Really enjoyable.

I’d seen and heard lots about this book, so I was keen to get my hands on it.

I genuinely enjoyed reading it. I found the characters really likeable, the slow burn between Callan and Selene tantalising and the fact that it was a different sort of romantasy than what I’ve been reading recently, refreshing.

I did feel that it ended just as things were starting to happen. It seemed to sneak up on me and end before the story wasn’t quite ready for it, which was mildly disappointing, but not to the point of putting me off.

I’d definitely been keen to read the next one.

Thank you for the ARC and I wish the book every success upon release.

I was so excited to read Stars Above the Never Sea but unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me. Maybe it’s not for me at this moment, because the premise was so intriguing to me.
For whatever reason I just couldn’t connect to the characters, Selene in particular, even though I wanted to be on her team and root for her I didn’t end up clicking with her. Callan was interesting, and I do love a more golden retriever type mmc, but again I just didn’t click enough with him.
I struggled with the world building and magic system, but I think that had more to do with me not being invested enough in the characters and overall story. I think if I’d had more of an attachment to the world it would have been fine.

Big thank you to Evelyn Flood and NetGalley for the chance to ARC read this!

4.5
Soo if you love Peter Pan vibes & aesthetic, you will love this book. It has a sort of a retelling with a hook x tinkerbell story. With Callan the main character having the most swoon worthy mouth
And Selene our FMC
you just want to give her a hug with her traumatic background.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster for start to finish & hues that ending was diabolical!!

No words can describe how beautifully written this book is. I love all of Evelyn Flood’s novels but this book may be one of my favourites.
Selene’s story was very well written and her strong, but vulnerable character was one i was able to connect with at times.
The slow burn between Selene and Callan had me reading on further, wanting to meet a break in the tension between the two characters, but simultaneously supporting Selene’s unwillingness to see any sort of relationship between the two of them.
I absolutely cannot wait for the next book, and i hope to read it as soon as i can. Thank you so much to netgalley and the author for the chance to read Stars Above the Never Sea, it was an amazing experience, and i regret the fact that i never be able to experience the story for the first time again.

This book wrecked me in the best way. It’s the kind of story that pulls you in quietly, wraps you in magic and longing, then sucker punches you with feelings you didn’t see coming.

The writing is gorgeous, the emotions are raw, and the characters feel real: messy, flawed, guarded, and desperately trying to heal. It’s romantic and painful and achingly beautiful, with just enough light to keep you hoping even when everything hurts.

There’s slow-burn tension, themes of survival and found family, and that perfect balance of heartache and heat that makes you want to highlight entire pages just to feel something again. The ending left me wide-eyed and whispering, “Oh no…” in the best possible way.

If you’re in the mood for something immersive, emotional, and completely unputdownable, this one belongs at the top of your TBR.

Stars Above the Never Sea was such a ride 4 stars from me! I adored the world Evelyn Flood has created. The hook x tinkerbell vibes were incredible and the YEARNING! Wow! I cried and kicked my feet at this slow burn romance. The ending hit SO HARD and it is so devastating that I need December to arrive ASAP so I can find out what happens next! The characters are so wonderful, the humour so delicious and I loved being a part of their crew! I am so ready to take a trip across the Never Sea again!

I absolutely loved this book. The world building, the tension. The side characters, the slow burn. This book had me gripped from start to end, and after that end, I am very much not ok! I cant wait for the next book!

i absolutely adored this book the characters were amazing and i connected to them so well. the fmc’s growth and the slow burn enemies to lovers was INCREDIBLE. AND THE YEARNING. i loved this book with my whole heart.

The ending. Oh my days. That ending. It was hard going. I thought "I can't read anymore" but not being able to stop myself reading until the end.

Actually, I don't know if I'm mad at the author for that ending or really impressed... Either way, I need the next book (now) and this is the easiest, no hesitation 5 stars I've given in a while.

In short? Absolutely brilliant!

I cared so much about the characters that the ending was a punch to the gut.
I didn't really twig that I had started to care about the characters until much later as there were a number of points throughout that made me either roll my eyes or pfffft... 😂

... But I really think that the story as a whole won me over and evoked a range of emotions. From smiling and laughing along, to rage at the injustices that they face.

Stars Above the Never Sea is a beautifully told story in alternating chapters, about faeyte Selene Amaris and Callan Edgeborn.
A love that was never supposed to exist. The ability to love torn away from the faeytes after a grief so massive, the godess turned their land upside down. Leaving a raging sea above and an endless sky of stars below.

I think the opening sequence was well written and pulled me in quite quickly as I started to work out where, as a reader, we land in the story. After a jaw dropping prologue, the opening chapter begins 10 years later.

Pace wise, it was steady, and gave plenty of opportunity to get fully immersed in the world. Some parts may not of needed so much detail or filler, but I'm the kind of reader that doesn't mind detail to strengthen the story imagery.
The magic system itself was interesting. Having different types of magic capabilities and levels added something more to characters.
The villian(s) were absolutely vile and fit the bill perfectly. I'd like to see payback!

I think I'd also like to mention that I appreciated the fact that main characters where older than most fantasies I read.

Distinctive in voice, a unique magic system and a supporting cast of lovable characters, it's easy to get lost in the magic and world of this romantasy.

Would recommend if:
You love to read romanatsy with a unique magic system.
Ready to fall hard and fast for a love story
Enjoy stories with a great cast of characters who are also found family
You read stories that take their time to build the world around you

A huge thank you to the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review Stars Above the Never Sea ... I will definitely be looking out for the next book. I can't wait!

Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood is how you do romantasy! Immediately from the book cover to the first chapter this book drew me in!

In this book, we follow Selene who is a Faeyte whose homeland Asteria was brutally attacked and taken over by The Caelumnai ten years ago. She is the sole survivor of the brutal slaughter by the Caelumnai, but but safe to say you can’t brutally attack the Faeyte’s homeland without consequences!

Ten years later, Selene who has been enslaved in another land named Terrosa, is ready to go back home to Asteria. One day Selene finds herself in a predicament trying to escape from Terrosa and finds herself on the one ship that can get her back to Asteria and that ship is owned by our MMC Callan who is Caelumna!

The YEARNING in this book was PERFECT! I love an MMC who just yearns and will craw for the FMC! The relationship that develops between Selene and Callan was beautiful to read and everything was against their relationship from the beginning! Also, any book that includes found family will have me obsessed and the found family built in this book was beautifully done! Selene lost everyone and seeing how Callan cares for her along with his loved ones treating her the same way was perfect!

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Evelyn Flood for providing me with an ARC!

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: romantasy
Plot: the last Faeyte returns home to right the wrongs for a dying land
Spice: 🌶️.5
Format availability: ebook, paperback
Publication date: July 30, 2025

Summary: FMC is the last Faeyte, once beloved winged being created by the godness herself to read fates and heal until all but FMC were slaughtered by the Caelumnai that now inhabit the island. Enslaved as a sex worker for 10 years in a distant land, FMC breaks free and seeks refuge on a boat destined for home. On the voyage she learns what has become of her once beautiful home and the void (The Never) that now surrounds it. MMC, a powerful Caelumnai and captain of the ship, falls hard and fast for FMC, but can she love a man whose people slaughtered her own?

Opinion: LOVED LOVED LOVED ❤️

This book has some serious Shadow and Bone vibes! That’s all I could think about the entire time reading this book. This book is exactly how I wished Shadow and Bone had played out (Darkling + Alina fans?! Where you at 😍). The Fold meet The Never. Only Sum Summoner meet only Faeyte. Fix the Fold, fix the Never. Scary creatures lurking in the dark, of course! Corrupt king, secret identities, tiered magic system, fantastical racism, found family, self discovery, suppressed magic…!

This book had the spicy romance I longed for in S&B. It was a painfully slow burn but it blossomed excitedly. I’m not a huge fan of golden retriever MMC (prefer morally grey) but it worked for them because FMC was so cold (and rightfully so).

FMC is learning so much about her new world, which is a great way for the reader to learn along with her. A lot of the world building occurred through stories told by various characters. Some things did get a little complicated / maybe weren’t explained as well as they could have been (I might have to do a reread before book 2) but it was still very enjoyable.

Takeaway: if you liked Shadow and Bone but wanted more romance (or any of the tropes I described above) read this book! Definitely a must read for romantasy readers!

I. Am. Emotionally. Devastated.

This journey has been gritty and beautiful, heart warming and devastating. I've laughed, I've gasped, I've frowned, I've grinned, I've had aha moments and I've balled my eyes out! All signs of a great story!

This story was refreshing. Different but I felt immediately comfortable in it. The devastation pretty much stars right off the bat but, it drew me in straight away.

There was amazing world building but, at a pace that was retainable and it built as the story did, giving as much as you needed, when needed. I was fully able to immerse and get sucked into this world because I could imagine it so clearly.

The magic system is unique and again, complex but not so much that it was hard to follow. I loved the magical abilities the characters had and how they varied a bit from person to person.

The characters were my absolute favourite thing in this story (and that's saying something). They were so vibrant, the found family was beautiful, the relationships between each of them diverse and individual. The love was palpable and felt real.

This is a Romantasy and there's definitely romance, the enemies to lovers aspect didn't feel forced or sudden when it changed. It developed. It wasn't cheesy, as a reader you were cheering them on! I loved the dual POV for this aspect in particular but also all the way through the book to give sneaky insights that the other MC didn't know yet.

I love a book I can't wait to find out what happens next but also, I never want it to end and that's what I got with this one. That ending. Book 2 cannot come fast enough!!

Did you ever watch Peter Pan and think Hook and Tinkerbell would make an interesting story? Then this one is for you ✨️

I will start by saying that the beginning did feel a little slow as we were introduced to the characters after the prologue. Once relationships started forming, we found out more about the magic types, and we got to know the characters better, and it started to pick up.
*small spoiler warning* I really enjoyed the magic system in this book, and I thought it was interesting that you lost something and paid a price for using your magic. For example, with one magic type, you would lose the ability to speak. How much you lost would depend on how much of your magic you used.
The history and religious aspects were also intriguing. I won't go into too much detail as I feel it would spoil the book, but the lore and history behind it sucked me in and added to the tension. The way everything started coming together as we got closer to the end was so well done, and the twists towards the end had me screaming, and my heart couldn't take it. I need book 2 ASAP. I need to know 😭

Moving on to the relationships. The found family in this book is one of my favourites. The way they protect and look out for each other had me falling in love with them all. The side characters all had their parts to play, different personality types to shake things up a bit, and I couldn't imagine this story without any of them. Selene and Callan's relationship may feel a little insta lovey, but bear in mind they were on the ship together at the beginning for a while and once you get more of their backstory, their connection makes more sense.

This book gave me something I didn't know I needed. It wasn't an obvious hook and tinkerbell retelling, but it definitely felt like there was some inspo there when you added up all the little Easter eggs. I loved this story so much, and the ending!? Evelyn, why? 😭 The apology page at the end did make up for the heartbreak. But only a little bit 👀

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Evelyn Flood, for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of Stars Above the Never Sea
By Evelyn Flood
Review by Frida-Marie

I don’t even know where to start—this book completely gutted me in the best possible way. I went into Stars Above the Never Sea expecting a lush romantasy, but what I got was so much more: heartbreak, hope, healing, and a world so vivid I swear I could taste the sea salt in the air.

Selene is one of the most compelling protagonists I’ve read in a long time. Her strength isn’t loud or showy—it’s raw, quiet, and painful. Watching her navigate trauma, memory loss, and a stolen sense of home was both brutal and beautiful. I felt everything with her. And Callan? Don’t even get me started. That man snuck up on me, and before I knew it, I was fully obsessed. Their dynamic—tender, sharp, and simmering with unresolved tension—had me holding my breath through entire chapters.

Evelyn Flood’s writing is magic. Truly. The way she describes the Never Sea, the stars, and this war-torn world is stunning without ever feeling overwritten. I felt like I was there. Her take on gods, memory, and myth felt both fresh and timeless.

The found family aboard Callan’s ship was a highlight—each of them bringing humor, heart, and depth to the story. I loved how every side character actually mattered. Rio, Merrick, Esme, Sol... I would follow this crew anywhere.

And the ending? I am not okay. The emotional damage was real. It tore me up in the best way, and I’m already counting the days until the sequel drops in December.

This isn’t just a story—it’s an experience. One I’ll be thinking about (and yelling about) for a long time.

If you love slow-burn romance, broken characters finding light, and fantasy that hits you right in the soul, Stars Above the Never Sea deserves a spot at the very top of your TBR. I’ll be handing this book to every romantasy reader I know.

CW: Past trauma, mentions of abuse, grief, war themes

Stars Above the Never Sea? It hit me right in the feels. It's one of those books that sneak up on you and suddenly you're way too emotionally invested in every single character. Sure, there's magic and romance that you'd expect, but honestly, the survival and feminine rage was done impeccably well- from the very first chapter.

Selene is a whole vibe. She's the last Faeyte but her powers aren't flashy but instead her strength comes from under the surface. She's cold and icy, but not in that "'I'm mysterious and aloof" YA cliche way. She's cold because life forced her to put her guards up and it makes me want to just give her a massive warm hug cause she's been through a lot.

And then there's Callan, the Caelumnai captain, who honestly also deserves a break. He's got the weight of the world on his shoulders, a bucket of secrets, and still manages to be so gentle. Definitely not your standard brooding shadow daddy MMC (I welcome the change- thank god).
The romance is an actual sloooow burn. No insta-love, or over-the-top confessions; just two broken but beautiful souls trying to trust again.
The world-building is absolutely amazing, Evelyn Flood really goes all out— with starlit seas, lost cities and divine magic that's all tangled up with fate.

You just kind of soak it up as you go so there's no info dumps. Thank you. That final chapter-no spoilers, but oof, it absolutely wrecked me. You guys better buckle up! Trust me you want this on your TBR. Flood's debut is so emotionally raw, gorgeous, and honestly, I need the sequel yesterday!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Evelyn Flood for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC.

This story completely swept me away. Evelyn Flood delivers an emotional, beautifully written romantasy that blends star-drenched magic, found family, and slow-burn romance in the best way. Selene, the last surviving Faeyte, is fierce but deeply wounded, and her journey back to Asteria is heartbreaking and powerful. Callan, the charming but quietly selfless ship captain, stole my heart. Their chemistry is intense, and I loved how open and emotionally honest their connection felt. The worldbuilding is rich, though a bit complex at first, and the supporting cast adds so much depth. The ending absolutely wrecked me; I’m still thinking about it. If you love high-stakes fantasy with deep character relationships, don’t miss this one. I need book two now!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.
This is a slow burn story and it is dual POV which I enjoy.
Selene is the only survivor when the Faeytes are massacred by humans.
Selene is a strong character and will not let anyone use her as a pawn in their game.
Callan is the one you want on your side he is the warmth to Selene's ice.
I really liked Selene and she has great chemistry with Callan.
Oh the ending! Really look forward to their continuing story.

THIS!!!! this is everything i need in a romantasy.

selene is SUCH a strong fmc who takes no bullshit and doesn’t make dumb decisions. i loved reading about her story so much. and then callan??! whew. the two of them together was a dream. their banter was enjoyable to read, you can feel the chemistry between them oozing through the pages.

read if you enjoy getting your heart ripped out!! i know i’ll be sobbing until december comes around with book #2!!!

but also (lol) read if you enjoy..

- found family vibes
- hidden magic
- a strong fmc
- equally strong side characters ♡
- slow burns

𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺!!

ARC:
I thought I was gonna love this book but it fell flat to me. The world building lacks and the characters didn't feel flushed out.
The magic system was confusing and it felt like there as too much going on all at once. It could be the fact I'm in a reading/ book slump or the prologue felt sooo unnecessary long, where I was just thrown into the book without any foundation.

The main character was in a sex slavery and breaks out of it and for me it feels like it was thrown in there because in the first chapter she escapes and commits murder for valid reason. It just feels easy and too convenient.

The male lead was different to other mmc in fantasies, where he was the golden retriever type instead of the brooding grumpy type, but it all felt sudden when he was ready to die for her. I wished we got more of them spending time getting to know one another and trust within each other the way him and his crew does. There was a lot to remember like names of places, gods and other characters you meet.

The ending kinda pissed me off in a bad and good way, I just feel like main lead could have started to figure stuff out and been more of an ice queen.

Goodreads: "Megan’s review of Stars Above the Never Sea | Goodreads" https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7780278342
Fable: Check out this review of Stars Above the Never Sea (The Last Faeyte Book 1) on Fable. https://fable.co/review/0d9f4b8e-6a29-4f0a-8f54-49ebc99a3987/share
StoryGraph: megan_r1

3 1/2⭐️’s
I enjoyed this book but it was confusing at parts. The ending was a huge cliffhanger I need to read the next book