ASH OF THE FALLEN STAR

In this debut novel, a series of unusual dreams and occurrences leads a restoration expert to memories of her past and a long-lost love.

Caelin Wenriel restores the delicate artifacts of Elowen’s Fall, a city nearly destroyed centuries ago by a devastating collapse. She is especially intrigued by the glyphs that offer glimpses into the history of Elowen’s Fall and the magic that enchants the city. As her work progresses, Caelin has a series of cryptic dreams in which she sports violet wings and falls while hearing a man call her by a different name. When she wakes up, she experiences a burning sensation along her collarbone. Then the glyphs she studies respond to her touch, and violets bloom in unexpected places. Meanwhile, a man named Lucan Thiros awakens after spending centuries in a tomb deep within Elowen’s Fall. A revenant, Lucan has returned from the dead so he can reconnect with the woman who shares his “soulmark,” the hero who sacrificed her divinity for love. That woman is Caelin, but she has no memory of Lucan or the events that led to her losing her divinity. Drawn to the revenant, Caelin soon finds herself in a race to recover her memories and choose her destiny before Lucan is lost to her forever. Novane’s captivating novel unfurls like a fairy tale replete with dynamic characters and a nimble, fast-paced narrative. Caelin is a vibrant protagonist whose empathy guides her work as a restoration expert and her dealings with Lucan. Her relationship with Lucan unfolds at a leisurely pace as she tries to retrieve her memories of their lost love. The author’s prose is lush and lyrical, especially when describing the effects of Lucan’s state as a revenant (“His fingers dissolved first, transparency creeping up his arms like frost on glass”). That said, while the descriptions are strong, elements of Caelin’s backstory are lacking. For example, considering her work as a restoration expert, additional details about her family would have provided insights into her long connection with Elowen’s Fall.

An enchanting romantic fantasy.