amazing! i love the romance aspect and the world building was lovely. will absolutely be reading from this author again ❤️

DNF.
This review is heartbreaking for me to write because I was looking forward to this book so much!

I had just joined NetGalley and was looking through the "most requested" books when I saw this. The cover was beeeaaauutiful. Sarah was blowing up in the indie world too and if you know me, you know I love looking for my next Indie Gem. I was expecting to love this because there are literally FIVE people who don't like this book out of over a thousand. But I just can’t get into it no matter how hard I try. 😭😭 And I have tried. I was stunned when I read the first page.

The writing style is the problem; its choppy and suffers from a severe case of tell instead of show. It's hard to follow and is seemingly random. The characters felt dry and juvenile and almost...robotic and unnatural. I don't know anyone that talks or thinks like that. It almost reads like a middle grader tried to write an adult novel before really learning how to read and write proper English. And-I don't get it! People love this book, and I tried several times to see what they were seeing, but I just...don't. Which is crushing because everything about this book intrigued me. It should have been perfect. It was Indie, Dramoine vibes, gothic aesthetic, borders on NA. Oh yeah that's the other thing, you have to pay extra to get the spice scenes.

What? Why? That makes no sense.

The fact that I am this late for an ARC should speak for itself. Save your time with this one.

This one was so beautifully written. The character development, the tropes, the world building… it was all brilliant.
I can’t wait to read more!

I gave this 4.5 ⭐️ !

I really enjoyed this book full of unique magic, political intrigue, action and romance! It was well paced and I enjoyed the writing style! The characters were well written and I loved the chemistry and banter between Isy and Erik! I can't wait to read the sequel!

A wonderful book with mystery, politics, romance and an amazing magic system.
I enjoyed this book immense, which I hadn't expected to be honest.
And the pace? Phenomenol!
The writing? Amazing!
The characters? Swoony!

4.5 ⭐️

Illusion of Stars is a captivating blend of humor, heart, and magic that draws readers in from the start. The character development and relationship dynamics are expertly crafted, with Isabel—a strong yet self-doubting protagonist—navigating her insecurities and the weight of self-harm. Her journey is refreshingly raw, offering insights into her struggles that resonate deeply.

Erik, the soldier with a heart, is equally complex. His initial annoyance with Isabel evolves into a genuine connection as they grapple with their identities and the expectations placed upon them. Their banter is sharp and engaging, making their gradual understanding of one another both humorous and poignant.

Though the beginning felt a bit slow, the meticulous world-building sets the stage for the rich story that unfolds. The revelations and twists are expertly timed, leaving readers shocked yet satisfied as they fit the pieces together.

The writing is beautifully poetic, filled with lines that linger long after reading. Themes of love, self-worth, and the journey toward acceptance shine through, making Isabel’s inner voice resonate with many. The relationship between Isy and Erik is authentic, capturing the awkwardness and depth of their evolving bond.

With a compelling narrative and emotional depth, Illusion of Stars is a magical adventure that leaves you eager for the next installment. Fans will find themselves reflecting on the story’s healing and inspiring moments, particularly the haunting prophecy that promises more to come.

While I definitely found the story and characters interesting at first, I quickly started losing interest once the romance began taking center stage. I feel like this is more of an issue with romantasy not being a genre for me, rather than this being a bad book. The romance between Isabel and Erik came off as rather bland and because of that, I couldn’t become truly invested in the story. The side characters were all very fun, though!

Overall, the writing was decent and the plot had potential. This was unfortunately a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.”

I really wanted to enjoy this but it started so slow and the fmc wasn't likeable. I can see others enjoying but it wasn't for me.

Thank you for sending me a copy of *Illusion of Stars*. I went into it completely blind, not even having read the blurb, and it exceeded my expectations.

The writing style, world-building, and character development were outstanding, offering a plot that effortlessly combined elements of coziness, mystery, and adventure.

I especially appreciated that Isabel wasn’t portrayed as a typical strong, battle-hardened warrior, which is becoming a more common trope. Instead, she stood out as a complex and brilliant character in her own unique way, without needing the skills of an assassin or warrior. This made her incredibly relatable and a refreshing change from other fantasy protagonists who are often instinctively adept at combat or magic.

The story really came alive, taking me on an emotional journey and immersing me in its vivid world. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a lighter fantasy that isn’t overly intricate but still captures the heart of what we love about the genre—a cozy, engaging read.

Isabel is a spirited and resilient character, grappling with self-doubt that envelops her like a heavy shroud. She yearns to be enough for those around her, and even the slightest misstep feels like a plunge into the abyss.
Erik embodies the essence of a soldier-powerful and magical, yet undeniably foolish. He enlists Isabel as a guide, initially out of annoyance, but their relationship evolves into something deeper.
As they grow closer, they discover their similarities, finding solace in each other's understanding beyond their abilities. However, the narrative is laced with secrets, betrayal, and murder, leading to jaw-dropping twists that caught me completely off guard! These revelations intricately tie together the story, creating a vivid picture of their reality.
I am eagerly anticipating the release of the second book!

Thank you for providing me with a copy of Illusion of Stars. I knew nothing about this book going in having not even read the blurb and it did not disappoint.

The writing style, world building and character development and depth was excellent, with a great plot that is cozy, mysterious, and adventurous all in one.

I loved that the character of Isabel wasn’t the strong, trained warrior that is becoming more common, but is complex and brilliant in her own way without needing the skillset of a trained assassin or warrior. This made her so relatable and was a change from so many other fantasy novels where the main character is instinctively able to fight or do magic to such a high degree.

The whole story jumped off the page with the range of emotions you are put through as a reader and the vividness of the world. I would definitely recommend this for a lighter fantasy read which isn’t overly complex and gives more of a cozy, easy read whilst maintaining the key aspects of a fantasy read that we love.

Beautiful debut that will make your self-love resurface and understand that you are capable of more than you imagine. Also, very snarky, very cheeky and has amazing humor and gorgeous descriptions in it!
Loved it and cannot wait for book 2!

I loved, loved, loved this book!

oh my. I was not expecting to go on the journey I went on while reading this book. I was not expecting to read words that resonated so deeply with who I am and how I've felt in the past. The writing was poetic, quirky and simply wonderful. The story was so unique! It felt amazing to read a fantasy book without the same tropes I'm feeling a little sick of reading about at times. I laughed, gasped, screamed and cried a little. The characters also crept up on me and it was like, out of no where, i simply loved all them all really fondly. Erik, Isabel, Bo and Kasper, especially you guys

I adored this book and I’m dying for the next one even though this just came out a couple months ago! I was sucked in immediately and definitely didn’t see some of the twists. I love the humor cleverness of our FMC. Her growth was great and the banter and overall chemistry with our MMC was perfect! Ahh, our MMC. Just yes! Love him! He made me laugh and blush and then laugh some more! The deep rooted pain for both of them not feeling like they are enough or only wanted because of what they can do and not who they are is such a sad thing that a lot of people will resonate with. But fear not, the way they work through that is so beautiful. I am excitedly and desperately awaited the next book!

I thought this was an excellent debut slow-burn romance. The book had great tension, political intrigue, and beautiful world building. I especially enjoyed Isabel's growth during a very difficult situation. Her internal struggles are perfectly written and portrayed. This is very slow burn, so if you're looking for instant sparks this one isn't for you. I love that the author took her time and built up the romance as it pulled me in and made me feel invested. The magic system was also very different and intriguing. I enjoyed learning bits of it as the story built. Overall I think this was an excellent debut title and I'm excited to read more by this author.

Illusion of Stars offers an immersive, Nordic-inspired setting with an enjoyable, easy-to-read story, though some plot elements fall short. The premise is intriguing: Isabel, a physician’s apprentice, is suddenly thrust into the role of guide and spy, tasked with stopping a war by gathering information from Erik, the general’s son. While the story flows smoothly, certain aspects, like Isabel’s unlikely assignment, feel a bit underdeveloped. However, the banter and growing relationship between Isabel and Erik are delightful, and I found myself smiling every time they interacted.

Though the slow-burn romance took its time—almost too much at times—the gradual emotional connection between the two leads was rewarding. Their shared feelings of insignificance added depth to their bond, creating a heartfelt dynamic. The pacing keeps the reader engaged, and while some plot conveniences detract from the story’s tension, the overall experience is still fun and lighthearted. Fans of slow-burn, hate-to-love romances will find plenty to enjoy here, and I’m excited to see how the story unfolds in the sequel.

The author, said in her review message something to the effect of, 'Writing this book healed me and if you feel you're not good enough, smart enough or brave enough, maybe this book can heal you too'. I read that and knew that this was a book I wanted to give a chance! This is a YA, fade to black novel so I am not exactly the target audience but I loved it! It's character driven, easy to read, it has a super solid plot, and tension filled romance with a shadow daddy, it's also just very beautifully written. It almost reminded me of Erin Morgenstern's writing style, which is a very high compliment! I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!

This was such a meaningful story for me! I saw a lot of myself in the FMC. This one is for all my girlies who have experienced imposter syndrome.

Illusion of Stars follows Isy, a royal physician, who finds herself playing spy in the enemy’s camp.

This book has some great world building, lovable side characters, flirting that makes your feet kick, and betrayals that’ll have you ready to fight someone.

My only critique is the romance developed at a slightly strange/awkward pace. Especially mid book, I felt like we hadn’t gotten a lot of moments between Isy and the MMC and all of a sudden he was heavily flirting. In the end I did end up loving their dynamic and I stayed up late to read the last 15% to see how everything ended.

If there’s a book 2, I’ll definitely read it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Forge Publishing, and Sarah Page for giving me an e-ARC of this book!

𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🌶🌶

I quite enjoyed this book, especially considering it's a debut.

I really liked the overall plot, the enemies to lovers romance (some touching before fade to black), the political intrigue, secrets, magic, banter, queer rep, and sense of adventure.

Some of the things the FMC said or did struck me as quite immature, but then I'd remember she was only 18, so it was probably fitting for her, and not a reflection of the writing style, but I felt like I didn't connect overly well with the characters because of this.

I found this book really easy to read, and finished it within a few days, which is quick for me. I also had lots of moments where I laughed aloud, and even one spot where I got a little misty-eyed.

The ending was great, and I absoutely cannot wait to read the next book.


𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕: banter, Erik, one horse, magic, political intrigue, queer rep, found family, enemies to lovers romance, secrets, the ending𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: 🌶🌶

I quite enjoyed this book, especially considering it's a debut.

I really liked the overall plot, the enemies to lovers romance (some touching before fade to black), the political intrigue, secrets, magic, banter, queer rep, and sense of adventure.

Some of the things the FMC said or did struck me as quite immature, but then I'd remember she was only 18, so it was probably fitting for her, and not a reflection of the writing style, but I felt like I didn't connect overly well with the characters because of this.

I found this book really easy to read, and finished it within a few days, which is quick for me. I also had lots of moments where I laughed aloud, and even one spot where I got a little misty-eyed.

The ending was great, and I absoutely cannot wait to read the next book.


𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕: banter, Erik, one horse, magic, political intrigue, queer rep, found family, enemies to lovers romance, secrets, the ending.

By far, my favorite part of this book was when I finally understood what the title means, that was super sweet.

I really liked this story idea, I liked the characters, but I feel like they could have been a bit better if the characters were just a tiny little bit more memorable,but really, just a bit.

The way the story was presented was uncommon, the main character is writing a retelling of her story as she remembers it, with little notes here and there, which can add a bit of something special, in my opinion.

All in all, I think the book is worth a try, I tried to give no spoilers at all, but there are many things going on and I can't wait to read the 2nd book as well.