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Queen of Stars
268 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2026
3 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Mariel Araya
1 book2 followersMariel Araya is from Northern California and has been scribbling stories with gentle but defiant heroines since elementary school.
When not writing about dominant men groveling, Mariel enjoys reading, journaling, visiting her local library, long shady walks, and going in the ocean.
When not writing about dominant men groveling, Mariel enjoys reading, journaling, visiting her local library, long shady walks, and going in the ocean.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
January 31, 2026
This was a cozy, quick romantasy. It was easy to read and not a lot of complicated world building. I do wish we would have gotten to see and learn a little bit more of the magic though.
January 24, 2026
I received an ARC and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
This started out very rough, then got a bit better, then went off the rails entirely. I think part of the problem was the book was way too short for what the author was trying to accomplish. There wasn’t enough space for world building or for plot other than romance to really develop. Those things kind of got thrown in at the very end of the book in a rush, and that made it feel out of place.
World building: very limited and confusing. Elements like “silver vortex” are introduced but not explained, then just dropped for most of the book only to return at the end. We don’t even know that magic exists until the very end of the book, and there’s no explanation of how it works or what it has to do with the moon. The country names and descriptions are extremely bland, and could have been utilized a lot more to create real tension and conflict between the characters.
Characters: very inconsistent or very flat. The two main characters are just all over the place, flip flopping their behavior and motivations at the drop of a hat. I really have no idea after reading the whole book what Solstice’s personality is actually supposed to be. Her only consistent trait seems to be making the worst possible decision at every turn. Callisto is like every awful characteristic of every toxic booktok MMC all mixed together in a confusing jumble that can’t decide if it’s a brooding shadow daddy or an overprotective golden retriever. The side characters are all cardboard cutouts, like generic mean girl, generic overprotective brother, etc.
Romance: it was very insta-lovey, but then tried to also be enemies to lovers, and none of it really worked. I don’t know what they see in each other, because they’re both constantly just acting like horny teenagers. The romance seems to be all about sex, but I don’t even buy that because there’s very little description of why they are so attracted to each other.
Plot: The original set up was kind of interesting, but insufficiently prompted and then completely derailed halfway through the book. The idea of having an arranged marriage that is Solstice’s only salvation rejected is good. It’s just the how we got there that made no sense. Instead of just sticking with her making a fool of herself and being rejected for legitimate reasons, the author tries to make it about Callisto’s insta love and not wanting distractions from being king, so he just pretends it’s her fault… none of this makes any sense, and it’s promptly undermined by Callisto’s subsequent actions. The ostensible reason for this idiotic attempt at pushing her away is so that when he changes his mind and wants her to stay, she has a reason to reject him and draw out the romantic plot longer. But again, it makes no sense, because Callisto has made it very obvious he actually likes her, everyone tells Solstice he’s obsessed with her, and her bizarre decision to be mistress instead of queen just makes the problems she insists prevent their marriage even worse. If she’s supposed to be smart (which I assume is the intention of telling us she reads a lot and memorizing all these law books) then she would know this position just makes her even more vulnerable to Callisto’s whims. And it’s completely unclear why she even wants to be his mistress when, at that point, she clearly doesn’t trust or like him very much. This entire plot would’ve made way more sense if Solstice ACTUALLY made a public fool of herself at the first meeting, necessitating Callisto to reject the marriage because the nobles snub her, then she tries to get him to marry her off but he keeps avoiding it because it makes him jealous, so then she finds some sort of advisor position at court she wants instead and proves her worth through actually showing her smarts by solving some problem in the kingdom. Then she becomes advisor and they grow close and develop real feelings through working together. Leontes can still show up furious because deal was reneged and Solstice is being gossiped about as kings mistress because women aren’t usually advisors. Also, the whole moon magic thing needs to show up WAY earlier. It would be so much more interesting and conflictual if Solstice uses it when she is first attacked in the garden, but Callisto intentionally hides it from her and gaslights her about what happened because he’s afraid she’ll leave if she knows the truth to go back home and try to save her family with the magic.
Writing: The prologue Is very dry info-dumping, and a lot of the dialogue feels stilted or cheesy. There’s a lot of telling instead of showing, but also a lack of explanations for a lot of things.
This started out very rough, then got a bit better, then went off the rails entirely. I think part of the problem was the book was way too short for what the author was trying to accomplish. There wasn’t enough space for world building or for plot other than romance to really develop. Those things kind of got thrown in at the very end of the book in a rush, and that made it feel out of place.
World building: very limited and confusing. Elements like “silver vortex” are introduced but not explained, then just dropped for most of the book only to return at the end. We don’t even know that magic exists until the very end of the book, and there’s no explanation of how it works or what it has to do with the moon. The country names and descriptions are extremely bland, and could have been utilized a lot more to create real tension and conflict between the characters.
Characters: very inconsistent or very flat. The two main characters are just all over the place, flip flopping their behavior and motivations at the drop of a hat. I really have no idea after reading the whole book what Solstice’s personality is actually supposed to be. Her only consistent trait seems to be making the worst possible decision at every turn. Callisto is like every awful characteristic of every toxic booktok MMC all mixed together in a confusing jumble that can’t decide if it’s a brooding shadow daddy or an overprotective golden retriever. The side characters are all cardboard cutouts, like generic mean girl, generic overprotective brother, etc.
Romance: it was very insta-lovey, but then tried to also be enemies to lovers, and none of it really worked. I don’t know what they see in each other, because they’re both constantly just acting like horny teenagers. The romance seems to be all about sex, but I don’t even buy that because there’s very little description of why they are so attracted to each other.
Plot: The original set up was kind of interesting, but insufficiently prompted and then completely derailed halfway through the book. The idea of having an arranged marriage that is Solstice’s only salvation rejected is good. It’s just the how we got there that made no sense. Instead of just sticking with her making a fool of herself and being rejected for legitimate reasons, the author tries to make it about Callisto’s insta love and not wanting distractions from being king, so he just pretends it’s her fault… none of this makes any sense, and it’s promptly undermined by Callisto’s subsequent actions. The ostensible reason for this idiotic attempt at pushing her away is so that when he changes his mind and wants her to stay, she has a reason to reject him and draw out the romantic plot longer. But again, it makes no sense, because Callisto has made it very obvious he actually likes her, everyone tells Solstice he’s obsessed with her, and her bizarre decision to be mistress instead of queen just makes the problems she insists prevent their marriage even worse. If she’s supposed to be smart (which I assume is the intention of telling us she reads a lot and memorizing all these law books) then she would know this position just makes her even more vulnerable to Callisto’s whims. And it’s completely unclear why she even wants to be his mistress when, at that point, she clearly doesn’t trust or like him very much. This entire plot would’ve made way more sense if Solstice ACTUALLY made a public fool of herself at the first meeting, necessitating Callisto to reject the marriage because the nobles snub her, then she tries to get him to marry her off but he keeps avoiding it because it makes him jealous, so then she finds some sort of advisor position at court she wants instead and proves her worth through actually showing her smarts by solving some problem in the kingdom. Then she becomes advisor and they grow close and develop real feelings through working together. Leontes can still show up furious because deal was reneged and Solstice is being gossiped about as kings mistress because women aren’t usually advisors. Also, the whole moon magic thing needs to show up WAY earlier. It would be so much more interesting and conflictual if Solstice uses it when she is first attacked in the garden, but Callisto intentionally hides it from her and gaslights her about what happened because he’s afraid she’ll leave if she knows the truth to go back home and try to save her family with the magic.
Writing: The prologue Is very dry info-dumping, and a lot of the dialogue feels stilted or cheesy. There’s a lot of telling instead of showing, but also a lack of explanations for a lot of things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2026
I received an ARC of this book for free, and overall I’d rate it a 4 out of 5. I enjoyed it well enough and ended up reading it in a single sitting, which says a lot about how readable and engaging it is on a moment-to-moment level.
The story is set in a fantasy world where a young woman is required to marry a newly crowned king, and that premise was intriguing from the start. The worldbuilding is accessible and easy to slip into, making this a fast and enjoyable read. However, the pacing didn’t quite work for me. Large emotional and plot developments happen very quickly, which made the story feel rushed at times and didn’t always give scenes the space they needed to fully land.
The romance, while cute, also suffers a bit from this pacing. The chemistry between the main characters develops very fast, which made it harder for me to fully invest in their relationship. That said, their interactions were sweet, and I can see readers who enjoy quick-burn romances having a great time with it.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, light fantasy romance with a strong hook and a charming central relationship, even if the rushed pacing kept it from reaching its full potential for me.
The story is set in a fantasy world where a young woman is required to marry a newly crowned king, and that premise was intriguing from the start. The worldbuilding is accessible and easy to slip into, making this a fast and enjoyable read. However, the pacing didn’t quite work for me. Large emotional and plot developments happen very quickly, which made the story feel rushed at times and didn’t always give scenes the space they needed to fully land.
The romance, while cute, also suffers a bit from this pacing. The chemistry between the main characters develops very fast, which made it harder for me to fully invest in their relationship. That said, their interactions were sweet, and I can see readers who enjoy quick-burn romances having a great time with it.
Overall, this is an enjoyable, light fantasy romance with a strong hook and a charming central relationship, even if the rushed pacing kept it from reaching its full potential for me.
January 25, 2026
Read this as an ARC.
This was Edwardian-romance heavy and lighter on the fantasy with a dual POV. Definitely a good read for those who prefer more romance than magic in this genre.
The pacing in the beginning of the book was a bit off for me. A lot of telling without showing, which works for some people. I personally prefer a bit more world building but the author did get us the background we needed. Pacing to me was spot on after about 50% though.
The relationship between the MMC and FMC comes on really strong and fast, kind of an insta lust situation (moreso for him than her). A bit more build up there would have helped. Overall enjoyed them together though.
I thought the FMC had a lot of growth over the book. She was pretty sheltered but ended up speaking out for herself and her interests midway through. Love me a damaged broody MMC "burn the world" type. There are a few open door spicy scenes.
Overall this book pulled me in and I wanted to keep reading. I was definitely surprised a few times.
This was Edwardian-romance heavy and lighter on the fantasy with a dual POV. Definitely a good read for those who prefer more romance than magic in this genre.
The pacing in the beginning of the book was a bit off for me. A lot of telling without showing, which works for some people. I personally prefer a bit more world building but the author did get us the background we needed. Pacing to me was spot on after about 50% though.
The relationship between the MMC and FMC comes on really strong and fast, kind of an insta lust situation (moreso for him than her). A bit more build up there would have helped. Overall enjoyed them together though.
I thought the FMC had a lot of growth over the book. She was pretty sheltered but ended up speaking out for herself and her interests midway through. Love me a damaged broody MMC "burn the world" type. There are a few open door spicy scenes.
Overall this book pulled me in and I wanted to keep reading. I was definitely surprised a few times.
February 1, 2026
This story starts off with an arranged marriage and puta you right in the story.
The characters are easy to connect with and events are following fast, one of the other. This book is an easy and light read.
It’s a very enjoyable romantasy for people who love a fast read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The characters are easy to connect with and events are following fast, one of the other. This book is an easy and light read.
It’s a very enjoyable romantasy for people who love a fast read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2026
I received an ARC for this story in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I finished Queen of Stars in one short sitting and enjoyed the romantic tension between Solstice and Callisto. However, looking closer into their relationship, it felt very superficial. There is a strong physical attraction between the characters that doesn't appear to go deeper. I found myself wanting more interiority in the beginning to understand why they didn't want to be with anyone else or walk away from the relationship other than the physicality. I'm a fan of love at first sight (but not insta-lust), but it's evident there are some plot beats missing to help progress the romance development at a comfortable pace. Given that Callisto is portrayed as a brooding male lead, it felt like there should be more resistance between him and Solstice. We're missing character goals and motivations, mostly on Callisto's part. The reader is told what's happening, rather than seeing it unfold organically.
In terms of the worldbuilding, the setting is identified immediately with the help of detailed notes prior to the prologue. I personally find worldbuilding notes in the beginning of the story to be overwhelming and would prefer for it to be sprinkled throughout the story as we get to learn more about the world the author has created while we read. The setting and character description are surface-level, so I had difficulty visualizing the scenes in their entirety.
The fantasy elements don't really come into play until around 75% into the book, so I wish the elements were stronger prior to that point. It would have helped not feel as "random." Nevertheless, the story was a sweet, quick read.
I finished Queen of Stars in one short sitting and enjoyed the romantic tension between Solstice and Callisto. However, looking closer into their relationship, it felt very superficial. There is a strong physical attraction between the characters that doesn't appear to go deeper. I found myself wanting more interiority in the beginning to understand why they didn't want to be with anyone else or walk away from the relationship other than the physicality. I'm a fan of love at first sight (but not insta-lust), but it's evident there are some plot beats missing to help progress the romance development at a comfortable pace. Given that Callisto is portrayed as a brooding male lead, it felt like there should be more resistance between him and Solstice. We're missing character goals and motivations, mostly on Callisto's part. The reader is told what's happening, rather than seeing it unfold organically.
In terms of the worldbuilding, the setting is identified immediately with the help of detailed notes prior to the prologue. I personally find worldbuilding notes in the beginning of the story to be overwhelming and would prefer for it to be sprinkled throughout the story as we get to learn more about the world the author has created while we read. The setting and character description are surface-level, so I had difficulty visualizing the scenes in their entirety.
The fantasy elements don't really come into play until around 75% into the book, so I wish the elements were stronger prior to that point. It would have helped not feel as "random." Nevertheless, the story was a sweet, quick read.
January 25, 2026
I really enjoyed this story even more than I expected. The world drew me in and I really connected with the characters. I wasn’t sure how to feel about Solstice, the FMC, at first but I really grew to like her. The MMC, King Callisto, grew on me as well. I liked that Solstice had a backbone and was willing to stand up for herself which you don’t see a lot of in romantasy. Some of the twists I didn’t see coming. And I’m usually good at predicting them. The only thing that stopped me from giving this 5 stars was that I was kind of confused about the magic system. All we know is that it has something to do with the moons which I think is interesting but I wanted that to be explored more. I wanted to see how it actually worked and what it meant. Overall I had a great time with the story and I’m definitely willing to read more books in this world.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy.
January 31, 2026
I’m a little torn on this one. I think it was good, but not something I would read again. It fell a little flat for me. I wish it held more depth. I felt like some posers were done very well and others not so much. The first half was great, but the second half just couldn’t keep my interest. I felt like it was rushed.
January 31, 2026
I had the privilege of being an ARC for author Mariel Araya. I could not put this book down! FMC Solstice, stoic, smart, and stubborn. I wanted to ring her neck quite a few times but understood her stance. King Calisto or Commander as Solstice would call him had me at the edge of my seat! This was a spectacular book and cant wait to read more by Mariel!
January 21, 2026
Many thanks to the author, Mariel Araya, for providing an eARC of this book! Please bear in mind that this review is done before the official release and there might be some changes from what I read.
3.75/5 ⭐, rounded up to 4 ⭐
Queen of Stars was such a delight to read! I normally gravitate towards more plot heavy stories but I found a lot of enjoyment from reading this. If you are someone who enjoys comfy reads or just finished a more intense book and want a light and easy read afterwards, this is great to pick up.
Queen of Stars is a low fantasy dual POV story focusing on the female lead, Solstice, and the male lead, Callisto. Solstice is a sheltered and naive noble from a war torn country, and her brothers manage to get her into a political marriage with King Callisto so she can escape the turmoil. From there the story focuses on the developing relationship between Solstice and Callisto and some court drama along the way. Both of the main characters are a breath of fresh air compared to the usual badass cursing female lead and shadow daddy tropes that are popular nowadays (although I do very much indulge in these, having something different is great!). While Solstice is naive, she still has a fiery resilience to her that lets her navigate the court drama. Callisto is initially shown as a strong military leader and ladies' man, but during his POVs you come to learn that he's actually a protective worrywart with insecurities because of his troubled past. He very "gap moe", as the anime community would put it lol. The dynamic between Solstice and Callisto is a push and pull of sorts, where Callisto is enamored with her inner strength and ability to stand up for herself so they end up having lots of fun banter. And if you're a fan of the male lead asking for consent and focusing on the pleasure of the female lead, this will be right up your alley!
One aspect that I loved about Queen of Stars is the writing and prose. I'm somewhat new to Romantasy and something I've noticed from sampling lots of newer titles is how stilted the writing and awkward the dialogue is. Other titles also seem to put in a lot of effort to seem mature and dark, but come off as too edgy. I never came across this issue while reading this book and it was a treat just how "smooth" the writing felt. I never felt like I was fighting with the words to understand what's going on and the dialogue flowed very well. Overall the writing felt light and relaxing, very much like the vibes of the story.
As for parts that I feel like could be improved, one major part of the story is that very early on Callisto rejects the marriage with Solstice as he was hoping for a more hands off political marriage. Because of insecurities from his past that are later revealed, he doesn't want to burden Solstice with a bad relationship and he's worried about taking advantage of her. I wish that the build up to the rejection was set up just a bit better as it felt rather sudden. I feel like a better setup could make the development of their relationship feel even more rewarding later. There are also a few other parts later in the book that also feel somewhat sudden, such as the fantasy elements. However, despite the pacing being a bit fast at points, it never truly detracted from my enjoyment of Queen of Stars.
Overall, a very solid lead and I very much look forward to Book 2 in the series. I recommend trying this out if you're looking for a more comfy read!
3.75/5 ⭐, rounded up to 4 ⭐
Queen of Stars was such a delight to read! I normally gravitate towards more plot heavy stories but I found a lot of enjoyment from reading this. If you are someone who enjoys comfy reads or just finished a more intense book and want a light and easy read afterwards, this is great to pick up.
Queen of Stars is a low fantasy dual POV story focusing on the female lead, Solstice, and the male lead, Callisto. Solstice is a sheltered and naive noble from a war torn country, and her brothers manage to get her into a political marriage with King Callisto so she can escape the turmoil. From there the story focuses on the developing relationship between Solstice and Callisto and some court drama along the way. Both of the main characters are a breath of fresh air compared to the usual badass cursing female lead and shadow daddy tropes that are popular nowadays (although I do very much indulge in these, having something different is great!). While Solstice is naive, she still has a fiery resilience to her that lets her navigate the court drama. Callisto is initially shown as a strong military leader and ladies' man, but during his POVs you come to learn that he's actually a protective worrywart with insecurities because of his troubled past. He very "gap moe", as the anime community would put it lol. The dynamic between Solstice and Callisto is a push and pull of sorts, where Callisto is enamored with her inner strength and ability to stand up for herself so they end up having lots of fun banter. And if you're a fan of the male lead asking for consent and focusing on the pleasure of the female lead, this will be right up your alley!
One aspect that I loved about Queen of Stars is the writing and prose. I'm somewhat new to Romantasy and something I've noticed from sampling lots of newer titles is how stilted the writing and awkward the dialogue is. Other titles also seem to put in a lot of effort to seem mature and dark, but come off as too edgy. I never came across this issue while reading this book and it was a treat just how "smooth" the writing felt. I never felt like I was fighting with the words to understand what's going on and the dialogue flowed very well. Overall the writing felt light and relaxing, very much like the vibes of the story.
As for parts that I feel like could be improved, one major part of the story is that very early on Callisto rejects the marriage with Solstice as he was hoping for a more hands off political marriage. Because of insecurities from his past that are later revealed, he doesn't want to burden Solstice with a bad relationship and he's worried about taking advantage of her. I wish that the build up to the rejection was set up just a bit better as it felt rather sudden. I feel like a better setup could make the development of their relationship feel even more rewarding later. There are also a few other parts later in the book that also feel somewhat sudden, such as the fantasy elements. However, despite the pacing being a bit fast at points, it never truly detracted from my enjoyment of Queen of Stars.
Overall, a very solid lead and I very much look forward to Book 2 in the series. I recommend trying this out if you're looking for a more comfy read!
February 4, 2026
I received an ARC in return for an honest review. Thanks again so much to the author for giving me this opportunity !
Queen of Stars was a fun, short read that was filled with court intrigue and spicy banter. The dialogues are nicely written and fun to follow. The reasons I didn't note it higher are noted below and hidden as spoilers.
All in all, a fun little read that I would have liked longer to allow for better understanding of some parts of the worldbuilding. Thank you again for the ARC !
Queen of Stars was a fun, short read that was filled with court intrigue and spicy banter. The dialogues are nicely written and fun to follow. The reasons I didn't note it higher are noted below and hidden as spoilers.
All in all, a fun little read that I would have liked longer to allow for better understanding of some parts of the worldbuilding. Thank you again for the ARC !
January 19, 2026
3.5 rounded up.
This is what I wanted out of Warrior Princess Assassin. Queen of Stars is the story of a sheltered princess, Solstice, navigating her arranged marriage with the standoffish King Callisto. Having never left her manor in 20 years, Solstice struggles to find her place in a foreign court, facing the king's attempts to push her away, unfamiliar customs, and threats from the king's enemies.
Solstice starts off as a very pitiable ingenue type, but after the first quarter she starts pushing back against Callisto's rude behaviour. She goes from
"Do you think if I'm very very good, and follow all his expectations, he'll reconsider?"
to
"You've clawed yourself to the top of an unnatural hierarchy because you are big, and strong, and you kill better than anyone else. Even in trying to control your men, your best bet is threatening them with torture."
and
"You can have me physically, but not my vulnerability. I can offer you my body, but I won't offer you the power to discard me again."
She can't throw a dagger, but she's practical and discerning. She doesn't let her attraction to Callisto stop her from pushing him away at times, leading to the push-and-pull romances are supposed to be. The part where she gets up and leaves in the middle of an intimate scene because he said something rude was gold.
Callisto was all right. He felt more like a fantasy than a real character, since the book never shared much about him besides his worst memory of childhood. The initial descriptions of how big and masculine he is were a bit tiring, but once Solstice humbles him he's quite decent. He respects her as a rational human being and is glad she's chosen to be with him.
The book's main downside was the lack of worldbuilding. The names were a bit silly, and there's little indication of what it's like to live in either country. I couldn't say for sure what language they were speaking the whole time, what anyone ate, or if there were any phenotypical differences between Lilyvale and the Star Court. There's also nothing Edwardian about the setting in clothes, technology, or values. Queen of Stars isn't presented as a historical novel or much of a fantasy novel, but development in this area could have made the characters more believable or introduced more conflict.
Solid romance book.
Thanks again to the author for the ARC copy of this novel.
This is what I wanted out of Warrior Princess Assassin. Queen of Stars is the story of a sheltered princess, Solstice, navigating her arranged marriage with the standoffish King Callisto. Having never left her manor in 20 years, Solstice struggles to find her place in a foreign court, facing the king's attempts to push her away, unfamiliar customs, and threats from the king's enemies.
Solstice starts off as a very pitiable ingenue type, but after the first quarter she starts pushing back against Callisto's rude behaviour. She goes from
"Do you think if I'm very very good, and follow all his expectations, he'll reconsider?"
to
"You've clawed yourself to the top of an unnatural hierarchy because you are big, and strong, and you kill better than anyone else. Even in trying to control your men, your best bet is threatening them with torture."
and
"You can have me physically, but not my vulnerability. I can offer you my body, but I won't offer you the power to discard me again."
She can't throw a dagger, but she's practical and discerning. She doesn't let her attraction to Callisto stop her from pushing him away at times, leading to the push-and-pull romances are supposed to be. The part where she gets up and leaves in the middle of an intimate scene because he said something rude was gold.
Callisto was all right. He felt more like a fantasy than a real character, since the book never shared much about him besides his worst memory of childhood. The initial descriptions of how big and masculine he is were a bit tiring, but once Solstice humbles him he's quite decent. He respects her as a rational human being and is glad she's chosen to be with him.
The book's main downside was the lack of worldbuilding. The names were a bit silly, and there's little indication of what it's like to live in either country. I couldn't say for sure what language they were speaking the whole time, what anyone ate, or if there were any phenotypical differences between Lilyvale and the Star Court. There's also nothing Edwardian about the setting in clothes, technology, or values. Queen of Stars isn't presented as a historical novel or much of a fantasy novel, but development in this area could have made the characters more believable or introduced more conflict.
Solid romance book.
Thanks again to the author for the ARC copy of this novel.
January 19, 2026
Thank you so much to the author for very kindly providing an ARC of her book. All the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This was a quick and easy read that I wished I could have scored higher. I am not the most generous usually, and a 2⭐️ review means 'almost good/OK' in my book.
This story reads like a historical romance dipped in a light fantasy sauce. I am not sure the plot works for me.
Solstice lives in a country ravaged by war. We don't really get to see who she is as a person. Her dreams and motivations are practically non-existent. We know she has 2 brothers and 1 childhood friend - who she thinks more about than her brothers, even though all 3 of them are off fighting in the same war. I think her childhood friend got wayyy too much screentime.
A lot of the story (and I mean a LOT) gets told and not shown. It makes it hard to root for Solstice as you aren't given the opportunity as a reader to get fully immersed into her worldview.
The world is described as one that is dangerous for women, and the more I read, the more I got upset at Solstice's reasoning.
Maybe if I understood her more, I would agree with her, but as it stands, Solstice continuously makes decisions that put herself in dangerous situations.
She is too stubborn for her own good.
Callisto is described as being a brutal war lord turned King. Well, when it came to Solstice, he did not show any of that. I found him a bit bland, but at least he had some backstory.
At the 74-75% mark, the story suddenly twists and the reader is introduced to the magic system. Before this point, there was no mention of magic whatsoever, so as a reader I felt annoyed. The story could have benefitted from some foreshadowing or a hint at the start. No need for a big explanation, just a little hint would have been enough to tie this together a bit more. It is at this point we also get introduced to one of Solstice's brothers. He drops some truth bombs on her, and I have to say I completely agreed with him.
All in all, I get that it is hard for a debut author to write that first book, which is why I wish I could score this higher. The writing isn't bad per se, but this one could have benefitted from another round of edits, a bit more character development.
This was a quick and easy read that I wished I could have scored higher. I am not the most generous usually, and a 2⭐️ review means 'almost good/OK' in my book.
This story reads like a historical romance dipped in a light fantasy sauce. I am not sure the plot works for me.
Solstice lives in a country ravaged by war. We don't really get to see who she is as a person. Her dreams and motivations are practically non-existent. We know she has 2 brothers and 1 childhood friend - who she thinks more about than her brothers, even though all 3 of them are off fighting in the same war. I think her childhood friend got wayyy too much screentime.
A lot of the story (and I mean a LOT) gets told and not shown. It makes it hard to root for Solstice as you aren't given the opportunity as a reader to get fully immersed into her worldview.
The world is described as one that is dangerous for women, and the more I read, the more I got upset at Solstice's reasoning.
Maybe if I understood her more, I would agree with her, but as it stands, Solstice continuously makes decisions that put herself in dangerous situations.
She is too stubborn for her own good.
Callisto is described as being a brutal war lord turned King. Well, when it came to Solstice, he did not show any of that. I found him a bit bland, but at least he had some backstory.
At the 74-75% mark, the story suddenly twists and the reader is introduced to the magic system. Before this point, there was no mention of magic whatsoever, so as a reader I felt annoyed. The story could have benefitted from some foreshadowing or a hint at the start. No need for a big explanation, just a little hint would have been enough to tie this together a bit more. It is at this point we also get introduced to one of Solstice's brothers. He drops some truth bombs on her, and I have to say I completely agreed with him.
All in all, I get that it is hard for a debut author to write that first book, which is why I wish I could score this higher. The writing isn't bad per se, but this one could have benefitted from another round of edits, a bit more character development.
January 27, 2026
I received this as an ARC and am voluntarily writing a review.
I think the overall premise of the book is great. The author had a great idea but the execution was not 100%.
It is a rather short book, so I understand where some of the issues arise from. However, there was a plot point about moon magic that was introduced about 75% into the book. It was a very abrupt introduction and I did not see any other hints or mentions of it prior to this point. It did not flow with what was going in and disrupted the rest of the book. Had it been woven into the story from the beginning, I think it would have made more sense. This ties in to the random abduction of Solstice regarding moon magic. Again, it’s an abrupt plot point and doesn’t seem to make sense because even Solstice didn’t know she had moon magic but a few commoners knew?
Additionally, there was some world building and character descriptions but not enough. There were mentions of the places that exist in the book and where they are relative to each other in the beginning of the book, but it’s not elaborated on much afterwards until closer to the end. Also, the author describes the Star Court and the rooms that Solstice ventures into, but the way things are described seems rushed and stuffed into one or two sentences. Expansion of these things would make a huge difference.
Similarly, there aren’t many character descriptions. There are some personality traits mentioned of the main characters, and a few physical descriptions, but not enough. For example, in the beginning of the book Solstice describes Callisto in one sentence - it seems a bit forced and “stuffed” with descriptors. Later in the book, small descriptors like his hair color, are naturally woven into the writing - I like this better.
Finally, the romance between Solstice and Callisto. I thought the author did a nice job building tension. It started from the beginning and was definitely felt throughout the book until the two finally got together. There were a few spicy scenes that had enough description and some one-liners I really appreciated. Their romance was a little rocky and back-and-forth in a way I felt didn’t align with their personalities at times, but overall, I was rooting for them to end up together.
I think the overall premise of the book is great. The author had a great idea but the execution was not 100%.
It is a rather short book, so I understand where some of the issues arise from. However, there was a plot point about moon magic that was introduced about 75% into the book. It was a very abrupt introduction and I did not see any other hints or mentions of it prior to this point. It did not flow with what was going in and disrupted the rest of the book. Had it been woven into the story from the beginning, I think it would have made more sense. This ties in to the random abduction of Solstice regarding moon magic. Again, it’s an abrupt plot point and doesn’t seem to make sense because even Solstice didn’t know she had moon magic but a few commoners knew?
Additionally, there was some world building and character descriptions but not enough. There were mentions of the places that exist in the book and where they are relative to each other in the beginning of the book, but it’s not elaborated on much afterwards until closer to the end. Also, the author describes the Star Court and the rooms that Solstice ventures into, but the way things are described seems rushed and stuffed into one or two sentences. Expansion of these things would make a huge difference.
Similarly, there aren’t many character descriptions. There are some personality traits mentioned of the main characters, and a few physical descriptions, but not enough. For example, in the beginning of the book Solstice describes Callisto in one sentence - it seems a bit forced and “stuffed” with descriptors. Later in the book, small descriptors like his hair color, are naturally woven into the writing - I like this better.
Finally, the romance between Solstice and Callisto. I thought the author did a nice job building tension. It started from the beginning and was definitely felt throughout the book until the two finally got together. There were a few spicy scenes that had enough description and some one-liners I really appreciated. Their romance was a little rocky and back-and-forth in a way I felt didn’t align with their personalities at times, but overall, I was rooting for them to end up together.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 21, 2026
If you’ve been looking for a Romantasy that swaps the standard medieval forest and descends you into the world of court…. look no further! Mariel Araya’s writing style is absolutely gorgeous. She masters balancing the high stakes of a crumbling kingdom with a romance that feels deeply personal and intimate. It’s a 5-star must read!
While many fantasy romance reads lean heavily into large scale world saving. Queen of Stars spotlights the glittering, treacherous, and claustrophobic world of court, with just a little Edwardian twist sprinkled in. The atmosphere was created with readers in mind. It is all consuming and soon you find yourself doused in mental pictures that transport you to another time and place altogether! There is just enough charm sprinkled in to make the Edwardian opulence and concepts of ridged social hierarchy to shine and thrive in a way that makes for a truly magical read!
The story is centered around an underestimated noblewoman who while has lost everything remains the embodiment of resilience, who is set on not letting the world around her break her down. Now add in the merciless and domineering king, and you have a steamy power struggle that is at the heart of this story!
This story makes you ask yourself who can she trust? Is the king really a monster or is there something more? Who am I really? I found myself constantly turning page after page, utterly absorbed into this world. The chemistry is not only magnetic, but it also feels earned through the psychological and emotional build up throughout the story and world building.
My Final Verdict:
Queen of Stars is a staggering introduction to Mariel Araya’s world! It’s an amazing read for readers who have love for dominant protagonists, resilient women, and the world of court. It’s a story about demanding more than what the world around you allows and finding strength in the most unlikely of places. If you enjoy the elegance of Edwardian romance blended with the stakes of a merciless court…..then this is the book for you!
The Spice Level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
While many fantasy romance reads lean heavily into large scale world saving. Queen of Stars spotlights the glittering, treacherous, and claustrophobic world of court, with just a little Edwardian twist sprinkled in. The atmosphere was created with readers in mind. It is all consuming and soon you find yourself doused in mental pictures that transport you to another time and place altogether! There is just enough charm sprinkled in to make the Edwardian opulence and concepts of ridged social hierarchy to shine and thrive in a way that makes for a truly magical read!
The story is centered around an underestimated noblewoman who while has lost everything remains the embodiment of resilience, who is set on not letting the world around her break her down. Now add in the merciless and domineering king, and you have a steamy power struggle that is at the heart of this story!
This story makes you ask yourself who can she trust? Is the king really a monster or is there something more? Who am I really? I found myself constantly turning page after page, utterly absorbed into this world. The chemistry is not only magnetic, but it also feels earned through the psychological and emotional build up throughout the story and world building.
My Final Verdict:
Queen of Stars is a staggering introduction to Mariel Araya’s world! It’s an amazing read for readers who have love for dominant protagonists, resilient women, and the world of court. It’s a story about demanding more than what the world around you allows and finding strength in the most unlikely of places. If you enjoy the elegance of Edwardian romance blended with the stakes of a merciless court…..then this is the book for you!
The Spice Level 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 4, 2026
I had goosebumps within the first pages and actual tears shortly after. The opening is so powerful that I stopped reading just to read it out loud to my husband, which I never do. That alone says everything about how hard this story hits from the very start.
What surprised me most was Solstice. She begins the story sheltered and underestimated, the kind of woman everyone assumes will quietly endure whatever fate hands her. Instead, she is sharp, observant, and far more intelligent than anyone gives her credit for. She never sacrifices her morals or her sense of self just to survive court politics, and when something crosses a line, she speaks up. Loudly. Watching her refuse to shrink was deeply satisfying, especially when it clearly unsettles everyone around her.
Callisto is a commanding and intimidating presence, but what I loved most was that Solstice sees through him. His darkness, his cruelty, his carefully constructed image of untouchable power. She calls his bluff more than once, and those moments were delicious. The tension between them crackles because neither is willing to fully yield, and the push and pull feels earned rather than forced.
The prose is rich without being heavy, and the level of detail made the world feel vivid and alive. Every scene felt intentional, especially during moments of emotional vulnerability and shifting power. I never felt rushed, and I never felt bored. That is rare.
Also, Judan. I need more Judan. He is one of those characters who quietly steals your attention, and by the end, I was already hoping he gets his own story because there is so much potential there.
If you love strong heroines who refuse to be broken, dominant male leads who get challenged instead of worshipped, and court intrigue that keeps you emotionally invested, this book will grab you by the heart and refuse to let go. Just be warned. You might end up emotionally wrecked and explaining plot points to your spouse mid chapter while whisper shouting about character decisions.
What surprised me most was Solstice. She begins the story sheltered and underestimated, the kind of woman everyone assumes will quietly endure whatever fate hands her. Instead, she is sharp, observant, and far more intelligent than anyone gives her credit for. She never sacrifices her morals or her sense of self just to survive court politics, and when something crosses a line, she speaks up. Loudly. Watching her refuse to shrink was deeply satisfying, especially when it clearly unsettles everyone around her.
Callisto is a commanding and intimidating presence, but what I loved most was that Solstice sees through him. His darkness, his cruelty, his carefully constructed image of untouchable power. She calls his bluff more than once, and those moments were delicious. The tension between them crackles because neither is willing to fully yield, and the push and pull feels earned rather than forced.
The prose is rich without being heavy, and the level of detail made the world feel vivid and alive. Every scene felt intentional, especially during moments of emotional vulnerability and shifting power. I never felt rushed, and I never felt bored. That is rare.
Also, Judan. I need more Judan. He is one of those characters who quietly steals your attention, and by the end, I was already hoping he gets his own story because there is so much potential there.
If you love strong heroines who refuse to be broken, dominant male leads who get challenged instead of worshipped, and court intrigue that keeps you emotionally invested, this book will grab you by the heart and refuse to let go. Just be warned. You might end up emotionally wrecked and explaining plot points to your spouse mid chapter while whisper shouting about character decisions.
February 1, 2026
⭐️
2.5 out of 10
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨
👑 King of a Rebellion x Noblewoman
💍 Marriage Betrothal
❤️🔥 Insta-Lust
⚔️ He Falls First
👩❤️👨 Dual POV
🏰 Court Intrigue
💔 Angst
✨ Magical Realms
I’m really disappointed I didn’t like this book because I wanted to so bad. I thought the premise was very solid and the first couple of chapters left me yearning for more. The potential for angst and heartbreak was totally there and you could cut the tension with a knife in some parts. Heartstrings were definitely pulled! However the writing and pacing of the story was just not up to par. It’s like the ideas were there but they were never properly flushed out.
As we proceed in the story everything unravels fairly quickly, there are a couple of details that I thought were off-putting and unnecessary. (Hint: she cries during sexy time. Twice.) And the conflicts aren’t really conflicts if you can call them that, they get resolved so easily and then you’re whisked away to the next plot point that comes out of thin air. The book to me read more like a bullet point outline at times for this very reason. At least it’s a fairly quick read so it doesn’t take much time to get through.
"He is the victorious war king. She is a noblewoman whose beauty and background were supposed to win her a choice of futures. Instead, Solstice is the last woman Callisto wants for his wife, and he is her only option in the aftermath of war.”
“Queen of Stars” is Book One in the standalone interconnected“Star Court” series - out now!
Although this book wasn’t for me, thank you so much to Mariel Araya for the ARC opportunity!
Rated MA for Spice 🌶️🌶️
2.5 out of 10
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨
👑 King of a Rebellion x Noblewoman
💍 Marriage Betrothal
❤️🔥 Insta-Lust
⚔️ He Falls First
👩❤️👨 Dual POV
🏰 Court Intrigue
💔 Angst
✨ Magical Realms
I’m really disappointed I didn’t like this book because I wanted to so bad. I thought the premise was very solid and the first couple of chapters left me yearning for more. The potential for angst and heartbreak was totally there and you could cut the tension with a knife in some parts. Heartstrings were definitely pulled! However the writing and pacing of the story was just not up to par. It’s like the ideas were there but they were never properly flushed out.
As we proceed in the story everything unravels fairly quickly, there are a couple of details that I thought were off-putting and unnecessary. (Hint: she cries during sexy time. Twice.) And the conflicts aren’t really conflicts if you can call them that, they get resolved so easily and then you’re whisked away to the next plot point that comes out of thin air. The book to me read more like a bullet point outline at times for this very reason. At least it’s a fairly quick read so it doesn’t take much time to get through.
"He is the victorious war king. She is a noblewoman whose beauty and background were supposed to win her a choice of futures. Instead, Solstice is the last woman Callisto wants for his wife, and he is her only option in the aftermath of war.”
“Queen of Stars” is Book One in the standalone interconnected“Star Court” series - out now!
Although this book wasn’t for me, thank you so much to Mariel Araya for the ARC opportunity!
Rated MA for Spice 🌶️🌶️
February 1, 2026
Huge thank you to Author Mariel for inviting me to provide an honest ARC review for Queen of Stars. All thoughts and opinions are my own:
Queen of Stars is about a young girl (Solstice), separated from her family who is thrown into the life of a ruthless King (Callisto). The story follows their budding relationship and the court intrigue that surrounds them.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s easy to read and the plot easy to follow which fits well with tone of story.
The characters have great chemistry and although not a focus, the world building was enough to visualise which always adds to the experience.
It’s very light fantasy, with a great storyline and I was grateful for the happy ending. I found myself giggling quite a bit and growing attached to the characters.
The pacing was a little off for me, but I think had the book been longer it would perhaps have helped pacing, especially during action and high stakes scenes, and allowed more space to explore the moon magic and deepened Solstice and Callisto’s relationship.
I can tell Solstice is an intelligent, strong woman, but I would have liked to have seen more of that to balance her emotional side and naivety throughout, similar to the last few chapters, to fit the underlying feminist tone.
Overall it was a lovely read, you can really see Mariel’s passion shine through and you can tell she had as much fun writing as I did reading and I look forward to book 2.
Queen of Stars is about a young girl (Solstice), separated from her family who is thrown into the life of a ruthless King (Callisto). The story follows their budding relationship and the court intrigue that surrounds them.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s easy to read and the plot easy to follow which fits well with tone of story.
The characters have great chemistry and although not a focus, the world building was enough to visualise which always adds to the experience.
It’s very light fantasy, with a great storyline and I was grateful for the happy ending. I found myself giggling quite a bit and growing attached to the characters.
The pacing was a little off for me, but I think had the book been longer it would perhaps have helped pacing, especially during action and high stakes scenes, and allowed more space to explore the moon magic and deepened Solstice and Callisto’s relationship.
I can tell Solstice is an intelligent, strong woman, but I would have liked to have seen more of that to balance her emotional side and naivety throughout, similar to the last few chapters, to fit the underlying feminist tone.
Overall it was a lovely read, you can really see Mariel’s passion shine through and you can tell she had as much fun writing as I did reading and I look forward to book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2026
I give this book 3,75 stars!
Solstice, a ruined noblewoman, is betrothed by her brother in the midst of war, to victor and conqueror, King Callisto. Although the king is merciless, she refuses to bow to him. Queen of Stars is a story where survival means outwitting rivals, risking the heart, and daring to demand more than fate, mixed with a lot of court drama.
This book 1 in ‘The Star Court series’ is great for readers drawn to steamy power dynamics, forced proximity, resilient heroines and dominant men. The author touches topics like: putting yourself out there for love and the emotional risks that follows, the difficulties of being a women, unapologetic passion, and navigating through and handling social situations and expectations.
What I particularly enjoyed about this story is the
strong contrast between Solstice and Callisto,
and how, despite their differences
and the many obstacles they face, they grow into a
formidable and compelling pair.
Author Mariel Araya’s writing is engaging, making the
book difficult to put down.
The story draws you in, leaving you eagerly
anticipating to learn more about the characters, and the magic they possess. That’s where I would like to have had a bit more, but looking forward to both the bonus chapters and the next book in this series.
Queen of Stars is a recommended read!
Solstice, a ruined noblewoman, is betrothed by her brother in the midst of war, to victor and conqueror, King Callisto. Although the king is merciless, she refuses to bow to him. Queen of Stars is a story where survival means outwitting rivals, risking the heart, and daring to demand more than fate, mixed with a lot of court drama.
This book 1 in ‘The Star Court series’ is great for readers drawn to steamy power dynamics, forced proximity, resilient heroines and dominant men. The author touches topics like: putting yourself out there for love and the emotional risks that follows, the difficulties of being a women, unapologetic passion, and navigating through and handling social situations and expectations.
What I particularly enjoyed about this story is the
strong contrast between Solstice and Callisto,
and how, despite their differences
and the many obstacles they face, they grow into a
formidable and compelling pair.
Author Mariel Araya’s writing is engaging, making the
book difficult to put down.
The story draws you in, leaving you eagerly
anticipating to learn more about the characters, and the magic they possess. That’s where I would like to have had a bit more, but looking forward to both the bonus chapters and the next book in this series.
Queen of Stars is a recommended read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2026
During a brutal war, Solstice is left on her own while her father and brothers go to fight. When a strange vortex in the ocean disrupts life in her homeland and the villagers revolt against the nobles, she is sent to Star Court to marry the King. Only when she finally meets him, neither is what the other expects and the engagement is called off. Knowing that she will be executed if she returns home, Solstice fights to stay in the King's court. But on her terms. Challenging the King, and the idea of how women should behave, every step of the way.
While overall this was a good read, I found myself at times waiting for something to happen. And it seemed that no matter what she did, Solstice was always in some kind of trouble. Which got a bit annoying.
There were a few ideas that I felt needed more. Like some magical elements that suddenly appeared but didn't seem fleshed out so much. I'm hoping that as the series continues there will be more to those.
I did enjoy some of the extra characters and their interactions with Solstice. Especially Annabelle. I get the feeling she'll be one to watch as the series continues. Her sister though could take a super long walk off a short pier…
Worth the read even with the minor irritations. :-)
I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
While overall this was a good read, I found myself at times waiting for something to happen. And it seemed that no matter what she did, Solstice was always in some kind of trouble. Which got a bit annoying.
There were a few ideas that I felt needed more. Like some magical elements that suddenly appeared but didn't seem fleshed out so much. I'm hoping that as the series continues there will be more to those.
I did enjoy some of the extra characters and their interactions with Solstice. Especially Annabelle. I get the feeling she'll be one to watch as the series continues. Her sister though could take a super long walk off a short pier…
Worth the read even with the minor irritations. :-)
I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 19, 2026
First of all, thank you to the author for considering me for this ARC read, I am grateful for this opportunity. A review of Queen of Stars – Star Court Series by Mariel Araya.
I want to start by saying that the story from the beginning had me hooked and I could not put it down. The story was quite simple and an easy read, which I enjoyed very much. I was able to get through it very quickly. I will say the story was lacking a stronger plot, I wish the magical elements were present in the story sooner. I did love the magical aspects at the end when they were revealed, and I’m hoping the second book will focus more on it. Additionally, I thought the main female lead was a little too juvenile, I felt like I was reading about a teenager at times due to her decision making, thought process and cringy clumsiness. I will admit it was a little irritating at times, but it doesn't take away from the story and at times it does add some humor. I did enjoy the romance in the story, I love a damsel in destress and groveling men. MMC was the best and I wish we could have read more from his POV. In summary it was an easy read, and I did enjoy the story. I am excited for book 2 and I will be continuing the series.
I want to start by saying that the story from the beginning had me hooked and I could not put it down. The story was quite simple and an easy read, which I enjoyed very much. I was able to get through it very quickly. I will say the story was lacking a stronger plot, I wish the magical elements were present in the story sooner. I did love the magical aspects at the end when they were revealed, and I’m hoping the second book will focus more on it. Additionally, I thought the main female lead was a little too juvenile, I felt like I was reading about a teenager at times due to her decision making, thought process and cringy clumsiness. I will admit it was a little irritating at times, but it doesn't take away from the story and at times it does add some humor. I did enjoy the romance in the story, I love a damsel in destress and groveling men. MMC was the best and I wish we could have read more from his POV. In summary it was an easy read, and I did enjoy the story. I am excited for book 2 and I will be continuing the series.
January 18, 2026
I received this as an ARC, all opinions are my own.
Queen of Stars is a completed standalone and the first book in the Star Court series. The story between Callisto and Solstice is finished, lovely and very heartwarming. If you are looking for a fun and spicy read then this is the book for you!
In general it exceeded all my expectations! I really enjoyed the love story and the plot. Mariel's writing had me very invested and immersed in the world she created. Her characters were very well developed and served a purpose. They weren't there just to fill space.
Callisto, the MMC is the classic broody type that will burn the world for the FMC, Solstice. Yummy. My only issue was that I wanted to get to know him more as a king. I wanted to know what plans he had for the kingdom, to see what drove him. I also wanted to learn more about his friendship with Judan and his experience with his magic.
I read the entire book in one sitting and it really left me wanting more. I am very excited to read the second book and I do hope it will be about Judan and a girl from the court.
3/5 🌶 for anyone wondering
Queen of Stars is a completed standalone and the first book in the Star Court series. The story between Callisto and Solstice is finished, lovely and very heartwarming. If you are looking for a fun and spicy read then this is the book for you!
In general it exceeded all my expectations! I really enjoyed the love story and the plot. Mariel's writing had me very invested and immersed in the world she created. Her characters were very well developed and served a purpose. They weren't there just to fill space.
Callisto, the MMC is the classic broody type that will burn the world for the FMC, Solstice. Yummy. My only issue was that I wanted to get to know him more as a king. I wanted to know what plans he had for the kingdom, to see what drove him. I also wanted to learn more about his friendship with Judan and his experience with his magic.
I read the entire book in one sitting and it really left me wanting more. I am very excited to read the second book and I do hope it will be about Judan and a girl from the court.
3/5 🌶 for anyone wondering
January 28, 2026
Queen of stars by Mariel Araya 🩷✨ ARC review ✨
3.5/5⭐
I enjoyed this book!!! I love an arranged marriage trope, then add in some deranged men and I am hooked. It was an easy read, took me a bit to get into it as I found it a bit choppy so got confused at the start but once I did, oh gosh, I was sad it ended so quickly.. I wanted to read more 🩷 this does have some great smutty scenes and darker elements in it which I wasn't expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised (I am a dark romance girly) ✨
Id have liked to read more about the magical elements, and about the MMC and his background as it just touched on them and I got so invested in them and this book didn't touch them enough for me. However, this means I'd definitely be reading a book 2 to continue their story and learn more about the magic and their future (if they have one) 🩷
If I had done my research on this book prior to jumping into it I'd have seen that it had dark elements which some may find hard to read but I like to go in blind to books, I never read more than the blurb so it's always a surprise to me with every book I read
3.5/5⭐
I enjoyed this book!!! I love an arranged marriage trope, then add in some deranged men and I am hooked. It was an easy read, took me a bit to get into it as I found it a bit choppy so got confused at the start but once I did, oh gosh, I was sad it ended so quickly.. I wanted to read more 🩷 this does have some great smutty scenes and darker elements in it which I wasn't expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised (I am a dark romance girly) ✨
Id have liked to read more about the magical elements, and about the MMC and his background as it just touched on them and I got so invested in them and this book didn't touch them enough for me. However, this means I'd definitely be reading a book 2 to continue their story and learn more about the magic and their future (if they have one) 🩷
If I had done my research on this book prior to jumping into it I'd have seen that it had dark elements which some may find hard to read but I like to go in blind to books, I never read more than the blurb so it's always a surprise to me with every book I read
January 17, 2026
ARC Review
Queen of Stars pulled me in immediately! I absolutely enjoyed that this Romantasy wasn’t full of world building and was so easy to follow along with. I really loved Solstice’s character. She was sweet, emotional, empathetic, funny and very smart and strong willed. She knew her own self worth and wouldn’t let others take from her. She wanted to write her own story. Now let’s talk King Callisto. We love a strong, broody MMC that will do anything for the FMC that he is falling for. He may of thought he wasn’t worthy of Solstice but he knew he couldn’t stay away from her. He would burn his whole Kingdom to the ground just for Solstice even with her teasing attitude. I love that she was able to pull a softer and more vulnerable side out of him. They had amazing chemistry from the very beginning.
This Romantasy was low fantasy, romance focused and danced on the line of darkness. It had great characters with growth throughout the book, strong side characters with good banter and a great storyline. Really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book 2!
Queen of Stars pulled me in immediately! I absolutely enjoyed that this Romantasy wasn’t full of world building and was so easy to follow along with. I really loved Solstice’s character. She was sweet, emotional, empathetic, funny and very smart and strong willed. She knew her own self worth and wouldn’t let others take from her. She wanted to write her own story. Now let’s talk King Callisto. We love a strong, broody MMC that will do anything for the FMC that he is falling for. He may of thought he wasn’t worthy of Solstice but he knew he couldn’t stay away from her. He would burn his whole Kingdom to the ground just for Solstice even with her teasing attitude. I love that she was able to pull a softer and more vulnerable side out of him. They had amazing chemistry from the very beginning.
This Romantasy was low fantasy, romance focused and danced on the line of darkness. It had great characters with growth throughout the book, strong side characters with good banter and a great storyline. Really enjoyed this one and can’t wait for book 2!
January 19, 2026
the tropes/microtropes I would tag this book as:
💜 marriage of convenience
👑 reluctant allies to lovers
💜 a world touched with magic
👑 secret courting
💜 broody MMC
👑 bold FMC
💜 court drama
Thoughts:
If you love the royal court drama, a broody king fighting his feelings for the stubborn fmc, hidden magic, steamy romance... this would be a great read. It is a quick read with a cute story, standalone, HEA. I don't know if it checked all my boxes for a romantasy, but it was still a fun, refreshing read for me.
"Solstice, I've negotiated peace treaties easier than dealing with you." 🤭
Solstice gave me major Mary Queen of Scott's vibes in the best way. She was direct as hell, unashamed, strong-willed, and yet trouble every step of the way. Callisto was broody, but his point of quiet surrender was glorious 🙌 giving Solstice what she asked for while silently waiting for her to realize what they truly had become.
I love reading new things and supporting new authors. Thank you, Mariel, for allowing me to read this early release 🫶 I can't wait to see what else you create.
💜 marriage of convenience
👑 reluctant allies to lovers
💜 a world touched with magic
👑 secret courting
💜 broody MMC
👑 bold FMC
💜 court drama
Thoughts:
If you love the royal court drama, a broody king fighting his feelings for the stubborn fmc, hidden magic, steamy romance... this would be a great read. It is a quick read with a cute story, standalone, HEA. I don't know if it checked all my boxes for a romantasy, but it was still a fun, refreshing read for me.
"Solstice, I've negotiated peace treaties easier than dealing with you." 🤭
Solstice gave me major Mary Queen of Scott's vibes in the best way. She was direct as hell, unashamed, strong-willed, and yet trouble every step of the way. Callisto was broody, but his point of quiet surrender was glorious 🙌 giving Solstice what she asked for while silently waiting for her to realize what they truly had become.
I love reading new things and supporting new authors. Thank you, Mariel, for allowing me to read this early release 🫶 I can't wait to see what else you create.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 1, 2026WOW!! I am so happy to have received an ARC copy of Queen of Stars by Mariel Araya👑
This was a low fantasy romance that included some of my favourite tropes:
Forced proximity🏰
Arranged marriage 💍
Secret magic system 🌹
“He is the victorious war king. She is a noblewoman whose beauty and background were supposed to win her a choice of futures.
Instead, Solstice is the last woman Callisto wants for his wife, and he is her only option in the aftermath of war.”
This was such a quick and fun read!! I loved the world, the names, the court politics. And of course the romance. The characters were refreshing with their honesty and vulnerability. I was also impressed with the connection that was built with many of the side characters. I loved them all! I giggled and gasped out loud! The writing was smooth and beautiful. This is a guaranteed book to get you out of a slump.
I give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I wanted to see more I was so invested!! I can’t wait for another book by this talented debut author 🤩
This was a low fantasy romance that included some of my favourite tropes:
Forced proximity🏰
Arranged marriage 💍
Secret magic system 🌹
“He is the victorious war king. She is a noblewoman whose beauty and background were supposed to win her a choice of futures.
Instead, Solstice is the last woman Callisto wants for his wife, and he is her only option in the aftermath of war.”
This was such a quick and fun read!! I loved the world, the names, the court politics. And of course the romance. The characters were refreshing with their honesty and vulnerability. I was also impressed with the connection that was built with many of the side characters. I loved them all! I giggled and gasped out loud! The writing was smooth and beautiful. This is a guaranteed book to get you out of a slump.
I give it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. I wanted to see more I was so invested!! I can’t wait for another book by this talented debut author 🤩
January 18, 2026
Queen of Stars is a fantasy romance centered on Solstice, a young woman who survives the destruction of her homeland only to be thrust into the glittering but ruthless world of Star Court. While the backdrop promises political rebuilding and post-war recovery, the story largely focuses instead on court gossip, romantic tension, and interpersonal intrigue among a small circle of nobles.
Solstice herself is a surprisingly feminist protagonist: she resists male authority, questions double standards, and refuses to quietly accept the roles imposed on her, even when doing so would make her life easier. Her defiance adds depth and modern sensibility to the story, especially within a rigid court setting.
Overall, Queen of Stars is a character-driven fantasy that prioritizes relationships and intrigue over political recovery, appealing most to readers who enjoy romance, court drama, and a strong, self-aware heroine.
Solstice herself is a surprisingly feminist protagonist: she resists male authority, questions double standards, and refuses to quietly accept the roles imposed on her, even when doing so would make her life easier. Her defiance adds depth and modern sensibility to the story, especially within a rigid court setting.
Overall, Queen of Stars is a character-driven fantasy that prioritizes relationships and intrigue over political recovery, appealing most to readers who enjoy romance, court drama, and a strong, self-aware heroine.
January 20, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This was a relatively easy read that was fairly easy to get through. I liked both Solstice and Callisto as characters. However, I thought that their romance progressed a bit too quickly, and felt kinda unnatural.
I liked that the setting was pretty clear, but I felt like the world building and details could have been enhanced more and given more depth. I felt like there wasn't really a good comparison between Lilyvale and the Star Court, and the worlds weren't really fleshed out that much.
I thought that the plot made sense, but the pacing of the book was a bit odd, and felt a bit rushed and out of place with the rest of the plot, as did some other pivotal moments in the story.
Overall, this book will still fun to read, but it could have used more detail and depth throughout.
January 31, 2026
I received an advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Queen of Stars has an interesting premise and a well-built court setting. It was a quick read, and I can see how readers who enjoy court politics, dominant MMCs, and emotionally charged romance would really get into it.
For me, though, it just was not the right fit. I struggled to connect with the FMC, especially early on, and some of her choices later in the story made it harder for me to stay invested. The pacing also felt uneven at times, with similar conflicts happening often enough that I found myself wanting a bit more forward momentum. There were also a few plot and magical elements that felt like they could have used more development.
That said, I did enjoy some of the side characters and the overall atmosphere of the court. While this book was not my personal taste, I appreciate the chance to read it early and think it will find the right audience.
Queen of Stars has an interesting premise and a well-built court setting. It was a quick read, and I can see how readers who enjoy court politics, dominant MMCs, and emotionally charged romance would really get into it.
For me, though, it just was not the right fit. I struggled to connect with the FMC, especially early on, and some of her choices later in the story made it harder for me to stay invested. The pacing also felt uneven at times, with similar conflicts happening often enough that I found myself wanting a bit more forward momentum. There were also a few plot and magical elements that felt like they could have used more development.
That said, I did enjoy some of the side characters and the overall atmosphere of the court. While this book was not my personal taste, I appreciate the chance to read it early and think it will find the right audience.
January 19, 2026
What a delightful book! I enjoyed the love story between Solstice and Callisto so much! Thank you, Mariel Araya!
I liked the banter,the witty retorts, the love sparks between the two main characters! It was a great read for the beginning of the year!
After reading the presentation, I had actually expected a clasic fantasy book, but is nothing like that. It does have magic, but that comes in second, as many of the chararcters do. The whole story is centered on Solstice and Callisto, and that is all right.
For me,it would be a 4,5 stars book. I would have loved a little more depth, story wise (more details,maybe), but the writing is fresh and pleasant.
I am looking forward to reading the next book! As a debut novel, it is really good!
I have received this book as ARC from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I liked the banter,the witty retorts, the love sparks between the two main characters! It was a great read for the beginning of the year!
After reading the presentation, I had actually expected a clasic fantasy book, but is nothing like that. It does have magic, but that comes in second, as many of the chararcters do. The whole story is centered on Solstice and Callisto, and that is all right.
For me,it would be a 4,5 stars book. I would have loved a little more depth, story wise (more details,maybe), but the writing is fresh and pleasant.
I am looking forward to reading the next book! As a debut novel, it is really good!
I have received this book as ARC from the author and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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