In the world that Louise Cooper has created, Chaos rules and the First Magus is their chosen Avatar, nominated by his Magi peers and approved by Yandros,The Lord of Chaos, whose word is law. We begin Star Ascendant at the cusp of change. A new First Magus is appointed, Lord Vordegh, and he is a man who is known equally for his ascetic lifestyle as he is known for his sadistic nature. Is Lord Vordegh the right man for the job? Court historian Savrinor questions his appointment and wonders if the Lord Vordegh is indeed the right magi for the position, but Savrinor has other concerns when Benetan Liss, the Captain of the Chaos riders, asks him for a favor. Benetan, through an act of selfishness, changes the course of not only his life but Savrinor’s when he chooses to bring Iselia, the woman he was once betrothed, back to the Star peninsula during one of the Chaos harvesting. Iselia is not the woman Benetan once knew. She is now a devout follower of the Lords of Order and her husband, Kaldar, is one of the inner circle of heretics who wish to restore the Lords of Order to power. Iselia, while a prisoner at the Star Peninsula, finds that she holds a level of power over both Savrinor and Benetan. Can she manipulate these two men in aiding her cause? Will the Lords of Chaos finally step in or will they allow the free will of their followers to lead to their down-fall? Will Kaldar and his inner circle succeed and release the Lords of Order?

This booked delivered a lot to the reader. The story was intricately woven through the eyes and actions of several characters, foremost Benetan Liss, Iselia Darrow and Savrinor. These three form a triangle which is central to the plot of this book, and from them, the rest of the characters are able to evolve. Savrinor is the historian for the Star Peninsula and is an isolated man by choice. Benetan is the closest thing he has to a friend. He is in a position of power because of the role he plays recording all that happens at the Star Peninsula. He is a man of peculiar appetites, both mental and physical, and when Benetan introduces him to the lovely Iselia, he finds himself slightly enamored and susceptible to the same subtle manipulation he practices. Benetan Liss hates himself. His selfish choice of bringing Iselia back to the Star Peninsula during the last harvest has put her in jeopardy and the only way to save her is to give her to another. However, Benetan can’t seem to let go and his guilt becomes a tool that Iselia and others use to manipulate him. This sets him on the wrong path. Iselia’s world changed on the day of her wedding, and the past has come back to haunt her. She is throw into the heart of power of that which she despises and is forced to make hard choices in the name of survival. However, Iselia finds out that the prisoner she has become wields a power that she did not expect and she discovers that being in the enemy’s lair might just be the safest place to be.

Star Ascendant is one of those books that you need to read every single word without distraction or you might miss a critical element. I am new to Louise Cooper novels so I had no idea what to expect of this first novel in her newest trilogy but, let me tell you, I don’t think I could have ever expected what was delivered. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It surprised me since the Fantasy genre in the past has always left me wanting. It was filled with so many characters that I couldn’t even begin to introduce them all in this review. It would require a short essay to give them all the justice they deserved. The plot of this novel is complex with several individual stories unfolding simultaneously. Each with their own uniqueness but all are leading to the same overall plot to determine if the Lords of Order will be released or will Chaos still reign. The only drawback to this story for me was the character of Benetan Liss. Benetan is depicted as this mighty Captain who rose through the ranks and yet was very blind and naive throughout the entire story; while every other character seemed to grow, he does not. His behavior did grate on me after awhile.

If you are looking for a story that is simple and all tied up in a nice bow, Star Ascendant is not for you; however, if you want a read that draws you into a complex world wrought with political and religious intrigue, pick up Star Ascendant and you won’t be disappointed. I will give a word of warning: don’t expect a conclusion to be found at the end of this story. It leaves you with more questions than it does answers. Overall, I found this to be a thoroughly enjoying book that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend and I can’t wait to read the next one, Eclipse.

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Books in the Star Shadow Trilogy series in the order they should be read:
Star Ascendant
Eclipse

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