This was a 4 star for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the world building and the story development of this book. The Persian and Caribbean mythology was amazing. It kept me interested. I loved the character development of the FMC and the cliffhanger for the MMC. I love that this book gave you closure while also leaving you wanting more. The FMC is the Starkeeper, she holds a powerful being inside her and has to learn how to wield that power. Meanwhile she’s falling for the illegitimate heir of the King while the legitimate heir is trying to force her into marriage for ulterior motives. The FMC & MMC escape and have a whole adventure while they’re on the run, and things come to a head with a great battle scene at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this arc.

There was much to enjoy in this YA fantasy romance, and enjoy it I did. The Persian-inspired fantasy world, the FMC who was fully-realized and wholly likable, the enemies-to-lovers aspect of the romance full of tension and banter, and the pacing were all well done. Truthfully, though, and what kept this book from a 5th golden star, is that I feel that I've read this book before, in dozens of different iterations. There was no truly unique aspect to it, nothing surprised me, and the writing was simplistic and average, doing a bit too 'tell' vs. 'show'.

That said, it was an enjoyable and easy read, and I do recommend for fans of YA fantasy.

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Voyager for the ARC. I'm always excited to read fantasy inspired by Indian and Persian culture, so I immediately requested the book. Unfortunately, I think only people who have never read a fantasy book will like this story. I liked the prologue as I am a fan of stuff from ancient history is actually really relevant today trope. I also don't mind chosen one and prophecy tropes. In fact I like a lot of the so called cliches typically found in YA fantasy as long as the execution is done well. But this book was just cliche after cliche, the closest it came to originality was the fact that the food and names were inspired by Indian and Persian cultures, but beyond that, there was nothing that interested me in this book. The main character is a classic example of I'm not like other girls. The love interests are just beautiful cardboard cutouts of people. The plot is infuriatingly boring and generic.

Amie Kaufman brought up a great point.
A duology or story with more than one book should have a good arc conclusion in the first book and overall arc conclusion of the entire series.
I felt like the main POV didn’t have much growth in this book. Her internal struggle was just so hard to relate to because she was being a hard head and stubborn.
Overall it was okay story telling but the world building was nonexistent and ending was okay? It fell flat for me. I heard this was a duology but I’m not interested in proceeding further with this series

The Starlight Heir had a solid basic plot. I think I was just disappointed by how the plot was developed. Sura is a bladesmith. She gets invited to the palace, along with many other women, because the Prince is looking for a wife. There are a series of trials which the women are told they must pass successfully in order to be considered. Sura isn’t interested in marrying the Prince. She just wanted to see the palace, along with its forge and library. She catches the eye of the Prince’s illegitimate half-brother Roshen, who is way better than the Prince in every way. Sura finds out the real reason behind these trials- the Prince and his evil mother are looking for the Starkeeper, someone born with the power of the old gods, a matrilineal trait that has been nearly eliminated from the population by the royal family. The evil queen wants to use this power to resurrect the god of the dead, Fero, and use the god to rule over everyone. Rebels attack the palace and Sura and Roshen escape. Their relationship develops during their escape. They team up with the rebels and are pursued by many people. Sura learns about her powers and how to control them. There are a few plot twists that weren’t really surprising. There is one explicit spicy scene and one mild one, although there are several scenes where characters talk about sex or just traded sexual innuendos. The setup of the plot and the setting seemed like fantasy (villages, palaces, royals, horses, blacksmith as a trade, taverns, swords) but some of the conversations were more modern with phrases like “thick thighs save lives” and referring to a female character having “resting b**** face”. I really enjoyed Amalie Howard’s Queen Bee so this was kind of a let down for me.

I’m a fan of Howard. I consumed QUEEN BEE in one day - I thought it was delightful. I find her writing incredibly digestible. Her words peel very easily off the page. And I found STARLIGHT equally read-able.

STARLIGHT shares some narrative similarities with the RED QUEEN series and, like QUEEN, I think STARLIGHT could have benefited from being stretched out over several tomes - to give it more room to breathe and settle. In its current form, the tale feels abbreviated - as if corners had to be cut to fit it into one book. There are dizzying fast-forwards when we start new chapters. We don’t get much opportunity to take in new locales when we arrive in them. It’s difficult for stakes to build when you know you’re about to be whisked away somewhere new in a short while. I also never fully understood the mythology or magic system of this world. It didn’t impede my enjoyment of the book, but there is a lingering sense that certain elements aren't fully baked.

I would also argue that the tone isn't adult, but very much YA. Which isn’t a bad thing! But it does cause those moments that contain gruesome violence and explicit s*xytimes (which do NOT disappoint btw!) feel jarring because they don’t quite fit in with their surroundings. Lastly, I don’t tend to mind modern phrasing in fantasy reads, but there is so much of it coming from Sura that I would argue it threatens to take the reader out of the narrative.

The world building is a generic and vague mix of this, that, and the kitchen sink, leaving me with no real impression of what anything looks like, what cultures — if any — are present, or any sense of the world beyond Roshan and Suraya’s immediate ‘banter.’ There are portals, erotic dreams where Surya meets a shadow daddy with obligatory shadow magic and talented tentacles, a weather system knowledgeable and common enough that Surya can easily classify how powerful a local cyclone is, goggles and magic swords. It’s everything and nothing in equal measure and I struggled to stay focused long enough to trudge through reading it.

There is also a lot of cursing — which is fine — but it’s the obligatory fantasy swears here and there before that’s pushed side and it’s back to a more modern, garden variety. Phrases such as “don’t threaten me with a good time,” “touché,” or “champ” are tossed around in a way that really makes me think that zero effort was put into the world, which … well, I’ll be honest. It’s disappointing.

Every character sounded exactly the same, the plot was overly familiar and while the writing style is fine, it’s only fine. There’s no additional sparkle or wit or humor to it. There’s also a giant carelessness about the people in this world. For example, there’s a scene between the crown prince and the red-headed woman reads vaguely like rape — with the element of “if she comes, it’s not rape” — but Suraya and Roshan just walk way because the girl in question went willingly to flirt with and sleep with the crown prince, and thus it’s not their business if she’s willing, or safe.

Then came the scene where Roshan mansplains blacksmithing to Surya. Who is a blacksmith. Because Roshan knows everything. And … that’s when I bailed. I’m not interested in the characters, or the story, or the lack of a world. What I had been interested in was the idea of a character with her own strength, of a blacksmith who knew how to make magic weapons and wield and break a magic metal. Instead this book ended up being a tepid romantasy that left me flat.

Maybe other readers will enjoy this book, but there’s neither anything here to hold me, nor anything here for me to recommend. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for giving me an ARC to review.

3.5 stars. Liked the world building and thought the plot was engaging enough. Wish we got more of her skills as a blacksmith and background through out more of the story. I was much more interested in Darkness and how their relationship will develop. The twists seemed predictable, but I stayed till the end.

This is a romantasy/war story. Long prophesy of magic and star charts. It states whoever holds/contains the starlight power can become a new god. You have a king that is dead and a queen and her son trying to seek out the true Star light heir.

You have talks of soul-fated mates
Magic
war
Illegitimate prince who rebels and steals his brothers chosen wife
FMC who is badass and doesn't know it until it is pulled out of her
Deceit
Love
Family

Rating: 5 stars

Tropes: Chosen One FMC, Forced Proximity, Friends to Lovers

This book was exquisitely written! Amalie Howard gave us a refreshing, fast paced romantasy with a wonderful glimpses into Persian mythology! One of the strongest elements of this novel was the character development. We truly get to walk that fine line of what makes a hero or a villain and see our heroine wrestle with her morality in a way that is not often seen. It is clear much thought and work went into this story with the pacing, overall plot development, and eloquent prose. In her debut romantasy novel, Ms. Howard shows us that she cannot be contained to just historical!

If you’re looking for a new romantasy novel that is guaranteed to knock your socks off and leave you hungering for more, be sure to pick up this one!

The worldbuilding was intriguing and the pacing kept you on the edge of your seat! You quickly became fans of the main characters and desperately wanted to claw out the eyes of the antagonists (lol), and for good reason, as the stakes are consistently life or death in this action-packed novel. The magic system was quite interesting as well and I kept flipping the pages to see what would happen next!

I was captivated by the mythology surrounding this book and the overall story line progression. I appreciated that the author wrote a strong female character who embraced her powers and was confident in herself. The banter between the FMC and the MMC was top tier. If a reader is looking for action, magic, and romance with some spice, I strongly recommend this book. The ending has me eagerly waiting for the sequel.

In this enthralling story of love, lies, and self-discovery, Suraya, a gifted blacksmith, finds herself unexpectedly summoned to the palace. As she ponders the invitation's significance, she uncovers a cryptic conversation between her father and their cook, touching on magic, protection, and hidden truths. An eerie encounter with an old woman at the Inn, marked by riddles and palm readings, deepens the enigma. The charming Roshan, shrouded in secrecy, draws Suraya in. This rapidly unfolding narrative artfully balances character revelation with tension, providing partial clarity while sustaining curiosity. While the tale concludes effectively, it sets the stage for a potential continuation, leaving certain inquiries unresolved.

I am truly grateful for being able to explore this new world and can’t wait to see what comes next.

Spice rating:🌶️🌶️

The way this book ended means it has to be the first in a series. I am not quite sure how I feel about this story, the relationships within it or the way it ended. The one thing I am sure of though is I will pick up the next one.

The main character of this book often times annoyed me with her naivety. She ignored red flags at every turn and refused advice from people much wiser than her. She does go through some growth in this book, but it felt a little too little too late.

I’m conflicted about the romantic relationship in this book. Personally, I didn’t feel like there was too much chemistry between the main female character and main male character, but the relationship building was an interesting part of the story.

The story itself, character, and world building in this book were good and enough to keep me interested to the end, and I can foresee the next in the series being even more intriguing. In conclusion, I enjoyed the book. I’m still not sure how I feel about it, I will definitely pick up the next one and recommend this series to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC. Opinions on my own.

A fun and entertaining book, it was a perfect light and fun for a lazy weekend at home. I definitely recommend you read this book if you are looking for a fun read!!

This book combines elements of romance, magic, and high-stakes adventure, following the journey of Suraya, a skilled bladesmith blessed with magical abilities. Her life suddenly turns when she receives a mysterious invitation from the royal court, inviting her to the capital city. The invitation is for the prince to find his bride. Unbeknownst to her, the invitation is a dangerous trial of physical and wit. The royal family is hunting for the elusive Starkeeper, a girl with the stars' magic. Along the way, Suraya's bond with Roshan, the illegitimate half-brother of the crown prince, grows. As unrest builds across the kingdom, Suraya must face her powers and the looming threat of who is attracted to this magic.

I thoroughly enjoyed Suraya's character. Her strength, independence, and passion for her craft make her an engaging FMC. I also appreciated how her internal struggle with the powers stirring inside her adds layers to her character development. I was eager to see how Suraya and Roshan would navigate the mounting danger. Their chemistry and tension surrounding Roshan's hidden secrets made their relationship a highlight of the book.

The storyline is equally captivating, blending romance with action and magical elements. It had great pacing and plenty of action. The brewing conflict between noble houses and the rebels keeps the stakes high. This romantasy hooked me with its well-developed characters, thrilling storyline, and political intrigue. I can't wait to read more!

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Avon, Harper voyager.

The Starlight Heir is a sci fi romance with really good world building and a beautiful cover. I enjoyed the plot and it was well written, but it didn't feel like there was anything particularly new or original about the story, and at points it was on the verge of boring. Not the best book I've read by this author!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a review copy

Spice: 2/5
Romance: 2/5
Instalust
Single POV
Potential love triangle

RATING: 3 out of 5

I am honestly torn on how I feel about this book. The idea of the book was amazing but the execution fell short. There is a lot of cringy dialogue that doesn’t blend well with the fantasy world in this book. For instance, her friends says at one point “thick thighs saves lives” and to me that was so insanely weird and completely threw me out of the fantasy genre and put me back into the real world. I think there are a lot of real-world modern sayings thrown in here that just come off as cringy and unnatural. Having her friend Laleh take up so much space in the very beginning is what started to distance me from really getting into this book because the only thing her friend had to offer was “sex, sex, sex!”

And unfortunately as the book went on, Suraya’s internal monologue was turning into the very same thing. It ended up making Suraya feel very immature and not finished. If this could have slowed down a little bit and gave her more meaningful internal dialogue, I could have actually related to her and fallen in love with her. Instead, I only got little glimpses of real feelings and plenty of lines about how hot Roshan and her shadow man is…

I did find that I really liked Roshan and felt like he had a lot of depth to him. He was a major reason I kept going with this book and kept it interesting. Which is a huge reason why I don’t think I will read the next book because I truly do not like love triangles at all and can definitely see this turning out to be a love triangle situation.

This was not a bad book at all, I just did not connect with these characters like I had hoped for. Once I found myself not loving Suraya and not be able to relate with her emotions, I disconnected from this book. It had a great storyline and has a lot of potential to be amazing. I sadly just don’t think this series is for me.

HUGE thank you to Amalie Howard, Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for letting me read this!

"The Starlight Heir" follows a 25 year old woman named Suraya, who is invited to the palace to participate in a selection process to be the prince's wife. Little does Suraya know, they are searching for a woman who is foretold to have a great power that could remake the world.

This new romantasy novel draws some parallels to "The Selection" series and "This Woven Kingdom" series, but for an older audience. It was very fast paced, and the momentum kept me reading the whole book in one sitting! While the novel certainly kept my attention, I do feel like this is a story I've read before, as in there wasn't anything new or exciting. It was fairly easy to see what tropes were being used and what would happen next, who would betray who, etc. I also felt near the end the main character made some pretty bad choices that really were just to move the plot forward. While this plot technically ends on a cilffhanger, I think if you wanted to read it as a standalone it had a conclusive enough ending. Being a romantasy, this book does have a spicy scene. Personally I felt this scene was a little out of place, as the novel read more like YA and I think could have been categorized as young adult minus that scene. I also felt that Suraya acted more like an 18 year old instead of a 25 year old, and that the publisher just wanted to market it as romantasy since that's what's hot right now. Also Suraya is supposed to be this badass bladesmith, but we don't really get to see any of that!

Overall, I think if you've been interested in YA before but are ready to move up to NA or adult romantasy, this would be a great choice! I really liked the main character and the love interest, and was completely absorbed by the story. 4/5 stars, highly recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness. Amalie. You're killing me! I started this thinking I was going into this nice, happy, forbidden romance with a hot and a little bit of court intrigue, and then BAM! It's an epic, violent, life and death prophetic masterpiece that has found my very soul.

The storytelling in this book was absolutely vibrant and came to life for me from the beginning. I absolutely love Suraya, she is headstrong, powerful, and understated by herself. Of course she's swept away by Roshan, he's a handsome prince who is beautiful both physically and in spirit. Thanks for setting those book boyfriend standards so high, girl. For real. Swoon!

The magic, the lore, the fantasy of it all was so gripping and real, I could not escape Kaldari if I wanted to. Suraya and Roshan have so much to face, and although they quickly learn that they're better against any foe together, there are forces at work to keep them as far apart as they can. But can the gods, the king, and even fate itself keep them apart, or will they find each other and claim what's theirs?

SO GOOD! I need book 2!