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When the Stars Were Devoured
The skies are darkening with rebellion in Noxia. A tyrannical king rules with madness and the only thing stopping him?
A Rebellion Leader
Civil war left everyone in the kingdom of Noxia both destitute and dejected, but Alora refuses to watch her people continue to suffer. Magic comes with a price, and with her power of illusion considered a rarity, she joins with the cause to assassinate the ruthless king. Alora quickly finds her plans derailed when she unexpectedly captures the king’s favored warrior and it becomes apparent that more than her freedom is on the line.
The Royal Executioner
With the power to destroy souls, The Devourer is as ruthless as his magic. As the king’s right hand killer, The Devourer must hunt down and eliminate every threat to the king’s reign. But when he finds himself captured by the very group he hunts, Kassiel will begin to question if his fate to be alone, is truly set, or if his hardened heart could actually begin to feel again.
When the Stars were Devoured is the first book in an adult fantasy romance series following a broody, morally grey warrior who loses more than just his freedom to the fierce woman who ensnares him.
A Rebellion Leader
Civil war left everyone in the kingdom of Noxia both destitute and dejected, but Alora refuses to watch her people continue to suffer. Magic comes with a price, and with her power of illusion considered a rarity, she joins with the cause to assassinate the ruthless king. Alora quickly finds her plans derailed when she unexpectedly captures the king’s favored warrior and it becomes apparent that more than her freedom is on the line.
The Royal Executioner
With the power to destroy souls, The Devourer is as ruthless as his magic. As the king’s right hand killer, The Devourer must hunt down and eliminate every threat to the king’s reign. But when he finds himself captured by the very group he hunts, Kassiel will begin to question if his fate to be alone, is truly set, or if his hardened heart could actually begin to feel again.
When the Stars were Devoured is the first book in an adult fantasy romance series following a broody, morally grey warrior who loses more than just his freedom to the fierce woman who ensnares him.
Paperback
Published February 10, 2026
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2000 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Did Not Finish
March 7, 2026DNF @ 54%
I’m sorryyy I wanted to like it so bad! And I did at times but the pacing, the insta-lust (which should’ve made sense since they are supposedly fated), and the characters were just not it 🤦🏽♀️
Also the writing style or something wasn’t for me :/ I feel like it could’ve been a really good book but just not executed well
I’m sorryyy I wanted to like it so bad! And I did at times but the pacing, the insta-lust (which should’ve made sense since they are supposedly fated), and the characters were just not it 🤦🏽♀️
Also the writing style or something wasn’t for me :/ I feel like it could’ve been a really good book but just not executed well
April 4, 2026
There was a lot of potential with this book. Many moments were lovely and the magic in this seems interesting and promising.
However, as a whole the pacing was very off, it was hard to follow sometimes. The insta-lust was a big no for me and overall the character dynamics were awkward.
Thank you to the author for sending me this ARC.
However, as a whole the pacing was very off, it was hard to follow sometimes. The insta-lust was a big no for me and overall the character dynamics were awkward.
Thank you to the author for sending me this ARC.
February 11, 2026
Thank you so much Stephanie Blair for sending me this ARC!
When the Stars Were Devoured is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series and it’s so good, I loved Alora and Kassiel’s story!
Alora is a commander of a rebellion, but when during a mission she gets captured by the Devourer, the king’s cruel executioner, she is sentenced to be killed soon. Kassiel has no choice but to serve the king so he must execute Alora, but when a turn of events makes him her captive instead, they soon realize they aren’t what the other expected and can’t ignore the attraction and the surprising connection between them, but the king is chasing them and he’s not going to let them go.
I’ve been waiting quite a while for this book and getting more and more excited with each post from the author on Instagram and it was so worth the wait. The author created a truly fascinating story with perfectly paced plot that kept me on the edge of my seat and amazing characters I quickly fell in love with. Alora was such a strong FMC and I enjoyed reading her story, she didn’t have an easy life and wanted to help and save everyone and never gave up. Kassiel… he was a complicated MMC, morally grey with tragic backstory and my heart was breaking so much for him with everything he had been through and I loved him so much. His and Alora’s relationship was so beautiful, it was a true slow burn with enemies to lovers and I could feel the connection between them from the very beginning and he fell first which I always enjoy. I loved seeing them together and slowly starting to trust and open up to each other, they were truly perfect for each other and I already can’t wait to see them again, especially after what happened at the end, that cliffhanger is brutal and I need book 2 ASAP.
When the Stars Were Devoured is an amazing fantasy romance book, I loved it and recommend it to everyone. Can’t wait for book 2!
When the Stars Were Devoured is the first book in a Fantasy Romance series and it’s so good, I loved Alora and Kassiel’s story!
Alora is a commander of a rebellion, but when during a mission she gets captured by the Devourer, the king’s cruel executioner, she is sentenced to be killed soon. Kassiel has no choice but to serve the king so he must execute Alora, but when a turn of events makes him her captive instead, they soon realize they aren’t what the other expected and can’t ignore the attraction and the surprising connection between them, but the king is chasing them and he’s not going to let them go.
I’ve been waiting quite a while for this book and getting more and more excited with each post from the author on Instagram and it was so worth the wait. The author created a truly fascinating story with perfectly paced plot that kept me on the edge of my seat and amazing characters I quickly fell in love with. Alora was such a strong FMC and I enjoyed reading her story, she didn’t have an easy life and wanted to help and save everyone and never gave up. Kassiel… he was a complicated MMC, morally grey with tragic backstory and my heart was breaking so much for him with everything he had been through and I loved him so much. His and Alora’s relationship was so beautiful, it was a true slow burn with enemies to lovers and I could feel the connection between them from the very beginning and he fell first which I always enjoy. I loved seeing them together and slowly starting to trust and open up to each other, they were truly perfect for each other and I already can’t wait to see them again, especially after what happened at the end, that cliffhanger is brutal and I need book 2 ASAP.
When the Stars Were Devoured is an amazing fantasy romance book, I loved it and recommend it to everyone. Can’t wait for book 2!
March 8, 2026
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙬𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙧𝙞𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙚. 𝙒𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.”
When the Stars Were Devoured by Stephanie Blair
3.5☆
First things first. I’m a sucker for some gorgeous prose. This book HAS it. The writing is lush and poetic, the world feels dark and vivid, while the atmosphere is thick with rebellion, prophecy, and dangerous magic.
“𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.”
We get Kassiel, the king’s feared executioner (broody, cursed, morally gray… you know the type), and Alora, a rebel commander with rare illusion magic and a serious vendetta against the crown. An insta-love enemies to lovers but with plenty of tension and some very swoon-worthy repartee along the way.
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧, 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧.”
But while the prose and worldbuilding were vibrant, the story itself felt a little thin for me. I kept wanting more depth from the characters and more backstory about the rebellion and the stakes. Because of that, I never felt fully invested in the struggle.
Still, the vibes are immaculate and the cliffhanger definitely WRECKS you. Can’t wait for more emotional depth that matches the beauty of the writing in book two.
*Thank you to Stephanie Blair for this arc opportunity.
When the Stars Were Devoured by Stephanie Blair
3.5☆
First things first. I’m a sucker for some gorgeous prose. This book HAS it. The writing is lush and poetic, the world feels dark and vivid, while the atmosphere is thick with rebellion, prophecy, and dangerous magic.
“𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.”
We get Kassiel, the king’s feared executioner (broody, cursed, morally gray… you know the type), and Alora, a rebel commander with rare illusion magic and a serious vendetta against the crown. An insta-love enemies to lovers but with plenty of tension and some very swoon-worthy repartee along the way.
“𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙢𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧, 𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧.”
But while the prose and worldbuilding were vibrant, the story itself felt a little thin for me. I kept wanting more depth from the characters and more backstory about the rebellion and the stakes. Because of that, I never felt fully invested in the struggle.
Still, the vibes are immaculate and the cliffhanger definitely WRECKS you. Can’t wait for more emotional depth that matches the beauty of the writing in book two.
*Thank you to Stephanie Blair for this arc opportunity.
February 22, 2026
Main character Alora, is a wonderful FMC. Shes strong, bold and flawed. Making her relatable and someone you want to root for. I ate this story up. I am a huge enemies to lovers fan, I know it’s used a lot but I can’t get enough of it. It delivered on all fronts. I definitely ran through it. I love a morally grey man and Kassiel is no different, he is morally grey and phenomenal. The chemistry between these two is so good I enjoyed it but this is not a instalove type of book it is a slow burn and I loved it. If you love that you will enjoy this. I loved the authors writing so much.
April 30, 2026
4.75 ⭐?
Some punctuation typos and a couple editing issues with names.
I felt my actual heart breaking a few times. Loved the faulty characters, storyline, darkness. I need more!
Some punctuation typos and a couple editing issues with names.
I felt my actual heart breaking a few times. Loved the faulty characters, storyline, darkness. I need more!
March 14, 2026
✨🩵 When The Stars Were Devoured ARC Review 🩵✨
To destroy a tyrant, she must trust the monster he created.
A rebel illusion mage captures the king's most feared weapon - an executioner who devours souls. But the closer she gets to the monster, the harder it becomes to remember what side she's on.
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“My soul knew yours from when the first stars formed and will know yours until the last of those stars fall.”
📓 When The Stars Were Devoured is a spicy, dark romantasy centered on rebellion, star crossed lovers, and the emotional cost of power. Set in the war scarred kingdom of Noxia, it follows a rebel leader, Alora, and the King's feared executioner, Kassiel the Devourer. Two enemies forced into close proximity whose loyalties and identities begin to unravel as they fall for each other.
🫵🏼 When the Stars Were Devoured is for readers who:
• enjoy dark romantasy
• love a brooding anti-hero
• love a shadow daddy
• enjoy enemies to lovers
• love a morally grey MMC
• are a fan of captor/captee
• enjoy forced proximity
• love star crossed lovers
• appreciate emotionally intense romantasy
• enjoy their romantasy extra spicy
⚠️ TW/CW: multiple attempts to SA the FMC (not by the MMC), check author's site for full list as it has a lot of trauma within.
📖 The kingdom of Noxia is suffering under the rule of a tyrannical king who ruthlessly hunts those with magic. Alora (FMC) is part of a rebel group of magic wielders who fight to defeat him and save people. She possesses a rare magic the king would stop at nothing to eradicate.
During a mission gone wrong, the rebels manage to capture Kassiel, the king's Devourer, whose magic can destroy souls. Forced into close proximity, Alora and Kassiel fight to escape the inexplicable pull they feel towards one another. Their hatred gives way to curiousity, fascination and develops into desire. This forces both to question the roles they've played in the kingdom's brutal war in a story about moral ambiguity, rebellion, trauma, and love blooming between two people who should never trust one another.
📘 I enjoyed this book once I got into it, but didn't love it. I loved some aspects, but others just didn't work for me. I never felt fully connected to the characters or story, I couldn't get past surface level connection. The romance moved too quickly for me, too sudden. I think readers who enjoy spice more than me would probably enjoy it more than I did. I wanted so badly to love it because there was so much I did enjoy and love about it. There were multiple times I would think ok, now it's more the way I prefer but then something would happen and nope, it didn't work so well for me. Ultimately, it was just ok for me. I haven't decided for sure but I'm leaning towards not continuing the series. I'm curious enough about the world and story that I want to see where it goes, as there's definitely potential for this to be something I love. But maybe it's just a story that's for me at this time in my life. 🤷🏼♀️
❓ QOTD: If you could visit one fictional world for a week, where would you go (and what book is it from)?
❕ AOTD: I've gotta go with The Ever, from The Ever King (series is The Ever Seas) by LJ Andrews.
📜 Themes
🩵 Love vs Duty - can love exist between two people who are enemies? Can love redeem someone shaped by darkness? And is redemption possible for someone complicit in tyranny?
The central tension revolves around whether loyalty to a cause should outweigh personal connection. Alora fights for freedom for all, whole Kassiel serves the tyrant he's bound to.
👹 Monsters made by Circumstance
Kassiel embodies the theme of "manufactured monster." His soul-devouring magic and brutal reputation mask a deeply traumatized man shaped by loss of agency and manipulation. This exploration of how systems of power can create villains was very interesting.
⛓️💥 Hope in a Broken World
Even after war and great losses, Alora still believes in goodness and the possibility of building something better. This optimism acts as a nice counterbalance to Kassiel's fatalism.
⚖️ Identity and Choice
Both Alora and Kassiel wrestle with whether their pasts define them or if they can choose to forge new paths for themselves.
🌌 I love the title and theme in the books and how it relates to a theme of fate and cosmic connection, hope in the darkness, and potential inevitability of some relationships. The title being a metaphor suggesting love and hope threatened by tyranny and violence.
“She would weave the tale so hauntingly beautiful it made my heart ache for the prospect of a love such as that. Devastating.”
✍🏼 Lyrical leaning and emotional, Blair's evocative prose often emphasizes internal turmoil and romantic tension. Delicately descriptive language aided in immersion. I quite enjoyed the vivid character introspection, but I imagine some wouldn't. If you enjoy a strong emotional atmosphere, I think you'll appreciate this aspect like I did.
⏳ The beginning took me a minute to get into, I wasn't immediately invested. It's all necessary and pertinent info, but for whatever reason it took me a bit to really get into it. Some of that could've been my brain and mental health. I'm sure those things were at least part of my struggle to get into the story, I'm not knocking the score hard for this. Before +/- 25%, it picked up.
The ending, however, felt a smidge rushed.
🗺️ A war-torn world where magic users are ruthlessly hunted and either 💀 or, occasionally, taken as part of the king's menagerie - I found the would quite interesting. The worldbuilding emphasizes oppression and rebellion, creating a grim but compelling backdrop.
🔮 The magic system is intentionally (I believe it's intentional, at least) left somewhat mysterious, vague. Because magic is dangerous in Noxia, many (most?) who have magic don't even know how to use or control their own magic. Since the characters haven't yet learned the ins and outs, the reader doesn't, either.
🗡️ I love that the action scenes seem to emphasize emotional stakes moreso than tactical detail. The scenes often focus more on character reactions and internal conflict rather than choreography. As a character focused reader, this worked well for me.
👥 While shadow daddy's are a tried and true trope in this genre, for me Kassiel stands out. He's truly morally grey and packs a lot of emotional depth.
As a character focused reader, I wanted a bit more depth to the characters. They were so close to being fully dimensional for me, but just not quite there.
🩵 Blair's prose often frames their love as cosmic inevitability, emphasizing their soul deep connection. I love the exploration of what it means to allow a person, your enemy, to actually see underneath the mask you show the world.
They start as enemies but the changeover to more felt a bit too sudden, too much, too soon for me. I prefer more yearning than we saw. It does make some sense because Kassiel realizes something fairly early on, but Alora isn't aware for longer. But given everything else, I would've preferred to see their relationship grow and evolve more. I also wanted to see her grapple more with falling in love with someone who's killed so many of her people. He didn't have agency for spoiler reasons, but he still did it. One minute she's yelling at him about the things he's done and being irredeemable, the next they're making out and then in love. Again, spoiler stuff makes it make sense, but I still want to see them grapple with their conflicting feelings and all.
🌶️ I had some issues with timing/place of at least one spice scene. They'd just visited the site of an atrocity, she yells that there's no redemption for him, and then 🌶️. I get emotions were high and we all handle that differently, but this just didn't work for me. It felt out of touch, out of place, and detracted from the plot. At times it felt more focused on the spice, in general, than I prefer. I prefer the spice to serve, or enhance, the plot and/or characters.
📚 If you liked: The Hurricane Wars (Thea Guanzon), The Lost Dreamer (Lizz Huerta), A Taste of Honey (Kai Ashante Wilson), A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (Roseanne A Brown), A Fate Inked in Blood (Danielle L Jensen), or The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Carissa Broadbent), then I think you'd enjoy this.
Thank you to Stephanie Blair for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
To destroy a tyrant, she must trust the monster he created.
A rebel illusion mage captures the king's most feared weapon - an executioner who devours souls. But the closer she gets to the monster, the harder it becomes to remember what side she's on.
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
“My soul knew yours from when the first stars formed and will know yours until the last of those stars fall.”
📓 When The Stars Were Devoured is a spicy, dark romantasy centered on rebellion, star crossed lovers, and the emotional cost of power. Set in the war scarred kingdom of Noxia, it follows a rebel leader, Alora, and the King's feared executioner, Kassiel the Devourer. Two enemies forced into close proximity whose loyalties and identities begin to unravel as they fall for each other.
🫵🏼 When the Stars Were Devoured is for readers who:
• enjoy dark romantasy
• love a brooding anti-hero
• love a shadow daddy
• enjoy enemies to lovers
• love a morally grey MMC
• are a fan of captor/captee
• enjoy forced proximity
• love star crossed lovers
• appreciate emotionally intense romantasy
• enjoy their romantasy extra spicy
⚠️ TW/CW: multiple attempts to SA the FMC (not by the MMC), check author's site for full list as it has a lot of trauma within.
📖 The kingdom of Noxia is suffering under the rule of a tyrannical king who ruthlessly hunts those with magic. Alora (FMC) is part of a rebel group of magic wielders who fight to defeat him and save people. She possesses a rare magic the king would stop at nothing to eradicate.
During a mission gone wrong, the rebels manage to capture Kassiel, the king's Devourer, whose magic can destroy souls. Forced into close proximity, Alora and Kassiel fight to escape the inexplicable pull they feel towards one another. Their hatred gives way to curiousity, fascination and develops into desire. This forces both to question the roles they've played in the kingdom's brutal war in a story about moral ambiguity, rebellion, trauma, and love blooming between two people who should never trust one another.
📘 I enjoyed this book once I got into it, but didn't love it. I loved some aspects, but others just didn't work for me. I never felt fully connected to the characters or story, I couldn't get past surface level connection. The romance moved too quickly for me, too sudden. I think readers who enjoy spice more than me would probably enjoy it more than I did. I wanted so badly to love it because there was so much I did enjoy and love about it. There were multiple times I would think ok, now it's more the way I prefer but then something would happen and nope, it didn't work so well for me. Ultimately, it was just ok for me. I haven't decided for sure but I'm leaning towards not continuing the series. I'm curious enough about the world and story that I want to see where it goes, as there's definitely potential for this to be something I love. But maybe it's just a story that's for me at this time in my life. 🤷🏼♀️
❓ QOTD: If you could visit one fictional world for a week, where would you go (and what book is it from)?
❕ AOTD: I've gotta go with The Ever, from The Ever King (series is The Ever Seas) by LJ Andrews.
📜 Themes
🩵 Love vs Duty - can love exist between two people who are enemies? Can love redeem someone shaped by darkness? And is redemption possible for someone complicit in tyranny?
The central tension revolves around whether loyalty to a cause should outweigh personal connection. Alora fights for freedom for all, whole Kassiel serves the tyrant he's bound to.
👹 Monsters made by Circumstance
Kassiel embodies the theme of "manufactured monster." His soul-devouring magic and brutal reputation mask a deeply traumatized man shaped by loss of agency and manipulation. This exploration of how systems of power can create villains was very interesting.
⛓️💥 Hope in a Broken World
Even after war and great losses, Alora still believes in goodness and the possibility of building something better. This optimism acts as a nice counterbalance to Kassiel's fatalism.
⚖️ Identity and Choice
Both Alora and Kassiel wrestle with whether their pasts define them or if they can choose to forge new paths for themselves.
🌌 I love the title and theme in the books and how it relates to a theme of fate and cosmic connection, hope in the darkness, and potential inevitability of some relationships. The title being a metaphor suggesting love and hope threatened by tyranny and violence.
“She would weave the tale so hauntingly beautiful it made my heart ache for the prospect of a love such as that. Devastating.”
✍🏼 Lyrical leaning and emotional, Blair's evocative prose often emphasizes internal turmoil and romantic tension. Delicately descriptive language aided in immersion. I quite enjoyed the vivid character introspection, but I imagine some wouldn't. If you enjoy a strong emotional atmosphere, I think you'll appreciate this aspect like I did.
⏳ The beginning took me a minute to get into, I wasn't immediately invested. It's all necessary and pertinent info, but for whatever reason it took me a bit to really get into it. Some of that could've been my brain and mental health. I'm sure those things were at least part of my struggle to get into the story, I'm not knocking the score hard for this. Before +/- 25%, it picked up.
The ending, however, felt a smidge rushed.
🗺️ A war-torn world where magic users are ruthlessly hunted and either 💀 or, occasionally, taken as part of the king's menagerie - I found the would quite interesting. The worldbuilding emphasizes oppression and rebellion, creating a grim but compelling backdrop.
🔮 The magic system is intentionally (I believe it's intentional, at least) left somewhat mysterious, vague. Because magic is dangerous in Noxia, many (most?) who have magic don't even know how to use or control their own magic. Since the characters haven't yet learned the ins and outs, the reader doesn't, either.
🗡️ I love that the action scenes seem to emphasize emotional stakes moreso than tactical detail. The scenes often focus more on character reactions and internal conflict rather than choreography. As a character focused reader, this worked well for me.
👥 While shadow daddy's are a tried and true trope in this genre, for me Kassiel stands out. He's truly morally grey and packs a lot of emotional depth.
As a character focused reader, I wanted a bit more depth to the characters. They were so close to being fully dimensional for me, but just not quite there.
🩵 Blair's prose often frames their love as cosmic inevitability, emphasizing their soul deep connection. I love the exploration of what it means to allow a person, your enemy, to actually see underneath the mask you show the world.
They start as enemies but the changeover to more felt a bit too sudden, too much, too soon for me. I prefer more yearning than we saw. It does make some sense because Kassiel realizes something fairly early on, but Alora isn't aware for longer. But given everything else, I would've preferred to see their relationship grow and evolve more. I also wanted to see her grapple more with falling in love with someone who's killed so many of her people. He didn't have agency for spoiler reasons, but he still did it. One minute she's yelling at him about the things he's done and being irredeemable, the next they're making out and then in love. Again, spoiler stuff makes it make sense, but I still want to see them grapple with their conflicting feelings and all.
🌶️ I had some issues with timing/place of at least one spice scene. They'd just visited the site of an atrocity, she yells that there's no redemption for him, and then 🌶️. I get emotions were high and we all handle that differently, but this just didn't work for me. It felt out of touch, out of place, and detracted from the plot. At times it felt more focused on the spice, in general, than I prefer. I prefer the spice to serve, or enhance, the plot and/or characters.
📚 If you liked: The Hurricane Wars (Thea Guanzon), The Lost Dreamer (Lizz Huerta), A Taste of Honey (Kai Ashante Wilson), A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (Roseanne A Brown), A Fate Inked in Blood (Danielle L Jensen), or The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Carissa Broadbent), then I think you'd enjoy this.
Thank you to Stephanie Blair for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
February 22, 2026
A truly emotional read, hauntingly poetic writing, characters threaded together by the whimsies of the Fates.
This debut novel by Stephanie Blair hits you right in the heart. Exploring the themes of consent, trauma, acceptance of your own inner monsters and a world where the men delight in seeing people powerless, my heart ached for Alora and her found family.
The world building is that beautiful blend of gothic aesthetic x fantasy whimsy and I adored it! The stark contrast between the King’s castle and the haunted forest and the beautiful hidden underground city where the rebels live created such immersive imagery in my head!
Alora is bright, incredible, kind, self-sacrificing to a fault but harbours past traumas and demons that make her feel weak and unworthy. She has closed off her heart and her purpose is vengeance and defending those who have been persecuted and forced to hide from the King who would see any with magic, dead.
Kassiel is broken, bound, violated and forced to use his death magic against any who stand against the King. He has lost himself to being the King’s personal executioner and plays the part of the monster that everyone sees him as. He has lost all hope and wishes for oblivion.
The gods and fate place Alora directly in Kassiel’s path to be executed and neither is prepared for the shockwave that ripple through them both as their souls awaken and each feels their carefully constructed walls begin to crumble.
“I don’t need your help.” The venom seethes from her lips, her tone cold and haughty. It should strike me but instead, it awakens the deviousness that slumbers within me, making me want to kiss the words off her mouth until she bites.
This book is a safe space for every feeling of self-doubt you’ve had, for every time you’ve wanted to give up hope and for every time you raged at a world that took more than it ever gives back. The main characters are flawed but tragically beautiful and their love story will make your toes curl with the things the wicked Devourer says! But also get ready to get sucked into the emotional damage and traumantasy of Alora and Kassiel’s love story.
We were damned to orbit one another for eternity, forced to remain on the cusp of a salvation that was just out of reach.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy:
🖤 Captor and captive
⛓️💥 Shadow daddy
🖤 He falls first
⛓️💥 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Touch her and die
⛓️💥 One horse
🖤 Forced proximity
⛓️💥 Star crossed lovers
🖤 Found family
This debut novel by Stephanie Blair hits you right in the heart. Exploring the themes of consent, trauma, acceptance of your own inner monsters and a world where the men delight in seeing people powerless, my heart ached for Alora and her found family.
The world building is that beautiful blend of gothic aesthetic x fantasy whimsy and I adored it! The stark contrast between the King’s castle and the haunted forest and the beautiful hidden underground city where the rebels live created such immersive imagery in my head!
Alora is bright, incredible, kind, self-sacrificing to a fault but harbours past traumas and demons that make her feel weak and unworthy. She has closed off her heart and her purpose is vengeance and defending those who have been persecuted and forced to hide from the King who would see any with magic, dead.
Kassiel is broken, bound, violated and forced to use his death magic against any who stand against the King. He has lost himself to being the King’s personal executioner and plays the part of the monster that everyone sees him as. He has lost all hope and wishes for oblivion.
The gods and fate place Alora directly in Kassiel’s path to be executed and neither is prepared for the shockwave that ripple through them both as their souls awaken and each feels their carefully constructed walls begin to crumble.
“I don’t need your help.” The venom seethes from her lips, her tone cold and haughty. It should strike me but instead, it awakens the deviousness that slumbers within me, making me want to kiss the words off her mouth until she bites.
This book is a safe space for every feeling of self-doubt you’ve had, for every time you’ve wanted to give up hope and for every time you raged at a world that took more than it ever gives back. The main characters are flawed but tragically beautiful and their love story will make your toes curl with the things the wicked Devourer says! But also get ready to get sucked into the emotional damage and traumantasy of Alora and Kassiel’s love story.
We were damned to orbit one another for eternity, forced to remain on the cusp of a salvation that was just out of reach.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy:
🖤 Captor and captive
⛓️💥 Shadow daddy
🖤 He falls first
⛓️💥 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Touch her and die
⛓️💥 One horse
🖤 Forced proximity
⛓️💥 Star crossed lovers
🖤 Found family
February 12, 2026
I am screaming in Nick Miller and I can't wait for everyone to read this book!!
If you like your romance with a side of emotional devastation then this book is for you. If you like your MMC to straddle the line of morally black then this book is for you. If you like your FMC to turn the table and capture him then this book is for you. I you like beautifully crafted world and magic building the. This book is for you. If you like hilarious banter to take the edge off the traumance then this book is for you. If you like side characters that feel like main characters then this book is for you. If you like to feel the tension and yearning and angst then this book is for you. If you like that fuck it moment then this book is for you. If you like when there is one horse then this book is for you. If you like the bitter taste of betrayal but live for that redemption arc then this book is for you.
Stephanie has crafted characters that will make you cry, rage and laugh. She has written a world unlike any other and her beautiful prose will have you absolutely obsessed with the story. I can't wait for the next book.
Set aside some hours and lose yourself this book. When you think that all is lost and you have been betrayed and you want to rage at the characters and throw your kindle, just remember, love will always find a way and there is always a chance for redemption. This is an epic romantasy and the best part is being swept away by all the emotion. I'll be here for you when you finish, I can't wait to talk about this book!!!
If you like your romance with a side of emotional devastation then this book is for you. If you like your MMC to straddle the line of morally black then this book is for you. If you like your FMC to turn the table and capture him then this book is for you. I you like beautifully crafted world and magic building the. This book is for you. If you like hilarious banter to take the edge off the traumance then this book is for you. If you like side characters that feel like main characters then this book is for you. If you like to feel the tension and yearning and angst then this book is for you. If you like that fuck it moment then this book is for you. If you like when there is one horse then this book is for you. If you like the bitter taste of betrayal but live for that redemption arc then this book is for you.
Stephanie has crafted characters that will make you cry, rage and laugh. She has written a world unlike any other and her beautiful prose will have you absolutely obsessed with the story. I can't wait for the next book.
Set aside some hours and lose yourself this book. When you think that all is lost and you have been betrayed and you want to rage at the characters and throw your kindle, just remember, love will always find a way and there is always a chance for redemption. This is an epic romantasy and the best part is being swept away by all the emotion. I'll be here for you when you finish, I can't wait to talk about this book!!!
February 12, 2026
I was entirely engrossed!
What an epic story, full of adventure, love, angst and some seriously smokin moments. The plot was a dream to read, I loved the writing style. A perfect blend of descriptive writing allowing me to visualise the scenery, along with a storyline full of an interesting mix of characters.
Alora, our passionate leader from The Order of The Hidden. Her journey is pretty harrowing, this isn’t for the faint hearted let that be known. She is tough but fair, she is determined, however when she gives, she does with everything in her.
I feel there is so much more to Kassiel. My heart broke for him at times. His devotion, his selflessness, I loved to read the insights into his POV. It really was a perfect blend and I adored their relationship. It’s full of trials and tribulations and I can’t help but feel there is a lot more truths to be revealed into just how much Alora and Kassiel are intertwined.
“We’ve been doomed to fall into each other’s paths from the beginning of time.”
I was lucky enough to have received an ARC from the author and I look forward to reading the next one!
What an epic story, full of adventure, love, angst and some seriously smokin moments. The plot was a dream to read, I loved the writing style. A perfect blend of descriptive writing allowing me to visualise the scenery, along with a storyline full of an interesting mix of characters.
Alora, our passionate leader from The Order of The Hidden. Her journey is pretty harrowing, this isn’t for the faint hearted let that be known. She is tough but fair, she is determined, however when she gives, she does with everything in her.
I feel there is so much more to Kassiel. My heart broke for him at times. His devotion, his selflessness, I loved to read the insights into his POV. It really was a perfect blend and I adored their relationship. It’s full of trials and tribulations and I can’t help but feel there is a lot more truths to be revealed into just how much Alora and Kassiel are intertwined.
“We’ve been doomed to fall into each other’s paths from the beginning of time.”
I was lucky enough to have received an ARC from the author and I look forward to reading the next one!
March 4, 2026
When the Stars Were Devoured is Stephanie Blair's debut novel, and it was one of my most anticipated arc reads for 2026. It did not disappoint! I took my time reading this arc because I wanted to grasp everything that was happening in this world and with these characters. I am not usually one to highlight much while reading, but I think this book has the most highlights I've ever put in a book. Stephanie Blair's prose is simply beautiful and heartbreaking. You can tell that she has poured her heart and soul into these characters. I will forever love Kassiel and Alora. Their story is so beautifully written, I mean, the yearning was impeccable. They hold such a soft spot in my heart. Now, don't get me wrong, the ending had me feeling all kinds of ways, but one of the things I love in fantasies is when they explore trauma and how that impacts the characters and their choices, and shows so much depth to the characters. I am so excited to get my physical copy so I can reread with the physical book in hand. Stephanie Blair did an amazing job cultivating this world and capturing the essence of humanity's darker themes while also exploring hope and connection through these star-crossed lovers. I highly recommend this one for any dark fantasy romance lovers. You need to add this to your TBR.
February 23, 2026
Thank you to the author for sending this as an Arc.
This book was definitely unique and I was never really sure if Kassiel was truthful or not.
I loved Alora and how much of a strong character she was. She’s been through a lot of trauma and continues to go through it the entire book.
I will say I was surprised at how quick these fell out of the enemies to lovers trope and into them falling for each othee quickly.
I did like their vulnerability with each other, especially him. I do have some theories but will keep them
To myself to avoid spoilers.
The spice went a little bit off the rails for me. There were alot of microtropes that popped up.
Important Trigger / multiple sexual assault attempts and references (not by MMC)
Ended on a great cliffhanger - looking forward
To book 2!
This book was definitely unique and I was never really sure if Kassiel was truthful or not.
I loved Alora and how much of a strong character she was. She’s been through a lot of trauma and continues to go through it the entire book.
I will say I was surprised at how quick these fell out of the enemies to lovers trope and into them falling for each othee quickly.
I did like their vulnerability with each other, especially him. I do have some theories but will keep them
To myself to avoid spoilers.
The spice went a little bit off the rails for me. There were alot of microtropes that popped up.
Important Trigger / multiple sexual assault attempts and references (not by MMC)
Ended on a great cliffhanger - looking forward
To book 2!
February 16, 2026
3.8 rounded up to 4!
This has all of the popular romantasy tropes you know and love: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, spice, hidden magic, he falls first, found family. I enjoyed this book a lot! I think the parts I had the biggest gripes with were some of the middle portions dragging on a little bit and near the end I felt like there were some characters that showed up that I knew very little about. Maybe I forgot about them?
It was pretty spicy and fun, I liked the FMC and MMC a lot, and the ending was such a good cliffhanger!
Thank you to R&R book tours for the early copy!
This has all of the popular romantasy tropes you know and love: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, spice, hidden magic, he falls first, found family. I enjoyed this book a lot! I think the parts I had the biggest gripes with were some of the middle portions dragging on a little bit and near the end I felt like there were some characters that showed up that I knew very little about. Maybe I forgot about them?
It was pretty spicy and fun, I liked the FMC and MMC a lot, and the ending was such a good cliffhanger!
Thank you to R&R book tours for the early copy!
February 10, 2026
Why! Oh why that cliffhanger! When is the other one! Kassiel is really a sweetheart for her only!
February 14, 2026
2 stars
Sigh* Am I just burned out from romantasy right now or was this actually just a boring book. The characters were just so boring. MMC had zero personality past his centuries long love for the fmc. And there was literally no reason these particular characters should be in love. Him? Okay fine. But her? She literally said something about wanting to kill him but also feel this irresistible pull to him. And that was all we got before boom they are in a loving relationship??? I’m sorry? I’m not even anti fated mates but it felt like lazy writing to not even show them actually falling in love. And it’s not like I could rely on the plot to keep me interested… maybe this is the book that makes me take a break from romantasy for a while.
Sigh* Am I just burned out from romantasy right now or was this actually just a boring book. The characters were just so boring. MMC had zero personality past his centuries long love for the fmc. And there was literally no reason these particular characters should be in love. Him? Okay fine. But her? She literally said something about wanting to kill him but also feel this irresistible pull to him. And that was all we got before boom they are in a loving relationship??? I’m sorry? I’m not even anti fated mates but it felt like lazy writing to not even show them actually falling in love. And it’s not like I could rely on the plot to keep me interested… maybe this is the book that makes me take a break from romantasy for a while.
February 17, 2026
ARC Review: WOW…this was darker than I expected it to be. There’s quite a bit of trauma and triggers in this one, but it all comes together beautifully and makes them who they are. I know that sounds cliché but it’s true lol The characters (including side characters) went through some tough situations and some parts were a little lacking with coming full circle or were a little confusing, but I’m not going to hold that against the story. At first, I wasn’t digging the insta-love, because I just normally don’t like it, BUT…in this case it made sense in the end. The banter between Alora and her friends and even with Kassiel was great and made me giggle. Also the King and The Nightmare can suck a pickle, ugh, if there’s ever a time to feel so much rage towards a fictional character, it was towards them. The cliff hanger wasn’t too drastic though (thank God because I don’t think my heart could have taken anymore than it did at the end) and I’m eager for book 2!
Did Not Finish
March 22, 2026I went into this book with high expectations based on the blurb, marketing, and the strong initial presentation in the book, everything from the author’s note to the map and glossary was impressive. I still believe the premise has real potential, but the execution needs more direction, particularly when it comes to character development.
I made it about 15% in. While there were some genuinely beautiful lines that stuck with me, I found the writing often overly lyrical in a way that felt unnecessary. Instead of enhancing the story, it frequently pulled me out of it. I also noticed quite a few typos, which was surprising given that the book reportedly went through multiple editors.
Another issue for me was inconsistency in how characters were portrayed, especially the FMC Alora. Although Chapter 3 stood out as a strong chapter, the lack of character consistency ultimately made it difficult for me to stay engaged, and I decided to stop reading.
I made it about 15% in. While there were some genuinely beautiful lines that stuck with me, I found the writing often overly lyrical in a way that felt unnecessary. Instead of enhancing the story, it frequently pulled me out of it. I also noticed quite a few typos, which was surprising given that the book reportedly went through multiple editors.
Another issue for me was inconsistency in how characters were portrayed, especially the FMC Alora. Although Chapter 3 stood out as a strong chapter, the lack of character consistency ultimately made it difficult for me to stay engaged, and I decided to stop reading.
February 23, 2026
Kassiel and Alora were perfection. I absolutely loved this story. From the enemies to lovers trope, to the twists and turns. I absolutely can’t wait for book 2 after that cliffhanger. The spice was spicing, the chemistry was hot and not to forget this man is a shadow daddy with a tragic backstory 🥵. 10/10 recommend I can’t wait to see what happens next.
February 15, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = 4 stars!
I absolutely devoured this one! It delivers all the delicious tropes romantasy lovers crave: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magic, star-crossed love, and just the right amount of spice to keep the pages turning.
Alora is a fierce and compelling FMC whose strength is beautifully grounded in her backstory. Her motivations feel authentic, and her flaws make her relatable. And then there’s Kassiel… I am an unapologetic sucker for a morally grey MMC with a tragic past, and he delivered on every level. His dry humour, layered vulnerability, and that delicious slow-burn chemistry with Alora? Absolute perfection. Add in a “he falls first” dynamic and it’s truly chef’s kiss.
The found family element was another standout. The side characters weren’t just background figures, they had depth, purpose, and real emotional weight within the story.
Stephanie’s writing is beautiful, filled with gorgeous prose and vivid description. Some might think it is a bit much at times, but I personally loved it.
What to Expect:
⭐ Star-Crossed Lovers
🗡️ Shadow Daddy
☁️ Forced Proximity
⭐ Morally Grey MMC
🗡️ Strong FMC
☁️ Slow Burn Spice
⭐ Captor x Captive
🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
☁️ Found Family
Triggers/Warnings ⚠️:
Please see the author’s website for a full list.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
My one small gripe was that occasionally conversations between characters felt slightly unfinished, questions asked but not always answered before the dialogue shifted. It didn’t detract significantly from the story, though I’ll admit my curious brain wanted those answers!
A huge thank you to Stephanie for the eARC! I’m so grateful to have been chosen as an ARC reader and am very happily (and voluntarily!) leaving this review ❤️✨
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I absolutely devoured this one! It delivers all the delicious tropes romantasy lovers crave: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, magic, star-crossed love, and just the right amount of spice to keep the pages turning.
Alora is a fierce and compelling FMC whose strength is beautifully grounded in her backstory. Her motivations feel authentic, and her flaws make her relatable. And then there’s Kassiel… I am an unapologetic sucker for a morally grey MMC with a tragic past, and he delivered on every level. His dry humour, layered vulnerability, and that delicious slow-burn chemistry with Alora? Absolute perfection. Add in a “he falls first” dynamic and it’s truly chef’s kiss.
The found family element was another standout. The side characters weren’t just background figures, they had depth, purpose, and real emotional weight within the story.
Stephanie’s writing is beautiful, filled with gorgeous prose and vivid description. Some might think it is a bit much at times, but I personally loved it.
What to Expect:
⭐ Star-Crossed Lovers
🗡️ Shadow Daddy
☁️ Forced Proximity
⭐ Morally Grey MMC
🗡️ Strong FMC
☁️ Slow Burn Spice
⭐ Captor x Captive
🗡️ Enemies to Lovers
☁️ Found Family
Triggers/Warnings ⚠️:
Please see the author’s website for a full list.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
My one small gripe was that occasionally conversations between characters felt slightly unfinished, questions asked but not always answered before the dialogue shifted. It didn’t detract significantly from the story, though I’ll admit my curious brain wanted those answers!
A huge thank you to Stephanie for the eARC! I’m so grateful to have been chosen as an ARC reader and am very happily (and voluntarily!) leaving this review ❤️✨
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February 12, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Stephanie Blair made us wait for this book! But it was worth the wait and I am already anxiously needing the next. Not only that, but this is Stephanie’s debut novel. Starting your journey as an author can be scary enough as it is, let alone starting said journey off with a multiple book, fantasy series. But Stephanie has written an amazing, captivating story! When the Stars Were Devoured is book 1 in her Devoured Fates series and it is shaping up to be amazing!
Alora is strong, courageous, and cunning. She is loyal to her causes and believes in what is right. When a mission goes south and she is captured, she is quick to turn the tables. I absolutely loved how Stephanie wrote Alora. Never a damsel in distress, she is quick on her feet. When her captor becomes her prisoner, she will do whatever she can to gain her freedom back. Yet the pull she feels towards her once captor is hard to ignore and the more time they spend together the more they realize nothing is as it seems.
Kassiel must serve the king. Stephanie made my heart ache for him with his backstory and definitely became more interesting the longer we got to read about him. The more you get to know him, the more the layers pull back to fully understand why he is the way he is. When the tides turn on him, he gets pulled into something he isn’t expecting. The woman he is supposed to execute is slowly burrowing her way into his heart and making him see things differently.
Stephanie has definitely left me wanting more. More of this world, more of the storyline, more of Alora and Kassiel. Knowing what happens in this book and what could potentially be coming with book 2, my patience won’t last long. Stephanie definitely knows how to pull her readers in and keep them hooked. An author to watch out for as she continues her author journey.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
✨Forced Proximity
💙Star-Crossed Lovers
✨He Falls First
💙Shadow Daddy
✨Captor becomes Captive
💙Enemies to Lovers
✨Darcy Hand Clench
💙Touch Her and 💀
Stephanie Blair made us wait for this book! But it was worth the wait and I am already anxiously needing the next. Not only that, but this is Stephanie’s debut novel. Starting your journey as an author can be scary enough as it is, let alone starting said journey off with a multiple book, fantasy series. But Stephanie has written an amazing, captivating story! When the Stars Were Devoured is book 1 in her Devoured Fates series and it is shaping up to be amazing!
Alora is strong, courageous, and cunning. She is loyal to her causes and believes in what is right. When a mission goes south and she is captured, she is quick to turn the tables. I absolutely loved how Stephanie wrote Alora. Never a damsel in distress, she is quick on her feet. When her captor becomes her prisoner, she will do whatever she can to gain her freedom back. Yet the pull she feels towards her once captor is hard to ignore and the more time they spend together the more they realize nothing is as it seems.
Kassiel must serve the king. Stephanie made my heart ache for him with his backstory and definitely became more interesting the longer we got to read about him. The more you get to know him, the more the layers pull back to fully understand why he is the way he is. When the tides turn on him, he gets pulled into something he isn’t expecting. The woman he is supposed to execute is slowly burrowing her way into his heart and making him see things differently.
Stephanie has definitely left me wanting more. More of this world, more of the storyline, more of Alora and Kassiel. Knowing what happens in this book and what could potentially be coming with book 2, my patience won’t last long. Stephanie definitely knows how to pull her readers in and keep them hooked. An author to watch out for as she continues her author journey.
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
✨Forced Proximity
💙Star-Crossed Lovers
✨He Falls First
💙Shadow Daddy
✨Captor becomes Captive
💙Enemies to Lovers
✨Darcy Hand Clench
💙Touch Her and 💀
February 16, 2026
4.5/5
When Stephanie Blair announced she was writing a book, I immediately knew I had to join her street team. We met through book clubs, and from our shared tastes and conversations I just knew her book would delight me.
Normally, when I write a review, I start with the plot, then move on to the worldbuilding, the characters, and finally the writing. But this time, I have to reverse that order, because the most captivating and striking aspect of this book is the prose. Stephanie’s writing is deep, expressive, and filled with metaphors. It adds emotional weight to every scene and makes the story resonate on a much deeper level. Her writing makes the whole reading experience richer and more immersive—and it makes you grow even more attached to the characters.
The main characters, Alora and Kassiel, are truly the heart of this story. Alora is a powerful rebel leader—charismatic, courageous, and yet full of vulnerability. After all the horror she has witnessed and endured, she still believes in human goodness and continues to put others before herself. Kassiel, on the other hand, is the King’s executioner—The Devourer. His power is feared, his name known everywhere, yet no one knows the real man behind the legend. No one sees what he sacrifices or the toll that unleashing his power takes on him. But Alora sees through the mask, through the armor he has built around himself—an armor that begins to crack just for her. Their interactions are vivid and full of fire; I loved their banter and the way they gradually open up to one another, revealing who they truly are.
A quick note on the side characters: they’re full of personality and play an essential role in the development of the main characters and their story. (My personal favorite: Leeson!) The magic system is a bit complex, intertwining powers and runes in a very intriguing way. I would have loved a bit more detail on how the different abilities work—but I’m hopeful we’ll get that in the next book. :)
This book didn’t just meet my expectations; it exceeded them beautifully. A powerful debut with heart, emotion, and a prose that shines.
When Stephanie Blair announced she was writing a book, I immediately knew I had to join her street team. We met through book clubs, and from our shared tastes and conversations I just knew her book would delight me.
Normally, when I write a review, I start with the plot, then move on to the worldbuilding, the characters, and finally the writing. But this time, I have to reverse that order, because the most captivating and striking aspect of this book is the prose. Stephanie’s writing is deep, expressive, and filled with metaphors. It adds emotional weight to every scene and makes the story resonate on a much deeper level. Her writing makes the whole reading experience richer and more immersive—and it makes you grow even more attached to the characters.
The main characters, Alora and Kassiel, are truly the heart of this story. Alora is a powerful rebel leader—charismatic, courageous, and yet full of vulnerability. After all the horror she has witnessed and endured, she still believes in human goodness and continues to put others before herself. Kassiel, on the other hand, is the King’s executioner—The Devourer. His power is feared, his name known everywhere, yet no one knows the real man behind the legend. No one sees what he sacrifices or the toll that unleashing his power takes on him. But Alora sees through the mask, through the armor he has built around himself—an armor that begins to crack just for her. Their interactions are vivid and full of fire; I loved their banter and the way they gradually open up to one another, revealing who they truly are.
A quick note on the side characters: they’re full of personality and play an essential role in the development of the main characters and their story. (My personal favorite: Leeson!) The magic system is a bit complex, intertwining powers and runes in a very intriguing way. I would have loved a bit more detail on how the different abilities work—but I’m hopeful we’ll get that in the next book. :)
This book didn’t just meet my expectations; it exceeded them beautifully. A powerful debut with heart, emotion, and a prose that shines.
March 2, 2026
ARC Review: When the Stars Were Devoured
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Found another romantasy series with: some of my favorite tropes, another power couple to obsess over, a heartwarming found family, a fierce and selfless FMC, a broody shadow daddy MMC and emotional cliffhanger I need to recover from! 😭
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Kassiel and Alora are enemies that become star crossed lovers. Their fate/destiny is filled with devastation, heartbreak and the kind of love that consumes your whole being. Kassiel spoke pure poetry in his love declarations and could make you melt instantly with his gaze and filthy mouth. The magnetic pull Alora and Kassiel had towards each other could not be broken. It’s like their souls called to one another. The way they understood each other and opened up to another allowed them to truly become each others’ safe space. They didn’t have to be The Devourer and the Hidden Commander. They could just be Kassiel and Alora.
The sacrificing nature they both had especially Kassiel was heartbreaking and I cried so much for everything they had to suffer through. Alora reminded me of myself so much. Denying and pushing down my feelings so I can be there for others was what I thought was normal. I would suffer/break down in silence and then put on a brave face despite wanting to rot and give up. She couldn’t break down because she had others relying on her. I’m so happy she has Kassiel, Caym and Leeson to support her.
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Caym and Leeson are true friends and even most of the Hidden are genuine people who fight for humanity and fight to overthrow pure evil. I’m still not over that cliffhanger ending and I can’t wait for both Kassiel and Alora to unleash their rage on King Euron and the Nightmare! Thank you so much Stephanie for this ARC! Can’t wait for the rest of this series!
Highlighted Quotes:
✨ Whatever this is between us, it’s driving me mad. I don’t know what’s worse: knowing we can never be or knowing that you are very well made for me. It’s a cruel joke, us being on separate sides of fate - Kassiel
✨ With a quick move, his lips crash into mine and the world falls away. It’s just me and him in the shadows – no destruction, no death, no sadness or anger to call us away. And it feels heavenly, earth-shattering…like home… Maybe The Devourer has devoured me after all - Alora
✨ I can kiss away your pain. Kiss away the torment that rattles you. If you’d let me, I’d swallow down all your tears - Kassiel
✨ My soul knew yours from when the first stars formed and will know yours until the last of those stars fall - Kassiel
✨ I think I had to suffer enough, to atone for my curse, to be rewarded with you in the end. I’d gladly endure whatever I needed to have a chance to sit at your feet, time and time again - Kassiel
✨ Whether he’s in my life or not, it feels like he breathed life into the husk I have been contained within, and I no longer want to be a traveler in my own body. I want to feel and experience the sorrows and joys of this damned realm. But I really hope he will remain by me, despite it all - Alora
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Found another romantasy series with: some of my favorite tropes, another power couple to obsess over, a heartwarming found family, a fierce and selfless FMC, a broody shadow daddy MMC and emotional cliffhanger I need to recover from! 😭
.
Kassiel and Alora are enemies that become star crossed lovers. Their fate/destiny is filled with devastation, heartbreak and the kind of love that consumes your whole being. Kassiel spoke pure poetry in his love declarations and could make you melt instantly with his gaze and filthy mouth. The magnetic pull Alora and Kassiel had towards each other could not be broken. It’s like their souls called to one another. The way they understood each other and opened up to another allowed them to truly become each others’ safe space. They didn’t have to be The Devourer and the Hidden Commander. They could just be Kassiel and Alora.
The sacrificing nature they both had especially Kassiel was heartbreaking and I cried so much for everything they had to suffer through. Alora reminded me of myself so much. Denying and pushing down my feelings so I can be there for others was what I thought was normal. I would suffer/break down in silence and then put on a brave face despite wanting to rot and give up. She couldn’t break down because she had others relying on her. I’m so happy she has Kassiel, Caym and Leeson to support her.
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Caym and Leeson are true friends and even most of the Hidden are genuine people who fight for humanity and fight to overthrow pure evil. I’m still not over that cliffhanger ending and I can’t wait for both Kassiel and Alora to unleash their rage on King Euron and the Nightmare! Thank you so much Stephanie for this ARC! Can’t wait for the rest of this series!
Highlighted Quotes:
✨ Whatever this is between us, it’s driving me mad. I don’t know what’s worse: knowing we can never be or knowing that you are very well made for me. It’s a cruel joke, us being on separate sides of fate - Kassiel
✨ With a quick move, his lips crash into mine and the world falls away. It’s just me and him in the shadows – no destruction, no death, no sadness or anger to call us away. And it feels heavenly, earth-shattering…like home… Maybe The Devourer has devoured me after all - Alora
✨ I can kiss away your pain. Kiss away the torment that rattles you. If you’d let me, I’d swallow down all your tears - Kassiel
✨ My soul knew yours from when the first stars formed and will know yours until the last of those stars fall - Kassiel
✨ I think I had to suffer enough, to atone for my curse, to be rewarded with you in the end. I’d gladly endure whatever I needed to have a chance to sit at your feet, time and time again - Kassiel
✨ Whether he’s in my life or not, it feels like he breathed life into the husk I have been contained within, and I no longer want to be a traveler in my own body. I want to feel and experience the sorrows and joys of this damned realm. But I really hope he will remain by me, despite it all - Alora
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2026
When the Stars Were Devoured is the first book in a new fantasy series by Stephanie Blair. I was quickly drawn into the story by the author’s rich prose and sweetly flowing writing style.
MMC Kassiel is introduced first, and we get a small glimpse of events in the past that have shaped his character. Kassiel is known as “the Devourer,” and he uses his fearsome magic at the whim of the king.
Then we meet FMC Alora, the commander of a rebel group who craves revenge against the regime that wronged her family and village. Alora possesses a rare magic, which, if discovered, would make her a target for capture and use by the king. She is not trained in using this magic, but she makes up for that with her tenacity and the balancing of her skills with her fellow warriors.
When Kassiel and Alora meet, the two enemies are pulled toward each other, and the heat between them simmers and then burns in the best way when they give into their desires.
And Kassiel just says such beautiful things:
“My soul knew yours from when the first stars formed and will know yours until the last of those stars fall.”
As often happens, fate has other ideas for the lovers, and the twists and turns in this book kept me turning pages far into the night!
Here are some tropes I noted while reading:
-found family
-enemies to lovers
-shadow magic
-she would k$ll for him
-unique magic types
-he gives her a nickname
-he falls first
-they share one horse
The unique magic and strong character development in this book really added to the story, and I will definitely be awaiting book 2! Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced review copy of this book with me. All opinions are my own.
MMC Kassiel is introduced first, and we get a small glimpse of events in the past that have shaped his character. Kassiel is known as “the Devourer,” and he uses his fearsome magic at the whim of the king.
Then we meet FMC Alora, the commander of a rebel group who craves revenge against the regime that wronged her family and village. Alora possesses a rare magic, which, if discovered, would make her a target for capture and use by the king. She is not trained in using this magic, but she makes up for that with her tenacity and the balancing of her skills with her fellow warriors.
When Kassiel and Alora meet, the two enemies are pulled toward each other, and the heat between them simmers and then burns in the best way when they give into their desires.
And Kassiel just says such beautiful things:
“My soul knew yours from when the first stars formed and will know yours until the last of those stars fall.”
As often happens, fate has other ideas for the lovers, and the twists and turns in this book kept me turning pages far into the night!
Here are some tropes I noted while reading:
-found family
-enemies to lovers
-shadow magic
-she would k$ll for him
-unique magic types
-he gives her a nickname
-he falls first
-they share one horse
The unique magic and strong character development in this book really added to the story, and I will definitely be awaiting book 2! Thank you to the author for sharing an advanced review copy of this book with me. All opinions are my own.
April 7, 2026
There was a strike of originality hidden beneath all the need for editing.
What I liked:
- I think the MMC shined here. Good backstory, interesting personality, some grey morality. I really liked him and enjoyed his POV more than the FMC's.
- There was plenty of good ideas. I liked the general plot, different magic powers, beginnings of found family within the rebel group, the bones were solid.
- The pining between FMC and MMC was sizzling.
What I didn't like:
- First of all, the trope marketing that hooked me on this book also spoiled first like 40%. Captor to captive was a catchy premise but the impact was not there since I've spent a long time anticipating it.
- Alora the FMC felt very whiney and not at all as a rebelion leader. This was even enpacised by the actual leadership sturcture in the Hidden city. I'm still not sure what her role and authority is and I've read whole book about her.
- The relationship between FMC and MMC was weird. While they were having their all-in moments I was never sure what stage are we in. Do we trust each other? Do we not? It was never properly adressed by neither of them.
- The pacing was extremely off. Some situation dragged painfully, than there were literal jump cuts leaving me confused if I skipped paged or blacked out while reading. For example. Alora and her party travel to the city of Hidden. The road there took about 2 month in my mind, than they've spent two days here and afternoon later they were in the original kingdom again.
I have to admit, I've skim-read the last 20%. My KU was running out and I've already spent month reading this book. I was interested how it ends (by a huge cliffhanger btw) but not enough to spend another month finishing it. It really dragged for me and fail to keep my attention for prolonged periods of time.
What I liked:
- I think the MMC shined here. Good backstory, interesting personality, some grey morality. I really liked him and enjoyed his POV more than the FMC's.
- There was plenty of good ideas. I liked the general plot, different magic powers, beginnings of found family within the rebel group, the bones were solid.
- The pining between FMC and MMC was sizzling.
What I didn't like:
- First of all, the trope marketing that hooked me on this book also spoiled first like 40%. Captor to captive was a catchy premise but the impact was not there since I've spent a long time anticipating it.
- Alora the FMC felt very whiney and not at all as a rebelion leader. This was even enpacised by the actual leadership sturcture in the Hidden city. I'm still not sure what her role and authority is and I've read whole book about her.
- The relationship between FMC and MMC was weird. While they were having their all-in moments I was never sure what stage are we in. Do we trust each other? Do we not? It was never properly adressed by neither of them.
- The pacing was extremely off. Some situation dragged painfully, than there were literal jump cuts leaving me confused if I skipped paged or blacked out while reading. For example. Alora and her party travel to the city of Hidden. The road there took about 2 month in my mind, than they've spent two days here and afternoon later they were in the original kingdom again.
I have to admit, I've skim-read the last 20%. My KU was running out and I've already spent month reading this book. I was interested how it ends (by a huge cliffhanger btw) but not enough to spend another month finishing it. It really dragged for me and fail to keep my attention for prolonged periods of time.
February 14, 2026
An absolutely brutal cliffhanger ending after lots of twists, betrayals and chaos at the end has me so ready for book 2!
You follow the rebellion leader FMC Alora, who’s spent years trying to get a group together to bring down the evil king and make the lives of the people in her kingdom better. When one day a mission goes wrong and she ends up captured by the kings right hand, the devourer aka Kassiel, who’s know for his killing touch. After an escape is orchestrated by her people, she ends up freed but with her own prisoner in toe, the devourer himself. As they travel with her two best friends toward the rebel hideout, she learns that everything she knows about him might not be what it seems and of course there’s this unknown and undeniable connection between them that’s she’s struggling to resist.
This book had me hooked, I do so love a rebel badass FMC with her very own morally grey, I only start doing the right thing because of her MMC. I love how tidbits of the MMCs story and the truth about him are slowly revealed and how him and Alora slowly start to trust each other and share in each other’s pain. I love the little found family Alora has built among the hidden rebel community after the loss of her whole family and how she starts to share that community with Kassiel. All the planning and plotting can only get them so far and those last few chapters had me reeling and ready for the next book! Overall my rating 4.5/5! Be sure to check your triggers on this book as it gets dark at times!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow the rebellion leader FMC Alora, who’s spent years trying to get a group together to bring down the evil king and make the lives of the people in her kingdom better. When one day a mission goes wrong and she ends up captured by the kings right hand, the devourer aka Kassiel, who’s know for his killing touch. After an escape is orchestrated by her people, she ends up freed but with her own prisoner in toe, the devourer himself. As they travel with her two best friends toward the rebel hideout, she learns that everything she knows about him might not be what it seems and of course there’s this unknown and undeniable connection between them that’s she’s struggling to resist.
This book had me hooked, I do so love a rebel badass FMC with her very own morally grey, I only start doing the right thing because of her MMC. I love how tidbits of the MMCs story and the truth about him are slowly revealed and how him and Alora slowly start to trust each other and share in each other’s pain. I love the little found family Alora has built among the hidden rebel community after the loss of her whole family and how she starts to share that community with Kassiel. All the planning and plotting can only get them so far and those last few chapters had me reeling and ready for the next book! Overall my rating 4.5/5! Be sure to check your triggers on this book as it gets dark at times!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
March 2, 2026
Thank you so much Stephanie Blair for allowing me the chance to read this and receive an ARC! This was well worth the wait.
Wow, wow, WOW! Blair had an explosive debut as an author and really popped off with this one. The world, the characters, the plot...everything was truly mesmerizing. I was hooked from the very beginning.
Alora was such a strong and admirable FMC. She was dealt a difficult hand in life and had to fight for everything she ever had. In the center, she had a good heart and wanted to truly help people. She was resilient, humble, courageous, and so, so brave. But best of all, she had flaws which made her all the more real and raw. I truly loved getting to know her and am so glad she was able to find some type of safe space with Kassiel.
Kassiel, the man that you are. I was so unsure of him at first; he was the epitome of a morally gray MMC, but wow, he really won me over in the end. My heart breaks for everything he has been through, and he truly deserves some peace and someone who could provide him with some comfort. He desperately needed someone to show him the way out of the dark and allow him to finally begin to heal from trauma.
These characters certainly have a lot of healing to do, but wow, they are perfect for each other. The feelings and themes this book harbored are so hauntingly relatable, and it almost hurts in the best way. The feelings of being lost or not being good enough were everything. This really goes to show that monsters are, in fact, made by the world around them.
Wow, wow, WOW! Blair had an explosive debut as an author and really popped off with this one. The world, the characters, the plot...everything was truly mesmerizing. I was hooked from the very beginning.
Alora was such a strong and admirable FMC. She was dealt a difficult hand in life and had to fight for everything she ever had. In the center, she had a good heart and wanted to truly help people. She was resilient, humble, courageous, and so, so brave. But best of all, she had flaws which made her all the more real and raw. I truly loved getting to know her and am so glad she was able to find some type of safe space with Kassiel.
Kassiel, the man that you are. I was so unsure of him at first; he was the epitome of a morally gray MMC, but wow, he really won me over in the end. My heart breaks for everything he has been through, and he truly deserves some peace and someone who could provide him with some comfort. He desperately needed someone to show him the way out of the dark and allow him to finally begin to heal from trauma.
These characters certainly have a lot of healing to do, but wow, they are perfect for each other. The feelings and themes this book harbored are so hauntingly relatable, and it almost hurts in the best way. The feelings of being lost or not being good enough were everything. This really goes to show that monsters are, in fact, made by the world around them.
February 16, 2026
Alora is one of the commanders of The Hidden, a rebel group fighting against the tyrannical King Euron. The king regularly sends culling bands out to capture people with magical abilities. The bands leave horror and destruction on their wake, as they will destroy everything in their pursuit. The king's obsession stems from a rumored curse that prevents him from having any magic or producing any heirs, magical or otherwise, despite his attempts to breed magic into his bloodline.
After a failed mission, Alora is captured by one of the king's most powerful magic users, The Devourer. He is often at the head of the culling bands with his death magic. Alora has her own power and she unintentionally loses control in fr9nt of The Devourer. Her capture results in her being imprisoned until the king decides to either add her to his menagerie or make an example out of her as a message to The Hidden. Alora's fate is to be an example, but as she approaches her doom, her companions rescue her and end up capturing The Devourer.
Oh my gosh, I loved this book. I need more. I am obsessed Alora and Kassiel and I cannot wait to explore everything that is between them, as there is still so much to uncover. I loved the world and the magic and I cannot wait to explore more of both. I desperately need the next book so I can know what happens next!
Thank you to author Stephanie Blair for the gifted eARC.
After a failed mission, Alora is captured by one of the king's most powerful magic users, The Devourer. He is often at the head of the culling bands with his death magic. Alora has her own power and she unintentionally loses control in fr9nt of The Devourer. Her capture results in her being imprisoned until the king decides to either add her to his menagerie or make an example out of her as a message to The Hidden. Alora's fate is to be an example, but as she approaches her doom, her companions rescue her and end up capturing The Devourer.
Oh my gosh, I loved this book. I need more. I am obsessed Alora and Kassiel and I cannot wait to explore everything that is between them, as there is still so much to uncover. I loved the world and the magic and I cannot wait to explore more of both. I desperately need the next book so I can know what happens next!
Thank you to author Stephanie Blair for the gifted eARC.
March 6, 2026
What a phenomenal book from a debut author! Alora is no stranger to suffering. She joined The Hidden, the rebellion that challenges the horrific king's rule as a way to seek justice for her family. When they are ambushed and Alora is taken captive by The Devourer, she is about to find out if he is as ruthless as his magic. With the power to destroy souls, he’s the king’s ultimate tool and favored warrior. But when the tables turn and the captive becomes the captor everything Alora thought she knew and understood is about to be turned over.
I loved this story from start to finish. I loved that we are dropped into the rebels action and their familial bonds are already fully formed. The love and ribbing is on full display throughout the book and it was a delight and added levity. Alora is prickly and sassy and I love her. She is tough because as a commander she has to be but Kassiel, The Devourer, sees her for who she truly is. The strait up enemies to lovers trope was well done here, but the layers of the past that the author layered in was beautifully done. The spice was well executed and fit so well with these two as well. While the ending may have crushed my soul a little, I would have never known this was a debut book based on just how well the tension and story was done. I hope that she is already planning the next chapter for these characters.
‘Because though I might feel insignificant, I am not weak.'
I loved this story from start to finish. I loved that we are dropped into the rebels action and their familial bonds are already fully formed. The love and ribbing is on full display throughout the book and it was a delight and added levity. Alora is prickly and sassy and I love her. She is tough because as a commander she has to be but Kassiel, The Devourer, sees her for who she truly is. The strait up enemies to lovers trope was well done here, but the layers of the past that the author layered in was beautifully done. The spice was well executed and fit so well with these two as well. While the ending may have crushed my soul a little, I would have never known this was a debut book based on just how well the tension and story was done. I hope that she is already planning the next chapter for these characters.
‘Because though I might feel insignificant, I am not weak.'
April 27, 2026
A rebellion leader with rare illusion magic accidentally captures the king's most feared executioner. The setup is genuinely great. Classic enemies to lovers premise with real stakes and a morally grey warrior shaped by trauma and loss of agency.
I was ready for a slow burn cat and mouse dynamic and all the tension that comes with it. But it chose another path. The romance moves too fast in a way that undercuts everything the premise promises. One minute they're mortal enemies and the next the emotional groundwork has been skipped entirely in favor of getting them together quickly.
Kassiel has an interesting backstory and there's something genuinely compelling about how systems of power shape people into weapons, but it doesn't get explored with the depth it deserved. Alora's optimism as a counterbalance to his fatalism is a nice dynamic, but again, it needed more room to breathe. And for someone in her position, she often comes across as more naive than I expected. And the main villain is very mustache-twirly in a less nuanced way than I prefer.
That said, this is fun and fast paced and the ending genuinely surprised me and left me curious about where things are going. There are good bones here and enough to keep me interested in what comes next. Just wish it had trusted itself to slow down.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
I was ready for a slow burn cat and mouse dynamic and all the tension that comes with it. But it chose another path. The romance moves too fast in a way that undercuts everything the premise promises. One minute they're mortal enemies and the next the emotional groundwork has been skipped entirely in favor of getting them together quickly.
Kassiel has an interesting backstory and there's something genuinely compelling about how systems of power shape people into weapons, but it doesn't get explored with the depth it deserved. Alora's optimism as a counterbalance to his fatalism is a nice dynamic, but again, it needed more room to breathe. And for someone in her position, she often comes across as more naive than I expected. And the main villain is very mustache-twirly in a less nuanced way than I prefer.
That said, this is fun and fast paced and the ending genuinely surprised me and left me curious about where things are going. There are good bones here and enough to keep me interested in what comes next. Just wish it had trusted itself to slow down.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
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