Starlight Legend by Alana Lee

An emotional allegory with flairs of Greek mythology, romance, and sci-fi, Starlight Legend by Alana Lee is a heartfelt novel about growing up, finding love, and staying true to yourself.

Elliana is just a high school senior trying to end her romantic drought with a dreamy date to the spring formal, but destiny has other plans for this heartbroken heroine. Born as an “old soul in a new world,” it isn’t long before Elliana summons herself to the fantasy realm that has filled her dreams.

After passing through the Tree Portal into the Seeking Realm, she embarks on an existential – yet very real – quest to save a dying star, and protect the hearts and minds of everyone on Earth. Overcoming her ever-present fears of loneliness and rejection, and bolstered by the unexpected discovery of new love, Ellie is tasked with saving the world from the creeping darkness of the Shadow Realm.

The storytelling in this expansive novel is engaging and believable, with Lee capturing the pace, tone, and fickle emotions of high school, while also taking the time for deeper introspection and moments of self-revelation. Woven through both the Seeking and Earth realms are themes of loyalty, sincerity, loss, and young love, not to mention the importance of compassion, generosity, and honesty.

Though there are some narrative sections that come across as somewhat heavy-handed with themes and motifs spelled out, particularly in the early expositional chapters of the book, the relationships are powerful, the messaging is strong, and this thoughtfully penned adventure is undeniably charming.