Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cursed teens in love in thrilling, gory dystopian sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
STARCHASER opens amid intrigue, betrayal, and murder, as people's hero Captain Shade is treacherously killed, and 17-year-old pirate Aster Oberon brought to Castle Grim to be inducted into a bloodthirsty order of knights. Also to join forces with love interest Will in obtaining a drop of blood from the being who cursed them, before they both turn into Underlings, dark, wraithlike beings of mayhem and doom. Their friend Titus, the crown prince, hopes to join them in overthrowing his evil father and murderous mother, and thus restore harmony to their world—but meanwhile he's also a ruthless killer known as The Reaper who slaughters people and devours their hearts. Everybody's harboring secrets, little is what it seems, and it's often hard to know what's real, let alone avoid danger, do the right thing, and protect your loved ones.
Is It Any Good?
Betrayal, curses, moral conflict, and impossible situations in a brutal dystopia make this gripping fantasy a thrilling read. Gore, dismemberment, mass murder, and torture are part of Starchaser's landscape, but if readers don't mind their fantasy novels a bit blood-soaked, then this will be an absorbing read. Two teens in love and trying to escape dark forces is a reliable hook and characters like Titus, the prince who wants to overthrow his evil parents and restore the kingdom, but meanwhile carries out their murderous orders with apparent glee add intrigue to the mix. Author R.M. Gray's rich world-building skills are in top form here, the complex characters are interesting, and the plot twists plentiful.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why blood—craving it, drinking it, building your life around it—is such a prominent theme in Starchaser and in storytelling in general. What are some other good stories about blood, and what do they do with the idea?
Forbidden love is always a big theme in storytelling, too, and the stories often say a lot about the world the characters (and storyteller) live in. Do you know people who want to be together but are kept apart for some reason, or keep their relationship a secret? What's going on, and what do you think?
Falling under a curse is just one of many bad, life-changing things that can happen to a loved one. If someone you care for is going through a hard time, how do you still be a good friend to them—even if they might make it difficult?
How do the characters demonstrate self-control? When is it hard or even impossible? How do the characters manage to control their impulses or desires? Is self-control an important character strength to you? Why?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic , Monsters ) , Friendship , Pirates
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Self-control
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Little Brown and Company
- Publication date : November 4, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 448
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : December 8, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate