It’s book mail time, and this one literally barely fit in the frame—so I had to hold it sideways just to show you the size of the box. In this unboxing, I’m opening the deluxe edition of Starside by Alex Aster (and yes, I genuinely forgot I ordered the deluxe edition until it showed up). The second I got it out of the packaging, I had to zoom in because the cover details are stunning—the sword, the etched look, and that shiny sheen where it almost looks like the sword is shattering. I also share a little early-reading update: I’m only on chapter three, and so far it’s all about claiming your sword, with a competition where 50 people get to go to Starside (the gods’ side of the world) and compete for magic that could help save the people back home. There are different metals with different meanings, which has been really interesting already. The biggest win for me in the physical edition? The map—because the Kindle version didn’t have one, and I was like… how am I supposed to visualize any of this? I flip through the sprayed edges too (very shiny, kind of giving Fourth Wing vibes), and I end by asking: do you read with the dust jacket on, or do you take it off?