What a great beginning! I am dying to know what happens next, and extremely disappointed that this was just a teaser.

Once again Robert Beatty has our favorite heroine in the thick of the action. This time her best friend and ally, Braeden, has been sent off to school. As she tries to adjust to life at Biltmore without him, Serafina senses danger. Is it real, is she suffering from PTSD (possible, considering all she has been through in previous books), or does home just not feel the same without Braeden? We will all have to wait for a few more weeks to find out.

This series is so enjoyable for so many reasons. Serafina is vulnerable and yet incredibly strong and resilient. She is also fiercely loyal and has a belief in right and wrong that serves her friends well. The setting is beautiful with the stately Biltmore mansion, the mountains, and the natural beauty of the area. But the distance from more populated areas also makes the inhabitants easier to prey on by evil that depends on secrecy and concealment.

Readers may have started off as middle grade students, following Serafina as she matures and comes into her power, and grown into young adults along with her. There is a reason that crowds fill the bookstores where the author makes appearances to celebrate the release of each book - it is a well-earned fan base. Don't be surprised if there is a bit of a scrum at the bookshelf on July 9th.

This was an "exclusive sampler" not the full book. I'm not sure if that was disclosed, or if I got caught up in the excitement of requesting books and didn't notice, but I won't request samplers again. In my opinion, there is not enough story to write any sort of review.

I also think it devalues the reviewer and the service provided. Net Galley is a give and take where the author should feel that they receive as much value from the experience as the reviewer. (I've had 3 books on Net Galley of my own, so I know both sides.)

I can say that the writing is action-packed, imaginative, and vivid. I can't speak to plot or overall character development or world building. I'm giving three stars because there isn't enough to rate but I don't want to punish the book with a poor review.

This made me very excited to read the rest of the book! The writing is delicious and leaves you wanting more. Really great!

Fans of Serafina will like this new installment. Readers will understand the story best f they have read the other books in the series.

Serafina and the Seven Stars is the 4th book in the series by Robert Beatty. Due out 9th July 2019 from Disney-Hyperion, it's 352 pages and will be available in ebook and hardcover formats.

This series is aimed at middle grade readers and includes some actual historical places and characters around which the narrative is woven. Though the target audience is younger, it can certainly be enjoyed by adults as well. The plotting is well done and the author has a deft touch with dramatic tension. Main character Serafina is the shapeshifting guardian of Biltmore and this time she's by herself without her friend and mentor Braeden.

I received a sample excerpt for review purposes and found it engaging and well written. This is a tightly woven series and presupposes some backstory familiarity of the reader. I would recommend reading the series in order.

Looking forward to reading the complete book as well as future installments.

Four stars.

Interest Level: 3-6

Do you always fear that there is danger around every corner? Serafina has been the protector of the Biltmore Estate her whole life. She started out as the CRC, Chief Rat Catcher, and her skills have grown from catching rats to a sorcerer in a black cloak to a conjurer with unbelievable powers. She has gone to battle to protect the people of Biltmore many times, but now she has a whole new battle, and this time she has to do it without her best friend, Braeden. She is having to fight things that don't even seem real to her - creatures with wings and sharp talons, snarling griffins with the body of an African lion with the head and wings of an eagle, and an extremely large wyvern with talons as sharp as knives. She doesn't understand why these creatures are attacking and killing the people of Biltmore. She also doesn't understand why they are targeting Baby Nell, Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's daughter. By the time Serafina figures out what is happening, will it be too late for the Vanderbilts? Can she figure out a way to get Braeden to come back and help her? Will she find a way to save her beloved Biltmore and the people who live there, or will this be the final chapter that brings the estate to ruins? Find out by reading the fourth installment of the Serafina books!!! Don't miss out!!

I am a HUGE fan of Serafina!! I read these books to my 6th grade book club every year and they are as obsessed with these books as I am! I am over the top excited to introduce Serafina and the Seven Stars to my new group of 6th graders this year. With every book that Robert Beatty publishes, I think that he can't outdo the previous book, but he does. Every Serifina book is edge-of-your-seat exciting and this new one does not disappoint. If you have read my blogs before then you know that I am not a fast reader, so when I say I read this one in a day, that should let you know something about this book. I could not put it down!! Do not miss this book that is full of action, suspense, fantasy, magic, family, friendship, and most of all love!

I'd wanted to read one of the Serafina books for quite some time now, though I suppose I didn't realize how long it had been since the first one came out. I was curious enough, though, to see if the story was one that I wanted to spend a lot of time with enough to want to read through all four books. Mainly, I was concerned with the writing style since I know I'll be starting with book one when I begin this series, and I wanted to determine how well the book was written.

Wonderfully, I found that I really enjoyed the sampler for <i>Serafina and the Seven Stars</i>, It was definitely enough to say that I think reading the first book will be worthwhile. I think determining whether or not I'll read all the way to book for depends on how much I like the characters, which we get a decent glimpse of here, but not enough for me to feel like I can make a full decision on the matter. All in all, it's well written so far and definitely has me intrigued.

Love this series. Got into it with summer reading at middle school. This book doesn’t disappoint either. My kids enjoyed the story as well.

This wildly popular series continues on is just as great a fashion.
Serafina witnesses a crime that turns her world upside down. How can all that once seemed good and worthy of protection now be evil? And how can she guard those around her when she can't even be sure of the truth of her own heart?

*ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 4
Pace: 4
Plot development: 4
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 4
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 4 out of 5

I have been a huge lover of all the Serafina books prior to this one and this one doesn't seem like it's going to be a let down either. It when the appetite just enough for me to want to read the rest of the book RIGHT NOW. What's going to go wrong at Biltmore now? How is Serafina going to fix everything? Will this be the last book in the series? These are questions I need answered. 5 out of 5 stars.

I can't wait to read the whole book. This series has become one of my favorite series. I also can't wait to see how Serafina and Braeden's friendship has evolved. I'm also curious to see what the danger is that comes to the Biltmore Estate.

This series has a way of capturing young readers in a unique way. As an educator I have seen several reluctant 4th and 5th grade readers become hooked by this series! After reading the first chapter of book 4 I see that this book captures the reader quickly and will be an awesome continuation to an already great series.

This novel continues the story of Serifina and Brayden and their journeys while living, and protecting, Biltmore House. Children love that this is a fantasy book but set in a real place that they can look up or even visit!

Overall I feel that this is a great read for summer to help keep reading and realize that reading is fun!)

I have not read this series yet but want to. I read the first three sample chapters. It was very good and left me hanging.

Robert Beatty writes the story of Serafina beautifully. As an Appalachian resident, I appreciate the place of this story, as well as how Beatty tells it. This text was only a sample, but I have read enough of Beatty's work to recommend it as a classroom library resource, as well as a delighting read to be enjoyed at home. Beatty offers us lovely young adult literature that can be savored by a wide audience.

If the first three chapters are any indication then this next installment in the Serafina series is bound to be one of the best! I loved the detailed description of the estate and grounds as well as the gentle way the narrator lets you experience Serafina’s Heart. I can’t wait to read the rest!

I almost wish that I wouldn't have requested this book since it was just the first three chapters. It left off on such a cliff-hanger that July 9th just seems so far away and like such a long time to wait. I've loved each of Robert Beatty's books in this series and from the first 3 chapters it appears that the fourth installment will not disappoint!

I am so excited for this! Got a free snippet from NetGalley and it just excited me more! It left on such a terrible spot! Am looking forward to the full release!

I enjoyed reading the preview chapters for this book. Just like the 3 previous Serafina books, Serafina and the Seven Stars, is going to be another great adventure. Robert Beatty’s books are alway on my pre-order list. His stories are full of adventure and suspense. While my younger daughter, 2nd grade, thought they were a little too scary, my older daughter, 12 couldn’t put the books down. This series brings together a bit of magic, folklore, adventure, friendship and is also great for kids that like books about animals and historical fiction. Because Serafina changes between her panther form and her human form, we get to see both points of view as she moves between the two worlds. You never know what will happen next as Serafina and the Vanderbilt’s nephew Braeden defend Biltmore and it’s owners from the enemies that want to destroy them. I can’t wait to read the rest of this book and see who or what our heroine has to conquer in order to keep those she loves safe.