If you're looking for a fierce heroine whose self belief grows right in front of you, some wicked magic and a lot of mystery then this is the book for you!

Fantastic journey watching Luma discover herself (and what a badass she is). The characters were well developed and the plot had you asking questions alongside Luma!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t expecting to feel as much as I did reading this one. Daughter of Starlight is a classic portal fantasy on the surface—lost girl, magical world, whispered prophecy—but underneath all that is a quiet, aching search for identity, belonging, and truth. And that’s what pulled me in.

Luma is a soft-spoken protagonist with hard edges formed by abandonment and questions no one’s ever answered. Her scars aren’t just physical—they’re reminders of everything she doesn’t know about herself. And when she crosses into a world where she’s suddenly needed, suddenly chosen, it doesn’t read as convenient. It reads as overwhelming. And honest. Because how do you save a world when you’ve never even been given the tools to know who you are?

I appreciated that this book didn’t rush Luma’s growth. She resists the prophecy. She doubts it. She makes mistakes. She just wants to go home—but slowly, painfully, she begins to question what “home” really means. The elf resistance storyline felt familiar but comfortingly so, and the worldbuilding—while not overly complex—felt rich enough to hold the emotional weight of the story.

There’s something about the way this book explores power—not just magical ability, but emotional strength, the ability to endure, to hope—that hit unexpectedly deep. It’s a YA story, but it doesn’t shy away from grief, fear, or the kind of loneliness that follows you even when you’re surrounded by people who believe in you.

This one reminded me of what I used to love most about fantasy as a teen—and still love now: stories where girls with no history write their own. Quietly powerful, soft in the right places, and full of that familiar ache of growing into something more than you were ever told you could be.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.
This book is definitely for young readers who are fans of action packed fantasy stories, with found family components, new twists on powers.

Daughter of Starlight is an emotionally grounded YA fantasy debut. This novel is an engaging, character-driven adventure with clean writing and heartfelt themes. Whether you're a newcomer to fantasy or deeply entrenched you're likely to love this book. Luma's journey from a scarred, unsure girl who is all alone to becoming a reluctant hero felt rare and real.

This would be a great fantasy book for younger readers to really engage and enjoy Luma's growth and found family among the elves without diving into a fantasy book with overwhelming worldbuilding.

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐝
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

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Read this if you like:
□ YA fantasy
□ found family
□ hidden power
□ magic battle
□ elves, mages, wizards
□ multi POV

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

From the start, there is already a lot of action, and that's how I like it! You instantly get pulled in the story. It took me a few days to finish this book cause life got really hectic this week. So, I am glad I finally finished the book.

I thought the plot was intriguing, a battle between elves and wizards and a young woman with hidden powers who can save the elves and their world. I just got confused quite a few times cause there are so many POV's. I am also a bit sad that there is no romance in this book. I always love a good, slow-burn romance! The ending was bittersweet but also had an open ending? It's like the story wasn't really finished. I'm not sure how to feel about the last page.

Overall, the story is fast-paced, action-packed, a unique plot, and many interesting characters.

Daughter of Starlight - 4,25 stars
I was hooked from the start, the world building and the journey had me immersed the whole way through. Some of the characters could do with a bit more backstory but Luma, the FMC, felt like a real person. What I really liked about her is that throughout the book you could see her become more and more accepting. It started out with her repeatedly saying “I’m not special” and you follow her path to acceptance.
I’d love to read more about Luma and her crew in the future!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A Stunning, Emotional Journey Through the Stars

Daughter of Starlight took me completely by surprise in the best way. From the first page, I was hooked by the immersive writing and the emotional depth. Luma, the main character, was superbly written—strong yet vulnerable, fierce yet filled with questions. Her growth throughout the story felt earned and incredibly satisfying.

The author did a phenomenal job of making me feel every single moment. Joy, heartbreak, awe, fear—it was all there, layered beautifully through the narrative. I found myself pausing just to sit with certain passages because of how powerfully they were written. Molly M. Hammond has a true gift for emotional storytelling and world-building that feels both expansive and intimate.

The cosmic themes of destiny, alignment, and personal choice were threaded throughout in a way that felt natural, not forced. And that tagline—“The alignment waits for no one”—could not have been more fitting. The pace was steady, the stakes real, and the twists well-executed.

If you love character-driven fantasy with a star-soaked edge, this is one to pick up. I can’t wait to see where Luma’s story goes next.

Thank you to The Wild Rose Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book.

Daughter of Starlight is a YA fantasy where Luma is found wandering with crisscross gashes on her palms, no memories of anything.
Luma and her gang of friends are trying to save the world from the evil villains! Raised by Elves she is seen as the prophesied “Daughter of Starlight” but she just wants to go home. She runs off looking for answers, finding an exiled elf mage. She finds that not only does she have a family but there is more to the prophesy than she thought.

Likes:
1: Elves, Wizards & a DRAGON!!
2: The way the author writes the story I went through the emotional journey with the characters.
3: The “Starlight Powers” are a cool twist on magic.
4: The world building was good without being too much

Cons:
1: I just wish that the characters gave me more
2: Felt rushed, give me more!

9/10 Plot
4/10 Character
8/10 Storytelling

9/10 Overall

Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC and The Wild Rose Press ✨️

This book was AMAZING!!
I'm lost for words. It is never boring!

Luma is a girl, I think we all will just love and understand her too.
All the characters and the feel you get while reading. You can feel the hatred, joy, sadness etc.
Magic and different worlds.
I'm just saying I LOVE this book and need it in all formats when its out.

✨️ JULY 9TH, 2025! ✨️

The alignment waits for no one

This is a YA fanatsy book. We follow Luma who gets pulled through a portal to the fae world, finds out about her past and has to save the world from wizards.
I would say this is very simplistic in the way it is written and in my opinion would be suitable for under 13s.
I do read alot if YA fanatsy and for me it was very basic. There were inconsistencies e.g take three days to get from a to b but then later they manage it in a day. There were multiple opportunities for the villains to easily win or the fae to win - but these were ignored which did undermine the characters

Daughter of Starlight is a beautifully written YA fantasy that weaves mystery, magic, and identity into an unforgettable journey. Luma’s story—marked by scars, secrets, and the search for belonging—pulled me in from the very first page. The worldbuilding is rich without being overwhelming, and the characters felt real even in a land full of elves and wizards. I really enjoyed watching Luma’s power unfold as she started to believe in herself, even when everything around her said she shouldn’t.

It was giving lord of the rings and I loved it. If you are looking for a fantasy where the vibes are just that please give this a look.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I'm giving this a 3.5 star rating rounded to a 3 on Goodreads.

Luma is an orphan, and though she has just turned 18, she has no direction to her life yet. She feels lost and aimless until she is drawn into a strange world by a magical bridge. She is more connected to the place than she realizes and soon takes up a pivotal role in changing things for the people of that world and herself. But there are those who seek to stop her.

This book was quite interesting with multiple worlds at play and complex magic systems. Luma is a character that adapts and grows greatly throughout the story, feeling very different by the end from the lost orphan she started as. My main critique of the story is that her quick growth makes her feel a bit disconnected. Her change is almost overnight and her past life isn't really referenced once she crosses the magical bridge. There are also some plot holes and conveniences that were explained away. However, I read for vibes and this had some great ones! There's a huge theme of found family and greater purpose throughout the book as well as the world itself being beautiful. I had a lot of fun with this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC support f Daughter of StarLight by Molly Hammond.

“The Alignment Waits for No One”


This is a great take on a YA style Lord of the Rings quest to save the world from bad guys! Luma (female main character) and her StarLight powers were interesting and I enjoyed everyone in her crew. I would happily read a follow up novel in this universe to check in on everyone!

Y’all—this book had me hollering “you go, girl!” to a literal ball of starlight power. 💫 Luma is fierce, confused, and fabulous, and I was living for her magical glow-up and her "who-even-am-I" identity crisis while dodging evil wizards and joining a ragtag elf rebellion. It’s like Hunger Games meets Lord of the Rings with a heroine who doesn’t even know she’s a legend… yet. If you love chosen-one chaos, elf sass, and wild plot twists—grab this book, stat! 🧝‍♀️✨🔥

Elf Uprising and Star-Powered Girlboss Energy

Daughter of Starlight shines like a comet with fierce magic, elf rebellion, and a heroine who goes from lost girl to legendary queen-in-the-making—I was absolutely starstruck from page one! 🌠

This book was okay, the story line had potential and I was really excited to see how it was executed, but I feel like it fell slightly flat. I felt like the characters were two dimensional and I wasn’t able to fully connect and become invested in their journey or hoping that they succeeded. A lot of it of it felt like I was being “told” not “shown”. It was incredibly fast paced- not necessarily a bad thing, but I felt like it didn’t give me time to become entrapped by the story.

Thank you to NetGally and Molly M Hammond for giving me the opportunity to read this as an ARC. This is my honest review