To Speak with the Stars: An Empowering Dark High Fantasy with a Dash of Romance (Book One of Apprenticed to the Gods) by K.V. Wilson

 

A reluctant mage reborn in flames.

A passionate princess fleeing her fate.

A powerful telepath at the mercy of the world’s thoughts.

A spirited goddess craving adventure.

With Penumbra on the brink of an ice age, Eos dreams of helping to create the False Star each dawn to ensure the survival of his people. But there's just one problem: he cannot speak the star's name.

In the eye of the storm, Rysa was raised to rule at her mother's side. But a terrible secret has been kept from the princess—one that will tear her life apart.

Deep within the molten Heart of Penumbra, a secret society gathers. Elves, dwarves, fauns, ice dragons, and magma merfolk prepare to seize the stolen throne and end the enchanted storm before it devours the realm.

Perfect for fans of high fantasy and queer-normative worlds, this novel boasts heart-pounding action, tender breaks without spice, and a full cast of diverse characters and vibrant creatures, including plenty of dragons. Grab your copy and join Eos, Rysa, and their immortal mentors as they race to save Penumbra.

Publication Date: 22nd September 2025

My Review:

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Four Point Five Stars

What a cliffhangar! 

The story starts with Eos and Rysa, two young people whose lives are doomed from the beginning. In the world of Penumbra, the False Star is the one that gives warmth in the world of continuous snow. Rysa is a telepath and she serves the Blood Queen, or so Eos believes.

But things are not what they seem. 

Within a very short time, Eos and Rysa get separated as Eos attempts to steal the Tome to correct his reading challenges.

But things do not go as planned.

Things turn worse for Eos when he is held captive by the Blood Queen.

Then the world building continues as the story goes to the Syrari and eventually ‘Goddess’ Pel comes into the story and the connection of the Goddess with the Blood Queen.

Though this is Eos and Rysa’s story, I particularly enjoyed Pel’s character. Though Pel knows that she owes all that she is in the present because of the O’lai, her love and fun-loving nature truly makes her the Goddess in the story.

The quick glimpse into Pel’s past brings the others including Thyme, Bay, Clover and the rest who also come in the present in different roles and this time in connection with Eos and Rysa.

Eos is the broken hero (literally) and I particularly enjoyed how Pel explained the working of the Olai to make him whole after his ‘sacrifice’. 

Pel’s explanations made the world building in the story more clear.

Rysa originally comes across as snobbish, but as she realizes what she is and her willingness to learn and move on, she is immensely likeable and headstrong. 

All that is necessary because of what the Blood Queen truly wants from Rysa.

Magic comes to those who go looking for it. At least the story made me believe it. The fear of magic in the world in the past and the various Gods and their lives in the present because of the Blood Queen, made the world more believable.

Since telepathy is an essential element of the story, I liked how the readers can easily make out the spoken words and the thoughts of the characters as they converse with each other.

Lovely characters and excellent world building and a neat beginning to the series. 

Enjoyable start to a new fantasy series!

Thank you for the ARC BookFunnel.