Exquisitely rendered, tautly told, and throughly engaging and thought provoking. Walter has created a rich and believable world which raises essential questions about our own while unfolding an engaging tale which keeps the pages turning and never feels stale or didactic. A fabulous debut and and a wonderful triumph! I will be recommending this book to my friends and students!

This debut is different and unique than my typical reads. I liked the concepts, interesting characters and the cover is gorgeous. I liked the comparison to other complex scientific books like Red Clocks. I appreciated being able to read this early.

I was lucky enough to be included in a read along of Laura Maylene Walter’s new novel, Body of Stars.

This book is written in a world where women are born with markings on their bodies. Markings that tell not only their future but the future of their family as well. Once the girls turn 15 they go through a ‘changeling’ period where they get their adult markings. During this time, they go through government inspections of their bodies. There are also dangers in the outside world, as men suddenly find them irresistible. ‘Changelings’ are often abducted only to be returned weeks later and their reputation ruined to no fault of their own.

I saw where this book was trying to go but it missed the mark for me. Instead, it came off as strange and awkward. Especially when the older brother of the main character often studied her body trying to decipher the future.

Aaannnnndddddd we have a new entry into the creepy AF, almost could be true speculative fiction world that has a lot of potential to really explode. When the publisher reached out I was vaguely interested until I read it was about freckles/moles determining the future of girls and women I HAD to read it.*

I have a ton of freckles—including what I call my angel wings that spread across my back down my arms—and found the idea terrifying that the future could be told in markings on your body. And I'm not talking palm reading, which the book discusses, but like actual fated fact. Shudder . . .

Body of Stars is the story of Celeste and Miles, siblings that are fated to change the world through the lies they share (or don't). They each know something the other doesn't and that slow reveal is probably the most anxiety building piece of the novel even though you know there is something the entire time. I'm purposefully being vague because I don't want to spoil it.

We spend too much time either imagining the future, that vast expanse of unborn possibility, or else wandering the past, the land of the dead. (Chapter 2)

Perhaps the future was not outlined permanently, in stone, but rather made of something more malleable. With enough time or pressure, markings could fade, shift their meaning, or represent something else. (Chapter 20)

I think the strongest part of this work is the growth of Celeste throughout the novel and her distinct presentation in each section. From the innocence and naivete of the first two sections to the traumatic and jaded portions in the middle to the concluding resolved and determined at the end she embraces her fate and even pushes to shift it to the ability she is able to shift it and it really worked.

The whole system, the entire structure of our society, was built around protecting men instead of girls. (Chapter 26)

It's hard to read a novel like this without drawing comparisons to the queen of speculative fiction Margaret Atwood. I definitely got some updated vibes of The Handmaid's Tale throughout the novel, especially the creepy ass father inspection ritual. The situation wasn't as dire where Celeste lives, but there were definite hints of the atrocious treatment of women and girls in other countries. But there were also references to the more evolved/advanced countries that I don't think Atwood was able to explore because it's 35 years old and the world has already changed so much.

One thing in particular I really appreciated about this was the numerous references to gender and sexuality which Atwood had to write off with a throwaway line (again due to the times).

Gender expression was not a term the Office of the Future would ever deign to define, much less codify in an addendum. This edition, however, was from a far-flung country in the north, a country so liberal that people born in female bodies who identified as men could have their markings stricken from the official record. Likewise, those born biologically as men were free to tattoo marking patterns on their bodies to express their identities as women. Anyone whose gender expression was not strictly binary, meanwhile, could chose to what extent predictions played a role in their lives, if at all. This approach was so progressive, so vastly different from what I'd grown up, that I was still absorbing its implications. (Chapter 22)

Walter was able to explore it in a broader way and even had named characters who had lives and feelings that weren't part of the mainstream.

Where I struggled and where I almost stopped reading was with Miles' betrayal of Celeste. I won't go into specifics and I'm not even sure if that was the intent (Miles certainly beat himself up over it), but I just can't forgive him for it. It's hard to say for sure whether Celeste does, but with a line like this I have to assume she does:

A family wasn't a static, solid thing as I had once assumed. Instead it was  moveable, breathable, breakable. It would expand to make room for the coming loss, and it would also collapse on itself under the weight of grief. (Chapter 27)

The fact that the work Miles, Celeste, and others pursue throughout the end sections I guess makes up for it because maybe it was all fated to happen and written in the markings, but it really felt like a betrayal.

Recommendation: This was a fascinating read with echoes of Atwood's speculative fiction. I paused for a few days after a certain scene because I was so upset and pissed off at a character, but I'm glad I picked it back up to read the empowering message that the novel closes with. The world Walter built is a fascinating parable to modern American society and race that will only grow more poignant with time.

*I received a copy of Body of Stars from the publisher via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.

Body of Stars is a dystopian YA with a heavy subject matter and unsettling parallels to our current society. Please check CWs before picking up the book.
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I usually like to dive straight into my thoughts, but a little background is necessary here: Imagine a world where the markings on women’s bodies reveal the future and determine their fate. All girls are born with markings, but around age 15, their adult markings appear and they enter what’s known as the “changeling” period, where they’re virtually irresistible to men. It’s in this temporary state young girls are frequently taken, raped, and eventually returned to society—permanently deemed “ruined” by the government and stripped of opportunities.
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I knew this would be an upsetting read, but what started as a dull ache of foreboding quickly sharpened like knives in the pit of my stomach; it hit so close to home.
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This dystopian society believes itself to be progressive, all the while ignoring the LGBTQ+ community, denying women their free will, treating their bodies like property, and blaming them for not “protecting themselves” if they’re taken. Taken girls are gaslit treated like pariahs, heavily burdened with the shame and guilt that should fall on the men responsible. They’re “irresistible,” after all. They should have done more to prevent it. It’s their fault. Right? 🤬
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Body of Stars is a powerful & timely commentary on the oppression and objectification of women, rape culture, and the stigma surrounding victims. The misogyny in this book runs deep, but thankfully, there were moments of hope and strength and revolution (sweetened by Walter’s poetic, ethereal writing style). My only complaint is the ending felt a little abrupt, like series of vague, prescient nods to the future I would have loved to see play out.
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I wish I had more characters to describe everything I loved about this book and how made me feel. I was enraged, yes, but I was also strangely comforted. Seen. Understood. I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Body of Stars by Laura Maylene Walter is a debut novel about Celeste, our young protagonist who is on the cusp of adulthood. In this dystopian world, the freckles and birthmarks on the skin of the girls tells a story about the future of each girl and her family. Celeste's brother, Miles, has the ability to interpret this map of markings with Miles and Celeste both anticipating the new markings that will determine their fates. However both siblings are carrying secrets that have the potential to devastate their family, with both questioning what power they have over their fate.

This book touches on heavy topics such as rape and sexual assault making the book unsettling yet thought-provoking. This books has you considering how much we can control our fate and how much of it is predetermined. I found the premise of this story so unique. The writing was easy to read but I found myself having to read this book slowly because it was heart-wrenching and at times terrifying. At times I felt sick to my stomach with some of the male characters but it also paralleled the fear women can have in situations with dangerous men. The writing was compelling and the setting was well-illustrated. Overall this was a difficult, yet thoughtful read and I look forward to future work from this author.

Many thanks to the publisher Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I was intrigued by this book’s blurb, and went in knowing that it was a dystopian novel that dealt with rape culture and the patriarchy. Unfortunately, this book didn’t work out that well for me.

The book is set in a dystopian culture where the freckles on women’s bodies foretell the future: their careers, their families, down to how many children they’ll have, and also glimpses of the rest of the family’s future. They’re born with children’s markings, which, while still true, tend to be vague, and then around their fifteenth birthday they suddenly wake up with their adult markings. They also enter the changeling period, where their senses are heightened and they’re nearly irresistible to men, leading to abductions and assault. Girls who are abducted are viewed as pariahs, as obviously it was some moral failing that allowed them to be abducted, and are generally unable to attend college or pursue most careers. The book starts with Celeste as she’s anxiously awaiting her change to an adult.

Celeste and her brother Miles are nearly inseparable, or at least that’s what she thinks. Though he’s a few years older, they share the same birthday, and they practically consider each other twins. Miles is unusual in that he’s interested in being an interpreter of the future, something that’s usually reserved only for women, and his favorite person to practice on is Celeste. Besides constantly paging through the approved guide, called Mapping the Future, he also takes lessons from Julia, a licensed interpreter. While he tries to get Celeste to come with him, she’s ambivalent about the whole thing and is more interested in the workings of the human mind. But when her adult markings reveal a family tragedy, Celeste finds herself in the scary position of keeping secrets from Miles for the first time in her life. But in a society where the predictions on women’s bodies are considered family property, how long will it be before Celeste’s secret is revealed, and will it break apart their family?

“We spend too much time either imagining the future, that vast expanse of unborn possibility, or else wandering the past, the land of the dead. And yet I return there, again and again, as if watching it unfold in my memory can affect the outcome. As if the past could ever be as changeable as the future.”


The book is from Celeste’s first person POV, but as if she’s narrating it from many years in the future, with lots of “if only I had known then,” sort of asides. I like that particular bit of foreshadowing when it’s used sparingly and precisely, but it was so prevalent it interrupted the flow of the story for me. It was one of many examples of overwrought prose that bogged down the story, which already had pacing problems due to some confusing time skips.

“This is the deepest kind of truth, Celeste—what seems impossible, what we keep secret.”


We’re shown in boring detail Celeste’s “before”, and then the immediate aftermath of the event that changes her life. And then, all of a sudden, we skip several years in the future, after she’s been at the Mountain School for some time, which, it turns out, is some anti-patriarchy bastion that teaches the girls to think and see themselves as worth more than their prophecies. And that’s the Celeste we pick back up with, one who has given up on her dream of studying psychology and has instead immersed herself in interpretation, intending to go help Miles and Julia with a secret project. And the end of the book is fine, honestly, but what annoyed me is that we skipped through what was most interesting to me – that period where Celeste was deprogrammed from what she’d been raised with and taught to think for herself. What she does with that knowledge is important and empowering, but after endless pages of her day to day life, I was hoping to see more of her coming into herself.

“The whole system, the entire structure of our society, was built around protecting men instead of girls.”


And that was the disquieting thing about this book to me. Even while being ostensibly focused on Celeste and her journey, so much of the book revolves around Miles. It’s Miles’ insistence on pursuing interpretation that leads them into a sketchy situation (and wow, how quickly Celeste forgave him for that was unbelievable) and it’s his dream that they end up pursuing. Sure, he’s better than any of the other male characters in the book, but that’s a low bar. In a book about patriarchy and misogyny and rape culture, why is the male character given a pass for doing the bare minimum?

Overall, I’d give this book about 2.5 stars. It just didn’t dig deeply enough into the themes to be satisfying for me.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

In the world of Laura Maylene Walter's just-published young adult novel <i>Body of Stars,</i> the patterns of freckles, moles, and birthmarks on women’s bodies serve to predict their future—their career, the number of children they'll have, important aspects of their family members' lives--everything significant that lies ahead.

I had some trouble getting on board with Walter's premise of moles and freckles and birthmarks holding the key to unlocking the future. The characters' peering at and studying each other’s body patterns felt extremely invasive and intrusive, especially when the boys and men felt entitled to examine the young women. (The father-daughter examination tradition at puberty--! And Miles's pushing into his sister's room--which is disturbing enough: privacy, please!--and expecting disrobing and peering to be allowed--! No no no.) The girls seemed mildly disturbed but not as horrified as I was as a reader. I felt on the edge of jumping out of my skin for most of the book.

It seemed especially off-putting somehow that Miles (who as a male had no markings) was so very interested in the markings and their meanings.

There are a lot of potential triggers here, and Walter explores a society in which victim shaming is common and justice isn't meted out to those in the wrong. It's enraging.

The most intriguing aspects of the story for me were related to characters' dreams of a world in which women had no markings, but I wished that the book more fully explored the cycle of prediction and realization that lies at the heart of its premise. Do predicted events bear out specific outcomes just by their existence? How much of the fated events are set in stone in Walter's imagined world? If no markings existed, would futures not be fated? Or would they be destined to occur, but remain unknown until they took place? And isn't centering so many lives around interpreting these marks perpetuating their power--and the women’s being at men's mercy, being showcased and examined and on display and exploited?

The education for (some of) the girls following their abductions was wonderfully imagined. I would've liked to spend more time at the school as they learned about themselves and the world around them. But I kept asking myself, what is any of it for if characters cannot change any aspect of their life path?

I received a prepublication edition of this book through Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley.

Body of Stars takes us to a world very similar to our own except that girls are born with markings on their body, moles and freckles that tell their future. I was expecting this to be a book about how you would live if you knew your future, but it was much more about women having no choices or power.

During the girls' 16th year they go through a change where overnight their markings change from early predictions to their adult permanent markings. This is followed by the changeling period when they are hyperaware and magnetically alluring to everyone around them, they literally have a glow. This is a dangerous time when girls may be abducted by men and kept as sex slaves for the couple weeks until changeling time is over. If a girl is abducted, she is generally returned to her family but she is blamed for having been taken and her permanent file that the government keeps has a record of her abduction. She is shunned at school, if she even returns and has no chance at going to college or getting a good job.

Celeste, our main character really struggles with her body not being her own because others "read" her body. and after she goes through her change, she is trying to hide one of her markings from everyone because it predicts an early death of her brother. Miles, her older brother, has a gift for being able to read markings, but as a boy he can not have a future in it. A future he won't have.

I struggled with the premise of this book, which is the point. Girls are raped but instead of blaming the men or trying to catch them, the girls are blamed for putting themselves in danger. Sound familiar? The girls bodies are not their own because the government "inspectors" can look at their entire body along with family and in one really obnoxious element of their society, the newly changed (adult) girl is inspected by her father, naked. Just to make sure you get that the girls have no choices.

Body of Stars was beautifully written but I'm not a big fan of dystopian books unless the girls kick some butt to end it. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance read.

*CW: Sexual assault/rape

Body of Stars was quite a unique and thought-provoking take on a dystopian world in which women are treated terribly. Much like the greatest of dystopian worlds, it takes the characters a hot second to see that their world is, in fact, trash. Because when you are raised hearing the same vitriol preached as gospel, what else could you possibly believe? And there is the rub: even in our society, we often don't notice oppression happening right before our eyes.


In this particular story, Celeste, like every female, has a series of markings on her body that people believe predicts the future. And there's a whole gross ceremony surrounding it, and people basically take these predictions as set in stone. Which is, of course, a super convenient way to trap women, but that's a whole other discussion. Anyway, when Celeste and her friends start hitting puberty (which happens oddly late, and was never really explained), they become, for a short period of time, extra... appealing. And as always, it is the burden of the women to keep themselves covered, to stay away from men, to not go out alone. It's absurd to read about, but then... think about the messages women in the real world get every day. Yeah, same. And then, if the young woman does get assaulted (or even worse and quite frequent, kidnapped, drugged, and raped), she's considered "tainted". Can't go to college, can't get a decent paying job... all because some monster hurt her.

The crux of the story lies in whether Celeste can come to terms with this whole societal structure being total bullshit. That it is the fault of the attacker, never the person attacked. She'll encounter people all across the spectrum, from those who staunchly defend the mistreatment of women, to those who vehemently oppose it and spend their life's work trying to defeat it.

Bottom Line: It's so very thought provoking, and especially introspective. In such a unique world with some very familiar vile ways of thinking, would we rise against the oppression, or side with barbaric "tradition"?

Body of Stars is a coming of age exploration of fate in a dystopian world similar to our own. The constellation like markings on the female body which reveal their futures, is a fate that can't be escaped. Celeste is a teenager navigating a life that's already predetermined based on these interpretations. On the cusp of puberty, the changeling phase, she fears being kidnapped - a common occurrence for changelings, when the girls become irresistible to men. This period in their life puts them in danger of a severe trauma that effects them for the rest of their lives.

An interesting debut for Walter. She touches on important subjects of gender equality, oppression and rape culture. Her interpretation of the female body can be seen as a celebration that explores beauty and victimization. With that said, this book was not for me. The casual way rape is accepted in this dystopian world is disturbing to read from the start. Aside from the slow pace of the story, I didn't really find myself connecting with the characters, their development was a bit shallow and didn't really grasp my attention. Overall, Walter creates an interesting world full of detail but something didn't crack through the surface for me.

Thank you so much to Dutton (Penguin Group) for the NetGalley e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one is an intriguing read I've been sat on it for a few days trying to decide how to review it. I enjoyed it, I had a good time reading it, I liked it but I didn't love it and it's not without its problems. Would I re-read it, no. Would I recommend it, maybe? Let me explain.

First of all the blurb is compelling; in this Dystopian world moles, freckles, and birthmarks on the skin of women all have meanings, they foretell the future, and only women can read those markings and understand their importance. The writing is beautiful and lyrical, but not in an over-written sort of way, the story is easy to consume, gripping and pacey. The content is in many ways reflective of our own world, including strong themes of misogyny and rape (at times very difficult to read, but always tastefully handled). But there is something about the emotional connection to the characters that was lacking, and I'm not sure I can reason why. I didn't like the brother, but I don't have to like characters to understand them, or to enjoy reading about them - unlikeable characters are sometimes my favourites as they tend to have buckets of personality - but maybe that's it, perhaps they were just a little.... bland?

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

“Body of Stars” by Laura Maylene Walter is an emotional young adult novel set in a universe where the freckles and moles on a woman’s body create constellations that can predict the future, a gift that is abused and cost many their freedom. Walter creates a fascinating parallel to the inequalities, injustices, and fear women face in fictional and non-fictional universes while reflecting on the resilience of both genders to make a change and create a place where women are protected, safe, and equal. Though this is a tough, heartbreaking story it is also one of power and healing.

There is a weariness in cracking open stories like this one where the story hits too close to home to the dysfunctionalities of one’s own society. A reminder of all the ways in which not enough is ever being done. I’m not a person who is easily triggered, but there were moments where I was horrified and affected so emotionally, I needed to put the book down for a while before being able to pick it up again. I was worried the book would dramatize or romanticize the real fear women face as it often does on screen and in other novels, but this hit too close to home for it to be anything other than an attempt to be as authentic and genuine as possible.

“Who in this crowd would take advantage of a darkened sidewalk, the broken streetlamp, the girl out alone after dark? … In the right circumstances, maybe anyone could strike.”

Celeste Morton is maybe one of the few who dreads the change into womanhood. Of course she wants to know what her future holds for her, but there’s the worry that fate has different plans than what she’s set out for herself. Not to mention the changeling period is the most dreaded time for all women, the time when their beauty is so irresistible it puts them at risk of abduction.

When Celeste enters the changeling period, she understands the full weight of what it means to be a woman whose body can foretell the future and the burdens she, and all women must carry. In an effort to work against a society that doesn’t keep women safe and to protect those she loves, Celeste tries to the impossible and rewrite her own fate to see a better and brighter future.

Take the trigger warnings seriously. This book delves into heavy territory that makes it very difficult to read. Walter does not shy away from speaking up about the injustices done to women, the ways in which society and authority figures fail women who need help, and the misogynistic exploitation of women and their bodies.

One aspect of the book I felt needed further investigating had to do with the near-ruination of a woman’s future when/if they return from an abduction. I thought maybe it was meant to be taken metaphorically in the sense that perhaps women themselves feel society sees them as damaged, broken, and unable to function normally after the trauma of being abducted. Maybe they feel the future is ruined for them and they have no place within it. If meant to be taken literally, then I found the story didn’t provide enough reasoning for women to be rejected from further schooling or career options due to abduction.

This was a brilliant book with a unique concept that shines a light on the abuse and fears women live with. It was beautifully written in prose that was incredibly detailed and vivid which only added to create an emotional novel full of heartbreak, healing, and hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for providing me with an e-arc of this novel to write an honest review.

5 stars

Set in a world very similar to our own where women's bodies have the power to tell the future, Body of Stars is a searing and immensely poetic portrayal of female struggle and strength. Walter's ability to discuss these immensely complex topics in such a creative and sensitive manner is absolutely astounding. The careful rendering of these events and relationships manages to be both topical and hopeful without resorting to any preachiness. I find myself profoundly moved to the point where my body feels like it has transcended. There is no doubt in my mind that this is a book that everyone should be reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

An intriguing concept, purple prose, and rape collide in this dystopian novel of Celeste and her brother Miles. In this world, females are born with marks on their bodies which become a map to allow their future to be known and when they are around 16, they start to glow and attract men, who can kidnap and rape them at will. Once that period of their lives is over, they are more or less condemned to nothingness- no more education, subjugation to men, and so on. Celeste's brother Miles wants to be an interpreter but that's reserved for women and, well, Celeste's markings are, to put it mildly, problematic for him. An attack on Celeste brings all of it to a boiling point. I wish I'd liked this more as Walter has some interesting things to say. Unfortunately, I didn't much like the characters (even Celeste) and it felt as oppressive as the world they live in. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not my cup of tea but fans of the genre might enjoy it.

Body of Stars grabbed my attention after the first sentence. It’s a wonderfully imaginative novel from Laura Maylene Walter. The story nudges considerations on constructed “norms” of a society and more. I enjoyed the novel’s cadence. It’s full of imagery that haunts the imagination. Well done.

'Body of Stars' is set in a dystopian world where special markings on women’s bodies reveal their future. Similar to the idea of clusters of moles resembling constellations, each pattern of markings on her body will reveal her and her family’s fate. This was a very clever way of examining female objectivity, women’s rights, and free will.

The story follows Celeste, a young woman who experiences the dark and horrific side of her markings once she goes through puberty, when her new markings are formed which makes her irresistible to men. Her brother Miles who is an aspiring interpreter of female markings (a profession exclusive to women) becomes obsessed with his sister’s markings so that he may learn his own fate. Unfortunately for Celeste, she learns a devastating secret about her brother who is hiding his own secrets that leads them both down a very dark and dangerous path.

The shame, misogyny, sexual assault, pre-destination, and tragedy that Laura Maylene Walter explores through her dystopian/fictional world made for an unsettling read that I could not put down. There are numerous parallels to our world and society which made this a very uncomfortable book to read. I loved the diagrams and details of the markings that were included throughout the book which made it a more immersive reading experience for me. The characters were young adults, but this did not read like a young adult fiction novel due to the heavy subject matter. My only criticism is that the ending was very abrupt and could have used a twist because it seemed a bit too predictable, ironically.

Highly relevant, curious, disturbing, and clever.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during that 2nd attempt, I have only managed to make it halfway through so I'd rather stop here and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I loved this book! If you enjoy dystopian and/or women's fiction, this is the book for you. Set during a time where women have "markings" on their bodies that predict their fate, women's bodies are essentially used and abused to benefit their male family members' fate as well as blamed for being "irresistible" when their markings go through a period of change. It's never the mens' fault, always the women's. While this book is fantasy/dystopian, there are so many parallels to the reality of women today. Without actually pointing out these parallels, the author describes it all in an alternate universe. It's actually genius. I flew through this gook in 2.5 days and would highly recommend!

The cover was beautiful and the premise of the book intruiging. But i was left feeling a little bored? The phasing was slow. I really really disliked how the girls were treated, and i suppose that is the main deal here of the book. The characters were bland, sometimes boring and flat wich made it hard for me to continue the book. I just had too high hopes for this one.