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March 17, 2026
Reviewing as an ARC reader- first I do want to say thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity!
The Anastasia/Rapunzel theming advertised drew me in, but aside from a few small aspects here and there they aren’t dominant features in the story (given that this is the first book of a series I’m expecting that will change). That being said, while I did enjoy the primary characters Soraya, Jameson and Matilda and their bond built over the story, that’s unfortunately the best thing about the story as a whole.
Things in the story don’t quite seem very well thought out. For example, Ardeen has supposedly been in a dungeon cell his entire life but he
a)has sux pack abs and chiseled muscles
b)is frequently in close contact with Soraya (ex: hand holding through prison bars, close enough to kiss) yet she seems enamored with his appearance and smell while later noting that the prisoners don’t frequently bathe
c)he flirts frequently with her and about his ability pertaining to bedroom activities - yet he’s been in a cell all his life?? How??
Soraya is trying to solve a mystery about her kingdoms bloody past…a task that she doesn’t seem very good at to be honest. After stumbling upon her mother’s old journal she jumps to crazy conclusions like her mother having twins (but each child is from a different father) or her mother intentionally getting pregnant by an enemy kingdom’s monarch only to turn around and kill the child.
There is what feels like a very unnecessary sex scene between Soraya and Ardeen in his dungeon cell that, while it wouldn’t bother me in most cases, does not really fit the devoted and worshipping personality we are fed about Ardeen. Instead, there is zero foreplay, and he does not behave like someone who has not had sex before. He’s also incredibly selfish and finishes not only once but twice, while Soraya, our MC in what is supposed to be a strong female protagonist book, doesn’t.
While I didn’t entirely expect the exact twist at the end, Ardeen’s behavior made absolutely zero sense given he didn’t even know his heritage until that point. Soraya then seems to use powers from a different court that isn’t touched on or explained, but she apparently had no knowledge of until that point. Then there’s a weird part where Jameson picks up an entire dead horse? At the end she’s saved by who I’m assuming is going to be her true love interest going forward, and she’s already lusting over him. This girl’s whole life just got flipped on its head and she’s already ogling another man!
It’s unfortunate that the story fell flat for me, because I did like Jameson and I loved Soraya’s determination to make her kingdom a better place. I liked to idea of the celestial magic. Unless the story picks up/changes pace in book two I just don’t think this is the series for me.
The Anastasia/Rapunzel theming advertised drew me in, but aside from a few small aspects here and there they aren’t dominant features in the story (given that this is the first book of a series I’m expecting that will change). That being said, while I did enjoy the primary characters Soraya, Jameson and Matilda and their bond built over the story, that’s unfortunately the best thing about the story as a whole.
Things in the story don’t quite seem very well thought out. For example, Ardeen has supposedly been in a dungeon cell his entire life but he
a)has sux pack abs and chiseled muscles
b)is frequently in close contact with Soraya (ex: hand holding through prison bars, close enough to kiss) yet she seems enamored with his appearance and smell while later noting that the prisoners don’t frequently bathe
c)he flirts frequently with her and about his ability pertaining to bedroom activities - yet he’s been in a cell all his life?? How??
Soraya is trying to solve a mystery about her kingdoms bloody past…a task that she doesn’t seem very good at to be honest. After stumbling upon her mother’s old journal she jumps to crazy conclusions like her mother having twins (but each child is from a different father) or her mother intentionally getting pregnant by an enemy kingdom’s monarch only to turn around and kill the child.
There is what feels like a very unnecessary sex scene between Soraya and Ardeen in his dungeon cell that, while it wouldn’t bother me in most cases, does not really fit the devoted and worshipping personality we are fed about Ardeen. Instead, there is zero foreplay, and he does not behave like someone who has not had sex before. He’s also incredibly selfish and finishes not only once but twice, while Soraya, our MC in what is supposed to be a strong female protagonist book, doesn’t.
While I didn’t entirely expect the exact twist at the end, Ardeen’s behavior made absolutely zero sense given he didn’t even know his heritage until that point. Soraya then seems to use powers from a different court that isn’t touched on or explained, but she apparently had no knowledge of until that point. Then there’s a weird part where Jameson picks up an entire dead horse? At the end she’s saved by who I’m assuming is going to be her true love interest going forward, and she’s already lusting over him. This girl’s whole life just got flipped on its head and she’s already ogling another man!
It’s unfortunate that the story fell flat for me, because I did like Jameson and I loved Soraya’s determination to make her kingdom a better place. I liked to idea of the celestial magic. Unless the story picks up/changes pace in book two I just don’t think this is the series for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
Reviewing as an ARC read-Thank you Alana Powers and Green Avenue books for this opportunity!
I mostly enjoyed this story. There was great world building and I really enjoyed the plot. I don't know if I would've labeled it Repunzelesque. I can see hints of that theme in here but it's not major.
Also I really didn't like how Soraya's interaction with Ardeen in the dungeons escalated so quickly to lust and desire. I felt like there needed to be more buildup before it became the really sexual mess that it was. Especially when we learn he has been in a cell all his life, but somehow he is well-toned and muscled. Not to mention the author says he smells of Lavendar and sage, but he is also covered in dirt....? Make this make sense.
To add to this it felt like it took me longer than usual to figure out te characters age, so in the beginning I was imagining a 12 year old until the author mentioned she was 2 weeks from turning 21. But even after that point, with the way the character acted and talked she still felt more like 16. It also took me 100 pages to learn she had dark red hair. I feel this could have been introduced earlier.
I also had a really big problem with Jamesons character. I thought I remembered him being described as young and handsome and well-toned from Soraya's point of view, just to learn he was 42. So this whole time I was thinking he was another love interest, also the way his character behaved and scenes were worded made him seem like he was a love interest. That really threw me off.
In the last 30 pages of the book, this is where I felt the story really shined. I really enjoyed the plot twist, (except for that momentary second of thinking there was an incestuous act.) But then Ardeen's character does a complete 180. Which the author tries to describe why he did, but I still dont think with the way he behaved earlier, that he would switch up like that. I was kind of hoping he would turn around and betray his parents. But I think thats what made the ending better, because the author didn't write something that could be expected. Also at the end for Reed and Ardeen to have gotten ahead of the main characters didn't make any sense. What really baffled me was that while these 3 characters were trying to flee, Jameson decides to carry a HORSE, which is not possible, unless I missed the part in the book where everyone is giants. Just to later completely forget about the horse. Then I believe at the end we are introduced to the real main love interest. There were definitely a few confusing things in this book, or things in general I don't agree with. but don't let my review deter you. Cause I still think it was a very unique story with a great plot and I found myself reading about 30 pages everyday, so it kept me drawn in. A lot of it felt like filler though.
I mostly enjoyed this story. There was great world building and I really enjoyed the plot. I don't know if I would've labeled it Repunzelesque. I can see hints of that theme in here but it's not major.
Also I really didn't like how Soraya's interaction with Ardeen in the dungeons escalated so quickly to lust and desire. I felt like there needed to be more buildup before it became the really sexual mess that it was. Especially when we learn he has been in a cell all his life, but somehow he is well-toned and muscled. Not to mention the author says he smells of Lavendar and sage, but he is also covered in dirt....? Make this make sense.
To add to this it felt like it took me longer than usual to figure out te characters age, so in the beginning I was imagining a 12 year old until the author mentioned she was 2 weeks from turning 21. But even after that point, with the way the character acted and talked she still felt more like 16. It also took me 100 pages to learn she had dark red hair. I feel this could have been introduced earlier.
I also had a really big problem with Jamesons character. I thought I remembered him being described as young and handsome and well-toned from Soraya's point of view, just to learn he was 42. So this whole time I was thinking he was another love interest, also the way his character behaved and scenes were worded made him seem like he was a love interest. That really threw me off.
In the last 30 pages of the book, this is where I felt the story really shined. I really enjoyed the plot twist, (except for that momentary second of thinking there was an incestuous act.) But then Ardeen's character does a complete 180. Which the author tries to describe why he did, but I still dont think with the way he behaved earlier, that he would switch up like that. I was kind of hoping he would turn around and betray his parents. But I think thats what made the ending better, because the author didn't write something that could be expected. Also at the end for Reed and Ardeen to have gotten ahead of the main characters didn't make any sense. What really baffled me was that while these 3 characters were trying to flee, Jameson decides to carry a HORSE, which is not possible, unless I missed the part in the book where everyone is giants. Just to later completely forget about the horse. Then I believe at the end we are introduced to the real main love interest. There were definitely a few confusing things in this book, or things in general I don't agree with. but don't let my review deter you. Cause I still think it was a very unique story with a great plot and I found myself reading about 30 pages everyday, so it kept me drawn in. A lot of it felt like filler though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2026
ARC READER. 1.5 ⭐️
I am very grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy of Consort of Stars. The Anastasia/Rapunzel vibes peaked my interest but unfortunately, this story fell flat for me. I’m not really sure where to start. I questioned the purpose of the story and what the actual plot was for the majority of the book. The pacing was off, repetitive at times, and there were a lot of grammatical errors that constantly pulled me out of the story.
The twist in the last 10% was a lot to take in, but it didn’t make up for the fact that a lot of it just felt hard to buy into. Ardeen (did not love this name for a love interest tbh) was “born and raised in the dungeons” and yet smelled like sage and vanilla? I highly doubt that. Just the concept that he was coherent and could be taught to speak and read and form opinions really, all based on learning from Soraya, feels extremely off.
It’s a fantasy romance, really more slow burn, until a very random spicy scene that is questionable on so many levels. And the fantasy elements are so minimal I question the relevance entirely. I feel like I just read a 2 week play by play of every mundane thing that happened to a princess who decided one day that she didn’t like her parents actions, wanted to do things differently when it was her turn to rule, and abruptly took a hard left on blackmail, treason, and death of her parents.
Overall, it felt forced. I think the author had a vision of blending fairytales, but the driving force of the story wasn’t there. I don’t think I can continue with this series with the story as it is.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy of Consort of Stars. The Anastasia/Rapunzel vibes peaked my interest but unfortunately, this story fell flat for me. I’m not really sure where to start. I questioned the purpose of the story and what the actual plot was for the majority of the book. The pacing was off, repetitive at times, and there were a lot of grammatical errors that constantly pulled me out of the story.
The twist in the last 10% was a lot to take in, but it didn’t make up for the fact that a lot of it just felt hard to buy into. Ardeen (did not love this name for a love interest tbh) was “born and raised in the dungeons” and yet smelled like sage and vanilla? I highly doubt that. Just the concept that he was coherent and could be taught to speak and read and form opinions really, all based on learning from Soraya, feels extremely off.
It’s a fantasy romance, really more slow burn, until a very random spicy scene that is questionable on so many levels. And the fantasy elements are so minimal I question the relevance entirely. I feel like I just read a 2 week play by play of every mundane thing that happened to a princess who decided one day that she didn’t like her parents actions, wanted to do things differently when it was her turn to rule, and abruptly took a hard left on blackmail, treason, and death of her parents.
Overall, it felt forced. I think the author had a vision of blending fairytales, but the driving force of the story wasn’t there. I don’t think I can continue with this series with the story as it is.
March 19, 2026
First of all, thank you Green Avenue Books & Publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this book. I was delighted to read this story and went in completely blind without reviews.
I will admit this story had my attention at the beginning and I enjoyed the court structure. A court of the sun, moon and stars with their own powers? Absolutely awesome idea and it felt more original than some books I’ve read. It could have been expanded on a bit more, but overall I was excited to start.
At around 30% I realized this book was dragging. The pacing was slow and I felt like I was dragged along day by day, hour by hour of what the main character was thinking and doing— without any real plot or direction in mind. Around 50% we find out a secret and I get the idea that maybe things are picking up. Aaaaand then it started dragging along again.
I thought the characters ages were odd. The main character is supposed to be 21-24 but constantly acts and is treated like she’s 13-15. One of her main guards (which I thought would become a love interest) is actually twice her age? And it’s not revealed until 80% into the book? Weird. He became more of a father figure, which is fine….but I still felt it was a weird dynamic.
There was a good twist at 90% that I didn’t expect, but by the time it was revealed- I was already skimming through the book trying to end it.
Overall, great idea. But it needs more time to cook.
I will admit this story had my attention at the beginning and I enjoyed the court structure. A court of the sun, moon and stars with their own powers? Absolutely awesome idea and it felt more original than some books I’ve read. It could have been expanded on a bit more, but overall I was excited to start.
At around 30% I realized this book was dragging. The pacing was slow and I felt like I was dragged along day by day, hour by hour of what the main character was thinking and doing— without any real plot or direction in mind. Around 50% we find out a secret and I get the idea that maybe things are picking up. Aaaaand then it started dragging along again.
I thought the characters ages were odd. The main character is supposed to be 21-24 but constantly acts and is treated like she’s 13-15. One of her main guards (which I thought would become a love interest) is actually twice her age? And it’s not revealed until 80% into the book? Weird. He became more of a father figure, which is fine….but I still felt it was a weird dynamic.
There was a good twist at 90% that I didn’t expect, but by the time it was revealed- I was already skimming through the book trying to end it.
Overall, great idea. But it needs more time to cook.
March 6, 2026
Forbidden Love ✔️
Touch her & ☠️ ✔️
Who Did This To You? ✔️
Protective MMC ✔️
Celestial Magic ✔️
Court Intrigue ✔️
Found Family ✔️
Please check your triggers with this one, I found the first couple of chapters to be quite dark!
Consort of Stars follows Soraya, the daughter & sole heir to a kingdom, whose magic is drawn from the stars. She’s grown up knowing she’ll never truly rule alone, tradition dictates she must have a husband by her side. When an assassin infiltrates the kingdom and leaves 13 guards dead, Soraya becomes determined to uncover the truth and restore order. However, what she discovers is far more complicated than she ever imagined.
Soraya was a likeable, headstrong, and determined FMC. She’s spent her entire life striving to be the perfect princess, a role she doesn’t fully embrace. I loved her perseverance while investigating the mystery of the assassin, her dedication during training with Jameson, and her growing awareness that something deeper is happening within her kingdom. Her relationships with Jameson and Matilda were particularly wonderful, they truly became a little found family, and I loved every moment of it. 💕
Jameson - what a character! I wasn’t sure what to expect from him at first, but I ended up loving him. He’s protective of Soraya without being overbearing, giving her the space to become the person she wants to be while also teaching her how to defend herself. His support and respect for her independence made their relationship feel really balanced. Honestly, Jameson was an absolute cinnamon roll for Soraya, and their relationship was genuinely heartwarming.
Matilda was fantastic. Tough, no-nonsense, and exactly what you’d want in a tutor. She never held Soraya back and pushed her to become stronger. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Matilda and Jameson; their interactions added some great moments. ⚔️
For me personally, I didn’t feel the spicy scene was necessary and found it a little awkward to read. That said, it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am already eager for book 2! The reveal near the end kept me guessing, and that ending… I definitely need to know what happens next.😱
March 1, 2026
Received an ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review.
As soon as I saw this book being advertised as a Rapunzel/Anastasia inspired novel (two of my favorite movies), I had to read it. Unfortunately, despite the strong potential, this book fell very flat and wound up being very disappointing.
I don't even really know where to start to be honest. It was a struggle pushing through this book, but I forced myself to read the entire thing in order to provide a fair review.
The pacing was incredibly slow. The entire book takes place over a two-week timespan that leads up to Soraya's birthday. There was a lot of focus on the party planning aspect, which was utterly boring. It was hard to find any character to connect with or root for, and although the FMC had great moments where I could see her turning into a fantastic heroine, it felt forced.
One of the worst aspects is the romance. From the beginning nothing about Ardeen or his relationship with Soraya felt genuine or natural. It felt like it was being pushed on us and that we, as readers, were being convinced this was a real love story. Any sort of likability he had vanished with the absolutely nauseating spicy scene between the two. It was repulsive and completely destroyed anything he had going for him. In the end none of it mattered due to the complete heel-turn Ardeen's character takes at the end (which in itself was very abrupt and did not make sense after the author painstakingly emphasized how much he cared about her in all of their prior interactions.) That would be the one saving grace, that this man is clearly not the true MMC of the series. It's a relief that she didn't end up with him after that scene, which may have been what the author was going for. However, in order for this twist to have the devastating effect it should, the build up needed to make more sense. The basis of their relationship should have felt more organic but instead we got awkward romantic moments shoved down our throats, culminating in a truly revolting sexual encounter.
So many aspects did not make sense. Soraya became a fairly skilled warrior after like three training sessions, the descriptions of many of the characters were confusing, and other parts were just utterly laughable. There's a moment at the end where Jameson picks up an entire dead horse and throws it over his shoulder, which is entirely impossible. He makes a point of saying he won't leave this horse behind. Yet when he shows up a few pages later, the horse isn't mentioned at all.
Worst of all was the writing. This book needs several rounds of vigorous editing before it's ready to be published next month. It is full of grammatical errors such as run-on sentences, oddly placed capitalization, and at times a completely wrong word being used due to misspelling. Examples would be "revealed" instead of "reveled," or "sparring" instead of "sparing." Additionally, there is a LOT of repetition in descriptions of the world building, or using a word more than once in the same sentence.
The dialogue is both confusing and juvenile. Due to the bad punctuation and structure, the dialogue at times feels disjointed and makes it confusing as to who is actually speaking. The author also relies heavily on ALL CAPS DIALOGUE when expressing anger, but it doesn't always fit the description. I remember one instance where the character, I believe Jameson, yelled in ALL CAPS followed by "he seethed." Seethed to me as always been interpreted as a more calm, controlled anger. But maybe that's just me. I can't get the exact quote because I already removed this book from my kindle.
The big "twist" at the end is fairly predictable knowing what the story was inspired by. However, I will say how it was revealed was well done.
The most unfortunate thing is that the bones for a good story are there. Soraya had a strong sense of morality and inherent goodness and she could be a great character. The execution just isn't there. Like I said, this book needs a lot of tight editing. It is not ready for publication. I do not see myself continuing with this story.
As soon as I saw this book being advertised as a Rapunzel/Anastasia inspired novel (two of my favorite movies), I had to read it. Unfortunately, despite the strong potential, this book fell very flat and wound up being very disappointing.
I don't even really know where to start to be honest. It was a struggle pushing through this book, but I forced myself to read the entire thing in order to provide a fair review.
The pacing was incredibly slow. The entire book takes place over a two-week timespan that leads up to Soraya's birthday. There was a lot of focus on the party planning aspect, which was utterly boring. It was hard to find any character to connect with or root for, and although the FMC had great moments where I could see her turning into a fantastic heroine, it felt forced.
One of the worst aspects is the romance. From the beginning nothing about Ardeen or his relationship with Soraya felt genuine or natural. It felt like it was being pushed on us and that we, as readers, were being convinced this was a real love story. Any sort of likability he had vanished with the absolutely nauseating spicy scene between the two. It was repulsive and completely destroyed anything he had going for him. In the end none of it mattered due to the complete heel-turn Ardeen's character takes at the end (which in itself was very abrupt and did not make sense after the author painstakingly emphasized how much he cared about her in all of their prior interactions.) That would be the one saving grace, that this man is clearly not the true MMC of the series. It's a relief that she didn't end up with him after that scene, which may have been what the author was going for. However, in order for this twist to have the devastating effect it should, the build up needed to make more sense. The basis of their relationship should have felt more organic but instead we got awkward romantic moments shoved down our throats, culminating in a truly revolting sexual encounter.
So many aspects did not make sense. Soraya became a fairly skilled warrior after like three training sessions, the descriptions of many of the characters were confusing, and other parts were just utterly laughable. There's a moment at the end where Jameson picks up an entire dead horse and throws it over his shoulder, which is entirely impossible. He makes a point of saying he won't leave this horse behind. Yet when he shows up a few pages later, the horse isn't mentioned at all.
Worst of all was the writing. This book needs several rounds of vigorous editing before it's ready to be published next month. It is full of grammatical errors such as run-on sentences, oddly placed capitalization, and at times a completely wrong word being used due to misspelling. Examples would be "revealed" instead of "reveled," or "sparring" instead of "sparing." Additionally, there is a LOT of repetition in descriptions of the world building, or using a word more than once in the same sentence.
The dialogue is both confusing and juvenile. Due to the bad punctuation and structure, the dialogue at times feels disjointed and makes it confusing as to who is actually speaking. The author also relies heavily on ALL CAPS DIALOGUE when expressing anger, but it doesn't always fit the description. I remember one instance where the character, I believe Jameson, yelled in ALL CAPS followed by "he seethed." Seethed to me as always been interpreted as a more calm, controlled anger. But maybe that's just me. I can't get the exact quote because I already removed this book from my kindle.
The big "twist" at the end is fairly predictable knowing what the story was inspired by. However, I will say how it was revealed was well done.
The most unfortunate thing is that the bones for a good story are there. Soraya had a strong sense of morality and inherent goodness and she could be a great character. The execution just isn't there. Like I said, this book needs a lot of tight editing. It is not ready for publication. I do not see myself continuing with this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2026
oh this book was so fun!! i was so hooked from the very first line!!
the mystery of this book is what hit the hardest. i had suspicions about what was going to happen from the beginning of the story, and most of them were confirmed, but even so there were enough hints that i might be wrong, that it kept me reading up wayyy into the night more than once.
the characters in the story were all fascinating. of the things i predicted, i did not see That happening with That One Character. neither did i predict the end happening the way that it did either. it left me craving more!!
of everything in this book, the foreshadowing and suspense were done the best. i was thinking about this book long after i finished reading for the day and i was always excited to read more and find out what was going to happen next.
the linework Did leave a bit to be desired; there were some bits with missing words and repeated sentences/words, but this also is an arc copy, so i doubt it'll stay that way so take this with a massive grain of salt. also, i think it's a testament to the author's writing ability that despite that, i deeply enjoyed this book.
i loved soraya; she was such a strong character that also had a hint of fragility to her, which is always my favorite kind of lead female character. i loved jameson also!! he was so fascinating and i could tell what was going on with him from the beginning, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book at all. same with everything that happens with ardeen and matilda and soraya's mother.
all in all, this book was amazing. i loved every single second of it and i can't wait for book two!!
the mystery of this book is what hit the hardest. i had suspicions about what was going to happen from the beginning of the story, and most of them were confirmed, but even so there were enough hints that i might be wrong, that it kept me reading up wayyy into the night more than once.
the characters in the story were all fascinating. of the things i predicted, i did not see That happening with That One Character. neither did i predict the end happening the way that it did either. it left me craving more!!
of everything in this book, the foreshadowing and suspense were done the best. i was thinking about this book long after i finished reading for the day and i was always excited to read more and find out what was going to happen next.
the linework Did leave a bit to be desired; there were some bits with missing words and repeated sentences/words, but this also is an arc copy, so i doubt it'll stay that way so take this with a massive grain of salt. also, i think it's a testament to the author's writing ability that despite that, i deeply enjoyed this book.
i loved soraya; she was such a strong character that also had a hint of fragility to her, which is always my favorite kind of lead female character. i loved jameson also!! he was so fascinating and i could tell what was going on with him from the beginning, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book at all. same with everything that happens with ardeen and matilda and soraya's mother.
all in all, this book was amazing. i loved every single second of it and i can't wait for book two!!
February 19, 2026
Reviewing as an ARC reader of this book.
10/10. Period.
I devoured this book in less than 48 hours. It would've been quicker if adulting and work hadn't gotten in the way.
Princess Soraya is about to turn 21, and as such, will be taking over as ruler of her kingdom. However, the king and queen do not want her to rule alone. They have planned a birthday celebration, at which time Soraya shall pick an eligible bachelor to be her husband, and future king.
Soraya has other plans. She wants to rule alone. She doesn't like how her kingdom is known for their bloodshed and hostility. She wants to reunite the kingdoms and bring peace to the land.
This book is phenomenal! It tells the story of Princess Soraya, and how she wants to overcome being the silent princess. She knows she can make a difference, if only she can get her parents to see things her way.
The ending had me FLOORED! I will be in a reading slump for weeks because of this. The roller coaster of emotions wrecked me.
If you love a good Rapunzel/Anastasia retelling, this one is for you. I love fairytales, and this book has the perfect amount sprinkled in throughout.
I cannot wait for this to release on April 28, 2026 so I can own a copy of my own.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I am not giving it such a rave review because I was selected as an ARC reader. I'm giving the rave review because the book deserves it. Cannot wait for the next installment!
10/10. Period.
I devoured this book in less than 48 hours. It would've been quicker if adulting and work hadn't gotten in the way.
Princess Soraya is about to turn 21, and as such, will be taking over as ruler of her kingdom. However, the king and queen do not want her to rule alone. They have planned a birthday celebration, at which time Soraya shall pick an eligible bachelor to be her husband, and future king.
Soraya has other plans. She wants to rule alone. She doesn't like how her kingdom is known for their bloodshed and hostility. She wants to reunite the kingdoms and bring peace to the land.
This book is phenomenal! It tells the story of Princess Soraya, and how she wants to overcome being the silent princess. She knows she can make a difference, if only she can get her parents to see things her way.
The ending had me FLOORED! I will be in a reading slump for weeks because of this. The roller coaster of emotions wrecked me.
If you love a good Rapunzel/Anastasia retelling, this one is for you. I love fairytales, and this book has the perfect amount sprinkled in throughout.
I cannot wait for this to release on April 28, 2026 so I can own a copy of my own.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I am not giving it such a rave review because I was selected as an ARC reader. I'm giving the rave review because the book deserves it. Cannot wait for the next installment!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Advanced Reading Copy Review
Star Rating TBD
First off, I would like to sincerely thank the publisher and author for giving me the chance to be an ARC reader!
I was intrigued by the plot of this book and the storyline had good potential. The fairy tale / fantasy world aspects drew me in.
That being said, I genuinely think this novel needs some more beta and editorial feedback. The hardest part of ARC reading is leaving an honest review of what doesn’t work. Truthfully, this book needs more thorough developmental editing before publication. I found multiple grammatical and tense errors that should not have been missed by the editor. The pacing was a bit too slow. Most of the story focus fell on day to day mundane activities rather than the main plot. The character development needed some more work, especially that of the love interest. The romantic development needed to be fleshed out more.
I say all this with kindness and honesty and hope my review reflects that as a reader. I see a lot of potential in this story and hope that perhaps these manuscript issues can be addressed to make the story better! Please do not take this as a negative review but rather as constructive, I am sincerely trying to give helpful feedback. :)
Star Rating TBD
First off, I would like to sincerely thank the publisher and author for giving me the chance to be an ARC reader!
I was intrigued by the plot of this book and the storyline had good potential. The fairy tale / fantasy world aspects drew me in.
That being said, I genuinely think this novel needs some more beta and editorial feedback. The hardest part of ARC reading is leaving an honest review of what doesn’t work. Truthfully, this book needs more thorough developmental editing before publication. I found multiple grammatical and tense errors that should not have been missed by the editor. The pacing was a bit too slow. Most of the story focus fell on day to day mundane activities rather than the main plot. The character development needed some more work, especially that of the love interest. The romantic development needed to be fleshed out more.
I say all this with kindness and honesty and hope my review reflects that as a reader. I see a lot of potential in this story and hope that perhaps these manuscript issues can be addressed to make the story better! Please do not take this as a negative review but rather as constructive, I am sincerely trying to give helpful feedback. :)
February 23, 2026
ARC read — huge thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity!
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I’m already excited for book two. I think book two has sooo much potential to be great!
I went in thinking I’d be able to predict most of the plot since it’s a Rapunzel retelling… and wow, I was so wrong. I was genuinely surprised more than once. The author took the familiar framework and created something that feels fresh while still honoring the original inspiration.
Soraya is a young and very strong FMC. I loved her determination to better herself for her kingdom and her people. Her hunger for independence and knowledge was compelling, and her heartbreak hit hard. I think she has so much room for growth and to become a real bad a$$!
And Jameson… 🤌🏼 absolute chef’s kiss.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and I’m already excited for book two. I think book two has sooo much potential to be great!
I went in thinking I’d be able to predict most of the plot since it’s a Rapunzel retelling… and wow, I was so wrong. I was genuinely surprised more than once. The author took the familiar framework and created something that feels fresh while still honoring the original inspiration.
Soraya is a young and very strong FMC. I loved her determination to better herself for her kingdom and her people. Her hunger for independence and knowledge was compelling, and her heartbreak hit hard. I think she has so much room for growth and to become a real bad a$$!
And Jameson… 🤌🏼 absolute chef’s kiss.
February 27, 2026
Posting as an ARC reader- thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy! Definitely a solid 4/5 for me! I enjoyed the content and plot of the story and can’t wait for the official release and book 2! It gives off a rapunzel/anastasia with a twist vibe (to my understanding this was a goal).
The downside: the only major complaint: this book needs some ed-it-ing. There are some pretty glaring grammatical and syntax errors throughout that detract from the otherwise well thought-out and engrossing story. Some repetitive phrasing, some “wait I thought this WASNT possible based on what was said two pages ago?” moments, etc.
Overall: solid story, solid plot, easy to follow and easy to love (or hate) characters. With some good editing and proofreading, this could be a 4.5 or 5/5 star read.
The downside: the only major complaint: this book needs some ed-it-ing. There are some pretty glaring grammatical and syntax errors throughout that detract from the otherwise well thought-out and engrossing story. Some repetitive phrasing, some “wait I thought this WASNT possible based on what was said two pages ago?” moments, etc.
Overall: solid story, solid plot, easy to follow and easy to love (or hate) characters. With some good editing and proofreading, this could be a 4.5 or 5/5 star read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
First thank you Green Avenue for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My 5 takeaways from this book
1. This is a great concept, and I hope from ARCs to the final publishing some of the formatting and grammar mistakes are fixed.
2. The pacing is strange, and picks up a bit in the 50% range, but really hits in the last 10%.
3. The description being Anastasia meets Rapunzel really helps set up the story, but it also felt like aspects happened because that was inspiration, but I am hopeful more is revealed in book 2.
4. The more I think of the ruling system the less I understand.
5. The ages of all of the guards and the love interest just confuse me. Also it felt like certain aspects should be revealed earlier, such as when prisoners are released.
Stars: ⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🤢
5 Emojis: ⭐🟥🗡️📚 🤯
My 5 takeaways from this book
1. This is a great concept, and I hope from ARCs to the final publishing some of the formatting and grammar mistakes are fixed.
2. The pacing is strange, and picks up a bit in the 50% range, but really hits in the last 10%.
3. The description being Anastasia meets Rapunzel really helps set up the story, but it also felt like aspects happened because that was inspiration, but I am hopeful more is revealed in book 2.
4. The more I think of the ruling system the less I understand.
5. The ages of all of the guards and the love interest just confuse me. Also it felt like certain aspects should be revealed earlier, such as when prisoners are released.
Stars: ⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🤢
5 Emojis: ⭐🟥🗡️📚 🤯
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am an arc reader and willingly leave my review.
OMG this book was amazing! The story building, the heartache, the growth, the action, the romance chefs kiss 💋😘
10 out of 10 stars if I could.
Holy Jameson 🥵🥵
OMG this book was amazing! The story building, the heartache, the growth, the action, the romance chefs kiss 💋😘
10 out of 10 stars if I could.
Holy Jameson 🥵🥵
March 10, 2026
I received an ARC of this book. What can I say? The Rapunzel-esque story of this book had me from the beginning!
Along with a strong FMC, we have the sassy tutor/friend, and the loyal and fatherly guard. This book was wild from the start, and all I can really say is that I can’t wait for book 2! 😍
Along with a strong FMC, we have the sassy tutor/friend, and the loyal and fatherly guard. This book was wild from the start, and all I can really say is that I can’t wait for book 2! 😍
March 30, 2026
Thank you to Green Avenue book for allowing me an advanced copy to read. I really enjoyed this book and once it got going it was definitely hard to put down!
While there were some choices in storylines I may have chosen differently, Alana Powers definitely made intentional choices in her character development and plot points to create a world that I believe has so much potential. The growth that we see in Soraya was wonderful to read and I look forward to reading more books about her!
While there were some choices in storylines I may have chosen differently, Alana Powers definitely made intentional choices in her character development and plot points to create a world that I believe has so much potential. The growth that we see in Soraya was wonderful to read and I look forward to reading more books about her!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
ARC read - thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read this early!
This book had so much potential, but it fell a bit short for me. Firstly, let’s start with the positives -
1) The FMC - I really enjoyed this character. She was just and morally good, had grand ideas of how to better society, enjoyed learning, was kind-hearted, questioned the status quo, and fought for her beliefs even when she faced punishment.
2) The worldbuilding we got (though see the negatives list). The different kingdoms were really interesting to learn about and the origin story of the sun/moon/stars was neat.
3) Matilda and Jameson - both of these characters became found family and I loved that aspect of it.
4) Overall premise - so much potential here. Rapunzel x Anastasia vibes.
5) The twist revealed in the last 5% of the book.
6) Jameson and Soraya’s banter (but see the negatives list).
The negatives -
1) The pacing - this book moved really slow for the first 70% and then was full speed ahead in the last 30%. A good chunk of the book felt like filler and I wished more time was spent on moving the plot along.
2) The “MMC” (quotations because I don’t feel like he should have been the MMC, lol). Ardeen’s character had so many inconsistencies that took me out of the story. He’s a prisoner that has been locked in a dungeon since childhood and he’s somehow ripped, smells good, knows how to flirt, is articulate in how he speaks, and can give advice on how to navigate political issues. Like what??? We also have only small tidbits to build the foundation of their relationship on. So, while we are supposed to feel a connection to him, the emotional depth just isn’t there.
3) The spicy scene - This scene was so cringey to read and felt so out of place and forced. Going back to Negative #2, he’s been a prisoner since childhood but somehow knows what to do sexually (including weird modern dialogue that just doesn’t fit the setting)? This is supposedly both of their first times (both virgins), but he’s pretty rough with her and there’s zero foreplay on her behalf. But somehow she wants it rougher? So beyond unrealistic. Ardeen was also explained to be gentle and loving yet turns into a totally different person during the spice scene. It just felt unnecessary and didn’t feel aligned to the rest of the story.
4) The Personality Switch Up - This goes back to Negatives #2 and 3, but Ardeen pre-release and post-release have different personalities. One was protective, in love, and pro-Soraya ruling and the other was cruel, calculating, and power hungry. It makes no sense at all. This character is all over the place motivation wise.
5) The worldbuilding - While very interesting, we aren’t given much to go off of. The magic system was basically unexplored which I think is a big let down. We get small tidbits from Matilda’s lessons but not enough to make the setting feel “real.”
6) Jameson - Is it just me, or did he read like the actual MMC/love interest for Soraya? The twist that he’s married to Matilda left me so confused. The chemistry, banter, and flirty exchanges were obvious on page yet somehow we’re supposed to believe this was somehow more “fatherly” love/protection and that he’s deeply committed and in love with his wife? Not at all where I thought this was going. I was very much rooting for them to get together. This switch up at the end was jarring.
While there’s a lot in the Negatives column, I do want to emphasize that I still did enjoy reading this one - it was entertaining and the twist at the end was interesting. But, I am ending this book confused as to where it’s going. If the focus became Soraya and Jameson’s story, I would have been more on board, but there’s just so many inconsistencies that it took me away from the story and plot. I am still interested in reading book 2, but I hope more character development is done to make the characters feel more consistent and the world/magic system is more fleshed out.
Giving it a 3⭐️ rating because while I did find a good amount of negatives, I still enjoyed reading this one and would read book 2 if given the opportunity.
This book had so much potential, but it fell a bit short for me. Firstly, let’s start with the positives -
1) The FMC - I really enjoyed this character. She was just and morally good, had grand ideas of how to better society, enjoyed learning, was kind-hearted, questioned the status quo, and fought for her beliefs even when she faced punishment.
2) The worldbuilding we got (though see the negatives list). The different kingdoms were really interesting to learn about and the origin story of the sun/moon/stars was neat.
3) Matilda and Jameson - both of these characters became found family and I loved that aspect of it.
4) Overall premise - so much potential here. Rapunzel x Anastasia vibes.
5) The twist revealed in the last 5% of the book.
6) Jameson and Soraya’s banter (but see the negatives list).
The negatives -
1) The pacing - this book moved really slow for the first 70% and then was full speed ahead in the last 30%. A good chunk of the book felt like filler and I wished more time was spent on moving the plot along.
2) The “MMC” (quotations because I don’t feel like he should have been the MMC, lol). Ardeen’s character had so many inconsistencies that took me out of the story. He’s a prisoner that has been locked in a dungeon since childhood and he’s somehow ripped, smells good, knows how to flirt, is articulate in how he speaks, and can give advice on how to navigate political issues. Like what??? We also have only small tidbits to build the foundation of their relationship on. So, while we are supposed to feel a connection to him, the emotional depth just isn’t there.
3) The spicy scene - This scene was so cringey to read and felt so out of place and forced. Going back to Negative #2, he’s been a prisoner since childhood but somehow knows what to do sexually (including weird modern dialogue that just doesn’t fit the setting)? This is supposedly both of their first times (both virgins), but he’s pretty rough with her and there’s zero foreplay on her behalf. But somehow she wants it rougher? So beyond unrealistic. Ardeen was also explained to be gentle and loving yet turns into a totally different person during the spice scene. It just felt unnecessary and didn’t feel aligned to the rest of the story.
4) The Personality Switch Up - This goes back to Negatives #2 and 3, but Ardeen pre-release and post-release have different personalities. One was protective, in love, and pro-Soraya ruling and the other was cruel, calculating, and power hungry. It makes no sense at all. This character is all over the place motivation wise.
5) The worldbuilding - While very interesting, we aren’t given much to go off of. The magic system was basically unexplored which I think is a big let down. We get small tidbits from Matilda’s lessons but not enough to make the setting feel “real.”
6) Jameson - Is it just me, or did he read like the actual MMC/love interest for Soraya? The twist that he’s married to Matilda left me so confused. The chemistry, banter, and flirty exchanges were obvious on page yet somehow we’re supposed to believe this was somehow more “fatherly” love/protection and that he’s deeply committed and in love with his wife? Not at all where I thought this was going. I was very much rooting for them to get together. This switch up at the end was jarring.
While there’s a lot in the Negatives column, I do want to emphasize that I still did enjoy reading this one - it was entertaining and the twist at the end was interesting. But, I am ending this book confused as to where it’s going. If the focus became Soraya and Jameson’s story, I would have been more on board, but there’s just so many inconsistencies that it took me away from the story and plot. I am still interested in reading book 2, but I hope more character development is done to make the characters feel more consistent and the world/magic system is more fleshed out.
Giving it a 3⭐️ rating because while I did find a good amount of negatives, I still enjoyed reading this one and would read book 2 if given the opportunity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Alana for the EARC!
I have seen this book be advertised all over instagram for months and was so excited to read it! But I will say this book fell very flat as it seems to be in its first stages of editing rather than a ready to publish book.
The plot itself has so much promise, but it could really use more refining. The ending was also an insanely good plot twist!! But it also fell flat due to a lot of inconsistencies.
**** Spoilers *****
In chapter 7 Ardeen (a prisoner since birth) says “You are my most tempting sin.” He speaks so proper for someone imprisoned since birth and I know Soraya went in and taught him some things as she learned, but that wouldnt teach him the way a true teacher would
“I can show you how skilled I am in other activities.” Heat flared in my cheeks as Ardeen tore his eyes from mine, fiddling with the envelope. — what??????? Youve been in a cell all your life. I get the author wants him to be this hot MMC but it doesnt align with his backstory she gave him.
Then we get introduced to a new guard Jameson who I thought FOR SURE was a new love interest based off this:
“I don’t like the way he looks at you,” he responded, still keeping his eyes firmly on Reed.
“My pleasure princess.” He bowed his head at me before making his way over to the door. “And Soraya, if you ever want him gone, just say the word and I will take care of it for you.” He said, opening the door and scanning his surroundings before closing the door behind him.
“I’m sure you will find that I am not like most men, princess,” he taunted, letting his lips curve into a playful smile.
He was overall very protective, sometimes a little flirty and invaded her personal and private spaces often. It read more as a love interest than a guardian which makes it even weirder that it turns out he is married to her teacher and here to rescue her.
My mothers voice passed through the door seconds before she started knocking, banging on my door with little to no force. - this just made no sense
Add in the very graphic and vulgar sex scene that happens between Soraya and Ardeen in his DUNGEON CELL, it just doesnt flow. We are told Ardeen was raised in the cell but he isnt written like someone who has never left a cell. He has muscles, smells good????, knows how to flirt, speak well, and is suddenly chasing Soraya down at the end. It’s a very big plot hole that ruins that part of the story.
“smelled like Ardeen. The remnants of sage and vanilla hitting my nose had me reminiscing about last night.”
She then a few sentences later talks about how he has never even bathed with hot water. She also remarked she was covered in dirt from the cell and cant imagine how filthy he was. It just makes no sense. And then they had sex in the cell 🤮
Overall a lot of older characters are written very immaturely with lots of yelling and quips that they are snarky that just scream middle schooler. The love story falls flat and honestly the sex scene really ruined it for me.
Im willing to give the book another chance if it goes through more editing but if it stays as is, I wont be reading book 2.
I have seen this book be advertised all over instagram for months and was so excited to read it! But I will say this book fell very flat as it seems to be in its first stages of editing rather than a ready to publish book.
The plot itself has so much promise, but it could really use more refining. The ending was also an insanely good plot twist!! But it also fell flat due to a lot of inconsistencies.
**** Spoilers *****
In chapter 7 Ardeen (a prisoner since birth) says “You are my most tempting sin.” He speaks so proper for someone imprisoned since birth and I know Soraya went in and taught him some things as she learned, but that wouldnt teach him the way a true teacher would
“I can show you how skilled I am in other activities.” Heat flared in my cheeks as Ardeen tore his eyes from mine, fiddling with the envelope. — what??????? Youve been in a cell all your life. I get the author wants him to be this hot MMC but it doesnt align with his backstory she gave him.
Then we get introduced to a new guard Jameson who I thought FOR SURE was a new love interest based off this:
“I don’t like the way he looks at you,” he responded, still keeping his eyes firmly on Reed.
“My pleasure princess.” He bowed his head at me before making his way over to the door. “And Soraya, if you ever want him gone, just say the word and I will take care of it for you.” He said, opening the door and scanning his surroundings before closing the door behind him.
“I’m sure you will find that I am not like most men, princess,” he taunted, letting his lips curve into a playful smile.
He was overall very protective, sometimes a little flirty and invaded her personal and private spaces often. It read more as a love interest than a guardian which makes it even weirder that it turns out he is married to her teacher and here to rescue her.
My mothers voice passed through the door seconds before she started knocking, banging on my door with little to no force. - this just made no sense
Add in the very graphic and vulgar sex scene that happens between Soraya and Ardeen in his DUNGEON CELL, it just doesnt flow. We are told Ardeen was raised in the cell but he isnt written like someone who has never left a cell. He has muscles, smells good????, knows how to flirt, speak well, and is suddenly chasing Soraya down at the end. It’s a very big plot hole that ruins that part of the story.
“smelled like Ardeen. The remnants of sage and vanilla hitting my nose had me reminiscing about last night.”
She then a few sentences later talks about how he has never even bathed with hot water. She also remarked she was covered in dirt from the cell and cant imagine how filthy he was. It just makes no sense. And then they had sex in the cell 🤮
Overall a lot of older characters are written very immaturely with lots of yelling and quips that they are snarky that just scream middle schooler. The love story falls flat and honestly the sex scene really ruined it for me.
Im willing to give the book another chance if it goes through more editing but if it stays as is, I wont be reading book 2.
April 29, 2026
Thank you to Alana Powers and Green Avenue Books for this eARC! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
When I originally read the blurb about this book Repunzel/Anaststasia aspect is what got me excited about it as I love to read new takes on the princess stories but there really only seemed to be a couple of parts that hinted at that theme. While in general I enjoyed this story, I think there were alot of parts that missed the mark which prevented me from loving it. I know that a lot of fantasy book series start off slower, but the first 3/4 of the book felt somewhat repetitive/like it didn’t really go anywhere and the last 1/4 of the story was were all the action was (where I feel like the official story actually begins). Although I liked the magic and world building we get, this made the story really hard to get into at times. Given how the book ended I personally wish that that the first 3/4 of the story was condensed down into about 1/4 of the story and the last 1/4 made up more of the book.
As far as the characters go I wish we got to see more of their personalities as most of the book seems to stay fairly surface level with what we know about them. I think that Soraya had the potential to become a phenomenal MFC. She seems to want to stand by her people, but doesn’t seem to be great at the political scheming required to do so yet. I really like the relationships that we see Soraya form with Jameson (her guard) and Matilda (her tutor). In general these relationships gave me the found family vibes that I love in a story (although there were a few weird interactions with Jameson that made it confusing if he was supposed to be a father figure or a competing love interest) and I hope to see those relationships continue in the next book. I really don’t like the relationship formed with Ardeen. While I can get over the fact that he has abs (maybe he does sit-ups in his cell every day) but I do think it is weird that he’s super dirty yet smells like lavender. I also think it’s suspicious that a princess can sneak down into the dungeon so many times and never get caught (esp in a castle where the king/queen are overprotective of their daughter…..all the guards can’t possibly be sleeping at night). It’s also strange how quickly their relationship forms. Even though she’s been visiting for years she only sees him for a few hours at most every few weeks so I’m not sure how there relationship developed at the rate it did considering in half the conversations we see them have, Ardeen talks up how he’s going to ravish her when he finally gets hands on her. How does he know this since he’s been in jail all his life? Then all of a sudden he gets the opportunity to do said ravishing and #spoileralert he finishes twice and she doesn’t at all?! Their relationship just seemed really forced and his change of attitude at the end seems a bit out of character even for the little we know about him.
All in all though, the last part of the story drew me in so I’m looking forward to book 2 and excited to learn more about the new characters we got to meet at the end! (and maybe also learn how Jameson was somehow able to carry a full sized horse🤨)
When I originally read the blurb about this book Repunzel/Anaststasia aspect is what got me excited about it as I love to read new takes on the princess stories but there really only seemed to be a couple of parts that hinted at that theme. While in general I enjoyed this story, I think there were alot of parts that missed the mark which prevented me from loving it. I know that a lot of fantasy book series start off slower, but the first 3/4 of the book felt somewhat repetitive/like it didn’t really go anywhere and the last 1/4 of the story was were all the action was (where I feel like the official story actually begins). Although I liked the magic and world building we get, this made the story really hard to get into at times. Given how the book ended I personally wish that that the first 3/4 of the story was condensed down into about 1/4 of the story and the last 1/4 made up more of the book.
As far as the characters go I wish we got to see more of their personalities as most of the book seems to stay fairly surface level with what we know about them. I think that Soraya had the potential to become a phenomenal MFC. She seems to want to stand by her people, but doesn’t seem to be great at the political scheming required to do so yet. I really like the relationships that we see Soraya form with Jameson (her guard) and Matilda (her tutor). In general these relationships gave me the found family vibes that I love in a story (although there were a few weird interactions with Jameson that made it confusing if he was supposed to be a father figure or a competing love interest) and I hope to see those relationships continue in the next book. I really don’t like the relationship formed with Ardeen. While I can get over the fact that he has abs (maybe he does sit-ups in his cell every day) but I do think it is weird that he’s super dirty yet smells like lavender. I also think it’s suspicious that a princess can sneak down into the dungeon so many times and never get caught (esp in a castle where the king/queen are overprotective of their daughter…..all the guards can’t possibly be sleeping at night). It’s also strange how quickly their relationship forms. Even though she’s been visiting for years she only sees him for a few hours at most every few weeks so I’m not sure how there relationship developed at the rate it did considering in half the conversations we see them have, Ardeen talks up how he’s going to ravish her when he finally gets hands on her. How does he know this since he’s been in jail all his life? Then all of a sudden he gets the opportunity to do said ravishing and #spoileralert he finishes twice and she doesn’t at all?! Their relationship just seemed really forced and his change of attitude at the end seems a bit out of character even for the little we know about him.
All in all though, the last part of the story drew me in so I’m looking forward to book 2 and excited to learn more about the new characters we got to meet at the end! (and maybe also learn how Jameson was somehow able to carry a full sized horse🤨)
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the e-Arc! This review is voluntary and all opinions stated are my own.
I had to give myself some time to mull this one over. With the way it was advertised on threads, this book should have been an easy win for me. Any book using "Anastasia" as a comp is one I'm going to want to read. So I jumped at the chance to receive an ARC and was eager to dig in.
As it stands this book was a struggle.
It has good bones and a lot of promise: the twist and the final 5 chapters were really great and some of the strongest parts of the book. I also found a few scenes throughout that were clearly done with care and tackled plot points the author was really excited about!
All in all, though, it felt very disjointed and in need of more time in the oven.
Spoilers Below:
I really wanted to love this and went into this book with SUCH high hopes with how the premise was laid out. In the end, unless it gets some major edits, I won’t be continuing with this series.
I had to give myself some time to mull this one over. With the way it was advertised on threads, this book should have been an easy win for me. Any book using "Anastasia" as a comp is one I'm going to want to read. So I jumped at the chance to receive an ARC and was eager to dig in.
As it stands this book was a struggle.
It has good bones and a lot of promise: the twist and the final 5 chapters were really great and some of the strongest parts of the book. I also found a few scenes throughout that were clearly done with care and tackled plot points the author was really excited about!
All in all, though, it felt very disjointed and in need of more time in the oven.
Spoilers Below:
I really wanted to love this and went into this book with SUCH high hopes with how the premise was laid out. In the end, unless it gets some major edits, I won’t be continuing with this series.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is an ARC review and I am super thrilled and grateful to have been given it! Thank you!
This book felt like it was missing some of its soul.
The storyline is good and the twist was not what I had totally expected but was pretty close to it - there was a horrifying moment where I thought this was going to be a mortal instruments maybe half siblings situation and I was concerned. I am still a little confused on how the babies got switched and the son wasn’t seen.
I like the characters well enough although parts often felt rushed when relationships were changing and twists were happening - it felt like there was a lot missing especially in the quieter moments.
I do wonder if the author has taken the idea of having a whole book with a romantic lead that then turns villain at the end and then the new guy is introduced to entice you to buy the next book, I do also wonder if she got this from the ACOTAR hype.
I really wasn’t a fan of the sex scene in all honesty - it felt rushed, rough and not really in line with the characters - to be honest the whole character of Ardeen was not my favourite, for a guy whose spent his entire life in the dungeons it feels odd he’d immediately go into dom mode and make her give him a blowjob and then flip her around, with how delicate and loving he had been to her it was a bit of a whiplash. Also I know that fantasy requires some disbelief but the dude has been in a DUNGEON his whole life… girl is brave for putting it in her mouth.
Also I really loved Jameson and Matilda but would have really loved more moments between them that aren’t just ‘Matilda shouts’. Seeing more connection between them before Soroya finds out and maybe some suspicion or caught moments or something would be nice. Not to mention I find it odd that a character such as Jameson who is in the protector role and takes it very seriously to just easily leave Soroya in the dungeon without checking on her and then being chill about them having sex, again just feels a bit out of character.
I’m unsure how Reed as a character still has a job in the palace and is alive - again considering he almost murdered and attacked Soroya surely Jameson would have killed him already.
There’s also quite a few spelling mistakes/autocorrect wrong words/missing letters throughout the book which pulled me out of the story a couple times. But that’s not the authors fault.
Overall I think this story has huge potential and like a lot of series may improve in the second book now that the base is set, but I’d be disappointed if it remains the same as the first. Excited to see what else this new author does!
This book felt like it was missing some of its soul.
The storyline is good and the twist was not what I had totally expected but was pretty close to it - there was a horrifying moment where I thought this was going to be a mortal instruments maybe half siblings situation and I was concerned. I am still a little confused on how the babies got switched and the son wasn’t seen.
I like the characters well enough although parts often felt rushed when relationships were changing and twists were happening - it felt like there was a lot missing especially in the quieter moments.
I do wonder if the author has taken the idea of having a whole book with a romantic lead that then turns villain at the end and then the new guy is introduced to entice you to buy the next book, I do also wonder if she got this from the ACOTAR hype.
I really wasn’t a fan of the sex scene in all honesty - it felt rushed, rough and not really in line with the characters - to be honest the whole character of Ardeen was not my favourite, for a guy whose spent his entire life in the dungeons it feels odd he’d immediately go into dom mode and make her give him a blowjob and then flip her around, with how delicate and loving he had been to her it was a bit of a whiplash. Also I know that fantasy requires some disbelief but the dude has been in a DUNGEON his whole life… girl is brave for putting it in her mouth.
Also I really loved Jameson and Matilda but would have really loved more moments between them that aren’t just ‘Matilda shouts’. Seeing more connection between them before Soroya finds out and maybe some suspicion or caught moments or something would be nice. Not to mention I find it odd that a character such as Jameson who is in the protector role and takes it very seriously to just easily leave Soroya in the dungeon without checking on her and then being chill about them having sex, again just feels a bit out of character.
I’m unsure how Reed as a character still has a job in the palace and is alive - again considering he almost murdered and attacked Soroya surely Jameson would have killed him already.
There’s also quite a few spelling mistakes/autocorrect wrong words/missing letters throughout the book which pulled me out of the story a couple times. But that’s not the authors fault.
Overall I think this story has huge potential and like a lot of series may improve in the second book now that the base is set, but I’d be disappointed if it remains the same as the first. Excited to see what else this new author does!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2026
I want to start by thanking Alana Power and Green Avenue Books and Publishing for the ARC.
I really enjoyed the book. The magic system seems really interesting and the some of the characters are really great. Now, the Rapunzel theme thing I think it was missing here, I was able to see the reference, specially at the end, but I do feel that it was not enough.
About the characters, I did love everyone of them, but it was a bit confusing at the beginning to know who was going to be Soraya's love interest and who was the rest. By reading others review, I can say that I was not the only one who thought that Jameson was going to be her love interest, but then, almost half way through the book we found out that he is actually twice her age, and at the end we realized that he's actually marry to Matilda.
Then there is Ardeen. I felt that he was not well described and that sometimes it was kind of rare how, despite the fact that he was a prisoner, he smell like lavender I think? And he has muscle and all? It make a little more sense at the end when Alana explain who he really is, but at the same time it was something that bothers me during the whole book, because it did not make sense.
Soraya is a good MFC, I like the way she thinks and how she try to be different from her parents,. but at the same time I though that she was a teenager. The first episode I though she was like 16/17 maybe? and then it is said that she's soon to be 21 and the Queen of her court. I really thing that the age it was an issue for me here.
Another aspect that I feel rare was the relationship that Jameson has with Soraya. I really like how he was with her, but at certain point it was a bit too much. I understand now that I finished the book that Soraya is his friends daughter and the Queen of his court but... i don't know, it feel off sometimes. And I'm not gonna lie but I loved that Matilda and Jameson were a couple. I was rooting for them once I realize he was older!!!!
In general the book was really easy to read, it was my escape form all the school reading that I was doing at the same time. I liked the magic system and the power of each court and I am really excited for the second book!!!
I really enjoyed the book. The magic system seems really interesting and the some of the characters are really great. Now, the Rapunzel theme thing I think it was missing here, I was able to see the reference, specially at the end, but I do feel that it was not enough.
About the characters, I did love everyone of them, but it was a bit confusing at the beginning to know who was going to be Soraya's love interest and who was the rest. By reading others review, I can say that I was not the only one who thought that Jameson was going to be her love interest, but then, almost half way through the book we found out that he is actually twice her age, and at the end we realized that he's actually marry to Matilda.
Then there is Ardeen. I felt that he was not well described and that sometimes it was kind of rare how, despite the fact that he was a prisoner, he smell like lavender I think? And he has muscle and all? It make a little more sense at the end when Alana explain who he really is, but at the same time it was something that bothers me during the whole book, because it did not make sense.
Soraya is a good MFC, I like the way she thinks and how she try to be different from her parents,. but at the same time I though that she was a teenager. The first episode I though she was like 16/17 maybe? and then it is said that she's soon to be 21 and the Queen of her court. I really thing that the age it was an issue for me here.
Another aspect that I feel rare was the relationship that Jameson has with Soraya. I really like how he was with her, but at certain point it was a bit too much. I understand now that I finished the book that Soraya is his friends daughter and the Queen of his court but... i don't know, it feel off sometimes. And I'm not gonna lie but I loved that Matilda and Jameson were a couple. I was rooting for them once I realize he was older!!!!
In general the book was really easy to read, it was my escape form all the school reading that I was doing at the same time. I liked the magic system and the power of each court and I am really excited for the second book!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall this is an interesting fantasy novel with very unique plot ideas, and a twist ending that I didn't see coming. I love the main characters flair and perseverance.
Spoilers below!
Soraya is, in my opinion, a little naive for her age. She has spent her entire life essentially trapped in a castle though so I suppose that could factor into it but even her mentors seem a little unphased by her plans and optimistic outlook sometimes. But she kinda gives me Rapunzel vibes. Not really knowing how things work but wanting everything to work out anyways. And her wish for a better future and stubbornness to get it is admirable.
I'm so glad Ardeen turned out to be kinda crazy and evil because he gave me uneasy vibes and ick from the beginning. Also, after your own parents put you in a jail cell (really couldnt /he/ have been the one hidden away in a tower?) and the girl you claim to love is right there you're going to just turn your back on her for... your deadbeat parents. Got it. I 100% thought when he gave her the headstart he was going to actually just try to get her away.
Jameson and Matilda are goals. Enough said. Definitely my favorite characters.
There are definitely some plot holes in this (how was Ardeen so strong after being trapped in a cell? When did he learn how to use a dagger?) as well as some other smaller ones. It also felt like the copy I had skipped a few words or sentences? But that could be a downloading issue. We know how kindle can be. Also a few grammatical and spelling errors. HOWEVER, most of those can be overlooked because the plot is still fun, and I definitely didnt fully guess the ending. I knew Ardeen was going to be this missing child but had no clue how it would all play out.
The author did do a great job with spreading hints throughout the book but not drawing attention to them. Sometimes they make them so obvious you know the plot like 3 chapters in. I like being left guessing and I like being surprised that I wasnt 100% right even more so kudos!
I will recommend and I cant wait to see the progress and plot made in the next book!
Spoilers below!
Soraya is, in my opinion, a little naive for her age. She has spent her entire life essentially trapped in a castle though so I suppose that could factor into it but even her mentors seem a little unphased by her plans and optimistic outlook sometimes. But she kinda gives me Rapunzel vibes. Not really knowing how things work but wanting everything to work out anyways. And her wish for a better future and stubbornness to get it is admirable.
I'm so glad Ardeen turned out to be kinda crazy and evil because he gave me uneasy vibes and ick from the beginning. Also, after your own parents put you in a jail cell (really couldnt /he/ have been the one hidden away in a tower?) and the girl you claim to love is right there you're going to just turn your back on her for... your deadbeat parents. Got it. I 100% thought when he gave her the headstart he was going to actually just try to get her away.
Jameson and Matilda are goals. Enough said. Definitely my favorite characters.
There are definitely some plot holes in this (how was Ardeen so strong after being trapped in a cell? When did he learn how to use a dagger?) as well as some other smaller ones. It also felt like the copy I had skipped a few words or sentences? But that could be a downloading issue. We know how kindle can be. Also a few grammatical and spelling errors. HOWEVER, most of those can be overlooked because the plot is still fun, and I definitely didnt fully guess the ending. I knew Ardeen was going to be this missing child but had no clue how it would all play out.
The author did do a great job with spreading hints throughout the book but not drawing attention to them. Sometimes they make them so obvious you know the plot like 3 chapters in. I like being left guessing and I like being surprised that I wasnt 100% right even more so kudos!
I will recommend and I cant wait to see the progress and plot made in the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Consort of Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I want to start by thanking the author for giving me an eARC of "Consort of Stars". My review below is my honest opinion.
I had high hopes for this book after seeing it marketed on Instagram, though I was unfortunately let down. I noticed a couple weeks ago that the author made a post stating that her publisher closed and that some of the copies that were sent were incorrect. I wish as the ARC reader we would have received some notification via email with this information. I am still unsure if I have the correct copy and if the book will still be released on the original release date.
This book was told to have "Celestial Magic" and labeled as a "Romantasy" on social media, though I felt the magic system and fantasy elements were lacking. I do agree with others that about 90% of the book was very slow, following Soraya's daily life. The last 10% had lots of twist and secrets, though I felt way more confused after finishing it. There were very many parts of this books that did not make sense, didn't seem possible, and I felt were missing details.
I tried really hard to give this book a chance and ignore all of the reviews. I usually write really positive reviews and love almost every book I read. Unfortunately this one was not one of them. I personally would not recommend this to anyone I know and I will not be giving the second book a chance.
*****The section below will have some SPOILERS*****
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The spicy scene felt very random and out of place. I did not like how Ardeen treated Soraya during it by taking care of himself first and not her at all. I would like to assume that it was their first time for both of them but it seemed as though Ardeen was very knowledgeable in that field. I also felt as though some of the things they did would seem impossible while chained, though it was never brought up.
Another part that bothered me that it seems to have bothered a lot of people was about the horse at the end of the book. There was no explanation how Jameson would have been able to do that nor does it seem humanly possible.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I want to start by thanking the author for giving me an eARC of "Consort of Stars". My review below is my honest opinion.
I had high hopes for this book after seeing it marketed on Instagram, though I was unfortunately let down. I noticed a couple weeks ago that the author made a post stating that her publisher closed and that some of the copies that were sent were incorrect. I wish as the ARC reader we would have received some notification via email with this information. I am still unsure if I have the correct copy and if the book will still be released on the original release date.
This book was told to have "Celestial Magic" and labeled as a "Romantasy" on social media, though I felt the magic system and fantasy elements were lacking. I do agree with others that about 90% of the book was very slow, following Soraya's daily life. The last 10% had lots of twist and secrets, though I felt way more confused after finishing it. There were very many parts of this books that did not make sense, didn't seem possible, and I felt were missing details.
I tried really hard to give this book a chance and ignore all of the reviews. I usually write really positive reviews and love almost every book I read. Unfortunately this one was not one of them. I personally would not recommend this to anyone I know and I will not be giving the second book a chance.
*****The section below will have some SPOILERS*****
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The spicy scene felt very random and out of place. I did not like how Ardeen treated Soraya during it by taking care of himself first and not her at all. I would like to assume that it was their first time for both of them but it seemed as though Ardeen was very knowledgeable in that field. I also felt as though some of the things they did would seem impossible while chained, though it was never brought up.
Another part that bothered me that it seems to have bothered a lot of people was about the horse at the end of the book. There was no explanation how Jameson would have been able to do that nor does it seem humanly possible.
April 28, 2026
3.5⭐️/5
The continent of Acadia is divided into three courts, each one ruled by the sun, moon, or stars. Princess Soraya of Vespera is on the cusp of her birthday and coronation celebration. Soraya has dreams of ruling differently than her parents and previous ancestors, but her parents have other plans. As the coronation day gets closer, Soraya learns of secrets and betrayals and must learn who she can actually trust within her kingdom.
I liked this one. The beginning starts with a background story of the courts which I really liked and I was drawn in to the story by the first chapter. I liked parts of the middle, such as the FMC learning more about the courts and training to defend herself. I liked her relationship with her tutor and how close she was to her. The ending also had a crazy plot twist that I didn’t see coming! The last 10% of the book was a lot of action and the way it ended made me want the next book.
The middle of the book was where my issues were. It dragged on at times and it felt like they were doing mundane things. There were some repeating scenes or phrases, for example the FMC showed one character something twice but it was like the first time both times. The FMC also sneaks around the castle a lot, but somehow rarely gets caught or snitched on. I just didn’t understand how she was going through a locked door multiple times a day, but never accidentally locked in or have someone see her. The relationships she had were also questionable to me. Her love interest made sense to me at first as she has no contact with the outside world or friendships. But then there is a spicy scene out of left field and the love interest does a 180 after finding out about his past. I also thought her guard was going to be a love interest at one point, but then he turned more into a parental figure. His protectiveness made sense after reading to the end, but some of his actions in the middle were strange to me. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll continue this series or not. I think it has promise, but still needs some work.
Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
The continent of Acadia is divided into three courts, each one ruled by the sun, moon, or stars. Princess Soraya of Vespera is on the cusp of her birthday and coronation celebration. Soraya has dreams of ruling differently than her parents and previous ancestors, but her parents have other plans. As the coronation day gets closer, Soraya learns of secrets and betrayals and must learn who she can actually trust within her kingdom.
I liked this one. The beginning starts with a background story of the courts which I really liked and I was drawn in to the story by the first chapter. I liked parts of the middle, such as the FMC learning more about the courts and training to defend herself. I liked her relationship with her tutor and how close she was to her. The ending also had a crazy plot twist that I didn’t see coming! The last 10% of the book was a lot of action and the way it ended made me want the next book.
The middle of the book was where my issues were. It dragged on at times and it felt like they were doing mundane things. There were some repeating scenes or phrases, for example the FMC showed one character something twice but it was like the first time both times. The FMC also sneaks around the castle a lot, but somehow rarely gets caught or snitched on. I just didn’t understand how she was going through a locked door multiple times a day, but never accidentally locked in or have someone see her. The relationships she had were also questionable to me. Her love interest made sense to me at first as she has no contact with the outside world or friendships. But then there is a spicy scene out of left field and the love interest does a 180 after finding out about his past. I also thought her guard was going to be a love interest at one point, but then he turned more into a parental figure. His protectiveness made sense after reading to the end, but some of his actions in the middle were strange to me. I’m honestly not sure if I’ll continue this series or not. I think it has promise, but still needs some work.
Thank you to the author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2026
A Consort of Stars by Alana Powers is the kind of book that smiles sweetly at you in the beginning and then spends the rest of the time systematically ruining your ability to trust literally anyone.
This story really said: what if a princess realized her entire life was propaganda… and then had to keep living in it? And not in a slow, gentle way either. No. The second Soraya starts asking questions, the plot kicks the door down and goes full chaos mode. Every truth feels like it’s been buried on purpose, every relationship feels suspicious, and every time you think you’ve got a handle on things, the book goes, “that’s cute,” and pulls the rug out from under you.
And the romance?? Oh, it’s toxic in that delicious, “this is definitely going to devastate me emotionally, and I will still defend it” kind of way. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a dagger, and just when you start to settle into the softness of it, the story drops another secret like a bomb. You don’t get peace—you get moments of peace that immediately combust.
What really makes this book spiral is how personal everything feels. The betrayals don’t just happen; they land. Hard. It’s not distant court politics; it’s identity-shaking, trust-destroying, “who even am I if everything I was told is a lie” energy. Soraya’s entire existence starts to feel like a carefully constructed illusion, and watching her claw her way through that realization is messy, frustrating, and wildly satisfying all at once.
By the end, you’re not okay. The kingdom is not okay. The relationships are hanging on by a thread. And you, as the reader, are sitting there like: wow, that escalated quickly… and also I would like more immediately.
It’s dramatic, it’s chaotic, it’s emotionally unwell in the best way, and it absolutely does not believe in letting you relax for even a second. I was nail-biting and screaming, "What the heck is going on? What is unfolding? Did that happen?" I love books that drop plot twists on you that you may have seen coming, but then you realize, nope, she fooled me. I am a fan and want more.
This story really said: what if a princess realized her entire life was propaganda… and then had to keep living in it? And not in a slow, gentle way either. No. The second Soraya starts asking questions, the plot kicks the door down and goes full chaos mode. Every truth feels like it’s been buried on purpose, every relationship feels suspicious, and every time you think you’ve got a handle on things, the book goes, “that’s cute,” and pulls the rug out from under you.
And the romance?? Oh, it’s toxic in that delicious, “this is definitely going to devastate me emotionally, and I will still defend it” kind of way. The tension is so thick you could cut it with a dagger, and just when you start to settle into the softness of it, the story drops another secret like a bomb. You don’t get peace—you get moments of peace that immediately combust.
What really makes this book spiral is how personal everything feels. The betrayals don’t just happen; they land. Hard. It’s not distant court politics; it’s identity-shaking, trust-destroying, “who even am I if everything I was told is a lie” energy. Soraya’s entire existence starts to feel like a carefully constructed illusion, and watching her claw her way through that realization is messy, frustrating, and wildly satisfying all at once.
By the end, you’re not okay. The kingdom is not okay. The relationships are hanging on by a thread. And you, as the reader, are sitting there like: wow, that escalated quickly… and also I would like more immediately.
It’s dramatic, it’s chaotic, it’s emotionally unwell in the best way, and it absolutely does not believe in letting you relax for even a second. I was nail-biting and screaming, "What the heck is going on? What is unfolding? Did that happen?" I love books that drop plot twists on you that you may have seen coming, but then you realize, nope, she fooled me. I am a fan and want more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
April 18, 2026Edited to Add: I have just heard that the publisher had sent out eARCs of the unedited draft. What a nightmare for the author! I've removed my star rating, but will keep my review up for now, which this note.
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I was so excited for this, as Tangled and Anastasia are my absolute favorite princess stories....
There is something here, but it needs A LOT of polishing before it's ready for publishing. I never mention grammar or punctuation when reviewing ARCs, but I feel like there are just so many missing punctuation marks, run-on sentences, and inconsistencies... This reads like more of an alpha or beta read than an ARC.
Soraya read like she was 15 or 16, rather than nearly 21. I understand that she is sheltered... Or is meant to be? I was confused about that, as well. She has lessons that last a couple of hours a few days a week and otherwise nothing but time... She mentions walking by staff, but never tries to speak to them? For 21 years? She paints, which her parents hate, but her days felt repetitive.
Her parents were violent traditionalist tyrants who told her she needed to watch what she ate and that her only role as queen would be to produce heirs... While also being wonderful parents who check in on her often, have a super healthy, loving marriage, and she will definitely be able to change their minds so she can rule solo? I felt a bit of whiplash as I tried to figure out who her parents actually were.
There is a guard that I liked, but he is not the love interest. Which I can get behind, 'cause found family is definitely my jam. But the actual love interest is also oddly juvenile, and I just got weird vibes from him. He was born in the dungeons and lived there his entire life. He does things like BREAK ALL OF HIS FINGERS ON ONE HAND to distract a guard (which is still bleeding weeks later?).
I didn't completely lose interest, so there is something here, but it's still in its draft stage, in my opinion...
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I was so excited for this, as Tangled and Anastasia are my absolute favorite princess stories....
There is something here, but it needs A LOT of polishing before it's ready for publishing. I never mention grammar or punctuation when reviewing ARCs, but I feel like there are just so many missing punctuation marks, run-on sentences, and inconsistencies... This reads like more of an alpha or beta read than an ARC.
Soraya read like she was 15 or 16, rather than nearly 21. I understand that she is sheltered... Or is meant to be? I was confused about that, as well. She has lessons that last a couple of hours a few days a week and otherwise nothing but time... She mentions walking by staff, but never tries to speak to them? For 21 years? She paints, which her parents hate, but her days felt repetitive.
Her parents were violent traditionalist tyrants who told her she needed to watch what she ate and that her only role as queen would be to produce heirs... While also being wonderful parents who check in on her often, have a super healthy, loving marriage, and she will definitely be able to change their minds so she can rule solo? I felt a bit of whiplash as I tried to figure out who her parents actually were.
There is a guard that I liked, but he is not the love interest. Which I can get behind, 'cause found family is definitely my jam. But the actual love interest is also oddly juvenile, and I just got weird vibes from him. He was born in the dungeons and lived there his entire life. He does things like BREAK ALL OF HIS FINGERS ON ONE HAND to distract a guard (which is still bleeding weeks later?).
I didn't completely lose interest, so there is something here, but it's still in its draft stage, in my opinion...
May 14, 2026
Soo I loved the idea of this book. I love magic, kingdoms and princesses. This had all of that but it felt a little chaotic at times and I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be following along with.
I love the concept of a princess fighting back against the injustices in the kingdom and whether or not that included her parents. That was excellent. You could see how controlling her mother was (her weight and appearance) while her father appeared more soft and loving (typical family dynamic) but I feel like there was stuff missing from the relationship. Maybe it’s just because I like background snippets but totally get how that would have spoiled the ending.
Ardeen…..can I just say that I absolutely hated him from the start. He should be some frail and lanky prisoner but he sounds like a god with glorious abs and apparently has loads of sexual experience for someone locked up HIS ENTIRE LIFE. I mean props for a cocky guy thinking he has game. But it was far fetched to believe this at times. How Soraya doesn’t think he smells is beyond me. He was alright at the start of the book but I wanted him dead by the 3/4 mark.
Can we talk about the sex scene?! Completely blew me away that it was included WHERE it was included. I was honestly so shocked (I am no prude btw but it felt forced and that it was there simply for the sake of spice). Soraya “had” to be locked in the dungeon to not get caught (Jameson would never let that happen to he honest) and they first thing they do in a dungeon (with lots of other prisoners) is have sex a few times?!?!? Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE.
I LOVED the twists at the end but it felt rushed. I hate when they most happens in the last 1/4 of the book unexpectedly (even if it’s good). Some of that could have been dragged out.
All that being said I am looking forward to what happens next. I really did love the idea of the book and think there is potential for more to be done.
I love the concept of a princess fighting back against the injustices in the kingdom and whether or not that included her parents. That was excellent. You could see how controlling her mother was (her weight and appearance) while her father appeared more soft and loving (typical family dynamic) but I feel like there was stuff missing from the relationship. Maybe it’s just because I like background snippets but totally get how that would have spoiled the ending.
Ardeen…..can I just say that I absolutely hated him from the start. He should be some frail and lanky prisoner but he sounds like a god with glorious abs and apparently has loads of sexual experience for someone locked up HIS ENTIRE LIFE. I mean props for a cocky guy thinking he has game. But it was far fetched to believe this at times. How Soraya doesn’t think he smells is beyond me. He was alright at the start of the book but I wanted him dead by the 3/4 mark.
Can we talk about the sex scene?! Completely blew me away that it was included WHERE it was included. I was honestly so shocked (I am no prude btw but it felt forced and that it was there simply for the sake of spice). Soraya “had” to be locked in the dungeon to not get caught (Jameson would never let that happen to he honest) and they first thing they do in a dungeon (with lots of other prisoners) is have sex a few times?!?!? Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE.
I LOVED the twists at the end but it felt rushed. I hate when they most happens in the last 1/4 of the book unexpectedly (even if it’s good). Some of that could have been dragged out.
All that being said I am looking forward to what happens next. I really did love the idea of the book and think there is potential for more to be done.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed Consort of Stars by Alana Powers and found Princess Soraya so easy to root for. This story blends forbidden romance, hidden secrets, and a complicated political system in a way that kept me turning the pages. Soraya has lived a sheltered life behind castle walls, but her secret friendship with a prisoner begins to raise questions about her kingdom’s bloody past and sets off a chain of twists and betrayals.
One thing I loved right away was the dedication: “For all the girls who wanted to be the knight instead of the princess. Grab your swords ladies, we have enemies to slay.” It perfectly captures the spirit of Soraya’s story and the tension between the role she is expected to play and the strength she actually possesses. That tension shows up throughout the book, especially in moments like when Soraya is told, “You won’t have to make those decisions, Soraya. Your husband will.” Soraya lives in a world where women have very few rights, particularly once they marry, which adds another layer to her journey.
The romance is a slow burn with about 3/5 chili peppers for spice. While I enjoyed the relationship, a few moments with Ardeen did not fully land for me since he has been imprisoned his entire life, yet hints at a level of romantic experience that felt a little hard to believe.
One quote that really stood out to me and felt like an important message in the story was:
“Scars are nothing to be ashamed of. They show the world what you have survived.”
It’s a simple line, but it carries a lot of emotional weight and reflects the resilience that runs through the book.
Overall, I would give Consort of Stars 4/5 stars. If you enjoy fantasy romance with fairytale inspiration, political intrigue, forbidden love, and family secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up
One thing I loved right away was the dedication: “For all the girls who wanted to be the knight instead of the princess. Grab your swords ladies, we have enemies to slay.” It perfectly captures the spirit of Soraya’s story and the tension between the role she is expected to play and the strength she actually possesses. That tension shows up throughout the book, especially in moments like when Soraya is told, “You won’t have to make those decisions, Soraya. Your husband will.” Soraya lives in a world where women have very few rights, particularly once they marry, which adds another layer to her journey.
The romance is a slow burn with about 3/5 chili peppers for spice. While I enjoyed the relationship, a few moments with Ardeen did not fully land for me since he has been imprisoned his entire life, yet hints at a level of romantic experience that felt a little hard to believe.
One quote that really stood out to me and felt like an important message in the story was:
“Scars are nothing to be ashamed of. They show the world what you have survived.”
It’s a simple line, but it carries a lot of emotional weight and reflects the resilience that runs through the book.
Overall, I would give Consort of Stars 4/5 stars. If you enjoy fantasy romance with fairytale inspiration, political intrigue, forbidden love, and family secrets, this one is definitely worth picking up
Review of advance copy received from Author
Arc reader review all opinions are mine and mine only. Thank you to the author and publisher for this opportunity.
This book had highs and lows. First out FMC seemed to be a bit of a pushover, leading me to not know if she really wanted to unite the kingdoms. It seemed she couldn’t get a solid plan in place and really let everyone influence her decision. I found the dream sequence kind of weird and out of place especially since it basically is never mentioned again.
The sex scene was a little u core table in the sense of
A) it was supposedly both their first time yet they wanted to go hard and rough and were using terminology they wouldn’t know if it was their first time
B) our male love interest gets off twice and she doesn’t even get off once
C) I feel Arden would have been way more gentle based on everything we had seen from him prior like he would’ve worshipped her not essentially used her
Jameson as a character I loved, though it originally seemed like he would be her real love interest just for him to start acting very parental towards her? Their relationship was pretty unclear until the very end of the book but I overall love his character. Matilda is my favorite character as she seems really well rounded. Her and Jameson as a couple are quite cute.
Arden’s character is really confusing. He loves her and has loved her his whole life essentially but literally immediately betrays her? The one and only time we ever see him be selfish is when they have sex? Other than that he seems devoted and like he literally worships her so I don’t understand that.
The plot twist right at the end shocked me to my core. I loved reading it and I was on the edge of my seat reading. She did a good job world building for the series but also making the story good and entertaining. I cannot wait for the rest of the books to be released!
This book had highs and lows. First out FMC seemed to be a bit of a pushover, leading me to not know if she really wanted to unite the kingdoms. It seemed she couldn’t get a solid plan in place and really let everyone influence her decision. I found the dream sequence kind of weird and out of place especially since it basically is never mentioned again.
The sex scene was a little u core table in the sense of
A) it was supposedly both their first time yet they wanted to go hard and rough and were using terminology they wouldn’t know if it was their first time
B) our male love interest gets off twice and she doesn’t even get off once
C) I feel Arden would have been way more gentle based on everything we had seen from him prior like he would’ve worshipped her not essentially used her
Jameson as a character I loved, though it originally seemed like he would be her real love interest just for him to start acting very parental towards her? Their relationship was pretty unclear until the very end of the book but I overall love his character. Matilda is my favorite character as she seems really well rounded. Her and Jameson as a couple are quite cute.
Arden’s character is really confusing. He loves her and has loved her his whole life essentially but literally immediately betrays her? The one and only time we ever see him be selfish is when they have sex? Other than that he seems devoted and like he literally worships her so I don’t understand that.
The plot twist right at the end shocked me to my core. I loved reading it and I was on the edge of my seat reading. She did a good job world building for the series but also making the story good and entertaining. I cannot wait for the rest of the books to be released!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2026
ARC review —I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book! The implied Rapunzel and Anastasia themes were what drew me in and I can sort of see where they tie in but it really wasn’t the theme of the book.
I enjoyed the plot about Jameson and Matilda although through the WHOLE book I felt Jameson seemed more like a potential secondary love interest and that fell very flat. But I loved the “sneaking out to have training and extra lessons” portion. The Reed storyline was mostly well-played although I would have thought Jameson would have at least threatened him or something before simply agreeing to not do anything at all to him. Training Soraya was a great theme and I enjoyed that.
The ENTIRE plot with Ardeen, however, had me struggling to read this book. It felt forced, fake, and not really thought through. How was he born in a cell and still seemed to be smart, muscular, smelled good? And then the VERY cringe sex scene that felt painful to read and rushed—that was incredibly hard to go through and how on earth did Ardeen seem to know how to even have sex but he’s been in a cell his whole life.
The twist at the end could have made more sense if Ardeen had maybe known who he was longer? But even still—parents putting their OWN child in a cell and raising another child as their “heir” just because a maid announced that their baby was born and it was a girl? Just kill off the whole staff and start new or swear them all to secrecy? Raise your son in a private wing that no one knows about, don’t tell him he’s a prince but at least treat him well and then maybe have her find him…idk.
I’m willing to give book 2 a try because I felt the spirit of this book was good and I like the general idea of it, just struggled with the execution of book 1 but I feel the author has so much room to grow and hope to see growth in her next book!
I enjoyed the plot about Jameson and Matilda although through the WHOLE book I felt Jameson seemed more like a potential secondary love interest and that fell very flat. But I loved the “sneaking out to have training and extra lessons” portion. The Reed storyline was mostly well-played although I would have thought Jameson would have at least threatened him or something before simply agreeing to not do anything at all to him. Training Soraya was a great theme and I enjoyed that.
The ENTIRE plot with Ardeen, however, had me struggling to read this book. It felt forced, fake, and not really thought through. How was he born in a cell and still seemed to be smart, muscular, smelled good? And then the VERY cringe sex scene that felt painful to read and rushed—that was incredibly hard to go through and how on earth did Ardeen seem to know how to even have sex but he’s been in a cell his whole life.
The twist at the end could have made more sense if Ardeen had maybe known who he was longer? But even still—parents putting their OWN child in a cell and raising another child as their “heir” just because a maid announced that their baby was born and it was a girl? Just kill off the whole staff and start new or swear them all to secrecy? Raise your son in a private wing that no one knows about, don’t tell him he’s a prince but at least treat him well and then maybe have her find him…idk.
I’m willing to give book 2 a try because I felt the spirit of this book was good and I like the general idea of it, just struggled with the execution of book 1 but I feel the author has so much room to grow and hope to see growth in her next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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