Prince of the Sun

by Emma Noyes

Legally Blonde meets A Deal with the Elf King in the debut spicy standalone adult romantasy from the acclaimed author of How to Hide in Plain Sight, the Sunken City series, and the Soul of Shadow trilogy.

One hundred years ago, the elves appeared on Earth.

Beautiful, brilliant, and filled with unearthly grace, they swarmed the libraries and universities: Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Beijing. They made for the humans’ fountains of knowledge with eerie precision, as if they’d spent millennia studying Earth before their arrival.

Once there, the Elf King made an announcement: we're looking for something, and once we find it, we will leave you in peace.

Quinn Kallister doesn't believe him. Seven years ago, she watched her father be murdered and her brother kidnapped by a pair of elves. Since then, she fought to gain admission to Harvard for one reason: to find the answers no one will give her. To do that, she must spy on Daerios Ariar, the most powerful and terrifying of the Sun Princes. Quinn is set on gaining the prince's trust and learning the elves' secrets—until an unwanted attraction begins to form between them that neither can deny.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance

366 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2026

About the author

Emma Noyes is the author of HOW TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT, GUY'S GIRL, and the Sunken City trilogy. The first book in her next YA romantasy series, SOUL OF SHADOW, comes out July 2025. She lives in Chicago with her Swedish husband and their accident-prone Pomeranian.

Author also writes under Emma V.R. Noyes

Reviews

[Fariha Taskin]

Pre-read
⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡
Got my first ARC, Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Flora · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of advance copy received from netgalley

Oh My God. 4⭐️
I freaking loved this! At first it was giving the cruel prince vibes but the plot twist changed EVERYTHING.

Can we talk about the Chemistry between the characters? Daerios had me giggling and kicking my feet, he was so down bad for our girl!!
Also the “good girl” had me SCREAMING.
And the one bed trope was done so beautifully.
The fact that he always made sure that she was eating.. I’m crying He is so precious.

Quinn is also so relatable and the whole speech about eating disorders was done so beautifully because it truly captures the feeling.

The 4 friend-group was adorable.

The plot picks up really well and i really really love the ending. I know this is a stand-alone but i wouldn’t mind a second book or at least a novella, i really love these characters.

Quotes:

“I live for these curves. I die for these curves. I worship every square inch of space that this body takes up.”

“I would build a thousand altars with statues in your exact image, just so I could bow before them.”

“I fucking love you, Daerios Ariar. I love you with every terrified, broken piece of my heart, and if you don’t kiss me right this very moment, I’m going to hit you right in that beautiful face of yours.”

“I love you, too, Quinn Kallister. You are the piece of my soul that I never knew was missing. And now that I have you, I’m never letting you go.”

[Maud · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️


If you’re looking for your next (urban) romantasy obsession, Prince of the Sun should definitely be on your TBR!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed Quinn and Daerios’s story from beginning to end. The writing is engaging, fun, and easy to read, making this one of those books you fly through without even realizing it. It’s incredibly bingeable.

This book includes some of my favorite micro tropes: he’s making sure she’s eating enough, one horse, one bed, and plenty of “yes, ma’am” moments. The chemistry between Quinn and Daerios is fantastic, with the perfect mix of witty banter, simmering tension, and emotional depth. The rivals-to-lovers progression felt natural and seamless, and the plot kept me invested the entire time. And yes… the spice was definitely spicing, if you know what I mean. Bonus points for being a standalone!

I honestly loved this story. The main characters completely won me over, but the side characters were just as memorable (Berendir and Cara, I’m looking at you). If you’re in the mood for a fun, romantic fantasy with great chemistry, satisfying tension, and characters you’ll love, definitely give this one a read!

[RachelHdly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ahhhh this is gutting because for almost half of the book it was looking like a 4.5+, but unfortunately I feel it lost its way once the romance conflict started coming into play. The FMC was all at once a breath of fresh air and a frustrating head to be in, I feel there wasn’t a lot of time spent thinking about decisions which would send the plot along to its next pit-stop - her actions in the run up to the lake scene mainly.

The world building was so strong in the beginning, and the college setting was a breath of fresh air, and really enjoyable to read, but this dropped off for me once we moved to the other realm. It felt like we were moving across a game board - go here, this happens, go there, now that happens - and rinse and repeat. It lost all the nuance and intrigue that had shored it up in the first half. And then all of a sudden ancient elves are popping out ‘Cute’ when talking to their enemy across a battlefield? It just felt jarring and didn’t convey the magnitude of that character in the moment.

But really the first couple of parts were a really good read and I would want to read more like that from this author

[Camila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the ARC NetGalley!

This book was so fun and easy to read! This book gives everything you need in a standalone romantasy, touch her and die, one bed, the MMC feeds her🥹 and so on.

The yearning was so well done👏🏼 our FMC Quinn is a badass that doesn’t take shit from no one especially from a certain hot elf 👅, she’s smart and very determined. The tension between Quinn and Daerios was tensioning very very good. I loved the side characters, aka Cara and Berendir (would love for them to get their own book🌝), and the plot twists really good.

Really loved the dedication at the beginning from the author, couldn’t stop laughing 🤣 Overall if you’re looking for a fun, easy read, with hot elfs, tension, yearning and plot twists, this is it!!🧡

[A. Diella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince of the Sun by Emma Noyes
Release date:August 4th
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Age rating:18+
Spice: Ch 17 134-136, Ch 24 194-199, Ch 32 268-271, and several references

Thank you Emma for sending me this arc! I had so much fun with this book. Quinn and Daerios have such perfect banter, and I found myself laughing so much. The romance had me giggling and kicking my feet. The atmosphere was so cozy, and I just wanted to go there. Also the side characters have my whole heart. I don’t know why but Cara and Berendir really stole the show for me at some parts. I need MORE of them. I loved how Quinn and Daerios’ story wrapped up, and thought it was perfect. The plot was super interesting, and once I started reading I couldn’t stop. It was just so fun.

[BookishKB]

☀️👑 Prince of the Sun 👑☀️

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Romantasy
• Enemies to Lovers
• Elf Prince MMC
• Academia Setting
• Forced Alliance
• Political Intrigue
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 4, 2026
Thank you to Emma Noyes and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Simone | simonesbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ Rating: 4.5 Stars

✨ The Vibe
Legally Blonde meets romantasy, but make it elves, Harvard, magic, mystery, spice, and banter.

This book somehow manages to combine our modern world—phones, TikTok, universities, and all—with a world where elves arrived on Earth a hundred years ago and never quite integrated into society. The result was fun, addictive, and incredibly easy to read.

📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
One hundred years ago, the elves arrived on Earth searching for something they refuse to fully explain.

Quinn Kallister has spent the last seven years trying to uncover the truth about them after witnessing her father's murder and her brother's kidnapping at the hands of elves. Determined to get answers, she earns her place at Harvard and sets her sights on Daerios Ariar, one of the powerful Sun Princes.

Her plan is simple: gain his trust, uncover the elves' secrets, and find out what really happened to her family.

The problem? Daerios might be far more charming than expected.

🖤 My Reading Experience
This book grabbed me pretty quickly, and once it found its pace, I genuinely didn't want to put it down.

One of my favorite things was the setting. I loved that this wasn't a completely separate fantasy world. Instead, Emma Noyes took our world—with our technology, social media, universities, and recognizable places—and dropped elves right into it.

For some reason, during the first few chapters, I kept imagining the elves almost like aliens. 😂

I think it was the way they arrived on Earth, how intelligent they were, how they immediately embedded themselves into humanity's greatest centers of knowledge, and how mysterious their true purpose seemed. It wasn't a bad thing at all—it actually made the story feel even more unique in my head.

Quinn was a great protagonist to follow. She's brilliant, determined, loyal, and willing to dedicate years of her life to uncovering the truth about what happened to her family.

I especially appreciated how focused she was on her mission. Everything she did felt driven by genuine motivation and purpose. She can definitely be stubborn at times, and her mouth occasionally gets her into trouble, but honestly? That just made her more entertaining.

And then we have Daerios.

*sigh*

Daerios was absolutely my favorite part of this book.

The banter? Amazing.

The flirting? Excellent.

The smirks? Illegal.

The chemistry between him and Quinn felt natural and fun, and I found myself smiling every time they were on the page together.

The only thing that surprised me was that Daerios is repeatedly described as one of the most powerful and terrifying Sun Princes, but I never fully felt that side of him. Maybe I was too distracted by his charm, but I found him much more swoon-worthy than intimidating.

The found family aspect was another highlight.

Cara and Berendir completely won me over. Cara initially comes across as the smart, somewhat awkward academic friend, but she ended up becoming so much more than that. And Berendir? He was hilarious.

Honestly, he gave me serious Carrion Swift vibes from Quicksilver, which immediately earned him bonus points.

Watching Quinn, Cara, Berendir, and Daerios gradually become this close-knit group was one of my favorite parts of the entire story.

💭 What Didn't Fully Work for Me
My biggest critique would be the magic system.

There are plenty of references to magic throughout the story, and I found the concepts interesting, but I wanted more. While there are reasons why magic is limited on Earth, I still felt like there was room to dive deeper into how it works and what it's capable of.

This wasn't a major issue by any means, but it's definitely the area I would have loved to see expanded.

The beginning is also a little slower than the rest of the book. Thankfully, it never felt frustratingly slow, and once the story picked up, I was fully invested.

🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Elves in the modern world
- Harvard setting
- Touch her and die vibes
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- Spicy romance
- Banter-filled romance
- Grumpy heroine
- Charming prince
- Forbidden love
- Slow-burn attraction

💔 Emotional Impact
Emotional damage level: 6/10.
I was having a great time right up until certain events made me question everything and left me staring at my Kindle, wondering who exactly I was supposed to trust.

And yes, there were tears.

🫶 Final Thoughts
Prince of the Sun was such a fun surprise.

I loved the unique blend of modern life and fantasy, adored the romance, thoroughly enjoyed the found family dynamics, and absolutely devoured the banter.

While I would have loved a little more depth when it came to the magic system, that wasn't enough to stop me from having a fantastic time with this story.

If you enjoy romantasy with a modern setting, charming elf princes, strong friendships, mystery, spice, and plenty of witty dialogue, I would definitely recommend picking this one up.

📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Analise Song for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.

⚠️ SPOILER SECTION — Continue at your own risk!


Seriously. Spoilers ahead.

💀

💀

💀

Okay.

After finishing the book, I still have a few questions that I'm hoping other readers can help me process.

First of all: what exactly happened with Quinn's father?

Did the Shadow Elves kill him because they believed he was the Lightbearer? Or was he simply in the way when they came for Michael? I feel like I understood the broad strokes, but I still wanted a little more clarity.

Speaking of Michael... I desperately wanted more of his perspective.

What was his life actually like with the Shadow Elves? What did he experience? How much did he understand about what was happening around him? After everything that happened, I found myself incredibly curious about his side of the story.

I'm also still not entirely over whatever was happening between Cara and Berendir.

Were they just friends?

Were they secretly more?

Because I need answers.

And then there's Daerios. That betrayal absolutely wrecked me.

I genuinely sat there questioning everything because Daerios never felt like someone who would intentionally betray Quinn. Part of me still isn't entirely convinced he did. Was it deliberate? Did his brother figure things out on his own? Was it some complicated mix of both?

Whatever the answer is, that entire sequence had me emotional.

Finally, I found myself wondering why there seemed to be such a strong divide between humans and elves even after a century of coexisting. It makes sense given the history, but I still found myself wanting to explore that dynamic more deeply.

Basically, I finished this book with answers, but also with approximately seventeen new questions. 😂

[Katya & the Braincells Inc. · Rating 5 out of 5]

OVERALL RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4.5 stars!

🚨 I'm going to be a little disobedient today and will be including my spoiler-ful review for this ARC (thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy!), because there is absolutely no way I am containing all my thoughts in a jar (although I WILL contain the latter half of the novel, out of courtesy). But for the spoiler-free portion...

Spoiler-free review: This is the university-setting human x elf romance I've been waiting for my WHOLE LIFE. Everything about this is my perfect blend of academic rivalry, elven lore, and a romance that makes me giggle under my covers.

Prince of the Sun was my first book by this author, which makes it an even more impressive reading experience. The premise initially reminded me a little of the academic atmosphere in Katabasis, though the similarities mostly stop at the university setting. What sold me immediately was the opening setup itself. An academic rival steals the book you've been trying to get your hands on? At Harvard? With elves involved? I'm sorry, but that combination is practically a catnip for me. The setting works especially well because the novel actually allows us to spend time learning alongside the characters; here, the classroom scenes actively contribute to the charm of the story.

The worldbuilding also deserves praise. This isn't a hard fantasy novel packed with endless rules and encyclopedic magic systems, but it knows exactly what details to emphasize. And the rivals banter! AKA the "I am trying very hard not to enjoy talking to you" banter. There are romances that tell you two characters belong together; Prince of the Sun lets you fall in love with their conversations first.

However, do note that readers looking for a more traditional epic fantasy may find the scope smaller than expected. The emphasis here is very much on characters, relationships, university life, and personal growth rather than nonstop action or large-scale political conflict (which, of course, is very much expected for a stand-alone novel).

-ˋˏ✄- - - - - - -
Spoiler-ful review: Everything this book set out to accomplish, it accomplished exceptionally well. The romance worked. The humor worked. The emotional beats worked. The academic setting worked. The cherry on top, there is even a high-stakes adventure in the middle! Most importantly—I never stopped wanting to turn the page.

Why—out of all the males at this school, all the males in the state of Massachusettes—why does it have to be Daerios? A man I detest, whom I've sworn to use for his access to information? How do you explain attraction? Is it a chemical compound? A string of neurons? A learned reaction? Or is it something else? Something intangible—like magic?

This easily became one of my favorite reads this 2026. The moment I flipped to Chapter One, I immediately knew I was gonna love it. Sometimes you open a book and within a few pages you can tell the narrator is either going to carry the entire story or make it a struggle to get through. Quinn Kallister absolutely carried it. Her voice is witty, sarcastic, intelligent, and wonderfully self-aware without becoming exhausting. I just loved being inside her head.

And I cannot speak enough about the banters.

"Quinn," he says. It's the first time he's used my first name, and it frightens me how much I enjoy hearing it on his lips. "There's no one I'd rather have sully my purity than you."

H-hello!? My brain literally short-circuited!

One thing I really appreciated was that the book never took the easy route with Daerios's character. He is exactly the romantic lead I tend to love. At first glance, he seems like exactly the kind of person Quinn would hate: privileged, talented, impossibly accomplished, and carrying enough prestige to make anyone suspect he's simply benefiting from family connections. Quinn herself is more than willing to assume the worst. But as the story progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Daerios is actually frighteningly competent. I loved watching our female lead repeatedly discover that the person she had mentally categorized as a glorified nepo baby (nepo elf?) was, in fact, capable of backing up his reputation, and fully capable of matching her wit blow for blow. Quinn and Daerios genuinely challenge each other intellectually, which made their chemistry feel earned.

I also appreciated how the novel handled Quinn's struggles with disordered eating. The book takes its time with that aspect of her character rather than presenting it as a sudden revelation. Through carefully placed flashbacks and observations, the story gradually builds an understanding of her relationship with herself, which made those moments hit much harder emotionally.

As mentioned about the worldbuilding, one of my favorite details was the history surrounding the elves and their arrival in the human world. There's the bit with the Shadow Elves, Sun Elves, etc. The idea that nobody truly knows where they came from, only that they immediately swarmed libraries and universities upon arrival, was endlessly entertaining to me. They're mysterious magical beings, yes, but they're also gigantic nerds, and that combination never stopped being delightful.
-ˋˏ✄- - - - - - -

Words cannot describe how much I recommend this book. Few things make me happier than finishing a book and realizing I've found an author I want to follow. This was my introduction to Noyes's work, and it left such a strong impression that I'm already planning which book to pick up next.

If you love a human x elf romance (with a pinch o' spice 🌶️), academic rivals, scholarly worldbuilding, bookish protagonists, magical universities, "touch her and I'll kill you" energy, and feet-kicking banters as much as I do, then you will absolutely love this.

Naválaev!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Néea Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

Prince of the Sun is one of those books that feels like it’s brimming with potential from page one, it’s a modern-world romantasy concept that immediately grabs you with its premise: elves integrated into Earth, elite academic spaces like Harvard, a personal revenge-driven mystery and a romance that slowly tightens its grip as the truth about the fae world unfolds

And for a lot of it, that promise absolutely delivers!

The strongest element here is the setting. The decision to place elves not in a distant fantasy realm but embedded into our own modern world with universities, social media, institutional prestige and it’s own research culture gives the story a refreshing edge. Harvard isn’t just a backdrop; it becomes part of the tension.

Knowledge is power in this world and that makes academia feel like more than aestheti, it becomes a battleground for information, influence and access to truth.

The idea that elves have been present on Earth for a century and have woven themselves into human systems is genuinely compelling, especially when the story leans into the mystery of what they want and what they’re hiding

At the center of that is Quinn Kallister, a protagonist driven by grief, obsession and unanswered trauma after witnessing her father’s murder and her brother’s disappearance at the hands of elves.

That motivation gives the story its spine in my opinion

Quinn’s characterization works best when she’s locked into that singular focus as she’s determined, intelligent and often emotionally volatile in a way that feels consistent with someone who has built her entire life around unanswered loss.
Even when she makes impulsive decisions, they feel rooted in that core wound rather than random plot convenience

Her dynamic with Daerios Ariar (the Sun Prince) is where much of the book’s energy lives

Their chemistry is immediate, but more importantly, it’s built through contrast

Quinn approaches him with suspicion and purpose, while Daerios oscillates between controlled charm and something more guarded and complicated underneath.
The banter between them is consistently engaging being sharp enough to keep scenes moving, but soft enough to hint at attraction long before either character acknowledges it.
There’s a real “academic rivalry meets forbidden fascination” energy here, especially in the early interactions where every conversation feels like both an argument and a negotiation

Daerios himself is one of the more divisive elements.
On one hand, he is magnetic: powerful, enigmatic, and clearly operating with layers of intention that Quinn can’t immediately decode. On the other hand, parts of his characterization don’t fully land consistently. The book gestures toward his age, authority, and experience, but his behavior sometimes leans younger or less grounded than expected, which can slightly undercut the sense of “ancient fae prince” gravitas the story is aiming for. When he works, he really works, but the consistency isn’t always there

The supporting cast adds a lot of texture. Characters like Cara and Berendir (and the broader academic and elven circles) help expand the world beyond just Quinn and Daerios.
They bring humor, tension relief and occasional emotional grounding, especially in scenes where the main plot gets heavy with secrecy and discovery.
There’s also a clear attempt to build a found-family dynamic over time, which adds warmth to an otherwise high-stakes narrative

The mystery thread (what the elves are doing on Earth, what happened to Quinn’s brother, and how deeply human institutions are entangled with elven agendas) is consistently engaging

The book does a good job of layering questions, even if it sometimes leans a bit heavily on withholding information rather than structuring revelations in a tightly controlled way.
The effect is that you stay curious, but occasionally feel like you’re circling answers rather than progressing toward them at a steady pace

If there’s one area where the book noticeably struggles, it’s worldbuilding depth versus clarity. The ideas themselves are strong with elven politics, academic access, hidden systems of power, but the mechanics of magic and structure often feel underexplored.
You get enough to be intrigued, but not quite enough to fully understand how everything fits together or what the limits are.
That lack of definition occasionally weakens the stakes, especially when the plot leans into larger consequences

Pacing is another uneven area in my personal opinion.
The opening can feel slightly slow as the book establishes Quinn’s obsession and academic environment, but once Daerios becomes more central and the mystery deepens, the narrative becomes much more compulsively readable. Still, some transitions (particularly around time progression) can feel a bit blurry, requiring rereads to reorient the timeline. At least that’s how it was for me…

There are also smaller craft-level inconsistencies: moments where internal pacing shifts abruptly or where emotional beats are introduced and resolved quickly without full buildup.
These don’t derail the reading experience, but they do contribute to the sense that the book is aiming for a larger scope than it fully stabilizes

That said, the core reading experience is undeniably fun!
The romance is engaging, the concept is fresh, and the combination of modern academia with fae mythology gives it a distinct identity in the romantasy space.
Even when execution wobbles, the premise carries momentum

Overall, this is a book that’s easy to enjoy and occasionally frustrating in its unevenness, a story with strong character chemistry, a compelling modern-fantasy setup and a mystery that keeps you turning pages, even when you wish the worldbuilding and pacing were a bit more refined

A solid 3.5-star read that is entertaining, immersive and emotionally engaging in bursts, with enough charm and originality to make it memorable, but not quite the consistency or depth needed to push into higher territory

[Kay Daniels (Kay Daniels Romance) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine LOTR in a contemporary university setting. Then imagine sitting next to Legolas while learning, or trying to learn, philosophy or mathematics, or any subject really, except now you're distracted by a leggy, hot elf sitting right next to you in class. 😆 Yeah it's not happening, at least for me because this is the fantasy I've always wanted, but also never knew I needed until I picked up this very book. Every moment in Prince of the Sun was brilliant and I can't wait to gush about it!!

First off, the world building was amazing and the characters are so well crafted. Most often, romantasy's require extensive world building, as we (the reader) are taken into their world, or realm. There also, though not always, tends to be a quest, or a war to win, or any number of things that take the heroes from zero to one hundred in an instant. That is the draw to reading fantasy. The amazing worlds we get to visit, the battles we get to win. Like romance itself, there is a formula and it's a comfort to step into that reading genre knowing what to expect. What I loved with this particular book is that instead of traveling to another world, the elves came to ours. It's a great twist. One that gave a sense of familiarity to a romance reader like myself, but still had all the elements of a fantasy read, which I also love. The book not only held my attention from page one, but until the very end.

Quinn is studying linguistics at Harvard University, as she has a gift for languages, but is also there with a quest of her own. So while she's a wiz at elvish languages, there is an underlying purpose as to why she's so good and smart at everything elvish.😏 Quinn is just a normal human girl with no army, or sidekick, unless you include her plucky roommate, but Cara doesn't even know she's part of Quinn's story until later in the book. Quinn prefers to be alone and to keep to herself, but that all of that changes the more Prince Daerios Ariar infiltrates her life.

Quinn was a brilliant heroine. Her sarcastic wit alone would have made her my friend even when she didn't seem to have any, and especially when she didn't believe she had friends, but guess what..she did. It wholeheartedly smacks her in the face at a certain point in the book, but she owns it. Her inner musings were the best and I loved the times when she had big "a ha" smack her in the brain. She wasn't afraid to admit when she was wrong, which I appreciated. She is crazy stubborn, yes, and loves to stomp around, which was funny because she knew she was stubborn, but in her heart she also knew she'd turn over and apologize or give in because deep down she was a good person. Yes, even though she was out for revenge. She's a complicated person.😆

Her emotional journey is largely thanks to the elf she really wants to dislike, but she just can't. Daerios is everything she shouldn't like, but over time, does. At times he tries to come across as the prince he is in the news; entitled and rude, but most times, especially when he's with Quinn one on one, he's sweet and caring and nothing like the black sheep of the royal family. It confuses her on the best of days, especially when she has revenge to well...venge. 😆 Daerios is her way in if she can get him to tell her all his secrets. I know, I just said she's a decent person, but Daerios is an elf and Quinn has a complicated past with that race and then there is the problem that the more time she spends in his presence she sees a different side to the partying prince, one that could make her drop her revenge if she isn't careful.  

Daerios is nothing like I expected and also everything like my lust filled fantasies. 💯 I was completely caught up in this electrifying world of humans and elves. The plot was fascinating, fast paced, and so well thought out that my mind was constantly blown away. I loved the chemistry between Daerios and Quinn; their banter was top notch and filled with lots of sharp wit. And lastly no book would be complete without fantastic secondary characters, which are Berendir, Daerios' right hand man, er...elf and Cara, Quinn's roommate and best friend.

While this is a standalone, I would love more from this world. I loved Prince of the Sun as it checked off so many items on my bucket wish list that sits right next to my dirty fantasy list, especially in regards to everything elvish.😏 I admit, I'm a LOTR freak and so much of that reason is because of the hot elves. I know...it's totally not a big part of the plot, but sue me...hot elves people!!...I fell in love with them during the Hobbit in my pre-teens...I can't help myself. 😆 eeeeellllllvvvvvveeeesssss!!!!

Thank you to BookSirens for the advance review copy and all opinions are my own.

[Agapi Sifaki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐ Overall: ★★★☆☆

📖 Plot: ★★★☆☆
👥 Characters: ★★★☆☆
⚡ Pacing: ★★★★☆
✍️ Writing Style: ★★★☆☆
🌍 Worldbuilding: ★★★☆☆
💕 Romance: ★★☆☆☆
🌶️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)

I have very mixed feelings about this book, and I think that is what made writing this review particularly difficult. While I do not think it was a bad book, I also cannot say that I had the reading experience I was hoping for.

Let me start with the things I appreciated. I really liked the representation of anorexia and the way the author incorporated a heroine with an eating disorder into a romantasy setting. This is not something I have encountered often in this genre, and I appreciated seeing a character whose struggles were not reduced to a side detail. I also found the book very easy and quick to read. The writing style was simple and accessible, which made the pages flow quickly. However, this was also sometimes a weakness for me, as the writing occasionally felt a little too simplistic and immature for the story it was trying to tell.

The banter was enjoyable enough, but it did not completely work for me. While there were moments of humor throughout the story, I did not find myself connecting with the comedic style, and it never reached the level where I could truly see the book as the rom-com romantasy it seemed to be aiming for. The humor was present, but it did not particularly match my personal taste or enhance my enjoyment of the story.

The characters were likeable, but unfortunately, I found them quite flat. I wanted much more depth, especially when it came to their backgrounds and motivations. The MMC in particular was a character I struggled with because the way he was described and the way he actually behaved often felt disconnected. I wanted to understand him better and see more of the experiences that shaped him.

The romance was probably the biggest challenge for me. The book follows many of the classic romantasy romance tropes, but I did not feel that they were executed in a way that made them feel fresh or emotionally convincing. I have to admit that I am becoming increasingly tired of enemies-to-lovers stories where the characters are never truly enemies and where the relationship quickly shifts into insta-lust. I love this trope when it is done well, but I need the conflict, tension, and emotional journey between the characters to feel earned.

The same applies to the fated mates trope. At this point, I feel that it is becoming overused in romantasy, and unfortunately, here it did not bring anything new or surprising to the story. Instead of enhancing the relationship, it sometimes felt like a shortcut that replaced the need for deeper emotional development.

There were definitely some sweet moments between the main characters, and I could see why readers might enjoy their dynamic. However, overall, I struggled to fully believe in their romance or feel the emotional intensity that the story was aiming for.

The plot was enjoyable enough, but it never became truly gripping for me. A lot of the story felt predictable, and I did not find myself surprised by any major twists or developments. There were also moments where certain elements of the story did not completely make sense to me, which made it harder to become fully invested.

I think part of my reaction might also come from the fact that I have been reading a lot of romantasy lately, and I may be experiencing some genre fatigue. At this point, I am not necessarily looking for books that only deliver the vibes of the genre. I am craving stories with deeper worldbuilding, complex characters, meaningful character arcs, and plots that feel carefully constructed.

I do believe this book will find its audience. Readers who enjoy a romance-forward romantasy with familiar tropes, an accessible writing style, and a strong emotional focus may connect with it much more than I did.

For me, however, this was simply a case of a book not being the right fit at the right time. It had some genuinely interesting elements, but ultimately, it did not deliver the depth and complexity I personally look for in fantasy romance.

[Sneha R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prince of the Sun

I genuinely don't know how this book was written specifically for me, but somehow it was.

A romantasy set at Harvard with elves? Academic rivalry? Political secrets? A sarcastic heroine? An annoyingly charming elf prince? Yeah, I never stood a chance.

What I loved most about this was how effortless the world felt. Instead of creating a completely separate fantasy realm, Emma Noyes brings fantasy into our world. We still have phones, libraries, social media, classes, and all the chaos of university life, but elves have been living among humans for a century. It made the story feel familiar while still being magical.

Quinn was such an easy character to root for. She's carrying years of grief and anger, and every choice she makes is fueled by her determination to find answers about what happened to her family. I loved that she wasn't endlessly self-sacrificing or unrealistically perfect. She can be stubborn, judgmental, and frustrating at times, but she felt like a real person.

Now let's talk about Daerios.
The way this man irritated me and charmed me at the exact same time needs to be studied.

The banter between Quinn and Daerios was easily my favorite part of the book. Every conversation felt like a battle neither of them wanted to lose. Their relationship develops through conversations, arguments, and reluctant trust, which made the romance feel believable instead of rushed.

I also ended up loving the side characters way more than I expected. Cara and Berendir completely stole my heart. Their friendships with Quinn added so much warmth to a story that could have otherwise felt heavy because of the mystery and revenge plot.

Speaking of the mystery, that was what kept me turning pages. I went into this expecting a romance-heavy fantasy, but I found myself just as invested in uncovering the truth behind the elves and their reasons for coming to Earth. Every answer seemed to create more questions, and I loved that feeling.

My only complaint is that I wanted more. More magic. More elf history. More time with these characters. This is one of those books where I reached the final page and immediately wished it had been a series.

Overall, this book felt like the perfect mix of academia, fantasy, mystery, and romance. It made me laugh, stressed me out, made me question everyone's motives, and completely pulled me into its world.

If you love books with academic settings, enemies to lovers energy, found family, and a love interest who is equal parts infuriating and irresistible, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a chance.

And fair warning: once Daerios starts showing up everywhere Quinn goes, it's basically over for all of us. ✨📚🧝🏻‍♂️💕

Thank you so much Emma, I adore you and this little world you are allowing us to dive in headfirst.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

[hannah ⊹ ࣪ ˖ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I would build a thousand altars with statues in your exact image, just so I could bow before them.”

Emma Noyes, if you’re reading this, I just have one thing to say: how dare you. How dare you write a book this damn good, and it’s only a standalone!!! i would read a full, multiple-book series if it meant getting to spend more time in this alternate version of our world. This book and its characters are literally perfect in every single way, and I am both overjoyed I was able to read this as an ARC and heartbroken it’s over.

One hundred years ago, the elves appeared on Earth. Because they’re elves, they are gorgeous, brilliant, and full of poise. Almost immediately, they flood huge libraries and universities: Harvard, Yale, Oxford, and Beijing in search of something. After they arrive, the Elf King makes their intentions clear through an announcement: “we’re looking for something, and once we find it, we will leave you in peace.”

But Quinn Kallister doesn't believe him. Seven years ago, she watched her father be murdered and her brother kidnapped by a pair of elves. Since then, she fought to gain admission to Harvard for one reason: to find the answers no one will give her. To do that, she must spy on Daerios Ariar, the most powerful and terrifying of the Sun Princes (and also the hottest). Quinn is set on gaining the prince's trust and learning the elves' secrets until an unwanted attraction begins to form between them that neither can deny.

“Daerios shakes his head without opening his eyes. “There is nothing I enjoy more than making you happy, Quinn Kallister.”

And y’all… the BANTER IN THIS BOOK?!? god tier. absolute perfection! And don’t even get me started on the spice! TBH, I could’ve gone for more, but that’s beside the point. I am completely in awe of this story and its characters, and I would give just about anything for there to be more than one book. Perhaps a book with a certain bloodthirsty elf and a brilliant human at the center… Berendir and Cara, I’m looking at you! And the cherry on top? THE MMC IS A MAN WHO WHIMPERS!!!! i love when authors have their male characters whimper bc normally that is something that is only used to describe female characters. I’m in love with that detail!

“I’ve never met anyone like you,” he says. “Not in all my life. You drive me fucking insane, Quinn Kallister.”

This made me laugh, cry, throw my kindle across the room, and feel like someone was ripping my heart right out of my chest, but I could not recommend this book more! It does such a beautiful job talking about mental health, and the tiny acts of service Daerios is constantly doing for Quinn made me cry every single time!

I can’t thank NetGalley and Emma Noyes enough for this incredible book! Obsessed would be an understatement.

[Jeni M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Witnessing her fathers murder and brothers kidnapping by elves 7 years prior, Quinn is on a mission to figure out what the secretive elves are doing so she can destroy them for ruining her childhood and family. Elves are in all universities worldwide searching for something. No human knows what that “something” is. Once it is found the elves will return to their home planet of Elaerion. For a century, the elves have inhabited Earth but kept to themselves. They don’t mix with humans. They eat separately, live separately. Their only crossover is spent in classes. At Harvard Quinn deals with the elves daily from a distance until she decides to speak to the Sun Prince, Daerios to obtain a book she needs. Daerios is a troublemaker - he parties and purposely bends the rules. Taking Quinn out on a date goes against the rules. After the date Daer seems to always show up wherever Quinn is. Since Quinn spends her time spying on the elves at the college, Daerios asking her on a date is a golden ticket into their world. Her intent was to use him for info but finds herself feeling truly seen, causing complications when she believes he betrayed her (which is ironic since she was lying to him s well).

The beginning is a bit slow but once the two start “dating” the banter becomes delicious. Quinn has a sharp tongue and says things before thinking it through at times. A few times I found myself laughing out loud at what was being said.

Quinn deals with the lingering effects of anorexia throughout and it is told very well. As stress or doubt creep back in so does her illness. The author portrays the life struggle and the steps needed for proper self care while dealing with life. Daer treats Quinn with respect and recognition of the disorder since he has experienced it with another loved one.

This is definitely slow burn and lower spice with a 🌶️🌶️ out of 5. The background story of the elves and why they are there could’ve been expanded upon to enrich the story. I get it…the elves wanted to keep everything a secret, but what was going on in their world of Elaerion doesn't get told until 3/4 of the book is over. Even then a lot of questions still exist (such as how did the elves learn of Earth, how did they learn how to speak Earth languages so easily and when did their seer view how to fix Elaerion). The elves had a magic system but it’s never truly developed.

The story is something unique with the use of linguistics and elves being like aliens that invade Earth. The characters are like-able and more relatable due to their struggles. I thank the author and BookSirens for the advance copy and have left the review voluntarily.

[bhavya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and the author, for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

May contain spoilers, so please proceed with caution.

Let's begin.

Title: Prince of The Sun
Author: Emma Noyes
My Rating: 3.5/5

I saw the cover and the title and thought to myself that it would be perfect for me. It's a good mix of fantasy, romance, and found family in an academic setting.

I was completely immersed in the story and really liked how strong Quinn was. She was a well fleshed-out character with reasons for everything. I especially loved how refreshing it was to see an FMC that was body-inclusive in the fantasy genre. The representation in this book is good.

In terms of story, it was well-thought-out. Everything made sense, the elves integrating themselves into human society and being almost revered by humans. The world-building was good.

The characters, as individuals, were intriguing.

All of the characters were funny, and I liked their banter. Though there are some issues:

The romance let me down, though, I must say. The chemistry seemed forced rather than effortless, and the final mate plot is so overused in this genre that it is getting predictable rather than a surprise that the author probably intended it to be.

Another turn-off was how Daerios was described, as some scary elf who always parties and is an overall douche, but that didn't really translate in the book. His personality had more of a tell-and-not-show element to it. It didn't make sense how, of all that he was described, he just turned into putty over a human he didn't really know that well.

He was supposed to be cruel, cold, and careless (I mean, he must have got that reputation somehow, right?). I mean, not all the time, but at least for some of the interactions, until the chemistry spoke for itself, but it was kind of forced and architected rather than natural.

At some point, though, I did enjoy their romance.

I really like Cara and Berendir's chemistry; it had the same tell-and-not-show element, but it was natural to some extent.

Overall, I think it's a good book to keep you entertained and help you ease into this genre if you're new to it. 3.5 stars!

This is only my opinion, and I do not wish to impose it on anyone. Please read the book and decide for yourself.

[☽⋆Katarina⋆☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Emma Noyes and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy!

4.25⭐

This was really entertaining and refreshing romantasy stand-alone. Which tbh I was looking for, since I was in the mood for romantasy, but was a little unwilling to commit to a longer series. So I got this ARC at the right time.

I had fun and I laughed a few times! It was great. I love Quinn so much. My spunky, brave, determined linguist and certified smartest person in any room she is in. How she solved shit, that I would definitely never solve on my own was crazy. She thinks faster than I can read. She is an amazing FMC. I love that she is a recovering anorexic person, who still struggles with food. Because healing is never that straightforward. I thought the topic of ED was appropriately handled.

Daerios was such a charmer and so fucking funny. I love him. Nothing better than a golden retriever boyfriend, eh. Him and Quinn were such fun together. I love their banter.

I liked the twist, even if I more or less saw it coming. Which is something to be expected in a stand-alone. Foreshadowing doesn't really work there. Especially in romantasy. Because of course she has to be special, why else would she be the main protagonist. But in this book, it honestly it was done really well. I liked the overall plot. It was entertaining and kept me glued to the page.

I just have to gripes(?), nitpicks(?), things that I didn't like as much as I liked anything else, which are still completely fine, they just didn't really fit my personal taste(?):
- The romance was a tad to insta-lovey for me. I know it's a stand-alone and romance tend to be more on the side of insta-love in those. I just thought he showed true interest to her a little to early. But that's just a me thing and nothing major. I love Quinn and Daerios (Quirios?, Daequinn?, Quaerios?) regardless. As I mentioned I liked their dynamic a lot.

- I found the secret messages the elves "send to each other" a little to convoluted. Don't get me wrong it's kinda actually brilliant. It was just kinda a little unnecessary and too much effort when they didn't really need to do all that. But that's just a nitpick on my part. And I liked it overall.

Overall I had a great time. Highly recommend! Especially if you want something short and sweet and also giving the spice-kick without making you commit to a 2+ book series.

[Allison Pace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Prince of the Sun was a solid, easy-to-read romantasy that kept me engaged from beginning to end, even if it didn't fully deliver on some of the things I was hoping for.

The premise was interesting, the overall vibes were fun, and I really liked the FMC. She was intelligent, strong-willed, and capable without feeling overly perfect. Her determination made her easy to root for, and she carried the story well. The book also does a nice job balancing fantasy elements with a more modern feel, which makes it approachable for readers who are newer to romantasy or are just starting to dip their toes into the genre.

That said, I felt like the story moved a little too fast, especially for a standalone that was less than 400 pages. There were a lot of ideas and relationships introduced that could have benefited from more development. The characters, particularly some of the side characters, felt underexplored. There were hints of a great found-family dynamic, but I wanted a lot more page time with that group because the potential was definitely there.

The MMC was another area where I felt a disconnect. The story tells us a lot about who he is and how we're supposed to perceive him, but I never felt like we actually got to see enough of those traits on page. Because of that, both the romance and the emotional stakes felt a little underwhelming. There is spice, but overall, the book read younger to me almost YA in tone despite some more mature content.

I also wished there had been more emotional drama throughout the story. Everything felt relatively low angst, and while that made for a quick, enjoyable read, it kept me from becoming deeply invested in either the romance or the larger plot. Readers who love emotionally intense, dark fantasy romance may find this one a bit too light.

Overall, I liked Prince of the Sun. It was an enjoyable vibes read with an interesting concept and a likable heroine. Is it the next big romantasy obsession? Probably not. But if you're looking for something accessible, fast-paced, and lighter on the emotional devastation, it's worth picking up. For me, it lands comfortably around 3 stars; good, enjoyable, and entertaining, even if it never quite reached its full potential.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Dotti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Prince of the Sun is a Romantasy novel following a Harvard sophomore as she uncovers the truth about the elves. One hundred years ago, elves came to Earth through a portal to find something, dominating human culture and educational institutions in the search. Our main character, Quinn, watched as her father was murdered and her brother was kidnapped seven years ago by elves, and has held a vendetta against them in the years since. When Daerios, one of the sons of the Elf King, takes an interest in Quinn, she decides to use it to her advantage, hoping to discover what the elves are looking for and take them down for good.

This story was well done, with a good balance between the romance plotline and the fantasy plotline. Neither felt like subplots to the other, which is a tricky balance to hold. Quinn’s sleuthing is clever and engaging, and the final discovery feels appropriate given the subject matter and our characters’ strengths.

This story has an excellent depiction of anorexia that is thoughtful without being overbearing. Our character explains her own path to the disorder multiple times throughout the story, being descriptive without focusing too much on the internal comparisons. The character spends most of her time during our story in recovery from the disorder, though has small moments of restriction. This book could be triggering for someone with a past in heavily disordered eating, but I found the portrayal thoughtful without being overwhelming.

I think the pacing at the beginning of the book was very good, explaining the worldbuilding without slowing the story down too much, but the ending of the book did feel a little rushed. I think the author could have given us another chapter or two to really make the conflict feel weighty and appreciate the moment. I understand not wanting to write a detailed battle scene, but I think our character being absent for most of the resolution of our conflict made it feel too quick. Potentially adding a chapter from the male character’s point of view, just for that scene, would given the audience an insight into his characterization and given the moment the gravity it deserved.

I also think that the character’s age was too young. Young adult and New Adult stories are fundamentally about questions of identity as a character makes their way in the world and discovers their sense of identity, belonging and purpose. Quinn has none of those questions. She understands her purpose, she understands who she is and her motivations. Her journey in this story is about learning to open up and trust, discovering the truth about the world around her, and the decision to choose love over fear. That is an important message. But it is not a message for a 19-year-old character. If the character was a little older, maybe doing their graduate work at the school, it would have helped both with the fundamental nature of character growth and with the age gap between our romantic leads.

A small detail, but the character really brushed over some conversations that should have been had with her romantic interest. Quinn tells the audience about her love interest’s negative public persona and bad press. We as the audience need to believe that the love interest is a good person, and we can’t believe that when we’ve heard rumors of sexual assault. The characters should have had that conversation on page, with a good explanation given to revive his image in the public’s eyes.

This book has three detailed explicit scenes—one with explicit kissing, one with foreplay and one with intercourse. The scenes vary in length from a few pages to a full chapter.

Altogether, this book was well done, with solid character development, interesting side characters and a compelling plot. I think there are a few small tweaks that could make the book even better, but I enjoyed myself thoroughly and would still recommend it.

Thank you to Emma Noyes and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley, all thoughts are my own.

Let's start with what worked: Quinn starts out as an interesting character who defies her Mary Sue status as a FMC in a romantasy book; the original setting was refreshing, as far as contemporary Real World Fantasy goes, and I liked Quinn's interest in linguistics as a special trait; the writing in this was amusing and the humour worked, and I was fairly compelled throughout the first half of the book; I liked how Emma Noyes incorporated real life experiences and trauma into this novel, and how Quinn's ED and struggle was a real part of her own trauma. I enjoyed the interactions between Daerio and her whenever the subject was food and it made their bond peculiar – I genuinely wished we'd gotten more of it.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to enjoy this read, I really struggled with the pacing and the worldbuilding. This may very well be a me-issue, but I struggled to relate to this 19 year old adult who still referred to male counterparts as "boys". I was expecting Quinn to be more nuanced, but she was (predictably) either horned up, angry, mistaken or so brave and selfless. At one point, we're literally beamed up to a totally different universe that has zero development, zero world-building, and feels very much like a regular "haunted land" where the bad guys are bad and the Bad Elves are (obviously) the Shadow Elves and Quinn has (but of course) the power of the Sun... it's very, very, very cliché, and I felt bad for the main couple. They had potential, yet they ended up being a version of The Chosen One FMC and a (slightly less charismatic) Edgy MMC.

The tense moments felt predictable, characters that should have been given relevance were just brushed aside, the plot made little to no sense and things just... happened. Mostly vibes, mostly no stakes, a couple of spicy scenes with well-known tropes and that was about it.

I couldn't get over how YA and overdone this felt, which is a shame; I sought this novel up thinking I was down to read a romantasy with an empowered, unique, body-positive FMC, but she was just more of the same. Sorry, just didn't work for me.

[Lisa Castore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Addictive and emotional.

Prince of the Sun is a romance forward epic fantasy set at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In this version of our world, elves and humans live alongside one another with clear hatred and division. College junior Quinn Kallister has dedicated her life to learning enough about elves to undermine and destroy them. When she crosses paths with Elf Prince Daerios, she discovers a unique opportunity to do just that, but instead uncovers her role in an old prophecy and conflicting romantic feelings. I highly recommend this book to romantasy readers looking for their next epic spicy romance or who’s had their own disordered eating journey.

* High elves
* Plus size FMC
* Academia
* Soul mates
* Prophecy
* One bed
* He feeds her
* Touch her and die
* Grief & mental health rep

The romance drives this book with the epic plot following closely behind. The romantic tension is strong and poignant, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the end, and resolves in a way that is deeply emotional and rewarding. The spice is well done, but the emotional impact of their bond goes way beyond that.

The plot is unique and refreshing. I would have loved more descriptive and immersive world building, but the magic system, elf races, prophecy, and academic setting make up for it in depth and complexity.

The pacing drops you right into the story and moves quickly, introducing the romance almost right away. The dialogue is witty and there’s a clear sense of humor woven through out the story, eliciting giggles here and there amongst the high stakes tension.

Many readers will resonate with Quinn’s character development as she works the fear of being vulnerable in love as well as the need to use eating as a control mechanism. There is a content warning in the book, but it’s worth re-iterating that eating disorder recovery is an essential part of the book. Make sure you’re in a good spot before reading.

There is also subtle LGBTQ+ & mental health rep in simple ways (background characters are gay, non-binary pronouns are used without the blink of an eye, therapy is presented as healthy and necessary) which is a nice touch.

Thank you Emma Noyes for the free advanced copy!

[Zee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! I love when women do the thing!

Quinn Kallister has a history with the elves that have taken over Earth, a painful history that outlines her every action. She’s smart, intelligent and daring as she works towards a plan to save what’s most important to her. Daerios Ariar is the Prince of the Sun, who was placed at Harvard just like the rest of his brothers were scattered to other universities, to search for something that his elven world needed. He has curated his own reputation in the world, partially out of pure defiance, and partly out of a need for being seen (as one does).

The world building in this book was done quite well — there was a clear reason the elves came to Earth, a distinction between realms, and a structure to the royal hierarchy. There was even the segregation and superiority complex of elves in the human world.

I haven’t read many romantasy novels that are standalones. Maybe the genre itself begs for a huge book or a longer series because of all the politics and betrayals at play, but I did feel like a lot of the motivation and conflict in this book never scratched more than the surface. Everything wrapped up a little too well, into neat little bows that took a bit away from each new conflict faced. By the time we hit the most action, the book moves very quickly.

The romance between Quinn and Daerios does develop pretty organically, but by the time the first betrayal hits the page, I felt that it became quite flat. The side characters we see the most of are their respective best friends, who also seem to have something brewing between them. I just wish we got to see more of them — I still don’t know exactly what Cara was doing with them, but I love that her talents were useful as well! Just as I appreciate that Quinn fully used her linguistics major in this story — that's not something you see in every book.

As a debut novel, this was fun to read! I’d read more from this author — especially if that includes Cara and Berendir.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Selah · Rating 4 out of 5]

One hundred years ago elves appeared in the world from out of nowhere. They claimed they came in peace and were just here looking for some unknown thing and they'd leave as soon as they found it. Fast forward a hundred years and you've got a world much like ours, with modern technology and culture, just with a sprinkling of fantasy in the form of elves and their magic on top. It's an uncomplicated fantasy setting and one I had a lot of fun with.

Seven years ago our FMC Quinn watched a pair of elves murder her father and kidnap her brother. She's understandable filled with a lot of rage and pain that acts as the driving motivation in her life. She's a self-described 'all gas no brakes' type of girl and I love that for her; it makes being inside her head fun. Quinn's plan for vengeance is to find out what the elves are looking for and use it destroy them.

Enter our MMC Daerios Ariar, one of the elven princes. Daerios is a known partier and the self-described family screwup. He's also currently attending Harvard as a student. Quinn sees Daerios as a weak point in the elves' legendary secrecy and applies to Harvard with the goal of getting elven secrets out of him. When Daerios takes an interest in Quinn it seems like the perfect way to further Quinn's goals, but she's not prepared for the feelings that spark between her and the elvish Prince.

I really enjoyed this one. The storyline itself is very good, a little twisty with a good mix of humor and serious subjects. I loved the romance between Quinn and Daerios, you could feel their chemistry whenever they were on the page together. Their banter is great and Daerios is so obviously head over heels for Quinn early in the book which is something I always love to see.

The side characters are fun; Berendir stole every scene he was in. Emma Noyes, if you're reading this, I would read a book featuring Berendir and Cara! I know this is supposed to be a standalone, but it would be fun to see more books set in this universe.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an ARC of this novel

[Brianna Farnam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from NetGalley and provide my review freely :)

4.5 ⭐️

This book meant so much to me for its mental health representation. As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, it was amazing to see it so accurately and compassionately represented in this book. I especially loved how Daerios (MMC) doesn’t bring undue attention to the issue. He is just passively there, providing support however he can whether it be by way of emotional comfort or bringing her little sweet treats when he’s noticed she hasn’t eaten. I felt so seen and validated, it was really emotional for me to see myself reflected in the pages of this book.

Other than the mental health rep, I LOVED the storyline. I love how it’s an urban fantasy where the fae are positioned as invaders in this universe. They came out of nowhere, invaded human repositories of knowledge, and promised to bring no harm and leave as soon as they found what they needed. Emma deals with their presence in, what I feel like, is a realistic way wherein they cannot be governed by the rules of our society. Even though they come in peace, they still brew fear and distrust because they’re powerful and secretive!

The thing that kept this from being a 5-star for me was just some things I wished had been addressed. Early on, Quinn (FMC) notes how Daerios is rumored to be involved in potential SA and an accidental homicide. This goes unaddressed, which isn’t a huge deal. I think we’re meant to assume they are just rumors but I would have liked for the characters to talk about it openly. The only other thing is that, when Quinn tries to run, he holds and restrains her. Again, I think we’re supposed to assume he’s doing it for her safety but she was PISSED and I feel like it would’ve made the storyline more believable had she talked with him about it.

I absolutely devoured this book, like, less than 24 hours and I was completely through. I thought it was a unique take and provided a really well-written urban fantasy with meaningful mental health representation!

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a ride! Do you ever request an ARC of a book, receive the ARC, forget what drew you to it in the first place so you're going in not knowing/remembering much, then find yourself on a rollercoaster of a ride because you're taking issue with something that is pretty pivotal to the book but then remember what drew you to it in the first place so decide you actually can't take issue with it? That was me with this book.

So let this serve as a reminder that context is important for my rating of books! It's important because had I not remembered this context I probably would not have enjoyed the book because my expectations were outside the realm of what this book is/was. When I remembered that this book was described as something like Legally Blonde meets a fae fantasy book (it was a specific one but I don't think I've read it), I started to enjoy it! With that in mind I was able to enjoy this book for what it was doing. Consider it a lighter fantasy -- sort of a fantasy with undertones of the heart of Legally Blonde (while not being a lawyer book).

I enjoyed that this book was a standalone and enjoyed the characters that were being developed. I thought it was really interesting to think about what changes about a fantasy book when the fae aren't in a fantasy world but instead are at an elite college or woven into society in a not officially in charge but do run things kinda way. I think this was the first fantasy book that I've read that has a character that has had an eating disorder in the past and it does a fantastic job of incorporating that into the character development. I do feel like the second half of the book could have used some time to breathe or develop a bit more. It moved a bit fast or unfolded too easily? That being said, this book is extremely easy to read. Do note though, if you don't like your fantasy to have modern things this book might not be for you because it is set at Harvard for much of the book.

[Lizz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Emma Noyes for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.


5 million ⭐️

Spice: 3/5 [open door, not explicit]

Tropes: enemies to lovers, betrayal, hurt/comfort, good grovel, mental health representation (eating disorder), and SOULMATES



Review:

I only discovered Emma Noyes a year or two ago, advertising her book, How to Hide in Plain Sight as a romance with OCD representation, but I feel so excited to have found an author that literally never misses for me. It is as if Noyes is looking inside my brain and writes exactly what I want to read.

This book is perfect to me, down to the characters, the tension, the tropes, and most importantly the depiction of disordered eating in a way that is so painfully honest and real that it truly feels like looking in a mirror at points. Emma’s writing style is quick-paced, humorous, heartfelt, and achingly human in a way that has called to me in every single one of her books.

I truly wish more people were reading and recognizing how wonderful Noyes’ books are, because over less than a year of reading her works, she has quickly become my absolute favorite author. Her stories are satisfying, moving, swoonworthy, and so engaging. As long as Noyes continues to write, I will continue to read it.

I’m not sure what her intention is for this book and its world, but I hope everyone will read it so that Emma might consider a series or even making it into a collection of connected standalones. 🩷

Please go read this book!! I cannot stress it enough! Preorder is now available online, and the book will be published officially in August. ☀️

Thank you again to Emma Noyes and her team for allowing me to have a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. My only complaint was that I didn’t want it to end!

[Liz | ᥫ᭡reakawayreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Legally Blonde* meets romantasy with elves, Harvard, magic, mystery, spice, and banter. What more could you ask for?

**Prince of the Sun** completely surprised me. Set in our modern world, where elves arrived on Earth a century ago and never fully integrated into society, this book blends fantasy and contemporary elements so seamlessly. Phones, TikTok, universities, and ancient magic shouldn't work together this well, but somehow they absolutely do.

The story follows Quinn Kallister, who has spent the last seven years searching for answers after witnessing her father's murder and her brother's kidnapping at the hands of elves. Her plan is simple: get close to Daerios Ariar, one of the powerful Sun Princes, earn his trust, and uncover the truth.

Quinn was such a fun protagonist to follow. She's intelligent, determined, and fiercely loyal, with a stubborn streak that often lands her in trouble. Every choice she makes is driven by her need for answers, which made her journey feel incredibly compelling.

And then there's Daerios. At first, he seems like the exact kind of person Quinn would hate: privileged, accomplished, and carrying a reputation that screams "nepo elf." But the more she gets to know him, the more she realizes he's every bit as capable and brilliant as people claim. I loved watching them challenge each other intellectually because their chemistry felt earned every step of the way.

The romance, humor, emotional moments, and mystery all worked for me, and the high-stakes adventure in the middle only made it more addictive. Most importantly, I never wanted to stop turning the pages.

If you love academic fantasy, enemies-to-lovers tension, witty banter, and mysterious, competent love interests, **Prince of the Sun** is definitely worth picking up.

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oops, I fell in love with the bad-boy son of the supreme alien invader who took over the Earth.
TLDR: This story is a great spicy urban fantasy that's sure to please and indulge readers' favorite tropes. ARC review THANK YOU NETGALLEY for this e-copy :)

Elves invaded Earth and have been living among humans for a hundred years in search of something. Fueled by revenge fantasies, our FMC Quinn studies her way into Harvard to get close enough to an elf prince in hopes of taking down the elves she believes are behind the murder of her father and kidnapping of her younger brother.

The book hooked me from the start! I found the main character's perspective fun to read, and the book a good mix of humor while dealing with sensitive topics (like death, murder, and coping mechanisms) well. I honestly thought it felt like a YA until the intimate scenes started. The college setting part of the story was fun and fast-paced. The book did feel like it changed tonally towards the end, but the action increased, and there was not a dull moment throughout til the end of the book. The story wraps up pretty neatly, though there are still plenty of story crumbs (some spinoffs for some cool side characters perhaps?) that I'm sure many readers would like to see explored in the future.

I really enjoyed the urban fantasy world in this story, though I feel like there were quite a few questions we didn't get answers to, but I think that's simply due to not having the page length for it.

Additional thoughts: Trigger warnings- I would have to caution anyone who struggles/d with eating disorders that this book does touch on that quite a bit.

This book also has the funniest author's note I've ever read.

If you must know some tropes before reading, I got some listed for ya below:
age gap
forbidden romance
one bed
fated mates

[mari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really struggle to get into books marketed as a spicy romantasy when the main characters are still teenagers. Like I understand they’re supposed to be college age but the author could’ve easily made them in their early 20’s without having to change much else. The MMC technically being a hundred-and-something year old elf highlighted too many disparities for me that would’ve been more appropriate to work through with an older FMC.

The relationship between Quinn and Daerios felt rather rushed and lacked any sort of tension or build-up. However, Daerios is extremely likeable so I low-key understand why Quinn fell for him so fast [lol]. There is a lot of world building from the beginning, and I would’ve preferred if the author spent some of this time on character development instead. Similarly, the conflict and subsequent resolution lacked detail and I can’t help but wonder whether this book would’ve been more suited as a duology.

That being said, I thought Quinn’s character was very refreshing and relatable. I adore a quirky heroine who challenges societal norms while also navigating their own troubles. I appreciated the eating disorder representation and felt the author showed great care when integrating this into the plot. A point I couldn’t get over, however, was how Quinn blindly trusted Daerios without yet disproving the sexual assault rumours against him. This sullied my initial opinion of him and should’ve been directly discussed on page.

Overall, Prince of the Sun had a lot of compelling features; I thought the premise was intriguing and found the banter between the love interests very entertaining. It had the potential as a really solid adult debut for the author but the aforementioned critiques are, unfortunately, why I cannot rate it higher than 3 stars.

[Cindieslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

🧝‍♂️ Do NOT read this if you hate massive enemies-to-lovers betrayal...

​I am completely blown away by this 5-star fantasy thriller! If you love slow-burn academic rivals, hidden agendas, and a plot twist that will absolutely crush your heart, add this to your TBR immediately. 🏛️💔

​The Setup: A hundred years ago, elves arrived on Earth claiming peace, but bringing occupation. When Quinn was twelve, she watched two elves brutally attack her family, killing her father and kidnapping her younger brother. 🏹🍂

​The Catch: Overcome by grief and a burning desire for vengeance, Quinn dedicates her life to studying elf linguistics to destroy them from the inside. Years later, she enrolls at Harvard, where the elite Sun Prince, Daerios, is also studying. She plans to spy on him—but after a confrontation over a library book, he starts showing up at her lunch table every day. 📚🧺

​Why it's completely unhinged:
​🎯 The Long Game: Quinn is forced to balance her deep, traumatic hatred for elves with the fact that she is slowly falling for the literal Prince of her enemies.
​🧩 The Missing Puzzle Piece: Quinn spends her college years secretly digging for the truth about why the elves are really on Earth and what they took from her family.
​🩸 The Ultimate Betrayal: Just as she gives Daerios her trust, the final piece of the puzzle clicks into place, revealing a devastating betrayal that changes everything.
​The tension is immaculate, the academic setting is so gripping, and that ending completely blindsided me! 🤯

​⭐ Rating: 5/5 stars (An absolute page-turner!)
​📌 Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers, Revenge Plot, Academic Setting, Royal Elf Prince, Heartbreaking Betrayal

My full review on this book can be found here; https://cindieslibrary.com/prince-of-...