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Star-Crossed
The price to cross Ironhold's border is take a knight along with her for the length of a journey that kills seven travelers out of nine.
Caro Lockhart has earned two godmarks. Four more will make her the first master healer in one hundred years. She doesn't need a bodyguard. She doesn't need anyone, for that matter. She's spent her career proving that, one saved stranger at a time—and then leaving before they can finish saying thank you.
Armant has spent his whole life being useful to people who have never cared what he wanted. He didn't ask for this assignment either. But he's watched over harder things than one prickly healer's pride, and he's not about to let the ice, the road, or Caro herself talk him out of getting her there and back alive.
Eleven days out and eleven days back should be short enough to survive each other. It shouldn't be long enough to unlearn a lifetime of solitude—but somewhere between a city suspended in a cage of bone and a tower beneath a god's eye, something starts to give.
The trials ahead will cost Caro more than she's ever paid for anything, in a coin only she can spend. And when the door closes on the future she thought she wanted, Armant will have to decide—not for the first time, but for the only time that's ever mattered—whether he's the kind of man who lets it close quietly.
Content Violence, on the page · Grief and self-harm · Pregnancy loss · Medical procedures · Referenced child sexual abuse · Child death depicted in a dream sequence · No explicit sexual content
Star-Crossed is Book 1 of the Star-Crossed Cycle. It continues directly into Fate-Bound.
Caro Lockhart has earned two godmarks. Four more will make her the first master healer in one hundred years. She doesn't need a bodyguard. She doesn't need anyone, for that matter. She's spent her career proving that, one saved stranger at a time—and then leaving before they can finish saying thank you.
Armant has spent his whole life being useful to people who have never cared what he wanted. He didn't ask for this assignment either. But he's watched over harder things than one prickly healer's pride, and he's not about to let the ice, the road, or Caro herself talk him out of getting her there and back alive.
Eleven days out and eleven days back should be short enough to survive each other. It shouldn't be long enough to unlearn a lifetime of solitude—but somewhere between a city suspended in a cage of bone and a tower beneath a god's eye, something starts to give.
The trials ahead will cost Caro more than she's ever paid for anything, in a coin only she can spend. And when the door closes on the future she thought she wanted, Armant will have to decide—not for the first time, but for the only time that's ever mattered—whether he's the kind of man who lets it close quietly.
Content Violence, on the page · Grief and self-harm · Pregnancy loss · Medical procedures · Referenced child sexual abuse · Child death depicted in a dream sequence · No explicit sexual content
Star-Crossed is Book 1 of the Star-Crossed Cycle. It continues directly into Fate-Bound.
- GenresFantasy
340 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy
With a different narrative approach, this story was absolutely a must read. This is honestly the first read I’ve had in years where I can honestly look over the grammar errors and still fully enjoy the story. However the characters all spoke and interacted the same way. Aside from that I ate this book up in just a few days.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really wanted to love this book. The premise was intriguing, the fantasy world had so much potential, and I genuinely liked both main characters. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more I found myself waiting for something to really pull me into the story...and it never happened.
Caro is a healer on a quest to earn six godmarks, each requiring her to complete a trial under a particular constellation. Achieving all six would make her a master healer, something the world hasn't seen in over a century. Along the way, she's reluctantly paired with Armant, a knight officer tasked with keeping her alive. It's an interesting premise, and one that initially had me excited about the possibilities.
My biggest frustration was the worldbuilding, or rather, the lack of it. We're introduced to a world filled with gods, magic, dangerous creatures, undead, ancient history, and intriguing political dynamics, but very little of it is actually explained. Ironhold itself is nestled within something called Leviathan's Rib Cage. Okay, I'm listening. What exactly is it? Where did it come from? How does this world function? I kept encountering details that raised interesting questions, only to find that the story rarely explored them or gave me answers.
And that's what made this particularly frustrating. Catreia Grove can write beautifully descriptive scenes. There were moments when I could almost feel the bitter cold or picture the landscape around the characters. But vivid descriptions and meaningful worldbuilding aren't necessarily the same thing. I could sometimes picture where the characters were standing without understanding much about the world they inhabited.
The prose was another struggle for me. The writing is very lyrical, with frequent similes, metaphors, and elaborate descriptions. Some were genuinely lovely, but their constant use often interrupted the flow of the story. I found myself rereading sentences to understand what was being conveyed, and that made an already slow-paced book feel even slower.
One of the stronger aspects was the characterization. I liked Caro and Armant individually, and I especially appreciated the partnership they developed. Armant is protective without constantly undermining Caro's independence, and they gradually learn when to lead, when to follow, and how to trust each other's strengths. Their relationship as traveling companions felt natural and believable.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way about the romance. This is described as enemies-to-lovers, but I would consider it just forced proximity instead. Neither character wants the arrangement initially, but they're never truly enemies. And while the romance is certainly slow, I never felt much of a burn. There was very little flirting, romantic tension, yearning, or chemistry to make me root for them as a couple. I believed they respected and cared about one another. I just wasn't convinced they were falling in love.
Ultimately, though, my biggest issue was that I never became emotionally invested in the quest itself. Caro wants to become a master healer, but I never felt I understood why achieving that goal mattered so deeply to her. The trials are dangerous, the sacrifices are significant, and the stakes should feel enormous. Yet without a stronger personal motivation or a larger conflict to connect those sacrifices to, I struggled to care whether she succeeded.
I can absolutely see the potential here. The godmarks, the constellation trials, the setting, and even the supporting characters we briefly encounter could make for a fascinating fantasy series. I just wish more of that potential had been developed on the page.
For me, Star-Crossed offered an intriguing premise and likable characters, but not enough worldbuilding, romantic chemistry, or emotional stakes to make me want to continue the journey.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Caro is a healer on a quest to earn six godmarks, each requiring her to complete a trial under a particular constellation. Achieving all six would make her a master healer, something the world hasn't seen in over a century. Along the way, she's reluctantly paired with Armant, a knight officer tasked with keeping her alive. It's an interesting premise, and one that initially had me excited about the possibilities.
My biggest frustration was the worldbuilding, or rather, the lack of it. We're introduced to a world filled with gods, magic, dangerous creatures, undead, ancient history, and intriguing political dynamics, but very little of it is actually explained. Ironhold itself is nestled within something called Leviathan's Rib Cage. Okay, I'm listening. What exactly is it? Where did it come from? How does this world function? I kept encountering details that raised interesting questions, only to find that the story rarely explored them or gave me answers.
And that's what made this particularly frustrating. Catreia Grove can write beautifully descriptive scenes. There were moments when I could almost feel the bitter cold or picture the landscape around the characters. But vivid descriptions and meaningful worldbuilding aren't necessarily the same thing. I could sometimes picture where the characters were standing without understanding much about the world they inhabited.
The prose was another struggle for me. The writing is very lyrical, with frequent similes, metaphors, and elaborate descriptions. Some were genuinely lovely, but their constant use often interrupted the flow of the story. I found myself rereading sentences to understand what was being conveyed, and that made an already slow-paced book feel even slower.
One of the stronger aspects was the characterization. I liked Caro and Armant individually, and I especially appreciated the partnership they developed. Armant is protective without constantly undermining Caro's independence, and they gradually learn when to lead, when to follow, and how to trust each other's strengths. Their relationship as traveling companions felt natural and believable.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel the same way about the romance. This is described as enemies-to-lovers, but I would consider it just forced proximity instead. Neither character wants the arrangement initially, but they're never truly enemies. And while the romance is certainly slow, I never felt much of a burn. There was very little flirting, romantic tension, yearning, or chemistry to make me root for them as a couple. I believed they respected and cared about one another. I just wasn't convinced they were falling in love.
Ultimately, though, my biggest issue was that I never became emotionally invested in the quest itself. Caro wants to become a master healer, but I never felt I understood why achieving that goal mattered so deeply to her. The trials are dangerous, the sacrifices are significant, and the stakes should feel enormous. Yet without a stronger personal motivation or a larger conflict to connect those sacrifices to, I struggled to care whether she succeeded.
I can absolutely see the potential here. The godmarks, the constellation trials, the setting, and even the supporting characters we briefly encounter could make for a fascinating fantasy series. I just wish more of that potential had been developed on the page.
For me, Star-Crossed offered an intriguing premise and likable characters, but not enough worldbuilding, romantic chemistry, or emotional stakes to make me want to continue the journey.
I received a free advance copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Review of advance copy
First and foremost, thank you so much to Catreia Grove for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Just to start… wow.
This book took me a little longer than usual to get through, but please don’t mistake that for criticism. Quite the opposite, actually. This was genuinely one of the most fascinating, thought-provoking, and utterly heart-wrenching books I’ve ever read from a debut author.
I laughed, I smiled, I cried, and there were several moments when I quite literally had to put the book down because I was so overwhelmed by what I was reading. The emotional depth of this story is something I genuinely wasn’t prepared for, and I mean that in the absolute best way.
I already cannot wait to dive into the second book (and thank you so much for that ARC as well!!).
I’m going to be intentionally vague about the plot because I truly believe this is one of those books best experienced going in somewhat blind. There is so much beauty in discovering this world, its characters, and their stories for yourself.
One thing I particularly adored was the stoic nature of the characters. Their conversations, their bluntness, the abruptness of their mannerisms, and the way they interact with one another all feel so incredibly authentic to the lives they lead. Nothing feels overly romanticized or softened for the reader’s benefit, and I absolutely loved that.
And the trials. Oh my gosh, the trials.
I was so proud of Caro during her third trial. I think it was somewhere around that point that I realized just how extraordinary the suspense surrounding her developing romance was going to be. And then came the fourth trial…
I sobbed. Actual tears. As a mother to a seven-month-old, that one hit me on such an intensely personal level that I genuinely had to stop reading and collect myself. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting that experience anytime soon.
And can we please talk about the slow burn?!
Travel companions to friends to hopefully something more soon?! 👀
This is slow-burn romance at its absolute finest. The tension, the restraint, the gradual development of trust and affection… Ugh. I am eating it up.
But what makes this book so exceptional is that the romance is only one piece of a much larger, richer story. This isn’t simply a love story with a plot built around it. This is an entire life unfolding before us. Caro has her own struggles, ambitions, fears, relationships, and experiences that exist completely independently of any romantic interest. She feels like a real, fully realized person rather than a character created solely to fall in love.
I genuinely cannot remember the last time I developed such a profound affection for a fictional character. I feel like I know Caro. I understand her, I ache for her, and I am so incredibly invested in the person she’s becoming.
And Armant! I feel exactly the same way about him. There is so much depth beneath his reserved exterior, and I absolutely adore the way we’re gradually allowed to understand him. Their relationship feels earned in a way that so many fictional romances simply don’t.
I could honestly go on and on about this book, but I don’t want to spoil a single moment of the experience for anyone else.
What an extraordinary debut. What an emotionally devastating, beautifully layered, and utterly unforgettable story.
This slow world building reminds me so much of Carissa Broadbent (my favorite author ever)!! so if you like her writing I think you’ll love this.
I am so, so excited to continue this journey. ❤️
Just to start… wow.
This book took me a little longer than usual to get through, but please don’t mistake that for criticism. Quite the opposite, actually. This was genuinely one of the most fascinating, thought-provoking, and utterly heart-wrenching books I’ve ever read from a debut author.
I laughed, I smiled, I cried, and there were several moments when I quite literally had to put the book down because I was so overwhelmed by what I was reading. The emotional depth of this story is something I genuinely wasn’t prepared for, and I mean that in the absolute best way.
I already cannot wait to dive into the second book (and thank you so much for that ARC as well!!).
I’m going to be intentionally vague about the plot because I truly believe this is one of those books best experienced going in somewhat blind. There is so much beauty in discovering this world, its characters, and their stories for yourself.
One thing I particularly adored was the stoic nature of the characters. Their conversations, their bluntness, the abruptness of their mannerisms, and the way they interact with one another all feel so incredibly authentic to the lives they lead. Nothing feels overly romanticized or softened for the reader’s benefit, and I absolutely loved that.
And the trials. Oh my gosh, the trials.
I was so proud of Caro during her third trial. I think it was somewhere around that point that I realized just how extraordinary the suspense surrounding her developing romance was going to be. And then came the fourth trial…
I sobbed. Actual tears. As a mother to a seven-month-old, that one hit me on such an intensely personal level that I genuinely had to stop reading and collect myself. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting that experience anytime soon.
And can we please talk about the slow burn?!
Travel companions to friends to hopefully something more soon?! 👀
This is slow-burn romance at its absolute finest. The tension, the restraint, the gradual development of trust and affection… Ugh. I am eating it up.
But what makes this book so exceptional is that the romance is only one piece of a much larger, richer story. This isn’t simply a love story with a plot built around it. This is an entire life unfolding before us. Caro has her own struggles, ambitions, fears, relationships, and experiences that exist completely independently of any romantic interest. She feels like a real, fully realized person rather than a character created solely to fall in love.
I genuinely cannot remember the last time I developed such a profound affection for a fictional character. I feel like I know Caro. I understand her, I ache for her, and I am so incredibly invested in the person she’s becoming.
And Armant! I feel exactly the same way about him. There is so much depth beneath his reserved exterior, and I absolutely adore the way we’re gradually allowed to understand him. Their relationship feels earned in a way that so many fictional romances simply don’t.
I could honestly go on and on about this book, but I don’t want to spoil a single moment of the experience for anyone else.
What an extraordinary debut. What an emotionally devastating, beautifully layered, and utterly unforgettable story.
This slow world building reminds me so much of Carissa Broadbent (my favorite author ever)!! so if you like her writing I think you’ll love this.
I am so, so excited to continue this journey. ❤️
Did Not Finish
October 26, 2026 review of advanced copy received by author
I had to soft dnf this book at %20 but not for the reason you would think.
Caro Lockhart is on a quest to attune to the six constellations of the healer’s pantheon. She’s already conquered two. She’s got four to go. She just wasn’t counting on a muscleheaded brute of a knight coming along for the ride.
This was such an original book. The concept and the world-building was phenomenal & I would love to come back to it sometime and leave another review with the context of the whole book. The only issue I had was that this was a SLOW-burn (and it was marketed as such) and I am not in a reading headspace where I felt like I could push through it. If you love a good slow-burn and detailed world-building, this book is definitely for you! I know a lot of fellow reader who have been looking everywhere to find a book that has this type of slow-burn. I also loved how the author answers every question the readers might have about the book on her Instagram page. It really helped me have a stronger idea about what went through her head when she was writing it. I hope this book finds it’s right readers because it deserves it 💕
I had to soft dnf this book at %20 but not for the reason you would think.
Caro Lockhart is on a quest to attune to the six constellations of the healer’s pantheon. She’s already conquered two. She’s got four to go. She just wasn’t counting on a muscleheaded brute of a knight coming along for the ride.
This was such an original book. The concept and the world-building was phenomenal & I would love to come back to it sometime and leave another review with the context of the whole book. The only issue I had was that this was a SLOW-burn (and it was marketed as such) and I am not in a reading headspace where I felt like I could push through it. If you love a good slow-burn and detailed world-building, this book is definitely for you! I know a lot of fellow reader who have been looking everywhere to find a book that has this type of slow-burn. I also loved how the author answers every question the readers might have about the book on her Instagram page. It really helped me have a stronger idea about what went through her head when she was writing it. I hope this book finds it’s right readers because it deserves it 💕
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jumping right in, this book was enjoyable. I did have some moments of confusion because the very beginning feels like it is mid-story. Two prequels go with this that help with the origin story, so that may have fixed this opening for me. It didn’t take anything away from the book; it just took me a minute to get rolling. I want to tie in the pacing here, as this was smooth. It was neither fast nor slow; it simply flowed.
Character development is where I want to go next, as I had a rocky relationship with this. We get plenty of development, but it felt hollow or not as genuine. It felt like there was a lack of depth in certain aspects that could expand the characters further than they were.
Visualization was a point I honed in on, as it felt like the biggest hurdle. The book mentions the places, but I would have liked more details for the individual locations. It feels like it loses the individuality and takes away from the immersion when I cannot fully imagine the places. There was a map that came separately that helps some, but that is an overview, whereas I want specifics. This, for me, is a fairly big point as I like to fully understand where the characters are. I want to draw that image in my mind and use that as a still-shot movie.
The storyline was good; I thought the premise was fairly strong and brilliantly written. This is what helped keep me hooked consistently and allowed me to try to immerse myself in this world.
I would say, for me, this book was a 3. I enjoyed reading it, as the storyline was good, as aforementioned. I think more in-depth details could have helped throughout. It could have been expanded in certain areas.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review your book!
October 16, 2026
This is beautiful piece of writing and I highly recommend it if you enjoy incredibly delicious slow burn and an extensive and original fantasy world.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC to read and Str Crossed is one of the most original stories I’ve read in a while. It’s told from Caro’s point of view, who is on a quest to become a master healer, which involves her having to travel to distant places, look up at the stars and face gods. In Ironhold she is told that she will have an escort and begrudgingly takes Armant along with her. Throughout the book the two first develop a routine, not a relationship.
I adore the descriptive writing Catreia Grove has a beautiful way of pulling the reader into the book.
I was lucky enough to be given an ARC to read and Str Crossed is one of the most original stories I’ve read in a while. It’s told from Caro’s point of view, who is on a quest to become a master healer, which involves her having to travel to distant places, look up at the stars and face gods. In Ironhold she is told that she will have an escort and begrudgingly takes Armant along with her. Throughout the book the two first develop a routine, not a relationship.
I adore the descriptive writing Catreia Grove has a beautiful way of pulling the reader into the book.
October 15, 2026
did love the concept and am intrigued enough to read the next book! i would’ve loved the scenery to be a little more descriptive and perhaps didn’t feel the full bond/chemistry between our two main characters but i did enjoy it and thought the magic/the journey to ‘become a master healer’ and the trials were unique and interesting, my favourite one was of course the last one because it did break my heart a bit…
October 13, 2026
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I think this book was so good, I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I definitely recommend reading it if you like:
Romantasy
Slow burn
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Shared dreaming
Reluctant bodyguard
I think this book was so good, I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I definitely recommend reading it if you like:
Romantasy
Slow burn
Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Shared dreaming
Reluctant bodyguard
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
Star-Crossed by Catreia Grove follows our heroine on her journey to become a master healer, a feat that hasn’t been achieved in a hundred years. However, just before embarking on her third journey, she is accompanied by a knight, as dictated by the town she stopped in before departing. The world-building was detailed and exquisite. The pacing was just right, not too fast or too slow, and every event felt poignant to the story. I really enjoyed the storytelling and the lores behind each quest. If you’re craving for something new in fantasy, I would recommened this book.
Star-Crossed by Catreia Grove follows our heroine on her journey to become a master healer, a feat that hasn’t been achieved in a hundred years. However, just before embarking on her third journey, she is accompanied by a knight, as dictated by the town she stopped in before departing. The world-building was detailed and exquisite. The pacing was just right, not too fast or too slow, and every event felt poignant to the story. I really enjoyed the storytelling and the lores behind each quest. If you’re craving for something new in fantasy, I would recommened this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Star-Crossed was such a captivating read! I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the way the story pulled me in from the beginning. There’s something wonderfully immersive about the book that made me want to keep turning the pages and see where everything would lead.
The writing was engaging, the story had plenty of emotional moments, and the characters made the experience even more enjoyable. It’s the kind of book that stays on your mind after you finish reading.
Definitely worth picking up if you’re looking for an engaging and memorable read!
The writing was engaging, the story had plenty of emotional moments, and the characters made the experience even more enjoyable. It’s the kind of book that stays on your mind after you finish reading.
Definitely worth picking up if you’re looking for an engaging and memorable read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
With Star-Crossed, the author once again weaves a tale that is extremely well-written. The dialog is beautifully spoken, the twists subtle and surprising, and the emotional scenes hit hard. Catreia is definitely an author to watch and follow, her storytelling is masterful. And her works are ones to be read and enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved the world-building and the characters! Caro was such a strong and stubborn FMC, and I absolutely loved Armant! Their banter and the slow build between them was so good!
There was plenty of adventure, tension, and some pretty emotional moments I wasn’t expecting! I loved how the story kept me guessing and how much depth the characters had.
Overall, such a good read! Definitely excited to see where the next book takes us!
There was plenty of adventure, tension, and some pretty emotional moments I wasn’t expecting! I loved how the story kept me guessing and how much depth the characters had.
Overall, such a good read! Definitely excited to see where the next book takes us!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Beautifully written, both subtle and detailed, it will leave you stripped bare and also quiet and still. I'm not quite sure how to articulate this book, it was such a lovely read. Two lonely, stubborn people on a great journey. Catreia's writing is so beautifully detailed that you feel like you are seeing everything that the characters are. You'll fall in love with Caro and Armant and their story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book is so good. The way the bond between the two characters evolves from annoyance, to respect, to something more is done in such a beautiful way. Alongside the world, that slowly expands while the story flows is just perfect. You are not bombarded with lore or facts that you don't need yet. It is told when it makes sense for the story to learn it.
And there was this one scene in the story that actually made me cry 😢.
I can't wait until book 2 is released, so I can finish the story!
And there was this one scene in the story that actually made me cry 😢.
I can't wait until book 2 is released, so I can finish the story!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews