When Stars Come Out

Wow. I really cannot describe how much I enjoyed this book. From the very first page I was sucked in. The description says this is a reimagining of Orpheus and Eurydice, which isn’t something I’m familiar with, so this book felt so unique to me! I loved Anora from the start and felt everything she was going through. I didn’t realize going into it that this book had multiple points of view and typically that’s not an element that I enjoy, but St. Clair was able to handle it perfectly. The chapters were specifically titled to designate who we were following which made it even easier. I haven’t read a book in a single day in years, but I was not kidding when I say I was sucked in. I couldn’t stop reading and I ended up finishing the book in one day and instantly craved more so I was delighted to see that there is a sequel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good enthralling unique fantasy book!

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for allowing me to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Stars Come Out is my first Scarlett St Clair book. She is notably known for her Hades and Persephone Adult romance series and I might give that a try after reading this story.

When Stars Come Out is a dark YA Fantasy story with a haunting mystery at its center. Anora is a death-speaker and has been able to see and communicate with the dead since seeing her poppa pass. After a terrible incident in New York, Anora and her mother leave and her mother enrolls Anora at the Nacoma Knight School for "troubled teens". When Anora meets Shy Savior, a handsome guy with secrets of his own, mysterious things start to happen and Anora is at the center of it all.

When Stars Come Out is cinematically written between two POVs: Anora and Shy. Anora is able to see the dead, but they are not ghostly spirits. The dead are fleshy and look as if they died recently. Shy is Valryn, and can shift between being a raven, human, and inbetween. There is a strange connection between the two, like a thread tethered between their souls. While trying to figure out this connection there is a darkness spreading amongst humans called Influence: a dark ghostly substance that possesses a person making them kill innocents. Shy and a few other knights in training are trying to figure out a way to stop Influence from spreading and all fingers are pointing towards Anora and abilities she might possess.

Scarlett St Clair writes a dark tale reminding me of books from the early 2000s like Twilight, Fallen, Unearthly, and Night World but for a new generation. I absolutely love how dark and haunting this book is and the constant "whodunnit" mystery. There were times when I was able to predict a few reveals ahead of time but that did not ruin the story for me.

There is romance but it's not at the forefront of the book. Honestly at first I was a little disappointed but the story didn't even need it. I was so wrapped up in the mystery, the darkness, and learning about the world of Valryns, I forgot about the romance. There were times I thought it felt forced, there is a good reason for why I felt this way but then I would be spoiling a reveal.

I'm glad there is going to be a sequel. I'm hoping a few of the side characters get more screen time like Natalie and Jacobi. I do hope Anora and Shy's relationship develops more whether it be friendship or more than. I really liked reading from both of their POVs and I'm crossing my fingers that Natalie gets a chapter or two in the sequel. I didn't like Natalie very much while reading the book but afterwards I realized I wanted to read her side of things.

When Stars Come Out is an engrossing, dark and enticing story. I didn't want to put my kindle down but I also didn't want the story to end.

4.5 stars

Anora Silby can see the dead and turn spirits into gold coins, two things she would prefer to keep secret. Now she must find the person who stole her coin before more lives are lost, but that means making herself a target for the Order, governing body of the dead.

I love a good Ghost Whisperer-esque story. Anything to do with seeing the dead and communicating with them just makes me so happy inside. We are introduced into a new kind of world, full of dead talkers and hybrids. I held on to every word on every page, I loved it. I only have a few grievances, mostly character related and what seems like boring and overdone long-term villains but hopefully we can move past those in book two.

Recommended for fans of ghosts and resurrections and a simple, quick read in a new fantasy universe. A must for fans of Shadow and Bone and The Mortal Instruments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scarlett St. Clair, and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was SUPER excited to read another Scarlett St. Clair book after loving Touch of Darkness! I was pulled in from page one and could hardly put it down. The haunting mystery kept me wanting more. The story was unique and creative. I was unfamiliar with the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, so I enjoyed it greatly!

I would 10/10 recommend this book to those that love greek mythology type stories. Can’t wait to read it again!

This review will be posted to my Goodreads and Amazon accounts immediately and to my instagram account @ginganinja333 upon publication on 7/26/2022.