This book was so good! I don't want to share too much since we're so far out from the release date, but I promise it's amazing! Romantasy fans will devour this. We've got Greek gods, sci-fi setting, retelling vibes, and some seriously spicy romance! Ariadne was raised in some major purity culture so it takes her a while to start the sexytimes with Dionysus, but once we get there *fans self*. The book is also super queer! I don't remember if exact terms are used, but I would say Ariadne is bi or pan. Dionysus is both gender fluid (while usually a man, he can change his appearance and gender as he desires) and is probably pansexual as well. Various gender and sexual identities are represented in the side characters, including a trans follower of Dionysus who I adore. I highly recommend it and will definitely be reading book two!

The book took me on a whirlwind of emotions, leaving me in awe. Corrain's ability to immediately captivate the reader through vivid descriptions of the world, the harsh realities faced by the characters, and the intricately woven plot is truly remarkable. The story confronts us with death, an endless indulgence in wine and pleasure, both delightfully sinful and a reminder of how we often deny ourselves happiness and freedom. It delves into the complexities of family dynamics, both divine and human, not to mention the interstellar war and the various forms of love explored.

What truly stands out is the portrayal of a love that surpasses imagination and the lengths we are willing to go for those we hold dear. I couldn't help but empathize with the characters, their losses, struggles, and the profound bond and love they shared. I found myself cheering them on every step of the way.

Crown of starlight review

Thank you to Del Rey for thinking I would be interested in this book and to net galley for sending me the copy to read. For anyone who obsessed with percy Jackson as a child. Greek mythology meets sci-fi/space! The combination of both elements was so intriguing. I love any kind of Greek mythology retellings! The way the old myths and future aspects were combined was done so well it made you want to read more. Ariadne is one of the most interesting stories in mythology and the way the author adapted her story made it even more enjoyable. I look foward to reading more from this author and seeing what they come up with next.

This has everything I love in a book! Sci-fi fantasy, plus magical realism. You won't know what you're getting into until you start this books. Who doesn't love a retelling of Ariadne & Dionysus but make it in space! It transforms you into another world & captivating! I cant wait for the next books and will definitely be reading more from this author!

Thank you for this arc!

Screaming, crying, throwing up. This was so good!! Mythology but make it space was something I never knew I needed.

Quite literally this is just the myth of Ariadne but in space.

I thought this was a wonderfully imaginative retelling of the myth of Ariadne. So often we get a “feminist retelling” and it’s just the story with no extra flair. The science fiction/outer space setting of this was really cool and I thought that the portrayal of all the standard characters was fabulous as well. I did however take issue with some of the Greek inspired language. Why is Ariadne using the term bacchanal when she’s from a planet without knowledge of the gods (especially bacchus) and why would the word “Herculean” be in her vocabulary when Hercules was Roman (Heracles being the Greek equivalent). All in all, I think justice was done to the original story with a fun spin.

This was EVERYTHING.

I loved The Lunar Chronicles in hs/college....

COS is that series' hot older cousin. This book was so fabulous. My only concerns were that I really didn't get the Moirai vs Theorai anology, I guessed that was just a transition to a monotheistic religion vs the Pantheon ??? I also didn't love how the term Olympians was used to designate anyone who lives on Olympus compared to the traditional use of it for the 12 gods and goddesses.

The end also wrapped up a little to quickly and tosses off the pacing.

But none of this was to the point it wasn't enjoyable, just took me aback a little.

PLEASE READ.

Okay so I was really excited to see a retelling of Ariadne and Dionysus but, this just didn’t catch my attention. It felt very dry and flat to me. I’m not a huge fan of all the descriptions but if you love descriptive writing this could be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House - Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am always on the hunt for a new space opera, and I was intrigued by the retelling of Ariadne and Dionysus in such a different setting. Unfortunately, this book just didn't meet my expectations, and I struggled to connect or understand the story from the first chapter.

I think the immediate setting was frustrating to me from page one - that it was so like ancient Greece that I couldn't understand the space aspect at all and got really twisted up in understanding the strong presence of gods (which space operas tend to have a bit more distance from when their technology is so advanced). From there it just was more difficult for me to connect with the characters and the plot. I think if it has been a retelling like A Court of Thorns and Roses is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, then I would have been more engaged - but I feel like Corrain wasn't able to make the leap into a new envisioning of the story. Changing the character names might have helped to give some distance to create something new?

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Del Rey for granting my wish!

I struggled with how to both write a review and rate this, because I felt at the time of requesting, I wasn't sure if this was a book for me, and it turned out to. . .not be a book for me? I was sold mostly on a bookseller I follow truly hyping it up as their favorite ever, and the TLT comparisons.

I should say also that I am aroaceish, and upon seeing the CWs included a fair amount of smut, proceeded to brace myself for it. And then there was not near enough as I was expecting, or enough that I myself would really consider it that well. . . .spicey? i mean, sure, there's like? five. six scenes I guess. I just anticipated more based on what I'd been hearing? Like i'm not complaining there's less, but, it did feel a bit overblown.

While also having a passing familiarity with Greek myth (certainly not as much as the author), I felt like it could have been explained more in-book why Hera hated Dionysius above all other Zeus's children who were also conceived as he cheated on her. Yes, he defied her for him but like. . . . he's neither the first nor the last not hers, and she's working with other children without so much as a blink. Given too, the warnings about Apollo being terrible... and it's Zeus who makes the worst impact (I mean, Zeus is. A lot too) it also felt odd to me? The whole Aphrodite incidents also felt pretty random to me.

I'm not also sure where to go from here unless it's like? taking down the other gods, and stopping Phaedra before she well. Phaedras. Which could be possible! But most of it seems to be well wrapped up in book one.

Things I did like: the humor? the descriptions. certainly the queerness. The explicit conversations about consent, and showing how it was used! Theseus pre-betrayal and the awkwardness of "she's not here to kill us" "...i mean, i am a little" (not direct quotes), the discussion of how she still loved Phaedra because of how they were raised under the same cruelty.

Again, this wasn't the book for me, but I know a lot of people who it would be for.

Unfortunately- I’m gonna have to DNF this one. The writing isn’t bad but it also lacks any sort of voice. It feels very generic.

On top of that, I felt like the use of internal monologue to info dump EVERYTHING onto the reader was just too much for me to handle. I also felt like the characters lacked any real personality. It’s such a shame cause the idea of the story sounds so cool.

This is my first book from this author, and after reading the summary, I thought I was going to really enjoy it, but it really fell flat for me. I think that Cait Corrain’s writing is really good. Overall, her descriptions were really good, but the overall plot is what missed the mark. I was intrigued by the premise of a sci-fi Greek mythology retelling. I thought that it was a really cool spin that I hadn’t seen done before. While reading, I ended up feeling so confused about what was happening because I felt as though I needed to have previous knowledge about Dionysus and Ariadne to fully understand the story that was being told. I understand that the story was a retelling, but I feel as though the author should have written it in a way that readers familiar and unfamiliar with the myth could fully immerse themselves in the story.

Another issue that I had with this book was the relationship between Dionysus and Ariadne. The story is told from Ariadne’s POV, which was fine, but I felt like we didn’t get a lot of interaction with Dionysus that really showed why she was falling in love with him. I just wanted more tension and emotion from both of them to actually make it feel realistic. This was a really big reason why I found it so difficult to get into the story.

Overall, I thought the writing was great, specifically the descriptions. I do wish that there could have been a little more background behind the religions and politics. I also wanted more in terms of romance. I understand that the story is a retelling, but I just felt like there was almost too much happening in the story, and that caused the buildup of the relationship to be forgotten about. I’m happy that I read this book and tried out something new!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC in return for an honest review!

A full review will be posted on Goodreads two weeks before publication (4/30/2024) per author/publisher request.

Crown of Starlight is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Placing Greek Gods several centuries into the future creates an interesting backdrop for the reader. However, no matter how far into the future we are, humanity and our frailties and self-doubt still exist. Ariadna is face with timeless yet difficult choices to help her on a path to personal growth, freedom, and if she is lucky enough, love.

The premise of this story is something that very much called to me. The execution of it all, however, felt clumsy and childish. There's most definitely ambition being showcased by Corrain here, but she most definitely bit off more than she could chew. Even getting through the first chapter felt like an unbelievable hurdle, and no part of these characters called out to me in any particular way, leaving the story to feel empty and flat, with no room to grow. Sometimes it's best to go small, instead of large.

I was taken on a roller coaster of emotions with this book and it was incredible! Corrain was able to captivate the reader immediately from the descriptive nature of the world, the harsh realities the characters were going through and the beautifully crafted plot. You come face to face with death, a never-ending supply of wine and sex revelry, they were both delightfully sinful and an awakening of how much we as human don’t allow ourselves to simply be happy/free. You get the messy family drama both godly and humanly, let’s not forget the interstellar war, and as many forms of love as you could imagine.
The best part is the love you could only dream of and the extents we go for those we love. I was left feeling for these characters, their losses and their struggles, the bonding experience and love they shared. I rooted for them.

What an interesting and refreshing take on Greek Mythology and......Star Wars?!

GIven the title, when I got an ARC of this book through NetGalley (Thanks NetGalley!) I was pretty sure I knew what I was going to be getting into. Something about fae, broody guys, spunky stabby heroines etc. Boy was I wrong. Crown of Starlight is a delicious take on lesser known (or recognized) characters from Greek Mythology, Ariadne and Dionysus. Once my brain was able to accept the combination of Greek myth and sci fi tech, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Lots of heart-pounding action, steamy romance, fun characters, betrayals and an ending that literally had me telling my husband to shut up and go away I needed to FINISH THIS NOW.
A great option for fans of Greek myth who don't mind them getting stood on their heads, Crown of Starlight is a fantastically fun read!

I love love loved this book! It had a great slow burn regarding the romance and has loveable characters. The names had me on one though lol. Did Cait Corrain have to make names that are impossible to pronounce? The only suggestion I would have is to have a section at the end of the book with all the crazy hard words that tell you how to pronounce the names of the places and people. That would be awesome.

Princess Ariadne is being molded by her father to take over the Cretan Empire. She hates her father due to the violence that he believes in and doles out anytime he sees fit. To appease a treaty that was made long ago her father has an event every year where 12 tributes are sent over from their enemy's territory and are forced to enter a labyrinth and fight her brother to the death. No one ever comes out of these alive. On this particular year, she decides that she has had enough and she wants to get away from her father for good. So during the event, with the help of some friends, she frees the tributes. Once they are away, she is double-crossed.
This is when our "hero" Dionysus enters the story and turns her world upside down. He is a demi-god of many things including destruction. Through a series of events, she finds herself tied to him and begins to fall. Due to an event that happens between them, they are allowed to go to Olympus where the other gods reside and where Minos, her father, can't get to her. Once they arrive there. more drama ensues.
I don't want to give away more than I already have even though there aren't spoilers! Read it! It's great!

CROWN OF STARLIGHT offers a captivating blend of elements that cater to a wide range of tastes—featuring a cast of complex characters, from monstrous beings to divine entities, set within a gripping narrative of a dystopian society ruled by death cultists. The story unfolds amidst a backdrop of constant revelry, messy familial conflicts, interstellar warfare, and a myriad of forms of love. However, at its core, this book masterfully delves into the delicate exploration of love in the face of unimaginable trauma.

The protagonists, Dionysus and Ariadne, share the common experience of suffering under oppressive parental figures and political systems. Their anxieties, insecurities, and dysfunctions are laid bare as they summon the courage to confront their oppressors and, more importantly, to openly embrace their love for one another and themselves without reservation.

CROWN OF STARLIGHT is a literary gem that I am profoundly thankful for, easily earning its place among my all-time favorite books. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that promises both exhilaration and heartache. Corrain's debut work is a bewitching, sensuous, emotionally honest, and thrilling reinterpretation of two beloved mythological figures. One can't help but imagine that Dionysus and Ariadne would appreciate the beautiful portrayal of their story within these pages.

Greek Gods meet Star Wars…. This is the only way my brain can describe this book and I absolutely love it!
This was an incredible retelling! It did take a little to get into it but once I was into it, I was glued. The world building was a little wild to me at the start but now I don’t want to think about the Greek gods if there isn’t sci-fi aspect to it. Dionysis and Ariadne are honestly couple goals.
Rating 4/5
Spice 3/5

I am forever and always firmly a Percy Jackson kid, so I've been eating up Greek mythology since elementary school. Naturally, I make it my mission to read Greek myth retellings like it's nobody's business. And I especially love when the authors take these stories and really embrace the queerness that is so heavy in the actual mythology but often played down or outright ignored by historians. All that to say, Cait Corrain has made this the unapologetically queer Dionysus and Ariadne retelling of my dreams.

Ariadne is one of my favorite heroines of Greek mythology so I'm always interested in what authors will do with her in any retellings she pops up in. I REALLY loved her so much in this. She put such a smile on my face and reading her dark and harsh, but beautiful journey was just amazing. She was funny and charismatic and it was such a joy to be in this story with her. She truly never shied away from being scared, but it never stopped her from being brave. I also loved Dionysus in this which, like, is unsurprising. People often are so singularly focused on Dionysus's party god style, they forget the lore surrounding his godliness over revolutions as well. It was nice to see that bit of his character as well as it's not always prevalent in other retellings. I also loved that he is genderqueer in this book too! Together, these two made this story so easy to sit back and read for hours and hours. Their love story is beautiful and I teared up towards the end of reading this because of just how far they'd come together. This book is so much fun and it's such a cool way to retell this story. I am BEGGING for a second book