The story sounded intriguing, but it was a struggle to get through. The characters seemed bland, and I did not for them. The story also dragged. Thus, it was hard to like.

I honestly couldn't finish this. Book one in the series held promise, even though it wasn't great, so I had hopes that the series would improve. It did not. Very disappointing.

This is the second book in the Born Prophecy series. While the premise sounded kind of interesting, I found myself not caring about the story. I didn't connect with the characters and nothing really kept me wanting to continue on with the book.

What a fascinating book. I was impressed by the storyline and the characters were all well written and complex. Where there are complex storylines combined with intriguing characters the reader experience is magnified tremendously. To have a book that is well written as well as entertaining is a delight. Reading is about escaping your world and entering another one. Here I forgot about my own life and was immersed in the world created by the author. I would recommend this book.

this was an interesting read, the characters were great and I really enjoyed reading this book. I look forward to more from the author and the series.

I like the idea of the book, it has great potentials.Allegria and Hallow are back and this time they are on a mission together to find the three moonstones that have been hidden.These moonstones are the only thing able to allow Allegria to rescue Deo and Queen Dasa from Eris. The magic and drama throughout the story were well developed.

Starborn is the second installment in the very original series The Born Prophecy by Katie MacAlister.

Hallow and Allegria are searching for three moonstones hidden by Queen Dasa. The moonstones are needed to allow Allergria to rescue Queen Dasa and Deo from Eris. And this is where I tell you if you haven’t read book 1, you will be utterly confused because this is not a stand-alone read.

Hallow and Allergria are told that they need to go to Eris, which was deemed hopeless, but the “Captain” who they meet along their way quickly jumps on board the crazy mission. Magic, Mayhem and Evil are just a few of the obstacles keeping Hallow and Allergria from conquering their goals. Pick up Starborn to join their adventure.

I liked Starborn but didn't love it. I found Allergria was irritating and not very likeable even if she was having magic troubles. Hallow was even a bit annoying. The captain was funny. And overall, the biggest hang up I had connecting to the story was the switch between POVs and the cliffhanger, I’m not a fan of cliffhangers.

That being said, I still found the book entertaining, with great humor injections into serious situations and unexpected plot directions that still kept me invested to the end.

I received this ARC copy of Starborn from Kensington Books - Rebel Base Books. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I have enjoyed Ms Macalister books in the past but this book was not for me. It my fault I did not realize that it was a continuation. There is to much happening in this book to be able to enjoy the story with reading the first book. I will look for the first book and then try to read this book.

Starborn by Katie Macalister is one of those sagas where it is so bad, and yet somehow, it is so good. I could not put this book down even with those few moments that made me want to. Do not ask me to describe the book because its hard to put into words. There are a lot of horny moments, and honestly, mos,t of the time, it felt like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I loved the characters even as they all started to blur together, there was not a lot to distinguish between the characters. The only thing I did not enjoy was the prologue because the main character in that blurb was so annoying, and I have no clue if it takes place before or after the story. Although I loved the ending where one of the characters is now a wanted fugitive. I'm curious to see where it goes because somehow everything worked together, and I cannot imagine the book any other way.

4.5 out of 5 stars.

I like fantasy. I like romance. I like banter.

But I didn't like this. Maybe it was too lighthearted in the face of danger? Maybe it was the conversations about bestiality? Maybe because I hadn't read book 1?

I quit reading at 47 %

I read an ARC from Netgalley.

I like the idea of the book, and the series for that matter, but there's just something that is a little off about it. It could be that it is a bit of a mashup of about three different genres- fantasy, comedy, and romance. It takes elements of these genres sub genres, and at times it can be jarring. I of all people understand that high-fantasy can take itself a little too seriously, but when the author wants to hit hard on the comedy elements, she switches to a more modern style of expression, and it just feels off. Then there's using only Allegria's parts of the book as first person and the rest in third. It was distracting and annoying in the first book, and continues to be the same here. I don't get the point, other than it may signal that this Allegria is still the lead, even though it really is Allegria, Hallow, and Deo's story.

This book has more focus than the first - there's a lot a stake, and the author doesn't give her characters a lot of time to be overly silly. Allegria is still missing part of her magic - which bugs me as much as her - yet as integral as her magic is to her, there's no real effort in trying to figure out why its gone, or how to fix it. The book is mostly an extended rescue mission, and I thought that Allegria's regaining her powers would be integral to that. In that sense it was very disappointing, and some events that "even out" the playing field near the end of the book didn't help much. If she truly is the lead of this series, she didn't get a lot of growth or any type of movement. Everything was about finding Deo and Desa.

I am still interested in what happens as the series continues, as I think that this is worth a shot - it also is a pretty accessible high fantasy because of its romance and comedic elements, but it is hard to juggle all three. There's a lot to like from this outing, and I hope it continues to get better from here.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Title: Starborn
Author: Katie MacAlister
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

After all the danger, fighting, and wars, peace now reigns in the seven lands of Alba. But Allegria and Hallow want to rescue their friend Deo, trapped in the shadowlands of Eris. And to do that , they need the three moonstones hidden years before.

As they search for the moonstones, they realize things aren’t quite as peaceful as they seem. Their captain—lifebound for many long years—warns them against heading to Eris by ship, but they are determined to rescue their friend. Even if it means their own deaths.

The banter and snarky humor make this a fun read, but I did feel some of the action was a bit rushed. I enjoyed the read, but it wasn’t as engrossing as the first one was, although if you need a dose of snarky humor and sarcasm, this is a sure bet.

Katie MacAlister is a best-selling author. Starborn is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I very much enjoyed this book. Very well written.
I was hooked into this one right away.

I do recommend.

Starborn takes place in the aftermath of a great war, but its clear from the opening chapters that this is but a temporary lull for our heroes. Allegria is our main protagonist, I assume, as her perspective is the first one we are introduced to and hers is in first person versus every one else's third. Unfortunately, this doesn't really add anything to the narrative and comes off as gimmicky. Allegria and her husband Hallow are on a mission to rescue their friend Deo from behind enemy lines. Allegria and Hallow are the world's most annoying couple, you know they ones that make you want to barf because they can't keep their hands off of each other. Specifically, they like to pinch each other on the behind. It's like their thing or something. I was desperate for some variety in their interactions before I was halfway through.

The rest of the plot bounces around all over the place. Part of the blame is on the number of perspective characters. There are only twenty-two chapters divided among at least six point of view characters ( I stopped counting after a while). Including a prologue from a character we never hear from again, which is one of my biggest pet peeves. The other problem is that there are a lot of time skips in the narrative that seem to avoid major plot points. For instance, they need moonstones to go rescue Deo, and they don't know where they are exactly, let alone how to find them. The next chapter has them running away with the recently stolen moonstone with no explanation as to how they acquired it other than the stealing bit.

Or later when we catch up to other characters and have to find out about major events after the fact. It's like having someone explain the plot of the movie to you, robbing you of all the joy of watching it yourself. Plus since I came into this series on book two, I wasn't really invested in any of the characters. None of them were really given any time to shine. Of course, Allegria and Hallow had bored me to the point where I was just trying to get through it as quickly as possible. There were also some faint attempts at humor, but they were so forced it was like the novel equivalent of adding a laugh track. The one liners didn't feel genuine, it felt tacked on in an attempt to try to give these characters some personality.

I'm sure there are people out there who would enjoy Starborn. Maybe people who enjoyed Outlander since neither seems to know what genre it wants to belong to. However, it was definitely not the book for me. Two out of five, would not read again.

Starborn, by author Katie MacAlister, is the second installment in the authors Born Prophecy series. There are actually (3) main characters that are featured in this story. Allegria Hopebringer, Hallow, and Deosin Langton. Allegria and Hallow, who are now married, are searching for (3) moonstones that were hidden by Queen Dasa. These moonstones are the only thing able to allow Allegria to rescue Deo and Queen Dasa from Eris. I think that if you read the first installment, that you will better understand the struggles that this book focuses on.

Allegria seems to have lost her connection to Kiriah which means that she needs to rely more on her sword play ability than anything else. She last used her light powers to send Racin back to Eris. When Allegria was one of Deo's Bane of Eris, she was pretty impressive. One can only hope that the author finds a way to give Allegria her powers back as her struggles are not even close to being over yet. Allegria can be annoying at times. Especially when she is with Hallow. I won't speak much on Hallow. He's pretty powerful in his own right, and there is some issues that needs to be addressed as the new master of the arcanists.

Deo is a prisoner of Racin's in Eris after choosing to go after his mother. He has access to chaos magic which is one reason why Racin wants to find out how to access his power so that he can build an army to take over the world that is currently at peace. Deo is supposed to be the savior of the fourth age, but so far his actions have lead to more war and less peace. His mother, meanwhile, was the greatest warrior of the third age and is supposed to be the Queen of Eris alongside Racin. Without a willing Deo, Racin starts to experiment on people seeking to duplicate Deo's Bane of Eris. (Shadowborn)

Israel Langton, Deo's father, is also back in this installment. He is trying to save the people of Aryria from Racin and get his son and wife back. His most formidable foe, however, may very well be the Tribe of Jalas which holds one of the moonstones. They are joined on the journey by Lady Idril Jalas who broke Deo's heart in the previous installment. But Idril isn't a character you can refuse to pay attention to. There is much more to her than meets the eye. There is a bit of catty cat behavior between Idril and Allegria which can be annoying at times.

We were also introduced to some new characters, like Quinn and Dexia, who were quite interesting and diverting. Dexia especially may be the most dangerous character in this book, and one who you don't want to turn your back to for fear she will curse you. The craziness continues when Allegria's story is told in the first person, while the rest are told in the third person narrative. One of the negatives is that there are only 22 chapters and 6 narratives.

I would have preferred sticking to Allegria and Deo's since he is the reason for this story. Also, there are a lot of time skips in the narrative that seem to avoid major plot points. I'm glad that Allegria settled down, sort of, with Hallow and didn't end up with Deo. This story once again ends on a brutal cliffhanger ending. While this story takes place a good while after the ending of the first book, I dare hope the sequel will pick up right where this leaves off.

As the bonds of friendship are threatened and the courage of three heroes challenged, the fate of two kingdoms will be at risk as bestselling author Katie MacAlister’s breathtaking Born Prophecy saga continues.


This book was received as an ARC from Kensington Books - Rebel Base Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

A wonderful second installment Starborn, b Katie MacAlister, captivated me from the first page I was completely engaged. I turned the pages as fast as I could.
It is a spellbinding dramatic storyline that meshes fantasy adventure along with the perfect blend of romance.
The magic and drama throughout this book was breathtakingly and riveting,
Allegria and her lover Hallow must rescue their friend Deo from prison with all at stake for the seven lands due to these precious moonstones that could change the course of time. Secrets unlock, and trials flare during the quest and are things really are not what they seem to be.

This was edge of your seat roller coaster fantasy with engaging excitement.

I love Katie MacAlister's books, but I have to admit Born Prophesy is my favorite series written by her.
Enriched world and character building gives Starborn all the stars. Katie MacAlister effortlessly delivers voice and sight to her storytelling making my reading experience exceptional.

Katie MacAlister is on my top author list. I highly recommend Born Prophesy series to fantasy readers.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, so I could give an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

Prequel to my review... so this is not a standalone book but part of a series, so in warning, if you read book one, you may need a reread, or you will not understand much going into this book. The author does not back track just picks up where book one left off, which is great if your just finishing the first book, but for me it was like three hundred books ago. So I kept going since I five starred the first book, but I love this story.

My review....

In book one Deo took off after his mother, and now Allegria and Hallow are left behind searching for a way to get Deo back. That really is the gist of part two, the hunt to be reunited with Deo.

What did I like? So for me it’s a surprise that Allegria chose Hallow, because in book one I felt Allegria pined for Deo but I guess it was just really pining to be in the fight. Deo was just a means to get there. In book two we see why Hallow and Allegria are the perfect match, and I just loved the subtlety of it. The author goes through a story filled book but still lets you see why she chose Hallow for Allegria, and I find it an amazing match.

Would I buy this book? Yes, my book shelves are filled with this author, and I love this series. She has some beautiful covers for this series and the story is enriched and beautiful.

Thoughts for the author? A novella would not be remiss right now to give people a peek into a private scene between Hallow and Allegria....or Deo and his lady love. I would love to be a fly on that wall during a cabin sex scene of that trunk and Hallow having his way with Allegria. I can’t be the only one. Congrats on your release! Amazing book! Five star’s of entertainment!

I am very much enjoying this series! I gave it four stars because the fantasy is so strong. Parts of the romance can trend a little silly, but that's all right if it is what you are looking for. Several times the book made me giggle and a few times laugh out loud! I highly suggest reading this series if you want to walk away with a light heart and a big smile.

Starborn is the second novel in Katie MacAlister’s Born Prophecy series. Following the events in Fireborn – our leading characters are now faced with a world that has seemingly accepted peace. And yet Deo is still being held prisoner, and they have yet to complete the set of tasks at hand.
Allegia is Fireborn, a lightweaver, and a stubborn yet amusing woman. She’s determined to follow her new path in life, and doesn’t regret leaving behind her monastery. She finally has the life she’s always wanted, and is able to use her powers for their intended purpose.
Hallow is the Starborn. He’s also Allegria’s lover, and has somehow become the leader for something much larger than a simple movement. He’s determined to work alongside Allegria to save their friend, Deo. Meanwhile poor Deo has been captured and taken to the shadowlands of Eris.

“I didn’t dare glance behind me to see how close the spirits were, having had ample proof from my brief skirmish with the thane to know that spirits can move very quickly when they choose to do so.”

I am so glad that I took a risk and ended up reading Starborn. I didn’t end up loving Fireborn, but I had decided that Starborn would be worth giving a chance anyway. And it was absolutely the right decision.
Starborn was everything I wanted from Fireborn. It was intense, full of fantasy and magic, and more than a little bit of amusement and laughter. That’s the balance I’ve come to expect from Katie MacAlister. And that is exactly what was given to me here.
I honestly think that Starborn has to be one of the more entertaining novels I’ve read this year. Deo, Hallow, and Allegria’s quest was epic, of course. But it was also inane and full of moments that cause a break in tension. And okay, they also leave plenty of room for laughter as well. It was exactly what I was looking for. And it’s a perfect break from all of the heavy and foreboding books out in the wild.
If you’ve found yourself hesitating about picking up Starborn (because you didn’t enjoy Fireborn all that much), I strongly urge you to give Starborn a try. Hopefully, you’ll find the risk worth it, just like I did.