Ruins of Starlight

Celestial Devotion #1

by B.C. FaJohn

If death becomes the catalyst, their world will burn.

Morgana's world is shattered when her brother vanishes into the sinister badlands of Vespera. Driven by her thirst for answers, she joins the ranks of the Umbran Guard by day, but come night, she takes to the streets in search of the people responsible for his disappearance.

When her path crosses with Aster Sinclair, the shadow-cursed prince fated for death but willing to do anything for his cure, Morgana discovers that her quest for truth may be a more dangerous task than she could have ever expected.

Magic poisons her blood, and that is too sweet a thing for Aster to ignore.

Consumed by the opportunity to leverage her desperation, he traps her into an agreement and offers vital information in exchange for her cooperation. As their unwilling alliance deepens, the question of sacrifice and magic threatens to ruin the balance they sought to maintain.

Their choice is simple.
They must find a way to unravel the threads of fate, or one of them will die.

But the shadows are watching—and they do not intend to go down silently.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Slow Burn, Ebooks

421 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2025

Reviews

[Rachelqueenvixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up to a 5

Holy heck I need book 2 ASAP.

The slow burn was killing me at first but it's so worth it.

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Ruins of Starlight✨

In this new series by BC FaJohn, we enter into a world that houses gaslamp vibes as well as arcanists and a dark magic plaguing the royalty and kingdom.

We follow a dual first person POV. First, our FMC, Morgana, who is desperate to find her missing brother. And our MMC, Aster, the faceless shadow prince, desperate in his own search to find the cure for the curse killing him. Morgana’s rash actions for information find her thrown into a cell and into a tenuous and reluctant alliance with the Prince, her captor and the only one who can give her answers about her brother.

Morgana and Aster must navigate not only the political intrigue of running a kingdom, but also conniving heirs, a shadow magic that binds them, a tentative trust, and a growing attraction. Love and hate are both similar in their intensity and passion and it seems fate has big plans for them both. She may be his salvation. He may be her destruction. Most likely they’ll experience both.

I found this series premise very intriguing but did struggle with the FMCs actions and reactions. I enjoyed the MMC and am curious to learn more about him. All in all, I still love FaJohn’s other series more, but I’m sure this one has future promise!

Tropes you may find in ROS are gaslamp vibes, she’s a mortician, true enemies to lovers, medium spice, betrayals, shadow daddy, shadow mommy, slow burn, plot twists, and an ending that had me gasping.

Thank you for continuing to let me be on your arc team! I’m so thankful.

[Ayla · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I was given an ARC and here’s my review.

There’s a list of how to pronounce the names which can be helpful when you aren’t sure how to. I like that there’s a list of such thing since I’m not always good with names 😅

Anyways. I was already confused early on. I’m not used to reading fantasy and therefore I believe that I had a lot of trouble imagining this world and it could be a reason as to why I had trouble with understanding what was happening.

When I was 20% through, I started to find the story interesting. It was most likely because something was happening in the story. I kept reading.
Around 43% into the book, the story had gotten more of my interest. Somewhere between those 20-43%, I had to take a break and read another book so I could continue. This was around the time where I considered DNFing it because I could get myself to continue.

At some point I felt like it was not as interesting as I thought it would be. I felt lost in the story and I felt that way till I had finished the book.

I feel like the attraction between Aster and Morgana was a bit out of the blue? I also felt like one of the spicy scenes came a bit out of the blue - I just didn’t see it fit right where it was.

I still don’t understand how the magic works - especially Aster’s, his sister’s and Morganas. Is it like the guy in Twilight? That guy with the smoke thing?

I also would have loved to see more of Morgana's friends, Thena and Isaac. They were there in the beginning and then they “disappeared” and then they appeared again.

I remember that around 80% things got interesting again. It doesn’t change the fact that the book has left me looking so confused and I have trouble explaining that confusion.

This book was clearly not for me. I haven’t really read fantasy and english is not my first language so this book was hard for me to read and understand. I don’t have the imagination for this fantasy book.

Readers who love fantasy with romance might enjoy this book.

My rating of the book is based on the fact that most of the time I didn’t find the story interesting, it was confusing and hard for me to read and understand.

I was debating whether to give it 2.75 stars or 3 stars. I have trouble finding out what works..

I believe the content warning will be on the author’s website when the book releases :)


Rating: around 2.75 - 3 stars ⭐

[Hazzel (howtoescapereality) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece from start to finish. At first, I was hesitant to read it but thanks to B.C. FaJohn for providing me an ARC. If you are a fan of romantasy, this book is for you.
The world building was so immersive, I am at awe with the characters too. I mean shadow daddy and a shadow mommy? Yes, please! I fell so much in love with the world, the story and the characters.
I cannot wait for more!

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very grateful to have received an ARC of Ruins of Starlight (release date 11 February 2025) 💖

I really enjoyed reading this book! The story follows Morgana who is searching for her brother who has gone missing… in her search she comes across Aster, a shadow-cursed prince looking for a cure. I don’t wanna say any more since I think going in blind is the most fun! The spice and tension are so good, it’s a slow burn in the best way possible, the pay off is perfect 🔥 I can’t wait to read more from this author!

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruins of Starlight, Book 1 in B.C. FaJohn's Celestial Devotion series tells the story of a girl desperately looking for answers about her brother's disappearance, which seems to have come out of thin air, and a prince who will stop at nothing to find a cure for the curse plaguing his family. When their paths cross, everything will change for both of them, and they will learn the steep price of rage, revenge, and love.

Both Morgana and Aster are lost souls, hurt by those who were supposed to be their protectors and left to heal their inner selves the best way they knew how. They are both broken individuals, haunted by their past. So, it was beautiful to witness them slowly opening up and peeling the layers.

The story itself is dark and mysterious. It is set in a gaslamp world where nothing is as it seems, secrets are buried and difficult to uncover, and prophecies and curses rule. While Aster and Morgana work together to find the answers, they stumble upon even more mysteries, secrets, and betrayals.

It took me some time to really connect with the book and its characters, but as we neared the end, the events unfolded faster and faster, the emotions ran deeper and deeper, and the stakes were higher and higher. The ending left me gasping.

Upon its release on February 11th, Ruins of Starlight will gift you tropes such as Beauty and the Beast retelling, true enemies-to-lovers, shadow-wielding MMC, stabby FMC, slow-burn romance, political intrigue, forced proximity, secrets, and betrayals.

Thank you, B.C. FaJohn, for having me on your ARC team; it's always a pleasure!

[Isa Newbury | reading_isa · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Thank you to the Author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.**

4.25 ⭐️
2 🌶

RUINS OF STARLIGHT is an excellent addition to the shadow-daddy/mommy romantasy genre. This book has some heavy themes, but it's dealt with in a respectful manner. I really liked Aster and Morganna's interactions- this gave TRUE enemies-to-lovers vibes and I was LIVING for it! 🥰 I am all about stories with quests to save your siblings, so this hit the mark there. The side characters were also very intriguing. I did feel like there were some pacing issues, but overall I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to see where things go from here!

If you like these specific things, you'll probably love this one, too:
▪︎enemies-to-lovers/slow-burn
▪︎snarky banter 🗣
▪︎traumatic pasts
▪︎slight Belladonna vibes🪻
▪︎shadow magic...and curses 🔮
▪︎stabby FMC 🗡
▪︎Villain gets the girl 🩶

[Miryam Drakon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I loved the dedication. I was absolutely hooked right from the start—it’s been a while since a book grabbed my attention so quickly. I adore gaslamp fantasies, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic was on point in this one.

I really felt for Morgana and everything she endured in her past. At first, I thought Aster was the Siren, but after that ending, I can’t say I’m entirely surprised. The cliffhanger has me reeling though—I cannot wait for the next book!

[Kate Brasington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has left me reeling!
There is a shadow daddy AND mommy(new book boyfriend AND girlfriend alert!!) ?! Such fun banter between the characters. A prophecy. Royalty who don’t act like your normal royalty but rather do what they need done because they know, nobody else can do it right. There are lies and deception. This is also a sloooooow burn but not in that frustrating way where you’re wondering if they’re ever going to… instead it’s obvious they’re attracted to each other but there’s so much more to the story that is more important and enticing then the two main characters relationship. But when they finally do get in the sack? -chefs kiss- also pay attention to those shadows because they will raise your expectations for bedroom play.
If you liked Belladonna by Adalyn Grace but wanted a little more action and a little more fast pace and some added graphic spice then this is the book you need to pick up next.
I loved this book and enjoyed reading it so much I cannot wait to see where this series goes! I haven’t not stoped thinking about this story since I finished it yesterday afternoon and I’m not sure that I will be able to until the second book comes out 😩

[Kristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always a privilege to be an ARC reader - especially when handed a masterpiece like this.

I’m completely blown away by this book. That meme where the kid is told to only highlight important bits and they end up highlighting the whole text? That was me while reading this.

This book is for you if you're into:
💕 a fast paced story
💕 mystery that unravels slowly (while also adding a new layer every now and then)
💕 feisty assassin FMCs
💕 political intrigue
💕 slow burn
💕 dual POV

Plot summary:
20+yo Morgana is desperate to find her brother, who disappeared without a trace. While looking for answers, she stumbles into something she definitely shouldn’t have... and ends up a captive of the crown.
One day, she's offered a deal she cannot refuse. To regain her freedom, and maybe get some answers on Galen's mysterious disappearance, she has to work with Aster, the shadow-cursed crown prince.
Aster believes in a cure for his family's curse, and as the king is slowly fading it's a race against time before Aster too will succumb to his shadows.
They need each other to solve their respective mysteries.
Morgana hates Aster and everything he stands for, but during their reluctant alliance she glimpses the man behind the mask and is drawn to him against her better judgement.

My opinion + spoilers
Both MCs clearly have their own agenda, and while hers is obvious to everybody involved, he's keeping the details of his pursuit to himself. Both POVs were interesting and whatever happens at any given moment furthers either of their goals. Refreshingly, every chapter felt important, making Ruins of Starlight a tremendously enjoyable read.

After Aster's incognito introduction as a gentleman, it was hard for me to see him as a monster, despite Morgana repeatedly referring to him as such. Even though we saw the extent of his darkness shortly after his introduction, I had trouble thinking of him as the villain.

The tension growing between them during this reluctant alliance is perfection. *chefs kiss*
They both know there's attraction there, but it's unclear if it's magic induced or real. I could not put this down because I was so invested in whether or not they were ever going to admit to themselves that there's something between them! Not to mention admitting that to each other... I LOVED the romance in this book. ❤️‍🔥

Personally I appreciate when books feature great relationships between siblings so Morgana trying to figure out what happened to her brother is right down my alley. But honestly, at some point along the lines finding the truth about what happened to Galen became secondary to me. I was vibing with the romance plot most. I honestly hadn't even thought about it until Morgana did, but then I couldn't stop wondering whether or not Erynna was going to betray Aster at some point I still have a shred of hope that everything's just a missunderstanding. 🗡️
I was shocked to the core by one twist, but saw the other one coming right from the start. I literally called out that Atlas is Siren the moment he laid eyes on her. The cliffhanger at the end still had me at a loss for words. 💔 I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!

My only minor issue was this is that I think the Names of people and places could have been more distinctive.


PS: Here's this post on Instagram 💕

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has THE perfect mix of banter, enemies to lovers, shadow daddy AND MOMMY, epic quests, betrayals, friendships and so much more.
This book has me in a choke hold, I was giggling, kicking my feet, getting mad at people, feeling the feelings that B.C. FaJohn so expertly portrayed.

This is not just a book about fate and destiny, this is a book about raw emotion and real connections.

[Ali (Taylor’s version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 43%

Me da mucha MUCHA pena realmente decir que he dejado el libro… pero no me estaba gustando. Y no por la historia en sí, si no la narración se me hacía pesada, los personajes demasiado planos y comunes; en general la trama me llamaba… pero creo que no se ha sabido explotar de la manera correcta.

El mayor problema? La narración. Sí! Lo he pillado! El prota tiene los ojos negros pero con toques rojos. No hace falta que me lo repitas 400 veces en un mismo capítulo. Gracias.

Si lo estuviera leyendo en otro momento yo creo que el libro se habría llevado una muy buena nota, pero fue el libro correcto en el momento equivocado…
Esto no quita que quizás dentro de unos meses le de otra oportunidad! Pero ahora mismo no ha cumplido con las expectativas esperadas.

Aún así muchas gracias a la autora por darme una copia adelantada dándome la oportunidad de poder leer el libro antes que nadie! 💗

[Christiane_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this was a good read and I will definitely read the next one. It was difficult to get into in the beginning and at times I felt a bit lost with all of the unexplained secrets. There were a lot of twists that kept things interesting. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters.

[Vanessa Lace · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️ 2/5 stars |🌶️🌶️ 2/5 chili peppers

Ruins of Starlight by B.C. FaJohn was one of those books I picked up purely because social media promised me shadow daddy energy — and not just a shadow daddy, but a shadow mommy too. Sounded like a win, right? Unfortunately, the hype didn’t deliver.

Let’s start with Morgana, our so-called "shadow mommy." She’s got shadow powers, sure, but if that’s all it takes to earn the title, then okay. I was expecting a badass, no-nonsense, take-the-world-down heroine — think female Xaden Riorson. What I got instead was someone who starts off chasing the mystery of her missing brother (who vanished under suspicious circumstances two years ago), and ends up… mostly reacting to things while others move the plot.

Now let’s talk worldbuilding. Verdantis is supposed to be a steampunk-magic hybrid setting — which sounds amazing on paper. But that intriguing detail is mentioned in passing and barely explored. Wasted potential.

Enter Aster, the cursed crown prince of Verdantis (and our shadow daddy, I guess?). He and Morgana cross paths, and suddenly they’re reluctant allies (well, captor/captive for a while) trying to solve the mystery of his deteriorating condition. His shadow magic is literally killing him. Sounds cool — but I just couldn’t care. The plot gets muddy fast, especially with the use of the word “Vespera,” which refers to both the corrupting magic and a country (or place?), and I was constantly confused. Verdantis and Vespera being two distinct but similar-sounding settings didn’t help.

Aster’s sister, Erryna? Hated her. Honestly, I hated all of them by the end.

The romance is built on the most frustrating miscommunication trope. Aster needs Morgana’s help more than she needs his, but still clings to a prophecy that claims she has to die to save the world. And even after they hook up, he’s still like, “Welp, sorry babe, you gotta die.” Excuse me?! No thank you.

So yeah. Hard pass. I won’t be continuing this series. Sorry (but not really).

[Sunshine_and_Fantasybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love Ruins of Starlight by B.C. FaJohn as much as I’ve loved the author’s other books, but unfortunately, this one fell a bit short for me. The premise was promising—dark magic, a shadow-cursed prince, and a determined heroine searching for her missing brother—but I struggled with the lack of world-building and character development throughout most of the book.

Morgana's desperation to find her brother and Aster's willingness to do anything for a cure had the potential for an epic story, but I didn’t feel fully immersed in the world of Vespera. The setting and the magic system felt underdeveloped, and I found myself wanting more details to bring it all to life. The characters, too, felt a bit distant, and I had a hard time connecting with either Morgana or Aster until the final chapters.

That being said, the ending did manage to hook me. The tension and stakes ramped up considerably, and I finally started to see the complexity in the characters that I’d been craving from the beginning. The themes of sacrifice and the fine line between ally and enemy are intriguing, and I’m hopeful that the next book in the series will build on that momentum.

Despite its flaws, I did enjoy parts of the story and still plan to continue the series to see how Morgana and Aster's journey unfolds. If you like dark fantasy with slow-building intrigue and morally gray characters, it might be worth giving this one a try—just go in knowing that it takes a while to find its stride.

[Stephanie Preece · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice Rating 🌶🌶🌶

*ARC Review*

Having already read a couple of ARC books for BC FaJohn, I was already looking forward to something so different - especially when she mentioned gaslamp fantasy!

Firstly - excuse me - that ending?!

This story was amazing, so different from her previous work, and I seemed to resonate more with this plot and where the storyline was going, so I'm excited to see what happens in Book 2.

The world building is phenomenal, magic concepts, curses, magic system all drew me in and kept me intrigued throughout.

I know with it being the firzt bookwehave only been given a sprinkle of information, and FaJohn is likely to develop all of the information and background etc in future books.

The slow burn between the characters is the perfect type of banter and tension. Morgana and Aster's chemistry is undeniable, however, they both have their own personal quests and the mystery surrounding the royal family seems to take centre stage.

This is such an intricate story of curses, betrayal, dark secrets, mystery, magic and potitical intrigue set in a mystical fantady realm I was really entralled with. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next, thank you for including me in this ARC read!

🖤 Gaslamp Fantasy
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Fated Mates
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Shadow Daddy
🖤 Fantasy World Building
🖤 Villain Gets the Girl
🖤 Assassin FMC
🖤 Magic & Curses
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Political Intrigue

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a true enemies to lovers as Morgana was constantly trying to stab and end Aster and I was all for it!

Aster & Morgana had some serious heat building between them! The tension had me in a puddle on the floor. And both MCs with shadow magic? Yes please! Add in the enemies to lovers aspect and it was scorching when they finally gave in.

Aster has to teach her how to wield the shadows and while she's still learning by the end, she does wield them quite well a few times.

I've read enough historical romance novels that the gaslamp style isn't actually my favorite (though I didn't realize it until this book), but they are not enmeshed enough in the Ton for me to really feel like it was a historical piece. It felt like mostly a regular fantasy novel.

The ending also packed a punch and has me aching for the second book already!

Read if you love:
-Shadow magic (FMC & MMC)
-Enemies to lovers (she's constantly trying to end him)
-Gaslamp fantasy
-Slow burn

Thank you to the author for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 2/4/25, Release date: 2/11/25

[Zeina (Taylor's Version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I would like to thank B.C. FaJohn for sending me this beautiful, heartbreaking AMAZING ARC. I'm truly grateful! Now WTH this was so good?? I went into this blindly and it's one of the rare books where I don't read it everyday purposely to avoid finishing it😭 IT WAS THIS GOOD! Aster's character was SO WELL WRITTEN?!?!?! LIKE PLS WHAT. Our MC is a badass character who is not afraid to show that she is scared or sometimes that it's fine to lose battles. The writing was incredible. The story and magic is really unique, I loved how the author described their shadows. The world building was really interesting and not confusing at all! The plot twist is amazing! And I didn't really see it coming. The character development was SOMETHING ELSE MAN!! You definitely start to slowly see how all characters get affected with the events that was happening, and I also really liked the enemies to lovers because not everyone can pull that trope off but OHH BOY IN THIS BOOK the author did a PHENOMENAL job!! And ummm I'm already planning a reread bec THIS IS PURE PERFECTION! AGAINNN thank you SOOO MUCH for sending me this ARC💕

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this beauty and the beast retelling, we get to follow Morgana, an assassin FMC as she seeks answers to her brother's disappearance and a morally grey shadow cursed prince who will do anything for his cure 🖤

I have loved every minute of reading this, I fell in love right away with the plot, you really resonate with the characters, I felt everything they were going through!
Also, the world building and the magic system were so fascinating & thankfully it wasn't confusing! the dark secrets, betrayal, politics, and mystery definitely kept me intrigued the entire time- also, plot twists?! Yess 🙌
Andd can we talk about Aster & Morgana?! The way he calls her "Little Dove" 🫠 and my Gods, the tension, the slow burn & the spice is so well done- alsooo hello shadow daddyyy 🤣🥵 and the banter?! So good 😍

All in all, I give this one 5 stars, it kept me full of suspense, needing more!! And that ending?! Like what?! 😭 I need book 2 asap!!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I am 100% going to reread this over and over
🌶️🌶️🌶️ - A few open door intimacy scenes but mostly a plot heavy book

I think this series is going to be my new Holy Grail. This is a kinda dark, slow burn with Beauty and the Beast vibes. There's high stakes, lots of tension and a couple twists I didn't see coming. I am obsessed with Morgana and Aster, they are so interesting individually throughout the entire book.Check the trigger warnings as there are a few sensitive topics in this but if you love ACOTAR, TOG or FW then this is for you!

[d_uhreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

You may want to sit down for this one...

Are you sitting ?

The shadows are watching, and they will no longer be silent !

I have your newest shadow daddy AND mommy obsession !

The banter is top tier, and I don't say that lightly. You will giggle and kick your feet constantly ! There is delicious give and pull between our main characters. Let's just dash in some excellent world building, a healthy sprinkling of dark trauma, and stir in the most heart-wrenching and beautiful writing!

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the slow burn and enemy to lovers vibes of this. Amazing shadowy magic systems, royal intrigue and scheming, relic hunts, and lots of steamy tension. I loved seeing the threads come together, and the talk of prophecies and curses. Had such a great and twisted ending, can't wait for the next book!

[Noore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so much fun! I absolutely liked the premises and the thought behind this book. It felt refreshing and it has a original twist!

The characters are likable, multidimensional and even relatable, the FMC's actions were a bit confusing time to time but nothing major. There was also some nice character growth throughout the story which I liked! The amount of mystery, secrets and betrayal this book has blew my mind.

I did find the beginning to be a bit slow and I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story or connecting with the characters. But once I got futher I absolutely loved it! The cliffhanger in the ending makes me want to read book 2 asap! Cant wait for it!

The story is so mysterious and dark and beautiful, all in all just a gorgeous read!

Thank you to the amazing author for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

(ARC) This might be my favorite world/magic system that FaJohn has created so far! The characters, plot, and pacing of the story kept me engaged the whole time. Especially with that ending, I'm looking forward to the next one.

[Lianne Scheepers · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The stars have plagued me once already, little dove….If you are my second curse, then I yearn for my demise.”

This was really a great story, and a wonderful beginning of a new series. The world is intriguing and mysterious, just as the MMC. Secrets seem to surround him constantly and not everything is as it seems. There is a lot of political scheming involved as well, with betrayals just around the corner. It made the story difficult to put down.

I loved Morgana and Aster. Their characters are well developed with a lot of backstory. Their romance burns wonderfully slow and I enjoyed that immensely. There is still so much to these characters and their story though, and I honestly cannot wait to see what they will do next.

[꧁ Brutally Honest ꧂ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yah I just can’t right now. This was horrible and all the 5 stars are obviously ARC reviewers with an agenda.

The FC was meek and weak but she of course has a mouth on her that the MC can “think of better uses for” whose only expression is glaring. Even the MC refers to her as “just a girl”. She can’t even take care of herself but she thinks of herself as an assassin. A girl thinking she’s bad with her big girl panties. Until she gets herself of trouble she can’t handle for our hero to swoop in last min to save our feisty damsel.

But what I hated most was how misogynistic the society was. Women are supposed to take the brutality of men otherwise the man will “spread rumors that the girl was a whore. And no man would want used goods”.

I’m not even going to talk about the terrible writing and sentence structure that made no sense or how many times I had to reread things because of it.

Also I wanted to scream every time the MC said “Little Dove”. When authors have to keep throwing stupid nicknames at you every page, they should stick to YA.

PS someone should tell Jacci Prior that her comments on audible show she’s the narrated of the book she’s reviewing. So trying to disguise yourself as a regular reviewer while gushing about the female narrated being amazing is just plain sad. 😔

[a. · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all I like to thank having the opportunity to being a ARC reader for Ruins of Starlight! 🌟

If I were to describe bullet points for why you might want to check out this book:

- Shadow magic
- Fantasy
- Banter between characters
- Dual POV’s
- MMC nicknames like “little dove” (not a nickname I vibe with as much personally)
- There is on page spice if you’re interested (two different occasions between the MC’s)
- Fight scenes

Then I think you’d enjoy this book!

Now onto my review for what I liked about this book:

- Cover is gorgeous first and foremost and I love a good map which this book delivered on.

- I think the whole idea of Morgana’s job was actually really cool. The premise of being a mortician who has the ability to determine whether or not someone gets revived or not is so interesting. I honestly wish that we spent more time with her doing this job and not just in the beginning.

- I liked the dynamic between both MC’s, they found each other attractive, but not straight up I’m in love with you. Romance wise between them I felt nothing was acknowledged on either parties until their ‘almost first-kiss’ that they started to be like “you know, maybeee this is a thing that’s happening.”

- Aster’s POV’s handled the more I’d say political ‘solving the curse side’ of the plot than Morgana’s POV’s did. Which I liked. Kept the book from not turning both POV’s into too much political fantasy

What I wished more of:

- Maybe just a guide of what type of magic exists in this world. There is mentions of Arcanist multiple times and even a University for the Arcane Magics. The feeling I got when reading was tuning into a show mid season. I wanted more culture about the world that we were in. (Which does open rooms for more world building in later books I suppose)

- More friends for Morgana! She had her friends in the begging but then we never hear from them until the end as she was basically hold up at the palace. I suppose I wanted her to meet more people in the palace-life?

- There is a lot of “telling” rather than “showing” for things the reader needs to know.

- Morgana did not feel as perplexed about this new shadow magic she acquired as much as I thought she would

Overall, it was a quick and easy read for me. And I’ll be tuning in for book 2 to see where the author keeps the story going especially with how that fight scene ended the book.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, B.C. Fajohn for letting me get an ARC of this book. It is so good!
I couldn't stop reading it!

I love a Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this one will have you hooked from page one.

Ruins of Starlight has angsty enemies to lovers, dual POV's, a quest to find a missing sibling, and a cure for a generational curse.

Spice rating: 🌶🌶

Morgana is searching for her missing brother. Aster is looking for a cure to a curse that has plagued his family for generations.

When it's discovered, Morgana has the same shadow wielding abilities as the crown prince and princess she is captured and has to work with Prince Aster to find the cure and a lost mirror.

You will not know who to trust in this royal family.

Favourite quote: "Fools do foolish things, little dove. I am not yet done with you, and if fate thinks it can steal you away from me, then it will have a terrible time trying." ~ Aster

[Victoria♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so grateful to the author for providing me with this ARC! In this book, you'll dive into a world where magic, danger, and destiny intertwine in a captivating mix of mystery and dark fantasy. Morgana, a fierce and determined character, is pushed to her limits when her brother vanishes into the dangerous badlands of Vespera. Driven by revenge and a burning need for answers, she sets off on a journey that takes her deep into the shady world of the Umbran Guard and into the dangerous, twisted side of the city.
The story takes a thrilling turn when Morgana crosses paths with Aster Sinclair, the cursed prince who's running out of time to find a cure. Their alliance starts as a forced partnership, with Aster offering information in exchange for Morgana’s cooperation, slowly evolves as they face shared struggles and vulnerabilities. A palpable tension builds between them, and what begins as mutual suspicion evolves into a complex bond, adding emotional depth to the plot. Both characters are willing to make sacrifices, yet they cannot fully trust each other as they navigate the twisted threads of fate that threaten to tear them apart.
The author’s world-building is exceptional, creating a world where magic isn’t just a tool, it’s a poison, a curse, and a driving force. Morgana’s blood is tainted by it, and Aster’s desperation to use that to his advantage adds an intriguing sense of danger to the narrative. The constant push and pull between them over magic and sacrifice builds the tension, leaving you questioning how far each is willing to go to achieve their goals.
In summary, this book is a slow-paced, emotionally charged story that challenges the characters to navigate a world of shadowed alliances, cursed magic, and choices with irreversible consequences. If you enjoy stories of powerful characters, mysterious curses, and the high stakes of fate, Ruins of Starlight will keep you hooked from beginning to end.

[Sabrina Custer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I don’t know if I’m worthy of such a thing as sweet as love, little dove, but I am willing to face one thousand deaths if it is like this.”
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⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🌶️🌶️
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This book was a rollercoaster for sure, but I love a dramatic ending with a plot twist!
I definitely felt like there was some repetition, and wanted to scream at Morgana to stop being stupid. She just kept going back to the “but I hate him and should fear him, and he’s my captor” despite Aster never once treating her as such. I was starting to rip my hair out a bit when I hit 70% done and it was the same back and forth battle, but the ending was so worth it!
I love her character and loved watching her growth as her walls started to come down and she began to grow in her resolve.
Aster is wonderfully wicked, but even more so he is a sweet and damaged baby that doesn’t deserve the pain he is forced to endure. I just love him and his pain hurts me.
The end for sure took me by surprise, and I have so many unanswered questions rattling around in my head. I really can’t wait for book 2 so I can find out more!