Star Mother by Charlie N. Holmberg

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A woman’s heart proves as infinite as the night sky in a breathtaking fantasy by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Charlie N. Holmberg.

When a star dies, a new one must be born.

The Sun God chooses the village of Endwever to provide a mortal womb. The birthing of a star is always fatal for the mother, and Ceris Wenden, who considers herself an outsider, sacrifices herself to secure her family’s honor and take control of her legacy. But after her star child is born, Ceris does what no other star mother has: she survives. When Ceris returns to Endwever, however, it’s not nine months later—it’s seven hundred years later. Inexplicably displaced in time, Ceris is determined to seek out her descendants.

Being a woman traveling alone brings its own challenges, until Ceris encounters a mysterious—and desperate—godling. Ristriel is incorporeal, a fugitive, a trickster, and the only being who can guide Ceris safely to her destination. Now, as Ceris traverses realms both mortal and beyond, her journey truly begins.

Together, pursued across the Earth and trespassing the heavens, Ceris and Ristriel are on a path to illuminate the mysteries that bind them and discover the secrets of the celestial world. 

Source: gifted paperback

I've had the pleasure of reading my first 5-star novel of 2022. I hadn't heard of Star Mother until I saw my good friend's brief review of it on Goodreads which immediately caught my interest.  She loved it so much that she gifted me a copy and what I discovered was an exceptional story unlike anything I've read recently. 

Ceris is a young woman on the cusp of leaving home to be wed when the Sun God sends a signal to her village that he is looking for a new young woman to birth a star.  Two young women are up for the honor but it's Ceris who volunteers.  Realizing her betrothed is in love with one of the possible contenders for, and wanting to secure a legacy for her family that would make them proud, she gives up her mortal life.  She defies all expectations when she survives the birth of her star and  gets the Sun God to agree to let her return home.  Only it's 700 years later and Ceris fis now alone in a world that has moved on from her.  She resolves to find her descendants so she can make a home amongst them and on her journey encounters the godling, Ristriel.  Ristriel is running away from something and is cagey about himself. They make a pact to protect each other until they reach their destinations.

Star Mother is a truly unique experience in that as a reader, I had to leave my preconceptions at the door and allow the story to flow.  A majority of it feels abstract, like the idea of the Sun God needing a mate to birth a star, and then wrapping my head around the concept of how that unfolds.  Then there's a big section where Ceris is finding her way to another city and she befriends Ristriel.  Talk about abstract! Not only is he ethereal, there's also so much about him that's mysterious and jolting.  He carries a sadness within him that's so tangible, and even had one of the most heartbreaking lines in the novel.  In a way, parts of this story were challenging for me.  While the world-building is impressive it's also describing the obscure.  Midway through something just clicked for me and I couldn't set it down.  A lot of that had to do with Ceris who's a formidable personality.  She's astute, circumspect, and loyal.  Definitely not someone to be underestimated as evidenced when she questions the Sun God and the gods' laws.  The romance that eventually grows between her and Ristriel is one borne out of a shared understanding of their immeasurable losses.  Finally they are honestly loved for themselves. I was so entranced and moved by them.

When I finished Star Mother I was left with a deeply contented feeling. I couldn't believe how much I ended up loving it.  It challenged my own senses at first before I happily surrendered to the story.  I see that a sequel will be coming out in March, this time about the Sun God and I know I'll be getting my hands on that real fast. In the meantime,  for a quietly satisfying and mystical read, that feels like the creation of a new mythology, I wholeheartedly recommend reading Star Mother.

~ Bel

Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey

* * * 3/4

Two people. Infinite lifetimes. One impossible choice.

Thora and Santi are strangers in a foreign city when a chance encounter intertwines their fates. At once, they recognize in each other a kindred spirit—someone who shares their insatiable curiosity, who is longing for more in life than the cards they’ve been dealt. Only days later, though, a tragic accident cuts their story short.

But this is only one of the many connections they share. Like satellites trapped in orbit around each other, Thora and Santi are destined to meet again: as a teacher and prodigy student; a caretaker and dying patient; a cynic and a believer. In numerous lives they become friends, colleagues, lovers, and enemies. But as blurred memories and strange patterns compound, Thora and Santi come to a shocking revelation—they must discover the truth of their mysterious attachment before their many lives come to one, final end.

Source: NetGalley; ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have so many feelings about this book. It's a unique concept and once things make sense you realize it's a race to the finish.

Thora and Santi meet at college for the first time and their brief encounter leaves a lasting impression. When Thora decides she wants to see him again she finds out it's too late. He's dead and she can only guess how it happened. And this is how the rest of Part I goes - a series of what feels like short stories where Thora and Santi meet over and over again at various stages of their lives. Each encounter is a different experience with different outcomes. Part I requires some patience because there's no explanation, just these moments that either give us a new side of these characters or reinforce their personality traits. Part II is where things start coming together and they try to find meaning in what's happening. Sometimes they get close, others they're simply not capable of getting their acts together. We're not told how or when precisely they figured out they're reliving multiple lives (I would've like to have been clued in on that) but by Part III it gets intense and they finally discover what exactly is going on. It was at this point that I thought the author was genius because she did hide clues in plain sight in Part I. The clues and patterns make sense now.

Here's the thing: when I requested Meet Me in Another Life it came after I saw someone recommend it and I thought it sounded like something totally up my alley. The problem is that certain plot points which wouldn't have bothered me in the past became so after I made my request.  As well done as it was, some of it was just too emotionally raw for me. I've never been one who absolutely needed content/trigger warnings, and I've always respected other readers that do, therefore I have tried to include anything I see as potentially disturbing to a fellow reader in my reviews. This marks the first time ever I wished that I had the benefit of knowing those in advance. I would like to stress that this isn't the author's fault; it's just bad timing and I had a hard time with parts of the story. 

Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you like fantasy, sci-fi, endless do-over opportunities, mysteries and riddles, endless talk about stars, space and existentialism, a literal life or death situation that needs to be resolved ...they're all in this. Like I said earlier, it's pretty genius. I'd just caution you that the sad elements happen repeatedly - even if they're reliving their lives a little differently, those elements almost always make an appearance, and I've included them at the end of my review.

~ Bel

Content Warning/Triggers:

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Cancer, brain tumor, deaths, accidents, 

Kill the Queen (Crown of Shards #1) by Jennifer Estep

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Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen. 

Source: Library/Hoopla audio

It's not often I read paranormal or fantasy but I recently had this strong need to read something set in that world. I chalk it up to needing a fantastic mental escape where there is a clear distinction between good and evil and the good actually wins. Then I saw one of my favourite authors, Amanda Bouchet, recommend Kill the Queen and I needed no further convincing.

My love of this novel has everything to do with Evie and her impressive transformation from unassuming wallflower to the enigmatic, fierce warrior who takes on a villain. It comes at a high price that shatters her trust but she still has room for faith. All that time under the radar while at Seven Spires has given her the opportunity to study people and discern their intentions. It has proven to be an invaluable skill as she fights to stay alive while in hiding as she bides her time before confronting her murderous cousin, Vasilia. It's the little things about Evie that endeared her to me like when she catches her self doubts and gently chides herself to remember that she's no longer that pushover that people ignored. It makes her a more believable character as she's adapts to her new persona and newfound resolution. And she consistently fights to do the right thing even if it means putting other people before her in order to save them. There's never a single moment of hesitation when it comes to that.

Surrounding Evie is an stellar cast of characters who belong to a travelling gladiator troupe that make up the family that she's been missing all along. These are folks who are true to their convictions and value loyalty and trust above all else. One of the new friends in her life is Lucas Sullivan, a magier who is initially brusque with her. She feels him a kindred spirit in a way but with his own secretive past and principles, he keeps a certain emotional distance from her. Aside from Lucas, sShe also gains a new best friend which is a giant step for her being that she doesn't trust easily. Gaining that camaraderie and seeing what true loyalty is has emboldened her to fulfill her promise of righting wrongs, avenging her aunt's death, and saving the kingdom that has been her home all these years. 

Kill the Queen is filled with drama, magic and suspense in a world that's aching for a true heroine to help it right itself. Jennifer Estep has created such a rich and detailed world that simultaneously feels relatable and fantastical. It's an underdog story (my catnip!) and an absolute page-turner that has me hooked!

~ Bel

The Druid Next Door by E.J. Russell

***1/2

From Riptide:

Professor Bryce MacLeod has devoted his entire life to environmentalism. But how effective can he be in saving the planet when he can’t even get his surly neighbor to separate his recycling?

Former Queen’s Enforcer Mal Kendrick doesn’t think his life could get any worse: he’s been exiled from Faerie with a cursed and useless right hand. When he’s not dodging random fae assassins in the Outer World, he’s going toe-to-toe with his tree-hugging neighbor. And when he discovers that the tree hugger is really a druid, he’s certain the gods have it in for him—after all, there’s always a catch with druids. Then he’s magically shackled to the man and expected to instruct him in Supernatural 101.

All right, now things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Until a mysterious stranger offers a drunken Mal the chance to gain back all he’s lost—for a price. After Mal accepts, he discovers the real catch: an ancient secret that will change his and Bryce’s life forever.

Ah, what the hells. Odds are they won’t survive the week anyway.

Source:  An electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.  

The Bad:  

I don't love Mal and Bryce as much as I loved David and Alun from Book 1, Cutie and the Beast.  I mean, I like Mal and Bryce, but I LOVE David and Alun.  Especially David.  

The Good:

David, Alun, and Gareth all make appearances in Druid.  This makes me so very happy!  

I'm a big paranormal fan, so I love the supernatural elements to this series.  A world where the fae, shifters, druids, etc. all exist and are just as messed up as the rest of us.  

Someone recently asked me for recommendations on a sweet read and this and Cutie were among the first books to come to mind.  This entire series should come with a sweetness warning.  And while the stories are sweet, there are also elements of prejudice and racism faced by the couples.  In Druid, Bryce has no idea he's a powerful Druid until Mal tells him and sics David and his grandmother on him.  But fae hate druids.  And many fae won't take kindly to a fae dating a druid.  More importantly there's an old legend that a druid can make a fae a slave through mind control.  

Mal as a middle child, Mal has always felt invisible and just picking up the scraps from his older brother, who is the Queen's enforcer (a job Mal took over when Alun was banished), and his younger brother, who is the last true bard.  Mal likes how Bryce makes him feel special and let's him relinquish control.  Bryce is horrified that he sometimes feels tempted to control Mal, but knows he never actually would, especially as his feelings grow deeper.

So Mal and Bryce are trying to figure out who they are separately, and together, all while Mal ropes Bryce into helping him complete quests in order to end his curse.  What they get in to is much bigger than Mal's curse and could be deadly to, not just them, but all of the fae.    

Bottom Line:  Read this series.  Start with Cutie and the Beast.  Next is The Druid Next Door.  And then Bad Boy's Bard.  You won't be sorry.  It's sweet romance, paranormal fun, and throw in some mystery to complete the recipe for a thorougly enjoyable read!  

~ Shel  

Rise of Fire (Reign of Shadows #2) by Sophie Jordan

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The richly suspenseful sequel to Sophie Jordan’s romantic fantasy Reign of Shadows.

Luna and Fowler have escaped the kingdom of Relhok, but they haven’t escaped the darkness. When a battle against the dark dwellers mortally injures Fowler, Luna is faced with a choice: put their fate in the hands of mysterious strangers or risk losing Fowler forever.

Desperate to keep the one bright part of her life alive, Luna accepts the help of soldiers from a nearby kingdom. Lagonia’s castle offers reprieve from the dangerous outside world—until the king discovers both Fowler's and Luna’s true ties to Relhok and their influence over the throne.

Now pawns in each kingdom’s political game, Luna and Fowler are more determined than ever to escape and build the life they’ve been dreaming of. But their own pasts have a tight hold on their hearts and their destinies. Luna must embrace the darkness and fire within her before she loses not only Fowler, but the power she was destined to inherit. 

*Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for a honest review

There's no break in the action as Rise of Fire kicks off where we last ended and that's Fowler having been taken underground by the ghastly dwellers and Luna going after him. We've come to know and admire Luna for the force that she is, therefore, it's no surprise that she heroically helps him escape. Unfortunately, Fowler is poisoned by the dwellers and she has to resort to trusting strangers they encounter for help during their escape. It's a precarious scenario but Fowler's life is on the line and Luna's not about to risk it. They end up in a neighbouring kingdom that has strained ties with Relhok. Once their identities are confirmed, they become pawns in a dangerous power grab that neither is interested in being a part of. Though their escape is thwarted, they may have found an unlikely ally in the process.

Only one thing stumped me here and that is the one element that I excited me in Reign of Shadows which became the one element that confounded me in this book. In Reign of Shadows, I was so impressed that Luna was blind yet accomplished at reading her surroundings through sound, smell and touch. She was trained well by her caretakers and it made sense to me that she was adept at taking care of herself in familiar terrain where she could easily decipher all those details. I felt it required much more of a suspension of disbelief this time when she's in foreign territory surrounded by strangers. I feel like I could have done with a little more detail from her perspective as to how she was reading and navigating her new, unfamiliar environment while keeping everyone from knowing the truth. That was the one piece that kept gnawing at me. I'd be curious to know what other readers feel about this.

I still enjoyed the book and above all I loved that Luna is a strong figure able to overcome her disability. We need to have more characters like her to cheer on. Rise of Fire is a fun fantasy, a classic good versus evil. By the way, there is a bit of a surprise towards the end, something rather unexpected! 

~ Bel

Breath of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #2) by Amanda Bouchet

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SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD... 

"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a girl to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world-for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin must embrace their fate together. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or not at all.


Source: advance e-galley provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review


Considering that A Promise of Fire is my favourite book of 2016 and how successful it's been, Breath of Fire has a lot to live up to. You know how it goes: you enjoy the start of a series and eagerly await the next book. If you're lucky, it meets or even exceeds your expectations. I'm happy to share that it has exceeded anything I could have hoped for!

Bouchet has us picking up where we left off in APoF with Cat and Griffin still together, Cat resigning herself to the fact that she is needed in Sinta to assist with the "smooth" transition of power of the new royal family. Knowing how things went previously, it won't be simple. There is too much ill-will about with power-hungry, opportunistic people aiming straight for them. Did I forget anything? Oh yes, Cat's homicidal mother whose maternal instincts are non-existent. Not to mention that Cat is descended from Greek gods. Those guys are complicated enough so naturally it's far worse when they're family! They're not exactly the most stable of people, amiright? 

The main struggle in BoF is Cat coming to terms with her destiny. She's kept this shameful secret to herself not wanting anyone to know that she could potentially be their ruin and downfall. How can she share such a damaging revelation when she's barely even accepted it herself? Not even with Griffin. He does sense that she's withholding something from him but reluctantly gives her the space until she's ready. At this point, Bouchet shows us how Cat has matured in allowing intimacy and friendships in her life though her screwed up childhood continues to haunt her, especially now. She feels an immense responsibility for everyone's safety and well-being resting solely on her shoulders, and guilt for anything that goes badly. The drudged up memories of her beloved sister go a long way in explaining her mental state. If anything, this entire second book feels like a "trust fall" exercise with magical creatures involved.

All the ingredients that made APoF so brilliant are in BoF. Once things start ramping up - thanks to a quest that leads them outside of the safety of Sinta - they don't stop. Relentless battles and trials swiftly reign down on Cat and crew. There's almost no break so thank goodness for the funny moments that serve as a welcome relief from the stress and action. It's nice to see that Cat and the rest of the Beta Team don't lose their humour or wicked charm. Their unwavering bond is what holds all the pages of this story together. Speaking of charm, Cat and Griffin are as on fire as ever. I love these two as a couple because they're equals in intellect, ability and passion. After being solo for so many years, Griffin offers Cat an alternate perspective that challenges her tendency towards skepticism. And their private moments speak volumes to their connection. They are the ultimate power couple. 

I happened to see this series described on Twitter as a "romantasy" and it's a perfect description. You want an epic, breathless adventure with a beautiful love story in there? You've got it right here with Breath of Fire as your next read!

~ Bel


PSSST!! ... check out the Breath of Fire Spotlight Tour. Read an exclusive excerpt, see which one of the Beta Team Hunks is your ideal match and also enter the giveaway to win 1 of 10 copies of A Promise of Fire and a signed bookplate! (Giveaway courtesy of Sourcebooks Casablanca.)