As Many Souls as Stars

'How hollow is the heart of a mortal... How starving the soul'

A sweeping romantic epic, full of the joys of fantasy and yet brilliantly genre-defying reimagining of the Faustus legend. Set across three time periods, it follows Harding, a girl born under inauspicious stars, who is stalked by a demon determined to take her soul as her own. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, Life After Life and The Bear and the Nightingale.

'How hollow is the heart of a mortal... How starving the soul'

A sweeping romantic epic, full of the joys of fantasy and yet brilliantly genre-defying reimagining of the Faustus legend. Set across three time periods, it follows Harding, a girl born under inauspicious stars, who is stalked by a demon determined to take her soul as her own. Perfect for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue, Life After Life and The Bear and the Nightingale.

Beginning in the 16th century in Suffolk, As Many Souls as Stars opens with a Faustian deal struck between the daughter of an alchemist and a shadowy demon-figure, summoned unintentionally by a spell rooted in a father''s arrogance. What follows is part star-crossed love story, part cat-and-mouse chase writ across generations and lifetimes. These two characters meet again and again through history becoming further entangled and forever changed. Filled with legacies, curses and romance, this is a tale of magic and power dynamics - As Many Souls as Stars examines what we owe those we love, and what we as women inherit from those who came before us. Natasha Siegel''s fantasy debut is full of transporting historical detail, with thrilling twists and an abiding, thought-provoking romance that feels at once epic and deeply personal. An unforgettable read, As Many Souls as Stars examines what we owe to ourselves and to those we love.

Autorentext

Natasha Siegel is a writer of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. She was born and raised in London, where she grew up in a Danish-Jewish family surrounded by stories.

She studied English and History at the University of York, and she has an MA in Early Modern Studies from University College London, where her research specialised in Anglo-Jewish, and colonial history in the 17th century. Her studies inspired a passion for historical narratives and folklore: her novels interweave magic and real-world settings to tell stories about queer, Jewish, and otherwise marginalised characters throughout history.

She has a particular fondness for Early Modern tragedy and romance, which have informed much of her work, including her first fantasy novel, As Many Souls as Stars: a sapphic historical fantasy inspired by the Faustus legend. She lives in North-West London with her partner and spends her spare time chasing after the family dog, a rescue lurcher named Cleo.

Natasha was shortlisted for the Foyle's young poet of the year award. Her US debut, Solomon's Crown, was a New York Times editor's choice. As Many Souls As Stars releases October 2025 with Bloomsbury UK and is her UK and fantasy debut.

Klappentext

1592. Cybil Harding, daughter of a secret alchemist, was born under cursed stars. Destined to bring disaster to those around her, Cybil is trapped in a grand house with a mother paralysed by grief and a father willing to sacrifice everything in pursuit of magic.

      Miriam Richter is a creature born of shadow. Forged by the dark arts, she is doomed to exist for eternity and destined to be alone - consuming the souls of mortals for sustenance.

      Everything changes when Miriam meets Cybil, whose soul shines with a light so bright, she must claim it for herself. Miriam offers a bargain: she will grant Cybil reincarnation and the chance to change her stars in exchange for her soul.

      Thus begins a dance across centuries as Miriam seeks Cybil in every lifetime to claim her prize. But Cybil isn't inclined to play by the rules. As the two women circle each other, drawn together inescapably as light and dark, the bond forged between them grows stronger. In their battle for dominance, only one of them can win. but perhaps they can't survive without each other.

      Natasha Siegel's fantasy debut is full of transporting historical detail, with thrilling twists and an abiding, thought-provoking romance that feels at once epic and deeply personal**.Ambitious, gothic, and magical, As Many Souls as Stars is about the lengths we go to protect ourselves, our legacy, and those we love.**