Starlight (Immortal Heritage, #1)

Firstly, paranormal/supernatural fantasy and certainly not anything YA/NA or romantic, is a genre I never had any sort of interest in reading – until now that is. This book has, for me, provided a means for me to start reading again as for some time now I’ve struggled to read anything due to changes in my Aspergers and other mental health issues. Though I prefer print books, I read Starlight in ebook format, and not only did I find Selene Kallan’s style very easy to read, I also found reading it as an ebook easier given my current struggles with reading. This was the only book I managed to read and actually finish in 2020, particularly with increased difficulties as a result of the pandemic. For me, this has been a personal achievement under such circumstances. I would like to personally thank Selene for not only broadening my reading horizons, but also in having a style that is so easy to read that made it possible for me to start reading again.

So, what can I say about the story of Starlight? My thoughts are mixed, but I’ve weighed the likes against the dislikes and found that anything I did not particularly get along with was, for the most part, just a matter of personal taste, and what I did enjoy largely outweighed those things. I feel it could have done with being more descriptive, but that happens to be one aspect of books I am generally particularly fussy about which is linked to how I visualise, and after all I needed to take into account that it’s Selene’s debut novel, and that she also writes in English which isn’t her first language. In actual fact, she pulls this off extremely well and very accurately depicts the attitudes commonly seen in young adult students in high schools and colleges, and how the main characters are forced to contend with them.

I must admit, I immediately took to Nick, whose sense of justice is well beyond his years. I found myself relating to him a lot and share many of his views. The feathers of my feminist streak did get a bit ruffled at times with his chivalry, but he’s really far too much of a sweetheart to stay mad at. Dahlia took a bit more getting used to due to her reserved nature, but I also found her relatable in that regard; especially with the way she’s regarded by her peers. That was all too familiar for me, and as such I commend Selene on her ability to express the views of the oppressed and under-represented; those who are deemed outcasts because there’s just something about us that happens to be different from what the majority consider “normal”. There are characters harbouring deep resentment and prejudice who you’ll just love to hate, and Selene injects a very strong feeling of making the reader seethe, longing for their comeuppance and I’m very certain that when the time is right, she will deliver on this.

Both Nick and Dahlia don’t yet understand the true reality of what they are; their species have long been at war, but this is a story where two young people defy such prejudices and care about each other despite their differences. It’s clear in reading Starlight that there’s a great deal these two have yet to discover about themselves, including the supernatural changes going on inside them, along with the promise of threats they must contend with in order to be together.

All in all, this book was an excellent read and with very little to criticise. I also admit that while writing this review, I might have already got stuck into reading Haunted, the second book in the Immortal Heritage series; and what can I say, it’s looking to be even better.

I loved the cover of this book and had to read it. It was immediately clear that Ms. Kallan is a novice writer. She still has a lot to learn. BUT, even though there are some major issues with her writing, her story captured my interest and drew me into the story, making me read more and more, letting me loose sleep to find out what was going to happen next. I have read books of better quality that didn’t manage to do this. Hence the four stars for Starlight.
I have contacted Ms. Kalland and found out that 1. She is dyslexic (not that this was an issue with her writing, but thumbs up for managing to write a whole novel!!!), and 2. The book is with a professional editor as I write this. So, check out this wonderful story by this new author and give her a chance. I see a great future ahead for her 🙂

Wow loved this book. Couldn’t put it down. Thrilling and leaves you on the edge of your seat. I’m eager for the next one to come out. Can not wait to see what happens next.