A Wilderness of Stars by Shea Ernshaw

This book in 3 words: Outstanding. Magical. Captivating.

"If magic lives anywhere, it's in the stars..." 🌟

Vega has spent her life in a secluded valley, with her mother, harboring the secret that she's the Last Astronomer. Once her mother dies, and an event happens in the sky, Vega knows it's time to adventure out and find the Last Architect. She ventures out to a land where a sickness is taking over entire cities, and people are looking for her, thinking she has the cure.

I loved this story. I'm still thinking about it days later; if that's not the mark of a good book, I don't know what is. 👏🏻👏🏻

All it took was a couple of pages and I knew I had my hands on something different. A Wilderness of Stars is a patient but heavy story, where the stakes are high, the world-building is tangible and robust, and the emotions freely flow. The writing is incredible. This book has the kind of lines where you read them... you pause... and read them again. 🖤

I loved how this story was a bit slower than most. It won't be for everyone, but the delicate pacing and melancholy tone of the pages pulled me in and really delivered with a punch. I think this story is quite an anomaly with strong fantasy and dystopian vibes, with romance and coming-of-age strong throughout. The romance piece of it felt natural, original, and so swoon.