Richly drawn with complex characters, I think this one will be a huge hit with a certain type of romantasy readers. I have a few qualms - the retelling of the Greek mythology is really the meat of this book and the “space opera” aspect felt a little thin. I also think it’s a touch long and the first quarter of the book is brutally slow. Still, its unique and cast of characters kept me turning the pages. Both spicier and not as spicy as I thought it was going to be, some scenes could be far too much for the average reader but are ultimately very sweet. Some interesting themes of independence and losing one’s religion as well. I think I personally would have appreciated a bit more darkness and morally grey aspects in our main characters but thought it was solid overall.

First, I'd like to say that this was a really faithful adaptation of the myth of Ariadne and Dionysus, and the myth nerd in me really loved that.

Second, I wish I could say that I liked this more. Don't get me wrong- it's a fun time! Ultimately, I want to recommend it because I believe that other people will really enjoy this. But, unfortunately, I felt that it was mostly.... fine?

The plot follows Princess Ariadne Tholos as she hatches a plot to help Athenians defeat the Minotaur and escape Crete, with her in tow. Escaping from under her father's cruel thumb is imperative for her to survive, but when Theseus turns on her, she'll have to resort to the mercy of a god she doesn't even believe in. A marriage of convenience with the god Dionysus ensues.

The first half or so of this book feels- not irrelevant per se- but unimportant to this story. The actual story really gets going about halfway in, and I almost DNF'd based on that first part alone. Once you get through that, though, the relationship between Ariadne and Dionysus is very cute. Emphasis on cute. I think my biggest complaint is that this book is NOT debauched enough! It's 3 chili peppers at most! I wanted degenerate revelry! Lavish orgies! Insanity jumping off the page! This Dionysus was very tame. Tsk tsk

Other than describing revels in passing, our main character's romantic life is short of scandalous and leaves some to be desired. It left me wondering if I'm really depraved or if everyone else needs to branch out more (both?). I really wish we had seen Ariadne and Dionysus participate in at LEAST ONE orgy, but alas.

I also wasn't really vibing with the writing style. Some of the dialogue is cringy or unnecessary to me, but that may be a personal preference. Overall, I think this book was too drawn out but those last 50 pages is where it gets good.

I think the premise is excellent, but I wish the execution was a bit sexier.

I really liked this fantasy with Greek mythology. The storyline was good. The world building was great. I loved that there were some different views on the Greek gods than you normally read in fiction. There are some smutty scenes in this book, so na to adult, not ya. I recommend this book for someone looking for a Sci fi Greek God story!

An easy introduction to romantic sci-fi with fantastical elements! The use of Greek mythology as an inspiration makes for a smooth understanding of early world-building. As more of a character study, the plot was there and pushing the story along, but the focus was on Ariadne's self-discovery and journey. As well as with Dionysus (LOVE HIM). Ariadne's story is so heartwarming and can speak to many young women trying to find their voices. Would recommend it to romantasy lovers looking to try a spicy sci fi!

Thank you, Del Rey and Netgally for the E-ARC!

Unhappy with her life, Ariadne Tholos, crowned princess of the Cretan Empire, is more than willing to take the chance to escape when the opportunity arises., Instead she ends up betrayed and hunted. Rescued by the God of not only wine, but madness and revelry, Ariadne discovers a much different reality than what she grew up in. Dionysus shows her new things, protects her, but surely there’s something more he wants?

This was a fantastic take on Greek mythology, the story of Dionysus and Ariadne brought to life in a compelling story, full of interesting characters, growth, love, adventure and more.

Ariadne was quite the heroine, never truly giving up even when she doubts herself. I love how real her growth feels as she learns to accept herself and stop feeling guilty. She really blossomed throughout the book.

Dionysus was an incredibly fun character as well and I loved how he was portrayed. Not only that, but how accepting he was in so many regards.

I genuinely enjoyed this book, a lovely and well written take on Greek mythology that you want to read all at once, but also draw it out and enjoy. To top it off, it has an equally enjoyable and gorgeous cover.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this e arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delray books for an ARC of a Crown of Starlight!

I really enjoyed this book! If you like stories set in space or Greek Mythology, you'll want to grab a copy of this book. I can't believe this is Cait Corrain's first book, it's very well written and the story is incredible unique. A great cast of characters that are diverse!

What a great read! It was very unique and interesting. I most loved the characters and their relationship/development.

Ariadne, Princess of the Cretan Empire, grapples with the fear of turning into a monster if she remains in her world. Fueled by the desire for freedom, she orchestrates an escape plan, choosing to save those marked as sacrifices. In her desperate flight, she encounters Dionysus, the God of Wine, Madness, and Revelry, who takes her under his wing. Dionysus, in need of a Cretan royal to join his cult and lift his banishment from Olympus, strikes a unique bargain with Ariadne—a marriage that ensures her protection from the Cretan Empire and his return to Olympus. As their arrangement unfolds, the sparks of genuine emotion begin to flicker between them.

“Crown of Starlight” by Cait Corrain is a Greek mythology intertwined with futuristic space vibes. I cannot express enough how good this book was! It is so different than the current trend of Persephone and Hades books, because of Dionysus. I have never fallen so in love with characters so fast before. The problem is now I have a book hangover because this book was so unique that there are no other books that could possibly give me the same vibe as this one. Dionysus is so sweet and devious at the same time; Ariadne is chaste but curious; perfect combo. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year and now one of my favorites of all time. 5 out of 5 stars.

This is a gem, a beauty and everything in between. If you're looking for a book that will make you feel, think, and reflect on the enduring power of love, this is it.

ever since i first heard of cait corrain's debut novel CROWN OF STARLIGHT and listened to them speak on the let's talk about myths podcast, i knew they were going to write something lovely, but CROWN OF STARLIGHT is even more sublime than i could've anticipated. it is a book i love so ardently it feels like a physical ache. corrain has stunningly reimagined the story of ariadne and dionysus as a hilarious and heartfelt queer space opera teeming with thoughtful explorations of mental health and identity, and what sets CROWN OF STARLIGHT apart is the sheer care with which dionysus and ariadne are written. dionysus is the gorgeously multi-faceted god he is and is so rarely presented as, and ariadne is one of the most resilient characters i’ve read in a long time, fighting to find joy and love wherever she can. together, their relationship is a study in respect, consent, trust, self-love, healing, and emotional freedom that made me deliriously happy.

CROWN OF STARLIGHT has everything you could want—monstrosity both human and divine, a tyrannical regime of death cultists, a never-ending supply of wine and sex and revelry, messy family drama, interstellar war, and as many forms of love as you could imagine—but the sacred, beating heart of this story is its quiet and raw examination of love amidst unthinkable trauma. here, dionysus and ariadne are both victims of abusive and controlling parental figures and political systems, whose every anxiety, insecurity, and dysfunction come to light in the courage it takes to stand up to their oppressors and love one another—and themselves—openly and without fear. i’m wildly grateful for CROWN OF STARLIGHT, and it’s easily one of my all time favorite books (to no one's surprise). those of you looking to have the time of your life while simultaneously having your heart ripped out of your chest, look no further. corrain’s debut is a bewitching, sexy, vulnerable, and thrilling take on two of my favorite mythological figures, and i can’t help but feel that dionysus and ariadne would love to see themselves portrayed so beautifully.

CROWN OF STARLIGHT is out may 2024 and is available for pre-order wherever you find your books.

p.s. don't skip out on the author's note at the end—it's excellent.

crown of starlight hit a lot of really high, good notes for me, most notably:
-a morally great mmc
-political intrigue
-slow burn, spicy romance
-high stakes/high reward
-lgbtq+ representation

the dialogue is a little… informal? at times, given the setting and plot, and took me out of a story a bit, leading to my 4 star rating (in a big dialogue girlie!)

as much as i love greek mythology retellings, i was getting burnt out on hades/persephone. cait gives a fresh story about airadne and dionysus with a fun dynamic and good banter.

crown of starlight is set to release in may of 2024 (with a cover release in 2 days!) and i can’t wait to have a physical copy on my shelf! big thank you to cait, net galley, and del rey books for the arc!

First of all, theres going to be more of Ariadne and Dionysius right?! Cause I simply need more, I love them dearly.

This book was so heartbreaking, yet fun and sexy. I was truly on an emotional rollercoaster and that kept me hooked. Related a lot to Ariadne and whew the tears Cait got out of me, oh my lanta. After finishing the book I went back and looked at my highlights and… 543 total highlights and notes, I clearly had a time over here. There were just so many beautiful and vivid scenes, and wow the amount of lines in here that were just a straight shot to the heart.

I normally read Greek retellings about Hades and Persephone, so it was really fun to read about another duo, and even though I’m pretty in tune with Greek mythology I loved the way Corrain presented the mythology and how these characters existed in space. It created a really engaging story and world that I was throughly invested in.

🌶️🌶️.5/5
4.75/5⭐️ stars

Thanks to NetGalley/Random House Publishing for the arc.

Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey books for the arc. Crown of Starlight is set to publish on May 14, 2024. This is a retelling of the Greek story with Ariadne and Dionysus, but with a fun sci-fi twist. I wanted to love this book but it fell short for me. A solid 3.5/4 stars. I had a difficult time staying fully engaged with the story, which might have been more me. All in all, it was enjoyable but lacking for me. If you are interested in a fun, sci-fi Greek mythology retelling with some steamy scenes, then Crown of Starlight is your book.

Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for the advanced copy! Cait Corrain wrote one hell of a story! Every page in this book is a vivid reclamation of mythological stories–once sanitized to reductive, bland tales (read Cait’s note at the end). These are beautiful, messy characters.

You will feel each moment in the journey of Ariadne and Dionysus. Cait allows them to ugly cry during the lows and embrace their joy in the highs. It’s apparent to anyone reading how much she honors what they are going through and gives them the space in the story to process each step.

Ariadne’s defiance of a puritanical patriarchy runs parallel to Dionysus’s place on the fringes of a family who’ve never really accepted him. Their journey together (no spoilers here) helps them grow toward self-love and self-acceptance. They don’t need to be ashamed anymore. They are enough for themselves so they can be enough for each other. It’s an earned love and a beautiful story.

Pre-order this now!!

I was a bit skeptical at first with the mix of mythological and space age but the author cleverly mixed them. I enjoyed the characters and the growth they experienced. The villains were a bit one tone but all in all an enjoyable read.

I think not liking this was a me problem.... I just do not enjoy Greek mythology retellings especially Ariande.

This book was like nothing I have read before, it was such a strange take on Greek Mythology, but I am not mad about it.

I will say it took me a bit to get into the book, honestly until Dionysus shows up, but once that happens I was so into it!

crown of starlight is a sci-fi greek mythological retelling of ariadne and dionysus.

i myself am not familiar with greek mythology so i have nothing to base the accuracy on but overall corrain’s debut novel was alright. the first 20% of the story was difficult to push through, personally the story felt all too lackluster? the secondary characters did not seem to get much commentary, sometimes they were mentioned once and then never again. neither was i fully invested in the worldbuilding though i wish i was because a space opera is such a cool concept!

for those interested in binging some steamy greek mythological retellings, read crown of starlight.

many thanks to random house publishing group & netgalley for the arc.

Greek mythology in Space and is comp-ed to Kushiel's Dart? I have been waiting for this since it was announced and what a great debut. Since it was comp-ed to Kushiel's Dart, I knew that it would be a bit of a slow burn, so I was prepared for that. But if one comes into this expecting high heat instantly, I think they would be disappointed.

Despite me expecting the slow start, it did take a while for me to really ground myself in this world, even though I am quite familiar with the myths. While this book did eventually grab my interest and become unputdownable after act one, the slow start almost made me quit reading. I'm glad I persevered.

This wasn’t for me. I’m unsure if I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read this but I got confused very early on with trying to meld my knowledge of Greek mythology into this sci-fi/fantasy world. It still seems like an interesting concept.