Hundreds of years ago, a brutal war split a land in two. Starside is the realm of magic and immortals—the descendants of the gods, living in a power-rich paradise. Stormside is where mortals fight for scraps of that magic.
Every fifty years, the gates between them open, and fifty challengers are allowed to journey across Starside on a deadly quest to access a pool of magic that can heal, grant wealth, or extend life. Everyone has their reasons for entering, but Aris has only one: vengeance. As a child, a goddess set fire to her village, killing her family. Aris isn’t after the gods’ magic—she’s going to kill them.
First, she must survive the Culling, the king’s deadly competition to choose his fifty challengers. An orphaned blacksmith’s apprentice, Aris doesn’t have the superior weapons of the heirs from the Great Houses. But the greatest swords—ones that contain power—are not inherited or bought, they are claimed, by both sides. And when Aris claims a great sword, it makes her not just a real competitor—but a target.
Getting past the gates is only the beginning. Starside is deadlier than it seems. If the ancient creatures, magic-wielding beasts, and bloodthirsty immortals weren’t dangerous enough, a new peril has even immortals fearing what rises from the ground at night. With a blade most would kill to claim, Aris can’t trust anyone. Especially not Harlan Raker, the merciless and mysterious king’s guard who betrayed her years ago—and who may now be the key to her survival.
But Aris is hiding a secret tied to her family’s death. And when it’s revealed, not even the gods will be able to stop what’s coming…
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Young adult fantasy romance and middle-grade fiction have been significantly shaped by high-stakes worldbuilding and folklore-infused storytelling. Alex Aster, born Alexandra Pierson on August 4, 1995, achieved widespread commercial recognition with her bestseller series Lightlark, which reached the #1 spot on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and Indie bestseller lists, as well as appearing on the USA Today bestseller list.
Before reaching adult and young adult audiences worldwide, Aster established her foundation in children's literature with the Emblem Island series. Her catalog features celebrated titles such as Lightlark and Starside, expanding into romantic fantasy, middle-grade fiction, and contemporary adult fiction.
Alex Aster graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in English with a concentration in creative writing. She made her publishing debut with the middle-grade fantasy novel Emblem Island: Curse of the Night Witch, which was named one of Amazon's Top 20 Children's Books of the Year in 2020 and recognized as a most anticipated release by Good Morning America and Seventeen Magazine.
In 2022, Aster published Lightlark through Abrams, selling over two million copies in the United States, remaining on the New York Times Best Sellers list for over 100 weeks, and translation rights selling in more than 30 countries. Prior to the book's publication, Universal Pictures acquired the rights to adapt Lightlark into a feature film, with Aster serving as executive producer. Following her commercial success, Aster was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2023. She has since expanded her literary work into adult contemporary romance with Summer in the City, while also maintaining a career as a musician in New York City.
Aster's fantasy writing draws heavily upon Latin American myths and folklore, specifically inspired by the Colombian bedtime stories told to her by her grandmother during childhood. Her narrative structure often combines romantic fantasy elements with deadly competitions, ancient curses, complex magic systems, and time shifts.
Across her young adult fantasy, middle-grade, and adult contemporary fiction, Aster explores core themes of identity, memory, self-growth, and emotional resilience. Her characters regularly face high-stakes dilemmas while navigating personal relationships, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and intense loyalty under pressure.
Starside
