Darkness Births the Stars

an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance

by Sarah Lee Wohn

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Book 1 of Darkness Births the Stars

Pub Date 3 Sep 2025 | Archive Date 28 Aug 2025

Sarah Lee Wohn

General Fiction (Adult) | Romance | Sci Fi & Fantasy

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Description

Their forbidden love tore the world apart.

Now two broken gods might be the only ones able to heal it.

Haunted by his past and the evil forces he commanded, Noctis, once the God of Darkness, cannot forget Rada, the former Goddess of Light—and the queen who ruled at his brother’s side. Condemned to mortality, thought dead to the whole world, Noctis craves one last meeting…

Stripped of her magic and exiled for treason, Rada has built an idyllic new life on a farm at the edges of the realm. But her peace is shattered one stormy night when Noctis—the enemy who caused her downfall, the lover she betrayed in turn—appears at her door, wounded and desperate.

When a sinister attack reveals the powers of Chaos are stirring once more, Noctis’s dark past begins to unravel. As desire and duty entwine, Rada faces an impossible choice: Can she become the ally of the man who broke her heart to save everything she holds dear?

Inspired by Nordic mythology, this first book in a series follows star-crossed lovers, their fall from grace and their quest for redemption. Sizzling, tension-filled romance, high-stakes magical battles, and morally gray characters make this the perfect read for fans of Gild, The Cruel Prince, The Book of Azrael and When the Moon Hatched.

Their forbidden love tore the world apart.

Now two broken gods might be the only ones able to heal it.

Haunted by his past and the evil forces he commanded, Noctis, once the God of Darkness, cannot...

A Note From the Publisher

Paperback and Hardcover edition will also be available on launch date.

Please note that Darkness Births the Stars is an adult epic fantasy romance that contains explicit content and dark elements that may be triggering for some such as on-page violence, betrayal, grief, death, mental health struggles, profanity, animal death, threats of sexual assault (not between the main characters), explicit sexual content (consensual).

Paperback and Hardcover edition will also be available on launch date.

Please note that Darkness Births the Stars is an adult epic fantasy romance that contains explicit content and dark elements...

Read More Read More

A Note From the Publisher

Paperback and Hardcover edition will also be available on launch date.

Please note that Darkness Births the Stars is an adult epic fantasy romance that contains explicit content and dark elements that may be triggering for some such as on-page violence, betrayal, grief, death, mental health struggles, profanity, animal death, threats of sexual assault (not between the main characters), explicit sexual content (consensual).

Advance Praise

"S.L Wohn created a fantastic world and magic system with interesting side characters and furry companions. Fast-paced and adventurous, this book is the perfect combination of romance and adventure with a captivating plot." Goodreads, ARC reader review

"It’s a slowburn symphony of aching hearts, ancient grudges, and a love that refuses to die, no matter the centuries, the betrayal, or the heartbreak.This is forbidden love in its most divine form, gods at war with fate, lovers torn and tangled in time. The banter crackles, the longing bleeds off the page, and the world? Gorgeously built, layered with myth, magic, and adorable sidekicks. The past and present collide in a way that’s deeply emotional and utterly addictive."
Goodreads, ARC reader review

"This is easily one of the best books I’ve read this year. From its soul deep yearning and sharp banter to the layered secrets unraveled through timeline jumps, the journey had me completely hooked. The morally gray dynamics, the fierce and brilliant FMC, and the constant tension made for a truly unputdownable reading experience."

Goodreads, ARC reader review

Marketing Plan

Darkness Births the Stars is an adult fantasy romance aimed at readers who enjoy both a vividly imagined fantasy world and epic storytelling as well as a swoon-worthy, character driven romance plot.

To support early positive ARC reviews two book tours with in total 44 influencers on Instagram and Tiktok are planned around the release date.