Love in Suspense: 'Sea of Stars' a riveting romantic fantasy
If you haven't read bestselling author Amy A. Bartol yet, you must. Her stories consume you. Her writing makes you feel. Her heroes make your heart race. And her heroines are fearless and inspiring.
Sea of Stars (her second installment in the urban fantasy Kricket series) is a riveting romance that thrums to life in the vibrant, imaginative and also perilous world of Ethar. It's exciting, action-packed, suspenseful and immediately absorbing.
In the first book of the series, Under Different Stars, we meet Kricket Holowell, a girl who grew up in the foster care system in Chicago. She had to be tough and independent under her childhood's harsh circumstances. When a trio of mysterious men whisk her away to a new world, divulging the truth of her existence, Kricket embarks on an adventure where houses (lands) battle, secrets hold power and where she wields magic that promises to either help them survive, or be the weapon some intend for her to be. In the process, she falls for the enigmatic Trey Allairis, who is intrigued by Kricket's strength, beauty and tenacity. Sea of Stars picks up after disaster strikes, as Kricket, Trey and the other Cavars are on the run. Alameedan Kyon Ensin is determined to find Kricket and make her his … he'll happily kill anyone in his way.
I'll tear your heart off your sleeve and bury it deep in my chest. Your savage heart will beat for me. Run if you think you can—I'll hunt you down.
Sea of Stars ratchets up the action and suspense as we see Alameeda go to war with Rafe. According to a prophecy, one house will rise to rule, while the other will be demolished. Kricket's ability to see the future is entwined with this chilling oracle, and her powers promise to tip the scales one way or the other. Safety is transient, and every moment brims with nail-biting tension as we wait to see what happens next. For the first time in her life, Kricket finds herself needing — loving — someone, and she knows she'll do anything to remain at Trey's side, even though her very presence puts everyone in peril.
I'll risk everything to stay with you.
To make matters worse, every vision Kricket has of the future is more horrible than the last … bloodier, uglier, more hopeless. She must figure out how to take control of her powers so she can change the future. So she can keep them safe.
Kricket is everything a heroine should be. Fearless. Determined. Inspiring. Intelligent. The same can be said for our one-of-a-kind hero, Trey. I love that both Kricket and Trey are fierce and strong, but at the same time, kind and loving. Their romance is epic, enlivened by words that are sure to make every romance reader melt.
Know that I've loved you from the moment I held you in my arms on Ethar, and every moment in between. I will love you even after my final breath.
Once again, Bartol leaves us begging for more at the flip of the final page. The third and concluding book in the series, Darken the Stars, is scheduled to release sometime this summer.
No matter what happens, Kricket, I'll fight for you. Until death do us part … and then forever after that.
Find out more about Amy and her books at www.amyabartol.com.
Vilma Gonzalez is a blogger, reader, marketer, wife and mom. She has an insatiable appetite for happily ever afters and a deep love of the written word. You can find more about her and read full book reviews at Vilma's Book Blog. Please e-mail Vilma at loveinsuspense@gmail.com about content related to this column. Due to the volume of mail, e-mails may not be answered personally, but all will be read.