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WORK TITLE: Starborn
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://lucyhounsom.co.uk/
CITY: Devon, England
STATE:
COUNTRY: United Kingdom
NATIONALITY:
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/lucy-hounsom * http://lucyhounsom.co.uk/about-2/
RESEARCHER NOTES:
LC control no.: no2016074190
LCCN Permalink: https://lccn.loc.gov/no2016074190
HEADING: Hounsom, Lucy
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670 __ |a Starborn, 2015: |b title page (Lucy Hounsom) about the author (Lucy Hounsom works for Waterstones and has a BA in English and Creative Writing form Royal Holloway. She went on to complete an MA in Creative Writing under Andrew Motion in 2010. She lives in Devon.)
PERSONAL
Born in England.
EDUCATION:University of London, B.A., M.A., 2010.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer. Waterstones, England, bookseller.
AVOCATIONS:Long walks in the surf, cultivating a personal library, and playing the piano.
WRITINGS
“Worldmaker Trilogy” has been translated into German.
SIDELIGHTS
Lucy Hounsom is a British fantasy writer, whose first novel, Starborn–episode one of her “Worldmaker Trilogy”–was published in 2016. Hounsom, a bookseller for England’s Waterstones bookshop chain, earned a master’s degree in creative writing and quickly applied her skills to fantasy. Speaking with Jonathan Hatfull in SciFi Now Web site, Hounsom explained her choice of genre: “I hope this doesn’t sound pretentious, but fantasy is a way of life for me. It’s my comfort and ambition, my hope and my heart. It’s my first love and nothing else touches me in the same way. I love its limitless vistas and the promises it holds for adventure and I love travelling with characters as they face the trials and wonders of their worlds. I suppose I live vicariously through the genre because I tend to interpret things in imaginative terms. There’s something enduring about fantasy. Its roots are ancient. And it speaks the simple, archetypal language of myth.”
In an online Black Fox Literary Magazine interview with Alicia Cole, Hounsom had words of advice for other aspiring writers, advocating her own work as a bookseller: “My advice to all aspiring authors: if you’re looking for a day job, consider bookselling, as it sits really well alongside writing. There’s usually the option to work part-time hours (like me), but the role also enables you to hone a certain set of skills that will stand you in great stead at all stages of the writing and publishing process.” As Hounsom further noted, bookselling exposes a person to wide variety of reading matter, it often leads to blogging about books and reviewing, and it provides experience in hand-selling so that prospective authors know how to pitch their books. Additionally, working as a bookseller affords opportunities for networking and meeting authors, as well as being on top of new trends in various genres. There is also, as Hounsom went to to note, that “intangible something: It makes sense to work in the area you’re interested in. A significant number of booksellers end up as writers, almost as if you imbibe the ability through some sort of osmosis.”
Hounsom launched her “Worldmaker Trilogy” fantasy series with the novel, Starborn. On the very day that young Kyndra finally comes of age, she inadvertently disrupts an ancient naming ceremony in her village of Brenwyn. In this ceremony, the children of the village are ushered into adulthood by receiving their lasting and true names via an ancient relic. Kyndra has long looked forward to this day, but when the relic comes her way, the unthinkable happens and it breaks. Tragedy for the village, but for Kyndra this ultimately means she is free to choose her own future. However, when a powerful and unnatural storm strikes her village, the superstitious residents blame her of the destruction. Fearing for her life, Kyndra is saved by two Wielders, or magicians, who wield powers fueled by the sun and the moon. The Wielders take her to the magical, hidden citadel of Naris where Kyndra is tested beyond her wildest imaginings in order to unlock the magical powers she also holds within her. If she can survive such testings, she may herself wield a force greater than she ever thought possible; however, the question is whether she will be able to use it to right a terrible wrong in the past.
A Publishers Weekly reviewer was not enthusiastic about this debut, noting that it has an “interesting fantasy-world setting but a weak story.” The reviewer added of Starborn: “The narrative lacks tension or mystery, and the conclusion is predicable and unsatisfying.” A more mixed reviewer came from a Bookbag Web site writer who remarked: “This is a debut novel–and as such it’s not perfect. Some character motivations seem odd, the plot sometimes drags, and Kyndra needs a little more development to make her a fully rounded character. This is, however, the first in a series–and I have no doubt that the author will improve as things go along. Despite my grumbles, this is a genuinely impressive debut, and Lucy Hounsom is definitely one to watch in the future.” Similarly, Booklist critic Krista Hutley commented, “This mostly conventional tale will be a pleasant diversion for fans of epic and traditional fantasy.” Online Fantasy Book Review contributor Mark Perfect also noted: “Overall, a highly original, distinctive and mysterious storyline, but with a complex and demanding writing style.”
Writing in his blog, Alasdair Stuart voiced enthusiasm for this first novel, observing: “Starborn is an extraordinarily ambitious, immensely successful fantasy novel that works on every level. Lucy has created a world that’s complex at every level and explores each one of those levels as the story expands. It’s immensely ambitious, deeply personal and absorbing. Kyndra’s future may not be certain, or bright, but based on this first volume it’s certainly going to be eventful.” In a similar vein, a writer in Sleepless Musings of a Well Groomed Moustached Man Web site commented: “The pacing and the beautiful smooth prose of this book made the story come to life for me. The world that Lucy Hounsom has created leaves a lot to be explored in later books, which I very much look forward to reading. I do so wish that I could tell you more as to what happens in Starborn but I really don’t want to spoil it. I shall leave you with this though. The ending will blow your mind.” A Skiffy and Fanty Web site reviewer also had a positive assessment of Starborn, calling it an “interesting, intriguing epic fantasy debut that slowly and inexorably pulls the rug out from the reader’s expectations of a traditional narrative and in so doing creates a memorable protagonist, and story.” Likewise, online Pop Verse writer Megan Leigh concluded: “If you hadn’t guessed, I loved this book. It’s tongue in cheek and fun; full of adventure and intrigue, with prose that races along and is a joy to read. If you like fantasy but want a story that isn’t just the same rehashing of everything else you’ve read, Starborn is well worth a read.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, November 1, 2016, Krista Hutley, review of Starborn, p. 38.
Publishers Weekly, September 12, 2016, review of Starborn, p. 39.
ONLINE
Alasdair Stuart Blog, https://alasdairstuart.com/ (July, 30, 2015), review of Starborn.
Black Fox Literary, http://www.blackfoxlitmag.com/ (November 14, 2014), Alicia Cole, “A Conversation with Lucy Hounsom.”
Bookbag, http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/ (June 28, 2017), review of Starborn.
Fantasy Book Review, http://www.fantasybookreview.co.uk/ (May 23, 2017), Mark Perfect, review of Starborn.
Lucy Hounsom Website, https://lucyhounsom.co.uk (May 23, 2017).
Pop Verse, http://pop-verse.com/ (May 1, 2015), Megan Leigh, review of Starborn.
SciFi Now, https://www.scifinow.co.uk/ (April 13, 2015), Jonathan Hatfull, review of Starborn.
Skiffy and Fanty, https://skiffyandfanty.com/ (January 19, 2017), review of Starborn.
Sleepless Musings of a Well Groomed Moustached Man, https://sleeplessmusingsofawellgroomedmoustachedman.wordpress.com/ (June 27, 2015), review of Starborn.*
ABOUT
So, my name’s Lucy and I write fantasy. I also have a habit of penning comical Christmas poems about my family, but luckily they’re not something you’ll ever stumble across….
© Lou Abercrombie
© Lou Abercrombie
I live in south west England on the hilly, red shores of the Jurassic Coast. It’s a beautiful, mysterious part of the country, steeped in myth and folklore. And so unsurprisingly, it’s a perfect place in which to make up stories.
In the vein of most writers, I’ve been making up stories for a long time. I grew up in the tamer neighbourhood of the Thames Valley, where I used to think I’d be an actor. I attended theatre school for six years, worked professionally on stage and screen and took an awful lot of dancing exams. That changed when I hit 15. I was writing a novel (like most normal teenagers), and quite randomly thought: wouldn’t it be cool to do this all the time?
I’ve always loved books, perhaps because my parents read so much to us as children. Dad favoured classics like The Day of the Triffids and Hothouse, which – though possibly a bit advanced for under 10s – exposed us both to a multitude of words. (Yes, my sister’s a writer too). But the books that really stayed with me were J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
I am irrevocably drawn to fantasy. As an unsociable teenage misfit, I read mountains of it. Growing up, some of my favourite writers were Robin Hobb, the three Terrys (Brooks, Goodkind and Pratchett), Robert Jordan, Patricia A. McKillip, Ursula Le Guin, David Eddings and Alan Garner. J. K. Rowling holds a special place in my heart for all those summer evenings I spent re-reading Harry Potter, wishing for adventures at Hogwarts.
That first novel still exists on my hard drive, quietly embarrassing me, but despite its flaws, I’m glad I wrote it. Working on the principle that if you’ve done something once, you can do it again, I studied creative writing at university for four years in the hope that I’d be better prepared the second time around. Creating something as vast and complex as a novel is fun, terrifying, exciting, torturous and pretty much every emotion in between.
I’m represented by Veronique Baxter of David Higham Associates. You can read a bit about my début novel Starborn, Book One of the Worldmaker Trilogy here, published 23rd April 2015 by Tor UK and released in Germany by Piper Fantasy.
Please feel free to use photos in any PR, crediting Lou Abercrombie.
QUOTE:
I hope this doesn’t sound pretentious, but fantasy is a way of life for me. It’s my comfort and ambition, my hope and my heart. It’s my first love and nothing else touches me in the same way. I love its limitless vistas and the promises it holds for adventure and I love travelling with characters as they face the trials and wonders of their worlds. I suppose I live vicariously through the genre because I tend to interpret things in imaginative terms. There’s something enduring about fantasy. Its roots are ancient. And it speaks the simple, archetypal language of myth
LUCY HOUNSOM’S STARBORN HAS “AIRSHIPS AND PLENTY OF MAGIC”
We talked to author Lucy Hounsom about her debut fantasy novel Starborn and British fantasy
By Jonathan Hatfull 13-04-15 1 0
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Lucy Hounsom makes her debut with Starborn. Photo copyright Lou Abercrombie
Lucy Hounsom makes her debut with Starborn. Photo copyright Lou Abercrombie
Lucy Hounsom’s debut fantasy novel Starborn is one of the most hotly anticipated books of the year, drawing comparisons to Trudi Canavan, Robert Jordan, David Eddings and Karen Miller.
“Kyndra’s fate holds betrayal and salvation, but the journey starts in her small village. On the day she comes of age, she accidentally disrupts an ancient ceremony, ending centuries of tradition. So when an unnatural storm targets her superstitious community, Kyndra is blamed. She fears for her life until two strangers save her, by wielding powers not seen for an age – powers fuelled by the sun and the moon.
Together, they flee to the hidden citadel of Naris. And here, Kyndra experiences disturbing visions of the past, showing war and one man’s terrifying response. She’ll learn more in the city’s subterranean chambers, amongst fanatics and rebels. But first Kyndra will be brutally tested in a bid to unlock her own magic. If she survives the ordeal, she’ll discover a force greater than she could ever have imagined. But could it create as well as destroy? And can she control it, to right an ancient wrong?”
We spoke to Hounsom about Starborn, the challenges of writing a first novel, and the state of British fantasy literature.
How would you pitch Starborn?
Canavan meets Eddings with airships, buried truths, mythic citadels and plenty of magic.
It’s your first novel; is it a story that’s been with you for a long time?
The roots of the idea were planted when I was 17 and reading Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time, which, despite its faults, is still one of the greatest fantasy epics. It caught me up in visions of reincarnated heroes and sorcerers roaming a vast world, against which a wonderful coming-of-age story is played out. I wanted to write a book to stir the imagination, to pluck a reader right out of their life and drop them into something other. And fantasy was such a comfort to me as a teenager. Starborn is a paean to those books that helped me through some difficult years, so you could definitely say it’s been brewing a long time.
Where did the character of Kyndra spring from?
Starborn begins in a traditional way – with a young person living an ordinary life in a quiet town. In wanting to challenge that trope, I moved away from the established rendering of the hero as a hard-working, honest sort, instead drawing Kyndra as she would more likely be: sheltered, idealistic, stubborn, diffident… She is the orchestrator of her situation and whether or not she sees her role in the world as destiny is up to her.
Do you have to work harder to write relatable characters in fantasy, or are good characters just good characters?
Fantasy writers have to juggle character creation alongside a high-pace plot and worldbuilding, which makes developing relatable characters that little bit harder. Not being able to give enough time to side characters is a real concern of mine, but since fantasy tends to come in trilogies, there’s always an opportunity to develop a character in subsequent books. I don’t think any of the above excuses poor characterisation, however. Good characters are just good characters, as you say, and fantasy is a magnificent arena in which to construct them. Some of my favourite characters come from series like Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms.
Starborn is the first in the series; does writing a novel knowing that it’s a Part One require a different approach? Is it daunting at all?
It requires an awareness that your protagonist will have to develop gradually over hundreds of pages; they can’t have reached their pinnacle at the end of book one since that leaves them with nowhere to go and the reader will probably lose interest. I like to think a series also offers the opportunity to build your world slowly, instead of bogging the reader down in details. Reserving information for later books invites your audience to keep reading and it also keeps the world alive for you, as a writer. I like to think I’ll discover things about my characters and their world right up until (and even beyond) the end of the series.
StarbornHow have you found the journey of your first novel being picked up and having the release date just around the corner?
It’s been a whirlwind of awesome. I’ve never wanted to do anything but write fantasy professionally and now that I am, it’s a dream come true. The process from finding an agent to signing a contract, to editing and cover design and proof reading has taught me a huge amount about the industry and I’ve made a lot of new friends and contacts along the way. Now that publication day is so close, I’m excited and nervous because the book isn’t mine anymore – it’s the reader’s and I hope they’ll make it their own.
Have you always been drawn to the fantasy genre?
I hope this doesn’t sound pretentious, but fantasy is a way of life for me. It’s my comfort and ambition, my hope and my heart. It’s my first love and nothing else touches me in the same way. I love its limitless vistas and the promises it holds for adventure and I love travelling with characters as they face the trials and wonders of their worlds. I suppose I live vicariously through the genre because I tend to interpret things in imaginative terms. There’s something enduring about fantasy. Its roots are ancient. And it speaks the simple, archetypal language of myth – what Alan Garner called the crystallisation of experience.
We do seem to be in the middle of a really wonderful fantasy boom at the moment. Do you keep up with what’s going on in the genre and the novels that people are talking about?
Absolutely! I’ve just written an article on the British female fantasy scene and for that I’ve been reading a host of new writers whose books cover all aspects of fantasy from epic to urban. Between Game of Thrones and Jackson’s Tolkien adaptations, fantasy has blazed its way into the mainstream and it’s a brilliant time to be a fantasy writer. Fantasy is finally shaking off the more negative aspects of its branding and not before time – it has so much to contribute to our culture.
Do you have a favourite fantasy heroine?
There’s far too many to choose from, so I’ll pick out a few from the books I’ve just finished reading: Jen Williams’ Wydrin for her humour and her dubious morals; Genevieve Cogman’s Irene because she’s a librarian who uses her brain, not her brawn; and Samantha Shannon’s Paige because she’s brave and a rebel who stands by her principles.
Starborn: The Worldmaker Trilogy Book One is available to pre-order at Amazon.co.uk. Keep up with the latest book news with the new issue of SciFiNow.
QUOTE:
My advice to all aspiring authors: if you’re looking for a day job, consider bookselling, as it sits really well alongside writing. There’s usually the option to work part-time hours (like me), but the role also enables you to hone a certain set of skills that will stand you in great stead at all stages of the writing and publishing process.
That intangible something: It makes sense to work in the area you’re interested in. A significant number of booksellers end up as writers, almost as if you imbibe the ability through some sort of osmosis.
Black Fox Literary Magazine
A Conversation with Lucy Hounsom
November 14th, 2014
Interview by Alicia Cole
Photo Credit: Lou Abercrombie
In between writing fantasy novels, Lucy Hounsom works as a bookseller for Waterstones. She has a BA in English & Creative Writing from the University of London and went on to complete the MA in Creative Writing in 2010. She lives by the sea in Devon (UK) with two cats (who are really dragons) and a bedroom full of stories. She loves long walks in the surf, cultivating a personal library, and playing the piano. Starborn is her début novel and the first book in the Worldmaker Trilogy, due to be published by Tor UK in May 2015.
BF: How was your first novel, Starborn born?
LH: I had the spark of the idea for Starborn back when I was 17 and reading a silly amount of epic fantasy – The Wheel of Time, Sword of Truth, Shannara etc. These early epics are somewhat frowned upon today by the critics, but they had a massive impact on me as a teenager and filled my head with possibilities. I knew I wanted to write a sweeping story told through the eyes of characters that readers could come to love. I knew I wanted it to be a trilogy and a paean to the books that helped me through some tough years. After a few chapters, I put the story that became Starborn aside and didn’t resurrect it until I needed a project for my creative writing MA. By then I was a much better writer – though I still have a great deal to learn about the craft – and I finally felt I could do the idea justice. While I hope I’ve written a story that fires a reader’s imagination, I also hope I’ve stayed true to the ideals of the girl who loved fantasy and wanted to share her own stories with the world.
BF: Do you have any sequels or follow-up novels in mind?
LH: Starborn is the first novel in a trilogy called Worldmaker. I’m currently working on book two.
BF: What has been your training?
LH: It’s funny to think of writing in terms of training, but it’s as much a discipline as any other occupation with a specific skill set. On paper, I have a BA in English and Creative Writing and an MA in Creative Writing, both from the University of London. I loved studying English Literature and found it a perfect complement to writing as a craft. It’s a subject that helps to develop a critical eye – invaluable when it comes to juggling the thematic and structural elements of storytelling – and introduces you to a wide range of texts across multiple mediums and eras. Plus, it’s a veritable cauldron of inspiration just waiting to brew up new stories. I had some excellent teachers (and fellow students) on both courses and I wouldn’t be the writer I am today if not for their guidance and shared experience. However, taking the time to read as much as possible is equally important. Reading is an act of creation which flexes the imagination in a way that’s not dissimilar to writing. You don’t come across a writer who isn’t also a prolific reader.
BF: What was your experience like acquiring an agent and signing your first novel?
LH: The first draft of Starborn was a mess. I edited it and started sending it out to agents, probably earlier than was wise. I got a few rejections and one manuscript request. After an eight week wait, it was turned down, and I was pretty devastated. Their main complaint was that the story lacked tension. So I stripped it down, reworked it, and started sending it out again. During this time, I read a lot about good submissions practice and worked on improving my synopsis and cover letter. I received a few “positive” rejections and then, in the summer of 2013, two manuscript requests. The first ended in a no, but the second was from my current agent who replied only a couple of days later to say that she loved the story and wanted to represent me. We worked on the manuscript for another month before it went on submission to publishers. I was overjoyed when it was picked up so quickly by Tor UK. My editor put together the best email I’ve ever received, which included her plans for publishing the book and a collection of comments from readers who’d read and liked it. My story could not have found a more perfect and dedicated home.
BF: As a writer and bookseller, what are your preferred genres and favorite authors?
LH: Predictably, my favorite genre is SFF (sci-fi & fantasy), and that vast realm is peopled by so many fantastic authors. Grandmaster Tolkien is always at the top of my list. Then there’s Robin Hobb, Patricia A. McKillip, J. K. Rowling, David Eddings, and Laini Taylor, to name but a few. I’ll always recommend Carlos Ruiz Zafon and the short stories of Jorge Luis Borges and a good deal of literature from the fin de siècle period including Bram Stoker and the adventure narratives of Jules Verne.
BF: Why bookselling?
LH: For someone who has harbored the dream of being a professional writer since the age of 15, working with books was the next best thing. In November 2009, I landed a Christmas temp job in my local Waterstones – one of the only chain bookstores left in the UK. I was lucky: bookseller roles are generally seen as the best of seasonal retail work and are therefore highly sought after. The employment ran until January and during that short time, I learned a few things. Chief among these was the fact that stacked books are incredibly heavy and will hurt if dropped on your toes. But the real piece of life-wisdom I took regretfully away with me was this: booksellers are librarians, reviewers, and publicists rolled into one, and many are very close to being writers. They are united by a love of all things literary and their top priority is spreading the joy of reading. That’s not to say they ignore the need to make a profit. Bookshops are businesses too and can’t survive without convincing customers to actually buy the books recommended. My experience, however, culminated in the realization that booksellers engage in more than commerce. They are the champions of the written word and their overarching goal is to raise levels of literacy and cultural awareness among the general public.
It’s a worthy aim and one entwined with the publishing industry. Bookshops sit at the end of the authorial process from initial idea to publication, and they play an indispensable part in getting books to readers. So when the opportunity for an open-ended contract came up five months later in May 2010, I jumped at the chance to return to bookselling. Since then, my role has been slightly different: I work primarily in account sales, which sells books on account to numerous institutions. The job comes with some definite perks. I’m still based in the bookshop, where I host Storytime every Friday, and I am now directly involved with events, which range from running bookstalls at festivals to taking authors into schools and selling their books on site.
My advice to all aspiring authors: if you’re looking for a day job, consider bookselling, as it sits really well alongside writing. There’s usually the option to work part-time hours (like me), but the role also enables you to hone a certain set of skills that will stand you in great stead at all stages of the writing and publishing process.
BF: Why would you recommend bookselling to other aspiring authors?
LH: Below, I’ve attempted to distill six major positive links between writing and bookselling, all of which helped me in various ways.
Reading: If you’re a writer, you’re also a reader. I’ve already said that reading and writing are two sides of the same coin – both are acts of creation. When you read, you exercise the same imagination that you’ll use to craft your own stories. It’s therefore incredibly important that you read as much as possible. And as a bookseller, you’ll have access not only to a vast array of books which you can usually buy at staff discount, but also the exciting world of proofs and review copies. If you have a favorite author, I can’t tell you how awesome it is to get your hands on a copy of their new book months before it’s published. All that’s required is a review in exchange.
Reviewing: Another skill guaranteed to improve your writing. Booksellers and book bloggers are the prime recipients of advance copies of all sorts of books because their opinion matters and they have the power and wherewithal to convince the public to invest in a title. Read and review all the books you can. Not only will you earn the gratitude (and freebies) of publishers, but every critical piece you write will help you to spot the flaws in your own writing and how to avoid them. Being a good reviewer is part of being a good bookseller, and both friends and customers will learn to trust your judgement.
Handselling: This has helped me a great deal when talking about my own book. It’s not surprising that writers tend to be introverted types – we spend a lot of time on our own and are happy to do so. But getting out and talking to people is now expected. Authors have to engage in their fair share of marketing, which often means public appearances and – the bane of many – public speaking. The retail industry is naturally people-facing and bookshops are no different. Talking to strangers who are all potential customers is the chief role of a bookseller on the shop floor, and the more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll feel when you’re asked to read or speak knowledgeably about your own writing.
Meeting authors: Events allow you to interact with published writers and as a bookseller, you have the advantage of being on the “inside” – meaning there’s more opportunity to hang around with authors before and after their event. I’ve met some great writers during the last few years, and it’s always an inspiring and valuable experience, which leaves me itching to dash off and do some more work on my own novel. One YA writer gave me advice on how to phrase a cover letter to a literary agent, which in no uncertain terms worked wonders. He also bought me and my colleague lunch, thus earning himself a permanent place in my Anthology of Excellent People.
Spotting trends: I would never dream of telling any writer to jump on the current bandwagon, but being in a position to watch the rise and fall of certain trends can offer a constructive perspective on the industry. Stephenie Meyer, for example, thrust vampires into the limelight and ushered in a tidal wave of new writing. Werewolves and zombies followed in their wake and dark “fae” stories remain popular. Publishing is a competitive market, and it doesn’t hurt to keep abreast of what’s currently selling, especially if you plan to self-publish. As well as a familiarity with your contemporaries’ work, you’ll need to know your audience, and bookshops are good places to chat to potential readers about what they look for in a story.
That intangible something: It makes sense to work in the area you’re interested in. A significant number of booksellers end up as writers, almost as if you imbibe the ability through some sort of osmosis. That might sound outlandish, but spending your days immersed in a world of publishing, books, authors, events and – above all – words, builds a powerful sense of purpose. Bookselling suggests a union of inspiration, literary skill, social interaction, and that intangible something which permeates the air of the best bookshops. The poet in me would say it’s the scent of the stories themselves. I still work two days a week as a bookseller, which gets me out of the house and into the company of the books that inspired me to write in the first place. I like to envision a bookshop as the beating heart of the publishing world, common ground where writers and readers can meet in celebration of the written word.
BF: What are the challenges to being a bookseller?
LH: With the advent of the ebook, bookselling entered a new era complete with new challenges. Websites like Amazon are a major threat to traditional bookselling, since their emphasis on discounts tends to reduce books to commodities. To some degree this has affected the way people perceive books and how much they expect to pay for them. Everyone loves a bargain, but it’s frustrating to spend time recommending books to a customer in-store only for them to turn round and tell me they’ll be buying online. We need to challenge this perception of books as discountable objects instead of art. A book is the end result of a lot of hard work and it represents an author’s livelihood. Not only does this attitude bode ill for authors, but it will eventually lead to the demise of bookshops themselves. As both writer and bookseller, I can’t bear to see the love and expertise of bookshop staff disappearing from the high street. Independents and chains are in this fight together, and our survival is up to all those people who take pleasure in bookshops, and for whom bookshops continue to provide havens in an increasingly frenzied urban world.
BF: Would you be willing to give us a sneak-peak at your new novel?
LH: Here’s an extract from the opening chapter of Starborn, to be published in May 2015 by Tor UK.
QUOTE:
This mostly conventional tale will be a pleasant diversion for fans of epic and traditional fantasy
Starborn
Krista Hutley
Booklist.
113.5 (Nov. 1, 2016): p38.
COPYRIGHT 2016 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text:
Starborn. By Lucy Hounsom. Nov. 2016. 512p. IPG/Pan, paper, $14.95 (9781447268550).
This British debut opens a coming-of-age fantasy series in the manner of David Eddings and Trudi Canavan. Each year, the children of Brenwyn
become adults by receiving their true names and callings from an ancient relic during their inheritance ceremony. Kyndra has both longed for and
dreaded this ritual, but when the relic breaks during her turn, Kyndra is free to determine her own future. Or is she? Blamed for the unnatural
destruction, Kyndra escapes the suddenly dangerous village with the help of two Wielders (magicians), setting off a chain of events that proves
Kyndra is still bound to a fate set long ago. Kyndra is an accessible but colorless narrator with little agency in her story, which follows a
predictable arc, while her Wielder companions have interesting backstories. Hounsom's world-building and her "cosmosethic" magic system have
enjoyable charm, and a late twist in the world's history adds a complicating wrinkle to the standard lines drawn between heroism and tyranny.
This mostly conventional tale will be a pleasant diversion for fans of epic and traditional fantasy.--Krista Hutley
YA: Young Kyndra is a wonderfully feisty heroine that will attract YA fantasy readers. KH.
YA RECOMMENDATIONS
* Young adult recommendations for adult, audio, and reference titles reviewed in this issue have been contributed by the Booklist staff and by
reviewers Michael Cart, Valerie Hawkins, Kristine Huntley, Krista Hutley, Biz Hyzy, and Lucy Lockley.
* Adult titles recommended for teens are marked with the following symbols: YA, for books of general YA interest; YA/C, for books with
particular curriculum value; YA/S, for books that will appeal most to teens with a special interest in a specific subject; and YA/M, for books best
suited to mature teens.
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Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
Hutley, Krista. "Starborn." Booklist, 1 Nov. 2016, p. 38. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA471142870&it=r&asid=8ea55426cb3e967bb098015cd06a5ad6. Accessed 1 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A471142870
---
QUOTE:
interesting fantasy-world setting but a weak story.
The narrative lacks tension or
mystery, and the conclusion is predicable and unsatisfying
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Starborn
Publishers Weekly.
263.37 (Sept. 12, 2016): p39.
COPYRIGHT 2016 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Starborn
Lucy Hounsom. Pan MacMillan, $14.95 trade paper (496p) ISBN 978-1-4472-6855-0
Hounsom's debut has an interesting fantasy-world setting but a weak story. On the day of her inheritance ceremony, Kyndra Vale and her fellow
adolescents are to receive their true names and callings. Tragedy strikes, disrupting the ceremony and drawing destruction down on the village.
Kyndra is launched on an adventure to save her world, or rather, she is swept along in a series of events and coincidences. The themes of a closed
system and predestination place harsh limitations on the character's choices. Instead of making decisions, Kyndra gripes her way through a
journey in which her role is to be present and do as she is told by authority figures'(most of whom are male). The narrative lacks tension or
mystery, and the conclusion is predicable and unsatisfying due to the low stakes and the absence of an interesting character to root for. Agent:
Veronica Baxter, David Highams (U.K.). (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Starborn." Publishers Weekly, 12 Sept. 2016, p. 39. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?
p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA464046258&it=r&asid=d5825179de2238f985b2c3731adf8d0c. Accessed 1 June
2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A464046258
QUOTE:
Overall, a highly original, distinctive and mysterious storyline, but with a complex and demanding writing style.
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
Starborn book cover
Free preview
Rating
7.9/10
A demanding, imaginative and rewarding read
A highly imaginative, complex and original opening book of The Worldmaker Trilogy.
Initially I was overawed by the sheer concentration required to follow the cryptic and slightly disjointed writing style. There appeared to be crucial information missing, and I was put off by the relatively slow pace and somewhat gloomy outlook. I persevered, and was really glad I had. The charm of this book lies in the mystery and lack of clarity, less is definitely more.
I really enjoyed taking the journey with the intriguing lead character through the mysterious and secretive world described. The environment and peripheral characters were, however, quite difficult to engage with. Perhaps this was due to a slight over emphasis on the lead character's emotions, and the less is more approach to descriptions.
Due to the latter, I didn't ever feel fully transported into the story, which was a shame. I did, however, enjoy the intrigue of the book, and felt quite sad to reach the end.
Overall, a highly original, distinctive and mysterious storyline, but with a complex and demanding writing style. It may be most suited to readers happy to deduce lots of information, and those more experienced in fantasy writing.
This Starborn book review was written by Mark Perfect
QUOTE:
Starborn is an extraordinarily ambitious, immensely successful fantasy novel that works on every level. Lucy has created a world that’s complex at every level and explores each one of those levels as the story expands. It’s immensely ambitious, deeply personal and absorbing. Kyndra’s future may not be certain, or bright, but based on this first volume it’s certainly going to be eventful.
Review: Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
StarbornThe fastest way to deal with the uncertainties of adulthood is to remove them. That’s what Kyndra’s village have done. Every year, the teenagers who come of age step into a room with the village relic. It shows them their new name and their future and they leave as adults with a certain future and no fear of any surprises.
Until Kyndra.
The daughter of a local tavern owner, Kyndra’s coming of age ceremony ends with the relic destroyed and the village in chaos. Even worse, an impossibly powerful storm almost tears the village apart and she’s only saved by Bregenne and Nediah, two travellers who know far more about her than they’re letting on. Unable to return home, she journeys with them to Naris, the home of their order, to find out the truth about herself, the world and her future. A future that is far more uncertain, and powerful, than she could imagine.
Lucy Hounsom’s debut is no less powerful than her lead character’s but infinitely more controlled and confident. This is epic scale fantasy that never loses sight of the people at its core, their reactions to events larger than they are and the consequences and complexities that go hand in hand with those reactions. Kyndra in particular is an eminently likable, fundamentally sensible lead who has none of the ‘invincible snowflake’ problems that sometimes afflict characters in books like this. She’s tested in ways you will not expect here, several of them genuinely horrifying and Lucy does an incredible job not only of showing the consequences of that but the calcified cultures of both Kyndra’s home and Naris. The first is content to know the future at every turn. The second is desperate to know its future is secure and will risk the lives of countless innocent young people to ensure it does. That cultural clash, and the hints of other places we see between the two, are amongst the most interesting and nuanced worldbuilding I’ve ever come across in a fantasy novel.
It’s also refreshingly morally complex. There are villains here, but none of them are single-note. Instead, everyone’s agenda is understandable if far from sympathetic. Even better, the moment where Lucy pulls the curtain back to show just how those agenda interact is just amazing. Again, some fantasy novels can fall apart in the third act. This one accelerates, raising the stakes and pace to a level no one, you or the characters, will see coming.
What’s even more impressive is how each of those characters has a rich internal emotional landscape to match the complex ethical one they navigate. Kyndra’s just the centre of a group of characters who arrive fully formed and demand your attention. Kyndra’s classmates are especially good fun but its Bregenne and Nediah who will stay with you. The Wielders, this universes’ magic users, are a complex and refreshingly fractious group whose strengths and weaknesses are embodied in the two. Bregenne’s powers are linked to the Moon, Nediah’s to the Sun and they’ve been linked to ensure they can always protect each other. Whether their inevitable intimacy is as a result of that or of genuine attraction is the other dramatic engine of the book and it’s a V8. The pair’s scenes crackle with tension, sometimes romantic, sometimes not and always there. They embody the best and worst of the Wielders, often at the same time and their journey is as complex and emotional as Kyndra’s.
Starborn is an extraordinarily ambitious, immensely successful fantasy novel that works on every level. Lucy has created a world that’s complex at every level and explores each one of those levels as the story expands. It’s immensely ambitious, deeply personal and absorbing. Kyndra’s future may not be certain, or bright, but based on this first volume it’s certainly going to be eventful.
QUOTE:
The pacing and the beautiful smooth prose of this book made the story come to life for me. The world that Lucy Hounsom has created leaves a lot to be explored in later books, which I very much look forward to reading. I do so wish that I could tell you more as to what happens in Starborn but I really don’t want to spoil it. I shall leave you with this though. The ending will blow your mind.
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom: Review
Posted on June 27, 2015
image
“Lost powers will shake the earth.”
Hello folks so up next is the fantastic debut from Lucy Hounsom. Very rarely do I not finish a book, and I usually give any book a fair chance. My usual rule is that if it doesn’t hook me in the first one hundred pages then we are in a spot of bother. This really was not the case for Starborn.
The first chapter starts off with a crash, bang, wallop leading to a domino effect of catastrophic events all played out by a wonderful protagonist, Kyndra.
Here is the synopsis from the book-
Kyndra’s fate holds betrayal and salvation, but the journey starts in her small village. On the day she comes of age, she accidentally disrupts an ancient ceremony, ending centuries of tradition. So when an unnatural storm targets her superstitious community, Kyndra is blamed. She fears for her life until two strangers save her, by wielding. powers not seen for an age – powers fueled by the sun and the moon.
Together they flee to the hidden citadel of Naris. And here, Kyndra experiences disturbing visions of the past, showing war and one man’s terrifying response. She’ll learn more in the city’s subterranean chambers, amongst fanatics and rebels. But first Kyndra will be brutally tested in a bid to unlock her own magic.
If she survives the ordeal, she’ll discover a force greater than she could ever have imagined. But could it create as well as destroy? And can she control it, to right an ancient wrong?
Lucy Hounsom, has created something truly wonderful here. Kyndra is someone who has been put in a situation in which she has very little choice or say but she reacts in a way that is human. What I’m trying to say is that Hounsom has sprinkled fairy dust onto to the page and truly brings the protagonist to life. Kyndra acts in such a way that we can all relate to her in some way.
As well as having a very cool name.
Bregenne and Nediah, are the Wielders who save Kyndra and take her to Naris. At first there relationship is a little fractious and you will have to read it to see how that develops. With Bregenne and Nediah, Hounsom has written them to be two halves of the same person. Which links nicely to what I felt, was a really cosmic magic system, in more ways than one. Nediah is a solar wielder, and Bregenne is lunar. Each can only use their magic either in the day or night. So both of these characters are already linked in power which equates to them having a very strong personal bond. It really is a lovely magic system.
The pacing and the beautiful smooth prose of this book made the story come to life for me. The world that Lucy Hounsom has created leaves a lot to be explored in later books, which I very much look forward to reading. I do so wish that I could tell you more as to what happens in Starborn but I really don’t want to spoil it. I shall leave you with this though. The ending will blow your mind. It was an ending that I wouldn’t have even attempted at guessing.
A super smashing debut that both lunar and solar magic would be proud of.
QUOTE:
Starborn is an interesting, intriguing epic fantasy debut that slowly and inexorably pulls the rug out from the reader’s expectations of a traditional narrative and in so doing creates a memorable protagonist, and story.
Book Review: Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
19
JAN
Kyndra is a seemingly ordinary young woman in a nondescript village in the mountains. Her mother runs an inn, and is a sometimes hard woman, even on the day of Kyndra’s Ceremony. This village does have something unusual in it — an ancient artifact, which, when invoked, will tell you your true name and your future. For decades, as children of the town have come of age, the artifact has guided them to their life and future. When Kyndra is presented to the artifact in her Ceremony, however, the artifact unexpectedly breaks, setting in motion events that will send Kyndra across the continent, and to her true destiny. An initially traditional seeming epic fantasy protagonist and world evolve into a much more nuanced and complex tale in Lucy Hounsom’s debut epic fantasy novel, Starborn.
starborn-smallYears ago, epic fantasy novels such as Robert Jordan’s The Eye of the World began with a pastoral opening reminiscent of Tolkien’s The Shire. The opening of Starborn, and the revelation of secret, unknown power on the part of the protagonist, Kyndra, is reminiscent of classic epic fantasy in the mold of Robert Jordan. As in The Eye of the World, Kyndra is soon swept away from her little village by strangers, who take her into the wider world, to find her destiny and her arcane heritage. Kyndra is to be brought to Naris, a citadel where her powers, powers that have been mostly out of sight of the world for an entire era, will be tested, measured and taught.
If the novel followed along these lines without variation, Starborn would be a relatively timeworn book in that tradition, well written but not really distinctive. Shopworn tropes and ideas, any reader who has read a decent helping of Epic Fantasy has seen them before, in authors ranging from Terry Brooks to David Eddings to Sara Douglass to Robert Jordan to Margaret Weis. You, reader, probably have read many such novels, and know their shape well. The author, however, has ideas far beyond simple emulation of 1980s and ’90s epic fantasy. Kyndra is a young and callow protagonist growing into her power, true. But she is conflicted about herself and her power, often self-centered, complicated in her emotions and feelings, and in general far removed from the generic blank template farm boy that you might expect in a fantasy such as this.
The journey across the landscape is another trope in epic fantasy that the author employs, and then subverts. Rather than simply a hitting-the-sights-across-the-landscape sort of progress long criticized by Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland, Kyndra’s journey to Naris is not an easy one, exposing tensions, rifts, and intrigue within and without the denizens of the Citadel. And once Kyndra is there, the very dark underbelly of the citadel, its creators, and the secret of its origins and future, and Kyndra’s part in it, very much break the mold of that traditional epic fantasy. The deeper one gets into the novel, the more the subversion and upending of that surface resemblance to the bog-standard epic fantasy of yore gets upended.
Speaking about Kyndra’s story and the revelations of what is going on the world is difficult to do without being too spoilery, and really, the veils being pulled back on what is going on, and what the author has constructed, is, for me, truly one of the pleasures of the book. Suffice it to say that the world as Hounsom initially depicts, from that little village, is definitely not the entire story of what the world is, and what is happening. Kyndra’s journey in revealing what is going on goes hand in hand with the reader learning at the same time. It braids together wonderfully well, and both leaves the story at a solid ending point and provides a wide opening for the sequel.
Starborn is an interesting, intriguing epic fantasy debut that slowly and inexorably pulls the rug out from the reader’s expectations of a traditional narrative and in so doing creates a memorable protagonist, and story.
QUOTE:
If you hadn’t guessed, I loved this book. It’s tongue in cheek and fun; full of adventure and intrigue, with prose that races along and is a joy to read. If you like fantasy but want a story that isn’t just the same rehashing of everything else you’ve read, Starborn is well worth a read.
Home / Books / Starborn by Lucy Hounsom: Debut fantasy to knock your socks off
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom: Debut fantasy to knock your socks off
Posted by: Megan Leigh in Books, Reviews May 1, 2015 0 1,513 Views
It is strange how social media makes everyone feel closer. I have followed Lucy Hounsom on social media for a while now, I don’t even remember how I came across her, but I’m always eager to follow new writers online. Over the course of several months, we’ve interacted several times. Now I’m in that strange limbo of feeling somehow that we know one another and that I can refer to her on a first name basis. When I picked up Starborn, it felt like I was reading a good friend’s prized accomplishment.
For those of you who have creative friends you may know the mixed feelings of trepidation and excitement when you are allowed to see/read/hear your friend’s work. You are proud of them and want to experience it, while also being worried about what you will say if you don’t like it. That’s how I felt when I picked up Starborn. Thankfully, I had nothing to worry about. This fantasy debut is immediately engaging, fun, fast paced, and has enough originality to deliver a healthy mix of the expected and unexpected.
Magic wielders and ordinary folk
Starborn coverThe basic premise of the novel is not something that will strike the well-read fantasy lover as particularly new and different – at a cursory glance, at least.
Kyndra is waiting to participate in her village’s coming of age ceremony when things start to go wrong. First, she accidentally breaks an important ancient relic, then a dangerous storm, the Breaking, arrives, threatening the safety of everyone in the village. Superstitions cause the people to turn on Kyndra, convinced she is the reason behind their bad luck. Two strangers step in to save Kyndra from the angry mob.
The strangers take Kyndra with them on their journey as payment for their help. As Kyndra’s worldview is drastically expanded, she learns of a secret group of magic wielders who have kept themselves hidden from the public for 500 years. Though her new companions are convinced she is powerful and gifted, Kyndra fails the tests required to become an initiate…
Aaahh!!! Real Characters
The one thing that stands out more than anything in Starborn is the excellent characters. Not just the main protagonist, but everyone – even peripheral characters – feel entirely real and interesting. Hounsom never gives us lazy, impressionistic strokes to quickly carve out a cardboard cutout, stock character. Instead, they all have their own motivations and personalities. The novel left me wanting Hounsom to build out an entire franchise from Starborn, Star Wars style. Let’s hear more about some of these other characters… let’s hear more about everyone and everything in this world!
Lucy HounsomIn an interview for Book Club Forum, Lucy commented that a number of reviewers found Kyndra ‘hard to connect with’ and that this was what she intended. I’m afraid I have to disappoint the author on this one, as I connected with Kyndra just fine (what does that say about me?). What I really liked about her as a protagonist was her skepticism and a very natural way of clinging to the past – what she knew, what she grew up with. At first I was a little annoyed at how long it takes Kyndra to connect the dots of the world around her, but as it turns out it is more of a willful denial on her part – which makes her far more interesting and realistic.
Thematically zeitgeisty
‘She grimaced at the paradox: killing to end killing.’
The ends not justifying the means has been a theme I’ve seen pop up over and over again in recent years. It’s especially on my brain after Avengers: Age of Ultron and subsequently re-watching Captain America: The Winter Soldier, both of which deal with this idea. So it’s nice to see it picked up in the literary world as well as cinema. The trouble with these kinds of ethical questions is that there often can be arguments for both sides, and deciding which one is ‘right’ isn’t always as clear-cut as we like to think.
Where other forays into this theme tend to present the moral decision as black and white – there’s clearly a villain – Hounsom keeps that line blurry up until the end. While Kyndra has fairly immediate reactions and interpretations of the situation presented to her, she is given many persuasive arguments from multiple parties. It kept me on my toes as I read, wondering who would end up coming out on top – and I wasn’t even sure if Kyndra would be an ordinary protagonist or an antihero who might make the wrong choice anyway.
Let’s hear it for the girls!
German cover of Starborn
German cover of Starborn
There have recently been a number of excellent fantasy novels from female writers, especially British female writers. And amongst this more feminine output has been a rash of interesting, well-developed female characters. On the one hand I love this, it’s great to get to read novels with women in them! On the other, I wonder why we had to have it come from female writers – come on men, plenty of women write great male characters, it’s time you lifted your game.
Having said that, the few that I’ve read, such as The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman or The Copper Promise by Jen Williams, fail to have more than one important, likeable, and interesting female character. The periphery is still taken up by men. In Starborn, that is absolutely not the case. There are a number of brilliant supporting female characters, keeping the balance of the genders we encounter along the way at around half. How refreshing is that? After all, women are around half the population, so why shouldn’t they feature in a similar ratio amongst a story’s characters?
Verdict: If you hadn’t guessed, I loved this book. It’s tongue in cheek and fun; full of adventure and intrigue, with prose that races along and is a joy to read. If you like fantasy but want a story that isn’t just the same rehashing of everything else you’ve read, Starborn is well worth a read.
QUOTE:
This is a debut novel – and as such it’s not perfect. Some character motivations seem odd, the plot sometimes drags, and Kyndra needs a little more development to make her a fully rounded character. This is, however, the first in a series – and I have no doubt that the author will improve as things go along. Despite my grumbles, this is a genuinely impressive debut, and Lucy Hounsom is definitely one to watch in the future.
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
Starborn by Lucy Hounsom
Category: Fantasy
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Luke Marlowe
Reviewed by Luke Marlowe
Summary: A new fantasy voice that captivates and intrigues, whilst paying tribute to the tenets of traditional fantasy.
Buy? Yes Borrow? Yes
Pages: 400 Date: April 2015
Publisher: Tor
External links: Author's website
ISBN: 978-1447268451
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On the day Kyndra comes of age, she accidentally destroys the relic of an ancient ceremony, ending centuries of tradition. So when terrible phenomena target her community, Kyndra is blamed. Fearing for her life, she is saved and rescued by two mysterious strangers – one who wields the power of the Sun, the other – the Moon. Together, they flee to the hidden citadel of Naris. And here, Kyndra experiences disturbing visions of the past, and is brutally tested in a bid to unlock her own magic. If she survives the ordeal, she'll discover a force greater than she could ever have imagined. But could it create as well as destroy? And can she control it, to right an ancient wrong?
We really seem to be in a golden age of fantasy at the moment – something that was once classed as niche and shameful is now very much in the mainstream, what with wizards, hobbits and superheroes constantly appearing on our cinema screens, and dragons, zombies and knights on our televisions weekly. Fantasy sections in bookshops have now expanded from the single sad bookshelf they often used to be, and new fantasy books are being published thick and fast. A recent trend, no doubt popularised by George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, has been for gritty, adult fantasy, that really ramps up the sex and violence to a point that often make it rather difficult to continue reading. In this case however, Lucy Hounsom has decided to hark back to traditional fantasy ideals in this, her debut novel.
Kyndra is an interesting lead – lead characters in fantasy novels often tend to be rather blank ciphers, letting the reader empathise and associate with them, whilst adding the more extreme characters in supporting roles. Kyndra is certainly not as interesting as the other characters who appear throughout the course, but she does manage to hold her own – a girl who is both tough and vulnerable, and who is more than enjoyable to watch coming into her powers and herself over the course of the book. I did find her a little passive at times however – for most of the book things happen to her, rather than her making things happen. The supporting characters really give the book its personality though, and Bregenne and Nadiah are the best examples of this – an intriguing couple who develop as the reader learns about their relationship, their abilities, and where their loyalties lie… Gareth is also an interesting character – although it is very hard to trust and like him later in the book, after his actions earlier on. I hope he will be expanded upon in later books.
With regards to abilities – the system of magic here is a new and intriguing one, with the user dependent on either the help of the Sun, or the Moon – and weak and helpless when the one they depend on is out of sight. It’s a refreshing change from the often limitless magic abilities that are often displayed in fantasy, and goes a way to prevent deus ex machinas from cropping up as a regular plot device. That said, there is a lot that is familiar about Kyndra’s world – comparisons have been drawn with the work of, and sections recall the work of both Patrick Rothfuss and JK Rowling, which is no bad thing – I think just evidence that the author has a great deal of love for the fantasy world.
This is a debut novel – and as such it’s not perfect. Some character motivations seem odd, the plot sometimes drags, and Kyndra needs a little more development to make her a fully rounded character. This is, however, the first in a series – and I have no doubt that the author will improve as things go along. Despite my grumbles, this is a genuinely impressive debut, and Lucy Hounsom is definitely one to watch in the future. Many thanks to the publishers for the copy.
For further reading – Feast of Souls by Celia Friedman is a book that explores intriguing and dark new systems of magic, in a fantasy book with a horror twist.
Buy Starborn by Lucy Hounsom at Amazon You can read more book reviews or buy Starborn by Lucy Hounsom at Amazon.co.uk.