I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Hi devoured this book. The storyline was so unique, and the author really gave us a story in a romance in a fantasy book that I have not read before. I enjoyed the world and the development and the way that she just wrote the plot and did all of the overarching storylines that kind of merge together at the end. I really love the main females character story. And I found that she just had a very well developed and well thought out story that I will always recommend to others.

A sci-fi Hunger games and Avatar inspired story for sure. It has elements of magic, jungle adventure, philosophical convictions, love, and family. Our protagonist Bay Lily is surrounded by spirituality. Her community is very spiritual but Bay herself is a skeptic. Bay starts to question her community's spiritual beliefs. Bay through a spiritual trial she is challenged on spirituality which she defiantly questions. Then she learns that her brother is going to die and takes matters into her own hands. Things turn to worse as her brother gets trapped into a soul orb. Bay has to find a way to save her brother's soul. On her journey she discovers that there is more to what she is destined to do.
This story was heart breaking and very thought provoking. I definitely felt the Hunger Games and Avatar vibes. Bay is a very determined and strong willed protagonist. She can be so head strong that control and taking matters into her own hands can be an issue. Sometimes science can't solve all your problems and you need to have faith. It is a good book for young readers for it is a coming on age story. It deals with grief and loss. Her brother Ash is a loveable character. Overall, I quite enjoyed this read.

The first half of this book was fantastic. The world building, the connections between the characters, the daring rush through forbidden territory to preserve Bay's brother's soul was beautifully done, and I really enjoyed the book. However, once the main characters made it to Halcyon, where the "most" spiritual people live, I feel like the book got convoluted, and I lost the connection with the characters.

Part of it might have been that I was sick of Bay trying to tell us that she was nothing special despite everything pointing at her being different from other people in her community. The other big part is that I caught onto what the author's big reveal would be at the end of the story, and that disengaged me even further. To be fair, most readers probably didn't put the pieces together as quickly as I did, but I really liked the adventure part of the story up until Halcyon and the slightly-contrived love triangle that popped up.

Great idea and execution for the first half but definitely lost its charm and the core of its story after the quest for Bay's brother reached its conclusion.

If Hunger Games, The Giver and Avatar (the film) had a combo spin-off, it would be this book. This book is centered around a sibling bond, but it also has adventure, romance, and dystopia.

That said, it just did not work for me personally. I did not feel that the two halves of the text went together because of the very different settings and character arcs. There were also a number of over-used tropes and language that was so hyperbolic: “This kiss led us into a night of bringing masculine and feminine energy together as one.” Later, “His soul entered mine, and I couldn’t separate me from him…I knew then that we were soulmates.” As a parent, educator, and former teen girl, I am extremely leery of exposing the teen girls in my life against such droll that equates sex to he’s-forever-my-soulmate overdramatics. At other times, there were sloppy edits of sentences missing verbs, which came across incoherently.

The ending of the book was interesting and I feel that is the true story in the text. The book, like so many other I have received an ARC for, is trying to be All The Things for Every Reader Out There, when it would have benefitted greatly from a better editor who helped to shape the focus a bit more.

Brilliant. A wonderful story that lived up to my expectations. It was well written, thoughtful and engaging.
A fantasy book that was able to connect on a human level.
Some of the subjects dealt with, really hit hard on an emotional level. I’m pleased to say that the author was able to beautifully balance the fantasy with the very real emotions surrounding death and dying.
I have no hesitation in recounting this to others. Really good, solid book.

Souls in the Stars follows Bay Lily's journey as the tried to save her brother's soul, who died from an incurable illness at only 8 years old. In their grief, their mother tries to follow his soul to see what form it will take next but something goes wrong and Bay Lily must correct, nearly losing their own life in the process. Bay Lily then discovers her gift and is thrust into a life where she must now use it to stop a war before any casualties can take place.

The book is fast paced and very reflective on loss, grief, and taking the steps forward after such events. It was a beautifully written story and I would highly recommend it to anyone. I felt so connected to the characters and at certain points found myself emotional to the point of tears.

Thank you Sara Jane Triglia and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Snowfire Publishing, author Sarah Jane Triglia, and NetGalley for letting me discover this treasure-worthy ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Where to begin? This book is something else. Something I didn’t know I needed, but once I started flipping through its pages, I felt a sense of healing.

“Souls in the Stars” blends fantasy, sci-fi, and a unique kind of faith. Not a religious faith, but an inner belief that every human being possesses.

If you have ever looked at a sunset and thought, “Wow, this is stunning,” or observed a colony of ants bringing food to their nest and thought to yourself, “How organized and committed they are,” this is the type of faith I am talking about.

A love of nature, an understanding that everyone and everything has a role in this world, and that every role is equally important. It’s about seeing everything as an opportunity to grow and reflect.

This book is about a girl named Bay who lives and works in a desert town, trading her farm products in the island's largest city for survival items like water to grow her plants and for her own needs.

Ash, her little brother, suffers from a fatal disease that brings him closer to his form-death each day. However, the spiritual people view this state as something liberating. They believe that this is when the soul leaves one form to reach another, moving forward in its journey.

It's a form of reincarnation, if you will. The spiritual people, who embrace this mindset, celebrate this event. Some other people, though, try to study it, and eventually attempt to control it. That’s when troubles being for Ash, and Bay.

Bay must follow her brother’s soul journey to save it from endless frustration, as it appears to be trapped and unable to enter another form.

Accompanied by an improvised and improbable team, she must navigate the jungle covering her island, avoiding deadly snake bites, being eaten by behemoths, or being mercilessly killed by the Helio.

Oh, I haven’t mentioned the Helio yet, have I? They are native people of the island with distinct features that set them apart from humans, such as their green skin and lilac-gray hair. They are known for being savage, cruel killing machines.

And we know how humans typically react to differences—especially when there is a negative background involved—they create legends to depict them as monsters.

The humans in power have halved the Helio population to seize control of water sources, mines, and the prime land for cultivation, leaving the uninhabitable areas to everyone else, whether human or Helio.

Throughout the book, you will encounter the theme of social differences, as various levels of discrimination are explored. We learn that communication, open-mindedness, and kindness are the keys to overcoming any conflict.

As long as someone believes they have more right than others to do, be, or possess something, there will be conflicts.

This applies not only to humans but also to the Helio. Conflict resolution requires both parties to take steps toward understanding and compromise.

But how could two different cultures communicate, share their needs and perspectives, when they hate each other, think of each other as soulless monsters, and practically do not speak the same language? Well, this is where Bay’s newfound passion comes into play. But I’ll let you discover how, when, and why on your own.

I won’t delve into each character, but I would love to highlight the incredible achievement of the author in building the simple yet complex relationships between them.

Parents who, at some point in their lives, have distanced themselves from their parenting role. Siblings who would give everything just to see the other smile. Soulmates who feel peace, serenity, and a sense of belonging together.

Another spectacular theme is the inherent power of people—their words, actions, and even thoughts.

Bay often blames herself for feeling frustrated, angry, or grieving, believing that these emotions are not very spiritual. However, every emotion is important, and we should explore, understand, and open up to them. Only then can we truly see, put things into perspective, move on, and grow.

Our beliefs are soon reflected in our actions, which may or may not consider others' points of view, feelings, or needs. Does that make us monsters? No, it just makes us human.

Humans may cause conflicts, but they are not inherently bad. Conflicts highlight crises. What elevates us is the ability to put ourselves in others’ shoes.

The fantasy elements in this book are unveiled through the manifestation of our inner power—the power to listen, act, help, protect, and heal.

For those whose beliefs don’t include reincarnation, this concept could serve as another fantasy element within the book.

Personally, I don’t know what to believe, but this book made me think a lot. It made me feel that, as painful as it is at first, losing someone is never a “goodbye,” but a “see you later.”

This book reminded me that life is beautiful as it is because we are a part of it, and our journey never truly ends.

The people who leave us in this life will find their way back to us.

There is romance in this book, but it is powerful and spiritual, not physically manifested through descriptions or full chapters. So, if you're looking for a traditional romance novel, this might not be the right fit. The relationships among them are based on loyalty, faith, benevolence, understanding, belonging, peace, and confidence. You will feel all of these emotions, I can guarantee it.

This book was a balm for my soul that I didn’t even know I needed, and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre or wants to experience the feelings it evoked in me.

I would definitely love to read it again because, as part of our human experience, our limited minds need to be reminded of these truths from time to time.

Oof! This one is not for the weak! The story is compelling, immediately forcing the reader to form connections with these characters. Being so attached to the loveable people in this book, one can imagine the devastation and utter feeling of LOSS during certain parts. I dont remember the last time I truly felt this connected to fictional characters. I debated for a while whether I really wanted to read this or not, solely based on the description. I knew going into this that my hear would be broken at times and I would be sharing the same feelings as the characters but I have no regrets! Thank you for allowing me to read this ARC!

Firstly, Thank you Net Galley for allowing me the opportunity to read this Arc. I am giving is a 3.8 stars.

Souls in the stars follows Bay Lilly as she navigates loss, love, friendship, and spirituality in this distopian, coming of age, debut novel. The message it portrays is genuine and heartfelt. It really makes you ponder the deep aspects of sonder while exploring what makes us individuals. The author really takes the time to dig deep into the emotional inner workings of her main character, in sometimes very raw, intense ways.

The plot is well fleshed out and delivered clearly in an easy to figure way. There were definitely some really cool tech aspects. I felt that the book was inspired by Hunger Games and Avatar, but in a unique way that felt both new and familiar. The ending, while not what I expected was 🤌 chefs kiss! Very impactful.

All in all I feel this was a great debut novel. It is an emotional, cozy read that really pulls at the heart strings.

This next section is mostly for the author to consider for future novels and I will not be posting this below section on my Goodreads review or my amazon reveiw. While this is a great debut, there were some things I felt like have been better:
- I felt this novel could have benefited from one more round of editing as there were quite a few typos I found during my read through
- there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing when it came to descriptions. It felt very "see Jack run". I found myself skimming the descriptions in flavor of the story. There are ways to include descriptions while pushing the story forward, but I feel this author paused the story to give us descriptions. For example "he was tall and had blong hair. He wore brown trowsers and a white linen shirt." Then an action would follow the description. Y putting action forward and integrating description into the action, it propells your story faster. So instead, you could say something like: "his blond hair fell into his face as he towered over me. I tried not to watch his chest expand beneith the white lines of his shirt as he pushed his hands into the pockets of his brown trowsers" (not the best, but you get the idea). Ultimately, this way of describing pulled me out of the story. I felt the whole premise was so artful and well though out, that those instances of descriptions left me a bit disappointed.

This is not to say the story isn't good! Just something to be aware of..I thoroughly enjoyed this unique story. And I look forward to seeing what the author does in the future.

So beautiful! This book is so so beautiful. I can't even describe the feelings I got during this book. The plot was amazing.

'In order to make discoveries, there has to be sacrifices.'

Bay Lilly is soon to turn 18, and about to face the biggest test of her life. Her brother, Ash, is dying from an incurable disease and it is time for Bay to take her spiritual test. She's not ready for this, struggling with her thoughts and emotions, especially when it comes to her brother. When her brother's death goes badly, Bay takes up a quest to free her brother's soul.

This book was a very different premise to a lot of novels I've read. The ideas of reincarnation and what it means to be spiritual were well explored, but I did have a little issue with the world building at times. There was a lot going on, and I felt like I was struggling to keep up with what was happening. I feel like the themes of the novel could have been a bit punchier if there was less going on in the world of the book to keep track of.

That being said, the descriptions of the relationship between Bay and her brother Ash really tugged at my heartstrings, and I could feel her anguish as I was reading. Bay's fear in losing those she loved most was so real, and I really wanted to reach out and give this character a hug at times.

I loved Bay's relationship with her little rag tag crew of friends, and her journey to be more accepting of herself and her feelings, while still being the spiritual person she longed to be.

If you like Sci Fi or fantasy novels, do give this one a go. I think it absolutely had its strengths as I haven't read anything like it before, and I did enjoy Bay's character very much and liked following her journey.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sara Jane Triglia for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review.

So I originally saw a piece about this book on Facebook from the author and the description sounded very interesting. I was not disappointed I would highly recommend this book to any fantasy fan. Pleas read it you won’t regret it

Firstly, huge thanks to Snowfire Publishing, author Sarah Jane Triglia, and NetGalley for letting me dive into this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say, this story really got to me and is certainly one I will not forget. I was moved to tears multiple times.

It had everything—adventure, romance, grief, hypocrisy, spirituality, and some seriously cool sci-fi tech. The "Hunger Games meets Avatar" pitch is delivered upon, but the stakes are totally different, making it a story all its own.

While it's definitely accessible for high-school-aged readers, the themes and impact of the relationships give it a crossover appeal similar to the Hunger Games.

I really connected to Bay’s struggle with perfectionism, and her journey to self-acceptance and letting go of things beyond her control hit me hard. The dialogue even called me out a bit, reminding me that sometimes I just need to have faith, even as someone who leans more toward science than spirituality.

Ash's character was so lovable, and his passing hit me hard, right alongside Bay. The line, "having him in my life, even if only for eight years, was better than not having him at all," stuck with me long after finishing the book.

As someone who wants to get the quote "We are all stardust" tattooed, the overall message really resonated with me. It's ultimately about accepting that sentiment, no matter where you fall on the belief spectrum. The story touched on grieving someone who's still alive, how grief affects relationships, and the universal desire to be seen for who we truly are.

The world-building was solid. It was a bit confusing at times, albeit adding to the story's uniqueness. Much of the confusion is intentional and made clear by the ending though, so stick with it! The storytelling was immersive, painting vivid images that pulled me into the setting, the action, and the characters' dynamics.

And that ending! Easily my favorite part. It was totally unexpected but made perfect sense with the hints dropped along the way. It tied up loose ends while leaving me with new questions to ponder long after finishing.

While the amount of things I enjoyed about this book far outweighs the things I didn’t, there were a few things I didn’t love:

• Some references, like the significance of being barefoot versus wearing shoes, felt unresolved.
• Gemma, a mother-like figure, also felt underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more from her character.
• There were also some subtle digs at "millennial culture" and the "wokeness" trend that some were funny and others didn't land, but I didn't see exactly how it connected to the themes
• The use of modern slang like "vibes" and "fire" seemed forced and added little to the overall message. Perhaps the intention was to annoy the reader for the sake of it, but I didn't understand the purpose.

Overall, this is a strong debut novel, and I'm already telling my friends to keep an eye out for it when it's published!

Rating: 4.5 Stars!

Wow, wow, wow. This was just the book I needed. The perfect combo of science fiction and spirituality. I love how that’s even reflected in the title. This book is an adventure book that explores a lush island jungle and in a world where reincarnation is proven real. There aren’t too many current YA fiction books that explore reincarnation, and not in the way this book has.

This is one of those books that is going to stay with me. I could relate to Bay from the start. That pull to be perfect in an imperfect world. The characters were a nice blend of personalities that were fun to follow. I loved the foreshadowing that took place in her dreams. After the ending, I went back and browsed the book for the parts I remembered pointed to the end. Very well-written.

Once the initial conflict (her brother’s soul being stuck in a pod) was over, the action slowed down while Bay gathered her bearings in the new place she landed in. I found it interesting to explore this new place with her. I also enjoyed the character development and romance that happened in this portion of the book. I can see how this change in pace might be a shift some readers don't like but the action picked back up towards the end.

The end! Okay, this is one of those endings that people are either going to love or hate. And I fall in the love category. Predictable endings are boring, and this one was quite the twist. But once you go back and read through the book you can see all the subtle clues leading to it. I don’t want to give too much away but the ending was my favorite part.

5/5 for this book. I’ll be getting myself a hardcopy for my bookshelf. Thank you to Snowfire and Netgalley for my advanced e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, thank you to Snowfire Publishing, author Sarah Jane Triglia, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Since NetGalley doesn’t separate fantasy from sci-fi, let me add that this is a YA sci-fi book.

The book follows Bay Lily, soon to turn 18, in the Sub Rosa island. Her life is tough, living on the edge of poverty with what feels like a neglectful mother. To add to her misery, her 8-year-old brother, Ash, suffers from an incurable disease. It’s the same disease that killed the father. Both Bay and their mother are immune to this disease (no one knows why a few are immune). The half of the book grapples with Bay’s feelings regarding her brother’s looming death. She loves him and wishes she could find a cure. But when the time comes, scientists arrive with a strange machine, a soul tracer. Grief-stricken, their mother tries to follow Ash’s soul as it leaves his body to see what form it will take next. The experiment goes awry, and Bay almost dies while trying to correct it. With Ash’s soul caught in the in-between, she sets out on a trek across the island’s jungle, determined to free her brother’s soul.

Target audience: Appropriate for 16 and older.

Observations: Great writing. Great dialogue. Good crew of characters. Amazing world-building. The pacing dragged at times.

The ending…was not what I expected. I won’t disclose it to avoid spoilers, but I suggest sticking with this book all the way to the end.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started reading this book but, man, did it deliver.

Bay has a lot to face in her life, but the thing that upsets her the most is her grapple with her brother’s form-death. On her eighteenth birthday, her spiritual test begins and this forces her on her path. As she is doubting her spirituality, her brother’s death goes badly, and she must confront her doubts or otherwise her brother will never be free.

This book had me turning the pages, and I loved how different it was, and yet still familiar in its tropes. I found myself completely immersed in this world and the way it was weaved had me asking questions and the answer were revealed at the right time. I love when this happens, it’s so satisfying. This book had the perfect balance of romance, action/adventure, and mind boggling sci fi!

The ending was not what I expected, but in the best way. It had me thinking all night. If you loved Divergent or any sci fi that makes you think, you will dig this book. Pick it up!

Thanks to Sarah Jane Triglia and NetGalley for my ARC copy. I wrote this review of my own free will with my own opinions.

First of all, thank you to Snowfire Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first half of the book follows Bay Lily’s journey as she tries to save what she believes is her brother’s soul. At 8 years old, her younger brother died due to an incurable illness- and due to grief, their mother tries to follow his soul as it leaves his body to see what form it will take next. The experiment goes wrong and Bay almost dies while trying to correct it. This portion of the book was fast-paced and well-written, but the second half of the book shifted to a different plot entirely and lost its momentum. Bay discovers her gift and must use it to halt a war before casualties begin. It felt like this portion of the book was supposed to be reflective and illuminating, but it felt rushed and like the plot was too heavily focused on an attempt to be inspiring to actually achieve its goal. The ending made very little sense to me and came out of no where compared to how previous events unfolded.

Overall, it was an okay book. I think it was a good debut YA novel, and it definitely had its strengths and its likable moments and characters. I think the premise was sound, but just fell short by the end.