I loved this series so much I recommend it to everyone, including my bookclub who were all enraged at me for picking a book that made them get so attached to a character that I knew was going to die mwahahaha

I loved the first novel in this series and loved it. The characters, the writing, and the many twists and turns were also in the second in the series. I recommend checking this series out. I have already started reading the third book. Thank you for the early copy!

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

After absolutely crushing the first book in this series, I was very excited to get my hands on this sequel. I couldn't wait to see this wonderful world and the characters within it. It just took me forever and ever to finally find time to dive into Stardust in Their Veins.

Just like Castles in Their Bones, I devoured this book. If I remember how CiTB ended, I believe this one picked up right around that point. Since I didn't reread it, I can neither confirm nor deny that. Just know that I absolutely loved both books because there's just so much unpredictability.

Beatrix with her revenge planning became even more likable in my eyes. I also enjoyed her relationship with Pasquale and should probably thank him for making her into who she is now. Together, they were unstoppable, and I just wanted more of their teamwork.

Then there's Daphne; now she, for some reason, annoyed me for a bit. Don't get me wrong, I still love her, but she was just so hesitant to go against her mother. She did deal with conflict though and just took her time to process everything.

I just wish it happened a lot quicker than it did because I'm not a patient person. There's hope for her, though. I am loving the tension between her and Bairre. So, I am hoping that in the next book I get to see them working together more.

Other than the romances, I am enjoying all the magical abilities being explored in greater detail. As well as you know their mother being evil. That ending gave me mini-chills, and now I can't wait to dive into the third book. I absolutely need to know what is going to happen next.

A highly enjoyable read for those who enjoy fantasy novels. A great continuation in the series with well devilled characters and a suspenseful plot.

So I requested this book pretty early on in my NetGalley journey, not realizing it was a sequel and very much basing my want on the gorgeous cover design.

After the ending of the first book and its heartbreaking death of Sophie and the realization that they are all expendable by their mother in order for to gain control of all the kingdoms to become empress, I was eager to see what Beatriz and Daphne would do to survive and hopefully put an end to this madness.

While not as strong as the first book, I did enjoy this one, and I liked the new viewpoint of Violie and getting to know her better and how Sophie's death affected her. And it is not surprising that Beatriz went darker in her anger (I mean, her sister was killed and their mother betrayed them!) and how Daphne had such a hard time accepting the truth, even as more of what their mother had done comes to light. Yes, it is a dark story and though this book was more set up for the last one. I think it was well written and I need to read that third book now to see if we can have a happy ending after all that darkness and death and betrayal.

I was super happy when I received the book from NetGalley. I enjoyed the first book and couldn’t wait to read the second. I love the characters of the three sisters and reading about their story. I enjoyed the first book a little bit more; this one was more of a fill-in book. I can’t wait to read the third one !!

An excellent second installment of this romantasy series. Was great to see more from the sisters, and I'm looking forward to the third book in this series.

“Stardust In Their Veins” by Laura Sebastian is a riveting sequel in the “Castles in Their Bones” series that continues the tale of Princesses Beatriz and Daphne after the loss of their sister. The stakes are higher than ever as their mother’s grand plan to conquer the continent of Vesteria unfolds, with only a few nations remaining free from her iron grip. Beatriz, usurped by her conniving cousins Nico and Gigi, finds herself in a precarious position, while Daphne, in the frosty lands of Friv, navigates a tenuous alliance with rebels. Both princesses are caught in a web of betrayal, political machinations, and the haunting whispers of the stars that speak of treachery. The narrative is a complex tapestry of shifting allegiances, secret codes, and the subtle yet potent magic drawn from the constellations.

Sebastian’s worldbuilding is meticulous and immersive, creating a setting that is both fantastical and tangible. The alternating perspectives between Beatriz and Daphne, along with other key players, provide a multi-faceted view of the unfolding drama. One of the most compelling aspects of the novel is the personal growth of the characters, particularly Beatriz, who grapples with her newfound powers and the weight of her destiny. Daphne’s internal struggle with her mother’s ambitions adds a layer of emotional complexity that resonates with the reader. The addition of Violie’s perspective, a character previously in the shadows, adds another dimension to the narrative.

“Stardust In Their Veins” is a satisfying middle entry in the trilogy that will satisfy fans of the first book and leave them eagerly awaiting the conclusion.

"Stardust in their Veins" immerses readers in a world of political intrigue and sibling rivalry, where princesses Daphne and Beatriz navigate a treacherous landscape shaped by their mother's ambitions. As they grapple with grief and betrayal, the novel explores themes of power, identity, and the bonds of sisterhood. While the plot is engaging and the characters are well-drawn, the pacing occasionally falters, detracting from the overall impact of the story. Nevertheless, with its gripping narrative and richly developed world, this book is sure to captivate fans of epic fantasy.

Read May 2 2023.

3.5 star

This didn’t capture my attention as much as book 1 but I definitely want to read the third one. I have a feeling everything will move pretty fast.

I really loved the first book. It ended on a cliffhanger! Thus, I was very excited to read the sequel. I still love Daphne and Beatriz and reading about their predicaments. However, I wish Sophronia was in the novel because she was one of my favorite characters. Stardust in Their Veins feels more like a filler novel that is gearing up towards the conclusion. Nevertheless, this was a very solid novel with compelling characters! I can’t wait for the third novel! This series is Mrs. Sebastian’s best series yet!

I very much enjoyed the first book of this series. The triplets discover their role in the larger plan, coming into their personhood and morals. The ENDING! I was looking forward to what would happen next but Stardust in Their Veins felt a bit more of a slog to get through. I'm not sure if it was just me/when I read this (highly likely) or just the middle book syndrome after such a promising start. I just never felt invested or engaged with the story.

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.

After reading Castle in Their Bones I had no idea how I was going to survive waiting for book 2. Castle in Thier Bones has a huge cliffhanger. I will say the cover is a bit disappointing. I don't think it goes with book 1. I would not even realize these were the same series if I didn't see the author's name. I think they need to redo the cover for book 1 since books 2 and 3 look like they go together. Once again holy crap the ending was mind-blowing. The twists and turns. That cliffhanger!! I can't wait for the next installment. I was hesitant to read this one because I did not want another cliffhanger and extremely long wait between books. I can't wait to reread them!!
Thank you to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for my review.

After how much I enjoyed the first book in this series, I almost was a bit disappointed with this one. This was a perfectly fine read. I didn't hate it by any means, but I also didn't love it. And I think a huge issue was just how long the book was. I felt it dragged at times, and there was simultaneously a lot happening while also nothing was happening. I think some of the character growth (especially with Daphne) was really good, and I enjoyed certain characters and scenes, but together, I felt that it really didn't need to be as long to get the same story out in this book. Perhaps part of the issue was the 3 POVs, especially when some of the characters overlapped enough that maybe we didn't need to get quite as much from each POV.

Overall, I'm still interested in the story, and I am very intrigued to see how it all ends. I just wish that I enjoyed this one more overall.

This was pretty great for the second book, as usual book one was amazing! I did enjoy the story that came more from Beatriz's POV! def enjoyed!

Just finished this book last week and it was so good! I'm dying for book 3, I have been holding onto this e-arc for awhile because it's been so long since I've read book 1 but wow am I glad I got this arc! Thank u to Decrote press for sending me an e-arc and then decided to pick it up physically from my library and now I'm dying to buy myself a copy!!(:
I loved how we have a multi pov in this series the only bad part is when I was playing the audiobook, and not following along it and not paying attention to the book the characters kind of blend together for me. But, my favorite character was totally Dahpen! I can't wait to see what book 3 has in store for us!(:

SPOILER WARNING: Major spoilers for Castles in Their Bones, the first book in the series.

Raised to be weapons for their mother to use against neighboring kingdoms, triplet princesses Daphne, Beatriz, and Sophronia have lost their faith in the plan – and in the end, Sophronia lost her life. Beatriz and Daphne might have a chance still, but only if they can unite forces.

Castles in Their Bones ended with such a twist that I found myself in shock, unable to believe that what I had read had actually happened – so of course I immediately had to read the sequel, at the very least to find out how Beatriz and Daphne would react to their sister’s death and the revelation that their mother had always been lying to them.

Though Sophronia, my favorite character, is gone, the introduction of Violie as the third narrator and the progression of Beatriz and Daphne’s character arcs and how they are shaped by their grief over Sophronia’s death kept me invested. I was surprised and pleased by the direction that the plot progressed and how characters from different storylines began to link up and affect each other. It was also interesting to learn more about the magic system alongside Beatriz, as the author filled in a lot of gaps that are elided over in the first book, as well as hinting at broader problems beyond the political ones with Empress Margaraux.

However, this book definitely suffers from second book syndrome. We get characters moving around a lot and a fair amount of plotting and intriguing on the part of our heroines, but plot towards the middle of the book especially becomes slightly threadbare. I am very excited for how things are set-up for the third book, but I could have done with more action in this one! I also felt that secondary characters rather faded into the background, especially Pasquale and Ambrose who are mostly around to provide support to Beatriz and do little else.

Really loved the sequel in this series! Things really heated up in book 2. With Sopharonia gone, Daphne and Beatriz have to figure out how to protect themselves and figure out what their mother has planned for them. I really loved the friendship that blossomed between Tris and Pas! They may not be romantic, but their love for each other has grown so much since they first met. They have each other's backs and trust each other more than anyone else. Pas goes along with Tris plans with very little questioning and just trying to keep her safe. I also loved the romantic relationship developing between Daphne and Baire! I couldn't wait for them to actually get married. I am waiting with bated breath for book 3!! Yay!