The author, Shea Ernshaw, has woven an enchanting tale that drew me in with its captivating atmosphere. I was completely engrossed in the story and found myself unable to put it down. I am eagerly looking forward to reading more from this talented author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

Having been a big fan of The Wicked Deep, I was very much looking forward to reading A Wilderness of Stars. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The story was somewhat lackluster and I found myself getting lost in the wordiness of the story. I was hoping that the story would pick up at least mid-way for me, but it really didn't.

All in all, this was not the book for me. However, I'll still keep Shea Ernshaw on my list of authors to continue to check out. I think this was basically just a "not for me" kind of book.

Perfect for spooky season. Shea Ernshaw’s writing style is so mystifying I hardly wanted to set this one down.

I am absolutely obsessed with Shea Ernshaw’s first 2 books. I read them years ago, but I still think about them. I was basically the only person that wasn’t a huge fan of her 3rd book. But still, I was quite excited for this one.

I thought this was an interesting read, but it was missing the magic and the atmospheric writing I came to love. It’s still her witchy books for me that shine.

This is the first book of Shea Ernshaw's that I just could not get in to easily. I struggled to feel connection with the main characters and the storyline, and inevitably DNFed around 30%.

Just not the book for me. Our book club read this together and the general consensus is that is just wasn't the author's best work. I've read most of her other books and she is an auto-buy author for me but this one just wasn't on the same level in our opinion compared to her others, especially her adult debut. Confusing setting and lack of details were not intriguing but rather just frustrating. Looking forward to more from her but this one just wasn't a match.

overall, I liked this. I’m a sucker for anything dystopian, though this was kind of dystopian lite with a dash of sci-fi. it kept me pretty engaged throughout and had likable characters. Ernshaw has such a beautiful, poetic writing style. the twist in the end I only really half guessed, and it was a great twist! this didn’t blow me away but it was a unique read and I’m glad I read it. I recommend this if you’re a dystopian sucker like

Book Feature
A Wilderness of Stars
By: Shea Ernshaw

#qotd: Do you know any of the constellations and can you locate them?
#aotd: I can almost always find the big and little dipper. And I swear one time i saw Pegasus but haven't been able to find it again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am featuring this book because I ended up DNFing. The book sounded very intriguing and I loved A History of Wild Places which I had the ARC for last year. This was just not the book for me, though. I added the audio to help, see if it would interest me more, and it did not. I wasn't a huge fan of the narrator to begin with. Then the book was just very slow. I was 4 hours in and it seemed like only 2 really significant things had happened. It was really repetitive and couldn't hold my interest enough to find out why she had a mysterious tattoo or what that had to do with the constellations. I was bummed because I love the stars and so wanted to love this book. Fingers crossed for the next one.


#review #dnf #notforme #bookdnf
#awildernessofstars #stars #constellations #photoedit #bookphoto #picsart #booklove #lifeistooshortotreadboringbooks #magic #netgalley

This book was not what I expected. The blurb sounded great, and I was defiantly excited to embark on another one of Earnshaw's magical tales. This book was not only great it was unexpected and had such lush writing. There were some moments when the story kind of dragged a little. Once you get past some of the earlier parts the twists and turns ignite a need to binge the entire story. I absolutely loved the second half of this book. The concept and ideas in this book were so fresh and interesting. The execution was done perfectly. I really enjoyed the characters. I might be secretly hoping that there is another book to continue the story, i would love to know if Vega accomplishes her goal.

Hello Again,

From the moment I saw the title and cover of this book I knew I wanted to read it. I have read a bunch of Shea’s other works and seeing this new one coming out, made me super excited. I pre-ordered myself a copy and before it even got here I decided I wanted to listen to the audiobook. I enjoyed so many of Shea’s other works on audio and it just seemed like this would be another one I might enjoy on audio. So I put a hold on the audiobook on Libby and my hold finally came in recently! So without further ado, let’s jump into it!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Vega has never left the valley. She has lived there since being born and her mother has basically forbidden her from leaving the valley. But recently Vega’s mother passed away. Shortly after her passing, Vega sees something in the sky that she thought at least up until now was only a rumor. But she is sure of what she saw. Vega decides after seeing this sign in the sky, that she is going to leave the valley but when she gets outside of the valley she sees that people are sick. They are going blind, and some are passing away. This is a whole different side of the world that Vega is experiencing. But something Vega knows that no one else does is that she is the Last Astronomer, this was passed to her from her mother and before that her grandmother. But can Vega use the fact that she is the Last Astronomer to help her figure out what is going on? Can she save anyone? What if she does not want to tell people she is the Last Astronomer but maybe they find out by accident?

I really really wanted to love this book but unfortunately, I think it was not for me. The story was super intriguing but at the end of the story I was left with this scattered feeling. I did really enjoy the narrator and felt as though they did a great job trying to portray the characters and the situation. I will definitely still be giving whatever Shea writes next a try. Before I wrap up this review, I did want to give an honorable mention to the cover, it is amazing. I can not stop looking at the cover. Let me know in the comments what your current read is!

Goodreads Rating: 2 Stars

This book is CLASSIC young adult chosen one insta love the world is ending and if that sounds like a jumble of tropes then you’re getting the idea. Sometimes this really works (coughSerpent&Dovecough) and sometimes it really doesn’t. Unfortunately this was one of the times it didn’t work for me. I’m not a huge fan of insta-love, naive heroines or one-note villains and this book had all three. The story wasn’t necessarily bad it just wasn’t great and I saw the big twist coming from miles away. I did like the beautiful prose and the plot itself is well-done. I definitely felt invested enough to finish and would recommend to anyone who loves a solid YA without too much depth.

Shea Ernshaw has become one of my favorite YA authors of recent years. However, this novel didn't catch my attention as much as previous ones did. I wasn't too interested in the characters and felt the pacing was a bit too slow, but Ernshaw's lyrical writing still shines through, so I would recommend it to readers interested in slow burn fantasy/sci fi.

An interesting set-up. We suspect from the start that everything is not as it seems. The general sense is of the western frontier but the details don't add up. When reality is revealed it is a sense of the inevitable rather than a surprise. The characters aren't really complex enough to drive the plot forward.

After reading Shea Ernshaw’s Long Live the Pumpkin Queen, I was curious and decided to check out her other titles. Her latest release, A Wilderness of Stars, is a unique young adult tale. A cross between a romance and a dystopian science fiction, It’s not a page turner in the sense of ‘oh my gosh, I need to finish this in one sitting”. Instead, it’s more of a slow build that sinks its teeth into you over time and makes you want to finish the story.

At the beginning of the story, readers meet Vega, the last Astronomer in a world destroyed by a mysterious illness known as the “consumption”. After the appearance of twin stars in the sky that have been foretold for generations, Vega leaves home and sets out to find the Architect and fulfill the purpose passed down from her ancestors. However, their path to the sea is perilous and they must race against the clock to get to the sea before it’s too late.

Ms. Ernshaw’s writing is undoubtedly poetic and vivid. The mystery she wove throughout the story left me confused for a large chunk of the book. Vega, Noah and Cricket live in a world that is reminiscent of Western movie meets dystopian landscape. Those few details are about all readers get at the start. The author throws out a few bread crumbs here and there, but it's not enough to actually solve the mystery of what's going on or even understand what the end goal is till closer to the end of the story. Once you hit that point, things start to fall into place like dominoes. I think the lack of clarity was what intrigued me, because there were just enough hints to make me want to figure out what was going on.

The romance, on the other hand, is a little weird and off-putting. I did enjoy Noah and Vega’s friendship. However, I’m not a fan of “insta-love”. I think I would have responded more positively if their relationship were more based on the impending destruction of their world, rather than some “fated in the stars” dynamic that was dependent on their roles as the Architect and the Astronomer.

Overall, A Wilderness of Stars was an enjoyable and unique read. The audiobook narrator, Ferdelle Capistrano, did an excellent job with her performance. Readers who enjoy vivid imagery and don’t mind books that move at a slower pace should definitely pick up this book today. Please note that the advertising is a bit misleading - A Wilderness of Stars has more elements of the dystopian genre than fantasy, in my opinion.

Thank you to the author, the publisher Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, Jaime at Rockstar Book Tours, and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy as part of my participation in the blog tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review A Wilderness of Stars immensely. Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed the book. All opinions expressed in the review are my own and not influenced in any way.

Another lush, atmospheric fantasy with just a touch of mystery. Shea Ernshaw has the ability to make you feel immersed in the world from the first page.

Vega is the only one who can read the map. She knows what to do. She’s their last hope. And this girl, wow! Ernshaw is descriptive and her narrative unfolds in a way you just cannot stop reading. The storytelling is riveting, and feels like you are living the story from within. Like it’s a movie and you’re in it. I was rooting for this girl on every page. Fantasy so good, you believe it is true. A slight hint of dystopian YA, and yet covered with love. We believe there will be a sequel and will definitely read it.

I received an ARC copy for review. The quality is impeccable and it has such beautiful covers (the dust jacket one and the book one)

I’m a huge fan of Ernshaw’s writing, so I was thrilled to get a copy of a Wilderness of Stars. However, this book didn’t quite live up to the standards set in her previous novels. I was indifferent about most of the novel, but absolutely loved the ending. It truly had me on the edge of my seat. All in all, A Wilder was of Stars was a three star book with a five star ending.

Short synopsis: After her mother does, Vega leaves her secluded valley home to find the unknown architect in order to cure the illness killing all the people.

My thoughts: I’m just going to start off by saying not only is this cover stunning in its own, but I have major star eyes for the naked cover! Holy guacamole it’s beautiful! This was a story of adventure, destiny, forbidden love, magic, vengeance, and of course stars and Astronomy. I loved how the stars played such an important role in making the path.

I loved store story of the original architect and astronomer and the ending was totally unexpected. In fact, while I’m sure the ending was totally left up to the readers interpretation I also feel like there was space left for a sequel. I have questions!

This is my second by Shea Earnshaw, the first being A History of Wild Places. Earnshaw has such a beautiful atmospheric writing style, the stories are engrossing but done such a way that I (as the reader) don’t want to rush through them. I will definitely be picking up more by her!

Read if you love:
* Adventure
* Atmospheric writing
* Beautiful covers
* Strong female protagonist
* Fulfilling your destiny

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster and Book Club Favorites for the copy of this book! Available now!

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, for the chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Vega has lived in the valley, inside its borders, for all her life. The life outside is dangerous, there are unknown threats in the wilds, or so her mother says all the time. But when she sees an omen from the sky, something she can ignore, she's convinced to escape the borders and face the world. But outside is worse she could have imagined. People are getting sick and they are losing sight and hearing before dying. Vega has a secret, though: she's the Last Astronomer, able to understand the stars and their knowledge, that could lead to a cure, and when people spot her mark, a tattoo on her neck, there's only chaos and she's rescued by a girl called Cricked, who leads her to Noah, a mysterious boy with his own tattoo.
Now on the run, they struggle to find a fabled cure, hidden by the astronomers and as the lines between friends and protectors starts to fade, she struggle to decide what to do: protect the secrets of the astronomers or risk everything and save them all.

A Wilderness of stars is a brilliant and magical romance with the last astronomer as main character. Hidden and sheltered all her life, when she decided to look at the outside world, Vega has to face a great choice and with a group of allies she will venture across the wilderness looking for a cure to save humanity. Skillfilly written, plotted in an intriguing way, with twists and revelations along the way, the story is captivating, with amazing characters, with ther own issues, bonds and secrets.
I love this approach, looking for the stars' message for a cure, in order to save everyone from a fatal sickness. I love the astronomers' secrets and messages and how Vega struggles, divided between what's right and her own duty to them. Intriguing the romance, the setting and how these characters grow. I really liked reading this book.