Fallen Stars by Imani Erriu

Here is a summary with spoilers for Fallen Stars by Imani Erriu

In a prologue, the Stars gather in the celestial realm to address the threat of the Moon, who destroyed Leone’s temple and killed Gem. Each Star represents different human traits, and they debate her danger and the risk of her uncovering secrets hidden from the titans. Some view her as unpredictable but useful, while others see her as a direct threat. They decide to hunt her, but she has already vanished. The Moon exists in mortal form as Elara, who is grieving Enzo, trapped in the dreamscape where only her magic works. Elara has isolated herself and is devisated he is not there with her. She uses hypnom to reach him, and refuses to trust Leo and Merissa, especially after past betrayal; where they witheld secrets from her.

Elara searches for Eli, someone who might be able to help train her, and eventually finds him, learning that the only way to wake Enzo is to retrieve his tether from Ariete, who hid it inside his dreamscape. Eli agrees to help and begins training her in dreamwalking, warning that Ariete’s mind is heavily guarded. As part of her training, Elara enters the dream of a demon and faces visions of her fears, including dead versions of people she loves. Though it tears her apart to see thoughs loved ones, she keeps going on with the training, because she wants to get Enzo back. She overcomes the dream by killing the demon, but Eli senses a presence watching, something that he identified as the Dark, which is drawn to Elara’s use of shadows and threatens to corrupt her.

The group, Elara, Leo, Merissa, and Eli, decide to leave the city. On the way there ready to go to the fighting pits. Elara runs into Adrian, a pirate she had run in with in the past; but thanks to her glamor, Adrian didn’t know it was Elara.  To prepare for entering Ariete’s dream, Elara gathers necessary tools, including hypnom and a snake stone. In the fighting pit, Leo attempts to win the stone but loses after Adrian interferes. Elara enters the pit herself, is recognized, and kills those who attack her in a massive display of power. Adrian also recognizes Elara in the process. After those in the fighting pit go after Elara, she is forced to wonder the streets until Eli finds her.  Eli takes her to Viperveil Manor and continues training her. She enters Ariete’s dream, which appears as a circus, and experiences visions of her past lives, repeated deaths, and her connection to Enzo. Ariete reveals he knew she was there and forces a bargain, taking her blood in exchange for access. She escapes and wakes, and Eli confirms she has made a blood oath that binds her, and he is furious at her for making the oath.

Meanwhile, Adrian is trying to find a cure for his sister, which is why he was in the fighting pit originally. He is a bit angry that Leo and Elara got away with the stone, and is trying to find a way to get it back. He is walking the docks when a women stops him, gives him a lot of money, and tells him that soon, some stoweaways will be coming to his ship. He is to take them oon, and take them where ever they need to go. 

Elara reenters the dreamscape and finds Enzo in a noncorporeal state above water. He expresses his love for Elara before disapearing completely. She wakes believing she restored him. She and Eli start the journey back to Enzo’s physical body where the two reunite, but her shadows begin to spiral out of control. Leo restrain her and decide to take her to Altalune for healing, despite Enzo telling them to leave her be. Because Elara somewhat hurt Enzo, some of the royal staff see Elara as a threat, and so everyone must sneak Elara out of the city. They find a ship and sneak onto it hoping that they can convince the captian to take them to Altalune. When they get on the ship, it is Adrian, and he reluctently agrees. During the journey, Elara and Enzo struggle with physical contact, as touching causes pain while separation also causes distress, it drives Enzo crazy, because all he wants to do is be back with Elara.

At Altalune, a mermaid healer tells Elara that her shadows are being consumed by the Dark and must be destroyed so the Dark cannot feed on her. Adrian learns his sister is affected by water and dark magic and needs fire and light, meaning Enzo. Elara agrees to the ritual, and a silver dragon rises within her as Enzo and Adrian help force out the Dark. Elara destroys it and wakes as herself without her shadows. Enzo leaves, believing Adrian was more useful, but Elara finds him, they argue, reconcile, and finally sleep together as they are now able to touch. Afterward, Enzo loses control and becomes fully the Sun before returning to himself.

Adrian is tested and learns he is one of the Celestes tied to water. He and Enzo visit his family, where Adrian confirms his sister is already dead despite appearances. Enzo senses Elara’s panic and returns to the ship, where the crew attacks her and throws her overboard. Her power manifests through a ghost ship, raising the dead, while Scorpius attacks with a creature. Adrian is injured and later saved. He is revealed fully as the Water Celeste. The group regroups at a lighthouse with Eli, Merissa, Isra, Adrian, Elara, Enzo, and Leo.

At the lighthouse, Isra’s visions are blocked, and she senses deception. They examine Piscea’s connection to the Dark, and Eli explains the origins of the Dark, the Moon, and the Stars, showing that Elara’s existence and powers are part of a larger system of balance. Adrian struggles with grief of his sister and learns that O’Sian is Kiania, a Star, though he claims he did not know. Enzo’s tether reacts, and the group discovers Elara’s tether has replaced his, linking them directly. They decide to confront Ariete.

On Hall’s Eve, Merissa is warned of danger. Adrian confirms that Kiania’s heart is the pearl and that she is being held by Scorpius. Elara enters a graveyard and frees a trapped soul using her moonlight, learning that shadows were meant to protect mortals from the Dark, not corrupt them. Ariete arrives seeking a truce, stating that a greater threat exists and that Piscea must not enter the realm.

Shadows gather as the Dark appears, revealed as Piscea, who has been hidden as Sofia and acting as the Dark’s vessel. She reveals that when Ariete killed her, her mortal form was discarded and she became something else. Piscea confirms she orchestrated Elara and Enzo’s connection to create duskglass and complete her awakening. She reveals she has been manipulating events, shaping prophecy, and guiding their lives to reach this point. She presents Astra’s severed head as proof of her power.

When she does not get what she wants, Piscea kidnaps Isra and disappears, destabilizing the group. Ariete admits he cannot face her alone, forcing Elara and Enzo to accept a temporary alliance with him. With Isra taken and Piscea fully active, the group divides roles. Elara, Enzo, and Ariete move to regroup and prepare for confrontation. Leo and Adrian leave to locate and awaken the other Celestes, while Merissa works with Eli to track Piscea and find Isra.

Elara accepts her role as the Moon and her connection to death, moonlight, and balance. The Stars continue to view her as a threat, the Dark remains active, and the balance between the Stars, the Moon, and the Dark is broken.