DNF 46%

Okay I really struggled with this one because the pace is quite slow. There's a mystery elements that takes a while to unfold and while that was unfolding I was very confused about what was going on. The stakes are technically high but they don’t feel like they're really affecting the characters that much so I wasn't as invested. For people who love a slow burn story I'm sure this will be a hit. Unfortunately for me, it didn't quite land.

This book is a beautiful masterpiece! The new Deluxe version is stunning!! I love the cover art and art included inside the book.
I love Astraea + Nyte. They are now one of my top eleven favorite Romantasy couples.
"Think of me, and I will answer," he spoke to my mind. Then he pulled away, lingering at my mouth to say aloud, "long for me, and I am right here with you."
If you like forbidden Romantasy, morally grey mmc, touch her and die, playful banter, and God's/goddesses this book is for you.
This is a slow burn but when it gets spicy the spice is hot. 🌶️🌶️ There's some forced proximity and star crossed lovers. And the cliffhanger at the end leaves you longing for book two!!

The tension and angst were so worth the spicy payoff!! I really loved the romance between Nyte and Astraea even though the pacing felt a little sluggish at times. Still, I rate on vibes and the vibes were VIBING with this one.

This world had a lot of potential, but it fell flat for me. I like the magic system but found myself confused by what exactly is the plot and/or the lore of this world. New creatures are introduced, but I didn’t understand their purpose or how they are connected. (Maybe a glossary in the front would help).

I struggled with FMC, she didn't seem to be doing anything or trying to figure out anything. The author didn't seem to balance her healing from abuse versus figuring out her past. I hope that she will have a big character growth in the next book.

I did like the MMC, he was mysterious and interesting and he kept me reading and the romance did start to develop towards the end.

I wanted to love this book, the US edition is beautiful, but the inconsistency was too much.

Wow!! I did not know what to expect with this book, and i had such a good time. This is a character driven story, and i really enjoyed the journey this book took us on. I know a lot of reviews mention the plot changing throughout the book but Astraea has lost her memories- only remembering the last 5 years and as she uncovers new things about her world and herself, her priorities do shift. I can't even break down the story without giving spoilers. The world is much more complicated than i was expecting and found myself highlighting and re-reading parts to make sure i understood what was going on. This gave me major From Blood and Ash vibes, and I immediately need to know what happens after that ending! Also, I liked getting the bonus chapters at the end with the side characters Rose and Zath. I'm hoping book 2 has more found family vibes. And of course, the second bonus chapter was of Nyte's POV and I always love getting the MMC perspective!

Read if you like:

-faes, vampires, celestials
-trials
-"who did this to you?"
-slow burn
-secrets/hidden identities
-shadow daddy

Overall, I'd give this 4 ⭐️1.5🌶

(Why I dropped a star)

I'm still a little confused with the world and magic but I expect we will learn more in book 2 and the ending was a little predictable (it just took Astraea longer to figure it out).


*Bonus* The special edition is beautiful, and I am definitely adding it to my shelf!

The Stars Are Dying follows Astraea, a young woman who finds herself in a deadly competition after freeing herself from her would-be captor and enduring an unbelievable tragedy. With the help of a mysterious character named Nyte who always keeps to the shadows, she faces her greatest fears and questions if all the things she has ever wanted are worth the safety of her kingdom.
I really liked this story: this had a lot of romantasy tropes that really nailed it for me. The worldbuilding is really unique and incredible, taking the vampire concept to a newer level. Packed with twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing on just about everything right up to the last chapter.

I think someone who is just starting out reading fantasy might enjoy this book. I couldn't get into it, the internal dialogue inside the narrator convoluted the story and there wasn't great world building for me. I feel like the author tried using big words to try and make the story more advanced, but for me it missed the mark.

I really love when vampires have their moment 🧛

The Stars Are Dying follows Astraea, a young woman who finds herself in a deadly competition after freeing herself from her would-be captor and enduring an unbelievable tragedy. With the help of a mysterious character named Nyte who always keeps to the shadows, she faces her greatest fears and questions if all the things she has ever wanted are worth the safety of her kingdom.

I really liked this story: this had a lot of romantasy tropes that really nailed it for me. The worldbuilding is really unique and incredible, taking the vampire concept to a newer level. There were some moments where it needed to be expanded on more but it was really consistent throughout.

The characters were fairly well developed - I did find them to be really charming and sympathetic but there were definitely some moments where there were some inconsistencies. Its not enough to deter you from the story but its still noticeable. Regardless, I like the different characters and their quirks, especially Astraea’s relationship with Cassia.

The plot pacing could have been improved. It took some time to get to the meat of things but it wasn’t boring by any means. It felt more like there was a prequel to the actual story within the book. Its definitely not for those who don’t like beefy reads.

The feeling I got from reading this make it a four star read: I thoroughly enjoyed the book and felt like it tickled the romantasy itch I’ve been having with this spooky season.

This is for someone who loves romantasy, vampires, and is okay with slower pacing.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for the e-ARC for the special edition!

Sad to say that this one just was not interesting to me at all. The characters felt very flat and the plot made little sense- not in the "I'm confused" sort of way, but more that the series of events just didn't flow. The prose is flowery, but lacked saying much. I was just bored and felt no investment in the story. The first edition looks beautiful, but let's save these edges and this hype for a story that is worthy of it.

I was so excited for this book, i read so many wonderful reviews. This book just was not for me, I felt very lost and confused through most of it. I didnt connect with the characters at all.

This book definitely had a lot of potential. The world Penaranda came up with sounded so interesting, from the dynamics between vampires & humans, to how they co exist while also having internal affairs due to vampires overpowering humans, down to the magic involved throughout the story. The problem I have with it was the pacing, there was so much happening already at the beginning of the book and it keeps going. As the whole story goes, theres more questions, but not many answers. I was confused about what was going on throughout the story and what was the purpose of everything that was happening. since we learn a lot of information about the world without any real world building. I also personally do not like MC who contradict things they say and are "helpless yet powerful." It made the story harder to read for me since it seem like the MC was getting no where most of the time while also constantly talking about how much she disliked her love interest while ultimately being into him. I am hoping maybe the next book will help resolve a lot of this.

I've read so many vampire books lately, I had to put this one on pause for a minute so I didn't begin to confuse them all. For romantasy books these days, there has to be something really special about it for me to pick it up. The Stars Are Dying had me with the stenciled edges, so I knew I wanted to read this one because the cover and edges are beautiful. That said, I don't think I'm the right audience for this particular story. The vampires didn't seem like they were a major part of the story, despite the whole death games aspect being focused on protection FROM the vampires. It felt like a faerie book. More specifically, it reminded me a lot of ACOTAR. Which is honestly how a lot of romantasy has been for me lately, so maybe I'm in the minority.

My favorite part was when Nyte got out of his prison situation and started causing a little bit of havoc. I love some chaos. Also loved Cassia. RIP. Astreya felt very "pick me," which made her difficult for me to like because it seemed like she had a lot of tropes assigned to her. It was difficult for me to find her relationship with Nyte believable, too.

(I also received the audiobook for this and have left a review with additional thoughts on the audio specifically)

A Beautiful Read
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️


I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this book. The blurb is intriguing but it barely scratches the surface of all this book has going on. When you’re dropped into the story, Astraea is a prisoner in all but name. Everything about her life is strictly controlled by a man she believes to be her savior, at least in a sense. You quickly learn that she doesn’t remember her past or where she comes from but you know she’s something more than the human she thinks she is.

It took me about five chapters to feel like I finally understood the “rules” of this author’s fantasy world. The lore is expansive. However, because your understanding of the world is limited by a character who doesn’t have her memories, you end up finding that there is much more going on than you initially thought. If there was a motto for this book, it would be: Everything is not as it seems.

Packed with twists and turns, this book will keep you guessing on just about everything right up to the last chapter. The only hangup I had is there were two major plot twists that I correctly predicted less than 50% of the way through the audiobook. I thought one of them was incredibly obvious. When Astraea figures it out, she says something to the effect of, “I don’t know how I didn’t see it,” and I actually replied out loud, “No joke, lady.” That being said, it didn’t deter me from the story at all.

Astraea isn’t the standout hero when you first meet her you immediately get the impression that she’s not weak or helpless either. She’s smart, loyal, and caring. The girl can also wield a blade so watch out. The romance between Nyte and Astraea is alllllllllll angst and heat. You have no clue if he can be trusted but there is an undeniable edge of passion and danger to his every word. So, of course, we’re drawn to him. Nyte is the proverbial shadow daddy, both in his morally grayness and in that he actually controls shadows. I’m here for it. All the way. The spice is high high HIGH tension but when it comes time for the deed itself, the scenes are a mix of fade-to-black and very mild (3 out of 5 chili peppers).

The review copy of this book was supplied by the publisher because the audiobook edition and a special hardcover edition are both being released on October 8, 2024. In fact, before being chosen to review the audiobook for release day, the fancy pants hardcover had already made it onto my radar. It’s gorgeous and I love the bare book cover art.

The male narrator, Corvin King, has a wonderful voice for fantasy novels. He has an almost inhuman sound to the way he reads this book. Nyte’s voice is often described as silvery throughout the book and that couldn’t be a more fitting description for the narrator’s performance. However, his vocal performance doesn’t differ much between characters so it can sometimes be confusing, such as when there are multiple men in a scene. At times, it can be hard to discern who is speaking when.

The female narrator, Jacci Prior, is a perfection for reading fantasy. Her vocal performance is a solid balance between strong and vulnerable for a character that’s mighty without really knowing it. This is a narrator I will be adding to my watch list for spending monthly Audible credits.

We have bonus scenes! The audiobook and special edition hardcover both come with two bonus scenes at the end that I think you will love. I’m not going to say what they’re about or who they star because I don’t want to spoil anything.

The author’s writing style lands comfortably in the sweet spot of approachable romantasy. It reads casually like an urban fantasy, it has the big world atmosphere of an epic fantasy, plus an extra-heavy dose of star-crossed lovers vibes. Overall, The Stars are Dying was a beautiful read and I will definitely be picking up the next book (and one of those special edition hardcovers, if we’re being honest). I suspect these characters still have a lot to reveal given that massive cliff of an ending we were left hanging off of.

Romance Tropes & Plot Bunnies
Morally Gray Shadow Daddy
Alphahole Antihero
Reincarnated MC
Soulmates
Lost Memories
Secret Identity
Unknown Power
Chosen Family
Destiny / Chosen One
Emotional Scars
Fish Out of Water
Fae
Vampires
Trials for Survival

I really wanted to like this book, but it did not hit for me. There were a plethora of tropes that felt like they were just thrown and not actually explored, there was no plot really, things were extremely convenient for our FMC (way too convenient, like no challenges at all), the writing was very underwhelming, the lore was not very well explained at all and leaves a puddle of confusion. Personally, I think the author had a lot of ambition but was not able to deliver.

I liked it overall but I do have mixed feelings about this book.
On the one hand, I really liked that it was fast-paced, the trials were very entertaining and there was loooots of tension in this book. On the other hand, this book was sooo confusing sometimes and I didn’t really know who to trust anymore. I was left with some questions in the end but this definitely makes me want to read book 2 now 😂

Overall I really enjoyed this story. The lore was super interesting and I loved seeing how things unfold and secrets are revealed and twists come.

A few things I didn’t love though - the lore and history was actually quite confusing at times. I felt through the whole book I never had a great grasp on it. It was presented in what felt like a convoluted way, given in pieces and in riddles and I found myself forgetting what certain things meant or what something was supposed to mean. I didn’t love that every person was the most beautiful person she’d ever seen, or that there was so much back and forth between Astraea not trusting Nyte but then being swept up in him and then completely trusting him and then unsure if she should trust him. I think the going between the emotions emphasizes his shades of gray but it seemed every scene her opinion of him changed which made it harder for me to decide how I was supposed to feel about him, including knowing he’s supposed to be gray. There were quite a few typos but this is an Arc so I don’t really hold those against it, but hopefully for the release they’ve been updated. The ending was a bit abrupt, even knowing it’s going to continue in a series, but it felt like it stopped in the middle of a thought rather than the end of a scene with a cliffhanger.

I loved that we got a Zath and Rose bonus scene because every time they went off together I wanted a scene from their perspective.

The concept and lore of this book was really so good and so fun to read about! I loved the adventures and the magicalness and the conflicts and the secrets and I really want to know how everything plays out and who we can really trust and what’s going to happen in book two!

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the arc!

This book by far must be one of the hardest books that I have read this year. I could not keep track of the plotline, the writing style was just abysmal, the characters themselves are not consistent. There is just so much about this book I truly didn’t like. I made it all the way through, but it took days and a lot of motivation. I am still honestly not sure what I read. This is not a book I would recommend. The cover art is stunning, sadly what is between the pages doesn’t reflect. Also, the extra chapters were not necessary.
Thank you to Tor Publishing Group, Bramble, and Netgalley for allowing me an advance copy of this book for an honest opinion.

It took me a little bit to get into this book. I love the plot and the world building, but the characters had me a little confused at first. Nyte, especially, it took me a hot minute of reading to fully grasp the situation, but once i did, I really began to love his character.
Astraea, being the main FMC, left me a little less confused. She was strong, straightforward, and kept going even though her memories were forgotten, and she had no idea what was going on. Her relationship with Cassia was beautiful and tragic. The character growth was great. Trials to protect your kingdom from vampires, but there's a way more sinister plot... great story. Once you get halfway through this book, the pace really begins to pick up. I enjoyed reading this! The book is so beautiful too! I may be buying the physical copy even though I have the Kindle version.

I am lost. Confused. And not really sure of anything. The pacing was so off. I got hooked but then still had none of my questions answered by the end of it. Things change too rapidly and don’t follow up or through and overall it just needs some work

Just finished The Stars Are Dying and wow! I really enjoyed the dark, magical vibe of this book. The world-building was super immersive, and I loved the tension between the characters. Having different types of vampires, each with their own way of consuming someone was absolute genius! I went from “oh there’s vampires” to “oh my god did that vampire just eat their soul!?!”

There were some slower parts that dragged a little, but overall, the plot kept me hooked.