"The Sun and Moon beneath the Stars," by K. Parr

Young Adult Fantasy / Lesbian Romance

Book Blurb

After being orphaned and forced to work as a palace slave, fifteen-year-old Rasha decides to end her life, but when she plunges a knife into her chest, she doesn’t die. Instead, a strange, icy power possesses her. The last time it took over, someone got hurt, and Rasha can’t let that happen again.

But she’s got bigger problems. Her twin brother is alive, yet held captive by Solaris, a powerful sorcerer. When Rasha runs into Adriana, the selfish princess she once served, they discover Solaris is a common enemy since he destroyed the palace and kidnapped Adriana’s parents.

Together, Rasha and Adriana set out on a rescue mission. Personalities clash and tempers flare, but other feelings surface as well, feelings neither girl could have predicted.

And with the help of a ragtag group of companions, they might just be able to succeed on their quest…until an ancient evil emerges to wreak vengeance on their world.

My Review

If you’re hunting a sweet, G-rate Young Adult lesfic with some beautiful and action-packed fantasy/adventure elements, then look no further. The Sun and Moon beneath the Stars, by K. Parr and released by NineStar Press, is a wonderful and easy read.

I’m going to beat the dead horse by reminding y’all that I’ve never been a YA reader, and fantasy isn’t at the top of my go-to list either. However, Ms. Parr does such a genuine job of depicting her characters and immersing the reader into the story without over-telling that I easily let those reservations go in the first few pages. I adored Rasha. She drew me in from the get-go and kept me wanting more. She felt like a real fifteen-year-old, and her reactions to all the new and exciting things happening around her were so incredibly real. My heart bled for her in many ways, but her strength despite the adversities she’d faced was awe-inspiring, to say the least.

I think one of the things I loved most about this read is Ms. Parr’s ability to KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) her fantastical world. There weren’t a ton of overwhelming words to remember, or character names where I couldn’t even begin to guess at the pronunciation. It was exciting, and there were unique and fun twists to the magic and world itself, but it was easily relatable, and for a non-fantasy reader, I cannot thank her enough. I also loved how her characters felt true to their age. That is a huge gripe of mine with YA, and one of the reasons I don’t like reading it. I’m not a fan of delving into the heads of children when they act like adults. It borders on creepy for me. However, Ms. Parr’s representation of her motley crew of youngsters was true to their age, for the most part. Again, something I’m immensely grateful for.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys adventure within the YA universe. I definitely feel like the action trumped the fantasy a bit, and the romance was so soft and gentle it plays no real part in the story. It’s there, but in a very minor way. (Which, when you consider the events happening around them and their age, that felt much more realistic than many of the YA I read where they fall into insta-love that we’re led to believe will last a lifetime. Not always the most believable.)

So, what are you waiting for? The Sun and Moon beneath the Stars is available for your immediate reading pleasure!