booksybrunette's review
5.0
This is my first romantasy! It was a great introduction!!
I really enjoyed the super feisty characters, especially Saiph! She was absolutely freaking badass!! Her relationship with Auren made her more relatable and not just a badass-killer, especially as she had to reevaluate her ingrown beliefs.
The pacing was fantastic and it really made for a story that I couldn’t put down!
I love that it is closely linked to Stardust, one of my favourite films and about to study in uni!
Thank you Jade Church for an advanced copy for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the super feisty characters, especially Saiph! She was absolutely freaking badass!! Her relationship with Auren made her more relatable and not just a badass-killer, especially as she had to reevaluate her ingrown beliefs.
The pacing was fantastic and it really made for a story that I couldn’t put down!
I love that it is closely linked to Stardust, one of my favourite films and about to study in uni!
Thank you Jade Church for an advanced copy for an honest review.
thesleepybookshelf's review
4.0
Thank you to author Jade Church for this ARC.
What a great start to a new series. I had not read a sapphic book before, and I am glad that this was my introduction to the genre. The romance was a great as well as the tropes. I am a sucker for enemies to lover with the “I came here to kill you but fell in love instead.” This book was filled with all the things you love in a romantasy story, including only one bed at the inn.
While I did figure out the big character reveal pretty quickly, as well as a few other plot twists, I still was very happy with how it was all revealed. Each character was likable in their own way, as well as all having to work through their own internal battles. I am hoping that we get more Orien pov in the next book because he seems to have a lot of layers to him.
The ending had me biting my nails. Beware, there is a cliff-hanger but it is well worth the heart palpitations. I am excited to see where the story goes from here as well as seeing some avenging characters and major a** kicking.
Overall, great start to a new series and I cannot wait to read the next one. If you are in the mood for a quick romantasy book then I recommend picking this one up when it is released!
What a great start to a new series. I had not read a sapphic book before, and I am glad that this was my introduction to the genre. The romance was a great as well as the tropes. I am a sucker for enemies to lover with the “I came here to kill you but fell in love instead.” This book was filled with all the things you love in a romantasy story, including only one bed at the inn.
While I did figure out the big character reveal pretty quickly, as well as a few other plot twists, I still was very happy with how it was all revealed. Each character was likable in their own way, as well as all having to work through their own internal battles. I am hoping that we get more Orien pov in the next book because he seems to have a lot of layers to him.
The ending had me biting my nails. Beware, there is a cliff-hanger but it is well worth the heart palpitations. I am excited to see where the story goes from here as well as seeing some avenging characters and major a** kicking.
Overall, great start to a new series and I cannot wait to read the next one. If you are in the mood for a quick romantasy book then I recommend picking this one up when it is released!
kaly_cano's review
4.0
If you expect this book to be just like the other romance novels Jade has written in the past, then you are mistaken. Not only is it completely different from what she usually write, but it contains a very complex yet simple and super interesting magick system involving stars, kingdoms, secrets, lies, and histories that will undoubtedly have you asking questions in this new fantasy world.
This time not only do we get one romance, but we get two, one being sapphic, between Auren, the mortal queen's guard who claims to be the true heir to the throne, and Saiph, the heir to the kingdom on Stars who was sent by her mother to kill the rebel queen. Along with Orien, Auren's twin brother, and Valentina. Though I will admit, Vala, Saiph's twin sisters also caught my eye.
Expect a fantasy novel full of lots badªss female MC's, enemies to lovers, half-stars that are vampires, and lots of witty banter between Saiph and Auren. I can't wait to get to know more about Orien and Valentina's story next and that cliffhanger at the end, I was not ready for it at all!
This time not only do we get one romance, but we get two, one being sapphic, between Auren, the mortal queen's guard who claims to be the true heir to the throne, and Saiph, the heir to the kingdom on Stars who was sent by her mother to kill the rebel queen. Along with Orien, Auren's twin brother, and Valentina. Though I will admit, Vala, Saiph's twin sisters also caught my eye.
Expect a fantasy novel full of lots badªss female MC's, enemies to lovers, half-stars that are vampires, and lots of witty banter between Saiph and Auren. I can't wait to get to know more about Orien and Valentina's story next and that cliffhanger at the end, I was not ready for it at all!
loulouberry's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
yadife28's review
I didn’t liked the writing style and just couldn’t get into the story at all
murreh's review against another edition
4.0
Not what I was expecting
I actually really enjoyed this book. The Magic system is unique and the story telling is enjoyable. The multiple POVs help round out the story and give greater context. I only wish that we the reader could’ve learned the reveal our FMC gets at the end at the same time, but otherwise very good story!
I actually really enjoyed this book. The Magic system is unique and the story telling is enjoyable. The multiple POVs help round out the story and give greater context. I only wish that we the reader could’ve learned the reveal our FMC gets at the end at the same time, but otherwise very good story!
crazy_book_lover_'s review
5.0
Thank you so much Jade Church for sending me a copy of your book!
The Lingering Dark is the first book in Kingdom of Stars duology. It is a sapphic fantasy romance with amazing world building and great characters that I really enjoyed!
Saiph is a star and the heir of Kingdom of Stars. When her mother, the queen, sends her to the mortal plane to kill a human claiming to be the true queen of the kingdom, Saiph expects a quick and easy job. What she doesn’t expect is Auren, the false queen’s guard and a woman to whom she feels an immediate connection. When everything Saiph thought she knew is called into question, she needs to decide who she can trust and pick a side in the upcoming war.
I really like the world the author created, the
idea of stars and humans is described in such a unique way I couldn’t put the book down, everything is so fascinating. I love the main characters, Saiph and Auren are both so strong and stubborn it was so much fun to read about their growing enemies to lovers relationship, and the second couple, Orien and Valentina were so cute, I just love them all! While I guessed some of the plot twists, the author still shocked me a few times, this book is full of action, banter and astounding revelations that guarantee you won’t be bored and that made me finish it in one sitting, I couldn’t stop reading and had to know what is going to happen next!
I really enjoyed The Lingering Dark and already can’t wait for the second book because that ending had me screaming! I’m dying to know what happens next.
The Lingering Dark is the first book in Kingdom of Stars duology. It is a sapphic fantasy romance with amazing world building and great characters that I really enjoyed!
Saiph is a star and the heir of Kingdom of Stars. When her mother, the queen, sends her to the mortal plane to kill a human claiming to be the true queen of the kingdom, Saiph expects a quick and easy job. What she doesn’t expect is Auren, the false queen’s guard and a woman to whom she feels an immediate connection. When everything Saiph thought she knew is called into question, she needs to decide who she can trust and pick a side in the upcoming war.
I really like the world the author created, the
idea of stars and humans is described in such a unique way I couldn’t put the book down, everything is so fascinating. I love the main characters, Saiph and Auren are both so strong and stubborn it was so much fun to read about their growing enemies to lovers relationship, and the second couple, Orien and Valentina were so cute, I just love them all! While I guessed some of the plot twists, the author still shocked me a few times, this book is full of action, banter and astounding revelations that guarantee you won’t be bored and that made me finish it in one sitting, I couldn’t stop reading and had to know what is going to happen next!
I really enjoyed The Lingering Dark and already can’t wait for the second book because that ending had me screaming! I’m dying to know what happens next.
gigisbookadventures's review
4.0
Thank you so much Jade Church for sending me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book was steamy, tension-filled, fast-paced and had a really incredible magical system!
I love that this book was a sapphic romance and the chemistry between Auren and Saiph was amazing! Loved it! Give me all the spice!
I’m so excited that this is going to be a series! It’s called Kingdom of Stars and I need book 2 now!
If you’re looking for an amazing new fantasy series with great LGBT+ representation for this winter season…look no further!
This book was steamy, tension-filled, fast-paced and had a really incredible magical system!
I love that this book was a sapphic romance and the chemistry between Auren and Saiph was amazing! Loved it! Give me all the spice!
I’m so excited that this is going to be a series! It’s called Kingdom of Stars and I need book 2 now!
If you’re looking for an amazing new fantasy series with great LGBT+ representation for this winter season…look no further!
whatrhi_isreading's review
4.0
This sapphic fantasy romance was so good and I found myself struggling to put it down. I loved the concept of the Kingdom of Stars and cannot wait to read more in this universe. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs as well as the flashbacks that provided more context to the history of the story. And the spice was *chefs kiss*
My only critique is that I found the beginning of the book very fast paced and I would have like a bit more time in the Kingdom of Stars, especially exploring more of Saiph’s relationships with her family.
If you’re planning to read this, I would recommend checking the trigger warnings first (they are also at the beginning of the book)
Thank you to Jade Church for my eArc of this book.
My only critique is that I found the beginning of the book very fast paced and I would have like a bit more time in the Kingdom of Stars, especially exploring more of Saiph’s relationships with her family.
If you’re planning to read this, I would recommend checking the trigger warnings first (they are also at the beginning of the book)
Thank you to Jade Church for my eArc of this book.
zefrien's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5