“If I am to be without a fate, without a Calling, then I claim this one for myself”

“A heart that beats as strong as yours is endless with possibility”

What was THAT ??? How can you leave me with that ENDING??? Omg I cannot believe it !!! It’s cruel. It’s evil. It’s strategic. It’s masterful!!! This book was absolutely addicting !!! I started reading it in the morning and by noon I was already finished. Magical creatures, revenge, betrayal, loss, loneliness, found family, forced proximity, a bit of pirate vibes and a bit of spice … I think this book had it all without being overwhelming. The story of a young woman who loses it all and has to survive. The story of a young man who’s trying to help the people he loves. A story of powers, of great kingdoms falling, of fate being written before you know it, of love blossoming when you think you’re not able to fall in love. It was wonderful. Selene is such a strong and resilient character and I could easily follow down her path and making (sometimes unfortunately) her same choices. A mystical creature who believes she is the last of her kind. And Callan … the things this man made me feel!!! I cannot go into heavy details about it because it would spoilt it for other people. I’ll just say that he has the cocky pirate vibes we all love and he is ready to do ANYTHING for the people he loves!!! And when their souls clash … boys, what an explosion of starlight it is !!!! I’m so so glad I had a chance to read this book and I cannot wait for the next one already !!!

“I have never given much concern for fate, Selene, but you make me believe in something bigger than us”

“I did not expect you”
“But I was waiting for you”

If I am to be without a fate, without a Calling, then I claim this one for myself.

I had to take a few days to regroup after that ending. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would! Absolutely no complaints. I was hooked from the first page. The world building was perfect, the character development was realistic, and the MMC? Callan will be your new favorite book boyfriend. He falls first and hard. The one thing I loved the most was instead of touch her and die he is very “touch anyone I love and die.”

This time the FMC, Selene, has the shadows and one of my favorite scenes is her shadows attaching to Callan while they sleep. My heart burst then shattered at the ending. Thank GOODNESS the second book comes out in December because I will be an emotional wreck until then.
Thank you, NetGalley and publishers for the ARC copy. ✨

Thanks to Netgalley for an arc copy to review!

Stars Above the Never Seas by Evelyn Flood

Pirates, faeries and gods with a good helping of hefty emotions and found family.

The imagery was stunning, the book starts a little slower but picks up once the stage is set and we get into the meat of the story.

The writing and pacing were easy to follow but my favourite was how honest and real the relationships, especially the platonic ones felt. The characters are all really well written and feel like whole, real people - which I always love. This made the banter between Selene and Callan super enjoyable and flow really easily.

I absolutely DEVOURED this! I loved it! I love the characters, even the side characters, and the FMC and MMC were some two of the best main characters I’ve read about in a long time. I loved Selene and Callan, their slow burn romance and the banter between the two was just so sweet and it was nice to finally read a book that doesn’t revolve around insta-love and constant spicy internal thoughts. The storyline was so different to anything I’ve read, I was honestly so hooked from the very beginning and I knew it was going to be a good read for me. The writing style is great, the storytelling and world building was fab and as I’ve already said, the characters were 10/10. Love love loved it!

Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood is a lush and emotional start to a new romantasy series filled with magic, heartbreak, and slow-burning romance. Selene and Callan are complex, opposites-attract protagonists whose journey across the starlit Never Sea is equal parts danger and discovery. With vivid worldbuilding, lyrical prose, and a deep sense of longing, this first installment delivers high-stakes fantasy alongside tender, character-driven moments. Perfect for readers who enjoy found family, fierce heroines, and romances touched by fate. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

A HUGE thank you to Evelyn Flood and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

By the first few chapters, I was hooked.. and by the midpoint, I was addicted!!

The character development..the backstory..the intrigue.. the twists and turns and betrayals.. ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. A word of caution, your heart will be broken.

Hot tropes:
-Slow burn & he falls first
-Found family
-Unique magic systems
-Forced proximity
-Shadow magic
-Pirates, faeries, and gods.. oh my!

The book is gives Hook & Tinker Bell vibes in the sea of never and then transforms into a fae hellscape. You will be clapping to prove you believe in faeries until the devastating cliffhanger.

4.25/5 ⭐️ - RECOMMENDED!!

I’m truly at a loss for words! THE ENDING!!?!?! This books is so magical and beautiful! I need the second book PLEASE !!! I fell in love with the side characters and I fell even deeper in love with Selene & Callan 😍😍 I NEED there story to continue like I need food and water!

A wink to the Peter Pan story and not a retelling, in case someone gets confused.
I loved everything about this book.
The characters, the plot and the universe.
Selene, is the strong, no-nonsense FMC that we were longing for. She supposedly cannot feel much but that is neither here nor there. People around her believe that but we are in her head and we know better.
Callan is our golden retriever MMC, who loves his found family and he would do everything for them.
The magic system is really interesting in this one. There is a significant cost for using magic and it is not the same for everyone.
A bit of enemies-to-lovers and fated mates (even though this is not a concept in this world).
The cliffhanger cut deep and I am definitely impatient reading the second one.

Thank you to the author and #NetGalley for the copy!

✨ Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood completely swept me away. From the very first chapter, I was hooked—this book is utterly engaging and impossible to put down. Flood’s storytelling is rich and immersive, with characters and a world that stayed with me long after I closed the final page.

The ending left me balanced on a knife’s edge (no spoilers!), and while I’m still recovering from the emotional rollercoaster, I’m equally excited and terrified for what’s to come in the sequel. Evelyn Flood has absolutely destroyed my mind—in the best way possible—and I can’t wait to dive back into this breathtaking world when the next book arrives.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for granting me ARC access!

I took away a star for each unforgivable act this book committed. 1. opens up with a brutal genocide and the sole survivor living in sex slavery for 10 years. hey! thats not fun. would have preferred literally anything else have happened to her in those 10 years like she couldn't have just been locked up somewhere? idk im very sensitive to human trafficking and the first part of this book almost made me stop altogether. 2. there was too much happening with the magic systems and the mysteries and the gods and fate and I just felt like there were so many plot holes and things that got ignored for sake of thats how the story plays out. the main character basically doesnt try to figure anything out when she makes it back to her home and relies on her random magic to lead her. 3. ended on the biggest bitch of a cliffhanger without even a hint of happiness truly just a horrendous ending. so ultimately very little joy to be found in the book besides the rare moments characters eke out that have the most ominous chekhovs gun lurking in the background.

I think there are interesting parts to this story but if this is the story the author wanted to tell I think the book needed to be longer with more care given to character development, there was some attempt and I found the voices of characters string but there just wasn't much growth besides the romance aspect which I dont love given how recently the main character fled sex slavery! Feels like she should get a minute. idk i think this book has a lot of potential and if other people are able to look past the things that bothered me they would likely enjoy it! wasn't my cup of tea in the end. very vivid imagery and strong author voice, the writing and prose itself weren't a problem i am just not a fan of how the plot shook out.

I think if the sex scene had taken place in the female main characters Pov it would have lended to her agency and development rather than it being from the persepctive of a man who always thought she was beautiful anyways.

That ending was insane!! It’s not even out yet and I need book two immediately. The found family in this was so freaking good. I need to know who put her on that ship in the beginning…the magic system in this seems very unique and I love the faetys storyline.

I feel like a lot of this was very predictable, I knew she was in love with him. Callans a very likable character, I wish there was more depth to him though. I need more. A slow burn is an immediate yes.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

A 5 stars for all the fantasy lovers! Magic, love, betrayal and friendship- this book has it all! I was absolutely obsessed since chaoter one and could not put the books down!

loved every moment of this book! It’s an intense start, seeing everything that Selene goes through and what follows.
She is the epitome of strength and resilience. I adored getting to see her softer sides as the book progressed, seeing how she tentatively forged relationships with those around her

Callan is just top tier! He is funny, charming and just worthy of everything. The way that he approached Selene is beautiful, the definition of if he wanted to he would. He takes on so much guilt and weight of those around him, I loved how kind and human he is throughout the whole book

The plot of this is fantastic. Evelyn has built a really wonderful complex world with a tiered magic system, mystery and strong moral compass. The pirate vibes are immaculate and have me screaming for more.
If you’re a fan of the Ever King series or the Bridge Kingdom series you should definitely check this out 💗

✨ Romantasy series
✨ Pirates/Fae
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced proximity

💕 The crew! All of them but especially Leo
💕 The Never sea crossing
💕 The hot springs
💕 The ending 🤯

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌶️

This story is gripping from beginning to end.

Evelyn Flood did a spectacular job detailing this world and the characters in it.

There's so many lessons. Empathy, vengeance, forgiveness, friendships, and love. This story is filled to the brim with emotions.

There is no character untouched by loss and heartbreak. And they do not all cope the same way. I loved all the characters. The main characters, supporting, and even the villains. And I don't mean I like the villains themselves, I just think theyre written perfectly evil to hit their mark.

This is a series I will definitely be following up with. I need to know what happens next.

5 stars! I was completely blown away by this story and its characters. The plot completely rips your heart out and you’re left drifting in a sea of stars. It was magical, compelling and so emotional.

✨Tropes✨
▫️Romantasy 🗡️
▫️Hook x Tinkerbell Vibes 🧚
▫️Found Family 🤍
▫️Shadow Magic 🪄
▫️He falls first and hard ❤️‍🔥
▫️Cursed by her goddess not to love 💔

Callan Edgeborn, our captain with a few too many secrets. He stole my heart and good god that man can keep it. 😍
Selene Amaris, our mythical fayte. She is guarded and so intriguing.

Callan and Selene stole the show, they felt well developed and emotionally complex, I was so invested in their journey. The chemistry between them? Electric, tender and magical. Everything I want in a romance.

The world is completely breathtaking and the way its written sweeps you off your feet. I was immersed in this book from the first page till the very end. What a journey.

This is truly an epic romantasy story that lingers with you long after you’ve finished it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Evelyn for the ARC.

This was such a fantastic story. Familiar yet entirely new, there are so many challenges presented to our characters that are so relatable and heartbreaking.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this🫶🏼

When I first started reading this book I wasn’t sure I was going to like it, it felt pretty similar to a few other things I have read and I didn’t have very high hopes. It does get off to a slow start, there are some pacing issues and throughout the book the writing was confusing at some points when there was a lot going on.

HOWEVER

Once we got to about 35/40% I could not put this down! You have a silver haired FMC with shadow magic who has been through the absolute WORST and takes her rage out on those who deserve it, and then we have the fiercely loyal, protective, golden retriever MMC. This duo is EVERYTHING, the slow burn, the tension, I just ate it up. I love how protective they both become over each other and how Callan has just tried to make Selene feel safe since the day he met her.

I also loved the found family aspect of this book, found family is one of my all time FAVOURITE tropes and the side characters in this book are just great, they’re loveable, funny, protective of those that they class as family. The magic system is also really intriguing and I really like how we don’t get all of the information straight away and that we learn more about this throughout. There is also a few things that I think might be foreshadowing for the next book and a few things that I think I may have worked out that I am SO excited for!

The ending was absolutely wild, I literally screamed and I cannot believe I need to wait until December to find out what happens next. This book was probably about 3.5 stars and the ending alone put it up to 4 stars so if that isn’t reason enough to read it then I don’t know what is!

Stars Above the Never Sea had moments that really drew me in. I enjoyed the banter, the sea-focused setting, and the refreshing take on the MMC. He stood out from the usual romantasy leads in a good way, and the nautical backdrop added a nice layer of atmosphere.

The initial attraction between the characters didn’t quite land for me, but it did grow into something more believable over time. The MMC had a lot of genuinely lovely qualities that made him feel well-rounded and endearing.

Pacing was a bit uneven. It starts strong, lulls for a good stretch, then picks up again. The story leans heavily on character development, and thankfully, the characters are well written enough to carry it through.

A solid read with some standout elements. Perfect for fans of Nightweaver who enjoy character-driven romantasy with a maritime twist.

Thank you for the e-arc.

Stars Above the Never Sea follows the story of Selene Amaris, a lost Faeyte and her return to her homeland of Asteria. The story takes place ten long years after the Great Shift which left her as the sole remaining Faeyte alive. She travels alongside Callan Edgeborn and his crew to get back home, and once there it becomes clear she is there for a reason.

The magic system in this book especially interested me – the different forms and levels was fascinating. The fact we are never quite sure what type of magic either Selene or Callan wields is intriguing and I can’t wait to find out more!

I had some trouble imagining the Never Sea at first, but once I did things became a lot clearer – and a lot more worrying! The way the story is woven together from the two different viewpoints also engaged me – I liked seeing the two different perspectives on what was happening. The way the characters intertwine is fascinating, and it really does feel like fate that the last Faeyte finds her way back to Asteria the way she does. I can’t say too much as I don’t want to give plotlines away!

I really enjoyed this book, but I did feel like something was slightly missing for me. The romance didn’t feel authentic at first, more like a case of proximity creating attraction rather than genuine desire. I felt like Callan falls in love with his idea of Selene rather than who she is as a person – it all feels very fast on his part.

The cliffhanger ending was very intense, and while I may not have absolutely loved this book, I will absolutely be picking up the next one as I genuinely think this story is going to get better and better!

Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood is such a good story. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.