Audiobook/Book Review 📖✨

thank you so much partner @avonbooks and harper audio adult for the gifted ARC and audiobook!

The Starlight Heir
by Amalie Howard

About the book 👇🏽

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.

✨ My thoughts:

Are you kidding me?! I am obsessed with this!! I could not get enough and I did not want to put it down. I switched between physical
book and audiobook and both were incredible! The audiobook narrators did a phenomenal job with this story. I was not expecting this story to be so twisty and addictive. The secrets, the adventure, the romance… all things that are sure to keep you in a choke hold. It’s fast paced, action packed, and the world building is easy to follow. It’s all sort of things I love in a romantasy! I am crossing my fingers for a finished copy of this one but if not, I still plan on buying myself a copy because it’s very much needed and a must on my shelves. Don’t mind me… I’ll be impatiently waiting for book two!! For my romantasy readers that love the chosen one trope, twisty stories, and bingeable books, this is a must read in 2025! The Starlight Heir is out TOMORROW 1/7/25!

Happy reading! 📖✨

3.5 ⭐️, rounded up to 4 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC of the audiobook!

I personally feel like this book is a better read than listen for myself. I’d been craving some good romantasy lately and definitely found my fix! I fell in love with the setting and characters ✨

Great audio. The main characters had an instant connecting and didn’t understand why. Slowly everything started releasing itself. Enjoyed this book. If you are looking for a romantasy this one would be a good pick

I've been a HUGE fan of Howard's historical romance books but this latest romantasy blew me away!! Great on audio, this had Hunger games vibes and sees Suraya Saab, a young bladesmith virgin being chosen to compete for the Royal heir's hand in marriage. Even though Suraya has no interest in being a wife, she does yearn to see beyond her little town. What she never expected was to fall for the Prince's bastard brother or discover she's had hidden potential inside her all along and might just be the key to saving the kingdom. Full of magic, romance, adventure, secrets and more, this was great on audio narrated by Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef. It's also the perfect book to pick up for fans of the Fourth Wing series or The Daevabad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! The cover alone will have me snapping up a copy as soon as it hits stores to keep on my forever fav fantasy shelf!

This book was a lot of fun. I am loving all the new fantasy reads. Suraya and Rochan captured me from the moment they met. Suraya thought he was just a boy from town and when she realized he was a prince, she couldn't believe it. She was at this palace, fighting for the attention of the prince, but inadvertantly fell for the wrong one on sight.
What Suraya didn't know was that something deeper and darker was lingering beneath. The prince and his mother were in search for the Starkeeper, and they suspect that Suraya is that girl. With danger near, Rochan and Suraya go on the run. Suraya has no control over the power brewing in her and she needs help trying to learn to control it. They find solace with Rochan's cousin and he is there to help her wield her powers, but they aren't safe for long. The prince knows where they are and will stop at nothing to find her and make her his.
This book was twisty and turny and I liked the romance between Suraya and Rochan. There were many things that I have seen in fantasy before but there were little spins to make them her own. 3.5 stars.
Thanks to Harper Audio, Netgalley and Amalie Howard for an ALC.

Thank you to Avon Books/Harper Collins for sending me an early copy of The Starlight Heir. What an amazing book to start off my year with. This book had everything I love in fantasy romance books. It was action packed throughout the entire story and kept me captivated from the first page! I loved our female main character, Suraya Saab. She is strong, resilient, and witty. Oh, did I mention she also loves romance books? I cannot wait to see what the second book in the series has in store for us!

This was a great Romantasy read. I think a lot of people will like this book. It’s a standalone but that ending… ? Seems to be left open for something. The reason it’s not a five star for me is the romance part. It just felt there.. like there was no oomph behind it. I didn’t feel the sparks. Otherwise it was entertaining.
The narration was great.

I am a big fan of Amalie’s historical romances and couldn’t wait to dive into her fantasy debut. Overall, The Starlight Heir is transportive, dazzling, and epic in scope. The magic is unique and I love how it’s tied to the stars, which further magnifies the story and makes these magical elements and beings feel limitless. Amalie’s storytelling is captivating and pulls you in from the start with the high stakes, fascinating characters, and mysterious bonus POV.

I struggled the integration of modern language. This is completely a personal preference, but I could go without hearing “goals!” or “thick thighs save lives” or “resting bitch face” used in a fantasy… the usage of modern language pulls me out of the story so fast and breaks the spell.

The super open ending/epilogue has me wondering if more is coming.

The narration was superb!

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.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

5⭐️s. My mind is trying to process everything. In the best way. There are so many secrets that turn the tables in almost every chapter. The romance is really good. The betrayals. The magic. Just…. I want to do it justice, and I feel like words are failing me. Obviously, I really enjoyed this one overall. Highly recommend and need book 2. COMING JANUARY 7TH!!! ❤️

The narration by Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monserrat was amazing. I’ll have to find more from them.

Synopsis:
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.

Thank you so much to @netgalley @harperaudio and @amaliehoward for the advanced listener copy. #netgalley #thestarlightheir #advancedlistenercopy #audiobook #listeningisreading #romantasy

This book was superb! I absolutely loved the balance of world building, plot movement, character development and the romance. This truly is such a well done romantasy book! I was a little confused by the very end, but it was definitely great set up for another book to come. Amalie has been a favorite of mine for historical romance, and this is such an impressive change to then write so well. I can’t wait to recommend this to everyone!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early. I loved the narration and how each character was given a unique voice. The beginning was quite slow but easy to understand. About midway through the plot really began to pickup and was quite action packed.

The Starlight Heir
By: Amalie Howard

First of all thank you to NetGalley for sending me this audiobook in exchange for my review.

Brief plot: MC Suraya Saab an invitation from King Zarek and believes at first that it was a joke. She is definitely not a good fit to be the prince’s new bride. But she goes to Kaldari anyway on hopes of an adventure and to visit the place her (late) mother loved so much.

After she arrives she learns that it’s not a suitable bride they hope to find for the prince, but a hunt for the Starkeeper, a girl they believe holds the power of the stars.

And it’s not the crown Prince that Suraya fall’s smitten with, but instead his half brother, Roshan. After rebels attack, Suraya and Roshan find themselves on the run together. They try to deny feelings for one another along the way as well as other secrets. Could Suraya be the Starkeeper and Does Roshan have secrets of his own?


My rating: I’m giving this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thoughts: I think the author did a very good job with all the details of the story and in describing each scene. It was really beautifully written and made me feel like I was watching a movie while listening to the audio.

It was pretty action packed most of the time, but there were some parts I found a little hard to pay attention to. I loved Suraya’s character, and her strong personality. Roshan’s character was just ok for me. I feel like there just wasn’t much to his character. I did love their slow burn romance, and the little bit of spice.

The narrators for this audiobook did a fantastic job in bringing the characters to life.

I’m personally not the biggest fan of fantasy reads but this romantasy had me wanting to keep listening. And the twist at the end for me!

This book releases January 7th and I definitely highly recommend it, especially for all you fantasy/romantasy fans!

*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).🤤

If ‘The Selection,’ ‘Spark of the Everflame,’ and ‘Red Queen,’ had a baby, it would be this book.
You have all of our favorite tropes: marriage competition, enemies to lovers, broody MMC, underdog FMC (who of course is actually a badass), chosen mates, fated destiny, etc etc.
To be fair, my actual rating would be somewhere around 3.75 simply because the pacing felt a bit off to me in the middle. The beginning of the book was very captivating, the end had me wanting to read the next book immediately, but I think I blacked out somewhere in the middle and felt like I didn’t miss much. (Please don’t let that deter you from reading this. I think I’m just in a bit of a book slump.)
Overall, I really enjoyed the storyline and am really looking forward to book 2. I have a feeling there will be some big revelations to

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook before publication!

I was completely intrigued by the description even though Romantasy is often hit or miss for me. Overall, I found this to be a fun time, though I wanted a bit more.

I enjoyed the banter with the second prince and thought they had some good chemistry, but was disappointed that we didn't get more with her dream lover (who I was way more interested in).

Overall, I think the plot thread that followed Suraya and the royal family was really well fleshed out and interesting, but I feel like the magical plotline with the gods was a lot more handwavy and didn't wrap up as satisfactorily for me. I finished thinking "I thought this was supposed to be a standalone, but I guess not." Only to realize that it is, in fact, supposed to be a standalone.

Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef did an amazing job with the narration.

If you like chosen one tropes, hot dream sequences, and knife to throat (unsexy) then I imagine you'll have a good time with this!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!!!

This book was not for me. I DNF this book at 75%.

So, if you like YA Romantasy like ToG or Fourth Wing, this book gives the forbidden interest, age gap, young relationships vibes. If you like sexual tension and a tiktok baddie, you’ll like this book. If you are into a mysterious shadow daddy and a fast plot but a slow burn you will like this book. I think that this book has an audience who will love it. It has ample 4-5 star ⭐️ reviews.


This book just wasn’t my cup of tea. I also found the tone of the voice actors voice to be hard to process tone wise. As though their voice was like a noise machine

I felt like I was constantly asking myself:
- how old is suraya, again?
- wait what time period or world are we in?
- is this Persian? I thought this was another world?
- hold old is she again?


I also rolled my eyes so hard when we suddenly had the only explicit scene of the book in a random cave and then they exit to a war/ conflict breaking out. Like was this cave in the middle of a town? I thought it was a secluded place he likes to hideaway?

This book lost points for me when it was confusing where we were time wise. When the FMC said “goals” but also somehow spoke incredibly proper. Her weird totally out of context sex dreams at the beginning of the book. And the she was a virgin cringe over the top romance scene.

I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to listen to this book in advance and I know this book has an audience that will love it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for an ARC of this book.

It is a Romantasy about Suraya who has special powers that fits the prophecy. She attends the evil Crown Prince’s Ball to find a bride, out of curiosity. She meets the prince’s bastard brother, Roshan.

The Ball turns into a bloody arena and Suraya scapes with Roshan and meets the rebels.

Every side seeks the starkeeper’s power to win.

The audio narration is very good, changes with every character and changes with every emotion, making it easy to go through the book.

My problem with the book is the setting. Recently Americans try to make their erotica more exotic by choosing different cultures as settings and peppering their narrative with words from that culture.

This one happens to choose Middle East and India. I am not from India, but I am a Persian and found her usage of my culture as sex toy very disturbing.

The story happens in Kaldari that according to Wikipedia is a village in India. The names are Persian and Arabic which suggests Muslim population. And the part of story that guards try to catch Suraya when her headdress falls supports that.

But they have a bar that serves pints of beer. They Box, which is not a middle eastern or Indian way of fighting and is Greek and English. They should wrestle, that is the cultural way of fighting in these parts.

It is supposed to be in ancient times, since there are no guns and cars or trains or even carriages. But they serve potato for dinner in the Ball, which suggests at most 200 years ago.

It uses Persian language, words like Jadoo for magic, Ezhdeha for dragon and Simorgh for phenix but uses Magi and not Jadoogar which makes me wonder if she speaks Persian.

But people in this world speak English and not Persian and use Latin alphabet because the Prince carves a B on his brother and says B for Bastard, or Suraya thinks of Roshan’s flirting response, as best three syllables I heard.

It mixes Simorgh from Persia with Ezhdaha from China and magic ruins from Scandinavia and Chinese Jade power is used as opium.

The dance in an ancient ceremony in India or Persia or any other Eastern country is not ballroom dancing, specially not an Argentine Tango that Roshan and Suraya perform. But later when they are in the rebel village, there are belly dancers.

They talk about testing for sexual diseases and using protection and I wonder what is the time line of this story?

The mother binding the magic of her child, reminds me of discovery of the witches. The fighting to become future queen, seems like hunger games.

The characterization does not match the setting. Suraya and her friend are millennial American brats, Roshan is an imaginary boyfriend with today’s standards.

The descriptions are cliche and do not help either.

The plot is very cliche, like most books in this genre, no twists or surprises and a very predictable ending.

It is very confusing and seems like an AI generated setting and plot.

I understand that Romatasy fans might not care about the setting or plot or characters. But I do.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard was such a fun escape! The world-building in this book was absolutely amazing—it felt so vivid and alive, like I could step right into the pages. And the premise? Totally unique and refreshing, which is always a win for me.

The characters really stood out too. They had so much depth and emotion that I couldn’t help but get completely wrapped up in their journeys. I laughed, I teared up, and I was fully invested in their struggles and relationships. They just felt real.

The story itself had me hooked, and I already can’t wait for the next book! There were a couple of spots where the pacing slowed down a bit, but honestly, it didn’t bother me much—it just gave me more time to soak in the details.

If you’re into books with epic worlds, emotional characters, and a fresh twist, definitely check this one out. Amalie Howard knocked it out of the park, and I’m so excited to see what’s next!

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ 4.5 Stars

This was an adventure. As a person who hardly reads fantasy, I really enjoyed this. The audio was done really well!