A gentle tale that soothes like a lullaby.
The citizens of Pernia ought to be enjoying celebrations across the kingdom for Prince Faaris on his eighteenth birthday. Instead, the royal family is attacked and the city of Asteris is thrown into chaos. The King’s trailblazing new law is upended and Faaris is left vulnerable. Unsure whom to trust, the young prince takes solace in his truest friend, a small star named Ariette. Though his heartfelt wishes and her tranquil songs can only be communicated across the expanse through conversations held in verse, it is a challenge they both handle with grace and elegance. While their relationship may be unorthodox, Faaris has never been one to embrace convention. His heart wants to believe in all the tall tales and bedtime stories he’s been raised with, so he continues to wish upon his remote beloved star. A dependable presence in his life, Ariette loves her human stargazer and cannot bear to see Faaris suffer. Though granting human wishes is forbidden and visiting Earth is a death sentence, Ariette can’t stand idly by while her companion is in trouble. She reasons that without love there is no meaning, and she risks everything to save her precious stargazer. But Earth is no place for a creature made of stardust, especially when a hidden enemy is calling the shots.
If you’ve ever contemplated the expansive night sky and pleaded with the stars to grant your heart’s desire, Ariette will be your wish come true. A gentle tale that soothes like a lullaby, this novel is a delight to read. While the protagonists are from two different realms, they share a common need for purpose, connection, and love. Ariette is a soulful being without a real soul. Faaris is a good person through and through, a kindhearted prince forced into a desperate situation. Their storybook romance is wholesome and beautiful, though not without some daunting obstacles. Moeller’s writing style is mesmerizing in its simplicity, standing out for its whimsy, tenderness, and composure. What opens like a bedtime story blossoms into an allegorical fantasy that readers of all ages will swoon over. The plot features a kingdom in turmoil, star-crossed lovers, mythical creatures, deception, danger, and sacrifice, every element needed for a well-rounded novel. Ariette is truly poetry in motion, a shimmering fairy tale come to life with a beautiful message at its core.
