Format: Hardcover, 288 pages
Release Date: June 29, 2021
Publisher: Sky Pony
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Science Fiction
“A rare gem of a sequel . . . Each page drips with action and moral complexities.” —Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire, on A House of Rage & Sorrow
A prince without his kingdom.
A kingdom without its princess.
The destruction of the stars themselves.
War
is destroying the galaxy. Esmae has vanished without a trace. A
terrifying, ravenous beast is devouring the stars one by one. Titania
is offered a gift that may well be a curse. Alexi, the exiled prince,
is asked to pay a heavy price for his mistakes. And far, far away, on a
dark, mysterious planet, a sleeping god stirs awake.
War or family.
Pride or peace.
As
the end of the world draws ever closer, Esmae and Alexi must decide how
far they’ll go to win—and who they’ll sacrifice along the way.
Celebrated author Sangu Mandanna promises a gripping conclusion to the Celestial Trilogy in A War of Swallowed Stars.
A War of Swallowed Stars is the third and final installment in author Sangu Mandanna's Celestial Trilogy. This book picks up immediately where A House of Rage and Sorrow finished then jumps 36 days where Titania picks up the story from Esmae. This story focuses on several key characters. Esmae Rey, Titania, and Radha. The series is inspired by the Hindu epic The Mahabharata and places it in space. Mandanna's trilogy takes the tropes of fate, love, and bargaining with the gods and shoots them to the stars. Fans of mythology and retellings will eat this up.
The House of Rey is at war, and for Esmae, the daughter who was tossed away by her mother Kyra Rey in favor of her brothers Alexei and Bear, this may be the end of the road as prophesied. Esmae is all but missing from the first part of this book after her actions against Arcadia. Esmae as a main character is full of rage and sorrow over the things she has lost and things she has done, but she also understands she is lucky enough to have friends like Max, Radha, and Titania who care about whether she lives or dies.
By birthright, Esmae, not Max, nor Alexei, should be in control of Kali. It was bad enough that her own mother did some really nasty things to Esmae in order to keep her away from Kali so that Alexei could become King. But with Esmae out of the picture and nobody is truly sure whether she is dead or alive, her friends Max and Titania and Sybilla struggle to find out what really happened to her and if they can save her or not. Especially Titania the sentient starship that was
created by two Gods and a King.
Titania is the greatest starship ever built. She was created by two Gods and a King and was supposed to go to Alexei before Esmae's choices in the first installment. Titania's life changes when she is offered a chance to become human. For Titania, she's like a new born fawn testing every aspect of her new being. Readers get to see things from Titania’s perspective in this book. We see how she loves and protects Esmae, and despite just being a mechanical warship, she is a full-fledged character whose presence in the book makes it feel wholesome.
One of the underlying storylines of this book is the emotional toll war takes on everyone involved. Esmae gets to the point where she is sick of war and doesn't care if Alexei is the one who comes out on top. Sybilla and Radha find comfort with each other which makes both stronger for it. Max has outed himself as a God, but even Gods have weaknesses that can be exploited. In the end, Esmae's choices are heart breaking, especially with the number of people who die because of Kyra Rey's machinations.
Cast of Characters:
Esmae Rey, princess of Kali. Eldest child of King Cassel and Queen Kyra.
Max Rey, crown prince of Kali. Adopted son of King Elvar and Queen Guinne. Commander of the Hundred and One and the reincarnated god Valin. It's a long story!
Cassela Rey, great-grandmother of Esmae. She cursed Kyra which is what started this whole mess.
Alexi Rey, exiled prince of Kali. Esmae's twin brother.
Abra (Bear) Rey, exiled prince of Kali and youngest brother.
Kyra Rey, queen consort of Kali before her exile. She was so terrified of Esmae that she nearly killed her own daughter three separate times.
Sybilla Bloom, second in command of the Hundred and One. Has feelings for Radha.
Darshan Karn, King of Wychstar, creator of Titania
Radha Karn, princess of Wychstar, loyal to Esmae who saved her life, max and of course, Sybilla.
Immortals:
Amba, war goddess
Kirrin, god of tricks and bargains. Helped create Titania for Alexi.
Suya, sun god
Tyre, god of justice
Thea, goddess of hearth and home
Ash, the destroyer. One of the original Gods with Bara and Ness.
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