The Starlight Heir brings a unique blend of Persian and Indian mythology, creating a rich and imaginative world. Suraya, a bladesmith with magical blood, and Roshan, the prince's illegitimate brother, find themselves on a dangerous quest amidst political unrest and simmering attraction. The mythological elements, especially the starbringer lore, are fascinating and add depth to the world-building.

However, the pacing felt rushed after the palace attack, with action sequences moving too quickly and characters jumping from peril to romantic tension in a way that pulled me out of the story. Suraya’s constant attraction to Roshan, even in life-threatening situations, felt repetitive and detracted from the urgency of their journey. While the banter between them was enjoyable, the romance developed too quickly for my taste.

There were also missed opportunities to dive deeper into Suraya’s skills as a bladesmith, which could have added more dimension to her character. Overall, while the book shows promise, it would benefit from a slower, more deliberate pace to allow both the world and characters to fully develop.

“I’d rather feel nothing, to be numb, than to feel this grief wrecking me from the inside out and scraping my soul raw. Love makes you vulnerable. It makes you ache when you don’t get them, you only have yourself to blame for foolishly wishing and hoping for something unattainable in the first place.”

“The Starlight Heir,” by Amalie Howard

What I liked:
-Marriage Selection for the prince! I love marriage selections, and this was a really good one.
-Death Trials, part of the marriage selection is doing the trials that are super dangerous, and they were cool in the book.
-The banter she had with the second prince was so good. I loved him so much while reading.
-The story plot ramped up really fast and I didn’t feel like any part was slow and tedious.
-The setting, desert setting with a non-white FMC. I love how a lot of books recently have been in the desert.
-Tropes; chosen one and tons of political intrigue.

I really liked this book. Super interesting and fun to read. I like the characters and their interactions and tensions with each other, especially the tension between the two brothers. 4 out of 5 stars.

-Marriage Selection
-Death Trials
-Magic
-Chosen One
-Desert Setting
-Political Intrigue

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

I really enjoyed the plot and the modern take on the banter between characters. I appreciated that the plot didn’t follow the stereotypical plot lines that nearly every fantasy book has nowadays. It kept things fresh. The banter between characters also had a modern feel that felt more relatable. The more spicy moments were also far more believable and realistic in comparison to most romance books. I think that gives the reader the opportunity to be more drawn in instead of detached from the book.

I do feel like there were some plot holes that made the plot itself a little difficult to follow. Some of the bigger ideas like the stars and the gods really feel like they were just thrown in there. I was very interested in learning more but I believe the concept was a little difficult to grasp for me. By the end of the book I still felt confused about what being a Starkeeper is, how to master it, how that came to be, and the other gods.

Overall I enjoyed the book but I felt like it could use just a bit more editing. The plot, concepts, and characters really kept me hooked through the story though. Suraya kept me entertained with how relatable she is. I appreciated reading about a character who is less confident about everyday encounters, perfectly fine with being more secluded, and is just as crazy as I am when it comes to my love life. Honestly a great book.

So....

I ended up DNFing this book at 88%. I feel like that (and my 2-star rating) tell you everything you need to know about my experience with this book.

I've rewritten this review several times, trying to stay positive, but I'm going to come out and say it: I didn't like "The Starlight Heir". I think my biggest issue is with the characters. Our main protagonist, Sura, fits two of my least favorite tropes: the chosen one and the damsel-in-distress. I think these tropes can be done well, but that isn't the case here. Sura spends the entire book letting other people solve her problems for her. There's nothing wrong with asking others for help, but it becomes an issue when the main character stops making decisions for herself. I'd even go so far as to say Sura is a passive character in her own story. She doesn't do ANYTHING productive in this book... except make a stupid decision at the 88% mark, which made me DNF this book for good.

Her love interest, Prince Roshan, is equally laughable. He's less like a person and more like an encyclopedia. In one scene where Roshan and Sura shape metal in a forge, he starts talking about the metal's "higher vanadium content, which makes it tough and fine-grained". Because of that, he tells Sura to wait until the metal is dark orange before attempting to shape it. I mean, it's not like Sura is a professional blacksmith (she is), and as a prince, I'm sure Roshan has a lot of experience inspecting the "vanadium content" of various metals. There's another scene where he talks about the "high mineral content" of desert water holes, but I'll spare you the details.

I also think this book missed its mark on the romance. I have nothing against spicy books (I'm famous among my friends for reading *that* chapter of "A Court of Silver Flames" in public), but "The Starlight Heir" has some of the worst spice I've ever read. I lost interest after the fourteenth description of Roshan's masculine parts. That, combined with Roshan's declaration that he is "healthy and free of disease" in the moments before he and Sura get together, tanked the romance for me.

It's possible this book gets better in the last 12%, but I don't have the willpower to find out. I've never DNFed a book 40 pages from the ending, but I don't feel invested enough to care what happens to the characters. I do think this book has a beautiful cover, so there's that. I also like how the author incorporated Persian and Indian mythology into the magic system. The subplot with the shadow god has promise! I think readers who like books that are equal parts fantasy/romance and have an Asian-inspired setting may enjoy this. Sadly, this book isn't for me.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book! It has a lot of what I love in a fantasy romance—compelling characters, an original magic system, and a love story that tugged at my emotions. The world-building, inspired by Persian and Indian mythology, was fresh and well done without overwhelming me with details. It felt unique, and I appreciated how the magic played such an integral part in the characters' lives, especially with the concept of a soul bond versus love. That twist added an interesting layer to the plot, and even though I sensed there would be a twist, I definitely didn’t see that coming.

The romance between the two main characters was emotional and intense. I was especially drawn to Roshan as the male lead—he was charming, sweet, and surprisingly not your typical brooding fantasy love interest, which was a nice change of pace. The chemistry between him and the female protagonist felt real and not forced, though the third-act breakup felt a little unnecessary and had me rolling my eyes just a bit. Still, it didn’t take away from the overall emotional pull of their relationship, and I was rooting for them the whole time.

If you’re into fast-paced fantasy with romance, mythology, and some spicy scenes, I think this one’s for you. It has a bit of everything—action, danger, and even a few laugh-out-loud moments. While the pacing felt rushed in places, the story kept me hooked, and I’m definitely looking forward to the next book. Perfect for anyone who loves strong female characters, a well-thought-out magic system, and just the right mix of adventure and romance.

Rating - 3.5 stars

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me access to the early copy of The Starlight Heir.

The story follows Saraya Saab, a bladesmith from a small village who is invited to compete for the chance to marry the crown prince of Oryndhyr. As the plot unfolds, we discover hidden truths, dangers, and an ancient prophecy about unprecedented darkness. I really enjoyed the world-building, especially the captivating mythology of the old gods and the jadu. However, the beginning was a bit overwhelming, with too much information to take in. The story has elements of classic fairytales and some predictable tropes, but despite that, I was still totally engrossed in the narrative. One thing that I think could've been better was the depth of character development for anyone other than Saraya. Also, many magical abilities and skills were only briefly mentioned, leaving a lot unexplored. It felt like the book tried to cover a lot but didn't dive deep enough into crucial aspects. The ending, while not mind-blowing, definitely left me curious about what happens next.

4.5 stars

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager for allowing me to read this book early.

I loved that this book had twists and turns I didn’t expect while still allowing me to correctly guess some things. I enjoyed reading a fantasy setting inspired by other cultures, it was very refreshing for me. Simurghs are a new favorite mythical creature besides dragons now (the one on the cover is gorgeous). I loved Sura’s and Roshan’s personalities, and their interactions with one another. Not a fan of Javed for obvious reasons, but that just means he was written well. One of the best things about this book was how Sura’s mother was honored — it was so beautiful and really hit me deeply.

There was only one downside for me and it’s the fact that the God of Night chapters are to die for and yet there are so few of them! I really wish there was more about him, he is so intriguing.

BI have my predictions on the God of Night... Fingers crossed! I can’t wait for book 2, it’s going to be a long wait.

Fable: https://fable.co/review/e60dc4b1-8bc3-4fe2-9981-b8ea10bd5b00/share

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6819901246

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

3 Stars

I’m not going to say much about this, because I think I’m not the correct audience for this book. While reading it I kept thinking, “My sister would love this book, it’s so similar to Fourth Wing.”

I, however, was not the biggest fan.

I might come back to this another time, when I’m more in the mood for it. Looking forward to more from this author.

Overall a good book, I would like to read more in this world. It was nice to see a mythos based on more Middle Eastern/West Asian influences. I do think that portions of the mythos could have been better explained, especially the "choice" in the third act seemed to come a bit out of no where. Also am a bit worried about the cliffhanger of an ending as it may be setting up tropes I am not a particular fan of.

If you like very epic fantasy this is a good book to pick up and I do look forward to seeing the author grow as the world does.

There's nothing particularly wrong with this book but the modern dialogue kept taking me completely out of the narrative.
I would get so distracted by it and I couldn't focus on the actual storyline.

Just not for me overall.

The Starlight Heir was such a fun read! It was a bit “fairytale” but also very NOT “fairytale” (you’ll have to read it to find out exactly what that means)! The main character was relatable and I loved that so many familiar tropes and micro-tropes worked together to create something that felt fresh to me. We had good vs. evil, good vs. *super* evil good vs. opportunistic evil and good vs. not actually evil, a reluctant hero, betrayal, secrets, magic, mythological creatures, a competition, a ball, sacrifice and so much more. I enjoyed the setting and the lore was easy to follow. The writing was also immersive. Despite being part of a series there was not a major cliffhanger at the end. The epilogue definitely gives us things to theorize about and sets up some plot points for book 2 but it was not a “throw your book at the wall” cliffhanger (which I appreciated). The Starlight Heir doesn’t release until January and I already have so many theories about book 2!

"But like all monstrous things, the god of death was patient...The light of the stars could not endure forever, after all."

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Net Galley for this ARC.

This was my first time reading a book from Amalie Howard, and I enjoyed the book.

It starts with Suraya Saab finding a note from King Zarek but Suraya thinks its a prank. After a while she finds out it is not a prank and actually, is invited to the palace along with other women to 'fight' for the hand of the crowned Prince's hand in marriage. Her mother had always told her beautiful stories about it but her father and aunt do not want her to join the competition for reason they wont tell her. Of course she goes though, and the story starts.

What lacked for me is that sometimes the spice and dialogue felt forced. Like it was trying to be accommodating to other popular books. For example, "Thick thighs save lives"? That took me out completely and felt super random. I'm reading a fantasy book not a contemporary. And If you take out the spice It could easily be labeled a YA. And I do not mean that as a negative, I just think if a book is going to be directed more towards an adult audience, it should have more elements besides spice that make it adult. Also, while on the topic of things feeling forced, the inner dialogue of Suraya and her hots for Roshan were repeated numerously and I was getting frustrated. And therefore I felt their 'connection" was not as real and more based on his looks.

What I did enjoy though was the plot. It was written very well and I liked seeing Suraya find herself this book. One of my favorite things in the book were the royal bride trials and I truly wish the were longer because I did enjoy them so much. The lore was incredible and I was in awe of how it was explained and the world building was great too. Overall, it was fast paced plot wise and I enjoyed that, but the romance was a little too fast. The author writes detailed characters with awesome backstories.

An imaginative journey that combines elements of fantasy and mythology. As my first read by this author, I was captivated by the unique premise and the rich tapestry of myth woven throughout the plot. Howard's ability to integrate these ancient stories into a modern narrative is impressive and adds depth to the overall experience.

However, I found myself wishing there had been more focus on the trials at the beginning of the book. They felt rushed and could have benefited from further development, as I believe they could have added significant tension and excitement to the story. The foundation was laid beautifully, but I wanted to see those stakes explored more thoroughly.

Overall, while "The Starlight Heir" had its strengths, it didn’t fully deliver on its promise for me. I enjoyed the blend of fantasy and mythology, and I’m curious to see how Howard’s storytelling evolves in future works. If you’re a fan of myth-inspired tales, this book may still be worth a look!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This had lots of intriguing material but I ultimately couldn't get into it.

*Thank you Netgalley and Avon for an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Okay, so to start I thought this book was really good and well-written. I thought Suraya was a fantastic MC and truly had the depth needed for the plot. I also appreciated the pace of the book and enjoyed that it was not a dense or slow read.

My main critique was that the book felt a little too fluffy and that it was made to fit in on the tiktok table at a bookstore. This usually doesn't bother me, but some of the scenes and quotes felt forced and out of place.

Overall, a very good read and I am excited to see how the story progresses in the next book!

What an amazing story of strength, discovering fate and forging one’s own destiny!

Suraya is an incredible FMC, with the guts of a lion and it is an extraordinary privilege to follow & witness her development as she founds herself in the most unexpected turn of events!

Thank you Amalie, Avon & Harper Collins for the amazing adventure & NetGalley for bringing this piece of fierce art to my hands! LOVED IT!

#TheStarlightHeir #NetGalley #AmalieHoward

Read this in one sitting, it was such a great read! loved the plot and background of the story. Great cover

New romantasy time! Pros: a strong start, easy-to-read prose, a MMC who isn't rude or creepy (yay!!), and an exciting ending.

At first I was disappointed that the royal bride trials ended kind of early on, but then I was fine with it. We get a TON of trial-type plots in this genre as it is, and Trial of the Sun Queen already exists to scratch the specific deadly The Bachelor itch. But... that's also where the book started to lose me.

I love slow burn romances. I don't like instalust or super horny characters. Our FMC Suraya WASN'T that thirsty at first, but once she left the palace and went on her desert adventure... Stare at the MMC Roshan while he's working out. Fantasize about him or her shadow daddy while sleeping. Get turned on when Roshan teaches self-defense or when he visits her at the blacksmith's or when they're running for their lives. She was even perving on him when he was grieving his father! Gross! Read the room girl! It got the point where I wanted to skim scenes with her and Roshan together.

I didn't mind Roshan, but because Suraya was drooling over him constantly, it felt like their romance was mainly rooted in how hot she found him rather than the development of a meaningful relationship. As far as spice goes, there's a sex scene a little over halfway through, some shadow daddy dreams earlier, and another scene maybe 2/3 through.

There were a few uncomfortable romantic relationships IMO involving siblings (not incest!! not sure how else to word it). Suraya's mom's dead, and Suraya wants her mom's twin sister to hook up with her dad. Roshan's dad cheated on his wife with her sister, Roshan's mom. Roshan's evil brother wants to marry Suraya. It seemed like there was a sibling involved in each romantic entanglement. Kinda weird.

I do think there'll be a love triangle with the mysterious shadow daddy character in the sequel. I'm so tired of that MMC trope but on the other hand I'm kind of intrigued by it here? Is he a god? Is he the real villain? I have to read the sequel to find out. Darn you for that hook!

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.