A Wish Upon the Stars: Tales from Verania

“Dude. No worries. I’m Sam of Dragons. What the worst that could happen?”Imagine, if you will, the epic trilogy “Lord of the Rings,” but with the main characters being played by hormonal gay tenth graders.Mmmm. Delicious. Surprising. Annoying. Profound.The brilliance of TJ Klune’s grand finale to the Tales from Verania series is that it is both a complete spoof of and a deadly serious homage to the epic magical adventure genre, whether we’re talking Tolkein or Star Wars. It is hilarious and screwy and at moments salaciously gay; but also poignant and thoughtful and existential, forcing us to think about good and evil and love and fate and free will.TJ Klune is a unique young author, who has made his way in the drama-filled world of gay romance without ever giving up his distinctive, off-kilter voice. He has not reined in his writing style to please anyone, because he knows that people who like his work will be devoted and faithful to him (as I am). He has the uncanny ability to tap into emotions and to shift the tone of his prose on the turn of a dime. One moment you’re laughing out loud at some absurdity, and the next tears are welling up in your eyes as he slips a slim stiletto into your heart—not enough to kill, but enough to cause exactly the right amount of pain.All epic journeys, from the Odyssey to Harry Potter are voyages of self-discovery and transformation. Klune tackles all the tropes of this (literally) ancient genre and adds a distinctively gay sense of camp outrage. There is plenty of anger in this outrageousness—as there is in all of his books—but also an unabashedly romantic belief in the power of love as the driving force in the ability of good to conquer evil.There is also a very clear political sensibility in this book that, places it very precisely in 2018. The human issues with which Klune deals on this roller-coaster of emotional ups and downs are all too apparent in the strange, politically polarized world in which we all live today. Ultimately, that is the thing that makes this book, and this incredible, wonderful series, so good: this is a fantasy in which we can all see parts of ourselves.When I read my first Harry Pottery novel, in my 40s, I wished that I’d had those books when I was a teenager, just becoming aware of the fact that I was gay. Reading Klune’s Verania series in my early 60s, I am merely grateful that I am still the kind of gay man who desperately needs this sort of crazy perspective on the big things in life.

I realise now that the main theme of the four books is not really about a fantasy quest, or good vs evil, or adventure. The books' big message is about love, friendship, camaraderie, devotion, loyalty.Some readers will mention they don't care for Sam continually gas-bagging, that his brattiness, and cockiness is annoying ,and that he hogs all the pages. - but to my mind Sam is The Story (capitalised). He is the hinge, the centre-piece.Every character in the story has a strategic and important place revolving around Sam. I love Ryan's fierce and undying love for Sam, Gary is his usual beautiful glitter-drenched snarky self, Tiggy is lovable, Kevin is delightful, Randall isnt as grumpy - I just want to hug them all, and for longer than a minute.I forgive Klune for pinching a few phrases from the wonderful "Until You". I guess he did it For Reasons.The tension was almost too much for me. So many times I wanted to skip to the finish to see how it all ended. The story about Sam and his loved ones trying to return their country to a peaceful place was a fun, yet often heart-stopping read. I had to go away from the book every now and then, to recharge my batteries; It was such a non-stop roller coaster ride of wit and originality that my mind needed to stop and think it all over.

Oh Klune, you gone and done it again. You made my eyes -leak-. I remember, such a long time ago when I reviewed book 1 (like, 5...6 days ago?), I said how I instantly knew this series was going to be something special. But I couldn't have anticipated the scope of what I feel now, having finished it.A Wish Upon the Stars is a perfect - yes, perfect!, don't you dare argue - ending to this story of wizards, dashing and immaculate knights, magical weirdos who do gross things and have hearts of gold, and (most importantly) friendship and love. Because that's what this series is. Behind the banter and sexual puns and shenanigans, it's a story of loyalty, love, and the people we choose.I thought for sure I had figured out what was going to happen in this final installment. And then Klune went and threw a couple curve balls. I was literally clutching my chest for a whole chapter, wishing I'd been wearing pearls, while my heart beat fast and I wondered what the mothercracking eff was happening. And when all was said and done, I exhaled deeply and knew this story would forever be encased in the annals of my mind (which sounds gross, but I blame Klune for saying annals numerous times in the first place and getting it stuck in my head).This series - yes, it's funny and weird and brash. Not everyone is going to like it (lame). But it's also...gods, it's heart-warming. It makes you believe in the power of love. It's not always pretty and it makes you hurt along the way, but that's because it's real; those emotions are so real.And that's what A Wish Upon the Stars leaves me with - the feeling that I just went through this adventure myself in a way. Not really, because I AM mostly sane. But I felt it. And it still sits fresh in my heart like an ache. Happiness. Love. Sadness that it's over. That I have to say goodbye to this wonderful band of weirdos. I love them all, I really do. Klune made us part of them.And because I can't leave out a few additional details, Sam and Ryan get down again and it's glorious.And Klune, godsdamn, that part where Sam is talking about Myrin's grimoire and needing an editor because he devoted pages to superfluous stuff that didn't advance the narrative at all... Just *slow clap* man. Haters gonna hate. (P.S. I don't. You're wonderful.)I don't want to say goodbye! Until next time, Verania.

What will I do without the further adventures of Sam and his love, his fabulous friends and his dragons? So bereft now I have finished this series. These books are hilarious, Kevin and Gary get dirtier (or is that TJ??), Sam’s love for Knight-Deliscoius-Face is beautiful, and love, family, friends, dragons, best friends 5eva, evil villains, magic, and a great story arching over the 4 books. So. much. fun!

I have been forcing people to read the last three books in this series and this book is ni different. Read all about Gary and Kevin, Tiggy, Vadoma, Justin and the King. Oh yes and Sam of Dragons, his cornerstone and love of his life, Ryan and their fight against villains whathisface and whosits.But seriously, the mix of High Fantasy and silliness is pure gold. Read and enjoy!

This series has owned me I've read the series of 4 books in a week, I've not had a book hangover like this in quite a while. It even almost set my anxiety off.What an epic end to this series run, I'm praying for Justin's story in the near future as this one but me right in the feels. I've laughed pretty much the whole way through due to Sam\Gary\Tiggy but the feels I've been in tears. These people feel so real to me now. I've got more books from this author and and can believe I'll be reading through them soon too!!

Oh my gods... THIS BOOK!!I've never read a book that can make me laugh out loud and sob on the same page (except maybe the others in this series). It is beyond wonderful.The characters are still just as amazing and I love the references to other bits of pop culture that made me grin throughout. It's an amazing story that, much like the main character, keeps defying all expectations to deliver something even better than what I thought I was going to get.I will never not love this series, and I implore everyone else to read it because their lives will be richer for it.Thank you so much, Mr. Klune, for sharing this with the world.

What a great ending to a wonderful series of books. The characters of Sam and Ryan are so well drawn. The supporting characters were just as well done - Gary, Tiggy and the brilliant Kevin to name a few of my favourites. Highly recommended.