This Shattered Star

This Shattered Star #1

by Vivian Isabelle

By the will of the gods, Eloise Fennhaven was born cursed. She is the only soul in the kingdom of Aedreath without a shred of magic, which leaves her with no other choice but to do as she’s told. With the eternal aurora filled night sky as her witness, she acts as her grandmother’s assassin, forever trapped in a manipulative, ruthless cycle.

So when the king names her as a competitor in his annual Starlight Trials, Eloise knows she’s been given a clear death sentence. But winning grants unrestricted access to the sacred Temple of Borealis, where unimaginable power lies hidden amongst nightmares and ruin. Power that could sever the chains of her curse. She could break the cycle.

As her every step forward is haunted by shadows she cannot seem to shake, Eloise is forced into an impossible alliance with the son of the king’s Second, and his lethal inner circle. Not only must she navigate the trials before her, but she must also elude the fire in his veins before it consumes them both. She despises him. He wants to save her life. An invisible thread constantly pulls them together, woven on the foundations of a secret he and his inner circle keep from her. Something ancient, and winged. A secret that has everything to do with Eloise’s curse, and what she was born to become.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy

402 pages, Hardcover

Published August 6, 2026

Reviews

[AndaReadsTooMuch]

My goodness, where was this little gem hiding!? Absolutely overstuffed with action, I didn’t feel like I could spare a second to catch my breath. It was one twist and turn after another.

Deadly female assassin MC - ✅
Competition run by a sadistic king to find a worthy winner of the Starlight Trials - ✅
FMC completely without magic in a magic-fueled society - ✅
Forced to compete in said trials and adopt allies she definitely did NOT ask for ✅
A reveal at the end that had my jaw on the freaking floor - ✅and MATE.

Five sun stars for this one.

This was just what I needed to shake up my reading at the end of July. I’m not sure my heart rate has come down yet from all the excitement in this one! You should definitely grab a copy of this one when it comes out Aug 6.


Thank you to Vivian Isabelle and Books and Bloom for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

[✨ Jenny ✨]

thank you to iris influencer society and vivian isabelle for sending me the arc!

i went into this not knowing what to expect and came out the other side intrigued! born cursed, no magic, forced to be an assassin for a grandmother who doesn’t deserve her, Eloise already had my heart before the trials even began. and then the trials started and i was hooked! the action never lets up, the stakes were high, and every single step forward had me gripping my e-reader. the tension between Eloise and the two MMCs, a slow burn that was perfect, and secrets so layered i was piecing things together right up until the very end. ok and that ending. THAT ENDING! i am sat! the turn of events… i definitely wasn’t expecting that. this is the kind of book that reminds me why i read, a heroine with purpose, a world that pulls you in, and a story that leaves you wanting more. looking forward to the next book!

[Michelle Robichaux]

Thank you for allowing me to ARC read this book! Where do I begin! The story line was phenomenal! It was endearing, captivating, and drew you in. There was drama, trauma, adventure, violence, strength, wit, friends, enemies to lovers, future.. the characters were beautiful done! I found myself drawing to them and warning to know more about them all! The group that ends up being together, I wanna be their friend!! They are bad ass!

And oooowwweeee the last 25% of the book had its claws dug deep into me! I couldn’t put it down! Mind blown 🤯

Spice level was .5 🌶️
There is magic
Adventure
Slow burn
Found friends
Enemies to lovers

The way it ended… holy cow.. sign me up for book 2!! Well done! Add to your tbr! Go read! It’s wonderful!

[Thais • tata.lifepages •]

This goes to my list of top Romantasy reads of 2026!! 😍 It’s actually perfect for fans of Web of Vows and Vengeance, mixed with The Serpents and the Wings of Night, as well as a banter with enemies to lovers vibes like Fourth Wing! It was fast paced and addictive from the get go and unputdownable. I also loved that the found family vibes starts from the beginning as well. Also did I mention there is a fire wielding protective MMC?👀

What you can expect:
⚔️deadly trials
⚔️assassin & cursed FMC
⚔️enemies to lovers
⚔️forced proximity
⚔️banter
⚔️found family
⚔️dragons
⚔️fire wielding MMC
⚔️touch her and dle

[Chloe]

Arc review!

“I’d always admire the way blood shimmered under starlight.” I read the first line and was immediately hooked! This story was great. The banter between characters was something that I really enjoyed. I loved the descriptions they were creative without being nonsensical. This book was so great I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. And the plot twist???? I thought I knew where the book was headed but no I didn’t. I had whiplash in the best way possible. The cliffhanger as well. I need more stat!!!!

[The Aussie Librarian]

There was no slow start to this one, you're straight into the thick of things and it worked so well!

Another fierce, stabby FMC with her own trauma and a great sense of humour. A broody, protective MMC with secrets. And the mother of all slow burns 🔥

Let's not forget the bad ass found family that are absolutely fabulous. The magical trials. The permanent aurora filled sky. The dragons!

This story had it all. It was fast paced, acrion packed and the twists and turns just kept on coming. Cannot wait for the next book!

[Mel Reads A Lot of Books]

🤯 Mind. BLOWN. 🤯
This book had me hooked from the very first chapter!
It has all of my favourite tropes, and I couldn't put it down. Even when I had to, all I wanted was to dive straight back into the story.
Then... I reached the ending...
💥 BAM! PLOT TWIST! 💥
I genuinely didn't see it coming!
I loved every single second of this book and cannot wait for everyone else to experience it.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to ARC read this one! 🫶📚✨

[Scarlet Butler]

This story was a sprint all the way through. Started strong, never slowed down, and ended stronger! Anybody who is a fan of The Serpent and the Wings of Night will devour this book, I’d almost say this one is even better! Games and trials, elemental magic, political manipulation, vengeful gods, portal/matter manipulation, enemies to lovers, found family. And a surprise ending that will make you desperate for the next book!

We have a forced assassin, Eloise, who is cursed to be powerless amongst an entire realm of elemental magic wielders. When she is submitted for the king’s trials, her hope is that, upon winning, the odds are slim at best, she can claim her power beyond the Veil. Unexpected allies are made with the one man she truly despises and his powerful friends, and though she wants nothing at all to do with them, inexplicably, they want only to save her life.

If you’re looking for an exciting, fast paced fantasy romance, this is the one! Maybe like 🌶️.5 on the spice scale, my opinion, there’s explicit content but it’s not super descriptive or drawn out!

[Caitlin]

This was my first time reading this author and overall I enjoyed the book, but I kind of wish it was a little longer to really highlight the tension and shift between our fmc and mmc.

Eloise clearly has strong opinions and reservations towards others because of how she's treated by society because of her lack of magic. She's forced into an uneasy alliance with Kodhan and his crew, who all have incredibly powerful magic, in order to survive the kings trial. Eloise constantly pushes and challenges Kodhan, who has made it his job to protect her and get her through the trials.

I wish we got to see a little more tension and unease between the two. I feel like the shift between distrust and enemies to allies was too quick. Like they felt like allies pretty immediately and I can't tell if that's intentional because of the reveal, but given that Eloise didn't know anything and thought Kodhan wanted her dead, it just didn't feel very appropriate to the story.

Overall there's nothing really wrong with the story, the ending was interesting and I would want to read book two.

3.5/5

[Kat]

Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 2 🌶️🌶️ (some spice; a couple scenes with few details, easily skippable)

Thank you Iris influencer society and Vivian Isabelle for sending me an eArc of This Shattered Star!

“I know you, Eloise. You are different. But being different does not equate to being weak. I'd say it makes you stronger than everyone else.”

Eloise is the only subject in the kingdom to have no powers-cursed by the gods. But she doesn’t need magic to be deadly. Then there’s Kodhan, the grumpy, brooding son of the kings Second. There’s so much tension between these two. They really try to hate each other (or at least Eloise did)… but the heart wants what it wants. And Kodhan definitely wants her. The yearning, especially at the end, is perfect.

I definitely enjoyed the trials aspect of the book and honestly wish we had seen more for them! I also really liked the plot twist towards the end. I honestly didn’t even see it coming. It seems everybody in Eloise’s life has been lying to her about something, and I can’t wait to see what happens now that she knows the truth. I’m very interested in how she’ll accept this reality compared to what she already knows, especially after that cliffhanger at the end.

“And there is nothing that you could ask of me that is too much. Anything you want, and I will do everything in my power to make it yours.”

[Breanna]

A Twist i didn't see coming 😱
I love when I cannot predict the twist! It makes the book that much better! My jaw was on the floor, like on the floor I literally had to stop and think.

And the tension in this slow burn, ugh it was soooo good! The F it moment, I was cheering! Jumping up and down. It the slow burn you cheer for 🤭

Eloise the FMC i loved her, she has been shunned since the moment she was born. Enters the trials to hopefully win so she could break her curse of not having any magic. She will do anything to win and take down whoever gets in her way!

The MMC, khoden he is my man! Can I have him? The brooding, mysterious, deadly fire wielder! He is everything you want in your morally grey character. I couldnt get enough of him!

But yall when I say the 100 pages I devoured! I ate them up! Crying, sad, jaw on the floor, rage I was feeling it all. And that twist!!!! You need to read this

[Jennifer Wiehe]

I just finished reading this gem, and wow! The character development is phenomenal, and the plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The author's writing style is incredibly immersive; I felt completely transported into the world of the story. I especially loved how the themes of friendship and courage were woven into the narrative, making this not just a page-turner, but a truly heartfelt journey. If you are looking for a book that perfectly balances adventure with deep emotional connections, this is an absolute must-read.

[Denise Brewer]

Review of an Advanced Readers Copy

First of all, thank you for letting me read this book early.
I enjoyed all of this book, there was definitely a twist as the end that I didn't see coming.
But I did know that throughout the story we definitely were not being told the full truth. I think it was well written and constantly had me guessing.
I am very much looking forward to the next book hopefully next year!!

[Glitched.Havok]

I am OBSESSED with this book.
The writing pulled me in so completely that I stopped feeling like I was reading about Aedreath and started feeling like I was trapped there beside Eloise, underneath that eternal aurora, watching her navigate a world that has spent her entire life convincing her that being different makes her disposable.
And Eloise?
That woman is STRENGTH.
Usually when I read about an FMC who has endured the kind of manipulation, cruelty, and suffering Eloise has, I find myself feeling pity for her. Not Eloise. I never once looked at her and thought poor girl.
I looked at her and thought, holy hell, she is still standing.
She has been shaped by a life where obedience was survival, where she was forced into becoming an assassin for someone who should have protected her, and where being the only person without magic made her feel like the world's mistake. Yet she refuses to become small because of it.
When the Starlight Trials become her potential death sentence, she doesn't simply roll over and accept what fate has decided for her. She sees a chance to reach the Temple of Borealis and finally find the power to break the curse that has controlled her life.
And THAT is what I loved about her.
She doesn't need someone to save her.
She wants the chance to save herself.
Then we have Kodhan. 🥵
Sir...
The lethal energy mixed with golden retriever tendencies should be illegal.
He and Eloise starting off completely at odds was EVERYTHING. Their dynamic had me watching every interaction like 👀 because there is so much tension underneath the surface. I honestly think Eloise expects people to dislike her because she has spent so much of her life being treated as lesser, and watching that perception collide with Kodhan's determination to keep her alive was delicious.
He sees something in her that she doesn't always see in herself.
And I am absolutely here for it.
But then there is Maverick.
Maverick has me CONFUSED. Suspicious. Intrigued. Slightly concerned. Probably exactly where he wants me. 😂
I never knew what he knew, what he was thinking, or what was actually happening behind those eyes. Every time I thought I had him figured out, I found myself questioning everything again.
And listen, I KNOW this isn't a why choose...
but Maverick's darkness was whispering directly to the part of my brain that makes terrible fictional decisions.
Theia and Brannon completely stole my heart too. There was something so beautiful about how quickly Eloise began to gravitate toward them. For someone who has spent so much of her life surrounded by manipulation and people using her, watching her slowly discover what trust could actually feel like hit me harder than I expected.
Because underneath all the assassins, curses, trials, secrets, shadows, and ancient winged mysteries, this story is also about a woman who has never really been allowed to belong anywhere finally finding pieces of herself in the people around her.
And THAT got me.
The deeper I went, the more I wanted to understand the curse surrounding Eloise and why so many secrets seemed to circle back to her. There is this constant feeling that something much bigger is moving beneath the surface, and every revelation made me want to dig further rather than giving me enough answers to be satisfied.
Which is rude.
Because apparently I enjoy suffering. 😂
There is something about this story that feels dark without losing the wonder of the fantasy. The magic, the aurora-filled world, the trials, the secrets, the danger, the relationships slowly taking shape... it all wrapped around me until I genuinely did not want to leave.
Eloise crawled under my skin.
Kodhan set my brain on fire.
Maverick left me suspicious of literally everything.
Theia and Brannon made me want to protect them.
And somehow, by the end, I was sitting there thinking...
Well. Guess I need to read this again.
Because I could absolutely reread this one and still find myself falling right back into the darkness.

[Emma]

Wow! This was my first ever ARC, and I was not disappointed!!

So many amazing things this book checked off my list:
- Badass FMC
- Enemies to Lovers
- Witty Banter
- Touch her & die
- Found Family/Unwanted Allies
- Deadly Trials (and BOY were they gruesome & gross at times!)
- Elemental Magic
- ...DRAGONS.
- CRAZY plot twist in the end?!?!?

This was a very much so Fast Paced book, and I'll admit, I'm not normally used to liking Fast paced books, but I was FLYING through this one!! Sometimes I was giggling & kicking my feet at the banter, or mouth open WIDE in shock at other scenes!!

I think the real winners here though are Theia and Brannon, the witty & funny counterparts to the main characters!! I found myself constantly laughing at the banter Brannon would say out of no where, and I loved Theia being a girl's girl for Eloise!

I LOVE the nickname of "Little Viper", I was giggling every time it was mentioned !! Kodhan is perfect. I actually really love the way Vivian portrays him in the final section of the book, no spoilers, but with everything going on in the end, the descriptions of how Kodhan is feeling with the situations at hand...it was honestly just so amazing. He's a huge green flag, and realizing where a lot of his worry and tension comes from throughout the entire book was so rewarding to find out UGH i love a man who YEARNS.

I also want to say that the magic used here actually surprised me! I always love a good Elemental magic moment, but I think Vivian does such a fantastic job at coming up with such unique ways to use said magic. There's so many annotations I did where I write "wait, hello, that's really smart. I would've never thought of that" and I feel like that just sums it up!

In my opinion, the only things I really have to critique about it is I believe the beginning of the book is really confusing! A lot of the descriptions are overly descriptive, but once you get into the book a little (like end of second chapter) things start to really take hold & I promise you will be shocked!! There are also a lot of grammar errors, but the plot and characters are good that I honestly wasn't too beaten up about it. I think the story is amazing, and I don't think the errors are enough to pull me out. (if anything i would just giggle because, as someone who writes, i get it!!)

some quotes I loved too:
"if you want to play with fire, little viper, all you have to do is ask. I'd be happy to oblige."
"I could name a few things that bother me. You, to begin with."
"You surprise me" "Why?" "Because, Eloise, I never pinned you as a tease."

"I told you once that I will always find you. And I meant it. There is no place for me other than by your side. The stars themselves could devour the world we walk on, and it wouldn't matter. I know we will be together in the next. In every timeline, in every life, I am yours."

This was just such a good surprise read for sure! I'm super glad this was my first ARC, and I really appreciate the Author for allowing me to read it before release <3!!

[Lyndsey Englerth]

🌌✨ ARC REVIEW | THIS SHATTERED STAR by Vivian Isabelle ✨🌌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you’re looking for a romantasy with deadly magical trials, enemies-to-lovers tension, elemental magic, found family, and a mysterious fire-wielding MMC… add This Shattered Star to your TBR. 🖤🔥

Eloise Fennhaven was born cursed. In a kingdom where magic is everything, she is the only one without any of her own. Forced into becoming her grandmother’s personal assassin, Eloise feels trapped in a life she desperately wants to escape. When she’s chosen by the king to compete in the Starlight Trials, she sees an opportunity to finally break her curse… if she can survive.

I really enjoyed how unique the plot felt. There were several moments where I thought I knew where the story was going, only for it to take a different turn. The worldbuilding was especially enjoyable because it gave me enough information to understand the world and its magic without ever feeling confusing or overwhelming.

Eloise was such a badass FMC to follow. Even without any magic of her own, the last thing she allows herself to be is helpless, and I loved watching her navigate a world where everyone else seems to have an advantage over her. And then there’s our mysterious, grumpy, fire-wielding MMC. 🔥 The enemies-to-lovers dynamic is definitely a slow burn, with plenty of tension and forced proximity along the way.

The side characters were another highlight for me. The two main members of the inner circle were both incredibly lovable, and I really enjoyed the relationships they developed with Eloise. They brought a lot of heart and personality to the story and really gave the book that found-family feeling.

There are only a couple of spicy scenes, but I thought they were well done and didn’t feel awkward, out of place, or cringey. ❤️‍🔥

My biggest criticism was the writing itself. There were a handful of sentences that felt oddly worded compared to the rest of the book, along with some minor grammatical errors. Nothing was severe enough to pull me out of the story, but a little additional editing would have made the reading experience even smoother.

BUT THAT ENDING. 👀

The final portion of the book is where it really shines. The story takes a turn that I genuinely did not see coming, and the plot twist completely changed how I was looking at what I’d just read. I absolutely love when a book manages to surprise me, and This Shattered Star definitely accomplished that.

Overall, this was an entertaining, unique romantasy with a strong heroine, a mysterious MMC, lovable side characters, and an ending that left me dying to know what happens next. I definitely need the next one, ASAP! 🌌🐉🔥

Thank you to Vivian Isabelle and Iris PR for the opportunity to read this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Released August 6, 2026! ✨

#ThisShatteredStar #VivianIsabelleAuthor #EnemiesToLovers #Romantasy #FantasyRomance #IrisInfluencerSociety #IrisPR #BookRecommendations #IndieAuthorSupport #IndieBookPromotion #ARCReaders #BookishCommunity #BookContentCreator

[Bedside Book Club]

True Rating: 4.25

I want to start off by saying thank you to Iris Influencer Society, and Vivian Isabelle for sending a free digital copy of this book. I have decided to leave a review and these are my own honest thoughts.


Firstly I would like to say that I loved Vivian's writing, it was an absolute pleasure to read and was just so descriptive, I managed to read through this a lot quicker than I usually take to read a book. From the beginning we are thrust into the brutal world of Aedreath where the Kingdom is cast in constant darkness and being ruthless is the only way to survive. We get to see the loathing and complexity of Eloise and Kodhan's relationship from the start, and immediately we can see there is a deep underlying tension which I enjoyed so much. I loved watching them hate one another while still fighting that pull they feel towards each other. Just before the trials begin Kodhan forces her into an alliance with himself and his two closest allies. We get to see Eloise battle with this predicament because she is not used to having allies. Everyone in the Kingdom hates her and wants her dead, including the competitors, thus she is used to relying on herself for survival, which made it satisfying to watch her character development with learning how much to trust them as the trials progressed. The trials are deadly and we are quickly made aware of how much they are going to have to learn to work together if any of them wishes to survive the nightmare before them.

I came to like Brannon and especially Theia (Kodhan's allies) a lot more than I thought I would. The three of function well together as a unit and we are left trying to unravel the secrets they are hiding from Eloise. One thing I can say is Vivian did a really good job with portraying her characters because we really get to experience different emotions with them and none is more clear than the absolute anger that Diana, Eloise's grandmother, invokes. I absolutely HATED her, I felt so sorry for everything that Eloise had to go through with her, but it all made into the utter badass that she is. Another interesting aspect with the characters is Eloise's relationship with the King. There is clearly a lot of secrets and information hidden there and I hope that we get to delve deeper into it in the next book. That ending definitely also left a lot of questions that I can't wait to see the answers to, and I can't wait to see more of the dragons.

If you're looking for a romantasy that will keep you trying to work out the plot twists, secrets and complexities to all the different character then I would definitely suggest giving this book a read. If that hasn't convinced you then how about these tropes:

- Touch her and 💀
- Deadly Trials
- Elemental Magic
- Found Family
- Slow Burn
- Cursed FMC
- Forced Proximity
- Loathing to Lovers (I don't think of it as enemies because you can see they are slightly attracted to each other from the beginning)

[Keshsews ♡]

Run to read this book IMMEDIATELY!!! 5 ⭐️

Eloise Fennhaven is cursed by the Gods to not have any power or magic. She's the only person in the city of Andreath who is incapable of weilding any magic. Due to this, she has to rely on her physical skills to survive, especially from those who believes she's a stain upon their civilization. She's trapped as an assassin for her grandmother and has no means or freeing herself from her clutches, until the day Andreath's King, Maverick, decides to put her name forth for the annual Starlight Trials, a competition that grants its winner a chance at any wish they desire.

Eloise is now forced to pair with not only her enemy but the son of the second, one of the most powerful people that works under the King. She's now forced to partake in these deadly trials, all while being dependant on the very people who could easily take her life in her sleep.


Ugh where do I start??? This is such a great read that I absolutely could not put down! The story was a bit slow to get into but once the trials had officially started it was just non stop action from there. The plot was absolutely fantastic and every part each character played definitely served its purpose. The story itself is easy to guess the direction it's taking, however the twists and turns along the way had me dazed!!!

I love Eloise, she's a headstrong FMC that doesn't trust easily and always remembers to put herself first. She knows she's dealing with people that can kill her at any moment and she's very wise with how she handles situations. Eloise is the type of character where you just want to see win, and want her to reach her goals no matter how she gets there!

Our MMC, Kodhan Dreadmourne is a charming one. He's very likeable but sometimes he can be a major pain to be around or in this case read! He's always prioritizing Eloise, even if they do hate each other, and always willing to sacrifice himself for her if need be!

The atmosphere was incredible! I've never felt so much tension from a book, especially events such as trail based events. The writing and structure made it so easy to just get lost in and I found myself often wondering how on earth can it get worse, alas it does at some points but it's so necessary to the story.

If anything, this book truly deserves your time and love reading. This is truly one of the best reads if I've read this year and kept me thoroughly entertained.

Thank you so much to @vivianisabelle and @irisinfluencersociety for this opportunity.

[Lucy B]

This is a book full of secrets and betrayals hidden behind duty. Of lonliness and distrust from trying to protect her heart. But also of protectionism and silent devotion from first sight diguised as hate and angst.

Those last few chapters i was not expecting what came at all but absolutely loved them, and the cliff your left suspended on is tantalising.


Eloise and Kodhan's hateful flirting under the guise of enemies is really fun to read, its cheeky and a little dark but it has me feeling happy and giddy because you know its going to be great when they do take a leap. He pushes her and uses the hate she hides behind to challenge her without making her aware. Its exciting and heartwarming as the tension builds because you never know if they will actually take that step.


Both main side characters we're so lovable, they brought a wholesome-ness to the morbid tension of the challanges the trials brought. Their devotion and care was heart aching at a certain point. They bicker so much, but the love they have for each other and the group as a whole is clear to see. The banter is just so good that it had me smiling and laughing throughout their scenes.


The world that was created wasn't made apparent from the start, but it built on the experience and interactions throughout the book, which i enjoyed. It was never too heavy with narration just for the sake of getting context over with. Vivian context drops through character interaction instead. I did have many unanswered questions and feeling like bits were missing around the middle. However, they all got resolved towards the end, so i can't fault it at all. The magic system was unique and somewhat historically dystopian.


Quotes i loved.

♡
The dedication at the start i really loved

♡
He raised a good point. But i would've preferred throwing myself over the edge of the platform before admitting that out loud.


♡
“I am mad. You drive me mad. Your presence pulls the very essence of common sense from my head. Reduces my ability to think properly until every logical thought becomes an incoherent muddle of nothing.”


♡
“Now, books are more of a silent comfort. Though I must admit that I tend to reach for novels I can lose myself in. Pretend to be part of a world far better than this one. And honestly, make-believe creatures oftentimes make for better companions than real people.”


♡
“I will find you, little viper. Always.” 

“Swear it.” 

“I swear it on my life.”

[marspages]

First of all, a massive thank you to Iris Influencer Society and Vivian Isabelle for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. When I first applied for it I was really hoping to get approved because, based on everything the author had shared, I had a feeling I’d love it. Safe to say, my expectations weren't just met, they were completely shattered, in the best way possible !! 💞

Tropes: enemies to lovers, slow burn, forced proximity, deadly magical trials, touch her and d!e, found family, morally gray characters, shadow & fire wielding, elemental magic, curses, fast pace, witty bander, permanent aura filled night sky, dragon shifters

This Shattered Star follows Eloise Fennhaven, the only one in the kingdom of Aedreath born without magic. Cursed and trapped in a ruthless cycle as her grandmotherr’s assassin, her life takes a turn when the King names her a competitor in the deadly Starlight Trials. Winning grants access to the sacred Temple of Borealis, where an unimaginable power that could break her curse once and for all resides. To survive the trials, she’s forced into an uneasy alliance with Kodhan, the son of the King’s Second, and his lethal inner circle.

Honestly? I am completely, utterly obsessed. From the very start, Eloise and Kodhan got me literally giggling and kicking my feet. The vibes were just immaculate throughout the entire read, if only you could see my highlights and notes😮‍💨 Their chemistry is off the charts, and the banter between them was perfection. His yearning and protectiveness over Eloise were absolutely delicious to read and the tension was so so well done. On top of the incredible romance, the found family dynamic with Kodhan’s inner circle stole my heart. I feel so deeply attached to all of these characters already. The book is so well written, I’m obsessed with the world building, it kept me hooked from start to finish. I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers but the final plot twist was absolutely insane. My mind is blown, and I'm already dying to know what happens next. I absolutely can’t wait to read TSS 2! The wait is sure going to be worth it.

If you love deadly trials, incredible found family, and top tier enemies to lovers romance, you’ll love This Shattered Star! 💜

“𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘐 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘌𝘭𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘦?” 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘦𝘥, 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩.”
Pub Date: Aug 6 2026

[marika]

By the will of the gods, Eloise Fennhaven was born cursed. She is the only person in the kingdom of Aedreath without a shred of magic, leaving her with no choice but to do as she’s told. Trapped as her grandmother’s assassin and the king’s plaything, she has spent her life with no hope of escape. But when the king names her as one of the competitors in the Starlight Trials, what should be a death sentence becomes her only chance to gain the magic that could finally set her free. Forced into the most unlikely of alliances, Eloise must survive three deadly trials, while also fighting the pull to the man she despises the most.

This was such an entertaining read that wastes no time throwing you straight into the action. The kingdom itself is fascinating, existing beneath an eternal night sky where deadly dragons lurk beyond the horizon. It created a really atmospheric backdrop for the story.

Eloise is very likeable. She has been mistreated her entire life by both her remaining family and kingdom because she was born without magic. She is an outcast in every sense of the word, yet she refuses to let people walk all over her. Although she’s fiercely independent and struggles to trust anyone, it’s clear that beneath all her walls she simply wants someone she can rely on.

Then there is Kodhan, the son of the Second, he’s brooding, hot-headed, fiercely protective, and a yearning king. The chemistry between him and Eloise was fantastic. While this is marketed as enemies to lovers, the animosity definitely feels a little more one-sided, because Eloise genuinely cannot stand him for a good portion of the book.

I also really enjoyed the variety of the Starlight Trials. Each one felt different, keeping the story fresh, and the plot was packed with twists that genuinely caught me off guard.

My one and only small critique is that I would have liked a little more context before the trials began. I felt as though I was thrown into the world without quite enough information, and a bit more setup would have been nice.

Overall, I still had a great time. The pacing is fast, the found family is incredibly lovable, and the constant twists kept me guessing right until the end. If you’re looking for a fast-paced romantasy with deadly trials, dragons, found family, and a brooding love interest, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Maria]

I felt like I was living through Eloise and I loved every second of it.

This book was honestly amazing.

The story is filled with tension, with deadly trials that challenge you body, mind and soul, and leave you eager to see what's coming next. Each trial was so different, so unexpected and brutal. Wit, Strength and Courage. Three challenges that were brutal and tested the contestants constantly. There was never a moment where there wasn’t a target on their backs.
🐉
I loved Eloise’s character. She was so brave and so resilient. Even with her “disadvantage” she gave her all to remain alive and reach the end of the trials. Power didn’t make you invincible, and lack of power didn’t make you less dangerous.

Kodhan was a literal dream. I mean, the man was so protective of Eloise and his friends, he was always doing whatever he could to help them. He and Eloise bantered all the time and it was so entertaining to read!!! The guy is a terrible storyteller, but he sure knows how to talk smack. His loyalty to his friends, his courage and even the slightly deranged stunts he did showed just how much he cared.

I will admit that I was a little skeptical of the alliance Eloise made with Kodhan, Theia and Brannon at first, but I loved seeing them working together and growing into friends. Their interactions made me laugh so much because they really fit together, but sometimes there would be a comment or a look between the three and I would second-guess myself along with Eloise. But it all came together amazingly at the end.

I couldn’t put this book down. I want the second book, like, NOW, because I need to know what happens next. I feel so connected to the story and these characters that I can’t wait to see what comes next! Every chapter kept on getting better and the further I went into the story, the more exciting it was.

I was lucky enough to be selected to read this as an ARC, and I loved every second of it!!

I would 100% recommend this book for anyone who loves a good romance and stories filled with magic, dragons and secrets.

[LibraryOfMarta]

I really enjoyed this read! I’m grateful to the author for trusting me to share my honest and kind opinion about her book.

I really loved the concept of the story : an heroine without any powers in a world where everyone possesses elemental abilities. Eloïse feels cursed. Her unique appearance, especially her mismatched eyes, only fuels the superstitions surrounding her, and she has always been rejected by those around her. Except for the King, who seems to have a personal and unsettling interest in her.

Her grandmother, her only family, uses Eloïse to settle her own personal scores and has turned her into a mercenary.

Then comes the day of an epic tournament, where the winner will be granted the right to ask for anything they desire. Eloïse has been chosen by the King, and she intends to win so she can finally break the curse.

Except nothing goes according to plan when the King demands that the chosen contestants form teams. Eloïse finds herself forced to team up with the son of the King’s second-in-command, a man she absolutely despises.

The tournament turns out to be far more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Unexpected alliances, brutality unlike anything she has ever experienced, old scores being settled… and the veil between reality and the impossible begins to grow thinner.

Eloïse finds herself caught in a conspiracy far greater than she realises and she doesn’t even know it yet.

What if she is more than she ever believed herself to be ? What if the King has been feeding his kingdom nothing but lies ? A King who seems captivated by Eloïse… and who has no intention of letting her go.

I’m going to be completely honest: I was captivated by the story from the very beginning. Then, between roughly 30% and 60%, I struggled a little. I think it was partly because I simply wasn’t in the right mood when I was reading it. Because as soon as I picked it back up, I absolutely devoured the last pages!

And THAT revelation… wow. I was completely speechless !!! I genuinely did not see it coming at all.

So yes, I will definitely be reading the sequel. I was pleasantly surprised by how everything unfolded, and I honestly think I might reread this book before continuing, because I have a feeling that a reread could completely change my rating.

This book might just deserve those 5 stars after all! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Hallowyn]

⋆｡°✩ ᴀʀᴄ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ ✩°｡⋆

ᴛɪᴛʟᴇ : This Shattered Star
ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ : Vivian Isabelle
ꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴀᴅ: E-Book
ᴘᴀɢᴇ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 371
ᴀʀᴄ ꜱᴜᴘᴘʟɪᴇʀ : IRIS Influencer Society
ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ: 6th August 2026

Ok ok ok I LOVED THIS ONEEE! This was a fast paced book and damn did I enjoy that! Sometime a book can go so slow I start to loose focus’s a little but with this one it was BAM ACTION! 🤣

After abit of a reading slump this was exactly what I needed, I loved the idea of the FMC being the only non magic person in a magic filled world, it’s more common to see it the other way round!

Vivian’s writing was lovely to read, it flowed really well and I was enjoying all aspects from characters chatting to the descriptions.

Eloise was thrust into a deadly trails that could give the winner immense power. She was nominated by the King who has this weird complex relationship with her. He treasures her for being someone everyone hates.

Just before the trails the King starts to flip the script on what Eloise thought would happen and instead of needing to fight alone she needs allies. In come Kodhan, Fire Wielder and second in commands son.

From the start those two have this underlining tension that you can feel as the reader. She becomes a reluctant ally to him and even tho she hates him, he always seems to be there for her.

She also allies herself with Brannon and Theia! Those two are great, I love their banter and the balance they brought to the group! I really enjoy friend characters in a book!

Those trails were crazy and deadly and it didn’t help the king changing things up randomly! But I love the surprise element it brought to the book!

Now of course there was a point I wanted to channel Kodhan’s fire and set my kindle aflame buuuuut that was rectified 🤣🤣

And then the PLOT TWIST?! Holllly moly! Trying not to spoil hahaha but Wtf! 🤣 I want book 2 asap!!!

[Nadia Toledo]

This book has everything you looking for: elemental magic systems, deadly trials, enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, found family, dragons, and a crazy plot twist
The story follows Eloise who must survive three magical trials in order to break the curse placed upon her by the gods
She is forced to survive without magic and to become an assassin, and then the king chooses her to compete in these trials, where everyone can use their magic against her and her odds of surviving are almost zero. During the trials, alliances are allowed, and that's how she ends up teaming with Khodan, Theia, and Brannon.
Khodan is calculating, mysterious, has that dangerous aura. AND he's fire-wieldier.
Theia is so supportive and friendly with her, while Brannon has that golden-retriever, hilarious personality. I love them so much, I need more of them, a spin-off book if it's possible
Eloise is the kind of FMC I absolutely adore: strong, distrustful because of everything she's been through, fiercely independent, and fully aware of how powerful she is—even without a single ounce of magic. I LOVED HER.
The worldbuilding is pretty well explained and once the trials start, it's ALL tension and survival, and I absolutely loved that. We get forced proximity between Khodan and Eloise, and his nickname for her?? Little Viper. I was literally grinning every time he called her that
He was always looking out for her and defending her, and we will never complain about an MMC who completely loses it when someone disrespects his girl, the "touch her and die" in one character. Seeing all those little hints that they actually care about each other, watching their relationship evolve from enemies to lovers, and seeing all that tension slowly disappear was EVERYTHING.

Also, Eloise's relationship with the king had me SO confused almost the entire book, Like… was it romantic? Father-daughter-ish? Friendship? WHAT WAS GOING ON??

And THAT PLOT TWIST??? I LOVED IT. It completely shifted the whole direction of the story, and now I NEED to read the second book immediately because WHAT DO YOU MEAN I HAVE TO WAIT

[Anna Pheby]

Cosmic stakes💫dynamic character chemistry❤‍🩹and a slow burn connection😻 built within the confines of chaos. This Shattered Star is an emotionally intense, all or nothing read that has left me refreshing the author's page in hopes of news of when the second book will be released!

Vivian Isabelle nails the balance between rich world-building and visceral intensity. The slow burn romance is executed flawlessly with every quiet glance, subtle touch, and shared moment of silence carries a genuine weight with it as the grander plot explodes around both of them. The landscape Vivian Isabelle paints is so vivid and detailed in a way that pulls right into it the emotional gravity of the world without ever feeling dense or brought down by the exposition. Both leads carry a real, heavy weight from their pasts, making every gradual step toward trust feel more profoundly earned rather than rushed for the convenience of the plot. The romantic payoff hits a lot harder because of the carefully built foundation.

You can expect a more atmospheric pace in the early chapters as Vivian Isabelle sets up her series and world with the intricate lore that weaves itself through every page. Prepare yourself for an emotional weight that explores grief, loss and Eloise’s quiet bravery as she rebuilds herself from past traumas and deals with new ones as well. The dialogue between the two central love interests is sharp, the tension is palpable and the increasing vulnerability between both leads makes every single obstacle they face feel completely personal!

I highly enjoyed this read and I will be following up on every update from the author as we get closer to the release of Vivian Isabelle's next book in what I hope will be a long series!

This Shattered Star is for you if you're a sucker for a tension packed Romantasy, and you love a guy who will literally burn the world down for her. Copies are available now on KU and signed copies are also available for purchase from the authors website!

[Linda Alyss]

Eloise is cursed with no magic. Her grandmother Diana uses her as an assassin, having her eliminate people with just a name on a piece of paper. King Maverick is holding the Starlight Trials, where winning grants you access to the Temple of Borealis, the home of unlimited power, but this year is different - everyone must have an ally & there'll be 2 champions. Kodhan, the son of the Second to the King, joins forces with Eloise along with Theia & Brennan to make it through the trials. She’s plagued with shadows. He's plagued with flames. Each on the verge of getting consumed. She despises him. He wants to save her. They're being pulled together by a secret him & his circle are keeping from her. A secret that has everything to do with Eloise’s curse.

- Elemental magic 🔮
- Enemies to lovers ⭐️
- Deadly trials ⚔️
- Slow burn 🖤
- Touch her and 💀
- Forced proximity 💞
- Fire-wielding MMC 🔥
- Cursed FMC 💫
- Night veiled kingdom 🌌
- A sprinkle of dragons 🤏🏻✨

HOLY PLOT. Plot everywhere. No shortness of it. Eloise is everything. Firstly, these trials were so action packed I had to sit up every time we were going through them. Had me right on the edge of my seat. Also so incredibly detailed I felt like I lived through those trials myself. I might have been a slight fan of Maverick in the beginning.... but NOT ANYMORE. Kodhan? Angel. Daddy even. Whatever you fancy. Whatever he fancies actually. I need more of the knight in shining armour please. Theia is also a badass character. I can't wait to see more of her too. This was INCREDIBLE. Loved every second of this & it was even better the 2nd time reading. Must read!!!

Thank you so much to VI for the updated ARC. 🫶

[Rhiannon Jade]

What a book! I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this book. I was lucky enough to be choosen as part of the ARC team for 'This Shattered Star' and I will be forever grateful for that.

For those that enjoy fantasy books with elemental magic, magical trials, an enimies-to-allies-to-lovers romance, high stakes throughout and secrets will definitely love this book.

Aedreath is a very unique kingdom and I loved reading all about it. Eloise is a very interesting character and I really enjoyed reading this book from her POV. The way her character is developed throughout the book and finding out little pieces of her history was done incredibly well. Seeing the way she viewed Kodhan throughout the book was very well written and seeing the yearning from him through her eyes was swoon worthy and how he did everything to protect her through the trials.

Theia and Brannon where great side characters that added a lot to the book and I'm very excited to see more of them in future books. Their dynamic with each other was a breath of fresh air compared with what you see in other books. Theia is definitely my favourite by far.

The ending!!!! That was so crazy and definitely was not expecting that plot twist! Definitely not one that people would easily be able to guess or figure out before the reveal. I did have some suspicions about the King and I'm intrigued to learn more about the relationship between him and Eloise.


I'm looking forward to the rest of this series coming out and future books afterwards from Vivian Isabelle. Brilliant writing and storytelling.

[Karla Seymour]

First of all, thank you so much to Vivian Isabelle and Iris Influencer Society for allowing me an early arc read for an honest review.

This Shattered Star by Vivian Isabelle was so good. It was so well written and I really feel it gave a different approach to a fantasy romance book with trials. The story was unique and different and I liked that. This story follows Eloise, who is a cursed and magicless, in a kingdom of magical people. She is forced into the Starlight trials in hopes of winning and claiming magic and breaking her curse. Even though her chances of winning are very slim. Eloise must navigate herself in the trials with no magic. Now, the king has decided to change the rules where you must select an ally and two winners will be selected. Now Eloise must team up with her enemy, Kodhan and trust him enough to win. I really enjoyed the building tension between Eloise and Kodhan and I also really enjoyed her history with King Maverick and trying to figure out what was happening or not happening between them. Be ready for a twist at the end of the book that will have you needing the next book right away. I'm looking forward to book two and highly recommend this 5 star read!

If you are into, Elemental Magic, curses, trials, enemies to lovers, secret keeping, night covered kingdom, little bits of dragon in there, touch her and bye bye and fire wielding MMC, then you need to add this one to your TBR. I'm looking forward to book two and highly recommend this 5 star read!

[Whimsyy_wanderer]

𝖗𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖊𝖜 𝖔𝖋 𝖆𝖉𝖛𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖉 𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝖈𝖔𝖕𝖞

Thank you for the opportunity to review this amazing book. All thoughts are my own.

I will start by listing all the things that spoke out to me in this book. I loved how fierce all the characters were in their own unique way. The FMC, Eloise, especially was so easy to root for. I loved how she rose to every challenge with such ferocity and determination despite the inner turmoil and battles she faced. The majority of the time, I could relate to her, and that's something that I love about a book. She was hard-headed, brutal in her strikes, and wanted to be free of the curse that bound her.

The MMC, Kodhan, was fire-wielding and broody. I enjoyed how his character and personality was portrayed. How his lethal personality switched to caring and soft for Eloise. The side characters, Brannon and Theia, were really easy to love. I would have loved to see their POVs as well. The found family banter was hilarious and I found myself grinning alongside them.

There did come a point where I wanted to throw the book because WHAT THE HELL (ifykyk) but it got saved (yay). The trials were deadly and the description so perfect it felt as if I was watching a movie.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would 100% recommend to people who would like a celestial touch in fantasy.

Tropes:
- found family, slow burn, forced proximity, deadly magical trials, witty banter, curses, fast pace, dragon shifters, touch her and die, morally grey characters.

"Little viper.."
"Bastard.."