I went into this book pretty much blind and I was so pleasantly surprised. Straight away I fell in love with the banter between Isabel and the original characters, which of course just only increased and got better once she was in enemy camps. I honestly think a good book is made in the side characters, it’s easy to make us fall in love with the main characters, but when you’re rooting for everyone else too it just adds that extra level.

But saying that, let’s not take away from Isabel and Erik 😍 I knew I’d love him from the moment we met him 😂 my poor tortured soul 🥺 I won’t spoil anything but UGH the ending. I need the next book now please.

Tropes in this book are some of my favourite:
- enemies to lovers
- slow burn
- one horse trope (briefly)
- knife to throat scene

4.5 Stars

This story was so beautifully written. I felt like the world building was done in such a great way where the reader doesn't feel overwhelmed by all the information. The magic system was interesting and unique to the story. The way that Sarah Marie Page shows anxiety and panic on the page by inserting words between paragraphs really made the reader feel what the characters were feeling. The pacing was great and the book never seemed to lull, it kept moving forward in a way that didn't seem rushed.

"Isabel Moller, you are not allowed to kiss me, then awkward swim away."

I loved Isabel and Erik. Isabel is entirely relatable with the way that she was awkward yet endearing, smart, brave, determined, and the struggle that she has with believing in herself. Erik is a cinnamon roll MMC if there ever was one. He is swoon worthy, strong, and determined to prove that he's more than his power. The way Isy & Erik come together once they realize that they are both fighting for the same thing, self validation & acceptance, is beautiful and fully lends itself to a naturally developing slow burn romance. Plus their banter had me laughing out loud. The author did an amazing job of developing not only the main characters of this story, but the side characters as well. Signey, Bo, Kaspar, and Tyr were some of my favorites.

This story is perfect for anyone that loves fantasies full of angst, hope, witty banter, magic, political intrigue, believable and likeable characters, all with a side of romance. If anyone needs me, I'll be sitting here praying for a book #2 because I need more.

This is so beautifully and thoroughly written. This book gave me all the, "You drew stars around my scars" Taylor Swift vibes ✨️ and I was HERE FOR IT. I felt like I was a part of this story, not just reading it. This was a slow-burn romantasy book, and the main characters are enemies-to-lovers who start out on opposite sides but realize each other isn't the enemy. They help each other heal, grow, and evolve together. The banter between them is fantastic, and their chemistry is undeniable. As soon as I finished this, I immediately had to look up if the author is writing a sequel (she is!) and I will be eagerly waiting to read it! 🤍📚

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC of Illusion of Stars, in exchange for an honest review.

"Illusion of Stars" by Sarah Marie Page turned out to be such a gem. I have to say, the slow-burn connection between Isabel and Erik is one of the highlights for me. I'm a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers story, and this one does it so well. At first, it took a bit to get going, but once the plot picked up, I was hooked.

Isabel’s internal dialogue and self-doubt really resonated with me. She’s trying so hard to be a spy and avenge her friend’s death, but she keeps getting caught, which adds this layer of vulnerability to her character. It made her feel so real and relatable.

And then there’s Erik. I really liked his character. He’s complex and has this depth that makes the evolving relationship with Isabel so engaging. The way their dynamic changes and grows is so well done—it’s frustrating, emotional, and ultimately very satisfying.

Overall, "Illusion of Stars" is a beautiful mix of fantasy and emotional storytelling. It’s one of those books that sneaks up on you, and before you know it, you’re completely invested. Highly recommend!

This book is magical and had so much depth. I loved how much we got to see the main characters grief process and her internal struggles. It was beautifully written, and I felt like I was engulfed in the magic at times. I wanted a little more details on the magic system and why some had magic and others did not. I think this was a beautiful start to a duology and can’t wait to read the next book. I need to know what happens!

Thank you to Sarah and NetGalley for an eARC of this book!

This book is hands down my favorite read of not just 2024, but the last couple of years at LEAST. I DEVOURED this book. I couldn’t get enough of the story, the writing, the characters…everything was just so perfectly executed. Illusion of Stars has:

⚔️Enemies to lovers
❤️‍🔥Slow burn
🤏Forced proximity
✨Unique worldbuilding
🔎Mysteries & spying
👑Political intrigue
🗣️Incredible banter

Isabel’s character arc was so rewarding to see and I absolutely loved the creative way this story is told. Erik’s calm and collected demeanor was a fantastic counterpart to Isy’s sweet chaos. All of the characters in this book have incredible depth and I enjoyed my time immersed with them.

I seriously will be thinking about this book for a long time. Definitely in my top 5 reads of all time. Sarah has crafted such a rich and enchanting world with Illusion of Stars that it’s hard not get to swept away. If you’re reading this and looking for a sign to read this book, this is your sign. Read. This. Book!!!!

I want to thank Shadow Forge Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read an advanced copy of Illusion of stars by Sarah Marie Page comes out in July.
….
It took me a bit to get into the story but once I did I couldn’t put it down. The chemistry between Erik and Isabel is seen from the start. I fell in love with Erik immediately he was supposed to be the bad boy but he was always so attentive to Isa’s needs that even she didn’t realize. Isa is a physician to the queen and doesn’t see herself as anything special when they send her to be a scout and spy on the Volds. She’s got one goal, to show everyone she is good enough to be the physician to the king. the plot twist! I am screaming at the ending how cruel to end it like that!!! I can’t wait for the second part of this story. I am very much hoping to get my hands on that arc as well.
#shadowforgepublishing #NetGalley

Unfortunately this was a DNF at 20%.

I usually find most slow starts tend to be due to world building but this wasn’t the case. I wanted to love the book due to the reviews however I just found the start too boring to push through.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4
The story follows Isabel, an apprentice physician on her newly independent island home of Sanok. Following the arrival of the Volgaard army and the death of her best friend, she is tasked with accompanying the Volgaard's to act as a spy and woo the general's son, Erik.

I really wanted to love this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

Firstly, the things I loved: the underlying message the author is trying to convey (you're not a nobody, you matter), the simple yet gorgeous cover, the use of medicinal plants, the characters were lovable enough, and the way she describes heartache and grief that comes with loss. It was so beautifully written, it had me holding my breath.

The world-building is where I really struggled. I was left confused from the start and felt nothing really fit together (e.g., clothing style, language use). The magic was a random aspect and never really addressed when it was first discovered by Isabel. I feel like this should have been a big plot point.
The overly descriptive writing on every single page was also a big issue for me. It really took away from the actual plot.

For a New Adult book, the romance and banter between Isabel and Erik were very juvenile. I would think it would be better suited to the YA category..

The last 20% or so of the book really picked up and redeemed itself in my eyes. The plot finally came through, and it was entertaining enough. I'm hoping the plot holes will be addressed, and the author will continue to grow in their writing.
Due to the strong finish, I will definitely be adding the second book to my TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shadow Forge Publishing for an eARC copy of Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page.

First and foremost, I finished this book in two days and I need the second book now. Sarah Marie Page left me on an illegal cliffhanger and I've never been so upset about a cliffhanger ending in my life. I also want to state that I will 100% being buying a physical copy of this book so I can read it again prior to the second book releasing.

The story follows Isabel, an 18 year old physicians apprentice whose dream is to become the kingdoms royal physician. She spends her time healing her Queen's feet and looking for a cure for the King's ailment. It takes but one little slip up to send her out into the wilds with the Volgaard, tasked to find their weapon and woo their head general. Leading her on a journey that not only helps her find herself, but the reality of what is truly going on around her.

I cannot say enough of how well the plot moves, it flows so nicely and doesn't slow down to world build or to explain back stories. Everything is explained when it needs to be. It draws you in, then leaves you dangling and craving what is going to happen in the end. Isabel is relatable and unlike other novels, she is real and raw. It makes you feel all her emotions and you feel like you are her. Not that you're following her story, but you are Isabel and you are trying to do what you think is best. Even if everything you've known is wrong.

You will be laughing, crying, and angry all at once. But if you don't pick up this book, you will be missing out.

Illusion of Stars
by Sarah Marie Page
4.5 ⭐️

enemies to lovers
slow burn
one horse
forced proximity

I started this book a few days ago and I didn’t have any expectations other than this is a YA ish romantasy with a beautiful magical cover. I really liked Isy and Erik! Isy is probably the world’s worst flirt and spy and I absolutely love that about her. Her one track mind frustrated me a bit at first but the more I got to know her the more I liked her.

I do wish the romance was a bit more developed/more banter between them. Worldbuilding was a bit wonky bc I’m still sort of confused on the types of magic and geographically how/where things are. We spend a good chunk of the book going somewhere and then they suddenly change directions and get there basically in a day. Once I hit the 70 ish % mark I could not stop reading if I tried. The ending is SO eventful and an emotional rollercoaster. I won’t be able to stop thinking about this story for a while ✨

I got the cutest personalized video thank you message from the author! I absolutely loved it and it’s so cute that she’s so thoughtful and kind to her arc readers but it did not influence my review 🫶🏼 Thank you to NetGalley and Sarah Marie Page for this arc!

*IG post planned for 7/4/24*

📚Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page📚

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
🫑 (slow burn, tension, fade to black)

✨Tropes✨
✨Forced proximity
✨Slow burn
✨One horse
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Spy vs Mark
✨Grumpy vs sunshine

✨Summary✨
Isabel is an aspiring royal physician who is trying to prove herself on, what seems like, a daily basis. Her main issue is the king is slowly, but surely descending into madness, and the queen is feeble and bedridden. The current royal physician is out of the country searching for a cure, and Isabel is struggling to stand apart from her friend and rival, Stephan, to prove herself worthy of the position.
However, this all becomes the least of her concerns when tragedy strikes close to home, and Isabel finds herself in the middle of a political power struggle. Her country’s enemies, the Volds, have come ashore and after a series of events, Isabel is chosen by the foreign minister to be the country’s spy. With zero spy training, Isabel is sent with the Vold’s general and future leader, Erik, as well as a cast of magically inclined soldiers. Her task is to find the Volds’ secret weapon by any means necessary…including using her feminine wiles to seduce the handsome, yet grumpy, General. With Isabel’s heart still reeling, will she be able to complete her task? Or will she find more than she ever bargained for?

📚A Deeper Read📚
This novel deals with mental health in a very respectful and realistic manner. There are themes of self harm used as coping mechanisms, however the author portrays it in a way that doesn’t glorify it.
There is the strong theme of not feeling good enough or worthy enough. Both the FMC and the MMC struggle with rejection from parents, which leads to these feelings. However, unlike some novels where they simply find themselves being enough for each other, this couple encourage one another. They find happiness together, sure, but they acknowledge that they are individuals with interests and passions outside of their relationship. I think that’s what makes this so refreshing and remarkable.

✨Critiques✨
The too modern language in a Norse inspired fantasy world. I can forgive a lot, but some of it did take me completely out of the scene.

✨Elements I Loved✨
I love that Isabel is a physician in training. Because I’m in healthcare, I have a particular excitement and love for when the FMC is a healer/royal physician/anything medical.

The twists and turns. Some were predictable and others weren’t. The ending was emotional. I genuinely cannot wait for the next book!

🪄Standout magic features🪄
The different types of magic the Volds had depending on which “house” they were born into. The shadow walking magic and the danger/rules behind it was interesting.

👩🏻My Recommendation👩🏻
This is for anyone who loves a close proximity, slow burn romance. I wouldn’t classify it as YA, because it has mature themes, however it is faded to black for the romance scene. But as much as I love a good spicy scene, the fade to black didn’t bother me. The tension, slow burn, banter, etc. was exceptional. I had a fantastic time reading this book. Was it perfect? No. But I don’t think that matters. The story was just so good. I laughed, I cried, I had so many emotions reading this book, and at the end of the day, that’s what counts.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing the ARC.

I just have to say, this read has been really fun for me because of the little community Sarah’s got going on Instagram. Give her a follow while you read this one. She’s super active with her audience and is just a sweet person in general. A great indie author to support!

If you’re a mood reader, this would be a good palette cleanser from complicated books like When the Moon Hatched that hurt your brain a little bit. I think you’ll have a great time with this one if you just take it for what it is - a light, fun romantacy read that will make you giggle and brighten your day.

Even on the authors bio, it says she writes fluffy fantasy stories with her fluffy cat and I personally need some fluff every once in a while.

There were some super cute moments in here and great side characters. Excellent banter as well. The two main characters were quite enjoyable.

What a stunner of a book too! I don’t have too much room for physical books, but this one might have to earn a spot on my mantle… super dreamy.

Without spoiling it, this is an enemies-to-lovers trope where the FMC goes on a journey with the enemy in hopes of spying on them. However, she’s a terrible spy and the enemy is super hot so you can see where this is going lol

I loved the vivid imagery she painted, the unique magic system and how it was set in the past.

Her wit and humour shines through in this one and it was quite enjoyable to read.

The beginning of the book was a great start with a few jaw-dropping twists and loads of action but I did get a little bored in the middle. I just felt like the plot was dragging and not much was happening but luckily it picks up again in the end!

I think the book could have used a bit more angst and passion at certain points too. The author’s writing style is humorous, but for my tastes, I need a bit more tension in a romance to be sold on it.

For example, this book is advertised as having a one-horse trope. I was so excited for this scene and was expecting some major STEAM but there was no steam at all and it was over so fast. I would have loved to have seen more spice in this book in scenes like that one.

I’m not entirely sure how this book is being marketed, but it does read very YA.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and would recommend!

(Thank you NetGalley and Sarah for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.)

Illusion of Stars by Sarah M. Page was an incredibly fun and enjoyable read! I love a book with a likable protagonist with something to prove and Isabel is one of the first characters who's made me felt seen as a person. Not only is she someone who struggles to overcome her own personal mental hurdles, she wants to prove she is worthy of being seen by other people in her life. Her father left when she was young, her best friend loved her and she never really felt fully worthy of the love he offered so she held him at arms length until it was too late.

When the Volds come to her island nation, her world turns upside down as the career she has been working towards seems ripped away, her best friend is murdered, and her king is pulling his pants down in front of the visiting envoy. I loved the worldbuilding created in this story and think it has a strong foundation for building out the world in subsequent books since we definitely need more.

This book had me chuckling and on the verge of squealing. There were moments of frustration and moments of emotion. In all the best ways, this was an emotional roller coaster and I think Ms. Page was brilliant in her craftmanship of this story and I think she's also set herself up for some really good future storylines.

I have too many good things to say about this book, so please just go and read it. I think there is a lot to enjoy within it's pages. though it is set in a sort of Scandinavian setting, it has a more modern vibe to it's dialogue which is easy to understand and it flows well. I Read it so quickly and I think many others will as well!

This book was wonderful! I really loved the main characters and they had great communication skills. I really enjoyed the writing and plot of this book!

such a beautiful story full of twists and turns and a strong female lead. amazing and wonderful and something i’d recommend to anyone

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

(This review includes mild spoilers).

I appreciated the inclusion of mental health and how Erik and Isabel were vulnerable with each other. They both had difficult upbringings, but they became the people they are in spite of those challenges.

I loved the dynamics between Erik’s friends and their acceptance of Isabel. Bo and Kaspar were my favorites! Found family is one of my favorite tropes and that definitely comes through in this story.

While I enjoyed the banter between Isabel and Erik, it felt like their transition from enemies to lovers was a little fast. Erik seemed to warm up to Isabel fairly quickly considering she was not an ally. It just seemed a little rash for someone in his position. I would’ve liked to see more build up before they got together. The writing was a bit simile-heavy, which pulled me out of the story at times.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to the sequel!

"And you... you will hold the door."

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. I loved the writing style, I loved the world, I loved the story. 5 Stars and favourited.

Often when you read a new Fantasy book, it's easy to compare plot & character points with things you have seen in other Fantasy books. The world in Illusion of Stars was unique and so vivid that it was easy to immerse yourself into the read. The magic system was unique and had some really awesome characteristics. There is a portion of the book in which the main character is experiencing loss and grief. The way that Sarah portrayed this, formatted this, showed the passage of time, blew me away. Isabel is an overthinker, and the way Sarah has written her inner ramblings, the progression of thoughts, is so well captured you can FEEL her emotions.

The writing & pacing was engaging and very enjoyable read. And I loved, LOVED, that the main character was an "unremarkable" girl (without some unique weapon talents) struggling with feeling like she's not enough, working through her issues and healing herself. This entire book is a homage to healing, to overcoming the dark and pushing through and to believing that you are enough.

As Sarah herself said; If you've ever sat in a room and wondered whether you're good enough or smart enough or brave enough, maybe this book can heal you too.

I will 100% be purchasing a physical copy of this book when it is released. I already want to re-read it. I desperately need the second book. And I'm so grateful I've been able to read this early.

I wanted to love this book SO BAD. I've seen other readers handing out five stars like they're Oprah Winfrey giving away free cars. As someone who loves romantasy books with the enemies-to-lovers trope, I'd hoped this would be a new favorite. Unfortunately, I was mistaken.

First off, things I like: THE COVER. This has to be one of the prettiest fantasy books I've seen this year. Swords, stars, and medicinal plants play a huge role in this story, and I love how they're featured on the cover. The design isn't just beautiful—it actually means something to the book.

I also like the story's message. Our main character, Isabel, struggles to feel like she's worthy of love. With the help of some new friends (and a handsome general with illusion magic), Isabel realizes her opinion matters. I think the author's decision to show that everyone is worthy of being seen is a message that should be shared.

For me, the pretty cover and underlying message are a 5-star, but everything else brings this down to a 3-star. I feel like soooo much of this book is just pretty descriptions of the setting. There are similes and metaphors describing the ocean, the sky, and everything else on an island on Every. Single. Page. I think a few descriptive words like this are nice, but overall, I needed more plot.

And I know what you're going to say... "Cami, this is an atmospheric romantasy". To that, I would say, I LOVE a sprinkle of atmospheric tension. I devoured the purple prose in "An Enchantment of Ravens" (a book I 1000% recommend; definitely check it out if slow-burn romance and fae are your thing). But an atmospheric setting doesn't mean we need to have a slow-paced plot.

I also struggled with Isabel as a character. So much of this story is filtered through her perspective, and I feel like that distracted from the story in several scenes. In my opinion, Isabel spent too much time thinking about things instead of actually doing them. I totally agree that it's okay to have moments of weakness and ask others for help, but I wanted Isabel to do SOMETHING other than try (and fail) to spy on people and offer obscure healing advice. I appreciate her heroic actions at the end of the story, but it doesn't excuse the fact that Isabel spent most of the book being passive and relying on others to solve her problems for her.

While I wasn't able to become fully invested in Isabel's story, I still think the author did a good job building the relationship between Isabel and the male love interest. Erik is stern, formidable, and reserved while at the same time witty, charming, and insecure. I'm eager to see how their relationship progresses in the sequel, especially given the way things ended in this first installment.

Overall, this book is perfect if you love an atmospheric romantasy that has a descriptive writing style and a flawed heroine who undergoes a lot of character growth. I love the beautiful cover, and I think the story's underlying message is something readers would benefit from hearing.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the author and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

If you love enemies to lovers, amazing found family vibes, one horse trope and an incredible FMC who has great banter (but is a terrible spy) then you will absolutely love this book.

I loved loved loved the magic system, so unique and unlike anything I’ve ever read! While still being easy and fun to follow. The characters were so funny and relatable. I truly think this will be up there with the top Romantasy’s this year.

The MMC had me swooning, I am an absolute sucker for a shadow daddy and he did not disappoint. The representation of mental health and panic attacks in this story, healed something within me.. I won’t spoil but that scene had me feeling so many different feelings!

It is book 1 in a duology and I don’t know how I’m supposed to wait for book 2 after THAT ending.