{"id":25800,"date":"2026-02-06T12:05:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T17:05:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=25800"},"modified":"2026-03-22T10:49:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-22T14:49:06","slug":"soulstar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/25800","title":{"rendered":"Soulstar"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soulstar<\/em><\/a> (2021) C.L. Polk<\/a> (The Kingston Cycle #3)<\/p>\n

\"Soulstar\"This is the conclusion to the Kingston Cycle, and there is a lot going on here: Severin Mountrose is now king, witches are free, there is a search to replace aether, and Solidarity has decided to hold an open election–even if it doesn’t officially count.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy doesn\u2019t it sting, though?\u201d Halima asked. \u201cIt used to hurt my ears.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know, treasure,\u201d Halima\u2019s father, Boyd, said. <\/p>\n

\u201cRobin! Did Zelind tell you why it doesn\u2019t sting?\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d But I had a guess. The invention used wind, not souls. What we used to hear was their pain.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There are also a LOT of characters, including most of those from the previous book. Robin and Zelind are the primary characters in this book, but Miles and Tristan and Robin play a large part, as do the Amaranthine. This meant I sometimes got confused as to who was who among the secondary characters.<\/p>\n

I liked Robin from the start of the first book. She’s smart and level-headed and sensible. She was also wisely doubtful of those in charge.<\/p>\n

The character I continued to have issue with was Grace–primarily Grace’s romance with Avia, who played almost no part in this story. I didn’t every really feel her romance or that Avia was really behind the choices she made. <\/p>\n

Honestly, I wish Grace would have stood on her own, without the need for Avia as an excuse\/reason for her actions. Seeing what her father did, how her father manipulated her and treated her brother (and everyone who wasn’t him), should have been enough to set her on her journey of change.<\/p>\n

That ended up weakening this story for me, especially since Avia was all but non-existent in this story, playing no part in the events except in comments made by Grace.<\/p>\n

I was also a little iffy about Robin’s move into politics. It didn’t seem something she wanted but was instead forced into by circumstances, and that just seems–awful for Robin. <\/p>\n

Characters<\/strong>: Miss Robin Thorpe, Zelind Bay Thorpe, Dame Fiona Grace Hensley, Avia Jessup, Dr. Christopher Miles Hensley Singer, Mr. Tristan Hunter, Grand Duchess Aife, Ysonde, King Severin Mountrose, Aunt Glory Thorpe, Amos Thorpe, Joy Thorpe, Eldest Thorpe, Aunt Bernice, Cousin Delia, Jacob Clarke, Winnie Clarke, Duke, Carlotta Brown, Marlon, Maurice, Octavius, Tressie Lawrence, Loretta Green, Jamille Wolf, Jonathan \u201cJack\u201d Wolf, Murray, Jean-Marie, Emma, Cora, Jane Parker, Miss Agnes Gable, Jarom Bay, Jedrus, Mrs. Bellita Bay, Halima, Albert Jessup, Althea, Cortland Jubilation Brown, Basil Brown, Charles Brown, Gabrielle Meadows, Corporal Moore, Tupper Bell, James Hammett, Orlena, John Runson, Mr. Alfred West, Marjorie Potts, Christopher Hensley, Headmaster Bell, Miss Minerva Cage, Henry, Onora Wright, Millicent Roebuck, Caitrin Scholar, Amelia Summer, Evelyn Plemmons, Laura Debenham, Theresa, Judita Linton, Nurse Harriet Baker, Corporal Jeremy Blounds, Leden Wilson<\/p>\n

Cover by Will Staehle<\/p>\n

Publisher: Tor<\/p>\n

Rating: 7.5\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soulstar (2021) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle #3) This is the conclusion to the Kingston Cycle, and there is a lot going on here: Severin Mountrose is now king, witches are free, there is a search to replace aether, and Solidarity has decided to hold an open election–even if it doesn’t officially count. \u201cWhy doesn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[194,292,2,204,207,742,148,26],"tags":[865,915,538,212],"class_list":["post-25800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-7-5-10","category-ebook","category-fantasy","category-good","category-mental-health-rep","category-physical-health","category-queer","category-romance","tag-c-l-polk","tag-kingston-cycle","tag-nb","tag-ptsd"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/siQkW-soulstar","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":25771,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/25771","url_meta":{"origin":25800,"position":0},"title":"Witchmark","author":"Michelle","date":"January 31, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Witchmark (2018) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle #1) I reread this so I can finally finish the series. Mr. Elliot dragged in a tattered breath. \u201cI got too close. They needed the souls. The war\u2014\u201d He gagged and rolled away from me, retching. I held him steady. \u201cDon\u2019t try to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Witchmark","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Witchmark-189x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25788,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/25788","url_meta":{"origin":25800,"position":1},"title":"Stormsong","author":"Michelle","date":"February 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Stormsong (2020) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle) Grace has escaped with her brother after the destruction of the aethernet, but when she senses a terrible storm coming she knows she has to return to Aeland to protect her people. A storm spread out miles wide, spinning away from the Cauldron\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Stormsong","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Stormsong-187x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":21098,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/21098","url_meta":{"origin":25800,"position":2},"title":"Witchmark","author":"Michelle","date":"October 31, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Witchmark (2018) C.L. Polk (The Kingston Cycle) Set in a world somewhat like England after WW I, but not really. Miles Singer escaped his family and ended up in the war between Aeland and Laneer, his medical schooling put to terrible use. Now he works as a psychiatrist in a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "7.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"7.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/7-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Witchmark","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Witchmark.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Witchmark.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Witchmark.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Witchmark.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":23153,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/23153","url_meta":{"origin":25800,"position":3},"title":"Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, Audio Book","author":"Michelle","date":"January 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, Audio Book (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by: the author, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Ben Elliot, Felix Grainger, Sam Peter Jackson, Alex Kingston, Shvorne Marks, and Penelope Rawlins (Rivers of London) Part One: The Peter Grant Stories The Home Crowd Advantage The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tales from the Folly","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tales-from-the-Folly.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":23809,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/23809","url_meta":{"origin":25800,"position":4},"title":"Corpse at Captain’s Seat","author":"Michelle","date":"July 28, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Corpse at Captain's Seat (2024) Josh Lanyon (Secrets and Scrabble #8) Finally, the Captain's Seat is remodeled enough for visitors! Watery light flooded from the overhead windows, moodily illuminating the gleaming patchwork of ship\u2019s timber flooring and old paintings on the white oak panels, and the banisters built to look\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Contemporary"","block_context":{"text":"Contemporary","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/contemporary"},"img":{"alt_text":"Corpse at Captain's Seat","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Corpse-at-Captains-Seat.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Corpse-at-Captains-Seat.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Corpse-at-Captains-Seat.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Corpse-at-Captains-Seat.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20909,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/20909","url_meta":{"origin":25800,"position":5},"title":"Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, Audio Edition","author":"Michelle","date":"October 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Tales from the Folly: A Rivers of London Short Story Collection, Audio Edition (2020) Ben Aaronovitch narrated by: the author, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Ben Elliot, Felix Grainger, Sam Peter Jackson, Alex Kingston, Shvorne Marks, and Penelope Rawlins PART ONE: THE PETER GRANT STORIES The Home Crowd Advantage: set between Rivers of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tales from the Folly","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Tales-from-the-Folly.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25800\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}