A Circle of Stars

A Circle of Stars THE STARDUST DUOLOGY BOOK ONE CRAIG MONTGOMERY This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Copyright © 2023 by Craig Montgomery All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. For those who have found themselves on the cusp of living. Not ready to blaze your own trail, but too stubborn to surrender. If you are in the in-between space, wishing for a life where you fit—please never give up . Your people are out there, and we need you. * * * And for Luke, Thank you for showing me the stars Contents Glossary & Pronunciation Guide Cast of Characters Content Warnings Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Afterword Acknowledgments About the Author Glossary & Pronunciation Guide I believe that the reader is right when it comes to pronunciation. This is for those who may care about how the unfamiliar words were designed to be spoken. Names: Cesia (see-zee-uh) Brissa (bree-suh) Orrin (or-rih-n) Faus (fah-s) Belen (bell-in) Malia (mah-lee-ah) Stallastis (st-ah-lass-tiss) Talleah (tuh-lee-ah) / Tal (t-æ-l) Pellos (peh-los) * * * Places: Novilem (noh-vil-em) - city inside of a moon Ouranos (or-uh-noh-s) - planet that Novilem orbits Celestery (suh-les-stir-ree) - where the Estellar governs Creatures: Keiona (kee-oh-nah) Skoffid (sk-oh-fih-d) * * * Terms: Estellar (es-tell-ah-r) - council that governs Novilem Preitan (pray-tan) - seated member of the Estellar Council Enotis (ee-noh-tih-s) - political movement Exoria (ex-or-ree-ah) - group of people exiled to the Surface Ramal (rah-mah-l) - hallucinogenic drug Fosergatis (foh-sir-gah-tee-s) - the magic in Novilem Nevafosi (neh-vah-foh-si) - aether from the soul Kardiafosi (car-dih-ah-foh-si) - aether from the heart Somafosi (soh-mah-foh-si) - aether from the body Myalfosi (my-ah-l-foh-si) - aether from the mind Sedrivani (seh-drih-vah-nee) - the source of aether Kanos (kah-noh-s) - the source of corrupted aether Telos (teh-los) - title given to someone with access to all twelve houses of aether Alathein (ah-l-ah-thee-n) - umbrella term for LGBTQIA+ Kienitis (keh-n-ee-tih-s) - term for gender variance Cast of Characters Casper - from Earth, brought to Novilem as the new Telos Helix - (Capricorn) protégé and grandson of Preitan Brissa Talleah - (Leo) disadvantaged mother of a Gemini * * * In order of appearance: Danielle - Casper’s girlfriend from high school Brissa - (Capricorn) head preitan of the Estellar Council Cesia - (Cancer) elder preitan of the Estellar Council Malia - (Libra) Helix’s crewmate Orrin - (Capricorn) Casper’s tutor and steward of the Estellar Patricia - (Gemini) introduces Casper to Novilem’s culture Gloria - (Virgo) Helix’s crewmate Faus - (Cancer) Helix’s crewmate Belen - (Sagittarius) Helix’s crewmate Peter - (Aries) Helix’s crewmate and childhood friend Daphne - (Gemini) child Casper meets his first day in Novilem Hector - (Leo) Talleah’s partner Mirta - (Sagittarius) former member of Talleah’s crew Jacob - (Taurus) elder preitan of the Estellar Council Jocelyn - (Scorpio) Helix’s sister Gina - (Aries) mother seen arguing with acolytes Marcus - (Taurus) informal leader of the Enotis Theo - (Gemini) elder preitan of the Estellar Council Pellos - (Taurus) renowned inventor of Novilem Matthew - (Leo) Peter’s brother Agnes - former Telos of Novilem who was exiled Naomi - (Virgo) preitan of the Estellar Council This story contains some difficult material. I have done my best to approach these topics thoughtfully, but I encourage you to take care of yourself. For a brief content summary and alternative reading guide, you can visit my website at: craigmontgomerybooks.com This is a non-exhaustive list of content warnings: Graphic Violence, blood, death, dead body, animal death, homophobia, outing, domestic abuse, sexual assault (off the page) Moderate Suicide, drug use, drug addiction, panic attack/disorder, cursing, sexual content Minor Vomit, injury details Chapter One Casper Bell pressed himself against the foyer wall and wished he could disappear. He watched in a fog as his father walked past him, tossing his navy blue duffel bag out the open front door. The metal zipper scraped against the concrete walkway as the bag slid halfway to the street and rolled into the grass. He didn’t dare go after it. If he crossed the threshold, if he even placed one foot on the front porch, it was over. He wasn’t sure he would ever step foot in that house again. And maybe it was a home where secrets oozed like festering wounds, but it was the only home he’d ever known. Three days ago, when Casper came home from the worst day of his life, his parents began cutting away pieces of him, like they were surgeons who could rearrange and fill his body with their expectations. It was the last week of his senior year at a Christian private school. He had almost made it. Then it happened. He held back a dry heave, remembering. Somewhere through the haze of his mind, he noticed his father grimace at him. He was talking, but the words didn’t register. He locked his gaze on the floral banner of wallpaper underneath the wainscoting. Through his tears, the petals turned into a blur of blue and green. He swiped at his eyes with the back of his right hand, forgetting the fresh bruise forming on his