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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed this book! Craig did such a great job of incorporating important topics, discussions, and parallels to our society into the story. I really enjoyed all of our main characters, and the friendships, family relationships, and romance throughout was very well done! Taking half a point off for the slightly confusing world building but overall a great story.
An impressive debut with an intricate magic system and impressive world-building. Looking forward to book 2 as there is much more of Casper and Helix’s story to tell.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I had a LONG day at work today, so I was able to get through this whole audiobook!
I thought the world building was super cool, there was so much lore behind it and I loved learning about its origins. The magic system was incredible; each astrological sign has different powers! It was truly unique. I don’t think I fully understood what powers belonged to each sign, but that’s probably a user error on my end. Casper has such a gentle soul, though his family and friends treated him like shit. (I was ready to fight his mom and dad by the third page) His resilience was beautiful. I also liked Helix a lot and liked that he and Casper really pushed each other to grow. Some of the plot got a little hard for me to follow at times, just because there is so much that goes on.There’s corruption, political intrigue, and it mirrors a lot of what is going on in our society today!
Thank you so much to the author for a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
I thought the world building was super cool, there was so much lore behind it and I loved learning about its origins. The magic system was incredible; each astrological sign has different powers! It was truly unique. I don’t think I fully understood what powers belonged to each sign, but that’s probably a user error on my end. Casper has such a gentle soul, though his family and friends treated him like shit. (I was ready to fight his mom and dad by the third page) His resilience was beautiful. I also liked Helix a lot and liked that he and Casper really pushed each other to grow. Some of the plot got a little hard for me to follow at times, just because there is so much that goes on.There’s corruption, political intrigue, and it mirrors a lot of what is going on in our society today!
Thank you so much to the author for a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Re-read Winter 2025: still five stars!
Let me just start by saying, I am obsessed with this book. I think about the plot and the characters a lot,
and I am basically just dying while I wait for the second one.
The premise of the story is that Casper, an older teen living on Earth is abducted by a society of people who have been living on a moon way out in space. The society uses stardust energy to harness powers specific to your zodiac. Casper is special because he's the Telos, he can control all the zodiac powers. And he falls in love with Helix there, the head Preitan's grandson. I was thrilled with the premise and went in with excitement, but what I got was so much more. I was drawn in so quickly, hooked on the world and the plot within pages. There is so much more depth and so many more layers to this book, it quickly jumped to the top of my favorites list.
The characters are amazingly written. They're incredibly relatable, and sometimes Casper would say or do something and I would just be in shock of how succinctly he described something I understood, despite having never been kidnapped to an alien planet. I love all three of the main characters with all my heart.
They are the perfect way to illustrate the story being told.
Casper, as the “fish out of water” type allows us to understand the new
civilization he has been kidnapped to. Casper, freshly kicked out of his Christian parents’ home for being
gay, is perfectly poised to accept the governing and way of life on Novelim because of his Christian
upbringing. I say this as someone who was raised in the church (ay, religious trauma), that Casper
coming from a Christian background makes it completely believable as he accepts these crazy powers
derived from the zodiac that everyone has. Casper having grown up queer in the church also makes him
the perfect character to question the Council’s authority. He has first hand experience with discriminatory tyranny used to control others and remain in power, and having just suffered an extreme loss due to a similar set up on earth, he is ready to begin to crack apart what is happening on Novelim.
Which brings us to Helix. Helix is often jokingly described as the “prince” of Novelim, though he is actually the Head Preitan’s grandson, it is clear he is coming from a place of privilege. This added viewpoint
allows us to explore the society of Novelim in a fascinating way, presenting scenarios that discuss the
nuances of governing, leadership, and duty in ways we wouldn't get with just Casper's perspective.
Talleah, the third viewpoint, on the other hand, comes from poverty on Novelim and has been oppressed by the governing body's rules and regulations. She shows us the other side of what is happening on Novelim, and allows us to see the
consequences of the choices of those in power. Talleah shows us how far people are willing to go for the
survival of their families, and explores the mortality of the choices involved with that.
Each of the three main characters are superbly developed and offer a unique perspective to the world
here, allowing for a depth that is incredibly impressive given this is Craig Montgomery’s first novel
(seriously, how??). The side characters only expand upon this: I’m obsessed with the villains in this story.
I LOVE when villians have motivations that you can understand and even occasionally relate to, even if
you know they’re morally wrong. That feels so realistic, and it makes a story for me. All the
additional characters are so well developed, and the world is so clearly developed in small and large details.
No one in this story is one sided, they
are all multi-facted, and it leaves you desperate for more stories in this world.
The zodiac powers offers an easily accessible entrance to this world, which leads you into the more
complicated and nuanced aspects, and before you know it, you’re waist deep in an incredible reflection on
power, morality, oppression, and corruption. But you barely even notice, because the story is so fun and the action is so intense and you’re turning page after page desperate for Helix and Casper to kiss already.
Let me just start by saying, I am obsessed with this book. I think about the plot and the characters a lot,
and I am basically just dying while I wait for the second one.
The premise of the story is that Casper, an older teen living on Earth is abducted by a society of people who have been living on a moon way out in space. The society uses stardust energy to harness powers specific to your zodiac. Casper is special because he's the Telos, he can control all the zodiac powers. And he falls in love with Helix there, the head Preitan's grandson. I was thrilled with the premise and went in with excitement, but what I got was so much more. I was drawn in so quickly, hooked on the world and the plot within pages. There is so much more depth and so many more layers to this book, it quickly jumped to the top of my favorites list.
The characters are amazingly written. They're incredibly relatable, and sometimes Casper would say or do something and I would just be in shock of how succinctly he described something I understood, despite having never been kidnapped to an alien planet. I love all three of the main characters with all my heart.
They are the perfect way to illustrate the story being told.
Casper, as the “fish out of water” type allows us to understand the new
civilization he has been kidnapped to. Casper, freshly kicked out of his Christian parents’ home for being
gay, is perfectly poised to accept the governing and way of life on Novelim because of his Christian
upbringing. I say this as someone who was raised in the church (ay, religious trauma), that Casper
coming from a Christian background makes it completely believable as he accepts these crazy powers
derived from the zodiac that everyone has. Casper having grown up queer in the church also makes him
the perfect character to question the Council’s authority. He has first hand experience with discriminatory tyranny used to control others and remain in power, and having just suffered an extreme loss due to a similar set up on earth, he is ready to begin to crack apart what is happening on Novelim.
Which brings us to Helix. Helix is often jokingly described as the “prince” of Novelim, though he is actually the Head Preitan’s grandson, it is clear he is coming from a place of privilege. This added viewpoint
allows us to explore the society of Novelim in a fascinating way, presenting scenarios that discuss the
nuances of governing, leadership, and duty in ways we wouldn't get with just Casper's perspective.
Talleah, the third viewpoint, on the other hand, comes from poverty on Novelim and has been oppressed by the governing body's rules and regulations. She shows us the other side of what is happening on Novelim, and allows us to see the
consequences of the choices of those in power. Talleah shows us how far people are willing to go for the
survival of their families, and explores the mortality of the choices involved with that.
Each of the three main characters are superbly developed and offer a unique perspective to the world
here, allowing for a depth that is incredibly impressive given this is Craig Montgomery’s first novel
(seriously, how??). The side characters only expand upon this: I’m obsessed with the villains in this story.
I LOVE when villians have motivations that you can understand and even occasionally relate to, even if
you know they’re morally wrong. That feels so realistic, and it makes a story for me. All the
additional characters are so well developed, and the world is so clearly developed in small and large details.
No one in this story is one sided, they
are all multi-facted, and it leaves you desperate for more stories in this world.
The zodiac powers offers an easily accessible entrance to this world, which leads you into the more
complicated and nuanced aspects, and before you know it, you’re waist deep in an incredible reflection on
power, morality, oppression, and corruption. But you barely even notice, because the story is so fun and the action is so intense and you’re turning page after page desperate for Helix and Casper to kiss already.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Violence
Moderate: Drug use, Classism
Minor: War
This is completely on me and my inability to love a book like this without holding it physically in my hands. There’s just a lot going on, and not being able to flip to the front of the book quickly to see the chart is a deterrent. Otherwise I LOVED where this was going. I might pick up again once I have more funds.
Dystopian Chosen One to Save the Stars
This is a YA dystopian novel following Casper as he is ripped from his life on Earth to save the people of Novilem. While he is there he meets so many people, but not everyone is to be trusted. Casper has to figure out his new role as the Telos and find out who he can trust to help him save their world. I really loved the relationship development and how Casper has to grow in his beliefs in order to truly save the people of Novilem. The characters get a HFN ending with a slight cliffhanger. This book is a great read for someone who likes dystopian worlds, a chosen one hero, fish out of water and found family tropes. Please check your triggers, this book deals with forced outing, betrayed and disowned by family and friends for who you love.
This is a YA dystopian novel following Casper as he is ripped from his life on Earth to save the people of Novilem. While he is there he meets so many people, but not everyone is to be trusted. Casper has to figure out his new role as the Telos and find out who he can trust to help him save their world. I really loved the relationship development and how Casper has to grow in his beliefs in order to truly save the people of Novilem. The characters get a HFN ending with a slight cliffhanger. This book is a great read for someone who likes dystopian worlds, a chosen one hero, fish out of water and found family tropes. Please check your triggers, this book deals with forced outing, betrayed and disowned by family and friends for who you love.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What. A. Ride.
A Circle of Stars follows Casper after he’s outed as being gay by a classmate at his Christian private school. He’s forced from his home with nowhere to go when he’s kidnapped by a mysterious group of people and taken to live on a queer normative planet that just happens to be the inside of a moon.
This book is so beautiful in the way that it unpacks religious trauma and what it means to be able to fully be yourself.
There are two story lines running parallel to each other. In one, you have a young man trying to escape his family, and the other, a mother who would do anything to be reunited with her child.
The juxtaposition between the two stories is heartbreaking, but the found family it creates space for is one of the best parts of this story.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. The world building and imagery is so phenomenal it felt like I was watching a movie.
I’m begging every one of you to read this.
A Circle of Stars follows Casper after he’s outed as being gay by a classmate at his Christian private school. He’s forced from his home with nowhere to go when he’s kidnapped by a mysterious group of people and taken to live on a queer normative planet that just happens to be the inside of a moon.
This book is so beautiful in the way that it unpacks religious trauma and what it means to be able to fully be yourself.
There are two story lines running parallel to each other. In one, you have a young man trying to escape his family, and the other, a mother who would do anything to be reunited with her child.
The juxtaposition between the two stories is heartbreaking, but the found family it creates space for is one of the best parts of this story.
I can’t say enough good things about this book. The world building and imagery is so phenomenal it felt like I was watching a movie.
I’m begging every one of you to read this.
Too much info dumping, incongruent world building, no clear problem or character motivation. The romance was introduced more than a quarter through and was instant love despite Casper having severe trauma around his sexuality.
A Fantastical World Beyond our Wildest Dreams Turned Dystopian…
Imagine a world where humans have incredible powers based on the alignment of the stars. Suppose Taurus wasn’t only an earth sign, but rather a sign that gave you the power to manipulate the earth as though it were clay. Depending on when you were born you could heal yourself or others, channel the light of the stars, read and influence other people’s emotions, share thoughts, teleport, or see into the future.
Now imagine this world is real and more than 2,000 years ago a group of people fled Earth, traveling across space to a place where they could use the powers given by their astrological sign. They built a world to suit their powers, using their gifts to form the literal stone within a moon to keep them sheltered from the dangers of this strange place. Imagine a Utopia where people work together for the collective good, providing for one another and lifting each other up for the greater good.
Then imagine everything has gone wrong…
Casper doesn’t know anything about this fantastical world on the other side of the universe. He’s got other problems. Only weeks away from finishing High School and traveling off to college and the next phase of life, Casper was so close to making it out of the stifling conservative environment of his family and private Christian school. But Casper didn’t make it. Following an aggressive assault, he was outed at his school, the fallout resulting in the loss of everything he’d worked so hard to hold on to. Abandoned, homeless, and scared, Casper realized in his fight to hold on he’d even lost himself.
“You spend all of your time reshaping yourself for everyone around you. Are you really surprised that when you stopped pretending there was no one there?”—Danielle, Chapter 1
Before Casper has a chance to figure out his next steps he finds himself in a dangerous situation. Strange people appear, saving him from the strange dark cloud, but they aren’t friendly. Without explanation they test him, call him the Telos, then kidnap him, thrusting his life into further chaos far from the streets of Chicago.
A savior who doesn’t know himself well enough to stand for the people who need him the most. A corrupt government holding tight to a crumbling system and the beliefs destroying their people and a chance at a life he never thought he’d be able to live... Casper only has to conquer everything to get it right.
A Circle of Stars is a riveting, immersive fantasy, bringing the unique struggles of queerness to a dystopian stellar society with issues far deeper than bad politics. Montgomery brings a fresh voice to the world of science fiction-fantasy with a complex magical system and dynamic characters.
Montomery presents all the conventions of a dystopian story in a package carrying deeper messages about acceptance, community, and hope for a better life. Though it’s part of a series (a duology), A Circle of Stars stands on its own as a solid read with a satisfying end, (though I, among others, am eager for the next chapter.)
This book is for you if:
• You like fantasy worlds built on foundations of reality and the idea of something more.
• You want to face a broken world with hope that things can get better
• You want well developed characters from every walk of life
• You’re craving a queer love story with all the feels
This book might not be for you if:
• You’re contaminated with dark ether and want to see the world crumble
• You’re an octopus crab turtle and you’re hungry
Imagine a world where humans have incredible powers based on the alignment of the stars. Suppose Taurus wasn’t only an earth sign, but rather a sign that gave you the power to manipulate the earth as though it were clay. Depending on when you were born you could heal yourself or others, channel the light of the stars, read and influence other people’s emotions, share thoughts, teleport, or see into the future.
Now imagine this world is real and more than 2,000 years ago a group of people fled Earth, traveling across space to a place where they could use the powers given by their astrological sign. They built a world to suit their powers, using their gifts to form the literal stone within a moon to keep them sheltered from the dangers of this strange place. Imagine a Utopia where people work together for the collective good, providing for one another and lifting each other up for the greater good.
Then imagine everything has gone wrong…
Casper doesn’t know anything about this fantastical world on the other side of the universe. He’s got other problems. Only weeks away from finishing High School and traveling off to college and the next phase of life, Casper was so close to making it out of the stifling conservative environment of his family and private Christian school. But Casper didn’t make it. Following an aggressive assault, he was outed at his school, the fallout resulting in the loss of everything he’d worked so hard to hold on to. Abandoned, homeless, and scared, Casper realized in his fight to hold on he’d even lost himself.
“You spend all of your time reshaping yourself for everyone around you. Are you really surprised that when you stopped pretending there was no one there?”—Danielle, Chapter 1
Before Casper has a chance to figure out his next steps he finds himself in a dangerous situation. Strange people appear, saving him from the strange dark cloud, but they aren’t friendly. Without explanation they test him, call him the Telos, then kidnap him, thrusting his life into further chaos far from the streets of Chicago.
A savior who doesn’t know himself well enough to stand for the people who need him the most. A corrupt government holding tight to a crumbling system and the beliefs destroying their people and a chance at a life he never thought he’d be able to live... Casper only has to conquer everything to get it right.
A Circle of Stars is a riveting, immersive fantasy, bringing the unique struggles of queerness to a dystopian stellar society with issues far deeper than bad politics. Montgomery brings a fresh voice to the world of science fiction-fantasy with a complex magical system and dynamic characters.
Montomery presents all the conventions of a dystopian story in a package carrying deeper messages about acceptance, community, and hope for a better life. Though it’s part of a series (a duology), A Circle of Stars stands on its own as a solid read with a satisfying end, (though I, among others, am eager for the next chapter.)
This book is for you if:
• You like fantasy worlds built on foundations of reality and the idea of something more.
• You want to face a broken world with hope that things can get better
• You want well developed characters from every walk of life
• You’re craving a queer love story with all the feels
This book might not be for you if:
• You’re contaminated with dark ether and want to see the world crumble
• You’re an octopus crab turtle and you’re hungry