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The Lost Heir
Not yet published
Expected 15 Oct 26430 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded
I laughed so much reading this book. And it wasnt due to a witty secondary character (though there were still plenty of them), but was actually due to the FMC.
Plot: Cara starts her first year at a secluded University knowing no one. She has to adjust to living with other people, forced tasks around the campus, dealing with a grumpy post-grad, and a talking squirrel?! Who insists she a lost princess from another world?
If you're familiar with sailor moon, minus the disguise transformation scenes: Cara is moon (but with cooler, elemental powers. Eventually). The squirrel is Luna. This comparison came to me pretty quickly while I was reading and made the laugh a lot because yes the squirrel was indignant about being a squirrel.
The star of the book is Cara's internal dialogue. Its so funny, witty and sassy and I laughed so much at it. Such a rarity to get an FMC who is actually funny and not just bratty about it. But she was also confident and unsure, determined, knew what she wanted and also didnt and had so much to her that made her very real and 20 years old.
Her friends - her housemates, squirrel & companions - are really fun. They made a cosy found family that i enjoyed. Also if anything happens to Rafa I will revolt because he is best boy.
Broody MMC still has some things to tell us, but I'm here for his zuko-esque "I'm just misunderstood" hot vibes. But also: C'MON (thats all I'm gonna say to avoid spoilers).
I enjoyed the academia vibe. It gave a great setting for Cara to find her place as an adult, meet new people and work out who she wanted to be, also while still being attacked by evil shadowy beings (conveniently campus is isolated!), without focussing too much on the droll classes.
Really really enjoyed this one and cant wait for the next book to come!
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review
Copy kindly provided by Hawthorn & Aster
I laughed so much reading this book. And it wasnt due to a witty secondary character (though there were still plenty of them), but was actually due to the FMC.
Plot: Cara starts her first year at a secluded University knowing no one. She has to adjust to living with other people, forced tasks around the campus, dealing with a grumpy post-grad, and a talking squirrel?! Who insists she a lost princess from another world?
If you're familiar with sailor moon, minus the disguise transformation scenes: Cara is moon (but with cooler, elemental powers. Eventually). The squirrel is Luna. This comparison came to me pretty quickly while I was reading and made the laugh a lot because yes the squirrel was indignant about being a squirrel.
The star of the book is Cara's internal dialogue. Its so funny, witty and sassy and I laughed so much at it. Such a rarity to get an FMC who is actually funny and not just bratty about it. But she was also confident and unsure, determined, knew what she wanted and also didnt and had so much to her that made her very real and 20 years old.
Her friends - her housemates, squirrel & companions - are really fun. They made a cosy found family that i enjoyed. Also if anything happens to Rafa I will revolt because he is best boy.
Broody MMC still has some things to tell us, but I'm here for his zuko-esque "I'm just misunderstood" hot vibes. But also: C'MON (thats all I'm gonna say to avoid spoilers).
I enjoyed the academia vibe. It gave a great setting for Cara to find her place as an adult, meet new people and work out who she wanted to be, also while still being attacked by evil shadowy beings (conveniently campus is isolated!), without focussing too much on the droll classes.
Really really enjoyed this one and cant wait for the next book to come!
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review
Copy kindly provided by Hawthorn & Aster
October 4, 2026
A big thank you to Hawthorn and Aster and V M Winters for this eARC!
This book really threw me for a loop and I am undecided on my final rating (between 3.75 and a 4). The blurb promised a lot and the book delivered. The plot intrigued me from the off with the mystery element to well just about everything.
I enjoyed feeling as confused as the FMC about Elerian’s history (whether that was intentional or just me being stupid I’m not sure but hey it added to the books intrigue for me 🤷🏼♀️). I liked the sassy side squirrel and the little bits of subplot we got with her housemates too (nod to the twist at the end…👀). I’m still not sure who I trust and who I don’t trust and that to me is a good sign of a plot with a mystery side to it even if that’s not the main genre.
I felt myself racing through the book and not even realising the length of it because I just wanted to know what was happening and definitely would want to read the next book!
I think the reason for not giving it the 4 star at the moment is the slight lack of immersive feeling in a lot of scenes which I’m hoping would develop into book 2 given where the plot has gone. Silverbrook just didn’t have that dark academia feel that I was hoping for and I think it easily could have done and some areas of description felt repetitive. And there were quite a few typos and sentences that didn’t make sense and took me a minute to unpick and comprehend. HOWEVER. I did still enjoy the plot overall and the characters we’ve met. Look forward to seeing where book 2 takes us and what Cara has to offer 🥰
This book really threw me for a loop and I am undecided on my final rating (between 3.75 and a 4). The blurb promised a lot and the book delivered. The plot intrigued me from the off with the mystery element to well just about everything.
I enjoyed feeling as confused as the FMC about Elerian’s history (whether that was intentional or just me being stupid I’m not sure but hey it added to the books intrigue for me 🤷🏼♀️). I liked the sassy side squirrel and the little bits of subplot we got with her housemates too (nod to the twist at the end…👀). I’m still not sure who I trust and who I don’t trust and that to me is a good sign of a plot with a mystery side to it even if that’s not the main genre.
I felt myself racing through the book and not even realising the length of it because I just wanted to know what was happening and definitely would want to read the next book!
I think the reason for not giving it the 4 star at the moment is the slight lack of immersive feeling in a lot of scenes which I’m hoping would develop into book 2 given where the plot has gone. Silverbrook just didn’t have that dark academia feel that I was hoping for and I think it easily could have done and some areas of description felt repetitive. And there were quite a few typos and sentences that didn’t make sense and took me a minute to unpick and comprehend. HOWEVER. I did still enjoy the plot overall and the characters we’ve met. Look forward to seeing where book 2 takes us and what Cara has to offer 🥰
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review - The Lost Heir
4 stars! This was a very well written story with a great premise and intriguing characters. The ending definitely left me wanting more and I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book. I really enjoyed the characters and the FMC's personal growth. I also enjoyed how the world building was presented as a podcast by one of the supporting characters. This was very cleverly done and it made the world building really interesting. I would have liked it if the pace in the first half of the book was a bit faster, but overall it was a great book and I can't wait to see what happens next! Definitely recommend! Thank you to VM Winters and Hawthorne & Aster for the advanced copy!!
4 stars! This was a very well written story with a great premise and intriguing characters. The ending definitely left me wanting more and I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book. I really enjoyed the characters and the FMC's personal growth. I also enjoyed how the world building was presented as a podcast by one of the supporting characters. This was very cleverly done and it made the world building really interesting. I would have liked it if the pace in the first half of the book was a bit faster, but overall it was a great book and I can't wait to see what happens next! Definitely recommend! Thank you to VM Winters and Hawthorne & Aster for the advanced copy!!
October 7, 2026
Thank you to V.M. Winters for letting be an ARC reader for your book, I absolutely loved this book, and was hooked from the start. I found this was different and unique with the plot and I couldn't stop to find out what happened next. I found all the characters to be unique and have alot of different representations who you couldn't help love and want to join them for their dinners and hang outs.
I found that the story of the lost heir was well thought-out and well written, I really liked how things were revealed slowly to Cara so not to overwhelm her, but also parts of me were screaming for her when she was being lied to, but the small group get close and really do have her best interest at heart is lovely to watch. This was a gorgeous story, and I really like how it lines up for the next book with them returning to her kingdom, but with the added surprise.
Synopsis
Cara Monroe-Woods agreed to attend Silverbrook University for one reason only: to respect her father’s last wish. Her priorities are straight: a cushy dorm, some studying, minimal responsibilities, and enough time for pilates and coffee breaks. So when a foul-mouthed squirrel starts following her across campus, insisting she's the missing heir to an alien kingdom, Cara does the sensible thing and assumes she's losing her mind, because honestly, who wouldn’t?
The hallucination theory falls apart when a dark creature attacks her in the university library. The squirrel is telling the truth: Cara is Celestia, heir to a kingdom on a distant planet waiting for her return. The problem? Cara has zero intention of leaving Earth for a place stuck under a magical veil that she doesn’t even remember.
Her plan is simple: avoid the bigger problem, master just enough magic skills to not get killed and definitely don’t fall for Black, the broody post-doctoral researcher who keeps showing up exactly when she needs him, and is infuriatingly difficult to figure out.
Spoiler alert: things don't go as planned.
Somewhere between the magic lessons and the friends she wasn't supposed to make, Silverbrook stopped feeling temporary. When the person she trusted most turns out to be the greatest threat of all, Cara has to make a choice: stay in her comfortable Earth life, or go to the kingdom that's been waiting for her return.
Overall I am so ready for the next book, as I need to know what happens next for them all, but more on Cara, I want to see how powerful she is and if she can do everything that is put on her, but also I'm so hoping Black is about to become something more for her and I so ready for it all. This was amazing and I can't wait to see what comes next for them all. I would highly recommend this book and its full of everything magic, romance, adventure, friendship, found family and everything else in between.
I found that the story of the lost heir was well thought-out and well written, I really liked how things were revealed slowly to Cara so not to overwhelm her, but also parts of me were screaming for her when she was being lied to, but the small group get close and really do have her best interest at heart is lovely to watch. This was a gorgeous story, and I really like how it lines up for the next book with them returning to her kingdom, but with the added surprise.
Synopsis
Cara Monroe-Woods agreed to attend Silverbrook University for one reason only: to respect her father’s last wish. Her priorities are straight: a cushy dorm, some studying, minimal responsibilities, and enough time for pilates and coffee breaks. So when a foul-mouthed squirrel starts following her across campus, insisting she's the missing heir to an alien kingdom, Cara does the sensible thing and assumes she's losing her mind, because honestly, who wouldn’t?
The hallucination theory falls apart when a dark creature attacks her in the university library. The squirrel is telling the truth: Cara is Celestia, heir to a kingdom on a distant planet waiting for her return. The problem? Cara has zero intention of leaving Earth for a place stuck under a magical veil that she doesn’t even remember.
Her plan is simple: avoid the bigger problem, master just enough magic skills to not get killed and definitely don’t fall for Black, the broody post-doctoral researcher who keeps showing up exactly when she needs him, and is infuriatingly difficult to figure out.
Spoiler alert: things don't go as planned.
Somewhere between the magic lessons and the friends she wasn't supposed to make, Silverbrook stopped feeling temporary. When the person she trusted most turns out to be the greatest threat of all, Cara has to make a choice: stay in her comfortable Earth life, or go to the kingdom that's been waiting for her return.
Overall I am so ready for the next book, as I need to know what happens next for them all, but more on Cara, I want to see how powerful she is and if she can do everything that is put on her, but also I'm so hoping Black is about to become something more for her and I so ready for it all. This was amazing and I can't wait to see what comes next for them all. I would highly recommend this book and its full of everything magic, romance, adventure, friendship, found family and everything else in between.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews