The Stars Are Dying

August 1, 2024
A Court of Thorns and Roses meets The Hunger Games in the first in the Nytefall series. Astraea only knows the four walls of the manor where she's lived for the past five years. She remembers nothing of her time before the manor--only that she was brought there by a man she thought was her savior. But when Astraea meets Nyte, a handsome phantom with eyes of molten gold, Astraea realizes that the manor is a prison. Astraea is able to escape and join her best friend on a journey to observe the Libertatum, a deadly competition that grants immunity from vampire attacks for the winner's kingdom, along with immortality for the winner. Along the way, though, circumstances force Astraea into the competition. Astraea is determined to win, but if the vampires don't kill her first, the truth might. The Stars Are Dying delivers on common romantasy tropes but under-delivers with convoluted world building and two-dimensional characters. Romantasy readers might look past these flaws for the steamy scenes though.

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September 13, 2024

This previously self-published hit receives bonus chapters and a special print edition from a traditional publisher. Astraea can only remember the last five years and spends her time observing the many people who frequent her guardian's estate. She has begun to chafe at her guardian's restrictions and escapes to the Central City, where the king is hosting the Libertatem. The competition happens once every 100 years, and the winner's kingdom is granted immunity from vampire attacks. Astraea tries to learn more about herself during the trials but is pulled into other people's machinations. She also meets a brooding vampire named Nyte and quickly learns that the Libertatem and Nyte are not what they seem. While the book's premise is reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Stardust, this fantasy spends more time on the romance than on the plot. The will-they-won't-they romance overwhelms the mystery of the games for much of the story, and readers will need to continue reading the series for any plot resolution as not much is settled at the end of this book. VERDICT This new adult romantasy from Pe�aranda (A Sword from the Embers) will hold appeal for fans of Kerri Maniscalco's "Kingdom of the Wicked" series.--Maria Martin

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August 19, 2024
Peñaranda (An Heir Comes to Rise) delivers a disappointing romantasy series launch loosely inspired by the Greek myth of Astraea. Twenty-three-year-old Astraea has no recollection of her life prior to the last five years, which have been spent under the thumb of nefarious businessman Hektor Goldfell, who keeps her captive. Hoping to learn about her past, Astraea escapes her captor and travels to the capital with her friend Cassia, their region’s representative in a dangerous set of trials known as the Libertatem. The winning region gets protection from vampire attacks for the next 100 years. When tragedy strikes, Astraea disguises herself and takes Cassia’s place in the tournament. She has little hope of succeeding—until she makes a bargain with a mysterious, attractive, and possibly untrustworthy vampire, Nyte, who agrees to help her in exchange for a favor. Meanwhile, as the truth of Astraea’s origins and hidden powers is revealed, she comes to question her allegiances. The slapdash worldbuilding and uneven pacing combine with Astraea’s underdeveloped arc and murky motivations to leave readers with more questions than answers. This is a rocky start.