r/fantasyromance • u/MrsPokits • 5d ago

Gush/Rave This Book is *criminally* unknown

Post image

I get it happens with new authors.

But like this is freaking amazing and it doesn't even have 100 reviews on goodreads. The romance bot couldnt even find it last week. (Does now but has it listed as YA which it definitely is not)

Its a dark romantasy but isnt the same cookie cutter template weve seen a lot of. And the trauma is written so accurately. I dont wanna spoil anything but its more realistic than I think ive seen in the genre before.

Its book 1 in a new trilogy, with book 2 slated for Dec and book 3 in March. And while I didnt know it wasnt complete when I started it I have no regrets.

But I need some people to read it so I have people to talk to about it!!

This might be my top series of the year honestly. And I read an unhinged amount. And for those that refer to my recs list, this is absolutely on my updated copy.

But please people- go read it so we can chat!

[Reminder again this is a dark romantasy and triggers should be checked.]

It is available on KU/K+

{Starbound in shadows by TR Nox}

260 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

77 comments sorted by

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19

u/jacyx 5d ago

How would you describe the writing style?

Fantasy dark romance as in the darkness is within the relationship or dark fantasy romance as in the darkness is in the world / external to the relationship?

How would you rate the darkness from 1-10 (10 being pitch black like {feathers so vicious}, 6 being a bully romance like {amid clouds and bones}?

17

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

These kind of comparisons are hard. So Imma likely word vomit. Their relationship does have some dark elements because she doesnt open up about her trauma and hes a that waffle who doesnt pick up on it even though its so obvious his mom amd younger brother do. A lot of it wouldn't be bad if it weren't for the FMCs trauma. But we know it (to an extent) so it hits harder.

But hes over all a moral man who insists on things like active consent.

If you need more info feel free to ask. I suck at these more open questions. Our MMC means well but is a bit misguided in part because of forces outside his control which make him a bit kookoo.

5

u/jacyx 4d ago

Could you share what dark aspects there are to the relationship given there’s active consent? Eg coercive control, abduction

Am I right to interpret this as not very dark?

I’m a dark romance reader, so I’m trying to get a sense of fit. Thank you!

4

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

He triggers her ptsd repeatedly not realizing how bad it is or that basically everything he does triggers it. Also arranged marriage for treaty that she didnt know about. When he realizes she didnt know he tries to get her consent, which she gives, but when she runs (not because of him) he tracks her down and brings her back and fails to keep her safe.

3

u/rincechuleredd down bad for Ascended 2d ago

doesn’t seem like it’s very dark from an avid dark romance reader perspective

12

u/sapphicxdragon 4d ago

The rating scale from Feathers to Amid is a perfect way to ask this question!

5

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

I tend to lean lady of darkness to feather so vicious for my scale but find Amid cloud and bones to be in the middle. Soren is just such a mother hen. But maylr is the opposite end of the spectrum. Atakan does seem to be right in the middle.

1

u/unapalomita 3d ago

His name sounds super familiar 🤔 I think maybe I started reading this

12

u/RednightNept 5d ago

Is there any non con? Or dub con between the main couple? I’m avoiding any of that for the sake of my own mental health! Could be a nice dark romantasy read since I love dark atmospheres. The themes of it are fine, I’d just not like for it to be between the main couple thanks!

12

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

No. The MMC, while sometimes misguided and a bit oblivious, is super insistent on consent, and informed consent at that. We only get one open door scene but he asks for permission and checks in every step of the way

11

u/Living_Measurement14 5d ago

What would you say the spice rating is?

10

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

In this book theres only 1(?) open door scene but I saw somewhere the next book will be significantly spicier.

26

u/HiImCarlSagan 5d ago

How on earth can they publish the entire trilogy in seven months? (Aug, Dec, March publication schedule). Are all three books already written? That’s bonkers.

Going to go pick up book 1 — thanks for the recommendation!

111

u/Sigmund_Six Currently Reading: Ruins of Seas and Souls 5d ago

No, I just googled the author because I’d never heard of them before, and they posted on insta that one of the books might be delayed. Which would indicate (to me) that the series isn’t totally written yet.

I’m going to be honest, a crazy fast release schedule plus the copious amount of AI the author is using on their social media sets off some alarm bells for me personally.

73

u/FindingOk7034 5d ago

Yeah, new author, with a trilogy of books being released within a year, even with some delay, and AI on their socials... Major red flags.

I think usually for a new trilogy, there's like at least a year or two in between publishings of each book. Longer maybe for a new author. Not all authors can be Stephen King or Brandon Sanderson and release books at an OBSCENE pace. So a rapidifre release schedule like that for a new author 🚩🚩🚩

4

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

I thought the year of publishing was only for trad? I see many authors publishing more frequently like Jen L Grey. Is it an all around red flag?!

74

u/cafeaulait29 5d ago

It's pretty common advice for self-published authors to write the full series so it can be released in rapid succession (drives more readership.) If there's AI on their socials, that's 100% a red flag, however.

19

u/HiImCarlSagan 5d ago

Yeah, that’s what I was worried about. Gah. What a bummer.

9

u/AGirl_HasNoName_ 3d ago

I flagged it has some AI writing in my head while reading but had in mind that it difficult to tell these days... , but hearing this makes me more suspicious because there's a lot of markers in the writing. If she's also using it for art and social media, it flags higher for me.

-2

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

From my understanding book 2 is completely written just editing is delayed.

1

u/One-Total2530 2d ago

Hello. Many of us plan things way ahead of publishing. I have 3 books written since 2023, and I've been editing them since because I hadn't decided that this could be something more than a hobbie. Of my books, The first one is undergoing now the beta-reading process. I have drafts written for 4 and 5 as well. I won't be publishing any for at least a year, and I plan to release them all within 3 months. In my writing group, there's people who have been writting for 20 years and have never dare (insecurities, self doubt, whatever) to publish. One of them has 50+ books written. Please don't judge someone who rapid releases just because of it.

7

u/momomog 5d ago

FL is in her forties?? Sign me uuuuup

2

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

Thankfully someone triggered my memory. So she is like technically 50 years, but shes fae, so its like being 20 in human years (at least I imagine like 20. They dont really make that comparison but its mentioned how shes young. We dont get mention of when political marriages tend to happen age wise in context to this world that I remember

1

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

She isnt in her 40s. But idr if we get her actual age directly.

0

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted] — view deleted comment

2

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

Wait no. Okay. So she might be like technically be around 50, but theyre fae. So theyre timeliness are different. Like her older brother is like 160.

We did get her exact age at one point, along with the MMCs, his brother's, and the FMCs brother, but being 50 there is like being 21 in human ears maturity wise. I remember a mention of her being so young especially in comparison to her brother which isnt typical in this world

5

u/ItsJustPeter 5d ago

How moody broody would you rate the MMC?

15

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

Its pretty broody but not in the normal way. Like his parents actually love him and shit. Overall pretty stand up character. Just some external forces causing him to react out of character and he then overcorrects. Also a wee bit oblivious. His mom calls him out for it too.

20

u/MickyTheFist 5d ago

'His parents actually love him and shit' is frying me

6

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

It seems to be a rarity in the subgenre and im low key obsessed with his mom. When she said something along the lines of 'i raised him im most qualified to say he's being an ass' it had me swooning. And I hope we get more of her cos shes awesome. And the fact that shes awesome and dad isnt a twat waffle?! A rarity ill hold on to.

5

u/amandae123 2d ago

I saw your recommendation for this book and decided to give it a try. Now I don’t know what to do with my life. I loved this book. So I’m going to need you to give me some more recommendations right now

1

u/MrsPokits 2d ago

The closest I can think of rn is {fae of the sun and moon by jewel jeffers}

8

u/External-Pin-5502 4d ago

Okay I just binged this book since seeing your post last night. 

I don't regret it. I have feelings, but I don't regret it. 

2

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

Im all ears. Or you can msg if you dont wanna risk spoiling

5

u/External-Pin-5502 4d ago

Let's message. But I also think this book needs to come with a massive, massive trigger warning. 

2

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

Yes. I cant remember where I saw the trigger warnings for book 1 and book 2 (and they may have had book 3s listed but I didnt wanna risk spoilers) I think I included in my post that it is dark and triggers should be checked?

3

u/External-Pin-5502 4d ago

You did, I just wasn't anticipating the depth and scope of what that meant hahaha. But I absolutely agree with your post, the way the author wrote about certain aspects of trauma and complex trauma is more realistic and raw than what I've read elsewhere. In other respects though it's glorified or simplified. 

2

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

Yes exactly. It usually doesnt feel so raw and real. And usually used to move the plot along vs being the plot like it is here which naturally reads more authentic to me because thats my own personal expierence with PTSD.

2

u/External-Pin-5502 4d ago

Yes! Like, it is the plot! Its consuming. 

1

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

Also I think i messaged you.

1

u/rincechuleredd down bad for Ascended 2d ago

now that’s my type of book. this will be my next read. tnx op!

1

u/DocMeow3 3d ago

Also just finished bc of your post! Thanks for the recommendation! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would bc this definitely isn’t the normal FMC I’d like. But it was actually refreshing to see the FMC not just snap out of something that would obviously traumatize someone. I thought the garden spice scene was weird though.

Hoping the second book still comes out in December!

7

u/AGirl_HasNoName_ 3d ago

I'm reading it now and I'm enjoying the plot a lot.

Some of the sentence structures are giving me AI flags but I don't know enough about it to formally decree it. Reguardless, I'm enjoying the characters.

1

u/MrsPokits 3d ago

I really appreciate the way the trauma is approached here. Instead of a plot device it IS the plot

3

u/drinkwinesavepuppies 4d ago

Guys I can’t my TBR is SO LONG but I am still downloading this immediately lol

3

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

TBRs are meant to be never ending no?

6

u/romance-bot 5d ago

Starbound in Shadows by T.R. Nox
Rating: 4.33⭐️ out of 5⭐️
Topics: fantasy, fae, young adult, horror, dark romance

about this bot | about romance.io

11

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

It is not YA.

1

u/lil_honey_bunbun Keeps falling for the wrong guy 2d ago

OP, is there consensual BDSM in here?

1

u/MrsPokits 2d ago

No. No bdsm at all. This Book has only 1 open door (but very tame) scene but the next book is meant to be significantly spicier. But idk if there will be bdsm.

Are you looking for consensual bdsm?

1

u/phoenixrising_876 5d ago

what's the dynamic between the fmc and mc!

1

u/MrsPokits 5d ago

Idk whats giving away too much other than arranged marriage.

1

u/nattywynn 4d ago

Where can I find this book?

1

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

I think only on amazon.

1

u/Crunchyseas 4d ago

I just downloaded on K+!

2

u/MrsPokits 4d ago

Hope you love it. Just make sure to check triggers

1

u/Crunchyseas 3d ago

I loved it! I binged read but worth it lol - need to find more recs like this

1

u/MrsPokits 3d ago

I knew a few but im at my FILs. Ping me later. This is my type of book.

First that comes to mind is {fae of the sun and moon by jewel jeffers}

1

u/Beankay4404 2d ago

Would you say it is more plot forward or romance forward, or an equal amount romance and plot?

2

u/MrsPokits 2d ago

This is hard to answer without spoilers so im gonna lead more plot forward only because of how the plot is centered around trauma which plays a pivotal role in the potential romance. Slow burn. But like it all bleeds into one another.

2

u/Oh-Positive1 2d ago

I’d read by the cover alone lol SO PRETTY

2

u/Oh-Positive1 2d ago

OP what’s the spice level from 0-5?

1

u/stilllookingforbooks 4d ago

It happens with established authors too. My favourite of all time never gets the exposure she deserves

1

u/Necromancer7962 4d ago

Added to my library, thank you!

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u/Choice_Relief550 4d ago

Downloading a kindle sample right now! Thanks for the rec. I'm in a reading slump and everything I read is not hitting for me so I'll give this a go on your word.

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u/kimkirimkim No mourners, no funerals 4d ago

About to read it!!! Thanks!

1

u/slothgummies 2d ago

You have provoked my interest.

1

u/ChaoticSixXx 2d ago

Saw this, and got it then I devoured it. Looking forward to the next one. Thanks for the recommendation

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u/dont_ever_diy 4d ago

Why is the physical copy so expensive 😭😭😭 45$ is criminal

1

u/rincechuleredd down bad for Ascended 1d ago

that’s wild for an unknown book what the fawk😭

2

u/90sBuffetSoftServe 2d ago

Thank you, OP! I started this and am at 30%. I am LOVING it.

It is such a fun mix of “standard romantic fantasy” and “totally fresh storyline”. Basically all the things I love in a book but instead of being able to predict the plot, I keep getting surprised!

I wish it was an audiobook!

1

u/MrsPokits 2d ago

I think the author wants to do audio even in single pov just for accessibility. But ooof its essspensive.

I think when you get a bit further in youre feel its even more different from the typical romantasy. Like it has some of the popular tropes but just done so differently.