I really, really wanted to like this book. Really. Look at this cover! It's Black girl magic! And Egypt! And time traveling!

Although the research is well done by the author, there were too many parts where the writing was skimmed and I had to go back and reread it several times. There were parts were the actions felt hushed, and no explanation was given, and there was a back and forth of a huge cast of characters before we really understood who was who. The story itself I found a little boring - it did have potential, but in the end, I just couldn't really care about Portia's story. The ending was also very abrupt, and I wasn't aware this was going to be a series. There was no wrapping on the character arc, so it felt a little thrown into the wind.
In the end, I really wished I had enjoyed this, but I only thought it was boring. I hope more people can find this differently than I did, and like this book!

I unfortunately did not finish this novel and stopped at 32%.

After a shaky start, I seriously enjoyed this. It was a refreshing read, to be honest, with the different protagonists and the vivid world of ancient Egypt was beautifully portrayed here. While I admit there were some points I wasn't so sure about, and some things were skipped I thought were more important than the time given to them, it still had charm! I recommend it.

It seems to me that I've been reading this book for ages even if I read it in a few days. It definitely had a mix of good and bad things but if you're going to read this, you have to know that it's a slow book. And it's not slow in the way of appreciating-every-word and being transported to where the characters were, it was slow in he info-dumping way and in the sometimes-hard-to-follow way. I absolutely adored the setting though. When I was younger I loved reading about Ancient Egypt and seeing the characters there and learning about their customs and their way of life through the main character's eyes was an adventure for sure. I appreciated the painting of the setting, the food, the magic system that was tied with the mythology and the legends from that place and that time, everything made a lot of sense in a theoretical way.

My problem was that I couldn't get into the story. There was just so much to understand and so much to just accept without a proper explanation, that it was hard to follow. I couldn't connect with any of the characters because I felt like all of them cared too much about themselves and not enough about the situation. It was so unrealistic to me that they wouldn't question anything or that they wouldn't think about their families more than once in the entire novel. Honestly, we got a lot of boring moments because of the lack of drive and initiative of the main character when she would just accept everything that was happening and I just wasn't buying it. I hated that she would prefer sitting down and reading and praying more than learning about magic, which was the best thing in my eyes.

I just have so many questions about the way things worked. Like I said, I loved how the magic system intertwined with the myths in Ancient Egypt but it was also difficult to understand because they wouldn't explain it correctly. I absolutely adored that all of the characters were black and the diversity was gorgeous, we need more books with cast like that. But at the same time I thought they were all very flat. I liked them and I thought they were fine but I couldn't connect with them or with the plot. I think it would have improved if we would have seen different points of views and with a better structure but overall it was an interesting first book in a series and I hope it improves with the next books.

Okay, let's start with the cover, shall we? Because that cover is simply gorgeous, and a big reason why I asked NetGalley for a copy. It catches the eye and got me curious. Not to mention how excited I was at the idea of a story featuring a black female protagonist. I do like my books diverse, after all.

And damn, did the content match the cover. The Blazing Star is an amazing story from beginning to end, and I love all the topics it covers, from magic to Portia's relationship with her sister to Egyptian religion to female friendships. Female characters are the main focus of the story, leaving the male characters in the shadow, and I can't say I mind! I loved how complex all those women were, and how complex their relationships with each other were. I also loved how there was not on 'right' way to be a strong woman in this book, with the princess and the priestess being portrayed as equally strong despite how different their characters were, and with no woman putting another one down for being different. It goes a long way to show that being a Strong Female Character™ is about more than knowing how to fight and be stoic.

This book also reminded me of how fascinated I was with ancient mythology as a child (Egyptian, Greek, Norse... I loved them all!). It did a really good job of giving you a glimpse into the past, and the way everything was described was really wonderful to read. Though, if I have to be nitpicky about it, I have to admit the descriptions of the women's outfits can be a bit much at times. While it's nice to plant the decor at first, there is no need to go into great length to describe every new outfit everyone wears... It only makes the text more heavy.

Lastly, I saw people complaining about the instalove in the book, and I must admit it didn't bother me too much. As in, I've seen much worse, and this one was actually believable in my opinion. It was not too 'in your face' either, beside one big scene at the end, and it didn't take the focus away from the main storyline, so it is something you can easily put aside to focus on more compelling plot points. (And, even if I'm not an expert on the subject, it's nice to see a black girl being so adored by her love interest, just saying.)

In conclusion, The Blazing Star is a nice and delightful read if you want some magic and a lot of girl power in your life. The cliffhanger left me with a hundred questions and I'm really glad that Imani Josey teased a second book on her Instagram account because I need answers! I need all the answers! All of them!

i was really excited to read this book. before starting, i hadn't heard much about it. i loved the fact that it was a time travel novel featuring ancient egypt and the main character is a woc. the general concept was really good, but when reading it, i felt something was missing.

one of the biggest issues for me is the lack of world building. so i absolutely love ancient egypt. i think it's so fascinating, and completely underappreciated. but while reading this, it felt like any other ancient- world type book or historical fiction. nothing really made it stand out. i think with a bit more world building, this book's world would've been able to stand out a whole lot more.

another thing i struggled with was how confusing it was. this could entirely be my own fault as i was listening to the book while doing other things, instead of devoting my whole attention to it. in the second half (by second half, i mean after they've travelled to ancient egypt) i got extremely lost. things were happening too quickly (with the introductions of characters, among other things. i had no idea who was who.) there just wasn't enough development. i found the pacing of the novel to be really slow for the most part, even though the book is set over a decent length of time.

(i feel weird saying that some things happened quickly but the pacing was slow. i hope you know what i mean by this because i have no idea how to explain it.)

i just want to say, that although i have mentioned quite a few negative things, i did really enjoy the characters. i loved the relationship the three girls had. i do plan on reading more books in this series, even though i didn't like the blazing star as much as i'd have liked. i believe imani josey has the potential to write some amazing things and i'd like to see where this series goes.

This debut novel called out to me for a few different reasons. It features main characters who are African American, so the diversity was a plus factor. I've been interested in Egyptian mythology in the past, so time travel back to Ancient Egypt? Sign me up. Add an element of magic and it sounds like this should have been quite a good novel.

I was of this mind for the first few chapters, at least while Portia, her sister Alex, and Selene (the unwitting freshman), were still in modern times. It felt like the author's writing was the most comfortable while in this time period. Once the narrative shifts to Ancient Egypt is when things start to fall apart for me.

The three girls are separated immediately, which affects the closeness that these modern girls should have when confronted with their new situation. It takes a really long time for anything to come together, whether that be Portia figuring out what's going on or finding out where Selene or Alex are.

Even once the girls are somewhat reunited, the story never really picks up. The words drag on so much that reading it was honestly painful at times. I did not enjoy reading this book from around 40% onward, which was disappointing. Aside from the slowness of the plot, the characters suffered. Alex was not in the novel nearly as much as one would suspect and I don't think we really got to know her beyond a facade of the perfect twin, the smart girl that doesn't question her gift because she doesn't care.

Something else that bothered me regarding this book was the heavy barrage of information regarding the clothing, the architecture, and the surroundings Portia found herself in. It all felt like too much, like I was being hit by another explanation about what this was called or that was called every other sentence. It didn't feel like world building, it felt like being force fed information and that was less than enjoyable.

I found the explanation for the events of the book (why they went back in time, the scarab, etc.) to be somewhat lacking. It could've been developed into something great, I think, but so much time was wasted on other things that the big reveal felt like a letdown. I'm curious whether this will be the standalone. At the moment there's no series listed as continuing, but the story has some potential for continuation. I'm not sure whether that would be in the best interest of the story or whether it should be allowed to lay to rest.

The cover is gorgeous, the first 25% of the book is enjoyable, but I wouldn't recommend this too highly unless you enjoy the heaviness of information and slow pacing.

Loved it,a perdect time travel novel although there were some plotholes like the same english language among others,but the overall stòey was engaging and a really good book for a debut novel. I am waiting really hard for the sequel as the cliffhanger was really suspenseful and left me hoping for more..it is definitely one of my favourite books

This book has a very good start.
The only trouble was when it should have become really interesting it became very boring and the characters totally changed.
Very disappointing

I received a review copy in exchange with an honest review.

Very beautiful and descriptive writing was used in this book to describe even the most mundane thoughts. You will be highlighting, like a lot. You might as well take flirting notes from the Pharaoh himself!

Portia always has to go along with whatever her twin sister does because she is a genius! Twinning is her sister’s brand, but Portia is tired of being her shadow.

When they visit a museum,Portia touches a Scarab, and suddenly ends up in Ancient Egypt with her twin and a new freshman.

There, she uncovers the truth about who she really is, finds her voice, and learn about her real ancestors.

I have to start by saying ” LOOK AT THAT COVER!!!” Doesn’t it Diversify the fuck out of you????? An Egyptian, person of color is on it……….. I am an Egyptian Person of Color!!!!

I have to say that the plot was very slow at first, that I almost lost interest to finish it. However, Portia’s sassiness and non-stop “snarks” , even in the most serious occasions, never ceased to be. That kept me flipping the pages with a wide smile plastered to my face.

By 40% of the book, I was slowly, yet surely enjoying this book. I mean, with an unknown mystery, a coming of age tale, magic , and people of color everywhere, how could I resist??

I have to admit that I ended up staying up till 5 in the morning to finish the book . There was just so much to uncover, and also romance stuff were finally connecting!!!!



Overall, I highly recommend this book. Yes, it was a bit too slow at first, but it is definitely worth it.

I give it 4/5 stars

This book had some of my favorite things: time travel, fun historical details, and some potential romance. Portia is pretty kick-butt, too.
I had a few difficulties with the book. All of these are my own weird issues and nothing that the author could really change, but hey, it's a review, so I'll mention them. First, there were so many people and their names were all weird. Yes it's Ancient Egypt, but I had a difficult time keeping everyone together. Plus, stories get told and then there are more names... it was a lot for me. Second, it was slow to get going. Around the 60% mark I finally got a little interested, then at 80% I was invested. Too long unless you know there's a sequel. Then there was a cliff-hanger. I assume a sequel is in order? I hope it comes soon!

THE BLAZING STAR is a low fantasy novel that incorporates elements of both contemporary and historical fiction. I awarded it an extra star for the diverse characters and transformative setting. However, overall the plot was not very compelling to me. It had potential, and you can tell the author is a good writer through her descriptions and world-building. I don't recall ever reading a book that took place (mostly) in Ancient Egypt. Unfortunately, though, that one factor of intrigue didn't evoke my comprehensive enjoyment of the novel as a whole.

I find it a frustrating trope when the protagonist is thrust into a world she knows nothing about and so is completely clueless for a majority of the novel. HOWEVER, that does serve one purpose: the MC knows as little about the new world as the readers do, so we can learn about it together. This novel, I felt, didn't put that convenience to good use. Yes, the main girls were in an unfamiliar setting, but they already had such an understanding of Ancient Egyptian customs and such that they were just like "okay, this makes sense" a lot of the time, leaving me, the reader, still confused as to what? why? huh? It's assumed that the girls learned these things in their class and/or subconsciously through the magic system that brought them to the past to begin with. I just felt like this disconnect of knowledge made it hard for me to stay invested in what was happening since not everything was suitably explained. Also, there were so many characters, I had trouble keeping track of them!

Honestly, it's a relatively short book that is a bit slow to get started. I personally did not get a ton of enjoyment out of it, but I still think if you read the description and it sounds interesting to you, you should give it a try. Lately, time-traveling kinds of stories just haven't clicked with me. This particular novel has a really unique concept; I just wish the plot had more direction and explanations weaved throughout.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Netgalley for review purposes.

Portia has been living in her twin sister’s shadow her entire life because her twin sister is a genius and Portia has been standing behind Alex in support her entire life. But when Portia comes into contact with an ancient Egyptian scarab, she is pushed into the limelight for the first time in her entire life – she is transported to Ancient Egypt. Now Portia is in Ancient Egypt with her sister and a freshman, and a new magical ability she’s never had before. They find out they are tied to the past, and to each other, in more ways than they ever realised and now they have to decide what is truly important.

The Blazing Star was a well-researched and enjoyable book. The Blazing Star is definitely a breath of fresh air in YA – it is an original story with a unique setting so it is one I’d would recommend for those looking for a historical time travelling fantasy with a diverse setting. The setting was atmospheric and one of the best aspect of The Blazing Star – the myth, culture, and religion was really interesting and rich.

However, the reason it got a lower rating was largely due to its very sluggish pace. The second half picked up a little bit. I also felt like characterisation was lacking compared to the world building. Portia herself had some decent character growth, I felt like the secondary character were not as well developed. The same can be said for the relationships. Being a twin myself I was looking forward to Alex and Portia’s relationship but it did not really resonate with me. Portia’s relationship with Meremptah also suffered from insta-love, but it was actually cute and they had a good chemistry but I am glad it wasn’t at the forefront of the story. There was a lot of girls supporting girls, so that was also a positive.

Overall, an original and diverse read with a rich and atmospheric setting – would definitely recommend

RATING: ★★★☆☆

This book is the definition of character development. Portia, the protagonist, shares a twin (Alex) who is a genuine genius - and Portia?? Well she's not. At the beginning of the novel, she takes not being up to Alex's level of genius as meaning she isn't special; and it's beautiful to see her change. Example:
"You've always meant something to me," she (Alex) said.
"But I didn't mean anything to me, Alex," I replied. "I didn't mean anything to me." Little mention for the Priestesses as well !!!!!! ACTUAL SASS-INSPIRATION.
The writing is witty and fun and so relatable it's hard to believe that Josey isn't a 17 year old teenage girl JUST LIKE ME. I've never read something that describes a mysterious illness as "whatever strain of Ebola I'd contracted," legit something I would say if I suddenly felt like I was dying, though not the most eloquent and scientifically accurate. If I went into my History lesson tomorrow, period 2 by the way, and was transported to ancient Egypt I would TOTALLY marvel at the "big ass wigs" and wonder why everything was so complicated - as Portia puts it, they need instructions, like Ikea. Basically what I'm trying to say is Josey made me giggle SO MUCH okay okay last one: "I can't squander our legacy" (beautiful, heir to the throne/pharaoh, prince-person speaking) "Ever heard of Xanax?" There were just so many JEWELS in this book and whilst I appreciate that irks people the wrong way, there was just the right balance for me.

I thought I'd be really bored with the plot... unpopular opinion coming up but: I didn't like Passenger (by Alexander Bracken). I don't know what my problem was - I LOVE history, it sounded cool in theory but in reality?? It was one of my two DNF's of last year! I'm so glad that 1) The characters leave to Egypt quickly. Somehow, Josey managed to make me feel as if I knew enough about their home life to leave so early in the book, but I was eager to get to the plot of the story. 2) The characters REMAIN in Egypt. The characters are beautiful and intricate but not complicated - there's a clear hierarchy that's easy to follow and you can quickly establish who you like and dislike... with some surprises. Meremptah is the ❤️ of my life as well. He reminds me of Khalid (TWATD) a lot in his loyalty to his country & to his lady and I am just ALL FOR the trip that the "nothing-special" girl in one place can win the heart of a soon-to-be-Pharoah in another.

Overall, this is definitely a 5* book for me & everybody should read it - it's only 239 pages, what have you got to lose?? I hope you love it too ❤

Ps I feel like this review is incomplete without mentioning the importance of this book in terms of the diversity it provides... I'm not from the minority so can't preach about it in that sense but all I'll say is LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL COVER and 80% of this book is set in ANCIENT EGYPT. Bookavid has a great review of this book regarding the diversity aspect of it as well on her blog, goodreads channel, etc.

// Thank you NetGalley & Wise Ink Creative Publishing for providing a copy so I could write an honest review //

This book is the definition of character development. Portia, the protagonist, shares a twin (Alex) who is a genuine genius - and Portia?? Well she's not. At the beginning of the novel, she takes not being up to Alex's level of genius as meaning she isn't special; and it's beautiful to see her change. Example:
"You've always meant something to me," she (Alex) said.
"But I didn't mean anything to me, Alex," I replied. "I didn't mean anything to me."
Little mention for the Priestesses as well !!!!!! ACTUAL SASS-INSPIRATION.

The writing is witty and fun and so relatable it's hard to believe that Josey isn't a 17 year old teenage girl JUST LIKE ME. I've never read something that describes a mysterious illness as "whatever strain of Ebola I'd contracted," legit something I would say if I suddenly felt like I was dying, though not the most eloquent and scientifically accurate. If I went into my History lesson tomorrow, and was transported to ancient Egypt I would TOTALLY marvel at the "big ass wigs" and wonder why everything was so complicated - as Portia puts it, they need instructions, like Ikea. Basically what I'm trying to say is Josey made me giggle SO MUCH okay okay last one: "I can't squander our legacy" (beautiful, heir to the throne/pharaoh, prince-person speaking) "Ever heard of Xanax?" There were just so many JEWELS in this book and whilst I appreciate that irks people the wrong way, there was just the right balance for me.

I thought I'd be really bored with the plot... unpopular opinion coming up but: I didn't like Passenger (by Alexander Bracken). I don't know what my problem was - I LOVE history, it sounded cool in theory but in reality?? It was one of my two DNF's of last year! I'm so glad that 1) The characters leave to Egypt quickly. Somehow, Josey managed to make me feel as if I knew enough about their home life to leave so early in the book, but I was eager to get to the plot of the story. 2) The characters REMAIN in Egypt. The characters are beautiful and intricate but not complicated - there's a clear hierarchy that's easy to follow and you can quickly establish who you like and dislike... with some surprises. Meremptah is the ❤️ of my life as well. He reminds me of Khalid (TWATD) a lot in his loyalty to his country & to his lady and I am just ALL FOR the trip that the "nothing-special" girl in one place can win the heart of a soon-to-be-Pharoah in another.

Overall, this is definitely a 5* book for me & everybody should read it - it's only 239 pages, what have you got to lose?? I hope you love it too ❤

Ps I feel like this review is incomplete without mentioning the importance of this book in terms of the diversity it provides... I'm not from the minority so can't speak about it in that sense but all I'll say is LOOK AT THE BEAUTIFUL COVER and 80% of this book is set in ANCIENT EGYPT, but most of the powerful people we meet are women and I can say that is so wonderful to read about. Bookavid has a great review of this book regarding the diversity aspect of it as well on her blog, goodreads channel, etc.

3.5 stars! I loved the concept of the story, time-travelling into Ancient Eygpt and the characters and their relationships. But I felt at times, I would get confused as to who was who. 10 points for diversity!

Portia's and the Prince's relationship was sweet, especially during the last chapter. The ending has me wanting more! I'm assuming there will be a sequel because so many things are unsolved.

Portia White has always been in the shadow of her smarter, prettier twin Alex until one day something odd happens and Portia finds herself transported to Ancient Egypt where she finds out she has the magic power of Heka. When Portia realises Alex and another girl Selene have also been transported, they must figure out what’s going on and how to get home.

I really enjoyed this and it was pleasant journey for me from going to a book about Ancient Rome (Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman) to one about Ancient Egypt. From the get go, i just really liked Portia and I think I really connected with her doubts in her self belief and self worth and her new struggles to connect with her twin and best friend when they suddenly want different things.

I feel like Portia had some really great character development in this book and I really saw her grow as she came into her powers and really became a leader for Alex and Selene in a way she had never been before. I didn’t really like Alex and the obsession with ‘twinning’ and I actually just wanted her to get lost most of the time (would have totally preferred her to have just stayed in the other world). I liked Portia’s older sister relationship with Selene and how they protected each other, it was lovely to read and unlike Alex, I liked Selene who also had some great character development throughout.

There were some bits abut the Heka and the Star that I think at one point went over my head so at times, I was a bit confused about what was going on but I think it might have been cause I was slightly ill when reading so my attention probably wavered a bit at that point.

I really loved Portia’s relationship with Merenptah/Seti. I thought they seemed to have a genuine chemistry and especially the second time they meet there is just so much chemistry, I was begging them to kiss!

I thought the second last chapter ended really abruptly and I would have liked it to have been wrapped up a little bit better. I am presuming there’s going to be another book coming out in this series/trilogy and will definitely be reading!

I loved this book, five stars! It had everything I could have wished for - time travel, ancient Egypt, family bonds, adventure, suspense... What really caught my attention is the cover though. The girl is breathtaking! The contrast between her and the light cover/pastel tones is so well done. I think it's going to grab a lot of people's attention on bookstore shelves. I read this story without barely putting it down. Twists and turns and the suspense was amazing to keep me turning the pages. I will be on the lookout for more from this author and will buy a copy of this book for my home library. I have already reviewed and recommended it to fellow readers.

I was taken in by time travel, by the journey of two sisters, and of course Egypt. Yet I didn't enjoy this read as much as I had hoped I would.

It took me several chapters before it started to catch my attention and even then it was only held for a short time. I kept reading through hoping that I might see more that would peak my interest, but that didn't seem to happen. The Blazing Star was not intriguing to me and seemed overly played. There wasn't any unique spin to Alex and Portia's story-line and was exactly as it sounded. One sibling being the smart and ambitious beloved by all and the other one feeling like they don't fit in and no one pays them any attention.

"I somehow angled my father back toward his elder (if eleven and a half minutes counts) daughter's speech. the spotlight swallowed Alex, but nothing short of the apocalypse would stop her. Since we'd set foot in Roosevelt, she'd toiled to be AcaDec's first Golden Apple champion in over a decade, the first African-American Golden Apple champion ever. It was time to hail Caesar."

Though many of the previous chapters moved slowly for me, I found my place with this read as we began to see the beauty that waited ahead. Detailed impressively and making me feel like I was right there with them. Egypt became the focal point of this story.

"Illuminated by bright torchlight, the goddess Isis, a towering woman with outstretched wings and a throne-like crown, welcomed Pharaoh to her home in paints of vivid red, green, and yellow. She didn't smile, but she was gracious, humbling Pharaoh in her presence. My eyes turned to Serepti for instructions, though she didn't speak. She took in the image of Isis as I did, contently humming again."

And yes, I loved that part of the book, it's what kept me reading, but it still lacked with all the main characters. I could not bring myself to truly enjoy this book because of it. If anything it was everyone else in this book that made it worthwhile. Portia draws the attention of some of these characters by posessing the Epgytian magic called heka including, Sikara and Ankhmir. As well as a love interest more than halfway into this story, Merenptah who turns out to be more than she expected.

"I peered into his dark eyes. 'That's fine,' I said quietly, and took his hands. I placed them on my waist, closing the remaining distance between us. His eyes flickered in surprise, wary of dance but intrigued by my boldness. My arms slid his neck. 'And now you sway with the music.'"

I would have enjoyed The Blazing Star so much more if it had all been set in Egypt. The story line of two high school sisters and their friend, whom I seem to forget continuously, transported in time just erased. Keep them in the mix, but always having been from that era. It might have made this tremendously better.

***I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own***

This book has been coming up on my radar for a few months now, so when I got the chance to read it, I knew I needed to check it out. Thank you to NetGalley and Wise Ink for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!

Time travel stories are tricky for me, so I knew going into this that it could either be a hit or miss for me. But, I actually think the time travel aspect worked really well with the book. It made sense and while I feel like it could have potentially fallen into a few time travel traps, overall I thought it was handled great. Of course, I also happen to really love ancient Egypt, so that certainly didn't hurt at all.

My biggest complaint was the beginning. I had such a hard time getting into this book and it seemed to have a painfully slow start. Once the story picked up, though, I could hardly put The Blazing Star Down. The ending was especially great.

I also had a hard time feeling really attached to the characters, especially some of the side characters. I liked the characters for the most part, but I didn't feel as connected to them as I'd have liked. Part of that might have been due to the beginning being a little dull. Again, once I got into the story and things picked up, I also found myself feeling more invested in the characters as well.

Despite my issues, I did enjoy this book a lot. This was a unique take on time travel. I'm interested to see where Josey takes the story next!

It was okay. The world building needed some work and the story could have been fleshed out some more. I loved the concept and would have liked it to been developed better. All in all, it was good but not great.