The Last Starborn Seer is a fantastic story that is so much more than the sum of it's tropes.
Yes, it's a coming of age, found family quest with elemental magic, but if you think that means you've read this story before - think again!
We follow Leilani who needs to find an ancient relic to cure the world of the Sickening. She also needs the unity of the four feuding realms to do this. Thus starts an epic quest with characters I can not stop thinking about, magical beings I'm obsessed with and romances I adore.
I need book 2 already, and book 1 isn't even out yet!

Read this book, you won't regret it

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC and I am so glad I did. As soon as I saw the name, cover and blurb I needed to read this.

The Last Starborn Seer is a story of self discovery, found family and love. It is a dual POV book where we meet Leilani and Astrophel. I enjoyed their chapters a lot and liked them both individually. They are very different at the beginning of the book and it was a joy to see them develop over the course of the story.

The book also boasts an excellent cast of side characters who all have their own personalities that add to the story. I particularly liked Blayze and Tansy. The magical creatures that supported the human characters were also great. Briar, the sylvanmare, reminded me of Peter S. Beagle’s The Last Unicorn a lot!

The book was filled with magic and lore that I was obsessed with. At the beginning, there was a lot of world building down to the naming of the passage of time. Once I was familiar with this it only helped embed the flow of the story in me.

I absolutely adored this book and the world Constantine created. I can’t wait for the next one!

The Last Starborn Seer officially comes out in March 2026!

Thank you to NetGalley, publishers and Author for this Arc


Leilani is the last heir to a cursed bloodline, feared for her unstable Starborn magic that grants visions while slowly breaking her mind. Cast out by her own family and forced into an arranged marriage with her childhood rival, she believes her magic is even killing her mother.

When a prophecy hints at a relic that could end the deadly plague her ancestor unleashed just before the wedding Leilani escapes the court and embarks on a perilous journey to the Astral Mountain determined to reclaim her fate and prove she’s more than the monster they believe her to be.

The Last Starborn Seer is beautifully written with its rich world building and unique magic system. The lore is weaved so naturally into the book which just adds depth into the book.

Perfect for readers who love fantasy that feels alive, layered, and full of characters you genuinely want to follow.

The Last Starborn Seer is a wonderful mix of Epic Fantasy and Romantasy, with its lofty world building and political plot having a side of romance that's hard to look away from. This book hits all the must-haves for readers who love an immersive world with enough grit to sink your teeth into, and takes you on a journey of unique magic and political manoeuvrings to thoroughly get wrapped up in. While I struggled at first to become invested in the characters and their camaraderie, Constantine's writing is one I kept wanting to return to, and come the end the plot had me captured. A stunning debit of epic proportions, The Last Starborn Seer introduces readers to a rich world and grand journey that is bound to leave a lasting impression.

“She sees the future. But to save her world, she must survive the past.”

Venetia Constantine’s The Last Starborn Seer is a sweeping, emotionally resonant fantasy debut that blends high-stakes magic, political intrigue, and forbidden love into a story that feels both timeless and urgent. At its heart is Leilani Stellarion, a seer cursed with prophetic Starborn magic, burdened by visions she cannot control and a destiny she cannot escape.

As the Sickening - a plague born of ancient betrayal - ravages her realm, Leilani must journey across the Astral Mountains, confront the ghosts of her lineage, and navigate a court where loyalty is currency and love is a liability. Constantine’s prose is lush and lyrical, her world-building intricate without being overwhelming, and her characters heartbreakingly human.

This is fantasy that doesn’t just dazzle - it devastates. The romantic tension is palpable, the stakes are epic, and the emotional payoff is immense. Constantine writes with the confidence of a seasoned author and the soul of a poet.

Why @KlacksReads Recommends This:

- Leilani is a heroine for the ages - complex, courageous, and beautifully flawed.
- The world-building is immersive, with mythology that feels ancient yet fresh.
- It’s a romantasy that respects its readers - no clichés, just chemistry and consequence.
- Perfect for fans of Fourth Wing, Throne of Glass, and The Priory of the Orange Tree.

The Last Starborn Seer is a shimmering debut that proves epic fantasy can be both intimate and immense. It’s a story of fate, fire, and the fierce magic of choosing your own path, even when the stars say otherwise.

KlacksReads | London | 27 October 2025

When I say I screamed in excitement when I was accepted to read an eARC of this book, I’m not even exaggerating.

Thank you so much to Venetia Constantine, Aria Books, and NetGalley for the review copy!

In The Last Starborn Seer, we follow Leilani Stellarion - the last of an ancient bloodline whose Starborn magic gives her these haunting, prophetic visions that could easily destroy her. She’s the reluctant heir to a corrupted throne, stuck in a court full of secrets, politics, and betrayal. With an arranged marriage looming and danger closing in, she ends up on a quest that’s equal parts epic and terrifying, involving ancient relics, blood rites, uneasy alliances, and a darkness that’s always one step behind her.

This was a phenomenal book. From the first page I was completely immersed - the writing is so lyrical, and the world-building is simply breathtaking. The lore is so beautifully intricate that I could picture every scene vividly, like I was walking through the world myself.
It felt like a really unique approach to a magic system as well, with the political and social tensions woven into every aspect of the story, you truly understand each character’s motivations and their development.

The characters completely stole my heart. They’re so wonderfully flawed and real, making every emotion hit harder. The unreliable narration had me second-guessing everything (in the best way!), but it also gave such a deep insight into both the Leilani and Astrophel. I loved being inside their heads and seeing how differently they viewed the same moments - I was genuinely shouting at both of them at different points.
This is definitely more of an epic fantasy with a romance subplot, but the characters are so gorgeously written, so compelling, that even if you’re not usually an epic fantasy reader, you’re going to love this!!

And that ENDING… I was absolutely floored. My heart was in my throat and I still can’t stop thinking about it. I need the next book immediately!!

A stunning, emotional, and completely captivating read - easily one of my top books of 2025!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A 4 star rating from me. Loved the plot and the storytelling and relatable, likable characters. Loved every single second reading it.

“𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘪𝘭.”

“𝘠𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯.”


✨Tropes✨

- Dual Pov
- Diverse Found Family
- Fantastical Creatures
- Corruption Arc
- Ancient Prophesies/Evils
- Mental Health Rep
- High Stakes Quest
- Feuding Realms
- Cursed Elemental Magic
- Secondary World Fantasy
- Dying World


Wow, thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc, I’m quite anxious about what i choose on Netgalley but this was an epic romantasy read that I had been initially dragged In by the cover, as it reminded me so much of The Last Unicorn, which is a huge favourite for me, I also found the synopsis so alluring! It’s really different to most romantasys/epic fantasies, just purely because of the world and magic! Very otherworldly 😉

Now finishing this i’m so excited for the next book to come and to follow Leilani’s journey and seeing if bonds can be fixed! The writing was really stunning and I definitely got ethereal vibes from the whole magic system and just the world in this story overall. I’d like to say that the characters were written really well and especially the main character, it’s a nice change from someone else maybe doing something they shouldn’t and has definitely given Leilani more depth to her character (trying not to spoil 🫣). The journey itself with the challenges along the way were very entertaining to read and kept me gripped to the story! I really did get The Last Unicorn vibes completely and that made me so happy! and I LOVED the different types of guardians that was a really cool idea!

I already have this on preorder for a physical copy and I cannot wait to hopefully see it as a Special edition, because I will be buying it ASAP. This is expected to release March 5th (how perfect is that? Pisces season 🥰) 🖤

Leilani Stellarion is cursed, and this book lives in that ache from first page to last. As the last of the Sistertouched bloodline, Leilani’s volatile Starborn magic grants prophetic visions while slowly eating away at her mind, and the way Constantine explores that creeping corruption is the strongest part of the story. There’s a real sense of urgency and tragedy to Leilani’s arc — she’s hated and feared by her court, watching her mother waste away, and forced into an arranged marriage designed to strip her of the succession she’s been born into.

When a prophecy points to a relic that could end the Sickening — the curse that sank the four realms into war — Leilani grabs the one chance she has to change her fate. The journey to Astral Mountain and the ancient blood rite that follows make up the heart of the book: a perilous quest where fragile alliances must be forged, old rivalries are tested, and an unsettling, faceless spectre stalks them through the mountains. I loved the texture of the adventure, the sense of an old, mythic world under threat, and the way danger always feels immediate.

Romantically, the novel leans into slow burn tension. Leilani’s relationship with the rival envoy is quietly complicated — there’s chemistry, mutual distrust, and moments of real tenderness — all played out under the constant surveillance of her watchful fiancé and the court’s expectations. That love thread grows in a believable, restrained way and complements the darker emotional beats rather than distracting from them.

My favourite elements were the moral complexity and the focus on mental deterioration as a form of magic. Leilani’s prophetic gift is as much a curse as it is power, and Constantine handles that ambiguity with care. The spectre threat brings real menace, and the political manoeuvring at court adds satisfying layers of tension.

That said, the middle of the book did feel a touch slow at times. The quest sections are atmospheric but occasionally linger on world detail at the expense of forward momentum. A couple of side characters could have used deeper development, and I wanted a little more clarity about some of the Starborn rules earlier on. Those are small quibbles against a book that otherwise builds a haunting mood and compelling stakes.

Overall, The Last Starborn Seer is a thoughtful, atmospheric fantasy about fate, the cost of power, and the dangerous clarity of prophecy. It’s not flawless, but Leilani’s story is memorable and I’m very curious to see where Constantine takes her next.

A brilliant start to the series. I loved the female lead and the characters and chemistry between them. I found myself not wanting to put this book down and I was completely emersed.

For people who loved the magic of Tolkien and want strong women at the forefront who are unapologetically themselves, this is a beautiful debut set in an immersive land far away. This book is full of opalite sparkle alongside a realm ending plague and the secret evil within in a weaving epic fantasy that feels like home for lovers of LOTR and Heavenly Bodies.

Can’t wait to reread on publication! PS there’s a special edition at Waterstones to preorder✨

Thank you to Head of Zeus for an early ebook💜

Absolutely gorgeous writing, very reminiscent of When the Moon Hatched. The glossary at the start is brimming with useful details and I recommend taking time to read it before diving into the story.
A beautiful start to what will be a hugely successful series!

*thanks very much to netgalley and aria & aries / head of zeus for providing this e-arc, and thanks to the author Venetia Constantine for this story! this is my completely honest review*

5⭐️

the last starborn seer end up becoming my 1st and one and only 5⭐️ read this year (out of the ~40 fantasy books i read this year)!!!! 💕💕💕

the world is incredibly ethereal and beautifully written, with lyrical prose that feels really smooth and immersive 🌙✨
the world is quite big in scope, so the story started a bit slow in the beginning due to the world building; there’s a section before the story that explains the main terminology, and i actually found it very helpful 🫶reading that first made the opening chapters much easier to follow. once the plot really begins, the story becomes super engaging and easy to stay hooked 🫶

the story uses first-person multi pov, mainly from fmc leilani and mmc astrophel (he is one of the mmc / leilani’s love interests) 💛
i really liked seeing how the same events could feel completely different to each of them. it added depth and I as the reader get to live through leilani and astrophel’s emotional journey, which made their emotional reactions feel very grounded, and i connected to both of the characters deeply💭

there’s a love triangle going on, and the romance is done really well without taking over or overwhelming the book 💌
all of the characters involved are flawed, morally grey, and very multi-dimensional. nothing feels flat or simple, and their relationships really feel very layered and complex and realistic in a way that makes perfect sense for the story 💫

i think the character development is my fav part of this book 🥰🥰 leilani’s character development is very clear and strong, but the other main characters also change meaningfully throughout the book ❤️
it felt satisfying to watch them evolve, especially during the quest part of the story, which I really really enjoyed 💕💕

the ending is def unexpected and has a cool plot twist!! i think it sets up the rest of the planned trilogy really strongly, and i’m genuinely so intrigued to see where the story goes next!!! 😳📚

overall, the world is intriguing, the characters’ quest/journey is bery fun to follow, the romance is so well done, and the plot/pacing is also well-structured 🫶🫶 this was truly a standout read for me this year and the best book i’ve read this year (this being my one and only 5⭐️ read, now you know how much i love it!!! 💕💕✨✨)
it’s just so beautifully written with very interesting characters and engaging plot!! 🧚🏻✨

this book is coming out in march 2026 (i read the e-arc this month - in december 2025), and i highly highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys romantic high fantasy with emotional depth and a strong sense of adventure!!! ❤️❤️

This book gave me exactly what I was hoping for. It has that rich magical atmosphere with a story that slowly pulls you in until you realise you’ve been completely swept up in it. It felt like a true fantasy escape with just the right amount of emotional tension.

Leilani is such an interesting main character. She’s not your typical chosen one. She feels flawed and unsure of herself and that actually made me like her more. Her powers come with a cost and watching her navigate that while everyone seems to either fear her or expect things from her added real depth to the story.

The worldbuilding is one of the biggest highlights for me. It felt detailed and vivid without being confusing. You get magic systems, political tension, prophecy vibes and even a bit of folklore woven through. It felt like the kind of place you could get lost in for a while.

And yes there is a love triangle but it actually worked for me. It did not feel forced or cringey. It added emotional layers to Leilani’s journey and the romantic tension had that mix of sweet and complicated that I enjoy in fantasy. Nothing felt too predictable and that made it more satisfying to read.

Overall it has everything I love in a romantic fantasy. Strong heroine with real struggles. A sweeping quest. Real stakes. Soft moments between chaos. If you enjoy character driven stories with magic and heart this one is worth putting on your radar.


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

When I tell you I had such high hopes for this book and Venetia Constantine absolutely smashed it!!

If you had sparkles mixed with the Tolkien-esque exploration of how power can corrupt, you’d get The Last Starborn Seer! Leilani is a complex and wonderfully written character and I could understand her and her decisions throughout the course of the story.

Each character arc was woven together, with each a unique thread that made the larger tapestry more detailed and beautiful! I really enjoyed Astrophel’s and Blayze’s characters and how they both put up a front and try to outdo each other - I’m sure they’d both hate me comparing them in parallel!

I am thrilled that this the first of a fantasy book trilogy and I truly can’t wait for the rest of the journey with Leilani and the Quaternity!!

Oh I loved this so much.

The Last Starborn Seer is a beautifully-written and highly immersive blend of high fantasy and romantasy, with a fresh premise centred around Leilani, the last surviving member of an ancient bloodline and heir to her father’s throne, as she embarks on a quest to recover a lost relic that she hopes will end the curse that has plagued her, and spiralled her realms into war and ruin.

I’m really looking forward to seeing where the rest of this trilogy goes. This is a beautiful world with captivating and well-fleshed out characters, and I just couldn’t stop turning the pages. I was so engrossed in Leilani’s journey of self-discovery and how she developed through the story, as well as the actual physical journey itself, and I’m absolutely foaming at the mouth for the second book.

I was very kindly sent an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and I’m very grateful for the opportunity. This was wonderful!

4.5⭐
The Last Starborn Seer is one of those books that as soon as you start you completely forget that you are reading, it is very heavy on worldbuilding and lore so it is definitely a book that you need to take your time with to fully understand but once you do it makes the reading experience so much more fulfilling as the author weaves together a beautiful story from straight the start.

The descriptions, the vivid imagery are so vibrant and intense and so breathtaking that makes it all so easy to visualise while reading and it is down to just how stunning the authors writing is and the storytelling that has been created, you can truly tell the time and dedication that has been taken in creating this intriguing and immersive story of a cursed princess and even more so when it comes to the interesting magic system and how unique and complex it is. There is a love triangle that slowly develops but it is done in such a good way that really works especially as I feel it is more of a subplot to the overall story that makes it more impactful as the world and everything about bout it is so beautifully planned out.

The main characters growth from start to finish is phenomenal and there are so many wonderful side characters that makes the found family aspect of the story even better as they are all so important to the story in their own way even the animal companions who I absolutely adored. There were so many moments and plot points that I wasn't expecting, some even made me tear up and the ending has me excited for book two. I honestly cannot recommend this book enough it is truly amazing and such a beautiful story.

Thank you so much to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review before publication. All opinions are my own.

Leilani Stellarion, the last of a cursed bloodline, born with volatile Starborn magic that gives her prophetic visions while slowly eroding her mind. Feared by her court, trapped in political maneuvering, and pushed toward an arranged marriage designed to strip her power, Leilani is running out of time.

A prophecy reveals a relic that could end the plague destroying the realms, and Leilani seizes her only chance at freedom. Her journey to Astral Mountain unravels into an epic quest filled with ancient rites, uneasy alliances, court secrecy, and a faceless evil stalking her every step. The world is lush, dangerous, and deeply mythic and Leilani’s unraveling mind sits at the heart of it.

Tropes and vibes in this lush world:
✴️ Epic-fanta-mance (epic fantasy somewhat romantasy)
🌌 Ancient prophecy a d cursed magic
👑 Reluctant heir
🗡️ Mythic quest
🔥 Slow burn tension
🌫️ Love Triangle
✨Mental deterioration as magic
🧭 Found family alliances
🪷 Tolkien-coded landscapes

This world hooks you instantly with its scale and atmosphere, but it’s the magic that steals the show! The prophecy, corruption, and Leilani slowly losing herself in ways that are equal parts haunting and heartbreaking.

Not everything lands perfectly: the middle stretch lingers a little too long in detail, a few side characters could have been sharpened, and the worldbuilding occasionally outpaces the plot. But the emotional beats hit hard, the tension is high, and the ending is the kind that makes you sit up, blink twice, and mourn that book two isn’t already in your hands.

If you want an epic that blends prophecy, politics, slow burn yearning, and a world dripping in lore, this is it. A stunning debut that feels both classic and new.

I do think you need to be emotionally prepared for the world building and not think this is like every other romantasy. This leans a LOT more to epic in how the lore and world building is done, which was fantastic for me but doesn’t make for an ‘easy’ read.

Braincells required: 🧠🧠🧠🧠/5
Read if you like: When The Moon Hatched, Heavenly Bodies, Tolkien-esque worlds.
Highlight: UNIQUE and I loved the mental health rep.

This was a book I’d been eagerly anticipating, so I was thrilled when NetGalley approved my request for an advanced copy. Now for the important bit: I wasn’t disappointed (which, let’s be honest, can sometimes happen when there’s a lot of hype surrounding a new release).
From the opening, with the origins of the Cradle World, I was completely enraptured. It instantly reminded me of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion, beautifully crafted with an expert weaving of nostalgia and something fresh. It had me excited for what was to come.
I was dropped straight into Leilani’s world. From the very beginning, the stakes are high and the atmosphere tense, with a vivid, fully realised setting. The writing pulled me in as the story unfolded. Like Tolkien, there’s a band of unlikely ‘brothers’ brought together on a quest, but this is far from a retelling. It feels distinct and unlike anything I’ve read before, while still carrying that sense of nostalgia (an oxymoron, I know). The world is beautiful and sparkling, and at times brutal, and the writing brings it vividly to life.
As a longtime fan of The Last Unicorn, the themes in this story really spoke to me, particularly the exploration of destiny, loss, and what it means to be human. I loved the powerful magic that comes with a real cost. For fans of the love-triangle trope, there’s something here for you (and I know exactly who I want Leilani to choose; I’m a sucker for the misunderstood).
It isn’t just the worldbuilding that shines. The characters are complex and vivid, and now I have to wait for the next instalment. Oh man.
This debut is due for release in just a few months, and I already know I’ll be getting myself a physical copy to start what will inevitably become a growing collection as the series continues. I’m very much looking forward to a re-read before the next book arrives.
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy.

An excellent debut novel. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the ARC copy.

I wasn’t sure about this book as I started out but around 20% I found myself hooked.

The world building in this book is fantastic, the animals, the different races and the lore which goes with it has me truly enthralled.

The writing itself was done well and no real complaints.

I particularly liked the group quest made up of members from opposing races. It does lend itself to the Lord of the rings type quest. I enjoyed most of the characters but I’m not 100% sold on the FMC. I can’t really follow how she ended up in the love triangle so fast after such little interaction. I do however adore the guardians! I hope we see language return to all the animals!

The plot itself (love triangle gripe aside) was good, well executed and the twists at the end were interesting.

I have pre ordered now and look forward to book 2 to see what happened next!

Okay, this was INCREDIBLE.
I had so so much fun reading this and am already looking forward to a reread down the line!

The world building and lore was so rich, the magic system had me captivated, all the characters had me hooked, I love an unexpected group forming a bond (hello Fellowship).
The growth in all of these characters, especially our main 3 was really enjoyable to witness as the book progressed, some questionable choices were made but growth was significant.

Venetia poured her everything into this book and it shows, I can't wait for the sequel!

I’ve got to start by talking about the author’s writing style—it's so immersive! Parts of it feel like an epic fantasy, but with those romantic fantasy vibes I’m totally into. The world-building was beautiful, and it felt so real.

I also really loved the character dynamics. Astrophel, Leilani, and Blayze each bring something different to the story, and I was all in for the slow-burn romance between them.

The Last Starborn Seer does an awesome job mixing themes of heritage, power, and personal growth, all while Leilani’s on her mission to find a lost relic. I was super invested in the plot and can’t wait to see what happens next!

The Last Starborn Seer by Venetia Constantine 💜
Publishing March 2026!

Meeting Venetia on bookstagram a few years ago meant that I had some vague notions of what TLSS might be but I don't think i was quite prepared for what turned out to be a compelling, and richly imagined world, an engaging quest, and a magic system that feels original and full of potential.

Leilani is an intriguing MC. She has such internal conflict, in possession of a magic she doesn't understand and a fear of the darkness within herself. Theres definite growth by the end of the book but i wish we got to linger in her emotional moments a bit more. She often feels distant or guarded, even with herself, so I didn't feel as emotionally connected to her as I wanted to be. I did however find myself quite invested in Astrophel though, his emotional moments lingered a little longer than Leilani's. Both POVs had such distinctive voices - one cool and guarded the other emotional and sometimes brash, super interesting contrasting voices!

Overall, this is a strong and imaginative start to a series with a fascinating world, an engaging quest, and a magic system I genuinely want to learn more about. The story and the world have such promise I’m very curious to see where book two takes these characters and this world!

Thanks for the ARC!

The Last Starborn Seer is full of rich world building, interesting character dynamics and a magic system that instantly grabbed my attention. I thought the history behind Leilani’s (our fmc) magic was engaging and really helped me to immerse myself in our characters quest to find the sceptre, which has the potential to change her fate.

You can tell a lot of thought and attention to detail was put into the magic system and the history behind it, and how it all intertwines with all the other lands and the politics between them. The writing is beautifully descriptive which I always love as it helps me to picture what I am reading, even down to how the characters look. I thought it flowed nicely and I was able to understand what was happening and why, and I liked that the story showed depth with the history behind Leilanis bloodline and her Starborn magic.

We have multiple POVs which I enjoy as I like to see other characters perspectives in situations and it helps to understand exactly how they are feeling. It made for interesting character dynamics as I was trying to guess how feelings etc would change throughout the book as they dealt with situations on their quest.

If you want a captivating, rich world and magical system, plenty of action and characters that keep you engaged (as well as multiple POVs which I love in a book!) then add this one onto your TBR and keep an eye out for when it releases in March 2026!

Thank you to the publisher Head of Zeus for the arc.

As soon as I heard the blurb for this book – I knew I had to try and request an ARC copy (thank you Head of Zeus for accepting my request).

The story follows Leilani Stellarion, who is despised by her father and his wider court, for the dangerous Starborn magic she possesses as she matures. She lives in a fractured, dying world where its peoples and magical creatures were nearly wiped out by a magical plague, so they are rightly wary of magic-users. Leilani's own mother is dying of the sickening, so when Leilani learns of way to save her, she recruits a band of representatives from opposing nations to agree to embark on a quest with her to save the world. This isn't an easy task in itself, as the Outlanders are suspicious of her and each other, and despite the latent attraction between her and one of the representatives – Blayze Arcuri – the magical prejudice in this realm is strong. Plus, the fact that Leilani is unwillingly betrothed to Astrophel, a rather pompous courtier who will stop at nothing to please her father so that he can rise through the ranks, she really has her work cut out for her.

The novel is written in 1st person narrative style and in present tense, which gives the prose an intimate immediacy which I really enjoyed. Constantine's style is poetic and rich in intricate world-building, which creates an 80's nostalgia aesthetic reminiscent of films like The Last Unicorn, The Neverending Story and Labyrinth - but entirely adult in tone. The environmental themes and magical prejudice resonate with me and I think Constantine really sets up the potential for the rest of series evolving really well.

Leilani is a complex character who is full of self-loathing and has suffered and is only beginning to find her true self and find self-acceptance, as she comes into her powers, but she's aware of everything that's at stake, should she not succeed in her task, so she's someone we can definitely root for. And Astrophel, the second lesser POV, who at first seems so up-himself that I started to think he was the real villain of the story, is someone who definitely grew on me. No spoilers but his pain and suffering really shows his humanity, so even though his POV is minor – I really enjoyed reading his chapters.

I think the fact that the objectives of the secondary characters don't always align means that this is not the jovial camaraderie we see in Tolkien, but something infinitely more complicated and it creates suspense and tension throughout the novel.

This is not a romantasy, but it is an epic fantasy with romance. There's slow burn and heat, plus the beginnings of a very messy love triangle (or quadrangle depending on which way you look at it). This is the kind of fantasy I love, because even though the romance is subplot, I felt invested in the stakes of the fantasy plot and satisfied with the quest elements, so I think this will have a broad appeal for SFF readers in general.

The quest plot itself was full of foreboding and no spoilers but it didn't end as I expected at all, which has really left me pondering – in a good way – in the days since I finished reading it. Constantine has created a complex world and so the plot itself is complicated and there's a lot of unresolved mystery at the end of the novel which compels you to want to read more in the series. I personally can't wait for book two and I'm very much looking forward to rereading this one, with the audiobook when the novel comes out.