The Desert Heiress

The Seven Star Empire #1

by Shoshana Rain

Nothing will stop Lis from regaining her family's power—not even the three tempting men standing in her way.

In the desert port of Cenefra, the Sun Rose is life blood. A magic plant with the ability to grant people greater abilities. Sale of the plant is strictly forbidden, its growth restricted only to farms owned by the Empire's shipping company.

Liseya Moroeste has only ever wanted one to run the syndicate smuggling it. But her family has been cut off for over a century, forced to advise but never lead. When the government cracks down on all illegal export, Lis is ready to seize her chance.

To do so, she must best her three rivals. Filip, Deo and Adrian each want to court her, control her, cajole her into doing what they want.

Liseya finds herself drawn into their complicated web, but to survive, she must learn if she can trust them, or if she must cut them down before they can do the same to her.

The Desert Heiress is the first book in The Seven Star Empire Series. It is a slow burn, MMMF why choose, second world fantasy with steamy scenes and a guaranteed HEA at the end of the series. It contains both MM and FF scenes, and involves the FMC in a relationship before getting involved with her main love interests.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Why Choose, Ebooks, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, LGBT

405 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2023

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!! I picked up this book on a whim after I saw the author post a marketing TikTok about it, and I was pleasantly surprised! Some spoilers but I tried to avoid anything major to the plot.

This book is a fantasy reverse harem/why choose, and there are MM and FF scenes throughout it. In short, everyone is a bit gay in this, and gender doesn't really matter. I also found this book interesting because the author wanted to incorporate her Jewish faith and her experience living in the U.S. Southwest (I think?) to create this world. It was definitely unique to anything else I've read.

Plot
Liseya is the granddaughter of a crime boss, and she is set to inherit his criminal organization after he dies. Their organization specializes in smuggling "sun rose" which is a drug that comes from plants that can give you enhanced abilities (faster, stronger, better eyesight, etc.) depending on the strain of the sun rose that you consume. Liseya's grandfather works closely with 3 men (basically his 3 lieutenants) who lead up different pieces of the smuggling chain.

After Liseya's grandfather dies suddenly, Liseya is the new "arbitress," but she quickly finds herself unsure of her decisions and unsure if she can trust the 3 men that reported to her grandfather. She thinks they will try to cut her out completely because, as a woman, she should be focused on finding her spouses. Also, Liseya is a "stera" which is a person of the persecuted faith/religion in this world (this is where there are similarities to what Jewish people have faced throughout history). The 3 men are not stera, so they don't think they can ever be with her.

When Liseya is betrayed and condemned to be arrested, they have to figure out how to reverse the betrayal and save their sun rose empire.

My Thoughts
This was totally unique from any other fantasy why choose book that I've ever read. I liked it.

I will say, the first 50% of the book was very slow. I struggled through it, and I probably would've given the first half of the book a 2-star rating. While it's well-written, the problem with it is that it is completely about politics. There are absolutely no scenes in the beginning about anything other than talking or thinking about the politics of the crime organization and the Council. There was just so much plotting about how to save the sun rose crop and who betrayed the smugglers, etc. etc. It was boring. The 4 main characters also had very limited interaction during the first half of the book, and even when they did interact, they were discussing their sun rose operations or politics.

However, the story really turns around in the last half of the book, and suddenly I couldn't put it down. While Liseya makes a really stupid (like I'm still cringing over how stupid she was) decision at ~57% into the book, the story then really picks up. We finally get a lot of action and a lot of character interaction. I'm also glad that Liseya's uncles were killed because I was getting annoyed that there were more villains being added to the story, but that was nipped in the bud. Liseya had some decent character development too from beginning to end; I hope the author doesn't make her stupid again in book 2. This book had a reallllly fantastic ending with the Widow/Liseya's bedroom(!?) and the proposal. I'm excited to see Deo and Liseya work out their stuff. Filip is definitely my favorite of the 3 men right now. I still haven't warmed up to Adrien--he was too much of an asshole in the first half of the story.

The one part of this that wasn't very exciting for me was the smut. In my opinion, because this is a world where everyone is in poly relationships and everyone is gay, none of the sex scenes were particularly surprising. There wasn't really tension. Everyone just kind of sleeps with everyone so I wasn't excited about any of the sex scenes. In fact, for most of the book, I was really just rooting for Filip and Liseya to be in a relationship and then for Deo and Adrien to have their own thing. It really didn't feel like Deo or Adrien were romantically interested in Liseya at alll for most of the book, so it was kind of random and weird to me when they just flipped at the end of the book. While I don't mind when authors do this, I think this is always the danger when authors include existing MM relationships in a reverse harem story. For me, it makes it really difficult to believe that they actually want the woman, and it feels a bit forced and aggressively pushed on the reader while lacking in any real character chemistry to actually convince the reader.

Anyways, the first half of this book is incredibly slow, but the last half of the book was amazing, so I will go with 4 stars. Looking forward to reading the next book!

[Wicked Fox ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Desert Heiress blew me away. I adore these characters so, so much 🥹 Liseya forever holds my heart. She's flawed and well rounded as a character. I've got a bit of a crush, if I'm being honest. She's ruthless and vulnerable with three very different men who are complex in their own ways as well.

I really love what Shoshana has done with the main characters. Having them be reluctant allies is one of my favourite tropes and I'm so excited to see what she has for the next book 🥰

The Desert Heiress releases on August 16 so pre order now! 🤩💕

[TC Rittenhouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an auto 5 star book - READ THIS BOOK!!

OMG... I'm going to need some time to process this... but my initial thoughts are - READ THIS BOOK!!

Once I calm down, I promise I will have a more in-depth review.

It took 2 days for me to calm down about this book, and I still have parts living rent-free in my head.

First off, thank you, Shoshana, for the opportunity to read this early... every book gets better and better, and I fall even more in love with the worlds and characters that you have brought to life. Second - READ THIS BOOK!

Liseya is her grandfather's heir as the arbitress to a criminal consortium that is actively smuggling... and the others in the consortium are all younger men who do not get along. Everything is starting to fall apart, tensions are high, drought is threatening the land, and the legal arm of trade is starting to circle like buzzards. The men and Lis need to figure out a way to work together before people start dying on their watch.

I spent a great number of times screaming at Lis for making some really dumb decisions, but when you are working on limited information, you make mistakes...and people have to trust to give up information and when you don't trust, things will happen. So yes, Lis frustrated me, but she still intrigued me, and I am looking forward to her growth. I also wanted to reach in and knock the guys' heads together to see if they would straighten up and start acting right - they figured out things faster than Lis did.

This one is a beautiful otherworldly creation with a society that actively practices polyamory which intrigues me because of the characters, and I am really looking forward to seeing how they balance things given the personalities involved.

5 out of 5 stars, 3 out of 5 for the spice level - I can see that the spice level will definitely increase exponentially as the series continues. This is a spicy book with fairly explicit couplings of same sex identifying characters and scenes with male/female dynamics as well.

I pre-ordered the Kindle version months ago, and as soon as the paperback was available, I bought it as well.

[Malischa Nijenhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book I’ve read very quick.
I really need book 2.
I adore these characters. Liseya holds my heart. She's flawed and well rounded as a character. If I’m being honest I love her as much as the others in this book. She is ruthless but at the same time vulnerable with three different men who are complex in their own way. I loved this book so much I just needed it as a book

[April Bruner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow. Wow. I picked this up on a whim, because the cover is GORGEOUS, but man did it not disappoint. I'm in love with the world that the author is building, it's so different than anything else I've ever read.

Liseya is a ruthless heiress to an old family fortune, and at first she's portrayed as a meek, fumbling girl who is scrambling to take over the family business after tragedy strikes.

We very quickly realize she's a thousand times more than that, and a bada$$ in her own right. She's done playing games with men who she thinks are out to control her, and she wants to control her own destiny.

But then she has threads that tie her to 3 very different men, and dangerous shenanigans ensue before any of them ever get together! But it gives me Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, only set in the most gorgeous desert you can imagine.

There's more depth to this book than I realized, and the relationships that develop are flawed but beautiful. The spice is there, but it's definitely not why I'm obssessed. The plot to this is just *chef's kiss.*

I legitimately am so sad to have to wait until 2024 for the next installment.

[Bevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

{4.5/5}

CW: spice, violence, ref/off page SA, religious intolerance, drug use, some others

Why yes, I did stay up to an ungodly hour just because I wanted to finish this book. I regret nothing.

There is exactly one thing keeping the port town of Cenefra alive— Sun Rose. Grown only in one location, the distillation is in constantly high demand, regardless of the source. The Company demands that all Sun Rose go through its sellers, but there are those who smuggle their own supply out. The Moroeste family used to be one such faction, but they’ve long been relegated to the role of Arbiter, the advisors. When Liseya Moroeste is finally left in command, she’s determined to rebuild the family name. Things are changing in Cenefra, though, and Lis may just need to rely on the very families she wants to outshine.

A quick note in case the content warnings weren’t clear— this book deals with a *lot* of stereotyping and prejudice from both a religious aspect and one of misogyny. It’s not subtle, it’s not pleasant, and it may not be a good fit for all readers’ mental health. Please take care of yourselves.

It’s giving “old school mafia vibes, but make it fantasy.” Also, make it incredibly spicy and deliciously ‘why choose.’ So, you know, it’s pretty much perfect.

The characters are interesting, and each one has their own agenda going into the story. The book swaps focal points between the four MCs, which means we get to cover a lot of information, but it never gets jumbled or confusing. We don’t lose time, the pacing stays consistent, and the changes in POV work well to enhance the storyline instead of distracting from it.

The relationship dynamics are messy and fast, but there’s enough shared history between the characters and it conveys well enough in the story to keep it from feeling overly rushed. The group also doesn’t just ignore what’s actually going on in the story; there are extenuating circumstances that have a definite impact on how everyone interacts with each other, and that’s not overlooked just for the sake of everyone getting together. Just because they’re banging doesn’t mean that the relationships are good, stable, or healthy just yet, and everyone is aware and accepting of that fact. It’s portrayed really well and it serves to make the story feel a little more real.

The plot takes a couple of chapters to really set itself into motion, but once it does it stays addictively engaging the entire time (which is probably why I got almost no sleep for the sake of finishing the story). I really can’t say too much more without giving away all the spoilers, but once things kicked off they went *hard* and it was a solidly fun (if mildly stressful) read.

The world building is beautiful and blends just the right amount of magic and industrialization (think, the electric lights are powered by magic crystals and folks are dual-wielding swords and pistols). The setting is unique, lending itself almost to an old west atmosphere, and the way it’s depicted sounds absolutely lovely. The deep entrenchment of the different religions and how they interact with each other is solidly executed, though the deep mistrust and pain reflected in their dynamic is almost nauseatingly realistic. It’s far from comfortable, but it’s very well written.

This book ended up being such a good read, and I’m incredibly excited to see how the next part of the story plays out. It’s addictively paced, steamy hot, and impossible to put down. I’m sure you never realized it, but you absolutely need a mafia/Wild West/spicy fantasy blend on your TBR, and you need it immediately.

[KateR. · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
TLDR Review: An important but still super fun and spicy(!) read for all Dark Romance fans.

Transparency- I’m a total Shoshana Rain STAN and full fledged member of her ARC Team. However I personally don’t read a ton of Why Choose? romance so admittedly I had my hesitations about this series when I first started hearing snippets about it. But as soon as she began talking about writing a “Jewish Coded” Fantasy that takes place in an environment similar to the American Southwest and a culture like the Roman Empire but if it had “existed on up through the Industrial Revolution” I knew I was down!

This story is written in an extremely modern way, that I think makes it an important read for all Dark Romance fans. All of our MC’s are legitimately Morally Gray, actively running a crime syndicate focused on drug smuggling. Even the FMC makes questionable choices and her motives are often murky. I love how Rain continually strives to break staid fantasy standards like this in her writing. Additionally, the greater culture in the world she’s built is described as being mostly polyamorous with “paired” lovers an oddity, and per Rain’s own words: everyone here is gay! There are explicit M/M, F/F and M/F scenes, and all of these ships are seemingly, unconditionally accepted by everyone. Even though the storylines and time periods are fundamentally different, this one aspect of culture building felt very reminiscent of J. Bree’s, The Bonds that Tie series IMO and it actually has me craving a re-read to follow this up (Yeah, I’m a weirdo like that).

Now, was this the most fantastical of "Fantasies" I’ve ever read? TBH, not really. And this is the reason I called out Dark Romance fans above specifically. As of book 01, I feel this story certainly falls more into that category than typical Romantasy. While the world building is unique and well done, that’s pretty much where the fantasy elements end. There is very little magic mentioned- when it is, it appears to exclusively belong to religious figures and their practices. OFC this could all change going forward, but as of now there aren’t any fantastical creatures mentioned and all the chars are human. So the only heightened abilities come from taking the aforementioned drug that anchors this plot. None of this takes anything away from the story, I just felt it was important to clarify, as readers of more typical YA style Fantasy or those unfamiliar with the Dark Romance genre might otherwise be surprised. Alternatively, I think fans of the more niche Mafia Romance genre in particular might really enjoy this more whimsical take.

What I did not expect was to relate to the FMC as much as I did. On the surface I never would have guessed this. But as I read on, I found myself wondering, are ALL Jewish families run by overbearing, hyper critical Grandfatherly figures these days? Because mine sure as hell is! So lol, right away I latched onto this aspect of our FMC’s background. The way Rain was able to portray both her love and fear of this figure in her life was done so incredibly well. Additionally, the descriptions of the two main religions and subsequent alienations were quite familiar and refreshing to read about from Rain’s perspective. But lastly, basically the whole entire story of this first book boils down to mistakes and how we learn from and move past them. Which happens to be a major personal struggle of mine as well. At the very beginning, Rain advises in her strikingly lovely dedication-

”Don’t let yourself be solely defined by one choice.”

And oh boy did that resonate with me, even beyond finishing this read.

Thanks again to the author, Shoshana Rain, for providing me with an ARC of The Desert Heiress! All opinions given here are expressly my own.

[Amber Crook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC for an honest review.

Shoshana, you beautiful creature, you.

First, the author’s note at the beginning caught my attention right from the get go. She wanted the scene to be like the American Southwest where she grew up, and she wanted it to be a Jewish coded fantasy. “The world I’ve built, politically and culturally, best represents the patchwork nature of the late Roman Empire (if the Roman Empire existed on up through the Industrial Revolution). Also, I had no clue this was going to be a why choose/RH and oh boy oh boy. If you know me, I LOVE reverse harems, and I couldn’t wait to jump in. I was pretty psyched after reading the author’s note, and I normally don’t do that. Very glad I did because it got me in the mood.

We are introduced to a family that are essentially drug lords. They aren’t in charge, but they advise the groups that sell and distribute Sun Rose. Sun Rose is a plant, and when harvested, processed, and consumed, can give the user heightened abilities (depending on the kind they consume)

Liseya is being trained by her grandfather to be the advisor in this operation, but she wants power, and is afraid these three men they’re in business with will leave her out to dry when she takes over.

She has to be better than these men to take control, and Filip, Deo, and Adrian plot how to best control her.
They have to figure out how to trust each other and figure out how to not crash their entire operation.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
MMMF why choose
MM/FF relationships (states in her note that “everyone is gay” :)
Political Intrigue
Enemies to Lovers
Mafia Vibes
Forbidden Love
Touch him/her and die

[sycokittykat - Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Who can you trust?

Lis wanted to be head of the smuggling of Sun Rose and when her grandfather passes that's exactly what she becomes. However, many do not believe she is capable of handling the job. Now she has to figure out who she can rely on and then get them all on the same page too.

The beginning of this book was slow but I understand its fantasy and we need to understand what is the norm for a new world. Lis does make a bug mistake about half way through and the rest is her taking a chance on men she is interested in but is forbidden to have.

As she gets closer to these men that she is discovering really do want to help her she also has to accept they want to keep her and are willing to do whatever it takes. Can she trust her enemies to really be what she needs to succeed?

Rivals to Lovers
Touch Them and Die
Hurt/Comfort
"I had no where else to go"
Morally Grey
Poly

[Samantha Vaive · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holy Moly! That’s literally all I can think of to say! What a ride. The book is fast-paced. Sometimes it almost felt stark how fast but I did read it coming off of Glow which might be the slowest book in the world. I find all of the characters compelling, and they are all so different—even in the ways they are the same 😉😉. So many parts of this book had my heart racing. I became really invested in the characters. And the ending! The last line is PERFECTION. I can’t believe I have to wait to read the next one.

On a more personal note, being Ashkenazi this book really spoke to me. I am so grateful to have Shoshana writing these books.

[Lyndia Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise and filled a void I didn't know existed. I can't wait for book 2!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! It was such a different reverse harem and really caught my attention and held it. Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the E-ARC!

[Manon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

Merci à Netgalley et à l'autrice pour m'avoir fourni un arc de ce livre.
C'est une lecture qui m'intriguait et que j'ai beaucoup apprécié par certains aspects. Le livre est bien écrit et j'aime l'univers qui est décrit. J'ai bien aimé la réalisation et la plupart des personnages. J'ai trouvé dommage que certains ne soit pas assez développé à mon goût. Mais cela reste une très bonne lecture !

[Bri Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot is stellar and the world building although a bit light offers tons of beautiful imagery and twists on worlds that already feel familiar. The religious and political points are very interesting.

The FMC makes some questionable choices and fumbles along the way but she is fierce and awesome in her own right. She’s navigating the new and unknown while dealing with politics, intrigue, and men getting in her way. There is betrayal, lies, and people waiting to take advantage at every turn. She does a lot of learning and growing. I found her to be more relatable than I anticipated.

This book may appeal to those who enjoy fantasy, dark romance, romantasy, and mafia romances. The spice was good and seems like it will pick up as the series goes on. It was well placed within the book and felt like a part of the plot. It didn’t feel gratuitous. There seems to be something for everyone and every flavor in this book.

I am really excited to see what happens next!

[Beth Adman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished an ARC of this and it was so good! Slow start while you learn about the world, hierarchy and beliefs, but once it picks up pace it is amazing. I don't usually go for a 'why chose' type book but I genuinely loved the relationship between the FMC and 3 MMCs. Can't wait for book 2 😍

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Desert Heiress, we meet Lis, Adrian, Filip, and Deo. When Lis inherits her father’s position as arbitress, she must navigate the politics within the Council and the criminal organization she’s tied to. But allies, trust, and loyalty are not mutually exclusive.

Tropes:
👀Multi POV
💕Why choose romance (MMMF)
🫂Forced proximity
💰Gaslamp/mafia vibes
📃Rivals to lovers
🌶️: open door

Lis’s ambition is her downfall as she drags the three men with her and is betrayed by someone she naively trusted. But the pieces are still moving across the board. Little does she know what they have planned for her.

This book was such a fast-paced and engaging read! The story had me so invested in these characters and the ending had me shocked. I cannot wait to see how everything unfolds in the aftermath of betrayal.

Huge thanks to the author for the review copy. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Lauren Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My take:
An interesting world with dystopian vibes and a unique society with capital punishment and polyamory. It’s described as second world fantasy and I think that’s a perfect way to categorize it. Horses, wagons, duels and gallows but then also extravagant homes with ornate carpets, libraries, atria with rare plants and fountains. It’s an interesting mix.

The first half of the book is setting the stage with lots of politics and character info but the last half of the book goes by really fast so strap in. There are so many players and moving pieces that it’s hard to tell who is playing who.


The FMC, Liseya, has to adapt to a lot of new things to survive. She’s tired of her family only being advisors for the Sun Rose smuggling and she’s ready to make some power plays. The MMCs all have very different personalities and things they bring to the table. I’m super curious how it will all play out. I’m team Filip! But then again, why choose? 😉

Fav tropes:
Morally gray 🩶
One horse 🐎
Enemies to lovers 💞
Slow Burn ❤️‍🔥
Why Choose 🤹
Spicy 🌶️
Political intrigue 📜
Reverse harem 💝
Touch her and ☠️
They fall first 💘
Mafia/Organized Crime 🔫
Reluctant Allies ⚖️
Everyone is queer 💋
Drug smuggling 🌵
Desert 🏜️

Fav quotes:
“The Stars make it so.”

“Facts won’t protect you when things go wrong. Allies will.”

[Amanda Foss · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

This book had a slow start and all the different POVs had me confused, until I remembered this was a why choose romance. The world and premise of the story had me really intrigued and committed to finishing the book. Loved all the men. The FMC not so much. The choices she made really bothered me. I will probably still read the next book as I am curious to see how the relationships between the MCs develop.

[Raechel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this book for the second time this year, in prep for the sequel. Ah!! I remember why I loved it so much the first time.

The characters are all real, flawed people trying to make the best out of a difficult situation. I adore each of them in their own way and I see how the path forward will be rough but also sweet!

**********



This book showed up in a recommended for you list from Amazon and I'm so glad I picked it up. Without any spoilers it's got a real Six of Crows vibe but with a few spicy scenes peppered throughout.

Some of the world building was a little confusing to me, maybe it was just too much to keep in my head. I don't know what the plot of the upcoming sequel could be but I hope it's more of the same!

I'll be reading some more of Soshana's books for sure!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roller. Coaster. Lis gives a quick sassy and smart arc while having such a unique range of characters. A broody one (Filip) and our flirt (Adrian) then the best friend (Deo who is great). The spice/steam was wooo!

[Shannon Jessicaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏜️The Desert Heiress 🏜️

📚 Book Review: "The Desert Heiress" by Shoshana Rain 🏜️❤️ #TheDesertHeiress #ShoshanaRain #NewRelease

⭐️4
🌶️4( but I know it’s about to get hotter)


Tropes
☀️LGBTQIA +
☀️ Spicy including kinks
☀️Slow Burn
☀️ Why Choose MMMF
☀️Mafia vibes
☀️Enemies to Lovers
☀️Touch her/ Him & Die

I had the privilege of diving into the first book of this captivating series and I want to share it with you today, on its release day!!

Shoshana Rain's "The Desert Heiress" left me enchanted and grateful for the ARC copy.

With multiple points of view, the story beautifully unfolds, introducing us to Lis, Filip, Deo & Adrian. I love them all but Man Adrian’s cheeky charm irresistibly tugs at your heartstrings. His interactions with Lis are a delightful blend of tension and affection, making for an engaging dynamic.

Lis's journey is beautifully portrayed as she grows and learns to stand firmly on her own feet, embracing her perfectly imperfect self. ( Oh and boy does she get something’s wrong 😑). Lis is head strong and needs to be as the heiress to an underground Magical Smuggling Network, but in a business dominated with Males and blasts from the past trying to steal her ring whilst avoiding the authorities, will her head strong will be the root of her success or downfall.. 👀

Filip's character brings forth a mix of sweetness and ruggedness, leaving you convinced that he's a sweetheart that will also mark up that 🍑 behind closed doors.

I cannot wait for book two for Deo to thrive cause that man has a brooding energy that he needs to work on on Lis and the other in the fun way 👀😅

This book celebrates LGBTQIA+ representation flawlessly, embracing MM and FF scenes that are both sensually enticing and masterfully written. The exploration of sexual fluidity is eloquent, and the characters revel in the freedom to connect with partners of all identities, often engaging in poly relationships as the norm.

Prepare for an unexpected twist with a betrayal from a group member you'd least suspect, adding an element of shock to the narrative.

The line "We are for each other" is an utter heart-melter❤️.

"The Desert Heiress" is a triumphant series opener that seamlessly blends intrigue, emotion, and exploration of identity.

#SeriesOpener #LGBTQIARepresentation #RomanceNovel #ARCReview #BookRelease #LoveAndBetrayal #SelfDiscovery #CaptivatingCharacters #arc #advancedcopyread #shoshanarain #thedesertheiress #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookreview

[KateJoanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desert of the American southwest/ jewish coded fantasy that was pretty standard for the current popular fantasy read. This took me a minute but I am glad I finished it, it was okay, the cover is absolutely stunning and it was fairly well written.
Content warnings and clear expectations and warnings laid out, a nicely presented book throughout (with maps!)

I found it difficult to get into or stick to and I think the main issue I had was trying to follow the characters and storyline.
The pace was quite slow with a really long intro and not a lot of action or plot going on.
It has a lot of changing povs from chapter to chapter which I personally don’t care for. Particularly when those are before you meet the character from the original perspective.

I think it takes a while to really get to know the characters and care about them at all as well, they weren’t very well introduced or portrayed. Liseya is interesting and capable and smart, a few other characters are intriguing but nothing amazing.
The same can be said for the description and world building, that was lacking a little as well and not very well explored. I still have no real idea what the stera are, the culture, the world, nothing at all.

It all felt a little too direct and trying too hard, I found the writing very overly obvious and predictable. Although not much detail is given, what there is is just informing the reader of everything rather than showing

No emotion for the loss of her grandfather nor any real anger, fear or upset for any of the other risks, danger or betrayals either from her or directed at her.
Quarter way through before there’s any depth or background on the world, characters or explanation of what’s going on, the importance and reasoning behind the prejudice/conflict between people.
It doesn’t explain what the drug is, what the sides are or who’s good or bad.

I got bored and wanted to DNF, but there was a part of me that was intrigued, so I decided to pause it for a bit and come back. I went and read a few rom coms and then a popular fantasy and came back begrudgingly but this time I was more interested and engaged. I wonder if it just lost momentum. On returning I found I could surprisingly remember it well, and I did like a lot of the characters.

Overall it was fine, hard to follow and a bit slow for my liking, but the MMMF romance is fun, although it wasn’t for me I can see other people enjoying it.

[Amanda Baumruk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liseya “Lis” Moroeste is the lone heir to her grandfather’s position as arbiter to an illegal drug smuggling ring in Port Cenefra, a Sun Rose farming city in the Seven Star Empire. Sun Rose, a desert plant that produces a viscous liquid drug that increases different senses, is completely controlled by the Sun Rose Trading Company. Or so the Company believes. Lis’ grandfather’s small circle of business partners consists of Deo Naseis, Filip Cervenska, and Adrian Waite, clan leaders of their respective families and men wanting more power over their organization. When Lis finds herself in a position where she has to work together with her grandfather’s circle of annoying, demanding, and capricious men, all hell breaks loose in Port Cenefra.
First, I have to give appreciation to this book’s dedication. It truly made me feel so seen and understood. It was the first thing about this book (other than the gorgeous cover) that got me so excited to read it. Second, I adored how this book switches perspective between Lis, Filip, Adrian, and Deo each chapter. I love seeing what each character is thinking about the craziness and feelings that are ensuing between the group. Third, I loved the plot. A magical drug smuggling ring? Yes please. Gender identity, sexual orientation, and religious minority representation? 100%. A MMMF love quadrangle? Of course. The tropes of this book were ones that I had not read much of before, and I loved every second of it. I never knew what was going to happen next.
This book was full of so many things I loved. The tension, the anger, the struggle for power… It was so vivid and fun and harrowing and adventurous. The plotting and calculating of the MCs gave me Throne of Glass vibes and it was beautiful. My only complaint is that this book wasn’t longer! I wish we were able to dive more into each of the families’ pasts and the history of the Company and the Council. As this book was literally just published two days ago, I’m so sad that I have to wait until next year for the next book in the series! If you like fantasy romance, please read this book.

[achaserigtrup · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I really feel about this book. On the one hand, the world and cultures were interesting and the characters had clear personalities and motivations. I also loved the coded Judaism component that clearly inspired the Stera people and their religion—that was fantastic! On the other hand, the plot took so long to set up and jumping from POV to POV when we barely had a grasp on the overall plot or issue was frustrating and took up nearly 60% of the book.

It is technically a mafia plot and our FMC is taking over as Arbitress when her grandfather dies (he was basically a Godfather type figure), and she struggles. That part was great, as she is stepping into a precarious role as a young woman in a patriarchal world and doesn’t have the support of nearly anyone that she needs. There are politics, misogyny, familial issues, drug dependency, and her overall naivety that ground this aspect and part of the plot well. But then, when things take off and start to get hairy, she immediately does gain support with what feels like minimal effort, and the devotion she receives from the MMCs is just a little too much too fast—especially given the fact that she caused the issue to begin with.

Overall, I struggled with the pacing of this book. For nearly 60%, the MMCs see her as naive, don’t want to work together, and don’t know how best to work around her. Then, when things go south, they all immediately decided to stay together and work through their issues—and, of course, want the FMC. Basically, everyone is ready to die for one another when two chapters prior, they couldn’t agree on anything and were trying to cut one another out of their precarious and illegal smuggling operation.

But after that point, the book turned out rather great. There was excellent action, politically maneuvering, and spice, even if the ending was a bit odd. So, I’m a bit on the fence about how I truly feel about this book. I am willing to chalk it up to an uneven and slow start and want to read the next book. I like a lot of what the author is doing, even if the pacing was a bit funky.

[Stina Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book last night and couldn’t put it down—I read the whole thing within 24 hours. It definitely hooked me from the start. While it's marketed as a fantasy romance, I’d say it leans more toward dystopian romance. The setting gave off serious wasteland vibes: scorching heat, dwindling resources, and a society clearly suffering the effects of global warming. The concept of a magical drug called Sun Rose, which enhances abilities and focus, was intriguing but not deeply explored—something I hope gets more attention in the sequel.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was its world-building. The idea of a drying, resource-scarce planet made the alliances between communities feel urgent and believable. I loved the premise of a woman inheriting a drug smuggling empire and controlling three powerful families—it was a bold and compelling setup.

The three male leads (MMCs) were all distinct and brought different dynamics to the story:

Filip had brute strength and the classic grumpy demeanor. He left me wanting more of his backstory—he’s mysterious, dangerous, and totally swoon-worthy.

Adrian was the spoiled rich bad boy with charm and looks to spare. Underneath his swagger, there’s a lot of depth and sincerity. He knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it, which made him a standout for me.

Deo was my least favorite, but mostly because of his complicated history with the female main character, Lis. Once destined to marry her, their relationship fell apart due to religious differences. His anger often felt misdirected, likely stemming from unresolved feelings he struggles to express.

As for Lis, our FMC—her journey started strong. She was bold, unapologetic, and unwilling to be controlled. But as the story progressed, her refusal to listen and accept help began to hurt her. She wasn’t ready for the role she was trying to play, and that ultimately made the story falter for me. That said, I’m really hopeful for her redemption arc in book two. I’d love to see her grow into the powerful woman she was at the beginning.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shoshana! Your talent will always amaze me. Every single time.

I'm not a fantasy reader. I don't care much for world building or fancy words and names I can't pronounce.

I'm a smut girl, and that will always be the case.

However, Shoshana could make me read anything. Obviously the why choose helped immensely. But her writing, her characters and the thought she puts into anything and everything, has me hooked matter the genre.

I honestly don't even know what to say. This was such an experience. Betrayal came from all sides. People got hurt. People got mad. People were freaking everywhere.

Filip can get it any day. That's a fact. It had to be said.

Adrian can get on his knees and put that smart mouth to work. Maybe he'd shut up for more than a second. Good thing he's cute.

Deo can go suck a dick. Literally. Figuratively. I don't care. Safe to say I have things to say about him. Not all of them are good.

Lis. She deserves the world. And hopefully they can give it to her. She deserves it. Sje also deserves to get her ass reddened, but we'll leave that to Filip, huh?


The Stëra people have always been seen as less. They follow a different God. Follow different believes and they couldn't be more different from the people who follow the Three Daughters.

They're marked. They're threatened. They're not important. They're always watched. Punished for things their older generations did.

As a Stëra woman, Lis definitely didn't have it easy. Betrayal lay around every corner. No one to trust, no one to take care of her without having a hidden agenda.

Trusting someone gave them the power to strip Lis' of hers. To make Stëra once again less, trapped and unimportant.

We follow Lis, Filip, Adrian and Deo on their joined journey towards safety. We follow their own, personal journeys on growth, expectations, betrayal and love.

It's a tough ride and the end is nowhere in side.

Get ready for the ride of your life. You better hold on tight.

[Mary Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Desert Heiress reminded me a bit of Dune in that it depicts a world where everything, legal and illegal, revolves around its most valued commodity: the sun rose, which enhances people’s natural focus when ingested. It’s Rain’s version of Herbert’s spice—and who controls the sun rose and its distribution controls this world.

That control lies with the Empire and its very powerful Company (I would have appreciated more original names here), and the focus of The Desert Heiress is on smuggling businesses that have built up around the sun rose. Liseya’s family used to be a power in this smuggler’s environment, but that was long ago. Now clinging to a smaller role, Lis moves into her advisory position at a fraught time when the sun rose crops are small, which could expose the area’s smuggling operations to the Empire. The Desert Heiress depicts the growing business union of Lis with three men who have pivotal roles related to the sun rose—and to Lis.

This is high fantasy tied in with politics and positioning, and it’s an interesting read. I loved how Lis was both wise and immature all at once, and appreciated that Filip, Adrian, and Deo were each distinct, with particular talents and abilities. There’s also a wonderful amount of worldbuilding in this book. I felt the gritty, downtrodden nature of the port town that The Desert Heiress depicts.

The Desert Heiress looks to be the first book in a trilogy, so more is set up in this book than resolved. I did find that one relationship Liseya pursued seemed to happen out of the blue and was a bit too easy for her to fall into—and it was there more for the plot than as a natural outgrowth of her personality. But Rain has created the pieces of an intriguing puzzle in The Desert Heiress. It will be fascinating to see how they play out.

[Bookitallaway · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed a lot of things about this book. It did take a minute for me to get wrapped up into the story, but once I did I was hooked for the ride. I loved how literally everyone was queer. It was confusing and surprisingly delightful at the same time!

What I liked:
--- I loved the portrayal of how different people were extremely prejudiced against others. It was well done.
--- The characters were fun. One of them was kinda too annoying/labrador and didn't fit with the persona he played but it wasn't bad enough to be a negative.
--- The world was not over the top style and it was so descriptive that it was very easy to paint a picture in my mind. I love when books can make it so colorful that I don't have to try to imagine the story very hard.
---The power dynamics were done really well bc I found myself being frustrated with our MFC.
--- Hello potential for a why choose/reverse harem!!!! I was extremely surprised and pleased by this.


What I didn't like:
--- I felt like it took forever to get the ball rolling. I had a hard time staying focused at first.
--- I didn't understand the 'whys' on the power plays that were involved, but maybe the next book will explain this better
--- The ending had me scratching my head in confusion....I can't give spoilers but I kinda eye-rolled it, but again, maybe the next book will explain more and it won't be as much of a sticking point for me
--- One or two of the character backgrounds wasn't explained super well and so their bond was hard to relate to and/or believe
--- More character development needed but we may get more of this in book 2

Overall a great, well done story! I'll definitely read the next book when it comes out!

Spice: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Character Dev: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5

[Jess Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★.5

If you’re in the mood for a fantasy romance that refuses to fit neatly into a box, The Desert Heiress might just be your next obsession. Shoshana Rain has created something that feels like it deserves a category all of its own—blending romance, fantasy, political drama, a touch of mafia energy, mystical western vibes, and spicy marriage of convenience dynamics into one addictive read.

From the very first page, the world building pulls you in. It’s vivid and immersive, striking a perfect balance between fantasy and sci-fi elements, with a setting that feels both modern and timeless. Creative but not overwhelming, the setting sets the stage for the layered, high stakes story that follows.

The narrative moves effortlessly between multiple character POVs, each distinct and easy to follow. Every character brings a unique voice, set of intentions, and personal complications, adding depth and energy to the plot. Secrets, ambitions, and shifting alliances weave together into a shared goal that’s as compelling as it is unpredictable.

Romance in The Desert Heiress is anything but simple. The main characters share a complicated history and work together in roles that weren't always friendly, let alone romantic. A twist of fate and a mutual mission land them in a betrothal of convenience, and Rain doesn't shy away from the emotional messiness that ensues. Instead, she leans into it, exploring mistrust, tension, and growing connections. Through their evolving relationship, Rain also dives into deeper themes of power, gender, and faith, both boldly and with heart.

The result is an engaging, emotionally rich, and unapologetically original story. In short, The Desert Heiress is a genre blending, slow burn romance that refuses to be boxed in—and that’s exactly what makes it so good. This one’s a must read. Just be warned, you’ll finish it already hungry for the next one.

Thank you Shoshana, NetGalley and Victory Editing for this Arc

[lily reads and other things · Rating 4 out of 5]

that was fun

🌺The Desert Heiress By Shoshana Rain Review!🌺

Oh my god! This book has it all, political intrigue, a why choose romance (with three very sexy men who all want her), supporting women’s wrongs, mafia vibes, and so much more!

I fell in love with the world and our main character Lis in the first chapter. She’s smart, untrusting, clever, and quick-witted. I loved following her and seeing her grow into her role of Arbitress, dealing with Filip, Deo, and Adrian, who all want her to let them handle everything. Dealing with family members who aren’t the happiest that she’s in charge, and so much more. She's a badass and learns from her mistakes, taking accountability when need be.

Deo, Adrian, and Filip were everything. Deo; the childhood best friend, Adrian; the flirt, and Filip; the broody one. I fell in love with each one of them, Adrian’s personality, Filip’s care even if he didn’t show it, and Deo’s kindness. They all want what’s best for their people and will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety.

I loved following these characters and their romances as well. The romantic relationships were amazing! The sex scenes were so good! And I absolutely loved the MM couple (won’t say who because of spoilers). I can’t wait for how the romance develops in the rest of the series!

I absolutely can’t wait for book two to see where this story goes and to see more of these characters. If you love why choose, enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, political intrigue, and more definitely check out this one! You won’t regret it!