Starside (Standard Edition) Series: Starside #1 Published by HarperCollins Publishers on March 31, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Fantasy / Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Fiction / Fantasy / Epic, Fiction / Fantasy / Romance, Fiction / Romance / Fantasy
Pages: 512
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Reading Challenges: All booksAN 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...
Even The Stars Will Flinch
Starside by Alex Aster reminded me exactly why I love fantasy that isn’t afraid to be both breathtakingly epic and deeply emotional. This story burns with vengeance, hope, impossible choices, and just enough tenderness to keep your heart from completely shattering between battles.
From the opening chapters, it becomes obvious that revenge is one of the driving forces behind this story. Alex Aster doesn’t give us a hero motivated by simple justice—she gives us someone consumed by grief and rage. One quote perfectly captures that fury:
A Quote That Stuck With Me:
“I’m going to kill her. I’m going to kill them all. I’m going to paint the sky with their blood. I’m going to unleash a wrath so great, even the stars will flinch.”
It’s dramatic. It’s unhinged. And somehow, within the context of the story, it feels completely earned.
What surprised me most, though, wasn’t the action or the twists. It was how often the quieter moments hit even harder. Beneath all the anger is a character who desperately wants to convince themselves they’ve become something irredeemable. Then Alex Aster delivers one of my favorite moments in the book:
“I know you, Aris. You claim you don’t care about anything but revenge, but I have watched you, unfailingly andstupidly, care about everyone else’s life over your own. You are not the monster you think you are.”
That line stopped me.
Fantasy often asks whether people can survive impossible odds. Starside asks whether someone can survive becoming the person they believe they already are. Those emotional conflicts gave the massive battles and world-shaking stakes real weight because they weren’t just fighting enemies—they were fighting themselves.
The world-building continues to expand in exciting ways, revealing new dangers, shifting alliances, and enough surprises that I was constantly second-guessing where the story was headed. Every victory felt earned, every setback hurt, and the pacing kept me wanting “just one more chapter” until suddenly it was much later than I planned.
If you’re looking for a fantasy filled with massive stakes, unforgettable characters, emotional punches, and moments that make you want to highlight half the book, Starside absolutely delivers. It balances explosive action with genuine heart, reminding us that sometimes the strongest people are the ones who refuse to stop caring—even when they’ve convinced themselves they should.
If you enjoy epic fantasy filled with vengeance, unforgettable characters, and emotional stakes that feel as vast as the stars themselves, Starside deserves a place on your TBR.
Reader Question: Revenge drives so many fantasy stories, but do you think revenge can ever truly satisfy a character, or does it always cost them something they can never get back? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this review, explore more fantasy adventures here on JR’s Book Reviews.
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About alex aster
Alex Aster is the #1 New York Times bestselling, #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling, #1 Publishers Weekly Bestselling and USA Today Bestselling author of the Lightlark series (soon to be a major motion picture) and the Emblem Island series, inspired by her Colombian heritage. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied English
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