I received a copy of Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood from NetGalley. This fantasy romance book is the first of The Last Faeyte series by the author. The story focuses on Selene Amaris, the last surviving Faeyte. Her homeland and life were completely destroyed in an attack. She spent ten years in enslavement, finally running away, and she finds herself captured on a ship headed to her homeland. The ship is captained by Callan Edgeborn and his crew.
Selene Amaris’s life is upended when her homeland and temple in Asteria are attacked. Her sisters gave their lives for her to run away. Selene ends up in a distant land, enslaved. Tortured for ten years, she plans to find some way to go back home. Finally, she gets the chance to run away but ends up captured on a ship bound for Asteria. On the ship, she meets Callan Edgeborn and his crew, belonging to the same kingdom that destroyed her home. Callan and others treat her with caution, but slowly they start building trust.
Selene is a character that dep psychological scars after a decade of torture and loneliness. She is going back to Asteria , but so much has changed in the ten years. Callan tells her about the Great Shift. The land in Asteria is dying; nothing grows or sustains on it. People believe it is the Gods’ punishment for the brutal takeover by wiping out the Faeytes. Selene is naturally wary of people, especially those who have an association with her enemy. Callan and Selene are drawn to each other, slowly feeling comfortable and safe. Selene’s arc depends on healing; she has survivor’s guilt, but she is resilient.
The romance between Selene and Callan is a slow burn. They build trust and understanding between them, not just through words but through action too. Their romance delves heavily into themes of redemption and survival. Callan is protective of Selene, sees beneath her guarded persona. He has spent years trying to redeem himself and wants to do the best for his people’s survival. They bring out the best in each other and don’t brush away the obvious differences. It makes their romance worth it and feels earned. I liked how they complemented each other’s character arcs.
The fantasy element is done pretty well with the world-building in this book. It has a lot of backstories that made me slightly confused in the beginning. The concept of the faeyte and magic having a price is extremely intriguing. The pacing of the story picks up after a slow-ish start, and Selene’s character is given some time to start trusting Callan and others around her. The story does get heavy with its themes focused on genocide, survival, and Selene’s trauma during enslavement. It is not the light read I imagined it to be in terms of emotional intensity. Although I wish the lore of the Faeyte mythology were more fleshed out.
Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood is a fantasy romance book that I enjoyed reading. It ended on a cliffhanger (surprise!), but it does well to build up to that point. I liked the chemistry and romance between Callan and Selene. The two main characters are very likeable, and I liked how Selene slowly reclaimed her identity. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
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