Stars and Soil: Scions and Shadows #1

Dax Murray

Oct 2023 · Scions and Shadows Book 1 · Kraken Collective

About this ebook

Die as a queen or live as a rebel?

Caitlin Peddigree faces a dire choice: accept a loveless marriage to the crown prince, or die as a traitor to the throne. While Caitlin still grieves the death of her wife, a rebellion simmers in Fayn, the streets filled with cries for the monarchy’s fall and the rise of democracy. When Caitlin unwittingly befriends a rebel leader, she believes she may have a way out of her unwanted relationship.

Marrying the prince would protect her family’s fortune, but can she also be an informant for the rebellion? Caught in a tangled web of political intrigue and court gossip, Caitlin treads a treacherous path, made more dangerous when a spirited new lady arrives at court and ignites a new fire in Caitlin’s heart.   

But power in Fayn is ever-shifting. Whispers of magic and long-forgotten gods stir beneath the surface. Religious orders conspire against each other. New nobles scramble for power and old bloodlines seethe with resentment. The rebellion fractures into factions as they bicker over strategy. But underneath it all and unbeknown to most, dark and ancient forces are waiting, watching, and plotting. Surrounded on all sides, Caitlin finds herself a pawn in a deadly game.   

But she must decide for herself: remain a prisoner of her circumstances—or reclaim her own life. And she must decide fast, otherwise the flames of revolution may be put out by a force far darker than a tyrannical king.  

Stars and Soil is the exciting first novel in the Scions and Shadows series from Dax Murray. A finalist for the 2024 Indie Ink Awards for “Writing the Future We Need: Best Disability Representation by a Disabled Author” and “Writing the Future We Need: Best Gay and Lesbian Representation,” Stars and Soil is perfect for those who like their fantasy full of shifting alliances, deep worldbuilding, backstabbing and betrayal, and sapphic and disability representation set in a magical, queer-normative world.  

Note: This book contains LGBTQ+ characters who use gender-neutral pronouns such as they/them/their, xie/xir/xirs, and more. 

Ratings and reviews

This was a great read! Intrigue, romance, long-forgotten magics, what's not to love? Caitlin was a great main character, doing her best to survive. Outside of the central plot, you can tell how much work has gone into the worldbuilding. Fascinating cultures and intriguing magic systems. Content warnings, diverse identities and inclusive relationships are all great to see. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and I'm glad I read it!

I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review. This book gives very confusing. It has an excellent story but with some very unique views. It is worth a very careful reading and stay attentive to the details of the characters. Keep your mind open to some great changes and personalities.

About the author

Dax is an award-winning author of revolutionary fantasy that focuses on trauma, healing, and leftist political advancement. After realizing their dream of being a curmudgeonly hedgewitch in the woods of Western Pennsylvania was not possible due to the construction of a Dave & Busters, Dax took up a new form of sorcery, where they whispered to rocks in arcane languages and taught them how to spy on you, colloquially known as software engineering.

But this new career lead to an epic battle between the valiant forces of Ethics and all-powerful legion of Student Loan Payments, and Dax left that behind to join the magical order of word-placing. Today, they can be found waiting on the two god (ie: cat) who has allowed them to live in their abode and use their word-magic to make others cry.

Dax studied political science and creative writing at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania and is a member of the Kraken Collective. When not writing, they can be found at the Crystarium in Norvrandt.