What do you think?
Rate this book
Stars May Burn #1
Stars May Burn
Some stars shine. Others cause the world to burn.
With Lady Sophie’s husband still warm in his grave, and her reputation stained from being unable to produce an heir, the last thing she expects is her father to arrange a rushed wedding. The groom is none other than General Kasten, the illegitimate son of the King.
The same man who is feared and hated by the entire realm.
Still, she has been trained to be the dutiful wife and accepts her role without complaint. Yet how can she hope to be the spouse she is expected to be when the General is frequently absent and seems to be hiding dark secrets that cause her curiosity to burn?
Kasten’s luck is running out. With the King and his court eager to see him dead, he knows he must marry or risk his lands falling into the wrong hands. His plan seemed a simple one; marry the woman he has always secretly admired but keep his distance to avoid forming an attachment. After all, he will likely be dead within the year.
No need to cause her unnecessary anguish.
It doesn’t take long for Kasten to realize he’s misjudged the beautiful widow. Sophie misses nothing and is learning dangerous truths that could get them both killed. Kasten has always been willing to lay down his life in the name of peace but he will not allow them to harm her.
To keep his bride safe, he would burn the kingdom to the ground.
A heart-pounding dark fantasy world with clean slow burn romance, perfect for fans of The Starlit Prince, Mistborn, Defy the Night, and Alchemy of Souls.
With Lady Sophie’s husband still warm in his grave, and her reputation stained from being unable to produce an heir, the last thing she expects is her father to arrange a rushed wedding. The groom is none other than General Kasten, the illegitimate son of the King.
The same man who is feared and hated by the entire realm.
Still, she has been trained to be the dutiful wife and accepts her role without complaint. Yet how can she hope to be the spouse she is expected to be when the General is frequently absent and seems to be hiding dark secrets that cause her curiosity to burn?
Kasten’s luck is running out. With the King and his court eager to see him dead, he knows he must marry or risk his lands falling into the wrong hands. His plan seemed a simple one; marry the woman he has always secretly admired but keep his distance to avoid forming an attachment. After all, he will likely be dead within the year.
No need to cause her unnecessary anguish.
It doesn’t take long for Kasten to realize he’s misjudged the beautiful widow. Sophie misses nothing and is learning dangerous truths that could get them both killed. Kasten has always been willing to lay down his life in the name of peace but he will not allow them to harm her.
To keep his bride safe, he would burn the kingdom to the ground.
A heart-pounding dark fantasy world with clean slow burn romance, perfect for fans of The Starlit Prince, Mistborn, Defy the Night, and Alchemy of Souls.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 7, 2024
About the author
Alice Ivinya
32 books316 followersAlice is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes low spice fantasy and fairytales.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
She lives in Bristol, UK, and has loved fantasy all her life. Her favourite authors are Holly Black and Brandon Sanderson.
When she's not off gallivanting in other worlds, you can find her looking after her two young sons, hanging out with her church family, or walking the best dog in the world with her husband.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews
Read
October 4, 2024Lost interest 83% so little interaction between the FMC and MMC. He arranges a marriage between them expecting to die. He’s obsessed with her based on her beauty and fragility, but they don’t interact or communicate much. Interesting magic and FMC has hobby with herbs and gardening. She’s such a pushover though, faints with overwhelm and gets mad when he steps in for her when he’s just being protective. She nurses him back to health when he’s injured. Needed a bit more pep for me.
October 8, 2025
"She was hope. I had only ever been doom."
😳 This was absolutely distressing...and I loved it. Forced into an arranged marriage on her end, but a selfless marriage of convenience on his, with an utterly wholesome yet magnetic romantic progression. A gothic fantasy world with layers of conspiracy and dangerous implications. An FMC and MMC more alike in their woes and heroism than first meets the eye. Complete opposites on the outside but total soulmates. And enough side characters to add extra depth and keep the pacing; including Callum (Kasten's right-hand man), who added a perfect amount of humor along the way.
Things this author did really well that impressed me while I was reading:
The dual-POVs were not redundant AT ALL. She navigated those perspectives effectively and efficiently. Overall this was written soooo well. I did not catch a single typo, just worth mentioning. It felt like every word the reader got was for a purpose. Another thing: the romance was so wholesome and modest. THE YEARNING. The way Kasten and Sophie look are total figurative representations of who they are perceived to be (which is entirely underestimated by their enemies) and through their love story we really understand their character portraits. The romance hardly focused on the physical, it was great. I love a misunderstood protagonist and you get two in both Kasten and Sophie. I ADORED when they started having arguments that married couples have haha.
Despite this being recommended to me and despite the author's cliffhanger warning at the beginning of the book, I just was not prepared for how devastating and good this was. The plot twists and cliffhanger are horrific and I must say I bought book two the same night I finished this. I did cry.
In this book:
-slow burn
-sunshine x rain
-touch her and die
-high stakes
-arranged marriage
-opposites attract
-dual-POV
-dark secrets
-political intrigue
-found family
Content Guide:
romance - clean
language - one use of "damn" and several uses of "bastard" in its literal older meaning
violence - frequent and semi-graphic
fantasy elements - political; fictional science (chemistry, physics, & medicine)
Content Warnings:
infertility, DV
😳 This was absolutely distressing...and I loved it. Forced into an arranged marriage on her end, but a selfless marriage of convenience on his, with an utterly wholesome yet magnetic romantic progression. A gothic fantasy world with layers of conspiracy and dangerous implications. An FMC and MMC more alike in their woes and heroism than first meets the eye. Complete opposites on the outside but total soulmates. And enough side characters to add extra depth and keep the pacing; including Callum (Kasten's right-hand man), who added a perfect amount of humor along the way.
Things this author did really well that impressed me while I was reading:
The dual-POVs were not redundant AT ALL. She navigated those perspectives effectively and efficiently. Overall this was written soooo well. I did not catch a single typo, just worth mentioning. It felt like every word the reader got was for a purpose. Another thing: the romance was so wholesome and modest. THE YEARNING. The way Kasten and Sophie look are total figurative representations of who they are perceived to be (which is entirely underestimated by their enemies) and through their love story we really understand their character portraits. The romance hardly focused on the physical, it was great. I love a misunderstood protagonist and you get two in both Kasten and Sophie. I ADORED when they started having arguments that married couples have haha.
Despite this being recommended to me and despite the author's cliffhanger warning at the beginning of the book, I just was not prepared for how devastating and good this was. The plot twists and cliffhanger are horrific and I must say I bought book two the same night I finished this. I did cry.
In this book:
-slow burn
-sunshine x rain
-touch her and die
-high stakes
-arranged marriage
-opposites attract
-dual-POV
-dark secrets
-political intrigue
-found family
Content Guide:
romance - clean
language - one use of "damn" and several uses of "bastard" in its literal older meaning
violence - frequent and semi-graphic
fantasy elements - political; fictional science (chemistry, physics, & medicine)
Content Warnings:
infertility, DV
August 7, 2024
I’m not gonna lie. I REALLY enjoyed this book. Maybe it’s because a lot of romantasy has felt like it’s been all about sex and this wasn’t or also because it didn’t feel as cliche or “done” as many others have lately. I really enjoyed the main characters and their relationship. There was none of the “I’m gonna tease you and make you feel bad because actually I’m super into you just like you’re into me”. They worked on learning to talk to each other and it wasn’t perfect but they worked on it! There was a twist or two I didn’t fully expect which is also fun. So yeah I’d recommend this book :)
July 13, 2025
WHY!? WHY OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS! THIS WAS PROBABLY THE BEST BOOK IVE EVER READ! HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME WAIT A TWO MONTHS FOR THE NEXT BOOK!
Everything about this book was AMAZING! It gave me all the feelings I had with pride and prejudice (the romance aspect) plus some, it gave me all the dystopian feel of maze runner, it gave me the redemption feel of beauty and the beast, and it gave me action unlike anything I’ve read!
She has such a way with words that you literally don’t want to skip anything! I have a tendency to skim anything that is descriptive or not dialogue, but I was so gripped by this story and the words that I couldn’t stop reading anything! I didn’t want to miss a single letter!
It is everything I want in fantasy and romance! I know it’s a romance, but that wasn’t the main plot and I love it! The main plot is so exciting I was hooked on it and couldn’t let go!
I COULD GO ON ABOUT THIS BOOK ALL FREAKING DAY! I NEVER read eBooks, but it was on sale for 99¢ so I bought it and boy am I glad I did! I fully intend to buy the paperback version as well!
WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT TWO MONTHS!?
I wanted to review this book before I was even half way through because of how amazing it was, but I forced myself to wait and now you can read about how much that cliffhanger is going to torture me!
The romance developed so sweetly! At first I applauded them both for wanting the relationship and not hating each other like the standard marriage of convince trope… but their relationship became so real! I found myself being so giddy when their scenes together would come up, be it arguments or kisses. My sister thought I was crazy because I kid you not I was BEAMING during that dance scene!
Another thing I loved is that their relationship has bumps, but Kasten encourages Sophie to talk them out with him they can understand each other and grow. So many romance books use relationship conflict as the only thing keeping the story interesting, but I much prefer this, where they talk it out and express their feelings without being endlessly mad at one another for a misunderstanding. That is how healthy relationships work.
Okay, now my character reviews! I can’t even say I have a favorite character! I normally dislike the FL and only like the ML, but I loved them both so much in this!
Kasten is the strong silent type that doesn’t really open up. I loved watching his character grow from believing he was a monster beyond redemption, to being healed by Sophie and wanting to be better for her! He was so sweet to her when she was feeling scared or hurt, constantly trying to comfort her when she needed it, even though he had no idea how!
Sophie also grew so much! I watched her go from this timid people pleaser to a strong woman who wasn’t feminist independent, but able to stand up for herself even despite her inner conflicts! I feel like she drew some of her strength from Kasten and he helped her realize she was strong! She needed someone to make her put away her facades and be real, and he was that someone! I loved how loyal she was to him too, even before their relationship started to develop.
Callum… sweet, hilariously obnoxious Callum. He’s like a third wheel, but in a good way. In the beginning I was questioning him like, he’s loyal to Kasten but really dislikes Sophie… why? Then as the story progressed I watched him warm to her and they were able to find common ground and be friends and partners in crime (literally). His relationship with Kasten was so funny! Every time he was on the page I laughed at least twice! He was really good for comedic relief as well. It is a dark time for these characters, they (and I) needed to laugh every once in a while.
Quotes I highlighted because it was an ebook (I never highlighted or note in my actual books):
•Callum sighed again, rubbing his eyes. “Either let her in fully, Kasten, or leave her out to make her own conclusions and stop worrying what they are.”
— Chapter 15
• I considered throwing him out the window. Callum must have seen something in my eyes because he held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I mean, one minute you won’t even talk to her. The next, you’re kissing? Have you finally realized she’s your wife?”
— Chapter 30
• Callum took a drink. “They’ve been trying to kill us for years. I’m fed up talking about them. Your love life is far more interesting.”
— Chapter 30
I only highlighted those because after that I started getting so sucking into the story that I didn’t even think about highlighting (not that I wasn’t already sucked into the story at those parts, just that I thought Callum was too funny in the last two and really wise in the first one).
You’re welcome. That’s my review. I don’t know if you even made it to the bottom, but all I can say is you NEED this book in your life! Wait until the next one comes out though… I’m going to have sleepless nights over that cliffhanger.
(This exact review is posted under another account, but it’s literally my old account that I can’t get back into no matter how hard I try… I just wanted it on my new account too.)
Everything about this book was AMAZING! It gave me all the feelings I had with pride and prejudice (the romance aspect) plus some, it gave me all the dystopian feel of maze runner, it gave me the redemption feel of beauty and the beast, and it gave me action unlike anything I’ve read!
She has such a way with words that you literally don’t want to skip anything! I have a tendency to skim anything that is descriptive or not dialogue, but I was so gripped by this story and the words that I couldn’t stop reading anything! I didn’t want to miss a single letter!
It is everything I want in fantasy and romance! I know it’s a romance, but that wasn’t the main plot and I love it! The main plot is so exciting I was hooked on it and couldn’t let go!
I COULD GO ON ABOUT THIS BOOK ALL FREAKING DAY! I NEVER read eBooks, but it was on sale for 99¢ so I bought it and boy am I glad I did! I fully intend to buy the paperback version as well!
WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT TWO MONTHS!?
I wanted to review this book before I was even half way through because of how amazing it was, but I forced myself to wait and now you can read about how much that cliffhanger is going to torture me!
The romance developed so sweetly! At first I applauded them both for wanting the relationship and not hating each other like the standard marriage of convince trope… but their relationship became so real! I found myself being so giddy when their scenes together would come up, be it arguments or kisses. My sister thought I was crazy because I kid you not I was BEAMING during that dance scene!
Another thing I loved is that their relationship has bumps, but Kasten encourages Sophie to talk them out with him they can understand each other and grow. So many romance books use relationship conflict as the only thing keeping the story interesting, but I much prefer this, where they talk it out and express their feelings without being endlessly mad at one another for a misunderstanding. That is how healthy relationships work.
Okay, now my character reviews! I can’t even say I have a favorite character! I normally dislike the FL and only like the ML, but I loved them both so much in this!
Kasten is the strong silent type that doesn’t really open up. I loved watching his character grow from believing he was a monster beyond redemption, to being healed by Sophie and wanting to be better for her! He was so sweet to her when she was feeling scared or hurt, constantly trying to comfort her when she needed it, even though he had no idea how!
Sophie also grew so much! I watched her go from this timid people pleaser to a strong woman who wasn’t feminist independent, but able to stand up for herself even despite her inner conflicts! I feel like she drew some of her strength from Kasten and he helped her realize she was strong! She needed someone to make her put away her facades and be real, and he was that someone! I loved how loyal she was to him too, even before their relationship started to develop.
Callum… sweet, hilariously obnoxious Callum. He’s like a third wheel, but in a good way. In the beginning I was questioning him like, he’s loyal to Kasten but really dislikes Sophie… why? Then as the story progressed I watched him warm to her and they were able to find common ground and be friends and partners in crime (literally). His relationship with Kasten was so funny! Every time he was on the page I laughed at least twice! He was really good for comedic relief as well. It is a dark time for these characters, they (and I) needed to laugh every once in a while.
Quotes I highlighted because it was an ebook (I never highlighted or note in my actual books):
•Callum sighed again, rubbing his eyes. “Either let her in fully, Kasten, or leave her out to make her own conclusions and stop worrying what they are.”
— Chapter 15
• I considered throwing him out the window. Callum must have seen something in my eyes because he held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I mean, one minute you won’t even talk to her. The next, you’re kissing? Have you finally realized she’s your wife?”
— Chapter 30
• Callum took a drink. “They’ve been trying to kill us for years. I’m fed up talking about them. Your love life is far more interesting.”
— Chapter 30
I only highlighted those because after that I started getting so sucking into the story that I didn’t even think about highlighting (not that I wasn’t already sucked into the story at those parts, just that I thought Callum was too funny in the last two and really wise in the first one).
You’re welcome. That’s my review. I don’t know if you even made it to the bottom, but all I can say is you NEED this book in your life! Wait until the next one comes out though… I’m going to have sleepless nights over that cliffhanger.
(This exact review is posted under another account, but it’s literally my old account that I can’t get back into no matter how hard I try… I just wanted it on my new account too.)
September 8, 2025
This review is for both books.
I loved this duology! Stars May Burn had so much overlap with the things I loved about Thorn by Intisar Khanani. Soft FMC finally around people who love, appreciate and protect her. Gives me all the goofy smiles. And her love for medicinal herbs was just the icing for me. Stars May Fall focuses more on the fantasy aspect and the politics. Although less my thing, I loved the characters and was all in.
CONTENT:
Language: Mild. Worst is b*****d being used to describe an illegitimate child (book 1).
Romance: In book 1, all after marriage. Only kissing on page. In book 2, the most is kissing in bed and "marital relations" off page. In regards to an engaged couple there is a kiss on the cheek and a brief "stolen kiss". Both books mention children born out of wedlock and a mistress.
Other: Many mentions of main characters drinking, never intoxicated. References to emotional/physical abuse. Violence not graphic and not glamorised. Talk of periods and fertility.
I loved this duology! Stars May Burn had so much overlap with the things I loved about Thorn by Intisar Khanani. Soft FMC finally around people who love, appreciate and protect her. Gives me all the goofy smiles. And her love for medicinal herbs was just the icing for me. Stars May Fall focuses more on the fantasy aspect and the politics. Although less my thing, I loved the characters and was all in.
CONTENT:
Language: Mild. Worst is b*****d being used to describe an illegitimate child (book 1).
Romance: In book 1, all after marriage. Only kissing on page. In book 2, the most is kissing in bed and "marital relations" off page. In regards to an engaged couple there is a kiss on the cheek and a brief "stolen kiss". Both books mention children born out of wedlock and a mistress.
Other: Many mentions of main characters drinking, never intoxicated. References to emotional/physical abuse. Violence not graphic and not glamorised. Talk of periods and fertility.
June 7, 2024
First of all, how dare you. The cliffhanger warning did not adequately prepare me for my heart to be ripped from my chest mere pages before the end of this book. Is it August yet?
This world is so cool. It's a royalty fantasy romance with scheming aristocrats, but throw it some alchemical steampunk vibes and bloody battles against unnatural foes. Sophie is such a great character, who sees herself as weak and downtrodden but doesn't realize how strong she's had to be just to survive her family. And Kasten, illegitimate son of the king, is also great once he gets his head out of...places. They are so great together and I can't wait to see how everything comes together in the next book, which I will devour even if it's over 400 pages like this one.
This world is so cool. It's a royalty fantasy romance with scheming aristocrats, but throw it some alchemical steampunk vibes and bloody battles against unnatural foes. Sophie is such a great character, who sees herself as weak and downtrodden but doesn't realize how strong she's had to be just to survive her family. And Kasten, illegitimate son of the king, is also great once he gets his head out of...places. They are so great together and I can't wait to see how everything comes together in the next book, which I will devour even if it's over 400 pages like this one.
June 23, 2024
Loved it!!
This was so good! If you love dark fantasy romance, then this is the book for you. The world-building was so well done and the political intrigue kept you guessing what’s happening behind the scenes. I love the slow-burn romance between our two main characters, Sophie and Kasten. They are so sweet together and I can’t wait to see their relationship deepen in the next book. The themes that were strong in this book were ones of redemption, courage, and bravery. For those who feel shy and like they can’t stand up for themselves (like myself), Sophie’s character arc resonates deeply for those who feel that way. In the beginning, she was shy and obedient even to those who were toxic toward her, but as she gained freedom from her toxic family, and branched out to discover what she wanted from life. (😉yes, I just used a plant joke for a character who loves gardening 😝) Sophie reminds those who struggle with feelings of unworthiness and toxic influences that those people do not have power over you unless you let them. Here comes another gardening reference inspired by Sophie’s growth: Prune your garden of any weeds so that it may flourish. I loved how the author chose to portray the fearsome, morally grey, General Kasten. Kasten’s flaws are not excused to the reader but explained in a way that makes him be received in empathy. Alice Ivinya is great at creating realistic characters that tug at your heartstrings. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
This was so good! If you love dark fantasy romance, then this is the book for you. The world-building was so well done and the political intrigue kept you guessing what’s happening behind the scenes. I love the slow-burn romance between our two main characters, Sophie and Kasten. They are so sweet together and I can’t wait to see their relationship deepen in the next book. The themes that were strong in this book were ones of redemption, courage, and bravery. For those who feel shy and like they can’t stand up for themselves (like myself), Sophie’s character arc resonates deeply for those who feel that way. In the beginning, she was shy and obedient even to those who were toxic toward her, but as she gained freedom from her toxic family, and branched out to discover what she wanted from life. (😉yes, I just used a plant joke for a character who loves gardening 😝) Sophie reminds those who struggle with feelings of unworthiness and toxic influences that those people do not have power over you unless you let them. Here comes another gardening reference inspired by Sophie’s growth: Prune your garden of any weeds so that it may flourish. I loved how the author chose to portray the fearsome, morally grey, General Kasten. Kasten’s flaws are not excused to the reader but explained in a way that makes him be received in empathy. Alice Ivinya is great at creating realistic characters that tug at your heartstrings. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!
August 22, 2024
WHY!? WHY OF ALL CLIFFHANGERS! THIS WAS PROBABLY THE BEST BOOK IVE EVER READ! HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME WAIT A TWO MONTHS FOR THE NEXT BOOK!
Everything about this book was AMAZING! It gave me all the feeling I had with pride and prejudice (the romance aspect) plus some, it gave me all the dystopian feel of maze runner, it gave me the redemption feel of beauty and the beast, and it gave me action unlike anything I’ve read!
She has such a way with words that you literally don’t want to skip anything! I have a tendency to skim anything that is descriptive or not dialogue, but I was so gripped by this story and the words that I couldn’t stop reading anything! I didn’t want to miss a single letter!
It is everything I want in fantasy and romance! I know it’s a romance, but that wasn’t the main plot and I love it! The main plot is so exciting I was hooked on it and couldn’t let go!
I COULD GO ON ABOUT THIS BOOK ALL FREAKING DAY! I NEVER read eBooks, but it was on sale for 99¢ so I bought it and boy am I glad I did! I fully intend to buy the paperback version as well!
WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT TWO MONTHS!?
I wanted to review this book before I was even half way through because of how amazing it was, but I forced myself to wait and now you can read about how much that cliffhanger is going to torture me!
The romance developed so sweetly! At first I applauded them both for wanting the relationship and not hating each other like the standard marriage of convince trope… but their relationship became so real! I found myself being so giddy when their scenes together would come up, be it arguments or kisses. My sister thought I was crazy because I kid you not I was BEAMING during that dance scene!
Another thing I loved is that their relationship has bumps, but Kasten encourages Sophie to talk them out with him they can understand each other and grow. So many romance books use relationship conflict as the only thing keeping the story interesting, but I much prefer this, where they talk it out and express their feelings without being endlessly mad at one another for a misunderstanding. That is how healthy relationships work.
Okay, now my character reviews! I can’t even say I have a favorite character! I normally dislike the FL and only like the ML, but I loved them both so much in this!
Kasten is the strong silent type that doesn’t really open up. I loved watching his character growth from believing he was a monster beyond redemption, to being healed by Sophie and wanting to be better for her! He was so sweet to her when she was feeling scared or hurt, constantly trying to comfort her when she needed it, even though he had no idea how!
Sophie also grew so much! I watched her go from this timid people pleaser to a strong woman who wasn’t feminist independent, but able to stand up for herself even despite her inner conflicts! I feel like she drew some of her strength from Kasten and he helped her realize she was strong! She needed someone to make her put away her facades and be real, and he was that someone! I loved how loyal she was to him too, even before their relationship started to develop.
Callum… sweet, hilariously obnoxious Callum. He’s like a third wheel, but in a good way. In the beginning I was questioning him like, he’s loyal to Kasten but really dislikes Sophie… why? Then as the story progressed I watched him warm to her and they were able to find common ground and be friends and partners in crime (literally). His relationship with Kasten was so funny! Every time he was on the page I laughed at least twice! He was really good for comedic relief as well. It is a dark time for these characters, they (and I) needed to laugh every once in a while.
Quotes I highlighted because it was an ebook (I never highlighted or note in my actual books):
•Callum sighed again, rubbing his eyes. “Either let her in fully, Kasten, or leave her out to make her own conclusions and stop worrying what they are.”
— Chapter 15
• I considered throwing him out the window. Callum must have seen something in my eyes because he held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I mean, one minute you won’t even talk to her. The next, you’re kissing? Have you finally realized she’s your wife?”
— Chapter 30
• Callum took a drink. “They’ve been trying to kill us for years. I’m fed up talking about them. Your love life is far more interesting.”
— Chapter 30
I only highlighted those because after that I started getting so sucking into the story that I didn’t even think about highlighting (not that I wasn’t already sucked into the story at those parts, just that I thought Callum was too funny in the last two and really wise in the first one).
You’re welcome. That’s my review. I don’t know if you even made it to the bottom, but all I can say is you NEED this book in your life! Wait until the next one comes out though… I’m going to have sleepless nights over that cliffhanger.
Everything about this book was AMAZING! It gave me all the feeling I had with pride and prejudice (the romance aspect) plus some, it gave me all the dystopian feel of maze runner, it gave me the redemption feel of beauty and the beast, and it gave me action unlike anything I’ve read!
She has such a way with words that you literally don’t want to skip anything! I have a tendency to skim anything that is descriptive or not dialogue, but I was so gripped by this story and the words that I couldn’t stop reading anything! I didn’t want to miss a single letter!
It is everything I want in fantasy and romance! I know it’s a romance, but that wasn’t the main plot and I love it! The main plot is so exciting I was hooked on it and couldn’t let go!
I COULD GO ON ABOUT THIS BOOK ALL FREAKING DAY! I NEVER read eBooks, but it was on sale for 99¢ so I bought it and boy am I glad I did! I fully intend to buy the paperback version as well!
WHY DO I HAVE TO WAIT TWO MONTHS!?
I wanted to review this book before I was even half way through because of how amazing it was, but I forced myself to wait and now you can read about how much that cliffhanger is going to torture me!
The romance developed so sweetly! At first I applauded them both for wanting the relationship and not hating each other like the standard marriage of convince trope… but their relationship became so real! I found myself being so giddy when their scenes together would come up, be it arguments or kisses. My sister thought I was crazy because I kid you not I was BEAMING during that dance scene!
Another thing I loved is that their relationship has bumps, but Kasten encourages Sophie to talk them out with him they can understand each other and grow. So many romance books use relationship conflict as the only thing keeping the story interesting, but I much prefer this, where they talk it out and express their feelings without being endlessly mad at one another for a misunderstanding. That is how healthy relationships work.
Okay, now my character reviews! I can’t even say I have a favorite character! I normally dislike the FL and only like the ML, but I loved them both so much in this!
Kasten is the strong silent type that doesn’t really open up. I loved watching his character growth from believing he was a monster beyond redemption, to being healed by Sophie and wanting to be better for her! He was so sweet to her when she was feeling scared or hurt, constantly trying to comfort her when she needed it, even though he had no idea how!
Sophie also grew so much! I watched her go from this timid people pleaser to a strong woman who wasn’t feminist independent, but able to stand up for herself even despite her inner conflicts! I feel like she drew some of her strength from Kasten and he helped her realize she was strong! She needed someone to make her put away her facades and be real, and he was that someone! I loved how loyal she was to him too, even before their relationship started to develop.
Callum… sweet, hilariously obnoxious Callum. He’s like a third wheel, but in a good way. In the beginning I was questioning him like, he’s loyal to Kasten but really dislikes Sophie… why? Then as the story progressed I watched him warm to her and they were able to find common ground and be friends and partners in crime (literally). His relationship with Kasten was so funny! Every time he was on the page I laughed at least twice! He was really good for comedic relief as well. It is a dark time for these characters, they (and I) needed to laugh every once in a while.
Quotes I highlighted because it was an ebook (I never highlighted or note in my actual books):
•Callum sighed again, rubbing his eyes. “Either let her in fully, Kasten, or leave her out to make her own conclusions and stop worrying what they are.”
— Chapter 15
• I considered throwing him out the window. Callum must have seen something in my eyes because he held up his hands in a placating gesture. “I mean, one minute you won’t even talk to her. The next, you’re kissing? Have you finally realized she’s your wife?”
— Chapter 30
• Callum took a drink. “They’ve been trying to kill us for years. I’m fed up talking about them. Your love life is far more interesting.”
— Chapter 30
I only highlighted those because after that I started getting so sucking into the story that I didn’t even think about highlighting (not that I wasn’t already sucked into the story at those parts, just that I thought Callum was too funny in the last two and really wise in the first one).
You’re welcome. That’s my review. I don’t know if you even made it to the bottom, but all I can say is you NEED this book in your life! Wait until the next one comes out though… I’m going to have sleepless nights over that cliffhanger.
July 6, 2024
This is such an intense read. I was simply blown away. The world building is impeccable and so unique. The characters are complex with intriguing back stories. And as soon as I started reading, I became immersed and couldn't stop. The pages just kept turning.
I love how both Sophie and Karsen try their best under terrible circumstances, but as they get to know each other better, they begin to see how much they can gain from each other and when they actually start working together they become such an amazing team. Of course, that's hard to achieve when they've both learned not to trust others, which made the slow burn romance really stand out.
The subtle message about relationships being constant, deliberate work and the need to communicate being paramount comes across really well and highlights that even if a relationship starts on the wrong footing or possibly even the wrong reasons, when both make an effort and decide to be together, they can achieve something beautiful and supportive. Simply love it!
I love how both Sophie and Karsen try their best under terrible circumstances, but as they get to know each other better, they begin to see how much they can gain from each other and when they actually start working together they become such an amazing team. Of course, that's hard to achieve when they've both learned not to trust others, which made the slow burn romance really stand out.
The subtle message about relationships being constant, deliberate work and the need to communicate being paramount comes across really well and highlights that even if a relationship starts on the wrong footing or possibly even the wrong reasons, when both make an effort and decide to be together, they can achieve something beautiful and supportive. Simply love it!
August 25, 2024
Sophie wasn’t much of a protagonist. She was just kind of there but I can’t think of one notable thing she did throughout the whole book. And every time she and Kasten got into an argument he would just call her beautiful. Like okay…and? Great, he thought she was beautiful and innocent, sounds like all the foundation for a relationship you need, right? There was just no chemistry and the MCs basically did nothing throughout the whole book
January 24, 2025
I made it 83% through before giving up. It started off promising but got unbearably boring as it went on. The characters just randomly fell in love, and while she’s supposed to be traumatized, it’s never clear what happened or how it shaped her. It felt shallow and unconvincing. I tried giving it a chance but gave up
July 10, 2024
holy cow!!!!! this is so good!!
Shared bed, forced marriage, he falls first, beauty and the beast vibes, dangerous/overprotective man, snarky best friend
This ticks soo many boxes! Sooo amazing! I’m glad for the disclaimer about the cliff hanger! This was soooo good!!
Shared bed, forced marriage, he falls first, beauty and the beast vibes, dangerous/overprotective man, snarky best friend
This ticks soo many boxes! Sooo amazing! I’m glad for the disclaimer about the cliff hanger! This was soooo good!!
August 5, 2024
i didn’t have a good time! i was bored!
May 26, 2024
An intense read about a young woman who was controlled by her father and married to a business
associate of his in a loveless marriage. She tried to make the best of it but he died and unknown to her another witnessed her mistreatment and offered his hand in marriage to give her some peace even though he knew his life was probably going to be short lived. However, being around her, he saw a reason to live even though the king, his father and others want him dead. Being the general of the king’s armies he is in the heart of battles but he has a friend who has some secrets who keeps he and his troops alive against all odds much to the king’s displeasure!
He allows his wife to enjoy her passion and it turns out she is interested in growing plants that can be used as medicines to treat infections and wounds. This comes in handy when he is wounded and she nurses him back to health.
There is a dark plague sweeping the country besides the wars and her husband and his friend are trying to fight against it. Turns out others in high places are behind it and as they’re trying to gain evidence against them, his wife is kidnapped by her own father
on orders from these people. Her husband does free
her but she is bitten by one of those who is infected so now after all she has suffered from her cruel father, will she change because of being bitten or will her husband and his friend be able to come up with a
cure that will keep her from changing into a souless killing monster!
This story will tear at your heartstrings as you can’t help but emphasize with the plight Sophie has had to
endure her entire life! Having to endure a cruel unloving father who controls everything she did, having a maid who ordered her around, being married to a man she didn’t love, a business associate of her father who was abusive even and then being married off again to someone else she doesn’t know. Certainly not a happy life anyone would want!
Then there’s Kasten who is looking to die with nothing to live for until he sees Sophie and thinks at least perhaps he can make her life a little happier. As time goes on it finally gets through his thick head that she does love him in spite of how he has been trying to avoid her but now they have to find a cure for her if they’re going to be happy and with war coming time is running short!
This is an intense, book that you’ll be hard pressed to put down and at the end you’ll want to scream because you’ll have to wait for the next book, Stars May Fall, to come out before continuing the story!!
I enthusiastically recommend this book though as one I throughly enjoyed and I for one cannot wait until I can read the next book to see how Sophie responds to the treatments she receives and what happens to her father who kidnapped her in the first place!! Maybe being bitten would be a fitting punishment for him as well!!
associate of his in a loveless marriage. She tried to make the best of it but he died and unknown to her another witnessed her mistreatment and offered his hand in marriage to give her some peace even though he knew his life was probably going to be short lived. However, being around her, he saw a reason to live even though the king, his father and others want him dead. Being the general of the king’s armies he is in the heart of battles but he has a friend who has some secrets who keeps he and his troops alive against all odds much to the king’s displeasure!
He allows his wife to enjoy her passion and it turns out she is interested in growing plants that can be used as medicines to treat infections and wounds. This comes in handy when he is wounded and she nurses him back to health.
There is a dark plague sweeping the country besides the wars and her husband and his friend are trying to fight against it. Turns out others in high places are behind it and as they’re trying to gain evidence against them, his wife is kidnapped by her own father
on orders from these people. Her husband does free
her but she is bitten by one of those who is infected so now after all she has suffered from her cruel father, will she change because of being bitten or will her husband and his friend be able to come up with a
cure that will keep her from changing into a souless killing monster!
This story will tear at your heartstrings as you can’t help but emphasize with the plight Sophie has had to
endure her entire life! Having to endure a cruel unloving father who controls everything she did, having a maid who ordered her around, being married to a man she didn’t love, a business associate of her father who was abusive even and then being married off again to someone else she doesn’t know. Certainly not a happy life anyone would want!
Then there’s Kasten who is looking to die with nothing to live for until he sees Sophie and thinks at least perhaps he can make her life a little happier. As time goes on it finally gets through his thick head that she does love him in spite of how he has been trying to avoid her but now they have to find a cure for her if they’re going to be happy and with war coming time is running short!
This is an intense, book that you’ll be hard pressed to put down and at the end you’ll want to scream because you’ll have to wait for the next book, Stars May Fall, to come out before continuing the story!!
I enthusiastically recommend this book though as one I throughly enjoyed and I for one cannot wait until I can read the next book to see how Sophie responds to the treatments she receives and what happens to her father who kidnapped her in the first place!! Maybe being bitten would be a fitting punishment for him as well!!
May 31, 2024
There's a reason Alice Ivinya's books are on my auto-read list - they're absolutely amazing! I don't even have to read the blurb most of the times; I just know that the story is going to be unique and keep me at the edge of my seat the whole time. And this one delivered!
The characters were well-developed and felt very real. It was almost like I knew these people, and they brought out a variety of emotions in me. I especially loved Kasten! I have a thing for broken men, and l enjoyed reading about the ways in which Sophie changed the way he perceived things about his life. Even the positive changes Sophie went through with his support warmed my heart.
The conflict between the characters and their dynamics was well-written. I would keep guessing but never be able to figure out what move the enemy would make next. The secrets, hidden agendas and questionable loyalties made the story interesting.
The book was action-packed with no dull moment. The slow-burn romance was the best part of the book, and some of the interactions between Kasten and Sophie made me melt.
The technical and informative parts of the book were also done well. The author gave enough details without making it boring. Explanations regarding kryalcomy metals, medicinal plants, and halfsouls (zombie-like creatures) helped me understand the story better.
Overall, the book had all the elements that make a story perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to fantasy lovers. If you enjoy arranged marriage, slow-burn romance, grumpy-sunshine tropes then do not miss out on this gem.
The characters were well-developed and felt very real. It was almost like I knew these people, and they brought out a variety of emotions in me. I especially loved Kasten! I have a thing for broken men, and l enjoyed reading about the ways in which Sophie changed the way he perceived things about his life. Even the positive changes Sophie went through with his support warmed my heart.
The conflict between the characters and their dynamics was well-written. I would keep guessing but never be able to figure out what move the enemy would make next. The secrets, hidden agendas and questionable loyalties made the story interesting.
The book was action-packed with no dull moment. The slow-burn romance was the best part of the book, and some of the interactions between Kasten and Sophie made me melt.
The technical and informative parts of the book were also done well. The author gave enough details without making it boring. Explanations regarding kryalcomy metals, medicinal plants, and halfsouls (zombie-like creatures) helped me understand the story better.
Overall, the book had all the elements that make a story perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would highly recommend it to fantasy lovers. If you enjoy arranged marriage, slow-burn romance, grumpy-sunshine tropes then do not miss out on this gem.
June 4, 2024
From the beginning, you are warned there is a huge cliffhanger that might make you want to wait until Stars May Fall. Since I decided to take the plunge into the fantasy world of romance, war, and alchemy, I thought I was ready for waiting until the next book. Yeah, that was an understatement. My first reaction was: no, no, no, no, no!!! I must know!!!
Stars May Burn introduces a Beauty and the Beast retelling in a way that is unique and well developed. Alice Ivinya always does a wonderful job at making exceptional characters and this story is no different.
Sophie Halfield is an intelligent young woman that’s traded around by her father to make their family prosper. When her husband passes away, she is forced into another marriage with the illegitimate son of the king, Kasten Batton. With his hilarious best friend, Callum Tavolyn, this story makes the serious moments absolutely comical. The amount of times I laughed, cried, and became anxious to know how the story ends was an exciting journey.
You can really tell how much research and effort the author put into getting to really detail the kryalcomy, herbology, and medical knowledge. This story was so well thought out and cultivated. I can’t express how much you need to read this book. It’s absolutely amazing and if you don't, you don’t know what you’re missing.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion. Thank you so much for this opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful new series! I can’t wait for book 2 now!!
Stars May Burn introduces a Beauty and the Beast retelling in a way that is unique and well developed. Alice Ivinya always does a wonderful job at making exceptional characters and this story is no different.
Sophie Halfield is an intelligent young woman that’s traded around by her father to make their family prosper. When her husband passes away, she is forced into another marriage with the illegitimate son of the king, Kasten Batton. With his hilarious best friend, Callum Tavolyn, this story makes the serious moments absolutely comical. The amount of times I laughed, cried, and became anxious to know how the story ends was an exciting journey.
You can really tell how much research and effort the author put into getting to really detail the kryalcomy, herbology, and medical knowledge. This story was so well thought out and cultivated. I can’t express how much you need to read this book. It’s absolutely amazing and if you don't, you don’t know what you’re missing.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion. Thank you so much for this opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful new series! I can’t wait for book 2 now!!
July 2, 2024
Was it a retelling of Beauty and the Beast? Possibly but other love stories occurred to me more. Elements of the passion of the Scarlet Pimpernel for Marguerite St. Just. Dear reader, you can find out why for yourself. Political intrigue, romance, loyalty, ties to family. I am glad that there is a sequel, that there is more to the story of Sophie and Kasten and maybe, in the end, villains don’t win?
Read
January 6, 2026 dnf at 60%
a political fantasy that is more historical romance with a weird zombie issue that they are fixing with alchemy. the politics were interesting but underutilized. it would flirt with the politics but it wanted more. the romance wasn't even enough to distract me from the light politics and the weird fantasy elements.
fmc has a backbone of cooked spaghetti. just bendy and breakable. a sneeze will cause her to bend to someone else's whims. she was bland and was only interesting when she was talking about plants.
mmc is wealthy, heir to the throne, always away fighting the war and is constantly dodging assassinations attempts sent by his pops. also his will says that his wife will get his entire estate in the event of his untimely death. security is what everyone, especially woman want in the world, and this man gave it to her without blinking. and he's never home, and when he is home so simp for her that he avoids her like the plague. wow what a man and what a dream.
a political fantasy that is more historical romance with a weird zombie issue that they are fixing with alchemy. the politics were interesting but underutilized. it would flirt with the politics but it wanted more. the romance wasn't even enough to distract me from the light politics and the weird fantasy elements.
fmc has a backbone of cooked spaghetti. just bendy and breakable. a sneeze will cause her to bend to someone else's whims. she was bland and was only interesting when she was talking about plants.
mmc is wealthy, heir to the throne, always away fighting the war and is constantly dodging assassinations attempts sent by his pops. also his will says that his wife will get his entire estate in the event of his untimely death. security is what everyone, especially woman want in the world, and this man gave it to her without blinking. and he's never home, and when he is home so simp for her that he avoids her like the plague. wow what a man and what a dream.
Blog ✿ Goodreads ✿ Twitter ✿ Instagram ✿ Pinterest ✿ StoryGraph ✿ Discovery ✿
June 4, 2024
Wow! Such a good book! Alice does an amazing job of drawing you in from page one. This book is part one of two and ends in a cliffhanger, but honestly, I had a hard time ever putting the book down because it had me so enthralled.
Both main characters, Sofie and Kasten, have always been used for others benefit and viewed as someone other than who they really are, but finally, they may have found someone who really sees them and now have something worth living for. On every page, you can feel the struggle they have to accept themselves as well as the possibility that someone could actually love them. They are deep, passionate characters that are so relatable, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their story. I loved all the characters: Callum, the humorous sidekick, Meena, the loyal guard... Well, not all the characters, the bad guys were easy to despise because they were also so well done.
This book had everything a good book should have: a great, unique storyline, amazing characters, action and suspense, slow building, clean romance, a little humor. It's the type of book that I never want to end. I'm so glad there's a second book coming so I can continue reading Sofie and Kasten's story.
I received a free ARC of this book and have reviewed it willingly because it is amazing, and I never want to turn down a chance to read an Alice Ivinya book!
Both main characters, Sofie and Kasten, have always been used for others benefit and viewed as someone other than who they really are, but finally, they may have found someone who really sees them and now have something worth living for. On every page, you can feel the struggle they have to accept themselves as well as the possibility that someone could actually love them. They are deep, passionate characters that are so relatable, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading their story. I loved all the characters: Callum, the humorous sidekick, Meena, the loyal guard... Well, not all the characters, the bad guys were easy to despise because they were also so well done.
This book had everything a good book should have: a great, unique storyline, amazing characters, action and suspense, slow building, clean romance, a little humor. It's the type of book that I never want to end. I'm so glad there's a second book coming so I can continue reading Sofie and Kasten's story.
I received a free ARC of this book and have reviewed it willingly because it is amazing, and I never want to turn down a chance to read an Alice Ivinya book!
February 6, 2026
TW: Abuse, infertility, war,
I have read Alice Ivinya before, and I love her writing. I decided to give this a go after seeing another booktuber read it. I didn't see what she had to say about it yet because I wanted to form my own opinion.
Overall, I was engaged by the story. I thought it was a bit slow at the beginning, but not slow enough that I was bored. The world was a bit confusing for me. I was also a bit confused by the magic/alchemy system. I liked some of the characters, while others fell a bit flat to me.
Sophie and Kasten have a slow-burning romance. Kasten falls first for Sophie. Sophie comes across as a weak character who is slowly gaining strength. There are talks of abuse that Sophie has endured from her father. Her father emotionally, mentally, and (talked about off paper) physically abused Sophie. Sophie tries to be the dutiful wife she was brought up to be, while Kasten does not like that. He wants her to be herself and not be dutiful because it's what she was taught. At the same time, Kasten wants to keep Sophie at a distance to protect her from those who would use her to get to him. He is also hiding a big secret that has to do with the alchemy of the world.
The book does end on a cliffhanger. I quickly hopped into the second book because I needed to know how this would end.
I have read Alice Ivinya before, and I love her writing. I decided to give this a go after seeing another booktuber read it. I didn't see what she had to say about it yet because I wanted to form my own opinion.
Overall, I was engaged by the story. I thought it was a bit slow at the beginning, but not slow enough that I was bored. The world was a bit confusing for me. I was also a bit confused by the magic/alchemy system. I liked some of the characters, while others fell a bit flat to me.
Sophie and Kasten have a slow-burning romance. Kasten falls first for Sophie. Sophie comes across as a weak character who is slowly gaining strength. There are talks of abuse that Sophie has endured from her father. Her father emotionally, mentally, and (talked about off paper) physically abused Sophie. Sophie tries to be the dutiful wife she was brought up to be, while Kasten does not like that. He wants her to be herself and not be dutiful because it's what she was taught. At the same time, Kasten wants to keep Sophie at a distance to protect her from those who would use her to get to him. He is also hiding a big secret that has to do with the alchemy of the world.
The book does end on a cliffhanger. I quickly hopped into the second book because I needed to know how this would end.
June 6, 2024
"She was my wife, but she was also as untouchable as a star. And I feared if I drew close to her, I would bring all the horrors of my life with me and destroy her brightness..."
Two words: BOOK HANGOVER. I am absolutely obsessed with this book and I cannot wait to read the sequel! Seriously...I need book number two ASAP. I really enjoyed Alice's other series but I can already tell that this one will be my favorite.
Everything about it was perfection. I loved the characters, the world, and the overall storyline. It was put together seamlessly! While this had all of the elements of a good YA, there was also a lot of deep character development that took it to another level. I loved Sophie and Kasten together; the moments between them were so tender! Their romance was a bright spot in a dark and complicated world. It reminded me a little of Defy the Night but with less morally complicated characters.
Read If You Enjoy:
Arranged Marriage
He Falls First
Slow Burn Romance
Touch Her & Die
Fantasy Romance
5/5 stars
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Two words: BOOK HANGOVER. I am absolutely obsessed with this book and I cannot wait to read the sequel! Seriously...I need book number two ASAP. I really enjoyed Alice's other series but I can already tell that this one will be my favorite.
Everything about it was perfection. I loved the characters, the world, and the overall storyline. It was put together seamlessly! While this had all of the elements of a good YA, there was also a lot of deep character development that took it to another level. I loved Sophie and Kasten together; the moments between them were so tender! Their romance was a bright spot in a dark and complicated world. It reminded me a little of Defy the Night but with less morally complicated characters.
Read If You Enjoy:
Arranged Marriage
He Falls First
Slow Burn Romance
Touch Her & Die
Fantasy Romance
5/5 stars
*I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
June 7, 2024
If there has to be a cliffhanger, I want it to be epic. And the cliffhanger in this book absolutely fits this qualification.
But before you get an epic cliffhanger, you need a book that entirely captivates you and builds a world and characters that you are invested in. And this book does that too.
Sophie and Kaston both have had pretty much nothing but tragedy in their lives. And yet they are both gentle and kind. It just takes them a little while to figure out that they are worthy to love and be loved. And to start fighting for that with everything they have.
And by the end of the book you desperately need them to find happiness and peace.
This incredible story gripped me from beginning to end, and the ending completely surprised me. Exactly what I want in a book like this!
But before you get an epic cliffhanger, you need a book that entirely captivates you and builds a world and characters that you are invested in. And this book does that too.
Sophie and Kaston both have had pretty much nothing but tragedy in their lives. And yet they are both gentle and kind. It just takes them a little while to figure out that they are worthy to love and be loved. And to start fighting for that with everything they have.
And by the end of the book you desperately need them to find happiness and peace.
This incredible story gripped me from beginning to end, and the ending completely surprised me. Exactly what I want in a book like this!
July 1, 2026
5 Stars.
⚔️ The vibes:
- Book 1 in duology
- Fantasy romance
- Arranged marriage
- Slow burn
- Political intrigue
- Closed door (kisses only)
⚔️ My thoughts:
This was actually SO good. This is a fantasy romance following General Kasten - the illegitimate son of the king and Lady Sophie - a recent widow from a loveless marriage.
⚔️ I was blown away by the plot and the characters. The slow burn was so freaking slow and SO FREAKING GOOD. I loved the slow build of Kasten and Sophie getting to know eachother. Everyone talks about yearning, and sometimes I have a hard time finding it in books, but THIS WAS YEARNING for me. The tension. The angst. The screaming to just kiss already.
⚔️ Seeing Kasten slowly open up was so sweet that I could barely handle it. Seeing Sophie bloom because of Kasten’s love and support had me all up in my feels. I loved these two so much.
⚔️ The side characters were solid. I loved what we got from Callum and Meena. Zero stars for Miss Claris who needed to be slapped. When Sophie let her have it, I was screaming in joy.
⚔️ The magic system was seriously cool and very unique. I loved everything about this story. The ending is a gut punch. We’re talking total devastation. I will be immediately diving into book 2.
Note / spice content: closed door (kisses only); in the audio- I noticed a very important chunk of chapter 40 was missing on the audio. That missing part appears after the book is over which is very bizarre. So heads up on that.
⚔️ The vibes:
- Book 1 in duology
- Fantasy romance
- Arranged marriage
- Slow burn
- Political intrigue
- Closed door (kisses only)
⚔️ My thoughts:
This was actually SO good. This is a fantasy romance following General Kasten - the illegitimate son of the king and Lady Sophie - a recent widow from a loveless marriage.
⚔️ I was blown away by the plot and the characters. The slow burn was so freaking slow and SO FREAKING GOOD. I loved the slow build of Kasten and Sophie getting to know eachother. Everyone talks about yearning, and sometimes I have a hard time finding it in books, but THIS WAS YEARNING for me. The tension. The angst. The screaming to just kiss already.
⚔️ Seeing Kasten slowly open up was so sweet that I could barely handle it. Seeing Sophie bloom because of Kasten’s love and support had me all up in my feels. I loved these two so much.
⚔️ The side characters were solid. I loved what we got from Callum and Meena. Zero stars for Miss Claris who needed to be slapped. When Sophie let her have it, I was screaming in joy.
⚔️ The magic system was seriously cool and very unique. I loved everything about this story. The ending is a gut punch. We’re talking total devastation. I will be immediately diving into book 2.
Note / spice content: closed door (kisses only); in the audio- I noticed a very important chunk of chapter 40 was missing on the audio. That missing part appears after the book is over which is very bizarre. So heads up on that.
October 30, 2025
I enjoyed this book very much and binged on it for hours.
It was refreshing to have the FMC, Sophie, as a widow. I thought this provided a fresh perspective on the whole arranged marriage trope. Though she wasn't a badass heroine, Sophie had her own strength. I liked that she wasn't bitter, despite having a spiteful and hostile father. I liked that she was smart, curious, but also vulnerable at times. Her passion for herbs & medicine were interesting.
Kasten was a general who had spent most of his life evading death. The King and the court had wanted him dead for years. Kasten was good at war, at killings, but hopeless when it came to his feelings for Sophie. He was sweet about it, though. He couldn't express his feelings, but he found other ways to do it.
Sophie and Kasten's relationship was a slow, slow burn, but it made sense for the story. I was glad not to have them fall into the insta-love or insta-lust category. There were enough yearning and longing throughout that kept me patient enough to wait until both of them were ready to really be together.
Aside from the romance, there were other things going on: the never ending war, metals being made into weapons, the constant threat of death for Kasten and his men, etc. I never once got bored and couldn't stop reading.
I can't wait to start book 2 soon.
It was refreshing to have the FMC, Sophie, as a widow. I thought this provided a fresh perspective on the whole arranged marriage trope. Though she wasn't a badass heroine, Sophie had her own strength. I liked that she wasn't bitter, despite having a spiteful and hostile father. I liked that she was smart, curious, but also vulnerable at times. Her passion for herbs & medicine were interesting.
Kasten was a general who had spent most of his life evading death. The King and the court had wanted him dead for years. Kasten was good at war, at killings, but hopeless when it came to his feelings for Sophie. He was sweet about it, though. He couldn't express his feelings, but he found other ways to do it.
Sophie and Kasten's relationship was a slow, slow burn, but it made sense for the story. I was glad not to have them fall into the insta-love or insta-lust category. There were enough yearning and longing throughout that kept me patient enough to wait until both of them were ready to really be together.
Aside from the romance, there were other things going on: the never ending war, metals being made into weapons, the constant threat of death for Kasten and his men, etc. I never once got bored and couldn't stop reading.
I can't wait to start book 2 soon.
March 16, 2025
Kinda conflicted about this one, because there were some things I liked about it, some things that were still a little rough, and some expectations I had that this didn't meet (through no real fault of its own — I just had different expectations for how the marriage of convenience plot would play out and expected different levels of development at different times, so the subplot wasn't satisfying for me who was hoping for certain developmental beats and relationship angles).
I got this book for free during a fantasy Stuff Your Kindle event, but I had discovered it before then and it was already on my list of books to read. I love a good political fantasy and I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this promised both aspects as main plots. I also looked forward to the wordbuilding, the healer/herbalist aspect, and the prospect of intrigue and battles. It sounded like precisely my cup of tea. Unfortunately, the whole thing left me underwhelmed.
The worldbuilding was great conceptually, and obviously this is a world with magic, to use a broad term (it's more like alchemy that gives a steampunk vibe? but it's definitely not a world constrained by normal physics), but there were some things (like dressmaking speed and clothing materials) that felt a little off for the general time period evoked by the rest of the story. I disliked the intense focus on constricting corsets, too, since many historical corsets were no more constricting than a modern-day bra and in some ways more supportive and comfortable; it felt like the author was perpetuating a negative stereotype without doing any research. In general, the clothing in the story put me in mind of Korean webcomics with their wildly anachronistic styles, fabrics, and sartorial customs and the mashup of pieces from different time periods in a confection of pure imagination. The loose, flowing chiffon dresses of the middle half of the book felt at odds with the structured dresses at the beginning and the ballgowns towards the end. I can give the author a pass because the FMC's dress styles were fairly obviously being used to indicate freedom or restriction in her relationships and self-expression, but female clothing on the whole felt like an unsteady cultural aspect that weakened the worldbuilding rather than supporting it or fleshing it out. Having a consistent fashion for the culture would have been more immersive and would have better matched the other cultural aspects such as the architecture and plant-life.
The medical terminology felt a little anachronistic as well, too modern for the rest of the world, but in general the approach to medicine felt realistic and surprisingly detailed — like maybe the author had a background in nursing or biochem or had done a lot of research.
Two of the three villains/antagonists felt underdeveloped in the sense that there was no clear motive for them to be doing what they were doing, especially when one did something that seemed counterintuitive to what little we know of his motives (or at least really, really tactically stupid). This is only the first book in a duology, and it ends on a cliffhanger, so quite likely the villains get clearer motives in the second book — especially since it seems that the protagonists didn't know what was driving the main villain here. It makes sense diegetically. But from a reader's perspective, it left the villains feeling more like evil for evil's sake: cunning and dastardly and destructive without a good cause to have chosen those extreme methods rather than moderate methods that might have accomplished the same goals. Like, sure, zombies, I can buy that they created zombies — but why zombies? And sure, the main villain is threatening the MMC, but why? Does his beef with the MMC only exist because the MMC is trying to stop him, or is there some unexplained history for why he's taking everything so personally?
To make matters worse, the book's pacing was off. It felt like a slog for about 60% to 75% of the way through. Part of the reason for that is that the MMC and FMC hardly ever interacted for most of the book and he deliberately kept finding reasons to run off and avoid her because he didn't want her to get attached to him when he felt certain he was going to die. His reasoning for that was consistent with his character, so I had some sympathy for him and his arc and tried to give him and the story grace, but the experience as a reader left me both bored and frustrated. He wanted to spare her feelings but he was obviously and actively hurting her feelings in the process, and the people around him kept telling him that, but he didn't change his behavior until the very end of the book, when it was too late to matter. There were roughly four main plots: the FMC's development from victim/pawn to freedom/actor, the war and the king, the main villain and the zombies, and the romance. Since the romance was one of the driving forces in the book, the fact that there was no forward motion in that plot until the very end but rather continual resistance left the flow of the book hamstrung.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm still debating whether or not I will read the sequel. I'm disinclined to read a 424-page tome (an investment of at least 8 hours and likely closer to 11) if it's going to have similar flaws and pacing issues. But because of how everything ended here, I expect that the plot in the second book will move much more quickly because the whole thing will be based around action rather than relationship (and the MMC has stopped resisting the relationship, so that should move faster too). And I am curious how things will be resolved. Perhaps I'll skim-read? That said, I don't think I'll be reading other books by the author.
2.5 stars, left at 2 because of how frustrated I felt while reading and how often I considered abandoning the book.
I got this book for free during a fantasy Stuff Your Kindle event, but I had discovered it before then and it was already on my list of books to read. I love a good political fantasy and I love a good marriage of convenience story, and this promised both aspects as main plots. I also looked forward to the wordbuilding, the healer/herbalist aspect, and the prospect of intrigue and battles. It sounded like precisely my cup of tea. Unfortunately, the whole thing left me underwhelmed.
The worldbuilding was great conceptually, and obviously this is a world with magic, to use a broad term (it's more like alchemy that gives a steampunk vibe? but it's definitely not a world constrained by normal physics), but there were some things (like dressmaking speed and clothing materials) that felt a little off for the general time period evoked by the rest of the story. I disliked the intense focus on constricting corsets, too, since many historical corsets were no more constricting than a modern-day bra and in some ways more supportive and comfortable; it felt like the author was perpetuating a negative stereotype without doing any research. In general, the clothing in the story put me in mind of Korean webcomics with their wildly anachronistic styles, fabrics, and sartorial customs and the mashup of pieces from different time periods in a confection of pure imagination. The loose, flowing chiffon dresses of the middle half of the book felt at odds with the structured dresses at the beginning and the ballgowns towards the end. I can give the author a pass because the FMC's dress styles were fairly obviously being used to indicate freedom or restriction in her relationships and self-expression, but female clothing on the whole felt like an unsteady cultural aspect that weakened the worldbuilding rather than supporting it or fleshing it out. Having a consistent fashion for the culture would have been more immersive and would have better matched the other cultural aspects such as the architecture and plant-life.
The medical terminology felt a little anachronistic as well, too modern for the rest of the world, but in general the approach to medicine felt realistic and surprisingly detailed — like maybe the author had a background in nursing or biochem or had done a lot of research.
Two of the three villains/antagonists felt underdeveloped in the sense that there was no clear motive for them to be doing what they were doing, especially when one did something that seemed counterintuitive to what little we know of his motives (or at least really, really tactically stupid). This is only the first book in a duology, and it ends on a cliffhanger, so quite likely the villains get clearer motives in the second book — especially since it seems that the protagonists didn't know what was driving the main villain here. It makes sense diegetically. But from a reader's perspective, it left the villains feeling more like evil for evil's sake: cunning and dastardly and destructive without a good cause to have chosen those extreme methods rather than moderate methods that might have accomplished the same goals. Like, sure, zombies, I can buy that they created zombies — but why zombies? And sure, the main villain is threatening the MMC, but why? Does his beef with the MMC only exist because the MMC is trying to stop him, or is there some unexplained history for why he's taking everything so personally?
To make matters worse, the book's pacing was off. It felt like a slog for about 60% to 75% of the way through. Part of the reason for that is that the MMC and FMC hardly ever interacted for most of the book and he deliberately kept finding reasons to run off and avoid her because he didn't want her to get attached to him when he felt certain he was going to die. His reasoning for that was consistent with his character, so I had some sympathy for him and his arc and tried to give him and the story grace, but the experience as a reader left me both bored and frustrated. He wanted to spare her feelings but he was obviously and actively hurting her feelings in the process, and the people around him kept telling him that, but he didn't change his behavior until the very end of the book, when it was too late to matter. There were roughly four main plots: the FMC's development from victim/pawn to freedom/actor, the war and the king, the main villain and the zombies, and the romance. Since the romance was one of the driving forces in the book, the fact that there was no forward motion in that plot until the very end but rather continual resistance left the flow of the book hamstrung.
The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I'm still debating whether or not I will read the sequel. I'm disinclined to read a 424-page tome (an investment of at least 8 hours and likely closer to 11) if it's going to have similar flaws and pacing issues. But because of how everything ended here, I expect that the plot in the second book will move much more quickly because the whole thing will be based around action rather than relationship (and the MMC has stopped resisting the relationship, so that should move faster too). And I am curious how things will be resolved. Perhaps I'll skim-read? That said, I don't think I'll be reading other books by the author.
2.5 stars, left at 2 because of how frustrated I felt while reading and how often I considered abandoning the book.
December 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
This was SO good! The plot was great, the magic system was more science based than you often find in fantasy novels which felt refreshing and stimulated my mind, and the romance was truly, TRULY a slow-burn with beautiful chemistry. My only true critique is within the romance you have to suffer through a very frustrating miscommunication trope 😬😆 so if you’re a miscommunication hater, I would steer clear of this one!
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒:
🧪 Science & chemistry
🏰 Kingdom power dynamics
🖤 Sensitive but self-loathing MMC
🤍 Soft-spoken but steel-willed FMC
⛰️ Cliffhanger endings
🤬 No profanity
💋 Kissing only; minimal internal monologue of desire (married)
⚠️ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ ⚠️
War violence, misogyny, domestic violence (past mention).
This was SO good! The plot was great, the magic system was more science based than you often find in fantasy novels which felt refreshing and stimulated my mind, and the romance was truly, TRULY a slow-burn with beautiful chemistry. My only true critique is within the romance you have to suffer through a very frustrating miscommunication trope 😬😆 so if you’re a miscommunication hater, I would steer clear of this one!
𝑅𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒:
🧪 Science & chemistry
🏰 Kingdom power dynamics
🖤 Sensitive but self-loathing MMC
🤍 Soft-spoken but steel-willed FMC
⛰️ Cliffhanger endings
🤬 No profanity
💋 Kissing only; minimal internal monologue of desire (married)
⚠️ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢꜱ ⚠️
War violence, misogyny, domestic violence (past mention).
July 10, 2024
Wow what a ride!!! I feel like I've been at the races!! I loved the speedy plot pace that sped up to a gallop and then backed off a tiny bit and then full speed ahead, a little pit of reprieve and then wow we're off again! Alice always delivers amazingly sweet and complex characters and Sophie and Kasten are no exception. An amazing first book in what will be an incredible series. Absolutely loved it. 💜
June 8, 2026
3.5/5 stars. I had a much harder time with this book than the first.
I felt like Sophie and Kasten needed to get over themselves and their fears and just talk it through!
This book just also did not keep me as engaged as I would have liked to.
I felt like Sophie and Kasten needed to get over themselves and their fears and just talk it through!
This book just also did not keep me as engaged as I would have liked to.
June 9, 2026
6 ⭐️ It is AMAZING!! Somewhere along the way it turned into a comfort read for me!(not sure how) The world building and magic system were both pretty cool. I love both of the MCs and their slow burn but especially Kasten!❤️ and I also really hope Callum gets his book!🥰
August 25, 2024
4.5✨
I think I found a new ya favorite fantasy author to join the ranks of Brigid Kemmerer, Lynette Noni, Adrienne Young, and Sabaa Tahir.
I think I found a new ya favorite fantasy author to join the ranks of Brigid Kemmerer, Lynette Noni, Adrienne Young, and Sabaa Tahir.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 180 reviews