A Circle of Stars
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Sometimes you have to leave home to find it... All Casper Bell has ever wanted is to belong. But now, abandoned by his friends and family after being outed, he has nothing left to lose when the people of Novilem abduct him. Except Earth. Teleported to a world where stars grant humans magic, Casper discovers he has the rare ability to draw power from all twelve astrological signs - a gift that makes him a political pawn for the Estellar Council. But Novilem's inhabitants seem as hard and cold as the stone their city is carved from, and Casper's new role leaves him more isolated than ever. Until he meets the grandson of the council's most powerful woman. Helix is kind, playful, and heartbreakingly handsome, yet it's how Helix makes him feel that gives Casper hope. As rebellion brinks in the city, even the Council starts to fracture, reaching for extreme measures that could cost Casper not only his newfound abilities, but the first place he has ever wanted to call home. Together with Helix, he must uncover the secrets of his full potential - because the survival of Novilem hinges on Casper's powers, whether he's using them or not. Set inside a hidden lunar city, where astrology is magic and your birth sign defines your social status, A Circle of Stars is a queer young adult fantasy filled with political intrigue and romance.
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✨the cover is pretty✨
Sci-fi/fantasy with political intrigue in a smallish colony of ex-earth people. It was enjoyable, I'll read the next one.
“Sometimes the world breaks and we have to learn to live with the pieces left behind.”
I was delighted to receive an advanced copy of “A Circle of Stars” and am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Circle of Stars introduces you to three protagonists and rotates through their perspectives, each presenting a different view into the alien refugee world of Novilem. As you get to know Casper, a homeless, queer teen from Earth who discovers he's the chosen one, Helix, the dreamboat member of the ruling class, and Talleah, Helix's friend and member of the mercantile class, the story unfolds at a measured pace, giving you just enough to keep you hooked (and I do mean hooked) but not so much where you're rushing through the story or slogging along.
The world-building, the politics and the magic system that are the foundation of Novilem's society are meticulously crafted and present a fresh and modern take on the story of a chosen one. As the story progresses, the attention to detail makes the story really compelling and interesting and really deepens your connection to the characters.
I'll admit that I found myself occasionally groaning when the POV brought me to Casper, as I found him to be annoying at certain points. But I'm pleased to also report that he grew on me as the story progressed and the shock of being not only kicked out of his home after coming out but also being abducted to an alien world faded and his personality became more prominent.
Also worth noting is the warmth and care with which Casper's queerness is handled. Helix, in particular, surprised me with how frequently his maturity and empathy served as a salve not just to Casper's situation, but how it affected me as well. Montgomery writes with compassion and humor, and his characters are complex and relatable.
Ultimately, I found this to be a pretty standard romance embedded within a STUNNER of a sci-fi / fantasy epic. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new approach to a “chosen one” narrative, relishes innovation and creativity in their world-building and/or magic systems, or has a penchant for queer visions within genre work.
Now that i'm getting older, sometimes YA novels don't hit the same but this one hit and it hit HARD.
ACOS brought a queer normative world, solid mental health rep, a society INSIDE of a moon, and some really cool zodiac based magic. We get to see Casper deconstructing the views he was taught to believe, a freaking adorable romance blooming, and so many twists and turns. I'm excited to read more from Craig in the future!
