Starswept (Starswept #1) by Mary Fan

**I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

First Impression: Music and stars, sounds dreamy.

Characters: The contrast between humans and their alien patrons is stark enough to be interesting. Readers get to know a few of the main characters from both species, with hopefully more complexity in upcoming installments.

World Building: A unique setting focused on alien abilities and the relationship between art and soul.

Writing Style: Creating an alien language is not easy, but Fan does so as if it already exists. As a linguist and music patron, I appreciate the attention to detail.

What I Enjoyed: Beauty, art, and relatable character themes made for an enjoyable read. Telepathy is a terrifying yet thrilling idea - the implications of which are seemingly endless. The tension towards the end meant reading late into the night, and now I can't wait to read the second Starswept book!

Deal Benders: I didn't understand how Iris fell in love with Damiul so quickly, and would have liked more development of their connection. By the last third of the book they would suddenly do anything for each other, although practically strangers still. Maybe a mind connection speeds up how close you feel to someone?

Overall Rating: 4 stars for a fresh alien fantasy.