While I did enjoy this, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book. This was slower to me, with not as much happening. Even so, it was still good and I'm very much looking forward to reading the last book!

Thank you for my eARC of this book. I love this story of sisters, and loved their relationship and how it carried through the plot. A really great example of story telling and I can’t wait for more from this author!

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

I enjoyed this book and really wanted to pick up with the two surviving princesses. This book wasn’t as good as the first in terms of keeping my attention. The sisters were slightly annoying and we still don’t really have a full motive for their mother’s actions.

I'm obsessed with the second book in the "Castles in their bones" series.. It was so intense, so much so that I quite literally thought my heart would like fly out of my chest. I really enjoyed this book and honestly it was just as, if not better, then the first book! The world this book is set in is amazing, Laura Sebastian's writing does't fail to empress, the characters have developed so much.
This series is honestly a must read I have to say! The plot is amazing. The writing is gorgeous. Everything is!

Wow, just wow, Laura Sebastian. You have done it again. Stardust in their veins is the second book in the "castle in their bones" trilogy. I was blown away when I read Castles last year, and Stardust did not disappoint me at all. It ended up being not only my most anticipated read but also one of my favourite reads for 2023.


After that crazy, jaw-dropping ending for Castles, we are thrown directly into the action for Stardust, and I really do hope this is a continuous theme in this trilogy because there's something about diving into a book exactly where the last left off and not trying to fabricate something or have a time jump. There really is no time to take a breath, fully take in, or understand what is happening, which creates this really strong rhythm of action.


We see so much more magic than what we were given in Castles, and although as much i loved that we dived deeper into the magic system, I wanted more of it. It needed to weave into the plot, and I really hope that there's more in book three. Or maybe I'm just expecting  too much from the magic system, and it's meant to be simple and in the background.


While this seems to be Beatriz's book, Beatriz as a character has very little develop within this story, yes she becomes braver and more mature than she was in Castles, it seems that this really was Daphne's book to shine in, we go from a girl that plays a role, follows the rules and keeps her emotions to herself to someone that is constantly conflicted and questioning everything around her and you can see this page to page, right up until the point she has to make a very important decision and she just cracks, Daphne's character development in this book is so different to her sisters or even the new character Violie - another character that developed really well in this book- to the point that Daphne is a completely different person to who she was at the start. 


I am looking forward to book 3 so much, and I cannot wait to be able to binge read all three books together! I highly recommend this series.


Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

After their sister Sophronia is killed in a coup, Daphne and Beatriz know that they are in danger, and need all the help they can get. Beatriz is lucky to have been only imprisoned by the coup that has taken her throne, and Daphne is dodging attempts on her life at every turn. They don't know who they can trust, and it seems their mother's plots might put them in more danger than they expected. If they can get together, and if they can overcome their past distrust, they might be able to use their star magic to succeed, but the odds are stacked against them.

After the cataclysmic ending to Castles in their Bones, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the sequel, Stardust in their Veins! Sophy had been my favourite of the sisters, and I was gutted that she was murdered, but thankfully her deaths sparked the drive in her sisters to fight against their mother, and the plots against them. This was a hefty book, and so much happened. We had three PoVs, Beatriz, Daphne, and Violie, and each other's individual stories were epic, but when they had moments together, it was fantastic! I didn't really like Violie or Daphne that much in book 1, but we learn so much more about them in this book, and it makes more sense why they acted that way previously. There's so much growth in this book, both in the three main characters, but also in the secondary characters like Bairre, Pasquale and Leopold. The romance is ramping up too, and though some of the characters make bad choices at times, I can see how their actions will help them in the future. Yet again there's a fiery ending, and book 3 can't come soon enough! My favourite of Laura's books, and I think I'd honestly read anything of hers!!

OMG I absolutely loved this. I loved being back in this world, with these characters, but I also loved meeting the new characters (or even just learning more about them). It was so good having Voila's POV and her involvement with everything.
The writing was just as good as book 1, and the storyline its self was soooo good.
I read/listened to audio (a combination) and it was such a good audiobook too. The narrator really brought the characters alive.

Sebastian has written a fantastic novel yet again and I cannot wait for book 3!!

I really enjoyed this secon book! The Empress became more and more dangerous, I love how ruthless and smart she is, she's a great villian. Pasquale and Triz's frienship is beautiful. The final plot twist wasn't as shocking as the one at the end of book one but it's a good one! Can't wait for the next book!

CASTLES IN THEIR BONES was one of my favourite books of 2022, so I was super excited to read the sequel, STARDUST IN THEIR VEINS.
Unfortunately, the ending to the first book was such a dramatic, suckerpunch twist, that’s so central to the storyline and character journeys in STARDUST IN THEIR VEINS, it’s hard to review this sequel without spoilers!
The story continues to follow three different perspectives, although the action happens largely in two of the four countries which were entwined by the sisters in STARDUST IN THEIR VEINS. The stakes have definitely jumped up, and the characters have a real drive now, that contrasts all the elaborate world-building and delicate political scheming in the first book. Sebastian takes the opportunity to throw the characters into new locations, situations and shuffle around the character groupings. Seeing the interpersonal relationships (romantic and otherwise) develop, and seeing which new alliances the girls had to build, was fascinatingly twisty. I was never completely sure who each girl could trust.
STARDUST IN THEIR VEINS was another brilliant, epically-scaled instalment in the CASTLES IN THEIR BONES trilogy. I think it’s a little pacer than the first book, and a little lighter on the politics, as the characters become more and more direct.
I can’t wait to see how the scheming and infighting plays out in the final book. Each of the current instalments has a shocking and perfectly delivered finale, so I’m expecting the series conclusion to be jaw-dropping!

Stardust In Their Veins is the second book in Laura Sebastian’s Castles In Their Bones Trilogy, which builds on the premise of three sisters raised to bring down monarchies. It continues on from the shocking ending of book one, which you need to read first.

For me, this series so far absolutely delivers on all counts: an intriguing plot, great character arcs and detailed world building with a subtle magic system built around stars and stardust granting wishes. The second book is again full of scheming, as the sisters continue to fight for survival, question their choices and how their actions will affect their kingdoms. Relationships play a central part in these novels: the bond between siblings, their relationship to their mother, but also their unique love stories.

Be prepared for a cliffhanger ending that will have you anticipating the third book. I’ve pencilled the release date into my calendar and can’t wait to return to Vesteria for a final time in early 2024!

Stardust in their Veins - The sequel to Castles in Their Bones is the story of three princesses and the destiny they were born for: seduction, conquest, and the crown. This was a breathtakingly captivating and immersive tale with magic, romance and adventure - it was absolutely spectacular!


I truly enjoyed it and look forward to the next book.

4.6 stars

This book wasn’t really my cup of tea but that is no reflection on the author as it is well written and has good premise.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book blind as I had not read the first book in the series, however I found a short recap online which gave me an understanding of the characters and the backstory. I enjoyed the set up of the novel by the fact that each of the chapters were from different characters' points of views. This helped me to build on the information that I had of the characters and what was happening in the world. One aspect of this book that I loved was the political intrigue which is going on with the characters. This is something that I will always gravitate to. I found this to be a bit longer that I am normally used to when it comes to politically charged fantasy. However, saying this I am looking to read the full trilogy together once the last book comes out.

Laura Sebastian has gone and done it again!!! I absolutely adored this and loved being back in the world! I need the next book like right now.

I was really looking forward to reading this sequel. I gave the first book 5 stars and loved the characters.

Here the sisters are in difficult situations, one is on the run and knows the truth about her mother, the other has to face attempted murders and does not know who to trust. This second book is really about Bea much more than Daphne, it is however not my favorite princess. Since the first volume I find Daphne more complex and it is still the case in this book.

For the plot, we get more into political issues and that's really great. However, if the author decides to write a book about the mother I will buy it immediately.

Thanks to the publisher for inviting me to read this book.
The story picks up right where we left in "Castles in their Bones". Sophie is dead, Beatriz is in a Sororia and Daphne is still unsure what really happened to Sophie. The remaining two sistersbhave to uncover a web of lies, while trying to find out who's their allies and which party would rathee see them dead. The book is phenomenal and fast-paced. I can't wait to see how everything gets resolved in the next book.

Stardust In Their Veins jumps us right back in from the end of Castles in Their Bones with Beatriz and Daphne trying to figure out who to trust, I have to say, disappointingly I didn’t enjoy this as much as the first book, it’s still a good strong read and I’ll definitely be reading the next , it just wasn’t as wonderful as the first and seemed to suffer from second book curse. I think if-it had been more condensed and took some if the middle out it would have been much better, but I’ll definitely be back for more


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

STARDUST IN THEIR VEINS is a tense, intricate second entry into this series about schemes to destabilise countries. It's full of twisting plans, betrayals, and other such goodness, and was a delight to tear through. I had a hard time putting this book down as it's such a tangle of danger and hope and intrigue that I had to know what came next.

The book starts with Beatriz turned against her mother but Daphne still on her side, leading to a disconnect between the sisters, made painful by Beatriz's hope that Daphne will see sense. It also means that Beatriz et al have to be extra careful (particularly when her allies reach Daphne) lest Daphne betray them all.

I am very glad the big shocker at the end of the previous books was allowed to stand and Sophronia was not somehow miraculously returned to life by escaping in some improbable way. It gives the books a real sense of cost and danger. One of the POVs has already died, and gives you the feeling that no one is safe, upping the tension and stakes, particularly as more of Margaraux (their mother)'s plans are revealled.

There is a new POV to replace Sophronia - Violie, Sophronia's maid and spy sent by Margaraux who's trying to save Leopold. She's a commoner, unlike the Princess, but just as resourceful and fun to read about (she got a lot of training as a spy.)

I really liked how the POVs interwove and interacted in person more this book. Daphne and Violie spend a lot of the book in the same place, skipping around each other and affecting each other's plans. It's something I really appreciate in multi-POV books as it makes it feel tighter and more like one story rather than separate ones.

One book to go! While this ending is not quite as horrifically shocking as the ending of CASTLES IN THEIR BONES, it's not exactly left everyone in stable positions, and Margaraux definitely has yet more plans up her sleeves.

Good morning readers! Today I'm back with a read for which I had high expectations and for which I thank Hodder Books and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read the arc.!
Stardust in their Veins picks up where the cliffhanger of the first book left us:
Right from the start the pain and shock resulting from the events of the first book hovered among the protagonists in such a real way that it brought me to the threshold of tears, and then, enveloped our characters like a cloak and accompanied them throughout their journey of growth and revenge.
In comparison with the previous one, the book takes a darker turn and ,although it is rich in plot and political intrigues, it is definitely driven by the growth of the various characters whose gray side will emerge starting right from the protagonists’s.Beatriz has become more mature and brave . Plus, I loved seeing her manipulative and calculating side in action throughout the book. Daphne, on the other hand, is the one who had the biggest story arc: from the beginning to the end we see her try to bottle up all her feelings and emotions and continue to play the role she is entitled to. But,page after page, we see her more and more in conflict with herself until she falls apart when faced with an important choice.
in conclusion,although there is not much action, I devoured the book in two days! I loved the fact that there were a lot of plots , some new povs that made me discover other points of view and the fact that we were given a lot more explanations about some aspects . The ending was less shocking than the first ( and that's okay for my poor heart) but still very open-ended .. reason for I can't wait to read the next one!