The Brilliance of Stars

The Brilliance of Stars (Jack and Ivy #1)
J'nell Ciesielski
Publication date: November 1, 2022 by Thomas Nelson
Genre: Historical Romance
Rating: 4 👢👢👢👢

Summary: Washington DC, 1914. Ivy Olwen knows how to survive on the streets without two coins to rub together. But when she finds herself whisked into a secret society that seeks to maintain the balance of good and evil in the world, she can’t believe there’s more to life than just surviving. In the hallowed and historied halls of Talon, she learns European languages and ballroom dancing, as well as demolitions and sharpshooting—in short, everything a spy and assassin will need to survive in the field.

The first day Jack Vale meets Ivy, he knows she is not to be underestimated. The second day, he knows his heart will belong to no one else. Between sparring bouts and constellation gazing, Jack takes Ivy under his wing, and the two form a bond that soon turns to love.

While the rest of the world tumbles into war, the two embark on an official mission to take down a madman who has left a trail of blood and murder across Russia. Little do they know the unfathomable peril waiting in the wings of a chaotic Europe.

When Jack and Ivy are thrust into encounters each more terrifying than the last, Ivy must determine how far she will go to save the man she loves. Equal parts historical fiction and adventure novel, Ciesielski’s epic tale of espionage and romance will leave readers both enchanted and thrilled. 

My thoughts: The opening prologue is epic! In the midst of a full blown gun slinging showdown the two main characters exchange witty barbs about whether or not it is an appropriate time for romance!

There are three distinct storylines to this novel. The first was the relationship between Jack and Ivy. Both had a rough childhood and had to find ways to survive on their own. When they met they were drawn to each other as each recognized in the other a shared grit and determination to succeed. As their feelings developed naturally so did the way they communicated. Their humorous anecdotes certainly provided a levity necessary when considering their line of work.  

Talon was a bit of a stretch for me. What I did like was the varied training members received and the sense of family it provided. Of course this was the avenue by which our main characters met and had their "adventures" so the writer did well in developing a realistic legacy to the secret society.

Lastly comes Philip, the third wheel so to speak. Philip and Ivy survived the streets together as kids. Philip and Jack became best buds at Talon. When Jack and Ivy fell in love naturally Philip felt lost. When an assignment goes terribly wrong Phillip suddenly is faced with choices and challenges that threatens everything. 

Fast paced, good balance of thrilling escapades and witty banter, and excellent character development. Ciesielski set herself up for a successful series with this one. 

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley and the publisher.