The Sun and the Starmaker

by Rachel Griffin

There once was a village so far north that most considered it the top of the world... and in that village, the Sun fell in love with her Starmaker. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nature of Witches comes a whimsical and sweeping romantic fantasy.

Nestled deep in the snowy mountains of the Lost Range, the small village of Reverie endures on a miracle. Beyond the reach of the Sun, Reverie is dependent upon the magic of the mysterious Starmaker: every morning, he trudges across a vast glacier and pulls in sunlight over the peaks, providing the village with the light it needs to survive.

Aurora Finch grew up on tales of the Starmaker’s magic, never imagining she’d one day meet him. But on the morning of her wedding, a fateful encounter in the frostbitten woods changes everything. The Starmaker senses a powerful magic within her and demands she come study under his guidance. With her newfound abilities tied to the survival of the village, Aurora is swept away to his ice-covered castle at the mountain’s peak.

The Starmaker is as cold and distant as the dark woods, leaving Aurora to explore his enchanted castle with only an immortal rabbit for company. Yet the more she discovers about the sorcerer, the stronger their ruinous attraction grows, pulling her closer to the secrets he refuses to share. A deadly frost approaches, and Aurora must uncover what the Starmaker is hiding before she is left in an endless winter that even the Sun cannot touch.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Audiobook, Fiction

448 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 2026

About the author

Rachel Griffin writes young adult novels inspired by the magic of the world around her. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Bring Me Your Midnight, The Nature of Witches, and Wild is the Witch.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Rachel has a deep love of nature, from the mountains to the ocean and all the towering evergreens in between. She adores moody skies and thunderstorms, and hopes more vampires settle down in her beloved state of Washington.

When she isn’t writing, you can find her wandering the PNW, reading by the fire, or drinking copious amounts of coffee and tea. She lives with her husband and growing collection of houseplants.

Rachel is represented by Pete Knapp of Park & Fine Literary and Media. You can find her on Instagram @TimesNewRachel.

Reviews

[Marquise · Rating 1 out of 5]

This read like a story that couldn't decide whether to be Beauty and the Beast, Narnia, or a Disney collage, and ended up being the most average and derivative Romantasy you could think of.

(Note: I have the full review in draft ready for posting, and had this been a better read I would've posted it today--release date day. But I still have some pending reviews for my Top of 2025 reads over at my website, and didn't want this to be my first negative review posted there before I'm finished with posting all my positive ones. So the full review will have to wait a bit to see the light of day.
TL;DR: Console yourselves with the teaser line above. 😂)

[Rachel Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

As THE SUN AND THE STARMAKER begins to make its way out into the world, I wanted to share a little bit about the writing of this book with you. If you follow me on Instagram, you probably know that I suffered a traumatic brain injury while in the middle of drafting this book. I completely lost my ability to write and feared I would never write another book, let alone publish one. This book quite literally taught me how to write again, and in so doing, it completely stole my heart. I've never been more proud of anything as I am of this book.

This is the most fantastical, whimsical, and magical book I've written, but it also explores some big themes regarding love and grief and finding oneself. I hope it brings you even a fraction of the comfort and joy it brought me.

And in case you haven't seen it, I want to make sure you know about the gorgeous deluxe first print edition! It has:

💕 a spot foil jacket
❄️ stained glass designed edges
💕 stamped case art
❄️ custom art color endpapers
💕 the dreamiest color palette of all time



These features will be on the first print run only, so if you'd be sad to miss out on it, I highly suggest you preorder!

Thank you so much for being here. I'm very rarely on Goodreads, but if you want to follow along, you can find me on Instagram 🤍

[edie-may ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 𓂃⋆.⭒°⋆ ‎ 4.50 stars .ᐟ ‎ ⋮ ‎ ❝ It is complicated to want you. Your very existence is ending mine, and yet I would rather die having known you than live a thousand lives as strangers. ❞


‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ — review journal ⸝⸝ 013 ⟡
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ started feb 15 ‎ ⋮ ‎ finished feb 15
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ book release : feb 17 ✓


‎ ‎ ‎ ᯓ thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for sending me this e-arc. ‘the sun and the starmaker’ is out now ♡



‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗ ⋮ ‎꒰❄️꒱ ‎ i. now playing ‎ ⟢ ⸝⸝

‎ ‎ 「‎ ‎ snow on the beach ⋮ taylor swift, lana del rey ⸝⸝ ‎ 」

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ ⋮ 〝 now it’s like snow at the beach, weird but f*ckin’ beautiful. flying in a dream, stars by the pocketful. you wanting me tonight feels impossible, but it’s comin’ down, no sound, it’s all around. 〞



‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗ ⋮ ‎꒰🏔️꒱ ‎ ii. what to expect ‎ ⟢ ⸝⸝

‎ ‎ ‎ ⤿ dislike to lovers
‎ ‎ ⤿ fairytales
‎ ‎ ⤿ grumpy x sunshine
‎ ‎ ⤿ slow burn
‎ ‎ ⤿ star-crossed lovers
‎ ‎ ⤿ winter wonderland



‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗ ⋮ ‎꒰💫꒱ ‎ iii. thoughts ‎ ⟢ ⸝⸝

‎ ‎ ‎ i knew this would be pretty but i somehow still managed to underestimate it. the world was absolutely stunning but the vibes were so cozy, and the romance? i love me some willy shakespeare, but romeo and juliet doesn’t hold a candle to the story between these two (we can ignore the fact that i hate that play either way). this was so melancholy and heartbreaking, but somehow so poetic and hopeful all at the same time. you know that feeling you get when you tuck yourself in bed and you kick your feet in excitement because you’re so cozy? that’s how this book feels.



‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗ ⋮ ‎꒰🐇꒱ ‎ iv. characters ‎ ⟢ ⸝⸝

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ — aurora finch .ᐟ ⸝⸝
‎ ‎ ‎ • ⋮ my favourite stubborn—ahem, spirited—girly. i actually don’t know how else to summarise my feelings for her other than i just adore her. she’s like the human embodiment of a snowflake in the best possible way.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ — the starmaker .ᐟ ⸝⸝
‎ ‎ ‎ • ⋮ it kills me not to use his real name, but for the purpose of a spoiler-free review, i shall keep it to myself. i love the grumpy immortal x magical human trope so so so much, and these two may have just set some new kind of standard. other contenders of this trope will have to compare to this.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ — tilly .ᐟ ⸝⸝
‎ ‎ ‎ • ⋮ moment of appreciation for my sweet girl tilly. i didn’t think it was possible to get baby fever from a book, but i feel so maternal right now.



‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗ ⋮ ‎ . pre-read ‎ ⟢ ⸝⸝

‎ ‎ okay so this comes out in 2-3 days and i totally forgot because it got buried in all the other arcs i recklessly requested, so i will now be hunkering down and reading my sweet little ass off, tyvm. — ‎( prediction ; 3.50 ☆ )


‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ⌗ ⋮ ‎ . pre-review ‎ ⟢ ⸝⸝

‎ ‎ ‎ i’m actually so so so happy i got approved for this arc because it looks and sounds stunning???



જ⁀➴ ₊˚⊹ ⭒

[Mai ༊*·˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ★— Nobody is talking about the epidemic of isolated, grumpy, powerful men who keep ending up saddled with unknowingly magically gifted young women!

The opening stretch of The Sun and the Starmaker was very cute and really piqued my interest. A dutiful daughter about to marry a nice, simple village guy, planning for a mundane but pleasantly quiet life, only to discover a destiny that throws everything into disarray. It isn’t the most unique premise, but it was tightly told with prose that immediately pulled me in.

But after that initial framing, once Aurora finds herself in the Starmaker's magical castle, I lost a lot of the enjoyment I’d felt at the start. The story suddenly felt very small in scale, and I don't mean that in a charming or intimate way. A fantasy world that should feel vibrant and filled with atmospheric nature and magical beings came across as strangely empty and not truly lived in.

Another issue was Aurora herself, who slowly became less endearing to me as the story went on. What first seemed like a clever heroine willing to trick the MMC into helping her family turned into a very inconsistently written character whose choices felt erratic, all while she constantly proclaimed her anger without the author actually using that anger in narratively interesting ways. Instead, I watched Aurora repeat the same arguments with the MMC over and over.
For the record, I like angry women, but it isn’t enough for the author to simply have the FMC say “I’m angry” without threading that anger effectively into the story.

The Starmaker himself felt like a pale imitation of Howl. And while I usually love that type of male love interest in fantasy romance, here he wasn’t distinctive, interesting, or snarky enough to be compelling, and that lack of depth extended to the romance as well. The story seemingly skipped over the actual work of building romantic tension and rapport between the leads, even though the MMC is literally training her as the next Starmaker. The book does nothing with that setup and fumbles at creating interesting emotional or romantic development, which means they basically go from strangers to suddenly declaring their mutual desire in what feels like the blink of an eye.

So, the positives: a cute and engaging beginning, a quick and easy reading experience, and clear appeal for readers who enjoy fairytale vibes without looking too deeply.
The negatives: an underdeveloped romantic arc, a predictable plot, and a world that never quite feels alive or vibrant.

Ultimately, I don't not recommend this, but I think expectations need to be adjusted here.

🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 4.75/5
I really liked the narrator and thought her voice matched the whimsical tone of the story beautifully! She made this an easy and genuinely lovely listening experience and enhanced the overall fairytale atmosphere.

______________

Thank you to Sourcebooks for the ARC and to RBmedia for the ALC.

[Posipi · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.75 stars

Rant review incoming.

Firstly: I am soo very glad to be finished with this book 🥳This was so flipping boring, were it not a physical copy, I 100% would have DNFed it.

Secondly: Can we appreciate how gorgeous the cover is? The reason my rating is so high is because of the cover, it is ✨stunning✨

Now, I bought this book expecting fairy tale vibes, an amazing plot, beautiful writing and amazing characters. The only thing I got was occasional fairy tale vibes. I am now going to describe EVERYTHING I disliked about this book (Warning: This will be terribly long)

The Characters:
-Aurora Finch: AHHHHHHH!!!!! How I HATED her. She was an insufferable MC. She was stubborn for the sake of being stubborn, but would admit that she was WRONG for being stubborn. So, she was stubborn for no reason. I think the author tried to make her BADASS, but she was honestly just ASS. She´d do stupid things, because she was adjusting to whatever reaaallllllllyyyy hard situation she was going through. She was basically the Starmaker Rising, so the to-be Starmaker, and even though the Starmaker would give her perfectly sound advice, she´d just ignore it, or call him insufferable. She´s got powers, and💥BOOM💥 she has the hardest life ever. She was such a pick me, she pissed me of so bad

-The Starmaker: He´s the current Starmaker and is basically Aurora´s mentor. He´s also the main love interest. He was so cold, and mean at times, he was quite snobby too. BUT WAIT A MINUTE!! He´s got a hard life filled with grief. Well, there was a lot of telling what the grief was, not showing, so sorry if I can´t connect to him. To me, he´s just insufferable and rude

-Farren: Just weird and disturbing, another character I hated :)
-The Sun: You´re really confusing, yk that?
-Ina, Tilly, Constance, Frederik: YOU GUYS ARE WHAT MADE THIS BEARABLE, AND ALTHOUGH YOU WERE YOUNGER OR A SPIRIT OR AN IMMORTAL BUNNY, YOU WERE A LOT MORE MATURE THAN ANY OF THE PROTAGONISTS 💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

The World:
Very unexplored. The story is basically set in a village called Reverie that is so high atop a mountain because of an earthquake that there is no sunlight. The Sun goes there to see the damage of the earthquake in her human form, and up there, she falls in love with a human. That human becomes immortal, get´s powers to pull the sunlight so he´s called the Starmaker, except that he is in fact, not immortal, and dies one day. He just has a really long life. But after him came another Starmaker, and another, and then we have the Starmaker from the story, the fourth Starmaker. All Starmakers need to use the power of the Sun, otherwise they die 😀 YAY. So the Sun basically forces people to be immortal, and be in great pain, because of TRUE LOVE 💗 Doesn´t feel very romantic to me, tbh. There´s bits of magic, but we don´t know much else. The author was so busy writing a fairy tale like story, that she forgot to give it a detailed setting.

The Plot:
The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin follows Aurora Finch, a young woman living in a mountain village that depends on a magical figure known as the Starmaker to bring sunlight each day. When the Starmaker discovers Aurora has magic of her own, she is taken to his isolated castle to train as his successor. As she learns to control her powers, Aurora struggles with the responsibility of leaving her old life behind. Meanwhile, a growing frost threatens to overtake the village, putting pressure on her to master her abilities quickly. As she trains, Aurora also begins to uncover secrets about the Starmaker and the true cost of his role.
That´s my OPINION FREE SUMMARY OF THE PLOT 💖
Now, with opinions:
This story follows a selfish, stubborn and annoying MC who´s only personality trait is that she´s a rising starmaker, how good for her. She falls in love with the current Starmaker when she finds out she´s got powers, almost instantly, as if a switch was flipped. There´s a loooooooooooot of telling, but upon further reflection, nothing really happens

The Romance:
I found it terrible. They were just so weird together.

The Ending:
Made me hate the book even more, it was just TOO perfect for the situation

The Writing:
We go from really simplistic sentences and then have really complex sentences. It wasn´t balanced and just looked weird.

The Verdict:
If you plan on never reading this and just want a stunning book on your bookshelf, buy this. If not, stay away. This might be for you if you want fairy tale vibes, but imo, even those sucked. If you want something with fairy tale vibes that´s amazing, read Divine Rivals.

[Luce · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful love stories I’ve ever read.

Entirely enchanting, with stunning prose and a timeless love. I was CAPTIVATED.

This is a book that’s gonna have your heart in the palm of its hand, but you won’t even realise it, you won’t even know until you’re nearly at the end and it rips your heart into absolute dust. Ruins you. But in the BEST way.

Filled with all of the beautiful wintery vibes and reads like a beautiful fairytale but with emotion and depth.

This is such a special read. I love them with my whole heart and soul. I love this book. Absolute magic.

[♡Ren♡ · Rating 1 out of 5]

24% in and I can't do this anymore. I'm old. I could die tomorrow and I don't want my last moments spent trudging through this slop.

The FMC was the absolute worst. We're introduced to her as someone who loves the story of the Sun and the Starmaker so much so that she forces her mother to tell her the story over and over again. Then in the first chapter she even prays to the first Starmaker to heal her sister. So you'd think when she finally meets Starmaker she'd be awestruck or enchanted to meet him, but no, this idiot finds out she has magic and decides to resent HIM for uprooting her life to teach her said magic?? Something that the MMC states will KILL her if she doesn't use? And she hates him for that???

She even finds out how LONELY the man has been and is still like, "WOW HE'S SO GRUMPY, EW."

Girl.

I spent my audible credit on this. I can't trust any of y'all anymore. 4.20 stars? I need a refund.

[Isabel]

I’m seated. The booksellers are scared and asking me to leave because ‘we only sell Portuguese books’ but I’m simply too seated.

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 3 out of 5]

rtc

𓈒⟡₊⋆∘˚⊹ ࿔

pre-read : INSANELY BEAUTIFUL COVER. been seeing this book go rounds on booksta and been curious about it since ;; i am so excited to be buddy reading again with bestie joni ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡

[Maeghan 🦋 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t had a 2 stars read in a while so this is kinda bumming me out.

First chapter was a 5 stars read. It really set up a fairy tale and I was here for it.

And then it managed to go down hill from there. The tone shifted from whimsical to depression. The whole book was telling and not showing. I felt so detached from the relationships and I could not stand the fmc. I also had a bunch of unanswered questions like why are people still dying from the frost if he can just heal them so easily? And she was SO obsessed with that story… why was she so horrible to him?

In the second chapter or so, we learn that the fmc’s mom didn’t really raise her last child because she was grieving her husband… and the fmc says she never judged her mom for that because she can’t imagine what she went through, and then she atrociously judges the mmc for no apparent reason. And I just thought this was so incoherent? She lacked empathy and compassion. I just don’t get why it took her going through the mmc’s stuff to realize he had a life he also grieved?

And honestly I just wonder why none of them rebelled before because who the fuck wants to wake up at 5am every day of their lives until the Sun decides their time is done? The deal was so shitty. They had to wake up at 5am every day of their lives to make sure the villagers survived, they outlived everyone they loved and they ultimately ended up dying alone. It was just so depressing and I don’t really get why every starmaker was so accepting of these conditions.

In the first few chapters when the fmc learns she’s the starmaker, she immediately blames the mmc even if he told her the sun chose her. Her anger was so misplaced and I would’ve just left her there tbh she was insufferable.

Waking up at 5am every day of your life and having to endure this insufferable brat on top of it all? No thanks. I honestly would’ve told the villagers to move out. It really wasn’t worth all the troubles.

[Val~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really beautiful story, with lots of elements that make it a fairytale-like book. The narrator does a great job with a compelling voice. I also loved this edition, it's so cute!

Thanks so much to RBmedia and NetGalley for this ALC of The Sun and the Starmaker by Rachel Griffin, and narrated by Suzy Jackson; to be published on February 17th, 2026.

[zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

it's like the author went digging into my head and found out the fairytale-esque magical romantic fantasy book of my dream and set out on a noble journey to write it for me. absolutely no notes

[Iqra]

This sounds incredible hello???

[Jena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t honestly say this is a five star book, but I had such a wonderful time with it. The writing style and romance are quite simple, however the premise and world building are so enchanting, immersive, and magical that I’m going to bump my rating up. I enjoyed this story so thoroughly. What it lacked in romantic and vocabular depth, it made up for with its unique premise and endearing story. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for more fairytale-like fantasies.
Thank you to RB Media for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Sophie (lambsbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I grew up in a very devout home, Aurora, and I have never believed in anything as much as I believe in you.”

OH MY GOOOOOOD

“There will come a day when you will be the only one sitting here, Miss Finch, and you will think of how you’d give anything to look across the table and see another person.”

Just me, over here, sobbing.

“I am well-mannered, Miss Finch…but I have never considered myself a gentleman.”

Whatever I was expecting, it was not this. This was whimsical, emotional, beautiful, hopeful, devastating, bright, and romantic. This blew through my expectations, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.

“I’ve been waiting a long while for you.”

Set on the backdrop of a winter wonderland, nothing is wonderful about this town. The town favoured by the Sun until one day, the town sinks into the mountain, away from the Sun’s reach and is in perpetual darkness. The Sun comes down to try and save the town, only to fall in love with a surviving human. To keep the town alive, the Sun gives her love the power of immortality, or close to it, and allows the Sun's rays to come through him to light the town. Thus, the Starmaker is born. And when a new Starmaker is chosen, the old one will transfer the power of the Sun to the next Starmaker.

Looking at him was like watching a dying star, painful and beautiful and impossible to turn away from.

Our FMC, Aurora (perfect name, really), is content (mostly) to marry a village boy to secure a better future for her family, since they live in an area where the Sun's rays don’t reach. FATE INTERVENES (oh yes she does) and the Starmaker finds her and declares her the Starmaker Rising, the one to take his place. The next Starmaker.

Que drama, a grumpy MMC who hates mornings and is not a fan of Aurora at all, heartbreak, an immortal rabbit named Constance who I would die for, and HEARTBREAK (but in capitals). I think the Starmaker may have made my Book Boyfriend list?? I just loved his every interaction, his personality, his tone, (his physical description was just it for me), his backstory, literally everything. Also, the humour was top-tier. The magic was enchanting and pulled you right in, with crying statues, a snow angel come to life, a singing lamppost that lulls you to sleep, and a sled that only travels vertically.

“I have lived many lifetimes and paid many prices. To think you know me because you have spent a day in my castle would be a mistake.”

I cannot even put into words how much I died a little reading this. I highlighted half this book, and I think I showed a good amount of restraint not including a million quotes. Not great restraint, you can see how long this is, but some restraint nonetheless lmao

"Don’t get so caught up in who you were that you fail to see who you are.”

Aurora did piss me off for a little while, and I was going to lower my star rating because of it, but then I thought, NO, she honestly deserved to be dramatic, angry, and whiny for her situation. She deserved to have to grieve her life, what she would lose in the future, what she would have to endure, so I thought, 5 stars, because I don’t hate women who show emotion.

“I’m thinking that of all the hard things this life entails, outliving you will be the hardest by far.”

Thank you so much to Sourcebooks and the author for this ARC!

One of the saddest quotes I’ve ever read, if you needed more convincing after the novel I just wrote:

“You will stop aging as soon as you come into your magic,” he said, “and there will come a time not long from now when every person you’ve ever known, ever cared for, will be dead. You will spend your days illuminating a village that will know you only by your role, and you will bury your household staff and all your animals many times over as your life stretches out into infinity. You will force yourself to speak solely to remember the sound of your own voice, and one day you will have to reach into the farthest corners of your memory to recall what your name was before it was Starmaker. And finally, when someone else is born with the magic of the Sun, you will pass along all of your knowledge to them, and then you will die alone, only to be buried in the land so that your magic is not wasted.” The Starmaker took a breath, his eyes never leaving Aurora’s. “There will be no rest for you. Not even in death.”

[ishi ☆ (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

ⵌ 5 stars ★
⤿ arc review.ᐟ

“and when we return to the dust of the stars, i will whisper your name in the endless after so that i may find you even in death. always I will come for you, and always will I stay.”

🍡✨ ₊˚.꒱ my thoughts ⋆.˚⸝⸝
⟡ this book was so enchanting and magical <3 it's been so long since i've read a fresh, unique romantasy and this definitely delivered! i loved the whimsical setting and fairytale vibes. the characters were amazing and the writing style was absolutely gorgeous.

⟡ aurora was such a great mc, she was so sweet and relatable 🫶 the romance was so so lovely and full of yearning, i loved seeing them together 🥹 and i actually teared up a few times, the ending and epilogue were so beautifully written. i will absolutely be rereading this, and recommend it to anyone who wants a whimsical, wintry disney-esque romantasy!

⤿ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

· · ─ ·✶· ─ · ·

[Noi (in & out) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddy reading with ashlyn ❤️

[joni ౨ৎ - hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.25 stars
this was a whimsical romantasy!!! the magic was not something i've read before and there was a lot of high emotions which i enjoyed!



𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
im in dire need of a cozy romantasy and this has been on my shelf for a while now!! this cover is genuinely so gorgeous and after reading the author's note i can't wait to read this! so excited for another buddy read with my lovely friend justine we always have a blast and i know this will be no different! love u loads <3

↪ started march 22



thank u sourcebooks fire for sending me a physical arc!

[Anna Makowska · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another Howl Moving Castle coded book that fell flat for me. It's Beauty & the Beast, except the Beast isn't beastly, he's super handsome, but he's equally broody and grumpy.

The biggest problem here are the characters. They manage somehow to be both bland and annoying at the same time.

Fmc, Aurora, has 2 traits: "loves her family" and "stubborn". Her stubbornness is really grating at times and the level of "to spite the face I'll cut off my nose", or, more relevantly, as the saying in my native language goes, "to spite my grandma, I'll get my ears frostbitten" (since this book has very wintry feel). She's bratty, belligerent and petulant, with maturity of a toddler who pouts because didn't get the ice-cream.

She has all the traits of a "reluctant Chosen One" who has to be forcibly dragged into the plot. Apparently one way to do so is by employing one of the most overdone tropes in YA and romantasy, namely the "sick sister fmc needs to save". Seriously, enough with the sick sisters and family poverty. I yearn for bringing back orphan Chosen Ones at this point.

Mmc, the Starmaker, or Caspian, has none of the charm of Howl and none of the drawbacks to overcome of the Beast, he's just yet another grumpy, broody, life-weary centuries old wizard who looks young and handsome, sequestered in his magical castle. It reminds me of The Library of Amorlin where we get exactly the same kind of mmc: broody, grumpy wizard who's older than he looks like and is mostly sitting and waiting for death until manic pixie dream fmc (who's actually a self-centered brat) swoops in and reminds him there's joy in life and he should savour it.

The banter was equally limp in both books, and the romance equally reliant on fmc noticing how handsome the mmc is, and of course he's tall, broad shouldered and muscular, because heavens' forbid male love interests have a different body type. No matter if he's a bookish scholar, a sneaky thief, a wizard relying on magic, or a charming noble spoiled with luxuries, male love interests in a MF romance always need to look like a gymbro.

And then we also have the ye olde "I hate him but my body reacts to him" trope. He touches her and she immediately "feels it in her core" (there are multiple instances mentioning "her core" in this book: "his words skipped around in her core like stones over water", "an earthquake was rocking her core", "pleasure built deep in her core", etc.) The romance felt forced - they had to fall in love because the plot demanded it - rather than organic.

Aurora's initial fiance, Farren, is the worst of the 3, because he's a plot device to be a third wheel in a love triangle. He's just a nice guy Aurora is very much in love with, but because the plot needs to push her together with the designated mmc, what's the best way to force the decision? Character assassination of the redundant spare. Make him into a Gaston of the story. Make him selfish, abusive, betraying the fmc. This is sooo 2010s YA where the "childhood best friend" always ended like this (with the exception of Hunger Games and Wicked Lovely maybe). Tbh the actual love interest being a "centuries old mysterious alluring stranger" is also so 2010s YA.

The plot is very linear and predictable, with the only wrenches thrown into the cogs by one of the mcs doing something stupid and annoying. Too often books marketed as "cozy", "atmospheric" or "whimsical" are just trying to mask the issue that nothing interesting happens in them, and it irritates me to no end.

I can't help but compare this to The Library of Amorlin, except I liked this one less, because in TLoA at least there was some passable external plot and the fmc was more likeable. It's hard to decide with this one was it just boring, or also actively bad. It's definitely severely overrated. For such a paint-by-numbers book to be exploding in popularity and praise, it makes me actively mad people choose this sludge over basically anything else.

The author explained how writing this book was therapeutic in her recovery from a concussion, but lots of people write books as a form of self-therapy, doesn't mean all those books deserve to be published and sold for hard cash (and taking a crate slot from a debut or a minority author). Actually, I think I'm gonna place it in the same "bait&switch" category as The Second Death of Locke, so if you liked that book, you might like this one too.

I would recommend it to readers who want Beauty & the Beast style YA romantasy, except without the actual Beast (if you ever regretted how Tamlin in ACOTAR got shafted), or if you like old school YA with centuries-sized age gaps and love triangles with an obvious winner.

For me, sadly, it was a total letdown.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC.

[Ads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dnf @ 20%
I wanted to love this so bad but the fmc was annoying as hell

She constantly blames the mmc for a matter he has no control over mans is literally just trying to help her not die by teaching her to control her power.

On top of that she’s supposed to be marrying this other guy who she can’t marry now and she harps on about how it may not be the grandest love but it is quiet and safe yada yada so she’s so sad she can’t marry him BUT when she gets a letter from him she’s wistfully touching “the same spot his hands might have touched while writing this letter” not even two lines later after she reads that he wants to save her from this situation she deadass becomes “irritated that he won’t accept my decision”

MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND SHUT UP AND REFLECT ON THE SITUATION FOR TWO GODDAMN SECONDS YOU WHINING, VICTIMIZING ASS

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodnesssssss this is a six star read for me! Bind this book within my soul and stitch it to my heart I’m utterly obsessed. Oh wow it was so magical and whimsical— the imagery and world building alone was so beautiful and refreshingly new! Sooo many quotes I read over and over truly so swoony and so much pining— just the quote “I might ruin you” about did me over. I will shout my love for this book from the rooftops! Definitely for fans of Wisteria, Cruel Prince, and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the arc!

[Sanja ✵ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is brimming with a fairytale-like atmosphere that’s full of magic, charm and landscapes covered in mountains and snow.

I truly enjoyed the premise and setting, I felt like the storyline about the Starmaker gave a unique twist to a plotline we have seen a number of times.

However, I think more could’ve been done with the world-building. It held a lot of potential, but the actual fantasy aspects felt a little underdeveloped. And while the romance was sweet, it didn’t feel that compelling.

But overall a very cute and easy book if you’re looking for that whimsical feeling.

[ThianeJansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is the 6 star button???

I was always an Aladdin girly, but if someone asks me NOW what my favorite fairytale is, best believe I’m saying The Sun & The Starmaker. This story follows Aurora, who grows up hearing legends of a Sun and a Starmaker and their tragic love. When her sister becomes gravely ill, Aurora’s path leads her into the forest, a forbidden encounter, and ultimately a destiny she never asked for, becoming the next Starmaker and stepping into a life bound by magic, duty, and sacrifice.

The romance is the heart of this book, and the yearning is impeccable. It’s tender ans so devastating paired with banter that genuinely made me giggle. I was sobbing and emotionally undone. This book reminded me of a fantasy twist to ‘Me before You’ but maybe not in the way you would think! Seeing him start to ‘live’ again? Best believe I was a blubbering mess.

The worldbuilding is stunning. Everything felt vivid and fairytale-like, the magic system was creative and beautifully executed, and the atmosphere completely came alive in my head. Aurora is a strong, compassionate heroine who knows what she wants, while the Starmaker is gentle, reserved, and quietly broken in the most Mr. Darcy-esque way. Together, they are unforgettable.

I have to pause and acknowledge how unbelievable this book is knowing that Rachel Griffin wrote and finished it while recovering from a traumatic brain injury. The emotional depth, clarity, and beauty of this story are remarkable on their own, but under those circumstances? Truly inspiring. The resilience and heart behind these pages are undeniable, and it makes this story feel even more meaningful.

Tropes
✨ Fairytale fantasy
🌟 Star-crossed lovers
💔 Tragic romance
🔥 Intense yearning
🏰 Destiny & duty
🌲 Enchanted forest


This is a beautiful, tragic love story that completely stole my heart. I’m still emotional thinking about it and cannot wait for the official release so everyone else can experience it. Store UP on tissues- I did not stop crying for 20 minutes at one point. Fair warning.

Brain power required: 🧠/5
Read if you like:Fairytales, this is so unique I’m struggling to compare it to anything! Also, hope you like crying.

Favorite part: How she made him start living again! The immortal rabbit, how picturesque this was, the mirrors!

Be like me and torture yourself, after you finished go read the first 5 pages again. It hits so hard.

[vxmpslibrary [mental health break] · Rating 3 out of 5]

.3 stars.

I would say that I enjoyed this book a lot more than I would like to admit, the concept and visualization does takes my breath away and makes me want to keep it forever in my memory.

The starting grips me beautifully, with the amazing fairytale that made me mourn and love it at the same time, it was like I was present in the story as well!

For the characters, I admit I found the female lead quite annoying, yet I understand her situation, the way she kept blaming the StarMaker as if it's his fault when he also didn't have any part in it was irritating to its utmost. So I didn't learn to love her at all that much.

The characters did not connect to me the way I initially hoped them too, like the main characters they were really bland to me. Yet I loved the bond between Aurora and her siblings which was beautifully visualised.

I would definitely recommend this book for its found family and magic realism. It is not that much but it is enough.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up

This is a tough tough tough one, because I loved the beginning. I was all in on the fairytale/Beauty & the Beast/Howl’s Moving Castle vibes. And I loved the angry and annoyed dynamic between the MCs…at first… But then they were too angry and annoyed with one another for me to believe a romance between them. A romance that went from dislike to love almost instantly. I needed to see their relationship develop. Also, her ex was kinda crazy and I wasn’t expecting that from him. All of their conversations took away from the development I needed to see between her and the Starmaker. I did like the ending, but I skimmed from 60-80% bc I was bored. Do with that info what you will!

[Athena &#x1f497; · Rating 2 out of 5]

‼️ Labeled YA but contains sexual content not suitable for young readers.

2.5⭐️ My feelings were split down the middle so it seems fitting to do the same with the rating.

I think the main problem here is that the writing and audio narrator were giving middle school grade or even younger but the content was more “new adult”. The sex scenes weren’t explicit but they were definitely open door. I would have given this book much more grace if it was directed towards a younger audience but with more mature content I expect deeper writing to come with it.

I first went into this with high hopes. The gorgeous cover is very eye catching and whimsical. It was giving young fairytale princess vibes and my inner childhood self was ready to eat it up.

The opening starts out just as the cover promises with a whimsical world and beautiful writing. Aurora is a little girl tucked in her bed listening to mother tell her, her favorite bedtime story of the Sun and the Starmaker. With the writing, the age of the little girl being read to and the young voice of the audio narrator this book had a very young feel to it right from the start. As you progress into the story though, you realize it is not appropriate for a younger audience.

I liked the author’s prose. Her writing was beautiful and there were many lines in there I wanted to annotate.

Where things started to fall short for me was the character development and storytelling. Everything just felt very surface level and not well fleshed out. I struggled to connect with the characters, especially Aurora and her relationship with the Starmaker felt rushed. The pacing of the story didn’t have an even flow to it and ultimately it felt like the author spent a lot of time telling me with very little time spent showing me.

Thank you RB Media and Rachel Griffin for an advanced listening copy of, The Sun and the Starmaker in exchange for an honest review.

[hailee · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.

3.75***

“I know it may seem like your future is inevitable, but it is up to you to decide how it will look—how full your life will be, how much love it will hold, how much happiness and laughter and joy. Please do not deny yourself those things because you are afraid of the pain they may leave in their absence. Life includes pain, my darling, and you cannot escape or outwit it."

this was truly such an atmospheric story & i had the most whimsical time!! this very vaguely reminded me of a disney movie - specifically frozen x beauty and the beast. with that being said, don’t go into this expecting a retelling of either of those stories. i just found there to be similar elements & vibes throughout the sun and the starmaker.

the romance was perfectly slow burn, the setting was immaculate, and the magic system was intriguing. while i loved all of the elements of this one, i found that i was a bit disconnected overall.

i think part of that disconnect came from the author doing a lot of telling instead of showing which, if you know me, you know is one of my biggest book related pet peeves. also, the side characters felt a bit flat to me and i would have loved learning more about the magic itself.

overall, i had a fun time with this and i’m glad i read this during a snowstorm - it really added to the cozy winter vibe while reading. the romance was very cute and there were a lot of beautiful quotes i highlighted, including the two in this review.

i think this will be a great read for anyone looking for a whimsical standalone romantic fantasy!

“And when we return to the dust of the stars, I will whisper your name in the endless after so that I may find you even in death. Always will I come for you, and always Will I stay."

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow burn , yearning and longing. Such a sweet tale. I loved the classic story vibe of this and the over all forced proximity.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

”And when we return to the dust of the stars, I will whisper your name in the endless after so that I may find you even in death. Always I will come for you, and always will I stay.”

5 ⭐️

I initially snagged this book for the pretty cover, but the story inside far surpassed my expectations. I finished it last night and despite the tears that were shed, I loved this so much. I will absolutely be rereading this when the physical copy is released.


Aurora grew up listening to the tales about the tragic love story that befell the Sun and the first Starmaker; the sun who fell in love with the mortal. Despite her affection for the tales, she never realized how pertinent their love would be to her own future.

Generations have passed, and the current Starmaker still pulls in the sun every morning to bring light over the mountains; however, his reign is soon to end. In what appears to be a cruel twist of fate, Aurora discovers she holds the magic needed to keep the frost from invading her village. Depiste her reluctance, Aurora makes a bargain with the Starmaker in an effort to save her family- not realizing the depth in which their fates are truly intertwined. The Starmaker's outer beauty doesn't match his cold and stoic personality, but Aurora is content to shut him out to get what she needs for those she loves...or so she thinks.

The Sun and The Starmaker is such a beautiful story about love, grief, and the growth that comes with it. This was a cozy and snowlaiden tale with the perfect amount of snark, yearning, and love to wrap it all up.
I do think that this could have been a smidge longer, if only because I loved the characters and would have been perfectly content to read another hundred or so pages ;D But truly, I would have liked to have been able to see more of the main characters interactions with the village and those affected by the frost. I don't often wish for books to be longer, (normally it's the other way around) but this was one of the few that I wanted more from simply because I didn't want it to end.

Huge thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advanced digital copy.

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book from Rachel Griffin that I’ve read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She has a unique writing style that makes you feel as if you are being read a bed time story by your parents. Even though it is a fresh and unique story it feels nostalgic. Loved the romance , it literally broke my heart at one point and I’m so glad in the end they got their happy ending. This reads like an epic folklore passed down generation to generation and I loved it. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the arc 💜

I recently was given an ALC of this …. Which I was so excited for because I really enjoyed the book itself the audio version made this even more heartbreaking than reading it, hearing the emotion the narrator added to the story really added several layers to the story and made it hit even harder even with knowing the story. Really really enjoyed the narration of this gorgeous fairytale. Thanks to Netgalley, the author, narrator and publisher for the alc!