This really picked up after about 30-40% and I just needed more. That ending might have ripped me apart. Maybe I’m just oblivious to things but I really didn’t expect the ending at all. I loved that I felt a connection with all of the side characters along with the main characters because that doesn’t alway happen for me. This was such a well written story and I can’t wait for the next book after that cliffhanger.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The emotional turmoil this put me through, the gut wrenching ending.
If you’ve ever wanted a story for Hook & Tinkerbell to fall in love, this is the most perfect, heartfelt love story. Pirates, faeries, gods, a complex magic system, and an awful cliff hanger all wrapped up with a nice little bow!

Absolutely loved it! 5 stars I cannot wait for the second book. Thank you so much for the privilege of reading this!!

Selene Amaris was forced to run from her home and became enslaved in Terrosa for ten years. Now, as the last surviving Faeyte, she returns to Asteria, trapped on a ship captained by the cocky, mysterious Callan. Adelene is determined to make it back home, one last time, and Callan wants to keep all the people he cares about safe. First, they need to navigate the endless sea of starlight, and their complicated feelings for one another. She was never supposed to fall in love, and their love will tear the heavens apart.

Stars Above the Never Sea is pirate romantasy perfection, with beautiful, rich, and emotional writing. The magic system is very unique, and the characters have so much heart and emotional complexity that it’s impossible to not feel for every single one of them, Told from Selene and Callan’s perspective, this story is one of grief and love, of healing and finding yourself with others. The friendships and found family aspect really pulled me into the story, adding so much depth and care. Each character had me enthralled, wanting to know more about each of them. My favorite thing about this book has to be the communication between Selene and Callan. They were always open with each other and expressive of their emotions, and I felt their individual secrets or pieces of character lore were revealed at the perfect times, in beautiful ways. Miscommunication trope? Don’t know her. The chemistry between the two of them was electric, I could feel it jumping off the page. Soft touches here and there, lingering looks, and witty banter. I seriously loved this book, and the plot twist ending has left me reeling, desperate for the sequel.

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

Just know I am a total slut for a pirate romantasy, and Stars Above the Never Sea surpassed all my expectations. This book was beautifully crafted, with rich imagery (a sea made of starlight, anyone???) and a unique magic system, this was a stunning tale of both grief and reclamation, love and loss, and finding yourself through the people you meet along the way.

With a band of misfits and a delicious slow-burn to boot, I was wholly captivated by this book.

Selene Amaris is the last remaining Faeyte, who after spending ten years enslaved finds herself bound below deck of a cargo ship heading to her homeland. The ship is manned by loveable rogue Callan Edgeborn, a cocky and arrogant yet golden retriever mountain of a man, who finds that stowaway may hold the key to fixing everything — including him.

An unexpected gem of a story with an agonising plot twist but oh so much heart, I’m super excited to see where Flood takes the rest of this series. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for sharing this advance copy with me!

This was such a fun and captivating world to dive into. I am currently riding a ship and pirate train. So, this book was right up my alley. The world building was done very well, and I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The betrayal at the end has set the storyline up nicely for the next book. I can’t wait to see where it takes us!

🖤banter
🖤magic ship
🖤he falls first
🖤slowburn
🖤dual pov
🖤Winged FMC

https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/22ad6e8e-71c3-490d-9326-73811e66b8f7
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222751872


ARC Review: Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood
💜💜💜💜 | 🌶️🌶️ Mild

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This one took a little time to find its stride—it wasn’t an instant grab for me, but I was intrigued enough by the premise to keep going. Around the 100-page mark, the story really picks up, and from there, I was fully invested.

We follow Selene, the last faeyte, who’s enslaved in a faraway land after her home, Asteria, is invaded. She crosses paths with Callan, our MMC, who helps her begin the journey home. The world of maegis (aka magic) 🪄 is rich and imaginative, slowly revealing itself in a way that adds depth to the plot.

What stood out most to me was the banter. The dialogue between Selene, Callan, and the crew—Rio, Esme, Merrick, Sol, Matthias, and Leo—is witty, warm, and full of personality. Their interactions brought a real spark to the page.

The ending twist? Totally unexpected—in the best way. There’s definite chemistry between Selene and Callan, and Selene’s journey into her power has me excited for what’s coming next. (Book 2 is teased for December 2025!)

I’m giving this book 4💜 because while it started a bit slow, it’s a rewarding read once it gets going. If you enjoy immersive fantasy worlds, strong character dynamics, and slow-burn tension with a big payoff, you’ll want to add this one to your TBR.

#StarsAboveTheNeverSea #EvelynFloodAuthor #NetGalley

Stars Above the Never Sea is a poignant, lyrical novel that offers a haunting and beautiful reimagining of the Peter Pan mythos, told through the lens of grief, sisterhood, and the slow unraveling of childhood stories.

Evelyn Flood’s writing is atmospheric and emotionally rich, weaving together past and present with grace. The main character’s journey—from a girl caught in a moment of loss to a woman forced to face what really happened—is moving and powerful. The themes of memory, trauma, and letting go are handled with subtlety and care, all within a world that feels both familiar and quietly strange.

This isn’t an action-packed retelling, but one that leans into mood and emotion. Readers looking for fast-paced fantasy may need to adjust expectations—but those who love character-driven stories with magic that lingers just at the edges will find something truly special here.

A standout for fans of fairytales with depth, prose with weight, and stories that ask what it really means to come home.

(I will be posting on my Instagram @bookishmagg also and will add the link here when the post goes live)
3⭐️ 1🌶️

Stars Above the Never Sea was an interesting start to the series! I really enjoyed the concept of the world and found the plot to be captivating.
Some of the pacing was uneven though, especially at the beginning and about two-thirds of the way through. A lot of the story was spent traveling, and there were some parts that felt a little unnecessary to the story as a whole.
The cliffhanger at the end was fun and the end was different than where I thought the story was going so that was unique and nice to read. Overall I enjoyed it!

TROPES
The chosen one
Found Family
He falls first & he falls hard
Choosing your own fate
Feminine rage
Reluctant allies to friends to lovers

THE WORLD
I think the world is by far the best part of this story! The magic system was really easy to learn and wasn’t overly complex. I loved the concept of the Never, and the sky actually falling. The imagery was so good for that part!

THE CHARACTERS
Character development was good for the first book. The MCs had good backstories and strong motivations for their actions. I wanted more from the side characters though, as some of them blended together and became hard to differentiate from one another.

THE ROMANCE
There wasn’t much depth to the romance - it felt more like the proximity of Callan and Selene is what gave them feelings for one another rather than actual chemistry or deep conversations getting to know one another. Some part of the romance was lacking to me and made it feel like they were better suited as friends. Honestly, I was definitely considering other characters as prospective partners for Selene because of this, most notably Esme because they had more chemistry and deeper conversations than she had with Callan.

*please note that quotes are from an Advanced Readers Copy. Please refer to the final publication for official quotes*
QUOTES:

"Own your fear. Hold onto it. But do not let it own you. Take hold of it, and embrace it. Remember that darkness is only the absence of light, and you are made of light itself."

"You were right."
Glazed eyes meet mine as I suck in a shuddering breath. But I don't look away. Instead, I lean forward, making sure he can see my face.
Making sure it's the last thing he sees.
And my voice, when it comes, is ice and rage and death. "I am exactly what you made me."

"People always fear what they can't be bothered to understand."

"I tried." I whisper the confession as the pain recedes, just for a moment. "And I failed. They won."
Callan takes a breath. We stare at each other. I close my eyes as his other hand lifts, rests in my hair. He runs his fingers through it, gruff words filtering through the lingering pain. "Then you will try again. Perhaps you'll fail again. But you do not stop trying, or they win. As long as you keep fighting, the battle is undecided. This battle is not won yet. But it is not lost, either."

"I can still have empathy for your loss, while grieving my own. Grief touches us all, one way or another. It would be foolish to believe that mine somehow means more than yours, no matter how it occurred."

QUOTES: THE ROMANCE

“Give me more of this. Whatever this may be, I want more.
Let him chase the darkness away.
Because whenever I am near him, all I seem to feel is light.”

"You know what I want."
Friends.
That is what he said. That was the game.
Except this no longer feels like a game to me. And I wonder if perhaps Callan has been playing a different game this entire time, simply waiting quietly for me to
catch up.”

"I fell in love when I saw you ready yourself to fight on the day of the Shift. With no weapons, no armor, flowers in your hair. You made me so unsteady that I followed you, and when I thought I had failed, I spent ten years mourning the loss of who you might have been." Beneath my cheek, tears trail down his skin, his neck.
"And then I found you again." His hand cups the back of my head, comforting even as his words break and tremble. "As if fate had placed you back in my path for a reason. I have never given much concern for fate, Selene, but you make me believe in something bigger than us.
Because I found you again, and every dream I thought I had shattered beneath the reality of you."

"I told you I intend to give you everything."
Her lips press to my chest…
I fight for breath. "And I would be... gods. Grateful."
I'd crawl for a single fucking smile.”

Utterly immersive and heartbreakingly intimate — Stars Above the Never Sea delivers found family, aching tension, and a world made of starlight. One of my standout reads of the year.

I LOVED this book. From the first page, Stars Above the Never Sea swept me away. I was completely hooked by the world, the characters, the writing—everything. Evelyn Flood delivers a romantasy that’s bursting with emotional tension, stunning worldbuilding, and characters who linger long after the final page.

Selene is a standout protagonist: guarded, sharp-edged, and quietly broken in a way that feels raw and real. Her reluctant connection with Callan—the grumpy, secretive ship captain—is slow-burn perfection. Their chemistry is frustrating, electric, and so worth the wait.

The found family dynamic is another highlight, reminiscent of Six of Crows, filled with loyalty, grief, humour, and survival. Flood’s world is utterly original—an inky starlit sea, lands lost to magic, and broken people trying to find their place in a fractured world.

What makes this story so powerful, though, is how personal it feels. Beneath the sweeping fantasy elements is a story about loss, love, and what it means to find home again when everything has changed.

And that ENDING? I turned the final page and just sat there, gutted and awed. I genuinely don’t know how I’m supposed to wait until December 2025 for the sequel.

If you love romantasy that’s lyrical, heartfelt, and full of yearning—with found family, hidden magic, and a plot that tears you apart and stitches you back together with starlight—don’t miss this one.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ — Easily one of my favourite reads of the year.

4.5✨ ah this book was amazing!! So so good!! At the very least beginning of the book we follow our fmc Selene Amaris age 16 running and the escaping as her people get wiped out......
10 years later
Selene has been enslaved for 10 years and is finally ready to go home, but just as she's managers to escape one captive she finds herself chained once more held in the cargo of a silent ship heading back to her homeland, Asteria.
Callan Edgeborn our mmc just wanted to keep those he care for safe, his mission is to follows orders and transports desperately needed goods across the Never Sea. After finding Selene tired on his ship unsure why and how she's got there, he's promises to get her home without any harm.
Selene has no patience for a cocky, lazy, irreverent ship captain and Callan has no time to watch over an emotionless, cold female with infuriatingly captivating eyes.
One meeting will change their lives forever.
Wasn't expecting that cliffhanger at all!! Can't wait for the next book 😍

Wow — Stars Above the Never Sea was absolutely amazing! I couldn’t put it down. The writing is so atmospheric and magical, and the world Evelyn Flood created totally swept me away. It had this dreamy, slightly eerie vibe that made everything feel so vivid and emotional.

I loved Selene as a main character — she’s fierce, determined, and so easy to root for. And the slow-burn romance? Perfection. Callan was mysterious in all the right ways, and their connection felt so real and earned. Every time I thought I could stop reading, something new would happen and I'd be completely pulled back in.

It’s one of those books that feels like you're living inside a myth. I was hooked from the first page to the last and honestly didn’t want it to end. If you’re into romantasy with depth, gorgeous writing, and a strong heroine, this is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of this book.

Words cannot even describe how much I love this book! I hardly ever say this but it is absolutely flawless. Characters are so well developed and loveable - the tension between the MFC and MMC was almost too much to bear at points! I couldn’t put the book down. The best book I’ve read all year hands down and I can’t wait for the second one.

Se decía que ser amado por un Faeyte estaba más allá de las palabras.

Que cuando les arrancó la capacidad de enamorarse, lloraron una pérdida que ya no podían reconocer.

Y les costó todo.

***

Selene Amaris finalmente se va a casa.

Después de diez años de esclavitud en las tierras rojas de Terrosa, se encuentra encadenada una vez más, con las alas atadas y sostenidas en la carga de un barco silencioso que regresa a su tierra natal, Asteria.

Nadie la está esperando. Su gente fue aniquilada hace diez años antes del Gran Cambio, cuando el aire se convirtió en viento y agua en un solo momento violento, y el mar se convirtió en una interminable luz estelar de tinta.

Pero el latido de su corazón la llama de vuelta, y ella responderá.

Una última vez.

***

Callan Edgeborn tiene un plan.

Sobrevive.

Para mantener a los que le importan a salvo, sigue las órdenes y transporta los bienes que se necesitan desesperadamente a través del Mar de Nunca Jamás, un mar hecho enteramente de luz de las estrellas, donde una caída puede enviar a un hombre cayendo a una noche interminable.

Él es el único con la capacidad de superarlo.

Selene no tiene paciencia para un capitán de barco arrogante, perezoso e irreverente, y Callan no tiene tiempo para vigilar a una mujer fría y sin emociones con ojos exasperantemente cautivadores.

Pero como ambos saben muy bien, solo se necesita un segundo para que el mundo cambie.

Mientras Selene navega por su regreso, Callan se encuentra arriesgando todo para mantenerla a salvo. Y con cada día que pasa, queda claro que Selene ha sido enviada de vuelta a Asteria por una razón.

Una reunión cambiará sus vidas para siempre.


..


La parte final (en donde se revela algo importante) es triste porque si esa persona hubiera dicho la verdad pondrían haber disfrutado de su tiempo juntos.


Gracias NetGalley por el ARC.!

Five stars. I had a feeling something similar to the twist at the end was coming but never in a million years would I have guessed what was going to happen. Oof and what an awful cliffhanger! This was a book full of information. Found family, self-discovery, love, hate, brutality. I want to know more about the gods and their influence, and I hope we get that in book 2.!

The Faytes exist to help others, they don’t love, but they do care. When their island is attacked, Selene is the only survivor. Now, ten years later, she’s returning -whether to save the people now there, or take her revenge - is undecided.

"It should have been today...She should have seen her fate today, should have watched in wonder.."

"Grief touches us all, in one way or another. It would be foolish to believe mine somehow means more than yours, no matter how it occurred."

"As soon as my lips touch his skin, I know I have made a mistake. A grave mistake. One I can't take back."

Imagine living a life of peace and contentment, surrounded by the faces of the ones that guide you and bring you joy. On what is supposed to be the most important day of your life it all gets ripped away from you, in the most horribly traumatic way you could never imagine. Terror, uncertainty and then it all ends... Or does it? Your world turns upside down, and you never imagined it could be like this.

This book had me OBSESSED. I love a good fantasy read, and this one really was entrancing. The first chapter was a bit difficult for me, only because there was so much information to pick up on. I love that Dual POV that the book continues on in afterwards. I didn't expect some of the twists and turns that happened in the book, mainly in the latter. The last few chapters were hard to read, but only because I couldn't see through my tears. The main characters chemistry, the comradery between characters in the book, the emotionally gripping plot points that unfurl within the pages. The ending had me salivating for the next installment! I needed it, like yesterday! Thank you so much to Evelynn Flood for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC for reviewing consideration through NetGalley. My opinions on this amazing peace are strictly my own, and my opinion is that this is an absolute must read for anyone who enjoys a great fantasy with a slow burn romance. Please make sure to check the trigger warnings as there are some things that affect those with certain sensitivities.

Peter Pan meets Anastasia with Fae

Spoiler Free Summary
Magical humans invade the Fae lands destroying and taking the land. It causes a rift between the worlds that only one made can get a crew through. The FMC must find a way to fix the world and defeat Petyr Pan.

Vibes.
I really liked this book! The beginning had me hooked (haha pun intended). It was constantly event and story building until about 70% it completely dies down and then picks up again around the 96% part. I think in-between there the story could have used a little editing. I liked how the magic spoke at the end as to her sisters. It would have been better with more hint dropping rather than just dragging the story on with repeated behavior and similar events. However, like I said before, the ending was great and the story connectors that the author drops are great. Overall, though it was really exciting read.

Free Copy NG

I just finished Stars Above the Never Sea and wow—this book hit me right in the heart. Emotional, gripping, and full of magic, it pulled me in from the start and didn’t let go.

The characters were so well written and real. I felt everything they went through. The fantasy world was stunning but never overshadowed the raw, emotional core of the story. I cried, I smiled, I didn’t want it to end.

My only small wish is that there was a little more at the end, just something extra to stay in that world a bit longer. Still, this was a beautiful, unforgettable read. Highly recommend if you love emotional fantasy that gives you all the feels.

Fantasy is not a usual genre for me. The title and cover of this book caught my attention. When I am not sure about a book, I read a minimum of 25%. This book had me hooked in a lot less! The authors descriptions made the scenes real, the characters believable and story line mesmerizing.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Wow, Stars Above the Never Sea completely blew me away. The story pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go. The world-building is so magical and vivid.

The characters are definitely the heart of this story. They’re flawed but lovable, and their journey felt really genuine. I especially liked how their relationships developed — there was a good balance of tension, friendship, and emotional moments that didn’t feel forced. The mix of adventure and fantasy elements was just right — exciting and imaginative without getting too complicated or heavy.

The pacing was great too — enough action to keep things moving, but with quieter moments that let me connect with the characters more. Overall, it’s a beautifully written book that’s perfect if you want a fantasy story with heart, magic, and adventure all rolled into one.

Honestly, I loved every bit of it and couldn’t put it down. If you’re into heartfelt fantasy with amazing characters, this one’s definitely worth picking up!I’m definitely looking forward to more from Evelyn Flood!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*