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By the Light of the Stars
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A dutiful princess questions everything she was taught to believe and, with the help of a handsome rogue space pilot, sets out to reclaim her power and save her people in this genre-blending, romantic space opera.
The idyllic lunar colony of Boaterra means everything to its perfect, dutiful Princess Lyrii Thana—and she’s prepared to marry the austere commander of their Sisterworld, Chinov, in order to protect it.
After an assassination attempt goes awry, Lyrii is saved by Kade Maxwell, a mysterious space pilot. He promises to transport her safely to Chinov so her wedding can proceed as planned—for a price. With no other way to travel across the galaxy, Lyrii is forced to trust him in order to fulfill her duty to her home and her throne.
When an emergency landing on a refugee spaceship that shouldn’t exist pushes Lyrii to confront the lies her family’s empire is built on, she finds herself torn between loyalty, fear, and her growing feelings for Kade. As her arranged wedding draws closer, Lyrii must decide whether she’ll bow to the hand of destiny forced upon her, or finally put herself first…even if that means going against the very system she was born to uphold.
The idyllic lunar colony of Boaterra means everything to its perfect, dutiful Princess Lyrii Thana—and she’s prepared to marry the austere commander of their Sisterworld, Chinov, in order to protect it.
After an assassination attempt goes awry, Lyrii is saved by Kade Maxwell, a mysterious space pilot. He promises to transport her safely to Chinov so her wedding can proceed as planned—for a price. With no other way to travel across the galaxy, Lyrii is forced to trust him in order to fulfill her duty to her home and her throne.
When an emergency landing on a refugee spaceship that shouldn’t exist pushes Lyrii to confront the lies her family’s empire is built on, she finds herself torn between loyalty, fear, and her growing feelings for Kade. As her arranged wedding draws closer, Lyrii must decide whether she’ll bow to the hand of destiny forced upon her, or finally put herself first…even if that means going against the very system she was born to uphold.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Emily Gray
1 book27 followersEmily Gray is a writer and middle school English teacher based in a small town in North Carolina, where she lives with her son and too many dogs. When she isn't writing about spaceships or grading papers, she's probably daydreaming about how many varieties of heirloom tomatoes she can fit in her garden this year.
(Source: Amazon)
(Source: Amazon)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
Did Not Finish
November 5, 2026DNF 46%. This is just alright. I’m in such a reading slump from all these average books, and I can’t keep reading something I know maxes out at 3 stars (and that’s being generous)
The romance moved way too fast. She gets drunk and tries to kiss him, and I have no idea how we got to that point. Then they’re being vulnerable for the sake of plot progression with zero buildup. Kade is also extremely immature. I had to double check if this was Adult after I read some questionable things.
With such a basic storyline, I need way more from these characters to stay invested. I'm just not getting that here, so DNF.
✎ᝰ. pre-read: i’m so close to 150 books read this year!! this is the most i've ever read in a year 💃
💌 Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc
The romance moved way too fast. She gets drunk and tries to kiss him, and I have no idea how we got to that point. Then they’re being vulnerable for the sake of plot progression with zero buildup. Kade is also extremely immature. I had to double check if this was Adult after I read some questionable things.
With such a basic storyline, I need way more from these characters to stay invested. I'm just not getting that here, so DNF.
✎ᝰ. pre-read: i’m so close to 150 books read this year!! this is the most i've ever read in a year 💃
💌 Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley Ace, and Emily Gray for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! 🪐🌟
The Thana sisters take over rulership of the lunar colony of Boaterra after the death of their mother, the Empress. To keep the peace between Boaterra and their Sisterworld, Chinov, Princess Lyrii Thana, our main character, is promised to marry their commander. Lyrii has managed to survive an assassination attempt and is saved from a second one by space pilot, Kade. Lyrii has never been off her home planet until Kade's rescue. As Kade works to deliver her to Chinov, Lyrii is finding things she was told were true, things she was sheltered from as a princess, are not all they seem to be. Lies, coups, and mysteries unfold in this romantic space opera.
For a romantasy, this book was great! You jump into the action right from the get-go, and the romance follows not long after. The pacing of the story was great. Equal parts romance AND action. I wished for more detail throughout the book. More background story, details about space flight, fueling, oxygen on the spacecrafts. I was looking for more history of the SisterWorlds and hierarchy systems. As long as you keep in mind this book isn't JUST sci-fi, I think you'll enjoy it!
Lyrii has a lot of character growth by the end of the book, which I find a lot of books to be lacking these days. She herself changes and grows stronger as she becomes accustomed to the world she never knew was out there.
This book reminded me a lot of Cress by Marissa Meyers, in the best way possible! Especially the beginning, with just Lyrii and Kade on the spaceship, seeing the things she's never gotten to see before. The plot twists were good, too! This book is a part of a series, and I'll be excited to see how things keep playing out in the next one. Hopefully the second book delves into more details of the world!
The Thana sisters take over rulership of the lunar colony of Boaterra after the death of their mother, the Empress. To keep the peace between Boaterra and their Sisterworld, Chinov, Princess Lyrii Thana, our main character, is promised to marry their commander. Lyrii has managed to survive an assassination attempt and is saved from a second one by space pilot, Kade. Lyrii has never been off her home planet until Kade's rescue. As Kade works to deliver her to Chinov, Lyrii is finding things she was told were true, things she was sheltered from as a princess, are not all they seem to be. Lies, coups, and mysteries unfold in this romantic space opera.
For a romantasy, this book was great! You jump into the action right from the get-go, and the romance follows not long after. The pacing of the story was great. Equal parts romance AND action. I wished for more detail throughout the book. More background story, details about space flight, fueling, oxygen on the spacecrafts. I was looking for more history of the SisterWorlds and hierarchy systems. As long as you keep in mind this book isn't JUST sci-fi, I think you'll enjoy it!
Lyrii has a lot of character growth by the end of the book, which I find a lot of books to be lacking these days. She herself changes and grows stronger as she becomes accustomed to the world she never knew was out there.
This book reminded me a lot of Cress by Marissa Meyers, in the best way possible! Especially the beginning, with just Lyrii and Kade on the spaceship, seeing the things she's never gotten to see before. The plot twists were good, too! This book is a part of a series, and I'll be excited to see how things keep playing out in the next one. Hopefully the second book delves into more details of the world!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This felt less like the space opera adventure that I anticipated and more like a treatise on how society, governments, and their economies should function.
I will delve into that more shortly, but first I wanted to speak about the characters which will blend into that explanation.
Lyrii, our protagonist, is a princess who comes from a moon colony called Boaterra where they function under a monarchy. She is reclusive, timid character and rightly so as she has recently suffered an assassination attempt leaving her reeling mentally and disfigured physically.
Lyrii does develop into a stronger person as the story progresses but even so, she failed to stir up that irresistible magnetism that a main character should exude.
At first, Kade seemed a promising MMC. He’s a pilot so that implies daring and strength. The first scene in which the reader meets him shows Kade to be decisive and quick thinking.
We quickly see, however, that Kade is impulsive and immature. One way this is exemplified is in the slew of haphazard relationships he has drudged up in the past that were indulged upon and quickly relinquished. Not to mention his half baked plan of kidnapping Lyrii so he can cash in on a ransom to her prospective fiancé. Kade would insist he was helping Lyrii but he definitely was looking out for his own skin.
As if that weren’t enough, he becomes very “holier than thou”. Lyrii and Kade arrive on Kade’s spaceship colony where their society functions very differently than Lyrii’s.
In one scene, Lyrii asks innocently enough how a female engineer and her workers are paid since Kade doesn’t foot any sort of bill for said engineer repairing his ship. Kade flies off the handle to Lyrii with a vitriolic lecture about how no one is paid on the ship and everyone “takes care of their own” unlike in Lyrii’s society thus making it seem as though it’s evil to pay someone for doing an honest day’s work. It became clear that this was an insertion of political views about how terrible capitalism is.
Kade and Lyrii’s conversations continued to circle around economic and governmental structures. Kade crows about how his small, isolated colony is not only comparable but superior somehow to the much larger complicated system that is Boaterra which leads the reader to see how naive Kade is. He proudly states that his colony functions without a leader and is an incorruptible socialistic utopian system. Instead of enlightened, he comes across as rather preachy and insufferable.
Boaterra clearly has its flaws in this story but to say that socialism or communism, which Kade’s community seems to have embraced, is perfect or cannot be abused is ignorant on Kade’s part; a look at history demonstrates quite the opposite but I digress.
By the half way point of the book, not much had happened whatsoever except for some work in Lyrii’s internal progression as a main character. The pace fell stagnant.
A mild spoiler as follows but midway through, Lyrii and Kade are already getting physical and I’m left very confused. Where is the tension between these two? Why are they even attracted to each other? I’m not seeing it.
There were a few cute moments. One scene occurred when Kade and Lyrii played a sort of reverse strip poker where Lyrii had to put on layers of clothes every time she lost the game so that she could warm up on the ship. This was Kade’s idea.
Kade also was at least a gentleman towards Lyrii in moments where he could have easily taken advantage of her and he did comfort her at times when she was vulnerable emotionally.
On a different note, there were a lot of LGBTQ characters in this book including Kade’s two mothers, a co pilot character who was gay, while Kade himself is at least bisexual.
For readers that are sensitive, a few curse words cropped up here and there and there were some violent moments as well.
Overall, this book and I were not simpatico and that’s okay.
A special thanks to Berkley for allowing me to read this copy ahead of release in exchange for this very honest review.
I will delve into that more shortly, but first I wanted to speak about the characters which will blend into that explanation.
Lyrii, our protagonist, is a princess who comes from a moon colony called Boaterra where they function under a monarchy. She is reclusive, timid character and rightly so as she has recently suffered an assassination attempt leaving her reeling mentally and disfigured physically.
Lyrii does develop into a stronger person as the story progresses but even so, she failed to stir up that irresistible magnetism that a main character should exude.
At first, Kade seemed a promising MMC. He’s a pilot so that implies daring and strength. The first scene in which the reader meets him shows Kade to be decisive and quick thinking.
We quickly see, however, that Kade is impulsive and immature. One way this is exemplified is in the slew of haphazard relationships he has drudged up in the past that were indulged upon and quickly relinquished. Not to mention his half baked plan of kidnapping Lyrii so he can cash in on a ransom to her prospective fiancé. Kade would insist he was helping Lyrii but he definitely was looking out for his own skin.
As if that weren’t enough, he becomes very “holier than thou”. Lyrii and Kade arrive on Kade’s spaceship colony where their society functions very differently than Lyrii’s.
In one scene, Lyrii asks innocently enough how a female engineer and her workers are paid since Kade doesn’t foot any sort of bill for said engineer repairing his ship. Kade flies off the handle to Lyrii with a vitriolic lecture about how no one is paid on the ship and everyone “takes care of their own” unlike in Lyrii’s society thus making it seem as though it’s evil to pay someone for doing an honest day’s work. It became clear that this was an insertion of political views about how terrible capitalism is.
Kade and Lyrii’s conversations continued to circle around economic and governmental structures. Kade crows about how his small, isolated colony is not only comparable but superior somehow to the much larger complicated system that is Boaterra which leads the reader to see how naive Kade is. He proudly states that his colony functions without a leader and is an incorruptible socialistic utopian system. Instead of enlightened, he comes across as rather preachy and insufferable.
Boaterra clearly has its flaws in this story but to say that socialism or communism, which Kade’s community seems to have embraced, is perfect or cannot be abused is ignorant on Kade’s part; a look at history demonstrates quite the opposite but I digress.
By the half way point of the book, not much had happened whatsoever except for some work in Lyrii’s internal progression as a main character. The pace fell stagnant.
A mild spoiler as follows but midway through, Lyrii and Kade are already getting physical and I’m left very confused. Where is the tension between these two? Why are they even attracted to each other? I’m not seeing it.
There were a few cute moments. One scene occurred when Kade and Lyrii played a sort of reverse strip poker where Lyrii had to put on layers of clothes every time she lost the game so that she could warm up on the ship. This was Kade’s idea.
Kade also was at least a gentleman towards Lyrii in moments where he could have easily taken advantage of her and he did comfort her at times when she was vulnerable emotionally.
On a different note, there were a lot of LGBTQ characters in this book including Kade’s two mothers, a co pilot character who was gay, while Kade himself is at least bisexual.
For readers that are sensitive, a few curse words cropped up here and there and there were some violent moments as well.
Overall, this book and I were not simpatico and that’s okay.
A special thanks to Berkley for allowing me to read this copy ahead of release in exchange for this very honest review.
June 4, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group/Ace for the advanced eBook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lyrii Thana, Princess of Boaterra, is destined to marry the Commander of their sister world, Chinov, to preserve peace between their worlds. After surviving an assassination attempt, she is rescued by Kade, a rogue space pilot who takes her off-world. Away from everything she has ever known, Lyrii begins to uncover long-hidden truths about her family, her world, and the empire they have built. As she and Kade find themselves caught in one dangerous situation after another, Lyrii is forced to confront the lies that have shaped her life.
I was really excited to dive into this sci-fi fantasy romance, but as the story progressed, the romance between Kade and Lyrii didn’t quite work for me. I never felt a strong sense of chemistry or romantic tension developing between them, and their romantic scene seemed to come out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with them as a couple.
The story became much more engaging once Lyrii arrived on Chinov. The political intrigue and family drama involving her sisters and her future husband added a level of tension and complexity that I found far more compelling than the romance.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found the worldbuilding interesting. While this installment didn’t completely win me over, I’d still be willing to pick up book two to see where the series goes next.
Lyrii Thana, Princess of Boaterra, is destined to marry the Commander of their sister world, Chinov, to preserve peace between their worlds. After surviving an assassination attempt, she is rescued by Kade, a rogue space pilot who takes her off-world. Away from everything she has ever known, Lyrii begins to uncover long-hidden truths about her family, her world, and the empire they have built. As she and Kade find themselves caught in one dangerous situation after another, Lyrii is forced to confront the lies that have shaped her life.
I was really excited to dive into this sci-fi fantasy romance, but as the story progressed, the romance between Kade and Lyrii didn’t quite work for me. I never felt a strong sense of chemistry or romantic tension developing between them, and their romantic scene seemed to come out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with them as a couple.
The story became much more engaging once Lyrii arrived on Chinov. The political intrigue and family drama involving her sisters and her future husband added a level of tension and complexity that I found far more compelling than the romance.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and found the worldbuilding interesting. While this installment didn’t completely win me over, I’d still be willing to pick up book two to see where the series goes next.
May 18, 2026
4/5 ⭐️
1.75/5 🌶️
I don’t know why I have not read a space romance sooner cause this was so fun! I really liked both our fmc & mmc, the plot movement was great, and I enjoyed the writing.
When Princess Lyrii Thana escapes an attempted threat on her life right before she is to leave to meet her betrothed, she is rescued by a rogue space pilot. Deep in space, she learns that her sheltered upbringing has been just that - and not everything is as it appears. As her wedding looms, Lyrii starts to question what she believes and who she can trust. 👀
I really liked the plot twists and the weaving of space politics. It kept it interesting for sure and some of it I didn’t see coming. I really would love to learn more about the history so hopefully we’ll get more of that in the next one cause I will for sure read book 2!
Thank you so much to Ace/Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC!
What to Expect:
✨Space Opera
✨Plot Twists
✨Political Intrigue
✨Sci-Fi Romance
1.75/5 🌶️
I don’t know why I have not read a space romance sooner cause this was so fun! I really liked both our fmc & mmc, the plot movement was great, and I enjoyed the writing.
When Princess Lyrii Thana escapes an attempted threat on her life right before she is to leave to meet her betrothed, she is rescued by a rogue space pilot. Deep in space, she learns that her sheltered upbringing has been just that - and not everything is as it appears. As her wedding looms, Lyrii starts to question what she believes and who she can trust. 👀
I really liked the plot twists and the weaving of space politics. It kept it interesting for sure and some of it I didn’t see coming. I really would love to learn more about the history so hopefully we’ll get more of that in the next one cause I will for sure read book 2!
Thank you so much to Ace/Berkley and Netgalley for the eARC!
What to Expect:
✨Space Opera
✨Plot Twists
✨Political Intrigue
✨Sci-Fi Romance
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m not sure how I came across this ARC (my thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing) but it is the start of a sci-fi romance series (Ring of Xerus) with of bit of spice and some usual tropes but enough to interest romance aficionados.
Lyrii Thana is the second daughter of the ruling family on Boaterra, one of two “sisterworlds” created by Earth - called The Motherworld - 400 years ago. Her mother has just died and after a traumatic attempt to assassinate her over a year ago Lyrii had remained hidden. Now she must reemerge but a second attempt in her life is made, though Lyrii is saved by space pilot, Kade Maxwell. He agrees to take her to Boaterra’s sister world, Chinov, where she is to marry Commander Vega Owens, to firm up an alliance to protect Boaterra. Frees from her political world, Lyrii comes to realize how she had been constrained and manipulated. She learns there is more to her works than she realizes when an unexpected landing forces her to choice between duty or destiny.
The story is one of coming-of-age and adventure. The world building is good, the plot fine. But for me I’ve never been much of a Star Trek space fantasy kind of reader. But readers who enjoy romance might consider this one.
Lyrii Thana is the second daughter of the ruling family on Boaterra, one of two “sisterworlds” created by Earth - called The Motherworld - 400 years ago. Her mother has just died and after a traumatic attempt to assassinate her over a year ago Lyrii had remained hidden. Now she must reemerge but a second attempt in her life is made, though Lyrii is saved by space pilot, Kade Maxwell. He agrees to take her to Boaterra’s sister world, Chinov, where she is to marry Commander Vega Owens, to firm up an alliance to protect Boaterra. Frees from her political world, Lyrii comes to realize how she had been constrained and manipulated. She learns there is more to her works than she realizes when an unexpected landing forces her to choice between duty or destiny.
The story is one of coming-of-age and adventure. The world building is good, the plot fine. But for me I’ve never been much of a Star Trek space fantasy kind of reader. But readers who enjoy romance might consider this one.
Want to Read
July 3, 2026🌙✨ By the Light of the Stars ✨🌙
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
🚀 What to Expect
• Space Opera Romance
• Princess x Rogue
• Forced Proximity
• Political Intrigue
• Arranged Marriage
• Galactic Adventure
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 17, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
🚀 What to Expect
• Space Opera Romance
• Princess x Rogue
• Forced Proximity
• Political Intrigue
• Arranged Marriage
• Galactic Adventure
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 17, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Ace, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
May 22, 2026
A sci fi romance with a side of adventure sounded intriguing so I picked this book up despite the fact that I’m not a huge sci fi reader (though I am trying to read more).
The action sequences were where this book really shone in my opinion. The book started with a bang and I was pulled into the story, and there were quite a few fight scenes. All of them were very exciting and well written.
However, the book had some pacing issues. After an exciting start, the middle section seemed to drag. It got a little preachy too which did not help the pacing either. I wanted more action! I also didn’t really care for the romance at all and their connection seemed to come out of nowhere. Lyrii was quite naive at the start and certain aspects of the plot were somewhat predictable because of how naive she was. Kade started off as an interesting character but wound up pretty flat, and his friends seemed to only exist to move the plot forward.
Once the man that Lyrii is supposed to be marrying was introduced to the story, it became much more interesting. I liked seeing her stand up for herself and become more confident. I liked some of the side characters and getting to know more about Lyrii’s sisters. I also liked seeing how different life was on the other planet and how people from that world acted compared to Lyrii’s home-world.
2.5 stars, rounded up
Thank you Berkley Publishing/Ace for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
The action sequences were where this book really shone in my opinion. The book started with a bang and I was pulled into the story, and there were quite a few fight scenes. All of them were very exciting and well written.
However, the book had some pacing issues. After an exciting start, the middle section seemed to drag. It got a little preachy too which did not help the pacing either. I wanted more action! I also didn’t really care for the romance at all and their connection seemed to come out of nowhere. Lyrii was quite naive at the start and certain aspects of the plot were somewhat predictable because of how naive she was. Kade started off as an interesting character but wound up pretty flat, and his friends seemed to only exist to move the plot forward.
Once the man that Lyrii is supposed to be marrying was introduced to the story, it became much more interesting. I liked seeing her stand up for herself and become more confident. I liked some of the side characters and getting to know more about Lyrii’s sisters. I also liked seeing how different life was on the other planet and how people from that world acted compared to Lyrii’s home-world.
2.5 stars, rounded up
Thank you Berkley Publishing/Ace for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Emily brings you a character-driven debut that truly feels unforgettable with power worth fighting for and a romance that feels close to home.
“If it comes, let it be clean. Let it be quick.”
Lyrii Thana, the princess of Boaterra is bound and feared where she can’t fathom the life she is meant to have. What she has always wanted for herself. All she ever wanted was to feel safe, security and be happy for what she is fighting for.
But what she was taught to believe in might not be what it all seems and things get twisty and complex in the sisterworld of space that explores politics and incredible world building that feels so vivid 🪐
Lyrii and her sisters were blessed daughters, out to carry the Thana line, and Lyrii has always hid from the public eye but it was time to for her to do her duty and be set on this arrange marriage in order for the diverging cultures to come together again. A peace offering and alliance with the Chinov’s.
Then you have Kade, the rogue space pilot who saves Lyrii from an assassin attempt. He is full of charm and has you blushing with those damn cute dimples every time he smiles or smirks 🤭
I need more space opera romance books and this debut was a page turner and so fun to read! It has a perfect blend of sci/fi vibes with twists and political themes that keeps the story interesting!
Thank you so much again to Ace, Berkley, and Netgalley for the early galley copy! 🛸
“If it comes, let it be clean. Let it be quick.”
Lyrii Thana, the princess of Boaterra is bound and feared where she can’t fathom the life she is meant to have. What she has always wanted for herself. All she ever wanted was to feel safe, security and be happy for what she is fighting for.
But what she was taught to believe in might not be what it all seems and things get twisty and complex in the sisterworld of space that explores politics and incredible world building that feels so vivid 🪐
Lyrii and her sisters were blessed daughters, out to carry the Thana line, and Lyrii has always hid from the public eye but it was time to for her to do her duty and be set on this arrange marriage in order for the diverging cultures to come together again. A peace offering and alliance with the Chinov’s.
Then you have Kade, the rogue space pilot who saves Lyrii from an assassin attempt. He is full of charm and has you blushing with those damn cute dimples every time he smiles or smirks 🤭
I need more space opera romance books and this debut was a page turner and so fun to read! It has a perfect blend of sci/fi vibes with twists and political themes that keeps the story interesting!
Thank you so much again to Ace, Berkley, and Netgalley for the early galley copy! 🛸
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I need more sci-fi romance in my life and was happy to stumble upon this book! This book read more as young adult or new adult to me, which is fine but I think I was expecting something a bit more mature in nature. This book is also the first in a series but I don't think it's one I will be continuing despite me liking this book. There is plenty of politics and drama but I need more worldbuilding, more character backstory and development, etc. to make me want to continue and I didn't really feel that here. That being said, this book was good and scratched an itch but it wasn't quite what I was looking for. As previously mentioned, this was a good book but I think my expectations were set a bit differently. The pacing was good, the writing was good and the story overall was entertaining.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2026
Thank you Goodreads and Ace for the early review copy! If there’s one thing I love it’s a space romance, especially when the vibe is giving Han/Leia. I adored this book and these characters, and the very real problems they face. It was serious but still full of humor and heart, and I greatly enjoyed the world building and really want to live in this world for even longer 😭 I don’t think I’d fare well with space travel but alas, that’s why I can choose to read about it.
November 12, 2026
Here’s where I begin to second-guess myself because prior to placing the rating I took a peek at reviews and I’d say overall reception is lukewarm. I feel a bit silly hesitating about my review now but truthfully, I genuinely loved it. I thought this was fantastic. It’s space opera romantasy that worked so well (for me at least 😆). Lately, even with books I end up loving, I feel I have to push myself through due to feeling the onset of a slump, but I soared reading this one. I was increasingly excited the more I read along! It was a really nice feeling to have. So no qualms from me, I simply look forward to more!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I need more sci fi romance and the premise of this one was immediately intriguing, just misses the mark a bit in some aspects.
The story and world building are great; political messiness is set up here and I like both the FMC and the MMC. Naive princess and brash pilot make for a great dynamic. I think Lyrii ends up being a really strong and intriguing main character, she has every right to be whiny and a push over but I think really comes into her own here. There’s a great balance of action and emotion as well. The side characters are great as well.
Some definite pacing issues in the middle of the book. There’s about 30% of the middle where they are just on the ship doing mundane things or talking about whatever and it does drag on a bit. Picks up again but had to push through the middle a little.
I think for a trilogy the romance is really mismanaged. I know romance is a great selling point for a book but there’s ways to set up with romance without having them give in to it just yet in your first book. Kade has some more negative reveals about his personality which happens after they make out and I think the romance would have felt more realistic if it happened after he goes through some growth.
I’m cautiously optimistic about continuing the series due to the pacing issues of this one but curious enough to try it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story and world building are great; political messiness is set up here and I like both the FMC and the MMC. Naive princess and brash pilot make for a great dynamic. I think Lyrii ends up being a really strong and intriguing main character, she has every right to be whiny and a push over but I think really comes into her own here. There’s a great balance of action and emotion as well. The side characters are great as well.
Some definite pacing issues in the middle of the book. There’s about 30% of the middle where they are just on the ship doing mundane things or talking about whatever and it does drag on a bit. Picks up again but had to push through the middle a little.
I think for a trilogy the romance is really mismanaged. I know romance is a great selling point for a book but there’s ways to set up with romance without having them give in to it just yet in your first book. Kade has some more negative reveals about his personality which happens after they make out and I think the romance would have felt more realistic if it happened after he goes through some growth.
I’m cautiously optimistic about continuing the series due to the pacing issues of this one but curious enough to try it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"By the Light of the Stars" is a space opera/sci-fi romance that follows Lyrii, a princess of the planet Boaterra who is anticipating an unhappily arranged marriage in order to make peace between her planet and their sister world, the distant Chinov. When danger strikes at the heart of the royal family, Lyrii flees with a smuggler, Kade, and heads to safety on Chinov—but the more she learns about the universe beyond her sheltered royal life, the more she doubts her initial goals... and the honesty of the family she left behind.
To start off: I absolutely loved Lyrii and Kade; they're a lovely couple (and, for some, a welcome antidote to a lot of the dark/problematic/shadow daddy-esque romance out there; Kade is a sweet consent king, but he's also a complicated character with a dark backstory!) Political intrigue is always a favorite of mine in sci-fi and this book delivered. At its best, this book reminded me of Disney's Mandalorian series, if the Mandalorian had a romance plot.
I found the worldbuilding fun, though occasionally a tad shallow: I want to know a lot more about these places and their politics than Lyrii's limited POV allows, but hopefully the promised (and cliffhanger'd) sequel will lean more into that. Some of the minor characters are flat, and I wish the book had allowed more insight into their personalities and values. Again, this is likely an issue with Lyrii being so sheltered, and the whole book being filtered through her limited POV.
I will definitely be reading the sequel (be warned that it ends on an unresolved note that sort of demands a sequel!), and I believe strongly that a debut like this promises great things for Gray's future books. Overall recommended for fans of sci-fi romance who like sweet romances, political intrigue, and space princess x cocky smuggler romance!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Trigger warnings include:
Bombings, terrorism, bombing injuries, and trauma/PTSD; manipulative and emotionally abusive family members; death of a parent; main character forced to defend herself and murder an assaulter; threats of physical assault from antagonist, with minor sexual undertones. Consensual sex scenes are not too explicit but are on the page. Death of minor characters. Guns, forced/arranged marriage, speculation about forced marital intercourse but none actually happens. Kidnappings, and allusions to smuggling/human trafficking. Allusions to body dysmorphia from extensive scarring. Claustrophobia/being trapped in an antagonist's palace. Allusions to police brutality, mass surveillance, and incarceration.
To start off: I absolutely loved Lyrii and Kade; they're a lovely couple (and, for some, a welcome antidote to a lot of the dark/problematic/shadow daddy-esque romance out there; Kade is a sweet consent king, but he's also a complicated character with a dark backstory!) Political intrigue is always a favorite of mine in sci-fi and this book delivered. At its best, this book reminded me of Disney's Mandalorian series, if the Mandalorian had a romance plot.
I found the worldbuilding fun, though occasionally a tad shallow: I want to know a lot more about these places and their politics than Lyrii's limited POV allows, but hopefully the promised (and cliffhanger'd) sequel will lean more into that. Some of the minor characters are flat, and I wish the book had allowed more insight into their personalities and values. Again, this is likely an issue with Lyrii being so sheltered, and the whole book being filtered through her limited POV.
I will definitely be reading the sequel (be warned that it ends on an unresolved note that sort of demands a sequel!), and I believe strongly that a debut like this promises great things for Gray's future books. Overall recommended for fans of sci-fi romance who like sweet romances, political intrigue, and space princess x cocky smuggler romance!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Trigger warnings include:
Bombings, terrorism, bombing injuries, and trauma/PTSD; manipulative and emotionally abusive family members; death of a parent; main character forced to defend herself and murder an assaulter; threats of physical assault from antagonist, with minor sexual undertones. Consensual sex scenes are not too explicit but are on the page. Death of minor characters. Guns, forced/arranged marriage, speculation about forced marital intercourse but none actually happens. Kidnappings, and allusions to smuggling/human trafficking. Allusions to body dysmorphia from extensive scarring. Claustrophobia/being trapped in an antagonist's palace. Allusions to police brutality, mass surveillance, and incarceration.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What an INCREDIBLE read! So unique and immersive, I truly felt like I was right their along with the characters. This is the kind of book that leaves you absolutely desperate for me. Also side note, the cover is absolutely beautiful and also so unique! I feel like this book overall is a really fresh take on a lot of usual tropes!
"My body had healed, but my mind had not. Those wounds there still festered, oozing rot and ruin through my limbs as I stood up straight and stared at my bedroom door. Just walk, just move, just put one foot in front of the other."
“I’m okay. This just happens some times . I get stuck in this loop of imagining every bad thing that could happen, and no matter how badly I want to fall asleep I just can’t"
Our FMC pulled at my heartstrings from the first moment we met her, she start off this meek, compliant pawn and emerged as a strong, brave warrior!!
I honestly wish this book was twice as long as I could continue to live in this world even longer, I want to know more about the details and what happens next, I want to know more about the side characters!! The only reason it wasn't a full 5 star was because I wish we would have been able to dive a little deeper into the world and politics, I felt like letting the romance burn a little more as well would have moved it from amazing to absolutely devastating!
"Something warm flickered behind my breastbone, a strange feeling somewhere between respect and admiration. I didn’t like how the feeling crept up the back of my neck in a sickly warm wave, sending sweat rolling down my temples. I blinked and tried to shake it off, but it was stuck. I couldn’t rid myself of it."
"I thought I had made my peace with dying for things I wasn’t even sure if I believed in anymore. Today I made a choice and fought, and survived. For the first time, I felt a sense of ownership over myself, rooting straight down into the marrow of my bones. No higher power came to save me, no family protected me. I saved myself."
This book is for anyone who has had to overcome their fears, to stand up for themselves and to make the scary choice when they knew it was the right thing to do.
"Safe. For the first time in so long, I felt safe. Not as Lissa from Obos, shrouded in anonymity. Not as the second eldest Thana daughter, locked away in my tower. I felt safe in my own body, safe as myself, safe with him."
"My body had healed, but my mind had not. Those wounds there still festered, oozing rot and ruin through my limbs as I stood up straight and stared at my bedroom door. Just walk, just move, just put one foot in front of the other."
“I’m okay. This just happens some times . I get stuck in this loop of imagining every bad thing that could happen, and no matter how badly I want to fall asleep I just can’t"
Our FMC pulled at my heartstrings from the first moment we met her, she start off this meek, compliant pawn and emerged as a strong, brave warrior!!
I honestly wish this book was twice as long as I could continue to live in this world even longer, I want to know more about the details and what happens next, I want to know more about the side characters!! The only reason it wasn't a full 5 star was because I wish we would have been able to dive a little deeper into the world and politics, I felt like letting the romance burn a little more as well would have moved it from amazing to absolutely devastating!
"Something warm flickered behind my breastbone, a strange feeling somewhere between respect and admiration. I didn’t like how the feeling crept up the back of my neck in a sickly warm wave, sending sweat rolling down my temples. I blinked and tried to shake it off, but it was stuck. I couldn’t rid myself of it."
"I thought I had made my peace with dying for things I wasn’t even sure if I believed in anymore. Today I made a choice and fought, and survived. For the first time, I felt a sense of ownership over myself, rooting straight down into the marrow of my bones. No higher power came to save me, no family protected me. I saved myself."
This book is for anyone who has had to overcome their fears, to stand up for themselves and to make the scary choice when they knew it was the right thing to do.
"Safe. For the first time in so long, I felt safe. Not as Lissa from Obos, shrouded in anonymity. Not as the second eldest Thana daughter, locked away in my tower. I felt safe in my own body, safe as myself, safe with him."
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley, the published and the author for a free eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
“By the Light of the Stars” had all the ingredients for a standout, original story, which makes it all the more frustrating that it stumbles in the execution. It’s 2.75 stars for me.
The premise drew me in right away, and Emily Gray’s writing is easy enough to breeze through—I never felt like DNFing, even when the pacing started to wobble and characters started to feel immature and one-dimensional. However, the book suffers from trying to throw everything into the pot at once. Instead of letting the central conflict breathe, the plot jumps rapidly from one major twist or trope to the next, creating a bit of emotional whiplash and leaving the narrative in serious need of a tighter edit.
Because so much is happening on the page, character development across the board ends up taking a back seat. Side characters feel more like plot devices than real people, and the antagonists suffer from the exact same flatness. Even when the story sets up a compelling, close-to-home antagonist who clearly operates in the moral gray, the narrative refuses to explore that complexity—flattening them into a black-and-white villain and brushing them aside as irredeemable instead of doing the messy, interesting work of digging into their nuance. Across the board, rather than organically experiencing why anyone makes the choices they do, motivations are mostly just explained to us after the fact.
That "telling over showing" approach really hurt the emotional stakes for me, especially when it came to the romance. Without the quiet, foundational moments needed to build real tension and chemistry, the relationship shifts from zero to sixty far too quickly—giving us the big emotional declarations before the connection actually feels earned.
Overall, this is a quick, readable book with a lot of heart and a genuinely promising concept, but the overcrowded plot, flattened antagonists, and rushed romance kept me from ever fully connecting with it.
“By the Light of the Stars” had all the ingredients for a standout, original story, which makes it all the more frustrating that it stumbles in the execution. It’s 2.75 stars for me.
The premise drew me in right away, and Emily Gray’s writing is easy enough to breeze through—I never felt like DNFing, even when the pacing started to wobble and characters started to feel immature and one-dimensional. However, the book suffers from trying to throw everything into the pot at once. Instead of letting the central conflict breathe, the plot jumps rapidly from one major twist or trope to the next, creating a bit of emotional whiplash and leaving the narrative in serious need of a tighter edit.
Because so much is happening on the page, character development across the board ends up taking a back seat. Side characters feel more like plot devices than real people, and the antagonists suffer from the exact same flatness. Even when the story sets up a compelling, close-to-home antagonist who clearly operates in the moral gray, the narrative refuses to explore that complexity—flattening them into a black-and-white villain and brushing them aside as irredeemable instead of doing the messy, interesting work of digging into their nuance. Across the board, rather than organically experiencing why anyone makes the choices they do, motivations are mostly just explained to us after the fact.
That "telling over showing" approach really hurt the emotional stakes for me, especially when it came to the romance. Without the quiet, foundational moments needed to build real tension and chemistry, the relationship shifts from zero to sixty far too quickly—giving us the big emotional declarations before the connection actually feels earned.
Overall, this is a quick, readable book with a lot of heart and a genuinely promising concept, but the overcrowded plot, flattened antagonists, and rushed romance kept me from ever fully connecting with it.
Did Not Finish
October 15, 2026Thank you to Berkley/Ace and NetGalley for the ARC.
DNF @ 50%.
This is a book that is relying entirely on self-insert vibes. Lyrii, our main character and narrator, has absolutely no personality qualities of her own; she is just a shell for the reader to project onto. She has no interests, no skills that have been listed.
Sure, her "purpose" is to enter a marriage for a political alliance...but she hasn't even been raised to do anything in THAT realm. She shows no skills in negotiating, or influencing people, or representing her peoples' interests. She can barely speak to people. For a second I thought we were going to get a "I used to be good at this before the assassination attempt" but then that never developed.
There are also a LOT of logical problems here. Kade is paying off a debt that, if unpaid, will result in his home essentially being destroyed. Everyone in his home knows this, and yet he is apparently the only person interested in doing anything about it and everyone else is just bopping along. There is some real weirdness with timelines and how old people are. Lyrii is twenty-three and I THINK Kade is 27, but it seems like her mother was ANCIENT (and had been queen for well over 50 years) so that seems weird? There's no mention of human enhancements like prolonged lifespans in this world.
If you want an excelelnt sci-fi story of "sheltered young woman leaves her home and discovers not everything is as it seemed," then I would recommend Some Desperate Glory. If you want a more space opera-y romance with an outlaw love interest but a much stronger heroine, try Polaris Rising instead.
DNF @ 50%.
This is a book that is relying entirely on self-insert vibes. Lyrii, our main character and narrator, has absolutely no personality qualities of her own; she is just a shell for the reader to project onto. She has no interests, no skills that have been listed.
Sure, her "purpose" is to enter a marriage for a political alliance...but she hasn't even been raised to do anything in THAT realm. She shows no skills in negotiating, or influencing people, or representing her peoples' interests. She can barely speak to people. For a second I thought we were going to get a "I used to be good at this before the assassination attempt" but then that never developed.
There are also a LOT of logical problems here. Kade is paying off a debt that, if unpaid, will result in his home essentially being destroyed. Everyone in his home knows this, and yet he is apparently the only person interested in doing anything about it and everyone else is just bopping along. There is some real weirdness with timelines and how old people are. Lyrii is twenty-three and I THINK Kade is 27, but it seems like her mother was ANCIENT (and had been queen for well over 50 years) so that seems weird? There's no mention of human enhancements like prolonged lifespans in this world.
If you want an excelelnt sci-fi story of "sheltered young woman leaves her home and discovers not everything is as it seemed," then I would recommend Some Desperate Glory. If you want a more space opera-y romance with an outlaw love interest but a much stronger heroine, try Polaris Rising instead.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss+, Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Emily Gray for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader/Listener Copy of this book!
This was such a quick and lovely read!!
We follow our FMC, who is meant to be married when an explosion occurs, seemingly in an attempt to kill her. She's saved by a rogue space pilot who, in exchange for her safety, actually wants something in return. As the story progresses, truths begin to come out, and feelings become harder and harder to keep hidden.
I did cry (a good… loving cry) during one specific part of this book, and it was because of the panic attack representation. I INSTANTLY recognized the emotions and what had been happening to our FMC throughout the story, but it really hit me when our MMC tried to calm her down.
To feel loved is to feel seen, and that scene was done PERFECTLY.
I loved all the friendships throughout this book! From learning about their world to seeing how everyone interacts, including the hatred but also the underlying desire to understand one another, I think it was all done really well. The romance was also very cute! I truly loved how much our characters grew together and how deeply they came to care for one another.
The audio production by Khaya was SO well done! Since this was an ALC, there were still a few things that I think needed to be fixed (production wise), but they were toward the very end of the book. Otherwise, they did an amazing job with the delivery, especially how they conveyed emotions throughout the scenes.
Overall, this was a really lovely read, and I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you again to NetGalley, Edelweiss+, Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Emily Gray for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader/Listener Copy of this book!
This was such a quick and lovely read!!
We follow our FMC, who is meant to be married when an explosion occurs, seemingly in an attempt to kill her. She's saved by a rogue space pilot who, in exchange for her safety, actually wants something in return. As the story progresses, truths begin to come out, and feelings become harder and harder to keep hidden.
I did cry (a good… loving cry) during one specific part of this book, and it was because of the panic attack representation. I INSTANTLY recognized the emotions and what had been happening to our FMC throughout the story, but it really hit me when our MMC tried to calm her down.
To feel loved is to feel seen, and that scene was done PERFECTLY.
I loved all the friendships throughout this book! From learning about their world to seeing how everyone interacts, including the hatred but also the underlying desire to understand one another, I think it was all done really well. The romance was also very cute! I truly loved how much our characters grew together and how deeply they came to care for one another.
The audio production by Khaya was SO well done! Since this was an ALC, there were still a few things that I think needed to be fixed (production wise), but they were toward the very end of the book. Otherwise, they did an amazing job with the delivery, especially how they conveyed emotions throughout the scenes.
Overall, this was a really lovely read, and I can't wait for book 2!
Thank you again to NetGalley, Edelweiss+, Berkley Publishing Group, PRH Audio, and Emily Gray for the opportunity to read and review an Advance Reader/Listener Copy of this book!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This would be a good intro book for a reader interested in trying sci-fi romance.
With that being said, if you're more familiar with the space opera genre, it's quite a good book just not great.
I liked the first third and the last third enough to bump this up to 4 stars. If the story maintained the pace and plotline of middle third it would be 3 stars.
The introduction to their world was intense and there's a political alliance through marriage right off the bat. I wouldn't have minded a little more background to how the world was made to be the way it was, but I understand theres only so much space in one book.
The middle threw me. I liked the FMC's growth and I liked the assistance of the MMC for that help. He's a nice golden retriever character, but he has a lot that needs work too and I didn't get the impression he's working on himself at all. Some of the things he showed her just seemed impulsive and I didn't understand how someone so traveled and experienced with that lifestyle could not figure out the obvious. I liked the world building and from the pieces shared with the reader it was very well written. I just needed a little more than the surface to what those worlds are.
The third section picks up again with more political moves and a stage for the FMC to shine. She goes from victim to survivor and I loved that for her. This is where the groundwork is layed for a next book. There's a few major points that could be covered. (And I hope are covered)
Overall I did enjoy this. I mostly liked the characters, the writing is beautifully done, the bits of the world we get to see are unique, and there are lots of truths uncovered.
Thank you netgalley, ace, and berkley for the ebook. All opinions are my own.
With that being said, if you're more familiar with the space opera genre, it's quite a good book just not great.
I liked the first third and the last third enough to bump this up to 4 stars. If the story maintained the pace and plotline of middle third it would be 3 stars.
The introduction to their world was intense and there's a political alliance through marriage right off the bat. I wouldn't have minded a little more background to how the world was made to be the way it was, but I understand theres only so much space in one book.
The middle threw me. I liked the FMC's growth and I liked the assistance of the MMC for that help. He's a nice golden retriever character, but he has a lot that needs work too and I didn't get the impression he's working on himself at all. Some of the things he showed her just seemed impulsive and I didn't understand how someone so traveled and experienced with that lifestyle could not figure out the obvious. I liked the world building and from the pieces shared with the reader it was very well written. I just needed a little more than the surface to what those worlds are.
The third section picks up again with more political moves and a stage for the FMC to shine. She goes from victim to survivor and I loved that for her. This is where the groundwork is layed for a next book. There's a few major points that could be covered. (And I hope are covered)
Overall I did enjoy this. I mostly liked the characters, the writing is beautifully done, the bits of the world we get to see are unique, and there are lots of truths uncovered.
Thank you netgalley, ace, and berkley for the ebook. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I have encountered a good space opera that I've enjoyed to this extent in a loooooooooooong time! This book picks you up and throws you into the action pretty much right away, and while it has moments of calmness that allow for romance and friendship, I think this book really flourishes in its darkest most dramatic moments.
Lyrii as a character really grew on me and I felt her trauma and fear when she was put in dangerous and abusive situations. I ended up liking Kade more in the end just due to the fact that he made Lyrii happy, and I just wanted her to have a little bit of peace in her life. Overall I did find the chemistry between Kade and Lyrii to be a little lacking and too fast paced for my liking. I think a slow burn between them would have really leant more to the story. I also wanted a bit more "Han Solo"-like banter from Kade, but that's just because his description of "handsome rogue space pilot" set me up for the expectation of banter. Kade felt a little too nice and perfect to me, that I was almost expecting some sort of act 3 betrayal from him.
The reflection of real life colonization and threat of assimilation from both Boaterra and Chinov to the refugee ships was really dark and sobering but such an important relation.
Overall I can't wait for the next release in this series to see what Lyrii and Kade face next!
✳ Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with a digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and are never swayed by receiving early access ✳
Lyrii as a character really grew on me and I felt her trauma and fear when she was put in dangerous and abusive situations. I ended up liking Kade more in the end just due to the fact that he made Lyrii happy, and I just wanted her to have a little bit of peace in her life. Overall I did find the chemistry between Kade and Lyrii to be a little lacking and too fast paced for my liking. I think a slow burn between them would have really leant more to the story. I also wanted a bit more "Han Solo"-like banter from Kade, but that's just because his description of "handsome rogue space pilot" set me up for the expectation of banter. Kade felt a little too nice and perfect to me, that I was almost expecting some sort of act 3 betrayal from him.
The reflection of real life colonization and threat of assimilation from both Boaterra and Chinov to the refugee ships was really dark and sobering but such an important relation.
Overall I can't wait for the next release in this series to see what Lyrii and Kade face next!
✳ Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with a digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and are never swayed by receiving early access ✳
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I've craved more romance authors to dip their toes into science fiction/space opera and this book definitely scratched a very particular itch. This is a competently written debut with an interesting world with a lot of politics and drama. I do think it maybe veered a little more towards young adult/new adult than I prefer and typically read. This isn't a negative - I think those audiences will REALLY dig this. Just that I wanted something a little more adult than this turned out to be. There's a lot of politics and drama and it does have the first-time-author tendency to start a little slow, then pick up action, then slow down again, then pick up again - it isn't a case of drama whiplash, but there were times where I wanted to move along the plot. The characters come off as rather young and naive, but again...I think that's because it skews younger in its intended audience than I was aware it would. I would have loved a tad more worldbuilding here and there. The politics are truly interesting, but the background to them gets only passing glances and I wanted more.
Fair warning, this is the first book in a series and while the book definitely ends, the overall story doesn't. If that's your bag, you'll love this. Me...I liked it. Just didn't desperately want more. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a chance to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own and were not compensated.
Fair warning, this is the first book in a series and while the book definitely ends, the overall story doesn't. If that's your bag, you'll love this. Me...I liked it. Just didn't desperately want more. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for a chance to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own and were not compensated.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so good! By the Light of the Stars follows the FMC Lyrii as she's kind of unwilling thrust (kidnapped, she was kidnapped and blackmailed) into a galactic side quest adventure on her way to marrying into a foreign nation, in an attempt to merge two groups of people who have a very different take on life. The action scenes were exciting to follow, and the way this world is described felt so easy to envision. The political machinations were very layered and the depth of the problems the characters faced surprised me (in a good way). As Lyrii is on this adventure with Kade, her view of how things work in the world gets cracked a little wider as things come to light that she wasn't aware of. Despite their less than auspicious start, Lyrii's relationship with Kade felt very sweet and authentic. I felt like she battled two warring choices: one where she did what was expected as a ruler and tried to help people vs. having this safe, coveted (maybe a little selfish) life with genuine affection and friendships if she runs away from her duties. The push and pull of those choices is palpable as she wrestles with her decision. The ending of this book is both one of closure (it feels somewhat safe and happy) and yet there is also such a shitstorm of chaos LOOMING, undealt with. I loved this book and am eager for the next in the series! Thanks Berkley and Netgalley for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love a good space drama, and I haven't had one come across my desk lately, and I was super excited to read this one. Princess Lyrii has always done what she is told. When her older sister arranges a marriage for her she dutifully complies - even if she is still reeling from the loss of her mother and an accident that left her with more the visible scars. However, it turns out that her sister, Zarina, has left a lot of information out, as she soon discovers when she meets a space pilot, Kade, who she enlists to take her to her betrothed.
I loved the drama in this one! The author throws you right into the story with very little background information. As you're thrown into Lyrii's life and an assassination attempt that lands her almost literally in Kade's lap, you learn about the galaxy and the political drama.
With a perfect combination of political drama and romance, I really enjoyed this one. Kade has some interesting friends and their actions had me laughing in a few parts, which is the flip side of what Lyrii must go through at the hands of her new home. On the political landscape it did come close to home for what many are going through in the world, and I liked this realistic drama.
Kade and Lyrii have wonderful chemistry and I can't wait to pick up the story in the next book.
I loved the drama in this one! The author throws you right into the story with very little background information. As you're thrown into Lyrii's life and an assassination attempt that lands her almost literally in Kade's lap, you learn about the galaxy and the political drama.
With a perfect combination of political drama and romance, I really enjoyed this one. Kade has some interesting friends and their actions had me laughing in a few parts, which is the flip side of what Lyrii must go through at the hands of her new home. On the political landscape it did come close to home for what many are going through in the world, and I liked this realistic drama.
Kade and Lyrii have wonderful chemistry and I can't wait to pick up the story in the next book.
October 31, 2026
Thank you to Berkley & NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
🌌🛸🪐💫🤍💍🗡️✨
“If I could claim any future for myself, I wanted it to be this one.”
OMG you guys, this book was everything!!!!!!!! The literal Sci-Fi Space Romance of my dreams!!! I loved every single second of Kade & Lyrii and all the adventures they got up too. I loved watching them try to fight their attraction to each other before finally giving in. And as much as I loved watching them come together, I also really loved all the growing Kade helped Lyrii do. He helped her become strong, fight back, make hard decisions, stick up for herself, and truly turn into the fearless protector for herself.
This book is full of everything you could ever want; adventure, romance, found family, political intrigue, family secrets, self discovery, finding yourself and what you are truly made of.
I cannot recommend this book enough, the last 20% of this had me on the edgeeeeeeeeee of my seat, bc so much was happening. And it was just so satisfying seeing how everything ends. I’m also really hoping there could potentially be a book 2…. Fingers crossed!!!
🌌🛸🪐💫🤍💍🗡️✨
“If I could claim any future for myself, I wanted it to be this one.”
OMG you guys, this book was everything!!!!!!!! The literal Sci-Fi Space Romance of my dreams!!! I loved every single second of Kade & Lyrii and all the adventures they got up too. I loved watching them try to fight their attraction to each other before finally giving in. And as much as I loved watching them come together, I also really loved all the growing Kade helped Lyrii do. He helped her become strong, fight back, make hard decisions, stick up for herself, and truly turn into the fearless protector for herself.
This book is full of everything you could ever want; adventure, romance, found family, political intrigue, family secrets, self discovery, finding yourself and what you are truly made of.
I cannot recommend this book enough, the last 20% of this had me on the edgeeeeeeeeee of my seat, bc so much was happening. And it was just so satisfying seeing how everything ends. I’m also really hoping there could potentially be a book 2…. Fingers crossed!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love this book and I'm sobbing inconsolably because it's OVER and now I have to wait for book two and everything happens so MUCH!!;;
if you want something with strong romance and equally strong sci fi world-building focused on the ties people make, ties between characters, family members, politics. if you love space princesses but you're a #NoKings kind of person. If you've ever crushed on Han Solo AND/OR Princess Leia. if you dream of tearing down the whole system. if you need motivation and courage to do it scared. if you loved Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell. this book 🩷🩷🩷 this is the one. She's got the juice 🧃
Shout out to NetGalley where this book is available as Read Now for another 34 days. let's GOO
if you want something with strong romance and equally strong sci fi world-building focused on the ties people make, ties between characters, family members, politics. if you love space princesses but you're a #NoKings kind of person. If you've ever crushed on Han Solo AND/OR Princess Leia. if you dream of tearing down the whole system. if you need motivation and courage to do it scared. if you loved Winter's Orbit by Everina Maxwell. this book 🩷🩷🩷 this is the one. She's got the juice 🧃
Shout out to NetGalley where this book is available as Read Now for another 34 days. let's GOO
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, Emily Gray, and Ace for this arc!
2026 is the year of Sci-fi Romance for me and I was so excited for the chance to read this book early.
By the Light of the Stars is perfect for those of us who want a side of sci-fi with our romance.
This world is so unique with elements of dystopia mixed with outer space and romantic entanglements that had me so invested. Not only is the plot expansive but the found family, messy family dynamics, and politics make the characters feel real and vulnerable. You can’t help but either love or hate the characters within this story and the ending had me in a chokehold. I cannot wait to read book 2 because I think it will be even more incredible than book 1.
2026 is the year of Sci-fi Romance for me and I was so excited for the chance to read this book early.
By the Light of the Stars is perfect for those of us who want a side of sci-fi with our romance.
This world is so unique with elements of dystopia mixed with outer space and romantic entanglements that had me so invested. Not only is the plot expansive but the found family, messy family dynamics, and politics make the characters feel real and vulnerable. You can’t help but either love or hate the characters within this story and the ending had me in a chokehold. I cannot wait to read book 2 because I think it will be even more incredible than book 1.
August 31, 2026
A sci-fi space based romantasy? Yes please!
I enjoyed everything about this book. The author created an intriguing adventure where individuals are split between different locations in space.
A princess carries the weight of her world on her shoulders. And the fate of many.
The story is very layered. Family dynamics. Political challenges. Loyalty between friends (and foes). The dangers of power & obedience.
The spice level is pretty low if you aren’t into that. I was hooked on the characters almost immediately & cannot wait to find out what happens next. This was hard for me to put down. I’m surprised at some of the reviews because in my opinion the author knocked it out of the park (into space) ;)
I enjoyed everything about this book. The author created an intriguing adventure where individuals are split between different locations in space.
A princess carries the weight of her world on her shoulders. And the fate of many.
The story is very layered. Family dynamics. Political challenges. Loyalty between friends (and foes). The dangers of power & obedience.
The spice level is pretty low if you aren’t into that. I was hooked on the characters almost immediately & cannot wait to find out what happens next. This was hard for me to put down. I’m surprised at some of the reviews because in my opinion the author knocked it out of the park (into space) ;)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I had such a good time with this one! I love a good romance in space. The world was interesting. There’s a nice balance of political intrigue, romance and action.
Lyrii was the standout to me. She starts off meek and compliant. During the journey she starts to come into herself. By the end, she’s doing her best to be brave and make her own choices. Kade was okay. I didn’t dislike him but he didn’t really stand out to me. The romance between them was sweet. I enjoyed their dynamic. With this being a trilogy, I would’ve liked to have seen the romance develop a bit slower. But given their backgrounds and situation, it made sense.
Overall, this was a fun read. I’m definitely looking forward to book two! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy!
Lyrii was the standout to me. She starts off meek and compliant. During the journey she starts to come into herself. By the end, she’s doing her best to be brave and make her own choices. Kade was okay. I didn’t dislike him but he didn’t really stand out to me. The romance between them was sweet. I enjoyed their dynamic. With this being a trilogy, I would’ve liked to have seen the romance develop a bit slower. But given their backgrounds and situation, it made sense.
Overall, this was a fun read. I’m definitely looking forward to book two! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was an enjoyable sci-fi romance with action and political intrigue. Lyrii starts off as a young seeming, sheltered and slightly naive princess who is engaged to marry for politics. Lyrii goes through a lot during this book, a lot of it from learning how sheltered she was and not knowing who to trust. I do think she had a lot of growth as her eyes opened to the worlds around her. I liked Kade, the MMC who helps her escape her home. While he also was young seeming and at times impulsive, he was definitely more worldly than Lyrii and we love a consent king. Overall, I enjoyed reading this and I would definitely read more books in this world.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The story was good and I really appreciated the pacing. I was excited to pick it up and I was never bored. However that being said it was nothing new and pretty predictable. I was waiting for a truly shocking twist but was disappointed. I also didn’t know the protagonists or villains very deeply. While I loved the setting and the distinct different planets and space things (I’m not a scientist ok) I do wish the aesthetic came to life a little more if that makes sense. Solid 3 star read for me where I had a good time but it won’t be memorable.
The story was good and I really appreciated the pacing. I was excited to pick it up and I was never bored. However that being said it was nothing new and pretty predictable. I was waiting for a truly shocking twist but was disappointed. I also didn’t know the protagonists or villains very deeply. While I loved the setting and the distinct different planets and space things (I’m not a scientist ok) I do wish the aesthetic came to life a little more if that makes sense. Solid 3 star read for me where I had a good time but it won’t be memorable.
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