I love Amalie's writing and this story is well written. However, I could tell this was the author's first romantasy because there were a lot of pacing issues. It felt like the author has a destination she wants the story to go, but book 1 was just about getting to book 2 and not a sufficient story on its own. There wasn't a goal for the characters. They just kept escaping danger, getting captured, escape, captured again, escape, captured again, etc. etc. After the third capture, I was so fed up.

Will I read the second book though? 100%. I am very intrigued by where this story is going.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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 draws 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 carry out a brutal strike, 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 hiding secrets of his own. And with no control of the power that seems to be stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of the old gods themselves…and the interest of one dark god in particular might be the biggest threat of all.

By the time I hit 42% of the book, I still wasn’t sure if I actually liked it—which, let’s be honest, isn’t a great sign. There are some intriguing elements, like the mythology and the magic system, both of which show potential. But here’s the kicker: the FMC is starting to seriously grate on my nerves.

Sure, the banter between the FMC and MMC has its moments—it’s decent, but it doesn’t wow me. I’ve come across much sharper, more memorable dialogue in other books. And as for the spicy scenes... yikes. Let’s just say they land closer to cringe than chemistry, which is a real letdown.

At 100% I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It didn't get better for me, but it didn't get worse either. Overall I think I would say that this book might be good for someone who is just getting into fantasy, or romantasy, but I don't think it was as engaging as it could be. There was a lot of promise in the set up of the story, but the pacing and execution just weren't there for me.

The Starlight Heir was such a ride! I've enjoyed Amalie Howard's historicals so I knew I was in for a treat with this book I was not wrong. Suraya (the lead of this story) is everything I love in a fantasy MC - scrappy, sassy, loyal and determined to survive any obstacle. The banter was probably my favorite part of the book. The snappy dialogue had me laughing at many points. I really appreciated how the worldbuilding had Persian and Indian influences. I'm always looking for fantasy stories that have non-European influences. I also loved how the story couldn't quite be categorized by one trope. The closest description I can find is if you loved Bash's storyline in Reign then this will probably be the story for you. The story took many twists and turns (some I suspected and some that took me by surprise) and I am so excited to see what will happen next. This was such a strong start to an intriguing new fantasy romance series and I can't wait for everyone else to read it cause I want to hear all of your theories about what is coming in book 2 👀

I read a physical arc of this. 3.75

A Romantic Fantasy with Intriguing Twists

In this captivating fantasy romance, Suraya and Roshan's chemistry ignites as they navigate the dangers of being on the run. Roshan's devotion to Suraya is admirable, and their romance, while not a fast-burn, is sweet and enjoyable.

Suraya shines as a strong and complex protagonist, driven by a mix of love and hate, and grappling with inner turmoil. In contrast, Roshan's character feels somewhat underdeveloped, but this may be due to Suraya's dominant presence.

The story takes an intriguing turn with the introduction of a mysterious character, whose role is gradually revealed throughout the book. The final pages set the stage for a thrilling sequel, and I'm eager to see how this new character will impact Suraya and Roshan's journey.

Overall, I highly recommend this fantasy romance to fans of the genre. Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy. I'm eagerly anticipating book two!t

"The Starlight Heir" by Amalie Howard is a captivating fantasy romance that swept me away.

Suraya, a skilled bladesmith with a touch of magic, is a truly compelling protagonist. Her strength, independence, and fiery spirit make her incredibly relatable. And Roshan, the enigmatic prince, is the perfect foil for her. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their forbidden romance adds a thrilling layer of tension.

I loved how this book drew inspiration from Indian and Persian mythology. It added a unique and refreshing layer to the world-building.

The world-building itself is exquisite. Howard has created a richly imagined realm with unique magic systems and intriguing political intrigue. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.

"The Starlight Heir" is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance. It's a scorching hot blend of adventure, passion, and danger that will leave you breathless.

I can't wait for the second book!

So I am genuinely unsure if this book is bad, or if it is just not for me. I did force myself to read through it, partly because I wanted to give it a chance and partly to complete my year reading goals.

The cover art is gorgeous. I love the idea of a Persian/Indian inspired fantasy and do believe we need more non-western, non-medieval fantasy stories. Just so many things in this book did not work for me.

The writing style is way too modern for the type of story it is supposed to be. We have references to Disney princesses and too many current, modern colloquialisms that don't make sense in the context of the world building as we are presented it. The writing for the sex scenes is so awkward, its almost funny - watch out for a man's "tool of sensual destruction". I'm sorry, what?

The romance and sex scenes have all the chemistry of wet noodles and are incredibly cringe. Our main character Suraya is a virgin to start, but also has weird sex dreams about a magic stranger and is also constantly thirsty for the love interest - like they are in the middle of running for their lives and she'll be thinking about how hot he is. The romance feels very insta-lust and even the twist is not that twisty but something we've seen a thousand times and is not even that well set up within the story. The writing of the sex scenes (and the main characters constant cursing) give the impression of a teenage trying to sound adult and sexy, without really knowing what they are saying. I understand that Howard is a successful historical romance writer (though I have not read anything by her before), so it almost feels like maybe she was trying too hard to make these scenes different in the fantasy world?

The story arc feels rushed and so many pieces feel left completely unfinished (while I get this is the first in a series, we stil need to tie up at least a few loose ends in the first story!). We get these awkward dream sex sequences, but they never come into play AT ALL (like not even a mention, or a quick info dump on why she is dreaming about a stranger) - it makes these scenes feel like a weird fan service to just add more spice. Parts of the story feel unnecessary (the main characters supposed rivalry with some of the other women, the whole bride competition, escape, capture, rinse repeat). I would have liked more time with Laylah and more actual character interactions that weren't just "oh he's hot".

Anyway, if romantasy is your passion, this might be worth checking out. In the meantime, I will continue my search for romantasy that I like (or maybe give up, we'll see).

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for an eARC of this story.

This book wasn't bad, but it wasn't really what I wanted it to be. I guess I just kind of expected more? I so badly wanted to like it.

I thought that the characters were cute and the story was told well, if not at a bit of a slower pace than I would have liked. I found myself getting bored often while reading, stopping to doom scroll or watch tv instead. The characters weren't enough to keep my interest and I had to force myself to keep reading.

I loved the deadly trials and search for a bride that we got, but it was just lackluster. I thought it was going to be more of a challenge, more trials that our FMC would have to go through, instead there was only one trial with deadly consequences, a random riddle and a ball before it was over. It just felt like I was promised one thing and delivered another. This part of the story was so rushed, but once it ended the story did seem to balance out in pacing.

The author couldn't seem to decide if she wanted this book to be YA or NA. The characters are in their 20s and there are some explicit scenes between them, but the dialogue and actions of our characters was firmly in the YA category and even some of the internal monologues read like angsty teen yearning.

The world building, left something to be desired. The rushed pacing at the beginning of the book robbed us of development, not only within our characters, family dynamics and the world, but also with the magic system. It felt like we got the cliff notes version of development, and while I loved the mythology and Indian /Persian style of the world, It felt like it just deserved more.

Overall, the story was decent. I liked it but didn't love it.

Not bad, but not my favorite book, honestly. I wanted to like it more than I did. The characters were fun, and the story was well told - the myth/fantasy elements were woven in well. The two things I didn't care for - the way the story felt a little YA with spice, and the weird modern anachronisms in fantasy. Some of it didn't bother me, but reading "goals" in a fantasy novel was a little jarring.

Having read Amalie Howard's romances before, I immediately clicked to review this book. This book is a Romance Fantasy book which I have never read before. It is the story of a young woman, Suraya, who is destined to have extraordinary powers. When people realize what she can do she is immediately hunted for her power. Roshan helps keep her alive through many situations. When they develop feelings, they must decide if it is possible for them to live a normal life together. I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Avon for my honest review.

Suraya Saab, an ordinary bladesmith in an ordinary desert town, thinks it must be a joke when she receives a royal summons, inviting her to participate in a pageant to win the hand of the crown prince. But when she arrives at the palace, she finds the stakes are much higher than just the prince's hand in marriage, and she's more than just an ordinary girl. When rebels attack, Suraya finds herself on the run with the prince's illegitimate half-brother, and she struggles to keep both her newfound magic and her attraction to him in check.

This is Howard's first adult romantasy, and although it wasn't perfect, I did really enjoy the world building and the overall story. The initial bride pageant/contest felt a bit rushed, but the pacing after that felt more natural.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the relationship between Suraya and Roshan. I was initially worried it was going to be rushed and feel very insta-love based on their initial interactions but the first half of the book turned into a lot of lusty pining for one another.

My biggest issue with this book was that it felt like it couldn't decide whether it wanted to be a YA or adult romantasy. The MCs are described as being mid-20s and there are a few explicit scenes (plus plenty of descriptive yearning), but at the same time, the characters' actions and dialogue sometimes read more YA.

Overall, I enjoyed this start to the series, and I'm excited to see more magical creatures and the development of Suraya and Roshan's relationship in the next book.

Read if you like:
Deadly trials
Prophecy
Chosen one
Reluctant hero
Hidden magic
Middle Eastern lore

Meh. I had such high hopes for this book and maybe that was the problem. The Persian and Indian mythology was really cool. I’m always searching for diverse worlds and folklore to read, which was what I was most excited for in this book. When I started this, I realized the pacing was… odd. It was going way too fast, but nothing had really happened yet so I wasn’t sure why it felt so rushed. As it moved on, the pacing got better, but my connections for the characters never clicked. This needed at least 50-100 pages more of world building and character development before she ever got to the trials. I felt like the fantasy aspects in this world were very glossed over, and I would’ve liked more focus on them in a broader sense. Every time I started to get in the groove with the dialogue and scene, it would abruptly end. I just wish this had more of everything. More pages, more time spent on scenes and world and characters and dialogue, more fantasy, and WAY SLOWER burn romance. Is this maybe a publisher thing where they were forced to keep the word count low? Because there just wasn’t enough time for everything it tried to do. No surprises from anyone that I don’t know what to rate this, but I think 3 makes sense for now.

I love the lore of the star keeper and the rune magic, this book moves pretty fast and the ending left me more intrigue for the next book. I just wish we got more scenes of the brides to be in the trials. Overall it was pretty enjoyable book

I had high hopes for The Starlight Heir, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite meet my expectations. While the cover is stunning and immediately drew me in, the story itself had several elements that fell flat for me.

First, the tone of the main characters felt inconsistent with their supposed age. They’re in their twenties, but their dialogue and behavior came across as much younger—like teens navigating their first adventures. This made it harder for me to connect with them as adults, and the chemistry between the two main characters didn’t feel believable.

The plot gave me major Aladdin vibes, especially with the FMC’s teal-blue outfit that screamed “Jasmine” to a T which I liked because I could envision it perfectly. There was never really a question about how events would play out, especially her inevitable run from the prince.

The pacing was another issue. The story dragged on so much that I actually put it down for a month before coming back to finish it. Modern slang in a fantasy setting didn’t help either—it pulled me out of the world-building and made the dialogue feel forced.

That said, the magic system was intriguing, even if I found it confusing at times. I could see the potential there, but it didn’t feel fully fleshed out or integrated into the story.

Overall, I think this book would’ve worked better as a YA novel, especially with its lighter tone and younger-feeling characters. The adult aspects didn’t feel necessary and might have hurt the marketing. While The Starlight Heir has some good ideas and a gorgeous cover, it just wasn’t the story I was hoping for.

If you are looking for a romantasy with political intrigue, hidden power, celestial magic, trials, and a heaping dose of yearning, “The Starlight Heir,” by Amalie Howard is for you. Our FMC Suraya is a rather talented blade smith with a secret hidden in her veins: ancient and seemingly-forgotten star magic. When invited to the palace to compete as a potential bride for the prince of her realm, she faces deadly obstacles, as well as the confrontation of what has existed beneath her skin her whole life. As Sura battles to control her power and her fate, she can’t help but feel drawn to the prince’s half-brother, Roshan, who helps her discover herself and the inner power that had previously remained dormant. I enjoyed how Howard weaved this story together and I found it to be an inspiring tale of self-reflection, self-discovery, and the sacrifices we must occasionally make for our greatest loves. My only sticking point about the story were the chapters narrated by the God of Night; these chapters didn’t feel very pertinent to the overarching story and I struggled to connect them to any sort of plot meaning. Some of the magic and side characters felt a little flat, and I would have enjoyed more detail in these areas. Overall I enjoyed this easy-reading romantasy and would be interested to see how the story progresses.
As always, thank you to NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for access to this eARC for review; as always my opinion and thoughts are my own.

Well crafted, fast-paced, wildly entertaining romantasy.

Something you should know about me before we continue… I F-ing LOVE the chosen one trope, it’s top tier imo - and when done right it is SUCH a good time.

Amalie Howard did it right!

What’s to love…
- slow burn romance
- magic + magical creatures (I cannot wait to see more Wyverns in book 2!)
- chosen one FMC
- Prince MMC
- Easy to handle world-building that doesn’t overwhelm or info-dump
- secrets, deceit, and prophesy
- The spice that is in this book is A++++++++++
- action packed!
- 25+ MCs

What some might not love…
- I knew going into this book that Amalie Howard wasn’t afraid to use modern language and concepts in historical settings, it’s one of the reasons I enjoy her historical fiction books, but some might be turned off by the use of a few anachronistic phrases and terms. - Its a fantasy novel though, so who’s to say in this world these phrases didn’t exist. I didn’t mind it, but can appreciate how some might not like it.

1🌶️ - There is only a single explicit scene (Ch 17), easily skipped if you prefer. However don’t let the lack of spice deter you! The tension is A+++

Thank you NetGalley and Avon for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Starlight Heir is a romantic and thrilling adventure.

Suraya is a local bladesmith who enjoys working and living in her small town. When a letter from the Imperial palace shows up at her door, she is awed and confused. Suraya has been invited to compete for the hand of the crown prince, who is seeking a wife. But Kaldari is not what she expected, and Prince Javeed is not at all how she imagined him. Meanwhile, she seems to have caught the eye of the younger, illegitimate Prince Roshan. But when rebels attack the palace, and a long hidden magic is released, Suraya and Roshan must flee or risk their lives. With the magic of the stars in her veins, Suraya must keep her magic a secret, or the crown prince will find her. But Roshan has his own secrets. Will they manage to trust each other, or will they risk losing everything?

I really enjoyed this book!! This was a fun and engaging romantasy by Howard, who is a powerhouse in historical romance. I couldn't put it down! I enjoyed the Persian mythological influences, and the unique magic and political system. The forbidden romance between Suraya and Roshan was well done, with lots of tension and banter. I also loved seeing Sura embrace her power. There is also a mysterious god who pops up and we still need to learn more about him, so I am hoping we get more information in the second book in this series. This book has a lot going on, and it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the next one!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. I love this authors writing, so when I learned that she was writing her first fantasy, I jumped at the chance of reading it. However, I don’t know if this book is for her historical romance readers who have come to love her writing style. Clearly, this was a first fantasy novel, but I felt like it needed a little more work. I honestly felt like I was getting whiplash while reading it. There would be a calm scene, then all of the sudden a life-or-death scene, then a calm scene, then life-or-death, and calm again. It just didn’t make sense with the flow of the book. I didn’t love the main characters. I didn’t feel the chemistry between the two of them, and really thought they needed more. I also felt like the world could have been a little more developed or at least told to the reader what was going on. It was confusing to go into it and it just needed some backstory. Overall, I am disappointed by this one, especially since I love this author.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard is an enchanting fantasy that pulls you in from the very first page. With a strong, relatable protagonist and a fast-paced, magical plot, the book is a thrilling ride from start to finish. Howard’s writing brings the world to life, and the mix of adventure, romance, and self-discovery makes for an engaging read. A fantastic pick for anyone who loves a captivating fantasy!

The Starlight Heir is Amalie Howard's debut adult romantasy novel after writing other genres and I think this will be a great for some readers, but wasn't my favorite.

Amalie writes "As a longtime lover of fantasy, being able to craft and publish a story that delves into my Indian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean roots as well as indulging my fascination with astrology, mythology and chiromancy was a dream come true." If that sounds up your alley, pick up this book!

Let's start with the things I enjoyed. The set up of the book was intriguing. The FMC is a bladesmith, which is really cool, and she gets invited to a competition for the Prince's hand in marriage. She isn't interested in marrying him, but she really wants to travel and see the palace, so she goes.

I really enjoyed the male main character as well. He was flirty and protective and had his secrets. Their relationship gave me butterflies quite a few times, but it was secondary to the plot.

Even though I liked the book at first, there were some things that bothered me about the magic system. I wasn't jiving with it the more I learned. And we definitely have more to learn in the upcoming books of the series. Some of the side characters and magic didn't seem as flushed out as I would like.

I don't know if I would recommend this book, especially not more than other romantasy books out there that I enjoyed more.

This book started off with a self-taught bladesmith, Suraya, and finding an invitation to attend a competition in a search for the prince’s future wife. At first she thinks it’s fake, but then questions things when her best friend shows up with news.

Of course, Suraya makes her way to Kaldari to join the others in the competition. Little does she know that there’s more going on than just finding a wife for Prince Javed. As violence and bloodshed become the constant norm while there, Suraya starts to see things happening that aren’t making sense and thus the story really starts to unfold.

Suraya and Roshan end up having to work together to try and save their kingdom, but at what cost?

The Starlight Heir is filled with adventure, romance, and mystery right up until the very end. I was a little thrown with a fantasy setting that uses more modern terms and stand, but it wasn’t enough to really throw me from the overall story. Some of the MC’s decisions and inner monologue seemed more YA than adult, but overall I don’t see this as a YA book, and more solidly NA.

I definitely want to see where things go in terms of book 2! It’s going to be hard to wait and to see what happens with some of my favorite characters.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.