Starside

Starside

By:

Alex Aster

Spice Scale
Number of books
1 Published
KU
❌
Audiobook
✅
Series Status
Incomplete
Interconnected
N/A
Overall Rating
Coming Soon

AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

From Alex Aster, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lightlark series, comes her first adult romantasy. Enter the world of Starside, where swords wield magic and power is not inherited...but claimed.

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 to access a pool of magic that can heal, grant wealth, or extend life. Everyone has their reasons for entering, but Aris has only one: vengeance. As a child, a goddess set fire to her village, killing her family. Aris isn’t after the gods’ magic—she’s going to kill them.

First, she must survive the Culling, the king’s deadly competition to choose his fifty challengers. 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.

Getting past the gates is only the beginning. Starside is deadlier than it seems. If the ancient creatures, magic-wielding beasts, and bloodthirsty immortals weren’t dangerous enough, a new peril has even immortals fearing what rises from the ground at night. With a blade most would kill to claim, Aris can’t trust anyone. Especially not Harlan Raker, the merciless and mysterious king’s guard 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…

Jamie’s review

I feel like I just got off a rollercoaster! 🎢 What a whirlwind! Absolutely jam packed full of action. It was actually so much that I started to get bored with all the obstacles and fight scenes. It's too much. The book could be significantly shorter and the plot would not suffer.

I loved the ending, LOVED the ending. Loved the world building and magic and mystery and back stories. I liked Aris, the FMC. But I did NOT love Harlan Raker, the MMC.

First of all, HARLAN? Is he a country bumpkin or a feared warrior? What kind of name is that? 🚫👎🏽

I know he's supposed to be broody but he was just an asshole the ENTIRE time. How are we supposed to root for this guy? I mean, the spice FINALLY pops off at like 90% and it's 🔥🔥🔥 but there's just no tension, no yearning leading up to it. Could have been so much better!

All in all, I loved it and can't wait for book 2. I have QUESTIONSSSSSSS after that ending!

I loved the ending, LOVED the ending. Loved the world building and magic and mystery and back stories. I liked Aris, the FMC. But I did NOT love Harlan Raker, the MMC.

First of all, HARLAN? Is he a country bumpkin or a feared warrior? What kind of name is that? 🚫👎🏽

All in all, I loved it and can't wait for book 2. I have QUESTIONSSSSSSS after that ending!

Erica’s review

Okay….fighting words coming….I KNOW. And truly, I hate to yuck so many yums but I really struggled. REALLY. Like put me into a slump and mad afterwards, struggled. Jamie and I don't usually veer this much but I was just shocked reading her review. 🤣

Here's what I liked: the world building is done really well. It was written beautifully and I could picture it vividly and I LOVE that. Impeccable. Loved Aris. Gritty, sarcastic, never gives up…loved her. Mostly (I'll get to that). Loved her reason for even doing the Questral and felt that propelling her throughout.

Here's where the wheels fell off for me: #1 I just don't vibe with a games and trials book in general. They feel super repetitive to me and I get really burnt out. And that's what this entire book is - so take my review with a grain of salt if you like that - I know I'm the minority. #2 - I don't think I've ever hated an MMC as much as I hate Harlan Raker. And, I LOVE an asshole MMC that's barely redeemable. But Raker? He is awful. Alex - give us SOMETHING to cling to that will get us on his side at some point? It's wild. #3 - circling back to the "mostly" about Aris. Her pining over Raker. I can't. Fucking cannot. While he is saying the most ridiculous things to her? Girl. No. AND she has another reason to hate him! No. No. No. About 50% through I called the twist at the end…I just knew it. Nothing about book 1 made me remotely excited to read book 2…so I won't be. 😭

Books in this series

Book 1
of
2
Starside
Mar 31, 2026
Book 2
of
2
Stormside
Apr 20, 2027

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