Wings of Starless Night

Kingsdaughter #1

by Sadie Sterling

To the fae of the Sorcen Court, Princess Allina Kingsdaughter is a traitor and a fugitive, inevitably claimed by the same madness that cost her father his crown and his life. Ensnared by the lies of her uncle, the reigning Sorcen King, they will never know the truth of her betrayal.

A traitor princess.

After the tragic deaths of Allina’s parents when she was five, her uncle ascended to the throne in the ensuing chaos, bringing peace and prosperity to Sorcen for the following fourteen years. Allina has always considered him her true father—until the day he orders her death and starts a war by kidnapping Prince Cohrven Nightheart, heir to the Liral Court, a wicked realm Allina’s only heard of in whispers.

A captured prince.

Everyone fears the Nightheart. When he was twelve, he earned his name and his dark reputation as a monster without mercy—or remorse. Since then, rumours of his unrivalled cruelty have only grown.

An evil that has been waiting…

When Cohrven is tortured by her uncle in a gruesome spectacle, Allina uses her hidden illusory magic to save him and escape, but not before his wings are shredded. As her uncle hunts them, time is running short before Liral retaliates in a devastating attack that Cohrven assures will annihilate Sorcen and everyone Allina loves along with it. To survive and preserve the Court that has forsaken her, Allina has to trust the Nightheart, even when he leads her to an ancient evil that could be their destruction.

Wings of Starless Night is an enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, new adult romantasy debut that will captivate you all the way to its breathtaking conclusion. It contains adult content meant for readers eighteen years of age and older. Content warnings are available on the author's website.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Fae, Unfinished

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2024

About the author

Sadie Sterling grew up in Canada, playing hockey during the winters and spending time at the lake during the summers. She has always loved reading compelling stories full of adventure and romance, and, while in university, she finally decided to write her own: Wings of Starless Night, which would become her debut romantasy novel years later. If she isn’t reading or writing, you can find her playing videogames or spending time with her wonderful husband and their hilarious dog. .

Reviews

[Colourfulmind · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 38%
I did not hate it... But I Was far from loving it.

I absolutely loved the little Things about the Story.
Like their surnames, the trees whispering Secrets, them being able to fly...

But in the beginning I would have wished for the author to give herself a little bit more time.  The pace was  rushed, and there are less than a handful of pages between our MC believing something for her whole life and coming to the realisation, that this is bullshit.
After this the pace got really inconsistent and I wished for the Story to move forward. There was no tension or anything between the two love interests until the point I stopped reading. I even did not like Cohrven, because he as a Character was non existent. And I read books for the romance, so I was out.

[(old.enough.for.fairytales) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A traitor princess, a captive prince, and an evil that’s been lurking in the shadows…plus these 👀
- fae royalty 🙌
- kn!fe to the throat 👀
- slow burn with the BEST tension
- enemies to lovers
- touch him and 💀

Like, everything you could possibly want in a romantasy, amiright? Really enjoyed this book! Def recommend picking it up if you love those tropes like I do.

Thanks to the author for gifting me a copy!

[Nikki Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the world this book was set in. I also loved the magic system and how each fae's power was unique. I found the romance aspect felt a little off and forced at times. Enemies to lovers is my absolute favorite trope, but this lacked the kind of slow burn tension that I had hoped for. It seemed like Allina just constantly flip flopped between hating and loving Cohrven and it got too predictable.
There were also some parts of the story that just felt very random that took me out of it. At one point a main character is riding a horse and his hand is just sliced completely open requiring him to seek healing powers... But it's never explained how that happened and no one seemed concerned? Or after weeks of being recovered from injuries he's all of a sudden incapacitated with pain from said injuries?
The ending has a big cliffhanger so prepare to not have closure to any of the plot lines.

[jenelle ｡･:*˚:✧｡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY FREAKING CRAP! WHERE DO I START?!

(Some character descriptions may be seen as spoilers but no main concepts/plot twists/etc are shared)

This isn’t a thing on earth I would change about this book! This book made me wish I were reading a physical copy so I could annotate! I WILL buy a physical copy once it’s released!!! Gosh you wouldn’t even guess this is Sadie’s debut book! It’s FLAWLESS!

It IS another story of a strong FMC but she does NOT love her kingdom. This story is comfortably familiar but page-turningly unique! I read it in “4” days but it easily could’ve been 2 if I didn’t have responsibilities. Maybe even just one sitting.

I wouldn’t say the FMC and MMC are truly ENEMIES to lovers. They are made to be enemies by being from different courts but they act more as remarkably reluctant allies then to lovers…..except not yet really. It’s a SLOOOOOOOOOOOOW delicious burn.

I was truly hooked by page 1. It felt like such a unique and intriguing first sentence. I was sold.

FMC: Allina Kingsdaughter. She is strong, brave, and seriously brilliant! She is so cunning and can think on her feet but I LOVE that she has very real and true feelings. She’s not all bravery and cunning.

MMC: Kohrven Nightheart. DELICIOUSLY MORALLY GREY 😍👏🏼 He is an amazing communicator, STRONG, crazy powerful, black hair, blue eyes. PERFECT new book BF 👏🏼

Setting/story telling: 2 feuding courts. Elemental and mental magic. Fighting and battles are perfectly descriptive. Not too much or too little. This book is very to the point. It is the first book in the series so it is a lot of foundation that needs to be set but even in making a foundation I couldn’t put it down. The story, relationship, and action were so gripping! Sadie does an amazing job at making you feel the characters emotions! There is so much dynamic and depth. You feel VERY connected! Gasps, laughs, releases my shoulders I didn’t realized I tensed up, sighs of relief, jaw drop. Everything. Every emotion fully felt!

And the CLIFFHANGER! DID NOT FREAKING SEE THAT COMING AT ALL!

10 stars!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Literally what was this?

[kim | novelhaus · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars, 7.57 on CAWPILE

MILD potential spoilers!!

Thank you to Sadie Sterling for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is such a solid debut and a wonderful start to a series!
Sadie managed to take some tropes we've seen before, enemies to lovers, warring courts, and put a unique spin on them.

At first, I wasn't sure about the pacing. The first couple of chapters took me a little bit to get into, but once we got into the meat of the story, I could not put it down! I love the tension between Cohrven and Allina and the budding trust and friendship that truly felt like it took some time to develop. I love enemies to lovers but I'm not a fan when it happens instantaneously, so this was done really well.

Allina also brought tears to my eyes. The betrayal she feels from her uncle and family, the desperate desire for belonging, I felt for her. What I appreciated was that Allina could cry and break down and then pick herself back up. She is a testament to allowing herself to feel that sadness yet continuing forward despite having been hurt, and I thought that was a great message.

I am really curious to see what will happen with the Osreth in the next book- I believe when he says he loves her as his own, I do. I wonder what will happen! I would like book 2 please. And for these two love birds to give in to their desires, thanks!

[Thais • tata.lifepages • · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 4.5 stars! This fantasy romance is perfect for fans of stories with fae, winged beings, magical powers and royalty!❤️

Allina Kingsdaugther of Sorcen court and Prince Nightheart of the Liral court are sworn enemies. He’s from a court of monsters and depravity… at least that’s what Allina has known her entire life. But when she discovers her uncle is planning to have her killed, she makes a decision that changes everything: to save the captured Prince.

“I was going to save myself and the tortured prince in my arms”

I love stories where trust is a fine line, and these two are wary of each other but at the same time forced to work together 😍 Forced proximity at its finest! I also love that the story has magical powers, Allina is for example able to cast powerful illusions that can fully disguise her or change the scenery. The book has a slow burn romance, with a lush worldbuilding and tons of family drama and court intrigue! The more I read, the more I found myself rooting for these two. The story ends in a cliffhanger and I'm eager to see where their dynamic will go!

thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review,

[Amanda Hayman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allina and Cohrven have my whole heart! I absolutely adored these characters and the growth they go through throughout the novel. Cohrven is such a sweetheart, and my heart broke for him as soon as he's introduced. The poor guy has it really rough in the beginning, but it made my heart swoon when Allina saves him. I love it when the main characters are forced together and need each other to survive, it's one of my favorite tropes right behind enemies to lovers :)

I also loved Allina's growth throughout the novel finding her identity and becoming stronger and stronger. Both Allina and Cohrven ended up being not what I expected, especially Cohrven! He's definitely rough around the edges, but throughout the book there are these great moments where he totally breaks down and shows his sensitive side and Allina stands by him through it all!

The world building is fantastic, I haven't read many books about the fae where they actually have wings (besides the bat boys). I also enjoyed all of the creatures Allina and Cohrven come across throughout their adventures, there's gnomes! And the zirelings...I don't want to spoil anything, but my favorite scene is when these little blue guys show up!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who like ACOTAR and The Hurricane Wars. I flew through this book in a few days, and I'm typically a slow reader unless I'm really into the book!

5/5 stars and I can't wait for more!

[Kassandra Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLURB

To the fae of the Sorcen Court, Princess Allina Kingsdaughter is a traitor and a fugitive, inevitably claimed by the same madness that cost her father his crown and his life. Ensnared by the lies of her uncle, the reigning Sorcen King, they will never know the truth of her betrayal.

A traitor princess.

After the tragic deaths of Allina’s parents when she was five, her uncle ascended to the throne in the ensuing chaos, bringing peace and prosperity to Sorcen for the following fourteen years. Allina has always considered him her true father—until the day he orders her death and starts a war by kidnapping Prince Cohrven Nightheart, heir to the Liral Court, a wicked realm Allina’s only heard of in whispers.……

This book took me and a great adventure and i throughly enjoyed every SECOND of it!!!

Our main characters Allina and Cohrven were so beautifully intertwined they STOLE MY HEART the entire way through. I Loved the amazing character growth, you see these two blossom into who they are by the end. Especially for Cohrven, (UGH SOO MORALLY GREY 🥵 )as he didn’t have it so great in the beginning of the story.

The world building is always something i will point out as it is MY FAVORITE thing about a story. And i loved that these faes have wings, as well as the other little creatures (Gnomes!!!)

The fight/battle scenes throughout were just so descriptive I had an awesome time imagining each scene. As well as the magical elements that were also mentioned!!!🥹⚔️🔥💛

It is an action packed book that EVERYONE must add to your TBRS!!! It’s reminds me a lot of when i first picked up ACOTAR!!!! I got all the same feels!!!!!

⚔️🩷Enemies to Lovers
⚔️✨A BEAUTIFUL SLOW BURN🔥
⚔️👑Fae Royalty
⚔️🦋Winged Fae
⚔️😉Morally Grey MMC
⚔️🔪Knife to throat
⚔️💀Touch him you die
⚔️🫶Forced Proximity

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an INCREDIBLE debut fantasy novel, from what I recently discovered was a local (same province, so it totally counts as ‘local’) Canadian author!

For the first three chapters or so, this book gave me a Tinkerbell vibe. Very "fairies flying around the forest" and "fairies having a festival", but after that, there's betrayal, lies, magic, world-building, SO much romantic tension, it's the SLOWEST of slow burns ever... it has it ALL! I was absolutely glued to the pages.

The characters have DEPTH! They have backstories and history! Even the side characters!

Sadie Sterling is an author to watch, because she's going places with novels like this! I CANNOT wait for the next book!

Thank you so much to Sadie Sterling for providing me with an early copy of the book (eARC) to read and review! When this is released on February 20, 2024, the world is going to love it!

[Sarah ⟡ Tea & Tomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you R&R Book Tours for the free gift!

I really loved this story. The slow-burn relationship between Allina and Cohrven was beautifully done, unfolding at just the right pace to make their growing trust and affection feel genuine and earned. Cohrven, especially, was such an intriguing character—layered and complex, with the gradual reveal of his true nature making him even more compelling. And Allina was wonderfully flawed. Her fears and doubts made her feel deeply human, and her emotional vulnerability was heartbreaking in the best way.

The world itself was captivating. I loved that it was fully fae, with only brief mentions of humans, and the choice to give all the fae delicate, traditional wings rather than the more common batlike or birdlike designs added such a whimsical touch. The writing was lush and tense, with a constant undercurrent of danger and longing that kept me hooked from start to finish.

The audiobook narration by Stefanie Kay was also excellent—she captured Allina’s emotions and inner turmoil beautifully, making the listening experience even more immersive.

Overall, Wings of Starless Night is a stunning romantasy debut filled with heart, tension, and magic. It’s perfect for readers who love enemies-to-lovers stories, rich fae worlds, and characters who carry both strength and softness in equal measure. I absolutely cannot wait for book two.

[Just A Person · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read like a wattpad story when I wished it was more like an AO3

[Bevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: torture, violence, some others

A huge thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team! Book releases February 20, 2024.

I’ve decided that the only problem with reading books like this ahead of their pub date is that I then have to wait approximately a million years for the next book, and I’m just not sure that’s good for my heart.

When Princess Aliana Kingsdaughter rescues the crown prince of her kingdom’s enemy, she knows her life is forfeit. She just never expected to uncover so many secrets in the aftermath.

Do you like tall, dark, and menacing MMCs? FMCs who are mildly traumatized but also discovering her own power and embracing her inner rage? How about if they’re both fae? If you answered yes to any of these questions, ooo buddy do I have a book for you! (Hint: it’s this one)

While we’re on the subject of these characters, in case it wasn’t blindingly clear before, I love them. Our FMC is a powerhouse in her own right while still being in the process of learning and growing, both magically and as a person. She’s fierce and she’s scared and she’s got a lot of recovering to do, but she’s trying. And we get to see that repeatedly throughout the book—she messes up, but she does her best to learn and grow. Talking out her emotions isn’t her strong suit, but she’s working on it. Our MMC? Delightfully snarly without being an actual bastard. Also not so good at the discussing emotions thing, but y’all… the things I wish I could tell you but will not because spoilers. Just know that he’s amazing. Even our side characters, with as little as we truly get to interact with them, are so good. They add to the story in the best ways, and it makes everything feel so much more solid.

One of my pet peeves in fantasy stories always seems to be the world building. Either there’s too much, and we get bogged down with 32 pages of descriptions in every chapter, or there’s not enough, and you’re left wondering what the hell xyz is and whether or not the story takes place on earth. You know what I didn’t have to deal with in this book? Either of those things. The unique aspects of the world are explained in short order after encountering them, but it’s done in such a way that it doesn’t feel like blatant (and badly worked) exposition. It just flows as part of the story, and, if you’re paying attention, you can feel it as you sink into the world. There are a lot of things that we still don’t know or fully understand, but it doesn’t feel like those parts are incomplete. It feels like we just haven’t needed to discuss them yet. A+ for an amount of (well executed and immersive) world building proportional to the size of the story.

What book review would be complete without mentioning the plot? It’s engaging, it’s entertaining, it’s one that you aren’t going to want to put down (seriously, I read the whole thing in one night and didn’t get out of my chair once). In other words, if you have things to do tomorrow, don’t start this book and assume you’ll be able to put it down to go to bed. The writing itself combined with an incredible amount of imagination has made for a story that’s just really, really enjoyable.

So basically, I loved everything about this book. Scenery? Brilliant. Character growth? It made me feel things. Writing and plot? Adored it. I’m already itching to get my hands on book 2, and book 1 isn’t even officially out yet. If you love fae magic, traitorous princesses, and tortured souls, this is the book for you! Now hurry up and read it so we can talk about it!

[Sollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this book as a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*

This book… This book, man… It hit me right in the feels…. These were the fastest 5 starts I've given lately and let me explain why.

In "Wings of Starless Night," when she was five years old, Princess Allina Kingsdaughter lost her parents and her right to the throne due to the maddens that got into her father. Her uncle is the one that takes over the parental role and the rule of their court. Despite growing up under his rule, he orders her death and kidnaps Prince Cohrven Nightheart from the rival Liral Court, wanting to spark a war. Allina, utilizing her hidden illusory magic, saves the tortured prince and escapes, but not before his wings are mutilated. She becomes a traitor to the crown. Pursued by her uncle, they must trust each other to prevent a devastating attack from Liral. As alliances shift and loyalties are tested, the story develops as an enemies-to-lovers romantasy with (VERY) slow burn unfoldings, revealing evils that threaten their survival and the fate of the Courts. The story takes you through a captivating journey, leading to a very unexpected cliffhanger at the end.

This book captivated me right from the start. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's writing style—easy to follow, effortlessly conveying the narrative, and fostering vivid visuals as I read. I found myself daydreaming with my eyes wide open. The author's adept world-building skills exceeded expectations, making it hard to believe I was reading a debut novel, it felt more like the seasoned work of an experienced author.

I loved the characters, especially Allina and Cohrven. Allina emerges as a formidable and unapologetic force, a bad ass bitch that takes no shit from anyone. Her readiness to confront challenges, even in moments of internal doubt, showcases her resilience and determination. A true mastermind in the making, she evoked vibes reminiscent of Jude from "The Cruel Prince" series, with a strong "touch him and you die" stance.

Cohrven is a morally gray character that you can't not love. Yes, he does disturbing things without looking disturbed, but it is only out of necessity for survival. He is smitten with Allina and I honestly couldn't stop aaaaawww-ing and giggling every time he'd secretly smile and stare at her, every time he tried to console her and advice her and every time he was vulnerable in front of her. His most important goal was to protect her, even though he was hurt during most of the book.

They had so many adorable moments, that it made my forever single ass jealous… of fictional characters… They weren't necessarily enemies, their hatred and wariness was only based on prejudice that came from hearing talks, but I still loved the whole plot line.

What I didn't expect was that it ends with a major cliffhanger. I screamed out of frustration in the middle of the night, so dearest Sadie, I'm begging you to write Book 2 as soon as possible, because I'm already feeling withdrawals and I'm eagerly anticipating the continuation of this enthralling tale. 😅

In the end, I want to congratulate Sadie Sterling for writing and publishing her very first novel. It is no small thing to achieve. Cheers to many more! 🥂 And big thanks for providing me with a free e-ARC.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed WINGS OF STARLESS NIGHT and I can't wait for the next book because so much happens in the end that I need more answers to! Allina and Cohrven were great characters and I loved them each individually and as a developing couple. I wasn't sure about Cohrven at first since he was definitely a morally gray MMC but we learned a lot about his history and why he had the reputation he did. It's also obvious that while he could be ruthless, he was incredibly loyal and cared deeply for his family and friends. Allina was a little idealistic but also plenty tough and she could hold her own when she needed to. The story is told completely from her POV and I liked seeing her progress through the story and find her inner strength against all the obstacles in front of her. The tension between Allina and Cohrven was great and this was such a slow burn -- in fact, nothing physical really happened but they've started to fall for each other and I can't wait to see them give in!

The world building was fairly simple and the story jumped right into things which I really appreciated. A lot of story was packed into this book but I never felt like it dragged or got boring and there's a little bit of grit added in to keep things interesting without being too dark. This wasn't perfect but it's very impressive for a debut author and I'm looking forward to more.

Content Warning: on page torture

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new romantasy series, the Kingsdaughter. A princess turns traitor by helping her enemy - the captured rival Prince - escape torture. Tropes include self discovery, slowburn (exceedingly with lots of tension), enemies to lovers (as in, knife to the throat), forced proximity, morally gray, touch him and d!e, and winged fae characters. Please be advised of content warnings for graphic violence as this was not noted in the e-book.

The Lovely: I loved the characters and their relationship. The FMC is on the run with the Prince (the MMC) and while they loathe each other, she’s determined to return him home alive. She might be struggling with her self-identity after being shaken by family betrayal but I loved seeing her try to push through with tenacity. The MMC, said cruel prince, is also struggling with his identity. The slowburn in this story is tense and filled with angst as both characters push back and lash out.

Also Lovely: I also loved the world building in terms of the magic system and the physical locales. Some of the magic is truly unique and it was fun to explore.

The Mundane: It took me a long while to get into this book - about the 40% mark. There were things happening and the plot was moving forward but the significant amount of inner monologues in the first half made the pace feel slow and drawn out.

Rating: 4/5 Stars 1/5 Flames

Recommendation: I received an advance review copy and am leaving this review voluntarily. Once I got into the story and the character’s relationship, I loved this book. And the bomb drop at the end? I need book 2, stat! If you like romantasy with an intriguing magic system and complex characters, I think you would like this book.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Sadie Sterling for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a strong debut book! I really enjoyed the characters Allina and Cohrven as well as the side characters we meet along the way. Their stories were well thought out and mostly paced well (one gripe on this later). I like that not everything is as it seems at times and we learned that right along with Allina. The growth and journey of these two characters both individually and together was beautiful to watch.

There was just enough world building and description to make the setting feel real without overdoing it. I also enjoyed the magic system and character descriptions. They felt fresh and exciting for a story of the fae.

Only thing that brought this down to a 4 stars for me instead of 5 is the pacing in the beginning of the book. It felt like things happened a bit too quick in the beginning, especially with Allina and Cohrven. This being an enemies to lovers I would have liked to see it take longer for them to really develop any trust in each other. Thought the rest of the book was paced very well though.

Looking forward to the next one!

[cricket · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you kidding me… what a beautiful debut novel! The entire time I was absolutely captivated with the world building and the way it threw me into the book as if I were there. I absolutely fell in love with the beautiful, deceptive and powerful fmc, Princess Allina Kingsdaughter. Her breathtaking story is full of love, grief, hatred and perseverance that pairs well with the heart wrenching story of our beloved mmc, Prince Cohrven Nightheart.

Everything about Allinas betrayal and her own uncles betrayal had me hooked! The story of grieving loved ones who have passed and others who have caused unthinkable harm is utterly heart wrenching. But the beloved princess doesn’t give up, she continues on thanks to the one and only Nightheart. I am loving EVERY moment of his story and I cannot wait to see where it goes. From the murder of his brother, the to loyalty of his sister, and betrayal of many others.. I am on the edge of my seat!

I am just blown away by this debut, congratulations Sadie! It’s utterly beautiful.

[Brooke Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful debut novel!! This is Romantasy at its finest. It was so much fun reading about this new world and this version of the fae. I am in love with their wings! And I need to know more about how their magic works.

Oh man, this burn is SLOW. I cannot wait to see more of how this love story develops. But the longing and the angsty tension is there!

Also this quote hit hard:

"But real love isn't circumstantial, If someone loves you, they will stay when you are at your worst, they will fight for you when you can't fight for yourself, and they will make sacrifices for you, even when you don't want them to. They will love you more than their dignity, their pride, or their legacy."

The ENDING!!! Wow - I am not going to give anything away but it looks like things are about to be even more action-packed in the next book. I cannot wait!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ✨ what a fun debut!!!

I was immediately pulled into the book right from the very first chapter. The writing and world building was excellent and I love a story that starts off immediately with action and danger. I haven’t read many fae with wings books so that was also a fun and exciting twist!

I read the first half of the book in one sitting devouring the story and needing to know what happens next!! The second half of the book wasn’t quite as fluid a read for me, and some of the dialogue and inner monologue felt repetitive. But apart from that I really loved the story and execution and impressed by this debut romantasy story 💗🥰

Thank you to the author Sadie for the Arc to read. All thoughts and opinions are mine and weren’t impacted by receiving a gifted copy to read.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun action packed fantasy that kept me on my toes! The plot will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will fall in love with Cohrven who will always punish those who hurt the one’s he loves and isn’t afraid to show his emotional and vulnerable side. Allina is a FMC you want to root for. I can’t wait to see how their sloooooooow burn relationship develops in the future and to discover the fallout from the events of this first book!

[Annaliese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the ultimate slow burn, reluctant allies to friends to lovers. Cohrven is such a complex character and Alina is also a deeply complex character.

The politics, the banter, the tragic backstories, the plot twists, this book gave me everything I wanted. The final scene leaves me wanting book 2 right away and hoping for more intensity in Cohrven and Alina’s relationship cuz their chemistry is perfection.

Sterling brings in so much emotion to the work and the characters that it keeps the reader hooked from the first chapter.

I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book and I am excited to continue the series once book 2 is released.

[Irum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating : 3.5 stars

I’m actually surprised how much I enjoyed this book

[Moto Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marked as Favorites! Y’all this BOOK! This BOOK I’m in love!!!

[Mumen Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good first entry. I like it.

For the Worldbuilding, thought the basic idea is not exactly original, i really want to praise the execution of it

No one unnecessary, as my uncle had taken to saying. Without them, the palace was empty—a dead, shiny husk making a mockery of something that had once been so vibrantly alive. Every passing day had me feeling hollow, too.

Without conversation, only the tinkling of silverware remained in the dining hall. Eyes flitted around the table as we ate.

Worldbuilding reflecting character, and it's done through the feeling of the place rather than the description. Unfortunately the family history is uncerimoniously info dumped.

“The zirelings are their own kingdom."

"When my life is falling apart, the zirelings are still here, harvesting their flowers and singing their songs. Any problem I have, any mistake I make…it’s nothing to them.

"Every time I see them, it reminds me that everything continues—that I continue."

Even the zirelings felt sorrow. I no longer felt so alone with mine.

At the same time Worldbuilding connectet to characterization will always make it impactful as long as it's consistent. I really appreciate the author implementing both.

The bog did whisper. Just like the rhyme said.
'Wither', whistled the wind as it rustled the trees choked with vines.
'Wither', buzzed the insects floating across the stagnant water and soaring through the humid air.
'Wither', croaked the frogs, their bulging black eyes glistening in the shadows.

Even thought i did not enjoy Withertorn and the Wither, as i will talk about down the line. I can appreciate the introducion of a place done through it’s smaller elements, to comunicate the vibe of the place rather than a thorough description.


Thought the politics arent exactly relevant to book 1 (the set up is clearly there for book 2), they still motivate Cohrven to act, managing to connect to the religion as well:

“My wings are my connection to Kaltianen, and also a reminder of my responsibility to the Liral Court.
“She has not removed her favour, and so I will respect her intention”
“The Wither is not a choice. I don’t just want my wings to be healed—I need them to be healed”

Again, bolstering his motivations. Speaking of religion

“When the Sunkiller brought down the sun from the sky, a piece of it crashed into the ground here,”
“The worst fae to ever exist did this?”
A high-pitched, strangled sound left Cohrven’s mouth. “The Sunkiller is my direct ancestor, and the only reason the Liral and Sorcen Courts have survived this long.”

Culture clash going strong. Thought I would appreciate it more if the ensuing exposition about the legends was not just explained to the reader. I also have to note how, while both the explainations given for why Liral court has no daylight are exposed quite info-dumply, the Sorcen one sounds more believable, the Liral one has too many moving parts and doesn't address a lot of stuff: why couldn't Kaltianen and the Sunkiller do anything about the sun's curse on Liral? They killed a god and broguht down the sun, but can't create more light? Even by a secondary source? And Kaltianen is like "ok, my job's done, see ya" and dips?. Aurricc giving half of his heart to bring back a life and half of it for the sun which, being half of what it was supposed to be, only shines on Sorcen is much more believable.

I also want to mention that i really like the idea of titles given based on someone's powers or great deeds they displayed (it makes sense most people just get the power's name since few accomplish something so incredible it supplant their powers's)





Lastly the Magic System is kind of randomized, since it seems not only natural related powers are present (stonewalker, lightiningcaller, star...faller?) other powers are also present (Illusions, Telekinesis or rather, "Control", healing). Thought some powers are actually pretty interesting:

Though the greenery brought life to the sparse stone halls, Osreth’s plants weren’t only for decoration. They were his eyes and ears, and they knew I was sneaking through the hallways, my illusions unable to fool the very nature which worked in conjunction with my magic.

The idea that Osreth has spy trees is a good addition, it is balanced by the fact it takes time to pass informations, which makes sense since trees are notoriously slow creatures, as well as them being nefed indoors since they have small pots and enclosed space, it also doesn't seem to have combat applications.

Allina's powers are also well balanced

It was always easier to hear without my wings beating right next to my ears.

Crafting a good reason for having to choose between stealth and mobility

I had started to create illusions by sneaking up on small rodents in the caves high up in the Skybrush Mountains, where the trees couldn’t see me and report back to Osreth.
If the animals noticed me, I tried harder. If they were oblivious, I did it again and again, until I could have captured every single creature in Sorcen with my bare hands.

When hiding myself became too easy, I began to make them see things

And we self-trained our magic with something that makes sense. Animals are notorious for their perception skills, so of course we train stealth with them. A bit exposition heavy, but author wisely keeps it short

I made sure to get caught visibly sneaking into the room occasionally, to make it look like I was trying to do it magic-less.

And we account for people who know of our powers. This is aided by Osreth's love for Alli making him turn a blind eye on her.

They missed us by a wide margin, flying clear through the spot where I had made them all think Cohrven and I had been standing.

Clever use of enstablished powers. An even better example is her deceit at the end when she makes it look like Cohrven is kicking Osreth by masking herself as Cohrven and making an illusion talk in her place. I imagine the idea is that the illusion breaks if someone touches it, NOT if the illusion touches someone (otherwise kicking her unlce would have made the illusion break). And yes, i know Osreth's supposed to know of her power, however being caught in his sleep, being faced with the guy he fears the most and being touched by "him" surely goes a long way to terrorizing him.



Plot can be broken down in three mostly equal chunks: the first one is the introduction and escape from Sorcen, and i have to thoroughly praise it's constant momentum giving the story so much meat in a short time.

My uncle was going to kill me. There was no other explanation

I had to leave.

I would run away to the human territories

Boom, there. 10% of a short book, we got the introduction of the world, the characters and the three main issues (family, rival court and the possibility of her power going crazy, all three will get addressed in this book already), protagonist has a tangible goal, antagonist too and is not comically evil, world is explored but never overexplained, side characters are few and have a credible bond with the mains. All air tight without wasting the reader's time. I also want to address something that couldave been completely coincidental but was not. Noranin was "on her way", which makes sense, she can't just be there when needed and so she tries to heal Cohrven herself, but fails and makes it worse, Noranin coming in just in time. It IS a coincidence, but of the “good” kind, the ones which are set up. It also has lasting consequences (Cohrven being injured). Thought it would be better to introduce gnome before using her, for example we could set her up when Allina gets injured by the Kyvre, so we wouldn't need to shoehorn in this previously unknown character

That said, once Allina and Cohrven reach Liral the momentum significantly slows down and while i can appreciate the story taking a breather and giving some character moments, i also feel the threat of Sorcen invading wasn't addressed properly and seemed very much distant from us. Significantly cutting down a lot of Allina's doubts with Cohrven killing his brother and making her more curious of it rather than careful, along with significant pressure on Cohrven to stop vetoing the war, would give the story better pacing, as well as setting up Heron as warmonger, which honestly was only told and never shown (it was kinda implied in the argument he has with Cohrven before they leave to find the Wither, but that's right at the end of the second "section" and it has no impact on the story). Thought i still enjoyed the interactions with Cohrven's family.
Lastly the final section is the journey for Withertorn and the finale, essentially the part where they try to affect the world (remember, getting the wings fixed is not really about his needs, but about him ruling the court). The journey is way too long and the three meaningful interactions have good ideas behind them, but kind of falter in execution: n°1 the almost kiss in the tavern turns into an argument for not that good of a reason and way too quickly, expecially when she's angry because he's:

“Someone so full of selfloathing that he’s only comfortable believing everyone else hates him too.”

But why would you think it's a good idea to be angry at him for it? And he's mad because...?

"You chose to help me for the chance to stop your uncle’s war, I don’t doubt that, but you also chose to help me because I would free you. So don’t pretend that you’re so selfless, Kingsdaughter.”

Surely this is not something he believes in, so is he angry because he thinks she's not into him? That's not a good move brother.

The second interaction is when he randomly gets a cut on his hand...??? And so she heals him, but then he's super sick and the reason turns out to be

“Healing fatal wounds takes repetition and time. I haven’t had enough of either."

Which...HOW did you not heal at the palace? This by the way will also affect the last meaningful moment, but i also want to point out how much time we're wasting going back and forth with Allina's feelings. One moment she's really into him (touching his back and wings) but then she stands up and is like "i can't let him think there's something more", which is stupid because you DO want him girl.

The third interaction is the fight against the group of spies, in which some random shit happens and it seems Cohrven has STILL not yet managed to understand when he's going to run out of magic (it already happened while fleeing from Mayberry Inn) while for some reason the LightningCaller got the first shot off perfectly fine, but then couldn't do anything (and for some reason Cohrven decided to only kill one guy while in Allina's illusion).

Withertorn is a good vibe, but what happens there is a bit stinky: first of all

“I do not play games.”
“Then you forfeit. My wings, please.”

Despite this the Wither plays right after...??

“Honor our bargain,” Cohrven demanded. “I know you’re bound to your word"

But it didn’t agree...
Then the Wither is like "ooh you like a girl" and Cohrven is like "nuh-uh", which makes both of them sound like six years olds, then the Wither outright lies

“I promised that your wings would become as they once were in the morning, Nightheart. I did not say which morning.”

Nope, you said your wings will be healed . But regardless, what was the point of this journey all together? What did we accomplish? Yes, they got a bit closer, but the only real issue for Allie was that he killed his brother, which was something everyone already told her was more than what it looked like. Uh..she learned healing? Which she could learn at the palace healing him since Cohrven could say "oh i can't go to a medic because they're gonna touch my wings". Let's be real, the only thing she got was the information about her uncle making her father go crazy and her mother "paying her price". I don't think it's enough for how much time we invested in this. And by the way it's not even a Monkey's Paw thing, the wings are simply not healed, Cohrven gets nothing.


Allina's character is complex for sure. Author found a really good balance with her between giving her too much agency and making her helpless. However her constant swinging back and forth with Cohrven was a bit annoying. But before that, let me praise how the author shows her caring for her little (cousin) sister.

I pulled up just a little too early, enough to make it seem like it was a mistake. Erelie got the timing right and edged me out, flying over the first guard tower moments before I did. “Yes!” She twirled and hovered in front of me, arms thrown up in celebration. “I win!”

No words were exchanged, we just showed this is a thing they do, and of course they would because it's something fun, and of course she would let her Erelie win. This covers a two pages long story-stopping exposition dump about how much she loves Erelie AND progresses the plot. This, along with Erelie running to her when she's scared of the earthquake is enough to justify Allie's motivation of going back for her. Something that could have been done for Osreth too, and was executed kind of half and half, a lot of times Allina's bond with her uncle is told rather than showed. Staying at the Sorcen court for another 15 pages could have ilustrated that more thoroughly and wouldn't weight down the plot too much, since it would take out the unnecessary multiple explanations of their past (their history could be narrated by her to Cohrven, allowing for arguments and confrontation).

The fae of Sorcen would riot if I were executed. I was their Kingsdaughter—the beloved, orphaned princess that had persevered despite the brutal deaths of her parents.
Osreth knew that. He hadn’t promised Ryena that he would kill me, either. He had looked at her like she was a bug he wanted to swat from the air.
“It’s not true.”

Understandable denial, backed by the fact uncle Osreth is not dr. Evil, however this changes way too rapidly to he's gonna murder me, i have to escape . This is a problem that permeates Allie and my main gripe with her, since it encompasses her relationship with Cohrven too. She swings back and forth to wild conclusions at the slightest change of the informations she has, so she seems very unstable

we were both victims of my uncle; we were both sentenced to die on a whim of his. In that, we had one thing in common.

I was going to save myself and the tortured prince in my arms. We were both getting out, or neither of us was.

This is her meeting Cohrven for the first time. Then she's all like Oh naw, He's the Nightheart, he's evil . Then sees him shirtless one time and...

I had to have him.
I would kill to have him.

Then she's back to

He had spilled so much blood. His healing couldn’t redeem him. Nothing could.

Even thought they JUST enstablished another connection

“You never asked if I killed him,” I said, my eyes meeting the bloody dirt in front of my feet.
“I never doubted you.”
“It was bad.”
“First kills always are.”

This goes on and on for the entire book, she cannot pick if she likes him or not and while I encourage slow buildup in romance, It can't be a swing going back and forth, every time it does everything that was built for or against a character gets unmade.

All that we really needed was these two thoughts

Can nothing redeem you, then? In my head, I watched myself from a distance as I sliced Blue Wing’s throat.
Blood coated my hands, just like it coated his.
And there would be more to come.

Cohrven stabbing his brother would have been just like me stabbing Erelie. I could never have done it. Cohrven, though, had been capable of doing so
I was only trying to survive.

The idea that we would need to eventually explore why Cohrven killed his brother is pivotal to their relationship and we waste way too much time going back and forth on it, it's ultimately the only thing holding her back and we take way too much time to ask. Even when we DO ask, she still jumps to insane conclusions right off the bat without thinking

The Nightheart was in front of me now, proving everything I had willingly overlooked. Believing that Cohrven was more than a remorseless monster had been childish. Almost losing myself in him had been absurdity.

And as soon as we let him talk

I had been so wrong. So horribly wrong. Remembering all of my misguided arrogance, all that I had said, all that I had done in the belief that Cohrven had maliciously murdered his brother made me nauseous.

See what I mean? Extreme reactions to everything lead to overdramatization. It makes you look like a child surprised by everything, you know the man, let him speak before drawing conclusions. Have a bit of trust.

At the same time, trusting Val and Rian are a bit too easy to latch onto her and make her have big character moments:

“You’re dangerous,” she stated. There was no fear in her voice. To her, it was a simple fact. “Like Cohrven.”

I was a powerful enemy, and a strong ally. For my whole life, I had only been what I thought others had wanted me to be

Now....I could finally see who I had the chance to become.

Despite the grating mologue, it's still prompted by another character so it's allright. This also happend a couple of chapters before, when Cohrven tells her you deserve to be loved (why are we still deliberating on him being a good person?)

Throughout my journey with Cohrven, I had proved I was enough. I had saved him. I had kept him alive. I had buried my grief and persevered. I was so much more than something for my uncle to discard.

Linking it back to her situation with her uncle. Regarding THAT, i did like how they were both kind of enemies but too emotionally connected to seriously harm one another, i hope this continues and Osreth doesn't just become mega evil without explanation.

Continues

[KMart Vet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of the tumultuous journey of Princess Allina Kingsdaughter as she faces betrayal among the looming threat of war. After the tragic and violent deaths of her parents, Allina is desperate for familial ties. She makes do with the arm's length love with her uncle, the reigning Sorcen King, and her younger cousin. Allina's loyalty is tested when she overhears her uncle plotting her death. Anger at her family leads to a rather spontaneous rescue of the captured (and tortured) Prince Cohrven Nightheart, heir to the feared Liral Court. The two flee to the Liral Court, though the complexities are far from over.

I really enjoy Allina's journey from a naïve, trusting young woman to someone much darker and cautious. I also enjoyed the relationships she has with other characters and how they shift over time. I loved the complexities of Allina's relationship with her uncle, whom she once considered her true father. I liked her realization that the rumors she heard of the enemy kingdom were unfounded and how shocked she was that there were rumors about HER, as well. I also enjoyed getting to know the feared Prince Cohrven, a figure shrouded with an infamous reputation for cruelty after he killed his own brother when he was young. My favorite aspect was Allina discovering that despite everything she'd been taught about her enemies, Cohrven has people who absolutely love him. I enjoyed her reckoning with her own family's failures and her working through that trauma. These things were subtle and the reader was left to draw their own conclusions.

The initial pacing of the book presents challenges, with events unfolding rapidly, hindering emotional depth. However, the latter half of the story is much more interesting as Allina undergoes significant personal growth and action picks up without being rushed. I was also thrown by occasional fluctuations in character portrayal. Finally, there is a whole lot of telling rather than showing or telling and showing differently. It was jarring. I wish that there was more world-building and a magic system that had more rules. The magic seemed capable of anything and didn't seem to have limitations.

That ending left me QUITE intrigued, setting the stage for further character development and raising questions about the fate of the characters.

Thanks to R&R Booktours for the copy. This is an honest review.

[Jagged · Rating 2 out of 5]

Potential is there

I can see what the goal was. I can see what was being attempted. Unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark.

I did try to keep in mind the age and immaturity of the characters while reading this. It was hard, though, because Sterling seemed to struggle with where they should be maturity wise.
This was supposed to be more NA, but it ended up being YA instead. Cohrven read as a 12 year old boy for most of this read, well, more like a 12 year old girl. Allina strayed between 13 and 25, but mostly hung around 15.

The character development needed a lot more work. A lot of this book was spent traveling in silence. Books become movies in my head, and I'm just picturing weeks of silence. That's incredibly boring and unlikely. This time should've been spent with character interactions, where the reader gets to learn more about them and be convinced of their budding attraction. But nope, silence it is!
Cohrven is supposed to be incredibly powerful, but he spends this book in near constant need of being saved by Allina. I see where you're going with this, but it doesn't quite work. It made sense in the beginning, but not so much later.

The pacing was awkward. It started off exciting, then long silence while traveling, then an unnecessary stop over in Liral where again, we learn pretty much nothing about our characters, and then more silent traveling. Then, once we're close to the end, we get a little bit of excitement. So, most of this book is boring and slow. With nothing to show for it.

There was some decent world building. I did feel like the story was taking place in another realm.
There were some good moments in the book, too, highlighting Sterling's potential as an author. I enjoyed the Wither, and I think more focus on that character would have helped.
The magic was interesting, too.

The plot was kind of abandoned once our main characters got to Liral. Then things just kind of happened haphazardly. Other characters were introduced for no real purpose, and pretty much no progress was made with the romance or even the overall goal of the book.

So, it's not a complete dud, but plenty of room to grow. I think Sterling has potential, though, to grow into a talented author.

[Amanda Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one reminded me of two of my favorite stories: ACOTAR and Ella Enchanted. ACOTAR because of the other court is believed to be cruel and horrendous but actually is the opposite. Ella Enchanted because of the uncle who is King and actually wants the Prince (in this case it’s the FMC) dead. I really liked the FMC’s power; like it’s so subtle but SO powerful. Illusions? That can really mindbend a person. And the MMC reminded me of a mix of Rhys from ACOTAR and Cardin from The Cruel Prince. So basically it was a lot of my favorite things rolled up into one book, which made for a really enjoyable read for me!!

Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for the copy

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! The best of even my 5* books in a while. Totally fixed my slump. Anxious for book 2?

[Romance in Realms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I absolutely LOVED this book. I was hooked from the start and determined to get my girl Allina to her... *destination*.

Allina Kingsdaughter lost her parents at a young age. Her father was lost to a sickness of the mind and in his spiral, killed his wife. Allina's uncle assumed the crown and has taken care of her ever since. When we enter the story, the castle has begun to be locked down for reasons unknown. Allina misses flying and being free, so she uses her illusions to sneak out of the castle and explore what was once her land. The day before the anticipated Midsummer festival Allina uses her illusions to sneak into a council meeting. She soon discovers that her benevolent uncle, the one who basically raised her, plans to murder her.

Moving swiftly, she makes plans to leave her court behind and escape to the mortal lands while the royals are swept up by the festivities. Her escape is interrupted by her cousin, who explains that they have captured Prince Nightheart of the Liral court, their blood enemy.

When she finds Cohrven, her court's mortal enemy, bound, bloody, and being whipped she decides to grab him and go. Telling us that she'll detour to his court, drop him off, and then make her way to the mortal lands. With his wings shredded, Cohrven doesn't have a hope of escaping otherwise.

Together, they escape the guards and begin their journey. From sworn enemies that are forced together, to tentative friends, to something you'll have to find out for yourself!

Wings of Starless Night is a fast-paced refreshing romantasy novel that features fae royalty, an illusion shadow MOMMY, and a touch HIM and die and oh my gosh, I am so here for this FMC domination!

Wings of Starless Night gets a 4.5/5 star rating from me. Half a star was lost because of the initial pacing of the writing. While I love a fast-paced novel, there is a requisite amount of worldbuilding and stage setting required. The beginning of the novel doesn't explain enough about the existing politics and it's something you have to piece along the way. I think I would have benefitted from having a deeper understanding earlier on. But otherwise, this story was awesome.

This is the first book in the series and I absolutely need to know what happens next. If the author is reading this, please...soon.

NOTE: there were no trigger warnings mentioned for this book, but I'd advise reading some reviews before starting. There's graphic violence and mentions of $u1 (you get it)

Thank you to Sadie Sterling and RR Tours for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review!