Review: A Wish Upon the Stars by TJ Klune

Title: A Wish Upon the Stars

Series: Tales from Verania: Book Four

Author: TJ Klune

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 450 Pages

Category: Fantasy

At a Glance: I was amazed at some of the things the author pulled off in this book and this series. Amazing, wonderful stuff. I’m so glad to have read these books and can’t recommend this finale enough.

Reviewed By: Jules

Blurb: Nearly a year ago, blinded by grief and betrayal, Sam of Wilds made a desperate decision to follow the Great White into the Dark Woods. Now, he emerges to a world changed.

The City of Lockes is a prison. The King has been locked away in the dungeons. The Kingdom of Verania has fallen, and the Dark wizard Myrin sits on the throne.

But soon after his return, Sam learns of a resistance fighting in his name, led by a courageous knight, a defiant prince, a pissed-off unicorn, and a half-giant who wants to smash everything in sight. If he has any hope of defeating the villains who have taken their home, Sam must face the consequences of his choices—and the friends he left behind.

Review: “A lightning-struck heart is a funny thing. It beats with strength unexpected. Sam was still just a boy, but his heart was wondrous. Even when it ruled over his mind, it was true and brave and wild, crackling with electricity.”

TJ Klune’s A Wish Upon the Stars is the final book in the saga of Sam of Wilds, and as such, has a lot riding on it. The excitement and expectation level of Klune’s dedicated fan base is certainly through the roof on this one. As one of those fans myself, I’ve been eagerly awaiting this book for months. I said in my review for The Consumption of Magic, the previous book in the series, that this book was undoubtedly going to blow us away, and I was right. I was so happy with how Klune ended things. It was every bit as emotional, and epic, and, yes, ridiculous, as I hoped it would be. It’s packed full of awesome, and I can tell you that I experienced just about every emotion while reading it. A Wish Upon the Stars is a story of love and friendship, of faith and trust, of the importance of choices and listening to one’s heart. It’s one of those books you can’t put down, because you have to get to the end.

Things were pretty bleak at the end of the last book. Sam was lost and grief-stricken and had followed the Great White into the Dark Woods to do what he needed to do to be ready to face Myrin. To face his destiny. And, yes, he still hates that word. Of course, being away from those he loves is miserable, but he has this prophecy hanging over his head. So, now here we are in A Wish Upon the Stars, it’s eleven months later, and Sam is ready to go home and face those he left behind. I liked the way Klune handled the separation—which was mostly off-page. The focus of the book wasn’t the angst of Sam being away from Ryan, Gary, Tiggy and the rest…the focus was on Sam’s badass return—and, he is SO BADASS—and on how they were going to right all the wrongs and take back Verania. First, though, Sam has to survive the wrath of Knight Delicious Face, two angry parents, and two extremely pissed off best friends.

I love ALL the characters in the Verania series. Well…ok…that’s a lie. I still hate Lady Tina and Vadoma. And, Ruv, of course, and Caleb and Myrin. But, everyone else, I love! But, I love Sam most of all. I am still one hundred percent a Sam Girl. Sam is bold and confident and still sassy af. He’s hilarious and ridiculous—his inner monologues slay me—and also loyal and true. And, he is still surer than ever of his cornerstone.

But what the Great White didn’t get about my cornerstone—or cornerstones in general—was that they were good and kind and strong themselves. Ryan was chosen for a reason. He was brave and selfless, dashing and immaculate, and I’d loved him for almost as long as I’d known him. He was the foundation upon which I had built all I had.

*sigh* HaveHeart is definitely still my favorite ship.

As crazy as Sam can be, though, he does not have the market cornered on silliness. Our favorite magical creatures, Gary, Kevin, and Tiggy, are as absurd as ever. They shock the hell out of me and make me laugh so hard my sides hurt sometimes, but I think the number one reason I like the ridiculous bits so much is the joyous anticipation of getting to hear Michael Lesley voice the shenanigans later. I know I’m not the only person who hears Lesley’s voice in his or her head while reading some of this dialogue. :-D It does get to be a bit much at times, I’m not gonna lie. But, the series would not be the same without Gary and Kevin grossing us out with their bakery talk!

As usual, however, the crazy stuff is balanced out with plenty of more serious or touching moments. Randall has some great moments—including one that made me cry. Prince Justin has some really great moments. Sam’s dad is as epic as ever. The Dragons of Verania basically kick ass. There is an EPIC showdown, obviously. There is one scene that is so beyond perfection I can’t even tell you. And, when Sam wishes upon the stars, he makes perhaps the biggest wish of all.

If you’ve been waiting to read this series until it’s complete, you can go ahead and start now. Though Klune has promised to return to Verania at some point to give Justin a book, this story arc is now done. I was amazed at some of the things the author pulled off in this book and this series. Amazing, wonderful stuff. I’m so glad to have read these books and can’t recommend this finale enough.

You can buy A Wish Upon the Stars here:
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