Starside by Alex Aster

Rating: 5 stars

Adult - Spice: Enemies to Lovers

Genre: Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Mythology, Romance

Tags: Gods, Goddesses, Immortals, Magic Swords, Magic, Trials, Book Review

Starside Book 1

Aris has lost everyone she has ever cared about. She feels that she only has one purpose, to kill the Goddess who killed her family. But to do so, she must win one of fifty spots to get a chance to go through the gates. Will she be able to get through and reach the land of the Gods?

This is the first book in the Starside series. It is Alex Aster's first adult fantasy romance. Aris is a brilliantly written female lead. She is flawed, stubborn, and a chip on her shoulder. The side characters help to show Aris' kindness. Raker is someone who runs that thin line between love and hate. And you never seem to know which side he is on. The world is almost two sides of the same coin. One being desolate while the other filled with magic. There is beauty in both of them. I loved reading this book and look forward to reading the next book in the series, Stormside.

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Pages: 512

Read: Digital and Physical

From: Library and Bought a Physical Copy

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Product description and Images are from amazon.com:

“Hundreds of years ago, a brutal war split a land in two. Starside is the realm of magic and immortals—the descendants of the gods, living in a power-rich paradise. Stormside is where mortals fight for scraps of that magic.

Every fifty years, the gates between them open, and fifty challengers are allowed to journey across Starside on a deadly quest to access a pool of magic that can heal, grant wealth, or extend life. Everyone has their reasons for entering, but Aris has only one: vengeance. As a child, a goddess set fire to her village, killing her family. Aris isn’t after the gods’ magic—she’s going to kill them.

First, she must survive the Culling, the king’s deadly competition to choose his fifty challengers. An orphaned blacksmith’s apprentice, Aris doesn’t have the superior weapons of the heirs from the Great Houses. But the greatest swords—ones that contain power—are not inherited or bought, they are claimed, by both sides. And when Aris claims a great sword, it makes her not just a real competitor—but a target.

Getting past the gates is only the beginning. Starside is deadlier than it seems. If the ancient creatures, magic-wielding beasts, and bloodthirsty immortals weren’t dangerous enough, a new peril has even immortals fearing what rises from the ground at night. With a blade most would kill to claim, Aris can’t trust anyone. Especially not Harlan Raker, the merciless and mysterious king’s guard who betrayed her years ago—and who may now be the key to her survival.

But Aris is hiding a secret tied to her family’s death. And when it’s revealed, not even the gods will be able to stop what’s coming…”