Crown of Stars: Book II of the Night Song Trilogy

By Sophie Jaff

“The kick of this ridiculously entertaining book is the haze of delirium it creates in the reader’s brain…. Jaff’s woozy supernatural saga is effectively scary and great fun to read.” — New York Times Book Review

In Sophie Jaff’s spellbinding sequel to Love is Red, two women living centuries apart are bound together by an ancient prophecy, which ignites a dark story of obsession, betrayal, and revenge

Rumors of witchcraft have haunted Margaret ever since she was born. A strange child, she was feared and shunned by her medieval English village after her mother’s brutal murder. When her father remarries, Margaret—now a young woman—realizes that she must leave the village for good.

Hundreds of years later, as fall comes to Manhattan, Katherine Emerson prays her horrific summer is over. She survived a killer’s attack, but her roommate Andrea was not so lucky and now Katherine is raising Andrea’s son, Lucas. However, the rest of her world is in ruins: the man she loves has left her and she’s pregnant with his child. She accepts she’ll be a single mother—until he insists on doing “the right thing”, which means taking her and Lucas with him to London for his new job. Katherine hopes that maybe she too can start over.

But starting over doesn’t mean that the disturbing and dangerous encounters with strangers will end. As Katherine begins to fall apart, Margaret’s fight to survive in a hostile world reveals she has inherited her mother’s extraordinary gifts—but will she use them for good or evil? Can Margaret change the destiny of Katherine and her unborn child? And what will happen if she succeeds?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Jun 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9780062346308

Sophie Jaff

A native of South Africa, Sophie Jaff is an alumna of the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, and a fellow of the Dramatists Guild of America. Her work has been performed at Symphony Space, Lincoln Center, the Duplex, the Gershwin, and Goodspeed Musicals. She lives in New York City.

Reviews for Crown of Stars

[undermyappletree · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Crown of Stars continues the story a few months after we left off in Book One, Love is Red. While it’s possible to read this one first, there is a lot of backstory that would be missed, so I recommend starting with the first book in this trilogy.The story alternates between Katherine, in the present, and Margaret hundreds of years ago, in a medieval English village. Katherine is trying to rebuild her life after the horrible events of last summer when she was attacked and her roommate murdered. Her boyfriend has left her and now she discovers she is pregnant. Margaret has just left her village after her father remarried, but she has inherited her mother’s talents, and there are rumors she is a witch.Like the first novel in the trilogy, this is a blend of genres including elements of horror, fantasy, and the supernatural. The story was well-written and the book difficult to put down. I’m always leery of “middle book syndrome” in a trilogy, but this was a pleasant surprise, as good as the first book with lots of suspense and unexpected twists. And for the few times I became a little confused, answers were revealed as the story progressed. However there is a big cliffhanger at the end, so I am anxiously anticipating book three!

[beachbaby1124 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Other than the fact that it took almost two months to arrive, I absolutely fell in love with this book. Supernatural, History and romance what more could I ask for in a book. I did not read the first in the trilogy, however it flashed back with enough detail to keep me in the loop and not feeling like I was completely lost. I loved the detail and description of every felling and place that was visited and I am now very anxious for the third in this trilogy.

[brittanylyn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was one I couldn't put down. Chilling, suspenseful, full of psychological terror. This fantasy novel is a sequel, but not having read the first book, it was an excellent stand alone story. The tale is woven between seventeenth century Margaret and present day Katherine. Supernatural forces at work, both good and evil gave this a compelling and engrossing plot. Will definitely read the rest of the series. Thanks to Harper-Collins for an advanced readers copy.

[weeziesbooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received Crown of Stars as a review book from LibraryThing without realizing it was Book 2 in a trilogy called The Night Song Trilogy. I have enjoyed a gothic romance series in the past, so I immediately ordered Book 1: Love is Red and read it first. I am glad that I did because Book 2 needed the settings, background, and story of book one to be enjoyed fully. These book selections were a bit out of my usual interest but have I enjoyed some books with witchcraft or good and evil characters in the past such Discovery of Witches. Separate stories, hundreds of years apart are intertwined. From New York City to Medieval England this author tells the stories of Margaret, Katherine and Lucas, a brutal murder, obsession, and destiny. It was sometimes difficult to follow the storyline but it does fall together overall. Read Love of Red: Book 1 of the Night Song Trilogy first. I give the book" Crown of Stars" a 4-star rating as I would also give to "Love is Red.

[christiana5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this as part of the Early Reviewers program. I did not realize that it was the middle book of a trilogy until it arrived, and was then concerned that it might be difficult to get into the story. It was not. I read it in one sitting. This is a fast paced thriller, with chapters alternating between Margaret in medieval times, and Katherine in modern times, with numerous similarities between them, including a serial killer who killed people close to each of them, and a young boy that each "adopts" into her life, and then threatens. There seemed to be some loose ends, though those may be known to readers of the first book, or be tied up in the third. A good, entertaining, read, albeit somewhat disturbing.

[sebago_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I won Crown of Stars through the Librarything in exchange for an honest review. Crown of Stars is the second book in the Nightsong Trilogy. I did not realize this when I requested it. After reading it though can recommend it as a standalone which is great because I had not t read the first of the series. This novel is a mix of fantasy, psychological thriller and a bit of romance. Good versus evil, past and present. Two women, Margaret in the 17th century and Katherine in the present both have what are seen as magical gifts (or curses) that lead them into extreme danger and heartache. The mixture of past and present is seamless. A well rounded, fast paced read that I enjoyed very much. I look forward to Book III.

[Aimee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In the second book of the series, I was even more swept up and entranced by the story. The book flips back and forth between the medieval past and the present, answering so many questions about the first book, Love is Red. I'm so eager for the next book!

[macygma · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Usually I try to read books in a series (in this case a trilogy) in order. So, when I received Crown of Stars by Sophie Jaff to review; I immediately checked out the first novel Love is Red. That book was so intense and so exciting I couldn’t out it down and as much I like to also say you don’t need to read the books in order, in this case, I think you do.Crown of Stars starts off a few months after Love is Red ends. Katherine has taken custody of her best friend’s son Lucas and all seems well. Until those two blue lines show up on her pregnancy test. Meanwhile, we are again taken back to medieval England and Margaret. Is she really a witch? Yeppers, she really is. Between Margaret’s story and that of Katherine and Lucas and Sael (baby daddy) it is somewhat hard to keep track. I was a bit confused several times but pushed on and all became clear.If you like thrillers, medieval curses, murder and all those lovely things, you will adore Crown of Stars which will draw you in a keep you there until it is finished. Did I mention it is part of a trilogy? I can’t wait!