The Last Starborn Seer - (Chronicles of Arcelia) by Venetia Constantine (Hardcover)

About the Book

The first instalment of an epic romantic fantasy trilogy, charting a deadly quest through a fractured realm of light and dark magic.

Book Synopsis

The first book in an epic new romantic fantasy trilogy set in a fractured realm rich with magic and set against the backdrop of a perilous quest.

'A Tolkienesque journey through a gorgeous, shimmering world... Venetia Constantine is a bright new star' - Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of The Priory of the Orange Tree

Leilani Stellarion is cursed.

The last of a ruined bloodline, she's shunned for her volatile Starborn magic, which grants her prophetic visions but is slowly corrupting her mind. Branded a pariah, Leilani is blamed for the Sickening, a wasting curse that fractured the realms of Arcelia and plunged them into war.

When her dying mother's health deteriorates and a forced marriage threatens her future, Leilani seizes the chance to reclaim her fate. A prophecy speaks of an ancient relic that could end the Sickening - and she's determined to find it.

To retrieve the sceptre, she must survive the deadly climb to the Astral Mountain, forge alliances with enemies, outwit rebel forces, and navigate her own treacherous feelings for a rival envoy, which grow under the watchful eye of her betrothed.

Hunted by a vengeful spectre and haunted by her magic, Leilani must decide what she's willing to sacrifice in the name of redemption - before her powers consume her.

Review Quotes

"The Last Starborn Seer is a thrilling quest, masterfully woven with heart-stealing romance and rich, complex characters. A triumph of dazzling prose and intricate world building, this is a stunning debut" --A.S. Webb, Sunday Times bestselling author of DAUGHTER OF CHAOS

"A Tolkienesque journey through a gorgeous, shimmering world, The Last Starborn Seer will enchant both new and loyal readers of epic fantasy. This story is clearly a labour of love, each facet realised and polished with the utmost care. Venetia Constantine is a bright new star" --Samantha Shannon, bestselling author of THE PRIORY OF THE ORANGE TREE

"The Last Starborn Seer has it all: an epic quest, heart-wrenching romance, and an ending that had me screaming for more. Venetia Constantine's gorgeous prose is an arrow straight to the heart. A dazzling debut!" --A. Y. Chao, Sunday Times bestselling author of SHANGHAI IMMORTAL

"A captivating tale of empowerment, healing and love, a thrilling quest and a lush, intricate world -The Last Starborn Seer has all the elements that will sweep fantasy readers off their feet!" --Kika Hatzopoulou, Sunday Times bestselling author of THREADS THAT BIND

"Venetia Constantine had me hooked from the first page. She has woven magic into this incredibly special world. A new voice so worth listening to, can't wait for readers to pick up what will be their latest obsession" --Marvellous Michael Anson, author of FIRSTBORN OF THE SUN

"The Last Starborn Seer is a masterful entry into the realm of epic high fantasy, weaving together a world that feels both vast and intimate, authentic yet full of wonder. The storytelling is beautifully nuanced, with layers of history, myth, and intrigue that draw you deep into its rich and impressive tapestry... a tale that promises not just breathtaking adventure, but also the kind of emotional depth and resonance that lingers long after the page is turned" --Susan Stokes-Chapman, Sunday Times bestselling author of PANDORA

"Fantasy with a capital F. Every inch of Constantine's world dazzles with magic and depth, as do the characters that inhabit it. The Last Starborn Seer has all the makings of a fantasy sensation" --Frances White, USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling author of VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED

"Venetia Consantine has woven an enchanting world that I never wanted to leave. As dazzling as starlight, Constantine is a debut whose star is soaring." --Saara El-Arifi, #1 bestselling author of FAEBOUND

"An epic quest, a fraught love triangle and the most beautifully realised magical world make The Last Starborn Seer an absolutely enchanting fantasy. It's a tale spun as delicately as the star light that shines within its pages, a truly beautiful and transporting read." --Elodie Harper, Sunday Times bestselling author of BOUDICCA'S DAUGHTER

"Such a richly imagined and emotionally charged novel full of exquisite, evocative world-building and beautiful, heart-felt characters. It was such an atmospheric, precisely-drawn setting... I loved sinking into it completely" --Georgia Leighton, bestselling author of SPELLBOUND

"It has that high stakes quest, messy love triangle, ancient prophecies, slow-burn enemies-to-forbidden lovers aspect going for it." --The Bookseller

"The Last Starborn Seer is a glittering epic romantic fantasy: a tour de force of moon-kissed mountains, dark magic and friendship forged in peril. Magnificent." --Holly Race, bestselling author of SIX WILD CROWNS

About the Author

Venetia Constantine read English at King's College, Cambridge and holds a PhD in Art History from the Courtauld Institute. She paused a cherished career in the art world to pursue her dreams of becoming an author, swapping galleries for an enchanted windmill, where she now writes full-time. Venetia lives in London with her family.