This is a review of "To Free the Stars" book 2 of the Jack & Ivy series by J'nell Ciesielski, which comes out on Aug 8,  for NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  Ok so this book was not at all what I expected!  I read book 1, The Brilliance of the Stars, and loved it, so I was excited to read book 2.  You must read book 1 to understand book 2.  I don't want to give a synopsis like normal because doing that will give spoilers for book 1, so not going to do that.  I am just going to post my thoughts of the book here.

This was totally unexpected!  I love J'Nell's books, and book 1 was fast paced and great, but this book was mind-blowing!  This is not your typical Christian story, but is a book about assassins and evil, but also incredible love, grace and forgiveness that ends up saving some characters but destroying others!  It is a book where evil is real and horrible, but love really conquers all in the end!  I literally read this book in 1 day because I literally couldn't put it down!  My heart was racing, and I was engrossed from beginning to end!  There is violence in it because of the assassins, so prepare yourself, but it was also a great story of love and friendship that triumphs over evil!  I highly recommend it, but just go into it knowing those things, and I believe you will enjoy it!  It kind of has a Jason Bourne vibe to it, but in a clean way that makes a great and exciting story!!!  So I give it 4 out 5 stars only because since it was from a Christian author, I would've like to have seen something about the Lord in the story as the author of ultimate forgiveness and grace, but it didn't mention Him, but I still really enjoyed the story, and would recommend it!

I adored this story! I wish it could have gone on and on. I didn’t want it to end. Ivy and Jack’s love story is beautiful and hopeful and exciting and intense and wonderful. To Free the Stars will keep you enchanted and waiting on the edge of your seat as you hope for the happiest of endings. Thanks to J’nell Ciesielski and #NetGalley for this chance.

First of all, I want to say I have seen some mixed reviews of this book and I feel that the negative ones are unwarranted. I believe that they base their reviews on their preferences, not to the actual merit of the book itself. (Which is well within their rights.) They have taken their preconceived notions of what to expect and not appreciated the beauty of this story. Is it perfect? No. Does it deviate from J’nell’s previous works? Yes. Is it too much? Maybe for some, but not for most. Is it deep and raw and intense? Yes! While it could have been presented safer or toned down, it wouldn’t have depicted the great suffering of their journey or the true testament of the kind of connection between the two main characters. Their love is an all consuming, all encompassing, all enduring, undying love that deserved a moment of freedom and release. I don’t want all my ramblings to be interpreted as this being “spicy”, so let me offer some context hopefully without spoiling the story. Chapter 27 has a scene between a married couple, some would call it “closed door”, some would say “fade to black”. If you have read a lot of historical romantic fiction I would place it between Mimi Matthews and Amy Harmon. It isn’t explicit, it isn’t gaudy, it is a culmination of acceptance, longing, of walls coming down; of love conquering fear, self doubt, and regret; of a healing intimacy. It is uninhibited and fierce and frenzied. The scene is descriptive of feelings and removal of clothing and all that leads up to the “inevitable”. Some people wouldn’t be comfortable with it. It is easily skipped. But it is definitely a true (albeit this is a fictional world and premise) representation of the moments between a husband and wife who have overcome many horrible experiences to finally be together again.

The other criticism I’d like to address is the originality. Like countless other stories in the big wide world of fictional writing, the author watched a movie and the wheels started turning. She took that seed of inspiration and created what I consider to be an outstanding duology. Full of history, action, suspense, romance, good vs. evil, spies, betrayals, survival.

Now that I got all that off my chest here’s my review.

To Free the Stars is book 2 in the Jack and Ivy duology. Technically you could read it as stand alone, but that would be a disservice to the efforts of the author, to the journey of Jack and Ivy, and to yourself. The Brilliance of Stars is an amazing story that jumped to the top of my all time favorites. It was fast paced and intense, with outstanding characters. At the conclusion of book 1, we are given the hints of what is to come next. Although, it is not what you want, it is what makes the next book so spectacular.

It would be too hard to discuss at length without giving away anything for either book. But I’ll make some observations and comments to give you the feel of what to expect. Jack and Ivy are highly skilled trained assassins. They spar, they test their mettle against each other, they respect one another, and love grows deep and wide. It takes awhile before they admit those feelings, but once they do their love and passion rivals that of Claire and Jamie Fraser or even Noah and Allie. It is intense. They have epic chemistry.

The plot from book 1 is carried over into book 2 with some dire complications and stinging betrayal. Jack and Ivy are both pushed to the edge of humanity. Evil is increasing its chokehold on them and the world they know. Friendship is tested, trust is shattered, and love is put through the refiner’s fire to either turn to ash or come out in its purest form.

With nods to Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and some hints of The Hunger Games and Mission: Impossible you are in for a wild ride of fight scenes, some torture, romantic tension, harried escapes, hard won battles and hard to except losses.

I think this book is the bomb! J’Nell is a terrific writer and is spreading her wings to fly with this duology.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

#jnellciesielski #tofreethestars #historicalfiction #historicalromance #netgalley

3.5 ⭐️

I want to highlight something I appreciated about this book and something that kept me from giving it a higher rating. Let's start with the positive first!

The author has such an engaging writing style, and it kept me turning the pages. I felt so many emotions as I journeyed alongside the characters in this story. I especially think the author has a really good grasp on writing characters who struggle with trauma and regret. There were some great themes in this book that I really loved/appreciated. And, without trying to give away any spoilers, the author knows how to write about characters who have been separated and are reunited, struggling with some sense of normalcy after being torn apart and the changes that happened to both of them because of their separation. It wasn't storm clouds, then rainbows the next page. It was a slow, gradual change that mirrored reality very well, and I really appreciated that.

I really felt like the plot wasn't super original...in all honesty, parts of it felt very much so like a retelling of Captain America + Bucky Barnes (except, instead of friends, a husband and wife) and Peeta + Katniss from The Hunger Games (where Peeta is hijacked and is trying to reclaim his memories). That took away a lot of my enjoyment for the story because it lacked that originality I really want to find in a good story.

A content warning as well: there is a fade-to-black bedroom scene, and while it was technically closed-door, it was still very descriptive in what was happening before the scene changed (described clothes coming off, etc.) and I felt uncomfortable reading it, so I skipped that scene (about 1 1/2 pages long). This is a personal conviction of mine, so if you're comfortable with these kinds of scenes, then this shouldn't be an issue for you :) A couple uses of the d* word as well.

I will say, once again, that the author is a very good writer and she knows how to tell a sad story while keeping it engaging, but the story lacked originality and felt more like a retelling of a Marvel/THG movie, hence the lower rating. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an eARC of To Free the Stars. A positive review was not required, only my honest opinion. All thoughts are expressly my own.

I needed to spend more time with Jack and Ivy and I got to! There were some heart tugging moments and I HATED that they were apart but Ivy fighting for Jack through darkness and violence and remembering every little thing that made their love so all-consuming.

Breathlessly romantic and wonderfully paced. I could feel the pulse of the author's personality throughout

"The pair of you have always been attuned to a melody all your own. If I were a man given to romantics, I'd say it's rare to find notes to make up such a composition."

I had thought J'nell Ciesielski's finest work was The Brilliance of Stars when Jack and Ivy were introduced....but To Free the Stars has completely and utterly outpaced and out-romanced the first book. The opening scene of this book is a direct continuation of the first book and goes from 0 to 60mph in the first few pages. It covers every emotion possible - despair, grief, anger, jealousy, hope, loyalty, mercy, and love. Action, suspense, and romance are perfectly blended for a thrilling adventure. Mix together Jason Bourne, Mission Impossible, and Captain America/Winter Solider into 1927 international political backdrop and you have this fabulous novel.

Jack's journey is heart-breaking and raw; he seems a different man from the one we met in the first book. Ivy's desperate and unrelenting love for him is also heart-wrenching and raw as she fights to hold onto who they were. There are a lot of flashbacks to their lovely, delicious, tender romance and a good portion of the book is dedicated to Jack and Ivy finding a new rhythm. Though there isn't a faith thread, I thought there was a good metaphor for captivity of sin and freedom and healing that come from love.

To Free the Stars will have you crying tears of empathy, clutching the edge of your seat in anticipation, sighing at the romance of it all, and cheering for Talon as good battles evil and love disarms betrayal. One of my favorite reads of 2023! I received the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

I loved this story by J'nell Ciesielski, such a great storyline and characters!

I just reviewed To Free the Stars by J'nell Ciesielski. #ToFreetheStars #NetGalley
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"To Free the Stars", the riveting conclusion to "The Brilliance of Stars", is a fast-paced, intense read. If the reader is looking for unicorns and rainbows, she (or he) is doomed to disappointment as neither can be found here. Amid spying, assassinations, and drug-induced mind control, one finds Jack and Ivy Vale on opposing sides, dark and evil vs. light and good, at least initially. A shocking betrayal fuels much of the action.

Due to the inherent storyline, there IS violence. That being said, I consider this on the line of good triumphing over evil. Actions take place in several places around the globe, and Cielsielski paints a vivid picture of both. Characters are well-drawn.

J'Nell Cielsielski weaves this unique tale with her evocative prose. Jack and Ivy's love story is simply beautiful. There is an intimate scene of the married couple near the end of book that to me was deeply romantic. However, I still classify this as a clean read, as I find onscreen love scenes distasteful and unwelcome, and would state it if this were the case. This is not a stand-alone novel. The author is a very talented storyteller. I've read all of her works, and look forward to more of her engaging books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC of this compelling read.

This is hard review to write. J'nell is a gifted writer and she has crafted a beautiful story, but...

In book 1, we have an overall lighthearted story. Jack and Ivy and Phillip have lots of hope, even while they fight. This book is very heavy and dark. My heart hurt from the beginning and by the end I was almost numb.

One thing I appreciated was that the story flowed well. Many times, when characters are dealing with heavy things, the story can seem to get stuck in an endless cycle of guilt and shame and self-pity. That didn't happen here.

Another thing that I really liked was Ivy's perseverance and commitment. She NEVER gave up and never betrayed her vows. She fought for what was important to her and it was very admirable. I also liked her desire to forgive and give the benefit of the doubt to her betrayer. Ivy is a pretty incredible character. She has her flaws and failings but she is also very strong and I admire her.

It never seems quite fair to me to dock stars for a book being just not exactly my kind of story and while that is not truly the reason for my three star review, it is a part of it. This is a heart-rending book. Ivy has lost so much and loses more still. I do NOT like stories where family and friends are pitted against each other. This story reminded me of my least-favorite parts of Pirates of the Caribbean and of Captain America: The Winter Solider (that movie broke my heart). I can't say much more without spoilers.

That in itself would probably have made me give this a four star review but we have another problem. There was an extended intimate scene again. I had to skim ahead. I have nothing but the previous book to compare it to (and I skimmed that too) so I can't say if it is graphic or not, but it is too intimate in my opinion. Yes, it's all in the covenant of marriage, but I don't think it belongs in books and I think it is an important warning for people to know about.

Those two things together gave it three stars. I do also have to mention that the "d" word and the "h" word are used, although usually to talk about the place or something being "d***nd" so I get it. One character does actually swear though, in anger, but still. Not something I expect to find in my Christian fiction and I feel it bears mentioning. This does not play into my star rating though.

Let's summarize it like this: it's three stars instead of two because it is a well-written story but it it weren't for the intimate scene, it would be four stars.

I do have to say that the ending is quite satisfactory and absolutely perfect for Ivy in particular.

I have read several books by J'nell Ciesielski and the others are not like these. I'm not sure what is different about the Jack and Ivy books that made her include things she hasn't in some of her other works. I don't recall intimate scenes in the other books I've read by her. She is a very talented storyteller and writes beautiful stories. This is a beautiful, deep, moving story, it's just too heavy and sad for my tastes. If you want to read a J'nell Ciesielski book, I would recommend "Beauty Among Ruins", "The Socialite", or "The Ice Swan" in place of this duology. They are stunning books and, as I said, I don't believe they have any problematic scenes.

Not recommend for under 21 because of intimacy. I probably would not recommend for unmarried women either.

To Free the Stars by J'nell Ciesielski, continues Jack and Ivy's story that began in The Brilliance of Stars. I definitely recommend reading the first book to gain the most enjoyment in this second book of the series. There are a few very surprising twists to the plot as Ivy continues as a spy and assassin in the Talon organization. Edge-of-the-seat action starts at the beginning and continues throughout the fast-moving story that is woven together mayhem, suspense, and danger and the discovery of a love that endures through it all. I received a complimentary copy of the ebook through NetGalley and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski happens ten years after The Brilliance of Stars. I highly recommend readers read the first book before they dive into this one. Yes, the novel could stand alone; however, there are many plot points that reference moments in the first novel. Again, plenty of moments of action. Chasing through the globe in different locations as the Talon try to destroy the enemy. Ivy and Jack must overcome some obstacles together to solve and stop the assassination attempts. While the plot could be interesting because of the spy element and chasing around the world, it was a little dry for a good chunk of the novel. The romance is building a little more in depth this time around. If readers were thrown for how much romance was in the first book, then one is kicked back a notch, but it is there. Ciesielski does a wonderful job at inviting readers into her settings. She uses just enough description to keep the readers actively involved in the story and the setting. The writing is wonderful. Nicely shown and dived deeply into the character’s train of thoughts. Overall, To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski does tie up the story from The Brilliance of Stars; however, there were moments that the story was pretty dry for me. I wanted more action.

I received a complimentary copy of To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This book was wonderful!

I loved the adventurous feel of this book. I would advise reading the first book before this one (something I didn't realize I missed) because it would make so much more sense that way.

This book was fast-paced and engaging, and I had trouble putting it down. I loved it!

The story begins 10 years after The Brilliance of Stars & you definitely need to read the stories in order.

From the epilogue of book 1, I had a hunch on what would come about in book 2, and I was correct.

This book was a gut punch in many ways. It was dark. It was gritty. It was heartbreaking. It seriously hurt.

Ivy, bless her heart, never gave up. I admire her courage, her perseverance, and her faithfulness. I can’t even imagine being in her shoes. And Jack… my heart broke for him.

There was a character who both made me both incredibly angry & incredibly sad. I found myself not able to hate him despite his actions, but he irrevocably broke my heart.

While the first book had its dark & heavy moments, it was still rather light & hopeful. Book 2 was far different. I am super sensitive to mind-control & torture (psychological & physical), and both were abundant here. I ended up skim reading 50% of the book because it was weighing me down too much.

Content wise, there is some language, mentions of a past miscarriage, and some heavily implied physical intimacy. The latter was too much for my comfort level and different than what the author has done in the past.

I’m torn over this book. It wasn’t badly written, but the heavy content made it not for me.


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I couldn’t read this fast enough. I think I read it in the span of about 12 hours it was so hard to put down. My heart broke for everything Jack and Ivy suffered and all they went through to be together. I don’t think I would have the courage to go through what Ivy went through and still fight as long as she did for her husband. My favorite scene was when they danced for the first time after being separated for ten years.

Content* There is a fade to black scene that brought my rating down one star. I can understand why the author wanted it in the book, the couple being separated for 10 years. But if I’m being completely honest, I would have preferred to have not read it.

The conclusion to Jack and Ivy. Spies, location jumps, a crazy maniacal organization, forgiveness, redemption. This story has it all, maybe a bit too much? It was a lot of moving parts to keep track of. At times I didn't particularly like either Jack or Ivy, their hands are covered in blood after all and they can both be ruthless and single minded. I have to say, I skimmed over the parts about the order, it had a feel of a bit of Ra's Al Ghul's league of assassins, working behind the scenes on their agenda for hundreds of years, which is fine for comics, but I would have preferred something more grounded here, I thought the first half was really solid, slow and deliberate, and took time with the characters, and the second half or last third was action sequence after action sequence, introducing a lot of players and hopping around quite a bit. That for me was a mixed bag. Overall, I thought it was decent, but could have been more. Somewhere around 3.5 for me. Others will probably think the reverse and find the first part too slow and enjoy all the action later. It takes all kinds! I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for an honest review

A fantastic historical fiction novel that was unputdownable. Authentic details from the 1920's and superb writing raise this book above the rest. It was thrilling and an excellent ending to the series. I really enjoyed it and will read anything this author decides to write!

One of my favorite lines in the entire book sums up the story of Jack and Ivy so well: "To greatest heights or lowest depths, I'd go to be with you."

Full of loyalty and betrayal, love and loss and hope. To Free the Stars is an epic conclusion to Jack and Ivy's beautiful story. It was heartrending to read about so much pain and loss, but then hope glittered through the cracks. Family broken apart by fear. A love lost and found. But our heroine clings to hope. I loved reading Ivy's story, so full of hope, even in the brokenness. and J'nell is a beautiful story-teller from start to finish.

To Free the Stars concludes the Jack and Ivy Duology by J’nell Ciesielski. Reading the first novel, The Brilliance of Stars, is a must. It sets up everything that occurs in this book, despite the ten-year span between the stories.

I read To Free the Stars quickly. It has a fast pace, but I skimmed over some parts that were nightmarish and/or repetitive. Most of the book feels very dark, which is a departure from Ciesielski’s earlier novels. There are sections of reprieve from the evil as well as a theme about light-versus-darkness, but it wasn’t enough to redeem the story in my opinion. After being steeped in drugs, violence, and mind control for ten years, it was difficult to believe Jack could overcome all his vices with only Ivy’s support and limited assistance from the Talon agency.

Content/Trigger Warning: Mild cursing (d-word, h-word) occurs occasionally. Voluntary and forced drug use is repeatedly depicted on page. I found the level of detail in the drug scenes extremely uncomfortable, and it could be triggering to those with a history of drug addiction.

On a more positive note, To Free the Stars by J’nell Ciesielski has themes about commitment in marriage and the dangers of revenge. The epilogue felt out-of-step with the rest of the story, but I appreciated that it had some hope and happiness. Truthfully, I had a few more complaints about the book that I haven’t mentioned here. Ciesielski is a talented writer, but the content of this book just wasn’t for me.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.

Such a fantastic addition to the first book!! So many twists and turns and unexpected adventure. It had me reading well into the night because I just count put it down!

"You must go on, love. For me. For us."

Consumed by bitterness, plagued with regret, he is the most important rescue mission of her life...this time, she will not fail.

If you've read J'nell Ciesielski's novel Beauty Among the Ruins, take that fairy tale retelling and imagine something the complete and total polar opposite.  And voila!  I present to you To Free the Stars, the second book in the Jack and Ivy series.

Do not pick up this story without reading The Brillance of Stars first! Set ten years after the first story ends, To Free the Stars had me on the edge of my seat!  The story is fast paced as the members of Talon work to eradicate a group of psychotic occultists. The tone of the story starts with a bright-ish feel before plunging into the dark and oppressively evil nature of the Order.  There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the story interesting and one twist in particular left me feeling pretty angry with one of the characters.  I enjoyed this adventure, even though it is a little darker than my usual read and left me with a heaviness in my soul.  It's the kind of story that you just can't let go of after you've finished reading.

If I were to get nit-picky... Once again, like the first book, I would not classify this story as Christian fiction.  Having read the first story I was prepared for the language included in this novel, but I still found it disappointing coming from a Christian publishing house. (b****rd, d***n, were used 11 times throughout).  There was also an intimate scene that was mildly descriptive and didn't really bother me but might be bothersome to others. Other content warnings: torture, drugs, gun violence, murder.

Choose as your next read if you like:
Revenge
Betrayal
Strong female main characters
Second chances
Justice vs. Mercy

If you liked Captain America - The Winter Soldier, or enjoyed The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E Pearson, I think you would like this book.

Thank you, J'nell Ciesielski, Thomas Nelson, and Net  Galley for the complimentary copy  of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.