Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4.5/5
Review in a Nutshell: Soul of Stars is an out-of-this-world sequel. And I’m not sorry for that pun.

[ Related: Heart of Iron (Heart of Iron #1) by Ashley Poston – Review ]

// Content Warning: Violence, Death //

“Love was stubborn, and love was impatient, and thoughtless and self-centered and vainglorius. It hid in the crevices of your soul when you thought it had run away, and it never left– like a scar: deep and ugly and enduring.”

Release Date: 7/23/2019
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Page Count: 400 pages
Premise:
Soul of Stars takes place several months after the heartbreaking events of Heart of Iron. Our main characters are still trying to deal with what happened (honestly, so am I), all while trying to save their friend and the kingdom. 

Read more for all of my thoughts on this book!

Writing & Setting

The one thing I love about this series is just how easy it is to be immersed in the world and the writing. There’s no slowly adapting to this new galaxy, instead you’re thrown in and are easily able to understand all of it. The writing in Soul of Stars is just as good as Heart of Iron, if not better. There are a few fun references hidden in the book that made me so happy when I found them (including an “In A Crowd of Thousands” reference that killed me). The setting is also fantastic, and this book definitely builds on the galaxy that was established in the first book in fantastic ways.

Plot

This book had it’s work cut out for itself, having to tie up all of the loose ends from Heart of Iron while still matching the fun and adventurous tone… and it definitely succeeded.Soul of Stars is full of action and adventure. This book has plenty of plot twists and reveals (although they are a little predictable) , as well as a crazy fast past. There was something always happening and a few other things building up in the background. That said, sometimes it can feel a little too fast with no moments of rest. Also, while I liked the ending, I just wanted a little more. I needed just a few more pages for the ending to be perfect. However, I guess that isn’t the worst thing to want after finishing a book. 

Characters

This book is a perfect mix of characters I’d die for, and characters I don’t really care much about. To be honest, that has to do with Heart of Iron. The first book made me love some characters, while other characters and relationships felt a little too rushed or sidelined, and now this book pays the price of that. There were definitely a few moments that didn’t have the emotional impact they could have because I just didn’t have that strong of a connection to the characters.

Despite that, I still adore most of the characters in this book and find them pretty well written (if not amazingly written). I mean, Di is just my favorite (I guess I can’t say person?) thing ever, and this book made me love his character even more. Ana, Robb, and Jax are all amazing as well, I just pick favorites. This book definitely gave me more of an appreciation for Robb and Siege than the first book did. 

One thing I really loved in this book is that it isn’t solely up to a bunch of teenagers to save the universe. While I don’t hate when that is the case, it was really refreshing to see these teens being helped out by actual adults and having decent family relationships (I just love the found-family trope). Also, did I mention all of the queer characters in the book? Because oh boy are they there and I am so happy. There are a few lgbtq+ relationships plus a nonbinary character!!

[ Related: Top 7 July 2019 Releases ]

Conclusion

Pros- Great & diverse characters, interesting world, perfect resolution
Cons- Struggled connecting with some characters, I needed more! 
Overall- 4.5/5 stars. 
Soul of Stars was absolutely worth the wait. This book will tear your heart out (if Heart of Iron didn’t already) and have you wanting more.

Have you read Soul of Stars yet?? Also, do you know of any more Anastasia retellings?? Because I am absolutely addicted to them.

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