Starside by Alex Aster
Series: Starside #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy
Pages: 512
Published By: Avon on 31st March, 2026
Format: Hardcover
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Book Synopsis:
Hundreds of years ago, a brutal war split a land in two. Starside is the realm of magic and immortals – the descendants of the gods, living in a power-rich paradise. Stormside is where mortals fight for scraps of that magic.
Every fifty years, the gates between them open, and fifty challengers are allowed to journey across Starside on a deadly quest for magic that can heal, grant wealth or extend life. Everyone has their reasons for entering, but Aris has only one: vengeance against the gods who killed her family.
Winning one of the fifty spots on the quest won’t be easy. An orphaned blacksmith’s apprentice, Aris doesn’t have the superior weapons of the heirs from the Great Houses. But the greatest swords, ones that contain power, are not inherited or bought – they are claimed, by both sides. And when Aris claims a great sword, it makes her not just a real competitor… but a target.
Countless dangers await on Starside. With a blade most would kill to take, Aris can’t trust anyone. Especially not Harlan Raker, the merciless and mysterious knight who betrayed her years ago – and who may now be the key to her survival.
But Aris is hiding a secret tied to her family’s death. And when it’s revealed, not even the gods will be able to stop what’s coming…
Book Review
Iโd seen this book all over on social media but I wasnโt sure whether to give it a read or not. Whilst out food shopping, I saw the hardcover for ยฃ10 and thought why not. I ended up buddy reading this with someone over on Instagram. Let me tell you that I absolutely Iย devouredย this book!
This book delivers action right from the very start and never lets up. I’ve not read many trial/quest fantasy books but this one had me hooked right from the beginning. The author builds the world incredibly well. Although it’s very easy to get into, the world itself is so interesting and I was excited to experience/discover new places throughout.
I’ve read quite a lot of books with the enemies-to-lovers trope but this one is PURE enemies-to-lovers. There is a genuine backstory between the main characters that involves betrayal which gives an actual reason to their hatred and I loved it. The slow burn throughout is the kind where you are on the edge of your seat just waiting for something to happen and when it finally does… WOW! I could feel the tension throughout between the two characters and I couldn’t get enough of seeing where the story was heading with them both.
Aris is a stand-out FMC for me. She is full of rage and all she wants is revenge. I was absolutely here for it! She grows so much throughout the book, and by the end, I felt deeply invested in her character. Raker was also a great MMC. He was your typical broody, morally grey character but with so much depth to him that unfolds throughout. The romance element is definitely a sub-plot to the main plot and I like how it wasn’t overbearing. It was more in the background but you could still feel its presence throughout.
The magic system for me was unique as I’ve not read anything relating to sword-based magic before. It was so interesting and I kept wanting to learn more about how it works. I can’t wait to dive in more about it in the next book.
Aster was able to make me experience so many emotions whilst reading this book. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. While reading it, I felt fully invested. If I wasn’t buddy reading this, I would’ve finished it way quicker. This book had me on the edge of my seat, it devastated me, it shocked me, it excited me. So many emotions. I had absolutely no idea where the book was going at times and there were a few audible gaps of surprise. She really managed to leave me hanging right until the very end and that cliffhanger?! Stop. It. Right. Now. November can’t come soon enough! I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I finished it. Cannot recommend it enough.
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