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Fated to the Sun and Stars #1
Curse of the Sun and Stars
Beauty and the Beast meets Anastasia in this spicy, enemies-to-lovers fantasy where the romance is sharp, the tension & yearning are feral, and the betrayal unforgettable.
For years, Princess Ana has been a prisoner—kept alive by forbidden potions, hidden away while the kingdom of Trova rots under the rule of those who locked her away.
She was never meant to survive.
Yet she endured. Held on.
She will not give up on Trova.
Not even in the dark of her cage.
Then came the day it was breached—by a fae prince with eyes like fire.
He was a spark in the sharp, intoxicating, impossible to resist.
And then he left her for dead.
But death never came.
Escape did.
Now, as kingdoms clash and ancient forces stir, Ana is thrust into a world of ruthless courts, seductive bargains, and the dangerously magnetic prince who abandoned her once before.
He is temptation wrapped in thorns. The enemy she burns to hate. The desire she cannot silence.
But when fate throws them together once more, Ana must claim the vengeance she’s waited for… or risk everything on a man who might ruin her again.
So… will this be your next 3am binge?
Here’s what you’ll find
Hidden/stolen princess
Enemies-to-lovers with feral tension
Betrayal & vengeance at the heart of the romance
A magnetic, morally gray fae prince
Forced proximity & reluctant alliance
Forbidden potions & survival magic
Court intrigue, wicked bargains & deadly games
A strong, smart heroine who refuses to break
Temptation vs duty — love or crown, vengeance or desire
An amazing cast of unforgettable & hilarious side characters
A rich & layered immersive world
Gut-punch twists & a vicious cliffhanger
For years, Princess Ana has been a prisoner—kept alive by forbidden potions, hidden away while the kingdom of Trova rots under the rule of those who locked her away.
She was never meant to survive.
Yet she endured. Held on.
She will not give up on Trova.
Not even in the dark of her cage.
Then came the day it was breached—by a fae prince with eyes like fire.
He was a spark in the sharp, intoxicating, impossible to resist.
And then he left her for dead.
But death never came.
Escape did.
Now, as kingdoms clash and ancient forces stir, Ana is thrust into a world of ruthless courts, seductive bargains, and the dangerously magnetic prince who abandoned her once before.
He is temptation wrapped in thorns. The enemy she burns to hate. The desire she cannot silence.
But when fate throws them together once more, Ana must claim the vengeance she’s waited for… or risk everything on a man who might ruin her again.
So… will this be your next 3am binge?
Here’s what you’ll find
Hidden/stolen princess
Enemies-to-lovers with feral tension
Betrayal & vengeance at the heart of the romance
A magnetic, morally gray fae prince
Forced proximity & reluctant alliance
Forbidden potions & survival magic
Court intrigue, wicked bargains & deadly games
A strong, smart heroine who refuses to break
Temptation vs duty — love or crown, vengeance or desire
An amazing cast of unforgettable & hilarious side characters
A rich & layered immersive world
Gut-punch twists & a vicious cliffhanger
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2025
756 people are currently reading
2245 people want to read
About the author
Zara Storm
21 books158 followersFor readers who love clever heroines and twisty plots that keep you thinking.
Zara Storm writes fantasy romance with dark, compelling heroes and sassy, competent heroines. Her debut series is The Gold Weaver series. Zara loves fast-paced books with adventure, magic, strong characters, a rough-edged hero, and spicy romance.
Zara lives in Colorado with her husband, their two kids, her scaredy cat pit-bull mix, and their feisty cat who is queen of the house. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, hike the mountains, and travel to new places, but she’ll cop to the fact that she spends too much time watching Tiktok videos and she can endlessly watch Lucifer and Vampire Diaries.
You can connect with Zara on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, and her website.
Zara Storm writes fantasy romance with dark, compelling heroes and sassy, competent heroines. Her debut series is The Gold Weaver series. Zara loves fast-paced books with adventure, magic, strong characters, a rough-edged hero, and spicy romance.
Zara lives in Colorado with her husband, their two kids, her scaredy cat pit-bull mix, and their feisty cat who is queen of the house. When she’s not writing, she loves to read, hike the mountains, and travel to new places, but she’ll cop to the fact that she spends too much time watching Tiktok videos and she can endlessly watch Lucifer and Vampire Diaries.
You can connect with Zara on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram, and her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
July 7, 2025
Curse of the Sun and Stars by Zara Storm absolutely blew me away. If you love books with Fae, royalty, hidden magic, secret identities, and a delicious enemies-to-lovers arc, this one’s for you. Add in a fanatical religious sect, high-stakes violence, and a world full of mystery, and you’ve got a fantasy that’s impossible to put down.
The pacing was perfect—I flew through the pages. The characters were intriguing and well-developed, and while I guessed a few plot points ahead of time, it honestly didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The story is that strong.
I freaking loved it!
Huge thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC to read. I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on this. If you’re craving fantasy romance that hits all the right beats—danger, tension, passion, and magic—read this immediately. I rate this 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and about 2-2 1/2 🌶️🌶️.
#CurseoftheSunandStars
The pacing was perfect—I flew through the pages. The characters were intriguing and well-developed, and while I guessed a few plot points ahead of time, it honestly didn’t take away from my enjoyment. The story is that strong.
I freaking loved it!
Huge thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC to read. I feel lucky to have gotten my hands on this. If you’re craving fantasy romance that hits all the right beats—danger, tension, passion, and magic—read this immediately. I rate this 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and about 2-2 1/2 🌶️🌶️.
#CurseoftheSunandStars
May 19, 2025
Thank you to Zara Storm for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
Moments from capture and the brutal prison that awaits her, Ana offers a cold-eyed prince a desperate deal. “I’ll trade you,” she offers. A secret for her life. “ No.” With a single word, Prince Leon leaves her for dead. And Ana swears to hate him for a thousand lifetimes. But survival comes with a cruel twist. When her parents are murdered, Ana discovers why she was she’s the hidden heir to Trova, cast aside for being born without magic. Her first act as queen? Punish the assassin accused of their deaths—the same fae prince who left her to die. But Trova’s court is a viper’s nest, and someone there wants her dead. After a failed attempt on her life, Leon takes her hostage amidst the chaos—his means of escape, her worst nightmare. Now, forced into close quarters on the run with the man she vowed to destroy, Ana finds herself torn between vengeance and the pull of something far more desire. With a fanatical enemy rising and a wild magic awakening within her, Ana must decide if trusting Leon is her kingdom’s salvation… or its ruin.
Ana seems incredibly meek and you can thank isolation from the world her entire life for that. But it was definitely a lot of fun to see her blossom and become more and more sassy as the book progressed. I would have liked a bit more of a deep dive into her feelings about her magic. We see her frustrations with it not manifesting as she wishes but we don’t see much fear or relief - both emotions which would be totally valid after being told her whole life she possesses no magic at all! Her inner strength was certainly admirable and she made for a feisty FMC!
It’s hard to know how I feel about Leon because he seemed to change a lot, back and forth with his emotions and presentation. I can tell he has a good heart, protecting Ana where he can whilst still saving himself. But it is the flips into this cold and stony persona that put me off him a little bit. A lot of the time they seemed unprovoked whilst other times they seemed to come out of blue - not just confusing Ana but me as the reader too! Perhaps more could have been done to dive into this POV further. He seems to harbour many secrets and a fair few of them motivate him but we never learn what they are.
If you tell me there is a romantasy with fae, I am there. If you then tell me it’s heavy on enemies to lovers and has some spice to it? Completely and utterly sold! So, when I stumbled across this book, I knew I needed to read it. The overall plot was pretty good, it just felt like it dragged quite a lot. The flow just felt a bit stilted to me, like I was wading through mud. Add in the vague background information for the majority of the story, it seemed like there was a spark missing. I so wanted to adore and devour this story, especially with the synopsis being so strong, but with the plot not being as strong or detailed as I’d hoped, it just wasn’t WOW for me. I will say though, I did like the magic system here. Made things intriguing! The characters weren’t too bad, but like the plot, there were too many secrets or lack of details in what spurs them onward. There was a lot of variety to them which I liked but when they are more one-dimensional, you don’t feel a pull towards characters. In stories, I want to be rooting for someone, or grinning when they make an entrance because I know they’re trouble. I didn’t really get that here. There were a lot of angsty romance moments that was perfect for the enemies to lovers trope. And because of that, there were definitely some rather hot and spicy scenes! I think Storm did a brilliant job with these for sure! The ending, despite my opinion on the rest of book, has left me really wanting to read the sequel! What a plot twist! I did not see that coming in the slightest!
Overall, Curse of the Sun and Stars is a romantasy with a lot of promise, it just didn’t hit all the right notes with me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Zara Storm for an advanced copy of this book.
Moments from capture and the brutal prison that awaits her, Ana offers a cold-eyed prince a desperate deal. “I’ll trade you,” she offers. A secret for her life. “ No.” With a single word, Prince Leon leaves her for dead. And Ana swears to hate him for a thousand lifetimes. But survival comes with a cruel twist. When her parents are murdered, Ana discovers why she was she’s the hidden heir to Trova, cast aside for being born without magic. Her first act as queen? Punish the assassin accused of their deaths—the same fae prince who left her to die. But Trova’s court is a viper’s nest, and someone there wants her dead. After a failed attempt on her life, Leon takes her hostage amidst the chaos—his means of escape, her worst nightmare. Now, forced into close quarters on the run with the man she vowed to destroy, Ana finds herself torn between vengeance and the pull of something far more desire. With a fanatical enemy rising and a wild magic awakening within her, Ana must decide if trusting Leon is her kingdom’s salvation… or its ruin.
Ana seems incredibly meek and you can thank isolation from the world her entire life for that. But it was definitely a lot of fun to see her blossom and become more and more sassy as the book progressed. I would have liked a bit more of a deep dive into her feelings about her magic. We see her frustrations with it not manifesting as she wishes but we don’t see much fear or relief - both emotions which would be totally valid after being told her whole life she possesses no magic at all! Her inner strength was certainly admirable and she made for a feisty FMC!
It’s hard to know how I feel about Leon because he seemed to change a lot, back and forth with his emotions and presentation. I can tell he has a good heart, protecting Ana where he can whilst still saving himself. But it is the flips into this cold and stony persona that put me off him a little bit. A lot of the time they seemed unprovoked whilst other times they seemed to come out of blue - not just confusing Ana but me as the reader too! Perhaps more could have been done to dive into this POV further. He seems to harbour many secrets and a fair few of them motivate him but we never learn what they are.
If you tell me there is a romantasy with fae, I am there. If you then tell me it’s heavy on enemies to lovers and has some spice to it? Completely and utterly sold! So, when I stumbled across this book, I knew I needed to read it. The overall plot was pretty good, it just felt like it dragged quite a lot. The flow just felt a bit stilted to me, like I was wading through mud. Add in the vague background information for the majority of the story, it seemed like there was a spark missing. I so wanted to adore and devour this story, especially with the synopsis being so strong, but with the plot not being as strong or detailed as I’d hoped, it just wasn’t WOW for me. I will say though, I did like the magic system here. Made things intriguing! The characters weren’t too bad, but like the plot, there were too many secrets or lack of details in what spurs them onward. There was a lot of variety to them which I liked but when they are more one-dimensional, you don’t feel a pull towards characters. In stories, I want to be rooting for someone, or grinning when they make an entrance because I know they’re trouble. I didn’t really get that here. There were a lot of angsty romance moments that was perfect for the enemies to lovers trope. And because of that, there were definitely some rather hot and spicy scenes! I think Storm did a brilliant job with these for sure! The ending, despite my opinion on the rest of book, has left me really wanting to read the sequel! What a plot twist! I did not see that coming in the slightest!
Overall, Curse of the Sun and Stars is a romantasy with a lot of promise, it just didn’t hit all the right notes with me.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thank you again to Zara Storm for an advanced copy of this book.
October 9, 2025
I inhaled this book. I have loved everything Zara has written but this one particularly ensnared me. I was thrilled to receive an ARC copy and I find myself counting down the days until the next book in the series is available. Amazing world building. Excellent character development. Can’t say enough excellent things. Read it immediately.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 12, 2025
Solid 4⭐️!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zara Storm for the eARC.
This was a great start to new series from Zara Storm. We have good mix of romantasy tropes Enemies to lovers, strong FMC, magic suppression, maybe morally gray MMC (definitely an area we hopefully get in future books is more background on Leon and the Fae in general), forced proximity.
Morgana (Ana) is human who grew up without magic and isolated her whole life only to learn that’s not true and is forced to go on the run with band of Fae led by “Nightmare Prince” Leon. I leave the story at that for the review.
I really enjoyed this book, not too long and pacing was pretty good even if I wished we got more action/events, but as start of new series it was good. None of the tropes or plot was groundbreaking but it doesn’t need to be with solidly paced story and some good tension/romance that make it a very enjoyable read.
I really like the religious zealot/cleric angle of the story and excited to hopefully learn more of history (or maybe even get more POV from clerics as story progresses.
I do wish there was little more building to the romance it did feel a little quick at times and I wish side characters got a bit more filled out but hoping for more of that in future books. Especially liked Alastor and Damia (and Barb 🐍).
One final note and this isn’t really a knock against story but I think books with glossaries should have them at the end. Having them at the beginning I think makes things more confusing as you try and remember things from that rather that let story inform you. But it can be nice to have glossary at the end to refresh memory (especially as a series progresses).
Overall, highly enjoyable read and I’m excited to continue reading the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zara Storm for the eARC.
This was a great start to new series from Zara Storm. We have good mix of romantasy tropes Enemies to lovers, strong FMC, magic suppression, maybe morally gray MMC (definitely an area we hopefully get in future books is more background on Leon and the Fae in general), forced proximity.
Morgana (Ana) is human who grew up without magic and isolated her whole life only to learn that’s not true and is forced to go on the run with band of Fae led by “Nightmare Prince” Leon. I leave the story at that for the review.
I really enjoyed this book, not too long and pacing was pretty good even if I wished we got more action/events, but as start of new series it was good. None of the tropes or plot was groundbreaking but it doesn’t need to be with solidly paced story and some good tension/romance that make it a very enjoyable read.
I really like the religious zealot/cleric angle of the story and excited to hopefully learn more of history (or maybe even get more POV from clerics as story progresses.
I do wish there was little more building to the romance it did feel a little quick at times and I wish side characters got a bit more filled out but hoping for more of that in future books. Especially liked Alastor and Damia (and Barb 🐍).
One final note and this isn’t really a knock against story but I think books with glossaries should have them at the end. Having them at the beginning I think makes things more confusing as you try and remember things from that rather that let story inform you. But it can be nice to have glossary at the end to refresh memory (especially as a series progresses).
Overall, highly enjoyable read and I’m excited to continue reading the series.
December 8, 2025
Easy, entertaining-ish (at some parts) read. HOWEVER, I didn't really like it.
The main characters go from hating each other to having sex in 0.2 seconds. Literally no relationship development.
The characters themselves really have no depth. Everything is very face value.
The plot has potential, but again there's no depth. The "twists" were all obvious from the beginning while the characters were just being dumb about not connecting the dots until the very end (with an FMC self described as strategic and smart. She literally plays chess). I actually got extremely bored because it quickly turned into a snoozefest.
I wish there was more worldbuilding in the political aspect nature. I feel like we glazed over the how's and the why's of the big divide between the fae, humans, and temple. Information on all of them individually were also lacking.
I just wanted moreeeee. This book has potential and is readable, but it's very far from a 5 🌟 read.
The main characters go from hating each other to having sex in 0.2 seconds. Literally no relationship development.
The characters themselves really have no depth. Everything is very face value.
The plot has potential, but again there's no depth. The "twists" were all obvious from the beginning while the characters were just being dumb about not connecting the dots until the very end (with an FMC self described as strategic and smart. She literally plays chess). I actually got extremely bored because it quickly turned into a snoozefest.
I wish there was more worldbuilding in the political aspect nature. I feel like we glazed over the how's and the why's of the big divide between the fae, humans, and temple. Information on all of them individually were also lacking.
I just wanted moreeeee. This book has potential and is readable, but it's very far from a 5 🌟 read.
May 14, 2025
Special thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an honest review
I really enjoyed this! Ana was a great protagonist. She had some trauma, and it didn't just disappear in the wake of a hot fae prince. She was very true to herself, and while she and Leon argued a lot, her stubbornness never came off annoying or over the top unnecessary (which happens in a lot of romantasies I find. The protagonist is stubborn to a fault simply to just annoy the love interest, but Every time Morgana fought against Leon, it was justified!)
A lot of the things that happened were predictable, but honestly I don't think that took away from the story for me. The pacing was really great, and the ending left me wanting the next book immediately. I can't wait to see where this story goes!
I really enjoyed this! Ana was a great protagonist. She had some trauma, and it didn't just disappear in the wake of a hot fae prince. She was very true to herself, and while she and Leon argued a lot, her stubbornness never came off annoying or over the top unnecessary (which happens in a lot of romantasies I find. The protagonist is stubborn to a fault simply to just annoy the love interest, but Every time Morgana fought against Leon, it was justified!)
A lot of the things that happened were predictable, but honestly I don't think that took away from the story for me. The pacing was really great, and the ending left me wanting the next book immediately. I can't wait to see where this story goes!
November 27, 2025
Audiobook:
Heart bound fantasy with several twists and turns!
The story is beautifully written and the audio version is told by a man and a woman, the change between voices is enjoyable to listen at. ☺️
The story starts strong and stays very interesting, the characters are intriguing and the writer did a great job with expressing true, intense and raw feelings.
The book feels as an adventure and quest, with a twisting open end … I’m pretty sure there will be lot to happening in Book 2!
Heart bound fantasy with several twists and turns!
The story is beautifully written and the audio version is told by a man and a woman, the change between voices is enjoyable to listen at. ☺️
The story starts strong and stays very interesting, the characters are intriguing and the writer did a great job with expressing true, intense and raw feelings.
The book feels as an adventure and quest, with a twisting open end … I’m pretty sure there will be lot to happening in Book 2!
October 5, 2025
This book dragged. I felt like nothing really happened and we didn’t learn much along the way. This was not a good use of time to read.
May 7, 2025
I was lucky enough to get this as a arc and I was blown away I’m obsessed there was nothing In this book I would change you just know when you get the five star feels I just can’t believe I’ve got to wait to get book 2 I need to know what happens next the ending of this book got me I just wish I had book two to jump into I absolutely loved the MFC and I loved the love interest it’s got really good side characters and a great plot I loved the pacing of this book it was action packed the writing was done really well you have to read this it had everything is fantasy romance girlies want yet another fictional boyfriend to add to the never ending list
June 16, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC to read, review, and love. I loved the dual POV and how it revealed the world with just enough mystery. The magic system felt earned, especially for the FMC, and the romance developed naturally from both sides. Tropes like one horse, secret royalty , unknown magic, and a morally grey MMC made it a standout romantasy.
June 5, 2025
4.5✨
This series has the potential to be one of the best & and I need the next book IMMEDIATELY! I was not expecting to be so blown away & captivated by this story. I could not put it down!! It reignited my love for fantasy! The story was intriguing, the magic system unique & the characters were so likable! I believe this was a solid set up for the rest of the series! If this is on your TBR, bump it up immediately & if it’s not, add it now! I cannot wait for book two!
Thank you to Zara Storm, Relay Publishing & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This series has the potential to be one of the best & and I need the next book IMMEDIATELY! I was not expecting to be so blown away & captivated by this story. I could not put it down!! It reignited my love for fantasy! The story was intriguing, the magic system unique & the characters were so likable! I believe this was a solid set up for the rest of the series! If this is on your TBR, bump it up immediately & if it’s not, add it now! I cannot wait for book two!
Thank you to Zara Storm, Relay Publishing & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 1, 2025
If you're in the mood for a new dark romantasy with a ruthless fae prince, a fierce heroine, and a plot packed with tension, power, and heart—Curse of the Sun and Stars is absolutely it.
This is the first book in Zara Storm’s new series, and it wastes no time throwing us into the rich, dangerous world of Trova. We meet Morgana (or Ana, if you’re lucky), a bold, intelligent, fiercely independent young woman whose life is upended when she finds herself at the center of a conflict she never asked for. She's given the keys to a kingdom she didn't even know was hers, and hunted for a power she never knew she had-both making her a target for anyone looking for political power. But Ana is smart and sharp, and I loved watching her fight back against the forces trying to control her. She is the definition of a “girl who won’t go quietly,” and she is not afraid to speak her mind.
And then there’s Leon. Whew. If you’re a fan of morally black characters with complex emotional layers, look no further. Leon is broody, sharp-edged, and absolutely deadly—but there's more to him than the cold, "Nightmare Prince" persona he projects. Every little glimpse of softness or subtle care beneath that brutal exterior had me swooning. He’s the type of character you shouldn't trust but can't help falling for. And the chemistry between them is undeniable! Leon doesn’t want to care about her. He sees her as a threat, a complication, maybe even a pawn in the beginning. But little by little, Ana chips away at his icy armor—not by trying to change him, but just by being her unyielding, honest self. It's the kind of pairing where you're constantly wondering who will bend first, and even when they’re working together, there’s still that push-pull, predator-prey vibe lingering just beneath the surface.
I’m also a huge sucker for found family, and this book delivered in the best way. Leon’s inner circle of warriors each had their own quirks and personalities that made the group feel dynamic and real. The camaraderie, loyalty, and banter gave just enough lightness to balance the darker themes. And Ana’s friendship with Tira? Beautiful, pure, and so full of love. The way Ana was willing to risk everything for her best friend had me in my feels.
And let’s talk about that ENDING. I was not prepared. I actually cried. It was gutting in the best way, and it completely hooked me for the next book. Zara Storm does not hold back, and I respect that. Overall, Curse of the Sun and Stars is a strong start to what promises to be an epic romantasy series. 4.5/5⭐
Thank you so much Zara Storm and team for the ARC, cannot wait for book 2!!!
This is the first book in Zara Storm’s new series, and it wastes no time throwing us into the rich, dangerous world of Trova. We meet Morgana (or Ana, if you’re lucky), a bold, intelligent, fiercely independent young woman whose life is upended when she finds herself at the center of a conflict she never asked for. She's given the keys to a kingdom she didn't even know was hers, and hunted for a power she never knew she had-both making her a target for anyone looking for political power. But Ana is smart and sharp, and I loved watching her fight back against the forces trying to control her. She is the definition of a “girl who won’t go quietly,” and she is not afraid to speak her mind.
And then there’s Leon. Whew. If you’re a fan of morally black characters with complex emotional layers, look no further. Leon is broody, sharp-edged, and absolutely deadly—but there's more to him than the cold, "Nightmare Prince" persona he projects. Every little glimpse of softness or subtle care beneath that brutal exterior had me swooning. He’s the type of character you shouldn't trust but can't help falling for. And the chemistry between them is undeniable! Leon doesn’t want to care about her. He sees her as a threat, a complication, maybe even a pawn in the beginning. But little by little, Ana chips away at his icy armor—not by trying to change him, but just by being her unyielding, honest self. It's the kind of pairing where you're constantly wondering who will bend first, and even when they’re working together, there’s still that push-pull, predator-prey vibe lingering just beneath the surface.
I’m also a huge sucker for found family, and this book delivered in the best way. Leon’s inner circle of warriors each had their own quirks and personalities that made the group feel dynamic and real. The camaraderie, loyalty, and banter gave just enough lightness to balance the darker themes. And Ana’s friendship with Tira? Beautiful, pure, and so full of love. The way Ana was willing to risk everything for her best friend had me in my feels.
And let’s talk about that ENDING. I was not prepared. I actually cried. It was gutting in the best way, and it completely hooked me for the next book. Zara Storm does not hold back, and I respect that. Overall, Curse of the Sun and Stars is a strong start to what promises to be an epic romantasy series. 4.5/5⭐
Thank you so much Zara Storm and team for the ARC, cannot wait for book 2!!!
May 7, 2025
⭐ Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Curse of the Sun and Stars is an addictive and thrilling start to Zara Storm’s new romantasy series. From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled into the dark, dangerous world of Trova, where magic, power struggles, and sharp-tongued banter keep you hooked.
We follow Morgana—Ana to the few lucky enough to call her a friend—who is intelligent, fiercely independent, and refuses to be anyone’s pawn. Suddenly thrown into a conflict she never wanted, she’s forced to navigate a kingdom she didn’t even know was hers and a power she’s only just discovering. I loved Ana’s sharp mind, her resilience, and the way she refuses to go quietly or let anyone control her.
Then there’s Leon—the “Nightmare Prince”—and wow, what a character. Broody, ruthless, and lethal, Leon is one of those morally gray love interests you just can’t help falling for. His icy exterior and sharp edges are balanced perfectly with those rare, vulnerable moments that make you swoon. The chemistry between Ana and Leon is electric, filled with tension and that addictive push-pull dynamic where you’re always wondering who will give in first. I loved how Ana stays true to herself, never trying to “fix” Leon, but still managing to crack through his walls just by being real.
The side characters were another highlight for me. Leon’s group of warriors felt like a true found family, adding humor, loyalty, and warmth to the story, and Ana’s friendship with Tira was so pure and heartfelt—it gave the book a beautiful emotional anchor. The magic system is also really unique, with different types of magic that unfold throughout the story in a way that’s both fun and easy to follow.
While I saw some of the twists coming, they still landed beautifully and kept the tension high without feeling overdone or predictable. The ending, though—absolutely gutting in the best way. I was not prepared. It left me desperate for book two, and I just know this series is only going to get better from here.
Overall, Curse of the Sun and Stars delivers everything I love in a romantasy: a fierce heroine, a dangerous yet irresistible love interest, a compelling found family, and a plot packed with action, magic, and heart. Zara Storm knocked it out of the park, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
Curse of the Sun and Stars is an addictive and thrilling start to Zara Storm’s new romantasy series. From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled into the dark, dangerous world of Trova, where magic, power struggles, and sharp-tongued banter keep you hooked.
We follow Morgana—Ana to the few lucky enough to call her a friend—who is intelligent, fiercely independent, and refuses to be anyone’s pawn. Suddenly thrown into a conflict she never wanted, she’s forced to navigate a kingdom she didn’t even know was hers and a power she’s only just discovering. I loved Ana’s sharp mind, her resilience, and the way she refuses to go quietly or let anyone control her.
Then there’s Leon—the “Nightmare Prince”—and wow, what a character. Broody, ruthless, and lethal, Leon is one of those morally gray love interests you just can’t help falling for. His icy exterior and sharp edges are balanced perfectly with those rare, vulnerable moments that make you swoon. The chemistry between Ana and Leon is electric, filled with tension and that addictive push-pull dynamic where you’re always wondering who will give in first. I loved how Ana stays true to herself, never trying to “fix” Leon, but still managing to crack through his walls just by being real.
The side characters were another highlight for me. Leon’s group of warriors felt like a true found family, adding humor, loyalty, and warmth to the story, and Ana’s friendship with Tira was so pure and heartfelt—it gave the book a beautiful emotional anchor. The magic system is also really unique, with different types of magic that unfold throughout the story in a way that’s both fun and easy to follow.
While I saw some of the twists coming, they still landed beautifully and kept the tension high without feeling overdone or predictable. The ending, though—absolutely gutting in the best way. I was not prepared. It left me desperate for book two, and I just know this series is only going to get better from here.
Overall, Curse of the Sun and Stars delivers everything I love in a romantasy: a fierce heroine, a dangerous yet irresistible love interest, a compelling found family, and a plot packed with action, magic, and heart. Zara Storm knocked it out of the park, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
June 3, 2025
✨️Thank you to Zara Storm and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨️
4.5⭐️ rounded up
I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK 2!
I liked that book so much I just bought a physical copy.
TLDR; Glossary at the beginning of the book. Smart FMC. Dreamy MMC. Chemistry between main characters. Fast paced. Lovable side characters. Not 500 pages long (only 300 pages-ish). BETRAYAL! 😱
Now that I've said this, let me just continue with;
Giiiirl, do I love a smart FMC! Morgana is really smart and knows what she's doing. Sure, she needs help from time to time but she's generally quick on her feet and resourceful.
And what can I say about dear dreamy Leonidas? 😍 I rarely say I have "book boyfriends", but I wouldn't say no to Leon. 🤭
👏🏻THERE WAS ACTUAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO MCs. 👏🏻 (I would have loved more banter though. I really loooove when there is amazing banter between the love interests and this book didn't have lots of it unfortunately). But all the rest of their scenes together was flowing perfectly and you could see the chemistry and tension.
I appreciated the glossary explaining the different types of magic. I think it helped the book to not be 500 to 600 pages long, since the author just straight out gave us the explanation before even starting the story. Which I thought was great. 👌🏻
I loooove Alastor and really hope we will see him more in book 2. He's a great side character (love me some sunshiny type characters) and I kinda hope he'll get together with Tira 🫣🤭 (Sorry Stratton).
The book was fast paced, it didn't drag and a loooot was left for us to discover later on. Which I appreciated not having everything resolved/answered in book one.
There is also some betrayals (one that hurts more than the others) and the end of the book just leave you wanting more.
I highly recommend this book, it got me out of a reading slump and I sincerely can't wait to continue this series.
4.5⭐️ rounded up
I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK 2!
I liked that book so much I just bought a physical copy.
TLDR; Glossary at the beginning of the book. Smart FMC. Dreamy MMC. Chemistry between main characters. Fast paced. Lovable side characters. Not 500 pages long (only 300 pages-ish). BETRAYAL! 😱
Now that I've said this, let me just continue with;
Giiiirl, do I love a smart FMC! Morgana is really smart and knows what she's doing. Sure, she needs help from time to time but she's generally quick on her feet and resourceful.
And what can I say about dear dreamy Leonidas? 😍 I rarely say I have "book boyfriends", but I wouldn't say no to Leon. 🤭
👏🏻THERE WAS ACTUAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO MCs. 👏🏻 (I would have loved more banter though. I really loooove when there is amazing banter between the love interests and this book didn't have lots of it unfortunately). But all the rest of their scenes together was flowing perfectly and you could see the chemistry and tension.
I appreciated the glossary explaining the different types of magic. I think it helped the book to not be 500 to 600 pages long, since the author just straight out gave us the explanation before even starting the story. Which I thought was great. 👌🏻
I loooove Alastor and really hope we will see him more in book 2. He's a great side character (love me some sunshiny type characters) and I kinda hope he'll get together with Tira 🫣🤭 (Sorry Stratton).
The book was fast paced, it didn't drag and a loooot was left for us to discover later on. Which I appreciated not having everything resolved/answered in book one.
There is also some betrayals (one that hurts more than the others) and the end of the book just leave you wanting more.
I highly recommend this book, it got me out of a reading slump and I sincerely can't wait to continue this series.
July 1, 2025
ARC Review!!
4.25 stars with complete potential for 5 stars if the reader is in the romantasy mood!! If not this book specifically, I see a great future for the series as a whole to be a popular, well-loved series.
Ana and Leon captured me from the very start. Their feisty, enemies-to-lovers dynamic embodied the spirit of "romantasy" wholeheartedly. Zara Storm wrote fan favorite tropes -- who hurt you, taking care of each when hurt, etc -- in a masterful way that allowed us to see this relationship develop. I do wish greater emotional depth accompanied their physical connection, but that can definitely be explored farther in the series. I thought the worldbuilding was very unique here! I have never read about a magic system like such; while it was slightly confusing to follow in the beginning, it worked itself out by the end. I love how humans had magic alongside the Fae, for the power imbalance of weak vs strong was not as disturbing. The platonic relationships were also some of my favorite parts!!
I will say, the ending had one of my least favorite tropes in the world. It upset me and betrayed me (which another reader may actually love), and I had to take my rage out by docking a star from the rating. The cliffhanger is not bad per se, simply frustrating when only the first book is out! I would still recommend this book for romantasy readers like me! <3
Favorite Quotes:
"She might have thrown me to the wolves, but at least that woman makes her dresses with pockets."
"It's hard to be strong when you're on your own, and it's even harder when someone comes along and offers you a kind word or listening ear. It can break down all your defenses in an instant."
4.25 stars with complete potential for 5 stars if the reader is in the romantasy mood!! If not this book specifically, I see a great future for the series as a whole to be a popular, well-loved series.
Ana and Leon captured me from the very start. Their feisty, enemies-to-lovers dynamic embodied the spirit of "romantasy" wholeheartedly. Zara Storm wrote fan favorite tropes -- who hurt you, taking care of each when hurt, etc -- in a masterful way that allowed us to see this relationship develop. I do wish greater emotional depth accompanied their physical connection, but that can definitely be explored farther in the series. I thought the worldbuilding was very unique here! I have never read about a magic system like such; while it was slightly confusing to follow in the beginning, it worked itself out by the end. I love how humans had magic alongside the Fae, for the power imbalance of weak vs strong was not as disturbing. The platonic relationships were also some of my favorite parts!!
I will say, the ending had one of my least favorite tropes in the world. It upset me and betrayed me (which another reader may actually love), and I had to take my rage out by docking a star from the rating. The cliffhanger is not bad per se, simply frustrating when only the first book is out! I would still recommend this book for romantasy readers like me! <3
Favorite Quotes:
"She might have thrown me to the wolves, but at least that woman makes her dresses with pockets."
"It's hard to be strong when you're on your own, and it's even harder when someone comes along and offers you a kind word or listening ear. It can break down all your defenses in an instant."
April 27, 2025
4.5 stars for this thrilling start to a new Zara Storm series!! Another incredibly unique dark fantasy with clever characters, wonderful world building, and a plot that PLOTS!!
Morgana (Ana to her friends, if you’re so lucky as to get to be one) has been raised in solitude, hidden away from the world and dreaming of a path to freedom. Just when she finally takes the chance, snarky and cold (but only to strangers) Leon inadvertently steps in her way. Luckily (or maybe unluckily), fate has other plans and the two must stick together as they make a grand escape. Twists and turns abound, identities experience crises, friendships are made and changed, and some seriously cool magic is also there!!
I was hooked right from the get-go with this story! Morgana immediately captured me as a main character- she’s intelligent and savvy, direct with her thoughts and feelings, and you just know there’s gotta be something big lurking below the surface with her. Leon, his friends, local villagers, and readers alike all find themselves drawn to this woman whose future is looking pretty bright (you’ll get why this is a fun pun later)! The magic system of the world is also very complicated, but easily digestible- and so cool! I love it when there are multiple types of magics and we get to uncover who can do what as the story comes along- and this has one of the most unique and hilariously perfect powers I’ve ever heard of!!!
While I can’t say I didn’t call all the twists (I read a lot, okay!?), they were handled so so very well. Characters didn’t feel too surprised or try to argue against things that are very obvious (a pet peeve for me), and motivations played a huge factor in making them not boring or overplayed! I cannot WAIT for more of this story!! Thanks so much to Zara Storm for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review as part of her ARC team!
Morgana (Ana to her friends, if you’re so lucky as to get to be one) has been raised in solitude, hidden away from the world and dreaming of a path to freedom. Just when she finally takes the chance, snarky and cold (but only to strangers) Leon inadvertently steps in her way. Luckily (or maybe unluckily), fate has other plans and the two must stick together as they make a grand escape. Twists and turns abound, identities experience crises, friendships are made and changed, and some seriously cool magic is also there!!
I was hooked right from the get-go with this story! Morgana immediately captured me as a main character- she’s intelligent and savvy, direct with her thoughts and feelings, and you just know there’s gotta be something big lurking below the surface with her. Leon, his friends, local villagers, and readers alike all find themselves drawn to this woman whose future is looking pretty bright (you’ll get why this is a fun pun later)! The magic system of the world is also very complicated, but easily digestible- and so cool! I love it when there are multiple types of magics and we get to uncover who can do what as the story comes along- and this has one of the most unique and hilariously perfect powers I’ve ever heard of!!!
While I can’t say I didn’t call all the twists (I read a lot, okay!?), they were handled so so very well. Characters didn’t feel too surprised or try to argue against things that are very obvious (a pet peeve for me), and motivations played a huge factor in making them not boring or overplayed! I cannot WAIT for more of this story!! Thanks so much to Zara Storm for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review as part of her ARC team!
June 11, 2025
5⭐️ no notes. Ok a few notes.
I really liked this world. The oppressive religious overwatch reminded me of Handmaids Tale but with magic. The zealous persecution of certain types of magic when other types are permitted. The way the citizens are afraid of the Temple because they have so much unchecked power over the people. Every small town is under the thumb of religion.
“The Temple’s clerics can’t keep watch over every Trovian citizen. But they don’t have to, do they? That’s what rituals like this cleansing are for. It ensures these people keep watch over each other when the Temple can’t. Through fear and intimidation, the people of Trova do their job for them.”
This statement drew me in immediately. It sets the stage for the relationship between humans and fae, between humans and the Temple, and lays a foundation for future unrest (oh, how I hope we end up going to war again the Temple!) and the birth of a rebellion.
The characters are great! I like everything about them. Great foundation and development. The relationships between the character, both friendly and romantic, were really well done and believable. The spice was really good, and timely within the story.
The plot had some predictability to me, and the ending didn’t surprise me at all. But, even with the tiny twist at the end, I’m not upset about it. I definitely want to continue the story and see where this goes.
I really liked this world. The oppressive religious overwatch reminded me of Handmaids Tale but with magic. The zealous persecution of certain types of magic when other types are permitted. The way the citizens are afraid of the Temple because they have so much unchecked power over the people. Every small town is under the thumb of religion.
“The Temple’s clerics can’t keep watch over every Trovian citizen. But they don’t have to, do they? That’s what rituals like this cleansing are for. It ensures these people keep watch over each other when the Temple can’t. Through fear and intimidation, the people of Trova do their job for them.”
This statement drew me in immediately. It sets the stage for the relationship between humans and fae, between humans and the Temple, and lays a foundation for future unrest (oh, how I hope we end up going to war again the Temple!) and the birth of a rebellion.
The characters are great! I like everything about them. Great foundation and development. The relationships between the character, both friendly and romantic, were really well done and believable. The spice was really good, and timely within the story.
The plot had some predictability to me, and the ending didn’t surprise me at all. But, even with the tiny twist at the end, I’m not upset about it. I definitely want to continue the story and see where this goes.
September 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Victory editing for an arc of this book! All opinions are my own.
I loved this. I loved the main characters and their chemistry. Loved the slow burn and enemies to reluctant allies/lovers. Their interactions were fun and I love some good banter and sarcasm. Also the perfect amount of spice in my opinion!
I also loved the other characters. Loved their dynamic with even more fun banter and everyone was pretty easy to picture with their own personality. Also loved the little snake familiar!
I liked the writing, it flowed easily and was funny at times. One of my favorite quotes must be “three guards dealt with and I didn’t kill a single one. I’m practically a saint”. Haha! I also think it was the perfect amount of training. The training trope tends to bore me a lot but this was a fun take on it and not too much.
The only thing is that even if it didn’t feel slow, it still felt like very little was happening altogether. They were traveling for most of the time and I feel like there could have been bigger things happening. But I’m really exited for the next book, especially with that ending! I hope there will be even more stuff happening in the next one and that we see more of the whole gang together.
I loved this. I loved the main characters and their chemistry. Loved the slow burn and enemies to reluctant allies/lovers. Their interactions were fun and I love some good banter and sarcasm. Also the perfect amount of spice in my opinion!
I also loved the other characters. Loved their dynamic with even more fun banter and everyone was pretty easy to picture with their own personality. Also loved the little snake familiar!
I liked the writing, it flowed easily and was funny at times. One of my favorite quotes must be “three guards dealt with and I didn’t kill a single one. I’m practically a saint”. Haha! I also think it was the perfect amount of training. The training trope tends to bore me a lot but this was a fun take on it and not too much.
The only thing is that even if it didn’t feel slow, it still felt like very little was happening altogether. They were traveling for most of the time and I feel like there could have been bigger things happening. But I’m really exited for the next book, especially with that ending! I hope there will be even more stuff happening in the next one and that we see more of the whole gang together.
June 21, 2025
3.5* Rounded Up
This was an overall fun book and a great start to a new series. The world building was well done and the author did a great job making the FMC likeable, and she really went through it. The beginning of this book was well done as it had world building and character background to make the reader care about both of the main characters. The MC did not have as much background so it was a bit more mysterious as far as his loyalties but his POV's gave enough of a personality to make him interesting. I think the only part that kept me from rating it higher was that the development of the relationship felt very insta-lust for me and I am not a huge fan of that. I wanted a tad more development of a mutual understanding/friendship before them being all of a sudden into each other. I do like that their relationship expectations were realistic to the plot which was refreshing. Overall this was a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to the next book as this one ends in a pretty epic way.
I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Publisher, all opinions are my own.
This was an overall fun book and a great start to a new series. The world building was well done and the author did a great job making the FMC likeable, and she really went through it. The beginning of this book was well done as it had world building and character background to make the reader care about both of the main characters. The MC did not have as much background so it was a bit more mysterious as far as his loyalties but his POV's gave enough of a personality to make him interesting. I think the only part that kept me from rating it higher was that the development of the relationship felt very insta-lust for me and I am not a huge fan of that. I wanted a tad more development of a mutual understanding/friendship before them being all of a sudden into each other. I do like that their relationship expectations were realistic to the plot which was refreshing. Overall this was a great start to a new series and I am looking forward to the next book as this one ends in a pretty epic way.
I received an eARC thanks to Netgalley and Publisher, all opinions are my own.
September 18, 2025
Curse of the Sun and Stars by Zara Storm is a captivating romantasy debut filled with high-stakes tension, forbidden chemistry, and a heroine who refuses to be defeated. Ana sets out as a fugitive, helpless and betrayed, before making a desperate deal with Prince Leon, a cold-blooded fae who won't save her. Their conflict establishes the tone of a narrative that seethes with hate, revenge, and the cruel caprices of fate.
When Ana finds out she is the secret heir to the throne of Trova, everything in her world falls apart once more. Born without magic in a society where power is revered, she gets not only a crown but a court filled with deceit. The politics are suspenseful, with betrayal, secrets, and attempted killings. Leon, who is accused of killing her parents and was formerly her nemesis, is now both her captor and reluctant friend. Their chemistry is charged, a mix of contempt, desire, and reluctant trust that powers the novel's emotional center.
Zara Storm weaves a densely populated world where fanaticism brings down kingdoms, magic is unleashed in sudden bursts, and love emerges from the flames of betrayal. With its enemies-to-lovers conflict, slow-burn relationship, and epic proportions, this novel is a must-read for Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout fans.
When Ana finds out she is the secret heir to the throne of Trova, everything in her world falls apart once more. Born without magic in a society where power is revered, she gets not only a crown but a court filled with deceit. The politics are suspenseful, with betrayal, secrets, and attempted killings. Leon, who is accused of killing her parents and was formerly her nemesis, is now both her captor and reluctant friend. Their chemistry is charged, a mix of contempt, desire, and reluctant trust that powers the novel's emotional center.
Zara Storm weaves a densely populated world where fanaticism brings down kingdoms, magic is unleashed in sudden bursts, and love emerges from the flames of betrayal. With its enemies-to-lovers conflict, slow-burn relationship, and epic proportions, this novel is a must-read for Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer L. Armentrout fans.
May 5, 2025
A girl with no magic gets imprisoned for... existing? Her parents are murdered offscreen, she gets surprise-crowned Queen of Trova (somehow?), and then promptly yeets herself out of the palace in under 24 hours. Democracy dies in darkness, or whatever.
Enter Prince Leon, aka the Nightmare Prince™️, who is either brooding, stabbing things, or threatening Ana while silently spiraling about how much he wants her. He once left her to die, now he’s taking her hostage and eating her out in a barn like some kind of emotionally unavailable farmhand. Enemies to lovers? Technically. But really it’s “I hate you” to “I still hate you but my mouth doesn’t.”
Ana, for her part, spends most of the book bleeding, escaping, or realizing she has magic now because she stopped taking her trauma juice. Her entire political arc is: imprisoned ➡️ crowned ➡️ immediately kidnapped again. Girlboss speedrun.
The writing veers between solid and “this line would get roasted on Tumblr in 2014”:
“You have big thoughts and big feelings and big magic.”
“Say hello to their power.” — ok Scarface.
Did I know what was happening half the time? No. Did I still enjoy the journey? Weirdly, yes. Will I read the sequel? Maybe but I'll likely forget about this book in 24 hours.
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with this advanced copy!
Enter Prince Leon, aka the Nightmare Prince™️, who is either brooding, stabbing things, or threatening Ana while silently spiraling about how much he wants her. He once left her to die, now he’s taking her hostage and eating her out in a barn like some kind of emotionally unavailable farmhand. Enemies to lovers? Technically. But really it’s “I hate you” to “I still hate you but my mouth doesn’t.”
Ana, for her part, spends most of the book bleeding, escaping, or realizing she has magic now because she stopped taking her trauma juice. Her entire political arc is: imprisoned ➡️ crowned ➡️ immediately kidnapped again. Girlboss speedrun.
The writing veers between solid and “this line would get roasted on Tumblr in 2014”:
“You have big thoughts and big feelings and big magic.”
“Say hello to their power.” — ok Scarface.
Did I know what was happening half the time? No. Did I still enjoy the journey? Weirdly, yes. Will I read the sequel? Maybe but I'll likely forget about this book in 24 hours.
Thank you to BookSirens for providing me with this advanced copy!
June 17, 2025
Zara, Zara, Zara. What a cracking good read.
The world you created is so well presented.
The pace is excellent.
The enemies to lovers was not too rushed, neither was it too delayed.
The stories behind the MC's were so well put together and shared.
You had me cheering on both MCs, though I felt there were secrets held back, which you had not laid out to the reader, so when they hit, they were a shock to me too.
And that ending. OMG, did not see that one coming. An amazing cliffhanger to lead into the next booking the series. I imagine that you will be overloaded with pre-orders for the next in the series, and that will be so richly deserved.
I really wish that I could give this book a rating of over 5/5, but cannot figure out how.
I would so recommend this book to anyone into fantasy, fae and romance… well, and just wanting to explore a new genre. Do not hesitate, get a hold of a copy, you will not regret it.
The world you created is so well presented.
The pace is excellent.
The enemies to lovers was not too rushed, neither was it too delayed.
The stories behind the MC's were so well put together and shared.
You had me cheering on both MCs, though I felt there were secrets held back, which you had not laid out to the reader, so when they hit, they were a shock to me too.
And that ending. OMG, did not see that one coming. An amazing cliffhanger to lead into the next booking the series. I imagine that you will be overloaded with pre-orders for the next in the series, and that will be so richly deserved.
I really wish that I could give this book a rating of over 5/5, but cannot figure out how.
I would so recommend this book to anyone into fantasy, fae and romance… well, and just wanting to explore a new genre. Do not hesitate, get a hold of a copy, you will not regret it.
May 9, 2025
This book had me hooked from the beginning, it was a fun read all the way through. Not much about the plot was a new idea in this genre however, most of them have been “done before”. Some of the ways the FMC was described to have used her magic didn’t make a lot of sense, including the riverboat scene. Additionally there were some grammatical errors throughout.
I did enjoy the religious zealots plotline as well as the “potion”. The potion idea and how it related to the FMC’s magic was a nice touch, and a little more believable than the typical “I’m just super special and was gifted with tons of magic randomly” plot detail that is overdone/too convenient.
I look forward to future books and the FMC’s relationships with others developing more.
I have received this book for free and am leaving a review willingly as part of an ARC reading commitment.
I did enjoy the religious zealots plotline as well as the “potion”. The potion idea and how it related to the FMC’s magic was a nice touch, and a little more believable than the typical “I’m just super special and was gifted with tons of magic randomly” plot detail that is overdone/too convenient.
I look forward to future books and the FMC’s relationships with others developing more.
I have received this book for free and am leaving a review willingly as part of an ARC reading commitment.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2025
This was a fun read! I did find the start to be a little slow but overall, that did not impact my time reading this book as it picked up from there. I found the characters, Morgana and Leon, to be enjoyable and entertaining and I **really** enjoyed Leon's friends and the scenes they were in; I found them to be memorable and I am always a fan for found family.
That being said, if you enjoy a book with:
-Good slow burning romance
-A solid, classic magic system but with an amazing twist
-Deeply layered political intrigue with some crazy religious factions
-Dual POV!
Then dare I say this is going to be a book you should be adding to your TBR. I am 100% going to be continuing with book two once it is out and I am so excited to see where the story goes from here.
As always, thanks to my besties at NetGally & Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for review. Also thank you to Zara Storm for writing a book I'm having a hard time not talking about.
That being said, if you enjoy a book with:
-Good slow burning romance
-A solid, classic magic system but with an amazing twist
-Deeply layered political intrigue with some crazy religious factions
-Dual POV!
Then dare I say this is going to be a book you should be adding to your TBR. I am 100% going to be continuing with book two once it is out and I am so excited to see where the story goes from here.
As always, thanks to my besties at NetGally & Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for review. Also thank you to Zara Storm for writing a book I'm having a hard time not talking about.
April 26, 2025
4.5⭐️ really incredible start to this new series by zara storm. an absolute whirlwind from start to finish. the thing that kept it from being a true 5 star for me was that some of the earlier twists were predictable - that said, i didn’t predict the later ones even if i should’ve (i was just too into it to be thinking critically). while this certainly is a dark fantasy romance, it’s not super dark, and i think it’s accessible to a larger audience. it’s great if you’re thinking about testing out the dark fantasy romance genre. i truly can’t wait for the rest of this series.
tropes: morally gray fae prince, secret royalty, enemies to lovers, dark, found family, religious zealots
3🌶️ the spice was hot, but it didn’t overtake the novel. there were a few scenes in about 400 pages. i think there’s a good balance in this area that appeals to a broader audience, and i’m very excited for the spice in the next ones - i can tell that it’s only going to get hotter. cw: i hate you as much as i’m attracted to you
thank you to zara storm for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
tropes: morally gray fae prince, secret royalty, enemies to lovers, dark, found family, religious zealots
3🌶️ the spice was hot, but it didn’t overtake the novel. there were a few scenes in about 400 pages. i think there’s a good balance in this area that appeals to a broader audience, and i’m very excited for the spice in the next ones - i can tell that it’s only going to get hotter. cw: i hate you as much as i’m attracted to you
thank you to zara storm for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
May 12, 2025
He’s the prince that left her to die, may be the cause of her parents death and kidnapped her, but he may be the only way to help her learn to control the power that’s emerged from within her and take back her kingdom.
She’s the bargaining chip he was going to use to get out of the human kingdom but as each day passes the tension between them grows.
This dual POV enemies to lovers fantasy romance had me hooked from the first mention of Prince Leon before we even knew he was the nightmare prince. The story follows the FMC Ana as she works with Leon and his band of fellow fae to escape those who want her dead. Plot twists and betrayals unfold as the book progresses and follows as Ana learns to wield the power she spent her whole life believing she didn’t possess. The ending has me feeling both betrayed and excited to see where this story will go next!
Thank you to both the Author and Netgally for providing me with the ARC for this book! Any review given is my own opinion.
She’s the bargaining chip he was going to use to get out of the human kingdom but as each day passes the tension between them grows.
This dual POV enemies to lovers fantasy romance had me hooked from the first mention of Prince Leon before we even knew he was the nightmare prince. The story follows the FMC Ana as she works with Leon and his band of fellow fae to escape those who want her dead. Plot twists and betrayals unfold as the book progresses and follows as Ana learns to wield the power she spent her whole life believing she didn’t possess. The ending has me feeling both betrayed and excited to see where this story will go next!
Thank you to both the Author and Netgally for providing me with the ARC for this book! Any review given is my own opinion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
Such an engaging and interesting book, kept me up reading all night! I just had to know what was happening next. I loved the depth of the story into the fmcs upbringing and how it unfolded more as the story progressed. It evoked such emotion into felt everything the characters where feeling.
Although the literary market is full of fae romance
I feel this book brought something new. I loved the banter, the spice and the unique magic system
Only thing I would love is if there was a map included and the pronunciation of some of the names and place included in the glossary.
Overall it's one of my best reads this year and will definitely be continuing the series.
Thank you to netgalley and victory editing for the arc
Although the literary market is full of fae romance
I feel this book brought something new. I loved the banter, the spice and the unique magic system
Only thing I would love is if there was a map included and the pronunciation of some of the names and place included in the glossary.
Overall it's one of my best reads this year and will definitely be continuing the series.
Thank you to netgalley and victory editing for the arc
May 22, 2025
Special thanks to Zara Storm, the publisher, and Netgalley for this ARC of Curse of the Sun and Stars.
It took me a little bit to get into this book. The unique magic system and names of places took some getting used to at first to understand. Once I got to about halfway I couldn’t put it down.
I found Leon’s inner monologue comical from the very beginning and I enjoyed his “found family” with the other fae soldiers.
I enjoyed Ana’s character development throughout the story (without giving too much away for spoilers).
The twist/cliffhanger at the end was a surprise for me. I will need to read book two when it becomes available!
You’ll enjoy Curse of the Sun and Stars if you enjoy:
-slow burn
-unique magic systems
-dual pov
-forced proximity
-magic training
-fae prince MMC x human princess FMC
-enemies to lovers
-magic suppression
It took me a little bit to get into this book. The unique magic system and names of places took some getting used to at first to understand. Once I got to about halfway I couldn’t put it down.
I found Leon’s inner monologue comical from the very beginning and I enjoyed his “found family” with the other fae soldiers.
I enjoyed Ana’s character development throughout the story (without giving too much away for spoilers).
The twist/cliffhanger at the end was a surprise for me. I will need to read book two when it becomes available!
You’ll enjoy Curse of the Sun and Stars if you enjoy:
-slow burn
-unique magic systems
-dual pov
-forced proximity
-magic training
-fae prince MMC x human princess FMC
-enemies to lovers
-magic suppression
May 5, 2025
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I truly adored this book. I enjoyed this just as much as ACOTAR, so if you are a fan of that series you will love this. The FMC is fierce and intelligent and I loved that she is not helpless even next to super powerful fae. The dual POV was everything. I looked forward to Leon’s (MMC) chapters because he was not this all-knowing, all powerful hero either. He finds Morgana to be a mystery as well and it is delicious to follow along as they unravel each other.
The ending…….let’s just say I will be IMPATIENTLY waiting for book 2!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I truly adored this book. I enjoyed this just as much as ACOTAR, so if you are a fan of that series you will love this. The FMC is fierce and intelligent and I loved that she is not helpless even next to super powerful fae. The dual POV was everything. I looked forward to Leon’s (MMC) chapters because he was not this all-knowing, all powerful hero either. He finds Morgana to be a mystery as well and it is delicious to follow along as they unravel each other.
The ending…….let’s just say I will be IMPATIENTLY waiting for book 2!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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