Woven in Moonlight was one of my favorite reads of 2020, I was utterly overwhelmed by the beautiful descriptions of life in Inkasisa and the magic was unlike anything I'd ever read. So of course, Written in Starlight was one of my most anticipated releases of 2021 but unfortunately it just didn't live up for me. 

Catalina, despite being the Condesa, was weak and wishy washy and everything Ximena accused her of. I did not enjoy her as the main character of this journey. She was self-centered, selfish and downright rude to everyone she encountered. For the first 75% of the story she didn't care at all about anything but her own needs and goals. She wanted her kingdom back and would step on anyone to do it. Hello, 1500's colonizer mentality, her goals and claims to the throne were the only thing that mattered and she'd sacrifice anyone she could to get there. She does have a lot of character growth in the last 25% but I was already so over her and her nonsense that it didn't redeem the story for me. Ximena was just a better, more well-rounded character who was more fun to adventure with.

Now, the one thing I will say is that the writing is still breathtakingly beautiful. I felt like I was in the vibrant jungle with Catalina and Manuel on their search for Paititi. The adventure part of the story was entirely thrilling and fun, I was with them through every step of running from jaguars and caiman, escaping blood sucking butterflies and solving temple escape rooms.

The ending was a letdown for me, I was really expecting a stronger tie-in with the first book and that was just not there. The epilogue felt like the editors said, please tie this back to book one, and it was nothing more than a post-it note to remind you that these characters had once known each other. If this story had been written as a stand alone I perhaps would have enjoyed it more but the anticipation of a big meet up of stories one and two left me wanting in the end.

Thanks to Page Street Kids for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Written in Starlight follows Catalina and Manuel through the jungle as they try to find a hidden city. Catalina wants to reclaim her throne, that she lost in the companion novel Woven in Moonlight, and Manuel is sworn to protect her. They face the dangers of the jungle and a secret, unknown danger that's destroying the jungle.

Written in Starlight was a good companion to Woven in Moonlight. It had the same feel and the same love of food and world building. The jungle setting was amazing and I loved the descriptions of all the different animals and dangers found in the jungle. Catalina was a little annoying and stubborn but I liked that she had character development throughout the story. I liked her relationship with Manuel, although the back and forth, "will they, won't they?" got a little tiring.

Overall I enjoyed the story. I thought it was a fun journey and had some great world building. It was a good follow-up to Woven in Moonlight, and it did end in such a way that I think a third book could be fun. I look forward to reading more from Isabel Ibanez.

I will not be reviewing this book due to the issues raised by other reviewers regarding racism, colonial and Harmful portrayal of Indigenous communities.

This follow up to Woven in Moonlight was wonderful! This lush and crafted story set in the jungle is one that you will not forget anytime soon. This search for the lost city and self discovery was a page turner!!

I wasn’t sure how to review this with all I have been seeing already posted. Plenty of people have reviewed this and explained how it is problematic a lot better then I could explain. Like some others I was unaware and continued to read the book to educate myself in learning how to identify.
With that aside this book did not capture my attention like I was thinking it would. The last quarter was really the only time when I invested and even then not very much. The first half definitely fell flat for me.
Not horrible but definitely not the greatest.

Written in Starlight follows after Ms. Ibanez first book Woven in Moonlight. It follows the exiled queen, Catalina, as she tries to survive the jungle where she has been left to die and to take back her throne. Catalina is saved by Manuel the son of her former general who is her first love and who has been gone for three years searching for allies to win the country back for Catalina. This is mostly a bumbling survival story in the jungle with a little bit of romance. Catalina was very self centered and one dimensional for almost all of the book and I didn't really like her. The story was slow in a way that I had to push myself to get through it and at the end I was kinda like, meh.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. All spelling and grammar errors in this review are totally my own.

I started reading this book last weekend. A day or two later, I started seeing some shares on the harmfulness of Written in Starlight, as well as Woven in Moonlight. I read the concerns that were brought up on the portrayals of indigenous people and and then started to do some research.

I did still choose to continue reading the story. One of the reasons being that I am still in the process of reading harmful plots, descriptions, etc and being able to point them out. I want to be more critical when it comes to plots or descriptions with potential problems. I still have work to do, but I do like to think I am learning. I wanted to read this book with the information that I had acquired, as well as reflect on Woven in Moonlight.

I think that it is okay to change opinions. I was not aware that there are some harmful content included within these books. I also realize that I recommended and raved about Woven in Moonlight quite a bit. I apologize if I hurt anyone by mentioning this book. I am learning and trying to listen to those with different experiences and who are within cultures different from my own. As I initially did not see the connection to colonization, I think it is important to research and understand opinions and views when issues are raised.

I am embarrassed to admit that I did not educate myself on the situation happening in Bolivia. Researching interviews with the author and what the inspiration for the book was, I learned that the current political events and turmoil Bolivia is experiencing was weaved into the story (this is said in the synopsis, I just didn’t realize it was current). The Llacsans were inspired by the indigenous people of Bolivia, and Illustrians based on Spanish conquistadors (taken from interview with author).

The inspiration of the people is where the problems start. Although in Woven in Moonlight, you see Ximena start on the side of the Illustrians and move to the side of the Llacsans, there are problems with how the two groups are described. The Llacsans are not described well and play into some stereotypes of indigenous groups. This is something that I did not realize while reading Woven in Moonlight. Until having some of these examples pointed out, I totally moved past them. While reading Written in Starlight, I was able to see some of these issues while reading.

There is a redemption arc in Written in Starlight as well, but it took up less space in the book than it did in Woven in Moonlight, as well as there were still some issues with this redemption that I may not have seen without the knowledge I have now. Catalina may have felt differently by the last 15% of the book, but she still represents the Spanish conquistadors. In the end, she is the savior of the indigenous group, which did not sit well with me as I was reading it.

I definitely read these two books differently. One without the knowledge of Bolivian history and connection to colonization, and the other with more information on the inspiration and my eyes open for negative portrayals of indigenous people or other potentially insulting remarks.

Now for the somewhat review part. Like mentioned, when I read Woven in Moonlight last year, I really enjoyed it. For Written in Starlight, even without the information I have today, I don’t think I would have liked it as much. I was not a fan of Catalina in the first, and she did not get better in this one. I also wasn’t a huge fan of the character interactions in this one and found the pacing a bit weird. I still enjoyed the writing style, but this one would have been just okay for me. Adding in the information I have today is why this is not a normal review.

I’m not telling you not to read them. I read these myself after all. I just wanted to share some of the issues raised and my journey reflecting on the first book and reading the second. I think that we should be listening to those within the community and that educating ourselves in multiple perspectives and current events.

Ok, so first off, that cover is PERFECTION. Moving on.

This book is a companion to one of my favorite YA fantasies of the last year, Woven in Moonlight (low-key spoilers for that book ahead). Unfortunately, this one didn't really do it for me. It was sold to me as a "South American Tomb Raider" and it's not not that, but most of the action comes from the main character trying to survive in the jungle. I was hoping for more tomb raiding, personally. And honestly, survival-style-adventure stories just don't do it for me, so at least some of this is a matter of personal preference.

What's not a matter of personal preference, however, was the complete underdevelopment of the villain and the central conflict. There was so much potential there, but villain of the book kind of seemed shoehorned in at the last minute so that we could spend the rest of the time cavorting around the jungle with the romantic lead (Manuel). Moreover, the romance was pretty unbelievable - the main character (Catalina) is sort of indirectly responsible for the deaths of everyone in Manuel's family and he kind of brushes that off. That, and one kiss three years ago does not chemistry make. I don't know y'all, I was not buying it. And the main character herself kind of sucks. I knew that the book would be her developing from a horrorshow of an entitled person (she was basically a princess whose family was dethroned and killed in a coup) to a decent person, but it was not fun to read. It was basically this, with every human not trying to kill her in the jungle:

Catalina: I must take care of my people!
Human not actively trying to kill her: ...your people are now being taken care of? And not like in a mob way, in a getting food kind of way? Which you could not provide them? Like, they are safe and fed, that's what we're saying. When you were in charge, they were dying and hungry.
Catalina: But if I am not queen, they are not truly being taken care of!
Other humans: ...ok.

I don't know, I didn't love it. It wasn't bad or anything, it just wasn't for me. I will recommend it to teens who like survival style adventure stories. 2 stars - it was ok.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

The same atmospheric, lush descriptive writing style is deployed successfully in Written in Starlight, the sequel to Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibañez. In this installment, Catalina, the ousted heir of Inkasisa is exiled to the Yanu Jungle, which is filled with all kinds of scary creatures and murderous plantlife (AKA my personal worst nightmare). Determined to reclaim her throne, she concocts a strategy to locate and form an alliance with the isolated Illari people to bolster her army. But the jungle, and the stars, have other plans in mind.

Written in Starlight introduces some wonderful new characters to this series and I really loved the rainforest setting, even with my serious aversion to the outdoors. A huge piece of this book is a journey facing obstacles through the jungle, and I do wish that there was a little bit less jungle survival focus and more scenes when Catalina finally made contact with the Illari. The conclusion of the story was satisfying, but again, it really could have been more developed. The romance in this book was totally *fine* but mostly just predictable. I must say that I started off reading quite slowly with lots of breaks but once I got about halfway in, I couldn't put it down.
I enjoy the writing style of Isabel Ibañez so I'll be back for whatever she writes next.

Such a wholesome and magical read, laced with nonstop adventure and courage. A story of finding yourself and opening your heart to forgiveness.

“The world is so much bigger than my pain.”

“You need only open the door. Let go of your old teachings, and brave what you fear.”

Another starry constellation of words by Isabel Ibañez. The atmosphere of the haunting yet incredible wilderness wisps around you as you read. Love and the softening of hearts spill off the pages. A feel-good heart-pumping story.

“It’s strange how someone can weave themselves so throughly into the tapestry of your life, and it’s only with their absence that you realize you’re missing a crucial thread.”

Will not be reviewing this book due to the issues raised by other reviewers regarding racism and colonial PoV.

First of all, thank you so much to PAge Street Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I want to start this out by saying that I LOVED Woven in Moonlight! I read an eARC in December of 2019, and was pulled in, and finished it in just a day! Written in Starlight however, was a bit of a struggle.

Written in Starlight follows Catalina after she is taken to the jungle when she refuses to accept the new Condesa. Very quickly, she is rescued by Manuel, a childhood friend and th son of Catalina's former general. Together, the force their way through the jungle, in Catalina's efforts to return to her throne.

I wasn't a huge fan of Catalina in book one, and it would seem, I'm just not a fan of her character in general. She felt a bit helpless, and relied on Manuel, who was reluctant to help her in the first place. I enjoyed the setting, but the romance was just not there for me, and overall, I was severely disappointed. I struggled to read this book for three weeks, and I'm just disappointed. I looooooved Woven in Moonlight, but I simply cannot recommend this one.

The writing style was incomprehensible? I don’t know if this is a translation or publishing error, but regardless, I was unable to read and enjoy this. From what I was able to read, I wasn’t exactly a fan of the story in particular.

When I read Woven in Moonlight, I fell in love with Isabel’s writing. However, after reading Written in Starlight, I realize how I missed A LOT of problematic issues in the first book, that are continued in this sequel (not a sequel).

Firstly, I’d like to start by saying I love the writing. I think this was a well-written story, but with many problems.

Written in Starlight centers on Catalina, who is a colonizer and racist towards Indigenous communities in the story, and in Woven in Moonlight. This narrative perpetuates extremely negative and harmful stereotypes and ideas about Indigenous people. We are supposed to feel for Catalina, who has been cast out of her ‘home’, and removed from the throne (her ‘birthright’) and left to fend for herself in the jungle. This narrative is supposed to make us see Catalina as a good person who learns who she ’really is’ and comes into her own while surviving the jungle.

But this is anything but that. Catalina’s views of the jungle, her people’s history, and the way she views and talks about (and to) Indigenous characters in the story play on racist misconceptions and stereotypes, and violent ignorance, which in turn makes the story more racist and violent.

I did not like Catalina after the events of Woven in Moonlight, because of her stubbornness and unwillingness to bow to the Llascan queen. After reading Written in Starlight, I like her even less than before. Her colonizer attitude and behaviors are never condemned or discussed on the page. She decides to find an army in the jungle to take back her throne (which isn’t even ‘her’ throne), and decides to use the Illari (Indigenous people) as a means to an end. She refuses to see any wrong in what her people (Illustrians) have done, nor does she believe that the new queen will treat her people well, because she harbors racist sentiments and vengeful anger towards all Llascans. When she finds the Illari, she learns that they too worship and are blessed by Luna, which OFFENDS HER(?), even though they were the original people of Inkasisa who were driven away to the jungle after colonization in the first place.

She then decides to ‘change’ and accept that the Illari worship and are blessed by the same deities FOR HER OWN INTENTIONS. And we are just meant to see it as a change of heart when it is anything but that. She even reflects on the violent colonizer history of her people, but comes to the ‘realization’ that no one is truly ‘blameless’ for what happened, and does not try to learn from the past - she simply justifies colonization and racism.

I cannot love this story, or these characters, when they perpetuate violent stereotypes and racist representation of Indigenous communities. Objectively, this was a well-crafted story, and there is no doubt that Isabel can weave stories effortlessly, and create worlds full of magic and delicious food. But also, objectively, and personally, I can’t enjoy a well-written narrative when it is violent, racist, and tries to justify and romanticize colonizers.

4 stars

I adore _Woven in Moonlight_, so I was THRILLED to receive the arc for this novel: its sequel!

While I do love Ibanez's characteristically lyrical style, lush descriptions, and engaging story telling - and overall enjoyed this installment - for me, it does not match the excitement of its predecessor. Ximena is so easy to root for, and her magic - and all of its manifestations - are just unbeatable...at least for Catalina and Luna. The love story and elements of adventure work nicely here, though they also felt a bit drawn out at times. I got much more engaged with the setting changed (intentionally vague to avoid spoilers).

Fans of the first book will enjoy this, but I found _Written_ to be more useful as a transitional step than a work of its own. I cannot wait for the next one!!!!!

This was everything I wanted in a second book! I loved being back in the same world while following another set of characters. Learning more about the magic system and the deities was so fun. I really hope she continues with a third!

Name: Written in Starlight
Author: Isabel Ibanez
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama, Magic
Rating: 3.5/5
Review:
Written in Starlight is story of a girl rediscovering herself after losing everything. It talks about seeing the bigger truth when one loses the sense of oneself.
The fallen Condesa, Catalina has lost everything, the war, her people, her throne, and her best friend. Now, she is left with two options, either accept Princess Tamaya as her queen or be banished in the jungle. Catalina knows that she hardly has any chance of surviving in the dangers of the jungle, but when a farmer's son, Manuel saves her. She thinks that she may have a chance. She ventures to find the lost city of gold and ask their support in her effort to reclaim her throne. Will she be able to survive the dangers? Will she be able to reclaim her throne?

This is a perfect companion to Woven in Moonlight. Isabel Ibanez returns with her mesmerizing storytelling, this time full of adventures, drama and actions. This book takes us on a journey through the dangers of the jungle, from the clasps of lurking animals into the arms of a handsome guard. The writing style is really good. Though, it is a sequel to Woven in Moonlight, this book gives a very different perspective from the former.

The character of Catalina was really unbearable at some points through the story. Even though, Manuel is doing his best to protect her, she is upset because he is not giving her attention. She seems really selfish as well. But I was glad to see some character development in her. The ending was totally unexpected. The chemistry between Catalina and Manuel was really good. The character of Manuel reminded me of Dimitri Belikov from Vampire Academy, in that sense, I can say Catalina did resemble Rose Hathaway as well.

This book is a must read, if you liked Woven In Moonlight. This book is aimed for the fans of fantasy, romance and adventure.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my advance eARC for an exchange of honest review, all opinions expressed are mine

I fell in love with Woven in Moonlight earlier this year so when I saw that the sister novel is available for request, I crossed my fingers and put in my request. Let's start with the cover, how gorgeous is that? if you don't know the author herself is the designer of both the stunning covers, no wonder she has an incredible imagination

Written in Starlight picks up where the former book ends with Catalina being banished out of the kingdom into the mysterious forest, feeling betrayed and stripped of power Catalina ventures into the sinister yet beautiful Yanu Jungle. With the deadly jungle full of Anaconda's and her water's filled with Piranha's to mysterious mythical beings,Catalina's chances at survival are slim yet the ever determined she is to displace the current Llacsan, she fights against all odds before she meets her long lost alley Manuel. Manuel sworn to the ex-Condesa agrees to accompany her to the mysterious city of Pititi to find an alliance for Catalina in order for her to overthrow the current queen and regain the lost glory for all her people. However this is not a mere stroll in the woods, every step is a suicide with all the magical beings in the jungle and other things that haunt the thick forest, will Catalina survive the jungle and brewing battle both inside herself and in her kingdom? will Manuel become more than her sworn in knight?

Isabel Ibanez has a beautiful writing style, she built a world so resplendent that everything comes to life with her words. The first half of the plot comprises of Manuel and Catalina trying to survive the jungle, to be honest the first 30% of the book can be slow but still engaging nonetheless, the rest of the book is evenly paced and kept me intrigued until the very end. The plot is quite gripping as I was unable to figure out how or what was happening till the very end, I enjoyed Catalina's journey of self- discovery. While the tough life in the jungle puts things into perspective, the allies she makes brings her hidden gift to life showing the real path that fate/Luna wants to put her on., with a good dose of forbidden love and South American folklore aspects Written in the Starlight definitely lived up to my expectations. A very special mention about the mouthwatering food descriptions Isabel had written in the book which made the world just as special as it was in the Woven in Moonlight ;)

This follow-up to WOVEN IN MOONLIGHT focuses on the adventures of Catalina, the former Condesa (countess) of Inkasisa. Now exiled from the kingdom, Catalina must fend for herself and try to figure out whether she really wants to rule or hone her other gifts. Once again, Ibañez's rich descriptions of the environment, the flora and fauna, and the food (among others!) make the reader feel like they're right along with the characters. WRITTEN IN STARLIGHT is a much slower burn than its predecessor, but boy, do the rewards pay off.

An amazing second novel! Catalina is so unlikeable but quickly becomes beloved. I thought I knew where the story was going but then was completely shocked and even yelled at the book to the point where my husband had to ask me if I was okay. It was paced very well, and painted so vividly that I felt like I could see all of the colors of the jungle. A wonderful book.