ILLUSION OF STARS - SARAH MARIE PAGE

Oh my goodness, what a special book. I'm so glad that I read this, as its core message really resonated with me at this stage in my life. Here's what you can expect:

As the royal physician of a tiny, windswept island, Isabel spends her days trying to keep the queen from dying and the mad king from streaking naked down the halls. But when her best friend is found murdered on the beach, her world is ripped apart. Desperate for answers, she discovers a stash of letters that reveal a terrifying truth: the neighbouring kingdom of Volgaard possesses a kingdom-shattering weapon and is poised to conquer everything in its path.

If that sounds like a high-stakes fantasy, that's because it is... but this book is also entirely unique in so many ways. At its core, Illusion of Stars shows us characters who feel small and insignificant, and then follows them as they find their inner voices and strengths. This is what makes the story and the characters so relatable, because who hasn't felt this way at some point in their lives?

I would say that this book is character-driven for about 75% of its length - and I really enjoyed this aspect. You get to know the characters really well, just as they're getting to know each other too. Much of the action is concentrated in the last few chapters of the novel, which gives the Illusion of Stars an exciting, satisfying conclusion while setting the stage for the next book in the duet.

As you can probably already tell, I can't wait to read it. Sarah Marie Page writes BEAUTIFULLY, with rich, sensory descriptions that make you feel like you're standing right next to the characters. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this book.

Thank you to Sarah Marie Page, NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book.

Review score: 4/5

TW: Violence, death

There are many aspects of this book that I think people will absolutely love, however it just didn’t hook me in. This absolutely has nothing to do with the authors skill, talent or writing style, I just think for me personally, the plot and the story line didn’t feel enticing to me and I typically enjoy Romantasy’s that tend to evoke big emotions in me, which this didn’t. I can see that there are readers out there who will really enjoy this title, and another aspect of the book I found quite positive was the fact that the authors writing style was clear, concise and easily digestible!

I appreciate how hard and critical world building is in romantasy novels- but the pacing of this novel just didn’t capture my attention compared to the many others I have read in this genre. I also felt the main characters love story felt rushed and unnatural, I didn’t find myself rooting for them to get together and when they did it felt anticlimactic. I would be willing to give a second book in the series another chance because the template was there, I just didn’t find the execution successful.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I don't know what I was expecting with Illusion of Stars, but the blurb sounded interesting. It started off slow even though there was some light suspense with Isabel's best friend is murdered.

Isabel is training to become the royal physician when she is thrown into becoming a spy for her tiny island home. She quickly goes from caring for the Queen's feet and chasing the naked mad king to searching for unknown weapons and secrets of the enemy kingdom Volgaard she is traveling with.

Out for vengeance, Isabel must get close to Erik, the general's illusion welding son, and it's a task that seems to be more difficult than she expected. He's on to her. Eventually on their travels, he starts opening up. He sees her deep into her soul. They are both full of doubt and broken. They realize that although they are so different, they are exactly the same. They just want to feel accepted and worthy.

Things aren't so black and white. Lines begin to blur. Attractions are growing. Isabel has to figure out the truths within so many secrets.

I loved all the plot twists. The deep conversations that Erik and Isabel have are really well written and the emotion and heartache in them can be felt as if you were right there with them.

This story ended up being one that can be so relatable. The feeling of not being enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, and all the other self doubts that you have throughout life are so real with the way Isabel thinks about them internally. She ends up finding someone who sees the real her with all her flaws and sees the beauty in it.

I loved it! I can't wait to read book 2!

The sexy enemies-to-lovers tension of BRIDGE KINGDOM meets the snarky banter of A DAWN OF ONYX in this swoon-worthy fantasy romance.

Please note: The spice level is fade-to-black. There's some foreplay and build-up, but no on-page sex.

This is the first in a duology.

This book was sad, beautiful, self-discovering, and in some moments funny. I loved how it was a story within a story. If you get the chance to pick this one up, I strongly recommend it. It is a reminder to us all that no matter how small we feel, that feeling of being a nobody; we aren’t small we are somebody. I loved the message, and the romance was an added bonus. Make sure you get that bonus chapter as well.

This started really promising for me but then I started having a hard time developing a connection with the characters or the plot.

The dialogue and the pacing didn't feel right for me personally. It felt very choppy and gave me this weird sense that I had to hurry through the book.
I really wanted to love this as it was a nice story and I did want to know what happened but sadly I just couldn't get fully into it.

I would still recommend this books to others to try out. I'm just sad that it wasn't for me!

Thank you for opportunity to read the ARC and give my opinions on it.

The way I jumped for joy when I was approved for this ARC is ridiculous. And I'm so glad I was. This story was breathtaking and amazing. The romance had me biting my lip and trying to turn pages as fast as I could! Isy was a breath of fresh air in the "bad ass" fmc trend and I loved her all the more for it. Overall I couldn't put it down!

This was a quick, fun read!
It was refreshing to see a FMC that’s a healer and watch her struggles to balance it with her other expectations.

“Do you know puffins mate for life?” 🐧 ❤️

-Enemies to lovers
-Found family
-Fade to black
-Cliffhanger

While it did feel a bit rushed at times, I’m already excited for book 2!

This was a solid read, but I just wasn’t as invested in it as I read for some reason. I enjoyed the setting and the main character. I found her relatable. The overall plot was unique as well. I guess I feel like some parts were underdeveloped, both in the general plot and in the relationships. It didn’t make a lot of sense that she was the one sent to spy on the Vold’s. I felt like I needed more foundation to fully understand the politics going on as well. That being said, Isy is a great character and there is a lot of potential here. I liked it enough to read the second when it comes out.

3/5
I really wanted to like this book. The summary sounded interesting and the overall story was good. But the execution just didn't meet up to what I was expecting. It almost feels like the book is two different parts written by two different people. The first half felt more polished while the latter half felt hurried and used more colloquial terms.

This book was a whirl wind. It started off slow and I didn’t think I could get into it. However, I stuck through and am so thankful I did. I am definitely going to have to read the next one because I need to know what happens. Isy reminded me of myself (not just because of her name) and I really want to take her message to heart. Everyone is enough. Anxiety can be hard, but I hope people know that you are not alone. Just being yourself is enough. The book was a slow burn, and I feel like we need more Erik content. This world of magic has a lot that can be expanded on and I can’t wait to hear more about it.

💫✨ 𝓔𝓶𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓭𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓘𝓵𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓫𝔂 𝓢𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓱 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓮 𝓟𝓪𝓰𝓮 ✨💫

🐧 Did you know puffins mate for life?

The same can't be said for our characters in Illusion of Stars, where love and loyalty are as fragile as the kingdoms they live in.

In this captivating slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers fantasy, royal physician Isabel seeks revenge for her best friend's murder by infiltrating enemy lines. Her mission? Seduce Erik, the illusion-wielding son of a ruthless general, and steal a weapon that could change the fate of nations. But what happens when the line between duty and desire begins to blur?

This enchanting story weaves together the slow burn of an enemies-to-lovers romance, the intrigue of court politics, and the intensity of forced proximity, all set against a backdrop of powerful magic.

What truly made this book shine for me was the intricate court politics and the fascinating magic system. Isabel’s not-so-perfect espionage was both endearing and amusing, adding a realistic touch to her character. And let's talk about the sizzling tension between Isabel and Erik! The forced proximity and playful teasing had me hooked. I loved how real their romance felt—no eye-rolling or frustration here! The world-building was also refreshingly straightforward, making for a quick and engaging read.

Be warned, though: this book ends on a cliffhanger! I’m already counting down the days until the sequel because I NEED to know what happens next.

Despite my love for the story, I had to give it 4 stars instead of 5. Real-life distractions, like my dog’s health issues, meant I had to take breaks, which pulled me out of the story at times. But I’m looking forward to a reread when things settle down!

📅 Illusion of Stars was released on July 16, 2024. Whether you’re grabbing the ebook, heading to your local library, or buying a copy from your favorite bookstore, this is a fantasy you won’t want to miss.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Marie Page, and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Illusion of Stars is a wonderful book with a unique magic system and remarkable characters. The story is told from the POV of the FMC; Isabel, whose life changes when her childhood friend is murdered.

- What I did like about the book:

The magic system, the intrigue, the forced proximity, the good banter, and all that spying. It was delightful once the plot was advancing and I am so curious about what will happen in the second book

- What I didn’t like that much (but was nice anyway):

This can be very personal, but the pacing at the beginning of the book felt slow. The writing style was comfortable but the language used often felt too juvenile for my liking, especially before the big event that changed everything for the FMC. I love YA books more than anything, but those two things made it difficult for me to connect with the characters and the story until around 60% of the book


In conclusion: it was a nice read but too juvenil in some points even for YA, with all that I highly recommended it,

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-copy, in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was incredibly intriguing and it kept me interested throughout the whole story. Especially the first few pages immediately hooked me. Moreover, the romance was written really beautifully-it felt genuine and came from the bottom of the heart.
It was also really easy to follow the story since the world building was not complicated at all. However, what I enjoyed even more were the connections to Scandinavian culture which were integrated by the author in such a refreshing and smart way. In connection to that, how the natural settings were being described was also really unique. Even though I unfortunately have to admit that there were some really awkward scenes, I liked the fact that the FMC is not the typical badass heroine. Instead, the reader gets an insight into her difficult past and gets to feel her range of emotions.

I really wanted to love this. But I just couldn’t connect to the story or the characters. I read about 50 pages and chose to DNF. I’m disappointed but I think it’s more of its not the book for me, rather than the book itself. Thank you for sending this to me..

This was very different to any romantasy book that I have read before. I really enjoyed it.

The world building was excellent, and the magic system is unique and well explained. The court politics is also interesting. The story had me intrigued from the start, and I thought the pacing was great.

The story follows Isy, a Physician's Apprentice. When she finds her best friend murdered, she infiltrates the Volgaard, a neighbouring island, to seek vengeance for his death. Isy is seeking information from the enemy about a deadly weapon, and the way to do this is to get close to Erik, the general's son.

Isy is smart and determined, but is also awkward, shy and full of self-doubt. She is a terrible spy and there some very funny moments throughout. It was lovely to read her find her strengths and her self-confidence.

Erik is a broody MMC, he has a hard exterior but is kind and carries a lot of baggage on the inside.

Both of them crave love and acceptance. Their relationship is funny from the start, it is heart-warming to read their connection build as they both discover that they understand eachother better than anyone else. They truly see eachother.

The rescue at the end seemed slightly too easy, I was almost waiting for something to go wrong. But I loved Erik's POV at the end, and the cliffhanger has me eager to read the next one!

It is clear how much work and passion has gone into this book, and Sarah Page's writing is very poetic. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Tropes-
🤍Found family
🤍Slow burn
🤍Enemies to Lovers
🤍Court Politics
🤍Forced Proximity

*Thank you to NetGalley and @sarahpagestories for the free copy of this e-book to review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 stars
.5 spice (closed door)

Add this to your TBR if you want:
Healer (and terrible spy) x General’s son (did someone say Dramione?)
Enemies to lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow burn
Viking vibes
One horse
Who did this to you?

What a pleasant surprise this read was! This is going to be a real hidden gem in the Romantasy genre this year.

The enemies to lovers romance was believable, the slow burn was delish. The world building was super distinctive and well fleshed out, giving me some Nordic vibes with a unique magic system, and overall was beautifully written.

I can’t wait to find out more about their world and see what happens next after we were left on that cliff (doing the screaming thing, of course)!! Half satisfied but still left wondering, very clever..

Erik would make an excellent addition to your collection of book boyfriends. Extremely lovable MMC even though he’s no golden retriever, he’s just very real and flawed in a heart wrenchingly attractive way. As are all the characters really, they were relatable and multi-dimensional, each struggling with their own feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.

It’s so refreshing when characters in a book don’t get away with stupid shit. You know when you sit there and you’re like - no way did that ever happen, someone would have caught them. Like when a character suddenly becomes a spy with no formal training and is sent out into the world with highly trained warrior enemies and needs to get dirt on them. I looooved that every time Isabel was doing some dumbass scheme, of course Erik and Signey know what's up, and she’s a terrible spy and everyone sees through her. Legit…refreshing. Loved it!

“Illusion of Stars” is a captivating romantasy book by Sarah Marie Page.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance/spice: ⭐️ ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️Enemies to lovers
⭐️Romantasy
⭐️Failed espionage
⭐️Strong Female main character
⭐️ Slow-burn Romance
⭐️Amazing scenery & world-building

My Review:
A very nice fantasy tale about a girl trying to save her kingdom while dealing with her own trauma and trying to prove her worth. Enemies to lovers but vanilla. Loved the smart-mouthed characters and all the spying and “hide and seek”. If you are into smart narratives this is a book for you. I highly recommend it to all fantasy and romance lovers.

Description:
As the royal physician of a tiny, windswept island, Isabel spends her days trying to keep the queen from dying and the mad king from streaking naked down the halls. But when her best friend is found murdered on the beaches, her world is ripped apart. Desperate for answers, she discovers a stash of letters that reveal a terrifying truth: the neighbouring kingdom of Volgaard possesses a kingdom-shattering weapon and is poised to conquer everything in its path.
Seeking vengeance, Isabel infiltrates the enemy. Her mission? Woo Erik Lothgarson, the general’s steamy, illusion-magic wielding son, and steal the dangerous weapon. She can bring Volgaard to its knees—if she isn’t caught. 
But as Isabel dances along the knife edge of deception, the lines between truth and fiction blur, and she must wrestle her quest for vengeance against her undeniable attraction to the enemy.


Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#IllusionofStars #NetGalley

This book got me hooked, y'all! I binged this in a little over 3 hours, so it's not long but there is a decent amount of plot but it's not overwhelming and theres not much filler. I was so wrapped up in reading it, that I literally forgot to drink my morning coffee because I didn't want to put my book down.
I enjoyed so many characters, the banter was well done, the romance was light, the plot was well hashed out and I'm so sad that it ends on a cliffhanger.

An excellent debut novel, I'm really looking forward to following the author and reading the next book!