I was a bit disappointed with how the story ends, but only because so much had been sacrificed along the way. It felt a bit anticlimactic in that sense but also works as a reminder of how war isn’t worth it. It takes too much

It’s not easy to say goodbye to characters you’ve been reading about, but this is absolutely a wonderful story with an unexpected conclusion for the Celestial Trilogy. Find more about Esmae, Alexi, Max, Sybilla, Radha, Titania, Amba and Sorsha in this beautifully crafted universe.

4.5 stars

It had been a while since I read the first and second books so I reread them in preparation for this one. That gave me perspective on all the long-term buildup, and also reinforced my tendency to get nervous about the final book in a series: Will it uphold the standards that kept me hooked on the series, and will it satisfactorily tie up all the loose ends? Will it involve a Final Battle; if it does, will I actually find it interesting? But in the case of this series, I needn’t have worried so much. (Yes and yes. Yes; surprisingly, yes!)

Mandanna maintains the engaging mix of sci-fi and fantasy that make this universe so uniquely engaging. There are so many parallels and callbacks and instances of foreshadowing throughout the entire trilogy, making it an impressively well-constructed epic. Every resolution and every revelation felt not just logically consistent with the previous books but earned. Which is to say, I literally cried through the last 10% of the book, with all the joy and grief and hope it entailed.

This was an amazing conclusion to the Celestial trilogy! I love this series so much, and I'm so happy it ended the way I did.
A War of Swallowed Stars picks up where A House of Rage and Sorrow left off, with Esmae missing and Alexi preparing for war. Titania and Radha have some POV chapters, which I really liked.
I thought the ending brought everything together very well, especially Alexi's and Esmae's character growth. Everything was wrapped up really well, but I would love more books set in this world, maybe about Radha and Sybilla or even Titania and Sebastian a few years into the future. I think this is probably the most unique SFF world I've ever read! 4.5/5 stars!

A lackluster ending to a YA space opera series that I've really enjoyed. Super disappointed (not sure if it's me or the book). Will update with a longer review once I gather my thoughts.

Sadly, I did not realize that this was part of a series. Beautiful cover though! I may have to start from the beginning when I get the chance!

Book: A War of Swallowed Stars (The Celestial Triology #3)
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Genre: Young adult fiction, Science fiction, Fantasy Fiction, Epic Fiction
Number of pages: 288
Published by: Sky Pony
Published on: 29 June 2021
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Description:
A prince without his kingdom.

A kingdom without its princess.

The destruction of the stars themselves.

War is destroying the galaxy. Esmae has vanished without a trace. A terrifying, ravenous beast is devouring the stars one by one. Titania is offered a gift that may well be a curse. Alexi, the exiled prince, is asked to pay a heavy price for his mistakes. And far, far away, on a dark, mysterious planet, a sleeping god stirs awake.

War or family.

Pride or peace.

As the end of the world draws ever closer, Esmae and Alexi must decide how far they’ll go to win—and who they’ll sacrifice along the way.


Premise:
A War Of Swallowed Stars is the third and final book in The Celestial Triology.
The book starts with Esmae missing and the world in danger of being eaten by a huge beast. For the first few parts of the book, Titania plays the main character where we learn more about her and the secrets she knew and kept away from letting out.

With the first book from Esmae's perspective, second from Esmae's and Titania's , the third book is from three perspectives- Esmae, Titania and Radha.

Since Esmae tackled too much betrayal at the end of book 1 yet she had the hope of finally meeting her mother only to be shattered in book 2 where she learns of all the dirty and painful truth and secrets which everyone knew except her.
In this book, Esmae is vengeful yet conscious. She thinks before making a decision. This book witnessed Esmae's best character growth where she realised all that she still have even though she lost some precious things and memories.

Titania is an indestructible warship but she wishes to be a human despite knowing everything a human is capable of, despite knowing how vengeful a human can be, all she wishes for is to not be a warship but a human. She shows us what truly being a human means when she enjoys every little thing which we take as granted.

Sybilla and Radha are an amazing duo who knows how to stand strong and loyal and give cheesy moments.

The characters are the plus point of the book. Max, Esmae, Radha, Sybilla and Titania shows us how much it matters to have someone to watch our back and stand with no matter what the situation demands.

To be very honest, I didn't feel even an ounce of love or generosity for the other side of Esmae's family. I genuinely would have killed some characters only if I was capable of.

The end of the story was something I didn't wish for. The end was nothing I wanted it to be but that doesn't mean that I'm not satisfied with it.
Honestly, the author wrote the best ending possible. As I think about it from time to time, I understand how much the end makes sense. Everyone lost someone precious to them but the best way was to not lose anyone anymore by making a sensible decision. Because at last we need to take responsibility for our own actions and not blame them over fate. No matter what decisions we make, we will always get a chance to make better decisions and have a better future.

With teary eyes, I bid a final goodbye to the book. Hope to read a physical copy of this amazing series soon.
I absolutely loved and enjoyed Mandanna's writing and will surely be reading more of her.

I received a free eARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[This review will be posted on my blog on 30 July 2021]

Content warnings: War, violence, scars, imprisonment, death, blood

*Some spoilers for A Spark of White Fire and A House of Rage and Sorrow, with an early spoiler from A War of Swallowed Stars*

A War of Swallowed Stars is the long awaited third, and final, instalment in the Celestial trilogy. If I could sum up this whole series with a quote, it would be this: A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it - Jean de la Fontaine.

A War of Swallowed Stars changes things up a bit, and we have three narrators who share, more or less equally, the story: Esmae, Titania, and Radha. This book starts a month after the events of A House of Rage and Sorrow, but quickly jumps back to fill in the gaps with chapters from Titania and Radha's perspectives. I thought including all three POVs was a good choice in order to follow more of the threads of the story, especially considering (*Early spoiler*) that Esmae has been missing for that month.

Again, this instalment is short, fast paced, and action packed. While the characters (and the readers) are still reeling from the events of the last book, and all the revelations that happened, there are plenty more to come. The stakes are higher for everyone, and war between Esmae and Alexi is all but inevitable.

I truly believe that Esmae's arc throughout the series was a masterclass in characterisation. Her growth hit all the right beats at the right times. She starts out as a girl who is desperate to reunite with her family, experiences love and grief and betrayal, and this crucible forges her into a weapon. But as a strategist, you have to know which battles to pick.

I thought Radha's arc was also quite satisfying, and has many similar elements to Esmae's. But because they are different people, with different personalities and skills, their stories don't play out in the same way. I was also a fan of Radha's romance with Sybilla. Not only do I love the prickly bodyguard falling in love with their charge trope, but I appreciated that it was a slow burn. Things are not easy for them, and it takes time and patience for their relationship to bloom.

I also really enjoyed some of the other characters' arcs throughout the series, particularly Rickard's, King Darshan's, and King Elvar's. Since they all get comparatively little page time, I was super impressed with how fleshes out their stories were.

I think the biggest strength of this book, and the series as a whole, is the author's ability to draw you in emotionally. It's been quite a while since I felt this invested in a character and the story. I laughed, and I cried, and I raged. haracter and the story. My anger continued long after Esmae's had begun to dim. And I'm not afraid to admit that there are a few characters I would have liked to have seen shot in the heart.

I like that the characters are neither good nor evil. Whether you are hero, or villain, or a victim, is all a matter of perspective. The author took the antagonists of the original epic, the Mahabharata, and made them the protagonists in this series, which allowed her to explore some really deep themes.

The series is all about revenge, and betrayal, and the cycle of violence. It’s about how our stories started long before we did, by the choices of those who came before. But it’s about deciding how we act, and taking responsibility for those choices. It looks at the devastation of war, and how its effects ripple out and change the lives of everyone it touches, even if they are not directly involved. It's also about grief, and how people respond to it. It can be an opportunity for solidarity and unity, or it can be a destructive force. Some people turn that destruction inward, and others let it stoke the fires of their rage, and lash out at other people.

But ultimately, this series is all about love and family, and all the different permutations. Families can be complicated, and messy. The people you love can hurt you, and betray you, and fail to live up to your expectations of them. But family can also be the people who support you no matter what you do or say.

I will say that the very last pages contained a trope I really dislike, so while I appreciated the end of the series in general, I could have lived without the last couple of pages. And no, I won’t spoil it, but it did lessen the emotional impact for me. I'm sure many other readers will be perfectly satisfied with the ending, and it will depend on personal preference.

In conclusion, there is something so delightfully addictive about this series. Partially it's the twists and the action, but also the focus on characterisation. I read all three books in less than two days, because I was so completely riveted, and I had to know what was going to happen next.

I cannot recommend this series enough. I think it would appeal to fans of retellings, sci-fi/fantasy mashups, and fans of family dramas.

not what i was expecting, however this book was enjoyable ... would be interested in reading more by Sangu Mandanna

Review to come. Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication date June 29 2021
#Awarofswallowedstars #Netgalley

A War of swallowed stars is the third and final instalment of the celestial trilogy by Sangu Mandanna. I had very high expectations after the devastatingly spectacular book 2, House of Rage and Sorrows and I was not disappointed in the least.
This finale picks up right after the epic cliffhanger in book 2. Esmae is missing, the universe is being consumed one star at a time by a dragon and Titania is offered a deal that just might change the entire game.
The brilliant brilliant character developments we saw in book 2 continues in book 3 as well and these already precious characters become even more precious and the thought of anything bad happening to them puts you on the warpath. The truly heartbreaking part is that you end up rooting for both sides. Not only Esmae but Alexi too manages to carve a spot inside your heart and the thought of either of them falling prey to this endless power game just rips you apart. Titania is another character who just surprises you at every single turn. I cried for her, I laughed with her, I was delighted for her, I was afraid for her , I was terrified for her at one point and devastated at some of the things she’s made to do, basically I was put through the entire gamut of human emotions by this one single character. And it’s not just these three characters, every single character in this book just makes you invest so much in them that every new development in the plot pulls you in a dozen different directions.
The plot itself was handled in the bestest way possible with plenty of action and a conclusion that could not have been any more perfect. Yes, it’s emotionally devastating and will leave you in tears but it was also deeply satisfying.
This entire trilogy has been such a huge surprise. I never expected to fall so deeply in love with this but I did and I cannot recommend this enough. One of the best Ya space operas I have read!!!! Each book in the book just gets better and better and better, so go grab yourselves these amazing amazing books and come cry with me!!

A War of Swallowed Stars by Sangu Mandanna is the third and final book in the Celestial Trilogy.

In this finale, it is war. Esmae has gone missing. A beast is swallowing the stars. Sentient ship Titania has been offered a gift, but should she take it? Alexi and Esmae must decide what is more important to them: death or life, war or peace, power or family?

Mandanna brings this impressive science fiction trilogy to a close with a bang. I couldn’t get enough of this series. I love everything about these books, especially the characters.

Sangu Mandanna's Celestial Trilogy, which began with A Spark of White Fire (Reviewed Here) and continued with A House of Rage and Sorrow (Reviewed Here), is one of my surprise favorites of the past few years. The series is a YA Space Opera adaptation of a part of the Mahābhārata, a famous Indian/Sanskrit epic, although no prior knowledge of that epic is required.* Each novel in the series is fairly short, roughly 200-250 pages, and there's nothing in the first book that I can point to as objectively great in either character work or thematic work....and yet I fell in love with the characters and this world from the start, and it only got so much better after book 2. The book's protagonist, Esmae, and its minor characters grew so much on me, as Esmae had her dreams betrayed by both gods and humans and got wrapped on an all consuming quest for vengeance, and book 2 ended on a tremendous cliffhanger that just left my jaw dropped and desperate for this book to conclude the tale.

*I have not read a translation of the epic, although between this series and Ashok Banker's Upon A Burning Throne, I have now read two different adaptations of it*

And A War of Swallowed Stars absolutely delivers. The improved and tremendous character work of book 2 continues, carrying the story even as its main protagonist is absent for much of the book's first act. This story of betrayal, of family, of love, of gods and prophecies and curses, etc etc. just winds up and up and goes in some very different directions than I expected, leading to a conclusion that just made me tear up in happiness. I loved the characters, I loved the themes of love and peace vs pride and vengeance, of our own autonomy vs destiny and heritage, and I loved how it all ended. I cannot recommend this trilogy enough, and I cannot wait for whatever Mandanna has coming up next, if anything.

Spoiler Warning for Books 1-2 below.


---------------------------------------------------Plot Summary------------------------------------------------------
An Illusion has been shattered. A Goddess has Fallen. And the Great Beast Sorsha, cursed with an insatiable hunger to consume the stars, has been unleashed.

The war between the House of Rey has placed the entire galaxy in peril, and in the aftermath of Arcadia, Esmae is missing, leaving Max, Titania, Sybilla, Radha and their allies without a clear direction to help save it. A treacherous sun god had once proposed that a way to defeat the Great Beast and save the galaxy, but without Esmae, such a hope seems lost.

But Esmae is not dead, and Esmae and Alexi's war is not over. And when Esmae returns, she will have to recover from her maiming, from her near death, and decide a path forwards: with her ideals about her mother and brother shattered, and her attempt at vengeance nearly costing everything, is it still worth pursuing her campaign of fire and blood? A path that seems to have been started generations ago, with curses and wrongs by her ancestors?

Or is there another path forwards, one that could both save the galaxy, and leave her a happy life, despite all that she has done? All life on the galaxy may hang upon her final decisions.......
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, that's not a great plot summary, but I didn't want to spoil too much for this book, and if you're here, you're probably aware of where things are after two books. What will be a surprise is how this book is told - whereas book 1 was entirely from Esmae's perspective, and book 2 added short interludes from Titania's book 3 is split quite firmly into three perspectives: Esmae's, Titania's, and in a smaller but still significant part, Radha's. Titania is honestly the main protagonist of much of this book, especially as Esmae remains missing for the first act, and well, she works really well in this role.

It helps of course that each of these characters has firm wants and needs, as well as distinct abilities and backstories to guide them forward, which makes them all feel unique and worthwhile as we learn new things about them and see them move forward. Mandanna does a great job showing us Titania's joy at the prospect of becoming not just an all powerful weapon spaceship, but a human being, even knowing how such a dream could make her useless to her allies that she loves....a struggle that hurts her, and drives her with doubt, even as her allies express their love for her no matter what and inform her that she does not have to be useful to be a valued friend comrade and ally. Radha's love for Sybilla, and her guilt over what she did for her father, drives her as well, as she's both confident she's right about Sybilla's love while also afraid of taking one step too far on it....and convinced there may not be a right time for it, as she attempts to rally her father to Esmae's aid.

But really this is still Esmae's story overall, no matter how great the side characters are - and they are great. Esmae spent the first book at first thinking she was going to rejoin her beloved idealized brothers and mother, and get back her homeland, only to realize that the uncle and cousin she cursed weren't actually evil, but good oft-misunderstood people who treated her better than anyone had...and to be betrayed by her brother and mother. She spent the second book consumed by vengeance for that betrayal, for the death of her closest friend, but still slightly hopeful that she could convince her mother to love her...only to be betrayed again, even worse than before, shattering her idealized dreams for good. Now she seemingly has nothing left, and all that vengeance has led only to more and more death and destruction, her mother-figure's loss of immortality, and the galaxy in jeopardy of utter destruction. She could be shattered here, with nothing left but to plow forward no matter what.

And yet, this is not that story, as Esmae goes through a character arc here that transforms the series entirely. Where she realizes despite all she's lost, she still has a boy she loves, a bunch of comrades she cares for, and a home to fight for. Where she realizes that her quest for vengeance has gained her nothing, all for the sake of her pride. And where she realizes that despite all the prophecies, and all the curses and blessings that have been thrown around throughout the generations, that have affected her life tremendously, what really matters, and all that she can do anything about, is her own intentions and actions. She is responsible for herself, not any past prophecies or curses, just as everyone else is responsible only for themselves. And in a trilogy that has spent so much time talking prophecies, visions, curses, blessings, etc., it's an amazing turn that works so so well, as our lead character and her allies all have to realize these same things for there to be any happy ending for anyone.

It all leads up to an ending that isn't perfectly happy, but is happy enough to make me tear up with joy. And it's an ending that is perfectly fitting for this trilogy, a conclusion that wraps up the entire story as well as I could ever have hoped, and makes this trilogy one I am thrilled to recommend.

I wish the first 2 books weren't such a blur to me. There were twists that I didn't quite like and I'm not 100% sold on the ending either. But I did like it overall.

This completes the trilogy that fans of fantasy will be intrigued by. Yes its YA and yes it's set in space but with its meddling Gods, curses and so much anger and pain this definitely gave me fantasy vibes. I will be blunt and say it's my first book by this author so obviously having started this I felt the need to read the first book at least before finishing this and leaving this review.
A displaced Princess, exiled Princes , an embittered Queen not to mention a vengeful God made this compelling reading. The story is told from multiple points of view but each one has their own voice so it was easy to follow. As I mentioned I did download the first book because with so many characters in play I felt I needed to go back to the beginning. I loved the sentient space ship Titania and yes resourceful, Esmae was definitely my favourite character. Her choices have led the world to war but she's not alone in making mistakes. Sometimes being liked is not the most important thing but giving others a second chance just might pave the way to peace. This story of acceptance and love might have started with rage and angst but the message is clear that tomorrow is another day full of possibilities if we only try.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Many thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an early copy to review! All opinions are my own.

I honestly don't even know how I feel about this book. I was so anticipating the final book in this series as I really enjoyed book 1 and book 2. However, book 3 just fell very short for me.

A few things that I didn't like:
- The pacing felt very off. The main villain was defeated about halfway through. And then it took about 15% of the book for Esmae and Alexi to fight/get ready to fight.
- The love story: Esmae and Max. I couldn't get over the fact that they were cousins. No matter that Max was a reincarnated god, but he was still very much Esmae's cousin. That really just turned me off from the book.
- Ship turned human??? That was super weird for me. I would have been perfectly fine if Titania stayed a ship because she was actually interesting as a ship.

I finished A War of Swallowed Stars because I wanted to see if everyone made it about alive (spoiler alert: no). This book just wasn't for me, but I hope that someone else finds joy from reading it.

Now this is how a finale that I’ve been waiting for almost two years should feel like. I just don’t have any words to describe what I’m feeling, but I hope I’ll be able to articulate my thoughts here.

The one thing that has remained constant throughout this trilogy is how fast paced it is. I literally swallowed this book whole(pun fully intended) in a single sitting. And I know it couldn’t have been any other way, because I wouldn’t have been able to sleep tonight if I hadn’t finished reading it. The author’s storytelling is realistic and brutal and painful and just ohhh so brilliant, that I can’t believe I’ve had the opportunity to read such a wonderful story. The emotional depth that the author is able to create is spectacular and I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to rage or cry or despair, basically feel everything that the characters were feeling.

The original Mahabharata story may have been about a war fought between brothers for the throne, or it may have been for the sake of establishing Dharma - ultimately one thing we should remember is that it is also about the consequences of greed, jealousy, the desire for revenge, and finally the devastation of war. While we only see the true devastation during the 18 days and after the war is over in the original story, the author here tries to make the characters see the brutal reality much earlier, probably in the hopes that the longing for peace might overcome pride and the outcome is different. There is also a lot of emphasis on love and family, which is just like the original, but we also see how honor and righteousness may not always be the need of the hour. Now if you wanna know how that plays out in the story, you’ll have to read it, but I thought the author did great justice to the spirit of the epic.

The characters have also been a very excellent part of this trilogy. Esmae as a main character is full of rage and sorrow over the things she has lost and things she has done, but she also understands she is lucky enough to have friends and family who care. And as such a flawed and human character, it’s so easy to fall in love with her and feel everything she does. Max will always remain a favorite because he is loving and kind and compassionate, but I almost felt like he got less page time because there was so much going on. But however little he was present, he was awesome as always.

Titania is a delight as always but it was so fascinating to see even more new aspects of her. When she became a human temporarily, the way the author described her joy and the feeling of touching water and even just trying to walk or run, it brought tears to my eyes because she was so happy. Titania is the light of this story even if she was made to be an indestructible warship. Sybilla and Radha are such great side characters, loyal and brave to the end and I was so happy to see some cute scenes together. They were probably the only respite in an otherwise painful story.

I don’t even know if I want to talk about the other side of Esmae’s family. My blood boils at the thought of some of the things they did in the previous books, and the author ups the angst quotient even more by showing us that they are capable of worse. I don’t think I have ever felt so strongly about wanting a character to die an extremely painful death, but that’s what happens when you get so attached to some characters that they start feeling like someone you know and care for. And I don’t know if I should feel happy or angry with the author for making me so overwhelmed with emotions.

And then there are so many gods - some good, some indifferent, some awful - and while their stories of birth and their curses and motivations are all very fascinating to read in an abstract context, it’s quite anger inducing when they meddle in the lives of our favorite mortal characters and make a mess out of everything.

In the end, this book felt painful and hopeless at times but it was such a satisfying finale that I am extremely upset it’s over, but also overjoyed that I got to read it in advance, and along with all my dearest friends Dany, Shruti, Sim, Prags, Krisha and Jayati. This trilogy has always been an experience that I have loved sharing with my friends and I’m so happy we could do it this time as well. “The chat room of rage and sorrow” is a delight to be a part of and I hope we’ll find another series like this to gush about together, though I know the Celestial trilogy is truly special.

If you are someone who has never read this series, but would love a YA space opera fantasy with gods and mortals, battles and duels, celestial weapons and sentient warships, and characters you’ll either love or hate with a passion - you can’t miss this series. And if you are someone like me who has enjoyed the Mahabharata story while growing up, then I promise this trilogy will delight you. Goodbye Esmae and Max and Titania, but only for now, because I know I will meet you again 😊😊

I’ve been anxiously yet desperately awaiting this book since I finished the second book two years ago. I love this world and don’t want to see it end, but I also had to know what became of some of my favorite characters! As soon as I could get my hands on an eARC, I immediately dropped everything to read it. Full of revenge and sorrow and love, A War of Swallowed Stars brings an epic ending to this gorgeous trilogy.

This review contains spoilers for books one and two.

Picking up right where we left off, this book opens with Esmae escaping into the forest after she ordered Titania to fire on Arcadia. Flash forward to a month later, Titania, Max, Radha, and Sibylla are desperately searching for her, unwilling to believe she’s truly gone. They’re facing enemies from all sides: Sorsha is on the loose, growing closer and closer while devouring stars and planets along the way, and Alexi bides his time, waiting to strike to regain his kingdom one way or another. Meanwhile, a god on a faraway planet awakens, for good or for bad.

As in the first two books, I adored the characters in this book. Even though they’re outnumbered and constantly on edge, they never back down. Every scene with Esmae, Max, Titania, Radha, and Sibylla (and with any combination of them) shows how much they truly and deeply care for each other. It was fascinating to see their growth and their love for each other over time, and I really loved where they ended up.

Esmae’s character arc, in particular, is one of my favorite aspects of this series. In A House of Rage and Sorrow, she’s clearly spiraling in grief, but in this book, she’s starting to realize that rage and sorrow are not enough to subsist on; eventually, they run out, and she must decide where she will be when they do. This war has taken so much from her and will only continue to do so unless she can dream of a better world, one that she can convince Alex of too.

We get Titania’s point-of-view again, which I really enjoyed. Despite being a (sentient) warship, she undergoes such a lovely character arc, and I really liked following her. Her chapters offer a perspective of the gods that we wouldn’t otherwise get to see. Radha also has her own chapters; I enjoyed reading from her perspective. It is also worth noting how Mandanna captures each character’s narrative so distinctly. Titania is observant and omniscient, as is her character while Esmae’s point-of-view is more introspective and succinct. Likewise, Radha narrates with an open mind that allows us to see more of her characterization.

Mandanna really pulls no punches in this book. It’s a little over 200 pages, which is extraordinarily short for a novel in a SFF series, but she packs so much into this time. No moment is wasted; every scene carries the story along without rushing anything. I relished every second of it and already can’t wait to read this book again with the first two books! I’d say I read this book in one sitting, but I had to keep putting it down because there would be a seemingly innocuous line that absolutely gutted me.

I don’t want to spoil anything in this book, so I can’t really talk much more about the plot. I will say that all the character arcs end so well. Esmae and Alexi will do whatever it takes to beat each other, but there’s something more underlying their relationship, something that the other characters attempt to get them to see. The gods also play such an interesting part despite needing to stay neutral. Like I said in my review of A House of Rage and Sorrow, “amidst this war is so much love, love that’s overshadowed by duty and honor, by rage and sorrow” and in A War of Swallowed Stars, we get to see what will win: love or the complex emotions of everyone involved in this war.

Bold and bright, A War of Swallowed Stars was a stunning, gripping finale to this series. I adored the characters and their arcs, and the plot had my eyes glued to the page. I found it a beautiful ending to one of my favorite series; if you haven’t picked up the Celestial trilogy yet, I genuinely can’t recommend these books enough.