ABOUT OF FIRE AND STARS:
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine (called Mare), sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, each discovers there’s more to the other than she thought. Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. Soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
ABOUT AUDREY COULHURST:
Audrey Coulthurst writes YA books that tend to involve magic, horses, and kissing the wrong people. Her debut novel, Of Fire and Stars, will be published on November 22, 2016 by Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins. When she’s not dreaming up new stories, she can usually be found painting, singing, or on the back of a horse.Audrey has a Master’s in Writing from Portland State University, is a member of SCBWI, and studied with Malinda Lo as a 2013 Lambda Literary Foundation Fellow. She lives in Santa Monica, California.
REVIEW:
I'm a huge Fantasy junkie so I've been having a little trouble finding one that feels unique. Of Fire and Stars has an element that I haven't encountered in the genre before: LGBTQ romance. Even though love triangles are not my thing, I had to give this one a chance. Even though I didn't love every aspect of it, I was addicted to the story from the start.
My favorite part of the novel was the romance. I loved how it developed naturally, slowly and realistically. I've read countless stories where the romance sparks out of nowhere and grows like a wild fire so I'm so glad this one builds up. It is definitely a journey and I am so glad that the LGBTQ literary world is expanding. Again, I wish that the romance wasn't part of a love triangle but I think it was done well.
As far as the world and the fantasy element itself, I did think it was lacking a bit. I like that this is a standalone but I wish that the world had more opportunity for development. While this book is easy to read and only takes a couple of hours, I really wanted certain aspects of the story to be stronger. However, I really enjoyed the plot and the way the story progressed.
If you're looking for a fantasy with a little twist or if you want to add a diverse book to your shelf, definitely check this one out.
Tour Schedule:
Week 1:
11/14: What Sarah Read - Review
11/16: Addicted 2 Novels - Review
Week 2:
11/22: IN WONDERLAND - Review
11/23: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A
11/24: Don't Fold the Page - Review
11/25: Arctic Books - Top 5
Giveaway:
3 Finished Copies of OF FIRE AND STARS (US Only)
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