Cover Image: Written in Starlight

Written in Starlight

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I really enjoyed the storyline in world building in the novel. I also really liked the characters. I thought this was a solid read, and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Was this review helpful?

Creative magic system, but a bit of a disappointment after the last instalment in the series. The pacing was strange and after the last book, it felt difficult to relate to the protagonist who was essentially the villain in the first book.

Was this review helpful?

Written in Starlight is the sequel to Woven in Moonlight and follows a minor character in the first book. This book was filled with jungle adventure and even some political intrigue. There is also an epic development of character. Catalina deserved a happier ending after the first book, and I'm glad she got her book!

Was this review helpful?

After loving the first book, I felt rather let down by this one, and am most likely not going to pick up the next book in the series (even though the ending of this one has me piqued despite my frustration with the rest of this narrative).

Was this review helpful?

The setting for Written in Starlight is so immersive I felt like I could taste the jungle, the sticky heat of it coating my throat as I walked along with the characters waiting for the next moment of reprieve! I absolutely love the characters and storyline.

Was this review helpful?

A lush fantasy set in a beautiful and dangerous world that is enchanting and deadly. So fun to read and immerse myself in and I really enjoyed the characters and intrigue

Was this review helpful?

This was really an enjoyable read! Although I read the first book 2 years ago, and didn't remember too much of it, this one was easy to get into. I got sufficient information to enjoy it, although I do think I might have liked it better had I done a reread of the first book. I especially loved that the story largely took place in the jungle. It made for a refreshing backdrop. All in all, I did find the story quite average. I enjoyed it, but it was nothing new for me.

Was this review helpful?

I did not enjoy Written in Starlight quite as much as I did Woven in Moonlight. I never found myself rooting for Catalina and Manuel's romance to work out and didn't really like any of the characters for that matter. The plot was on the predictable side but I liked the use of Spanish and the magic System.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the Author for the e-arc!

Was this review helpful?

I really liked the idea for this book. I think there is more potential for it which is why I am giving 3 stars instead of 2. I didn't finish this read because like others it didn't satisfy me. The world and some characters are why i will be able to recommend it. I really wished for more from this. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this read in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I was really disappointed because I ended up DNFing this book.
I read about half of the book, and it felt like the plot hadn't really started. It was just the main characters wondering through a jungle.
I didn't really care to read the rest of the book which is a real shame because I absolutely loved the first book in this series

Was this review helpful?

After reading Isabel Ibanez first novel of this series, I knew I wanted to get my hands on this one.

Written in Starlight is beautifully written like Woven in Moonlight was. But where Woven was really fast paced and kept you wanting more, this one was kind of boring. It was slow, not much that went on until after 50% and while slow burns are okay, this one just wasn't it. The Condesa was, still, absolutely annoying. There was no real tie to the first book, which is fine, but I feel like that was a missed opportunity especially with Rumi having been made into a monster (which why? just so unnecessary) and the fact that she talked about Ximena quite often.

I really did like that the author pointed out how cultures are being forgotten because people stop practicing them. It's important that we recognize indigenous cultures and their traditions so they don't become "just another group of people".

Was this review helpful?

One of my favourite YA fantasy reads of the year! Written in Starlight is one part Indiana Jones, another part lush landscapes, and yet another part swoony romance! I could not stop turning the pages and fell in love with the entire cast of characters! Highly recommend! I now need to go back and read Woven in Moonlight!

Was this review helpful?

I was informed just after starting this book about the authors anti indigenous stance. So i sadly dnfed it. After learning the backstory of Bolivian history I've come to the decision that i will not be reading this or any of the other books by this author. I urge you to do your research before you read this book, the rest is your choice. If you feel comfortable reading this then good for you, i on the other hand was not.

Was this review helpful?

I know there is quite a bit of controversy surrounding this book in regards to representation of indigenous populations, and I think it is up to each reader to do their research before going into any book. I will not be going into this particular issue as there are many, many other voices discussing this. I will say that the vast majority of my students (minus the very, very astute ones) would be able to catch the nuances of representation that we adults are catching. I think many students would understand if this book was realistic fiction, but many of them do not have the historical knowledge of Bolivia. I will personally keep this book on my shelves because I do believe that it can be a conversation starter about colonialism, and those conversations are often few and far between in our schools.

One argument against this book is that the main character is really hard to like. I would agree with that; Catalina is spoiled and hard to like, especially in comparison with the main character in Woven in Moonlight. My favorite characters are the ones that are hard to like and have redemption, and I do feel like Catalina does grow and change for the better as the plot goes on. I was able to push through and enjoy because of this, and I like the idea of having a character on my shelves who isn’t perfect, who is selfish (because who isn’t?), and who is able to realize that her views on the world might be harmful. Those conversations are important to have with young people.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I liked it a little less than Woven in Moonlight, and I am very much anticipating Ibañez’s next novel.

Was this review helpful?

Started this book and generally liked the writing style but found it disinteresting enough to put it down with hopes of picking it up later. Due to the information I've learned about the author's anti-Indigenous stance which is integrated in this book, I am no longer interested in either reading this book or their future books.

Was this review helpful?

A companion to 'Woven in Moonlight', this book has its fair share of drama and adventure. Catalina isn't my most favourite character in literature, and there were instances where my decision made sense. However, I quite enjoyed the chemistry between Catalina and Manuel.

Was this review helpful?

I adored Woven in Moonlight and had very high expectations for this novel. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t everything I was hoping for.

I honestly had a difficult time getting into the story. I wanted to love Catalina and Manuel together but their relationship just didn’t work for me at the beginning. I think it was partially the pacing and the fact that it was a good portion of the book with just the two of them and the jungle. Once other characters were introduced I started to feel more invested in the story. Like the first book, I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the culture and food. I would have loved to have spent more time with the Illari and learned a little more about their group. Including them definitely added to the story and it was interesting to see Inkasisa a bit further. The book did leave me wanting to find out where the story goes from here. Now, I’m hoping to read more from both Catalina and Ximena’s perspectives.

Was this review helpful?

This is a book you CANNOT put down! Isabel stuns again with lush prose, vivid description, and a kick-butt ton of action. Started before bed and was up till 2AM trying to finish cause gosh dang it, she leaves me no room to breathe in the BEST way possible. 5/5 stars!

Was this review helpful?

DNFd because the main character irritated me to no end and I couldn’t take her anymore. Also cognizant of the critiques of Own Voice Reviewers about the negative attitudes about Indigenous people present in this book. It’s sad because I loved Woven but It is what it is.

Was this review helpful?

Written In Starlight by Isabel Ibañez is the second book in the young adult debut fantasy duology "Woven In Moonlight", but I must say that both the books are definitely not bad, but does not hold the hype and the expectations as much as the blurb and the magical cover promises. This book follows an outcast Condesa, as she braves the jungle to forge an alliance with the lost city of gold.

From where the first book left off, this one starts immediately with Ximena and Ameer and some misunderstandings arise between them. But I would suggest you read the first book and then only read this. The first book's main character was Ximena and here we see Catalina, on her own individual journey but the world building was better in the first novel.

The characters are definitely better developed in this book. Catalina, Manuel who rescues her from a Jaguar in the jungle and hence the story begins. The author has a flawless and very smooth writing style. The ending could have been better, definitely. I wanted more romance in both the books. I am not completely happy with this book as much as I was with the first one.

Catalina as a character, has a lot of problems and I would not want to read her as a Main Character in any book. She is unwilling to change and stubborn since day one. Her disrespect towards Indigenous communities in the story, was just off for me as a reader. I wanted a Main Character who would be more loving and accepting and would make me fall in love with the new world that I knew nothing about.
_________

e-ARC was provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?