The only good thing that came out of my delayed flight is that I finished this wonderful book.

It wasn't what I expected but enjoyed it a lot and was glued to it for the past week. This was definitely the quiet before the storm. I was a little Confused that we didn't get to see more of the dragon side of thing as I felt like it was heavily alluded to it being the main part of this book.

However, I loved everything else I enjoyed the slice of life side of things. It's definitely building up towards the action and I can't wait.

Falling in a Sea of Stars by Kristen Britain, the sequel we have all been waiting for eagerly! Karigan is back and perilous events keep following her, an old enemy is after her, and chaos surrounds her.

I have been an avid fan of this series for over a decade and a half. Kristen Britain writes some of the most well developed and well plotted fantasy out there, and really deserves so much more hype. Her characters are dynamic, memorable, and so creative with real struggles.

Karigan has been through so much in the last few books, and this book is a reprieve in some ways, a breather from the greater adventures in the wide world of Sacoridia and keeps her closer to home in the capital city of Sacor City, as well as closer to King Zachary...

This book is reminiscent of the third book, The High King's Tomb, and includes another plot thickening ball that changes the course of the story.

I can't wait for the next one, and will look forward to rereading this series again when that one comes out!

(The audiobooks for this series are also incredible! Ellen Archer brings the story to life!)

The long awaited 8th book in the Green Rider series is finally here. But surprise, it’s not the last book in the series. Ok, I knew that for a while now ;)
We are going back to the main story of Blackveil and Mornhaven. The future has arrived and we finally need to deal with him. Not that anyone is more prepared than when we sent him to the future. We still don’t have that magical weapon, the wall is still not fixed. It’s going to be an interesting fight…

Book 8 feels like a setup book. Knowing that this was supposed to be the first half of book 8 that was later split into book 8 and 9, it makes sense. The first half of a book is typically the setup. Lots of characters are preparing for the end goal. There are some side quests we follow along, but ultimately, Fallen in a Sea of Stars is a pretty low stakes book. And dare I say, I’m done with waiting for the end… Winterlight was already a stretch with the Varosiens - an addition that really isn’t needed in my opinion especially since it was resolved right at the beginning of book 8 - and book 8 continues to add some minor stakes that we could just leave out. Let’s get to the finish line, please.

Sorry for the rant… I did like the book overall. We get to meet lots of great characters again (hello, Berry Sisters), a lot of wrongs are being righted, and we get lots of page time with the horses, especially with the mischievous “horse” ;) Kristen Britain’s descriptions are as beautiful as ever. And I appreciate that Karin continues to not be perfect and has to figure things out (and at the end, doesn’t because she’s not perfect in everything).

But then there is also just lots of dilly paddling… things that are not really moving forward or at the contrary, are resolved way too fast (Lala, Mapstone’s kidnapping…). And then we have K’s and Z’s relationship that was just plain awkward in this book. (Is it just me that thinks the relationship is rather one-sided? It’s always Z worrying and doting on K. Sometimes it feels like K is not reciprocating the feelings. Yes, she’s saying she loves him, but I’m not seeing it on the page - at least not as much as the other way around). Listen, I’m rooting for them, but it felt off.

Big sigh… I really hope we don’t have to wait too long for book 9, since it’s already written. And to be honest, I need this to be done with book 9, lol. Winterlight and Fallen in a Sea of Stars are not of the same quality as the other 6 books. They are both very plot heavy (and I prefer the more character driven stories in the first 6 books) and it’s all of the sudden so much more that (again, in my opinion), is not needed. We have so much going on already. Please just tell me how it ends, lol.

I’ve been a fan of the green rider series for years and this was an amazing opportunity to be able to read an arc.

What a story! I’m in awe and can say the next book is going to be crazy.

Fallings in a sea of stars sets up the next big thing. Helping all the small pieces that have been gathering the past few books, this put everything together. It was such a great book, I couldn’t put it down.

I'm thrilled to have been given this ARC to review. Thanks to NetGalley.

When I say I devoured this book, I mean like a ravenous beast with no thoughts except ‘more, more, more’. I tried very hard to slow myself down but did not succeed, so in order to actually write a fair review I had to read it a second time. I literally finished reading it and then began again. On the second go around I managed to savour it and actually pick up things I’d missed the first time.

Before I get into the proper review I will offer you the impressions that stuck with me during that first read through (in no particular order): ‘You can’t do that! Holy shit, that’s insane’; ‘Well that’s a mood killer!’ ‘No way is that fiction, that must have happened’; ‘She’s ok! Get her out of there!’ ‘Yes, Berry sisters, I have missed them’.
Now to a more reasonable review.

It is an absolute joy to follow an author through their writing career and see how their writing changes and develops over time. This is by far the best Green Rider book yet. The pacing was perfect, and while I’m desperate to find out how it all ends, it really felt like all the threads are coming together. The intrigue board is set and the pieces are being moved into place.

The aftermath of the war with Second Empire was both upsetting and believable, recovering from war takes time and there are far reaching consequences, the time FIASOS dedicated to characters trying to get their lives/businesses back on track was, in my opinion, time well spent. It was also nice to see some odd stuff happen that was not Karigan’s fault and nothing to do with her at all. Even she seemed happy about that! Obviously there was plenty of odd things happening that were Karigan's fault, would it really be Green Rider without Karigan in trouble??

Much to my surprise my favourite scenes were those with Lala. I won’t say much, because I don’t want to spoil it, but given everything that's happened it’s hard to remember that she is a child and is just the product of her upbringing, not necessarily an evil entity.

My number one conspiracy theory about this book is that the... expulsions (shall we say), of Finder are something that 100% happened in real life. The scene was too visceral, too real, for it to be fiction. If I’m wrong, then wow, that’s some next level writing talent. I couldn’t stop laughing and read it more than once.

This book does resolve a lot of the storylines from previous books, which is great as we had way too many loose threads of plot flying around at the start. It does not resolve everything (and not necessarily the elements you want). There were still new subplots and characters added, and tantalising hints and suggestions of things to come. My biggest takeaway was that the feeling of the book had shifted from previous ones, especially the way it ended, it felt as though the tide has turned, as though we've finally reached the beginning of the end.

I am very reluctant to give 5 stars to any book so I sat for quite a while and thought about all the reasons this shouldn't be a 5 star book. I only came up with one, I wanted more. I wasn't ready for it to end knowing it will be so long until the next one.

Kristen Britain's talented storytelling is back with the 8th book of her wonderful Green Rider series with Falling in a Sea of Stars. I have been a fan of her books ever since the very first Green Rider and was thrilled for the opportunity to read and review the newest book. Falling in a Sea of Stars did not disappoint. I was sucked back into the kingdom of Sacoridia from the very first paragraph to the end.

It probably does not come as a surprise that Karigan is in over her head again. Not only is she juggling her duties as a Green Rider and preparing for what evil plans Mornhavon may have next, she's also acting as sub-chief for Clan G’ladheon while her father is on a mission to rescue Captain Laren Mapstone from a tyrannic ruler in Varosia. Stevic brought everything of value he thought he might need to bribe, trade, or barter for Mapstone's release, not realizing his deceitful accountant was stealing everything he could from the clan's merchant business before he disappeared. This has left the coffers nearly empty and rival clans are eagerly looking for a way to destroy the G’ladheons. Karigan's streak of independence, lack of tolerance for underhanded shenanigans and just sheer exhaustion from trying to wear two hats leads to some interesting situations.

As the reader may recall, Queen Estora gave her permission for King Zachary & Karigan to have a relationship at the end of Winterlight. She's still firmly pushing for that, and it's making Karigan very uncomfortable. She does love Zachary, but she's also torn by the fallout that could occur if they were to act on their feelings. She's worried that Estora will have second thoughts afterward, and it would cause permanent damage to their friendship because it couldn't be undone. She's also worried about the impact her relationship with Zachary could have on her position as Green Rider, and how it could affect her working relationship with others. Plus, she's still heartbroken over Cade. I'm still heartbroken over Cade. *Justice for Cade!!*

Zachary is pulled in different directions too. He knows he loves Karigan, but he feels guilt that he will never be able to offer her more. He's worried that he will hold her back from the opportunity to have her own spouse & family someday. So while the love between Karigan & Zachary is no longer a push-pull drama of un-requited love, it's still anguish in that they agonize over whether they should act on it. It's poignant yet frustrating for me. Earlier in the series, I really wanted them to be together. But after my heart was torn out and stomped on in Mirrorsight, I'd rather Karigan find a single & available Cade ancestor, and for Zachary to find peace with Estora.

Seeing Lala again was a nervous surprise at first, as I don't trust anyone from the Second Empire. But her character growth was a fascinating journey. I'm looking forward to reading more and am cautiously optimistic. There is also a whole lot, good and bad, going on at the D'yer Wall & the forest of Blackveil. Alton & Estral are doing their best to keep the Wall functional for as long as they can while trying to survive attacks from Mornhavon and his minions.

Falling in a Sea of Stars was a wonderful installment in the Green Rider series and I enjoyed reading it cover to cover. I'm only sad I'll have to wait another three years or so for the next book, but I know it will be great.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best instaments in the series so far. The real strength of the green rider series is the world building and it was good to be back again.

Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 8th installment of the Green Rider series, and it continues to be one of my favorite series. This book hit the sweet spot yet again. I devoured it in about 2 days and it is not a little book (needless to say, the cleaning did not get done that weekend). If you are new to the series, I highly encourage you to go to the beginning so you can fully enjoy it and how the characters have grown throughout the years. You won’t regret it. If you’re a veteran of the series and giddy in anticipation of this latest book, you won’t be disappointed!

4.5 stars. I adore this series and this book. This installment, like its predecessors, has the perfect balance between cottagecore/cosy fantasy and dark, between humorous and tense, between action and nail biting intrigue. This was also the first one since book 4 to start off some time after the events of the previous, rather than immediately following.
I seriously could not put this book down, as usual. I’m always surprised at how long these books are because they don’t feel like it one bit.
The criticisms I have are few, and I have them largely because I hold this series to such a high standard. These books never do the convenient thing, and the story is typically too inventive to fall into tropes.
Criticism 1: there are *several* chapters close together that start off by telling the exact same thing that the end of the previous chapter did, just from a different point of view. I didn’t really deduct points for this, especially since it may just be the arc and might not be in the actual book. But it took me out of the story.
Criticism 2: part (and I mean only 3%) of this book takes place in a west Asian inspired country where women have no rights or personhood and are referred to as “it”. While this is very relevant to things that go on in our world, I find it disappointing that a series that never takes the typical or easy way made a conservative country overtly west Asian inspired. Furthermore, there’s a part where the women freed from that country throw their veils over the side of the ship, and a POV character remarks on how the country makes women wear veils to obscure them and make them seem less human. It helps that the women throwing their veils away are not from that country, as they were kidnapped and taken there, but a fantasy version of something is not inherently divorced from its obvious real-world inspiration, and freeing women from having to wear a veil still sounds a lot like an actual issue plaguing Muslim women, of saying they’re oppressed just because they wear veils, even though that’s a religious item.
That being said, this was only 3% of the book, but it was the one thing keeping me from giving this book 5 stars.

It felt so nice to be back in the world of Sacoridia, surrounded by all these familiar characters I’ve grown to love over the series. There’s something comforting about revisiting this world, like slipping into a well-worn cloak—it just fits.

The romance arc? It absolutely drove me crazy—in the best and worst ways. There were moments I wanted to scream with frustration and yet I couldn’t stop flipping the pages because I had to know how it would all unfold.

That said, this book felt like a very extended interlude—beautifully written, full of character depth and emotional moments, but with very little real progress in the overarching plot. I kept hoping for something big to shift, but it never quite got there.

And now? The loooooooong wait begins again for the next installment. Despite my quibbles, I’ll be right there when it releases—because this world still has its hooks in me.

Holy heck I just devoured this book. Green Rider has been one of my favorite series for years, and getting the NetGalley email that I was approved for an ARC will forever be a core memory. I know many of the later books in the series are controversial among readers; some think it should have ended with book three or four, but others, like me, will never be upset at another installation.

Falling in a Sea of Stars did NOT disappoint. I love seeing where Kristen has decided to take things, from the romance to the most heart wrenching moments. She doesn’t shy away from putting her characters through the wringer, and I love it.

Even though Karrigan is protected by the plot armor of being the FMC, she is not spared from suffering. Physically and emotionally, that girl has been through more than any one person should have to endure. But she always comes out on top, showcasing her strength and pride, and making her the kind of leading lady I love to read about.

Lala’s chapters surprises me the most. I wasn’t expecting to cry, but man, Kristen knows how to create emotional impact.

I don’t want to say much more because I think this is a story best discovered on your own, but for me, it was a 10/10.

Falling in a Sea of Stars by Kristen Britain is another fantastic entry in the Green Rider saga. Filled with Britain’s beautifully descriptive prose, excellent lore and world-building, and excellent characters, this book was everything I come to expect from Britain.

FiaSoS picks up several storylines and continues to weave them together as we inch closer and closer to the return of Mornhaven and the darkness he threatens. Lacking a recap, it took me a second to remember some of the back details, so I would recommend doing a Winterlight reread if available first.

I really love Britain’s ability to bring complex plot lines together while keeping the reader engaged with the book. The book is written as third-person omniscient multi-POV. It would be easy to get lost in the switching POVs, but they taper down after the first 25% of the book or so and then the focus narrows back in on Karigan for the majority of the remainder.

There are plenty of emotional events and individual dramas that play out, and they keep the tension up while moving the plot along. There were a couple of moments of heartbreak - Britain is a master of the heartstring pull - but they were well-balanced by lighter moments and small victories to offset the darkness.

Plenty of favorites are present: Alton and Estral continue to work at the D’Yer wall to repair the damage done by Shawdell; Steric’s journey to rescue Laren is ongoing - and the fallout it caused with the clan; the Eletians (with the return of Enver!) come to visit; and the continuing throuple situationship of Zachary and Estora with Karigan.

This book is packed with plot and movement, heartbreak and resolution, dangers and challenges. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, and I think long-time fans of the series will be thrilled. Highly recommend, I am now crushed that I have to wait even longer for the next installment to come out.