4.5 stars (rounded to 5 stars)

Crown of Starlight was an endearing Greek retelling of Ariadne and Dionysus that is steamy and set in space!

Ariadne is the Crown Princess of the empire of Crete, a violent and oppressive world that her father, Minos, is the leader of. Cretans take pleasure in violence and her father is no exception. When her brother is born as half-bull with cannabalistic tendencies, Minos looks him the in Labyrinth underneath the palace. Each year, Crete requires sacrifices from Athens in order to punish Athens and feed Ariadne's brother, the minotaur. She is sick of the violence and wants out, leading her to make a deal with Theseus to take her with him if she helps him beat the minotaur. This leads to Ariadne lost, alone, and injured when Dionysus finds her and introduces her to hedonistic debauchery. The only way to keep herself safe is to hide from her father on Olympus, which means marrying Dionysus.

What an interesting world (solar system??) to adapt the Greek myth to! I found that they were able to translate the original ancient setting to a space setting very well. There was a lot of Info dumping in the first few chapters, rather than instead of learning over time. This did bug me at first, but once I was used to the author's writing style, I was able to learn about the world and enjoy it. Truly, I don't think the setting really added much to the story, like I felt like the actual plot and character growth could have been transplanted into a modern world or Ancient Greece. It was fun to read Greek gods in space though, with added blaster guns, coms, and spaceships!

There is a bit of modern language in this book, which was a little jolting at first. However, it kind of makes sense since this is technically a futuristic world where modern slang would have been picked up. But things did throw me off occasionally, like when holodramas are watched called "The Housewives of Troy."

Ariadne was a very strong character who spends a lot of time healing and developing. She is raised in a very puritiancil and patriarchal society, and is forced into expectations of remaining pure. Once she leaves Crete, she has to heal from that trauma and learn for herself who she is and what she wants. I really did enjoy her perspective and found that she was not a one-dimensional character. Dionysus on the other hand was also just an amazing character. He truly is one of the best love interests I've ever read in a book and my favorite part. He is always looking for fun and is not very serious most of the time. But he is also very sweet and perceptive of Ariadne's needs. Dionysus just has such a confident and vibrant persona, and honestly seems a bit Cardan coded (Cruel Prince) to me. Based on the broody, dark love interests I normally read about, it was SO FUN to have such a silly and charismatic love interest.

Their romance was the true highlight of this book. Dionysius is so tender to Ariadne and helps her face her trauma and find who she is and what she wants. It is definitely a slow-burn, as it takes time for Ariadne to face her anxiety and shed the expectations that were always placed upon her. The anticipation pays off, and their romance was so raw and beautiful, not to mention spicy!

I was very surprised how accurate Greek mythology was in this book, at least to my knowledge of the myths. Of course some liberties were taken, but I found it to be a pretty accurate retelling. Another thing that was detailed in the author's note was her interpretation of the original myths of Dionysus. Over time, he has been reduced the God of Wine and Parties. The author makes a great deal to note that Dionysus also was a patron of marginalized people and rebellion, and did not have a defined gender or sexuality. I think this book seriously made Dionysus so much more than how is normally depicted in Greek myth retellings and I really loved that.

This book was just a delight! The ending was perfect and I'm happy that it wrapped up into a standalone. I'm very excited for when this officially releases so that I can buy the physical copy and have that on my bookshelves.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Del Rey and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Did I love this book? Hell. Fucking. YEAH. Ariadne’s and Dionysus’s story was magnificent, and I loved Ariadne’s journey as she found herself. There were so many things that I adored. I loved the incorporation of Greek mythology in this, and everything was amazing. I genuinely have no words for how I feel about this.

The only thing that felt a bit “eh” to me was the ending, which I felt was rushed. But the epilogue made me emotional, too, so there’s that <3

I’m very happy to have received this ARC.

I've never seen mythology done like this before and fro the first line I was hooked. The worldbuilding really got me hooked and I can't wait to see what this author does next!

I’m not very knowledgeable in Greek mythology but have enjoyed a few retellings but the story of Ariadne and Dionysus was one I didn't know much about. I think the story does well in establishing its leading characters and the development of their relationship. Both Dionysus and Ariadne were deeply complex characters with similar upbringings of abusive and emotionally absent parents. I enjoyed the journey of them getting closer and trusting one another and resisting those who try to break them apart. I loved Ariadne's growth and being able to forgive and accept herself. With the help of Dionysus, she was able to accept love from others. My favorite character was by far Dionysus. He’s just a fully realized character who is honest and unapologetically himself. I loved the way he treated Ariadne with kindness and openness since they first met. Their playful banter was a nice touch to their dynamic. As she’s coping with the lifelong familial abuse and recent betrayal, he was always patient and understanding. I liked the depictions of the other gods and goddesses but a lot of them grated my nerves which made the latter half of the story a bit of a frustrating experience once they entered Olympus.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine, Del Rey for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

3 ★

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Admittedly, I don't read a lot of science fiction or Greek mythology retellings, but something drew me to Crown of Starlight, and I'm glad I took a chance with it. Crown of Starlight is an exciting, character-driven Ariadne and Dionysus retelling that will without a doubt appeal to fantasy, science fiction, and romance readers alike. This book gave me all the vibes of popular romantasy books like A Court of Thorns and Roses and Fourth Wing, but taking place in space and being more inclusive.

Crown of Starlight is the perfect read for anyone who likes romantasy books but is tired of the misogynistic alpha male love interests that tend to dominate the genre. Personally, I dislike love interests like that, so this was a refreshing read. I also appreciated the positive LGBTQ representation. Ariadne is bi, Dionsyus is bi and nonbinary (using he/him pronouns), and many side characters are also a part of the LGBTQ community.

This book is driven more by the characters than the plot, considering how the romance plays a big role. This allowed me to really care about the characters, their relationships, and their conflicts.

Although I appreciate the focus on the characters, I believe it would have been better if the plot received more attention. The last part of the book felt rushed, in contrast to the beginning, which overall, hindered my enjoyment of the entire book.

Overall, I'm glad I tried something new and read Crown of Starlight. I won't be surprised if this book is all over Booktok and Bookstagram when it releases because it has all the ingredients that readers love in a romantasy. While I found the last half of the book to be lacking, this book is still worth a read -- even if you're like me and don't normally read science fiction or Greek retellings.

I LOVE this more than life. I haven’t been reading myth based or even fantasy books in a while. But I saw this on Netgalley and refuses to pass it up.

Ariadne is one of my favorites from Greek mythology and I’m so damn in love with this book.

based on its premise and cover alone, I went into this book fully prepared to love every last bit of it. a queer reimagining of Greek mythology in outer space? one hundred percent yes.

in reality, it took me weeks to finish reading Crown of Starlight and only after repeatedly forcing myself to make progress with the book. the plot is interesting but is held back by the writing style. i repeatedly skimmed past chapters and scenes with characters that weren’t developed out enough. the dialogue came off as stilted and borderline cheesy throughout the story, which was only made worse by world-building that would benefit from more intentionality and detail.

all in all, I really appreciated the inclusivity at the heart of this. i do however wish more time had been devoted to developing the worlds and storylines beyond where this ended up .

thanks so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for an advance reader copy!

I will not lie, I almost DNF’d this during Part I. It was SO MUCH world building that it got really confusing and seedy for me. To be fair, this was also my first Greek Fantasy so maybe that’s just the way it is.

But as soon as Part II came… sheesh! It was all uphill! I have read only one other book that truly kept me up all night wanting to finish it … this makes book number two!

Friends to lovers.
Family drama.
Naive but witty female lead.
Sexy but equally witty male lead.
Greek gods and goddesses.
Greek fantasy world.

The banter. The slow burn. Their relationship finally peaking (IYKYK 🔥😏). I need a shower after that scene by the way. It never wanted to be ravished by a fictional character more ever in my life.

This book is SEXY, empowering, and like nothing else I’ve ever read.

I want to start it all over again right now.

It's a story with Dionysus at its core so be ready for some serious spice; but also a look at deconstructing the sanitized versions of Greek mythology that has left out the spectrum of how these Gods lived (for better or worse). And def read the authors note at the end.

The story is rooter in the mythology of Ariadne, and takes place in the fictional world of Space Crete and The Cosmos. It stays as true to the mythos as possible while also leaving room for Always Sunny and Two and A Half Centaur tv jokes (iykyk). There's gore, war, betrayal, love some questions of the universe and alot of Ariadne discovering her sexuality. It also appears there's more to learn; with all the books exploring Hades and Persephone, this is a welcome respite and a new take, particularly on the God of Wine (and liberation and not getting sand in his hair). Lots to unpack here particularly around themes that parallel current political and social climates.

I received an advance copy of this book for review!

The cover is STUNNING. I’m literally counting down the days until it can grace my bookshelf in person.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book - it is a fascinating take on Ancient Greek stories that casts the ancient cities as whole planets, makes Olympus a sun and blends the ancient with future technology.

The characters are quite endearing - Ariadne is vibrant and struggles with anxiety and her sense of self, but really grows into her own throughout the book. Dionysus is a delightful presence that irritates and soothes her by turns. Most of the other characters are less fleshed out but no less endearing. I truly enjoyed the romance and the spicy scenes get a 10/10 for me! I look forward to rereading this book and reading the sequels!

I really enjoyed the science fiction spin. It actually worked spectacularly well for the magic and myth of ancient Greece. There were some very clever parallels that I enjoyed catching. The only parts that made me cringe where the titles of the holodramas—they were a little too on the nose that I found myself rolling my eyes at each one.

I really liked the romance between Dionysus and Ariadne. Even knowing how the story shakes out, it was a great slow burn romance. Ariadne’s virgin status against Dionysus’s depravity also had a great explanation in that it was her puritanical religious upbringing. I found that be quite a refreshing explanation for the stark contrast between their sexual experience. This was definitely a very spicy book, so head the author’s content warnings before delving in.

Dionysus was an enjoyable personality, wild and vibrant. Ariadne was a powerhouse of a female intent on never letting another male put her down. She was very akin to Auren from the Plated Prisoner series, and I think fans of that series will greatly enjoy this book.

Although it’s set to be a duology, this story has a conclusive end. However, not all questions have been answered, and I’m intrigued to see what the next installation will bring.

Let me just start by saying the cover of this book is absolutely STUNNING! It’s what drew me in at first until I read the summary, then I knew I had to read this. This book is a reimagining of the story of Dionysus and Ariadne and my god was it an amazing story.
I’m pretty skeptical when it comes to retellings/reimaginings, they aren’t always up to the expectations I have for them and sometimes the characters just suck. Cait however, made me fall in love with Dionysus and Ariadne even more. I loved watching Ariadne navigate her culture and experience new things after leaving Crete and Dionysus letting her do it at her own pace was amazing. I could sit here for days and tell you what I love about Dionysus’s character, but something that made me really happy was how Dionysus is gender fluid! For most of the book Dionysus uses he/him pronouns but there are instances where she/her pronouns are used instead. I feel like I don’t always see a lot of gender fluid representation in the books I read and the way it was done was so beautiful.
For world building and romance, both were wonderful. I loved how she described Crete and the different planets and I was able to almost vividly see everything in my head. The world building really sucked me in even more ( it's how I devoured the book so quickly ) and it left me feeling satisfied. The romance was a slow burn which just so happen to be my favourite so I was thrilled. But once the characters were able to accept the feelings they both had their love was adorable and the spicy scenes were fantastic.
Overall this book is fantastic and I’m truly hoping Cait Corrain writes more reimaingings, because I would 100% read them. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thjs book is everything to me! The thought put into the main characters is so amazing and watching them learn, heal, and grow together made me so happy!
I’m so wildly grateful I got the chance to read this early because it’s easily one of my top favorites of the year!
If you’re looking for the time of your life while simultaneously having your heart ripped out, then I highly recommend preordering this book!
Also can’t get enough of the author’s note at the end of the book!

What a fantastic surprise this was. I absolutely devoured this book, which was so enjoyable I could not stop raving about it to my husband as I read! The perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and epic adventure. I adore the author's writing style, which is beautifully descriptive and lyrical at times while still being eminently readable. Overall just such a pleasure to read - I am thrilled to know there is another book coming in this series! I look forward to more from this author.

this book. THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! Honestly this is the next book that will be living in my head rent free for the foreseeable future. I can feel the book slump coming on already. The fact I have to wait until May to have a physical copy, and even longer than that for the sequel is going to be the death of me!

Cait Corrain spins a lyrical and wondrous tale of love and recovery, not just between Dionysus and Ariadne, but also of Ariadne coming to terms with self love. There were plenty of moments that hit way to close to home and brought me to tears. Following Ariadne on her journey of discovering who she is, and not who others try to make her to be, is one that I will never tire of. Throw in Dionysus and his chaotic group of Maenads, followers and their many MANY revelries adds plenty of character to this book. I loved the way Corrain details Ariadne and Dionysus standing up to those who try to oppress them. The strength and unconditional love they provide each other is raw and beautiful. Ariadne and Dionysus are not perfect, but when they're together they come close to it. There is so much heart that went into writing this book. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment to see more of these characters I have grown to love.

Crown of Starlight is a vulnerable, raw, sexy, and delectable book you don't want to miss out on. Cait Corrain is an author I will be closely following from now on.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow is the first thought that comes to mind in regards to this book. I’m a huge Greek Mythology fan and eat up any type of mythology as a result, but often times authors will distort the original stories, soften it like this author said in her notes at the end, or make so many of the lesser known Gods and Goddesses one dimensional. Cait Corrain is not what of those authors.

Corrain knows her stories, has taken an interesting approach to Dionysus that I personally loved, and made me open my eyes to him/her even more than I initially knew Dionysus to be. I love, love, love this spin on Ariadne and Dionysus’ story, finding that putting it in space and during a technologically advanced society still did them justice. I would be throughly surprised if BookTok doesn’t eat this up when it’s released in May. I cannot wait to buy a book when it’s released to add it to my library, and I hope it comes with multiple looks one day so I can own several. This book will follow me for the next few months.

Highly recommend it to mythology, sci-fi, and LGBTQ readers, but also anybody wanting to dip their toes in all three categories. I hope Corrain comes out with more books as her writing style was beautiful (though she definitely has an extensive vocabulary with how often I had to pull up words in the dictionary, so be prepared for that too).

Oh this is a complete and utter DELIGHT.

It is the perfect mixture sexy, outlandish, and utterly sincere in its exploration of trauma, war, and self-acceptance. Unlearning years of hurt are done in between scenes of such complete caring and understanding, while also furthering a galaxy wide plot that involves complicated politics between empires. It's a book that is sweet and loving, but also has some teeth to it. It's one of growth, and damn is it done spectacularly.

When I say this book has everything I mean everything. Greek mythology in space? Sold. Only way I wanna read the ariadne myth from now on. Thank you netgalley for the e Arc

Thank you to Netgalley, and an enormous thankyouthankyouthankyouI'msobbingthankyou to publisher Del Rey and author Cait Corrain for granting my wish and providing this eARC in exchange for a review. Thank you doesn't really begin to even cut it; when I got the email my wish was granted, well, you probably heard me shriek all the way from Texas.
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Immediately after reading the blurb, I knew I wanted to read Crown of Starlight. Sci Fi/Fantasy, Greek Mythology, romance, politics, marriage of convenience... Sign me the fuck up.

But oh my gods, it was even better than I expected.

I knew I was in for a long haul with a page count of over 500, and yet I managed to finish this in just 8 days (and I was sick, so I was sleeping a lot instead of reading). Let me tell you, every page was worth it. And then some. I even put the book down for a day, around 96%, because I didn't want it to end. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to these characters. I genuinely can't remember the last time I felt like that. I've had a couple five-star reads this year, but the end of those all felt satisfying, rewarding, cathartic. This felt like a permanent goodbye, and I just wasn't ready.

The world building? Chef's kiss. We spend several chapters with Ariadne on her home planet before she finds herself on the run from King-Emperor Minos. I was worried the setup would feel rushed, but I found that to be wholly untrue. I was very satisfied with the amount of time we get on Crete, and learning the stakes of Ariadne's escape plan. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when authors tell rather than show, and I was concerned for about one and a half seconds that we were going to simply be told that Minos is a Big Bad Evil Guy, but oh no, we get to see it on page, live and in color. And make no mistake, Minos is a monster. Ariadne's mother is a monster. Her sister. The cultists. Their religion. It is gruesome, and author Corrain does not pull punches. Not pulling punches is a trend that continues throughout the book. And after we leave Crete and hop around the galaxy for a little while, each scene feels fully fleshed out, each piece of technology is either familiar enough to know what it is (com band? smart watch. holodrama? tv show) or explained concisely, without breaking immersion.

The romance between virgin Ariadne and God of Wine/Revelry/Debauchery/Fuckery Dionysus was thoughtfully done. Ariadne had to unlearn her puritan culture and Dionysus exercised patience and gentleness, reminding her that he's also god of rebellion, madness, personal freedom... And this did not happen overnight. Their romance builds over weeks and months, slowly and at Ariadne's comfort level. Every interaction between them is respectful and consensual and most importantly for a god of wine, sober. We have on-page consent, y'all. And when things get freaky-deaky later on, we have on-page establishing of safe-words and on-page aftercare.

Another thing I absolutely fangirled over, that I refuse to put behind a spoiler tag because it's far too important, is that we have bisexual representation. Y'ALL. It is a rare day that I'm actually satisfied with bisexual representation; too often it feels like pandering or an afterthought, or we swing the other direction and the character's sexuality is a device for promiscuity, and in some cases, infidelity. NOT HERE. Nope. It's just a thing that is. And possibly even better? The god of wine and madness is gender-fluid. While in this book Dionysus primarily uses he/him pronouns, there are times where Dionysus uses she/her pronouns. We also have a trans character, and being trans isn't their entire personality. It's so clear that Corrain used sensitivity readers in the writing process, and it's simply beautiful.

The character growth and plot arcs are just immensely satisfying. As I mentioned before, Corrain does not pull punches. There's no third act break up, there's only the type of love that inspires myths. Ariadne even dies for fucks sake. It's Greek Mythology, so death is a little less permanent than it is for us, but she still DIES, and then shuns Elysium and terrorizes Hades in her bid to return to the overworld to get back to her love. I could easily read a trilogy around Ariadne and Dionysus, and sincerely hope I get to. There were a few plot points that were never resolved, and they were acknowledged in the epilogue so I know the author didn't forget about them, either. It is my most sincere hope that a trilogy will be greenlit when this book starts flying off the shelves.

"Crown of Starlight" by Cait Corrain is a breathtaking fusion of Greek mythology and futuristic space opera that takes the classic tale of Ariadne and Dionysus to cosmic heights.

In the interstellar Cretan Empire, Ariadne Tholos, the Crown Princess, is a young woman trapped within a labyrinth of imperial politics and controlled by her father, King-Emperor Minos. She's fearful of succumbing to the same monstrous nature as those around her. When an opportunity for escape presents itself, Ariadne seizes it, setting off a chain of events that puts her life in peril. Injured and alone, she encounters Dionysus, the exiled God of Wine, Madness, and Revelry. He needs a Cretan royal to join his cult to secure his return to Olympus. Ariadne, desperate for sanctuary, agrees to this arrangement, although the Cretans are considered heretics.

As they flee from the vengeful Minos, Ariadne and Dionysus form an alliance that eventually leads them to Olympus, a place beyond Minos's grasp. However, Olympus has its own intrigues, involving the capricious gods themselves. Dionysus's world of wild debauchery challenges Ariadne's understanding of love, power, identity, and her own inner demons.

Cait Corrain crafts a rich and imaginative world where the gods of ancient Greece coexist with a technologically advanced galactic empire. The characters, particularly Ariadne and Dionysus, are beautifully developed, layered, and authentic. Ariadne's transformation from a trapped princess into a determined and powerful woman is a captivating journey. Dionysus is a charismatic and enigmatic figure who provides both mystery and charm.

The narrative is filled with lush and vivid descriptions, immersing readers in this blend of science fiction and myth. Corrain's writing is evocative, and the pacing keeps the story engaging throughout.

"Crown of Starlight" is not just a space opera; it's a tale of self-discovery, rebellion, and love set against the backdrop of a universe that's both magical and futuristic. It reimagines Greek mythology in a fresh, compelling way and leaves readers eager for the next installment.