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Starkeeper #1
The Starlight Heir: A Novel
A bladesmith blessed by the stars. A prince with a dangerous secret. A god bound in shadows. From USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard comes a scorching new romantasy that will leave you spellbound.
“His Imperial Majesty King Zarek requests your presence as his esteemed guest.”
When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saab’s forge, she believes it’s a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmith—one of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realm—but she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.
But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imagined—and fraught with danger. It’s not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who captures her interest…and her ire. The invitation isn’t a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the Starkeeper—a girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.
When the rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the Starkeeper. But Roshan is guarding secrets of his own. And with no control over the power stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of a dark god, an immortal whose interest might be the biggest threat of all.
“His Imperial Majesty King Zarek requests your presence as his esteemed guest.”
When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saab’s forge, she believes it’s a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmith—one of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realm—but she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.
But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imagined—and fraught with danger. It’s not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who captures her interest…and her ire. The invitation isn’t a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the Starkeeper—a girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.
When the rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the Starkeeper. But Roshan is guarding secrets of his own. And with no control over the power stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of a dark god, an immortal whose interest might be the biggest threat of all.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published January 7, 2025
1565 people are currently reading
78669 people want to read
About the author
Amalie Howard
46 books3,277 followersAMALIE HOWARD is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author, most notably of The Beast of Beswick, “a smart, sexy, deliciously feminist romance,” and one of O-The Oprah Magazine’s Top 24 Best Historicals to Read. She is the co-author of the #1 bestsellers in regency romance and Scottish historical romance, My Rogue, My Ruin and What A Scot Wants, and has also penned several young adult novels, critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, School Library Journal, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Kid’s INDIE NEXT selection. Of Indo-Caribbean descent, she has written articles on multicultural fiction for The Portland Book Review and Ravishly magazine. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children. Visit her at amaliehoward.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,074 reviews
May 7, 2025
Edit: came back to this and it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I remember. I think the first half is the toughest but after it gets really interesting. Recommend the audiobook! 2.5 ⭐️
DNF @ chapter 14
Might come back to this one later this month but really struggling today 🥲 I can’t get past the modern language in a fantasy like this!! Will give the audiobook a try later if I pick this back up
DNF @ chapter 14
Might come back to this one later this month but really struggling today 🥲 I can’t get past the modern language in a fantasy like this!! Will give the audiobook a try later if I pick this back up
May 23, 2025
✩ 3.55 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ Deadly Trials
➼ Bride Selection
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Chosen One
➼ Hidden Magic
➼ Prophecy
➼ Touch Her & Die
➼ Persian & Indian Mythology
➼ Hidden Identities
➼ Third Person POV
Can we just take a moment to acknowledge how many top Romantasy authors Amelie Howard’s team got to read and recommend this book?! Check out the book description… that’s more than I’ve ever seen included!
Weirdly, I’m the person who reads all of those glowing recs and decides they are all lying to me 😂, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this! The FMC is basically “invited” to join a deadly version of the Bachelor where she will fight to the death to win the hand of the Crown Prince. It’s an invitation that she really can’t refuse and it places her in more danger than she could have ever imagined. The crown prince is secretly on a hunt for the Starkeeper and surprise surprise, our FMC soon realizes (perhaps too late) that she is the one he is looking for.
The idea of deadly trials has kind of been done to death at this point, but I did enjoy the twist of the bride selection. The chemistry between Suraya and the “bastard” Prince Roshan was on point. 🤌🏻 From the way they met to the way they argued, I was eating it up. Some of the FMC’s thoughts about Roshan were pretty cringe at times, but their interactions mostly made up for them.
The ending felt a little messy to me, and I would have liked for there to have been more included about the mythical creatures she can connect with. I also think there could have been a lot more character development of the side characters. I wouldn’t say this was a perfect book by any means, but it was a great start to the series! Hopefully the author doesn’t choke writing book two like so many others. 🙃
Giving it a low 4 star rating.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Irrationally excited for this one! …But why are these ratings not 5 stars? 😩
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ Deadly Trials
➼ Bride Selection
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Chosen One
➼ Hidden Magic
➼ Prophecy
➼ Touch Her & Die
➼ Persian & Indian Mythology
➼ Hidden Identities
➼ Third Person POV
Can we just take a moment to acknowledge how many top Romantasy authors Amelie Howard’s team got to read and recommend this book?! Check out the book description… that’s more than I’ve ever seen included!
Weirdly, I’m the person who reads all of those glowing recs and decides they are all lying to me 😂, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this! The FMC is basically “invited” to join a deadly version of the Bachelor where she will fight to the death to win the hand of the Crown Prince. It’s an invitation that she really can’t refuse and it places her in more danger than she could have ever imagined. The crown prince is secretly on a hunt for the Starkeeper and surprise surprise, our FMC soon realizes (perhaps too late) that she is the one he is looking for.
The idea of deadly trials has kind of been done to death at this point, but I did enjoy the twist of the bride selection. The chemistry between Suraya and the “bastard” Prince Roshan was on point. 🤌🏻 From the way they met to the way they argued, I was eating it up. Some of the FMC’s thoughts about Roshan were pretty cringe at times, but their interactions mostly made up for them.
The ending felt a little messy to me, and I would have liked for there to have been more included about the mythical creatures she can connect with. I also think there could have been a lot more character development of the side characters. I wouldn’t say this was a perfect book by any means, but it was a great start to the series! Hopefully the author doesn’t choke writing book two like so many others. 🙃
Giving it a low 4 star rating.
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read: Irrationally excited for this one! …But why are these ratings not 5 stars? 😩
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
November 26, 2024
Maybe 2.5
Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC.
I went into this with high hopes. The premise is interesting, it deals with Indian inspired mythology, the romance sounded intriguing. I have a hard time staying within a book when the characters are consistently using terms that feel more like what I would hear in my day to day, though. There are a few books that get away with it, but those are all either urban fantasies or the MC is from our world and thrust into a fantasy world - but those don’t always work either. Reading ‘princesplaining,’ ‘resting bitch face,’ ‘Goals!’ Or ‘thick thighs save lives’ really and truly just take me out of this intricate new world. There are so many times like that that just don’t feel like they fit. I also didn’t buy into the character arcs, which all felt rushed rather than developed and earned, and the romance was just okay. Not my favorite spicy scenes, which could have been somewhat of a redemption.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this ARC.
I went into this with high hopes. The premise is interesting, it deals with Indian inspired mythology, the romance sounded intriguing. I have a hard time staying within a book when the characters are consistently using terms that feel more like what I would hear in my day to day, though. There are a few books that get away with it, but those are all either urban fantasies or the MC is from our world and thrust into a fantasy world - but those don’t always work either. Reading ‘princesplaining,’ ‘resting bitch face,’ ‘Goals!’ Or ‘thick thighs save lives’ really and truly just take me out of this intricate new world. There are so many times like that that just don’t feel like they fit. I also didn’t buy into the character arcs, which all felt rushed rather than developed and earned, and the romance was just okay. Not my favorite spicy scenes, which could have been somewhat of a redemption.
January 6, 2025
4.5 ☆
Suraya is a bladesmith who has the ability to imbue her work with jadu— the last source of magic in the realm. she lives a quiet life with her family, until one day when she’s invited to the palace to participate in a tournament for the crown prince of Kaldari’s hand in marriage. that invitation is really just a cover to find the starkeeper— a girl who holds the magic of the stars in her blood.
”When this is over and you’re safe, I promise to drop to my knees for you as long as you’d like.”
i loved this, it’s so fast paced and i got sucked into Suraya’s journey immediately. Suraya is a powerful fmc who doesn’t let anyone push her around and is fiercely loyal to the people she cares about. Roshan is the illegitimate brother to the crown prince and isn’t perfect with secrets of his own, but he’s also a gentleman who just wants to protect Suraya to the best of his ability. I found both her and Roshan easy to like and Roshan especially was so witty and a big flirt, the tension between them was soooo good. the conflict with the royals and the rebellion had me at the edge of my seat, especially when Suraya and Roshan were on the run. i couldn’t stand prince Javed or his dusty mother, i was sincerely praying on their downfall the whole time. i liked the other side characters though: Aran, Clem, Laleh and Amma. I thought the magic was very creative too— that addition of another certain pov had me wanting to know more, i cannot wait for the sequel now.
⇢ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Avon/Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Suraya is a bladesmith who has the ability to imbue her work with jadu— the last source of magic in the realm. she lives a quiet life with her family, until one day when she’s invited to the palace to participate in a tournament for the crown prince of Kaldari’s hand in marriage. that invitation is really just a cover to find the starkeeper— a girl who holds the magic of the stars in her blood.
”When this is over and you’re safe, I promise to drop to my knees for you as long as you’d like.”
i loved this, it’s so fast paced and i got sucked into Suraya’s journey immediately. Suraya is a powerful fmc who doesn’t let anyone push her around and is fiercely loyal to the people she cares about. Roshan is the illegitimate brother to the crown prince and isn’t perfect with secrets of his own, but he’s also a gentleman who just wants to protect Suraya to the best of his ability. I found both her and Roshan easy to like and Roshan especially was so witty and a big flirt, the tension between them was soooo good. the conflict with the royals and the rebellion had me at the edge of my seat, especially when Suraya and Roshan were on the run. i couldn’t stand prince Javed or his dusty mother, i was sincerely praying on their downfall the whole time. i liked the other side characters though: Aran, Clem, Laleh and Amma. I thought the magic was very creative too— that addition of another certain pov had me wanting to know more, i cannot wait for the sequel now.
⇢ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Avon/Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
December 13, 2025
Well crafted, fast-paced, wildly entertaining romantasy.
Something you should know about me before we continue… I F-ing LOVE the chosen one trope, it’s top tier imo - and when done right it is SUCH a good time.
Amalie Howard did it right!
What’s to love…
- slow burn romance
- magic + magical creatures (I cannot wait to see more Wyverns in book 2!)
- chosen one FMC
- Prince MMC
- Easy to handle world-building that doesn’t overwhelm or info-dump
- secrets, deceit, and prophesy
- The spice that is in this book is A++++++++++
- action packed!
- 25+ MCs
What some might not love…
- I knew going into this book that Amalie Howard wasn’t afraid to use modern language and concepts in historical settings, it’s one of the reasons I enjoy her historical fiction books, but some might be turned off by the use of a few anachronistic phrases and terms. - Its a fantasy novel though, so who’s to say in this world these phrases didn’t exist. I didn’t mind it, but can understand how some might not like it.
🌶️ - There is only a single explicit scene (Ch 17), easily skipped if you prefer. However don’t let the lack of spice deter you! The tension is A+++
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Something you should know about me before we continue… I F-ing LOVE the chosen one trope, it’s top tier imo - and when done right it is SUCH a good time.
Amalie Howard did it right!
What’s to love…
- slow burn romance
- magic + magical creatures (I cannot wait to see more Wyverns in book 2!)
- chosen one FMC
- Prince MMC
- Easy to handle world-building that doesn’t overwhelm or info-dump
- secrets, deceit, and prophesy
- The spice that is in this book is A++++++++++
- action packed!
- 25+ MCs
What some might not love…
- I knew going into this book that Amalie Howard wasn’t afraid to use modern language and concepts in historical settings, it’s one of the reasons I enjoy her historical fiction books, but some might be turned off by the use of a few anachronistic phrases and terms. - Its a fantasy novel though, so who’s to say in this world these phrases didn’t exist. I didn’t mind it, but can understand how some might not like it.
🌶️ - There is only a single explicit scene (Ch 17), easily skipped if you prefer. However don’t let the lack of spice deter you! The tension is A+++
4.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 20, 2025
I really struggle with modern expressions or swear words in books, especially Fantasy. It does take me out rather quickly. (These are some examples found in the beginning of the book : ‘Thick thighs saves lives’, ‘book boyfriends’, ‘goodies’, ‘prince-splain’, etc.)
I skimmed this one, I honestly couldn’t really get into it.
This is definitely just subjective. To each their own! I’m beginning to think I love Fantasy too much and Romantasy less and less…
I skimmed this one, I honestly couldn’t really get into it.
This is definitely just subjective. To each their own! I’m beginning to think I love Fantasy too much and Romantasy less and less…
January 16, 2025
This was my first time reading a novel by Amalie Howard, and overall, it was an entertaining and fun read. The story was interesting, and I particularly enjoyed the elements inspired by Indian and Middle Eastern mythology and astrology.
That said, I did find myself wishing for more in the main female lead's connections with some of the side characters. Strengthening those bonds would have made the ending far more impactful, especially when it came to a certain side character’s arc. Without that emotional bond, the conclusion didn’t quite hit home for me as much as it could have.
One aspect that didn’t entirely work for me was the contemporary dialogue and language. In a fantasy setting, the modern, casual tone felt out of place, almost like two girls in a mean girls movie talking about sexy times. Which was distracting at times. In terms of spice, it was decent but I wasn’t a fan of some of the word choices used.
Despite my nitpicks, I found this to be an easy and fun story with potential. The palace scenes stood out as a highlight, and I couldn’t get enough of them. However, I would have loved to see more emphasis on the trials, they had so much potential to raise the stakes and expand the story.
All in all, I’d say this was an okay read for me. It wasn’t perfect, but it had its moments that held my interest. I’m curious to see where the story goes in book two and hope to see the mythology and worldbuilding developed more.
Thank you Avon and HarperAudio for providing a ARC and Audiobook.
That said, I did find myself wishing for more in the main female lead's connections with some of the side characters. Strengthening those bonds would have made the ending far more impactful, especially when it came to a certain side character’s arc. Without that emotional bond, the conclusion didn’t quite hit home for me as much as it could have.
One aspect that didn’t entirely work for me was the contemporary dialogue and language. In a fantasy setting, the modern, casual tone felt out of place, almost like two girls in a mean girls movie talking about sexy times. Which was distracting at times. In terms of spice, it was decent but I wasn’t a fan of some of the word choices used.
Despite my nitpicks, I found this to be an easy and fun story with potential. The palace scenes stood out as a highlight, and I couldn’t get enough of them. However, I would have loved to see more emphasis on the trials, they had so much potential to raise the stakes and expand the story.
All in all, I’d say this was an okay read for me. It wasn’t perfect, but it had its moments that held my interest. I’m curious to see where the story goes in book two and hope to see the mythology and worldbuilding developed more.
Thank you Avon and HarperAudio for providing a ARC and Audiobook.
December 30, 2024
4 Stars! 🌟 A huge thank you to HarperAudio and NetGalley for the ALC of The Starlight Heir! This book was SUCH a thrilling, action-packed rollercoaster that left me craving more! At first, I totally thought it was a standalone, but then around the last 20-30%, so much was happening, and I was like, wait… is this part of a series? 😂 But no, it’s a standalone (though the epilogue definitely left me with a huge question mark 💫✨).
Tropes? Oh, I've got them:
✧ Forbidden Romance 💓
✧ Slow Burn 💗
✧ Enemies to Lovers 💘
✧ Dangerous Trials 🏹
✧ Hidden Powers ⚡
✧ Secret Identity 👀
✧ Forced Proximity 🛡️
Suraya Saab is the ultimate badass bladesmith with a starry secret, and her journey? Pure fire. 🔥 She's invited to a super shady competition for the crown prince’s bride, but it turns out, it’s actually a hunt for a girl with magic in her blood—aka the Starkeeper. And guess what? Suraya’s that girl! Oh, and did I mention Roshan? Swoon 😍 He’s the crown prince’s half-brother, and the chemistry between them is instant! 🌠
Can I just say? The world-building had me OBSESSED! The mix of Persian and Indian mythology is chef's kiss. 🫶 At first, all the godly stuff felt a little overwhelming, but once it clicked, I was totally hooked! So many secrets, magical elements, and a creepy god lurking in the shadows trying to steal Suraya’s powers.
Now, the romance was cute, but I felt it could’ve packed more punch. It was a slow burn that didn’t quite reach the fiery level I was hoping for. That said, I LOVED Suraya’s strong personality and her internal struggle. Roshan, though? I wanted to adore him, but I feel like there was something missing with his character—he was sweet, but I needed more depth from him. 🤷♀️
The plot though? SO good! I was on the edge of my seat, especially toward the end (still recovering from that twist). 📚
Also, huge props to the narrators, Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef! They did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. Anais's narration captured Suraya’s strength and determination perfectly, while Ramiz’s voice really brought Roshan’s complexity and charm to the forefront. Their performances were so engaging, making the tension, drama, and romance feel even more intense. 🎧✨
CW:
- Violence
- Death
- Some Dark Themes
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced, the stakes are sky-high, and those plot twists? Ugh, so good. If you're into fantasy romance with a sprinkle of mythology and hidden powers, definitely give this one a go!
Tropes? Oh, I've got them:
✧ Forbidden Romance 💓
✧ Slow Burn 💗
✧ Enemies to Lovers 💘
✧ Dangerous Trials 🏹
✧ Hidden Powers ⚡
✧ Secret Identity 👀
✧ Forced Proximity 🛡️
Suraya Saab is the ultimate badass bladesmith with a starry secret, and her journey? Pure fire. 🔥 She's invited to a super shady competition for the crown prince’s bride, but it turns out, it’s actually a hunt for a girl with magic in her blood—aka the Starkeeper. And guess what? Suraya’s that girl! Oh, and did I mention Roshan? Swoon 😍 He’s the crown prince’s half-brother, and the chemistry between them is instant! 🌠
Can I just say? The world-building had me OBSESSED! The mix of Persian and Indian mythology is chef's kiss. 🫶 At first, all the godly stuff felt a little overwhelming, but once it clicked, I was totally hooked! So many secrets, magical elements, and a creepy god lurking in the shadows trying to steal Suraya’s powers.
Now, the romance was cute, but I felt it could’ve packed more punch. It was a slow burn that didn’t quite reach the fiery level I was hoping for. That said, I LOVED Suraya’s strong personality and her internal struggle. Roshan, though? I wanted to adore him, but I feel like there was something missing with his character—he was sweet, but I needed more depth from him. 🤷♀️
The plot though? SO good! I was on the edge of my seat, especially toward the end (still recovering from that twist). 📚
Also, huge props to the narrators, Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef! They did an amazing job bringing the characters to life. Anais's narration captured Suraya’s strength and determination perfectly, while Ramiz’s voice really brought Roshan’s complexity and charm to the forefront. Their performances were so engaging, making the tension, drama, and romance feel even more intense. 🎧✨
CW:
- Violence
- Death
- Some Dark Themes
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s fast-paced, the stakes are sky-high, and those plot twists? Ugh, so good. If you're into fantasy romance with a sprinkle of mythology and hidden powers, definitely give this one a go!
February 1, 2025
DNF @ 50%
I tried, okay, I tried 😭 This got me into a slump. The FMC is too horny for my liking and what fantasy has only one POV I want to read the MMC POV maybe I'll try again later but for now I have to say goodbye
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Just received an ALC from Netgalley and HarperAudio Adult so huge thanks to you 💋🫶���
I tried, okay, I tried 😭 This got me into a slump. The FMC is too horny for my liking and what fantasy has only one POV I want to read the MMC POV maybe I'll try again later but for now I have to say goodbye
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
Just received an ALC from Netgalley and HarperAudio Adult so huge thanks to you 💋🫶���
February 23, 2025
2.5-3stars. This would have been a really fun Romantasy if it didn’t have an obscene amount of pop culture references. I am a FIRM believer that those do not belong in a completely fictional, fantasy world.
Direct quotes:
“Book boyfriends are simply better”
“Thick thighs save lives”
“Resting b*tch face”
“I know what it’s called you @ss, don’t prince-splain me”
“Spicy romance book”
I could literally go on… and on… sigh.
Direct quotes:
“Book boyfriends are simply better”
“Thick thighs save lives”
“Resting b*tch face”
“I know what it’s called you @ss, don’t prince-splain me”
“Spicy romance book”
I could literally go on… and on… sigh.
April 22, 2025
This was my first romantasy in a long time and it will be my last for a WHILE. It was like The Hunger Games, The Selection, a bit of ACOTAR, and Divergent all mixed into one slightly confusing and wildly paced ride. It was fun but everything started happening all at once and I couldn’t really get a grip on the story.
~Take my opinion with a grain of salt because this is definitely not my genre and I only read it because I love the author’s previous work (historical romance).~
Like many have said before me, this read almost like a YA fantasy book, but with adult spice, which gives it a disjointed and slightly uncomfortable feel. I couldn’t tell what time period it was supposed to be in with the references and language used, but I didn’t mind that too much.
But I really enjoyed getting to dive into the mythology elements and the world created here: Amalie always does an amazing job weaving her Indian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean roots into her books, and The Starlight Heir was no different. For more, go read her historical romance series with Sourcebooks. DO IT.
In terms of the scorching romance that was promised in the summary, I’ve read books by Amalie that are 10x spicier so I would not classify this as Hot, which was definitely a weird experience. Like I thought if ANYTHING, the smut would do it for me. The hero was too nice (and considerate) honestly. The heroine was also too nice. They were cute, but I didn’t feel much connection.
It’s a duology though, and from what Amalie has told me I’m definitely excited for what’s to come, so I’ll be back for book two. It felt like it was doing a LOT of work to set up the next book, so I’m hoping we can just sit back and enjoy the ride in that one.
The book is written in a first person present with one main POV (the heroine’s) and a second sporadic one of some shadow god dude. The hero of the book doesn’t have a POV (I think for the better). I liked both narrators and can’t wait to hear more from shadow god dude in book two 👀
I received an eARC and ALC from the publishers. All opinions are honest and my own.
~Take my opinion with a grain of salt because this is definitely not my genre and I only read it because I love the author’s previous work (historical romance).~
Like many have said before me, this read almost like a YA fantasy book, but with adult spice, which gives it a disjointed and slightly uncomfortable feel. I couldn’t tell what time period it was supposed to be in with the references and language used, but I didn’t mind that too much.
But I really enjoyed getting to dive into the mythology elements and the world created here: Amalie always does an amazing job weaving her Indian, Middle Eastern, and Caribbean roots into her books, and The Starlight Heir was no different. For more, go read her historical romance series with Sourcebooks. DO IT.
In terms of the scorching romance that was promised in the summary, I’ve read books by Amalie that are 10x spicier so I would not classify this as Hot, which was definitely a weird experience. Like I thought if ANYTHING, the smut would do it for me. The hero was too nice (and considerate) honestly. The heroine was also too nice. They were cute, but I didn’t feel much connection.
It’s a duology though, and from what Amalie has told me I’m definitely excited for what’s to come, so I’ll be back for book two. It felt like it was doing a LOT of work to set up the next book, so I’m hoping we can just sit back and enjoy the ride in that one.
The book is written in a first person present with one main POV (the heroine’s) and a second sporadic one of some shadow god dude. The hero of the book doesn’t have a POV (I think for the better). I liked both narrators and can’t wait to hear more from shadow god dude in book two 👀
I received an eARC and ALC from the publishers. All opinions are honest and my own.
October 8, 2024
amalie howard i understand your game…i perceive what you are doing
May 7, 2025
If I saw this book on the street I’d politely wave and smile without teeth and then completely forget I’d seen them as I went to go get my coffee
April 25, 2025
✧₊‧˚⁀➷ 0.27/5 .ᐟ
one day, goodreads will let you rate things zero stars, but unfortunately, today i have to leave this with a one :/
the starlight heir reads like it was exclusively written for tiktok/fans of acotar & fourth wing/people who ask "is there spice?" when being recommended a book.
the writing is mostly fine, but the dialogue is a jumpscare. this is a fantasy, yet i have to read the words "book boyfriends," "prince-splain," "thick thighs save lives," "worried about the wrong pointy things," "goodies" in relation to breasts/vagina (i promise you they had different words for boobs in the 1700s or whenever this is set), "where there’s hope, there’s always a way," "twisted prick," and "egg donor." like really?
the fmc, suraya, is painfully phallic-oriented/heterosexual and sexually submissive in a way that should be present in dark romance and only in dark romance. i like my fantasy girls a bit more classy and dominant. #bringbackjudithduarte. and if she had sex with roshan in every chapter, that would somehow be less whorish than whatever she actually had going on. there's multiple scenes where either one of them are actively dying and she's orgasmic. literally wet and climaxing, not just thinking "oh, he's hot covered in blood" or whatever. like whoa, if we're really into tiktok trends, how about we start being demure? i have zero qualms about slutshaming suraya because that's what she does to every other female character. her entire thing in the first third of the book is how she's soo special and smart and not like the other girls who are all pick-mes. like super special suraya could neverrr fall for the prince like the other vapid girls! which is funny because a) they're there to be queen, i promise, not because they like loser ass javed. and even if they did, that specific humiliation kink is nothing compared to what occurs in suraya's nightly pornific dreams. and b) suraya's own relationship with roshan is based on an equal amount of nothingburger. something about stones and glass houses.
now onto roshan. roshan is nothing. he is no one. his only personality traits is that he's "maddening." why are all men "maddening" or "infuriating" these days? there have got to be more words in the thesaurus. oh, and he's in an insta-love relationship with suraya, and he thinks she's super special and #notlikeothergirls. honestly it's so funny how the modern romantasy male lead is just a hot accessory with a dick and no personality. poetic justice for the non-roles women have been forced into in most literature written by men. less funny when suraya being horny over him is 60% of the book, but still, love that.
advanced copy received from netgalley in exchange for a review.
one day, goodreads will let you rate things zero stars, but unfortunately, today i have to leave this with a one :/
the starlight heir reads like it was exclusively written for tiktok/fans of acotar & fourth wing/people who ask "is there spice?" when being recommended a book.
the writing is mostly fine, but the dialogue is a jumpscare. this is a fantasy, yet i have to read the words "book boyfriends," "prince-splain," "thick thighs save lives," "worried about the wrong pointy things," "goodies" in relation to breasts/vagina (i promise you they had different words for boobs in the 1700s or whenever this is set), "where there’s hope, there’s always a way," "twisted prick," and "egg donor." like really?
the fmc, suraya, is painfully phallic-oriented/heterosexual and sexually submissive in a way that should be present in dark romance and only in dark romance. i like my fantasy girls a bit more classy and dominant. #bringbackjudithduarte. and if she had sex with roshan in every chapter, that would somehow be less whorish than whatever she actually had going on. there's multiple scenes where either one of them are actively dying and she's orgasmic. literally wet and climaxing, not just thinking "oh, he's hot covered in blood" or whatever. like whoa, if we're really into tiktok trends, how about we start being demure? i have zero qualms about slutshaming suraya because that's what she does to every other female character. her entire thing in the first third of the book is how she's soo special and smart and not like the other girls who are all pick-mes. like super special suraya could neverrr fall for the prince like the other vapid girls! which is funny because a) they're there to be queen, i promise, not because they like loser ass javed. and even if they did, that specific humiliation kink is nothing compared to what occurs in suraya's nightly pornific dreams. and b) suraya's own relationship with roshan is based on an equal amount of nothingburger. something about stones and glass houses.
now onto roshan. roshan is nothing. he is no one. his only personality traits is that he's "maddening." why are all men "maddening" or "infuriating" these days? there have got to be more words in the thesaurus. oh, and he's in an insta-love relationship with suraya, and he thinks she's super special and #notlikeothergirls. honestly it's so funny how the modern romantasy male lead is just a hot accessory with a dick and no personality. poetic justice for the non-roles women have been forced into in most literature written by men. less funny when suraya being horny over him is 60% of the book, but still, love that.
advanced copy received from netgalley in exchange for a review.
January 7, 2025
this book was such a fast and fun read. it was super action packed and I literally couldn’t put it down.
suraya is a strong and determined fmc, my fav type. when she’s invited to a marriage contest for the prince’s hand, things go sideways FAST and she’s on the run with the prince’s brother, roshan. he was obsessive and protective, also my fav.
I do feel like this was a bit shallow. it was super fast-paced, so I couldn’t put it down, but I was left wanting more by the end. there is a HFN with a open for a possibility for a follow up.
i loved the mythology inspired world building so much and the magic system was super fun!!
thank you Avon books for the gifted copy!!
what to expect
⟢ Persian / Indian-inspired mythology fantasy romance
⟢ forbidden love
⟢ enemies to lovers
⟢ trials!!
suraya is a strong and determined fmc, my fav type. when she’s invited to a marriage contest for the prince’s hand, things go sideways FAST and she’s on the run with the prince’s brother, roshan. he was obsessive and protective, also my fav.
I do feel like this was a bit shallow. it was super fast-paced, so I couldn’t put it down, but I was left wanting more by the end. there is a HFN with a open for a possibility for a follow up.
i loved the mythology inspired world building so much and the magic system was super fun!!
thank you Avon books for the gifted copy!!
what to expect
⟢ Persian / Indian-inspired mythology fantasy romance
⟢ forbidden love
⟢ enemies to lovers
⟢ trials!!
December 20, 2024
This was a good romantasy debut by the author, I've read and loved her historicals. I think this has so much potential for a series and I'm excited to see what happens next. I liked that this book was fast paced and didn't really dwell too long on one thing. I loved the fmc and the diversity in the mythology and worldbuilding. I enjoyed seeing the fmc figure out the thing inside her and what was going on with the queen and prince after she is chosen to come to the palace with other women to compete for the prince's attention. I liked the romance though it felt like it happened with little conflict, there's a bit of spice but im interested to see what comes next. Thank you Avon for the arc for an honest review.
3.75/5 ⭐
3.75/5 ⭐
Read
November 25, 20244/5
Thank you for this ARC copy of The Starlight Heir!! This cover is so beautiful. Make sure to grab your copy January 7th 2025!! This book is very good, pulls you in from the very beginning. Tons of magic and adventure and I loved the ending. In this we follow Suraya who is living a normal life at home with her family when she gets an invitation to the royal palace when the prince is looking for a wife. This starts her journey into an action packed magical adventure as she discovers who she really is falling in love with Roshan, the princes brother.
I loved the writing in this and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
Thank you for this ARC copy of The Starlight Heir!! This cover is so beautiful. Make sure to grab your copy January 7th 2025!! This book is very good, pulls you in from the very beginning. Tons of magic and adventure and I loved the ending. In this we follow Suraya who is living a normal life at home with her family when she gets an invitation to the royal palace when the prince is looking for a wife. This starts her journey into an action packed magical adventure as she discovers who she really is falling in love with Roshan, the princes brother.
I loved the writing in this and am looking forward to the rest of the series.
December 7, 2024
So this book was marketed as adult romantasy. But as I was reading it, it seems like should be marketed as an YA fantasy without the adult themes.
There was a lot of moments that just screamed YA and not adult. So after 16%, I did DNF.
I don't think the book was necessarily bad but I have never been a fan of YA fantasies so this wasn't a win for me.
Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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There was a lot of moments that just screamed YA and not adult. So after 16%, I did DNF.
I don't think the book was necessarily bad but I have never been a fan of YA fantasies so this wasn't a win for me.
Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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May 20, 2025
This was one hot mess.
I really put an effort into this book to give it a fair chance after seeing the low reviews, but alas, the low rating is earned. I was already quite close to dnf this book in the beginning due to the writing style. I see this is an issue for more readers, it is just not great. Although it is not the biggest issue in this book, it stands out immediately. The dialogue is awkward and weird, not natural at all. The writing style feels like it was written by a 14-year-old, and the sentences jump abruptly from one to the next without a flow. Not that I'm a good writer, but there is a reason I'm not writing any books.
Next to the writing style, the plot is just all over the place. A million things are happening, with all these different cultures, groups of people, magic systems, and activities crammed into a 350-page book. I could not follow what was going on and what it all meant. I think this book could have been loads better if it were 100 pages longer and put some time into explaining it better. And not even all the introduction to new elements was rushed, and neither was the actual plot. There is this interesting bride contest, but it started and was over all in a hot minute. It's the same for all the other plotlines. Just take your time actually to write a story, and don't jump from one point to the next. The last 20% was a complete mess, all over the place, and ended in a very weird way.
Furthermore, the romance and the characters are the worst. I was under the impression that the writer is usually a romance writer, so I had expected at least this element would have done well, but this also falls short. There is no actual development between them; they just fall in love, but why? I cannot tell you. The betrayal also felt weird; I didn't see the issue, but maybe I was not paying attention to them anymore by this point in the book. Then there is this god dude who obviously is her soul mate or whatever, and even this is already badly written. The FMC is also boring, and I don't feel any connection with her.
Alas, this is, of course, completely my opinion, and I can see the vision of the author. And I do appreciate that the fmc was older than the usual 18, that was quite nice. I was quite excited about the book, but it simply wasn't for me.
0,75 stars!
I really put an effort into this book to give it a fair chance after seeing the low reviews, but alas, the low rating is earned. I was already quite close to dnf this book in the beginning due to the writing style. I see this is an issue for more readers, it is just not great. Although it is not the biggest issue in this book, it stands out immediately. The dialogue is awkward and weird, not natural at all. The writing style feels like it was written by a 14-year-old, and the sentences jump abruptly from one to the next without a flow. Not that I'm a good writer, but there is a reason I'm not writing any books.
Next to the writing style, the plot is just all over the place. A million things are happening, with all these different cultures, groups of people, magic systems, and activities crammed into a 350-page book. I could not follow what was going on and what it all meant. I think this book could have been loads better if it were 100 pages longer and put some time into explaining it better. And not even all the introduction to new elements was rushed, and neither was the actual plot. There is this interesting bride contest, but it started and was over all in a hot minute. It's the same for all the other plotlines. Just take your time actually to write a story, and don't jump from one point to the next. The last 20% was a complete mess, all over the place, and ended in a very weird way.
Furthermore, the romance and the characters are the worst. I was under the impression that the writer is usually a romance writer, so I had expected at least this element would have done well, but this also falls short. There is no actual development between them; they just fall in love, but why? I cannot tell you. The betrayal also felt weird; I didn't see the issue, but maybe I was not paying attention to them anymore by this point in the book. Then there is this god dude who obviously is her soul mate or whatever, and even this is already badly written. The FMC is also boring, and I don't feel any connection with her.
Alas, this is, of course, completely my opinion, and I can see the vision of the author. And I do appreciate that the fmc was older than the usual 18, that was quite nice. I was quite excited about the book, but it simply wasn't for me.
0,75 stars!
September 5, 2024
A fiery tale of love, deceit, and self-discovery.
Reading The Starlit Heir was a voyage for the senses, the heart, and the mind. It was beautifully crafted with sharp-witted characters and sweeping intrigue. Can’t wait to see where the next installment goes… especially after that last chapter.
Reading The Starlit Heir was a voyage for the senses, the heart, and the mind. It was beautifully crafted with sharp-witted characters and sweeping intrigue. Can’t wait to see where the next installment goes… especially after that last chapter.
May 1, 2025
I'm not sorry to say that this book was a complete joke and just further proves that anyone can get something published if they hit the trope checklist. Upon further inspection, I noticed that this author primarily writes historical romance so idk, maybe she should stick to that and not write shovelware just to get a bag. And i don't mind people chasing the bag, but this book def read like AI slop lite and if it's embarrassing to me, it should've been embarrassing to the author as well lmao.
This story was so unserious for a myriad of reasons...
- the plot is your typical romantasy fare. Girl has to go to parade herself in front of the prince because he needs a bride, but the prince is crazy! Girl has unknown special powers that she refuses to accept even after they make themselves known, and girl falls in love with prince's brother who the queen hates. Except this story also had trials for some reason? Half-baked trials that the girls parading for the prince had to compete in? But these trials are only mentioned like ....2x before completely falling off and not having anything to do with the plot because the prince chooses Suraya to be his bride 10 seconds into the story WHICH WE KNEW WOULD HAPPEN.
The plot then turns into Suraya having to master her powers to stop the end of the world but like all of this is supposed to go from her knowing nothing about magic, to saving the universe in 350 pages? You can already see how it turns out...
The whole star magic thing would've been cool if it had been elaborated on in a way that made any sense. Suraya has these dreams, and can see Vena (?) who's like THE star in these visions, but all they ever say to her is "don't believe the lie. you have potential to be good or evil. don't believe the lie" the lie is mentioned quite a few times but it's never explained what the lie is. Also the way they keep telling Suraya that she has the potential to be good or evil is like yeah duh? You and literally everyone else alive that has the freedom of choice.
There was also a very prominent subplot about jade (jadu) and how it affects people and is used both as a drug and a magic enhancer and the story wouldve been better if she had focused on THAT as the catalyst for the issues instead of jumping to world ending star power.
- the dialogue in this was giving cringy millennial and that shouldn't have been the case. The dialogue was so out of place for an alleged fantasy story. Like why is this what you're writing? The poor dialogue choices included but was not limited to:
mentions of breath play? why
"don't prince-splain to me"
Suraya mentioning that there were no "spicy romances" for her to read
multiple mentions of how "tight" she is during the already cringy sex scenes
"unless I'm as high as a kite"
"it's my weapon of choice against toxic masculinity"
"i'm partial to your goodies"
it really was all around bad. The dialogue in these stories is getting too meta, in a bad way. Your quirky fmc doesn't need to mention how much she adores spicy romance ....as you write an (alleged) spicy romance. It's just annoying and takes us out of the story. it also makes your fmc look like an idiot when she's running for her life and needs to learn how to use her powers but she's worried about reading romance novels....
- the characterizations are shallow and give you nothing to root for. Suraya is almost too stupid to function. She spends the entire story shocked that people believe this prophecy when she is literally shooting prophecy magic from her hands once every other chapter. She has no idea how to master her powers, until randomly she becomes an elite killing machine and can use her powers to kill AND bring people back to life when the plot needs her to. She has 0 sense of preservation, but always wants to be involved in the action even though it always ends with her being saved by her unusable (but totally mastered) star powers or her getting her ass kicked. No in between.
Roshan was a little better, but his plot line also made zero sense. He's the "bastard prince" even though his mother was betrothed to the king....and the king is his father, but he's also the leader of this notoriously evil (alleged) resistance group but NO ONE knows? As he continues to live in the palace.....unawares.......how is he in charge of a resistance group but he's living in the palace? Like at least he knew how to fight i guess..
Laleh is the best friend that Suraya is overly obsessed with but has 0 character traits that make her worth mentioning as much as she's mentioned. Laleh is mentioned 113 times in this story even though we only see her in the beginning and the tail end. Like, she's mentioned so much that the romance might as well have been between her and Suraya! You're obsessed sis!
- the romance is instalust at best and at worst. It was also boring and so derivative of every other romance scene from the last year. I'm officially asking romantasy authors to have new sex dreams because the material is STALE ladies!
Suraya is a VIRGIN who's so wet and so tight that Roshan's c*ck is splitting her in half because he's SO BIG and he smells like smelted iron, bergamot, and spice and GOD the smell of smelted iron is making her SO WET she's unable to think when his hot fingers press into her wet heat
OH BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S BORING AND IT'S CRINGY!!! for her pleasure 101 we know already!
Suraya is also so virginal that she's having explicitly hot and wet sex dreams about a shadow daddy that we never meet but shadow fucks her in her sleep???? And he has 2 paragraphs worth of POV and it's like who tf is this dude and why is she so horny for him? It's idiotic.
This book was terrible, and it doesn't even seem like it was trying to be serious in any sense of that word. The cover is beautiful and would lead you to believe that this book wasn't straight up garbage. This isn't even listed as series, but it ends in such a half-assed closed/open way that you sort of want to know if there will be a sequel? Only time will tell if I choose to torture myself reading one.
I would only suggest this book if you want to have a good laugh. If you're looking for something serious, look elsewhere.
This story was so unserious for a myriad of reasons...
- the plot is your typical romantasy fare. Girl has to go to parade herself in front of the prince because he needs a bride, but the prince is crazy! Girl has unknown special powers that she refuses to accept even after they make themselves known, and girl falls in love with prince's brother who the queen hates. Except this story also had trials for some reason? Half-baked trials that the girls parading for the prince had to compete in? But these trials are only mentioned like ....2x before completely falling off and not having anything to do with the plot because the prince chooses Suraya to be his bride 10 seconds into the story WHICH WE KNEW WOULD HAPPEN.
The plot then turns into Suraya having to master her powers to stop the end of the world but like all of this is supposed to go from her knowing nothing about magic, to saving the universe in 350 pages? You can already see how it turns out...
The whole star magic thing would've been cool if it had been elaborated on in a way that made any sense. Suraya has these dreams, and can see Vena (?) who's like THE star in these visions, but all they ever say to her is "don't believe the lie. you have potential to be good or evil. don't believe the lie" the lie is mentioned quite a few times but it's never explained what the lie is. Also the way they keep telling Suraya that she has the potential to be good or evil is like yeah duh? You and literally everyone else alive that has the freedom of choice.
There was also a very prominent subplot about jade (jadu) and how it affects people and is used both as a drug and a magic enhancer and the story wouldve been better if she had focused on THAT as the catalyst for the issues instead of jumping to world ending star power.
- the dialogue in this was giving cringy millennial and that shouldn't have been the case. The dialogue was so out of place for an alleged fantasy story. Like why is this what you're writing? The poor dialogue choices included but was not limited to:
mentions of breath play? why
"don't prince-splain to me"
Suraya mentioning that there were no "spicy romances" for her to read
multiple mentions of how "tight" she is during the already cringy sex scenes
"unless I'm as high as a kite"
"it's my weapon of choice against toxic masculinity"
"i'm partial to your goodies"
it really was all around bad. The dialogue in these stories is getting too meta, in a bad way. Your quirky fmc doesn't need to mention how much she adores spicy romance ....as you write an (alleged) spicy romance. It's just annoying and takes us out of the story. it also makes your fmc look like an idiot when she's running for her life and needs to learn how to use her powers but she's worried about reading romance novels....
- the characterizations are shallow and give you nothing to root for. Suraya is almost too stupid to function. She spends the entire story shocked that people believe this prophecy when she is literally shooting prophecy magic from her hands once every other chapter. She has no idea how to master her powers, until randomly she becomes an elite killing machine and can use her powers to kill AND bring people back to life when the plot needs her to. She has 0 sense of preservation, but always wants to be involved in the action even though it always ends with her being saved by her unusable (but totally mastered) star powers or her getting her ass kicked. No in between.
Roshan was a little better, but his plot line also made zero sense. He's the "bastard prince" even though his mother was betrothed to the king....and the king is his father, but he's also the leader of this notoriously evil (alleged) resistance group but NO ONE knows? As he continues to live in the palace.....unawares.......how is he in charge of a resistance group but he's living in the palace? Like at least he knew how to fight i guess..
Laleh is the best friend that Suraya is overly obsessed with but has 0 character traits that make her worth mentioning as much as she's mentioned. Laleh is mentioned 113 times in this story even though we only see her in the beginning and the tail end. Like, she's mentioned so much that the romance might as well have been between her and Suraya! You're obsessed sis!
- the romance is instalust at best and at worst. It was also boring and so derivative of every other romance scene from the last year. I'm officially asking romantasy authors to have new sex dreams because the material is STALE ladies!
Suraya is a VIRGIN who's so wet and so tight that Roshan's c*ck is splitting her in half because he's SO BIG and he smells like smelted iron, bergamot, and spice and GOD the smell of smelted iron is making her SO WET she's unable to think when his hot fingers press into her wet heat
OH BROTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S BORING AND IT'S CRINGY!!! for her pleasure 101 we know already!
Suraya is also so virginal that she's having explicitly hot and wet sex dreams about a shadow daddy that we never meet but shadow fucks her in her sleep???? And he has 2 paragraphs worth of POV and it's like who tf is this dude and why is she so horny for him? It's idiotic.
This book was terrible, and it doesn't even seem like it was trying to be serious in any sense of that word. The cover is beautiful and would lead you to believe that this book wasn't straight up garbage. This isn't even listed as series, but it ends in such a half-assed closed/open way that you sort of want to know if there will be a sequel? Only time will tell if I choose to torture myself reading one.
I would only suggest this book if you want to have a good laugh. If you're looking for something serious, look elsewhere.
April 5, 2025
I wouldn’t say this was like, for me … at all, personally
December 26, 2024
So I am genuinely unsure if this book is bad, or if it is just not for me. I did force myself to read through it, partly because I wanted to give it a chance and partly to complete my year reading goals.
The cover art is gorgeous. I love the idea of a Persian/Indian inspired fantasy and do believe we need more non-western, non-medieval fantasy stories. Just so many things in this book did not work for me.
The writing style is way too modern for the type of story it is supposed to be. We have references to Disney princesses and too many current, modern colloquialisms that don't make sense in the context of the world building as we are presented it. The writing for the sex scenes is so awkward, its almost funny - watch out for a man's "tool of sensual destruction". I'm sorry, what?
The romance and sex scenes have all the chemistry of wet noodles and are incredibly cringe. Our main character Suraya is a virgin to start, but also has weird sex dreams about a magic stranger and is also constantly thirsty for the love interest - like they are in the middle of running for their lives and she'll be thinking about how hot he is. The romance feels very insta-lust and even the twist is not that twisty but something we've seen a thousand times and is not even that well set up within the story. The writing of the sex scenes (and the main characters constant cursing) give the impression of a teenage trying to sound adult and sexy, without really knowing what they are saying. I understand that Howard is a successful historical romance writer (though I have not read anything by her before), so it almost feels like maybe she was trying too hard to make these scenes different in the fantasy world?
The story arc feels rushed and so many pieces feel left completely unfinished (while I get this is the first in a series, we stil need to tie up at least a few loose ends in the first story!). We get these awkward dream sex sequences, but they never come into play AT ALL (like not even a mention, or a quick info dump on why she is dreaming about a stranger) - it makes these scenes feel like a weird fan service to just add more spice. Parts of the story feel unnecessary (the main characters supposed rivalry with some of the other women, the whole bride competition, escape, capture, rinse repeat). I would have liked more time with Laylah and more actual character interactions that weren't just "oh he's hot".
Anyway, if romantasy is your passion, this might be worth checking out. In the meantime, I will continue my search for romantasy that I like (or maybe give up, we'll see).
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC of this story.
The cover art is gorgeous. I love the idea of a Persian/Indian inspired fantasy and do believe we need more non-western, non-medieval fantasy stories. Just so many things in this book did not work for me.
The writing style is way too modern for the type of story it is supposed to be. We have references to Disney princesses and too many current, modern colloquialisms that don't make sense in the context of the world building as we are presented it. The writing for the sex scenes is so awkward, its almost funny - watch out for a man's "tool of sensual destruction". I'm sorry, what?
The romance and sex scenes have all the chemistry of wet noodles and are incredibly cringe. Our main character Suraya is a virgin to start, but also has weird sex dreams about a magic stranger and is also constantly thirsty for the love interest - like they are in the middle of running for their lives and she'll be thinking about how hot he is. The romance feels very insta-lust and even the twist is not that twisty but something we've seen a thousand times and is not even that well set up within the story. The writing of the sex scenes (and the main characters constant cursing) give the impression of a teenage trying to sound adult and sexy, without really knowing what they are saying. I understand that Howard is a successful historical romance writer (though I have not read anything by her before), so it almost feels like maybe she was trying too hard to make these scenes different in the fantasy world?
The story arc feels rushed and so many pieces feel left completely unfinished (while I get this is the first in a series, we stil need to tie up at least a few loose ends in the first story!). We get these awkward dream sex sequences, but they never come into play AT ALL (like not even a mention, or a quick info dump on why she is dreaming about a stranger) - it makes these scenes feel like a weird fan service to just add more spice. Parts of the story feel unnecessary (the main characters supposed rivalry with some of the other women, the whole bride competition, escape, capture, rinse repeat). I would have liked more time with Laylah and more actual character interactions that weren't just "oh he's hot".
Anyway, if romantasy is your passion, this might be worth checking out. In the meantime, I will continue my search for romantasy that I like (or maybe give up, we'll see).
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC of this story.
December 29, 2024
This was my first book from Amalie Howard and I really enjoyed it!! A pretty solid Romantasy debut. It was fast-paced and action packed and I never found myself bored or skimming. The world building was easy to follow. I did guess a few of the plot twists, but others completely threw me.
"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨."
I LOVED Laleh, the FMC’s bff. She was hilarious.
"𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮?"
"𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠, 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮"
I absolutely ate up the slow burn between Sura and Roshan, I was squealing when I got to chapter 17.
"𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙮? 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚."
But my favorite parts of this book were the action scenes.
And the surprise POV?? WHAT A TEASE. I desperately need more!! Very interested to see how this plays out in the next installment!
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙧𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪**𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙙."
*The dialogue did read a little YA at times even though the MCs are in their mid-20s, but I was fine with it. It also has somewhat modern dialogue at times - also fine with it, but I thought I’d make a note of it bc I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
💜 Fantasy Romance
✨ Dangerous Trials
💜 Prophecies
✨ Twists
💜 Persian & Indian Mythology
✨ Slow Burn
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager/Avon for both the e-ARC and physical ARC. All opinions are my own.
"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨."
I LOVED Laleh, the FMC’s bff. She was hilarious.
"𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮?"
"𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠, 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮"
I absolutely ate up the slow burn between Sura and Roshan, I was squealing when I got to chapter 17.
"𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙮? 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚."
But my favorite parts of this book were the action scenes.
And the surprise POV?? WHAT A TEASE. I desperately need more!! Very interested to see how this plays out in the next installment!
"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙧𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪**𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙙."
*The dialogue did read a little YA at times even though the MCs are in their mid-20s, but I was fine with it. It also has somewhat modern dialogue at times - also fine with it, but I thought I’d make a note of it bc I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
💜 Fantasy Romance
✨ Dangerous Trials
💜 Prophecies
✨ Twists
💜 Persian & Indian Mythology
✨ Slow Burn
Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager/Avon for both the e-ARC and physical ARC. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2025
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
Fantasy with romance. Romantasy.
Suraya Saab receives an invitation to court in the capital city. The prince is looking for a bride. Suraya doesn’t care about the prince or becoming his bride. She just wants the adventure in the city and then she’ll come home and continue to work in the forge with her bladesmith skills.
Suraya hasn’t had any magic in the past but all that changes at court where she is provoked, forced to fight, and watch innocent people die. All in the name of the prince finding a bride. Her magic sparks when confronted by a creature that has already eaten several of the other females contenders in the ring. Now the Prince, King and Queen have their eye on her. And they won’t stand for her innocent flirting with the gardener anymore. Not that he is really the grounds keeper. Very soon, fight to the death will mean just that. For the entire kingdom.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook to read this. The narration is performed by Anais Inara Chase (the majority) and Ramiz Monsef. Both do a wonderful job of making their presence known with a compelling performance. I like a print version for visualization but an audiobook to make the characters come alive. And this does not disappoint. The terror, and rage, and lust and determination come through clearly as the fantasy progresses from a daughter and commoner going to a party to that of a god of the stars. An impressive text and narration. I’m sure I will listen to this again.
I did increase the speed to a normal conversation level of 1.5.
Breathtaking adult fantasy that simply comes alive.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher HarperAudio Adult.
Fantasy with romance. Romantasy.
Suraya Saab receives an invitation to court in the capital city. The prince is looking for a bride. Suraya doesn’t care about the prince or becoming his bride. She just wants the adventure in the city and then she’ll come home and continue to work in the forge with her bladesmith skills.
Suraya hasn’t had any magic in the past but all that changes at court where she is provoked, forced to fight, and watch innocent people die. All in the name of the prince finding a bride. Her magic sparks when confronted by a creature that has already eaten several of the other females contenders in the ring. Now the Prince, King and Queen have their eye on her. And they won’t stand for her innocent flirting with the gardener anymore. Not that he is really the grounds keeper. Very soon, fight to the death will mean just that. For the entire kingdom.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook to read this. The narration is performed by Anais Inara Chase (the majority) and Ramiz Monsef. Both do a wonderful job of making their presence known with a compelling performance. I like a print version for visualization but an audiobook to make the characters come alive. And this does not disappoint. The terror, and rage, and lust and determination come through clearly as the fantasy progresses from a daughter and commoner going to a party to that of a god of the stars. An impressive text and narration. I’m sure I will listen to this again.
I did increase the speed to a normal conversation level of 1.5.
Breathtaking adult fantasy that simply comes alive.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher HarperAudio Adult.
February 5, 2025
I need to start by saying, we LOVE to see some Persian mythology representation!!! This year, I'm making more of an effort to read outside the conventional Greek, Roman, Celtic mythology.
The first 25% of this book is like if The Selection was adult fantasy, but the competition was deadly, and the prince they were all fighting to marry is a psycho with a sexy, mysterious half-brother. *cue the sound, "oh gosh, look at the time. I've gotta get home to sleep with your brother". The spice is spicing.
This book is extremely fast paced. Most books in a series would have stopped book one at this 25% mark. That is what made this book feel like such a gift. Even though it is the first book in this series, it felt like reading 3 books in one. The problem with this though, is that I had a harder time connecting to the characters. I felt as if they were not fleshed out enough, and their relationship dynamics were not not fleshed out enough. I do think the author could've turned the pace down a notch and the book would still be excellent. (Note to author and publisher: Please, please, please don't let the next book be a bunch of filler. And bring back limiting the fantasy series to 2-3 books. Seriously, dragging shit out RUINS a series. I'm totally not salty about another romatasy released recently... don't make the same mistake).
There is modern vernacular, but that doesn't bother me in fantasy books. It's fantasy! The author can make it whatever she wants it to be. I know some people say it "pulls them out" of the story... I personally prefer modern vernacular because I understand it better, and can read it faster, than old-timey languages.
The plot is predictable, but again this doesn't bother me. I prefer it actually, because it brings me comfort knowing what is going to happen next. This is a cozy romantasy, with all of the classic tropes we know and love. This book brought back the feeling of reading my favorite YA's as a kid, but with adult spice. AND just look at that cover! It's GORGEOUS! I enjoyed the hell out of this and I can't wait to see what's in store!
Tropes: Persian Mythology, Deadly Bridal Competition, Forbidden Romance, Shadow Daddy, Prophecy/ Written in the Stars, Epic Quest, Political Rebellion
Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
The first 25% of this book is like if The Selection was adult fantasy, but the competition was deadly, and the prince they were all fighting to marry is a psycho with a sexy, mysterious half-brother. *cue the sound, "oh gosh, look at the time. I've gotta get home to sleep with your brother". The spice is spicing.
This book is extremely fast paced. Most books in a series would have stopped book one at this 25% mark. That is what made this book feel like such a gift. Even though it is the first book in this series, it felt like reading 3 books in one. The problem with this though, is that I had a harder time connecting to the characters. I felt as if they were not fleshed out enough, and their relationship dynamics were not not fleshed out enough. I do think the author could've turned the pace down a notch and the book would still be excellent. (Note to author and publisher: Please, please, please don't let the next book be a bunch of filler. And bring back limiting the fantasy series to 2-3 books. Seriously, dragging shit out RUINS a series. I'm totally not salty about another romatasy released recently... don't make the same mistake).
There is modern vernacular, but that doesn't bother me in fantasy books. It's fantasy! The author can make it whatever she wants it to be. I know some people say it "pulls them out" of the story... I personally prefer modern vernacular because I understand it better, and can read it faster, than old-timey languages.
The plot is predictable, but again this doesn't bother me. I prefer it actually, because it brings me comfort knowing what is going to happen next. This is a cozy romantasy, with all of the classic tropes we know and love. This book brought back the feeling of reading my favorite YA's as a kid, but with adult spice. AND just look at that cover! It's GORGEOUS! I enjoyed the hell out of this and I can't wait to see what's in store!
Tropes: Persian Mythology, Deadly Bridal Competition, Forbidden Romance, Shadow Daddy, Prophecy/ Written in the Stars, Epic Quest, Political Rebellion
Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
March 14, 2025
okay. this was okay.
the vibes were vibing, it was interesting, but this was nothing extra *special*. it just was. and that’s okay.
i had a fun time, and i will be reading a follow up book if it comes out because i am curious.
the world building was a bit limited, and i felt the romance was a biiiit instalust, but nonetheless, it was fun.
3 stars.
the vibes were vibing, it was interesting, but this was nothing extra *special*. it just was. and that’s okay.
i had a fun time, and i will be reading a follow up book if it comes out because i am curious.
the world building was a bit limited, and i felt the romance was a biiiit instalust, but nonetheless, it was fun.
3 stars.
dnf
January 2, 2025DNF @ 15%
the writing is just... not for me. i only read a few chapters and i already saw way too many lines that made me physically cringe. it's the modern dialogue that sounds straight from social media and i genuinely cannot stand that in a fantasy that takes place in a past-like setting. i skimmed a bit through to the end to see if there would be anything to change my mind and it looked like the romance would not be for me either (insta-love is a no-go for me😭). it also just read more like YA than adult?? but yeah overall, i just think this isn't for me unfortunately!
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
the writing is just... not for me. i only read a few chapters and i already saw way too many lines that made me physically cringe. it's the modern dialogue that sounds straight from social media and i genuinely cannot stand that in a fantasy that takes place in a past-like setting. i skimmed a bit through to the end to see if there would be anything to change my mind and it looked like the romance would not be for me either (insta-love is a no-go for me😭). it also just read more like YA than adult?? but yeah overall, i just think this isn't for me unfortunately!
Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2025
* 2.5⭐️ 2🌶️
* Oryndhr Has four ruling houses, each with their own attributes. All of which are hard to pronounce or get to stick in your mind, just like every characters name in every fantasy book lol
* Follows FMC suraya who is in house of aldebaran (farmers, craftsman, the poorest and largest house) she receives a letter from the imperial house that changes her life because if something is too good to be true, it might be exactly that.
* There are competitions the chosen women have to go through in order to prove their worth on being picked by the prince as his wife.
* There’s a handsome illegitimate prince.
* Lots of names between houses, people in the houses, names of the people - it was just so confusing.
* I felt towards the end of the book I was skimming and just wanted to get to the end.
* Oryndhr Has four ruling houses, each with their own attributes. All of which are hard to pronounce or get to stick in your mind, just like every characters name in every fantasy book lol
* Follows FMC suraya who is in house of aldebaran (farmers, craftsman, the poorest and largest house) she receives a letter from the imperial house that changes her life because if something is too good to be true, it might be exactly that.
* There are competitions the chosen women have to go through in order to prove their worth on being picked by the prince as his wife.
* There’s a handsome illegitimate prince.
* Lots of names between houses, people in the houses, names of the people - it was just so confusing.
* I felt towards the end of the book I was skimming and just wanted to get to the end.
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