A fresh take from Rollins, who is most well-known for his series of international thrillers, this introduction into his new fantasy series, Moon Fall, is an exciting break from the norm. A fantastic adventure of intertwining storylines, ancient prophecies, and in-depth world building. I typically don't read sci-fi/fantasy but I am all in on the Moon Fall series now. Can't wait for book 2!

Rollins delivers an epic fantasy with elaborate world-building, an interesting cast of characters, and ancient magic. I enjoyed the pace of the story as the world unfolds with beautiful, yet dark landscapes and creatures.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor/Forge, and James Rollins for the advanced electronic copy of The Starless Crown. #NetGalley #TheStarlessCrown

I love James Rollins's Sigma books which is why I picked this to read. Nyx is an interesting character and the concept of Moon Fall very interesting. I enjoyed that the stories predictably merged into one storyline. It was a bit too long for me. I kept saying to myself I have to be near the end while reading on my kindle. I will most likely read the sequel when it comes out.

it's obvious rollins has done this before. apparently he's pumped out a couple dozen thrillers and i have the feeling it's all been leading up to this one. it's a banger, though longer than i expected.

As someone who started their reading journey with the likes of Tolkien and Lewis, it was refreshing to return to the world of traditional fantasy—and mark my words, that is exactly what The Starless Crown is. Extensive world building, well thought out political machinations, magic, monsters, and heroes both expected and unlikely; this book offers up a buffet of fantastical delights. If only it wasn’t so quick to tell you its secrets.
Make no mistake, this is an EPIC! The Starless Crown is long and in-depth, so it isn’t for the faint of heart, or those on the fence about diving headfirst into a time sink. However, if you do you’ll find yourself rewarded with something both familiar, yet unlike anything I have ever read before. While an unlikely band of characters brought together by a prophecy foretelling the end of the world isn’t an uncommon trope in this genre, The Starless Crown feels fresh because of the unique characters and creatures, and the tone of the writing. The writing feels anticipatory, making it exciting to read, despite the sizable page count.
My one criticism is that I wish that the novel wasn’t so forthright regarding Nyx’s connection to the Myr Bats and her prophecies. I wish that this aspect of the narrative had been more drawn out, so that it felt like a discovery that the reader could make as the plot progressed. Rather than having everything laid out at the beginning, plain as day. But that just might be me wanting puzzles so I can feel smart.
Overall I would recommend this if you’re a fan of large-scale epic fantasies, similar to Lord of the Rings or The Wheel of Time series.

What a wild adventure—THE STARLESS CROWN did not disappoint! Snappy prose and endearing characters made this 560 page book feel like a short and sweet read.

Yes, there are a lot of characters. Written in 3rd person past tense, multi-POV, readers must keep track of a few different storylines that eventually collide in a most spectacular fashion. POV’s/Chapters end with juicy cliffhangers, so you can’t help but speed read through the next, equally riveting section to pick up the thread again.

TSC gave me chills on three separate occasions. Good chills, like totally invested in the characters, storylines, ancient magic and mysteries. I loved how animals served as strong secondary characters (Myr bats 4 eva)!

If you like books that feel like Witcher x Game of Thrones, the chosen one trope, magical abilities to communicate with animals, political machinations, twin drama and a bit of body horror, then you will love THE STARLESS CROWN!

I have been trying and struggling for over a week to read this book and have only made it 30% of the way in. This is just not my type of plot or writing style so I am going to DNF at this point.

Really enjoyed Nyx's storyline that I read so far, as well as the scenes down in the mine. But unfortunately there are quite a few other main characters and I wasn't finding their storylines catching my interest. Too much world building in a rambling manner that dragged on for me.

This was such a fantastic book! I've read most, if not all, of his contemporary thrillers. I haven't read his fantasy under a different name, but this book sounded really fantastic, and I had to check it out! And I'm so glad that I did!

The prologue was really interesting to read, because it's set after the main plot of the book, and is a character reminiscing. The thing is though, which character? I can't wait to find out! Because there's a few options of who it could be!

I had read a teaser, of the gifted student, of how one of her lessons went, and I needed to read more, of what would happen next with her. And boy does she go on a journey, and there is much that she has to learn, and given the pain of what she's currently been through, she's going to be one tough cookie by the end!

This world was so interesting, because there's only a narrow portion of their world that is actually habitable. And I didn't see it until after I read the book, but there is a map, and it was great to see where everything was, because yeah, the land that they occupy is pretty tiny!

A great deal of this world is heartbreaking. And the prophecy/circumstances that they face, means that things aren't going to get easier any time soon. I need to know how it's all going to go down, because what Nyx saw, bah, I need to know!

My least favourite part was the thief, because while the artifact that he found was pretty interesting, being in his perspective was the one that was the least connected to all the others that were going on. But oh, when they all came together, boy were things intense and fantastic to read!

That ending was just chaotic and amazing! The tensions were raised because of the events that had just occurred, and they weren't all together so there was a lot of moving pieces, and it came together so well! I just can't wait to see where it goes from here!

This was such a fantastic book, and I can't wait to continue the series!

Thank you to NetGalley for this digital ARC. I was very excited to read this book based on my previous experience with James Rollins and his Sigma Force series. Rollins is one of the best thriller writers out there, but I wasn't sure how his writing style would translate to the fantasy genre. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. Is Rollins in the same category when it comes to world building and fleshed out magic systems as Sanderson or Jordan? No. Is Rollins able to write a highly entertaining fantasy story that shows amazing promise ? Yes. It's hard to match the standard that some established fantasy writers have set, but this is still a great book with an original story. I can't wait to read the rest of this story and can't wait for it to get released so that I can add the physical copy of this book to my shelf.

James Rollins is a thriller writer and I am an avid reader of his work; but this is the first time he branched out into the realm of a fantasy novel and as a thriller it delivers. He spends time creating the characters and the world necessary for the story and this makes the book a little slow and hard to get into at first. Once the story takes off the reader is glad they have that build-up. You see the author's interest in creating believable animals that are very essential characters in the story as well. The book is very well constructed and detailed nearly perfect.
It is a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the sequel -may the adventure continue....

The Starless Crown is an epic fantasy that will please readers who enjoy intricate worldbuilding in the vein of Brandon Sanderson. There were a few too many point of view characters for my liking (at times the pace of the story gets bogged down by switching too frequently), and that is the only reason I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. But others may surely enjoy this aspect of it. Overall it was an enjoyable read and the prose is excellent. It seems this will also be the start of a series or trilogy.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I rage quit this book pretty early on, so my rating is for the first portion of the text. Maybe it ends up being the greatest novel of all time but I won't know because the casual sexism frustrated me so much.

Now, I'm not an ideologue. I don't need my fiction to be an all inclusive utopia with peace, love, and all that jazz. But I'm getting so bored of author's writing casual sexism into their fantasy and sci-fi stories. Like, is it impossible for a female character to have struggles that don't relate to having tits and a vajay? I don't know, maybe I'm overreacting but it just feels so lazy to me.

Three overlapping character arcs, intertwined from the level of "someone was mean to me" to "the entire kingdom will fall and everybody dies".
Opening is very fast paced, to the point I thought the characters suffered for it. Overall, entertaining.

I love James Rollins. This was a hefty book that was a little different from his usual works. Definitely an epic fantasy ride! Some parts were a little drawn out, felt the book could have been shortened by a couple hundred pages but I still enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc copy. Will definitely keep reading this new, thrilling, series.

Probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

CW: childbirth, bullying, brain manipulation

James Rollins is an author I’ve been reading for more than a decade now and every year, I find a lot of joy in picking up the next Sigma Force novel. So when I saw that he was getting back to fantasy after many many years, I knew I had to read it. And I was ecstatic when I got the arc of this one. And it definitely was an interesting read.

This was a tough going for the first few chapters. I hadn’t even bothered to read the premise of the book because I trust the author so much, so I went into it without knowing a word and I guess I felt a little lost in the beginning. But once the first three POVs were introduced and we got to know them a little bit, the story took up speed and then it was a breeze through. I think I also had a bit of difficulty following the various names of kingdoms, gods, creatures, peoples etc initially but I slowly got accustomed to remembering only the ones necessary for the ongoing immediate plot. The pacing, the multiple POVs converging together, the elaborate action set pieces involving lots of firepower, various fantastical creatures, and a world whose prophecied apocalypse is a bit reminiscent of our climate change issues - any veteran reader of Rollins will recognize all these elements which are always present in his books and I think it was this familiarity that pushed me to continue until I fell in love with the characters and their goals. My main gripe remains the various descriptions of generous bosoms and breasts which just felt so unnecessary in the circumstances the characters were going through.

I’m used to getting right into the thick of the plot in Rollins’s novels because I already know all the major characters too well for more than ten years now. So I think it took me time to get myself attached to these new ones. But the wait was totally worth it. Nyx’s story is one of family and hope and love, who is inadvertently pushed on a path of danger when she sees a prophecy of an impending apocalypse. What I admired about her though is her bravery and dedication to her goal despite any adversity, and her endearing bond with Bashaalia and Aamon. She is aptly supported by her friend Jace who may be a well of bookish knowledge but will do anything to protect her.

Kanthe is second son of the King, forever doomed to be the forgotten member of the family, with no expectations set on him. And he seems content playing that role until he realizes he is in a fight for survival - both of himself and the world. I was slightly miffed that he kept having feelings for Nyx despite their being a possibility that she was his half sister, but hopefully that confusion resolves soon. I’m just not sure I like this love triangle though, but thankfully Nyx doesn’t have time for these boys when she has her brother to take care of and a world to save.

Rhaif and Pratik were characters I didn’t really feel much connected to for a long time until I realized how much they were doing to protect Shiya and ensure that she arrives at her destination. Shiya is definitely the most special one here and I don’t wanna say more about her lest I spoil the fun. Frell is an alchemyst like Pratik and despite being old, he is a good voice of reason for Kanthe as well as the whole group, determined to bring the truth to light even if it gets him killed. And finally Graylin, the disgraced knight exiled from civilization who has to come back to his homeland to confront someone from his past and maybe makeup for all the grief he has caused and experienced.

There are also many other side characters, some of whose POVs we do get, and many of them antagonists who only care about increasing their power and maybe win wars against neighboring kingdoms but have no care for the fact that their world might be ending soon. I’m hoping they’ll all get their comeuppance for being so narcissistic and power hungry, and in a few cases downright even, but I’m sure I’ll have to wait for the last book of this series for that to happen.

In the end, this was an interesting new world with lots of perspectives and characters, their various ambitions and destinies driving the journeys they undertake which we get to follow along, and many many gruesome as well as endearing creatures who inspire awe while reading. This is quite an adventurous novel, reminiscent of the author’s most famous series and I can only hope the next one will be even better. Thankfully it doesn’t end on a cliffhanger and is pretty satisfying, so I think this wait might not be very painful.

Thank You Tor Books for this eARC.

The Starless Crown which is the first in The Moon Fall series.

Mini Review:
This world building story was so phenomenal.
At first I hesitated when I opened my Kindle, but man am I so glad I read it.
James writing is consistently compelling, always full of beautiful prose, adept world building, and rich characterization.
His storytelling pulled me in from the very first page and kept me enrapt until the very last word.
This action filled fantasy was great and I'm so glad I had the chance to read it!
Truly enjoyed it!
⭐⭐⭐⭐

James Rollins can put down some images that cause you to slink down and try your best to hide and not be noticed. This is the first book in a new series adventure of hidden secrets and ruthless control.

This is a complex tale with the introduction to, and eventual meeting up of a whole cast of characters tasked to save the world.

As with any epic, this is a long book. It does great at setting up this new universe. I will say that towards the last 10% of the book, I kept thinking “Really? ANOTHER battle? ANOTHER twist?? I guess for me I was ready to just wrap this one up and go on to book 2. This is a series I will look for the next book in, just know that in this one - one battle leads to another and another and another until your adrenaline is spent and all you want is a nap. Not saying it’s not a good story - just … you get it.

I will definitely be recommending this novel, and rate it a 3.5 out of 5 stars - and I am excited for the next installment!

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, and the author James Rollins for providing me with an electronic arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

With The Starless Crown , James Rollins embarks on an epic fantasy that brings excitement, danger, and suspense to an adventurous journey that includes some unusual allies and some common enemies. With this first book in the Moon Fall series, he introduces the four main characters and does a fantastic job of building a world that is unique.

Nyx is a gifted seventh year student at the Cloistery of Brayk. She is also nearly blind and having dreams and nightmares. Rhaif is a thief who was betrayed by his guild. He is now a prisoner assigned to work in a chalk mine. Prince Kanthe ry Massif is the second born twin of King Toranth. Graylin sy Moor, a former knight and friend of the king, has been exiled for 10 years. How do these diverse characters on the run meet? Will they learn to trust each other as they face both old and new enemies and uncover ancient secrets?

The main characters have depth and are brought to life in this novel. They have weaknesses that challenge them, but also strengths emerge when least expected. Each one experiences growth over the course of the story. One of the many things that stands out for me is that the secondary and tertiary characters are also very well-developed. The point of view changes between the four main characters. While their stories and actions start out separately, the author gradually brings them together. This takes a skillful writer to pull it off and keep readers interested. Rollins succeeds.

There’s a lot of time spent introducing the characters and their back stories as well as world-building, but that’s not unusual in the first book in a series of this magnitude. As readers get acquainted with the characters, both good and bad, it becomes clear that there is even more going on than the journey. Evil, greed, the desire for power, and treachery are abundant. Will those that want to save the world survive and finish their quest? The world-building is remarkable. From the creatures that inhabit the Crown to the magic systems and the land itself, Rollins introduces readers to a fantastic new world. As in his thrillers, he includes science, historical secrets, and suspense. Themes include bullying, murder, torture, jealousy, betrayal, suicide, actions people will take in search of knowledge and power, grief, hope, sacrifice, and much more.

Overall, this book was an action-filled fantasy quest that is gripping and thought-provoking. The high stakes and smooth writing made it a page turner. While it’s the eighteenth novel I have read by this author, it is the only fantasy novel I have read by him. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. If you enjoy epic fantasies with great world-building, an unusual magic system, and a diverse set of characters, then you may enjoy this novel as much as I did.

Macmillan-Tor/Forge – Tor Books and the author provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for January 4, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Starless crown review


James Rollins can put down some images that cause you to slink down and try your best to hide and not be noticed. This is the first book in a new series adventure of hidden secrets and ruthless control.

This is a complex tale with the introduction to, and eventual meeting up of a whole cast of characters tasked to save the world.

As with any epic, this is a long book. It does great at setting up this new universe. I will say that towards the last 10% of the book, I kept thinking “Really? ANOTHER battle? ANOTHER twist?? I guess for me I was ready to just wrap this one up and go on to book 2. This is a series I will look for the next book in, just know that in this one - one battle leads to another and another and another until your adrenaline is spent and all you want is a nap. Not saying it’s not a good story - just … you get it.

I will definitely be recommending this novel, and rate it a 3.5 out of 5 stars - and I am excited for the next installment, and the first book releases on Jan 4, 2022. Oh man am I in for a wait!

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, and the author James Rollins for providing me with an electronic arc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I’m going to try something a little different. I didn’t realize this book is a bit long and should have started long ago. Anyway, I’m going to add some obscure quotes from the uncorrected copy. Just bits and pieces…. keep you intrigued and hopefully find a winner.

The Starless Crown
When the world stopped turning,
new lands were born


From Author:
(For Terry Brooks, whose creativity inspired me and whose generosity of spirit is the only reason you are reading this book)

Life is full of holes. Even the best of times, the span of one’s years is never a perfect tapestry, laid out in a sprawl of days, months, and years, all woven in flawless detail, each color as bright as when its thread was plaited into the whole


This man, who is he? He goes on to talk about his age, his memories, a woman and he does it beautifully.

*BEFORE

She gives birth in mud and mire…… the reptilian hunter is twice her length…. she kneels over her child. She is too weak even to stand… a piercing cry rings forth from the skies… it swings toward her, revealing its malignant splendor…. Better to die free, my daughter.


This book starts out solid in my opinion. I’m totally hooked and I hope it stays that way. What is this beast? What did it do to the hunter, the woman, the baby?

*CHAPTER 1

Nyx sought to understand the stars with her fingertips.
I love Nyx already. She’s near blind and has to take time to learn things in school. Of course, there are jerk bullies that I want to kick off the planet.

CHAPTER 2

maybe both her parents had abandoned her in the swamps, surely left to die, perhaps because she had been born afflicted, the surfaces of her eyes glazed to a bluish white.




I just love her and her father, he found her as a baby and I love Gramblebuck. There are some cool creatures in the book so far!

CHAPTER 3

Omg!! These damn bullies!! Evil bastards!



Omg! That just happened! Yes!!! And then…

As she lay there, the coldness continued to spread. It numbed her limbs until she could not move, barely breathe.
She felt the ice, like poisonous claws, dig into her heart and clench. The world immediately went dark, far blacker than any blindness….


What happened there? Are you tempted yet? 😏

CHAPTER 4 & 5

We meet the prisoner,Rhaif. He’s been underground for quite some time slaving away. We also meet The Bronze Goddess, I wonder what her story is….

KANTHE

But the most apt slur was simply the Prince in the Cupboard. He was a prince whose only use in life was to be a spare in case his older twin should die.


Poor Kanthe, he’s a hot mess right now but we shall see….

THOUGHTS

This story was pretty awesome and unique to me. I enjoyed the characters and the strange world of creatures. Nyx has abilities that are connected to a type of creature that is totally awesome! There is a bronze goddess that is awesome as well. All of the people and things… come together to … do things.

There really isn’t any world building, this is more character and creature driven, which is fine in this case. I’m looking forward to what is going to happen in the next book. The ending definitely makes you want to continue, at least it does me.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Tor for a digital copy of this book!!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾