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Starside

Starside

RomantasyFantasy
Pages
499
Published
2026
Language
English

Synopsis

Starside is Alex Aster's adult romantasy debut, following her New York Times bestselling Lightlark saga. Every fifty years, the gates between mortal Stormside and immortal Starside open for the Questral, a brutal contest fifty challengers enter for a chance at the gods' magic. Aris, a blacksmith's apprentice, has no interest in the prize — she wants vengeance against the goddess who destroyed her family and her village. Claiming a legendary sword marks her as a target the moment she crosses into Starside, and her fiercest obstacle becomes Harlan Raker, the king's guard who once betrayed her and whose fate may be bound to hers.

Vibe

DarkRomanticTenseAdventurous
Enemies to LoversRevengeQuestSecret Identity

Genres

Romantasy Fantasy Romance Sword & Sorcery

About the author

A
Alex Aster

Alex Aster (born Alexandra Pierson, August 4, 1995) is an American author best known for the young adult fantasy romance series Lightlark, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2022 and was optioned for film by Universal Pictures and Temple Hill. She began writing at thirteen and published her first books, the middle-grade Emblem Island series (Curse of the Night Witch, Curse of the Forgotten City), drawing on the Colombian folklore her grandmother told her growing up. She...

Characters

Aris AgronProtagonist
Cadoc BolterAntagonist
Harlan RakerSupporting
Zane SterlingSupporting
All characters in Starside

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Starside part of a series?

    Yes. Starside (2026) is the first book in Alex Aster's Starside series, her adult romantasy debut following the Lightlark saga. A sequel, Stormside, has been announced.

  • Is Starside a young adult book?

    No. Starside is marketed as Alex Aster's first adult romantasy novel, distinct from her young-adult Lightlark saga.

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