As part of my trying to read more Indie authors goal and also seeing this author at RARE London 2025 I requested this book - a typical romantasy about faeytes (so faeries right?) and magic users (shadow magic always a bonus) BUT while this does have those components it is so much more than that!!

Selene is the last remaining faeyte - we start the book with her backstory. On the day she was due to come into her power (Ascension Day) and be recognised by the temple on her home island, it was invaded and everybody was slaughtered. She was helped to escape but spent the next decade or so as a prisoner in a brothel saving up every piece of coin she possibly can to buy her freedom - except the person who is making megabucks from her servitude isn't keen on letting her go.

Callan is the captain of a large boat collecting supplies. His crew are all friends since childhood and most have some form of magical ability. There is a personal cost for these abilities being used though (varying from pain, wekaness, loss of memories etc.) so they need to be used carefully.

This is a great story of found family, finding out the truth about the past and so much more!! There are so many layers to the plot and everytime you think you've got your head around it another layer will be peeled away leaving you either shocked or intrigued and unable to stop reading.

Roll on book two!!

You did an absolutely phenomenal job with this book! I could not put it down. Basically I was a gonner while reading this. I was in my own little world hooked on this story! I absolutely loved the story line. I like how there is an impossibly sea made of starlight. I like how the background and history slowly was introduced as the story went on instead of getting all of it at the beginning. It honestly made me so much more interested as it all came out. You absolutely know how to do an ending that I am going to be thinking about for days. I loved Selene and Callan's characters and the slow burn between them. Callans friends I could not get enough of! I highly recommend this book if you want an amazing Romantasy read!! Thank you so much Evelyn Flood and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC Team!

I am broken.

The amount of build up, forging family and bonds, the pain and pleasure that led up to that moment. To end where it did. This was masterfully written. And tore my heart to shreds.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy, all thoughts are my own.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ // Stars Above The Never Sea by Evelyn Flood

This one completely swept me away in the best kind of way! 🌊💫 If you love magical realism and stories that walk the line between myth and memory, this book delivers. Flood’s writing is lyrical and atmospheric! It truly felt like reading a lullaby wrapped in sea mist.

The characters were beautifully written, especially the emotional layers tied to loss, longing, and wonder. This is the kind of story that lingers long after the last page.

If you’re in the mood for a poetic, soul stirring adventure with just a hint of heartbreak, Stars Above The Never Sea is absolutely worth the read. 🌙🪸✨

This book completely shattered me in the best way possible. I didn’t expect to fall this hard, but by the end, I was a full emotional wreck and I would read it all over again in a heartbeat.

What starts off as a slightly disorienting dive into a new world quickly becomes one of the most immersive and heart wrenching stories I have read this year. It does take a moment to settle into the world building, but once the pieces start falling into place, you are swept into an epic journey full of danger, love, sacrifice, and found family.

Selene Amaris finally returns home after ten years, but the place she left behind is not the home she remembers. Her journey is dangerous and filled with uncertainty, but arriving brings even more questions and risks. And Callan Edgeborn, lone survivor of the Never Sea, protector at heart, and unwilling smuggler of unexpected cargo, is a standout. The dynamic between Selene and Callan is magnetic. Their tension, their push and pull, their slow build, it all had me hooked. He is protective, wounded, and good to his core, and I already know he is going to become a favorite book boyfriend for so many.

But what truly elevated this book for me was the crew of secondary characters, each of them brought so much personality and heart. Their banter made me laugh out loud, their loyalty made me tear up, and their unity made this group feel like the kind of found family we all dream of. The emotional connection I felt to each of them was so raw and real. This is a story about adventure, yes, but more than anything it is about what it means to love and be loved in return, about what you are willing to risk and sacrifice for the people you consider your own.

There were twists that caught me completely off guard and scenes I saw coming that still hit like a punch to the chest. And the ending? I am still recovering. It hurt in a way I was absolutely not prepared for and yet it was so beautifully done. I flipped the page and saw the author’s apology and honestly, I needed it.

If you love romantasy with seafaring danger, a tight knit crew, a fiery but vulnerable heroine, a protective MMC who falls first, slow burn longing, and emotional gut punches, this is the book for you. Just make sure to check the trigger warnings, it gets dark, but there is so much warmth and light and love to balance it out. Easily one of my top reads of the year.

Wow i loved this! What a cliffhanger.

We follow the story of Selene and Callan. Selene is a Faeyte forced from her home land following an attack. She's enslaved for 10 years and finally escapes (very Daughter of no worlds if you know you know)

She escapes only to be captured again. This time on Callan's ship. Once he find's her he's intrigued as to how she got there (which we never find out but I'm guessing this will come out in the next book). Callan is part of the original clan that invaded her home land, which is now dying. They hope the Selene can restore their land so she agrees to head home with them.

The book gives us found family, a slow burn, lots of angst and a great magical system.

There's a little smut but it doesn't dominate and take away from the plot.

I'm hooked and I can't wait for book 2!!!

Honestly, when I started this book I didn't expect to love it as much as I did at the end. The beginning for me took a bit to get into as I felt as if I was just thrust into this new world with not as much world building as I normally get from a lot of books. But you do get all the information needed to understand what's going in due time.

What I loved; the main characters are honestly so loveable and everyone around them too, i.e. the crew of The Volatus. The twists, some of them I saw coming, some of them I wouldn't have guessed and it really was a surprise. There were also moments that you knew were coming and when it happened it was just so rough (be ready to cry). The character development was great too and not just from the mains, you could really see how everyone grew and changed.

From the authors Instagram this book dynamic was described as almost a Captain Hook and Tinkerbelle, and that is pretty accurate. Except Callan isn't really a bad guy like Hook. Everything that was promised was delivered and I think Callan might become a favorite book boyfriend for many.

What I didn't like as much was that it did take me a bit to get into the book, but once I did I loved it and couldn't get enough. I do wish there was a bit more information provided in the beginning, but like I said earlier everything does get explained fairly quickly.

The ending broke me. That cliffhanger was probably one of the worst I've ever read (in terms of I NEED to know what happens next NOW). The funny part was the next page after the ending was an apology from the author, you known exactly what you did.

Would I recommend this book ? 100% yes to anyone who loves romantasy/fantasy, a touch her and die, he falls first, enemies to lovers, etc. But beware that ending is rough. Also, please look at the trigger warning before reading as it does get very dark, but there is a good mix between the dark and happy more lighthearted parts.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

THIS BOOK! I went into this book expecting another run of the mill romantasy and I am blown away.

The specifics of the plot are something that I have not found in any other book. The description Evelyn Flood used to describe how Callan gets his magic was so well written that I could easily picture exactly how he was grabbing the threads.

I will say this book was a little difficult to get into at first but once you get over the initial hump you wont want to put the book down.

MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 OUT OF 5!!!
🌶🌶 out of 5

This book did not ease you in gently, threw you under a bus with some heart-pounding action, and immediately evoked sympathy for the main FMC.

Anyone that poo poos books about fairies needs to read this because she isn't your traditional, gentle, sweet little thing. She's BADDASS!!! She died, at least once, been forced into prostitution where murdering her master was the only way out, and she will so ANYTHING to go back home. Then when she gets home, the fun really starts! The slow burn romance is absolutely delicious. This entire book has you on the edge of your seat!

I haven't felt so many emotions since ACOTAR, I'm not a crier, but yup, this book got me! I really, really LOVED this book!!! An easy 5 star from me!

This epic adventure or love and found family blew my mind and left me a complete emotional wreck. And I would read it all over again in a heartbeat.

The beautifully written words brought such a raw emotional connection to not only the MFC and the MMC but to all of the side characters who band together to form an unbreakable group of friends and found family.

When Selene Amaris finally gets to go home after 10 years, it is not the home she once knew. The journey to get there has been a dangerous one but once she arrives, there is even more to be cautious of.

Callan Edgeborn has spent his life trying to protect those he cares for. The only person to ever navigate the Never Sea and return in one piece, his latest journey has him bringing back cargo he never expected to find. But the journey takes its toll on all that are aboard.

These two characters along with Rio, Esme, Sol, Matthias, Leo and Merrick brought such a well rounded sense of adventure, compassion and unity to this story. This truly is a group of friends that everyone wishes they could have. The kind that have your back no matter what.
The banter between them all was hilarious and brought a sense of happiness to the otherwise doomed existence they all seem to facing.

The passion between Selene and Callan was electric with the added slow burn, tension and build up between these two meaning I literally couldn’t put this down.

And can we talk about that ending please. I cried so hard! My heart still hurts and although for one part we obviously knew it was coming, we didn’t know how of when and OMG when it came, I felt my heart literally rip from my chest. This book is up there as one of my best read of this year. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Hopefully I will have the pieces my heart back together in time after being absolutely shredded to pieces reading this book. I loved it!

Thank you so much to Evelyn Flood and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I have truly been blown away.

Oh my god, this book! The emotional rollercoaster it took me on! The writing is impeccable, the worldbuilding magnificent, and the relationship between the FMC and MMC *chefs kiss*. This book does end on a cliffhanger, so be aware, but you will not regret picking it up, 5 stars!

I think this book may have broken me! It crushed my heart completely in good and sad ways. I was gripped right from the first page and I literally couldn’t put it down. Evelyn Flood is a new author for me and I’m so happy to have discovered her work. This is definitely up there as one of my favourite books of this year for sure.
I thought this book was beautifully crafted. I loved the pace of the events in the book and the way the tension built in different sections. I loved the way the narrative, the world building and the character development were woven together so seamlessly. There are some darker elements within this book, which hit you with such raw emotions, but they were balanced out with some beautiful light moments, There were some clever twists that I didn’t see coming at all and I definitely did not see that ending! It broke me all over again!
This story just totally captivated me and I felt every emotion as I was reading it. I enjoyed the dual PoV from the two MCs. I absolutely adore the two MCs - Selene and Callan. I loved them both individually, they both captured my heart in different ways, but I loved their dynamics together. I enjoyed seeing how their chemistry developed so naturally and didn’t feel forced in any way. Selena’s back story is just heartbreaking and then when Callan’s story is revealed it just makes everything else that happens even more poignant. The found family in this book was one of my favourite things - the characters are so well written and each brings their own elements to the story.
I could go on and on about this book - it just needs to be read! It deserves to be on every book shelf. I loved it and will be waiting impatiently but eagerly for the next book. ✨
Thank you to Evelyn Flood, the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and honestly/freely given.

This was a gorgeous book with multiple beautiful, creative settings. The main company of characters were all very likable and easy to root for, which I loved. The ending of was interesting, because it felt like this book ended in the middle of the climax.

Immediately yes. I need this book hardcover on my shelf right now. Evelyn Flood can take all of my money.

I usually loathe dual-POVs, but Flood beyond excelled at this one. Selene and Callan remained separate with their own voice, morals, goals, and visions. Flood’s writing is lyrical, emotional, and tense.

Selene is one of my top FMC of 2025. She’s so beyond raw. She feels so deeply, acts even deeper. She’s intuitive, attentive, detail oriented. Selene is…Selene. She fully commands the novel. I can’t trace her back to have similarities to another FMC. She’s authoritative, cold and no-nonsense, yet so hot and emotional. She’s calculating yet impulsive, closed off yet vulnerable. We watch her growth from childhood into adulthood, mentally, emotionally, and physically. She’s a powerhouse and it’s beautiful.

This book featured the most perfect slowburn. Strangers to tentative friends to more. I. Felt. Every. Bit. Their bond developed organically without lust overruling their bond. We see their self-doubts, fears, joys, and development. The chemistry grows like a budding flower. The way Callan described Selene made my stomach do the funny swoop thing. Callan is more than a morally gray grumpy main character. He does not exist as simply a love interest. Instead, he, like Selene, is incredibly dynamic. He is soft yet assertive and protective. His understanding and moral compass knows no bonds, and he is fiercely loyal. He yearns. Oh my goodness he yearns.

The side characters were intense and unique. I loved seeing their determination, dedication, and connection with each other. They all had their own lives and jobs, which further made them more compelling.

The world itself was beautifully developed. The audience sees the rise and fall of the kingdoms, which inherently ties into individual goals and desires. We see the development of Faeyte and Caelumnai and their gods, it’s shown to us in bits and pieces that create a story in of itself. The setting was something never seen before and perfectly executed. I love how the setting didn’t exist separately from the characters. We see their environment have a direct impact on each of the characters, and it shapes how they perceive themselves of their interpersonal relationships.

There is emotion embedded in each and every part of this novel. From setting to divine gods to the conflicts, we explore grief, love, friendship, hope, fear, and determination alongside the characters.

And the ending? Yes, I did cry. I am beyond devastated. I put my Kindle down and reconnected with nature.

I can go on and on…and on some more about how amazing this book is. Very much worth it.

TLDR: The sequel needed to come out literally yesterday. I’m not joking.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is more than willing to tear you up inside and destroy you. It's dark yet there is hope to be found in the little moments.

Inspired by the tales of Neverland, Stars Above the Never Sea follows Selene and Callan. Selena is a faeyte, the last of her kind, dragged from her home before she could fully come into her heritage and abused for the gain of others. Callan is of the people who stole her home and slaughtered her family, desperately trying to find a way for those people to survive.

The world was beautifully imagined: vicious and vivid in its descriptions. The relationships between the characters flourished and grow in a way that felt very organic. And there were plenty of twists to be found. The hardest part now will be waiting for the next book.

Note: please heed the warnings carefully. This book can get dark very quickly and may not be suitable for all readers. There is some language throughout as well as one open-door scene.

You know what? This book absolutely caught me off guard and I could not be happier about it. From having me kicking my feet squealing to full-on sobbing on my couch, I felt every moment through the pages of this soulful Romantasy.

Though not a retelling of sorts, there are definite nods to other materials that shine through, which helps you to feel more deeply connected to this cast of lovable pirates. The Faeytes are what I imagine the peaceful love child of The Fates and The Amazon to be, and they absolutely stole my heart away from the first pages. The FMC, Selene Amaris, is a survivor in every meaning of the word, and she does not yield. The MMC, Callan, is everything I could’ve hoped in a rebellious Captain of his own found-family. Given the plot, I was grateful that the cast consisted of predominantly aged-up characters in comparison to the trend of everyone being practically teenagers - a refreshing experience. I loved the lore of the gods along with how the “magic” system was crafted, and I am chomping at the bit to follow this further.

The pacing of the book was well-written, allowing you to bask in calmer moments whilst also feeling the heightened tension of others, reflecting the emotions rather than contradicting. With the way this book ended, I was left feeling like the author needed to personally come to my house and apologise while helping me back up off the floor - there’s no way I can stop thinking about this one until I have my hands on book 2.

Thank you to Evelyn Flood and the publishing/NetGalley team for allowing me the opportunity to give an advance review of this book - and making me shed a tear or two. I would wholeheartedly recommend reading this book to anyone who is ready to fly around on an emotional rollercoaster, earning all the stars in the never sea (or 5/5 for those who prefer a numerical rating) ✨

Good Reads Book Review: Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood
ARC from NetGalley

I was delighted to discover that my initial foray to taste test this unknown author (to me) resulted in my 'binge reading' until my eyes could barely stay open past 2am. This was due to the author, Evelyn Flood's ability to masterfully build a unique world and not only introduce, but get me to fall in love with her main and secondary characters very quickly.

The main female character is Selene Amaras, one of the last surviving 'faeytes' (a type of female priestess who have wings) from a place named Asteria, who escaped a horrific, genocidal rampage to wipe out her entire kind at the start of the story. She somehow miraculously survives amidst a literally world-shifting catastrophe only to end up enslaved at the hands of cruel men. She is driven by the need to return home to Asteria after her captivity in a faraway place called Terrosa.

The story is also told from the perspective of the main male character, Callan Edgeborn, an intriguing ship captain who holds the utmost loyalty and respect from his 'merry band of followers' whose personalities and back stories gradually reveal themselves throughout the story. Callan comes across as stern and sometimes unyielding, and I think I fell in love with him myself because of how he treats Selene. From the start, he immediately picks up on her ordeal and reassures her that she never has to barter herself for “shelter, or food, or human decency.” If that’s not a green flag, then I don’t know what is!

Their adventures ensue with great pacing that include heart-stopping moments of both the action and emotional variety. The author reveals more of the history to fill in the gaps of the live action, which I really liked. And the interactions amongst the crew and eventually, the court, balance out the fun and banter with the devious and evil really well all the way to the epic cliffhanger.

Definitely add this to your TBR list, especially if you also adore many of my favourite elements for a good read including 'found family,' 'emotional angst,' and an enemies-to-love-forevermore.' Hopefully, we won’t have to wait too long for the next installment!

(Note: I appreciate the author's trigger warnings at the start of the story and mention them now because she weaves them into the story believably and with dignity without downplaying the characters' traumas. Readers who are used to reading this genre should be OK).

P.S. I was given a free, advanced copy of this book by NetGalley and this is my voluntary review.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publishers for access to this ARC 📚.

🔥Quick Fire Review🔥

Genre/Themes: 🧚🏻‍♂️🔮⚓️🏴‍☠️🌌🧟‍♂️🏰👩🏼‍❤️‍💋‍👨🏽
Tropes: Fae, Emotional Scars, Fish Out of Water, Magic, Elemental Powers, Countdown to Destruction, Conspiracy, Hidden Truth, Set in a Magical Realm, Chosen One, Orphan, Slow Burn, Loveable Rogue, Love at First Sight, Touch Her and Die, Innocent Cohabitation, Nursed Back to Health, Can’t Spit it Out, Everyone Can See It, Belated Love Epiphany, Found Family
Positives: unique plot and universe, loveable characters, engaging plot
Room for Improvement 🔎 : some more world-building and development of supporting characters needed in places, typos, some repetitiveness
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗

✍🏻 Full Review - RISK OF SPOILERS 🛑
I know. I’m so sorry. Selene, Callan and the crew will return in Souls Beneath the Never Sky, available December 2025. YOU’D BETTER BE SORRY MS. FLOOD BECAUSE I AM A MESS. Was this book perfect? No. Was my heart racing the entire time and the book on my mind constantly? Yes, to both. I don’t normally seek out Amazon-only authors, which I know is a bit judgy but there’s just such an over-saturation of crap on there that I try to avoid it. And seeing the other books this author has released, they’d definitely not be the type of novels I’d seek out. But the synopsis of this one really grabbed me, and all I can say is that I hope the author leans more into the Romantasy genre because they’re excellent at it.

🧍‍♀️Characterisation:🧍‍♂️
Selene was a complex character, mostly because she had taken some serious shit. She was very neurodivergent-coded to me, especially with her strong introspection but being ‘other’ socially - as a child her sisters saw her like a stumbling fawn, hyperactive and impulsive and indelicate, while as an adult she didn’t understand people’s jokes or intentions, was just as impulsive and had a sometimes overwhelming sense of justice. Her strength was both admirable and sad, because she seemed to become so numb from certain traumas that she got to a point where she didn’t care about living anymore. However, she was so loyal and empathetic beneath it all that no matter how hard she tried to not care about others, she couldn’t help it. She transformed that numbness into purpose - to protect her new found family. This all created huge internal conflict, some of it seemingly caused by the dark shadow maegis inside her, but also because of the evil and cruelty her people and previous family had suffered. I loved the atypical depiction of female rage shown in Selene. She wasn’t a perfect warrior, or a huge strong presence. There’s nothing wrong with those types of characters, but Selene was a breath of fresh air for me. She was quiet, she was delicate and she was vulnerable but she was still so very angry.
Callan was a dreamboat. No two ways around it. He was your usual wise-cracking quick wit, but Callan was extremely sensitive and emotional with no problem showing himself as such. There wasn’t a single thought that didn’t eventually make its way out of his mouth, which could cause tension with Selene who kept things to herself. This was ultimately his weakness. His brother knew the fierce love and loyalty he had to his found family, and then to Selene, and knew he could use it against him whenever possible. Callan had a bit of a White Knight complex, which was sometimes frustrating as it meant his reactions to Selene’s past traumas became more about him than her with all his projection. His protectiveness and possessiveness was pretty sexy though overall. Callan also saw the importance of CONSENT. CONSENT IS SEXY! Even with how unsubtle Callan was with his affection for Selene and essentially an instalove for her, it still felt like a gorgeous slow burn with Callan waiting (sometimes impatiently) for Selene to realise her feelings, to trust and to become physically comfortable. Or just for her to realise his flirty quips were just that, not insults.
Supporting characters in the book were a mixed bag. Merrick, the patriarch, was depicted as the wise, patient character. He was calm and compassionate, and the group’s pillar of guidance. I figured out his twist around half way through the book, but just wish he’d had more scenes and lines because I didn’t feel as devastated by his ending as I’d expected to be. Leo was just a typical kid, loving and excitable. It was nice to see him still have that innocent sense of joy and play considering the world was crumbling around him. Sol and Matthias were the sunny vs grumpy duo, but Matthias was so underwritten compared to Sol. Sol was the cynical pessimist whose loyalty to everyone, especially to Callan and Matthias, made him both level-headed and hard-headed. Matthias was the giddy optimist, diving head first into everything, but he had so few scenes and lines that I didn’t really develop any fondness of him. Their incessant and brazen flirting was funny, though. Esme and Rio were… fine. If not a bit forgettable. Esme was just as loyal, compassionate and protective as the rest of the team, and was easy to rile up which the men loved to do. Rio was the big beef of the group, but I honestly don’t really remember any of his dialogue, just the friends with benefits relationship he had with Esme. Overall, while there were attempts at developing all of the team there were still underwritten characters and I wanted to feel more attached to them than I did.
The big baddies were much of the same. Petyr, Callan’s brother, was your usual unhinged heir with an ulterior motive who loved to wield psychological warfare. He was apathetic and selfish, flaunting his ostentatious wealth while leaving his people to starve. But I couldn’t help but question why he was so evil. His little villain monologue didn’t explain much to me at all, so I was left not understanding his plan or his motives. Wendlyn, his wife, was intriguing but again very underwritten. She seemed to have become completely numb to Petyr and his schemes, and with her missing memories being ‘filled in’ by Petyr has probably developed a loyalty to him based entirely on lies. The Metallurgist was creepier than both characters combined, and he barely said anything. Tobias confused me as a character, because I didn’t really understand whose side he was on. At first he wanted to get Callan in trouble, but then wanted to help them later on? No idea where his loyalties lay.
Other characters like Nyx, Celeste, Jonas, Ryn and Leesa could have all benefited from featuring in flashbacks or memories in Selene’s POV for me to actually feel anything about them. They were all seen so briefly yet featured so heavily in Selene’s motives and backstory, or would be mentioned offhandedly about the past. I needed more to really be able to feel Selene’s pain and desperation about them.

🗺️World-Building:🗺️
The world-building had some familiar tropes and yet still felt so unique, and was genuinely quite layered and complex. Asteria was Selene’s home, the land of the Faeytes, while Terrosa was the main kingdom where the Caelumni (magic wielders) and Inritus (normal humans) lived. Ellas was essentially heaven, where the Faeytes would reunite with their patron Goddess Hala. The lore of the gods Hala and Caelum was a bit murky in my head, but I think something happened along the lines of Caelum being scorned that Hala didn’t reciprocate his love and instead fell for an Inritus. Caelum then made Hala, and as a result her Faeytes, incapable of love. In retaliation, Hala made his children - the Caelumni - suffer a price when wielding their magic, known as the pretium or ‘cost’. I think? The concept of the Gods being very much real, and not just religious belief among the citizens, was great. The pretium added a great sense of peril, like not knowing which memory would be lost or someone losing their speech at a critical moment. Asteria and Terrosa became separated by an event called ‘The Shift’, where the ocean and sky flipped. Hala caused this as revenge against Caelum and his children when the Caelumni invaded Asteria and slaughtered all of Hala’s Faeytes. I loved the Shift concept, especially the descriptions of it where the ocean just seemed to be cut across by a sharp delineation, the water of the ocean spilling over into endless, starry nothing. Hala’s moons floating in people’s eyeline while Asteria’s sky was the murky grey of churning waters. Asteria therefore became completely inaccessible apart from through Callan, who used his powers to carry his ship across the ‘Never’ - the sea of stars. Now the Caelumni supposedly invaded Asteria because Terrosa was dying, and a corrupt official decided on genocide rather than asking for sanctuary. In the modern timeline Asteria was dying due to something called ‘the Lichen’, basically a destructive black moss that made growing food impossible. It’s unclear whether that was killing Terrosa before their invasion? In fact it all got confusing because Terrosa sought sanctuary but then Callan snuck Asteria food from there after the shift? Were both places now dying from the lichen? If not, why was Terrosa dying before?
The Faeytes had dark wings made of ‘moonsilk’, skin and hair the colour of moonlight and midnight black eyes that would fill or empty of stars depending on their mood. They each had a unique magic, which would be bestowed on them at their ‘ascension’ ceremony and named their Calling, where they would also receive their ‘real’ name. The concept of the Calling was great and it’s going to be fun to find out what Selene’s is in the sequels. They could read people’s fates and futures, too. The spiritual devotion the Faeytes had to Hala was quite beautiful, really, which made it all the more sad that Selene didn’t get to have the ceremony she’d waited her whole life for, to feel like a true child of Hala. Faeytes were led by the matriarchal figures the Mother, the Crone and the Maiden. Their role confused me a bit because they each gave a different fate for Selene but by then I’d forgotten if they’d done the same for the other Faeytes. There was mention of her being a child and therefore having uncertain fates, I think? We also learn that Callan sees his fate when he steps into the Sanctum, so do the three matriarchs of the Temple actually do anything at all or is it the Sanctum that provides the powers? Hala, through the sanctum? The whole ‘Faeytes couldn’t love so no longer had children until Selene’ thing was a bit flawed, because what was stopping them having casual sex? It was made clear that only one Faeyte needed to be in a pro-creating pair to create another Faeyte. Did the Faeytes all collectively decide to stop reproducing? Was it physically impossible for them to become pregnant unless they were in love? We discover that they shared hearts and souls for those they love, so it would be perfectly plausible, but it wasn’t explained. Maybe in the sequels.
The Caelumni were a little more confusing. They had three types, which Rio agreed to call ‘tiers’ for Selene’s sake - the Vis who wield elemental powers, the Peristi who wield transmutation abilities, and the Gerent who wield telekinesis. Red, purple and green eyes respectively. That was all fine, except each type had levels of power, which was also called tiers. Someone could be a ‘level 3 vis’ or a ‘level 6 Gerent’, and would have this number branded on their skin with the lower levels being called upon first for forced conscription. The use of ‘tiers’ for both was confusing, the author should have used a different word because it was initially quite muddled. Once I figured out the distinction, though, I was left wondering how the power tier was gauged. What differentiated a level 2 from a level 8? Also, why does Callan have bronze eyes and not green? I don’t remember if it was ever explained? I wish we’d seen more of the powers, really, but it was understandable why not because of the cost. Wendlyn and the Metallurgist added a bit more confusion because Wendlyn was an ‘amplifier’ and the Metallurgist could do what he did. I wasn’t sure which type of magic they had? Both Faeytes and Caelumni’s magic was blocked by copper, and later the Metallurgist finds other metals that can harm Selene and metals that can take over their bodies and make them controllable. It’d be interesting to know why this happened or how the copper vulnerability was discovered. Despite all my questions I did really enjoy the magic system, especially the descriptions of its use through Selene and Callan with the ‘threads’ that they pull and the threads fading when expended. Selene’s limits of using her magic and the shadows are intriguing and I can’t wait to learn more.
One thing I did wish we’d seen more of was Terrosa, especially Callan and his team’s pirating. We only really got to know the brothel that Selene works at, with implications of the higher-ups that abused her there, but it would have been interesting to see the Caelumni and Inritus’ lives and culture on Terrosa and seen some of Callan’s smuggling. I think this would have helped with the political aspects of the book too, because I still don’t really understand Petyr’s backstory or motives.

📝Prose/Plot:📝
Plot wise? Basically no complaints, other than some fleshing out as mentioned earlier and maybe some repetitive scenes of Selene being carried to bed to be nursed to health. Otherwise I was Seated throughout. Prose wise, I did get sick of the repetition of Selene’s name, and the only insult seemingly being ‘eejit’. Some of the dialogue was a little unnatural, but good for the most part. Callan was particularly poetic, but with such consistency and alignment with his character I didn’t mind at all. Some of the internal monologues got a bit repetitive too, but overall I devoured this book. The darker scenes were written incredibly, like Selene having the copper threads removed from her wings, Selene’s drowning/suffocating in the water and then the mud or Selene’s near-homicide after finding her sister’s tortured bodies. And finally, A REALISTIC FEMALE ORGASM? Unheard of. A FMC WITH PUBES? Unbelievable. Although I did NOT appreciate her clitoris being named a ‘nub’.
Overall, I thought this book was just amazing. It’s going to be on my mind until the sequel in December, I reckon.

HOLY …. *standing ovation*

This is tied top two book of the year for me. Absolutely unexpected. The kind you put down at the end and just stare into a wall to process. I am blown away. I tend to read merrily along and did not pick up what she was putting down and absolutely missed the hints and I should of seen some of them coming but I didn’t and *sadface*

The characters are well developed, even the side characters. The story is deep and well thought out. This has an SJM type catastrophic ending - I was completely in the story, I cried (actually sobbed) and this will be tied for most anticipated sequel for end of this year.

Callan was just *chefs kiss* there was a development I didn’t really like in there and actually loved how it was hashed out. He was patient. Selena’s character has all the emotions and trauma from her past. I enjoyed how deep the story went. I am SO excited to see where Evelyn Flood takes this (you psychopath).

I’ll be here stalking the authors page - adding more of her books to my TBR - ordering my shelf trophy - begging companies to make more cool editions of this - I’m hurting. Counting the days till the sequel.

If you can’t tell, I loved it. Please read this.
Thank you for the eARC - obsessed.

4.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Evelyn has done it again!!! I absolutely DEVOURED this book!! The world building was incredibly well done, I never once felt confused about what was going on or where our characters were. The plot twists were twisting though and I lovedddd it. Selene and Callan’s slow burn relationship was just addictive and their tension made me swoon

I would say that there are some darker themes in this book so definitely check trigger warnings before reading this one. Book 2 can’t be released soon enough, especially after that ending!!!!


Tropes:
⭐️Enemies to lovers
⭐️Slow burn
⭐️Reverse grumpy/sunshine
⭐️He falls first
⭐️Forced proximity
⭐️Found family