Portal fantasies remain popular in fantasy fiction, but there’s the need and want to do something that bit different with them. An Accident of Stars differentiates itself well, firstly by being very much a book for adults, gender-swapping a lot of the traditional fantasy roles, offering decent representation, and mostly that our main character is not ‘the Chosen One’ or the lynchpin of the story.

As refreshing as that is, it does mean that the focus is a little more diluted between Saffron, from the ‘real’ world – our chance to see the fantasy realm of Kena through her eyes – and the rather more interesting character of Gwen, with a few others in the mix, too. Gwen, it turns out, is also from our world, but has spent most of her life in Kena. There is a balance between the tale told from older and younger viewpoints, wide-eyed newbie versus old hand, but I suspect the reader’s own age will lend a preference to one side of the story or the other.

The world-building is very well done, throwing us into a political conflict that pits not just two sides against each other, but also side factions with vested interests. We get to see palace life, but more of the ‘ordinary’ folk, as well as religious sects and strange mystics. It’s a rich backdrop, for sure. Is it too much? Hmm. I wouldn’t want to remove any of it, but it’s a lot for one set-up and doesn’t make for the easiest time getting into things, either as a reader or just getting the story up to pace. Once it gets further along the balance is a bit better, although I did then find the switching between characters could feel just a little jarring.

Now, a few bigger complaints, I’m afraid. I suppose in the main I just didn’t wholly take to the character of Saffron – the young lead. She’s a little bit of a passenger, plot-wise – but, far far better that the cliched ‘chosen one’, I suppose. It might have worked if not for the contrast to Gwen – and I think I would have preferred to have the whole thing from Gwen’s perspective, which probably just outs me as ‘old’ 😉 It just seemed more interesting, though, to have someone with life experience.

I also very nearly put the book down very early on due to some rather too-casual violence – it came across as giving Saffron some ‘life experience’ in the most brutal way. I’m not overly squeamish, usually, but losing body parts for so pointless a reason just felt beyond cruel, and I’d rather it was something less… permanent? Even for a fictional character. On the other hand, I hear that the second volume – A Tyranny of Queens – will pick up with said aftermath, and it’s going to be one thing that can’t be brushed over.

Overall, I did enjoy reading this and I will eventually pick up the sequel. The world-building is rich, the story interesting, and I enjoyed the feminist take on high fantasy. But, it suffers perhaps from a little too much ambition, squeezing in a lot of good things but not giving a lot of them enough time. It also feels like something I would have enjoyed more at a younger age, but with a few too many adult themes – be that the aforementioned violence, or relationships of ‘different’ types – to be wholly aimed there.

This and the sequel are both available now, and writing this review does make me want to pick up the latter and see how the whole story together alters my view, any. Recommended? Sure – if it sounds appealing, you’ll find a lot to like, even if it didn’t hit 100% for me.

I am a sucker for portal fantasies so having a multi-verse that sucks you in is a treat. A seasoned traveler and a fish out of water teen, Meadows packs this novel with magic, society and politics. If you adore exploring new worlds which are well thought out this book is for you, packed with diverse characters.

I really loved that this story managed to be exciting and adventurous without creating stakes so high that it felt stressful. A fun read!

A super fun portal fantasy in which world walkers can travel through the multi-verse. Our two main characters- one a seasoned traveller and another a teen who accidentally follows her through end up in a fantasy world in which magic is real and society and culture is different. I adored the world created, with its magic, society and politics. If you adore exploring new worlds which are well thought out this book is for you, packed with diverse characters.

I wanted to like this but I had a hard trying to get into this story. I think I decided that it wasn’t for me and that’s alright.

Truly engaging in every way. Loved the lead because she was complicated and imperfect. I need that in my fantasy and science fiction. I’m excited to read more from this author.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but sadly it was a DNF for me. It's entirely my fault! I couldn't seem to engage with the writing, and the constant influx of information, history and characters became too confusing for me to fully engage with. I'll try again in future and be sure to update if the book 'clicks' with me on another go-around. Huge apologies.

A fun high fantasy book focused mostly on queer women, trans included. Two of the main characters are from Earth who ended up in this fantasy world, while some of them are locals, and there's also variety in ages and situations which made them really interesting. Seeing how differently they handle situations was great, and also how they can be complex, like Viya is clearly kinda racist because she's young and she grew up in that environment, but hopefully she'll work on it.

There's normalized polyamory and female sexuality - explicitly it is said that there's no equivalent word to "vixen" in the local language because female sexuality isn't scandalous like it is on Earth. There's also a lot of politics and religious worldbuilding between two nations. I especially liked how the names were handled, and how it differed between Kena and Veksh.

I was a bit disappointed by the ending, it felt like a story being cut short when it was really just beginning. But I'm curious to see what Saffron will do next.

Give me all the portal fantasy books! This book was so refreshing to read! It was the perfect book to read in between some of my more intensely dark books. This book made me feel the way a lot of portal fantasies make me feel...which is to say hopeful and happy! I recommend this book if you like portal fantasies, queer characters, and adventure stories that have high stakes, but don't stress you out. I guess I'd consider this a cozy portal fantasy!
This is also a great time to get into this work because the next book in the series is set to be traditionally published in May!

The cover really attracted me to this book, I've only been reading fantasy for about a year and wow I've been missing out.
I really liked the feminist slant to this book, filled with strong women of all ages and backgrounds working together in an alternate dimension to earth.
It contains a fair bit of violence but also love, relationships, politics and more.
I think the book really captured my heart on what an adventure it would be to be transported to another dimension.
I look forward to reading more from Foz Meadows.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

An Accident of Stars by Foz Meadows is a third person multi-POV Queer portal fantasy. When Saffron follows Gwen, an Earth woman who hasn’t returned to Earth in a while, through a portal into a very different world, she’s not prepared for all the things she’s going to have to deal with.

One of the things I thought was very cool was how the Queernorm aspects included polyamory and made it a very normal part of the world. It’s still very uncommon to find polyamory in fantasy unless it’s a triad and we follow the relationship as it grows but there’s very few, if any, other examples within the text. Queernorm worlds should include polyamory as a possibility and structures that allow or even favor it.

I liked how part of the dynamic between Saffron and Zech is based in Zech teaching Saffron about this new world while Saffron is also teaching Zech her language. There’s some linguistics stuff, which is always fun, and there’s a lot that Saffron needs to learn very quickly at various points. Zech calls Saffron ‘Safi’ because she can’t form the sounds needed to pronounce Saffron’s given name, and that is such a nice touch.

Content warning for depictions of sexual assault

I would recommend this to fans of portal fantasy looking for Queernorm worlds and readers looking for a fantasy with rich worldbuilding

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!!

A queer portal fantasy and the first novel in a new series, Saffron Coulter must decide where her allegiances lie in a mystical world on the brink of ruin. Relying on the help of a myriad of interesting women with their own agendas and goals, she strives to make the most of this chance at heroism. Stumbling into a mess far beyond her capabilities—a civil war is decimating the land of Kena—Saffron isn't the Chosen One, but she still wants to help save as many people as she can.

Just who will she side with and how?

Our secondary lead Gwen Vere is a middle aged freedom fighter and fellow travler between worlds. A bit jaded by past failures trying to free the land of Kena, she still does her best to encourage others to stand and fight. Keeping both her family and regrets close to the chest, will she be able to fix any of her mistakes before causingnfurther harm to the world she's come to view as her own?

Lovers of the isekai genre and roleplaying games, you'll likely have a delightful time exploring Kena. The cast is almost exclusively comprised of women, which is a lovely change of pace. In many popular high fantasy novels/series we're lucky to have two named female characters who impact the plot in any manner beyond just fucking the male lead or dying...

I'm not quite sure what age range this novel is aiming for, as we bounce primarily between two POV with a smattering of others for additional context. Each feels like it was written for the age range represented: with a more YA lens for Saffron and an adult focus for Gwen.

I don't know if this was intentional or not to appeal to a wider audience, but the rapid shifting between the two could be jarring at times. It's possible to write a teenage lead and still feel like the novel should be shelved in the adult fantasy section and vice versa so this was a bit of an odd choice in my opinion. It didn't fully ruin the experience for me, but did mess with pacing and tension a few times.

I've been waiting for a queer portal fantasy since I first read Chonicles of Narnia a hundred years ago! (Even though I didn't quite know it at the time.) Like all the best fantasy books, the politics of this one are rooted in the real world, and boy do they resonate deeply at this moment in time. However, the fantasy worldbuilding is so brilliant and so fresh. There's also plenty of grey morality to explore, another hallmark of great fantasy. Best of all, I never even peeped a straight cis white guy. Truly revolutionary! I'll be giving this one as a gift to all my speculative fiction pals!

An Accident of Stars is one of the most ambitious political commentaries that I have read, set in a distinctive portal fantasy. The book revolves around Saffron Coulter, an Australian teenager who stumbles into a new world where magic is real and technology is rudimentary. Guided by another 'worldwalker', Gwen, she becomes ensnared in the latest coup.

The worldbuilding is exquisite, the religious factions and different nations well fleshed. The politics are complex but well explained. The characters are distinct, believable and well rounded. The younger generation are more perceptive and accepting than their elders - but isn't that so often the case on Earth too? The plot moves at a steady pace and information is expertly drip fed as it progresses. Meadows is clearly a talented author from page one.

The good guys aren't wholly good. They have their vices, biases, betrayals and weaknesses, as they should. The bad guys are less complete. Their motivations seem unclear and I would like to see them develop more in future.

If I had to choose one way the novel could be improved, I would advise adding a vehicle for comic relief. It's an emotionally heavy book and would benefit from a little whimsy occasionally. There are lighter moments - chats between old friends, a little spark of romance - but for me, when things are at their darkest is when a little black humour is most needed.

Truthfully, I find it remarkable that there isn't more hype surrounding this series. To speculate, I'd attribute this to the left leaning political influences which are becoming less popular. Polyamory, varied sexualities, transgender characters, no concept of promiscuity - this book is composed with radical liberal ideology and perhaps that is a step too far for the average reader. Personally, I find it a delight that there isn't a straight, cisgender, white man to be found and eagerly anticipate the rest of the series.

Overall, An Accident of Stars is a masterpiece and I look forward to reading more about Saffron's adventures.

This review will be published on Pending Plays on Monday 24th March 2025.

Okay, I am officially hooked! An Accident of Stars is one of those books that pulls you in from the very first page, and you just don’t want to leave. It’s a portal fantasy, yes, but it’s so much more than that—it’s a complex, immersive world full of fascinating characters, intricate politics, and some seriously high stakes. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next—this is only the beginning!

I am happy to see Foz Meadow's earlier stuff get the attention they deserve! An Accident of Stars opens a portal fantasy trilogy and a door into a queernormative world, where you'll be hard pressed to find a cis guy going about his cis guy business. For that alone, I welcome it. It's also been a while since I picked up a portal fantasy, so it was nice to dip toes again into a specific kind of fantasy escapism.

An Accident of Stars has hallmarks of FM's future writing: interest and attention to worldbuilding, of which the author has a great detail at hand, and a queer, diverse cast of characters and a lot to say about gender and societal norms. However, the growing pains here are still very visible in the uneven pacing and a fondness for overwhelming worldbuilding detail.

Overall, an optimistic 3 - interesting to see how the story evolves in the next instalments.

Feeling curious & trying to escape a bully, Saffron follows a mysterious woman through a portal, & lands in a world of magic & queens & prophecy.

I love portal fantasies! And this was a fun one! All the most important characters are women, and the fantasy world is queer normative. This world also has such a fascinating magic system, and opened the door for a whole multiverse of stories!

But for such an info dump heavy book, the world itself felt very narrow, and while I loved the focus on familial and friend relationships, the tag on of a rushed romance at the very end, plus a very sudden and abrupt ending made me lose a little bit of my initial enjoyment. Most of my issues feel like they’re are beginning author problems, so I am very excited to move onto book two, though!

Thanks NetGalley and Angry Robot for this arc.

When a mysterious woman disappears into a portal behind her school, Saffron follows and discovers a completely different universe where she has to navigate complex cultures and politics. 

The fantasy societies in this book are incredibly well thought-through and detailed, a hallmark for Fox Meadows. The complex political plotlines take up the most space in the book and will appeal to those that most enjoy reading and thinking about fantasy settings rather than long fight scenes or explanations of how magic works in a particular universe. As others have said, the diversity of characters is also welcome for this type of fantasy, and the gender and sexuality elements of the setting are particularly well-incorporated.

That said, the pacing was a bit off for me - the book felt slow in parts and too fast in others. I agree with other reviewers that this book feels like the middle of a series, where there's significant backstory of interest to the reader that is only summarized. 

Overall, this book takes some effort to read, but is well-worth it for those who enjoy complex fantasy setting and political plotlines.

Thank you Thank you AngryRobot and NetGalley for the ARC! I got this to celebrate the new paperback cover, and my thoughts on that are below.

An Accident of Stars (Foz Meadows) is an exciting, daring portal fantasy. When tollowing a mysterious woman around her school, she is led from her world into another one, with new rules, creatures, gods and monarchs. To her family back home, she is but a missing girl, but here she must put her past aside and help aide in a fight against the matriarch, finding family and gaining godly blessings along the way. As someone who reads a lot of fantasy and soi fi, I haven't actually ever read a portal fantasy, so this was a book I simply got thrown into, and I enjoyed most of this!
Saffron is a wonderfully written self sufficient girl, and honestly I couldnt fault her at all in this book. Perhaps naive at times, but if you were thrown into another world with no warning, only to be told you might be killed for merely existing, then so would you. We meet a wonderful cast (a very big cast) of characters with most of them being memorable for their talents and relationships, but most I recognise as being there to move the plot along, and aren't ones we should be focusing on.

The world is big, and the polar opposite of Earth being both in culture, war, and animals (Roa's are adorable!) and while we were thrown into this world with Saffron, her viewpoint made things much easier to understand. Meadows clearly uses her characters and world as a viewpoint focusing on queer rights, feminism, racism, and politics all of which felt very necessary and written beautifully. Gwen being disowned for a worldwalker (someone not from Veksh), to Zech being shunned and ditched as a child due to the precedent of her unruly skin, to Jaiden believeing he has to follow in Matu's footsteps as the result of being a man. All of this is thrown and tossed around in the book to defy the crown and the thoughts of the two societies we meet. The POV switching was new to get used to, but I really enjoyed this take on it and it was clear within the first sentence who the narrator was. There is romance, but its not at the front of this fantasy and it has queer rep from the get go! Being polyamorous is the standard, and with Gwen being aromantic, there is just as much focus on romance as there is the firm friendships made throughout. Also as a result of this though, so romances toward the end did feel very rushed, with there being no chemistry between those two. Most of this was well paced, and I would certainly recommend for anyone wanting a queer portal fantasy, with a touch of fiction-veiled literary fiction.

That said, sometimes however the words and world building was all quite a bit...much for me. I reached the 70% mark and began skim reading a little bit because I simply didnt fully understand what was going on, and there were "too many" names and still more being introduced. It would have been helpful to have this pointed out to me at the start of the book to refer to, but there was no such indication.
At times, I felt there was a lot of buildup for very little payoff-something new cropped up and it felt very disconnected from the rest of the journey we had already gone through, including the snap decision for Saffron to go back home. Characters were revealed towards the end, and true identities, and sudden character sacrifices that left me a little dissatisfied. However in hindsight this is setting up a new book, but it feels like to me this is 'this book' and 'that book' instead of a series. I'm not going to pick up the second book just yet until I can re-read this one, and hopefully wrap my head around it more!

About the new paperback cover; Having only looked at the original cover when logging into Goodreads, I absolutely would not have picked this book up on a shelf without the change! I feel there is more of a focus on the city and its rules and cultures, opposed to the rozinial being about two travellers in a new world (and I firmly believe the book reflects the former rather than the latter). I'm not often one for a perilous journey, but am one for mysterious cities.