Honest review for NetGalley’s eARC
5 stars!

Laura Sebastian does everything right in this book. This series is so impactful. Between the plot, the characters, the world, and the lore- there’s nothing you could want more from the book.
Although the only odd thing I have with the book is the point of view it’s written in. It’s more omniscient than I think I enjoy- there were a couple of times where I was confused on who was talking about who because there were a lot of pronouns instead of possessives, but I worked through that. It would also be weird if the second book changed its writing style (I’m pretty sure I said the same thing about the first book and I know I’ll probably write the same for the third book too)
Other than that minor piece of feedback/feeling, this book delivers. The suspense of it was felt in so many ways. It’s like heist going right or wrong but no one knows until it’s all over- THIS THING AINT OVER YET!
Honestly I shouldn’t even be surprised anymore that Laura can make me feel the things she does in her books. I NEEEEEED to know what happens next. The amount of time in between these books is criminal.
I thought I knew what direction we were headed in but I now have no idea!!

So impressive. So awesome.

Thank you NetGalley, Delacorte Press, and Laura Sebastian for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! Castles in Their Bones is one of my favorite books because of the world-building, characters, and writing style. Due to this, I was extremely excited to read this sequel and see what happens to everyone! I really enjoyed this one and am also rating it 5 stars.

This book follows many of the same characters as book one but it seems to mainly focus on Beatriz - which I assumed it would because of the cover. Beatriz was always the least interesting triplet to me, but I really liked her story in this one and how she learned more about her powers. My favorite POV in this one was definitely Daphne though. I know that a lot of people don’t like her, but I understood her opinions throughout and really enjoyed her character development and relationships with those around her. There’s a new POV in this one as well, Violie, and I thought that her storyline was also very interesting.

The political intrigue in this one was also amazing, along with the continued world-building and strengthening of the characters. I’m so excited for book three because I’m thinking it will be Daphne’s book and she’s already grown so much in this one.

My one complaint is that the middle of the book did seem to be pretty slow-paced, but this didn’t really bother me and I finished it in only a few days. The ending was crazy and I really enjoyed it! I can’t wait to see how everything comes together in the next one. Overall, this is a great sequel, and I think that fans of the first book will really enjoy it. It has all of the great elements and builds suspense even more. I highly recommend it!

Loved this book as much as the first one. I love anything this author writes and this was no exception. This book picks up where Castles in their Bones leaves off and I wasn’t able to put this down after I started reading. Love this series (and characters) and can’t wait to see what happens next.

So much espionage and betrayal and twists and turns. I will be anticipating the next in this series. I love the different character viewpoints from different kingdoms. It gives a fresh take each time and keeps me reading to know what happens to each character. Also, I am swooning over Bairre.

Stardust in Their Veins picks up where Castles in Their Bones left us on a cliffhanger. Following Beatriz, Daphne and returning face Violie, the stakes are higher than ever and our fearless trio (duo?) take on their grief and their out of control mother.

This sequel was a swing and a miss for me. 
I enjoyed reading an ARC of Castles in Their Bones last years and was so curious to see where this book would take us next. But as a whole, it missed its mark.

The characters felt flat in this book. Daphne was childish and naive, Beatriz was forgettable at best and I didn’t understand the inclusion of Violie overall (though her narrative did add something to the storyline). None of the side characters were well developed and felt weird in this book. The different characters carried similar voices so it was hard to feel the shift between them. This book focused heavily on Beatriz, as the first felt very Sophronia heavy so one can assume the next installment will be Daphne’s time to shine, which will be interesting.

The plot had potential but didn’t achieve it. The events of the previous book were mentioned in passing, but never reestablished for context, which was frustrating. While the last book had impressive world building, this one just didn’t carry on that same feel, even as we explored new spaces. The beginning of the book was flat and there was meaningless plot so by the time it picked up, I was already ready to be done with the book and zoomed through the rest.

I was really hopeful for this one, but it just missed its potential for me.

I was such a fan of the first book in this series: it was riveting and adventurous. However, the 2nd book didn’t make the cut. The first 90% of the book was boring! Nothing was happening except a lot of traveling and meaningless dialogue. The only POV that was remotely interesting from the beginning was Beatriz’s. It finally picked up at the very end, but by that time, I was already tired of the characters.
I’m curious as to how this trilogy will end so I will definitely be reading the last book, however, my hopes for it being a great read have plummeted.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s/ Delacorte Press for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this book! The plot was well developed and picks up immediately where book one ends! Laura Sebastian has done a wonderful job at keeping the pacing and character development upbeat and interesting! This book is a fantastic sequel and continues to give the reader court politics that isn’t boring! Along with great characters and representation, the ending has a stellar cliff hanger! I will be eagerly waiting for book three!

Quick summary: I LOVED this story! 5 stars and a strong recommendation!

Full review: "Stardust in Their Veins" by Laura Sebastian is a spellbinding story about the bond between sisters and the courage to create your destiny. The descriptive writing style, vivid worldbuilding, and compelling plot culminate in an addictive story that holds your attention until the last word of the epilogue. Who needs sleep anyway?

"Stardust in Their Veins" picks up where the first book left off, with Beatriz and Daphne coming to terms with Sophronia's death. We also get a third viewpoint from Violie, who faced a similar upbringing as the sisters. I won't go into that out of respect for prospective readers and potential spoilers, but suffice it to say Violie is just as tough, driven, and determined as Beatriz and Daphne. I enjoy the girls' scheming and morally grey characteristics because they're refreshing from traditional fantasy stories. These princesses are competent, capable, and complete without a prince charming. That being said, I adore Bairre and Daphne's relationship, and I'm excited to see how that develops in book three!

The writing style is distinct and well-crafted. The author does a great job getting the reader to care about the characters and become invested in the story, which makes for an addictive book. I hope prospective readers have a comfy chair nearby because once you start this series, you won't be able to put it down.

Concluding thoughts: "Stardust in Their Veins" is easily one of the best books I've read in 2022. I loved the fantasy setting, intricate worldbuilding, believable romances (including an LGBTQIA+ relationship among two side characters!), and evil scheming by morally grey protagonists. Daphne and Bairre will forever be my favorite characters, although Cliona and Violie grew on me, too. I'm thrilled to have been given an advanced reader's copy of this amazing story, and I can't wait for the third book. I strongly recommend this series to fantasy, YA, and NA readers.

I received an ARC courtesy of Random House Children's Books and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book much more than I did the first book in the series. The characters were more interesting and there’s actually some relationship building that’s worth reading about. Props to Laura Sebastian for pulling out a decent sequel to a very boring first book.

And yes, this book does end on a cliffhanger!

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Let me start by saying that both the book cover and the author's work is ABSOLUTELY STUNNING. I have never read a series that bounced between multiple POV's that I didn't get confused reading. The story is unique, and paced very well, I read like I would burst into flames if I stopped. The ending was perfect too, I really appreciate a well rounded duology like this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

4.5 stars. I was pretty bummed when I recently read the first one recently only to learn I'd have to wait <s>an eternity</s> a few months for the next one to come out. I was super excited to receive an ARC copy of this and it did not disappoint. Moved at a good pace with quite a few twists! Now to wait for the next one. :D

This is a sequel and there will be spoilers for book one below.

I love Laura Sebastian's books. I think I'm liking this series even more than the Ash Princess one. The books are long and I still tend to fly through them.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot for this one. Beatriz and Daphne are both morning the loss of Sophronia. Daphne is still loyal to her mother though and doesn't believe that she would have anything to do with the death of her own child. Beatriz has no problem believing it. She was always the one who gave her mother problems growing up. She knows her mother is ruthless and that she needs to figure out her plans. No matter what she does, her mother always seems to be a step or two ahead of her. Violie and Leopold survived. They come across Ambrose and he joins them. The three of them end up at an inn with Beatriz and Pasquale. They got out with the help of their mother's empyrea Nigellus. Beatriz doesn't trust Nigellus, but she needs to learn about her magic. They decide to split up. Nigellus takes Beatriz and Pasquale home to her mother. The other three go to Friv to try to get through to Daphne. Leopold is thought to be dead and they want to keep it that way for now. A lot happens from here that I don't want to give away. I will just say that there are always twists and a somewhat surprising ending. I really need the third book now.

I gave this book 5 stars and it will make my top ten for the year.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my earc.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and was eagerly awaiting this next book in the series. It did not disappoint.

This book picks up soon after the cliffhanger ending of Castles in their Bones. We follow sisters Beatriz and Daphne as they grieve their sister and come to terms with their mothers' schemes and ultimate plans for them. I enjoyed reading each sisters perspective and seeing them start to break away from their mothers plans and lean to try and work together.

I enjoyed seeing Beatriz learn how to control her power and work on a plan that would overthrow her mother. Beatriz has to lean who she can trust as she finds herself back in her mother's court for the time being. I also enjoyed Daphne's perspective and seeing her grow closer with her fiancée Baire. Daphen in the beginning is still trusting of her mother's plans and does not want to hear any talks of deception, but as the book progresses Daphne starts to see where her mother's intentions lie and starts to develop plans to stop her.

Viole is an added perspective in this book and I enjoyed her chapters, they were a nice addition to the story. I enjoyed seeing Viole work to fulfill her promise to Sophronia to help protect her sisters Beatriz and Daphne.

Like the previous book this is filled with political alignments, friendships, and deceit. While the middle of the book was a bit slow, overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Laura Sebastian has done it again. After the rug was completely pulled out from under us at the end of the last book, I spent this book on edge, looking for betrayals around every corner. And I was STILL surprised at the end! It’s rare that I’m this tense throughout the entire book, but the suspense was killing me. Would Daphne see reason? Would Beatrice make a mistake she couldn’t recover from? Would Leo and Violie be discovered? What else is the Empress plotting?
I can’t say too much without spoiling both the previous book and this one, but let me just say this was so good! The tension was obviously high, but there were humorous moments, tender moments, and one scene that brought tears to my eyes.
I cannot wait to see how this is all wrapped up! I know I’ll be on pins and needles until the last page of the last book!

4.5 stars

So happy that I had the ARC, because after the cliffhanger from book one, I got to devour this one quickly! (4.5 Stars)

Stardust in Their Veins solidifies the improvements Sebastian has made as a writer between this series and her debut trilogy, Ash Princess (which I was not a fan of). My pet peeve in the fantasy genre is that plot twists about character fatality often end up being reversed (because, of course, magic!). This reversal is cheap, uninspired writing. If you're going to jump off the cliff, you can't go back to the limp.

Thankfully, those who are no longer present STAY no longer present- if you've read book one, you know what I'm talking about. Happy to report that Sebastian avoids this cliché, and the consequences from book one continue to play out in book two.

Violie, Sophronia's maid, is added as a POV in this installment, and she's a welcome addition to the group. At times, though, she could be a little too similar in attitude and disposition to Daphne. As we become more familiar with her in book three, perhaps that may change. Speaking of Daphne, the tension of her plotlines is massively improved in this book. I actually looked forward to her chapters, rather than skimming to get back to Sophronia or Beatriz. She is also probably the most developed character, with the most complex relationships and the most difficult decisions to make. This time around, however, Beatriz had the least interesting story. There isn't enough world-building about Bessemia for me to care what's going on, and we get it, the Empress is evil. Furthermore, Pasquale isn't developed enough as a character for me to be truly invested in his friendship with Beatriz or his relationship with Ambrose. There's no negative traits to him that endear him as a three-dimensional character. Ambrose is even worse- flatter than paper. Especially since Sebastian has added new view points, it may be prudent to include Pasquale's, as he may have an interesting story to tell. I want to care about Pasquale, I really do! I just...don't.
Speaking of half-baked characters- Nigellus. Was I supposed to care? He certainly is not "warm, demanding mentor" that we see often in YA, and that's perfectly fine. If anything, I love a morally gray mentor. However, he just adds absolutely nothing to the story, or to Beatriz. She could have gotten all the information she needed elsewhere, and his conversations with her tended to drag on. He needs to be crueler, or more entertaining, or somewhere in between. He just needs...more. Nicolo belongs in this boring boat, too.

Aside from a slightly lagging middle section, Stardust in Their Veins remains tightly plotted and exciting. I've been entirely absorbed into this world, and I'm sad to leave it until the next book is released.

I am begging Laura Sebastian, BEGGING, for more Gisella in book three! I love me some anti-heroines, and her cunning and self-preservation was delicious. More of her, please! A POV, perhaps?

The most pressing problem of Stardust were those of logic. There were one too many moments of, "how have they not figured this out yet?!" Daphne is denser than rock in some aspects, and she's supposed to be the smartest one. It takes WAY too long for her to realize how treacherous her mother is, and it got tedious watching her justify the Empress' actions for the ten thousandth time.
The Frivian rebellion continues to boil in book two, but their motives are not that clear. Why do they hate King Bartholomew so much? I remember it being referenced in book one, but there's no outward text evidence to support the rebels' hatred of him. Some scenes that demonstrate the pain Bartholomew has caused to Friv would solidify the rebels' actions better. At this point, I don't really care if the rebellion is quelled or not, because I don't really understand what they want anyway. And speaking of Bartholomew, he is a fool, and I'm not sure how the rebels haven't killed him already.
And the tiniest of logic issues- how does Bairre NOT recognize Leopold? They were princes of neighboring countries; I doubt that they have never met each other before.

Another fantastic entry for this series- already foaming at the mouth for book three!

The second installment of the Castles in their Bones trilogy, Sebastian brings us back to the world of Daphne and Beatriz. The princesses are both at loose ends, what with their mother’s scheming and their sister’s death and they must decide where their loyalties lie. Beatriz makes the journey back to her treacherous mother’s court while Daphne tries to figure out if she is her mother’s daughter through and through. Intrigue abounds in this fantastical story. Once again I am amazed by the world building that Sebastian has accomplished and her mastery of continuing the writing from the first book (told in alternating viewpoints of the three sisters) despite the death of one of them! Excellent twist at the end as well. Yet again, desperately awaiting the next in the series!

The author has written other young adult novels that I have enjoyed, so I was very glad to be able to review this one. Although this is the second in the trilogy, I think that this may be Ms. Sebastian's best yet. Excellent world-building, characters I liked (always important), and the idea of destiny - can we change it? Wonderful, captivating writing and original plot gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. I highly recommend this author and all of her other books I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print.

I loved the first book and the second did not disappoint! So engaging and interesting and I cannot wait to read the third book. My new favorite Laura Sebastian series!!

This is an incredible follow up! The same magic grows and the characters develop. I absolutely adore this book and how much it sucked me in. This book really is such a fantastic sophomore book in this series.

A very good middle book for a three part series. I would like to hear more from the Queen's point of view. It is hard to believe she is that evil. Eagerly anticipating the third novel.