i love your writing. everything you mention is used later in the story, and nothing is superfluous. i appreciate your writing. when i read the first chapter a while ago, i hated this story, but this time i kept reading, and it was a fitting sequel. i apologize for being prejudiced based on the first chapter alone.

You are a talented writer. Thank you. You should really publish you work!

You're doing a great job. I was very pleasantly surprised to find a sequel to The Rising Sun. You are a very talented writer!

I started reading Bright Star because TRS was fairly interesting. Bright Star is simply magnificent, an intriguing read with a gripping plot and surpasses TRS by light years.

Andra's character development is outstanding and I never felt the story sag at any stage. The journey for Andra from Dusan's to Bellris was exceptionally well done. And the dreams with Elysea added a lot of flavour.

You've potrayed the emotions of Eithne's little west wind brilliantly. From his reckless devotion, to his holding back, to Kael's anguish- even over Colmen's death- admirable, really.

Tiri never appealed much to me (this is just personal preference) but Eithne is warm, no, she's red hot (pun intended) and in fine form throughout. Setora is spicy; I was wondering when Astrum would show up, and there he was in miniature dragon glory. It did't feel like an eight month timeline, it felt much longer.

Scenes and quotes like Andra (brighter than the rest):

-Andra's discovery of her dead mother (Outlaws)

-Colmen coaxing Andra to come down the tree (Watching & Waiting, actually all Colmen-Andy scenes are lovely)

-Kael's discovery of Andra's scars (Eithne)

-Eithne admonishing Kael (Missing Fate)

-"Swimming is, essentially, not drowning" (Not Drowning)

-Andra's miscarriage (Vigil)

-Chapters, entire: Celebrating, Impasse, The Real Thing, Wounds, Judgement, A Dark Place, Into the Light, Heat, Compromise, Risk, Skirmish, Starting Over

-"Goodbye?" he asked. "But I thought you… Don't you love him?" (The Hall)

-"You were that other way. I'm glad you were there." (Lessons Learned)

-"That would be why he calls me jahbi-grandfather (Wanderers)

-"I had a nightmare, and Kael came to see me. We were talking and I… For a moment, I thought that I might… want him to kiss me."
"I'll never be safe. Not from the memories. Not from the pain. Not from the past. Not ever." (The Past)

-"You know, I'm alive too"
Andra running back to Kael, her discovery of Colmen's ancestry (Pages)

-Tiri-Andra interaction (Ceremonies)

-"She told me I'd be a great father and husband to 'someone,' Eithne. 'Someone.' She couldn't even just leave it at 'great father and husband.' It was like she wanted to add the 'someone' to it, like she wanted to let me know that it wouldn't be to her. So what am I supposed to think about that, Eithne?" (City of Elves)

-The deceiving kiss (The Return)

-"If you did, it would only be because I, too, chose Kael over you." (Plans)

-"I want us to break our backs together trying to start up a ridiculous little farm. I want to take care of you, and come home to you every day and hold you in my arms every night. I want to build a house for us, and I want to fill it with a family. And if… if you happen to be carrying the first member of that family right now…" He sighed. "I don't care. If you'll let me, I will be a father to that child. You don't have to do it alone, Andra. I want to be there for you. For both of you, if that's the way things turn out." (Expectations)

-"I want to tell everyone I can find that I'm marrying a Rider." Andra laughed lightly despite her heavy thoughts. "Funny," she said. "I was thinking the same thing." (Freedom)

-"Even if you give it to him, he won't take it. Now please come and marry him before he wrings his hands right off of his wrists."
"I don't care if they're terrible monsters," he whispered, "as long as they're ours." (Priorities)

-"I said I was carrying a child, Caedo. I never said it was yours."
"You let me send you on a suicide mission without telling me you were carrying my child?" (What Matters)

-I promise you, Andra, that every time he touches you, he is remembering that I touched you first. When he kisses you, he is thinking about how many times I have kissed you as well...But believe me when I say that every time he looks at you, he sees nothing more than the woman who was once his brother's. Even to him, you are still mine."
"When I look at you, I see… everything. I see children, happiness, peace, comfort, warmth, love, everything I've ever dreamed of having. When I look at you, Andra, I see my home." (Last Words)

-Kael sighed...their mother. (Epilogue, last paragraph)

I should have just reviewed every chapter! Thank you for letting us read this for free :-)

Very good. You have a talent that should be developed and rewarded. I have to say, however, that I am very disappointed that so much reference was made to rape. I understand it strengthens the story and provides something to hate and all that, but having been with my wife going through the real thing, it's difficult to accept. I very much wish I could find a good fantasy with magic, dragons, and battle without the rape. Seems every one I read has it, even my favorite (The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind), but I don't like it.

I'm not a writer so I can't really give an objectional review from that perspective, but I can say that I enjoyed your story. I would have liked to see Andy use more of her magic knowingly. It frustrates me to no end that most of this genre has the main character using their magic accidently and never developing and using it.

Very good story. I would like to see more surrounding their children. Though, perhaps, focus less on the love parts so much. :-)

:P me again... Not to be picky but it seems like your left hand started spasming and hitting the "f" key when you typed some words in the last few chapters. Only mistake I've found in 55 chapters :O

Yay! The ending was really good, hope you have a new story up soon! (Or you could start getting this stuff published...)ITN 7th

Random fact: a human being can not physically survive 41 anything above lashes, especially not a slave who spent their entire lives indoors... But hey, its fiction and nobody cares right xD

Anyway, really great story, hope you write more :D

This was perfect. If you get published let me know. I hope there is a sequel!

Loved it. Good work.

Such a great story! I am sad to see it end but at the same time I am happy to know that everything turned out alright in the end. I hope you do decide to do the sequel in the future. Good luck with the story you are working on and I hope that you can get it published. :)

Loved this story and your fantasy stories in general! I would totally read a sequel to this one if you ever decide to write one.

Good luck :) I love your story and I hope everything works out for you :D

d'awwww. Love this story! Can't wait to actually see the kids! :)

seeing astrum always makes me happy :)

Update? :(?