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Until The Stars Are Dead is a series of new adult fantasy novels written by American author Allyson S. Barkley. A planned four to five book series, A Memory Of Light is the only book currently published.

The novel was published by atmosphere press.



Synopsis

An exceptionally-skilled thief, Ari lives deep in the forest with no one but her bobcat Jagger for company. She is determined to keep to herself as civil war drags on around her, but when a mysterious stranger appears with an unexpected job offer, she has no choice but to leave her quiet life behind.

Unwillingly paired with chatty, optimistic magician Ely, Ari finds her patience, wits, and skill tested when the journey quickly proves to be far from what either of them bargained for. Ari must face one of the greatest tests of her thieving career - and come to terms with the many secrets she has been hiding.

With an exciting heroine and a diverse cast of characters, A Memory of Light is the first title in the fantasy series Until the Stars Are Dead, which follows Ari and Ely's adventures navigating the dangers of their complicated, quickly-changing world.

Kirkus Starred Review

Kirkus gave the first book in the series a starred review.

"Barkley’s debut fantasy novel sees a fiercely independent young thief forced into partnership with a novice sorcerer.

Twenty-two-year-old Ari is a loner and a thief, living wild with her animal companion, a bobcat named Jag. Ari lost her parents at age 7 and her mentor when she was 16. Since then, it has been just her and Jag, and that’s the way she likes it. But Ari has debts, and to fulfill her obligations and keep her thieving reputation intact, she undertakes to steal a dragith stone from the far-off Capital city. The job requires her to travel across country that’s blighted by civil war and to partner with 24-year-old Ely, a seemingly happy-go-lucky young magic user. Ari is accomplished with a sword and a knife, but the journey is quite dangerous. It’s been a number of years since the Malavi people overthrew the monarchy, with the Zaerans as their opposition. Many have died throughout the land since then, and magical beings have been driven into hiding. Ari’s quest is not one of romance or valor but one of bleak necessity and survival. Can she retrieve the dragith stone and resume her old life—or will her family history rear its head? Barkley writes in the third person, almost exclusively from Ari’s point of view but occasionally from Ely’s. The prose is accomplished and the storytelling confident, spurning genre clichés and developing at its own measured pace. Ari is a well-drawn protagonist, and her backstory emerges gradually.Her fortitude and competence will gain readers’ respect, and her lack of sociability makes for a pleasing contrast to Ely—a more open character but one with hidden depths. Jag’s presence adds the perfect measure of warmth. The world in which they journey has dark undertones, as if familiar fantasy elements have rotted away and left a dead-hearted dystopia in their place. Barkley keeps the dialogue realistic and exposition to a minimum, letting the journey define its own stakes. The result is a measured but engaging first installment in a series that offers much promise.

An understated and atmospheric tale from a strong new voice in the genre."

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About the Author

Allyson S. Barkley is the author of A Memory of Light, the first of the Until the Stars Are Dead fantasy series, and many other never-to-be-published novels, short stories, poems, and essays. She is also the editor and curator of The Issue Newsletter, a publication addressing issues of social justice. Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Allyson grew up an avid reader, writer, and horseback rider. She finds herself particularly inspired by hikes in far-off places, strangers in coffee shops, and clever music lyrics.

Allyson earned a degree in Global Studies and Hispanic Literatures & Cultures from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her partner and their two cats.

Future Books

The story continues with the second entry in the Until the Stars Are Dead series... After several narrow brushes with death and capture, Ari, Ely, and Jagger believe their task nearly complete. But with more pursuers on their tail, rumors of a third military force on the rise, and Ari’s secret out, their journey may be far from over. Will their unsteady bond be enough to brave these approaching dangers, or will the past and its secrets tear everything apart?

From Allyson S. Barkley Books comes the sequel to A Memory of Light. Book Two will take readers on the next step of Ari and Ely’s perilous adventure.

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