Starlight – Book Review

Book Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)

What do a delivery boy, a seamstress, and a princess all have in common?

This isn’t the start of a joke. This is where paths cross in Starlight by P.S. Malcolm. When running his daily errands, Julian meets Adrina, a seamstress’s daughter. It’s a brief encounter, one that might not have meant anything, until their paths cross again in the Starlight Court in preparation for the Princess’s inauguration. This might have been a pure coincidence, if there weren’t secrets underlying the upcoming event that sends both Julian and Adrina’s lives spiraling.

This wonderful novella introduces you to the world of the Starlight Chronicles, and in a few short pages the author’s world building guides sets up a fantasy world stuck at the brink of a tenuous revolt. As a prequel, this book sets up elements for the Starlight chronicles’ first book, Lanterns in the Sky, which I cannot wait to pick up after reading this one!

I had two primary qualms with the book, the first one being a personal taste more than anything else. The story is told from multiple 1st-person points-of-view. While each voice was unique enough, and with the indicators at the top of the chapter I never got confused, I’ve never been a fan of multiple 1st person POVs. But this is purely a personal taste than anything else. The primary qualm I had was the length. Everything in the story happens so fast, and while it didn’t take away from the world building, I felt like it would have benefited being a tiny bit longer to under the characters’ motivations and internal conflict, especially around Julian who seems to switch his opinions pretty regularly.

That being said though, Starlight served as an amazing introduction to the series…and as soon as I finished, I ordered a copy of Lanterns in the Sky!

So if you want a quick read with a love story, magic, betrayal, and secrets…check out Starlight! I definitely recommend it.

What’s it about?

A treaty upholds the peaceful lands of Ersarence— who have suffered from the spilt blood of their humble goddess, Titania, which stains the hands of the ruthless Urenphians.

Julian Rancewood— a small town delivery boy— wishes he could afford to save his dying mother. He never imagined a larger life for himself until he meets Adrina Hesfetter, the village seamstress’s daughter.

After striking a deal with the elusive King’s advisor and joining the royal army, he finds himself helping to search for a missing, unknown heir. Against all odds, Adrina and Julian soon meet again within the palace walls.

When Julian discovers Adrina’s fire magic— an impossibility among non-royals— they uncover a scandalous secret that will cause whispers of a Urenphian rebellion to travel through the kingdom. A thirst for revenge and a passionate romance causes the two villagers to set the events in motion which will bring down the entire Starlight Kingdom.

A Starlight Chronicles Novella.