Some books are hyped so much that by the time you finally pick them up, you're almost afraid you're going to be disappointed.
Starside was not one of those books for me.
Welcome to Worth the Hype?, where I'll be talking about books that have been getting a lot of attention and giving you my honest answer: Is the hype actually worth it?
This week, we're talking about Starside by Alex Aster, the first book in the Starside series.
And my answer?
YES. Absolutely.
I gave Starside 4 stars, and I genuinely had a great time listening it.
This book pulled me in with its combination of immortals, magic, deadly competitions, revenge, political intrigue, magical swords, and—of course—a romance that had me completely invested.
The story follows Aris, a mortal whose family was killed by a goddess when she was a child. When the gates between the mortal world of Stormside and the immortal realm of Starside open, fifty challengers are given the opportunity to cross over and compete for access to powerful magic.
But Aris isn't interested in the magic.
She's there for revenge.
And surviving the Culling is only the beginning.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the sword-based magic system. In this world, power isn't simply something you're born with or inherit. The swords themselves hold power, and claiming one can completely change the game.
Then there's Aris and Harlan Raker.
Oh, these two.
Their relationship is exactly the kind of slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers tension that keeps me reading “just one more chapter” when I absolutely know I should be going to bed.
They have history. They have reasons to hate each other. They don't trust each other. And the tension between them is SO good.
And while I gave the book four stars rather than five, that doesn't mean I didn't love it. Four stars for me means solid, and Starside was absolutely that. I had fun. I was invested. I wanted to know what happened next. And when I reached the end, I immediately wanted the next book.
That, to me, is a pretty good sign.
Is Starside perfect? No.
But does a book have to be perfect for me to recommend it?
Absolutely not.
Starside currently has a 4.3-ish average on Goodreads from more than 60,000 ratings, so clearly I'm not the only reader who has been enjoying it.
For me, the hype is deserved because this is exactly what I want from a fun, addictive fantasy romance: a world I want to explore, characters I care about, plenty of danger, magic, tension, and a romance that keeps me turning the pages.
And that ending?
Let's just say I'm going to need the next book.
So, is Starside worth the hype?
My answer: YES.
If you love fantasy romance, deadly competitions, revenge, morally complicated characters, magical weapons, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance, and books that make you immediately want the next installment, I definitely recommend putting this one on your TBR.
Now I want to hear from you.
Have you read Starside yet?
Did you think it lived up to the hype, or did it leave you wanting more?
And if you haven't read it yet…
Is it going on your TBR?
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 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…
FTC Guidelines: Many books are provided for free in exchange for an honest review. Sponsored posts will be clearly labeled.
0 comments:
Post a Comment
Hateful and Unrelated Comments Will Be Deleted. Anonymous comments are invalid to enter into giveaways.