A sweet sequel! I appreciated that, even though these characters had an easy resolution before them, Denny did not stoop to compromise. Jo unequivocally chooses love and Lily gets to know that she is chosen and loved above comfort or obligation. They don't take the easy way out, just like we shouldn't have to.

thanks to netgalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for a review!

this was so fluffy and sweet, and the yearning between Lily and Jo was so well done and fun to read. normally a straight historical book with no fantasy elements isn't really something i'd be into, but this was such a pleasant surprise that i enjoyed it.

I liked this more than the prequel, simply because who doesn't love a undercover lady knight in a tourney trope! I am glad Lily got her own arc, and Jo's character got a bit more fleshed out along with some of the side characters in her family. That said, the overall narrative and pacing felt a bit too sluggish both in terms of plot and earned romance. Too much telling, not enough showing. Sweet but ultimately kinda forgettable.

All the Painted Stars was so charming. It feels like a combination of my favorite elements of A Knight's Tale and The Princess Bride. We've got jousting, an outsider pretending to be a knight, a runaway bride, an elaborate rescue attempt that doesn't go to plan, a woman in armor, and sapphic friends-to-lovers.

The jousting and court life occupies the first half of the book, in which Johanna de Foucourt's family arranges a tournament to solidify her younger brother's position as earl and also conveniently scope out possible suitors for Jo. She despairingly mentions these pending marriage arrangements in a letter to her friend Lily Barden, whose immediate response is to steal her brother's old armor, cut off her hair Mulan-style, and enter the tournament disguised as a wandering knight. Lily hopes that, even if she can't win the tournament (and Jo's hand) outright, she can at least beat enough of the potential suitors in the tournament to give Jo an out.

That plan quickly goes awry, leading Jo and Lily to flee the keep on night in the middle of the tournament, taking shelter at a brewery some distance away. The second half at the brewery is extremely cozy fantasy, giving the women space to explore futures of their own choosing and freedoms they never imagined themselves. The self-discovery (including a queer awakening) is especially heartwarming. The third act conflict reminds me most of The Princess Bride, managing to somehow be both comically melodramatic and low-stakes. An absolute delight.

This one was alright. It was cute but I don’t think I would revisit this again. I just wanted more and I feel that it didn’t fully deliver.

The first thing I thought when I saw this book is that I love that there are more queer historical romances.
This book in particular is adorable, low angst, two friends who love each other and one who becomes a knight in shiny armor to be together. I liked it a lot.

This book was fun, a nice twist on the historical trope of a knight fighting in a tournament for a maiden’s hand, and had some very lovely queer rep. At times, the writing felt like it couldn’t decide if it wanted to be written with a modern feel or be truly historical in nature, and that plus a heavy necessity for suspension of disbelief for some more outlandish scenes took me out of the story more than a few times. That being said, the story was cute and the ending was sweet. I wouldn’t reread it or go chasing down the author’s other works, but a fine enough read. 3 ⭐️!

*Thank you again to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

I liked this, but was envisioning more of a sapphic Knight’s Tale and got cozy “let’s become brewers together” vibes. Loved the found family element, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. Honey Witch vibes but without magic?

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

First off, All the Painted Stars is the kind of book that feels like being wrapped in a warm blanket on a chilly day—cozy, heartfelt, and a touch bittersweet. Emma Denny writes her characters with so much tenderness and care that it’s impossible not to root for them from the very first page. Lily and Jo? Absolute gems. Their connection radiates off the page, and their love feels as natural as breathing.

The premise immediately hooked me: a medieval tournament, a daring disguise, and a woman risking it all to save her best friend? Yes, please! Lily’s transformation into a would-be knight was not only entertaining but also deeply endearing. Her fierce determination to protect Jo showed how far love—and maybe a bit of stubbornness—can take you. And Jo? She’s the grounding force in the whirlwind of Lily’s antics, her strength and kindness balancing out Lily’s reckless energy. Together, they’re pure magic.

Favorite moments? Oh, let’s dish! The whole tournament scene had me absolutely hooked. Watching Lily fumble (but fiercely!) as a knight was equal parts hilarious and nerve-wracking. And when things went sideways and Jo had to step in? Chef’s kiss. The vulnerability in their lakeside conversations later—hidden away from the world—was swoon-worthy. It’s those quiet, stolen moments that make their love story so believable.

The themes of choice and sacrifice really stood out. Both women are faced with impossible decisions—Lily with her impulsivity and Jo with the weight of her past. Their journey to figure out if love is worth the sacrifices demanded of them was emotionally satisfying, even if it tugged at my heartstrings.

I also appreciated the nuanced portrayal of 14th-century life. The setting felt rich and alive, from the oppressive atmosphere of the tournament to the peaceful simplicity of their life with the brewster. Denny weaves history into her storytelling effortlessly, without bogging down the narrative.

Final verdict? All the Painted Stars is a heartfelt, warm read perfect for anyone who loves strong female leads, slow-burn romance, and a touch of medieval adventure. I have no notes—other than to demand more from Emma Denny. If this is what she can do, I’ll gladly follow her to wherever her stories take me next.

I love the world that Emma Denny has created. Her characters, her historical accuracy, the variety of tropes and storylines. I will read anything she puts out in this series.

I made sure to read the first in the series before starting this one, and I’m impressed by how well All the Painted Stars managed to avoid the second-book slump of so many series.

Lily and Jo sparkled from the first page, just like the stars on Lily’s battered old shield. I enjoyed the slow build to the romance that gave both characters room to figure out not just who they wanted to love, but also who they wanted to be themselves. I’m also a sucker for a good tournament story with an underdog, so this story felt like a sapphic version of A Knight’s Tale with a beautiful found family reunion in the end. A solid 4.5 stars (all painted, of course)!

Having not read the first book in the series, I found that it was very easy to know what was going on. There were a few times that I knew I was missing a little bit of context, but not enough to detract from the overall book. I wish the slow burn wasn't as long as it was, but can see how anything else may not have worked with the story.

My opinion of Hartswood went up as I read from a slightly slow start, and this book kept it through the whole way. That could possibly just be because I am biased toward sapphic romances that I'm a little more patient with the set up, but I think it also was Denny finding their stride with this follow up. I adored watching different pieces fall together and being like !!!! I knew it!!! I think this book is not only an incredible expansion of the families and world of Hartswood but just a wonderful work from Denny, and has made me into a loyal reader, excited for whatever comes next.

This was a fun sapphic romance placed in one of my favorite settings: Medieval England. There's knights and lords and ladies and a tournament, as well as a small town family running a brewery. It has found family and real family good vibes.

I didn't read the first book and didn't really feel like I needed to to enjoy the story.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Tamora Pierce books as a kid and grew up to be queer.

This was a sweet story. I loved the set up and the historical location/time period and how the author made the realities of being a woman in the Middle Ages so clear. I was rooting for both women from the very beginning and loved how they evolved.

4.5 stars. I want to go back in time and give this book to my sixteen-year-old baby lesbian self because she would lose her mind. I loved this book so much. Jo and Lily were incredibly charming, and I was in deep. I've discovered I have a particular fondness for knights and ladies (still trying to unpack what that means for me on a personal level) and this one was a wonderful addition to the collection. The writing here was really good, and the audiobook narrators rocked it.

Thanks to Harper and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for my review.

I loved the story of two childhood best friends there for one another, Jo going so far to disguise herself and enter a tournament to save her best friend from a marriage she doesn't even want. The relationship is a slow and sweet build and the story was a lot more cozy and low stakes then I expected then I first expected. This isn't a knock against it, though there were a few parts that I kinda felt like I was slogging through, but I don't regret hanging in there. These two were extremely adorable.

I picked this up because I am a huge sucker for lady/knight romances, especially when they're lesbians. This is apparently linked to another book that Denny has written, but if you come in blind like I did, you'll still find a fantastic romance between a lady, the woman who loves her (who's also maybe a knight in disguise at the tournament where her hand is supposedly being offered), and the two of them escaping briefly to get a taste at being together before they make their choice. Great sex scenes, fun read, and there were only a few anachronisms (there were not t-shirts in the 1390s) that drew me out of the story.

after reading this i need more medieval sapphic books asap!!! the pacing was kinda slow at times but overall a good read!

thank you netgalley for the arc!

I really wanted to love All the Painted Stars, and there’s definitely a lot to enjoy here! The setup is amazing—Lily sneaking into a tournament disguised as a knight to save her best friend Jo from a forced marriage? Sign me up! And the romance that blooms between them is super sweet and tender.

The countryside setting is lovely, and I could totally picture the blackberry bushes and peaceful lakeside walks. It’s the kind of cozy, escapist read that makes you want to curl up with a cup of tea.

That said, the pacing felt pretty slow to me. There were parts where I just wanted things to move along faster, especially with all the drama going on around Lily and Jo.

My favorite part? Mabel the Brewster and her family—what a badass! She’s tough, clever, and honestly kind of steals the show. I loved every scene she was in.

If you’re into soft, historical romances with a lot of heart, you’ll probably enjoy this one. It wasn’t a perfect fit for me, but I still had a good time with it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book!