Reign of Silver & Stardust

Stardust #1

by Diana A. Hicks

My twin sister was murdered. To find her killer, I had to die. CATALINA
I was never supposed to survive.
As the mortal spare to an immortal sister, I lived in the shadows
until Ry was murdered by a weapon that shouldn't exist.
Now, justice is all I want.
To find her killer, I must take her place in the Queen’s Elite Cadre
and become the very monster everyone fears.
But becoming a weapon means losing my humanity…
and losing the one man I can't resist.

VALOREK
The immortals bleed my world dry while my sister rots from the inside out.
I swore to burn their reign to the ground,
until I met her.
Sterling is the enemy,
a silver-blooded soldier of the regime that destroyed my family.
But the electricity between us is undeniable.
We are on opposite sides of a brewing war,
and falling for the enemy is a dangerous mistake
neither of us can afford.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Suspense, Slow Burn, Smut, Fantasy Romance

414 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2026

About the author

CURRENTLY OPEN: ARC Sign-ups for REIGN OF SILVER & STARDUST (Book 1 Releases August 27!) > Join my exclusive early reading team and get a free digital copy before release week! Click here to claim your spot: https://gogl.to/4IH1

Diana A. Hicks writes dark, emotional romance where obsession runs deep, secrets cut sharp, and love always comes at a price.

Her books blend steamy billionaire drama with forbidden marriages, high-stakes betrayal, and antiheroes who will burn the world to protect what’s theirs. Best known for The Empire Trilogy and King of Beasts, Diana’s stories deliver heart-pounding romance with morally gray men, strong heroines, and just enough heat to leave you breathless.

When she’s not writing about power and passion colliding, she’s probably sipping coffee like it's a love language, sweating off a plot twist at yoga, or posting angsty book teasers on TikTok.


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Reviews

[chi ౨ৎ (semi-ia)]

〜 dnf @ 20%...
⤷ sorry i really tried to like this...

𖥻 ໒ my thoughts ১
i'm sorry, but this book started out so boring and slow-paced that it became a chore to read and i no longer was interested in reading it.

thank you so much to the publisher and valentine pr for the arc of this book; all thoughts and ratings are my own!

[Honeybadgerreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Dual POV
Book 1 in trilogy

This was such an interesting mix of romantasy, dystopian, and a bit of sci-fi!

The concept between the immortals and mortals, the Queen’s Elite, hidden identities, mysterious weapons, and all the secrets was A LOT to uncover. I loved slowly piecing everything together.

The story follows both the FMC, Catalina, and the MMC, Valorek. Catalina is a mortal, but has a sister who is immortal. One day her sister is unalived by a weapon that could unalive any immortal. Catalina then decides to take her sister's place and join the Queen's immortal army to uncover what happened. On the other hand, our MMC, Valorek, is trying to save his sister from a sickness that is causing her to rot from the inside out. His main goal is to find a cure for her.

Catalina’s story was especially compelling. After losing her twin sister, she is determined to find out what happened and get justice, even if that means stepping into her sister’s dangerous world. I really liked her determination and how much of her motivation came from the love she had for her sister.

Overall, Reign of Silver & Stardust has a really intriguing foundation. The sci-fi/fantasy blend felt different from a lot of the romantasy I’ve been reading. I loved the mystery, revenge, secrets, immortality, and sister-driven storylines. I just wish I had felt a stronger connection to the romance and between the characters, but this is a planned trilogy soooo my mind may change on this as I read the books.

Tropes + atmosphere:
Sci-fi/dystopian/romantasy
Enemies to lovers
Forbidden romance
He falls first
Protective MMC
Immortals x mortals
Secret identities
Found family

I’m definitely curious to see what book two does with everything that was set up here! Thank you to the author for the physical arc copy.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in a new trilogy, a romantasy romance.
Caralina is a mortal spare who was never supposed to survive and is about her relationship with her twin sister Ry, and she is used to living in the shadows. Valorek is focused on ending the immortal’s reign and run it into the ground.
This story ends in a cliffhanger!
This is a well written easy to read, action packed story, revealed in dual POV’s, with family, friendships, emotions, tension, justice, romance, challenges, trust, and undeniable chemistry, which leads to an enjoyable, and unpredictable page turner.
I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

I enjoyed this book. The story was very interesting and I liked the characters! The world building was great and I liked the sci-fi elements.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took me a minute to get into almost like I’d missed a book before this, the world building in the beginning was confusing, but once they reached the Old Planet, Veridia, the characters fleshed out and the story gets underway and I was invested!
The action is set between two planets – Veridia and Aeterna - in a fantasy world, and the space ship that travels between both.
It’s a story that’s a battle between the immortals, the ruling class and all others. Only one child of an immortal can take the virus and possibly become an immortal. The virus is grown on Veridia and is destroying the ecosystem, Valorek is against all things immortal, and as the story progresses this becomes somewhat of a dilemma for him.
Catalina is our main female character, a twin, born second, she’s from family well positioned in the ruling political world of Aeterna but her ‘older’ sister was the one chosen to become immortal.
She begs her sister to take her on a mission to Veridia where she hopes to find the man she’s been dreaming about (no explanation as to whether they’d met before or why exactly she’s dreaming of this person) and a chance encounter puts her with Valorek, said dream boy, and the chemistry is instant between them.
Her sister is killed on planet, something that’s not suppose to happen to an immortal, and with this death the suspense ramps up and the mystery gets going.
There’s a number of different plot threads all going at once. Valorek’s sister is dying, the hail mary cure is tied up with a princess and a kidnapping plot. The sister’s death needs to be kept quiet with Catalina assuming her place in the QEC. Surprising family ties and past revolutions. So, lots going on and a good pace is set once the action gets underway.
It does leaves us on a cliffhanger, with the life of a main character in jeopardy, ensuring that we’ll all be hanging out for the next installment!

[Julia]

Review of Advanced copy received from author

it was a definite mid read for me. I was not expecting it to be a space themed with different planets and worlds right out of the gate - I thought it was more fantasy like with kingdoms and stuff.

Around 20% I was waiting for things to start moving, but the world build was making it hard for me to understand what was happening.

I felt like I was throw into the middle of the world and I trying to piece together things to figure out what the FMC was talking about.

The MMC definitely fell first & hard, I did enjoy the romance and tension between them but the premise to me was eh, and I didn’t feel satisfied with the ending.

[Chelsey Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Grey' Promo for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a long review, just a warning

First I want to say that I did enjoy this book but I do have lots of criticism for it as well.

To begin the plot was such a great idea but I feel like the execution was not as well done as I had hoped. I did hope that there would be more to this dream factor that we talked about in the beginning of the book and I also think that the murder of Catalina's sister should it be part of the blurb because it didn't happen until I want to say somewhere between 20 and 30% of the book and I feel like that could create a shock value if it wasn't part of the blurb. Since we're talking about sisters and family I was very confused as to why we added the quality of possibly a latina-esque character but there was no elaboration on the culture at all or any mention of a possible Latina character. You kind of get the feel that she is Latina because her name is Catalina and her nickname is Catita and her grandmother? they call her Wela as if short for abuela. If you think you're going to get anything more in the Latina Factor, you're not. that's it. that's all that we get which I just don't see the point in that at all. And Wela must have a name but we don't know what it is because it's never mentioned what her actual real name is she just goes by Wela. And I would like to mention that I am latina. I am Puerto Rican and dominican. And I typically don't like to read books that have Latina characters with no Latina culture into the book that doesn't make sense to me why are we making Latina characters or giving characters Latina components and then we don't elaborate on the Latina side? If we're going to make the character have Latina qualities or be Latina, Be Latina and proud and make sure that the culture is added in you can't just give them Latina names and nicknames.

I did slightly enjoy the romance I didn't get the connection as much because both voices completely felt the same. For me it was very hard to distinguish the different povs and sometimes I would have to go back and check whose POV we were in or read a couple pages back because they just sounded the same to me of course wildly different things were happening in both povs but just the voice and the tone seemed way too similar the way that they were both talking. There was one smut scene and it was okay it wasn't.

The book had a lot of dialogue and it made the book feel a lot shorter and go fast. so if you like a book that is heavy on the dialogue side, you might like this.

There are lots of phrases that were very repetitive for example water sloshing or waves sloshing. Not only were there phrases that were repetitive but it felt like certain scenes were very repetitive if something happened and one chapter a couple of chapters later when it's brought up again we get like a whole rundown of what happened in that scene as if we didn't just read that a couple chapters ago it felt very much so like we were over explaining some scenes but then it also felt like some other scenes or not explained enough.

Lastly I hated that ending that was an awful way to end a book I'm so sorry I hate that ending I literally thought we were just like ending the chapter and then there was like the thank you note and I was so upset because why did we end the books like that. It felt like we ended the book in the middle of a very important scene.

I would say that this book was more on the Sci-Fi side and not on the fantasy side. There's a queen's Army and possible talk of a princess no elaboration on that part of the plot it's just very very slim chatter about it and I didn't like that it was just it needed a little bit more fantasy than sci-fi and I really don't think that this should be categorized as a dark fantasy or dark romantic book because I'm not getting any of those vibes from this book at all maybe in the second book we'll get more elaboration on the fantasy side.

This book did remind me a little bit of Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles which is literally my favorite series and it's the series I got me back into reading about 10 years ago. But this seems like it was Cinder with this author's own little twist to it and being that in my head it reminded me of Cinder it just didn't live up to how good Cinder was or how good the Lunar Chronicles was.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

**★★★★☆ 4 Stars**

*Reign of Silver & Stardust* was not quite what I expected going in, but in a good way. This is much more than a typical romantasy. It blends science fiction, fantasy, romance, political intrigue, and mystery into a story that feels pretty ambitious for the first book in a series.

Catalina was probably the strongest part of the story for me. She has spent her entire life as the mortal twin of an immortal sister, always living somewhat in Ry's shadow. When Ry is murdered by a weapon that shouldn't even be capable of killing her, Catalina's grief quickly turns into determination. She is willing to step into her sister's life and risk everything to figure out what really happened. I liked that her motivation wasn't simply about romance or becoming powerful. At the heart of her story is her love for her sister and her need for answers.

Valorek brings a completely different perspective. He has every reason to hate the immortals and everything they represent, which makes his connection with Catalina complicated from the beginning. I enjoyed seeing the conflict from both sides because the story doesn't make everything completely black and white. There are secrets everywhere, and the further I read, the less certain I became about who could actually be trusted.

The world itself is interesting, especially the divide between mortals and immortals and the consequences of one group maintaining its power at the expense of another. There is also much more of a science fiction element here than I expected. Space travel, different worlds, advanced technology, immortality, rebellion, and political power all play significant roles. I actually liked the combination, but readers going into this expecting a traditional fantasy romance may be surprised.

My biggest issue was that the world building wasn't always as smooth as it could have been. There were times when I wanted more explanation and other times when information felt repeated. The beginning took me a little while to settle into because there is a lot to understand, and I occasionally felt like I was trying to catch up with the story instead of simply experiencing it.

I also wanted a little more development from the romance between Catalina and Valorek. The attraction is definitely there, and their opposing loyalties create plenty of tension, but I wasn't quite as emotionally invested in their relationship as I wanted to be. I found myself more interested in the murder, the secrets surrounding the immortals, and the larger political conflict.

Once the story really gets moving, though, it becomes much harder to put down. There are enough secrets, betrayals, questionable motives, and revelations to keep you wondering what is actually happening behind the scenes. By the end, I had far more questions than answers, which is both frustrating and exactly what you want from the first book in a trilogy.

Overall, *Reign of Silver & Stardust* is a creative and intriguing start to the series. It isn't perfect, and I think some of the world building and character relationships could have used a little more depth, but the larger story absolutely caught my attention. I'm invested enough in Catalina's journey and the mysteries surrounding this world that I want to know what happens next.

**4 stars.** An imaginative science fiction and fantasy romance with murder, immortality, political intrigue, forbidden attraction, and enough secrets to make me suspicious of almost everyone.

[Lore & Disorder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of Reign of Silver and Stardust. All opinions are my own.

I went into this one a little unsure because space-based stories usually aren’t my thing, and I was worried the sci-fi elements might keep me from getting fully invested.

That concern disappeared pretty quickly.

The space setting is definitely part of the story, but it isn’t the only setting or the only thing driving the plot. There was enough variety in the world and locations that it never felt overwhelmingly “spacey” to me. Once the mystery surrounding Aeterna, immortality, hidden identities, and everyone’s increasingly suspicious secrets started unfolding, I was hooked.

The characters were a huge part of that.

Catalina is dealing with so much at once—grief, questions about her identity, a murder she is desperate to understand, and circumstances that completely change what she thought she knew about her own life. I really enjoyed watching her navigate all of that while still trying to figure out who she can trust.

And then there’s Valorek.

Dark tousled hair. Intense green eyes. Chiseled jaw. Apparently the universe decided subtlety was unnecessary. 😂

But what made me love him wasn’t just that he’s ridiculously attractive. He’s genuinely kind, protective, and deeply devoted to the people he loves. He is willing to risk himself for his little sister when she desperately needs help, and he repeatedly puts himself in danger for Catalina despite barely knowing her. Their connection feels immediate and undeniable without being the only thing defining either character.

The mystery also worked really well for me. There are secrets layered everywhere—family histories, immortality, political power, hidden identities, old alliances—and several reveals genuinely caught me off guard. Every time I thought I understood what was happening, another piece of information shifted the picture and made me question someone else.

I especially loved that the twists didn’t feel random just for the sake of shocking the reader. They kept expanding the world and raising new questions about the characters and the history behind Aeterna.

And then we need to discuss the ending.

Actually, no.

We need to file a complaint.

That cliffhanger was a personal attack. 😂

I finished this book somewhere between “YOU BITCH” and “I need the next book immediately,” which is honestly one of the highest compliments I can give a series opener. The ending left me genuinely worried about these characters and desperate to know what happens next.

I wasn’t sure this would be my kind of book when I started it.

By the end, I was completely invested.

Consider me officially along for the ride.

[Alina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a free Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Spice: 3 🌶

Catalina, a mortal, is on a spaceship, living a life of a second-class citizen because of her family history. She begs her sister, an immortal and an officer of the Queen's Elite Cadre, to take her for an illegal visit to the Old Planet. There she meets a man she had seen in her dreams, but then the visit goes awfully wrong.

The world building is quite elaborate and detailed, there is plenty of action, the narrative moves between places, and there is a strong sense of space and time. Space travel takes the appropriate amount of time, it's tedious and difficult and expensive and hard to arrange, and similarly there is realistic world building on the planets, where there are additional rules. There are lots of plot lines, and many characters who are connected in interesting ways. There is some character development -- the plot line with Eli in particular is both a little unexpected and well-done, and an interesting deviation for the "standard" of the genre. There is one conversation toward the end about jealousy and immortality which I thought was very insightful. So in other words, there is a solid foundation for something strong.

What did not click: continuity, informational and emotional. An example plot line that just didn't make much sense to me is the one between Valorek and James. Valorek starts off despising James, yet blindly follows his insane plan -- that James refuses to elaborate on or explain anything about. And as they proceed with great sacrifices along this insane plan, new questions just arise and arise and remain unanswered, and Valorek's lack of curiosity about (for example) whether what they are doing is saving or kidnapping defies imagination and undermines any character building.

Plot tension is heavily dependent on people withholding key information from each other well past reason -- the romantic leads worst of all. Even when the secrets are small, everything must be dragged out, and when the secrets are bigger, the stakes of what is withheld are not clear. This is one of my least favorite plot devices, and I just don't find lying romantic, so that undermines a lot for me.

Minor quibble: the prophetic dreams. They mash magic into the sci-fi frame without need, and they undercut the first real meeting -- destiny arriving ahead of the person.

Promising setup, uneven follow-through. Three stars.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review from author in exchange for honest review

Title: Reign of Silver and Stardust

Author: Diana A Hicks
 
Genre: fantasy romance
 
Spice: 2/5 I had high hopes and felt like I was only given 5 minutes. 😭 There was a lot left to be desired here.
 
Pace: 3/5 mediocre it was on the slower side as far as the story developing. There was times I was sitting with anticipation like something big was going to happen, but then nothing really major occurred.

Readability: 3/5 good technical writing, easy to understand, but the content was a little lacking for me.

Character development: 3/5 other than the protagonist I didn’t feel really connected to any of them. I didn’t really feel like I had a good picture of any of them. I did enjoy the heroin and her love for her sister. Valorek was there he seemed like a good guy but it felt like there was so much more to uncover there. It is a trilogy so perhaps it’s coming in a later book.

Mentions/tropes:
Sci-Fi
Loss/murder
Jealousy
Forbidden enemies to lovers
secrets
Duty
Impersonating
Military vibes
Immortality
Guilt
Forced proximity
He falls first
Dual POV
Rebellion
Family drama


My thoughts: This was one of very few sci-fi fantasy romance books I’ve read. I thought it was ok.
Jealous unwanted sister seeks sisters killer and blames herself for her death. Trains to impersonate her, but meets a boy. I thought some of it was cool like the different places and the concept of immortality. i just didn’t feel invested in the plot or the romance to keep me interested. The romance took almost half way through the book to even be a thing. No angst. I have zero interest in finding out what happens in the future books. I’m sure there are people who will eat this up. Definitely worth a try for yourself.

It felt like a mix between Star Trek, star wars and the 100, with maybe a touch of vampire diaries. The characters seemed slightly immature for my taste. Take out the 2 seconds of smut and this could easily be a YA. The stuff with the sisters friend I was waiting for some tea to come out there. Again maybe it’s in the next 2. Idk 🤷🏼‍♀️ I think it could have used more emotional engagement especially with the sister. I could’ve used at least 3 solid smut scenes. I like to FEEL the energy and the angst.

Do not go in hoping for smut city.

Definitely try for yourself. You are sure to enjoy the heroin

[Darkromancearabia Jin · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐🌙

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into this one, especially since sci-fi/fantasy isn’t usually my go-to genre, but I ended up enjoying it more than I expected.

Catalina has been having recurring nightmares about a man dying in front of her. Her immortal twin sister, Ry, is the only one who knows about them and she even helps Catalina sneak onto a mission to the Old Planet in search of the mysterious man from her dreams. But things go terribly wrong when Ry is killed, even though immortals aren't supposed to die. Feeling guilty and determined to uncover who killed her sister, Catalina is forced to step into Ry’s place. As she navigates a world filled with secrets, danger, political tensions, and questions about who she can actually trust, and even who she really is, she also has to try to forget the mortal man she met on the Old Planet.

Valorek has spent his entire life on the Old Planet. After losing his mother at the hands of the QEC, he has every reason to hate and fight the immortals. He is also desperately trying to save his ailing sister. As the story unfolds, Valorek also begins to realize that not everything is as he believed and that there is much he doesn't know about his own past and where he came from. He discovers that Catalina is essential to the cure...

Catalina and Valorek come from opposite sides and different worlds, yet their connection is immediate. They had great chemistry from their very first encounter, but the distance between their planets keeps them apart. Their reunion may have been a coincidence, but it was definitely a very good one!

The mix of different planets, immortality, rebellion, hidden identities, danger, suspense, mystery, and romance was enjoyable. There was always something happening, and the more the story unfolded, the more questions and secrets came to light.

The side characters were interesting too, and I have a feeling they will play important roles as Catalina and Valorek’s story continues. There are also so many unanswered questions surrounding their families and the past, especially when it comes to their mothers and Catalina’s grandmother, and I’m dying to know the stories behind them.

This was an enjoyable and intriguing start to the series and I’m curious to see where Catalina and Valorek’s story goes next!

[Rachael Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of this book and all I have to say is how dare you leave it on a cliffhanger like that and I don’t have book two in my hand to read. I need you to remedy that expeditiously.

One of the main things I love about this story is that I don’t know who the bad guy is, I mean, I know who the two good people are, but I have no idea whose bad and who’s good which makes a fantastic story because I can’t stop reading until I find it out. Catalina lives in a world full of immortals, and she is not immortal, Valorek is also not immortal, but lives on the planet that Catalina people destroyed something very bad happens to both Catalina sister and Valoreks sister they are both on a mission for their sisters and end up having their world’s collide because of it.

I absolutely love the setting of this book. Seriously had me sucked in on page one the only reason it took me so long to read is because I had to work. I think the world building in this book was fantastic. The character development throughout the book was evenly paced, I didn’t hate anybody unless I was actually supposed to hate them. I love our FMC Catalina and I love our MMC Valorek.

Being able to go through the story through each one of their POV’s made me like the book even more not a single character in this book that is not good. The grief that Catalina goes through you feel it with her and the situations that she is put in through the book. How lonely can some person feel growing up that way.

Valorek is a strong, MMC he’s not so much the toucher and die, but their chemistry is great and the things that he finds out in the book didn’t expect that and how he of course also has a sister and what he has to go through. I don’t want to give any spoilers. I highly recommend going into this book blind because you will not be disappointed. If you think space isn’t your thing. Trust me read this book it will be.

Loved the story, love the writing, loved all the characters, simply perfection. I love the mystery that’s involved in this story. I love the romance. I love that, I don’t know what’s going to happen from one page to the next it’s fast paced, but with plot and character development and world building just I can’t rave enough about this book.

[betweenthebookmarks_ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The bones were there. The ideas for the plot are incredibly fascinating. The execution left room for improvement.

I loved the world that the author created. The plot is incredibly intricate, and I also loved how the two main characters’ stories intertwined.

However, parts were repetitive and could have benefited from more editing. For example, the DEP (a sickness in the world) was explicitly explained multiple times. There was a lot of showing and telling, without letting explanations of certain concepts just occur more naturally. Some dialogue also felt repetitive. When there’s a lot of world-building, sometimes authors can under-explain concepts, leaving readers confused. I felt like some parts were under-explained while other parts were over-explained. The balance just wasn’t quite right. I think the author is really talented. I just wish there had been more thorough editing to refine some lines and improve the overall flow at times.

I was also sad that the description on the back of the book spoiled that Catalina’s sister dies because it took away from the shock factor when it actually happened in the book. I understand why it is stated in the description, since it sets much of Catalina's story in motion, but because she doesn't die immediately, it still felt like a bit of a spoiler. I would have rather the back cover described how Catalina has a dream of a man, since that’s what actually happens at the beginning of the book. Maybe there could have still been other ways to describe that Catalina must join the immortal army to avenge her family and solve a mystery, without giving away the death of Ry.

Importantly, I think this book is mis-marketed as romantasy. This is really sci-fi, and it reads more like YA but with spice. Although the book says that Catalina is 23, she felt more like 13 to me most of the time.

Because the plot was so fascinating, I still wanted to keep reading to know what happened next and ultimately finished the book. But if the plot had not been as intriguing, it might have ended up as a DNF. If half stars were possible, I would give this 2.5 stars.

[Lindsey Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

What would you do if you met the man of your dreams? Catalina is forced to make a choice when the man she’s seen die several times in her dreams shows up in her real life. She runs into Valorek in a place she really shouldn’t be and feels an attraction she absolutely shouldn’t feel. As they venture out on the riskiest mission of their lifetimes, nothing in their lives will ever be the same.

Against the backdrop of a highly advanced spaceship, Epoch, and the planet Veridia, Catalina, Valorek, and their “crew” enter a fight not just to stay alive, but to survive. I was completely absorbed by the two paths Catalina and Valorek walk after they part ways following their explosive first meeting. Valorek is swept up in a whirlwind of family drama between himself, his sister Ari, and their father, James. Catalina’s twin sister, Ry, sends her into a grief spiral when she is murdered in front of her. Ry was a perfect specimen who was given the Ukruum virus at eighteen to make her immortal. Catalina’s world crumbled when Ry stepped in front of a bullet to save her sister’s life, never knowing that the outcome would ultimately cost her own immortality.

Catalina now faces even more challenges when Ry’s death sends her to Captain Weston, Ry’s friend and fellow officer. The constant tension between Weston and Catalina had me in a chokehold. It was clear that Weston did everything he could to hate her, but it seemed increasingly possible that he had transferred his warm feelings from one twin to the other. Many of the secondary characters gave this dangerous story a touch of personality and a sense of fellowship, while the relationship between Catalina and Valorek made the larger adventure feel even more personal.

The connection Hicks established between this destined couple seemed inevitable from the very first page. Reign of Silver & Stardust combines romance, science fiction, adventure, and a great deal of danger in a story concerning fate, choice, and the lengths we go to protect the people we love. Catalina and Valorek’s journeys were by no means simple, and it is precisely this that gives the story its appeal. For anyone wanting a romance set in a larger universe, this book offers plenty of stars, danger, and heartfelt moments. I look forward to seeing how the story will progress in book two, Legacy of Blood & Scars.

I received Reign of Silver & Stardust for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Casie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ✨

Did I enjoy this book: yes! Do I like it is mislabeled: Also yes. This book is marketed as a dark romantasy. I don’t think this is a romantasy or dark, this is sci-fi. Reads more like YA with a little bit of spice in it. The world building is a bit lacking, especially at the beginning of the story, but gets better as you keep reading.

In this story there are immortals, which are essentially humans that have been infected with a virus typically around 18 years old. The immortals are part of the forever queens guard and are to encore the peace. The immortals inhabit plant Aeterna. They originated from Earth now referred to as Veridia. The book starts with the MFC (Catalina) on a space ship with her sister, Ry. Ry is an immortal and part of the queens guard. She will be going down to the Old Plant (Veridia) to gather resources to bring back to Aeterna. Catalina is human and desperately wants to go on a mission, so Ry sneaks her aboard the shuttle to go down to the Old Planet. There something was terribly wrong and Ry is killed. How can an immortal be killed? That is supposed to be impossible. While on the Old Planet, Catalina meets our MMC, Valorik. Catalina has had dreams about him in the past and has an instant connection with him. They say their goodbyes and don’t expect to see each other again. Back on the space ship, Catalina has to become her sister to figure out her death. Eli, a commander in the guard, helps her.

Valorik has his own agenda to save his sick sister. His family sneaks into the space ship to travel to Aeterna to find a cure for her illness. In exchange for the cure, he is supposed to kidnap the princess to the Forever Queen.

I still have a lot of questions that weren’t answered in this book, but I’m assuming I will figure out as the trilogy proceeds. Overall I enjoyed this story and it was a fast read. I would recommend this trilogy is you enjoy sci-fi space adventures!

Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Siobhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reign of Silver & Stardust, the first book in the Stardust series from Diana A. Hicks, is a story that immediately grabbed my attention. The author has caught my attention numerous times in the past, yet this was the story that grabbed my attention to a new level. After all, it promised many things I adore.

Unfortunately, despite going into this book with high expectations (or maybe because I went into the book with high expectations), I found myself struggling with the story. I feel like the bones of a good story existed within the pages, yet I never found myself connecting to it in the way I had hoped. I think a part of it was the writing style. While not bad, there were some aspects of it that did not work for me. It felt like it did not entirely flow consistently, which meant there were some occasions where I felt like I had missed something. More than that, however, was the worldbuilding. I felt like I was missing a lot of vital details, whereas many trivial things felt like they were reiterated too many times. It could be because I have recently re-entered my sci-fi phase and am devouring hard science fiction from authors I know deliver complicated and addictive universes, yet this one felt flat. There was certainly the potential there, yet it never reached the level I needed to feel invested in it. This also impacted upon the romance, which received much more focus than the worldbuilding. While there was nothing wrong with this, I felt the same underwhelmed feelings there, which added to my disappointment.

All in all, sadly, this book did not tick my boxes in the way I had hoped. I can see many enjoying the story as there are interesting elements within, but it failed to tick my boxes. I will be honest and say that I think I am partly to blame – after all, I am deep in many sci-fi series that I am loving – but even this awareness is not enough to have me wanting to pick up the next book.

[Diana Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reign of Silver & Stardust is a deeply personal book for me, and sharing it with you now feels like a dream thirteen years in the making.

I actually started writing Catalina and Valorek’s story over a decade ago. Back then, it was rejected by traditional agents. When I tried to release it on my own as short serials (don’t judge, ha!), it flopped. The truth? At the time, I didn't have the writing skillset or the experience to do this massive, intricate world justice. So, I put it away, but these characters never truly left me.

Over the last several years, you’ve known me for writing dark, emotional contemporary romance (like King of Beasts, Entangle You, Empire of Ache & Ruin). Writing those books taught me how to craft deep tension, high stakes, and complex characters. And all the while, Catalina and Valorek were waiting in the wings.

Back in January of this year, I realized it was time to bring them back. I took everything I learned about writing intoxicating romance and poured it onto the brutal, crimson sands of Aeterna.

This trilogy is the book of my heart. It took thirteen years, a lot of growth, and a complete refusal to give up on my dream to get it right. Whether you’ve been reading my books for years or you are stepping into my world for the very first time, thank you for taking this leap with me.

I hope you fall completely in love with Catalina and Valorek.

Happy reading! 🖤✨

Diana

P.S. Come find me on Instagram/TikTok! I want to know your thoughts the exact second you finish that last page.

P.S.S. I am currently looking for early ARC readers to step into Aeterna with me before launch day! If you’d love to read and review an early copy, click over to my Author Profile here on Goodreads. The private sign-up link is pinned right at the top of my bio!

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmmm...ok, I liked it.

It's a good story; however, I did have one little problem. This book is described as a romantic fantasy, or romantasy, but this book also includes spaceships and space travel which I consider to be in the science fiction category, so in my opinion this book should reflect that this is more of a science fiction/fantasy romance which would be more accurate to what you are actually going to be reading in my opinion.
The characters in this book were raised on two different worlds. Catalina, the FMC, is the mortal twin of her immortal sister, and when her twin is murdered on another planet, she feels responsible and vows to find out the truth about a weapon that can kill immortals. Valorek, the MMC, grew up on the planet where Catalina's sister was murdered, and he is tired of watching the immortals murder his people and continue to destroy his planet for the sole purpose of keeping their immortality. Fascinating characters that are very well written and complex although I did find the FMC to be quite naive given the world where she grew up. While Valorek had a life that was pretty much the opposite and is motivated by finding a cure for his dying sister. While he is much better at protecting himself, he is also prone to making impulsive, sometimes reckless decisions.
I enjoyed this read but knocked down the star rating a little because of the afore mentioned romantasy vs science fiction/fantasy romance and there really isn't enough of a backstory. There is, however, plenty of action and violence with some steam and interesting twists in the plot that kept me reading. So, I think other readers who enjoy science fiction/fantasy romances will also enjoy this book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Grey's Promotions.

[Natasha Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reign of Silver and Stardust — ARC Review

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy!

There were a few things about the main characters that felt a little off to me. At times, their personalities and mindsets didn’t quite seem to align with their life experiences. For example, the MFC was trained in the military, and while she wasn’t necessarily a top-tier soldier, some of her reactions and thought processes felt a little too naïve for the background she was given. I found myself wanting a little more consistency between her training and the way she approached certain situations.

There is also one spicy scene in the book, and I’ll be honest—the verbiage in that scene gave me a bit of an ick. It felt like it was trying to maintain a somewhat YA tone while also incorporating a spicy scene, and for me, the combination didn’t quite land. The scene itself just felt a little awkward in the way it was written and described.

BUT…

The plot and storyline? SO GOOD. 🙌🏼

One thing I really appreciated was the world-building. It wasn’t all dumped on you at the beginning, which allowed me to jump into the story and become immersed without having to push through pages and pages of information first. The world unfolds naturally as the story progresses, and I really enjoyed that.

And the concept of the immortals?! Fascinating. I loved the way they were depicted and the questions surrounding them. There were so many twists and unexpected turns that kept me guessing, and even by the end, there are still quite a few unanswered questions.

Which tells me one thing…

She is setting us up for this trilogy, and I AM HERE FOR IT. 👏🏼

I’m genuinely curious to see where the story goes next, especially after everything we’re left wondering about. Despite the things that didn’t quite work for me, the storyline completely pulled me in, and I cannot wait to continue this series!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start by saying that I wasn't expecting this to have the space/sci-fi elements, but it ended up working for me. It honestly gave me the same kind of vibe as Somaiya Daud's Mirage duology, while still being unique enough to keep me hooked. This one is slightly more sci-fi than that one was, but if you liked that, you'll likely enjoy this, and vice versa.

I found the whole concept of the immortality virus and the history given to this plot fascinating. The world-building drew me in, along with the motivations of our various characters, many of whom I became invested in - especially Ari, and (strangely enough) Eli. I loved the dual POV and the way this first book set up so many plot pieces, making me want to know more and more. I can't wait to read the next book to get answers and to find out what happens next. There were twists I didn't see coming, and it didn't *feel* like reading 400 pages. It felt like it was over so fast, and I still want more. The pacing, IMO, was well done: we get just enough information to become invested in Catalina and Ry's relationship, as well as Catalina and Valorek's connection, then we have Ry's murder, and BOOM: we get hit with all the twisty-turny political intrigue. But I don't want to spoil any of it, so I won't go into specifics. Just know there is even more to this than simply finding out who kills Ry.

I tend to enjoy books with class struggles and political tensions, and something I really liked about this one is that it's hard to tell who is really in the right or the wrong here. Who can we trust? What is the actual truth? I need answers! Waiting for the next book is going to be a struggle!

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a fair and honest review.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Diana A. Hicks for the ARC of Reign of Silver and Stardust. I am not the type of reader who will give 5-stars just because I was given an ARC, so this review is all my completely honest opinions. For me, this book gets 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

First, based on the description for the book, as another review said, I was expecting a romantasy and not a sci-fi book, so I was caught a little off guard when I started reading. The story is about a dystopian future in which we are able to travel throughout the solar systemand a plant that hosts a virus that causes immortality is discovered. We destroy the Earth and take over another planet (seemingly Mars) where the immortals rule and the humans are oppressed. The story follows Catalina, a human from the new planet who must take her immortal sister's place to find answers after she is murdered, and Valorek, a human from the old planet who must travel to the new planet to find a cure for his dying sister, who are inexplicable drawn to one another even before they meet.

The beginning was a little confusing, especially when the FMC was called "Sir" and I forgot whose POV I was a reading... I feel like things weren't explained well toward the beginning and then they were overexplained later in the book. There also wasn't enough character and relationship building in the beginning, so I didn't really feel the emotion that some scenes should have evoked.

However, that level of detail and character and world building I needed did come later on and the rest of the book was much more interesting and I wanted to know what came next. The story does leave off on a huge cliffhanger and I definitely want to read the next book in the trilogy to find out what happens.

[Victoria Horne · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reign of Silver & Stardust has such an interesting concept. Catalina is the mortal twin of an immortal, and she has spent her entire life existing in her sister Ry’s shadow. But when Ry is killed by a weapon that shouldn’t exist, Catalina is forced to take her place and pretend to be the very person she has always been compared to.

There is so much happening within this story—secret identities, an impossible murder, hidden family connections, rebellion, betrayal, and two people drawn together while standing on opposite sides of a brewing war. Every time I thought I understood where the story was going, another secret or connection was revealed that changed everything.

I also really liked the dynamic between Catalina and Valorek. neither of them realizes how deeply they are already connected. Their relationship has that forbidden, enemies-on-opposite-sides tension that fits the story perfectly.

I found the storyline creative and genuinely wanted to know how everything connected. There were moments when the story pulled me in, especially when one of the bigger revelations happened, but there were also sections where my attention drifted. I think the amount of world-building and information made it a slower read for me than I expected.

Overall, the plot is intriguing, the twists kept adding new layers, and the ending of this first book sets up what could become a really interesting trilogy. If you enjoy romantasy with secret identities, immortal politics, forbidden attraction, complicated family histories, and enemies standing on opposite sides of a war, this may be one to add to your list.

Thank you to the author for the gifted eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 🖤

📖 Reign of Silver & Stardust
✍🏼 Diana A. Hicks
⭐️ 4 stars
🗓️ Out now!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, this was such a fun combination of genres. Sci-fi + fantasy + mystery + romance + political intrigue is A LOT of things to throw into one book, but somehow it all ties together beautifully.

I went into this expecting more of a romantasy and wasn't quite prepared for how much sci-fi was involved, but I was surprisingly thrilled with the combination. There's a whole world of immortals, political power struggles, secrets, betrayals, and enough unanswered questions/mystery to keep me constantly wondering what was actually going on.

The mystery was definitely one of my favorite parts. I love a book that makes me feel like I should be keeping a conspiracy board next to me, and I was constantly trying to connect the dots and figure out who I could or couldn't trust.

And then there's the romance. 👀 The tension, opposing sides, secrets, and general "fuck it" energy definitely kept things interesting. I would've liked a little more development here, but I was invested enough to want to see where things go next.

I will say that the worldbuilding is A LOT. There were definitely moments where I had to stop and remind myself who everyone was and what exactly was happening, but once I settled into the world, I really enjoyed how much there was to uncover.

Overall, this was a really unique read with a little bit of everything—mystery, romance, political intrigue, fantasy, and sci-fi all rolled into one. And considering this is the beginning of a trilogy, I'm definitely super excited to see where their story goes from here.

Basically: give me secrets, questionable alliances, complicated relationships, and a mystery I'm going to obsess over, and apparently I'm happy. 😂

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I just don’t like sci-fi)
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I think sci-fi/fantasy fans will enjoy this)

I received an ARC copy of Reign of Silver & Stardust, and unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.

First, I feel like I need to start with the giant space elephant in the room: this is sci-fi. Or at the very least, it’s a pretty heavy sci-fi/fantasy mashup. I went into this expecting romantasy based on the description and was very surprised when it started giving me YA The 100 vibes instead. Sci-fi is one of the few genres I genuinely do not enjoy, so I fully admit that probably influenced my experience with this book. Maybe it’s categorized or described more clearly elsewhere, but the Amazon description definitely did not prepare me for what I was getting into.

Beyond the genre surprise, I struggled with the world-building. I constantly felt like I’d been dropped into the middle of an already established series—or maybe accidentally started a spinoff without reading the original. Information would be introduced without enough context for me to really understand it, while other things would be explained and then basically repeated half a page later. The mythology and history of the “world” also felt somewhat stilted and unclear, which left me with a lot of questions that kept distracting me from the actual story.

I also had a hard time with our MFC. She’s 23, but she comes across as incredibly naive, especially considering she’s apparently spent most of her life being despised simply for existing. I would expect someone who grew up under those circumstances to be a little more cautious and aware of the people around her. And then there are the prophetic dreams about our MMC, which mostly left me going, “Wait…what?” I’m assuming there’s more explanation coming, but within this book they just added another layer of confusion for me.

As for Valorek…I actually like him. His name? Not so much. 😂 Why does this man seem to be the only person in the entire book with a full-blown alien name? But I digress.

Valorek is likable, but he’s also weirdly naive and makes some dumb choices. This man meets our MFC, knows she’s supposed to be the enemy, and approximately 30 seconds later is basically like, “Sure, I’ll help you.” Sir??? Maybe take a minute? Ask a follow-up question?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m rooting for these two. But I’m also rooting for them while acknowledging that they are both kind of idiots.

A whole bunch of other stuff happens, obviously, and several more questionable decisions are made before we reach the end.

I hate leaving negative reviews, and this is one where I think my rating is especially subjective because I probably never would have picked it up if I’d realized how heavily it leaned into sci-fi. I don’t think Reign of Silver & Stardust is necessarily a bad book, it just really wasn’t the book for me. I do think the sci-fi elements should be made much clearer in the description so readers know what they’re getting into.

If you enjoy sci-fi/fantasy blends and stories with The 100, Dune, or The Expanse kind of vibes, you may have a completely different experience with this one. Unfortunately, for someone who thought she was walking into a romantasy and instead unexpectedly found herself in space…I was not the target audience.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just... okay for me. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either.

The writing in the beginning felt a little clunky and confusing. Women being referred to as "Sir" had me doing a double take more than once to make sure I'd actually read it correctly. There were also several moments that seemed to come out of nowhere with very little transition. I was reading on my Kindle and actually found myself going backward because I thought I'd accidentally skipped a page or missed something.

And then we got to the one spicy scene...

"Butt cheek."

I'm sorry. 😂 Something about that wording immediately made me feel like I was reading a YA book that suddenly decided to throw in a spicy scene. It just did NOT work for me.

Thankfully, the second half was much stronger. The writing felt more put together, the story flowed better, and I found myself enjoying it quite a bit more.

The romance, though? I'm confused.

I've seen this described as enemies to lovers, and... where?! 😂 I'd call it forbidden lust more than anything. They barely spend any meaningful time together, yet somehow we're suddenly at I'm completely in love with you. I needed WAY more development for that relationship to feel believable.

Overall, there were things I enjoyed, especially toward the end, but there were too many moments that pulled me out of the story for this to be more than a 3–3.5 star read.

I'm not sure I'll continue the series... but I'm not saying no either. There are still a few characters whose stories I genuinely want answers to, so curiosity may eventually win. 👀

[Everlore Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I literally read this in one sitting. That’s how you know it is good. I love the overall space in sci-fi world, and how it blends with royalty and fantasy, it’s just made the overall atmosphere and story so much more interesting. I actually got a physical copy from the author herself in a PR box and I am so incredibly grateful!

We follow our main character, Catalina, who is a mortal, but has a sister who is immortal. However, one day her sister was murdered by weapon that could kill any immortal. And now Catalina has to take her sister’s place and the Queen’s immortal army and become the very monster that everyone fears.

But we also follow our other main character, Valorek, who is trying to save his sister from this disease that causes her to rot from the inside out. And he is trying to find a cure for her in hopes to help his sister rid of this disease. Until one day he meets Catalina, who was supposedly to be the enemy. But in the process falls in love with her.

This book brought a lot of mixture of books that are reminded me it had a really good sci-fi option so like think about like enders’s games meets winter’s orbit. And of course they’re not gonna be exactly like those books but I’m just using it as like a comp title, each of those book has similar things in them that this book has. Like I said it is royalty mixed with space vibe so if that’s your thing, I would recommend this book to you.

But anyways, I am so excited for the next book to come out so that I can read it and continue on with this geology. I’m excited to see you where things take place and how the plot thickens.

[Ems · Rating 3 out of 5]

Catalina's twin sister Ry is Immortal and part of the Queens Elite Cadre (QEC), while Catalina was never supposed to be born. Living in the shadow of her sister as a fragile mortal, hated by her sisters group, she gets her sister to take her illegally to the old planet, Veridia. But on the planet she need to evade the rest of the QEC to not get her and her sister in trouble. She meets a local, Valorek who she gets a long with immediately and has a really enticing chemistry with. Things doesn't go as planned and Catalina's sister is killed. Now Cata need to step up and find her sisters killer, becoming part of the QEC herself.

I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because there were a few places where reference, information and conversations didn't add up. I also would have liked a bit more tension between the MCs, as it is right now their explosive moment was a bit out of place. But otherwise the story itself is actually good. Its about a sister doing what she can to find her sisters killer, going through several obstacles, suffering both mentally and physically. And i really enjoyed there is two stories in one here. Beside Catalina's story, we also have Valorek's story where he is doing everything he can, risking his life to save his sick sister, and at times the two stories are combined.

There were so many chocking things happening, and i am very curious on what will happend with several people in the book. And the cliffhanger is just mean 😅 i feel a huge need to read the second book to find answers and to see how Catalina and Valorek will survive this entire ordeal!

I can recommend this book to those enjoying a slow burn romantasy with a huge mystery.

[Lauren Kitts · Rating 3 out of 5]

***ARC received in exchange for honest review***

I don't read sci-fi books very often, but I was intrigued by the blurb for this book.

I thought this book was ok. Not amazing, not awful, but ok. I felt very little attachment to the characters and sometimes the plot was difficult to follow, or there were very quick transitions that had little to no explanation. The main romance was marketed as an enemies to lovers, but there was little evidence of that, if anything, it's more of a forbidden romance. The main protagonists don't really spend any meaningful time together, so their sudden 'we are so completely and utterly in love with each other' didn't really ring true. Also, the inclusion of a spicy scene where the author refers to 'butt cheeks' made me feel about 15 years old.

Things to expect/tropes:
Sci-Fi
Loss/Grief/Murder
Jealousy
Forbidden Romance
Secrets/witholding information
Duty
Impersonating
Military vibes
Immortality
Forced proximity
He falls first
Dual POV
Rebellion
Family drama/dynamics

I think that the second half was much stronger and flowed better, so it did pick up a little. I'm unsure if I will continue the series, but I haven't completely ruled it out either.

I had hoped for a bit more spice (and no mention of butt cheeks), but I would rate it as a 2/5 for spice.

Overall, I would give the book a 3 out of 5 ⭐️. Ultimately, I am a huge fan of commplex world building, but you need to be able to back it up and not lose the reader on the journey.

Thank you to the author and Greys Promotions for allowing me access to this to be able to review.

[Anais (atrailofpages) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique story.

This follows Catalina whose sister dies protecting her, and how Catalina is determined to take her place, but she meets a boy that she can’t stop thinking about that she has dreamed of before and is conflicted.

This book felt both fast-paced and slow-paced. It seemed events would occur quickly, but we would be stuck in a scene for chapters. And then time would jump quite far suddenly in the next chapter. It wasn’t necessarily bad, it was just hard to keep track of the timeline in this book sometimes.

This is also a mix of sci-fi and fantasy, I think, and has romance in it. I do love blending sci-fi and fantasy and I always love my romance.

The romance is instalove, but events cause them to be separated constantly and so I guess it could be considered a slow burn, but I didn’t get that emotional devastation I enjoy from a slow burn in this book. Plus, it seemed like everything was too easy for all the characters when the opposite is implied.

The world-building left much to be desired. I honestly couldn’t explain what the world is or why there are some who are immortal and others not. I think we were on a ship almost the entire book? It was very confusing and I felt like there was something there, like a world, but not enough detail to grasp it.

The characters seemed interesting and the interactions I enjoyed. It is a very easy book to read. I mean I enjoyed myself despite the lack of detail, and I liked what I did read. I’m just not sure if I’ll continue the series though.

Thank you to the author and Grey’s Promotions for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.