Everything I have ever known is a lie. And I’m not saying that in a dramatic teenager way. I mean that my parents lied to me my whole childhood. My friends lied. The love of my life lied. They hid what I truly am, apparently for my own safety. But now that I know I’m the last of my race to be born with the gift of sight? I’m not so sure it’s a gift at all. And I’m not sure they were trying to … trying to keep me safe either.
I think they feared me. Feared what I’d one day become. Because I can’t control the symbols appearing on my skin. I don’t know what any of them mean. All I know is that I’m running of time.
No, it’s no gift. I’m pretty sure I’m cursed.
more
Let me preface this review with the fact that I do NOT read fantasy. Like EVER. It’s a genre that I have no interest in whatsoever and usually, I will decline to read it even if I love the author. In this case, I was just about to do that but decided to read a few pages at the start just out of curiosity since Ivy Smoak is one of my favorite, go-to authors. Let’s just say that a few pages turned into the first chapter which turned into inhaling the entire book because it was so addictively amazing! Nobody is more surprised than I am that I devoured and loved a fantasy story! Sea of Stars sucked me in immediately and I was completely hooked throughout. It’s exciting, it’s dark, it’s heartbreaking and it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat throughout wondering what will happen.
Smoak created a fantasy land full of characters that were diverse and interesting. There were many and at times I found myself trying to figure out who was who as I lost track a bit but nonetheless, I loved them all. The story is told in two parts with differing points of view which really added to the story. There was so much to love about this story and I am looking forward to more from this exciting world that Smoak dreamed up as there is so much more of this story to be told. Do yourself a favor and grab this standout book! 5 stars
Sea of Stars is a really good fantasy novel. The story draws you into a mystical world, with so many twists and turns that you can’t help but keep turning the pages to find out what happens. I loved Mahlia!! This teenagers life is turned upside down, and nothing is what she thought it was. During her journey she doesn’t know who’s a friend or foe but that doesn’t stop her from finding out the truth. The only thing that I didn’t like is the story just stops right at a critical moment, so I’m hoping the author is planning on releasing the conclusion at some point. This was an entertaining story, with so many great characters.
Very imaginative. For YA. Cliffhanger. Looking forward to next book.
Absolutely AMAZING!!
I’m beyond words and can’t wait for more! Fantasy read with action, suspense and oh so many ah ha moments. I was enthralled, moved beyond emotions. My heart is still racing.
Mahlia is the wished for child. The one that can save the races. She has lived a harrowing life already but she has so much more to do. She must reach her fate. The people she meets along the way will help and betray her, or so she thinks in one case, but she must continue. I need to know more. I can’t wait for the next story.
.I’m not a huge fantasy reader. However with Ivy Smoak I find she sucks me in and I fall so in love with the world’s she creates. This is a world of three races . Humans , divonares, brutarian. They use to all live in peace but that is a thing of the past. The Brutarians are terrible and they are just not at all nice to the divonares andnthey are capturing all they can find to find the one with the gift of Moira that is so rare it is jist almost extinct. This book will take you on such am adventure I loved every second of it Pay attention so you can keep everyone and their world’s straight. I loved this little gem if a book Ivy Smoak and if you love fantasy books you will love it too.
This is the second Fantasy series by Ivy Smoak (the first one, Be Careful What You Joust For, Pentavia Book 1, she co-wrote with her husband Ryan Hauge.
This book is magical. It is a fantastic world with three races; humans, divinares, and brutarians. Long ago they all lived in peace but no longer. Brutarians are huge monsters who keep the tiny two foot tall divinares captive when they catch them searching for any of them that might have the Gift of the Moira, which is practically extinct now.
Mahlia is our heroine and a divinare, who has been held captive at the Iron Gates for 10 years by Mortwar, the king of the brutarians. She is blessed (or cursed?) with the Gift of the Moira. She is just coming into her gift at 19 years old, and doesn’t understand it.
This book is so wildly adventurous! The descriptions of these races, the creatures, the world they live in, will transport you to a totally alternate universe. I got so into this world, it was hard to put it down and come back to reality! Ivy’s imagination is so creative!
I loved all the other characters in the book, Breghton, Augury, Achates, Denton, and the special animals, Chinook, and Mikado. Their names were awesome and as individual as the characters!! I also hated some of them, Garrett, Mortwar, and Harrish.
This book was a trip you need to experience for yourself. Half of the book was in Mahlia’s POV and the other half was in Breghton’s POV. This enables you to understand their actions better and explain more of the backstop of the main characters. But I will warn you, the end will shock you, in a good way (I think?), but leave you a cliffy until the next book comes out!!! I hope we find out about the baby Dawn!
FIVE STARS FOR HITTING ALL THE MARKS!
This fantasy world was a breathtaking ride! Mahlia’s true self is emerging, and she has no idea what to do about it. Enter a world of good and evil, of demons and dragons. Mahlia’s journey isn’t an easy one, but there is a whole cast of characters who are part of the whole story, a battle of good versus evil, and watching Mahlia find her way through it all made this an exciting tale.