WHEN THE STARS ALIGHT

Book 1 of Essence of the Equinox

WINNER OF THE INDIEVERSE AWARDS 2024 FOR MOST INTERESTING FICTIONAL WORLD AND UNFORGETTABLE COVER ART

 

A maiden of the stars. A monster from the shadows. A collision that rewrites their worlds.

Princess Laila Rose is a fallen star in human form. A beloved guardian to humanity. Yet in spite of these fantastical origins, she has never much believed in prophecies. That’s why when a demon of apocalyptic legend is presented to her in a block of ice, she feels fascination rather than fright.

Curiosity kindles into mutual desire once he breaks free of his captivity. Far from the rampaging beast of mass destruction everyone expects—he is monstrously handsome, deviously articulate and alluringly mysterious, a prince among his kind. Eager to discover his origins, Laila travels from her idyllic seaside realm into a land of unspeakable horrors, relying on her wits to survive her journey. She arrives aiming to establish peaceful contact with the aid of the besotted prince.

However, it becomes clear that the heartless demon king does not desire peace at all, only war and conquest. When diplomacy fails, Laila turns to the king’s suave and manipulative bastard son in the hopes that she can inspire both him and his trueborn brother to go against their father. But soon it is her heart she must keep from being torn between their centuries-old dangerous rivalry.

This gothic fantasy set in a vibrant gaslamp world is a must-read for fans of Catherynne Valente and Angela Carter. It’s written in lush, lyrical prose full of intricate worldbuilding, courtly intrigue, and magic that seeps through the pages. Beneath its light, romantic and whimsical veneer, you can expect darkness, brutality and passion.

WHEN THE STARS ALIGHT is an adult fantasy novel featuring a complex female lead, a vibrant gaslamp world, and a gothic love story between a maiden and a monster that changes their worlds forever.

 

FOR FANS OF: Deathless, The Bloody Chamber, His Dark Materials, Gormenghast, Arcane, The Vampire Diaries, Love Between Fairy and Devil, Doom At Your Service

 

If you enjoy gothic vibes, death and the maiden, capital R high romantic love stories between a villain and heroine, star-crossed lovers, lyrical prose, soft feminine black girls, heavy atmospheric imagery, light vs dark, monster boyfriends and grandiose sex scenes then this may be the read for you.

"In When the Stars Alight, Camilla Andrew serves up luscious prose to deliver a romantic fantasy that is equal parts delectable dream and decadent nightmare as tensions mount between two compelling leads on opposite sides of the same political coin."

Ladz, author of ICE UPON A PIER and THE LADY OF THE LAIR

 

“Camilla Andrew’s WHEN THE STARS ALIGHT is a dream for fans of the decadent fantasy of ASOIAF, the lush prose of Angela Carter, and the gothic sensibilities of CRIMSON PEAK. Darius and Laila are two of my favorite fantasy characters I've read about in recent years.”

 

Morgan Dante, author of A FLAME IN THE NIGHT and PROVIDENCE GIRLS

 

"WHEN THE STARS ALIGHT is a must-read for villain x heroine enthusiasts. Luminous Laila and seductively calculating Darius form an aesthetic dream of a pairing, thanks to Camilla Andrew's lush worldbuilding and spellbinding prose. An absolute romantasy gem."

 

Audrey Rose, author of DRAGONSONG and WHEN ZELDA MET DEATH

Explicit sexual content, abusive family dynamics, cannibalism, body horror and gore.

 

This book is intended for adult readers.