On my phone are about ten different book lists. I keep updating them for the books I'm genuinely searching for in the moment. Lately I was in deep in fantasy (don't worry, it didn't stick very well based on my scifi cravings). I found this book randomly on Goodreads while making my newest book list and thought, "Well it sounds interesting enough but I don't know if it's list worthy." So I passed it up. 
 A few weeks later I went to the nearest Half-Priced Books. After declaring there to be absolutely nothing from my list on their shelves, here comes a title I recognize. So it had to be fate, right? I couldn't ignore it a second time; it was the only book I bought that day. 
 Morgan was raised by mercenaries before she was turned over to an old man running a boys orphanage/university. When she grew older, she was trained by a man who churned out highly skilled assassins. Morgan is more than comfortable with weapons and brute strength, so when Nicholas, the man who raised her, asks her to take on a quest she knows she can't refuse. Nicholas reveals her quest to be a delivery to the king of Tor Neroche-she's to deliver a magical blade to the king who has lost his magic. Morgan, thanks to her training, wants nothing to do with magic. But what can she tell the man who's been a father to her? 
 Meanwhile, Adhemar, the king of Tor Neroche faces a crisis. If he doesn't have magic, he can't properly wield his sword and protect his kingdom. His brother, the archmage Miach, decides Adhemar must go on a quest to find a wielder for the Sword of Angesand, a magic-infused blade that could be Tor Neroche's last defense. 
 At just over 300 pages, it's the right length to follow a party through their quest. Morgan's party (who are all throw-away characters) is joined by Adhemar in disguise, and later Miach who convinces Morgan he's only a farmer with little magic. While the brothers try not to give away their real identities, Miach's struggles go much deeper-he's falling in love with a woman who hates magic. 
 While the pacing of the book is spot-on, the details aren't quite there. It gives the feeling that it's not the first in a series but rather a spin-off. The book offers either too many details about something small, or not enough details for something the reader should, supposedly, already know about. And while Star of the Morning is considered a "sword and sorcery" fantasy, there's not much swordplay. There are-maybe-two battles in the entire book. And none of the battle is described. It's more along the lines of, "Morgan fought gallantly and the numbers dwindled." Personally, I was hoping for more action than that. 
 The writing is also awkward in some places. Kurland's characters adapt more of an Olde English style than other books. It's not hard to read, just awkward. Not to mention I can't help but wonder if Kurland's editor fell asleep during some scenes. One shining example: 
 "I'll help," he said, helpfully. 
 Beautiful. 
 Star of the Morning is a fantasy romance but props to Kurland for not forcing it in there. Morgan, eventually, learns the truth about Miach and Adhemar is understandably hurt about this. No room for any mushy-gushy plot-killing romance here! Oh, and it's not a triangle-hallelujah! She genuinely only cares for one brother. 
 So while it was a pretty standard read, I do have some bones to pick about the rushed ending. There were no deus ex machinas throughout the book; everything was believable... well, believable for a fantasy. But as the end comes around and more details are thrown in (again, that the reader should somehow know about beforehand) that the entire thing just gets sloppy. The bad guy who was absent the entire book suddenly appears; just as he's mentioned off-hand, he disappears off-hand. It was annoying, to say the least. 
 But if you're looking for a simple fantasy quest with a little magic, a little traveling, and a decent amount of camaraderie then Star of the Morning might be for you. And hey, even I think I'll give the next book a shot.