Publisher: Thomas Nelson, November 1st, 2022

Format: ebook

Pages: 400

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Amid the chaos of the Great War, two master assassins risk it all for love.

Washington DC, 1914. Ivy Olwen knows how to survive on the streets without two coins to rub together. But when she finds herself whisked into a secret society that seeks to maintain the balance of good and evil in the world, she can’t believe there’s more to life than just surviving. In the hallowed and historied halls of Talon, she learns European languages and ballroom dancing, as well as demolitions and sharpshooting—in short, everything a spy and assassin will need to survive in the field.

The first day Jack Vale meets Ivy, he knows she is not to be underestimated. The second day, he knows his heart will belong to no one else. Between sparring bouts and constellation gazing, Jack takes Ivy under his wing, and the two form a bond that soon turns to love.

While the rest of the world tumbles into war, the two embark on an official mission to take down a madman who has left a trail of blood and murder across Russia. Little do they know the unfathomable peril waiting in the wings of a chaotic Europe.

When Jack and Ivy are thrust into encounters each more terrifying than the last, Ivy must determine how far she will go to save the man she loves. Equal parts historical fiction and adventure novel, Ciesielski’s epic tale of espionage and romance will leave readers both enchanted and thrilled.

The first book of an epic duology from bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski, The Brilliance of Stars incorporates her signature blend of thrilling adventure, glamorous espionage, and sweeping romance.

My Review:

Thank you Thomas Nelson for the copy of this book.
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Read if you like: secret spy agencies, WW1 fiction.
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This book was so good. It follows Ivy and Jack as they both are orphans who end up working for a secret spy agency and they find a new sort of family. Along with the great character relationships, there is also a lot of action and adventure as Ivy and Jack go on a mission in Russia during WW1 and the start of the Russian Revolution.
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I thought that this book was fun and I was engaged most of the book and became very invested in Jack and Ivy’s story.