As many souls as stars is a beautifully written haunting romance about love withstanding time with many dark twists and turns along the way.

"The more beautiful something is, the more beautiful its ruin"

I was initially draw to this book by the beautiful cover, i also found the title very intriguing.
Once I started reading and found myself captivated, instantly hooked and invested in the chatacters and plot of the story, it was hard to put down as i was desperate to know what was going to happen next.

I loved the duel points of view and watching how Hardings and Ritchers relationship played out within each time perioid. Dispite their hugley different personalities I found myself becoming attached to both characters in their battle against light and dark.

I sincerly enjoyed this book from start to finish. It definitely needs to be on everyones TBR list
Thankyou to netgallery and bloomsbury for providing me with the ARC.

This was so so boring. The writing is absolutely gorgeous, the first few chapters were great i was immediately sucked in the story, but it quickly went downhill. I didn't care about anything sybil/esther was just there, miriam was just cold annoying and incredibly toxic. The "romance".... if you like dark romance you might like it. Overall just boring boring boring

This book is TRULY something else! I absolutely loved the prose of this book, it’s so elegantly written and enticing. Not only was the book written well, but the characters were wonderfully written. I loved watching Cybil and Miriam grow as people throughout the book.

If you enjoy feminist, witchy, sapphic books, I cannot recommend this book enough!

I don’t purchase many books, I prefer using my e-reader, but this is a book I would actually consider purchasing in the future as my ARC was digital.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a rare attempt to read a Fantasy book. Sorry to say it wasn’t for me. All those shadows and curses and powers plus an attraction that was not announced in the category rather put me off. I’ll give it a *** since I’m sure there will be lots of folk loving it.

As Many Souls As Stars is a beautifully written, poetic, gothic fantasy. It tells the story of a line of cursed women, the first born daughters of the Harding family. A Faustian deal is made with a demon, which spans lifetimes and centuries.

This one story manages to cover feminine rage, morality, good vs evil (and what lies between), how obsession blurs the line between love and hatred, isolation, possession and its place in romance, the vilification of powerful woman through history. It sounds like a lot, but it all ties together perfectly.

“You could have as many souls as stars, my love, and all those lives would be as unhappy as the first.”


I really adore this book, and the way isolation and ‘other’ness has been written is so rich and relatable. This isn’t a predictable story, and I felt so many different things on reading it.

This is the kind of book I’ll be thinking of for a long time after finishing it. I just loved everything about it.

The characters are interesting, complicated and easy to get lost in, and the atmospheric storytelling had me fully immersed every time I picked the book up.

It’s the kind of book that feels like overripe fruit, the way it’s sweet and lovely on the surface, but decaying just underneath, sticky and disturbing in the most beautiful way.

If you enjoy gothic fantasy with bits of horror, sapphic romance that’s closer to obsession, historic stories that span centuries, curses, witchcraft, demons and crows, read this. Please read this. You’ll love it.

Read this if you love:

Gothic horror fantasy

Sapphic romance

Faustian deals & moral greyness

Powerful, angry women

Stories spanning centuries

What is love, if it does not devour?

In As Many Souls as Stars, love entwines with destruction like ivy on a crumbling tomb, in a tale as bewitching as it is accursed. This is no mere fantasy—it is a descent into the chasms of a Faustian nightmare, where desire is edged with damnation and freedom is bartered in blood. Miriam Richter, ancient and unholy, has endured the centuries by devouring the souls of mortals, until she encounters a radiant soul so piercing it threatens to unmake her: Cybil Harding, a woman cloaked in sorrow, burdened with a curse that dooms all who dare draw near. Though Cybil resists the beguiling whispers of reincarnation that Miriam offers, her resolve crumbles in the hour of her greatest need. And so begins a grim waltz through the ages—each lifetime a fresh page inked with passion and ruin. But in this eternal chase between demon and witch, predator and prey, love may prove the most destructive force of all.

..: Desire, damnation and the gothic tradition :..
From the very start, I was ensnared. Though cruel, manipulative, and inhuman in her hunger, Miriam Richter radiates a terrible beauty—so magnetic that I could not fault Cybil for being drawn into her orbit. Cybil’s aching solitude, her quiet strength and stubborn defiance, rang through the pages like a mournful bell, stirring something deep and sorrowful within me. Their connection felt fated, like a storm building on the horizon—dangerous, inevitable, and impossible to look away from.

As Many Souls as Stars stands tall among its gothic forebears—evoking echoes of Wuthering Heights, Goethe’s Faust, and Carmilla—yet it never feels derivative. It breathes new life into the Gothic tradition, steeped as it is in shadows, blood, and the aching beauty of damnation.
First of all, the setting is hauntingly evocative: the tale begins amid the hysteria of witch trials, where a cursed daughter is cloistered in a grand and lonely estate—her solitude a cage gilded with wealth and lineage. This image recurs through Cybil’s incarnations: her life is always privileged, always remote, she is a tragic heroine trapped in the high tower of her own fate – a fate she is always seeking to escape.

The heart of the novel is the volatile bond between Cybil and Miriam—two souls locked in a centuries-long dance of possession and ruin. What begins as a simple act of hunger upon Miriam’s part deepens into something far more devastating: a love so fierce it corrodes, so intimate it reshapes the very core of who they are. Their chemistry burns like a fever—raw, sensual, and as poisonous as it is irresistible.

For what is love, if it does not bleed? Natasha Siegel delves unflinchingly into the wounds it creates, the destruction it brings. Through the stark contrast of light and darkness in Cybil and Miriam, she examines the nature of desire, the burden of immortality, and the toll of loneliness on the soul. As Many Souls as Stars is not merely a gothic fantasy—it is a requiem for humanity, and a meditation on the terrible beauty of wanting that which can never be possessed without cost.

That this is a story of love and ruin between two women only deepens its resonance—for Gothic fiction has long been a haven for queerness. As Many Souls as Stars carries that legacy forward with ferocity and grace, refusing to shroud its sapphic heart in metaphor or restraint. Miriam and Cybil’s bond is not tempered for the comfort of the reader—it is violent and all-consuming like wildfire. Their love exists unapologetically at the center of the tale: monstrous, and searingly intimate, a passion that refuses to be tamed or ignored.

..: A Final Benediction :..
To those who walk willingly into shadowed halls and storm-tossed passions, who find beauty in decay and poetry in ruin—this book is for you. As Many Souls as Stars is a haunting, intoxicating journey through centuries of longing, loss, and the terrible price of desire. At its heart lies a powerful queer tale of love and destruction, forged in the heat of a Faustian bargain that binds a cursed woman to a soul-hungry demon across lifetimes. I would press it into the hands of anyone who loves gothic fiction and fantasy, and who understands that some loves are meant not to save, but to consume. Read it, and be undone.

..: Full Disclaimer :..
I received an Advance Reader Copy of As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel from Bloomsbury via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for their trust. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

"A little death, this is what I've heard some people call it. Will you die for me today my love?"

If I had to associate a song with this book it would be Kiss with a fist by Florence and the Machine.

It was fun, tense and full of whimsy and yearning. Capturing a love so intense that it bites. Faustian and Sapphic!

The book jumps through different time periods following Cybil, Esther, and Rosamund three women sharing the same soul, trying to stop it being consumed by the powerful being that is Miriam Richter.

The writing was rich and captivating, i was hooked and wanted to know where the story would go. The story wasn't like anything I have read before. You can feel the passion and heat pouring off the page. The magic system was unique and vivid and the characters were multifaceted and interesting. Miriam was complex, conflicted and filled with a longing so intense the only way she knew how to handle that was to consume them. Despite Cybil, Esther, and Rosamund sharing a soul they each felt so different from each other and I really enjoyed seeing them develop from each other and build upon their past lives evolving into the current character and what that meant for the time period they were in. And they aren't your typical main characters either, they aren't overly likeable they are cold, stubborn and refuse any sort of help but on the flip side strong and independent and you just can't help but to care about them.

Sapphic romance, historical fantasy, as well as gothic elements. If you love multi genre books with beautiful writing then this is for you!

Very grateful to have received this arc in exchange for honest feedback.

Cybil is a first daughter, by rights she should have been killed as a baby, that way her curse would’ve died with her as it did with all the other first daughters of her family. Miriam is a creature made from shadows and souls, given form through a failed ritual of dark arts, she survives only by consuming the souls of mortals. Cybils soul shines much brighter than anyone else Miriam has ever seen in her immortal life, she is a creature obsessed and must have cybil, body and soul. A deal is struck and upon cybils disastrous early death, she will be reincarnated, to once again try and break the curse before it takes her. Centuries pass and the hunt continues, they collide again and the sapphic frustration is palpable, neither willing to admit defeat, but also unable to push for the win, a true lesbian casualty, a tale of tragic gay woe and I loved every second of it

Hands down one of the best books I’ve read all year.

A haunting, beautiful, vicious love story that spans centuries. This saphic gothic fantasy weaves a captivating narrative, propelled by Seigel’s bewitching prose and the dangerous dance between Miriam and the different incarnations of Cybil. As Many Souls as Stars is a truly epic romance, packed with dark twists and turns as Richter and Harding circle each other across three lifetimes.

I was spellbound from the first page; each of Cybil’s incarnations is uniquely compelling, drawing out different threads of womanhood and the societal and political pressures that have kept women who exist outside the bounds of normality trapped. I loved Cybil’s wildness, Esther’s soft centre and Rosamund’s vicious rationality. With each life, the ties that bind her to Miriam become more complex and compelling. After all, what is love, if not the desire to consume your lover, body and soul?

I LOVED the uniqueness of the plot, I can honestly say it is unlike anything else I have ever read. The magic system was perfect - so tangible you could almost believe the shadows pooling in your room would reach out and strike a deal for the tiniest slice of your soul. It is present throughout and yet understated enough that it didn’t take pages and pages to explain. Each act was well paced, drawing you further and further into the twisted dance between the two main characters. The pressure doesn’t let up for a moment, building the tension right until the end (and what an end it is - one that will haunt me for a long time).

If you're into sapphic romance with a sharp edge, historical fantasy, and gothic horror—and let’s be honest, who isn't?—you need to add this to your TBR for Autumn.

Thank you, NetGalley and HarperCollins, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an utterly outstanding book. Natasha writes with such depth and truly shows the balance of horror and gore alongside beauty and love. It is honestly outstanding. I feel honoured to have read this and I absolutely will recommend to truly anyone who will stand still long enough.
From the very first chapter I was hooked and it just continued from there.
This has everything I have been wanting in a book that I’ve never truly understood how to verbalise.

Cybil. Esther. Rosamund. Three women, one soul. With each lifetime their soul grows bigger and brighter and more powerful. But two things stand in their way with every generation: the Harding Curse and the demon known as Miriam Richter. One wants to destroy their happiness and the other wants to consume their soul.
This book was unique from the very first page when a demon was created, instead of summoned, and not just any demon but a female one. For a demon Miriam is very three dimensional. Throughout the book we see her feel a variety of emotions. Anger, boredom, jealousy and obsession are all emotions that we have come to expect from demons. But Miriam also shows a more vulnerable side with confusion, sympathy, love, and sadness.
The evolution from Cybil to Esther to Rosamund is beautifully written as she our protagonist gradually gains power, knowledge, and freedom, as well as a more fragile coldness and stubborn independence that is reflective of the trauma of her past lives. Despite the isolation of her situation there is one person in each life that she loves. It is this spark which maintains her humanity in the eye of the reader and, as she becomes a dark power to be reckoned with, separates her from the more sadistic and self-involved Miriam.
I particularly enjoyed the ending of this book which turned standard genre expectations on their head, emphasising Rosamund’s role as an anti-hero and re-painting Miriam as a victim so as to bring the whole book full circle.
This book is a must read for anyone who enjoyed ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’ by V.E. Schwab.

The tendency to favour gore over deeper characterisation, alongside a lot of repetition of certain words and phrases became very irritating to me quite quickly and meant I did not enjoy this book. Much of the gore seemed to be dropped in for no good reason, repeatedly and predictably, when it could have instead expanded on and deepened relationships and characters. Some characters played very bit parts. You didn't find out who they really were because they were brutally killed off before you could find out. It meant I started to avoid being interested in any of them in case they would be summarily removed. For me the way this was crafted lacked the sort of subtlety, complexity and depth that makes for a good and engaging read. I'm comfortable with dark themes and they can be powerful and profoundly meaningful, but that did not happen here. I appreciate that many other reviewers seem to think highly of it, and I have no wish to take away from that. Often in such a situation one might say that perhaps it's just not for me, and I'm sure there's an element of that. But here there does seem to be a clunkiness in the injection of predictable gore and a failure to create believable characters that goes further than that. I suspect it may be a love it or hate it book, and sadly I fall into the latter category.

Natasha Siegel has firmly secured her place as one of my all-time favorite authors. Every one of her books has been a five-star read, and As Many Souls As Stars is no exception.
This novel is a breathtaking blend of historical fantasy and literary beauty, centered around a Faustian bargain that echoes across multiple lifetimes. The narrative is split across three distinct timelines, yet all are inextricably linked by a common thread of fate, choice, and consequence. Each is crafted with such care and originality that nothing ever feels repetitive — a true feat in a reincarnation-centered story. Every life brings something new, something deeply human, and something utterly compelling.

Harding and Richter, the two leads, share a dynamic that is nothing short of electrifying. Their relationship is raw, layered, and heartbreakingly beautiful. I’m not usually a huge fan of dark romance or love-hate tropes, but in Siegel’s hands, these elements are executed with such nuance and depth that I was completely captivated.

As always, the Author's prose is lyrical without being overwrought. There were moments I had to stop and just sit with a sentence, with a feeling, because it hit too close to the heart to simply breeze past.
And the ending? Perfect. It ties into the story’s lore seamlessly — poignant, satisfying, and yet far from predictable. It’s the kind of conclusion that lingers, that reshapes how you see everything that came before.

If you’re a fan of historical fantasy with prose that reads like poetry, As Many Souls As Stars needs to be at the top of your list.
Natasha Siegel is an auto-buy author for me now — no matter the genre, I’ll follow wherever she leads.

A truly engrossing gothic fantasy that spans the ages. The two main characters are skilfully drawn , the writing is luscious and emotive, the ending wonderfully understated. This is my first book by this author, I will definitely be reading more.

Thank you, Bloomsbury, for this eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This book is definitely a must-read for autumn! I loved the Gothic/Faustian vibes and the time periods in which the story was set. The relationship between Harding and Richter was a back-and-forth between enemies and lovers, and I couldn't stop reading. Also, Miriam was such a shadow daddy and so obsessed 😂
The narrative perspective was very interesting, and I really enjoyed how the focalisation changed within chapters.
Also, Harding's character development was insane. I wasn't expecting such an epic ending, but it made sense for her character. This was such a quick read for me that I honestly think the book could've been longer. If there ever was a part 2, I'd totally read it.

All in all, I think this book is perfect for you if you're a fan of Addie LaRue, magical realism, dark romance, historical fiction, feminine rage and sapphic romance.

What a haunting, dark, and tragic read. I was hooked from the first chapter with Miriam, and kept as I read the horrible experiences of Cybil. The writing was deep,poetic, and rich. Dark and atmospheric, a true delight!

A gloriously dark, gothic, sapphic fantasy that completely pulled me under. The way Natasha writes is hauntingly beautiful - I really enjoyed the prose as much as the premise.

I absolutely loved how toxic and tangled the connections were between Miriam, Cybil, Esther and Rosamund. Watching Miriam slowly find her way through emotions she didn't even know she could feel was such a joy - aching, intense, and raw in all the best ways.

I'll admit, I did find myself getting a little confused at times - especially around the central 'deal' and what exactly happened with Esther - but otherwise it was paced well, and that ending was so clever!

This beauty is out in November and I beg you to add it to your TBR!

Dark hearts, twisted fates and sapphic longing - you don't want to miss this one!

What a beautifully written book, dark and delicious. We have lovers to enemies and back again, sort of! There are witches, history, tragedy, joy and everything in between. This is a book to savour.

This was an absolutely captivating read. The writing is lush, lyrical, and poetic—every sentence felt deliberate and beautiful. I was completely absorbed by the atmospheric world-building, which creates a rich, dark gothic setting laced with subtle elements of horror. The pacing of the plot was spot-on, keeping me hooked from start to finish—I couldn’t tear myself away from my Kindle.

I was especially intrigued by the historical layers woven throughout the narrative, and the concept of the main female character experiencing multiple reincarnations across different time periods added such depth. I particularly enjoyed how her identity evolved with each life. That said, I would have loved to see how the story might have unfolded in a modern-day setting—it's a direction I think would have offered some fascinating possibilities.

Cybil and Miriam, the two leads, were brilliantly developed. Cybil’s journey—especially her growing inner strength across lifetimes—was deeply moving. Miriam, on the other hand, evoked a mix of emotions. There were moments when I didn’t know whether to loathe or pity her, which speaks volumes about how complex and well-crafted she was. Despite her darker choices, there were still flashes of humanity that made her compelling.

The central concept was incredibly creative, and I thoroughly enjoyed immersing myself in this eerie, haunting world. The ending genuinely surprised me—it was clever and emotionally layered, landing on a bittersweet note. It felt like a kind of atonement for one character in particular, leaving you pondering whether they found peace... or were simply bound to repeat the past.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves sapphic gothic tales with a historical twist.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the opportunity to read this early!

I'm not gonna lie, I slammed the Request button so hard on this one. I went into As Many Souls as Stars for the gothic atmosphere and the Faust-style bargain—and stayed because the central relationship is gloriously, unapologetically toxic. Watching Miriam circle Cybil through lifetime after lifetime felt like reading a cat-and-mouse romance where the cat brings an existential crisis instead of flowers. It was nice to get a shadow mommy instead of a shadow daddy for a change. I fantasy; swapping that rather tired dynamic for a dangerously compelling female villain was a refreshing change.

The novel opens in sixteenth-century Suffolk, where Cybil’s alchemist father fumbles a summoning and essentially hands his daughter’s soul over to Miriam. From there we leapfrog across three more eras—each incarnation giving Cybil a new name and a slightly different edge while keeping the same doomed spark with her pursuer. I was a little worried the reincarnation device might feel repetitive, but Siegel makes each period distinct enough (from ruffled collars to drawing rooms to smoky early-1900s streets) that the pattern never wears thin. The historical details aren’t dumped on the page; they slide in through dress, dialogue, and the small chores of daily life, so every setting feels lived-in.

Plot-wise, the first part moves at a measured pace—fair warning if you prefer instant fireworks—but once Cybil figures out the rules of Miriam’s bargain, the tension builds fast. I especially enjoyed the meta-game of power: Cybil always tries to outwit her captor, even while half-wondering if she wants to. Miriam, for her part, vacillates between ruthless and weirdly gentle, which keeps the stakes murky in a good way. Their push-pull is messy, petty, occasionally brutal—exactly the kind of relationship that makes you glance around, grin, and admit, “Yes, this is terrible for both of you, please keep going.”

If I have a quibble, it’s that some side characters flash by before they can leave a real dent, and the final twist wraps up a bit neatly after so many centuries of chaos. Still, the prose is lush without tipping into purple, and the book never loses its sense of eerie wonder. It’s the rare historical fantasy that feels equally comfortable with candlelit crypts and emotional gut punches.

Bottom line: come for the reincarnated soul-deal premise, stay for the deliciously messed up toxic yearning. Highly recommended.