Book Review: The Stars Would Curse Us by Stephanie Combs & Valerie Rivers
As summer is in full swing and my daily life gets busier, I decided to indulge in some light romantic reads. “The Stars Would Curse Us” was the second book…
The Stars Would Curse Us by Stephanie Combs & Valerie Rivers
Recommended reading order:
The Stars Would Curse Us (book 1)
Novella, The Stars Couldn’t Break Us (book 1.5)
The Stars Could Save Us (Book 2) upcoming November 2024
The books are set in a world called Esterra. It is ruled by 3 elemental ethnicities of the Fae.
Argenti – The water elemental fae live in and around the Iverian Sea. A densely populated area. The majority of the population have built their homes under water. Along the coast with its picturesque beaches and sacred lagoons rise the villas of the wealthier.
The Argenti are considered the weakest of the elemental fae. Their strength lies in their mastery of water. They have a preference for healing and animals.
Aurum – The fire elementals live in the Easthen Forest, where they build their homes high in the ancient trees. The evergreen trees, whose bark is as thick as armor, are almost impenetrable to the fire elementals.
Aurums have the gift of controlling fire, heat and light. Despite their reputation, they are considered extremely skilled woodworkers.
Aereus – The earth elemental fae lived in Ilithania at the southern tip of Esterra. What was once an inhospitable desert, they transformed into a tropical paradise. Their ability to control and manipulate the earth enabled them to carve breathtaking houses and castles into the cliffs and mountainsides.
Aereus are considered the strongest of the elemental elves.
Adamas – The air elemental fae lived high up in the Zephyrian Alps.
According to legend, their element was cursed after they disobeyed the command of the stars, and the Adamas were wiped out one by one until only three ethnicities of elemental elves remained in Esterra.
Iris – The ruling class, supposedly sent by the stars to rule Esterra. They live in the capital city of Prisma.
The Iris have the unique ability to control multiple elements, making them stronger, faster, and more powerful than other races. However, they cannot reproduce, so they hold an annual draft where the winner is selected to become the spouse of an Iris. Being chosen is a great honor and signifies a rise in social status. Once selected for the games, no one ever returns to their birthplace.
Elemental races are strictly confined to their own domains and are prohibited from interacting with other races. Intermarriage is forbidden and carries the severe penalty of death.