A Dive into the Shadows: A Review of As Many Souls as Stars by Natasha Siegel
Sometimes, a book stirs something within you before you even turn the first page. As Many Souls as Stars caught my attention with its tantalizing premise and its promise to weave a tale of love and destruction through the gothic lens. Natasha Siegel has crafted a narrative that feels both timeless and achingly relevant, and I couldn’t resist diving into this dark romance that explores the depths of desire and the very essence of what it means to love fiercely yet destructively.
At the heart of this entrancing story are Miriam Richter and Cybil Harding, two women whose destinies are intertwined like the tendrils of ivy that cling to crumbling tombs. Turning each page, I felt as if I were being drawn into a haunting dance, one that echoed with the weight of centuries and the bittersweet ache of longing. Cybil, cloaked in sorrow and burdened with a curse, and Miriam, an ancient being whose beauty belies the darkness within, create a turbulent relationship marked by passion and ruin. The chemistry between them is palpable—raw and visceral, as if one could feel the heat radiating off the words themselves.
Siegel masterfully captures the essence of a Faustian nightmare, where every choice seems steeped in both desire and damnation. The writing is hauntingly beautiful, evocative of the gothic tradition while infusing it with freshness that makes it feel entirely original. I felt ensnared in the vivid imagery—each description flows like a dark melody, painting a world steeped in shadows, witch trials, and cursed souls. The pacing kept me entranced, each chapter acting as a window into Cybil’s life that revealed yet another layer of complexity and pain.
One of the most striking aspects of As Many Souls as Stars is the way it dives unflinchingly into the themes of love and ruin. A line that lingered with me long after I put the book down was the poignant reflection: "What is love, if it does not bleed?" This encapsulates the heart of the novel, where every moment of intimacy is bound to a sense of impending doom. It pushes readers to confront the very nature of desire and the sacrifices that accompany it.
Moreover, the novel’s exploration of a sapphic relationship resonates deeply within the gothic framework, embracing queerness with profound sincerity. Miriam and Cybil’s connection is unapologetically fierce, a passionate blaze that refuses to be tamed. This representation adds a layer of richness that feels both powerful and necessary in the contemporary literary landscape.
For those who, like me, find beauty in decay and poetry in ruin, As Many Souls as Stars offers an intoxicating journey through centuries of longing and loss. It is at once a gothic fantasy and a requiem for humanity, a meditation on the cost of wanting what cannot be possessed. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to lovers of gothic fiction and feverish romances, especially for readers who are unafraid to confront the darker aspects of love. It submerged me in its depths and left me breathless, reminding me that some stories are not meant to save us but to consume us.
So, to anyone ready to dance with shadows and explore the tempestuous realms of desire, I urge you: read this book, and prepare to be undone.