In The River and the Star, the gripping conclusion to the Warring Gods duology, two women find themselves caught in an ancient feud between ruthless entities, and embark on an epic quest for power and liberation.
Yes! You can now have both books in paperback! Oct. 7th, Orbit Books presents The River and the Star by Gabriela Romero Lacruz in softcover. Our anticipation is palpable. This dark fantasy novel made waves. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on the new cover from the publisher’s official description to early reviews that will help you pre-order your copy ASAP. Let’s dive in! The Warring Gods duology.
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In This Spotlight On The River and the Star
About The River and the Star
Reina is full of hope.
At long last, Reina has the peace she’s been searching for on the idyllic islands of Tierra’e Sol with the lover she’s always wanted and in service to the god of the sun. But she can’t quite trust how long this will last. When monstrous creatures of the Void appear on the isle’s shores, she is certain she knows who is behind the attacks. Reina will stop at nothing to protect the woman she loves, but it could cost her everything she’s fought so hard for.
Eva is cherished.
Finally reunited with her father, the Liberator, Eva struggles to prove herself worthy of being his heir while keeping secret her alliance with the god of the Void. As destruction, both human and magical, tears across the lands, Eva is thrust into a power struggle she’s ill-prepared for. Confronted with the limits of her own ambition, Eva must fight to save herself from the powerful corruption of the Void before she loses the family she holds dear.
The warring gods are returning and the only thing between them and absolute power are two young women. But for the first time in their lives, Reina and Eva have something to fight for. And they won’t back down.
Praise for The River and the Star
“A ferocious sequel to a fantastic debut, full of heartbreak and blood-soaked magic and unbreakable sapphic love.”—Sunyi Dean, author of The Book Eaters
“The River and the Star is pure storytelling magic from start to finish. As dazzling as it is devastating.”—Mariely Lares, author of Sun of Blood and Ruin
“This book held me in its radiant, dangerous grip from the very first page. Gabriela Romero Lacruz deftly builds on her debut’s warring gods, feuding family, dark magic, and love stories. A thrilling finish, The River and the Star delivers in every way.”—Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi
“A dizzying kaleidoscope of high stakes and gut-wrenching decisions, intrigue, magic, and passion, set amidst a hauntingly beautiful world with dynamic characters who stay with you long after you race to the deliciously satisfying end.”—Rachel Fikes, author of Keeper of Sorrows
“In this electrifying, epic finale, Romero Lacruz returns with the force of a storm, spinning a web that raises the stakes and enchants with its twists and turns. In a world that lives and breathes, with characters achingly real, The River and the Star is a furious, magical close to a spellbinding duology, sure to linger in your mind long after the last page.”—Kritika H. Rao, author of The Legend of Meneka
Gabriela Romero Lacruz reinvigorates a classic fantasy story with a rich and refreshingly original setting inspired by South America, a region still rarely explored in fantasy and which is especially in demand among BIPOC readers.
The romantic thread of this novel is also between two women and has strong LGBTQ+ representation that will appeal directly to the significant and growing audience for SFF with sapphic pairings such as The Jasmine Throne and The Priory of the Orange Tree.
The author is well-connected in diverse spaces and has built a multi-platform following for her writing and illustration work.
About Gabriela Romero Lacruz, Author of The River and the Star
Gabriela Romero Lacruz is a multidisciplinary artist and author of the #1 Sunday Times bestselling novel, The Sun and the Void. She graduated with a BS in chemical engineering from the University of Houston and, after a stint in oil and gas, launched The Moonborn, a clothing, accessories, and stationery brand featuring her own illustrations. She writes dark and twisty fantasy stories set in places that remind her of her homeland, so in her mind, she’s never too far from the beaches and mountains of Venezuela. She also illustrates books for children and adults.
You can connect with Gabriela Romero Lacruz on their website, and on Instagram.
Source: Publisher
Publisher: Orbit Books | Hachette Book Group
ISBN Softcover 9780316337175
Pub Date: Oct 7, 2025
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