This book completely pulled me in!

Suraya Saab is a talented bladesmith who never expected her skills to land her an invitation to the royal court.

But when she gets to Kaldari, things are anything but a fairy tale. Instead of the crown prince, it’s his mysterious half-brother, Roshan, who catches her attention. Turns out, this invitation isn’t about finding a bride—it’s about hunting down the Starkeeper.

The world-building and the way the magic is woven into the story are so well done. There’s plenty of action, twists, and even a bit of romance to keep things exciting.

And that ending? It’s got me counting down the days until the next book!

If you’re into romantasy with lots of adventure, you’ve gotta check this one out.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this ARC!

I wanted to really love this book. There was so much I was excited about going into it. First of all, the cover is so eye catching and colorful. Second, I read that it incorporates Indian and Persian mythology so I was so pumped for that!

So let’s talk about what I liked. I liked the world and the magic system. I think it was complex but not overly confusing. And I did enjoy the nods to mythology.

Unfortunately, there were a decent number of things that I didn’t really like. I was not a fan of the use of modern speech in a fantasy world. It just didn’t feel creative or like it fit the rest of the speech used. I also found that this read like a romance book that had fantasy elements if that makes sense. Maybe that’s what romantasy is? 😂 I can’t quite put my finger on it but I found that the characters lusting after each other took away from the main plot and some of the decision making was a bit irrational because of it.

I would continue the series but it’s not a drop everything a new book is coming out kind of series for me.

One last note, I did switch between the audiobook and the ebook for this one. I found the narrators were definitely good fits for the characters and I liked that they fit the voices I imagined. I’d definitely look to listen to the sequel by audiobook.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. These opinions are my own.

I adore Amalie Howard, so I was especially excited for the opportunity to read her adult romantic fantasy debut. And can we just take a minute to love on this cover?! It's even prettier in person. I made my whole family look at and admire it.

Reading it near family was actually a pretty interactive experience. I kept laughing and gasping and could not hide any of my reactions. So I got lots of inquiries about what I was reading. That's how engaged I was in the story.

Suraya receives a letter inviting her to the palace as 1 of just 100 women who might have a chance to marry the crown prince. But there is so much more to the story than that. There's magic, fantastical creatures, old gods, guardian stars, and an amazing story world. There's also romance but with lots of questions up in the air because there's so much intrigue and so many machinations and strategies.

I was right with Suraya throughout. And I have so many theories for what will happen next and no real clue. All I know is I can't wait to find out.

4.25 stars

Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC copy of this book.

I was wary to pick this up because I'm not in the biggest fantasy mood right now but this book really caught my interest. It started off at a slower pace and then really started moving quickly. I don't think there is a lot of worldbuilding or explanation of the magic system but that worked out well for me and my current reading mood.

There were a few surprises but for the most part there were recognizable tropes I've seen before in fantasy romances. I also wish there was a bit more buildup for the romance. It didn't really feel like a gradual progression to me.

I did really enjoy the two main characters. Sura grew and learned quite a bit throughout the book which I enjoyed.

I'm looking forward to trying other books from Amalie Howard.

*Sweet thank you to NetGalley, author Amalie Howard & publisher Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read early & review!!*

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
5/5⭐️

“”By the maker, I didn’t expect you,” he whispers.”

Let me start off by saying, I COULD NOT put this down! This story had everything that I can’t live without in a romantasy: an amazing magic system, mythical beings, handsome princes, rebellion, a strong-willed FMC, a deadly bride pageant, spicy romantic scenes, and vivid world-building!

This was so sexy, edge-of-my-seat, heartbreaking, and kept me wanting more and more. Our FMC, Suraya, is a commoner of House Aldebaran, living in her family’s inn, where she is a bladesmith on the side. She gets invited to the royal palace to take part in a bride pageant for the royal prince’s hand. Little does she know, it’s all a farce; a ploy to draw her out into the open.

Our MMC, Roshan, is the bastard prince, brother to the crown Prince Javed, who meets our FMC the day she arrives at the palace and is drawn to her due to their witty banter & instant connection. All hell breaks loose when secrets are revealed and violence ensues, causing our FMC & MMC to escape and place Suraya’s safety as their top priority.

“He presses a teasing kiss to the side of my neck. “When this is over and you’re safe, I promise to drop to my knees for as long as you like.””

The spicy scenes between our two characters are perfect. They are romantic, playful, sexy and sensual. I love that they start as strangers, become friends and move into lovers.

The magic system in this story is so interesting, it follows elements and runes which can be imbued into physical weapons. Portals and magical webs can be crafted which puts this story on a line between fantasy & sci-fi which I loved!

I cannot wait to read the sequel, and to know so much more about our characters story, as well as all the secrets that haven’t been revealed yet (God of Night).🤤

I loved the different mythologies used in this book. The connections were interesting. However, the use of current phrases took me out of the story and made it feel muddled.

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**TL;DR**: Quite a disappointment
**Source**: Netgalley - Thanks you to the publisher!

**Plot**: Randomly chosen women are made to compete for a prince’s hand in marriage, and it gets spicy
**Characters**: Honestly, no thank you. I didn’t enjoy them at all.
**Setting**: We got the flavor of our inspiration here, but it was lost entirely to the modern slang and plot that hurtled forward with little to no explanation.
**Magic**: Again, little to nothing as far as explanation goes.

**Thoughts**:

I had hopes that this with it’s beautiful cover and fantastic inspiration source would be a winning Romantasy to start out the year on but sadly that’s not the case. This was pitched as a Persian/Indian inspired romantasy with a competition. My problems started very early as the writing felt very young on this, very young. I could look past that and easily slide into a young adult read however but in the first few chapters lines like ‘Thick thighs save lives’ are dropped which is not appropriate at all to the setting. We get more later on such as ‘resting bitch face’ and ‘princesplaining’ which truly felt awkward and out of place for our setting and story.

The overall pace of the story didn’t work for me either. We meet our main character who has a fantastic and spicy best friend. But once she abruptly arrives in the palace all the women except one mysterious one begin to hate her and she the competitions begin. I actively hate the idea of women against women in these books, and this one really amped that up. We also have the mysterious second prince. Compounded with the young writing style and very spicy scenes we see very early this felt disjointed and a bit of a mess. I wish we'd gotten so much more explanation on so much of this story. Things and statements were dropped and just left to dangle with nothing added. It was unfortunate.

This wasn’t for me sadly but we’ll move on. If you really want to give this one a try just go in aware of the very modern slang and writing, along with the focus on the spice which seems to jump out of nowhere at times. 2 out of 5 for me, I can’t recommend this one.

Kendra here! As you know, I have been on a NetGalley frenzy requesting as many romantasy books as possible. “The Starlight Heir” caught my eye as a fan and avid reader of Amalie Howard’s historical romances. I see you, Amalie, branching out into my favorite genre! Knowing I already love this author adding this to my request list was an easy decision.

When the gold-dusted court invitation arrives at Suraya Saab’s forge, she believes it’s a joke. Nobles might seek her skills as a bladesmith—one of few who can imbue her work with precious jadu, the last source of magic in the realm—but she has no qualifications as a potential bride for the crown prince. Still, the invitation is the chance at adventure, and the means to finally visit the capital city her late mother loved.

But what awaits her in Kaldari is nothing she could have imagined—and fraught with danger. It’s not the crown prince, but his impossibly handsome, illegitimate half-brother, Roshan, who captures her interest…and her ire. The invitation isn’t a quest to find a suitable bride, but a veiled hunt for the Starkeeper—a girl rumored to hold the magic of the stars in her blood. And across the city, unrest is brewing between the noble houses and the rebel militia.

When the rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run, trying to deny their simmering attraction and the knowledge that Suraya herself might be the Starkeeper. But Roshan is guarding secrets of his own. And with no control over the power stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of a dark god, an immortal whose interest might be the biggest threat of all.

I loved the mystique of this middle eastern like setting, it really lead to the mystery in the plot and the magic system that is explored. I loved the FMC’s character development in this book and the ending! I desperately hope a second book will soon follow and there may be a possible love triangle? SIgn me up!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ARC.

Read it!

The story was fine but there was enough distracting me from the plot that I had a hard time enjoying it. I really think the author ought to take out the modern slang - "book boyfriend" "hot as balls" "thick thighs save lives" all felt out of place in the setting of the story. Additionally, I felt like the attraction between Roshan and Sura was just insta-lust. However, I thought the plot was interesting with the rebel groups and god of death somehow relating to the story (we never quite get an answer on what his deal is) - and the epilogue definitely has me intrigued for the next book.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

This is an engaging fantasy with a strong plot and immersive world-building. The story kept me hooked with its twists and high emotional stakes. However, the character development felt uneven at times, especially with secondary characters, and some aspects of the world-building were under-explained or unclear. Despite these flaws, the book is an enjoyable read. Worth picking up for fans of adventurous fantasy, though it’s not without a few bumps.

4/5

Amalie Howard is here with the romantasy of the year and I am in no way surprised. As a longtime reader of Howard’s historical romances, I knew that her foray into romantasy was going to be exceptional and leave me as breathless as her former romances. Expertly blending Persian and Indian mythology with a dazzling fantasy world and a talented bladesmith drawn into political intrigue beyond her imagining, The Starlight Heir has all the echoes of a typical romantasy with bold new twists that make it an absolute standout. Suraya is a sharp protagonist confronting a power she never expected to have while facing down a much darker fate. Howard suffuses humor amidst this romantic adventure that doesn't feel overwrought and uplifts those moments of darkness. Bringing together prophecy, fated mates, and rebellion, The Starlight Heir accomplishes much while laying the groundwork for the rest of the series. Howard has always served that romantic tension that builds and builds to a moment of intense heat and this book is no different. I just adore her work and am completely under her thrall for the remainder of this series.

3.75 stars

Going off strictly vibes and pace, I liked this a lot! I’ve read Amalie Howard’s historical romance and like her writing. It’s cool that she branched out to Romantasy.

Otherwise, there were a few elements in this book that kind of dropped off in the last 25% of the story only to be picked up at the veerrrrry end and I feel like I kind of missed out on the world-building and learning about the magic system. That being said, it looks like this will be a series so I’ll probably read the next one to see if there’s more world-building and how those elements are picked back up.

Unfortunately I think I’m going to have to DNF this book at 12%.

I had seen another book reviewer talk about the modern slang within the story and I really thought I was going to be able to push through it, but sadly that wasn’t the case.

The story has a lot of potential, but for me the writing just wasn’t my favorite.

The use of “thick thighs save lives” and “goals!” in what’s meant to be a high fantasy novel just were things I couldn’t get past.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up!

I really enjoyed this romantasy debut! I can't wait for the next book. The pacing and cast of characters had me hooked, wanting to learn their fates. I especially appreciated the unique world-building, and representation of underrepresented voices. The blend of Persian mythology and romance was so fun and unique.

Thank you Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC! I loved this one.

I unfortunately had to dnf this one. I tried really hard to keep reading but it was written like an young adult novel with adult themes and too much focus on sex. I also felt like the plot was everywhere and it couldn't decide what it wanted to be. I liked Roshan and Suraya but not enough to keep reading. Some parts were well written but even the dialogue felt off and didn't flow. One second it is about this amazing story and then suddenly it's about banging the prince and sex.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book went in directions I wasn’t expecting, which was interesting, but everything felt underwhelming and I wanted more. I didn’t care about anything and felt like I wasn’t understanding what was going on because of that.

The way that this book surprised me in the BEST possible way is just incredible. I was hooked from the get go - the world building, the characters, the development, and amazingly fast (but not too fast) pacing all had me on the edge of my seat with a racing heart. I truly felt the adrenaline in my veins and I was completely immersed.

Suraya Saab is a common girl - or so she thinks. The magic that she has in her veins is simply explosive. She is an incredible badass bladesmith, and I loved her from the very beginning. Her fierceness was admirable, and the love that she had for her people was so very incredible and inspiring.

The world building - oh my goodness, the mixture of Persian and Indian mythology was simply exquisite and so very well done. The secrets, the elements of magic, the journey, the characters... all so beautiful.

Roshan I was iffy on - the way he immediately locked onto her, the way he was so secretive, it all baffled me and I knew something was not quite right with him - wasn't entirely prepared for the actual twist of what it was though - WOW! The tension and banter between Suraya and him was top notch though, I could have enjoyed some more spice but that's a me thing, and has nothing to do with the book! The ending - oh my word, I was truly in the grips and was left wanting so much more - I can hardly wait for book 2!!

If you're looking for a diverse fantasy with secrets, soulmates, fate, and a prophecy you are going to want to check this one out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Amalie Howard for this amazing arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was a genuinely FUN time! This is an ADULT romantasy debut about a blade smith, an illegitimate prince and a god bound by shadows. It also a mixture of Persian and Indian mythology that was so interesting to read about! I found the main character enjoyable to read and the world building was simple but effective! There were a few predictable moments but I still found myself having a good time reading it. It has good banter, tension, trials and magic that keeps you entertained the entire time. But the best damn part of the whole story is the secret shadow god, whose chapters were get just a few times sprinkled throughout who has left me SO INTRIGUED. AND THE EPILOGUE. IT’S ALWAYS THE DAMN EPLOGUE. IT HAS BEEN KICKING MY FEET IN EXCITEMENT FOR WHAT IS TO COME BC I LIVE FOR DRAMAAAAA. And that is all I will say 😌

Highly recommend if you want a good time with spicy scenes, hilarious banter, tension filled moments and an introduction to new mythology that you might not have read before!

Thank you Avon Books for a gifted copy of this ARC!

✨✨ARC review✨✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️
Spice in Chp: 17
💕💕Tropes💕💕
- Slow Burn
- Forbidden Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Virgin FMC

‼️‼️TWS‼️‼️
- Violence
- Death

❤️ Quotes that made me swoon❤️
“I could stare at you, and eat you forever”
“When this is over and you’re safe, I promise to drop to my knees for as long as you like.”
“I know you don’t believe me, but I think I fell for you from the beginning. The moment you stared me down outside the palace. Those fierce, storm-cloud eyes of yours did me in… My fate was sealed from that very first day.”

✨✨Onto the Review✨✨

Firstly thank you to Harper Collins and NetGalley for sending me this book!
The FMC Suraya starts off a little innocent and then in the last 5 chapters of the book really dives into her feminine rage and starts taking it out on people who deserve it! Watching her character development was one of my favorite parts of this book. At first she’s a little whiny but who wouldn’t be when you’re plucked from your family home and forced into a trial for a princes hand in marriage that you do not want to marry?
The MMC is a bastard prince named Rohan who is equally infuriating as he is swoon worthy! the banter between the two MC’s was delicious!!
I really enjoyed the world building in this book! IT did take me a little while to figure out the magic system and how things worked but once I figured it out it was really easy to understand. This book is definitely a fast paced book so if you’re looking for a fantasy romance with an insanely good plot and beautiful descriptions go get this book!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins/Avon for the eARC!

This book was fine. It read very much like a typical YA book, but with smut. The main character is a chosen one, “not like other girls,” thinks she’s plain but the handsome prince is in love with her, hates dresses and loves swords, etc. Very textbook YA protagonist. I’m not sure how old she is meant to be, but she reads like she’s 15/16. Also, one thing that drove me crazy, and spoilers: right before she and Roshan have sex, he asks her if she’s sure because there are things about him she doesn’t know and she literally says “everyone has their secrets.” And the next chapter, she is all “I thought we were past the point of having secrets.” It doesn’t excuse him lying about his identity to her for no reason other than plot device, but she did say she was okay with it before they boned so idk.

One thing I can’t stand in fantasy books is when they use modern slang, and there was a lot of it. It felt like the author tried too hard to relate to the book girlies, with the way she worded innuendos, with the mysterious “shadow daddy” figure, and the referencing memes and literally referring to “book boyfriends” in the story. Some people might eat that up, and power to them, but for me it was super cringey. Also, the amount of lusty banter at pivotal moments in the story was just too much. I love clever banter but like, not moments after your best friend got murdered in front of you? Read the room??

All that being said, the world that was built and the series that was then set up with this book was definitely interesting. The magic system is pretty cool, the side characters were all so charming to me, and the politics and regional disparity was well thought out.

I won’t be continuing this series, but I did have a good time reading this, despite constantly rolling my eyes at Suraya’s character.