This was a little better than middle of the road for me. I loved the lore and worldbuilding, so immersive and captivating. The plot was fun and exciting. The characters were strong and likeable. It just didn't blow me away or wow me or make me feel obsessed. I think it's over reliance on romantasy tropes is partly to blame for that, which I know some readers will absolutely love. I just wanted something a little more fresh and original, especially considering how unique the world felt to me. 3.5 rounded up. I'd still definitely recommend to romantasy lovers. Also, the cover art is absolutely stunning!

I loved the premise and idea of this book, however I did dnf due to spice.

Thank you for the ARC read.

Absolutely captivating. This was such a great fantasy, the world building was fantastic. The character dynamics blew me away and I really love Suraya. I can’t wait for the next one!

This book was very good! I loved the high stakes and fast action storyline, the magic lore, the good vs bad prince, and our main character. It was full of adventure, quite sexy, and lots of fun. The ONE thing that really kept taking me out of the story was the modern phrases being used. This is a fantasy and they use phrases like “thick thighs save lives” and “resting bitch face”.

This was such a great read. I absolutely loved the main characters, and the spicy scenes were top notch.

Political intrigue, mythological beasts, betrayals, romance… this book really had a little bit of everything. I thought it was an excellent fantasy debut for Howard, who is already well known for her work in historical romance. I do think this shows a bit in her style of writing, which will appeal more to some readers than others. Overall, I thought it was a very fun read. The world was unique, characters well developed and the story had me intrigued from the first page!

This book had all the parts to be epic. The plot was good, the authors writing style is easy to read and follow, the relationship between the main characters is beautiful. It was just missing something for me. I thought the beginning of the book was gold. But then it felt like the flow was off. It skipped around, and the author passed over things that maybe would have slowed down the story and given it more meat. It felt like the “lite” version of an epic fantasy novel. For example she created this magic system that is amazing with runes and only the main character can read them, but she never describes what they look like or explains why they show up on people’s body or their history. I wanted more. This series has potential and I hope this author continues to evolve.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🌶🫑 / 5

✨ The Chosen One
✨ Royal suitor
✨ Rebels vs. Corrupt Crown
✨ Love triangle

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! As always, Amalie Howard does not disappoint in her writing style, prose, or pacing and kept me on my toes and entertained throughout the book.

Things I liked:
I really loved the strong female relationships in this book, both between Sura and Laleh, Sura and Clem, Sura and Amma, and the memories of her strong relationship with her mom. Roshan also had a very close relationship with his mom and I loved that this was exhibited for the readers, even though his mom has long since passed.

I also enjoyed how confused and overwhelmed Sura was throughout the whole book, but wasn't TSTL. She certainly was not a Mary Sue, but she also didn't make me want to rip my hair out from how dumb she being. Instead, she felt very well-balanced and extremely relatable.

I LOVED the hints of what's to come in the future books. The chapters from the God of Darkness's perspective were just *chef's kiss* those chapters kept me coming back to this book like an addict. At one point I realized I had skimmed an entire chapter just to get to another of his faster and I made myself go back and re-read.

But we all know (view spoiler)

I am absolutely DESPERATE for the sequel!!

What I didn't like:
This *felt* YA and I really don't know how to explain that because it's not an insult. I know a lot of people use that as an insult and I do NOT mean it that way. Some people use it to convey that a book was immature, the writing was bad, or the characters were TSTL.

None of that is true in this case.

So I'm not sure I can quite put my tongue on it, but if you removed the spice I could definitely see it being a YA book. And that's not to say YA is bad, it's just usually not my cup of tea. BUT I'm hopeful that the next book in the series will feel a bit grittier/have higher stakes/be spicier. Either way, I can't wait to read the next book!!

If you liked Red Queen, but wanted it aged up and with spice, I think you'll like the Starlight Heir.

I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Suraya is one of 100 potential brides chosen to compete in a contest to marry the prince. She quickly realizes things aren’t as they seem, maybe shes not who she thinks she is, and everyone around her has secrets. It’s magical, lightly political, a little romantic and sexy.

I love the world building, the characters are super interesting and detailed. I read the entire book in two days. There are some cliffhangers that make me extremely excited for the next book.

This will definitely be on my favorites of the year list.

I didn’t love nor hate this book, but I simply feel nothing for it. Roshan was really the only character I liked, and occasionally Aran.

I wish I could’ve became invested in the characters and the story itself, but sadly that wasn’t the case.

The book wasn’t bad by any means, it just didn’t connect with me.

I was also unaware that it belongs to a (yet to be published) series, since it read like a fast-paced standalone. I’m unsure, as of now, whether I will continue forward in the series once the next comes out. I found it hard to finish this book, even though there was nothing wrong with it.

Further more, just because this book didn’t entertain me, doesn’t mean it won’t for others. I do highly recommend reading it for yourself so that you may form your own opinion on the book.

Very thankful to have received an arc through NetGalley; I couldn’t have been more shocked opening my email and seeing the approval words typed on my screen.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amalie Howard, and the Publishers for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I got very engrossed in this book quickly, where I sat still until I had read about 130 pages and was having the time of my life. I liked the world, the characters, and how quickly things were developing. I liked Suraya lot because she was able to think on her feet to try and stay on the right side of everyone as she went through the soon to be King's trials. All she wanted to do was go back to her life at home, living with her loving family.

But once there was the attack on the palace, everything kind of started going down hill for me. There was blood and death everywhere, Suraya and Roshan are running for their lives, and the thing that made me the most uncomfortable: Suraya can't stop being horny. Like you're running for your life, watching people die around you, but you can't stop thinking about how hot the prince is. I could forgive it for a while, but it was a reoccurring theme. We work, we run for our lives, we get horny. Lather, rinse, repeat. Everything was just going too fast, and the only constant was that Suraya had the hots for Roshan, and also her dreamy shadow man. It continued to pull me from the plot that was already going 80 MPH.

I do like the premise of the book itself, but I think it would benefit from a huge slow down. I understand there's plenty of material to continue the series, which is obviously hinted at, but I do wish we could have maybe split this book into two, filled it with more meaningful character development, personality and magic wise. All I got from this is Suraya is super magically powerful, Roshan is hot, and the other side characters are either good or evil.

TW: Parental death, classism, violence, gore, imprisonment, drug addiction

3.75 Stars

Suraya, a bladesmith from a small town, is invited to the palace to compete with other women in a competition to win the prince's hand. Her father and aunt are weary of her going but in the end they relent. She quickly finds out the competition is life threatening and that she's beginning to have these strange powers she can't control. With the help of the handsome bastard prince, she escapes near death and they set out to no man's land in search of safety and to check on her family.

Honestly the first half of this book is SO fast. Almost too fast. The competition felt like 5 seconds honestly. I realize that there is a lot to set up in these three hundred or so pages but I felt like I was being hit from every which way with new things happening and new information. But then the middle part ended up dragging. It wasn't until about 75% that I thought things settled in to a normal pace for me. Besides pacing issues, I felt the romance was a bit meh. He is in insta-love with her and she falls for his flattery way too easily. Like have some self preservation girl!

I did enjoy the magic system, it's really unique and interesting and I love the lore of the Simurgh. And I'm also entirely curious about the shadow god that seems to be the same character from Suraya's dreams. I feel that will be the real romance of this series, it's being set up so well...a reluctant soul fated bond...with a shadow god...yes please! So this didn't end up being the banger I wanted from one of my favorite authors but I feel it's all going to be worth it in book 2. Thank you so much to Avon for providing me with an eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book provided the opportunity to love all the characters but I think especially Suraya. There was so much strength in her but I also loved how her previously tiny world/humble beginnings didn’t prepare her for what was happened in the book. I can see how it was supposed to make her more approachable and I could understand her feelings through the course of this book when she learned a lot of new things about the world. The unknown provided much frustration and I sympathized when things were falling apart. I felt frustrated when it happened which made me love this book more- the inducement of feelings. Suraya’s love for her friends and family is ever present in and it becomes clear from the jump how easily and HARD Roshan fell for her. The world building in the book is done so well. I loved learning about the customs of the people and how the magic system works in this world. The plot moves fast but I had no trouble keeping up! Not all plot points are wrapped up and I'm very curious to see where the next book goes next and how some of those unanswered questions will be revealed! I'm especially curious to see what the dreams mean, there's a lot of potential there to really shake up the peace they have now at the end of this book!

4🌟 3🌶️ 3.5💥(violence). I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read an ARC.

I knew this fantasy book would probably be intense or serious because it has a very detailed map, a glossary at the end (this will be your friend!!! Refer to it often!), and an introduction to the different Houses of this kingdom. I also loved that the story reiterated things multiple times, to aid in understanding.

The book was at a 3-3.5🌟 for the majority of my read for a few reasons. It was fast-paced, but sometimes I wanted the story to get “there” faster. On the contrary, the romance and spice were maybe too fast. I would have liked a slower burn, personally. I thought Sura, the FMC, didn’t HAVE to be a blacksmith. She could have absolutely been just a badass barkeep and innkeeper. Some dynamics between characters feel off throughout the book.

However, from the ending, I do think the second story will be wildly better! That the things Howard elaborates on in detail or mentions in this book that seem a little pointless or redundant will probably come to play important parts as the series progresses. Almost like she’s getting all her ducks in a row.

I would definitely place her descriptive writing style alongside Thea Guanzon (Hurricane Wars) and Hafsah Faizal (Tempest of Tea). I did also get hints of SJM along the way. What I’m curious about is if other readers felt hints of stories like Cinderella, Jasmine (Aladdin), Sleeping Beauty, and even… Matrix Reloaded, lol. Because I did.

Amalie Howard states in her acknowledgments that she enjoyed being able to share her Indian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean roots in this story. I’m not all too familiar with mythology in these cultures, but her creatures and verbiage were unique to me!

I enjoyed this read. I usually like a slower burn but I think this book caught me in the right mood or maybe it just worked where I needed I needed it's burn level. I enjoyed the characters and the story. I always want just a little more depth It seems. That could be a me thing where I'm chasing something. I will also say there was a few times that my mind wandered but then it sucked me back in. But overall I enjoyed the plot and the characters and found this to be an enjoyable read.

The Vibes: bride hunting (and trials), falling for your betrothed's brother, shadow sex dreams

Heat Index: 7/10

The Basics:

Bladesmith Suraya is shocked when she's summoned to compete with other women for the hand of Prince Javed—she certainly never expected to be a princess, and isn't all that interested. But the threats of the trials are nothing next to what happens when Javed singles her out... she develops a connection with his flirtatious yet mysterious half-brother Roshan. However, the court isn't truly looking for a bride... they're seeking the starkeeper, a girl destined to carry untold power in her blood. And when unrest has Roshan and Suraya on the run together, the starkeeper's identity—and the risks surrounding it—only becomes clearer... and more threatening.

The Review:

I've long loved Amalie Howard's historical romances, and I didn't even know she had a background in fantasy romance. I was super excited to see that she was weaving in, among other things, Persian and Indian mythology into her world—I mean, in general, the current wave of fantasy romances seems to be more diverse than the last. It's exciting stuff, especially when someone who you know can write takes it on.

This wasn't a perfect series opener for me, though I'll admit that's probably in part because I have a generally high opinion of Howard. However, it's also a series opener, and I expect the next book to be where the star of the show really steps up. It's not that this is all set up and no action by any means, but... without giving away spoilers... she's laying breadcrumbs throughout this novel. And she's leaving some seriously unresolved shit (I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger, though) on the table in a good way.

Where this book excels is in the pure entertainment factor. The world. is really rich and well-built. Food, sights, costumes are gorgeously described. You can really sink into this space, and that's something I think a lot of fantasy readers are going to enjoy... while the romance readers still get a good love story and, um, some really hot sex scenes.

Was the romance one of my favorites I've read from Amalie? Not quite. Roshan and Suraya have definite chemistry, and again, the sex scenes were great. Everything was well-built. Honestly, the critiques i have of it are really more a matter of taste. I liked Suraya, and I liked Roshan, but Roshan, while being sexy and flirty and fun and by no means boring, was a bit nice for my taste. I just prefer a grittier hero in general, especially with higher stakes books like those in the fantasy romance space.

That said, I'm constantly made aware of the fact that my opinion there isn't that popular right now, so I'm sure he will please many!

However... There's, again, this whole other thing. And it does involve shadow sex dreams. Some tentacle vibes. I mean, I would be lying if I said that the shadow sex dreams weren't my favorite part of the book. The elements to which those dreams are bound, and again I'm trying to be subtle and teasing about it... Will lead to something a bit more intense in the next book, I think.

One thing that did throw me, I think, and is more a note about the current fantasy romance field in general, is that the language is very modern. Lots of slang, contemporary vibes, etc. It's not badly written, but it did kind of surprise me (and I'll confess, it's not my favorite—I think the ideal is a happy space between "doth and narry" and "fuck yeah bro". Not that this book includes the latter). I see something like this with a series like Fourth Wing, for example, so it makes sense that it folds into the New Adult x Fantasy Romance niche. It just did jar me a bit.

The Sex:

I mean, it's Amalie Howard. She writes a damn good sex scene. They're hot and passionate, you get good foreplay, there's some mixing it up in terms of tone, riskiness, and more. Solid use of magical birth control. It's vanilla, but it's very good vanilla.

And the dreams... a bit less vanilla....

While this could have gotten me a little more hyped, it's still another good entry to Amalie's backlist and I am very much looking forward to the next installment! I'm excited to see what happens next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The main characters were both endearing, with the male lead standing out as charmingly humorous and sweet, a refreshing deviation from the typical brooding archetype. The romance was satisfactory, though not particularly memorable for me. The author skillfully crafted their pre-relationship tension, yet the speed at which his feelings developed seemed a tad unbelievable. As someone who appreciates a gradual romantic build-up, this aspect didn't quite resonate with me. However, their witty exchanges were a delight. Looking ahead, the hinted romance in the sequel appears far more intriguing than what unfolded in this installment. If executed well, it promises to explore compelling dynamics and pose provocative questions. Anticipation is high, and I'm eager to delve into the next book once the synopsis is revealed.

This was fine! Nothing about it really stands out for me. It felt rushed at times and I prefer a slow burn + more tension and chemistry between the love interests. The spice was ok but the losing virginity trope is not for me. I also dislike when books set back in time use a bunch of modern slang - just a pet peeve of mine. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I am very excited to be reading this book! My full review to follow.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. All thoughts and comments are my own.

Wow! This was a unique take on magic mixed with fate and a twist with the Gods.
You get :
-unknown magic wielder who slowly comes into her own with the help of a "croon" in her visions.
- some witty spicy romance with the bastard prince who has his own secrets.
- unalive people coming alive again! UGH!!
- a great adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat while slowly falling in love with each character

My brain is still trying to process everything I read. I feel like the ending was a twist on its own and a cliff hanger for whats to come in this series!
I cannot wait!