Think twice if…
- Content warnings: Violence, Graphic violence, Death, Death of loved one, Parental death, Torture, Attempted sexual assault, Blood, War
Starside
by Alex Aster
Book 1 in Starside
A brutal, propulsive trials-of-death romantasy where a revenge-driven blacksmith's apprentice faces off against gods - and the king's guard who betrayed her.
goodreads 4.14/5 57 ratings
storykind_community 4.5/5 10 ratings
Quick fit
Is this story right for you?
A decision-first view of the reading experience.
Length512 pages
Series statusOngoing series
Spice3/5 · Slow burn with late spice
PacingFast
Story profile
What the story promises
The strongest reviewed signals about romance, fantasy, and the reading experience.
Romance promise
- Enemies to lovers
- Male/female pairing (M/F)
- Slow burn
- Medium
- Slow burn with late spice
- Addictive read
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- Morally gray
- Tension / anticipation
- Tension finally satisfied
- Brooding prince
- Mutual pining
- Passionate / intense
- Adrenaline rush
- Warrior/fighter
- Possessive love interest
- Possessive / claiming
- The angst delivered
- Possessive alpha
- Morally gray love interest (LI)
- Emotional / vulnerable intimacy
- Book hangover incoming
- Mysterious stranger
- Push and pull
- Eye contact intensity
- Protective love interest
- Possessive/protective
- Tension
- Anticipation
- Longing glances
- Wall pinning
- Jealous/possessive during intimacy
- Neck kisses / neck touching
- Possessive
- Marking
- Claiming
- Size difference
Fantasy promise
- Romantasy
- Competition / games
- High fantasy
- Gods/deities
- Competition romance
- Forest / wilderness
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- Mythological
- Dragons
- Forced proximity
- Royal court / palace
- Monsters
- Games/trials romance
- Revenge romance
- Fantasy romance
Reading experience
- First person
- Fast
- Dark
- Cinematic
- Heavy
- High
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- General badass
- Intense
- Immersive
- Dangerous
- Punchy
- Survivor
- Brooding
- Dramatic
- Vengeful / revenge-driven
- Epic
- Atmospheric
- Outcast/loner
- Suspenseful
- Yearning
- Thrilling
- Angsty
- Gods vs mortals
- Deadly trials
- Vengeance quest
- Magic swords
- Betrayal and slow-burn tension
Similar stories
Similar in ways that matter
Matched by the most important shared story signals, with the tradeoffs made explicit.
886 pages Completed
Zodiac Academy: Cursed Fates
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Similar because
Revenge romance · Mutual pining · Push and pull
Different because
Spice is higher (4/5 vs 3/5). A longer read (886 vs 512 pages).
504 pages Completed
The Serpent and the Wings of Night
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Similar because
Outcast/loner · Push and pull · Competition romance
Different because
Medium pacing rather than Fast.
352 pages Completed
I Summon the Sea
Mona Archer
Similar because
Mysterious stranger · Push and pull · Competition romance
Different because
Spice is lower (2/5 vs 3/5). A shorter read (352 vs 512 pages).
Book details
- Length
- 512 pages
- Language
- English
- Format
- Book