All the Painted Stars

14th Century Oxfordshire #2

by Emma Denny

To win her heart, she'll have to fight…Oxfordshire 1362

When Lily Barden discovers her best friend Johanna’s hand in marriage is being awarded as the main prize at a tournament, she is determined to stop it. Disguised as a knight, she infiltrates the contest, preparing to fight for Jo’s hand. But her conduct ruffles feathers, and when a dangerous incident escalates out of Lily’s control, Jo must help her escape.

Finding safety with a local brewster, Lily and Jo soon settle into their new freedom, and amongst blackberry bushes and lakeside walks an unexpected relationship blossoms. But when Jo’s past catches up with her and Lily’s reckless behaviour threatens their newfound happiness, both women realise that choices must always come at a cost. The question they need to ask is if the cost is worth the price of love...

Genres: Romance, Lesbian, Historical Fiction, Queer, Historical, LGBT, Fantasy

383 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 5, 2024

About the author

Emma Denny is a queer author of LGBT+ historical romance stories about yearning, swordplay, and kissing in the woods. She enjoys walks in the forest, collecting daggers, and overpriced craft beer.

Winner of the Mills & Boon Romance Includes Everyone competition.

Reviews

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about two medieval ladies kissing each other except one of them is dressed as a knight and then they spend a lot of time brewing beer. Obviously I loved it.

[bookishcharli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m here for all the historical sapphic romances and this one is possibly my favourite one of the of year so far. I loved every second of this book, I mean how could I not when I got to watch Lily and Jo go from friends to lovers so beautifully. Add in some knights (and a fake one), jousting and medieval fun and you’ve got yourself a hit. The pacing in this one worked well for me and the plot was executed perfectly. It’s a massive win for me and I just need more from this author now. The storytelling and vibes were EVERYTHING.

Thank you to HQ for sending me a proof of this wonderful read.

[Brend]

Guys! Guys! Guys! I'm so excited about this one (first in the series is achillean if you're interested, I'm just jumping straight into the sapphics)

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this novel without reading the first book in the series, and while it was easy to follow, I did feel that I missed some important moments between Lily and Jo that may have happened in the first book. But even without that context, this is a super cute, medieval, friends-to-lovers, slow-burn romance between daughters of English earls whose only path in life is an arranged marriage to a suitable (i.e. rich) man. Lily has already been spared this fate due to circumstances in book 1, but now it's Jo's turn to marry a man who will ensure the future of her family's estate now that her father has died, leaving the earldom in the hands of her 7 year-old half brother.

A tournament has been planned to celebrate the new earl and to find Jo a husband, a fate Jo has surrendered to because Jo is obedient and practical. Only, Jo doesn't account for the arrival of the "Knight of Stars," an unknighted nobody called William Dale, who comes to rescue Jo from a life Jo doesn't actually want. William knows this because Jo hinted as much in a litter to her friend, Lily. And, well, William is Lily.

This is a queer historic fiction, so some suspension of disbelief is going to be required, but if you're able to get lost in the world Emma Denny creates then the payoff is rewarding, though it's going to take a while to get there. There's sword fighting, jousting, cross-dressing, beer-making, family mysteries, sapphic romance. It's a lot of fun.

Note: For readers of book 1 hoping to spend time with the MCs of that book, they aren't in it very much at all.

[Jordan Fischer | julietfoxreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I LOVED this book! I'm a big fan of Emmy Denny's first book, One Night in Hartswood, so I was really looking forward to All The Painted Stars. It's just so different from what I normally read - I don't feel like there's a ton of medieval historical romance out there, much less with a sapphic relationship. But this one was SO perfect - it was like reading A Knight's Tale coupled with a friends to lovers coming of age story. Swoony, sweet, and just enough angst to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I don't know what it is, but Lily running away to rescue her best friend from a loveless marriage by competing as a knight in a tournament for her hand had me SWOONING. I just devoured all the tournament scenes - so heartfelt and hopeful. I kind of loved that everything was a surprise for Jo - it took her so long to recognize Lily, figure out what was going on with Lord Adam, realize that Lily had feelings for her - girl had a lot to keep up with. And for as confident as Lily could be, she was also so tentative sometimes around Jo - might be getting a bit of id!ots to lovers going on here?

I was incredibly curious as to how a sapphic romance in the middle ages was going to play out. The entire side plot at the brewery, which is explained in the afterward, was so cool, and a perfect setting for Jo and Lily to finally come together. While reading, I kept thinking about how so many people say women could easily hide relationships with other women in the past because intense female friendship was kind of expect. That definitely comes into play here too, though Lily hiding as a man definitely makes things a little more exciting.

I listened to this one as an audiobook, and OMG, highly recommend for the EXCELLENT narration. Farrah Cave and Kristin Atherton CRUSH it as Lily and Jo, and I really think their voices added a ton to the story.

If you are looking for a really beautiful sapphic story, with all of the yearning plus a fun, fast-paced storyline - DO NOT miss out on this one!

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Sooo cute, sweet, and fun!!

[Hanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave this 1 star because I'm a hater and I hate romance novels. I do, however, love the Middle Ages, particularly lady kinghts.

This explored nothing. This said nothing. No tension!!! No yearning!!!
I went into this expecting Oxfordshire in 1362, but this was a poorly established fantasy version of England, where people could do, say, and act as they pleased. Cultural and societal norms were only imposed when convenient for the plot which led to the most ridiculous story. I don't always mind anachronisms, especially when they're linguistic, especially having read actual 14th century Middle English text. But it baffles me when the cultural and historical context and the realities of life are completely disregarded.

But even my snobbery aside, this was just overall boring and completely lackluster.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A medieval romance starting with a tournament to berry picking, swims in a lake, and beer crafting. There was lots of yearning, a SLOWWW burn, AND it’s sapphic. Yeah I absolutely loved this. I usually cringe a lot at the dialogue in romance novels, especially during smut scenes (sorry that’s just me), but I did not cringe ONCE in this entire book. The romance was genuinely so beautiful and made my gay heart flutter. Also “My lady” had me KICKING MY FEET. This was perfect.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started with Sappho's fragment 31 and ended with happy lesbians brewing beer and building a home together. What more could you want?
And I insist, knight x princess/queen/noblewoman is one of the best wlw tropes. Please, someone write more books like this.

[Aditi · Rating 2 out of 5]

She's just like me (would go to great lengths for pussy)

[zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 or so ///// this book was really sweet :) that being said, idk how much i will remember of it in a few months or a year. i loved the characters and vibes, but at times i felt that it dragged a bit.

[Lilly June · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love lesbians

[Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5

sapphic yearning, knights, and kicking shitty men in the balls? sign me UP

[Renaissance Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

a true win for sapphic lovers of medieval history! i love historical romances set in unique time periods.

[M.N. Bennet · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get an early copy of this story and I fell fast and hard for this knight’s tale. Lily absolutely won my heart the moment she arrived at the tourney. Lily has this confidence and snark in her voice that just kept me smiling during her chapters. I loved Jo too, but it took me a little longer to warm up to her. That said, she is definitely a ride or die kind of friend and she DOES. NOT. MESS. AROUND. Loved when her bold streak slipped past her calm demeanor.

Normally, I’m not a fan of queer historical stories. The few I’d read typically had tragic endings but All The Painted Stars took queerness and shined a positive light on it. There was definitely an air of accuracy in the perspective but so many joyful feelings.

The stakes were clear throughout and there were some high-tension moments but overall it was mostly character driven (which I loved). Actually, it had very romcom vibes where you just knew everything was going to work out with ease no matter what happened. I mean that in such a complimentary way. Sometimes my heart is not ready to be emotionally devastated. If you’re looking for something with strong historic details, a sweet romance, and queer joy then I highly recommend this book.

I actually haven’t read One Night in Hartswood yet, but I appreciated the nods to that story in this one. They didn’t confuse me, but they filled in the gaps of info I might’ve missed from the previous installment. I believe each story can be read independently. (I’m gonna pick up the other one for sure—while also looking into more queer historical stories with HEA/HFN.)

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the Painted Stars was so charming. It feels like a combination of my favorite elements of A Knight's Tale and The Princess Bride. We've got jousting, an outsider pretending to be a knight, a runaway bride, an elaborate rescue attempt that doesn't go to plan, a woman in armor, and sapphic friends-to-lovers.

The jousting and court life occupies the first half of the book, in which Johanna de Foucourt's family arranges a tournament to solidify her younger brother's position as earl and also conveniently scope out possible suitors for Jo. She despairingly mentions these pending marriage arrangements in a letter to her friend Lily Barden, whose immediate response is to steal her brother's old armor, cut off her hair Mulan-style, and enter the tournament disguised as a wandering knight. Lily hopes that, even if she can't win the tournament (and Jo's hand) outright, she can at least beat enough of the potential suitors in the tournament to give Jo an out.

That plan quickly goes awry, leading Jo and Lily to flee the keep on night in the middle of the tournament, taking shelter at a brewery some distance away. The second half at the brewery is extremely cozy fantasy, giving the women space to explore futures of their own choosing and freedoms they never imagined themselves. The self-discovery (including a queer awakening) is especially heartwarming. The third act conflict reminds me most of The Princess Bride, managing to somehow be both comically melodramatic and low-stakes. An absolute delight.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love me some ✨gay medieval kissing✨

I was a huuuge fan of One Night in Hartswood, so I knew I had to see how Lily and Jo’s story ended. The sexual tension between them was palpable in One Night 👀

This was such a fun, sweet read about Jo being married off and hosting a tournament for eligible bachelors, and Lily disguising herself as a knight to come and rescue her. Never been one for the ‘knight in shining armor’ schtick, but this one worked for me cuz it, y’know, didn’t involve a man

Watching Jo find her voice throughout the story was cathartic, and seeing Jo and Lily’s love and friendship evolve in the safety of the brewery had me in shambles. Don’t even get me started about that plot twist 😭😭😭

Thank you, Emma, for another wonderfully queer medieval adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this arc!

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

[tillie hellman · Rating 4 out of 5]

there was some pretty cute stuff in this book but the beginning dragged and i didn’t really care about the sex scenes (tho their dynamic was decently cute)

[Linden Rude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love some wholesome beer making lesbians. Sometimes I wish we got more of the tournament and a wrap up of some loose ends but overall this was so romantic and all I want in life.

[Karen]

This is fantastic. I enjoyed the first book in this series, One Night in Hartswood, but this really knocked my socks off. I think it's my favorite sapphic historical. It's super tropey, you can see the plot twists coming a mile away, but it doesn't matter. Jo and Lily are IT. Jo, in particular, undergoes an emotional journey that's incredibly satisfying. I also liked the medieval setting; I like Regencies as much as the next histrom lover, but I do appreciate different time periods and countries. Can't wait to see what Emma Denny writes next :-)

[jenny reads a lot]

Rec via Eloise on IG

| TikTok | IG |

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐︎ rounded up
A lovely little sequel to “One Night in Hartswood” - similarly to the first book I wouldn’t say it’s particularly outstanding, but as a soft historical romance - this time with a sword-wielding, cross-dressing lesbian - what’s not to like.

[amara ☾]

sword lesbians 🧎‍♀️‍➡️

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was sweet :)

[Holly Golightly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little over a 4 star but not enough for a 5! But I liked this much more than I thought I would. The characters are adorable, and I loved the story about Sybil. I’m not sure if I entirely loved the plot, but cared too much about the characters to think anything of it! I would definitely recommend.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still maintain that the book world needs a really amazing knight’s tale with a masc lesbian lead. Was there ever a more perfect fit between character and story? I want historical fiction world-building, real risk and heart-pounding, swoon-inducing romance.

…and look, I get it. It’s so perfect that there are many, many contenders, but I have yet to find that five-star, true epic.

In the meantime, All the Painted Stars is one of those contenders, and while it’s not quite the monumental hero’s tale I’m pining for, it’s a lovely read in its own right.

We have Lily, desperate to make a name for herself in the male-dominated world she’s more comfortable in, and Jo, ready to gracefully accept her fate as a young woman promised to a man in marriage and the running of his estate. Lily and Jo have spent time together as friends, and kept in touch through letters, but it isn’t until Lily secretly enters a castle tournament for Jo’s hand that things between the two of them heat up.

I was just settling into the tournament and Lily’s secret set-up when the story takes a bit of a turn, and Lily and Jo are on the run together. I won’t spoil where they end up, but the plot veers from high-stakes to low, and the last two-thirds of the book are very much within the realm of cozy.

I’m all for queer romance, and the writing was casually accessible while retaining a somewhat accurate feel of time and place, but I felt a tiny bit cheated. I wanted to see Lily go through the tournament, and I wanted more excitement.

All the Painted Stars is a lovely, sweet read, and I highly recommend it for an enjoyable sapphic story. Jo and Lily’s relationship has lovely pacing, real affection, and a genuine buildup, all of which can be rare in the romance world. The story is interesting and feels realistic for what women of the time would have dealt with. It’s still a solid 3.5 star read.

The ultimate sapphic knight’s tale, however, remains elusive.

[Alyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and cozy read, perfect for fans of medieval romance, lady knights, A Knight's Tale and Chappel Roan's VMA performance.

Lily is determined to save her friend Jo from a marriage she doesn't want. The solution she comes up with? Chop off her hair, steal her brother's clothes and some armor, and fight for her friend in a jousting tournament. While obviously impractical, Denny does a great job of giving us realistic action around an obviously unqualified knight. Lily is stubborn, brave and impulsive, while Jo is practical, dutiful and perhaps overthinks things too much. I love the interactions between Lily and Jo, as well as the secondary characters like Mabel and Ellis. The friends-to-lovers romance is sweet and slow, with a luscious amount of tension (made better by getting both POVs and feeling that "just kiss each other already!" feeling). There is a prequel book that involves some of these same characters, but enough to discussed/revealed in this story that you don't feel like you need it, and LIly and Jo are the stars.

If you are looking for cozy sapphic romance, fight the patriarchy in a fun way vibes and found family - highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper360 for the eARC.

[Amanda Lester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first want to thank HarperCollins and NetGalley for allowing me to read All the Painted Stars by Emma Denny. This review is solely my personal opinion. I was excited to read this book when given the chance. It is a sequel, I wouldn't say this is a stand alone story, but I didn't read the first book and eventually felt like I got enough information throughout this story to understand information I missed by not reading it. That being said, I still thoroughly enjoyed this story. Here, we are following Jo and Lily, sisters, to each of the main characters in book one. Jo and Lily became friends due to Penn and Raff's relationship. Lily receives word that Jo's family is holding a tournament, and Jo's hand in marriage will be offered. Lily feels as though she can't stand by, and she enters the tournament to try to "save" Jo. There were a lot of twists and turns in this story that kept me on my toes. Also, there is a strong female empowerment within the story, I learned a little history while reading. I give this story a solid 4 stars. I definitely recommend this book. I would suggest reading Penn and Raff's story first.

[Finn Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute enough, though one of the narrators was clearly a professional and the other was. Not, to put it nicely