlight Company had me glued to the page, as betrayal and deceit are lurking around every corner there.
This diverse cast of enigmatic characters also really pulled me in, especially because they were all equally charming and fearsome. The dangerously thin line between love and hate is masterfully explored here, which is exactly what makes all the character dynamics so compelling and complex. Themes of friendship, parenthood, found family, loyalty, memory, and forgiveness just permeate every aspect of this story, and that only made the characters feel more realistic and relatable to me.
Lyons also absolutely shines in the way she writes her dialogue, and all the interactions between these characters just had my heart in my throat. I especially loved the dynamic between Axly and her mark Grim, which is one of the most complicated yet beautiful love stories I have ever read. Axly definitely doesn’t make it easy for you to love her, but her sheer badassery and willingness to make morally questionable choices to protect those she loves is ultimately why I ended up rooting so hard for her.
Now, I do have to admit that I personally had quite a rough time getting through this book as I simply couldn’t seem to find my footing. The first couple of chapters are quite chaotic, and after that the story transforms into the most slow-burn of slow-burns I have ever read. For a long time, the plot felt rather aimless to me and I found some unexpected time jumps and shifts in perspective quite jarring, especially as each character’s inner voice felt so indistinctive to me.
However, every time I came close to putting the book down (which was more often than I’d like to admit), there was a new intriguing reveal or a compelling shift in the character dynamics that just roped me straight back in. You see, this story is practically oozing with intrigue on every single page, so I simply could not stop reading.
There is zero exposition and hand-holding in this story, which you are either going to love or hate. Some of the reveals or explanations could have come a little earlier so I wouldn’t have felt so lost, but in the end I can only applaud Lyons for how well-crafted her world is. If you are willing to be patient and put a lot of trust in the author, Starlight Jewel will be an absolute treat for you to sink your teeth into.
All in all, I am quite impressed by this highly ambitious and wholly original debut novel. If you like the sound of an incredibly slow-burn and character-driven fantasy novel that will ensnare you with its rich complexity, dangerously alluring characters, and wondrous world building, then you have to check out Starlight Jewel!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free ecopy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 5, 2025
Disney princesses stories flipped on their head
April 13, 2023
Full text review: https://jamreads.com/reviews/starligh...
Starlight Jewel is the initial book in the Gifts of the Auldtree series, written by E. L. Lyons. With one of the most extensive world-buildings I've read in a novel, we are going to be following the story that unravels around Axly, the Starlight Jewel, our main character, and the secret she's hiding.
Axly, a hybrid, descendant of human and sprygan, is part of the Company on Minalav, a city where humans and hybrids enter into contact. And while on a mission, she gets to know Grim, a soldier who is looking to close a deal for some sprygan weapons; he seems to be the perfect person to help her with the secret that has been tormenting her.
While the premise is not exactly too complex, once we start exploring the world of Norge, and more concretely, the land around Minalav and the Auldtree, we will see that in reality, there's much more hidden behind the apparent simplicity.
Talking about characters, it's interesting to see how Axly is being used by Lyons as a way to present her world, to introduce us to the sprygans and hybrids. Being the Starlight Jewel, she is perfect for this role, as she can show us most of the details that wouldn't be possible in other ways. She's such a great character, a friend, but also something scary if you are opposing her; as a hybrid, she wields most of the gifts.
Hybrids in general are one of the aspects that interested me more. They are exquisite creatures, a mix between humans and sprygans, acting as the middlemen between those two groups. A difficult equilibrium to maintain, so part of them work as part of the Company. It is important to note that some of them can erase memories from humans, so this would be a recurrent point in the narrative, as some of the characters will be unreliable in that aspect.
While Grim and Hyde get the spotlight during their arcs, I would say that, outside a character I can't talk about because it would be spoiler, my favourite one is King Henry, because it is perfectly adjusted to his role.
The worldbuilding is extensive, and probably the best aspect of Starlight Jewel. Outside of the Hybrids, we can appreciate how the relationship between the different human factions and cultures is complex and makes the world feel alive. Dialogue is used as the main delivery system of this info, so the pacing doesn't get affected by excessive info-dumping.
The plot is a little bit loose at some points, making the pace suffer a little around the 50% mark, especially due to a time-jump that is not signaled. Even with this in mind, as secondary characters gain more importance at that point, it is not really problematic, and it's compensated with great prose.
While romance is not the main focus of the plot, it becomes important for its advance, but it's executed in a really clean way, feeling natural and not forced.
Starlight Jewel is a great debut novel, and the foundation of a world that I feel has potential. Definitely, if you like your fantasy with interesting creatures, a complex world and you are not afraid of chonkers, give it a try. Can't wait to explore more regions in the next books of the trilogy.
Starlight Jewel is the initial book in the Gifts of the Auldtree series, written by E. L. Lyons. With one of the most extensive world-buildings I've read in a novel, we are going to be following the story that unravels around Axly, the Starlight Jewel, our main character, and the secret she's hiding.
Axly, a hybrid, descendant of human and sprygan, is part of the Company on Minalav, a city where humans and hybrids enter into contact. And while on a mission, she gets to know Grim, a soldier who is looking to close a deal for some sprygan weapons; he seems to be the perfect person to help her with the secret that has been tormenting her.
While the premise is not exactly too complex, once we start exploring the world of Norge, and more concretely, the land around Minalav and the Auldtree, we will see that in reality, there's much more hidden behind the apparent simplicity.
Talking about characters, it's interesting to see how Axly is being used by Lyons as a way to present her world, to introduce us to the sprygans and hybrids. Being the Starlight Jewel, she is perfect for this role, as she can show us most of the details that wouldn't be possible in other ways. She's such a great character, a friend, but also something scary if you are opposing her; as a hybrid, she wields most of the gifts.
Hybrids in general are one of the aspects that interested me more. They are exquisite creatures, a mix between humans and sprygans, acting as the middlemen between those two groups. A difficult equilibrium to maintain, so part of them work as part of the Company. It is important to note that some of them can erase memories from humans, so this would be a recurrent point in the narrative, as some of the characters will be unreliable in that aspect.
While Grim and Hyde get the spotlight during their arcs, I would say that, outside a character I can't talk about because it would be spoiler, my favourite one is King Henry, because it is perfectly adjusted to his role.
The worldbuilding is extensive, and probably the best aspect of Starlight Jewel. Outside of the Hybrids, we can appreciate how the relationship between the different human factions and cultures is complex and makes the world feel alive. Dialogue is used as the main delivery system of this info, so the pacing doesn't get affected by excessive info-dumping.
The plot is a little bit loose at some points, making the pace suffer a little around the 50% mark, especially due to a time-jump that is not signaled. Even with this in mind, as secondary characters gain more importance at that point, it is not really problematic, and it's compensated with great prose.
While romance is not the main focus of the plot, it becomes important for its advance, but it's executed in a really clean way, feeling natural and not forced.
Starlight Jewel is a great debut novel, and the foundation of a world that I feel has potential. Definitely, if you like your fantasy with interesting creatures, a complex world and you are not afraid of chonkers, give it a try. Can't wait to explore more regions in the next books of the trilogy.
March 8, 2024
This is a book that I’m really excited to do a review on. The world building is great and it’s a cool unique story. I’m still deciding on if this is a 10/10, which usually means it’s a 9/10 but I feel like this one might stick with me for a bit and that’s a 10/10 haha. I’m going to have to wait a few days to record an episode and I’ll definitely decide by then.
I just finished so I’ll leave a real review tomorrow.
I just finished so I’ll leave a real review tomorrow.
September 19, 2024
I have been admiring Starlight Jewel from afar for some time and was excited to pick it up finally. It matches my preferences, featuring nonhuman characters and detailed world-building, with romance as a subplot rather than the main focus. It did not disappoint. I could be lost in this world for days.
The Sprygans and their hybrids quickly captured my imagination. I believe they are derived from the Cornish Spriggans, but they read as an original species. I adore fresh takes on familiar creature concepts (in this case, tree people). They have a complex culture but are by no means tame.
Sprygans have a particular fondness for humans, which results in hybrids (usually birthed by a Sprygan mother). The children can inherit an array of gifts, many of which pertain to their physiology. Some of the more potent gifts involve the mind and memory. Softskin hybrids who look human are prized, while those who inherit Sprygan barkskin must remain out of sight, underground. The hybrids have something of an understanding with the humans in Minalav. They blend in with them and conduct business for the Starlight Company: assassinating, thieving and seducing. I appreciated the otherness of these characters; it is apparent in even the most human hybrids.
Our main character, Axly, is deeply rooted in this world, but that is not where we find her at the beginning of this story. She is a multi-faceted character whose secrets threaten nearly all of her relationships. Axly demands a great deal of trust from everyone around her while revealing little of her plans to anyone; she wants them to put their faith in her nature rather than her reasoning. While she occupies a favoured position within the Company, she constantly tests boundaries, which makes for some fun and tense moments. It seems no one can hold neutral feelings towards her for long. She elicits either devotion or contempt in everyone she meets. The girl has a lot of gall.
The little allusions to Cinderella were a source of great amusement. SJ is nowhere near a fairytale retelling, but it uses some beats from that story in delightfully twisted ways. Glass and ash come up in some very unusual contexts.
At first, this seems like Axly’s story alone, but it grows into a sprawling multi-pov epic. The POV transitions are introduced gradually and ramp as the cast grows. This is effective as the plot eventually requires us to be aware of developments on a few fronts.
Lyons has put as much thought and care into her side characters as she has into Axly.
I have to shine a spotlight on some of my favourites:
• Katarina and Uther (Grim’s parents). This pair have some quality banter and Katarina is delightfully nosy.
• King Henry and his little sister are both brilliant and slightly unhinged. Henry seems to see Axly as a herald of the chaos he is drawn to.
• Oh, Bai. My sweet, shattered, vicious Bai.
• Cira’lav. I have a soft spot for the barkskins, and Axly’s young apprentice is very endearing. She’s as quick-witted as her master, though a bit more cautious.
• Hyde is a respectfully written character. In our world, he might be described as autistic. Though young, he is given agency. I can identify with Axly's determination to make sacrifices for him (he reminds me somewhat of a relative on the spectrum).
Content warnings:
The conclusion is thrilling and heart-wrenching. I can’t wait to see what choices Axly makes and what becomes of the rest of the cast. Battles are on the horizon.
The Sprygans and their hybrids quickly captured my imagination. I believe they are derived from the Cornish Spriggans, but they read as an original species. I adore fresh takes on familiar creature concepts (in this case, tree people). They have a complex culture but are by no means tame.
Sprygans have a particular fondness for humans, which results in hybrids (usually birthed by a Sprygan mother). The children can inherit an array of gifts, many of which pertain to their physiology. Some of the more potent gifts involve the mind and memory. Softskin hybrids who look human are prized, while those who inherit Sprygan barkskin must remain out of sight, underground. The hybrids have something of an understanding with the humans in Minalav. They blend in with them and conduct business for the Starlight Company: assassinating, thieving and seducing. I appreciated the otherness of these characters; it is apparent in even the most human hybrids.
Our main character, Axly, is deeply rooted in this world, but that is not where we find her at the beginning of this story. She is a multi-faceted character whose secrets threaten nearly all of her relationships. Axly demands a great deal of trust from everyone around her while revealing little of her plans to anyone; she wants them to put their faith in her nature rather than her reasoning. While she occupies a favoured position within the Company, she constantly tests boundaries, which makes for some fun and tense moments. It seems no one can hold neutral feelings towards her for long. She elicits either devotion or contempt in everyone she meets. The girl has a lot of gall.
The little allusions to Cinderella were a source of great amusement. SJ is nowhere near a fairytale retelling, but it uses some beats from that story in delightfully twisted ways. Glass and ash come up in some very unusual contexts.
At first, this seems like Axly’s story alone, but it grows into a sprawling multi-pov epic. The POV transitions are introduced gradually and ramp as the cast grows. This is effective as the plot eventually requires us to be aware of developments on a few fronts.
Lyons has put as much thought and care into her side characters as she has into Axly.
I have to shine a spotlight on some of my favourites:
• Katarina and Uther (Grim’s parents). This pair have some quality banter and Katarina is delightfully nosy.
• King Henry and his little sister are both brilliant and slightly unhinged. Henry seems to see Axly as a herald of the chaos he is drawn to.
• Oh, Bai. My sweet, shattered, vicious Bai.
• Cira’lav. I have a soft spot for the barkskins, and Axly’s young apprentice is very endearing. She’s as quick-witted as her master, though a bit more cautious.
• Hyde is a respectfully written character. In our world, he might be described as autistic. Though young, he is given agency. I can identify with Axly's determination to make sacrifices for him (he reminds me somewhat of a relative on the spectrum).
Content warnings:
The conclusion is thrilling and heart-wrenching. I can’t wait to see what choices Axly makes and what becomes of the rest of the cast. Battles are on the horizon.
September 29, 2025
This book is ambitious with a capital A. From the very beginning, it dives headfirst into an original fantasy world with unique magic and complex characters.
I especially loved the magic system, effacing is such an inventive concept, and the way Lyons explores the idea of power coming with consequences is fantastic.
That said, the first half of the book leans heavily into worldbuilding and magic setup, which means the story itself takes a bit of a backseat early on. If you’re a reader who thrives on fast pacing right from the start, you may need a little patience here.
But hang in there!! it’s worth it. The second half is excellent, where all the threads start to come together in a really satisfying way.
I’m excited to see where the series goes next and what’s in store for Axly.
I especially loved the magic system, effacing is such an inventive concept, and the way Lyons explores the idea of power coming with consequences is fantastic.
That said, the first half of the book leans heavily into worldbuilding and magic setup, which means the story itself takes a bit of a backseat early on. If you’re a reader who thrives on fast pacing right from the start, you may need a little patience here.
But hang in there!! it’s worth it. The second half is excellent, where all the threads start to come together in a really satisfying way.
I’m excited to see where the series goes next and what’s in store for Axly.
February 24, 2025
A precious jewel found
This book is a lot more than what it seems, but above it all, this is a book about love and self-discovery.
It's a book with the most gorgeous prose in existence. It is not pretentious. It is not wordy, it's a gorgeous but functional prose that invites you to keep reading, page after page, after page.
It has romance, adventure, sadness, and joy. All of those feelings are imparted to you, the reader, as you go through it.
As I finished this book the ecstatic feeling of having taken part in a beautiful experience, and that's the highest praise I can make for a book, for any art form.
I invite you to read this book, and partake in all its brilliance.
This book is a lot more than what it seems, but above it all, this is a book about love and self-discovery.
It's a book with the most gorgeous prose in existence. It is not pretentious. It is not wordy, it's a gorgeous but functional prose that invites you to keep reading, page after page, after page.
It has romance, adventure, sadness, and joy. All of those feelings are imparted to you, the reader, as you go through it.
As I finished this book the ecstatic feeling of having taken part in a beautiful experience, and that's the highest praise I can make for a book, for any art form.
I invite you to read this book, and partake in all its brilliance.
January 19, 2024
Starlight Jewel is a dark epic fantasy employing an intriguing system of low magic that is the fulcrum of the societal dynamics that allow for the environment of politics and power at play throughout the tale.
Society is formed of multiple factions of humans, powerful tree-like creatures and their gifted hybrid spawn. The hybrids form a literal underground society, the Starlight Company, that seeks to live in balance with humans all the while stealing them blind with the occasional assassination thrown in for good measure.
The Starlight Company achieves its nefarious goals with seduction, thievery and assassination. All made possible by the magic system of hybrid gifts that allow for heightened senses, increased speed and stamina, the ability to be quiet and the coup de grace of gifts- effacement or memory stealing.
Skillfully character driven. High marks for character development and chemistry. Lyons’ excels at dialogue from cover to cover.
The pace is dynamic with sprints and lulls. I wouldn’t call the lulls a detractor. The prose carries the day where others might falter. Consider this, as a dude, you would think the last thing I would care to spend time on is dressmaking. Lyons kept me interested and entertained in just such a scene and made me like it.
Lyons’ world building is exquisite and complex. I was delighted with how the building blocks were delivered over a measured pace that gradually weaved a pleasing tapestry. There are no info dumps, figuring out and understanding Lyons’ world was a slow burn joy.
The story leads with a strong female MC with questionable morals and profession. Hardly what you might consider a good person, but you will love her anyway. Morals are a matter of perspective after all. In this world there are consequences for not doing what you believe to be right.
The supporting cast is constructed of quality sidekicks, the big boss antagonist, a love interest you will pull for, deadly rivals and ominous powerful creatures served up in tantalizing bits.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book and will be reading the next.
Society is formed of multiple factions of humans, powerful tree-like creatures and their gifted hybrid spawn. The hybrids form a literal underground society, the Starlight Company, that seeks to live in balance with humans all the while stealing them blind with the occasional assassination thrown in for good measure.
The Starlight Company achieves its nefarious goals with seduction, thievery and assassination. All made possible by the magic system of hybrid gifts that allow for heightened senses, increased speed and stamina, the ability to be quiet and the coup de grace of gifts- effacement or memory stealing.
Skillfully character driven. High marks for character development and chemistry. Lyons’ excels at dialogue from cover to cover.
The pace is dynamic with sprints and lulls. I wouldn’t call the lulls a detractor. The prose carries the day where others might falter. Consider this, as a dude, you would think the last thing I would care to spend time on is dressmaking. Lyons kept me interested and entertained in just such a scene and made me like it.
Lyons’ world building is exquisite and complex. I was delighted with how the building blocks were delivered over a measured pace that gradually weaved a pleasing tapestry. There are no info dumps, figuring out and understanding Lyons’ world was a slow burn joy.
The story leads with a strong female MC with questionable morals and profession. Hardly what you might consider a good person, but you will love her anyway. Morals are a matter of perspective after all. In this world there are consequences for not doing what you believe to be right.
The supporting cast is constructed of quality sidekicks, the big boss antagonist, a love interest you will pull for, deadly rivals and ominous powerful creatures served up in tantalizing bits.
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book and will be reading the next.
August 19, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. Let’s dive into the review!
The characters were a highlight for me. Axly is so complex yet you eventually do understand why she makes the choices that she does. The other characters all felt distinct and the different dynamics that emerge were a pleasure to see unfold. Distrust, found family, friendships, mentors love, loss,… this book has it all.
the world building and magic system may have felt overwhelming at first but you get an good sense of all of it by the end of the book!
The second half of the book was definitely the part that I found strongest. There were several moments of high tension, action and plot twists I did not see coming with enormous consequences.
While I can appreciate that this is the first in a series and thus it makes sense that there is still some plot left unresolved, I would have liked there to be just a little more wrapping up for this particular story.
Overall I really enjoyed my experience of reading this book!
The characters were a highlight for me. Axly is so complex yet you eventually do understand why she makes the choices that she does. The other characters all felt distinct and the different dynamics that emerge were a pleasure to see unfold. Distrust, found family, friendships, mentors love, loss,… this book has it all.
the world building and magic system may have felt overwhelming at first but you get an good sense of all of it by the end of the book!
The second half of the book was definitely the part that I found strongest. There were several moments of high tension, action and plot twists I did not see coming with enormous consequences.
While I can appreciate that this is the first in a series and thus it makes sense that there is still some plot left unresolved, I would have liked there to be just a little more wrapping up for this particular story.
Overall I really enjoyed my experience of reading this book!
January 24, 2024
Starlight Jewel by E.L. Lyons
"Stars Bless Your Steps"
A world of assassins, thieves, pirates, Sprygrans, and hybrids.
Beautiful Axly, the Starlight Jewel, is a cunning thief and even deadlier assassin. A ball at the Starlight Palace. Forced back into the world of thieving and killing, even though she had to kill those she loved most just to get away.
"Love is fierce and chaotic, as is hate."
Auras that name you guilty or innocent. Humans and Sprygrans. The world I'm learning is fascinating. Tarley the Austringer, with an iron fist around her very life. Possessive, controlling.
Starlings. Hawks. Grim and Cladeus. A broken wrist. Sweets. Ballrooms. Graves. Weapons. The constellation of the Phoenix.
Little Greg, Grim as an older brother. A bleeding Bird brought back to her only true family. Fallen stars. Roots. Soil. Secrets. Stolen kisses.
A binding & an abduction. Fierce loyalty urging them on, memories once more forgotten. A thrilling adventure, to be sure.
A good start for a new author. I am very excited to read more books written by E.L. Lyons. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!
"Stars Bless Your Steps"
A world of assassins, thieves, pirates, Sprygrans, and hybrids.
Beautiful Axly, the Starlight Jewel, is a cunning thief and even deadlier assassin. A ball at the Starlight Palace. Forced back into the world of thieving and killing, even though she had to kill those she loved most just to get away.
"Love is fierce and chaotic, as is hate."
Auras that name you guilty or innocent. Humans and Sprygrans. The world I'm learning is fascinating. Tarley the Austringer, with an iron fist around her very life. Possessive, controlling.
Starlings. Hawks. Grim and Cladeus. A broken wrist. Sweets. Ballrooms. Graves. Weapons. The constellation of the Phoenix.
Little Greg, Grim as an older brother. A bleeding Bird brought back to her only true family. Fallen stars. Roots. Soil. Secrets. Stolen kisses.
A binding & an abduction. Fierce loyalty urging them on, memories once more forgotten. A thrilling adventure, to be sure.
A good start for a new author. I am very excited to read more books written by E.L. Lyons. 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 Stars!
August 19, 2025
I saw Starlight Jewel on NetGalley and something prompted me to request it. All I can say is that it turned out to be one of my best decisions regarding finding new authors.
E. L. Lyons has written a masterpiece, and that's a fact.
Starlight Jewel isn't just a book you need to read; it's a book you need to experience. The world-building, the characters, the story's emotional depth... Five stars aren’t nearly enough. Starlight Jewel deserves all the stars in the sky ✨
Why, you ask?
First and foremost: the magic system and the world it exists in. It's fresh and unique, and different in the best possible way; not different just for the sake of being "not like the others". The intricacies of a world where sprygans, humans, and hybrids coexist are beautifully crafted, with a fully developed lore waiting for us to embrace.
And in the midst of it all, there is Axly, our morally grey, imperfect FMC, impossible not to love and understand. Then there's Grim, the MMC, outwardly perfect and proper, yet with so much more beneath the surface. And he has a dog 🤍
The side characters are just as vivid. Each one feels real, their choices understandable, whether good or bad.
The love story is so beautiful and tragic at the same time, tugging at your heart until it aches.
Starlight Jewel will entrap you, enchant you, and keep you glued to the pages. And when you finish, all you’ll feel is an urgent need for the second book so that we can dive even deeper into the world of E. L. Lyons 🤍
E. L. Lyons has written a masterpiece, and that's a fact.
Starlight Jewel isn't just a book you need to read; it's a book you need to experience. The world-building, the characters, the story's emotional depth... Five stars aren’t nearly enough. Starlight Jewel deserves all the stars in the sky ✨
Why, you ask?
First and foremost: the magic system and the world it exists in. It's fresh and unique, and different in the best possible way; not different just for the sake of being "not like the others". The intricacies of a world where sprygans, humans, and hybrids coexist are beautifully crafted, with a fully developed lore waiting for us to embrace.
And in the midst of it all, there is Axly, our morally grey, imperfect FMC, impossible not to love and understand. Then there's Grim, the MMC, outwardly perfect and proper, yet with so much more beneath the surface. And he has a dog 🤍
The side characters are just as vivid. Each one feels real, their choices understandable, whether good or bad.
The love story is so beautiful and tragic at the same time, tugging at your heart until it aches.
Starlight Jewel will entrap you, enchant you, and keep you glued to the pages. And when you finish, all you’ll feel is an urgent need for the second book so that we can dive even deeper into the world of E. L. Lyons 🤍
May 18, 2023
E.L. Lyons wrote a fantasy novel in a world that makes you want more!
If I didn't know that this was a first novel - and self published on top of that - I never would've guessed. The writing is top notch and leaves you forgetting time while reading it.
What I liked:
- Not romance focused (although there is romance and it is relevant to the plot)
- The world, with it's many quirks and differences from our world
- The social structure the hybrids have built for themselves and how they have their own set of moral codes and rules
- The main character, who's badass, morally grey and vulnerable at the same time
- Many different loveable characters, and although the point of view is focused on the MC mostly, we also get other POVs, which for me personally really added to the story
- unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing
- The political intrigues and motivations that hint at much more to come
The book and the World it's set in also felt very unique to me, or at least I can't think of a series to compare it with.
Loved this book and can't wait for the second one! Let's see if it has me nearly throwing my phone at the wall as well 🤣
If I didn't know that this was a first novel - and self published on top of that - I never would've guessed. The writing is top notch and leaves you forgetting time while reading it.
What I liked:
- Not romance focused (although there is romance and it is relevant to the plot)
- The world, with it's many quirks and differences from our world
- The social structure the hybrids have built for themselves and how they have their own set of moral codes and rules
- The main character, who's badass, morally grey and vulnerable at the same time
- Many different loveable characters, and although the point of view is focused on the MC mostly, we also get other POVs, which for me personally really added to the story
- unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing
- The political intrigues and motivations that hint at much more to come
The book and the World it's set in also felt very unique to me, or at least I can't think of a series to compare it with.
Loved this book and can't wait for the second one! Let's see if it has me nearly throwing my phone at the wall as well 🤣
September 16, 2025
Starlight Jewel is the first book in the Gifts of the Auldtree series, and it’s a dark, character-driven fantasy about Axly, a hybrid caught between worlds. Owned by the ruthless Starlight Company, she’s bound by their code, torn between her duty to them and her fierce love for her half-brother. As she’s dragged back into a life she tried to leave behind, Axly has to navigate betrayal, shifting alliances, and the brutal consequences of every choice she makes.
What I loved:
Axly herself — complicated, morally gray, and constantly struggling between survival and compassion. She’s not always “likable” in the traditional sense, but she feels real and I was hooked by her story.
The worldbuilding — hybrids, humans, spryggans, the Company, and the gifts of the Auldtree all make for a rich, layered setting full of danger and intrigue.
The emotional weight — betrayals, friendships, and heartbreaks carry real consequences. The story doesn’t pull punches, and that made it all the more gripping.
This book is raw, dark, and beautifully written. If you like morally complex characters, gritty fantasy worlds, and stories that explore loyalty, identity, and survival, Starlight Jewel is an absolute must-read.
What I loved:
Axly herself — complicated, morally gray, and constantly struggling between survival and compassion. She’s not always “likable” in the traditional sense, but she feels real and I was hooked by her story.
The worldbuilding — hybrids, humans, spryggans, the Company, and the gifts of the Auldtree all make for a rich, layered setting full of danger and intrigue.
The emotional weight — betrayals, friendships, and heartbreaks carry real consequences. The story doesn’t pull punches, and that made it all the more gripping.
This book is raw, dark, and beautifully written. If you like morally complex characters, gritty fantasy worlds, and stories that explore loyalty, identity, and survival, Starlight Jewel is an absolute must-read.
August 14, 2023
✨️𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪✨️
𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳, 𝘮𝘶𝘥, 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘷.
𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬
Axly, the Starlight Company's premier seductress-thief and assassin, will do whatever it takes to keep her human brother hidden. The secrets of his origin could tear their world apart, and keeping them has driven her to lies and murder. Her people, the sprygan-human hybrids that live under the city of Minalav, aren't keen on allowing their most skilled asset to roam free. A job with a human offers a chance to get her brother out of danger, but it comes at a price. Divided loyalties, duty, romance, and the twisted hands of fate intertwine as the characters struggle through this epic fantasy adventure.
𝗧𝗘𝗔 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 🍵
I am just simply in awe with what I read. Delving into a new fantasy land of hybrids is a little bit scary for me since it has been a while since the sole focus is the characterization.
So happy to have come across this book, the magic system and world building is just 🤌 So many variations and even if it is set on multiple POVs, it was transitioned seamlessly. Hundred percent recommended to those starting reading urban fantasy (splash of grimdark)
𝘎𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳, 𝘮𝘶𝘥, 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘤𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘷.
𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗬
Axly, the Starlight Company's premier seductress-thief and assassin, will do whatever it takes to keep her human brother hidden. The secrets of his origin could tear their world apart, and keeping them has driven her to lies and murder. Her people, the sprygan-human hybrids that live under the city of Minalav, aren't keen on allowing their most skilled asset to roam free. A job with a human offers a chance to get her brother out of danger, but it comes at a price. Divided loyalties, duty, romance, and the twisted hands of fate intertwine as the characters struggle through this epic fantasy adventure.
𝗧𝗘𝗔 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦 🍵
I am just simply in awe with what I read. Delving into a new fantasy land of hybrids is a little bit scary for me since it has been a while since the sole focus is the characterization.
So happy to have come across this book, the magic system and world building is just 🤌 So many variations and even if it is set on multiple POVs, it was transitioned seamlessly. Hundred percent recommended to those starting reading urban fantasy (splash of grimdark)
August 13, 2023
Starlight Jewel had a very interesting premise. I really liked the world of the hybrids. They were very well explained, as was the social structure of the company.
In fact, one thing Lyons does really well is the worldbuilding. I got a really good overview of the politics between nations, between humans and hybrids and sprygans, and how they awkwardly coexist among each other. There were no info dumps yet I was never left feeling confused about the worldbuilding.
The characters were also excellent. Not just Axly, the protagonist, but the supporting cast as well. The relationships between the characters were written really well. I found the dynamics to be believable and well developed.
My issue with this book was the pacing. The beginning is really good, and then the story skips forward a year. This time skip was jarring and it took me a few pages to figure out that we had skipped a whole year. The plot then started to drag, only to speed up again towards the main event in the middle. Sometimes reading this felt like a rollercoaster. It picked up a lot at the end, but the end conflict felt a little rushed. I wish it had been drawn out more.
Overall though, I still enjoyed this book and will be reading the second one.
In fact, one thing Lyons does really well is the worldbuilding. I got a really good overview of the politics between nations, between humans and hybrids and sprygans, and how they awkwardly coexist among each other. There were no info dumps yet I was never left feeling confused about the worldbuilding.
The characters were also excellent. Not just Axly, the protagonist, but the supporting cast as well. The relationships between the characters were written really well. I found the dynamics to be believable and well developed.
My issue with this book was the pacing. The beginning is really good, and then the story skips forward a year. This time skip was jarring and it took me a few pages to figure out that we had skipped a whole year. The plot then started to drag, only to speed up again towards the main event in the middle. Sometimes reading this felt like a rollercoaster. It picked up a lot at the end, but the end conflict felt a little rushed. I wish it had been drawn out more.
Overall though, I still enjoyed this book and will be reading the second one.
January 4, 2024
I’m gonna need a minute
WOW
I love it like really loved it ! I couldn’t put it down and I know it’s going to live in my head rent free.
First I’m can’t get over how much I thought and information has gone into this from the maps at the start to each and every character, place, books.
My mind is full of so much imagination after reading this. I can’t picture each and every detail.
I loved getting to know the characters Grim’s my favourite even if he’s broken my heart a little. I enjoyed getting to know them all and need more so much more. I actually don’t read much of fantasy and this book has shown me how much I’m missing out. My first book of the year and what a brilliant book it was.
Thanks you so much NetGalley for this arc I couldn’t of loved it more
WOW
I love it like really loved it ! I couldn’t put it down and I know it’s going to live in my head rent free.
First I’m can’t get over how much I thought and information has gone into this from the maps at the start to each and every character, place, books.
My mind is full of so much imagination after reading this. I can’t picture each and every detail.
I loved getting to know the characters Grim’s my favourite even if he’s broken my heart a little. I enjoyed getting to know them all and need more so much more. I actually don’t read much of fantasy and this book has shown me how much I’m missing out. My first book of the year and what a brilliant book it was.
Thanks you so much NetGalley for this arc I couldn’t of loved it more
November 22, 2022
Book Review - Starlight Jewel by E.L. Lyons
Gifts of the Auldtree Book One
Today’s book review is in my favorite genre… fantasy. Surprise.
And boy, was this a good story! Here lies the world of Norge and its complexities. The land of Norge is a complex being in itself… the setting felt alive! The whimsical elements mixed in with realistic nature landscapes helped keep the story grounded and engaging for me.
The Starlight Jewel is such an intricate necessity to this story, an essential character who is also named Axly. Axly is an amazing character. A friend and a foe… one I would personally want to be around given any day.
Other characters whom I loved included Grim and Hyde. These two characters show huge development and although they are not the main character, the author gives the momentum through character arcs that wowed me. A soldier and a boy who built himself up, in a world where false memories and war pave a solid line. Need I say more?
This story is very prominent in its world-building. The setting is just so hard to get over and leave. I did not want to leave this story for the main purpose of having to leave behind this atmospheric aesthetic of fantasy with a twist that I had grown attached to. From the original lands to the refute between, to the north and midlands… there is so much to unpack.
Beyond my favorite characters lies the magic. As seen on the front pages of the book just past the map, an image of a hybrid is shown. These hybrids… wow. They are truly the most exquisite and unique creatures I have read on in a while. They are the bridge between the two, they work as the middleman. With humanistic features and a sort of genetic mutation to be developed similarly to the guardian, these hybrids are unique and peculiar in the best way and I am so glad to have such a great visual there for me in the book! The gifts that these hybrids hold seem infinite, you will have to read this novel to understand the complexities… this review will do nowhere near its justice.
The themes of human traits and emotion devoted to the hybrids and characters who develop a sense of awareness within themselves over time are so crucial in wrapping this story as a whole. The impact of these underlying themes of revival and self-development in a society of rebuttal makes the whimsical environment just that much more magical.
If you have not read this book, please do so! It is, first of all, a beautiful sight to see! But second of all, the story is immersive and is swimming with surprises. It casts such a great visual throughout and is easy to dive into and forget to come up for air.
Thank you for reading this review, and now go read this book!
Gifts of the Auldtree Book One
Today’s book review is in my favorite genre… fantasy. Surprise.
And boy, was this a good story! Here lies the world of Norge and its complexities. The land of Norge is a complex being in itself… the setting felt alive! The whimsical elements mixed in with realistic nature landscapes helped keep the story grounded and engaging for me.
The Starlight Jewel is such an intricate necessity to this story, an essential character who is also named Axly. Axly is an amazing character. A friend and a foe… one I would personally want to be around given any day.
Other characters whom I loved included Grim and Hyde. These two characters show huge development and although they are not the main character, the author gives the momentum through character arcs that wowed me. A soldier and a boy who built himself up, in a world where false memories and war pave a solid line. Need I say more?
This story is very prominent in its world-building. The setting is just so hard to get over and leave. I did not want to leave this story for the main purpose of having to leave behind this atmospheric aesthetic of fantasy with a twist that I had grown attached to. From the original lands to the refute between, to the north and midlands… there is so much to unpack.
Beyond my favorite characters lies the magic. As seen on the front pages of the book just past the map, an image of a hybrid is shown. These hybrids… wow. They are truly the most exquisite and unique creatures I have read on in a while. They are the bridge between the two, they work as the middleman. With humanistic features and a sort of genetic mutation to be developed similarly to the guardian, these hybrids are unique and peculiar in the best way and I am so glad to have such a great visual there for me in the book! The gifts that these hybrids hold seem infinite, you will have to read this novel to understand the complexities… this review will do nowhere near its justice.
The themes of human traits and emotion devoted to the hybrids and characters who develop a sense of awareness within themselves over time are so crucial in wrapping this story as a whole. The impact of these underlying themes of revival and self-development in a society of rebuttal makes the whimsical environment just that much more magical.
If you have not read this book, please do so! It is, first of all, a beautiful sight to see! But second of all, the story is immersive and is swimming with surprises. It casts such a great visual throughout and is easy to dive into and forget to come up for air.
Thank you for reading this review, and now go read this book!
January 25, 2024
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)
Actual review 3.5 stars. The world and character building was good but I had a hard time connecting to this one. In some parts it was hard to put down while in others it was a struggle to get through them.
Actual review 3.5 stars. The world and character building was good but I had a hard time connecting to this one. In some parts it was hard to put down while in others it was a struggle to get through them.
February 2, 2024
This one was kind of clunky to start but once I really got into the writing and the story I was all in! I loved the characters and the story and I could not put it down. I enjoyed every page. And need the next one now.
January 16, 2024
This is such a good book! Highly recommend! The world building and character development is so well executed and I am quite impressed. Spanning multiple kingdoms, and looks into different cultures is difficult to do but EL Lyons pulled it off almost flawlessly. It was a pleasure to read about Axley’s choices, what led her to them, and the consequences of her actions. The Sprygans are such an interesting species I can’t wait to see what happens in book two.
April 22, 2024
This review was originally posted on SFF Insiders
The first thing I want to start with is I don’t think the blurb does this book justice, and admittedly I had a bit of a ‘Ehhhhm’ moment when I saw the words “human half-brother”. Usually it’s phrasing like this that has a character described as ‘ooooh more than meets the eye/everyone is special’. Not the case here - though eyes are definitely involved.
The second thing I want to start with is I picked this up as buddy-read on our SFF Insiders discord (you should also join if you haven’t), and quickly left many buddies behind because I couldn’t put this down. Which is also good because E.L. Lyons is one of the reviewers here and it’d be really awkward if I hated the book.
I am very thrilled that this book punched my expectations in the face and ran away with my emotions.
Onto the actual author and book. If you follow E.L. Lyons on Twitter (I’m not calling it X), you will know she has an exceptional understanding of writing and how to hook a reader. This was especially evident in Starlight Jewel. Like I said, I couldn’t put it down.
I was initially confused on some of the aspects of the book, and while it all becomes clearer as you read (like a book should), I also struggle with not knowing what’s happening. Thankfully, Lyons has a handy website that outlines the gifts, the politics, the roles and key players and this gave me a bit more background while I waited for the bigger background reveals. Overall, it is a thoroughly rich world with all those little pieces coming together.
I loved the hybrids’ gifts and how they’re described. There are ones more like humans but with woody bones, some with bark skin, eye colours indicating gifts and how these come together to create the roles of the Starlings and their Hawk protectors that make up the Starlight Company. And I loved the precarious nature of the Company in Minalav, but also how they fit into the wider world of humans and sprygan - which I guess can be described as tree-people? It’s the not-human depiction on the cover. Because the core character(s) are largely hybrids, it has made for some very unique and interesting interactions with nature and this gray area between the two species the hybrids occupy. I’d say most fantasy fans are used to magic, potions, bodies of water for healing but hybrids? Dirt. And how the dirt interacts with their bodies was depicted in a number of ways, both healing and imprisoning.
Despite Minalav being mentioned a few times in the blurb, we don’t spend tons of time there. The story starts outside of it, Axly with her mysterious human-half brother, getting dragged back and then leaving a few times before going hybrid-Liam Neesan and everybody has a bad time. Although we meet the sort of key male character in Minalav, It’s actually outside of that I think we get the most fun from the book and the bulk of the characters. It’s also where the romantic sub-plot develops. “So there’s romance?” No. You hope for good things for Axly and Grim and get nothing but high blood pressure and anxiety.
The characters around Grim are brilliant. Harken chimes in here and there but generally it’s gold. King Henry is a mystery, unusual and out there but I am loving his character and can’t wait for more. Also, Grim’s mom, Katarina, is a gem. There is a scene where she is being brought up to speed but still takes a moment to scold her grumpy husband that is just *chef’s kiss*.
The characters around Axly are also brilliant but in very different ways. They’re done in ways that you don’t know who you can and can’t trust. Lyons leaves a lot of little pieces that add to the lore of the world but then drops them into descriptions or interactions between characters and all you can think is ‘Ooooh, that was good.’ I could go into more detail, and unfortunately for the people in my immediate life, they are going to hear about it for ages, but saying more would give away a lot of key plot points, twists, and development that I wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of.
To sum up: I cannot wait for the next book. I am genuinely enthralled by this world Lyons created and I’ve also been left with a lot of thoughts/feelings that I may have messaged ‘I’m so mad at you right now’ about.
The first thing I want to start with is I don’t think the blurb does this book justice, and admittedly I had a bit of a ‘Ehhhhm’ moment when I saw the words “human half-brother”. Usually it’s phrasing like this that has a character described as ‘ooooh more than meets the eye/everyone is special’. Not the case here - though eyes are definitely involved.
The second thing I want to start with is I picked this up as buddy-read on our SFF Insiders discord (you should also join if you haven’t), and quickly left many buddies behind because I couldn’t put this down. Which is also good because E.L. Lyons is one of the reviewers here and it’d be really awkward if I hated the book.
I am very thrilled that this book punched my expectations in the face and ran away with my emotions.
Onto the actual author and book. If you follow E.L. Lyons on Twitter (I’m not calling it X), you will know she has an exceptional understanding of writing and how to hook a reader. This was especially evident in Starlight Jewel. Like I said, I couldn’t put it down.
I was initially confused on some of the aspects of the book, and while it all becomes clearer as you read (like a book should), I also struggle with not knowing what’s happening. Thankfully, Lyons has a handy website that outlines the gifts, the politics, the roles and key players and this gave me a bit more background while I waited for the bigger background reveals. Overall, it is a thoroughly rich world with all those little pieces coming together.
I loved the hybrids’ gifts and how they’re described. There are ones more like humans but with woody bones, some with bark skin, eye colours indicating gifts and how these come together to create the roles of the Starlings and their Hawk protectors that make up the Starlight Company. And I loved the precarious nature of the Company in Minalav, but also how they fit into the wider world of humans and sprygan - which I guess can be described as tree-people? It’s the not-human depiction on the cover. Because the core character(s) are largely hybrids, it has made for some very unique and interesting interactions with nature and this gray area between the two species the hybrids occupy. I’d say most fantasy fans are used to magic, potions, bodies of water for healing but hybrids? Dirt. And how the dirt interacts with their bodies was depicted in a number of ways, both healing and imprisoning.
Despite Minalav being mentioned a few times in the blurb, we don’t spend tons of time there. The story starts outside of it, Axly with her mysterious human-half brother, getting dragged back and then leaving a few times before going hybrid-Liam Neesan and everybody has a bad time. Although we meet the sort of key male character in Minalav, It’s actually outside of that I think we get the most fun from the book and the bulk of the characters. It’s also where the romantic sub-plot develops. “So there’s romance?” No. You hope for good things for Axly and Grim and get nothing but high blood pressure and anxiety.
The characters around Grim are brilliant. Harken chimes in here and there but generally it’s gold. King Henry is a mystery, unusual and out there but I am loving his character and can’t wait for more. Also, Grim’s mom, Katarina, is a gem. There is a scene where she is being brought up to speed but still takes a moment to scold her grumpy husband that is just *chef’s kiss*.
The characters around Axly are also brilliant but in very different ways. They’re done in ways that you don’t know who you can and can’t trust. Lyons leaves a lot of little pieces that add to the lore of the world but then drops them into descriptions or interactions between characters and all you can think is ‘Ooooh, that was good.’ I could go into more detail, and unfortunately for the people in my immediate life, they are going to hear about it for ages, but saying more would give away a lot of key plot points, twists, and development that I wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of.
To sum up: I cannot wait for the next book. I am genuinely enthralled by this world Lyons created and I’ve also been left with a lot of thoughts/feelings that I may have messaged ‘I’m so mad at you right now’ about.
March 18, 2024
thank you e.l lyons and netgalley for the copy in return for an honest review.
“i’ve committed to being who i am. changing would require making everything… i’ve sacrificed… meaningless.”
“if all you’ve done hasn’t left you feeling like you’ve done the right thing, then it’s already meaningless. learning from your mistakes is the only thing that can give meaning to them.”
ff you’re looking for a unique fantasy with a formidable female protagonist, then this book is for you. e.l lyons builds a captivating fantasy world, establishing the magic system and character types without tireless descriptions (in fact a lot is done through dialogue). the political intrigue builds the tension of upcoming conflict, and pushes the narrative forward. in the interest of such high quality world building, i did feel as though at times the pacing of the book was particularly slow, but despite this, the pace did pick up due to the increasing importance of the secondary cast. moreover the final 100 pages had a much faster pace which i enjoyed, however i felt as though the ending conflict was slightly rushed and could have built the tension had it been drawn out more.
this book includes humans, sprygans, and hybrids, the last of whom have a range of gifts extending from exceptional hearing to effacing (the ability to remove memories). it is clear that the author focuses heavily on the exploration of identity and how the choices that are made create that persona, and i found that this was particularly shown through the protagonist axly who is a hybrid, and therefore supposedly has to maintain the balance between humans and sprygans. axly is morally grey, powerful, and vulnerable, and she explores both her born and found family in a manner that is entirely intriguing, you never truly know the lengths she would go to for those that she loves. this is emphasised during the ending that is partially conclusive, however e.l lyons leaves just enough plot undecided that builds the intrigue and suspense for the next book.
the secondary cast of characters in this book is so incredibly diverse. aside from the characters that work in the company alongside axly, e.l lyons includes previous love interests and the memories that come with them, found family, real family, and finally her mark, grim. grims character was one that particularly fascinated me, you meet him and immediately suspect that he will be the broody male love interest that makes the female protagonist more feminine, but actually he encouraged her independence and her strength and loved her regardless of her (many, many) faults. one of the other characters who i can't wait to be explored in the sequel is axlys brother greg. the concept of watching and waiting is so enthralling, but it's not entirely developed throughout the book to leave the reader in suspense and to aid in accentuating axlys intelligence over all other characters.
“i’ve committed to being who i am. changing would require making everything… i’ve sacrificed… meaningless.”
“if all you’ve done hasn’t left you feeling like you’ve done the right thing, then it’s already meaningless. learning from your mistakes is the only thing that can give meaning to them.”
ff you’re looking for a unique fantasy with a formidable female protagonist, then this book is for you. e.l lyons builds a captivating fantasy world, establishing the magic system and character types without tireless descriptions (in fact a lot is done through dialogue). the political intrigue builds the tension of upcoming conflict, and pushes the narrative forward. in the interest of such high quality world building, i did feel as though at times the pacing of the book was particularly slow, but despite this, the pace did pick up due to the increasing importance of the secondary cast. moreover the final 100 pages had a much faster pace which i enjoyed, however i felt as though the ending conflict was slightly rushed and could have built the tension had it been drawn out more.
this book includes humans, sprygans, and hybrids, the last of whom have a range of gifts extending from exceptional hearing to effacing (the ability to remove memories). it is clear that the author focuses heavily on the exploration of identity and how the choices that are made create that persona, and i found that this was particularly shown through the protagonist axly who is a hybrid, and therefore supposedly has to maintain the balance between humans and sprygans. axly is morally grey, powerful, and vulnerable, and she explores both her born and found family in a manner that is entirely intriguing, you never truly know the lengths she would go to for those that she loves. this is emphasised during the ending that is partially conclusive, however e.l lyons leaves just enough plot undecided that builds the intrigue and suspense for the next book.
the secondary cast of characters in this book is so incredibly diverse. aside from the characters that work in the company alongside axly, e.l lyons includes previous love interests and the memories that come with them, found family, real family, and finally her mark, grim. grims character was one that particularly fascinated me, you meet him and immediately suspect that he will be the broody male love interest that makes the female protagonist more feminine, but actually he encouraged her independence and her strength and loved her regardless of her (many, many) faults. one of the other characters who i can't wait to be explored in the sequel is axlys brother greg. the concept of watching and waiting is so enthralling, but it's not entirely developed throughout the book to leave the reader in suspense and to aid in accentuating axlys intelligence over all other characters.
April 14, 2023
Starlight Jewel @lyons_pen
"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 - 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚-𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇? 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒆?"
Before starting this review I have you give a huge thankyou to the author for sending me this BEAUTIFUL hardback copy of the book.
I have to say, I found it quite hard to read in the beginning because there is alot of world building. I had the same experience with SJM crescent city and after a few chapters I was totally sucked into Axlys world and how much we needed that world building in the beginning!
Our MC- Axly- The Starlight Jewel, raised by the Starlight Company to be an assassin come seductress who inherits gifts such as sharper hearing, soundless footsteps etc from her father- Roarik, king of the sprygans, will stop at nothing to protect the one she loves the most. Even if it means killing her company brothers. But falling in love with her mark is the last thing she expects to do, especially when he gets effaced (memories of her wiped)... Again.
Grim, Axlys mark, is such an incredible character and even though he isnt the main character, I believe he stole the book for me. He is very straight talking, stand offish and prim and proper. Making him and Axly the most unlikely of couples.
I also love Gregs power to look into the glass and the connection between the glass from Axlys shoes! Gregs growth through the book is great as he starts to use his power in new ways and starts to live in a world where he isn't running all the time-he finally has a home. Until it gets taken away suddenly.
My other most favorite characters are Henry,Baj and Cira'lav!
The whole books is incredibly well written, well thought out and well structured. It's such an intricately woven story that I couldn't help but get lost in it! It did take alot of concentration as there is such alot going on under the surface but I loved it!
There are so many underlying little Easter eggs of cinderella in this book but with a much much darker side!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 - 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚-𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇? 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒈𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒆?"
Before starting this review I have you give a huge thankyou to the author for sending me this BEAUTIFUL hardback copy of the book.
I have to say, I found it quite hard to read in the beginning because there is alot of world building. I had the same experience with SJM crescent city and after a few chapters I was totally sucked into Axlys world and how much we needed that world building in the beginning!
Our MC- Axly- The Starlight Jewel, raised by the Starlight Company to be an assassin come seductress who inherits gifts such as sharper hearing, soundless footsteps etc from her father- Roarik, king of the sprygans, will stop at nothing to protect the one she loves the most. Even if it means killing her company brothers. But falling in love with her mark is the last thing she expects to do, especially when he gets effaced (memories of her wiped)... Again.
Grim, Axlys mark, is such an incredible character and even though he isnt the main character, I believe he stole the book for me. He is very straight talking, stand offish and prim and proper. Making him and Axly the most unlikely of couples.
I also love Gregs power to look into the glass and the connection between the glass from Axlys shoes! Gregs growth through the book is great as he starts to use his power in new ways and starts to live in a world where he isn't running all the time-he finally has a home. Until it gets taken away suddenly.
My other most favorite characters are Henry,Baj and Cira'lav!
The whole books is incredibly well written, well thought out and well structured. It's such an intricately woven story that I couldn't help but get lost in it! It did take alot of concentration as there is such alot going on under the surface but I loved it!
There are so many underlying little Easter eggs of cinderella in this book but with a much much darker side!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews