A review by laerkefugl
Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft

4.75

Finally, a story was written for Clarion and Milori. I used to rewatch all the Tinkerbell movies on a monthly basis growing up, and Secret of the Wings has always been my favorite. So much was done with the world-building in that movie—it really brought Pixie Hollow into a new light. Even if it doesn’t exactly follow the canon of the first film, the brilliance of the change makes me turn a blind eye. The same goes for this book. It respects the limitations of the fairies and introduces new knowledge of how Pixie Hollow works—and how it once operated as a queendom.

The movie left a lot of room for interpretation regarding the love story between Queen Clarion and Lord Milori. But one thing was agreed upon: they were star-crossed lovers. Two fairies destined to be separated. That concept always fascinated me, and I was eager to see a version of Clarion that offered more than just her queenly image.

In Wings of Starlight, Clarion is still a princess of Pixie Hollow with her coronation approaching. I loved that she had a bit of a Tinkerbell vibe in her younger years—feeling out of place in the talent she was given, yet guided by her instincts despite rules warning against it. Longing for something just out of reach. That connection ties in beautifully with her narrative in the movie and explains the empathy she later shows toward Tinkerbell when the rule about separating warm and winter fairies is enforced.

Clarion’s blossoming romance with Milori is adorable, yet heartbreaking. They work incredibly well as a team to protect all of Pixie Hollow from the Nightmares, and the way Milori helps Clarion discover herself along the way is so sweet. The way he looks at her in so many scenes just feels dreamy. It pained me to know the bittersweet ending was coming. I had to keep reminding myself they do end up together in the movie and won’t be separated forever—but still, their goodbye was so sad to read.

Beyond the romance, some other standout characters were introduced: Elvina, Petra, and Artemis.

Starting with Elvina—I found her inclusion really compelling. I’m not fully caught up on Pixie Hollow lore outside the movies and short specials, so I don’t know if she’s been introduced before Wings of Starlight. Regardless, it thrilled me to see more of the previous queens. There’s a hall of portraits mentioned, and the first queen is given a bit of a backstory, but Elvina’s reign is explored the most. The contrast between her and Clarion was such an important addition. I loved seeing how governing-talent fairies can lead effectively with very different ideologies. The mother-daughter dynamic between them also added emotional depth. Even though fairies technically don’t have families, it warmed my heart to hear Elvina admit she saw Clarion in that light.

Petra, Clarion’s helpful (and slightly paranoid) tinker best friend, added so much to the plot—not just through her talent, but through her evolving relationship with Clarion. Their friendship reflects how growing up can change the way we relate to those we were once inseparable from. That coming-of-age twist was very welcome in a YA novel like this. I found myself switching between who was “more at fault” in their falling out, and who I felt worse for in the moment. But of course, they both shared blame. I won’t go into much detail to avoid spoilers, but the coronation ball was such an important turning point for them. The words spoken—and unspoken—felt so real and deeply felt.

Lastly, Artemis. As Clarion’s guard, Artemis yearns for something she almost had. Her journey to acceptance really struck a chord with me. I have to mention the coronation ball again, as her actions there beautifully captured the themes of ambition and loss.
I’m glad she received a fulfilling ending. I still feel a bit disappointed, though. Despite Artemis coming to terms with her worth as Clarion’s guard and friend, I believe she should’ve been knighted for her efforts. Doing so would’ve highlighted that all roles within the scouts can be honored for their valor, without the shame of being seen as less important—something Artemis struggled with. In the end, the recognition of self-worth was what I was truly hoping for.


One last thing: the Petra and Artemis romance. It wasn’t central to the plot, but it served as a lovely side story that helped both characters grow.
Petra learned to be brave in defense of what she cares for, and Artemis learned that following your heart isn’t a weakness.
I loved that. It tied their arcs together beautifully. Plus, LGBTQ+ representation is always a bonus. I’m not part of the community myself, but it’s always nice to see inclusivity. And in terms of the story, it grounded Pixie Hollow in a way that felt more connected to our own world, where everyone is part of the bigger picture.

Overall, Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft gets 4.75 stars from me. Adorable read.

|—TL;DR—|

Focus Genre: YA Romantasy
Nostalgia: Heavily Influenced
Personal Enjoyment: 4.75⭐
Plot: 5⭐
World-Building/Setting: 5⭐
Characters: 5⭐
  • Relationships: 5⭐ (Includes romantic and non-romantic connections)
Romance: 5⭐
  • Chemistry: 5⭐
  • Fluff: 4.75⭐
  • Steam: Disqualified
Magic: 5⭐
Writing/Prose: 4.75⭐
Relatability: 4⭐
Pacing: 5⭐
Ending: 5⭐

=Overall=
4,87-stars⭐ ≈ 4,75-stars⭐

~04/05/25~
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