Becoming Starlight: A Magical Fantasy Romance, Fairytale Retelling

by Elle Reese

When 22-year-old Twyla Collins discovers she's the Lost Primordial Princess, her entire world is turned upside down.

After enduring a lifetime of abuse and control from her father on their rural ranch, Twyla finally breaks free and escapes to Iceland on a study-abroad trip for Astronomy. There, she meets the broodingly handsome Thoren Graymeer, leader of the study-abroad program and secret Captain of the Primordial Guard.

After an attack on a group excursion, Thoren returns Twyla to her true home, the magical realm of Estrellis.

Returning to Estrellis, Twyla learns of her true identity, a lost Primordial Princess and Ruler of all things astrological with powerful magic, and is reunited with her birth parents, the Primordials of Luminosity and Darkness.

As she trains to harness her newfound powers over the stars and cosmos, a mysterious enemy seeks to assassinate Twyla before she can fully transform into the powerful goddess she was born to be.

Can she navigate her tangled love life, learn to wield ancient magics, and unmask who wants her dead, before the enemy extinguishes her light forever?

Follow Twyla’s journey in Becoming Starlight.

Genres: Fantasy

460 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

Elle Reese has always loved the stars, the moon, and the night sky. She has been a night owl since day one and feels happiest after midnight.
Since she was young, she has always talked to the stars, pouring out her thoughts, dreams, and fears.
She loves traveling and exploring the big, beautiful world around her—from mountains to sea and everything in between, Elle wants to see it all. Elle also loves art, photography, reading, and anything creative.
She never thought she would write a book, but this story decided it needed to be told, so “The Starlight Series” was born.
Elle lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Follow Elle on social media and join her Facebook Group: Elle Reese Reader’s Realm, for updates!
Socials @ellereeseauthor

Reviews

[Skipzel Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆4/5

I was hooked on this book the entire time. I truly felt myself lost in the story.

• Bodygaurd
• Fated Mates
• Spicy 🌶️
• Lost Princess

I enjoyed the book and liked how it was more of a modern setting. The only thing I wish we saw more of was her mother and human friends. It sort of felt like she forgot about them so quickly, which I do understand as she suddenly got thrown into a whole new type of world.

Will be waiting for the next book and seeing how the story progresses.

I am so thankful for being able to get an eARC of this!

[BookObsessedMama Cheyenne Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is my new favorite book of the year, by far! 5 STAR read!
It was giving vibes like WOLF HOTEL, FROM BLOOD AND ASH, BRIDE AND A COURT OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN. It’s body guard, magic, mystery, slow burn, misunderstandings, steamy, lost princess, fated romance. This story is an amazing read and would recommend this book to everyone. This story went from 0-100 at the end and I cried! I can not wait for the second book! This is the kind of book that stays with you, I will FOR SURE be thinking about this book every single day until the next book comes out. There was so much thought out detail and plot twists I felt like I was reading the last 100 Sara Maass book (IYKYK). The spice was amazing the the tension…CHEFS KISS. There is so much build up for another book, it definitely leaves you on your toes and wanting more.

[Georgia Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I signed up to read this as an ARC I was a little skeptical because I didn’t know what to expect and WOW was I in for a surprise! The story of Twyla’s is something unique and the concept was truly fascinating. Also can we talk about THOREN?! My gosh was it hard to not fall in love with him since the first page he was introduced. The way the author incorporates vivid details about the shadows, stars and aurora borealis made it so easy to imagine the pure beauty behind what Twyla gets to see. The cliff hanger at the end is sure to get you but I highly recommend giving this book a chance as it will not disappoint! Cannot wait for book 2!

[MaKenzee Vculek · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was written perfectly!

Magic ✔️
Steamy romance✔️
Lost Princess✔️


While reading this book I was captivated by the fantasy! I could see myself in the book! Watching Twyla fall in love and learn her power after having to overcome a hard childhood was just the icing on the cake! That ending was unexpected in the best way possible! I am so excited to purchase this book when it is released! I need book two ASAP! ✨🌌

Thank you Elle for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! It was fantastic💕

[Brittany Tow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first ARC read. This story was fantastic, I’ve never read something quite like it. I finished it in a day and a half, and the ending definitely leaves you wanting more.
That being said, there are multiple povs in the book and the second one does get kind of repetitive so I skipped a few pages sometimes and that is the only reason really for not 5 stars!
Well worth the read!

[Autumn Shock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming Starlight is a modern day fantasy with a uniquely fun premise. It follows the main character Twyla who lives a sheltered life with no hope of a future until she’s granted the once in a lifetime opportunity to visit Iceland. After meeting Thoren, she is thrust into a life she was destined for and discovers a world of magic and secrets.

Dual POV
Shadow Daddy
Chosen One
Fated Mates
Frienemies to Lovers
Touch her and die vibes.
Minor love triangle.
Incomplete series and ends on a cliffhanger.
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

While I loved the way it ends and will definitely be reading book 2 - the book isn’t perfect. I wish the dual POV was less repetitive of the previous chapter. I found myself often questioning if I actually turned the page. 😅 I could also have done with less ALL CAP statements. Personally, I just didn’t think it was necessary to drive the point home. In all reality, it was more of a 3.5 ⭐️ read for me – but I see all the potential in this book and wish her nothing but the best!

Thanks for the opportunity to be your ARC reader! 📚

[Stevie Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww I absolutely loved this! Highlights definitely include the romance and Twyla’s character growth, but the world building and magical powers really shined here! There is a cozy fantasy vibe throughout where the plot is easy to follow and not overly complicated in its telling. The characters are intriguing and their unique abilities were fun to discover as well! There’s a mystery in here as well, so danger abounds but luckily we have the stoic but soft and charming bodyguard to help. Thoren cracks me up but his protective nature is the best. He’s a great foil to Twyla also in that he counters her naive inexperiences in life but he’s always there, ready to stand by her and lift her up when she needs it. The cliffhanger at the end though? OMG why! All it did was make me want the next installment asap!

Thank you so much for allowing me this advanced reader copy for an honest review!

[Chloe Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becoming starlight is a fantasy/romance that shares the life of Twyla, a girl that grows up in a home with fighting and abuse and her only get away is watching the stars at night ⭐️
She gets the opportunity to visit Iceland where she meets another main character, Thoren.

💀 Touch her and die
🏞️ Major Cliff Hanger!
✌🏼 Dual Point of View
🧍🏻‍♀️Human realm & Magic realm
🔥 Spicy scenes
👸🏼 Lost Princess

I will definitely be reading book 2!! The only thing I didn’t love about the book was a couple chapters in the first half that were from the second perspective and they were very repetitive, but the second half was already so much better in that aspect! Thank you for letting me be an ARC reader ❤️

[Jenna Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Becoming Starlight! This book had me hooked from the very beginning. Twyla reminded me a lot of myself and was able to relate to a lot of how she was feeling and what shes experienced. This book has a unique storyline which I loved. You get to grow with Twyla as she discovers her true self. With that being said, there was a part of the book that I struggled getting through and that was all the training she was doing with her parents. I understand it was part of the process to show her growth and learning her new life, some of just seemed repetitive to me.

I definitely recommend this book to any fantasy lover! The cliffhanger at the end… 😭😭 I’ll for sure be waiting for the book 2!

Thank you so much for letting me be an ARC reader for your debut book!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Elle knows how to paint a picture so vivid you can imagine every detail. You can feel the love and the frustrations that the FMC endures throughout the story. You sympathize with her struggles and root for her success. I was in the edge of my seat at the end and cannot wait for her to continue this story. Curious to see how this turns out. I do get the feeling that with this new found power and the huge punch in the gut at the end, this might turn into a villain origin story 😂 there’s room for some much creative freedom here and I’m excited for the ride!

[Kammi Manchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I rule those sparkly little stars. F****** try me.”
What a wild ride this book was! Iceland is on my bucket travel list, so all of the details about Iceland were appreciated, I love the cosmos and the stars and found this story fascinating. The ending/cliffhanger is absolutely heartbreaking!! BRB while I go sob for a while now…

[Maria Lofthus · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!! That ending though . Talk about a cliff hanger . Um Elle when is this second one coming out ?? First off; "little moon" that is all . This modern fantasy was fast paced and kept the story going. I have never hated a character so much but her father did it for me . I enjoyed the dual POV and love triangle. This was a very good read and cant wait for the 2nd one to come out .

[Elisabeth Stup · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up! This was a fun read! To be honest, the first 40% was a little slow, and then it really picked up. The FMC, Twyla, is the Princess of starlight, but she has no clue. She's been raised by humans her entire life and her "father" has become more and more abusive.

Come to find out, she's actually a Primordial princess, made by the Great Creator and has been missing from her true family for thousands of years.

She's brought back to Estrellis by the captain of the guard, whom she catches feelings for and meets her parents. She quickly awakens and perfects her magic (which seemed a little rushed to me) and is the most powerful being the realm has ever seen.

But, there's a prophecy stating that she's to marry a Prince and everyone assumes it's the Prince of Oceana. If the prophecy isn't followed, chaos will ensue.

Obviously, there's more going on including a kidnapper who is finally revealed, lots of jealousy and drama and fated mates.

My one issue with the book is Twyla never even asks about the woman who raised her for 22 years after she gets to Estrellis. Yes, she's not your actual mother, but she raised you and dealt with her abusive husband and did her best to keep you safe! Hoping we dive more into this in book 2!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! Amazing characters and love the astrology aspect. Took a bit getting used to with the dual point of view going back to the beginning of the previous scene sometimes to get the other characters thoughts. Would recommend to for fantasy readers.

[Caroline Bristow · Rating 5 out of 5]

When will book two come out?! I need it now! Such a great story. Thoren and Twyla's love is so undeniable it felt real.

[PleaseGoAwayImReading · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels strange to say that this book was a pleasant surprise when I really didn’t know what to expect from it, but it was just that: a pleasant surprise. Also, an enjoyable read!

Twyla is a college aged student who lives at home with her parents. Her home life isn’t great as her father is abusive and controlling, and her mother can’t seem to stand up to him. Twyla works long days- she’s up early in the farm to tend to those chores, then attends classes all day - mostly business and finance, at her dad’s insistence, so that she can “contribute” to the family business. Twyla has no interest in those classes. In fact, the only real bright spot in her life is the Astronomy class she managed to sneak into her schedule, along with her nightly forays out into nature to get away from the sound of her arguing parents and to stare up into the night sky.

What starts as a sad story of a girl with no freedom and intense family expectations turns into something else as Twyla’s desire - and decision- to claim something for herself sets into motion a string of incredible events.

Parallel worlds, primordial powers, lost family, found family, a prophecy, magic, forbidden love, and ultimately a heck of a cliffhanger ending will have the pages flying by as Twyla discovers another side to herself, gets reacquainted with some long lost family, and takes steps to build her strength - both physical and emotional- so that she will never again be a prisoner to someone else’s will.

I am very much looking forward to the next book; it cannot come soon enough!

[Adriana Szaboova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t even know where to start. From the beginning, I was hooked. Twyla, our FMC, is stuck in a horrible situation. When she finally gets her chance of a lifetime, she does anything to grasp it! She meets Thoren, a sexy alpha male who’s sending mixed signals. Unbeknownst to her, he’s struggling with his own secret. She gets thrown into a completely new world when her life gets threatened and learns of her past. What follows is witty banter, a slow burn, attraction, found family and adventure that kept me invested the entire time. I devoured the book and am left wanting more! The cliff hanger has me unwell as we have to wait to see what happens! Will Twyla fulfill the prophecy or follow her heart?

I’d like to thank the author for gifting me the e-ARC. All my opinions are my own.

[Sarah-Ève Vallée · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book because I am an ARC reader for the next one and hadn’t read the first.

Summary: Twyla lives a miserable life on a ranch with an abusive father. She works, goes to school and does chores on the family ranch. Her only joy comes from her astronomy class. She wins a grant and goes to Iceland to study Auroras.
There, she meets Thoren, a very tall, handsome and muscular assistant in the program. They are both very attracted to each other but he is not really an assistant and he can’t be with her.
One night, she gets attacked and he takes her where she was meant to be all along.

This book contains:
- spice 🥵 maybe 5 good scenes
-magic
-prophecy
-shadow daddy
-touch her and die
- training with the handsome captain of the guards
- dual pov

Opinion:
This book is not revolutionizing anything, but like a good Hallmark movie, I enjoy it nonetheless.
I had no expectations for smut but there was quite a bit more than I would have thought! Thoren is the man 🙈
The dual pov can be annoying at times because you relive the same dialogue. I like the mmc pov but I don’t think it’s necessary to rescript it exactly the same.
The world building and the story are good and I wanted to read the rest. The book end on a cliffhanger and I am happy to have the next one ready!

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine living a bleak, mediocre life with an abusive parent where your only mental escape is to sit under the stars at night, wishing for more. Then one day a chance of a lifetime experience is presented to you that makes your wishes come true and changes your life forever. That's what happens to the FMC Twyla when her life is threatened and she's whisked away to another realm and discovers that she's the long lost princess of the stars.

I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced without feeling rushed, lighthearted with a lot of banter between the characters that had me laughing, especially with the MMC, her loyal guard Thoren. The sexual tension between them sizzles as they try to deny their attraction, until it explodes like a supernova, daring to defy the fated mates prophecy. I loved all the astronomy references and the explanations of the different magics as she developed her skills. Also the world building was beautifully described and easy to picture all the different locations.

It ended with a heartbreaking cliffhanger and a choice she must make that could change everything.

[Paulette Zuniga · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 50%

I wanted to give Elle Reese’s Becoming Starlight a fair chance, especially since it’s the first book in a series. The concept of the Primordials and the worldbuilding are genuinely promising, and I can see the potential for a compelling fantasy saga.

That said, the execution just didn’t work for me. The instant attraction between Twyla and Thoren felt forced and unbelievable, which made it hard to root for their dynamic. It also pulled me out of the story when these supposedly all-powerful, ancient gods behaved like teenagers—cracking awkward jokes (including one about Cheerios) that felt out of place for the tone of the world.

Pacing was another issue. Having Thoren repeat, almost word-for-word, the same events from Twyla’s earlier chapters—just to tell us again how beautiful, powerful, and irresistible she is (while lamenting that he can’t have her)—grew repetitive and slowed the narrative. His inner monologue started to sound whiny rather than conflicted.

Overall, I don’t think this is a terrible book, and it has some interesting ideas. But for me, the pacing, dialogue, and character dynamics need more polish and editing to live up to its potential

[Zara Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becoming Starlight feels like stepping into a modern fairytale with just the right mix of magic, romance, and personal healing. Twyla’s journey pulled me in right away going from a painful, controlled upbringing to discovering she’s actually a lost Primordial Princess is such a powerful shift, and you can’t help but root for her.
The Iceland setting adds this gorgeous, otherworldly vibe, and Thoren Graymeer? Brooding, mysterious, protective basically everything you want in a fantasy romance hero. Their connection builds in a way that feels both sweet and charged, and I liked watching Twyla grow into her own strength.
If you enjoy fairytale retellings with emotional depth, magical secrets, and a touch of destiny-driven romance, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Rachel Blugrind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was extremely excited to start reading this series, and I'm thrilled that I could begin my journey through the world of Estrellis. Twyla is a relatable FMC that genuinely experiences the world around her in such a human way that I feel so connected to her during the entire novel. Although it took some time, Thoren is starting to grow on me, and I look forward to seeing where his and Twyla's relationship develops in the series. The Starlight Series has so much room for growth, and I am looking forward to reading every page of this amazing journey. I am also looking forward to watching Twyla as she grows into the role of the Princess of Astros and how that will not only change her, but also the world and people around her.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 4.5 stars rounded down because I’m petty and I really wanted to keep reading past the cliffhanger lol. I was lucky enough to receive this book early as an ARC reader in exchange for my honest review, and my honest review was this book was really good. I cannot wait for more to come and I am a big fan.

I loved getting to meet the characters and love them and their quirks, learning who they are. I loved getting to find out more about Twyla and watching her grow. I seriously cannot wait for more. ❤️

[Heyyoray · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was my first arc read (which in and of itself was so exciting for me). The story held my interest the entire way through, and it leaves on a note that I am excited to get into book 2.

The things that lowered my rating some was the multiple POV having some identical dialogues. It felt a bit redundant and pulled me out of the story. I also felt like some of the dialogue didn’t come off as completely natural. As a whole this book was good, I see the potential, and I hope book 2 has the same feel to it.

[Claire Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received this as part of an ARC package for the second book. The story is interesting, but the execution is sloppy. In the magical world, one of the servants mentions Cheerios, and the father says “easy squeezy”? Those both took me out of the story. The book needed a few more revisions before publishing, especially getting rid of the dual POVs where they both are talking about the exact same scene and maybe give a little more exploration into the supposed villain’s motives before the last five percent of the book.

[Alaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

🗡💫Not Your Average Fantasy Book📚⚡️

ARC review- thank you to Miss Elle for allowing me read this!

We've all read the fantasy books that seem similar to other fantasy books... magical powers, dark and shadowy MMC, enemies to lovers, right? Not this!

This book was so wonderfully original! There's adventure, fantasy, romance, science, found family... all the good tropes.
Witnessing Twyla grow into herself was exactly the kind of strength I love to see in FMCs. I need book #2 ASAP!

[Carmella May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elle did a great job bringing Twyla to life! This book was exciting and spicy with twists and turns that kept me engaged through out. This reading journey was like none of the any of the other fantasy’s I have read and I am fishing up the Maasverse! This was a nice change and her writing style was one that was easy to follow as well as a breath of fresh air! Thank you Elle for the chance to be an ARC reader! I cannot wait to read more!

[Natasha Dupuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG Elle Reese, whyyyy would you leave me hanging like this?! 😩
This book had me flying through the chapters — I was hooked! I went through a rollercoaster of emotions: shocked, sad, happy, laughing, excited, hot and bothered, jaw on the floor... and so much more.
The twists, the tension, the chemistry — everything just hit. I seriously cannot wait to dive into Book 2. Elle, you’ve got me addicted!

[Rachel Neary · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-Bodyguard
-Forbidden Love
-Shadow daddy/Shifter
-Magic
-Assassins trying to kill the FMC

I read this book as an ARC, but this review is freely given and my honest opinion.

This book might have just become my new personality- I read this so quickly & couldn’t stop turning the pages. Some of the plot twists were not surprising, but other ones I was just shocked. Will definitely be recommending this to friends- despite the cliffhanger!

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this so I can read the ARC copy of book 2! I really enjoyed this book, it was a refreshing change of pace to other fantasy books right now - Twyla gladly accepted her new (majorly improved) life, rather than fighting it like every heroine ever. I loved the love triangle and the little bit of suspicion around Adiran too, one of my favorite things was Zia and Ozul training her because that also had a different approach to the norm too. Excited to read the next one!!