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The Legends of Henosis #1
Born of Starlight
This loose Rapunzel retelling challenges the thin lines between devotion and love—between duty and freedom. The Legends of Henosis is a debut fantasy romance series exploring the many fables of a magical, compelling realm.
“It is time to act, Sister of the Stars.”
Tower walls are all Asterie knows. As the Sisterhood’s oracle, she is used to seeing what comes next. But when Asterie becomes consumed with visions of destruction, she only sees ruin. When a prophecy speaks to her, Asterie realizes she must leave her tower for the first time. She ventures out to help a young Queen unbind a dangerously alluring warlock from the northern woodlands.
Find her.
Fenris hears the voice whisper to him. But he is alone. He has been alone, exiled, for four centuries. When an enchantress shows up with a promise of freedom, he wonders if she is the woman he is destined to find. Fenris realizes that Asterie doesn’t understand the power within her, a power that once destroyed his world. He tells himself not to get involved. But will he be strong enough to resist her?
“It is time to act, Sister of the Stars.”
Tower walls are all Asterie knows. As the Sisterhood’s oracle, she is used to seeing what comes next. But when Asterie becomes consumed with visions of destruction, she only sees ruin. When a prophecy speaks to her, Asterie realizes she must leave her tower for the first time. She ventures out to help a young Queen unbind a dangerously alluring warlock from the northern woodlands.
Find her.
Fenris hears the voice whisper to him. But he is alone. He has been alone, exiled, for four centuries. When an enchantress shows up with a promise of freedom, he wonders if she is the woman he is destined to find. Fenris realizes that Asterie doesn’t understand the power within her, a power that once destroyed his world. He tells himself not to get involved. But will he be strong enough to resist her?
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 18, 2023
127 people are currently reading
5322 people want to read
About the author
Mariet Kay
3 books81 followersMariet Kay is a fantasy romance author who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and a pack of rescue animals. Her debut novel, "Born of Starlight," is the inaugural installment of the Legends of Henosis series. Mariet has a decade-long career in digital marketing and has always possessed a passion for digital media and content creation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 275 reviews
November 18, 2023
For my fantasy romance girlies - this book was SO good! I flew through this book. I am wavering between a 4-star and 5-star rating, but I am giving this a 5-star rating because I am blown away that this is a debut novel for this author. I am seriously impressed!
This is a very loose retelling of Rapunzel. There is a romance with fantastic tension and banter. The world-building is generally very easy to understand. I didn't feel like I had to wade through tons of info-dumping (as I do feel often in fantasy books). This was just really palatable and fun to read!
The Plot
Asterie is a 200-year-old woman who is one of the High Enchantresses of the land. She has lived in a tower her entire life, and she does not really know her origin besides the myths that seem to circulate about her existence. There are 4 other High Enchantresses who each live in a tower of their own, and together, the 5 of them rule all. That said, there is one High Enchantress, Firose, who trained Asterie as a child and seems to be the boss of them all.
Asterie is the only oracle, and one day, she has a vision showing the fall of a major city. The vision tells her not to tell her "Sisters" (the other High Enchantresses) and to "find the young queen." Despite never leaving her tower before, Asterie reached out to the new queen of the Central Corrider and asks for an invitation to her court while also warning her of the upcoming war.
The young queen, Sybilla, invites Asterie to her court but first tells her that she must find a warlock who has been exiled for 400-years. The warlock is named Fenris and he is bonded to a beast that he has the ability to control. After trekking in the wilderness, Asterie finds Fenris, and upon meeting, Fenris is instantly drawn to Asterie. Fenris is so taken with Asterie that he agrees to leave his exile and join the war with her. We soon learn that Firose is behind more than she claims and has been steadily turning the corriders against each other. This is where the banter, tension, and action really begins...
My thoughts
I already said this, but I really loved this. Fenris had me giggling with his flirtatious nature. I liked Asterie, especially when she was completely clueless on how to act in normal society. It was endearing and silly, but it made sense. The story was also just really easy to understand, which I loved.
My only critique for this book is that sometimes the relationship or story would move too quickly. Sometimes the story would be in the middle of 1 action scene and jump to something else just a little bit too quickly. There were a couple of times where I had to go back and re-read some scenes being like wait what just happened.
But overall, this was a really solid fantasy romance. I loved that you could see the Rapunzel elements in it, but it is in fact, a very loose retelling. I'd highly recommend this!! I can't wait for the next book
This is a very loose retelling of Rapunzel. There is a romance with fantastic tension and banter. The world-building is generally very easy to understand. I didn't feel like I had to wade through tons of info-dumping (as I do feel often in fantasy books). This was just really palatable and fun to read!
The Plot
Asterie is a 200-year-old woman who is one of the High Enchantresses of the land. She has lived in a tower her entire life, and she does not really know her origin besides the myths that seem to circulate about her existence. There are 4 other High Enchantresses who each live in a tower of their own, and together, the 5 of them rule all. That said, there is one High Enchantress, Firose, who trained Asterie as a child and seems to be the boss of them all.
Asterie is the only oracle, and one day, she has a vision showing the fall of a major city. The vision tells her not to tell her "Sisters" (the other High Enchantresses) and to "find the young queen." Despite never leaving her tower before, Asterie reached out to the new queen of the Central Corrider and asks for an invitation to her court while also warning her of the upcoming war.
The young queen, Sybilla, invites Asterie to her court but first tells her that she must find a warlock who has been exiled for 400-years. The warlock is named Fenris and he is bonded to a beast that he has the ability to control. After trekking in the wilderness, Asterie finds Fenris, and upon meeting, Fenris is instantly drawn to Asterie. Fenris is so taken with Asterie that he agrees to leave his exile and join the war with her. We soon learn that Firose is behind more than she claims and has been steadily turning the corriders against each other. This is where the banter, tension, and action really begins...
My thoughts
I already said this, but I really loved this. Fenris had me giggling with his flirtatious nature. I liked Asterie, especially when she was completely clueless on how to act in normal society. It was endearing and silly, but it made sense. The story was also just really easy to understand, which I loved.
My only critique for this book is that sometimes the relationship or story would move too quickly. Sometimes the story would be in the middle of 1 action scene and jump to something else just a little bit too quickly. There were a couple of times where I had to go back and re-read some scenes being like wait what just happened.
But overall, this was a really solid fantasy romance. I loved that you could see the Rapunzel elements in it, but it is in fact, a very loose retelling. I'd highly recommend this!! I can't wait for the next book
February 27, 2025
EASILY a new favorite Romantasy.
Finally a good (loose) Rapunzel retelling with a sprinkle of Rumplestiltskin in there too! Good isn’t even the word I should use. Utterly captivating, fantastic, heart wrenching, unputdownable, fulfilling.
The author created a world to get lost in, enjoy the magic in, feel the heartbreak and love in.
I adored this story about a child born of starlight, raised in her tower as an oracle and sent on a mission by her queen. She and the queen’s most trusted man- were to free a dangerous warlock bound to a forest to aid their kingdom in a brewing war.
She never expected to find a handsome man in the middle of a forest with a mysterious wolf-like companion. And certainly never expected either of them to be inexplicably drawn to her.
This story takes off on the wildest ride full of magic, gods, prophecies, loss, love and more. Oh and a little bonus? Both the MCs are hundreds of years old! No 18-20 year olds bumbling around trying to save the world. So refreshing!
I cannot recommend Born of Starlight enough. It will become a staple recommendation on my pages!
Finally a good (loose) Rapunzel retelling with a sprinkle of Rumplestiltskin in there too! Good isn’t even the word I should use. Utterly captivating, fantastic, heart wrenching, unputdownable, fulfilling.
The author created a world to get lost in, enjoy the magic in, feel the heartbreak and love in.
I adored this story about a child born of starlight, raised in her tower as an oracle and sent on a mission by her queen. She and the queen’s most trusted man- were to free a dangerous warlock bound to a forest to aid their kingdom in a brewing war.
She never expected to find a handsome man in the middle of a forest with a mysterious wolf-like companion. And certainly never expected either of them to be inexplicably drawn to her.
This story takes off on the wildest ride full of magic, gods, prophecies, loss, love and more. Oh and a little bonus? Both the MCs are hundreds of years old! No 18-20 year olds bumbling around trying to save the world. So refreshing!
I cannot recommend Born of Starlight enough. It will become a staple recommendation on my pages!
January 29, 2025
This started off a bit slow, but it had the necessary world building at the beginning of a new romantasy series. It picked up fairly quickly, and had action pretty much the whole way through. I loved the differences in magic, along with the idea of being source matched. Instalove hits different when fate is the cause! I can’t wait to read the next book!
❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 fated mates
💋 fantasy
💋 all types of magic
💋 quest
💋 found family
💋 forced proximity
Asterie has only known life in her tower. The other enchantresses took her in when she was born, and raised her to become the best of them all. But when she receives a vision of the city of Luz falling that comes with a warning to not tell her sisters, she believes it. She wrote to the young queen, who sent her commander to fetch her and a banished warlock everyone thought was dead. How will they be able to stop the war from coming, when Asterie has never been out of her tower and knows nothing of the real world.
❤️ Tropes ❤️
💋 fated mates
💋 fantasy
💋 all types of magic
💋 quest
💋 found family
💋 forced proximity
Asterie has only known life in her tower. The other enchantresses took her in when she was born, and raised her to become the best of them all. But when she receives a vision of the city of Luz falling that comes with a warning to not tell her sisters, she believes it. She wrote to the young queen, who sent her commander to fetch her and a banished warlock everyone thought was dead. How will they be able to stop the war from coming, when Asterie has never been out of her tower and knows nothing of the real world.
November 18, 2023
4.5 stars
What an amazing debut! Born of Starlight is a loose Rapunzel retelling told in dual POV. Tropes include: fated lovers, ferocious sidekick, prophecy of doom, forbidden magic and curses.
Asterie is an enchantress and the Sisterhood's oracle. All she knows is the tower walls. She usually gets visions of the future, but when she sees visions of destruction she finds that she has to leave the tower for the first time.
Fenris has been alone and exiled for four centuries. When he hears a whisper to find her an enchantress shows up with a promise of freedom. Soon Asterie and Fenris will find that they can't resist eachother.
I really enjoyed this one. The writing is amazing. The world building is not too complex and is very easy to follow along. This is a slow burn romance that's worth the wait.
The second half of the story kicked up a notch with action packed scenes, more revelations and I was shocked a few times by the characters decisions. The cliffhanger makes the stakes so much higher. I can't wait for the next book! If you love retellings and character driven stories you will love this one! Highly recommend!
Thank you to sunnybabepr and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What an amazing debut! Born of Starlight is a loose Rapunzel retelling told in dual POV. Tropes include: fated lovers, ferocious sidekick, prophecy of doom, forbidden magic and curses.
Asterie is an enchantress and the Sisterhood's oracle. All she knows is the tower walls. She usually gets visions of the future, but when she sees visions of destruction she finds that she has to leave the tower for the first time.
Fenris has been alone and exiled for four centuries. When he hears a whisper to find her an enchantress shows up with a promise of freedom. Soon Asterie and Fenris will find that they can't resist eachother.
I really enjoyed this one. The writing is amazing. The world building is not too complex and is very easy to follow along. This is a slow burn romance that's worth the wait.
The second half of the story kicked up a notch with action packed scenes, more revelations and I was shocked a few times by the characters decisions. The cliffhanger makes the stakes so much higher. I can't wait for the next book! If you love retellings and character driven stories you will love this one! Highly recommend!
Thank you to sunnybabepr and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2024
what to expect:
- loose rapunzel retelling
- fantasy romance
- prophecy
- dual pov
- fated mates
- magic and curses
- found family
- hidden identities
- open door spice
4.5⭐️
i honestly went into this one a little blind, all i knew was this book was a loose retelling of rapunzel which immediately caught my attention. i had such a fun time reading this book.
this was actually a pretty quick read, which i wasnt expecting since most of the fantasy books i have read are a lot longer. but man did it have everything and it didnt feel rushed at all to me.
i really enjoyed the characters, fenris and asterie. fenris was so funny, cocky and flirty who also made me roll my eyes at him at times, but getting to know him better as the story went on made me really feel for him and love his character even more. asterie was a sucha strong female lead even after eveything that life threw at her. her growth throughout the book was done so well.
i can't wait to start the next book, city of snakes especially after that ending!
- loose rapunzel retelling
- fantasy romance
- prophecy
- dual pov
- fated mates
- magic and curses
- found family
- hidden identities
- open door spice
4.5⭐️
i honestly went into this one a little blind, all i knew was this book was a loose retelling of rapunzel which immediately caught my attention. i had such a fun time reading this book.
this was actually a pretty quick read, which i wasnt expecting since most of the fantasy books i have read are a lot longer. but man did it have everything and it didnt feel rushed at all to me.
i really enjoyed the characters, fenris and asterie. fenris was so funny, cocky and flirty who also made me roll my eyes at him at times, but getting to know him better as the story went on made me really feel for him and love his character even more. asterie was a sucha strong female lead even after eveything that life threw at her. her growth throughout the book was done so well.
i can't wait to start the next book, city of snakes especially after that ending!
September 26, 2024
why on earth I choose to read this book in the first place...
December 20, 2025
This honestly started off really strong for me; the plot was intriguing, I really liked the rapunzel retelling aspect, the magic of the Asterie was alluring and her entire story was fascinating. but then Fenris just kind of killed it for me. He was arrogant & unintelligent for an immortal that is centuries old, impatient, and instantly in love with her for no apparent reason. so it lost me there. however, there was a lot of potential here and I still liked it 😌
November 11, 2023
Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness!! This book was sooooo good!! So so good!
I sincerely believe this story has the potential to become the next significant romantic success!
I can’t wait for the sequel.
If you’re a romantacy fan you HAVE to read this!
Thank you @marietkay.writes for allowing me ARC read. It has been an honor.
Official review 👇🏼
Wow! I have no words. I absolutely enjoyed reading Born of Starlight— a loose Rapunzel retelling challenges the thin lines between devotion and love—between duty and freedom. The Legends of Henosis is a debut fantasy romance series exploring the many fables of a magical, compelling realm.
Asterie resides in her tower, reared amongst a sisterhood pledged to protect when she finds herself in a prophetic vision that shows she must leave her long-lived tower; down a path of discovery, troublesome realizations, war and more.
Asterie and Fen— two spirits born eras apart, destined to intersect....
but is fate on their side?
Will truths be set free?
Will betrayal spill blood?
It remains to be seen upon the novel’s release on November 18th.
I implore you to add this to your TBR asap!
I sincerely believe this story has the potential to become the next significant romantic success!
I can’t wait for the sequel.
If you’re a romantacy fan you HAVE to read this!
Thank you @marietkay.writes for allowing me ARC read. It has been an honor.
Official review 👇🏼
Wow! I have no words. I absolutely enjoyed reading Born of Starlight— a loose Rapunzel retelling challenges the thin lines between devotion and love—between duty and freedom. The Legends of Henosis is a debut fantasy romance series exploring the many fables of a magical, compelling realm.
Asterie resides in her tower, reared amongst a sisterhood pledged to protect when she finds herself in a prophetic vision that shows she must leave her long-lived tower; down a path of discovery, troublesome realizations, war and more.
Asterie and Fen— two spirits born eras apart, destined to intersect....
but is fate on their side?
Will truths be set free?
Will betrayal spill blood?
It remains to be seen upon the novel’s release on November 18th.
I implore you to add this to your TBR asap!
August 17, 2024
Thank you the author for providing a copy of this book to review. This is my honest review of the book, and my opinions are my own.
This is a stunningly impressive debut novel loosely based on Rapunzel. It is a must read if you enjoy fantasy, especially fairytale retellings.
Asteri is an oracle who has spent her life residing in a tower serving her corridor and the Sisterhood. But when she receives a dire prophecy she must leave her tower to help free a bound warlock, and bring him to the queen in time to try and save their people. Exiled and bound to a forest for centuries, Fenris begins to hear voices telling him to “find her.” When Asterie and her sidekick guard, Emmerick, show up at Fenris’ door insisting they must unbind him from the land he is skeptical about lending his help. Fenris cannot deny an inexplicable pull to Asterie and decides to accompany her to help the young Queen.
Born of Starlight has exquisite world building and is beautifully written. Though Asterie leads a mostly sheltered life, I loved that she was not written as completely naive. She is knowledgeable, kind, and committed to doing what she thinks is right even if it means going against what she has known her whole life. Fenris is a flirty, cocky lead, but it is painfully clear he has a tragic past filled with regret that he will have to try to reconcile. The banter between Asterie and Fenris is excellent and convincingly builds to their eventual open door spicy scenes.
The story also has twists, turns, action, battle scenes, and reveals that make for a compelling read overall. There is also good set up for the next book in the Legends of Henosis series. You’ll want to add this one to your TBR. I genuinely think Born of Starlight is poised to be one of the next big fantasy romance reads.
Tropes:
Prophecy
Fated lovers
Curse
Forbidden magic
Dual POV
Open door spice
Banter
Hidden identities
This is a stunningly impressive debut novel loosely based on Rapunzel. It is a must read if you enjoy fantasy, especially fairytale retellings.
Asteri is an oracle who has spent her life residing in a tower serving her corridor and the Sisterhood. But when she receives a dire prophecy she must leave her tower to help free a bound warlock, and bring him to the queen in time to try and save their people. Exiled and bound to a forest for centuries, Fenris begins to hear voices telling him to “find her.” When Asterie and her sidekick guard, Emmerick, show up at Fenris’ door insisting they must unbind him from the land he is skeptical about lending his help. Fenris cannot deny an inexplicable pull to Asterie and decides to accompany her to help the young Queen.
Born of Starlight has exquisite world building and is beautifully written. Though Asterie leads a mostly sheltered life, I loved that she was not written as completely naive. She is knowledgeable, kind, and committed to doing what she thinks is right even if it means going against what she has known her whole life. Fenris is a flirty, cocky lead, but it is painfully clear he has a tragic past filled with regret that he will have to try to reconcile. The banter between Asterie and Fenris is excellent and convincingly builds to their eventual open door spicy scenes.
The story also has twists, turns, action, battle scenes, and reveals that make for a compelling read overall. There is also good set up for the next book in the Legends of Henosis series. You’ll want to add this one to your TBR. I genuinely think Born of Starlight is poised to be one of the next big fantasy romance reads.
Tropes:
Prophecy
Fated lovers
Curse
Forbidden magic
Dual POV
Open door spice
Banter
Hidden identities
November 26, 2023
This was SO INCREDIBLY GOOD, definitely one of my favorite reads this year, if not THE favorite.
I would say it is definitely on par with the big ones, and I can hardly believe it’s a debut. Please, please, PLEASE READ THIS!!
We have everything from a smooth talking, ridiculously flirty warlock, to a passionate golden boy with fitting golden retriever energy and an ancient shadowdaddy wielding king, immortals that are (for a change) somewhat self aware, god-like creatures that embody the forces of nature and quite creative reinvention of common tropes and plot elements.
The spice is 🤌 and very well written, the banter is hilarious at times and the catchy and exquisitely interwoven storylines of the different characters reminded me of SJ Maas at her best, which is (the…) one thing I think SJM excels at. I can’t even decide which storyline/POV I liked best, I NEED to know how they all continue NOW.
I know I am repeating myself, but PLEASE give this a try. It might not be the reinvention of the wheel but it is incredibly well done and compelled me to finish the whole book in one go (which I kind of do and kind of do not regret this morning…). I’m in love with the world of the book and all its characters.
5 shiny, blue-tinged stars from me 💙
I would say it is definitely on par with the big ones, and I can hardly believe it’s a debut. Please, please, PLEASE READ THIS!!
We have everything from a smooth talking, ridiculously flirty warlock, to a passionate golden boy with fitting golden retriever energy and an ancient shadow
The spice is 🤌 and very well written, the banter is hilarious at times and the catchy and exquisitely interwoven storylines of the different characters reminded me of SJ Maas at her best, which is (the…) one thing I think SJM excels at. I can’t even decide which storyline/POV I liked best, I NEED to know how they all continue NOW.
I know I am repeating myself, but PLEASE give this a try. It might not be the reinvention of the wheel but it is incredibly well done and compelled me to finish the whole book in one go (which I kind of do and kind of do not regret this morning…). I’m in love with the world of the book and all its characters.
5 shiny, blue-tinged stars from me 💙
December 14, 2023
Thank you to Sunny Babe PR for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Born of Starlight is a semi retelling of Rapunzel with more fantasy, magic and action. An extremely great debut novel by the author, Mariet Kay!
The story stars FMC Asterie. She just so happens to be an enchantress and part of the sisterhood bestowing upon the lands. She also provides her oracle skills to give information to her sisters. In the beginning, you may get a sense of "what is really going on here?" I sure in the hell did! Asterie is normally locked in a tower with limited travel abilities until she reaches out to Queen Sybilla. You will follow along her journey to find missing warlock Fenris (Insert man crush vibes here) and navigate their way to the Central corridor.
I enjoyed this book yall! This fantasy read hits all buttons. The world building was carefully done and the plot twists were actually amazing. It took me a few chapters to really get involved with the story but that is only cause I am a major mood reader. Asterie is a strong female character despite the life she was handed. Fenris is cocky and flirty and quite honestly makes you want to roll your eyes half the time. The banter between these two is fun and adds some comic relief to the story. His character also brings us a troubled past and feelings of regret. It just might make you question his true character within the story.
The end leaves us with a hint of LOTS more to come..... :witch laugh:
This book provides us with the following:
Dual POV (my fave!)
Slow burn romance
Found family
A little steam
Fated mates
Forbidden magic
Curses
I am not telling you to read this book, but I am TELLING you to read this book. I am patiently waiting for the next installment in this series. I have suspicions and I cannot wait to see if they come true!
Born of Starlight is a semi retelling of Rapunzel with more fantasy, magic and action. An extremely great debut novel by the author, Mariet Kay!
The story stars FMC Asterie. She just so happens to be an enchantress and part of the sisterhood bestowing upon the lands. She also provides her oracle skills to give information to her sisters. In the beginning, you may get a sense of "what is really going on here?" I sure in the hell did! Asterie is normally locked in a tower with limited travel abilities until she reaches out to Queen Sybilla. You will follow along her journey to find missing warlock Fenris (Insert man crush vibes here) and navigate their way to the Central corridor.
I enjoyed this book yall! This fantasy read hits all buttons. The world building was carefully done and the plot twists were actually amazing. It took me a few chapters to really get involved with the story but that is only cause I am a major mood reader. Asterie is a strong female character despite the life she was handed. Fenris is cocky and flirty and quite honestly makes you want to roll your eyes half the time. The banter between these two is fun and adds some comic relief to the story. His character also brings us a troubled past and feelings of regret. It just might make you question his true character within the story.
The end leaves us with a hint of LOTS more to come..... :witch laugh:
This book provides us with the following:
Dual POV (my fave!)
Slow burn romance
Found family
A little steam
Fated mates
Forbidden magic
Curses
I am not telling you to read this book, but I am TELLING you to read this book. I am patiently waiting for the next installment in this series. I have suspicions and I cannot wait to see if they come true!
November 20, 2023
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .5
🌶️ 🌶️
“For those who feel stuck in the dark. Embrace your ability to light the way.”
Oh man. This book. If this aesthetic doesn’t convince you to read it, I’m not sure what will.
I am convinced that this romantasy book will become one of the next big things. This is one of those stories that grabs you by the shirt, pulls you into the world, and doesn’t let go until the very last sentence…and even then it lives in your head for a few days.
“My mind screams that I should stay away from you, fear you, but my body betrays my mind.”
Born of Starlight follows Asterie, an Oracle, as she leaves the walls of her tower after a vision of death and destruction of her kingdom. Along the way, with a mighty knight *cough cough*, I mean, Constable (there’s a difference 😉) by her side, the two are sent to find a warlock who has been banished to the woods- Fenris. From a fated match, to action, twists, and turns, prophecies, magic, multi POV, and more, this book has it all.
“This is your path, starling. You must live it now.”
Tropes:
🌟 He falls first
🌟 Fated lovers
🌟 Forbidden magic
🌟 Prophecy of Doom
🌟 Banter
🌟 Slow burn
🌟 First book in series
“The stars and flames—what do they both have in common? They both light the way.”
Thank you to the author and sunnybabepr for providing an ARC of this amazing debut novel in exchange for my review. These thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 14, 2024
The Witcher vibes meets Rapunzel in this fantasy romance 😍. Asterie is one of the 5 members of a magical sisterhood in charge of protecting the Realm. And also a powerful Oracle, able to manipulate moonstone to conjure visions and prophecies. She was taken in by the 4 other enchantresses and has been concealed all her life in a tower. A revolution seems to be rising that could threaten the realm, and the sisterhood must be prepared to protect it.
While that, Fenris is a Warlock outcast in exile in the forest. He is requested by the Queen to help Asterie to find a way to save the realm. I looove forced proximity trope 🙌🏻 specially if put together with the boy-obsessed & he falls first trope! Asterie is reluctant, but as they travel together, it becomes hard to resist 👀. It is also her first time out in the real world, which is adorable & fun to read. The author describes the world vividly which made me feel like reading a fairytale!
During the travel she learns that her sisterhood isn’t as righteous as she thought. Not only that, the strong feelings between her and Fenris might have been set a long time ago. A beautiful romance that gave me all the feels!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review
While that, Fenris is a Warlock outcast in exile in the forest. He is requested by the Queen to help Asterie to find a way to save the realm. I looove forced proximity trope 🙌🏻 specially if put together with the boy-obsessed & he falls first trope! Asterie is reluctant, but as they travel together, it becomes hard to resist 👀. It is also her first time out in the real world, which is adorable & fun to read. The author describes the world vividly which made me feel like reading a fairytale!
During the travel she learns that her sisterhood isn’t as righteous as she thought. Not only that, the strong feelings between her and Fenris might have been set a long time ago. A beautiful romance that gave me all the feels!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review
November 25, 2023
Mariet did such a great job with this debut novel. The characters are so well written, the plot was great, lots of little surprises and plot twists that just made the story better and better.
It’s a soft Rapunzel retelling, and I thought it was present enough to remind you it was inspired by the story, but still a completely unique take on it.
Asterie is our FMC, she is one of 5 High Enchantresses that “keep the peace” of the corridors where they live. She acts as a prophet, but she also possesses unique magic, and has been isolated to her tower for her whole life.
Fenris is a warlock who has been stuck in exile, alone in the woods for centuries. Him and Asterie are connected in ways they never expected, and together they are sent on a quest to save the realm from an impeding war.
The story is full of witty banter, likable side characters, unexpected truths revealed, betrayal, story lines twisting together, tension, banter, found family, reluctant allies-to lovers, fated mates, and some crazy truths dropped at the very end that had me squealing 🤣👀
If you enjoy retellings, and are looking for a quick read with a great plot, I definitely recommend this book!
It’s a soft Rapunzel retelling, and I thought it was present enough to remind you it was inspired by the story, but still a completely unique take on it.
Asterie is our FMC, she is one of 5 High Enchantresses that “keep the peace” of the corridors where they live. She acts as a prophet, but she also possesses unique magic, and has been isolated to her tower for her whole life.
Fenris is a warlock who has been stuck in exile, alone in the woods for centuries. Him and Asterie are connected in ways they never expected, and together they are sent on a quest to save the realm from an impeding war.
The story is full of witty banter, likable side characters, unexpected truths revealed, betrayal, story lines twisting together, tension, banter, found family, reluctant allies-to lovers, fated mates, and some crazy truths dropped at the very end that had me squealing 🤣👀
If you enjoy retellings, and are looking for a quick read with a great plot, I definitely recommend this book!
December 7, 2024
Born of Starlight
Captivating!! I couldn’t put down this book from the start! I absolutely loved this new world of magic, lies, secrets, betrayals, and so much more!
The characters were amazing!! Asterie was a cautious interesting woman who was compassionate and fierce. I enjoyed her determination and her growth throughout the story. I really enjoyed how she came into herself.
Fen, oh Fen… he was the best! He was fun, flirty yet dark and mysterious. I really loved him. His journey wasn’t an easy one and I couldn’t help but root for him the whole way through.
Asterie and Fen together were a burning fire. I loved their relationship and how it evolved and grew throughout the story.
There were also a lot of great side characters that I look forward to reading about! I really can’t wait for the next book!!
So many great tropes in here like; lose Rapunzel/Tangled like retelling, prophecies, dark pasts, redemption, magicks, bonds, loyal friends, royal intrigue, betrayals, secrets, traveling companions, quest, battle scenes, and so, so much more!!
Captivating!! I couldn’t put down this book from the start! I absolutely loved this new world of magic, lies, secrets, betrayals, and so much more!
The characters were amazing!! Asterie was a cautious interesting woman who was compassionate and fierce. I enjoyed her determination and her growth throughout the story. I really enjoyed how she came into herself.
Fen, oh Fen… he was the best! He was fun, flirty yet dark and mysterious. I really loved him. His journey wasn’t an easy one and I couldn’t help but root for him the whole way through.
Asterie and Fen together were a burning fire. I loved their relationship and how it evolved and grew throughout the story.
There were also a lot of great side characters that I look forward to reading about! I really can’t wait for the next book!!
So many great tropes in here like; lose Rapunzel/Tangled like retelling, prophecies, dark pasts, redemption, magicks, bonds, loyal friends, royal intrigue, betrayals, secrets, traveling companions, quest, battle scenes, and so, so much more!!
November 18, 2023
I was lucky to receive the ARC from Sunny Babe PR for Born of Starlight by Mariet Kay! This book was a different take on your typical Rapunzel retelling and it was very well written. I loved seeing relationships blossom and change throughout the book all while following our Heroine, Asterie, and her campions on a journey to help the Queen of the Realm.
I will be honest I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story in the beginning with how the world building was written but once I got deep in it was well worth the wait!! Can’t wait to see what the future holds for Asterie and of course Mariet as well 😉
I will be honest I felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story in the beginning with how the world building was written but once I got deep in it was well worth the wait!! Can’t wait to see what the future holds for Asterie and of course Mariet as well 😉
August 12, 2024
4.5 stars
BORN OF STARLIGHT has a wonderful blend of plot and characters. I was sucked into the story from the very first line. The story starts like a fairy tale, and it paints the picture of how the female protagonist, Asterie, came to be. Her origins are fantastical and heartbreaking at the same time, and when we flash forward two centuries and see her be part of the Enchantresses and exiled into a tower, the Rapunzel vibes are hard to miss.
As I said, the characters are what makes this book so good. I adore Asterie. She's kind and blunt. Not because she wants to be mean or forward, but because she's not used to interacting with people so sometimes she completely misses social cues. Her interactions with Ser Emmerick and Fenris are wonderful—although you're only allowed to ship her with one, and that person is Fenris. He is the character we slowly understand and uncover. He has secrets he can’t divulge, a dark past and a lot of guilt—that much is immediately apparent, but his story has quite the surprising twist that I really enjoyed. He and Asterie have a sort of fated connection that makes them immediately click, but it’s their banter and Fenris’s flirtatious attitude that sold me on their dynamic. (Spoiler alert, if he started flirting with me, I would swoon, wolf-like beast by his side or not.)
I’m very excited to see what happens next in the story, especially for the other two important players in the story, Queen Sybilla and Emmerick. The ending set up quite the storylines for them both! (Please, bookish gods, protect Em.)
Spice level: 2.5 🌶️
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
BORN OF STARLIGHT has a wonderful blend of plot and characters. I was sucked into the story from the very first line. The story starts like a fairy tale, and it paints the picture of how the female protagonist, Asterie, came to be. Her origins are fantastical and heartbreaking at the same time, and when we flash forward two centuries and see her be part of the Enchantresses and exiled into a tower, the Rapunzel vibes are hard to miss.
As I said, the characters are what makes this book so good. I adore Asterie. She's kind and blunt. Not because she wants to be mean or forward, but because she's not used to interacting with people so sometimes she completely misses social cues. Her interactions with Ser Emmerick and Fenris are wonderful—although you're only allowed to ship her with one, and that person is Fenris. He is the character we slowly understand and uncover. He has secrets he can’t divulge, a dark past and a lot of guilt—that much is immediately apparent, but his story has quite the surprising twist that I really enjoyed. He and Asterie have a sort of fated connection that makes them immediately click, but it’s their banter and Fenris’s flirtatious attitude that sold me on their dynamic. (Spoiler alert, if he started flirting with me, I would swoon, wolf-like beast by his side or not.)
I’m very excited to see what happens next in the story, especially for the other two important players in the story, Queen Sybilla and Emmerick. The ending set up quite the storylines for them both! (Please, bookish gods, protect Em.)
Spice level: 2.5 🌶️
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
December 6, 2023
4 ⭐️
For a debut, romantasy novel this was so good! I really liked how fast-paced this book was, and I also really loved all of the tropes included!
I want to thank Sunny Babe PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!❤️
For a debut, romantasy novel this was so good! I really liked how fast-paced this book was, and I also really loved all of the tropes included!
I want to thank Sunny Babe PR for the opportunity to read this ARC!❤️
November 26, 2023
This was SO GOOD!!! It is hard to believe it is a debut novel. This fantasy romance is a loose Rapunzel retelling and so full of adventure. There is a lot of info up front, and I had a little bit of difficulty keeping some of the characters straight at first, but once I was out of the intro stage, I was fine. The characters, plot, romance.. all of it was absolutely amazing. If you enjoy a good fairy tale and romantasy, you will love this. I found myself reading this at 4 am on a work night, completely lost to the concept of time. I am so glad this is a series. I can't wait to see what happens next.
December 7, 2023
I loved this fantasy book more than I thought I would! It had witches and warlocks, kingdoms at war, adventure, love, and so much more. I cannot wait until the next installment in this series and see where it goes.
November 11, 2024
I truthfully didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did. I feel like I’ve rounded up from 3/12 to 4 stars because I truly needed to know what was going to happen.
It being a “re-telling” of Rapunzal was little reaching for me, it could have stood alone without mentioning that at all, I feel like that was only to draw people in to read the book. Sometimes it lost me and I felt like I must have missed something or didn’t read between the lines, I personally didn’t need the behind the scenes lovey bits but thankfully they weren’t too gratuitous.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I do want to know what happens in this world now. Who was that at the end?
It being a “re-telling” of Rapunzal was little reaching for me, it could have stood alone without mentioning that at all, I feel like that was only to draw people in to read the book. Sometimes it lost me and I felt like I must have missed something or didn’t read between the lines, I personally didn’t need the behind the scenes lovey bits but thankfully they weren’t too gratuitous.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I do want to know what happens in this world now. Who was that at the end?
December 19, 2024
*Edit: 12/19/24- Reread this book to get ready for book 2, and damn, how is it even better than the first time. This book is just. so. AMAZING*
Thank you to Sunny Babe PR and Mariet Kay for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am so happy that I got to read this book because it was AMAZING. I am so blown away that this is a debut novel. Mariet Kay and Born of Starlight are, in my opinion, the next big thing in Romantasy!
Rapunzel is one of my favorites, so this being a loose Rapunzel retelling drew me in immediately, and I was not disappointed! The world building is whimsical, yet intricate. Mariet takes a lot of care and time to build this magical world while weaving it through the story piece by piece. This way the story never felt like just exposition and building. The magic system and the "Order," and the subsequent effects of said order were shown to us with such depth, and we continued to learn more as the story progressed. It kept you wondering and wanting to know more, which keeps you reading til 2 a.m lol. The pace of the book was great with a mix of world building, plot, and character development. All three were well woven together like a braid, never feeling loose or out of place. Just when you thought you knew something or things seemed fine, something would rock that thought. Mariet really brings you on a ride in all aspects.
The characters, man I loved them. Fenris and Asterie are some of my favorite characters that I've ever read! Asterie has such an amazing "origin" story. Also, despite being away from the world, and most people her whole life, she can absolutely stand on her own two feet. She is bold, straightforward and quick-witted. Her loyalty to the people of her land is admirable, even when she learns that all she knew was not right and that her life might have to be a price to pay. Fenris is such a good morally grey MMC, I am a stan! His source magic and Vanguard were a favorite part of the story to me. Also, learning his backstory and seeing him slowly open up to Asterie really tugs on the heartstrings. Our tough as nails warlock, has a hard story, and a sweet side. His pull to Asterie is written so well. The tension between these two was palpable, I was waiting with bated breath at times. And their banter!? Amazing. The slow burn definitely burns, but the spice makes it worth it (even though it's on the lower end of the spice level.) We also can't forget Emmerick! He was an excellent side/main character. I'm very interested to see how things will shape out between Sybilla, Krait, and Emmerick in the long run. The ending definitely keeps you on your toes and wanting the next book ASAP!
If you love romantasy, READ THIS BOOK! That's all I can say.
Thank you to Sunny Babe PR and Mariet Kay for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I am so happy that I got to read this book because it was AMAZING. I am so blown away that this is a debut novel. Mariet Kay and Born of Starlight are, in my opinion, the next big thing in Romantasy!
Rapunzel is one of my favorites, so this being a loose Rapunzel retelling drew me in immediately, and I was not disappointed! The world building is whimsical, yet intricate. Mariet takes a lot of care and time to build this magical world while weaving it through the story piece by piece. This way the story never felt like just exposition and building. The magic system and the "Order," and the subsequent effects of said order were shown to us with such depth, and we continued to learn more as the story progressed. It kept you wondering and wanting to know more, which keeps you reading til 2 a.m lol. The pace of the book was great with a mix of world building, plot, and character development. All three were well woven together like a braid, never feeling loose or out of place. Just when you thought you knew something or things seemed fine, something would rock that thought. Mariet really brings you on a ride in all aspects.
The characters, man I loved them. Fenris and Asterie are some of my favorite characters that I've ever read! Asterie has such an amazing "origin" story. Also, despite being away from the world, and most people her whole life, she can absolutely stand on her own two feet. She is bold, straightforward and quick-witted. Her loyalty to the people of her land is admirable, even when she learns that all she knew was not right and that her life might have to be a price to pay. Fenris is such a good morally grey MMC, I am a stan! His source magic and Vanguard were a favorite part of the story to me. Also, learning his backstory and seeing him slowly open up to Asterie really tugs on the heartstrings. Our tough as nails warlock, has a hard story, and a sweet side. His pull to Asterie is written so well. The tension between these two was palpable, I was waiting with bated breath at times. And their banter!? Amazing. The slow burn definitely burns, but the spice makes it worth it (even though it's on the lower end of the spice level.) We also can't forget Emmerick! He was an excellent side/main character. I'm very interested to see how things will shape out between Sybilla, Krait, and Emmerick in the long run. The ending definitely keeps you on your toes and wanting the next book ASAP!
If you love romantasy, READ THIS BOOK! That's all I can say.
December 7, 2023
If you like:
•Fantasy Romance
•Rapunzel Retellings
•Fated Lovers
•Forbidden Magic
•Prophecy of Doom
•Lot of Plot with some Spice
Then this is the book for you!
This is my first Rapunzel retelling book and it was a lot better than I expected it to be. It surprised me and I didn't want to put it down. I'm happy this is going to be a series and can't wait to see where the author takes this story.
I loved the characters and the banter between Asterie and Fenris had me laughing out loud. I relate to Asterie and her awkwardness. The side characters were written well and I can't wait to learn more about them.
The world-building and magic system was fun, interesting, and easy to follow along with. I loved Asterie’s mythos and star magic.
Overall I rate this a 4.5 stars and recommend it as a cute and fun romantasy read. I'm grateful to be a part of the ARC team and will be reading more by this author in the future!
•Fantasy Romance
•Rapunzel Retellings
•Fated Lovers
•Forbidden Magic
•Prophecy of Doom
•Lot of Plot with some Spice
Then this is the book for you!
This is my first Rapunzel retelling book and it was a lot better than I expected it to be. It surprised me and I didn't want to put it down. I'm happy this is going to be a series and can't wait to see where the author takes this story.
I loved the characters and the banter between Asterie and Fenris had me laughing out loud. I relate to Asterie and her awkwardness. The side characters were written well and I can't wait to learn more about them.
The world-building and magic system was fun, interesting, and easy to follow along with. I loved Asterie’s mythos and star magic.
Overall I rate this a 4.5 stars and recommend it as a cute and fun romantasy read. I'm grateful to be a part of the ARC team and will be reading more by this author in the future!
December 8, 2023
Thank you to SunnyBabe PR for sending me an ARC of this book. I thought it was absolutely lovely! One thing that will always draw me in is a strong, likable FMC. Throw in a broody MMC? Sold!!!! The banter was enjoyable, the magic system was unique but stunning, and it kinda gave off the vibes of a rapunzel/tangled retelling. Overall I loved it and would recommend to anyone who loves a lighthearted fantasy.
d-n-f
December 9, 2023dnf @ 50%
i don't know why but i couldn't get into this one, which is heartbreaking because i was so excited for it 😭. i might try again one day, but i got bored this time?
i don't know why but i couldn't get into this one, which is heartbreaking because i was so excited for it 😭. i might try again one day, but i got bored this time?
November 18, 2023
✨ARC REVIEW✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5
✨Rapunzel retelling ✨Fated lovers ✨Dual POV ✨He falls first ✨Open door spice
✨Fantasy Romance
✨Curses ✨Forbidden magic ✨Prophecy of doom
✨Blurb:
“It’s time to act, Sister of the Star’
𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜. 𝙰𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍’𝚜 𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚕𝚎, 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚗. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚊 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚀𝚞𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜.
“Find her.’
Fenris hears the voice whisper to him. But he is alone. He has been alone, exiled, for four centuries. When an enchantress shows up with a promise of freedom, he wonders if she is the women he is destined to find. Fenris realizes that Asterie doesn’t understand the power within her, a power that once destroyed his world. He tells himself not to get involved. But will he be strong enough to resist her?
✨Review:
Born of starlight is a Rapunzel retelling. This is Mariet Kay’s Debut fantasy romance novel. It was such an amazing story. The world building was easy to understand and I didn’t fell confused at all during the story. This is a must read if you enjoy fantasy romance.
You have Asterie, who lives out her days in a tower. She is Oracle her helps her fellow sisters. She receives a very disturbing vision of destruction and she know she must help. But she was told to act alone.
Then you have Fenris, who was banished to live in the woods and was bound to never leave. He sees Asterie in the woods one day being attacked and he gets drawn to her and knows he has to help her.
You then go on their journey together with so many dangerous twist and turns. But they know they both have to stop this impending war.
✨Quotes:
“It is not your fault that it got under my skin. He made you feel joy, and yet I wanted to rip his head off. None of that is your fault. It’s mine for being a selfish ass.”
“It is you that I see. I desire you—no matter how much you hate me. I don’t care if it makes me the biggest fool in this room. In this realm.”
“I mean that you are not my darkness, Asterie. You are my light. Stars are meant to guide us home, are they not?”
“I’ll be wherever you are. Wherever you go. I knew that from the moment I set eyes on you.”
Thank you Sunny Babe-PR and Mariet Kay for the E-ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️.5/5
✨Rapunzel retelling ✨Fated lovers ✨Dual POV ✨He falls first ✨Open door spice
✨Fantasy Romance
✨Curses ✨Forbidden magic ✨Prophecy of doom
✨Blurb:
“It’s time to act, Sister of the Star’
𝚃𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚜. 𝙰𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚂𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚍’𝚜 𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚕𝚎, 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚎𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚟𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚜𝚎𝚎𝚜 𝚛𝚞𝚒𝚗. 𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚊 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚌𝚢 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚊𝚔𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚛, 𝙰𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎. 𝚂𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚙 𝚊 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚐 𝚀𝚞𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚊 𝚍𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚕𝚘𝚌𝚔 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍𝚕𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜.
“Find her.’
Fenris hears the voice whisper to him. But he is alone. He has been alone, exiled, for four centuries. When an enchantress shows up with a promise of freedom, he wonders if she is the women he is destined to find. Fenris realizes that Asterie doesn’t understand the power within her, a power that once destroyed his world. He tells himself not to get involved. But will he be strong enough to resist her?
✨Review:
Born of starlight is a Rapunzel retelling. This is Mariet Kay’s Debut fantasy romance novel. It was such an amazing story. The world building was easy to understand and I didn’t fell confused at all during the story. This is a must read if you enjoy fantasy romance.
You have Asterie, who lives out her days in a tower. She is Oracle her helps her fellow sisters. She receives a very disturbing vision of destruction and she know she must help. But she was told to act alone.
Then you have Fenris, who was banished to live in the woods and was bound to never leave. He sees Asterie in the woods one day being attacked and he gets drawn to her and knows he has to help her.
You then go on their journey together with so many dangerous twist and turns. But they know they both have to stop this impending war.
✨Quotes:
“It is not your fault that it got under my skin. He made you feel joy, and yet I wanted to rip his head off. None of that is your fault. It’s mine for being a selfish ass.”
“It is you that I see. I desire you—no matter how much you hate me. I don’t care if it makes me the biggest fool in this room. In this realm.”
“I mean that you are not my darkness, Asterie. You are my light. Stars are meant to guide us home, are they not?”
“I’ll be wherever you are. Wherever you go. I knew that from the moment I set eyes on you.”
Thank you Sunny Babe-PR and Mariet Kay for the E-ARC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2023
This is the first book in the Legends of Henosis series, a fantasy romance loosely based on the fairy tale of Rapunzel. Asteri is a woman isolated in a tower to serve her realm as an oracle but finds herself drawn into an adventure and political intrigue outside her tower. Tropes include prophecies and curses, forbidden magic, banter, found family and fated lovers. This is primarily a dual POV but there are a few additional POVs towards the end. This book contains adult content (spicy).
The Lovely: I loved the characters and their relationships - all the characters, not just the main couple. We see how a lust for power can corrupt and how a desire for parental love can hide the truth. Each character had such different story arcs and it was rewarding to see how they fit together by the end.
Also Lovely: I loved the world building and magic system. A chunk of this is rooted in original lore and myths so it was refreshing to see something new and unique. Layered into this is how magic has been viewed and restricted by political purposes “for the good of the people.”
The Mundane: The only thing I struggled with was sometimes when changing POVs we would actually go backward in time just a bit to see something for another character’s perspective. For the most part this was fine but a few times it left me confused as to what was going on and what had actually already happened.
Rating: 5/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is the debut book from Mariet Kay so I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect. I wasn’t expecting to fall so in love with this book by only the 8% mark. I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down, reading it all in one day. I loved that this book told the story of a pair of characters and the next book will tell the story of what was a secondary character in this book. We get a nice ending but there’s still more of the story to look forward to. If you like fantasy romance with a strong magic system, a developed world and relatable characters, I think you would like this book.
The Lovely: I loved the characters and their relationships - all the characters, not just the main couple. We see how a lust for power can corrupt and how a desire for parental love can hide the truth. Each character had such different story arcs and it was rewarding to see how they fit together by the end.
Also Lovely: I loved the world building and magic system. A chunk of this is rooted in original lore and myths so it was refreshing to see something new and unique. Layered into this is how magic has been viewed and restricted by political purposes “for the good of the people.”
The Mundane: The only thing I struggled with was sometimes when changing POVs we would actually go backward in time just a bit to see something for another character’s perspective. For the most part this was fine but a few times it left me confused as to what was going on and what had actually already happened.
Rating: 5/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This is the debut book from Mariet Kay so I wasn’t sure what exactly to expect. I wasn’t expecting to fall so in love with this book by only the 8% mark. I was hooked and couldn’t put the book down, reading it all in one day. I loved that this book told the story of a pair of characters and the next book will tell the story of what was a secondary character in this book. We get a nice ending but there’s still more of the story to look forward to. If you like fantasy romance with a strong magic system, a developed world and relatable characters, I think you would like this book.
December 6, 2024
Born of starlight is a riveting fantasy romance with brilliant portrayal of magic, anticipation as well as unpredictable twists and turns that will keep you the edge of your seat.
The story follows a girl named Asterie formerly named Adelaide, the miraculous girl who was saved by a single fallen star and protected by moonlit tides. She was taken to the tower by the High Enchantresses of the Corridors. Thus she became the fifth High Enchantress of Henosis.
Things begin to take drastic change when Asterie is plagued with the visions of annihilation and the prophecy leads to the conclusion of leaving her tower for the first time. As an Oracle she must heed to this. And she needs to help the young queen in a specific quest.
Then there is Fenris, bounded and exiled for the past four hundred years, keeps on hearing a voice foretelling him of a person's arrival. When Asterie meets him, he is undeniably drawn into something he didn't want to be part of.
This is the first book in the Legends of Henosis series. The story is fast-paced and gripping. With the intriguing elements of surprises, anticipation, and excitement, the narration brings high stakes perils and treacherous indigenous twists and turns. The themes of curses and prophecies, ulterior motives, manipulative political pursuits, betrayals and more are vividly explored. The characters are utterly memorable and they are thoughtfully explored. The dynamics between Asterie and Fenris was wholly captivating. The world- building is amazingly detailed and richly built. Also can I have a Vangard too?
I was absolutely intrigued with the aspect of the prominent retelling (Rapunzel) and the author's enthralling writing style and creative spins to the story succeeded beyond my expectations. Their passionate romance will make you swoon for sure. I cannot wait to read the next installment of the series which is titled "City of Snakes."
If you love fantasy novels with engaging plotlines then you must read this. It is the perfect balance of adventure, perils and unexpected trials and surprises.
The story follows a girl named Asterie formerly named Adelaide, the miraculous girl who was saved by a single fallen star and protected by moonlit tides. She was taken to the tower by the High Enchantresses of the Corridors. Thus she became the fifth High Enchantress of Henosis.
Things begin to take drastic change when Asterie is plagued with the visions of annihilation and the prophecy leads to the conclusion of leaving her tower for the first time. As an Oracle she must heed to this. And she needs to help the young queen in a specific quest.
Then there is Fenris, bounded and exiled for the past four hundred years, keeps on hearing a voice foretelling him of a person's arrival. When Asterie meets him, he is undeniably drawn into something he didn't want to be part of.
This is the first book in the Legends of Henosis series. The story is fast-paced and gripping. With the intriguing elements of surprises, anticipation, and excitement, the narration brings high stakes perils and treacherous indigenous twists and turns. The themes of curses and prophecies, ulterior motives, manipulative political pursuits, betrayals and more are vividly explored. The characters are utterly memorable and they are thoughtfully explored. The dynamics between Asterie and Fenris was wholly captivating. The world- building is amazingly detailed and richly built. Also can I have a Vangard too?
I was absolutely intrigued with the aspect of the prominent retelling (Rapunzel) and the author's enthralling writing style and creative spins to the story succeeded beyond my expectations. Their passionate romance will make you swoon for sure. I cannot wait to read the next installment of the series which is titled "City of Snakes."
If you love fantasy novels with engaging plotlines then you must read this. It is the perfect balance of adventure, perils and unexpected trials and surprises.
December 4, 2023
Wow. Just WOW. I was completely blown away by the fact that this was a debut novel and not written by a seasoned writer. This is a loose Rapunzel retelling, with an emphasis on loose because while the basics were there, it was so much more than a spin on a fairytale. The fantasy world pulled me in and kept me captivated throughout, and I'm already anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.
"A dangerous warlock, hidden away in the woods for crimes he wouldn't speak of. That SHOULDN'T be of any interest to me." I hear you Asterie, but who doesn't love a red flag cloaked in mystery. The pull these characters felt toward each other was undeniable, along with Asterie's unwillingness to acknowledge it. Throughout the story we are given little glimpses of Fen's past that always alluded to the fact that there was more I was missing, but never enough that I could figure out what I was missing. And then out of left field there's more to Asterie's past that neither of them were aware of. When I say this book was full of twists and turns it's an understatement. I was constantly left trying to figure out what the end was and I just couldn't get there until the actual end. Absolute brilliant writing.
Favorite Quotes:
"Learning how to live again came slowly, but never fully."
"Look for the brightest sides of your darkest days."
"I'll be wherever you are. Wherever you go. I knew that from the moment I set eyes on you."
"I'm going to need you to grow a pair now and stop panicking-your fear is literally suffocating me. No man makes good choices when afraid."
"A dangerous warlock, hidden away in the woods for crimes he wouldn't speak of. That SHOULDN'T be of any interest to me." I hear you Asterie, but who doesn't love a red flag cloaked in mystery. The pull these characters felt toward each other was undeniable, along with Asterie's unwillingness to acknowledge it. Throughout the story we are given little glimpses of Fen's past that always alluded to the fact that there was more I was missing, but never enough that I could figure out what I was missing. And then out of left field there's more to Asterie's past that neither of them were aware of. When I say this book was full of twists and turns it's an understatement. I was constantly left trying to figure out what the end was and I just couldn't get there until the actual end. Absolute brilliant writing.
Favorite Quotes:
"Learning how to live again came slowly, but never fully."
"Look for the brightest sides of your darkest days."
"I'll be wherever you are. Wherever you go. I knew that from the moment I set eyes on you."
"I'm going to need you to grow a pair now and stop panicking-your fear is literally suffocating me. No man makes good choices when afraid."
December 6, 2023
Thank you @sunnybabepr and Mariet Kay for a copy to read and review!
Really enjoyed this read. It was fun but also extremely well written with a great plot. Asterie is iconic. I loved her cluelessness at times, I found even though she was a strong character. She also struggled with normal things. Was fun and interesting to read in a fantasy novel like this. The characters overall were great, they had good backstories and personalities and a great dynamic. I really loved the loose retelling of rapunzel. Also the romance is fast paced at times but I really enjoyed. Any fantasy with romance is a winner for me.
There was some incredible world building. I definitely recommend to anyone wanting to get into fantasy a bit more.
Don't let the words and terminology put you off, once you get over the first few chapters everything will flow.
Overall a great fantasy read with some interesting twists.
Can't wait for the next one!
Really enjoyed this read. It was fun but also extremely well written with a great plot. Asterie is iconic. I loved her cluelessness at times, I found even though she was a strong character. She also struggled with normal things. Was fun and interesting to read in a fantasy novel like this. The characters overall were great, they had good backstories and personalities and a great dynamic. I really loved the loose retelling of rapunzel. Also the romance is fast paced at times but I really enjoyed. Any fantasy with romance is a winner for me.
There was some incredible world building. I definitely recommend to anyone wanting to get into fantasy a bit more.
Don't let the words and terminology put you off, once you get over the first few chapters everything will flow.
Overall a great fantasy read with some interesting twists.
Can't wait for the next one!
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