Hundreds of years ago, a brutal war split a land in two. Starside is the realm of magic and immortals—the descendants of the gods, living in a power-rich paradise. Stormside is where mortals fight for scraps of that magic.
Every fifty years, the gates between them open, and fifty challengers are allowed to journey across Starside on a deadly quest to access a pool of magic that can heal, grant wealth, or extend life. Everyone has their reasons for entering, but Aris has only one: vengeance. As a child, a goddess set fire to her village, killing her family. Aris isn’t after the gods’ magic—she’s going to kill them.
First, she must survive the Culling, the king’s deadly competition to choose his fifty challengers. An orphaned blacksmith’s apprentice, Aris doesn’t have the superior weapons of the heirs from the Great Houses. But the greatest swords—ones that contain power—are not inherited or bought, they are claimed, by both sides. And when Aris claims a great sword, it makes her not just a real competitor—but a target.
Getting past the gates is only the beginning. Starside is deadlier than it seems. If the ancient creatures, magic-wielding beasts, and bloodthirsty immortals weren’t dangerous enough, a new peril has even immortals fearing what rises from the ground at night. With a blade most would kill to claim, Aris can’t trust anyone. Especially not Harlan Raker, the merciless and mysterious king’s guard who betrayed her years ago—and who may now be the key to her survival.
But Aris is hiding a secret tied to her family’s death. And when it’s revealed, not even the gods will be able to stop what’s coming…
Review: I absolutely loved the overall story and fell in love with the characters—their dynamics and development kept me thoroughly invested from start to finish.
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However, a few structural issues made me rate Starside with 4 stars instead of 5:
- Trope Overload: The book feels like it contains a pinch of practically every fantasy trope ever written. While tropes aren't inherently bad, stacking so many together gets a bit confusing as the story progresses.
- Pacing Issues: Certain sections move quite slowly. There are a handful of subplots that feel a bit drawn out and don't seem to add much to the main overarching storyline.
- The Final Plot Twist: Without spoiling anything, the twist at the end was only partly expected. While I appreciate a good surprise, this particular reveal felt like it conflicted with events established earlier in the book. I'm hoping it gets cleared up in Book 2, but for now, it left me feeling slightly frustrated.
Despite these drawbacks, the compelling narrative and unforgettable cast make Starside well worth reading. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the story goes next!
Happy readings!
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