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

4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this. World building was good and I loved the wide range of characters. I also enjoyed the development of the main characters and their relationship.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Crown of Starlight by Cait Corrain was such a lovely surprise read. It took the legends we know from Greek mythology and reinvented them in a fresh and innovative way. The author married magic and science in a wonderfully and made the entire story feel like its own new genre.

I particularly loved our main characters. There was a guileless with both—especially with regard to love—that just made their dynamic so endearing and sweet. I also loved the theme the author continued to touch upon which was guiltless joy. Our main gal definitely struggled with this as many women do, including myself, and I found further kinship with her because of it.

Overall, I gave this book a four-star rating because the storyline was unique, the writing was well-executed, and I truly enjoyed getting to know the characters. I would recommend this book especially to fantasy readers who have been wanting to get into sci-fi, I think this balances the two genres well.

This was nothing short of wonderful, these days I've grown skeptical of Greek retelling especially Ariadne's story, she always came of tragic and she's just caught in the cross hair of the gods but this Ariadne is so incredibly brave and funny and sarcastic and oh so very self aware and a brilliant wonderful human being, by the time I'm a couple pages into the story I'm wonder where she will go and how her story will end, as in previous iterations of the story s he dies as soon as she does something for herself but here she constantly make decisions that bring her closer to her happiness and her values.

Dionysius, never in my life would I have thought I would love any version of him, he is a loud and quiet type of person, he consistent and unwavering devotion to Ariadne. The patience he treats her with, helping her fulfill her goals. He is also so distinctly human, his self doubt, his worry, the yearning for love and respect for his father makes him fell so wonderfully rounded and distinct. Another point to Dionysus, is the exploration of other facets of domain, revaluation and rebirth, how he can't stand injustice and actively tries to help and these features become especially apparent when it enter wines with his wife goals.
I was also impressed by the the balance of romance to plot so to say even though the romance is the plot, their relationship felt well earned and had a sufficient amount of longing and both of them just giving each other what the other needed and they well like true equals.

I recieved an ARC for my honest review. I just finished reading this amazing book that combines Greek mythology with a galactic empire. It's seriously one-of-a-kind and so vibrant! The main character, Ariadne, starts off as a princess trapped in a suffocating life, but she becomes a strong-willed woman determined to take control of her own destiny. It's so empowering to read about her journey! And let's talk about Dionysus, the exiled God of Wine and Madness. He adds an extra layer of mystery and intrigue to the plot. The relationship that develops between Ariadne and Dionysus is incredibly complex, filled with passion, temptation, and conflicting loyalties. I can't wait for the next book in the duology! You definitely don't want to miss out on this enthralling story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Wow, what an interesting and unique debut!
I love mythology retellings but they often follow the same script. This book totally blew me away because it ignored that script entirely. The queer rep alone would have done so, but the sci-fi element was next level. Such a fun read. Hope the author does more like this.

Greek mythology takes to the stars in this steamy, sci-fi reimagining of the tale of Ariadne and Dionysus—the first book in a snarky, queer, lushly romantic duology set in a galaxy of monstrous mortals, bloodthirsty gods, and love fierce enough to shatter the cosmos.

Beautiful, intriguing, and very well-written. Can't wait for book two!

greek mythology + space + spice

i am in love with this book. i've read greek mythology retellings and honestly haven't been impressed by them. but this one? omg omg i love it so much.

i honestly was not super familiar with ariadne's story, so i loved learning about it through this book. watching her grow as a person was so lovely to read. i could literally see her changing as she left crete and started her life with dionysus.

i love the queer representation as well! the way it is included is so interesting and i think it's done really well. it's brought up in such a unique way that i really really love.

also the spice? yes please. i like that it happens later in the book so it really gives time to build up the emotions and everything.

i don't want to say much without spoiling, so i'll leave it with this. it is a beautiful book and i'm so glad i got the chance to read it!

thank you netgalley and everyone involved for providing me with this arc!

This was a refreshing take on one of my favorite Greek mythology stories. The science fiction aspect was flushed out well and brought a whole new dynamic to a classic tale I didn’t know I was wanting. The writing was beautiful and concise. I can’t wait to purchase my physical copy on release day. Thank you to Del Rey, the author, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy.

Wow. What an incredible debut novel, and unique twist on a Greek mythology retelling! The character building and story telling elements of this story are intriguing and grab your attention. The characters were my favorite part of this, and it really felt like you understood who they were and what they were fighting for. There are aspects of religious trauma, purity culture, and shame that are difficult to read but immensely relateable and made me feel seen and understood. I enjoyed the sci-fi twist to this story, adding a completely novel aspect that sets this apart from other retellings Ive read. I did struggle at times to follow along with the world building, but it did not detract from the story overall. There is a good amount of spice in this book, just be prepared for a bit of a slow burn at first. Overall, this was a wonderful read and I can’t wait to read more from the author!

This book is such an spicy read, like really. I love greek mythology, it is like my life. I am a big fan of the percy jackson books, although they are for kids. Retellings are the best thing ever, specially science fantasy ones. Congrats to Cait Corrain on her debut novel!

Disclaimer: I study Greek myth as part of my day job, so I went into this wary and honestly a bit weary of the long string of myth retellings hitting shelves in recent years. However, the Author’s Note II at the very end of my ARC summarized what I sensed to be true even as I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) CROWN OF STARLIGHT – This is a thoughtful, sensitive, and yet still saucy and fun retelling of the myth of Ariadne and Dionysius.

As the myth goes, betrayed by Theseus of Athens, Ariadne of Crete is saved by the Olympian god Dionysius. And that’s the main story here too and yet so much more. While I felt the science fantasy setting was at times more stage dressing than anything else (this is a deeply character-driven story, even if in space), Corrain has masterfully added depth to the bones of the ancient myth in a way that actually reveals a more honest reading, in my opinion, of the original story. Themes of identity, sexuality, and fluidity abound amid discussions of “living on the margins” of family and society.

And for those wanting to know: the book is spicy enough, though it kicks in much later than I expected.