I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young boy seeking a magic cure to his illness befriends a local artist, who may hold the secret to the boy’s journey as he falls for the boy’s mother at the same time in author Julie Rogers’s “Falling Stars”. 

The Synopsis

Everyone says vampires aren’t real. Tommy Lucas isn’t so sure.

Nine-year-old Tommy Lucas needs a bone marrow transplant to survive. But he’s convinced his disease is a curse on his bloodline, that he’s a vampire. His mother’s an oncologist, but Tommy believes only magic can cure him—or the same synthetic blood substitute developed for urban legend Viscount Claudius Fallon.

Tommy is stoked when he discovers a five-part series about Fallon in an online pulp fiction magazine called Philly’s Argosy. Descended from a ruling class of vampires in Cardiff, legend has it that Fallon traveled to Eureka Springs, Arkansas seeking a cure for his own leukemia during WWII.

Tommy’s quest leads him to befriend local artist and gallery owner Callan Masters, who struggles with his growing affection for Tommy’s mom, June—for he is Fallon, cured in 1939 at Norman G. Baker Cure-for-Cancer Hospital.

Dedicated to living off-grid and as a human, Callan must decide whether he will take the risk involved in helping Tommy or falling in love with June. His bite is no longer capable of turning anyone—or so he thinks.

The Review

This was such a compelling read. The author did a wonderful job of weaving together fantasy and historical fiction elements, taking readers on a journey between magic and reality. The story’s profound atmospheric nature and the imagery of the author’s writing style brought the reader into the narrative, keeping them brilliantly immersed in the characters’ lives.

Yet despite the fantastic depths of the fantasy and magical realism that the author imbued this story with, the true heart of this novel was the immense and profound humanity found within these characters. The themes of family, love, and what we are willing to sacrifice to save or protect those we love all play a vital role in the story. These characters’ relatable nature and journey made the story feel tangible and heartfelt.

The Verdict

Memorable, engaging, and thoughtfully written author Julie Rogers’s “Falling Stars” is a must-read fantasy meets historical fiction and magical realism novel. The heart and compassion found within these characters and their struggles balanced the narrative’s more fantastic elements, keeping readers invested until the book’s final pages. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Julie Rogers’s award-winning articles and stories have been featured in trade, self-help, inspirational, and fiction publications including Writer’s Digest, Coping With Cancer, Daily Meditation, Mocha Memoirs, Anotherealm, Horsethief’s Journal, Images Inscript, Complete Woman, and the annual anthology Writes of Passage: Every Woman has a Story!

She is the author of the the urban fantasy Falling Stars, the self-help books Happy Tails: How Pets Can Help You Survive Divorce and Simeon: A Greater Reality, the ghost story collection Seven Shorts, the inspirational upper-elementary reader, Hootie, the romantic comedy When Pigs Fly Over The Moon, and co-author of the existential teen guide Letters: Sidereal Insight for a 21st Century Mystic.

Julie currently ghostwrites creative fiction for clients through Julie Rogers’s Books, Edioak, and The Authors’ Assistant.

julierogersbooks.com

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram