A review by the_lesbrarian
The Fate of Stars by S.D. Simper

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.75

This book was so fun! Morally gray butch lesbian princess x mermaid love story. 
This is a very romance-heavy romantasy. Due to my personal reading preferences, I wish it was longer and more time had been given to development of the political and magic systems. 
There are some big skips in logic, plot holes, and a very simple solution to the big problem that the book ends on,

i am really not understanding why she couldn’t just live on land and then meet with her mother/undersea friends  by having them swim to the cove and then hanging out with them from the land like she discussed doing with the princess but with talora underwater. this reads like the fantasy equivalent of the romance third act miscommunication to breakup trope

so don’t pick this one up if you’re someone who can’t look past that. 
That being said, I really enjoyed this book and will be reading the next one. This is a wild ride and a sweet romance in a fantasy setting turn your brain off & enjoy 

also how insane it it that she was able to sneak out of the castle by wearing the in-world equivalent of those spirit halloween sexy nun outfits. hysterical and fantastic

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Trafficking

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Alcohol, and Classism