An Arcane Study Of Stars by Sydney J. Shields

Blurb:

From Sydney J. Shields, the breakout author of The Honey Witch, comes An Arcane Study of Stars, a historical dark academia fantasy filled with ancient secret societies, a swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers romance, and dangerous deals made after dark. Perfect for fans of The Atlas Six and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

When Claudia Jolicoeur is rejected from Cygnus University, a devilish stranger named Dorian appears in her nightmares and offers her a bargain: he will get her into Cygnus if she learns how to free him from a prison of stars. He takes a bite of her soul to seal the deal, and Claudia wakes to a letter from the High Sage of Cygnus stating she will take the place of Odette Dufort, a Rhetoric student who passed away.

Her arrival raises suspicions, rumors that she had a hand in Odette's death spread like wildfire, and Cassius MacLeod, the High Sage’s apprentice and Claudia's fellow Rhetoric student, seems hellbent on humiliating her. Determined to clear her name, she searches for any evidence that could prove her innocence. When someone—or something—starts slipping her pieces of Odette’s diary, Claudia uncovers a horrifying truth: over the last century, celestial witches at Cygnus have been murdered. Odette was one of them, and Claudia could be next. For her own protection, Claudia needs to free Dorian—and fast. 

By night, she studies the stars, slowly unraveling the mystery of Dorian's prison. By day, she and Cassius wage rhetorical war as debate partners in class. What begins as a fierce rivalry devolves into something deeper, darker, and dangerously sensual. As Claudia inches closer to the truth, she must decide: would trusting Cassius be the last mistake she ever makes?

Review:

After Claudia is rejected from the prestigious Cygnus University, where she will be able to finally study the magic of constellations, the last thing she expects is for a stranger named Dorian to appear and offer her a way in. His deal? As long as she promises to free him from his prison of stars, she’ll get into the severely competitive university. Taking a piece of her soul to seal their bargain, he uses his powers to get Claudia into the college. She soon discovers a letter from the High Sage of the university inviting her to replace a student who’s died, freeing up a space in the department of Rhetoric.

Claudia’s death raises quick suspicion that she killed Odette to get into the university, and Cassius, the High Sage’s prodigy student who’s never lost in a debate in Rhetoric, is bent on making her life a living hell. Setting out to clear her name, Claudia is surprised when someone begins furtively sneaking her pieces of Odette’s diary, which reveals that witches have been murdered for generations at the school. If she doesn’t free Dorian from his prison…Claudia might just be next.

Studying the stars and Rhetoric to assume the façade of a perfect college student, Claudia researches the workings of Dorian’s prison in furtivity whenever not battling with Cassius. But when her rivalry with her fellow cunning and charming classmate morphs into something terrifyingly close to attraction, she’s forced to choose between trusting Cassius and freeing Dorian—both of which could ruin her life.

An Arcane Study Of Stars was my first introduction to books penned by Sydney J. Shields, but I have heard about her prior novel, The Honey Witch, many times before and after its release. When I saw this title appear on NetGalley, I just knew I had to snap it up and dive into one of Shields’s worlds.

Claudia’s grounded fantasy university feels like it could almost exist in real life—if star magic could truly exist. The settings, from the classrooms to the libraries, felt grounded in immersive detail. I could taste the must, see the dormitories, and it always felt like I was right there, within the story itself alongside the characters.

The narrative was groundbreaking in the way the best stories are: evocative, intriguing, and snagging me along its pages until the bittersweet end. Tense and brimming with passion and conflict from cover to cover, Shields creates a world I didn’t want to leave anytime I had to take a break.

The relationship between Cassius and Claudia had me on the edge of my metaphorical seat, gripping for the strands of dark romance and rivalry that both divided and connected them. Every time they interacted on the page, I found myself giggling and kicking my feet. Whenever they were apart, I found myself looking forward to when they’d clash forces again. 

Dripping with danger and exceptionally original by way of its star-based magic system, An Arcane Study Of Stars is as unique as each of the stars in the sky. I’d recommend this novel to anyone looking for an excellent escape—and a romantic focus—worth swooning over.