Star Eater

De: Kerstin Hall

Narrado por: Samara Naeymi

From Nommo Award finalist Kerstin Hall

"A layered and incisive examination of power.” (Rory Power, New York Times best-selling author of Wilder Girls)

"Stunning, bloody, and everything I adore in fantasy.” (Emily Duncan, New York Times best-selling author of Wicked Saints)

"Both haunted and haunting." (A. K. Larkwood, author of The Unspoken Name)

She swallowed a star, and the Sisterhood called her the Eater.

Elfreda Raughn will avoid pregnancy if it kills her, and one way or another, it will kill her. Though she's able to stomach the gruesome day-to-day duties, the reality of preserving the Order's magical bloodline horrifies her, but the Sisters of Aytrium have sworn to pay a price for the safety of their nation. Elfreda wants out, whatever the cost.

So when a shadowy cabal approaches her with an offer of escape, she leaps at the opportunity. As their spy, she gains access to the highest reaches of the Order and enters a glittering world of opulent parties, subtle deceptions, and unexpected bloodshed.

A phantasmagorical indictment of hereditary power, Star Eater takes listeners deep into a perilous and uncanny world where even the most powerful women are forced to choose what sacrifices they will make so that they might have any choice at all.

©2021 Kerstin Hall (P)2021 Recorded Books

The narrator is the best part by far, GOAT

Disclamer/spoiler: I'm not native speaker, and as such it might be my fault about this, but the book uses a lot of western religion symbolism and concepts in the story; sisterhood, sacraments, etc. So when they said "Ascension" I though it metaphorically. But they meant it literally: Athrium ascended and is a floating city. That makes the whole story make more sense, with all the water shortages and the necessity to maintan the Order, to maintain the Island afloat.
I just didn't understand or get it until much later in the book.

A very dark and strong concept of a worldbuilding, sadly paired with a weak story and characters.
I enjoyed my time because the narrator is simply amazing, the range of voices is superb, one of the best in the platform so far. They change from female to male voices so easily you don't even think is just one person reading to you.
The idea behind the book is interesting, and all the implications of "the end justify the means" and such, but it is also quite problematic in other aspects. Is not as saphicc as it should if heterosexual relations have story-related consequences.
Worth a read, nevertheless.

loaded imagery with nothing to say

what was the message even supposed to be? some of the most loaded imagery ive ever seen but ideologically completely hollow

Lacks detail

Great book, but more detail into the world and history would have helped quite a bit.

World of Sacrifice and intrigue

Star Eater
By: Kerstin Hall
Narrated by: Samara Naeymi
Length: 15 hrs and 14 mins
The detailed descriptions of this world will bring the reader full into its reality, your belief suspended. An amazingly well developed world, with astounding magic. A world of sacrifice and darkness. I found the characters written to perfection, The story a combination of horror and mystery. Samara Naeymi has a great way of bringing the awe and astonishment of the story to the reader. She was able to bring the reader deeper into the story.

Strong performance in a cannibalistic world

I received access to an early review version of the audiobbok (and then bought it to review on audible.... to listen to again later). Star Eater is definitely not what I thought it would be based on the description. The world is dense and the magic system incredibly interesting and well developed. El's struggles with what she and the order must do to maintain access to lace is completely believable. You can feel and understand her horror.

I really enjoyed the narrator for this book and found her clear and easy to understand even at faster speeds.

Parts felt a tad meandering and especially in the first 25% it feels incredibly slow. By half way things pick up and the last 25% is an action packed wrap up of all the little clues that were dropped.

Relationships never feel artificial and the lgbtq+ representation is not ever forced or awkward.

A first read from an author I am adding to my list!

Confusing at first, but it gets sooooo much better

For the first couple of hours I had no idea what was going on, i understand some books open with a vague intro and then the story gradually unfolds and all of one’s questions are answered but this one felt as if it took forever to explain things, even when it ended there was still so much more that was left unanswered for me….but!! This was a very unique and Interesting book, the idea behind the story is so creative that when it finally did she’d some light on something it got me hooked. Even though it was at times confusing and difficult to grasp, I still recomendable it, a good read

Lack of Plot

The beginning of the book truly feels like a lead up to an amazing plot. Unfortunately I did not feel like it really lived up to the potential. And while I did not prefer the content of the story, I do like the authors writing style. Narrator did just fine!