I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the magical aspect with Hetta being an illusionist and bringing in the fae, which was unexpected. The flow of the story was well paced and not too fast, but I found at different parts I became bored and wasn’t sure if I should even finish the book. The story was surrounded with mystery that left me wanting to know what would happen. AJ Lancaster did a wonderful job in developing her character’s personalities that made them personal and believable throughout the story. I’m curious to know what will happen in the next book.

I liked the story and the characters and the world-building is excellent. A fast paced and gripping read with a believable romance I found myself heavily invested in as a reader.

This is well written its just not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance read

Holy croissants! This book is amazing!

It's a very refreshing take on YA Fantasy and i love it! I honestly don't know where to begin.

The book is setted so lovely which really pulls you in with its magical allure. And the way the book is written, not only is it easy to understand but also interesting and oh, so thrilling! It's been quite a journey with our beloved characters.

I especially loved Hetta. She's just what i'm looking for in a character. Kind, determined and righteous. I knew i was going to like her when i was reading the earlier pages. She'd be someone i'd look up to in real life.

The book is detailed, thorough, very well written and rather unique to its genre. I can't point out why, but it just is. Also, as an avid fan of romance, i'm liking that it has romance in it. However, i love that it's written that it doesn't take away the whole storyline. And it blends into the story really well. That's truly one of the best things that one could find in a book.

To those who've yet read, I'd genuinely reccomend this. It's a perfect addition to one's "Read" list. So, what are you waiting for? Hurry and read it!

This is another one of the books I've picked up on Netgalley because the blurb sounds interesting, though it's taken a while for me to actually finish (real life intruding!) and then review it.

The basic premise of The Lord of Stariel is that it's the first of a series, set in a pseudo-Victorian world where our protagonist, Hetta, has left the family estate and established herself as an illusionist in the theatre. This means she's using magic to support the performances, which is shocking both from her being of the nobility and working for a living and also because she's a woman. When we first meet her, she's returning to the family home after the death of her father because of a ritual which chooses the next Lord.

There's so much foreshadowing going on, and not subtly either, that it's no surprise at all when the ritual chooses Hetta rather than her older brother or younger cousin, the latter having been the expected heir. Hetta is forced to give up her plans to return to her life elsewhere, only to make a number of discoveries about her family and people she cares about. Saying much more would lead to massive spoilers so the fact this is book 1 of 4 will probably tell you that things are going to be complicated long-term.

The main problem I had with this book, other than the unsubtle way Hetta spends a good chunk of the first part going 'oh, but this ritual is just a formality for someone else to be chosen and I'm fine with that' (which of course lets you know that she's going to be chosen and then have issues with any problems that subsequently arise) was the tendency of the writer to info-dump. There's a whole chapter which is pretty much two characters talking and one of them giving his back-story to fleshing out a sudden piece of world-building, which I have to confess I skimmed. They are, alas, not alone in having a number of 'as you know, Bob...' style conversations! This is, however, the writer's first novel so maybe this is an area in which they can improve....

I wasn't massively impressed with the romance sub-plots going on either, but then I'm not an easy sell where this kind of thing is concerned - I thought Wyn, Hetta's main love interest, wasn't particularly three-dimensional other than being a competent person who she used to have a crush on.

Well butter my biscuit, we have one heck of a story here!

This book is a complete journey. Following our main character Hetta as she returns home after being away for quite some time and she realizes quickly how different things have become including the arrival of the fae. I absolutely adored the adorable narration of Hetta's totally transparent & honest character! She was the definition of a cinnamon roll. The most refreshing part was how she maintained her character through tough trials. She doesn’t allow bitterness and resentment to take place in her heart, even when everyone around her was telling her otherwise.

The first half of this story is the main area that really pulls the reader in. While the second half is consistent, most of the content that makes this book so great is revealed earlier on. The pacing remains rather consistent, with a few lulls in plot movement and intrigue.

Things that I liked:
⇒ The different style in which this book was written (aka writing style). It is not the typical modern YA fantasy!
⇒ The themes discussed.
⇒ The way the fantastical was woven into the story.
⇒ The lessons to be learned.

Things that I didn't like:
⇒ Some side characters felt flat
⇒ Story felt just ever so slightly drawn out

Overall, I loved this story. I think there is something here for everyone to take away.

I tried with this book. I really did.

Fae? Magic? Wealthy estates? Um, yes, please! After a somewhat interesting -- if over-dramatic-- prologue, this book was...not good. When I genuinely try to think of redeeming qualities, I honestly cannot think of any. That sounds harsh, I know! I think, at the end of the day, this book is a mixture of "it's probably not for me," and "this book is just objectively BAD." I'm going to explain why. So bear with me, because this might be a long-ish review.

I confess, I'd not heard of this book before. But I was scrolling through Netgalley, and the cover and premise sounded intriguing -- so request, please! And I was thrilled when it was accepted. Like I mentioned above, the prologue seemed interesting (words I never thought I'd say when it comes to prologues...): Fae, magical gates, mentions of magic... But after that, Fae are BARELY mentioned until the halfway point in the book.

One of the biggest issues with this book was pacing. Pacing, pacing, pacing! It's important, people! This book -- for the most part -- was BORING. There was nothing to push it forward, especially in the first half of the book. Yes, you read that right. HALF. The plot picked up ... slightly ... from that point, but barely. It really did drag, to the point where I just had to skim to get through it. That's never a good sign.

And if you don't have good pacing, then you at least need good writing or engrossing the characters, neither of which this book had. Hetta, the main character, was achingly bland, as was the rest of the cast of characters who I've already forgotten.

The world was also disappointing and barely developed. This book suffered from a case of Unnecessarily Capatalized Words to make it feel like more of a Fantasy Book™️, instead of real world development. For example: North, South, Gate, Choosing, and so on. There was also a few times where the phrase "gods!" was used as an exclamation, but WHAT gods? Unless I missed it, there was nothing mentioned, leading only to just confusing. And boredom. I can't get swept up in the world that author has tried to create when I don't even understand it. This leads me to my next point -- where/when was this book supposed to be set? A fantasy world? Steampunk? The dialogue seemed old-fashioned, there was magic (which I didn't understand how it worked, either) but there were also things mentioned such as electricity, telephones, guns, and trains. So...? Huh? Some kind of alt-reality Earth? I have no clue, because NOTHING WAS EXPLAINED. EVER. I felt like this would've worked much, much better as a historical fantasy.

I wasn't quite sure I understood the audience for this book, either. Adult, I think, considering the character's ages, and even then I'm not entirely sure how old the protagonist was? But it felt very young at points and the tone/mood didn't seem to fit the story.

This was just...not good.

The Lord of Stariel certainly took me by suprise and is now one of my favourite books of the year, if you are looking for whimsical magic, females challenging society and a bit of romance, the Lord of Stariel is waiting for you! The writing feels like a warm blanket in a cold winter night, wrapping the reader up in the mystery of what is happening in this beautiful atmosphere.

The atmosphere of Stariel feels so magical and has a personality all of its own, the reader can imagine that anything can happen within the borders of Stariel. The illusionary and pyromacy magic that is used throughout the book is exciting, interesting and easy to understand, it is perfect for fantasy novices.

Hetta is a particularly likeable character and the reader feels the frustration with her that just because she is a woman the men want to shield her from everything because she is too delicate. Hetta is headstrong and always goes with what she feels is right even if it goes against the males in the family.

The Lord of Stariel is not romance heavy but when it arises it is sweet and definitely adds to the story. The family drama throughout the story is realistic and the family are in the most part likeable characters excluding Aunt Sybil.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book, particularly in the upcoming months when its the perfect time to curl up with a book and forget the outside world.

I received a free ARC from netgalley.

What a delight! This fantasy is its own unique world with two dimensions, fae and mortal, overlapping on one noble property. The heroine is independent but likes her home. She is carefree with her attentions and it causes some awkwardness. Tough family situations make her want to run but she sticks it out.

I was irritated that we are told multiple (at least three) times in the beginning how she enjoyed the loose morals of her coworkers. I got it the first time.

This is a series I will continue to read.

This book is wonderful. I was so engrossed in it, i missed my stop. Several, to be precise.
It is about Hetta who comes home for her father's funeral after living 6 years on her own. She only planned to stay until the next Lord of Stariel has been chosen and was very sure that it would not be her. How it unfolds, is the plot and I do not want to reveal any spoilers.

I am so glad that there are more books in this series, which I hope would explain more about their world in depth.

Thank you to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a mix of fantasy and classic literature, kinda like Jane Austen with magic and fae. The story is set in a world similar to regency England, based on social expectations and manners, but it's also the beginning of a new era, one of electricity, modernization, and female freedom from male domination. Not in terms of the suffragette movement, but in terms of a modern woman returning home to a place that's still holding onto archaic traditions, several years after she's already experienced the freedom outside those borders.

It gives her a unique perspective, not to mention all the clashes with various family members, all of whom relate to her modernity with varying levels of acceptance and disgust.

A major portion of this book's charm is in the family dynamics. Take a bunch of stuffy old people, mixed with teenagers, young men and ladies, all there to see which of them the land chooses as its next lord. Most of these family members remain on the estate after the event, continuing the family politics. The characters and their interactions were very well developed.

I really liked Hetta, the MC. While she ran away from home years ago to work in a "disrespectful" position, she comes back now as a strong, confident woman, the type who can wilt you with a strong word or two. She's one of those typical regency women who are utterly confident in their position and don't give a hoot about what others think. Or at least, that's the way she comes across to others. It's nice to see that in a modern woman.

Overall, this was a great mix of magic and classicism. I'm only giving three stars because it was a good book, I enjoyed reading it, especially the amazing character portrayals, but it didn't evoke any strong emotions or a particular love for it. That's not to say it's a bad book. It really isn't. But compared to others that really captivated me, this one had a more dry tone, comparable to many classics, that makes it harder to fall into its spell.

I received a copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Lord of Stariel is the first in a steampunk fantasy quartet by AJ Lancaster. It has magic and fairies and a great cast of characters.

The Lord of Stariel has a simple, practical writing style and isn’t flowery at all. I thought this fit the book well because the main character, Hetta Valstar, is pretty practical as well. This book is written in British English, as well, which took some getting used to.

One thing I really liked was the world-building. The author created a new religion, which had multiple deities and Druids that presided over ceremonies. Another thing the author created was the different magic types. There was pyromancy, technomancy, illusion work, etc. While I enjoyed the world-building that I got, I wish there was a whole lot more of it. I wanted to know how exactly the magic systems worked, what the religion was called, how long it took to become a master at a type of magic. I hope the next book has more world-building because I feel we just scratched the surface in this book.

The first half of this book was pretty slow. It was mainly about introducing characters and giving a bit of backstory. The main plot line doesn’t even show up until around 45% of the way into the book. I don’t do well with books that focus on characters more than a plot or action, so I was a bit bored with the first half of the book. Once that plot line was introduced, however, the book really took off. I could barely put it down after that!

There is a bit of a love triangle for most of this book, but in my mind, there was no contest between Hetta’s two suitors. I shipped Wyn and Hetta for most of the book. They just bantered and interacted so well with each other! The fact that Hetta wasn’t overly indecisive about who to pick and already seemed to have her mind made up for the most part helped make the love triangle bearable.

A lot happened in the last few chapters of this book, but it never felt rushed to me. It just seemed like the author made good use of the pages. While the main plot line is wrapped up, there is definitely room for more books, which is good since there are supposed to be three more books in this series. I hope the next book explores the world more in depth, as well as the realm of Faerie.

The Lord of Stariel was a really good book, once the action started. I loved the characters and can’t wait to see more of them in the next book! Despite the slower first half, I give this book four out of five stars!

Quotes I Liked:
That’s two unreasonably attractive men in the space of half an hour, she thought distantly. Goodness knows what the next two weeks will bring, if that’s a representative sample of the populace now. – 9%

How long could you play a role before it stopped being one? When did illusion become reality? – 16%

Laughter choked out of her like bits of glass, bright and painful, turning dangerously close to tears.” – 46%

This was a passable fantasy endeavor. I enjoyed the mysterious world of Stariel and the ways in which magic ties one to the land, and the magic system .
However I found, like some other reviewers, I wasn't sure who it was aimed at. It seemed to reach for an adult audience, but settle for a YA one, and at times I would have liked to see more depth and gravitas to the choices Hetta and her cohorts have made.
The most frustrating thing I found was that the world building just was not there - I wanted more of the fae, more of the lands that intersect, why the gates between the two had come to pass -- just more detail for all of these things. There are some really interesting and beautiful ideas and I wanted more of them!
All in all, I did enjoy this. It took a few hours of light reading to finish, and I probably wouldn't pay full book price for it, but would recommend it to the casual kindle reader that snaps up the 99p bargains when they are on sale.
3 and a half stars.

I quite liked The Lord of Stariel. It had an interesting plot and a well characterised heroine although the characterisation of some of the secondary characters was somewhat lacking at times. I would have also liked to learn more about the reasons why Hetta, the heroine, left Stariel in the first place and her relationship with her father. The main problem with this novel is that it didn't quite know who its target audience were. The main characters were adults but it read like a YA novel. Going forward, I think the author needs to hear the novel towards an adult audience. Overall, The Lord of Stariel was a good read and I plan on reading the sequel.

i wanted to love this novel but unfortunately, I didn't.

The premise was amazing, an estate chooses its new master through magic, having fairies and other mythical beings thrown in for good measure.

Unfortunately instead of magical fantasy, it felt very Pride and Prejudice with a few illusions thrown in to keep the reader enthusiastic. Don't get me wrong, Bronte was amazing in her time and I do have a soft spot at times but I was promised magic and fantasy and this did not deliver.

That is not to say there was no magic whatsoever. In portions of the novel where magic was used or a magical beastie appeared, i loved it. There just weren't enough scenes including it.

The major redeeming feature was the intrigue and action in the final 20%. This is where the pace really picked up and i sped through it.

Not sure if I would purchase a physical copy but I would have been content had I purchased it at its $5-ish Kindle price tag.

I received a E copy though NetGalley for an honest review.

While overall I enjoyed A.J Lancaster's The Lord of Stairel. It ended with good promise for the continuance of the series.
We meet Hetta, daughter of a Lord- The Lord of Stariel, a pseudo- magical plot of ancient land which though ritual chooses its Lord. Hetta while of the upperclass, left home against her families wishes to pursue her illusionary magic. And has in the years she's been gone become a Master Illusionist. For her time she's a fiercely independent woman, not beholden in anyway to reliance on her families name or wealth. She work, rents and lives all on her own merit. Something that creates quite a scandal amongst her own family.

But her father The Lord of Stariel has died and she must return home for 'The Choosing' in which the land selects it's new heir.
Intrigue, a mystery, massive family blunder, even more family secrets will be revealed, and Hetta finds herself square in the middle of it. Wondering just how well does she really know her own family and the stories she grew up with.

I found the pace slow in parts, but overall I did enjoy the story quite a lot!

I enjoyed this "light" fantasy read. I was rooting for Hetta and her return to a family that she felt never quite excepted her. I thought it was a light read because while there is romance and action/adventure it seemed to be geared for a younger audience. If you like fairies, magic old english, and family drama this book could be a great next read for you!

If you enjoy romance , magic with a touch of mystery in a great setting this book is for you .

Hetta reluctantly returns home on her father's death , after 6 years in exile in the big city having made a life for herself as an illusionist . Determined to only stay until the next Lord of the Stariel has been chosen she soon finds herself questioning her place in Stariel …. her family ….and the traditions that many view as quaint .

Her dysfunctional relationship with the Valstors made the story for me .
The threat of 'Fae' invasion adds to the mystery …. who knew that the fae were real ??
The romance is a gradual thing and much more realistic than love often found in other books where everything is 'instant' .
The overall plot was good with twists and turns ……….. although some were obvious .

An enjoyable book and I look forward to the next in the series .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was fun. If you like a Victorian feel to your fantasy, even though this isn’t set in our world, are intrigued by nasty fae lurking in the background, enjoy a touch of mystery and love a bit of family drama mixed in with your magic, then this delivers all of that and more.

I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about Hetta. There were times when I liked her and times when I didn’t. The way she handles some things got on my nerves (just talk to people!), but overall she’s smart and competent and isn’t a total disaster. I liked her a lot more than cousin Jack, who I wanted to shake and order to stop sulking and help! And even when I wasn’t sure if I liked Hetta, I always found her interesting. I do wish we’d seen a bit more of her magic and quite how it worked, because one side of it felt just a little too convenient for me. It might also have been nice to see how magic fit into the wider world. Stariel is isolated and definitely different, but it was difficult to judge at times just how odd it really was.

Away from Hetta there are a few other interesting characters to keep things moving along. I liked her older brother, but wish he’d been given a bit more substance, because he was kind of a submissive cliché. I liked butler Wyn too, although I probably could have done with less about how amazingly beautiful he was. I know Hetta’s magic is all about illusion and the appearance of things, but it made all her romantic thoughts and encounters seem rather juvenile and shallow, and pretty annoying. I liked her younger siblings as well, but again, they were mostly just light sketches that could have done with a bit more depth.

But mostly this book is about Hetta. There’s a mystery to be solved, there are romances unfolding, but mostly it’s about her homecoming and how she handles the changes at Stariel. There were a few nice twists to the plot that I didn’t quite expect, but mostly it bumbles along in a steady fashion with poise and charm and intrigue. There are also fae, but they’re mostly in the background, an uneasy presence laying the foundations for more to come. And they have feathery wings, which made a very pleasant change.

In all I liked it and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next one.

Aspects of this book (magical connection to the estate; incipient romance between lord and servant) reminded me of Robin McKinlay's Chalice, though this one has a much more down-to-earth, less lyrical and mystical tone. Even in the pre-release version I got from Netgalley for review, it was well-edited, with very few issues.

I do have to say that I spotted the villain very early on; it was pretty obvious who had what to gain from the chain of events. It was also obvious to me who was going to be chosen as Lord of Stariel, more for plot-related reasons than anything else. However, there were a couple of plot twists later on that more or less made up for it.

For a reluctant protagonist, Hetta does very well, taking on what has to be taken on with determination and competence. The secondary characters, their interactions and conflicts, are all well depicted, the magic is fresh, and despite the obviousness of some parts of the plot, I enjoyed the journey and would happily pick up a sequel.