this book. THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! Honestly this is the next book that will be living in my head rent free for the foreseeable future. I can feel the book slump coming on already. The fact I have to wait until May to have a physical copy, and even longer than that for the sequel is going to be the death of me!

Cait Corrain spins a lyrical and wondrous tale of love and recovery, not just between Dionysus and Ariadne, but also of Ariadne coming to terms with self love. There were plenty of moments that hit way to close to home and brought me to tears. Following Ariadne on her journey of discovering who she is, and not who others try to make her to be, is one that I will never tire of. Throw in Dionysus and his chaotic group of Maenads, followers and their many MANY revelries adds plenty of character to this book. I loved the way Corrain details Ariadne and Dionysus standing up to those who try to oppress them. The strength and unconditional love they provide each other is raw and beautiful. Ariadne and Dionysus are not perfect, but when they're together they come close to it. There is so much heart that went into writing this book. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment to see more of these characters I have grown to love.

Crown of Starlight is a vulnerable, raw, sexy, and delectable book you don't want to miss out on. Cait Corrain is an author I will be closely following from now on.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow is the first thought that comes to mind in regards to this book. I’m a huge Greek Mythology fan and eat up any type of mythology as a result, but often times authors will distort the original stories, soften it like this author said in her notes at the end, or make so many of the lesser known Gods and Goddesses one dimensional. Cait Corrain is not what of those authors.

Corrain knows her stories, has taken an interesting approach to Dionysus that I personally loved, and made me open my eyes to him/her even more than I initially knew Dionysus to be. I love, love, love this spin on Ariadne and Dionysus’ story, finding that putting it in space and during a technologically advanced society still did them justice. I would be throughly surprised if BookTok doesn’t eat this up when it’s released in May. I cannot wait to buy a book when it’s released to add it to my library, and I hope it comes with multiple looks one day so I can own several. This book will follow me for the next few months.

Highly recommend it to mythology, sci-fi, and LGBTQ readers, but also anybody wanting to dip their toes in all three categories. I hope Corrain comes out with more books as her writing style was beautiful (though she definitely has an extensive vocabulary with how often I had to pull up words in the dictionary, so be prepared for that too).

Oh this is a complete and utter DELIGHT.

It is the perfect mixture sexy, outlandish, and utterly sincere in its exploration of trauma, war, and self-acceptance. Unlearning years of hurt are done in between scenes of such complete caring and understanding, while also furthering a galaxy wide plot that involves complicated politics between empires. It's a book that is sweet and loving, but also has some teeth to it. It's one of growth, and damn is it done spectacularly.

When I say this book has everything I mean everything. Greek mythology in space? Sold. Only way I wanna read the ariadne myth from now on. Thank you netgalley for the e Arc

Thank you to Netgalley, and an enormous thankyouthankyouthankyouI'msobbingthankyou to publisher Del Rey and author Cait Corrain for granting my wish and providing this eARC in exchange for a review. Thank you doesn't really begin to even cut it; when I got the email my wish was granted, well, you probably heard me shriek all the way from Texas.
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Immediately after reading the blurb, I knew I wanted to read Crown of Starlight. Sci Fi/Fantasy, Greek Mythology, romance, politics, marriage of convenience... Sign me the fuck up.

But oh my gods, it was even better than I expected.

I knew I was in for a long haul with a page count of over 500, and yet I managed to finish this in just 8 days (and I was sick, so I was sleeping a lot instead of reading). Let me tell you, every page was worth it. And then some. I even put the book down for a day, around 96%, because I didn't want it to end. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters. I genuinely can't remember the last time I felt like that. I've had a couple five-star reads this year, but the end of those all felt satisfying, rewarding, cathartic. This felt like a permanent goodbye, and I just wasn't ready.

The world building? Chef's kiss. We spend several chapters with Ariadne on her home planet before she finds herself on the run from King-Emperor Minos. I was worried the setup would feel rushed, but I found that to be wholly untrue. I was very satisfied with the amount of time we get on Crete, and learning the stakes of Ariadne's escape plan. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when authors tell rather than show, and I was concerned for about one and a half seconds that we were going to simply be told that Minos is a Big Bad Evil Guy, but oh no, we get to see it on page, live and in color. And make no mistake, Minos is a monster. Ariadne's mother is a monster. Her sister. The cultists. Their religion. It is gruesome, and author Corrain does not pull punches. Not pulling punches is a trend that continues throughout the book. And after we leave Crete and hop around the galaxy for a little while, each scene feels fully fleshed out, each piece of technology is either familiar enough to know what it is (com band? smart watch. holodrama? tv show) or explained concisely, without breaking immersion.

The romance between virgin Ariadne and God of Wine/Revelry/Debauchery/Fuckery Dionysus was thoughtfully done. Ariadne had to unlearn her puritan culture and Dionysus exercised patience and gentleness, reminding her that he's also god of rebellion, madness, personal freedom... And this did not happen overnight. Their romance builds over weeks and months, slowly and at Ariadne's comfort level. Every interaction between them is respectful and consensual and most importantly for a god of wine, sober. We have on-page consent, y'all. And when things get freaky-deaky later on, we have on-page establishing of safe-words and on-page aftercare.

Another thing I absolutely fangirled over, that I refuse to put behind a spoiler tag because it's far too important, is that we have bisexual representation. Y'ALL. It is a rare day that I'm actually satisfied with bisexual representation; too often it feels like pandering or an afterthought, or we swing the other direction and the character's sexuality is a device for promiscuity, and in some cases, infidelity. NOT HERE. Nope. It's just a thing that is. And possibly even better? The god of wine and madness is gender-fluid. While in this book Dionysus primarily uses he/him pronouns, there are times where Dionysus uses she/her pronouns. We also have a trans character, and being trans isn't their entire personality. It's so clear that Corrain used sensitivity readers in the writing process, and it's simply beautiful.

The character growth and plot arcs are just immensely satisfying. As I mentioned before, Corrain does not pull punches. There's no third act break up, there's only the type of love that inspires myths. Ariadne even dies for fucks sake. It's Greek Mythology, so death is a little less permanent than it is for us, but she still DIES, and then shuns Elysium and terrorizes Hades in her bid to return to the overworld to get back to her love. I could easily read a trilogy around Ariadne and Dionysus, and sincerely hope I get to. There were a few plot points that were never resolved, and they were acknowledged in the epilogue so I know the author didn't forget about them, either. It is my most sincere hope that a trilogy will be greenlit when this book starts flying off the shelves.

"Crown of Starlight" by Cait Corrain is a breathtaking fusion of Greek mythology and futuristic space opera that takes the classic tale of Ariadne and Dionysus to cosmic heights.

In the interstellar Cretan Empire, Ariadne Tholos, the Crown Princess, is a young woman trapped within a labyrinth of imperial politics and controlled by her father, King-Emperor Minos. She's fearful of succumbing to the same monstrous nature as those around her. When an opportunity for escape presents itself, Ariadne seizes it, setting off a chain of events that puts her life in peril. Injured and alone, she encounters Dionysus, the exiled God of Wine, Madness, and Revelry. He needs a Cretan royal to join his cult to secure his return to Olympus. Ariadne, desperate for sanctuary, agrees to this arrangement, although the Cretans are considered heretics.

As they flee from the vengeful Minos, Ariadne and Dionysus form an alliance that eventually leads them to Olympus, a place beyond Minos's grasp. However, Olympus has its own intrigues, involving the capricious gods themselves. Dionysus's world of wild debauchery challenges Ariadne's understanding of love, power, identity, and her own inner demons.

Cait Corrain crafts a rich and imaginative world where the gods of ancient Greece coexist with a technologically advanced galactic empire. The characters, particularly Ariadne and Dionysus, are beautifully developed, layered, and authentic. Ariadne's transformation from a trapped princess into a determined and powerful woman is a captivating journey. Dionysus is a charismatic and enigmatic figure who provides both mystery and charm.

The narrative is filled with lush and vivid descriptions, immersing readers in this blend of science fiction and myth. Corrain's writing is evocative, and the pacing keeps the story engaging throughout.

"Crown of Starlight" is not just a space opera; it's a tale of self-discovery, rebellion, and love set against the backdrop of a universe that's both magical and futuristic. It reimagines Greek mythology in a fresh, compelling way and leaves readers eager for the next installment.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this. World building was good and I loved the wide range of characters. I also enjoyed the development of the main characters and their relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Crown of Starlight by Cait Corrain was such a lovely surprise read. It took the legends we know from Greek mythology and reinvented them in a fresh and innovative way. The author married magic and science in a wonderfully and made the entire story feel like its own new genre.

I particularly loved our main characters. There was a guileless with both—especially with regard to love—that just made their dynamic so endearing and sweet. I also loved the theme the author continued to touch upon which was guiltless joy. Our main gal definitely struggled with this as many women do, including myself, and I found further kinship with her because of it.

Overall, I gave this book a four-star rating because the storyline was unique, the writing was well-executed, and I truly enjoyed getting to know the characters. I would recommend this book especially to fantasy readers who have been wanting to get into sci-fi, I think this balances the two genres well.

This was nothing short of wonderful, these days I've grown skeptical of Greek retelling especially Ariadne's story, she always came of tragic and she's just caught in the cross hair of the gods but this Ariadne is so incredibly brave and funny and sarcastic and oh so very self aware and a brilliant wonderful human being, by the time I'm a couple pages into the story I'm wonder where she will go and how her story will end, as in previous iterations of the story s he dies as soon as she does something for herself but here she constantly make decisions that bring her closer to her happiness and her values.

Dionysius, never in my life would I have thought I would love any version of him, he is a loud and quiet type of person, he consistent and unwavering devotion to Ariadne. The patience he treats her with, helping her fulfill her goals. He is also so distinctly human, his self doubt, his worry, the yearning for love and respect for his father makes him fell so wonderfully rounded and distinct. Another point to Dionysus, is the exploration of other facets of domain, revaluation and rebirth, how he can't stand injustice and actively tries to help and these features become especially apparent when it enter wines with his wife goals.
I was also impressed by the the balance of romance to plot so to say even though the romance is the plot, their relationship felt well earned and had a sufficient amount of longing and both of them just giving each other what the other needed and they well like true equals.

I recieved an ARC for my honest review. I just finished reading this amazing book that combines Greek mythology with a galactic empire. It's seriously one-of-a-kind and so vibrant! The main character, Ariadne, starts off as a princess trapped in a suffocating life, but she becomes a strong-willed woman determined to take control of her own destiny. It's so empowering to read about her journey! And let's talk about Dionysus, the exiled God of Wine and Madness. He adds an extra layer of mystery and intrigue to the plot. The relationship that develops between Ariadne and Dionysus is incredibly complex, filled with passion, temptation, and conflicting loyalties. I can't wait for the next book in the duology! You definitely don't want to miss out on this enthralling story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Wow, what an interesting and unique debut!
I love mythology retellings but they often follow the same script. This book totally blew me away because it ignored that script entirely. The queer rep alone would have done so, but the sci-fi element was next level. Such a fun read. Hope the author does more like this.

Greek mythology takes to the stars in this steamy, sci-fi reimagining of the tale of Ariadne and Dionysus—the first book in a snarky, queer, lushly romantic duology set in a galaxy of monstrous mortals, bloodthirsty gods, and love fierce enough to shatter the cosmos.

Beautiful, intriguing, and very well-written. Can't wait for book two!

greek mythology + space + spice

i am in love with this book. i've read greek mythology retellings and honestly haven't been impressed by them. but this one? omg omg i love it so much.

i honestly was not super familiar with ariadne's story, so i loved learning about it through this book. watching her grow as a person was so lovely to read. i could literally see her changing as she left crete and started her life with dionysus.

i love the queer representation as well! the way it is included is so interesting and i think it's done really well. it's brought up in such a unique way that i really really love.

also the spice? yes please. i like that it happens later in the book so it really gives time to build up the emotions and everything.

i don't want to say much without spoiling, so i'll leave it with this. it is a beautiful book and i'm so glad i got the chance to read it!

thank you netgalley and everyone involved for providing me with this arc!

This was a refreshing take on one of my favorite Greek mythology stories. The science fiction aspect was flushed out well and brought a whole new dynamic to a classic tale I didn’t know I was wanting. The writing was beautiful and concise. I can’t wait to purchase my physical copy on release day. Thank you to Del Rey, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy.

Wow. What an incredible debut novel, and unique twist on a Greek mythology retelling! The character building and story telling elements of this story are intriguing and grab your attention. The characters were my favorite part of this, and it really felt like you understood who they were and what they were fighting for. There are aspects of religious trauma, purity culture, and shame that are difficult to read but immensely relateable and made me feel seen and understood. I enjoyed the sci-fi twist to this story, adding a completely novel aspect that sets this apart from other retellings Ive read. I did struggle at times to follow along with the world building, but it did not detract from the story overall. There is a good amount of spice in this book, just be prepared for a bit of a slow burn at first. Overall, this was a wonderful read and I can’t wait to read more from the author!

This book is such an spicy read, like really. I love greek mythology, it is like my life. I am a big fan of the percy jackson books, although they are for kids. Retellings are the best thing ever, specially science fantasy ones. Congrats to Cait Corrain on her debut novel!

Disclaimer: I study Greek myth as part of my day job, so I went into this wary and honestly a bit weary of the long string of myth retellings hitting shelves in recent years. However, the Author’s Note II at the very end of my ARC summarized what I sensed to be true even as I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) CROWN OF STARLIGHT – This is a thoughtful, sensitive, and yet still saucy and fun retelling of the myth of Ariadne and Dionysius.

As the myth goes, betrayed by Theseus of Athens, Ariadne of Crete is saved by the Olympian god Dionysius. And that’s the main story here too and yet so much more. While I felt the science fantasy setting was at times more stage dressing than anything else (this is a deeply character-driven story, even if in space), Corrain has masterfully added depth to the bones of the ancient myth in a way that actually reveals a more honest reading, in my opinion, of the original story. Themes of identity, sexuality, and fluidity abound amid discussions of “living on the margins” of family and society.

And for those wanting to know: the book is spicy enough, though it kicks in much later than I expected.