Perhaps my mind was on overload from too much time in Ender's world, but unfortunately, Holmberg was not able to alleviate my reading ennui this time. Star Mother ended up being some pretty heavy metaphysical reading too. I bit off a bit more than I could mentally chew at the time, which caused me to take more time than usual to finish the whole novel.

After I did finish, I was left with a stalemate on how to review the novel. One, I may not have approached it from the best head space, and I know how that affects a novel. Two, I had a hefty reading slump that delayed me sitting down at the keyboard. In full honesty, I am aware this is not the best foundation for a review, but here it goes.

The story itself was a bit clunky. Holmberg does not often write intense fantasy. They are more clean romance with a slight fantasy twist. Star Mother was a new approach. Attempts at elements of epic fantasy novels were there (struggle between two powers, a protagonist searching for answers), but the pacing never flowed like an epic. I did not find myself inclined to pick up Star Mother and just read for hours at a time.

It felt more like an epic in the vein of a Greek tragedy--Hades and Persephone come to mind. Plenty of sacrifice and tragic faults. Gods and demigods. Epic actual battle between the sun and moon that is tearing apart Earth. Women chosen once in a generation to become star mothers to maintain the power balance.

I enjoyed many of the mystical elements, but something about the story just never hooked me. The more I think about writing this, the more I realize the romance is the odd man out. The epic elements all worked, it was the romance that turned my focus away. That part just felt typecast like all the other romances from Holmberg.

Initial Thoughts
I've read at least 7 of Charlie N. Holmberg's books by now and adding this book to my TBR was a no brainer. I love Charlie's writing.

Some Things I Liked
Themes of motherhood and sacrifice. I loved that this book read a bit older than some of Charlie's other books. The main character was only 19 when the book began but she matured so much during the story. This book leaned more Adult than YA and I really welcomed that.
Unique world building. I loved the world building and almost mythological elements that were woven into this story. I am definitely eager to read the spin off / sequel, Star Father, so I can get more of this world.
Lyrical writing. I loved the atmospheric and poetic quality of the writing here. It felt so autumn vibes to me and it was the perfect read to bundle up on the couch with a blanket reading.

One Thing I Wasn't Crazy About
I wanted more romance. I felt like the romance element was a bit underplayed and I wanted a bit more.

Series Value
I'd love to keep reading this series. I think this world is amazing and I think there is so much potential for more here.

Final Thoughts
This was an "all in one shot" read for me. I really enjoyed it and found myself not wanting to put it down even for a minute. I loved seeing the way Charlie's writing has evolved from her earlier, more YA books, to this beautiful story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

oh this was so much fun. it's emotionally ambitious while still being classically fable-ish. reminds me a little of neil gaiman (complementary). ceris and ris really said soulmates.

Charlie Holmberg’s worlds and magic systems fascinate me and the world of Star Mother is no exception. The idea of a world where, when stars die they must be replaced through the union of the sun god and a mortal woman, is so unique and intriguing. And Holmberg used it to create another engaging novel!
This book sucked me in from the first line and held me captive until the last page. I loved watching gods, mortals, and everything in between interact, the struggles of universal law and love filling the page.
Ceris, with her playful nature and incredible loyalty, made a wonderful narrator and protagonist. Ristriel was mystery and secrets personified, making an intriguing companion who tugged on the heart strings. Together they weave a tapestry of story that I thoroughly enjoyed, with closed door romance and incredible adventures.
I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

How many times is too many times when it comes to crying over a single book?

I’m not going to lie, I cried a ridiculous amount of times while reading this story. Maybe it’s how well I connected with Ceris, and how, as a mother, I felt every heartbreak just a little bit harder than the one before. But the feelings were intense, and even though I wanted to speed through the story and find out what was going on, I found I had to step away often, to give myself a chance to calm my emotions and wipe my eyes. The connection between Ceris and her child, and the way she connected with other characters in the story, was something I could intensely feel.

I think, in a way, that’s part of the problem. Because for all those amazing feelings, I found the connection between Ceris and Ristriel not strong enough. For all their talking and walking, they went from being complete strangers to being something more… or at least that’s what we are told. I didn’t feel their connection, and though I cheered Ceris on, I didn’t feel enough toward Ristriel to make me want to root for them.

I did enjoy the story, and there’s enough emotion there to make up for the lack of connection between Ceris and Ristriel. I’m truly looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

OK CHARLIE. I was so thrilled to be able to read this book early (thanks NetGalley!). Is it her most creative yet? She is a spinner of wondrous (and weird and kiss-full) tales, and I loved being able to dive into her storytelling again. She's an author I always trust and will always read.

This gave me some Warbreaker vibes, which is one of my favorite Brandon Sanderson books. The god-like characters, the surprises - I kept trying to highlight my downloaded copy but could not. There are some beautiful phrases and passages in here. My only qualm (can't be helped) was the occasionally flat portrayals of the deities, and how Ceris, the protagonist, seemed a step ahead of them at every turn, despite being a very young and (not quite) mortal woman. It was difficult to believe that she could or would outwit them, and bring new ideas to challenge their celestial order.

Still: as a mom I enjoyed the highlights to motherhood, and though I despise love triangles, I had to begrudgingly nod to the turns of story here. All in all, another classic Holmberg. I am excited to read the sequel!

What a story. Much darker than Charlie's other works, but in a good way. This story explores a lot of different themes such as loyalty, love, loss, motherhood, and sacrifice. Star Mother is a book I'll think about for a long while to come.

This was a very unique story and I sped through it. I really liked Ceris, the main character, and her growth and sacrifices in the book. There were a few things that I thought would go unexplained that were actually wrapped up very neatly and satisfyingly which made me happy. And I really liked the slow burn romance. I love a slow burn.

I'm curious to find out what the companion novel, Star Father, will be about.

I did eventually come to love this book, but I struggled for a long time. I found the detached “otherworldly” quality to the writing to be a hindrance when trying to bond with the characters. After Ceris makes her choice to become the Star Mother, until she begins to have feelings for Ristriel, I felt very divorced from the plot.

I also had trouble reconciling the similarities of the world to Earth, while exploring a completely new mythology. The only connections I could make were with the mortal world, and yet it was still so different to our own. The rest remained too esoteric to enjoy. Once I had the mythology figured out, the story was basically over.

Holmberg mentions in the acknowledgments that this book is in many ways different from her other works, and I agree. She wrote it as a therapeutic exercise to battle her own depressed state, which is certainly noble. I just didn’t have the connection she obviously did to the story.

Thank you to the author for my free copy. These opinions are my own.

"When a star dies, a new one must be born."


The Sun God chooses the village of Endwever to provide a mortal womb. The birthing of a star is always fatal for the mother, and Ceris Wenden, who considers herself an outsider, sacrifices herself to secure her family’s honor and take control of her legacy. But after her star child is born, Ceris does what no other star mother has: she survives. When Ceris returns to Endwever, however, it’s not nine months later—it’s seven hundred years later. Inexplicably displaced in time, Ceris is determined to seek out her descendants.

Being a woman traveling alone brings its own challenges, until Ceris encounters a mysterious—and desperate—godling. Ristriel is incorporeal, a fugitive, a trickster, and the only being who can guide Ceris safely to her destination. Now, as Ceris traverses realms both mortal and beyond, her journey truly begins.

"Why should three hearts break, when it was needed of only one?"


The thing that I love about Holmberg is that all of her books are unique. I'll say it again and again, pick up every single new book she puts out, and recommend her to others. Despite all that, I've never actually rated a book of hers above a three...until now.

Ceris is one of my favorite heroines to date and I think part of the reason is why she chose to volunteer to be a star mother. This badass realized that while she could marry Caen, he would never love her like she wanted because he already loved another. And while he'd never cheat on her, she decided this wasn't good enough but by god she would get his love...by giving him the opportunity to marry the one he wanted, all while going down in history and securing her and her family's places in heaven. And on top of that, she challenges the Sun's apathy. I mean...here he is (a god), and here she is (a mortal), and she's schooling him in a polite but firm manner about giving more respect to his Star Mothers by actually getting to know a bit about them.

I like Ristriel and his shape changing ways. I like how he was equal parts powerful and helpless. I like his quiet brooding and his thoughtfulness. I like Ceris' and Ristriel's separate self-discoveries as they journeyed together. I liked a lot of things!

The only thing I didn't like about the novel was how Ristriel is labeled as a trickster. There is literally no way this guy would have earned that reputation - especially when you later find out his history. HE IS PRECIOUS. I WILL NOT HAVE HIM BESMIRCHED THIS WAY. Which, actually, probably means Ristriel is my favorite to date.

Read it. It's great.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holmberg's street crew for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had to let this book digest for a few days once I finished it.

It. Broke. My. Heart.

Literally - like 479,012,841 times. Especially at the beginning, I was just overcome with motherly emotion and cried right along with Ceris. And then again nearer to the end... I just wanted to weep more.

The world building, per usual, is just amazing. You can see and feel it all and CNH really makes it come alive with brilliance. There were some parts I was utterly confused, like what just happened? Wait. As if the scene moved too quick and without reason, or perhaps abruptly ended.

After reading the entire story and then the acknowledgements at the end and finding out what motivated the author to write this book, it all just made more sense.

You have to look between the words. We all have a dark spot within our centers that can easily overshadow our light and joy. This book? It was really a work of art, one that helped pull the author out of her own darkness and back into the light. And you can feel that with Ceris' story.

I highly recommend this book - for everyone.

Thank you to the author for personally reaching out and offering me a digital e-arc. Just remember, Charlie: A certain darkness is needed to see the stars. <

I won an ARC of this book- Star Mother was an amazing book! Once I started reading it I could not put it down! Charlie Holmberg is so skilled at creating a full world with characters and places that you can see clearly and this time she out did herself by creating a whole universe! Literally!

It is a story of the naivety of youth, love triangles, growing up, making mistakes and learning from those mistakes! It is also a book about the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars and everything in between!

This book has all the feels! This book made me laugh and cry over and over again! It made me love and mourn as well as rejoice!

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough! Read it! You will not be disappointed and you may look at the universe a little differently from then on!