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Wings of Starlight
Brimming with magic and romance, a young fairy queen must form an unlikely alliance or risk an unspeakable danger destroying all she holds dear in this standalone YA novel from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft.
It’s been centuries since a warm-season fairy in Pixie Hollow has crossed into the Winter Woods, and while most fear the legends of monsters lurking in the frozen lands, Clarion, can’t help being intrigued by Winter’s stoic beauty. But under the watchful eyes of the current monarch and the court's seasonal ministers, Clarion has little time to dwell on daydreams while the days to her coronation dwindle away.
That is, until reports of a monster crossing from Winter into Spring make their way to the palace. Clarion sees defeating this threat as an opportunity to prove that she is worthy of her new role. But instead of finding a monster at the edge of Winter, she finds Milori, a young guardian of the Winter Woods. Together, they form an unlikely bond as they race to save their lands.
But as their alliance warms to something more, they will discover there is a reason a warm-season fairy and a winter fairy must not be together. And the cost could be just as deadly as the monsters that prowl the Winter Woods.
Discover the origin of the sweeping, star-crossed romance between the queen of Pixie Hollow and the lord of the Winter Woods.
It’s been centuries since a warm-season fairy in Pixie Hollow has crossed into the Winter Woods, and while most fear the legends of monsters lurking in the frozen lands, Clarion, can’t help being intrigued by Winter’s stoic beauty. But under the watchful eyes of the current monarch and the court's seasonal ministers, Clarion has little time to dwell on daydreams while the days to her coronation dwindle away.
That is, until reports of a monster crossing from Winter into Spring make their way to the palace. Clarion sees defeating this threat as an opportunity to prove that she is worthy of her new role. But instead of finding a monster at the edge of Winter, she finds Milori, a young guardian of the Winter Woods. Together, they form an unlikely bond as they race to save their lands.
But as their alliance warms to something more, they will discover there is a reason a warm-season fairy and a winter fairy must not be together. And the cost could be just as deadly as the monsters that prowl the Winter Woods.
Discover the origin of the sweeping, star-crossed romance between the queen of Pixie Hollow and the lord of the Winter Woods.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
4,890 people are currently reading
76.1k people want to read
About the author
Allison Saft
10books3,290followersAllison Saft is the New York Times and indie bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic and Down Comes the Night. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time rolling on eight wheels and practicing aerial silks. She lives with her partner and an Italian greyhound named Marzipan.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,400 reviews
March 6, 2025
i’m seated. the booksellers are scared and asking me to leave because it “hasn’t even published yet� but i’m simply too seated.
this destroyed me emotionally and i fear i will never recover. 5/5 stars
milori went to the fitzwilliam darcy and westley school of yearning
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the arc to review
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this destroyed me emotionally and i fear i will never recover. 5/5 stars
milori went to the fitzwilliam darcy and westley school of yearning
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing the arc to review
|
Want to read
June 30, 2024prepare to be sick of me.
Read
January 4, 2025a NEW pixie hollow story in 2025??? about the TRAGIC STAR-CROSSED ROMANCE BETWEEN QUEEN CLARION AND LORD MILORI??? by the one and only Allison Saft???? someone pinch me for real
Review:
Currently drying my tears as I write this.
Pixie Hollow has lived firmly in my heart for as long as I can remember, and it's been so healing and wonderful to revisit this world in my adulthood through the words of one of my favorite authors.
I can't say how this book will resonate for folks who didn't grow up on Disney Fairies, but for me, it was so perfectly full of nostalgia and magic, warming my heart utterly. The atmosphere was just right, I loved getting to visualize the whimsy and wonder of fairy life. Saft's writing is the perfect companion to a setting so lush and atmospheric, as her ability to craft such vivid environments and sensory experiences is what I truly love most about her writing. Her words gorgeously guide the reader through this abundantly imaginative world.
I didn't expect to cry so much at the romance, but yeah, wow, I did. My eyes were stinging as I tried to read the final pages. I knew what was to come, having seen the movies, but Saft brilliantly brought new life and emotion to the star-crossed tragedy of it all. The aching and yearning and mourning, the blurring of hope and loss, it all was so eloquently and painfully done. Seriously, ow.
This was a really wonderfully bittersweet (and again, painful, ow!) return to Neverland and Pixie Hollow. I hate to leave this world behind again, as Neverland is always a difficult place to turn away from, but this book is appropriately about using the love of the past as hope and strength for the future, so I guess I'll take my cues from Clarion and keep looking onward as I close the pages on a land I feel most at home.
Also, thank you Allison for writing lesbians into Pixie Hollow (and specifically a butch knight lesbian!!!!! OH MY GOD!?!?!). You're my absolute hero. 🫡
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC! This is my honest review.
CW: violence, blood, medical content, injury detail, grief
Review:
Currently drying my tears as I write this.
Pixie Hollow has lived firmly in my heart for as long as I can remember, and it's been so healing and wonderful to revisit this world in my adulthood through the words of one of my favorite authors.
I can't say how this book will resonate for folks who didn't grow up on Disney Fairies, but for me, it was so perfectly full of nostalgia and magic, warming my heart utterly. The atmosphere was just right, I loved getting to visualize the whimsy and wonder of fairy life. Saft's writing is the perfect companion to a setting so lush and atmospheric, as her ability to craft such vivid environments and sensory experiences is what I truly love most about her writing. Her words gorgeously guide the reader through this abundantly imaginative world.
I didn't expect to cry so much at the romance, but yeah, wow, I did. My eyes were stinging as I tried to read the final pages. I knew what was to come, having seen the movies, but Saft brilliantly brought new life and emotion to the star-crossed tragedy of it all. The aching and yearning and mourning, the blurring of hope and loss, it all was so eloquently and painfully done. Seriously, ow.
This was a really wonderfully bittersweet (and again, painful, ow!) return to Neverland and Pixie Hollow. I hate to leave this world behind again, as Neverland is always a difficult place to turn away from, but this book is appropriately about using the love of the past as hope and strength for the future, so I guess I'll take my cues from Clarion and keep looking onward as I close the pages on a land I feel most at home.
Also, thank you Allison for writing lesbians into Pixie Hollow (and specifically a butch knight lesbian!!!!! OH MY GOD!?!?!). You're my absolute hero. 🫡
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC! This is my honest review.
CW: violence, blood, medical content, injury detail, grief
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 18, 2025I'm sorry. I've tried 3 times with the audio and I can't get into it. I won't rate it bc I really didn't make it further than like 25%.
I know this is Disney. I know it's a children's tale. I really thought it would be something I could vibe with, especially bc I have such a love for Tinkerbel, but every time I put on the audio I feel like a kindergarten teacher during movie time.
I know this is Disney. I know it's a children's tale. I really thought it would be something I could vibe with, especially bc I have such a love for Tinkerbel, but every time I put on the audio I feel like a kindergarten teacher during movie time.
Want to read
August 8, 2024the way it physically hurts that I do not have this book in my hands
Want to read
June 28, 2024brb gonna go watch all the tinkerbell movies in preparation for this 🧚🏼💖
Currently reading
February 5, 2025pre-read:
�. 𐙚 ˚ February 4, 2025
Got my tissues and coffee ready. For the next few hours, I will be reliving my childhood through this book.
｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა � ໒꒱┈� ｡ﾟ
A tragic star crossed romance novel... and you're telling me that it's about Lord Milori and Queen Clarion from THE Pixie Hollows??!!
Me rn:
�. 𐙚 ˚ February 4, 2025
Got my tissues and coffee ready. For the next few hours, I will be reliving my childhood through this book.
｡ﾟ•┈꒰ა � ໒꒱┈� ｡ﾟ
A tragic star crossed romance novel... and you're telling me that it's about Lord Milori and Queen Clarion from THE Pixie Hollows??!!
Me rn:
Want to read
July 1, 2024I'm sorry, but I HAVE to read this okay? My 8-year-old self and my 19-year-old self are both very excited rn.
February 19, 2025
Secular Fiction - Faeries/Fantasy (LGBTQ content as well)
Read/DNF
The star-crossed lovers trope already isn’t my thing because why would I willing put myself through angst? No thank you! But as a girl who grew up on the Pixie Hollow franchise, I admit to being suspicious and yet a bit interested in this book.
Verdict? Inaccurate to the movies. Unnecessary LGBTQ agenda with a lesbian couple and them kissing. Queen Clarion being selfish. An unhappy ending. Okay, the last one I might have expected because of the whole star-crossed lovers thing, but Clarion did a 180 at the end with a final ruling. It felt like she was infatuated with Milori and the idea of a forbidden interest, not in love with him.
My advice? Stick with the movies. This made the classic characters seem selfish and bratty. If this really was their origin story then they would have in no way been the characters we saw in “The Secret of the Wings�. If the things the Lesbian Tinker created in this book were actual items, then Tinkerbell wouldn’t have made them in the movie (ie. the coat) and it would have all been null.
Clarion acted like a spoiled brat and was reckless for the sake of her massive crush. Milori was as flat as a pancake in terms of his character. All he cared about was Clarion and Winter. The Nightmares were creepy as all get out. I can tell this author specialities in creepier/darker plots because those scenes were unsettling.
Also, what the heck? His wings melted? No?? They cracked. Did the author even watch the movie recently? She tried to save it by later saying they melted into jagged edges and looked like they broke.
It made no sense how Clarion is over there risking it all for Milori but then comes up with the order to ban her kind of fairies to go to winter and vice versa. It felt impossible to believe that the flighty Clarion I’ve just read about would even consider that because it felt too logical for her. Honestly, I feel like this author was shoehorned into the corner with the bare minimum of what the book needed to end with to remotely match the movies but it felt out of character for the Clarion we met in this book.
The LGBTQ/Lesbian element was not surprising, but still very disappointed to be added to this plot. Relationships were barely hinted about in the original books and movies, so it felt like an unnecessary plot thread in many ways.
I’m also very unsettled by the fact that the queens and governing-talent fairies of Pixie Hollow have all emerged from a fallen star that a child has wished on, when in the movies and books, all the other fairies are born from the first laugh of a baby. The fallen star concept is tainted by Lucifer, a fallen angel, in my opinion, so this is another way this book felt darker and less innocent compared to the original movies/books.
I don’t know whether to mark this as read or DNF because I skipped around a lot. I read the last 25% for sure, but not all of the prior 75% because I was bored and annoyed for many reasons.
This beautiful cover was wasted on this book.
This book could have been good, maybe not great because there will always be the separated lovers element, but at least good. But being Disney they added in a woke/LGBTQ agenda and ruined yet another franchise by doing an unnecessary spin-off. Will they ever learn?
Main Content from what I read-
Clarion’s female best friend, Petra, apparently likes Clarion’s female bodyguard, Artemis, & Clarion has parts of wanting them to get together after “ten years of pining�; Clarion notes how they obviously fancy each other and helps Artemis by telling her Petra’s favorite flowers; Petra and Artemis act different than normal when around the other (like Petra randomly squeaking and Artemis staring at her for a while); It’s noted that Petra has never had much “of an eye for sparrow men� and is disgusted by the thought of Clarion sneaking out to meet a boy; Clarion tries to help Petra look beautiful for Artemis and says the other fairy is going to fall in love with her; Petra and Artemis share kisses at the end (Clarion walks away to give them space but they don’t hear her).
The Nightmare changes into grotesque mockeries of actual animals, attacks fairies, and is able to trap fairies in a spell by staring into it’s eyes (which many fairies have been spelled; up to a handful of sentences); Clarion fights the Nightmares and depletes her pixie dust to a dangerous low level; Clarion see a horrible nightmare (from the Nightmare) of the Pixie Dust tree rotting & a mentor telling her that she is a disappointment, which makes Clarion wish she wasn’t born (up to many sentences); *Spoiler but it’s a silly ending for the Nightmare element* .
Seeing a fairy’s wings melt & Pain; Clarion fell from a star at her creation which signifies that she is supposed to be the next queen, but wonders if she dies early, maybe a more poised and practical fairy would appear (but instead that Pixie Hollow is basically stuck with her and her imperfections which makes her want to scream); It’s said that the current queen is going to “return to the stars� just like all the other queens (death) but Clarion thinks that queen live longer than most fairies (who already have long lives) and that a queen is not supposed to simply die of something as mundane as age; The current queen warns Clarion that the fairies she loves will eventually fade away while she remains unchanged and encourages her to keep her distance form others because of the grief that will come from that; Pixie Hollow queens and other governing-talent fairies are born from a fallen star.
Clarion and Milori share a kiss that lasts 7+ sentences in details and another lasting a few sentences.
Read/DNF
The star-crossed lovers trope already isn’t my thing because why would I willing put myself through angst? No thank you! But as a girl who grew up on the Pixie Hollow franchise, I admit to being suspicious and yet a bit interested in this book.
Verdict? Inaccurate to the movies. Unnecessary LGBTQ agenda with a lesbian couple and them kissing. Queen Clarion being selfish. An unhappy ending. Okay, the last one I might have expected because of the whole star-crossed lovers thing, but Clarion did a 180 at the end with a final ruling. It felt like she was infatuated with Milori and the idea of a forbidden interest, not in love with him.
My advice? Stick with the movies. This made the classic characters seem selfish and bratty. If this really was their origin story then they would have in no way been the characters we saw in “The Secret of the Wings�. If the things the Lesbian Tinker created in this book were actual items, then Tinkerbell wouldn’t have made them in the movie (ie. the coat) and it would have all been null.
Clarion acted like a spoiled brat and was reckless for the sake of her massive crush. Milori was as flat as a pancake in terms of his character. All he cared about was Clarion and Winter. The Nightmares were creepy as all get out. I can tell this author specialities in creepier/darker plots because those scenes were unsettling.
Also, what the heck? His wings melted? No?? They cracked. Did the author even watch the movie recently? She tried to save it by later saying they melted into jagged edges and looked like they broke.
It made no sense how Clarion is over there risking it all for Milori but then comes up with the order to ban her kind of fairies to go to winter and vice versa. It felt impossible to believe that the flighty Clarion I’ve just read about would even consider that because it felt too logical for her. Honestly, I feel like this author was shoehorned into the corner with the bare minimum of what the book needed to end with to remotely match the movies but it felt out of character for the Clarion we met in this book.
The LGBTQ/Lesbian element was not surprising, but still very disappointed to be added to this plot. Relationships were barely hinted about in the original books and movies, so it felt like an unnecessary plot thread in many ways.
I’m also very unsettled by the fact that the queens and governing-talent fairies of Pixie Hollow have all emerged from a fallen star that a child has wished on, when in the movies and books, all the other fairies are born from the first laugh of a baby. The fallen star concept is tainted by Lucifer, a fallen angel, in my opinion, so this is another way this book felt darker and less innocent compared to the original movies/books.
I don’t know whether to mark this as read or DNF because I skipped around a lot. I read the last 25% for sure, but not all of the prior 75% because I was bored and annoyed for many reasons.
This beautiful cover was wasted on this book.
This book could have been good, maybe not great because there will always be the separated lovers element, but at least good. But being Disney they added in a woke/LGBTQ agenda and ruined yet another franchise by doing an unnecessary spin-off. Will they ever learn?
Main Content from what I read-
Clarion’s female best friend, Petra, apparently likes Clarion’s female bodyguard, Artemis, & Clarion has parts of wanting them to get together after “ten years of pining�; Clarion notes how they obviously fancy each other and helps Artemis by telling her Petra’s favorite flowers; Petra and Artemis act different than normal when around the other (like Petra randomly squeaking and Artemis staring at her for a while); It’s noted that Petra has never had much “of an eye for sparrow men� and is disgusted by the thought of Clarion sneaking out to meet a boy; Clarion tries to help Petra look beautiful for Artemis and says the other fairy is going to fall in love with her; Petra and Artemis share kisses at the end (Clarion walks away to give them space but they don’t hear her).
The Nightmare changes into grotesque mockeries of actual animals, attacks fairies, and is able to trap fairies in a spell by staring into it’s eyes (which many fairies have been spelled; up to a handful of sentences); Clarion fights the Nightmares and depletes her pixie dust to a dangerous low level; Clarion see a horrible nightmare (from the Nightmare) of the Pixie Dust tree rotting & a mentor telling her that she is a disappointment, which makes Clarion wish she wasn’t born (up to many sentences); *Spoiler but it’s a silly ending for the Nightmare element* .
Seeing a fairy’s wings melt & Pain; Clarion fell from a star at her creation which signifies that she is supposed to be the next queen, but wonders if she dies early, maybe a more poised and practical fairy would appear (but instead that Pixie Hollow is basically stuck with her and her imperfections which makes her want to scream); It’s said that the current queen is going to “return to the stars� just like all the other queens (death) but Clarion thinks that queen live longer than most fairies (who already have long lives) and that a queen is not supposed to simply die of something as mundane as age; The current queen warns Clarion that the fairies she loves will eventually fade away while she remains unchanged and encourages her to keep her distance form others because of the grief that will come from that; Pixie Hollow queens and other governing-talent fairies are born from a fallen star.
Clarion and Milori share a kiss that lasts 7+ sentences in details and another lasting a few sentences.
March 16, 2025
� 4.25 stars �
What to Expect:
� Star-crossed Lovers
� Coming-of-Age
� Pixie Magic/Pixie Hollow
� Forbidden Love
� Self-discovery
� Invading Monsters
� Mystery/Hidden Truths
� Adventure
� Sacrifice
� Yearning
� Third Person POV
Tell me there’s a part two. 😭
I’m not up to date on all things Pixie Hollow, but I’m half tempted to go watch/read whatever I can get my hands on just for scraps or Clarion and Milori. I knew going in that this was a star-crossed lovers romance, but my delulu self still wasn’t prepared! 😩
Allison Saft has quickly become one of my favorite authors and this is one of her best books to date. She is such a gifted writer and I truly felt their mutual yearning for each other through the page. Two people from different worlds with destiny’s greater than themselves and a love that can likely never be� unless there’s a part two? Guys, please tell me there’s a part two! 😭 Literally, someone please inform me if they do eventually find a way to be together because I genuinely can’t handle that ending! 😢 They deserve their HEA! 💔
Emotional breakdowns aside, this was such a great read and I will NEVER get over that cover! 😍 Clarion will have a place front and center on my shelf for the foreseeable future!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ �
Pre-read: I couldn’t find this anywhere online and found it on Hoopla of all places!! Diving straight in! 🧚🏻♀�
� � � � �
Connect with me on
What to Expect:
� Star-crossed Lovers
� Coming-of-Age
� Pixie Magic/Pixie Hollow
� Forbidden Love
� Self-discovery
� Invading Monsters
� Mystery/Hidden Truths
� Adventure
� Sacrifice
� Yearning
� Third Person POV
Tell me there’s a part two. 😭
I’m not up to date on all things Pixie Hollow, but I’m half tempted to go watch/read whatever I can get my hands on just for scraps or Clarion and Milori. I knew going in that this was a star-crossed lovers romance, but my delulu self still wasn’t prepared! 😩
Allison Saft has quickly become one of my favorite authors and this is one of her best books to date. She is such a gifted writer and I truly felt their mutual yearning for each other through the page. Two people from different worlds with destiny’s greater than themselves and a love that can likely never be� unless there’s a part two? Guys, please tell me there’s a part two! 😭 Literally, someone please inform me if they do eventually find a way to be together because I genuinely can’t handle that ending! 😢 They deserve their HEA! 💔
Emotional breakdowns aside, this was such a great read and I will NEVER get over that cover! 😍 Clarion will have a place front and center on my shelf for the foreseeable future!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ �
Pre-read: I couldn’t find this anywhere online and found it on Hoopla of all places!! Diving straight in! 🧚🏻♀�
� � � � �
Connect with me on
February 9, 2025
"I like how they ended happily toge- I LIKE HOW THEY ENDED HAPPILY TOGETHER" I SCREAM THRU TEARS STREAMING DOWN MY FACE
Want to read
October 23, 2024one thing about me? i’m a huge tinker bell fan and completely obsessed with secret of the wings! so when i found out about this book? this is huge for me because i’ve always wanted to know more about queen clarion and lord milori ✨❄�
March 23, 2025
I always wanted a prequel to the Secret of the Wings film about Queen Clarion and Lord Milori. I am so glad we have this: a clean young adult fantasy with star-crossed forbidden romance, which both healed and broke my inner child. Utterly beautiful! 🧡
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
In the Queendom of Pixie Hollow, most fairies are born from a child’s first laugh. But its rulers are born from a fallen star, a star that has a child has wished upon. The current Queen, Elvina, has ruled the Warm Seasons for many years, and eventually Princess Clarion emerges from a fallen star. She is destined to be the next Queen.
Now, Clarion’s coronation is one month away on the Summer Solstice. She feels unready � as a governing-talent (all fairies have a talent which is the role they are most skilled in), she should be able to harness her starlight magic and teleportation magic. All rulers were born with powerful starlight magic to be used not only to attack and shield Pixie Hollow but also to provide its people with hope. Despite her friendship with Petra a tinker-talent fairy, and Aremis her personal guard, she feels very lonely as she doesn’t belong.
As preparations go underway, Pixie Hollow is attacked by shadowy monsters called the Nightmares that takes on the form of people’s worst fears. It has escaped from the Winter Woods, the realm that the Warm Season fairies are forbidden to visit � both because they distrust the Winter fairies and because crossing the Seasons threatens to destroy wings. Determined to find answers, despite Queen Elvina’s insistence that this is not her concern, Clarion goes to the bridge between Spring and Winter.
There she finds Lord Milori, Warden of the Winter Woods. She sneaks after sunset into the Winter Realm after finding the means to protect her wings. It is discovered that they are slowly but surely escaping from their prison, now that the dream-talent fairies are diminishing. With her starlight magic which seems to link to the dreams like dream-talents, Milori believes she is the only one who can help.
The closer they work together to save both realms, the deeper their feelings for each other grow. But they are losing time: the Nightmares grow stronger by the day, to the extent more have broken free; Queen Elvina has found the means of severing the connection between Winter Woods and the Warm Seasons � and worst of all, wants Clarion to carry it out when she becomes Queen. They must find the source of the Nightmares, before Pixie Hollow is doomed for eternity.
This is told from the third-person past-tense POV of Clarion.
OVERALL OPINIONS
This story may have been 15 months in the work, but for fans of Clarion and Milori, it has been a long time coming. In a Q&A in an email for her fans, Saft confessed the challenge about writing this book was both the fact the characters aren’t her own and that she wanted to ensure she did justice to their love story. I commend her in her efforts, for to me they were not in vain.
I personally think, considering the pressure and expectations, Allison Saft has done a wonderful job and has composed a beautiful albeit tragic (though this was to be expected) story here. From her gorgeous descriptions to the compelling plot itself, this has captured my heart to the extent I can’t not rate this 5 stars. Especially looking at this from the perspective of it being a young adult genre. As such, this is a clean story (there is no spice/smut), pretty much the whole thing is predictable and perhaps the lack of depth to the romance makes it feel akin to a middle-grade novel, but this made it a cozy, comforting read. It might not be for everyone, though.
� 🌸 descriptions ❄️
Take some examples of the descriptions in here: �That familiar ache of loneliness unfurled through her like a collapsing star� � very fitting! �cut through her gloom like the abruptness of a summer rain� � stunning! My personal favourite (other than the ones I list in my Fav Quotes section):
The most fitting and clever of descriptions is this one:
� 🌸 creativity ❄️
While there is no Tinker Bell, the essence of the stories from Pixie Hollow are all here: there is a good combination of the usual humour and action (the former of which according to Saft was lacking in her initial drafts) and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did turn this into an animated movie.
Indeed, other than Clarion, Miori and the Keeper, all the other characters are original. And the names are so ingenious and fitting too! For example: Elvina means “Elf friend�, Petra means “Rock� (perfect considering she is a Tinker but also petrified of everything), Artemis her guard is named after the Greek Goddess of the Hunt, Yarrow the healer is named after the plant for herbal medicine of the same name. Noctua the owl, from the symbol of the Greek God of Wisdom, Athena. The cleverest is the wolf Fenris, I think. For those who don’t know: this wolf named after the one from Norse mythology who plays a key role in Ragnarok. Now, the start of Ragnarok is marked with Fimbulvetr, a long winter that lasts three years � extremely fitting for a wolf in the Winter Realm to be named this.
Looking at the new material she has given us, I admire her creativity: the idea of Queens appearing from a fallen star is stunning; the tale of when the Pixie Dust Tree was a sapling so dreams flew over Pixie Hollow and dream-talents separated the bad dreams from the good is captivating.
The thing I love the most that Saft has created is the Pixie Dust Tree being sentient and communicating by blooming flowers. Through the language of flowers, these messages can be interpreted: for example, lady’s mantle (comforting love) and freesia (friendship) means �I am here for you�; forget-me-nots (true love and memories) and white roses (young love) appear when Clarion is glowing from her kiss with Milori which she considers cheeky. Clarion recounts that it sprouted golden butterfly magnolias (positivity and perseverance) when she had a bad day. This is so lovely!
� 🌸 relatable aspects ❄️
Despite this being fiction, some moments felt relatable. Petra and Clarion’s friendship was one of them. They were inseparable when they were younger but now as they have gotten older, priorities have changed as Clarion focuses on her royal duties and Petra with her role as royal tinker. I think a lot of people can connect with the struggles of maintaining friendships as you both grow apart. What I love here is that Saft shows them both working through this.
Another small thing is, at the beginning, Clarion helps an exhausted bee get the sugar it needs to energise it. This happens very often to bees in real life too, and I feel this small section encourages us to keep doing our part to help them.
Clarion’s loneliness I’m sure will be relatable as well. I like that all the Lord/Ladies of the Seasons give her encouragement/support. I especially loved Iris� quote:
� 🌸 to conclude ❄️
This brought back all my fond memories of being a tween watching Secret of the Wings, and being so emotionally invested in their story (remember how sweet they are together in The Pirate Fairy too?). They have been my Roman Empire these past 13 years. In this book, Saft captures their tenderness and how communicative they are, which I adore. I especially love their meeting where Clarion does not realise she is speaking to the Warden of the Winter Woods, and he teases her. Super cute! The way they fight side-by-side is something I was hoping for, and I was pleased to find it here.
Overall, this was everything I hoped for and my inner child thanks Saft profusely for this! I must check out some of her other work now.
<< Positives >>
🠚Beautiful cover!
🠚Excellent descriptions, great humour, and a creative plot!
🠚The relationship between Milori and Clarion is everything I had hoped it would be.
🠚Explores not only romantic relationships but general ones too (Elvina and Clarion, Peta and Clarion). The latter gives very Nakoma and Pocahontas vibes!
🠚Lesbian representation through Petra and Artemis.
<< Negatives >>
🠚There is never any explanation about where the dream-talent fairies have gone to. If they stopped coming, what happened?
🠚The Keeper and Queen Elvina don’t do very much. I wondered if Queen Elvina would use the last of her magic to work with Clarion, as this would have changed the pattern of Clarion doing most of the fighting the Nightmares at the lake alone. And I thought at the very least The Keeper would be mentioned at the coronation.
🠚Some descriptions felt repetitive, particularly the descriptions of Milori were usually to words of the effect: “he looked handsome in this light�. Clarion doubting herself and then not doubting herself crops up a lot.
🠚There could have been more depth to the romance as it felt somewhat middle-grade in terms of level/standard.
🠚I would have loved it if this had been a dual POV book, where we also get to read Milori’s thoughts.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ � Clarion εїз� ˎˊ-
� I admire her strength and perseverance. It is a little difficult to visualise how she gets from this fairy to the one we know in Tinker Bell. The only thing that was stupid about her was the moment she decides to look for the monster “it couldn’t hurt to look� could it?� � at least she’s self-aware and admits it’s foolish to be doing it shortly after. But I was like gurl this is all wrong.
-ˋˏ � Milori ❅꒱ ˎˊ-
� The hand flex after he holds Clarion’s hand excuse me! You can’t tell me this was not a Mr Darcy reference from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film! And omg that moment where Milori says he saw her falling star. I crieddd! I love him even more now.
PLAYLISTㅤ{}
The Night We Met - Lord Huron | King of Pain - The Police | Somewhere Only We Know - Keane | The Man who Can’t be Moved - The Script | cardigan - Taylor Swift | Sad Beautiful Tragic - Taylor Swift | What Was I Made For? - Billie Eilish | A Wish Worth Making - Julia Michaels | Say Yes To Heaven - Lana del Rey | ceilings - Lizzy McAlpine | I love you, I’m sorry - Gracie Abrams | Can’t Catch Me Now - Olivia Rodrigo | Those Eyes - New West | All of the Stars - Ed Sheeran | What Have They Done To Us? - Mako & Grey (ft. Sasha Alex Sloan) | All the Stars - Kendrick Lamar and SZA | run for the hills - Tate McRae | You’re Losing Me - Taylor Swift | we can’t be friends (wait for your love) - Ariana Grande
FAV QUOTES
� “you seem happy here.� His tone turned almost gentle. “It’s nice.� | How could she not be? In the gathering dark, with someone who saw through her, this seemed to her a place she almost belonged. An entire world made of starlight, glittering and silver.
� “Because you were made for this. I feel it, when I look at you. Perhaps it’s your magic. Perhaps it’s you. Whatever it is, you have an aura about you. You command respect, yes, but more than that, you inspire hope. It is the first time I have felt it in a very long time.�
� They sat almost knee to knee in the darkness, close enough to touch. The very thought prickled along her skin like electricity. Ridiculous, she scolded herself. They’d been far closer than this last night. But then, that had been out of necessity. Somehow, this felt far more vulnerable. Especially when he was looking at her like this. Clarion could not name what exactly she saw there, but it made a terrible longing rise up within her.
� “I do not think I’ve been subtle about it, but I feel I should tell you that I like you, too.� Clarion couldn���t help laughing, even through the threat of tears constricting her throat. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder, if only to hide how much his words had affected her. She supposed she had known for quite some time how he felt, but to hear him admit it aloud . . . It made *this*� whatever it was� real: something she could lose.
� The stars overhead glittered brighter. Wonder filled Milori’s expression as their light danced on the snow fluttering around them. When his gaze found hers again, she could not remember how to draw breath. How beautiful, to see the exact moment he fell in love with her. Perhaps he had always loved her, on some level, ever since that night he allowed himself to hope again.
� It amazed her how a place could carry both such joyful and painful memories. But she wanted to remember Winter like this: a friend, holding its companionate silence with her.
� She loved him. Perhaps she was always bound to, from the very moment she saw him standing on the border. How could she not? She loved his steadfastness, his kindness, even his reckless, selfless bravery. She loved his wry humor and his unshakable devotion to his people. She loved him because he had set her free, too. And yet, he had broken her heart.
� It was strangely comforting� and strangely beautiful, to be known without having to speak a word.
� How could she ever teach new arrivals to fly? How could she dare to unfurl their wings with the tenderness they deserved when she would always remember the ones she had broken?
� His eyes were the brightest, clearest things she had ever seen. They pierced straight to the heart of her with his quiet, kind strength. Her heart gave a terrible lurch. She did not know if she would survive losing him. But whether they stayed together or not, she would lose him. One way or another, the stars would keep them apart.
══════════ ⋆★� ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Allison Saft, Bonnier Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
“I wished that there could be a different future for me in Pixie Hollow,� Milori had told her.
The thought of him� of a wish she carried safe within her� stirred something in her. Starlight kindled in the cold hollow of her chest, swirling through her like the comforting warmth of a fire in Autumn. Perhaps she could make that dream a reality for them both. Perhaps a good queen *was* like the star from which she was born. Not one cold and distant� but one that carried her subjects� hopes forward.
[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
In the Queendom of Pixie Hollow, most fairies are born from a child’s first laugh. But its rulers are born from a fallen star, a star that has a child has wished upon. The current Queen, Elvina, has ruled the Warm Seasons for many years, and eventually Princess Clarion emerges from a fallen star. She is destined to be the next Queen.
Now, Clarion’s coronation is one month away on the Summer Solstice. She feels unready � as a governing-talent (all fairies have a talent which is the role they are most skilled in), she should be able to harness her starlight magic and teleportation magic. All rulers were born with powerful starlight magic to be used not only to attack and shield Pixie Hollow but also to provide its people with hope. Despite her friendship with Petra a tinker-talent fairy, and Aremis her personal guard, she feels very lonely as she doesn’t belong.
As preparations go underway, Pixie Hollow is attacked by shadowy monsters called the Nightmares that takes on the form of people’s worst fears. It has escaped from the Winter Woods, the realm that the Warm Season fairies are forbidden to visit � both because they distrust the Winter fairies and because crossing the Seasons threatens to destroy wings. Determined to find answers, despite Queen Elvina’s insistence that this is not her concern, Clarion goes to the bridge between Spring and Winter.
There she finds Lord Milori, Warden of the Winter Woods. She sneaks after sunset into the Winter Realm after finding the means to protect her wings. It is discovered that they are slowly but surely escaping from their prison, now that the dream-talent fairies are diminishing. With her starlight magic which seems to link to the dreams like dream-talents, Milori believes she is the only one who can help.
The closer they work together to save both realms, the deeper their feelings for each other grow. But they are losing time: the Nightmares grow stronger by the day, to the extent more have broken free; Queen Elvina has found the means of severing the connection between Winter Woods and the Warm Seasons � and worst of all, wants Clarion to carry it out when she becomes Queen. They must find the source of the Nightmares, before Pixie Hollow is doomed for eternity.
When she allowed herself to dream, she thought of Pixie Hollow, united and safe. She thought of the warmth of Winter, where respect did not mean distance. She thought of Milori. Those moments of freedom and happiness had felt something like power. What would it be like if she got out of her own way? If she trusted her instincts? If she did what felt right, not what she had been taught? Conviction felt like sunlight, illuminating her from within. Maybe her heart had never really steered her wrong.
This is told from the third-person past-tense POV of Clarion.
OVERALL OPINIONS
This story may have been 15 months in the work, but for fans of Clarion and Milori, it has been a long time coming. In a Q&A in an email for her fans, Saft confessed the challenge about writing this book was both the fact the characters aren’t her own and that she wanted to ensure she did justice to their love story. I commend her in her efforts, for to me they were not in vain.
I personally think, considering the pressure and expectations, Allison Saft has done a wonderful job and has composed a beautiful albeit tragic (though this was to be expected) story here. From her gorgeous descriptions to the compelling plot itself, this has captured my heart to the extent I can’t not rate this 5 stars. Especially looking at this from the perspective of it being a young adult genre. As such, this is a clean story (there is no spice/smut), pretty much the whole thing is predictable and perhaps the lack of depth to the romance makes it feel akin to a middle-grade novel, but this made it a cozy, comforting read. It might not be for everyone, though.
� 🌸 descriptions ❄️
Take some examples of the descriptions in here: �That familiar ache of loneliness unfurled through her like a collapsing star� � very fitting! �cut through her gloom like the abruptness of a summer rain� � stunning! My personal favourite (other than the ones I list in my Fav Quotes section):
he held a notebook, filled to bursting with his haphazard scrawl. He’d told her it was a checklist, but Clarion could not in good conscience call such disorder a checklist. Items had been scribbled out and tacked on with reckless abandon. His mind worked in leaps she could not follow.Not only is this is so amusing, it tells you so much about the Lord of Autumn, Rowan (honestly wish there had been more of him!). He is quirky and chaotic though tries to be orderly.
The most fitting and clever of descriptions is this one:
The gulf between them had felt nigh impossible to bridge for weeks, but now, this shared pain bound them together.There have been both literal and emotional bridges involved in this book. There is not only a gulf between the Queen and Clarion (in the sense that they are divided by their beliefs in what is best for the kingdom) but a gulf between the Warm Seasons and the Winter Woods too (the cultures have been divided and separated for years). Both have been bridged.
� 🌸 creativity ❄️
While there is no Tinker Bell, the essence of the stories from Pixie Hollow are all here: there is a good combination of the usual humour and action (the former of which according to Saft was lacking in her initial drafts) and I wouldn’t be surprised if they did turn this into an animated movie.
Indeed, other than Clarion, Miori and the Keeper, all the other characters are original. And the names are so ingenious and fitting too! For example: Elvina means “Elf friend�, Petra means “Rock� (perfect considering she is a Tinker but also petrified of everything), Artemis her guard is named after the Greek Goddess of the Hunt, Yarrow the healer is named after the plant for herbal medicine of the same name. Noctua the owl, from the symbol of the Greek God of Wisdom, Athena. The cleverest is the wolf Fenris, I think. For those who don’t know: this wolf named after the one from Norse mythology who plays a key role in Ragnarok. Now, the start of Ragnarok is marked with Fimbulvetr, a long winter that lasts three years � extremely fitting for a wolf in the Winter Realm to be named this.
Looking at the new material she has given us, I admire her creativity: the idea of Queens appearing from a fallen star is stunning; the tale of when the Pixie Dust Tree was a sapling so dreams flew over Pixie Hollow and dream-talents separated the bad dreams from the good is captivating.
The thing I love the most that Saft has created is the Pixie Dust Tree being sentient and communicating by blooming flowers. Through the language of flowers, these messages can be interpreted: for example, lady’s mantle (comforting love) and freesia (friendship) means �I am here for you�; forget-me-nots (true love and memories) and white roses (young love) appear when Clarion is glowing from her kiss with Milori which she considers cheeky. Clarion recounts that it sprouted golden butterfly magnolias (positivity and perseverance) when she had a bad day. This is so lovely!
� 🌸 relatable aspects ❄️
Despite this being fiction, some moments felt relatable. Petra and Clarion’s friendship was one of them. They were inseparable when they were younger but now as they have gotten older, priorities have changed as Clarion focuses on her royal duties and Petra with her role as royal tinker. I think a lot of people can connect with the struggles of maintaining friendships as you both grow apart. What I love here is that Saft shows them both working through this.
Another small thing is, at the beginning, Clarion helps an exhausted bee get the sugar it needs to energise it. This happens very often to bees in real life too, and I feel this small section encourages us to keep doing our part to help them.
Clarion’s loneliness I’m sure will be relatable as well. I like that all the Lord/Ladies of the Seasons give her encouragement/support. I especially loved Iris� quote:
“When things seem impossibly dark, bulb flowers are sparks of hope. It takes time for things to bloom. You just have to be patient and nurturing.� After a considering pause, she jabbed a finger at Clarion. �So be nice to yourself. You’ll grow into it, I promise.�
� 🌸 to conclude ❄️
This brought back all my fond memories of being a tween watching Secret of the Wings, and being so emotionally invested in their story (remember how sweet they are together in The Pirate Fairy too?). They have been my Roman Empire these past 13 years. In this book, Saft captures their tenderness and how communicative they are, which I adore. I especially love their meeting where Clarion does not realise she is speaking to the Warden of the Winter Woods, and he teases her. Super cute! The way they fight side-by-side is something I was hoping for, and I was pleased to find it here.
Overall, this was everything I hoped for and my inner child thanks Saft profusely for this! I must check out some of her other work now.
<< Positives >>
🠚Beautiful cover!
🠚Excellent descriptions, great humour, and a creative plot!
🠚The relationship between Milori and Clarion is everything I had hoped it would be.
🠚Explores not only romantic relationships but general ones too (Elvina and Clarion, Peta and Clarion). The latter gives very Nakoma and Pocahontas vibes!
🠚Lesbian representation through Petra and Artemis.
<< Negatives >>
🠚There is never any explanation about where the dream-talent fairies have gone to. If they stopped coming, what happened?
🠚The Keeper and Queen Elvina don’t do very much. I wondered if Queen Elvina would use the last of her magic to work with Clarion, as this would have changed the pattern of Clarion doing most of the fighting the Nightmares at the lake alone. And I thought at the very least The Keeper would be mentioned at the coronation.
🠚Some descriptions felt repetitive, particularly the descriptions of Milori were usually to words of the effect: “he looked handsome in this light�. Clarion doubting herself and then not doubting herself crops up a lot.
🠚There could have been more depth to the romance as it felt somewhat middle-grade in terms of level/standard.
🠚I would have loved it if this had been a dual POV book, where we also get to read Milori’s thoughts.
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ � Clarion εїз� ˎˊ-
� I admire her strength and perseverance. It is a little difficult to visualise how she gets from this fairy to the one we know in Tinker Bell. The only thing that was stupid about her was the moment she decides to look for the monster “it couldn’t hurt to look� could it?� � at least she’s self-aware and admits it’s foolish to be doing it shortly after. But I was like gurl this is all wrong.
-ˋˏ � Milori ❅꒱ ˎˊ-
� The hand flex after he holds Clarion’s hand excuse me! You can’t tell me this was not a Mr Darcy reference from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film! And omg that moment where Milori says he saw her falling star. I crieddd! I love him even more now.
PLAYLISTㅤ{}
The Night We Met - Lord Huron | King of Pain - The Police | Somewhere Only We Know - Keane | The Man who Can’t be Moved - The Script | cardigan - Taylor Swift | Sad Beautiful Tragic - Taylor Swift | What Was I Made For? - Billie Eilish | A Wish Worth Making - Julia Michaels | Say Yes To Heaven - Lana del Rey | ceilings - Lizzy McAlpine | I love you, I’m sorry - Gracie Abrams | Can’t Catch Me Now - Olivia Rodrigo | Those Eyes - New West | All of the Stars - Ed Sheeran | What Have They Done To Us? - Mako & Grey (ft. Sasha Alex Sloan) | All the Stars - Kendrick Lamar and SZA | run for the hills - Tate McRae | You’re Losing Me - Taylor Swift | we can’t be friends (wait for your love) - Ariana Grande
FAV QUOTES
� “you seem happy here.� His tone turned almost gentle. “It’s nice.� | How could she not be? In the gathering dark, with someone who saw through her, this seemed to her a place she almost belonged. An entire world made of starlight, glittering and silver.
� “Because you were made for this. I feel it, when I look at you. Perhaps it’s your magic. Perhaps it’s you. Whatever it is, you have an aura about you. You command respect, yes, but more than that, you inspire hope. It is the first time I have felt it in a very long time.�
� They sat almost knee to knee in the darkness, close enough to touch. The very thought prickled along her skin like electricity. Ridiculous, she scolded herself. They’d been far closer than this last night. But then, that had been out of necessity. Somehow, this felt far more vulnerable. Especially when he was looking at her like this. Clarion could not name what exactly she saw there, but it made a terrible longing rise up within her.
� “I do not think I’ve been subtle about it, but I feel I should tell you that I like you, too.� Clarion couldn���t help laughing, even through the threat of tears constricting her throat. She leaned her forehead against his shoulder, if only to hide how much his words had affected her. She supposed she had known for quite some time how he felt, but to hear him admit it aloud . . . It made *this*� whatever it was� real: something she could lose.
� The stars overhead glittered brighter. Wonder filled Milori’s expression as their light danced on the snow fluttering around them. When his gaze found hers again, she could not remember how to draw breath. How beautiful, to see the exact moment he fell in love with her. Perhaps he had always loved her, on some level, ever since that night he allowed himself to hope again.
� It amazed her how a place could carry both such joyful and painful memories. But she wanted to remember Winter like this: a friend, holding its companionate silence with her.
� She loved him. Perhaps she was always bound to, from the very moment she saw him standing on the border. How could she not? She loved his steadfastness, his kindness, even his reckless, selfless bravery. She loved his wry humor and his unshakable devotion to his people. She loved him because he had set her free, too. And yet, he had broken her heart.
� It was strangely comforting� and strangely beautiful, to be known without having to speak a word.
� How could she ever teach new arrivals to fly? How could she dare to unfurl their wings with the tenderness they deserved when she would always remember the ones she had broken?
� His eyes were the brightest, clearest things she had ever seen. They pierced straight to the heart of her with his quiet, kind strength. Her heart gave a terrible lurch. She did not know if she would survive losing him. But whether they stayed together or not, she would lose him. One way or another, the stars would keep them apart.
══════════ ⋆★� ══════════
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank Allison Saft, Bonnier Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
March 1, 2025
Hiiiieeee! 👀 Old Memories!!!
A Pixie Hollow book?! Yes, I was already sold! 💛
Tbh, I needed more. 😩 What was illustrated for us just wasn’t enough; I craved more bonding (which is why I’m not giving it five stars).
Overall, the book was great! 😌💛
Am I satisfied? Yes, but not fully.
Did I enjoy it? Absolutely!
Did I cry? *clears throat* Y-yes.
If you haven’t read it yet or are planning to, then give it a try! 🥹💛 It’s really good.
My only complaint is that the book felt kind of short. 😭 I needed more moments between Queen Clarion and Lord Milori; sometimes it felt like their chemistry wasn’t really chemistrying. 🫠
ALSOOOOO, THE COVER IS SOOOO PRETTY OMGIEEE🤭💛🫶EVEN THE BACK ONE🤭🩵🫶
A Pixie Hollow book?! Yes, I was already sold! 💛
Tbh, I needed more. 😩 What was illustrated for us just wasn’t enough; I craved more bonding (which is why I’m not giving it five stars).
Overall, the book was great! 😌💛
Am I satisfied? Yes, but not fully.
Did I enjoy it? Absolutely!
Did I cry? *clears throat* Y-yes.
If you haven’t read it yet or are planning to, then give it a try! 🥹💛 It’s really good.
My only complaint is that the book felt kind of short. 😭 I needed more moments between Queen Clarion and Lord Milori; sometimes it felt like their chemistry wasn’t really chemistrying. 🫠
ALSOOOOO, THE COVER IS SOOOO PRETTY OMGIEEE🤭💛🫶EVEN THE BACK ONE🤭🩵🫶
March 22, 2025
"She loved him because he had set her free, too."
All I want is to be a fairy so Clarion and Milori can adopt me😭🙏🏾. The Disney Fairies series had me in a chokehold as a kid—I was absolutely obsessed with the movies, and Queen Clarion and Lord Milori’s story fascinated me from the moment I first heard it. I hadn’t thought about them in years, but the second I saw this book, I knew I had to read it to see what Saft had in store for their story. I expected something light and fun to reminisce over, but I ended up loving this way more than I anticipated and truly feeling the depth of their love and everything else.
I adored seeing all the elements I loved from the movies—pixie dust, the seasons, fairy talents, the enchanting world-building, and so much more. This book was just as much Queen Clarion’s story as it was about her love for Lord Milori. She was such a brave girl, always fighting for what was right and inspiring everyone around her. It was amazing to see the challenges she overcame to become the incredible queen we know.
Their love story was fairly simple—I'll admit it wasn’t the kind of wild, passionate romance that I think most readers look for—but that’s exactly what I loved about it. Its simplicity made it even more powerful, and despite that, the emotions still hit so hard. Reading about them in this book and connecting it back to what I know from the movies? Absolutely top-tier.
I’m so glad I picked this up. My younger self…�.and my older self of course, is giddy after reading this. Loved every minute!!👌🏾
All I want is to be a fairy so Clarion and Milori can adopt me😭🙏🏾. The Disney Fairies series had me in a chokehold as a kid—I was absolutely obsessed with the movies, and Queen Clarion and Lord Milori’s story fascinated me from the moment I first heard it. I hadn’t thought about them in years, but the second I saw this book, I knew I had to read it to see what Saft had in store for their story. I expected something light and fun to reminisce over, but I ended up loving this way more than I anticipated and truly feeling the depth of their love and everything else.
I adored seeing all the elements I loved from the movies—pixie dust, the seasons, fairy talents, the enchanting world-building, and so much more. This book was just as much Queen Clarion’s story as it was about her love for Lord Milori. She was such a brave girl, always fighting for what was right and inspiring everyone around her. It was amazing to see the challenges she overcame to become the incredible queen we know.
Their love story was fairly simple—I'll admit it wasn’t the kind of wild, passionate romance that I think most readers look for—but that’s exactly what I loved about it. Its simplicity made it even more powerful, and despite that, the emotions still hit so hard. Reading about them in this book and connecting it back to what I know from the movies? Absolutely top-tier.
I’m so glad I picked this up. My younger self…�.and my older self of course, is giddy after reading this. Loved every minute!!👌🏾
February 7, 2025
� � 2.5 Stars - a 3 star book, but I docked .5 for personal problems with the book
*This book is rated as YA, but take that with a grain of salt, as this could be middle-grade. It truly felt like an animated Disney movie, which is sweet, but it definitely felt very juvenile. The plot and characters were kept very simple and lacked depth I usually am able to find in YA. If this review feels harsh, it’s because this genuinely should not be considered young adult.
🪷🧚🏻♀�Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft is a story of Pixie Hollow. I will be fully transparent in saying I know absolutely nothing about Pixie Hollow so I can’t speak about it regarding how it fits in with it, but it definitely had animated princess fairy movie vibes. We follow Clarion as she nervously anticipates the days leading up to her coronation as Queen, feeling ill prepared by the current queen for the role. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are all in communication and work together, but Winter is left out of everything due to age old skirmishes. When a monster comes into the Hollow and puts fairies to sleep, Clarion seeks help from Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and they work together to end the terror.
The writing was beautiful at times and felt very childlike-dreaming-esque, but it was writing better suited for children. However, I did find the story dragging quite a bit at times despite being someone who doesn’t mind a slower plot. There was really no worldbuilding at all, lack of character development, and the romance was�
The romance was almost nonexistent, but it was trying to be something. As a YA, this did not live up to my expectations. We literally get an “I like you.� “I like you too.� 😒Clarion and Milori are acting like 4th graders who meet each other under the slide at recess and call it love. At the end they tell each other they love each other, but there was absolutely no evidence throughout the story that they had enough depth and complexity to their relationship for us to believe it. Genuinely, think of your first crush - this romance was as awkward and childlike as that.
*Side note: I did listen to this on audio so I did not see spelling for anything, but the owl’s name in this sounded like Noc Tuah, and all I could think of the whole time is Hawk Tuah 💀
🪷✨🧚🏻č♀�Overall, this was an easy-to-follow audiobook. I found myself wanting more, so much more, from a YA fairytale story, and maybe I would have loved this when I was between the ages of 10-12. This would have done well promoted as a middle-grade instead.
*This book is rated as YA, but take that with a grain of salt, as this could be middle-grade. It truly felt like an animated Disney movie, which is sweet, but it definitely felt very juvenile. The plot and characters were kept very simple and lacked depth I usually am able to find in YA. If this review feels harsh, it’s because this genuinely should not be considered young adult.
🪷🧚🏻♀�Wings of Starlight by Allison Saft is a story of Pixie Hollow. I will be fully transparent in saying I know absolutely nothing about Pixie Hollow so I can’t speak about it regarding how it fits in with it, but it definitely had animated princess fairy movie vibes. We follow Clarion as she nervously anticipates the days leading up to her coronation as Queen, feeling ill prepared by the current queen for the role. Spring, Summer, and Autumn are all in communication and work together, but Winter is left out of everything due to age old skirmishes. When a monster comes into the Hollow and puts fairies to sleep, Clarion seeks help from Milori, the Warden of the Winter Woods, and they work together to end the terror.
The writing was beautiful at times and felt very childlike-dreaming-esque, but it was writing better suited for children. However, I did find the story dragging quite a bit at times despite being someone who doesn’t mind a slower plot. There was really no worldbuilding at all, lack of character development, and the romance was�
The romance was almost nonexistent, but it was trying to be something. As a YA, this did not live up to my expectations. We literally get an “I like you.� “I like you too.� 😒Clarion and Milori are acting like 4th graders who meet each other under the slide at recess and call it love. At the end they tell each other they love each other, but there was absolutely no evidence throughout the story that they had enough depth and complexity to their relationship for us to believe it. Genuinely, think of your first crush - this romance was as awkward and childlike as that.
*Side note: I did listen to this on audio so I did not see spelling for anything, but the owl’s name in this sounded like Noc Tuah, and all I could think of the whole time is Hawk Tuah 💀
🪷✨🧚🏻č♀�Overall, this was an easy-to-follow audiobook. I found myself wanting more, so much more, from a YA fairytale story, and maybe I would have loved this when I was between the ages of 10-12. This would have done well promoted as a middle-grade instead.
February 15, 2025
this was so nostalgic and so magical. it was so fun (??) to go back to the world of pixie hollow. love a good, painful star-crossed lovers trope but also that ending was rude and i’m sad about it. this felt a bit slow at times and i feel like there should’ve been more of an emphasis on the romance, but if you grew up watching the movies i think you’d enjoy this. i don’t think it’ll be for everyone as it read on the younger side of YA, but i personally liked it.
January 7, 2025
Everyone shut up I’m in mourning. Locking myself in my room and never getting out. If this is what love is then I’m never getting married. If this is what pining is then every single book in existence except this one did it wrong. Snot came down my nose like it was tears. So please just leave me alone I can’t talk to anyone right now I’m not ok😭�
February 12, 2025
do you know that feeling when you find a book that feels like it was written for you? that's how I feel with "Wings of Starlight" 🧚🕯️❄️📖🪷☁️✨
"A love like theirs was ruinous. A broken wing was nothing compared to a broken heart."
I didn't knew how much I needed this book in my life until I got it in my hands and opened that first page. Nothing could've prepare me for the heartache this book brought me. But it also gave me so much comfort and solace. It felt like an old friend, something that I will cherish forever.
"It amazed her how a place could carry both such joyful and painful memories. But she wanted to remember Winter like this: a friend, holding its companionate silence with her."
Clarion and Milori have my heart (indisputably), they have become one of my most dearly fictional couples and have healed something in me; perhaps my inner child but they have also taught me so much. Allison Saft graduated with honors from the academy of yearning and longing. I don't think anyone could've done such a marvelous job delivering Clarion and Milori's love story. I'll be crying until the foreseeable future. Bury me with this book.
*insert "the prophecy" and "loml" by taylor swift 🍷🫂
"A love like theirs was ruinous. A broken wing was nothing compared to a broken heart."
I didn't knew how much I needed this book in my life until I got it in my hands and opened that first page. Nothing could've prepare me for the heartache this book brought me. But it also gave me so much comfort and solace. It felt like an old friend, something that I will cherish forever.
"It amazed her how a place could carry both such joyful and painful memories. But she wanted to remember Winter like this: a friend, holding its companionate silence with her."
Clarion and Milori have my heart (indisputably), they have become one of my most dearly fictional couples and have healed something in me; perhaps my inner child but they have also taught me so much. Allison Saft graduated with honors from the academy of yearning and longing. I don't think anyone could've done such a marvelous job delivering Clarion and Milori's love story. I'll be crying until the foreseeable future. Bury me with this book.
*insert "the prophecy" and "loml" by taylor swift 🍷🫂
Shelved as 'soft-dnf'
March 5, 2025pre-read
okay i have high expectations ngl because i used to LOVE them as a kid sm
first buddy read with klara hehe 😌
okay i have high expectations ngl because i used to LOVE them as a kid sm
first buddy read with klara hehe 😌
March 14, 2025
Didn’t live up to my expectations, but Milori has my heart. 🩷
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Another day of hoping that I will read another Allison Saft book as good as A Far Wilder Magic 😭
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Another day of hoping that I will read another Allison Saft book as good as A Far Wilder Magic 😭
February 7, 2025
I am in tears rn. This is what love and longing is and nothing else will ever compare. I can’t even put into words how much I love this book
Want to read
May 5, 2024Oh my freaking goodness, a Pixie Hollow story about the star-crossed romance between Queen Clarion and the lord of the Winter Woods?!! By Allison Saft?! *screaming* *heart eyes*!! I can't wait for this!
February 2, 2025
everything i needed and more 😭
ever since watching Secret of the Wings in 2013 I’ve been yearning for Clarion & Milori’s story. Allison Saft didn’t disappoint with this one!
being in Pixie Hollow felt so magical - this book did a wonderful job of introducing how the world works if you aren’t a fairies fan coming into it.
Clarion is queen-in-training raised her to be a regimented and isolated ruler, but Clarion just wants connection and to not feel “other�. when malevolent shadows break free from their prison in the Winter Woods, it leads Clarion to an encounter with the Warden of the Woods, Milori (swoon). Clarion follows her intuition to reluctantly ally with Milori to save Pixie Hollow, despite being raised to think that Winter Fairies are to be feared.
Y’ALL- we know this is a starcrossed lovers story. warm weather fairies and winter fairies can’t cross the border because they will break their wings / die- that’s not a spoiler. BUT DID IT STILL HURT?? OH MY GOD YEAH.
Milori and Clarion see parts of each other so wholly after both being so isolated, and heal parts of each other they didn’t think were broken. (speaking of broken� me� after this book.)
THE YEARNING? yeah, this is technically a YA book but oh my gosh 😭
ultimately, all the stars. i’m so happy this book was written, and i’m so happy i can now rewatch secret of the wings to get my HEA.
ever since watching Secret of the Wings in 2013 I’ve been yearning for Clarion & Milori’s story. Allison Saft didn’t disappoint with this one!
being in Pixie Hollow felt so magical - this book did a wonderful job of introducing how the world works if you aren’t a fairies fan coming into it.
Clarion is queen-in-training raised her to be a regimented and isolated ruler, but Clarion just wants connection and to not feel “other�. when malevolent shadows break free from their prison in the Winter Woods, it leads Clarion to an encounter with the Warden of the Woods, Milori (swoon). Clarion follows her intuition to reluctantly ally with Milori to save Pixie Hollow, despite being raised to think that Winter Fairies are to be feared.
Y’ALL- we know this is a starcrossed lovers story. warm weather fairies and winter fairies can’t cross the border because they will break their wings / die- that’s not a spoiler. BUT DID IT STILL HURT?? OH MY GOD YEAH.
Milori and Clarion see parts of each other so wholly after both being so isolated, and heal parts of each other they didn’t think were broken. (speaking of broken� me� after this book.)
THE YEARNING? yeah, this is technically a YA book but oh my gosh 😭
ultimately, all the stars. i’m so happy this book was written, and i’m so happy i can now rewatch secret of the wings to get my HEA.
February 13, 2025
الان میفهم� چقدر دلم برای پیکسی هالو تنگ شده بود، خوندن این برای منی که از بچگی عاشق تینکربل بودم یک موهبت بود.
حسابی بین ۴ و ۵ مردد بودم ولی وقتی از یه کتاب کلی لذت میبر� نباید سخت بگیری:)
هیچوقت فکر نمیکرد� داستان کلاریون و میلوری رو به این نحو بخونم اما بابتش خوشحالم چون این به معنای واقعی یک داستان پریانه، یکی از قشنگترینا�!
اتفاقاً همین تازگیا دوباره تینکربل و راز باله� رو دیدم که بخشیش همین داستان رو روایت میکن�. یادمه قدیم برای درک داستانشون خیلی بچه بودم اما الان و بعد از دیدن و خوندنش واقعاً ناراحت شدم و با یادآوری اینکه در نهایت پایان خوشی دارن خودم رو دلداری میداد�.
خیلی سال پیش دو پری جوان بودند که به هم دل بستند یکی از اونه� متعلق به سرزمین زمستون بود و دیگری از سرزمین گرم بالها� پریها� زمستون در گرما آب میش� و بال پریها� گرمسیر در مواجه با سرما میشکس� که هر دو باعث صدمها� جبران ناپذیر میشدن� به هر حال یک پری به بالهای� وابستهس�.
پس سرنوشت این دو چی میشه، چطور با این شرایط ادامه میدن� خب این چیزیه که با خوندنش باید بفهمید.
حسابی بین ۴ و ۵ مردد بودم ولی وقتی از یه کتاب کلی لذت میبر� نباید سخت بگیری:)
هیچوقت فکر نمیکرد� داستان کلاریون و میلوری رو به این نحو بخونم اما بابتش خوشحالم چون این به معنای واقعی یک داستان پریانه، یکی از قشنگترینا�!
اتفاقاً همین تازگیا دوباره تینکربل و راز باله� رو دیدم که بخشیش همین داستان رو روایت میکن�. یادمه قدیم برای درک داستانشون خیلی بچه بودم اما الان و بعد از دیدن و خوندنش واقعاً ناراحت شدم و با یادآوری اینکه در نهایت پایان خوشی دارن خودم رو دلداری میداد�.
خیلی سال پیش دو پری جوان بودند که به هم دل بستند یکی از اونه� متعلق به سرزمین زمستون بود و دیگری از سرزمین گرم بالها� پریها� زمستون در گرما آب میش� و بال پریها� گرمسیر در مواجه با سرما میشکس� که هر دو باعث صدمها� جبران ناپذیر میشدن� به هر حال یک پری به بالهای� وابستهس�.
پس سرنوشت این دو چی میشه، چطور با این شرایط ادامه میدن� خب این چیزیه که با خوندنش باید بفهمید.
Shelved as 'upcoming-releases'
June 30, 2024The cover is giving major tinkerbell vibes 🧚🏻♀️� I NEED THIS BOOK!
February 19, 2025
rating: 4.5*
fuck this book man (in the most positive way possible)
fuck this book man (in the most positive way possible)
February 6, 2025
ESTOY DESTRUIDAAA❄️☀️😭❤️�
Mi trauma literario y cinematográfico.
LA REINA CLARION Y LORD MILORI, tienen una de las historias de amor más bonitas y tristes del mundo.
WINGS OF STARLIGHT, es un libro donde nos cuentan la historia que tanto queríamos saber cuando éramos niñas y Allison Saft logró hacer un gran trabajo al tratar de contarlos que había pasado con ellos.
La dinámica del libro me gusta, porque sigue manteniendo las vibes de las hadas que tanto amamos y ya entendemos todo el contexto.
Me gustó verlos en otra parte de ellos.
Clarion aún sin ser reina y Milori siendo un guardián antes de ser Lord.
Creo que en el libro se trabaja muy bien su romance y logra sacarnos lágrimas❤️🩹❤️🩹😭😭😭😭😭😭� ESTOY MUY MUY ENAMORADA DE ELLOS COMO PAREJA y sinceramente no me imaginaba que los amaría tanto. Sin duda son de las cosas más bonitas❄️⭐️❄️☀️❄️❄️❄️☀️❄�
Ellos se amaban de verdad y en el libro podemos notar todo.
Me recordó a TinkerBell al entrar a invierno y ese fue un gran guiño.
Que también pudiéramos ver EL HILO INVISIBLE que los unía, hizo todo más mágico y hace que su historia se sienta como el destino.
El libro termina en lo que la película sigue contando.
Así que, no esperen el VIVIERON FELICES PARA SIEMPRE.
Si pasa, pero en la película, así que recordarlo me hace feliz.
No obstante, el final duele de igual forma.
ME GUSTÓ MUCHO Y MI NIÑA INTERIOR ESTÁ BIEN❤️�
Mi trauma literario y cinematográfico.
LA REINA CLARION Y LORD MILORI, tienen una de las historias de amor más bonitas y tristes del mundo.
WINGS OF STARLIGHT, es un libro donde nos cuentan la historia que tanto queríamos saber cuando éramos niñas y Allison Saft logró hacer un gran trabajo al tratar de contarlos que había pasado con ellos.
La dinámica del libro me gusta, porque sigue manteniendo las vibes de las hadas que tanto amamos y ya entendemos todo el contexto.
Me gustó verlos en otra parte de ellos.
Clarion aún sin ser reina y Milori siendo un guardián antes de ser Lord.
Creo que en el libro se trabaja muy bien su romance y logra sacarnos lágrimas❤️🩹❤️🩹😭😭😭😭😭😭� ESTOY MUY MUY ENAMORADA DE ELLOS COMO PAREJA y sinceramente no me imaginaba que los amaría tanto. Sin duda son de las cosas más bonitas❄️⭐️❄️☀️❄️❄️❄️☀️❄�
Ellos se amaban de verdad y en el libro podemos notar todo.
Me recordó a TinkerBell al entrar a invierno y ese fue un gran guiño.
Que también pudiéramos ver EL HILO INVISIBLE que los unía, hizo todo más mágico y hace que su historia se sienta como el destino.
El libro termina en lo que la película sigue contando.
Así que, no esperen el VIVIERON FELICES PARA SIEMPRE.
Si pasa, pero en la película, así que recordarlo me hace feliz.
No obstante, el final duele de igual forma.
ME GUSTÓ MUCHO Y MI NIÑA INTERIOR ESTÁ BIEN❤️�
February 15, 2025
I cried. I legitimately had tears streaming down my face. My poor babies 😭 Their love was just so sweet and earnest.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅� ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅� ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅� ──
Pre-read:
Never did get that ARC 😭 BUT ITS HERE AND I'M READY. This is the fairy book of my dreams and I'm ready for it to transform my life.
10/24/24:
I need this so bad. A PIXIE HOLLOW BOOK BASED ON QUEEN CLARION FROM THE GODDESS ALLISON SAFT?? I've been on hold on Netgalley for over a month and a half and I need them to put me out of my misery 😭
── ⋆⋅☆⋅� ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅� ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅� ──
Pre-read:
Never did get that ARC 😭 BUT ITS HERE AND I'M READY. This is the fairy book of my dreams and I'm ready for it to transform my life.
10/24/24:
I need this so bad. A PIXIE HOLLOW BOOK BASED ON QUEEN CLARION FROM THE GODDESS ALLISON SAFT?? I've been on hold on Netgalley for over a month and a half and I need them to put me out of my misery 😭
March 9, 2025
In Pixie Hollow, most fairies come from children's first laughs. But the rulers are special - they come from wished-upon falling stars. Queen Elvina has ruled for many years, and Princess Clarion is the next queen, born from a star.
Clarion will become queen in one month, but she doesn't feel ready. Every fairy has a special talent, and as a royal, she has powerful starlight magic and can teleport. This magic should protect Pixie Hollow and give hope to all fairies. Even with friends like Petra (a tinker fairy) and her guard Artemis, Clarion feels lonely and out of place.
As the coronation gets closer, Pixie Hollow is attacked by monsters called Nightmares, which look like people's worst fears. These creatures escaped from the Winter Woods - a place Warm Season fairies aren't allowed to visit. Warm Season fairies avoid Winter because they don't trust Winter fairies and because crossing between seasons can destroy their wings.
Clarion decides to find answers, even though Queen Elvina tells her not to. She goes to the bridge between Spring and Winter, where she meets Lord Milori, the leader of Winter Woods.
Clarion sneaks into Winter at night after finding a way to protect her wings. She discovers the Nightmares are escaping from a prison as dream-talent fairies become fewer. Milori thinks Clarion's starlight magic, which connects to dreams, makes her the only one who can help stop this threat.
As they work together to save both fairy lands, Clarion and Milori start to have feelings for each other. But they're running out of time - the Nightmares get stronger every day.
Clarion will become queen in one month, but she doesn't feel ready. Every fairy has a special talent, and as a royal, she has powerful starlight magic and can teleport. This magic should protect Pixie Hollow and give hope to all fairies. Even with friends like Petra (a tinker fairy) and her guard Artemis, Clarion feels lonely and out of place.
As the coronation gets closer, Pixie Hollow is attacked by monsters called Nightmares, which look like people's worst fears. These creatures escaped from the Winter Woods - a place Warm Season fairies aren't allowed to visit. Warm Season fairies avoid Winter because they don't trust Winter fairies and because crossing between seasons can destroy their wings.
Clarion decides to find answers, even though Queen Elvina tells her not to. She goes to the bridge between Spring and Winter, where she meets Lord Milori, the leader of Winter Woods.
Clarion sneaks into Winter at night after finding a way to protect her wings. She discovers the Nightmares are escaping from a prison as dream-talent fairies become fewer. Milori thinks Clarion's starlight magic, which connects to dreams, makes her the only one who can help stop this threat.
As they work together to save both fairy lands, Clarion and Milori start to have feelings for each other. But they're running out of time - the Nightmares get stronger every day.
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