Yes 1000x

The prologue of this book is one of THE best I have ever read. It was enticing and interesting, and the whole time you're collection more and more questions and come the moment you step into the first chapter you are chasing all the answers.

Not only does this have a fascinating beginning, but the ending !! For the last hour I was all tears.

The characters are complex but loveable, the world is interesting and refreshing; which for fantasy doesn't always feel like a possibility, but Evelyn has done one hell of a job with creating a dynamic, multilayered world/characters.

I am wildly excited to see where the journey goes, and I fear the stakes are going to just get higher and higher, and the tears are just going to be never ending (which I kinda look forward to).

10/10!!

There is something wonderfully unique about this book and the world the author created. I think the magic system was great although it took me a little while to get my head around it. Was completely worth it to read a romantasy that does something different.

The characters are wonderful and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their story.

The pacing felt a little off in a couple of places but overall I really enjoyed this book

Thank you @netgalley for sharing a copy with me

That was a cruel ending. Sick and twisted I tell you! Amazing read. I loved every single chapter. I am demanding a book two because there is no way I will survive until December for it to come out.

On the day of her coming of age ceremony, Selene Amaris heart fell apart because Caleum’s army slaughtered her people and she had no choice but to flee Asteria. She always dreamed of coming back and taking revenge on her people.

Ten years had just passed, and she got her opportunity when she escaped her enslaved life on Terrosa and secretly rode a silent cargo ship in the direction of Asteria. Then she met Callan Edgeborn, a Caleum, the captain of the ship. Now, is it time the truth of the past came to surface and revealed itself to Selene, which makes her have more questions about what, who she is and how she got a magic power when she didn’t pass her coming of age ceremony herself?

Stars Above the Never Sea is a medium-to-high fantasy book and has Marvel packed in Greek Mythology vibes. Actually, the world building is simple and focused and has a semi-complex magic system.

The story starts with a coming of age ceremony and changes fast into horrifying terror mixed with tragedy. With this brutal war as a start, it leaves a strong impression on me. As for the tension and suspense that happens, every event in this story is very deep and sharp. Selene and Callan adventure journey is really nice even though most of it happens on a ship. Also, as for place, the sky is the sea and the sea is the sky? Oh, waw!

However, you need to read the trigger warning first before reading this book and also, I’m not sure the book cover is presenting the story. Yes, it's according to where an event happening in the book, but it feels too dreamy. Some readers will mistake this book for a cozy fantasy book. I hope there will be a solution for the book cover. Maybe change it to have more adventure-themed vibes with the main character in it? For impressions, yes, I really like this book and will definitely read the next one!

Tropes:
Slow burn romance
Dual POV
Enemies to lovers

I particularly loved the scenes aboard the ship and the slow-burn romance between Selene and Callan. The pacing was steady, allowing me to immerse myself fully in the world. While some parts felt a bit detailed or filler-heavy, I personally enjoy rich descriptions that enhance the imagery. The magic system was intriguing, with different types and levels that added depth to the characters. The villains were truly vile and perfectly suited for their roles

I had the highest hopes for this book and my expectations were exceeded!

THIS ENDING HAD MY JAW ON THE FLOOR??!!!

I cannot wait for book 2!!!

Selene is excited for her Ascension but this day will never come. As the Caelumn invade her home, she runs for her life. 10 years later she escapes slavery and finds herself friends, and possibly other things she deemed impossible, who can take her home - a home where her whole family was killed by their kin.

I cannot summarize this book without giving away too much, BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK.

Evelyn Flood is one of my go-to authors if I need a pick me up. She writes very authentic, I think. I am always so much in my feels when I read her books. Her characters seem so real, it's enticing. I feel like Evelyn has a simple writing style but it's at the same time very captivating. I mostly don't have to question the character's decisions as they make sense.

I struggled so much to find a story that held me hostage, in a very positive way. (My cat is in a clinic and my mind is not getting into any new stories) Stars Above the Never Sea did the impossible. Thank you for giving me this escape from reality.

Stars Above the Sea is a great fantasy about values, guilt, friendship and love. I would like to give it more than 5 Stars.

I’d like to the the author and Net Galley for allowing me to ARC read this book!

Finally something ORIGINAL!!!

This book is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, I love high fae and courts and dragons, but this book is something else. The world, the belief systems, the magic, all of it is different from the rest.

I was worried the world building wouldn’t make much sense to me, but it was very easy to navigate.

The characters are all so great. I love how Selene isn’t all gruff and hardened or completely gentle and sensitive. She’s everything! She can most definitely handle herself but she also lets herself be taken care of. She has strengths and weaknesses and it’s almost as if she was a real person with so many emotions.

Not one thing seemed to drag on longer than it needed to (one of my pet peeves) but it also didn’t feel rushed at all!

I absolutely cannot wait for the second book!

Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn flood is the first instalment in The Last Faeyte series, published July 30, 2025.

It’s a romantasy featuring a slow-burn romance, found-family bonds, and a richly imagined world where the sea is a sky of stars.

The heroine is the last of her kind, the Faeyte, returning to her world/country after a decade of enslavement in Terrosa. Her wings are bound; no one awaits her . The world she returns to is marked by the Great Shift, a catastrophic event that turned air to wind, water, and the sea into an endless, inky sea of starlight known as the “Never Sea” .

Opposite her is a man, a ship captain who navigates the perilous Never Sea transporting essential goods. He’s cocky yet determined, the only one capable of surviving that starry abyss .

Their journey is both emotional and physical, a dance of distrust melting into reluctant trust, and eventually, deep emotional connection. Within this book are Themes of magic, loss, and destiny weave through their arc, set against a backdrop of divine forces and impending change .

I love a retelling where half the fun is working out who is who and although there are lots of nods, this is very much its own story. The mythology took me a minute to get my head around and there is definitely more to be explored which, after the revelations towards the end, hopefully will come in book two. Selene is the last of her kind and despite escaping at the beginning of the book, ends up forced into indentured servitude and brutalised for years. When she finally makes her move to run away, Selene is swept up by Callan's crew and wakes up chained in the hold.

I really enjoyed the scenes on the ship and the slow burn romance between Selene and Callan. There is no lightning strike between them and although he falls first, Callan is more golden retriever than your typical mean and moody pirate. Selene has her walls up but it isn't leaned into as hard as it could be considering her past; instead, other characters expect her to be cold or unfeeling (as faeyte's are described) but its clear Selene isn't like that. Callan makes it clear he is different to the other men she has met before and I really enjoyed how their relationship became more through playfulness after such a dark start to the book. My favourite scene had to be the crew's dinner; the found family was such a highlight and the secondary characters each add to the story in their own way.

I was a little underwhelmed with the villain until the last few chapters when it everything was flipped upside down; I thought I had worked out what was going to happen but I was miles off! The ending has really stuck with me and I cannot wait for book two.

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely until I finished it and it is one I will re-read

3.5 ✨
I loved the world building in this one and the story itself was some of a kind i have never read before!
The found family in this book was chefs kiss and the love between the protagonist couldn't be better described!
Can't wait for book 2 in december!

This is a fun fantasy romance (the first in a new series) with an interesting magic system and found family. The emotional angst and rage were so captivating. The love story was amazing to watch develop. The world and setting were so interesting as well. 3.75/5 stars

I enjoyed reading Stars Above the Never Sea for the most part - I liked the writing and some of the dynamics between the characters, I laughed out loud several times! I found the questions raised in this book really interesting, the consequences that come from a ruler's decisions on the people. I must admit the first chapter threw me off as it felt like we were being thrown into the plot without much context. I was scared it was going to be another case of another naive FMC. But the following chapter set the scene, which brings me to my first point:

Selene - I loved the way she was written at first, a strong FMC who is determined and hardly impressionable. When the romance came into play, though (and too soon for my liking), she lost some of her strength. I was also disappointed that it took her one scene to discover her powers and suddenly she was able to control them when pushed to her limits.
Callan - I really liked his character at first; he had some great one-liners and a broody aspect to his personality that hooked me for the first 100 pages! However, the romance felt rushed in the sense that he went from remembering her to being ready to die for her in the blink of an eye. I liked them together but wished we got more of them getting to know each other / building trust. Although I really liked that it didn't end in the MMC betraying the FMC like so many other books. Once the romance was here, it overtook the fantasy aspect of the book.

The magic system was confusing and the world building lacking in some aspects - we spent half the book on the ship (which was probably my favorite part) and by the time they get to what should be the main part of the plot, it felt a bit predictable. In my opinion there are many things that could have been discovered by the characters early on. The "evil" characters didn't scare me that much. Now, I love a good cliffhanger and the ending definitely qualifies! I loved how the last sentence was basically cut in Callan's head.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read - I'll definitely check the second book when it comes out, even though some of the first book fell flat in some parts.

This was a lot of fun! I think it’s more my partner’s vibe than mine, but I still had a good time! Wish there were more mermaids, but alas, so much fun!

This was a wonderful tale of survival and found family. The twists and turns it takes kept me invested. There were tears shed. This story broke my heart in so many ways. However, it was worth it. The ending.... Well, I'm not sure I'm over it yet. Very much enjoyed this book, and will be keeping an eye out for the next one in the series.

This book roped me in from the very beginning. Selene was the most enthralling protagonist and Callan, the moody captain with hidden depths and so many layers. The slow burn chemistry between the two of them was palpable, and although frustrating at times, they were simply electric.
I fell in love with their world, and turning the last page broke my heart a little. Also, the ending?! I will never recover and will need the sequel firmly in my hands asap. NetGalley - if you’re seeing this - I’m gonna need to arc read the second book 👀🤭

Treasure Planet meets Tinkerbell!

The magic and world for this book is new, exciting and refreshing. And the writing itself is stellar!

I loved following Selene’s story and enjoyed having Callans POV—although I don’t think it was necessary to have his POV. His POV didn’t add much to the actual story. All he did was pant after Selene.

Selenes story itself is one that starts out innocent, but as the world does, it rips all innocence from girls at too young an age and much too traumatically. Her character arc of overcoming her traumas and choosing a heart-led path is inspiring.

The world building itself is introduced throughout the plot organically and overtime—something many romantasy writers I find can struggle with. Flood does a great job in doing this roll out with ease.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am already looking forward to its sequel. Thank you for the ARC!

I unfortunately DNF’d this due to it being to hard to understand. I found the story confusing and it did not grip me. I still love the authors other work and will continue to read her work.

What the hell just happened!?
I loved this book. The concept very unique and interesting. The world building and pacing are just right. I fell in love with the characters. Didn't see this ending coming and can't wait to read the next installment.

Stars Above the Never Sea has a unique fantasy world, where the sea and the sky have switched places surrounding the island of Asteria. The Caelumnai people have destroyed all but one of the Faeytes, and when the last Faeyte Selene Amaris sails back to her stolen lands with the very people who killed her sisters, what will ensue?

This book is tagged as an enemies to lovers fantasy, but I wouldn’t really agree with that assessment. There is certainly reason for our FMC to have reservations about the MMC, but it doesn’t seem to be a major plot point. I did enjoy the romance regardless, but I don’t think they ever really hated one another.

I also had some pacing issues with the book, where I loved the first half or so, following the backstory and journey back to Asteria, once they made it back, there seemed to be a lot of lallygagging before a pretty startling shift in the story just before the end.