StarCafe runs on a virtual currency called Shards. Shards are used to redeem memberships and per-novel collections that unlock advance chapters. Shards have no real-world monetary value, are non-transferable, and cannot be exchanged for cash.

Earning Shards

• A daily login claim (with a bonus on every 7th consecutive day of your streak).
• Streak milestones and streak-freeze protection.
• Badges awarded for milestones.
• Monthly leaderboard rewards for top supporters.

Other Ways to Get Shards

• Shards may be credited manually when you support us on Patreon or Ko-fi (see “Supporting StarCafe” below), or through a shard redemption code issued by StarCafe.
• Where available, one-time in-app purchases may grant Shards through the applicable app store. The store handles payment, pricing, and its own purchase terms.

Memberships are redeemed with Shards or an eligible code and grant advance access to ongoing fan translations plus ad-free reading. Advance access depends on the membership tier and the availability of advance chapters; the exact access shown on the site is authoritative.

• Asteroid (free) → Public chapters only, with ads.
• Stardust → Ad-free; up to 10% of available advance fan-translation chapters; includes 1 chapter ticket and 2 streak freezes.
• Star → Ad-free; up to 50% of advance chapters; includes 5 chapter tickets and 10 streak freezes.
• Galaxy → Ad-free; up to 100% of advance chapters; includes 10 chapter tickets and 20 streak freezes.

Current Shard costs for each tier are shown on the Support page and may change at our discretion.

Membership Terms

• A membership redeemed with Shards or an eligible code lasts 30 days and is non-recurring — it does not auto-renew and returns to the free Asteroid tier when it expires.
• Memberships can be upgraded but not downgraded or canceled mid-term; when you upgrade, the remaining value of your current tier is credited toward the new one.
• Chapter tickets included with a tier can be used to unlock individual paid chapters of original novels. Tickets are earned at a rate of 1 ticket per 100 Shards actually charged, so a tier redeemed at full price grants its full ticket count, while an upgrade grants proportionally fewer because the credit for your current tier reduces what you pay. The exact number is shown before you confirm a redemption.
• If you support us through an active Patreon pledge, membership access granted that way remains active for as long as your pledge is active and is managed through Patreon.

A novel collection applies to one specific novel. A fan-translation collection is redeemed once with Shards for one novel and grants early access to its current advance chapters. Original novels are unlocked chapter-by-chapter, using Shards or chapter tickets. A code may also grant a fan-translation collection without charging Shards.

• Fan-translation collections have no membership tiers and can only be redeemed once for a given novel. Original-novel access can be extended by unlocking a later chapter range.
• Advance chapters you unlock are early access. If the public release schedule later catches up to them, the chapters become free for everyone and the earlier redemption is not refunded.

Alongside Shards, you can support StarCafe directly on Patreon or Ko-fi. Support through these platforms may be credited as Shards or gifted membership access, applied manually to your account.

• Patreon pledges renew monthly under Patreon’s own terms; you can manage or cancel them anytime on Patreon.
• Ko-fi contributions are one-time tips or commissions.
• Please read each Patreon tier or Ko-fi post carefully, as benefits and availability may change.

Shards, and anything redeemed with them (memberships and novel collections), are final and non-refundable once credited or redeemed.

• Shards or gifts credited through Patreon or Ko-fi are voluntary tips/contributions and are non-refundable.
• If Shards credited to your account are later reversed or charged back by the payment provider they came from, the corresponding Shards — and any membership or collection redeemed with them — will be revoked, which may leave your account with a reduced or negative balance.
• Repeated or abusive refunds may result in restriction or termination of your account.
• If you believe a refund is genuinely warranted outside these cases, please contact us first at
  contact@starcafe.me
  .

• Shard earning rates, prices, membership benefits, and collection availability may change at our discretion. Where practical, we will announce significant changes.
• Translating is primarily a hobby, and the support we receive goes toward website maintenance and the editing/proofreading process.
• You can stop supporting at any time; memberships redeemed with Shards simply expire at the end of their 30-day period, and Patreon pledges can be canceled on Patreon.