The last starborn seer by Venetia Constantine

Leilani Stellarion, the last of her cursed bloodline, is shunned for her dangerous magic, which is slowly corrupting her mind. After her father arranges her marriage to her childhood rival and her mother’s health worsens, Leilani learns of a relic that could end the Sickening, a curse dividing the realms of Arcelia. She embarks on a quest with sworn enemies to fulfil an ancient prophecy, racing against a sinister foe while battling the growing darkness within her before it consumes everything she loves.

The Last Starborn Seer draws readers into a richly detailed fantasy world, but I found it hard to get into it at first. The beginning is dense, packed with heavy lore and an overuse of terms like “star” and “moon,” which often made the world feel overcomplicated. The glossary at the start of the book also put me off, making me feel like I had to study before enjoying the story. It wasn’t until after page 150 that the pacing picked up and the book became more engaging.

I didn’t feel very attached to the characters and found them quite selfish and unlikeable at times. Leilani’s character starts off as immature and occasionally irritating, but her growth as the story progressed was a positive aspect. The story is told from a dual POV, but most of the focus remains on Leilani, so the impact of switching perspectives is limited.

Even though the novel is marketed as Adult Romantasy, it reads more like Young Adult Fantasy with a romance subplot. The writing style is quite tropey and sometimes tries too hard to be ‘adult,’ creating unnecessary intricacy.

I liked some of the side characters like Tansy, Delphine, and Briar, though at times I forgot they were there. While the pacing was slow, I appreciate the effort put into building such a unique and lavish world. In the second half, I enjoyed the sense of adventure and the higher stakes much more.

Overall, I would rate The Last Starborn Seer 3.5 out of 5 stars. I’d recommend this book to readers who like in-depth fantasy and don’t mind a slower start.

Themes: Overcoming Prejudice, Parental Neglect, Power and Corruption, Found Family.

Kiarra C. (Student)