I'm in love, this is Romantasy at its finest! If you're a Romantasy person this is a must add to your TBR, I honestly cannot recommend it enough. The chemistry between our two leads Elara and Lorenzo are just off the charters and the banter between the two is just masterfully done. Imani Erriu has created such a vivid world with characters that you simply cannot get enough of. The magic is this world is so unique and fun, and such a refreshing take on make that I truly truly think it might be my newest favorite magic system. Honestly I could go on and on but I don't want to give too much away, If you're a fan of The Hurricane Wars or Until the Stars Fall this is definitely right up your alley!

Elara is a woman cursed by a prophecy that predicts she will fall in love with a Star, leading to both of their deaths. In the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Light, the Stars, cruel godlike beings, reign as Elara flees the destruction brought by Ariete, the Star of Wrath, only to end up in the arms of her supposed enemy, Prince Lorenzo of Helios. His apparent brightness harbors its shadows. The prophecy hanging over her life adds a palpable tension to her choices, especially as her fate becomes entwined with Prince Lorenzo. Elara has nothing to lose, making her a dangerous force in a world ruled by merciless Stars. Her relationship with Lorenzo adds complexity as they wrestle with their duties, pasts, and an undeniable attraction threatening to upend everything they know. Their chemistry is explosive, and the "star-crossed" nature of their fate. Their journey from mistrust to connection is central to the story's emotional core.

The story is heavy on romance and does have some spicy. The novel's greatest strength lies in its world-building, creating a unique universe. However, while the book excels in its romantic tension and world-building, it sometimes stumbles with pacing. The middle portion of the story, which focuses on Elara's training as a weapon against the Stars, sometimes drags. The buildup to the final confrontation feels fast-forward and too fast. The magical system could have been fleshed out more to realize its potential for the characters fully. Overall, the emotional intensity and descriptive world make this book enjoyable, and I look forward to reading the next book.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House.

Heavenly Bodies followed our main character Elara and her journey about figuring out who she is, how to avenge her family, all while dealing with the new emotions of love. The overall concept and main plot points were done well and were quite captivating, but I do believe at some points there could have been more discussion and history behind the Stars, Celestes, and other parties involved with the prophecy.

The pacing of the story was consistent from the start to the ending, making the time jumps apparent but not choppy. The dialogue was also good, with the banter between Enzo and Elara always entertaining.

The only major critique was that I wish there was more worldbuilding and a deeper discussion into the magic system, including more history behind the Stars. Other than that the story is very entertaining and I can't wait for the next one!

I will be honest, I have mixed feelings about this book. I know it’s popular and I was looking forward to reading it. However the story just felt it was missing something, it was very hard for me to get into and It felt a bit like a chore to finish.

I will still be ordering this for my library as it is popular and I know people are interested in it. I am hopeful the next book is stronger and easier to be absorbed into the world

I really wanted to love this book but unfortunately it was a little flat. I think the concept was unique and interesting but the dialogue and characters were a bit one dimensional and had a hard time connecting with the story and staying engaged.

This book was definitely an easy to get into fantasy. Princess Elara sees horrors in her kingdom due to a prophecy the Gods are trying to stop. It turns out that her nations enemy is actually her greatest ally. While they kidnap her they also treat her pretty decent. The enemy to lovers lasted about 5 minutes which is fine by me. The romance between Princess Elara and Prince Lorenzo was actually cute as can be and I loved how protective he was with her. Their power sharing and working through their trauma together was *chefs kiss. The fight scene at the end was full of suspense and mystery, it could have been an awesome ending. I feel like this could have just been a longer book and skipped the drawn out series, but maybe I am just bummed that I won't know what happens for quite some time.

I will admit this did take me a minute to get into but once I was in I was locked in. I thought the plot was so good and the world was interesting around 25% when the romance picked up I couldn't put it down. the ending had me questioning everything and I need book 2 immediately. I love anything soulmatey and this is as good as it gets for that. Enzo. The man that he is oh my lord the romance plot in this book was my favourite part it was so well done. This will definitely be one of my top romantasy recommendations in the future.

I read this when it was indie published and can see the differences and changes the author has made for the traditional published story. Things have been pulled out and drawn out less.

"A runaway TikTok sensation, Heavenly Bodies is the first book in a dazzling new romantasy series that blends mythology and shadow magic with a tantalizing enemies-to-lovers romance that will rewrite the stars.

“You know the most dangerous kind of villain? A woman with nothing left to lose.”

In a world ruled by the cruel and merciless Stars, Elara has been cursed by fate. A prophecy promises she will fall for a Star, but that it will kill them both.

So when Ariete, Star of Wrath, War and Chaos, descends to wreak havoc on Elara’s kingdom, she flees her home—the Kingdom of Night—for the neighbouring Helios, Kingdom of Light.

And strides straight into the arms of an enemy prince.

Fearing that Ariete might turn his sights to Helios next, Prince Lorenzo is forced to train Elara as a weapon—one worthy of battling against the tyrannical reign of the Stars. But there are shadows even within the Kingdom of Light—and they threaten to reveal the darkness in Lorenzo’s past and the ancient magic that slumbers in Elara’s veins.

And with it all comes an undeniable, star-crossed pull between Elara and Lorenzo that neither can seem to resist..."

Started out strong, then lagged. Pacing was off at points. Felt like the author was trying to fit EVERYTHING into this book. I wanted to finished cause I thought it would be a fast read but it was soo long. I thought it would be better since I also read the indie published version and I felt like it could have been cut in half.
The premise is still a interesting one, but nothing groundbreaking.

This book was just fine. It didn't revolutionize the genre by any means, but I certainly understand its appeal to a mass audience, and this book will probably sell well if it finds the right traction. It has all of the key components that make a viral romantasy: enemies-to-lovers, romance focus, strong female characters, etc. For me, this book exemplified what happens when books are written primarily to go viral and based around tropes. The end result is a just okay book. From the moment I began to read this book, I knew where it was going. Imani Erriu has undeniable talent, but the nature of this book didn't quite allow it to shine through.

i adore this book and it’s definitely a new all time favorite fantasy romance. i loved imani’s writing style and the world she created. cannot wait to dive into book 2!

In Heavenly Bodies, Imani Erriu presents readers with a dazzling and richly crafted fantasy that balances themes of love, power, and destiny against the backdrop of a world dominated by celestial forces. The narrative centers around Elara, a protagonist marred by prophecy and a sense of fatalism, who must navigate the treacherous terrain of her cursed existence while contending with the threat of Ariete, the formidable Star of Wrath, War, and Chaos. Elara embodies resilience and vulnerability in equal measure. She is acutely aware of the prophecy that looms over her, making her journey one of self-discovery as much as it is about survival. Paired with Prince Lorenzo, the tension between them crackles with an intensity bolstered by the idea of "star-crossed" lovers. Lorenzo, burdened by a shadowy past, is not just a love interest; he emerges as a complex character whose ambition to train Elara as a weapon against the Stars reveals his own struggles for redemption.
The themes of empowerment and overcoming one’s fate are particularly poignant as Elara learns to embrace the magic within her. This journey is not solely about resisting the curse that binds her, but also about claiming her autonomy in a world dictated by the whims of the Stars. This internal conflict is mirrored in her external battles, leading to a riveting climax that challenges the very nature of destiny. I highly recommend this book, It showcases a spellbinding journey that reminds us of the strength found in vulnerability and the intricate dance between light and dark. For those seeking a tale rich in romance, adventure, and fantastical elements, this book is an absolute must-read!

Run, do not not walk to get this book when it becomes avaliable at the bookstore. The stars are gonna pay for their ways and you are gonna want to be in the front row when Moon and the Sun come calling. Such a unique and fresh take on astrology and world building is explained but not overwhelming. The next installment is not coming out soon enough. Take me back to Heliois!

I will still order this book for the library because it is popular and people are requesting it but I personally, did not understand the story. The plot lost me from page to page and while I did read and finish the whole thing, I couldn't tell you a single thing I understood about it.

Thanks for the advanced copy! I read the original book when it first came out, really liked the book! I have also enjoyed the changes she made, while they don’t change the story I can see why they were made. Looking forward to the next ones!