Interesting story of a woman who thought she was normal only to find out she has magic. She also learns the royal family is not what them seem and their sudden interest in her could be deadly. The magic was interesting and the love story was good.

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

this started off a tad slow for me but picked up and grabbed my attention during the very bloody bridal trials. i found the magical creatures introduced to be some of the most interesting i’ve ever read in a romantasy setting, and the magical systems with gods was interesting as well.

the romance personally fell a little flat for me — i enjoyed the slow burn at the start, but the rest of the book it did not feel very believable in my opinion.

as for the audiobook — i LOVE an audiobook that has dual narrators; both male and female narrators are fantastic

overall, a good start to a new series!

TW: Parental death, classism, violence, gore, imprisonment, drug addiction

3.75 Stars

Suraya, a bladesmith from a small town, is invited to the palace to compete with other women in a competition to win the prince's hand. Her father and aunt are weary of her going but in the end they relent. She quickly finds out the competition is life threatening and that she's beginning to have these strange powers she can't control. With the help of the handsome bastard prince, she escapes near death and they set out to no man's land in search of safety and to check on her family.

Honestly the first half of this book is SO fast. Almost too fast. The competition felt like 5 seconds honestly. I realize that there is a lot to set up in these three hundred or so pages but I felt like I was being hit from every which way with new things happening and new information. But then the middle part ended up dragging. It wasn't until about 75% that I thought things settled in to a normal pace for me. Besides pacing issues, I felt the romance was a bit meh. He is in insta-love with her and she falls for his flattery way too easily. Like have some self preservation girl!

I did enjoy the magic system, it's really unique and interesting and I love the lore of the Simurgh. And I'm also entirely curious about the shadow god that seems to be the same character from Suraya's dreams. I feel that will be the real romance of this series, it's being set up so well...a reluctant soul fated bond...with a shadow god...yes please! So this didn't end up being the banger I wanted from one of my favorite authors but I feel it's all going to be worth it in book 2.

I believe the audiobook was good as well. The main narrator, Anais Inara Chase, did a nice job. I'm not sure how to describe her voice other than I felt that it felt the character of Suraya well. Not too serious, this isn't some high fantasy brick, but a little immature but still entertaining as hell. I really really loved the male narrator, Ramiz Monsef. The few times we got to hear him I was always left wanting more. The dramatic and deep cadence was chef's kiss! I can't wait to hear more from him in the next book!

Thank you so much to Avon for providing me with an eARC and to Harper Audio for an ALC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Entertaining enough while I read it but I don’t think it will have a lasting impression on me. It appears this is a start to a new series due to the cliffhanger we were left with. Some phrases took me out of the reading/listening experience, such as “thick thighs save lives” and “prince-splaining”. Those phrases could have worked in an urban fantasy setting but they stuck out like a sore thumb to me in this setting. I also had a difficult time connecting with the love interest, primarily because the romance felt close to insta-love and I didn't fully trust the love interest's intentions as quickly as the fmc did.

I think if you enjoyed from blood and ash you will like this one.

Tropes
🐉High fantasy
👑New-adult Romantasy (25 y/o fmc)
⚔️Trials
✨Chose-one FMC
❤️‍🔥Open-door romance

*mild spoilers at the end*

A slow starter, this fantasy feels YA with adult content (The spice we love from Amalie!) and has a lot of similar themes to the genre. It's fairly creative in worldbuilding but it's a bit of an info dump. Things start happening quickly about a third of the way in, establishing a romantic interest early on and plenty of danger all around. Interesting magical system and excellent villains, but I just didn't buy into everything fully. I'll still be reading the next book though, and seeing what happens as the rightful king is crowned and the "god of darkness") or night or whatever keeps talking possessively to himself) is made known to us....

Wow this fantastic. Although the male narrator can be jarring, but that is kind of the point. I loved it. It has the smut but that's not the whole point.
Love the narration. Love the story. The ending is wow!

3.5☆/🌶.5

This was a super fast-paced read! It starts off with Suraya, a bladesmith who receives an invitation to the castle to compete for the hand of the crowned prince. But it isn't what it seems, and after a rebel attack, with the help of the crowned princes' half-brother Suraya flees and uncovers secrets about herself, she never knew.

I was able to listen to the audiobook and it was really good. The narrators really brought the characters to life. I loved being able to hear the pronounciation and accents of the words that were nee to me. The second POV was very ominous and mysterious. I'd definitely recommend the audiobook.


I loved the Indian/Middle Eastern mythology and magic system. In the beginning, we did get a lot of descriptions and imagery, and I loved it. As the story went on, the transitions and descriptions felt a little less flushed out and smooth, but the plot had definitely taken over, and there was a lot more going on.

Suraya was so easy to root for. I enjoyed that the FMC is older, 24, and is mature despite being thrust into a world of unknowns. The side characters, especially her best friend, were so funny, and I loved their dynamic.

There were definitely some twists and saw coming but I still have so many questions, especially about a certain epilogue and another POV we get in the book, and I'm so curious how this is going to evolve.

One thing I will mention is that there is some modern/contemporary language that can take some readers out of a fantasy story, especially because this isn't an urban fantasy. I didn't mind it and still really enjoyed the story overall.


-Trials
-Magical creatures
-Banter
-Quest
-Secrets/hidden identities

Overall, it's a great romantasy debut and will be continuing the series.

Suraya considers herself a nobody, and is shocked when she receives an invitation to the capital city as a possible suitor for the prince heir. While most would be intrigued by the romance, Suraya is a bladesmith and hoping to get access to the capital forge!

While she knows there is no chance she’ll be chosen, she won’t turn down an adventure - especially to the city her mother (who has passed) loved. She overhears her caretakers whispering with concern about if her invitation was a coincidence or not, insinuating there’s a secret about her past and connection to the city, but she won’t be deterred.

On her journey there, she runs into Roshan, the prince’s half brother, and the attraction is instant but she didn’t know who he was until she sees him sitting at the royal table.

It turns out that the search is not for a bride, but for the Starkeeper- someone who holds the magic of stars in their blood, according to the prophecy.

In the background, you have a rebel militia threatening the four current noble houses of the land. And you get a perspective of a god who is hiding/ in a slumber. The rebels strike and Roshan and Suraya find themselves on the run together away from the rebels and the prince- who chose Suraya as her bride due to her powers! A story of secrets, gods, chosen on, and betrayal! Such a fun read !! Can’t wait for book two!

Themes:
💕 chosen one
💕 slow burn romance
💕 comprehensible world building
💕 mythical creatures
💕 action
🌶️ few excellent scenes, lots of banter

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio Adult for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 1/7/25!

The Starlight Heir had so much potential. I liked its Persian and Indian influences, which isn't commonly seen in the Romantasy genre. But sadly, it didn’t quite land for me. I had a really hard time connecting with the FMC, Suraya, as she constantly made frustrating choices, and I just couldn't get invested in her journey. There is modern slang in the book, which broke the immersion for me.

The audiobook narration was decently done and I didn't notice any weird mix or volume issues. The story did have some intriguing moments, but it did get a little repetitive. The romance between Suraya and Roshan felt rushed, with Suraya instantly lusting over the MMC. That said, I did enjoy the unique mythology and magic system, which gave the story a lot of potential.

I think this could be a hit for fans of Romantasy who like fun, fast-paced reads with drama and spice.

The Starlight Heir delivers an exciting enemies-to-lovers fantasy, brimming with twists, secrets, and the weight of cosmic destiny. What sets this tale apart is the idea that characters can either embrace their fate or fight to reshape it—a theme that added depth to the story. I found myself drawn to the intriguing characters and their journeys, but the modern language peppered throughout sometimes pulled me out of the immersive fantasy world. Phrases like "country bumpkin" and references to newspapers felt jarringly out of place. Still, the story's charm and the potential of where it might go have me ready to pick up the next book, even if I’m cautiously curious about the blend of modern and fantastical tones.

I really enjoyed *The Starlight Heir* — it’s definitely in line with the other popular romantic fantasy novels that readers are loving right now. I’m just so obsessed with romantasy — I can’t get enough of these captivating worlds and swoon-worthy relationships!

This novel is packed with intrigue, tension, and plenty of romance, all wrapped up in a story full of twists and turns. The heroine is especially fun, with a sharp wit and a love for banter (a woman after my own heart!).

There’s also the perfect blend of “chosen-one” vibes, betrayal, and mystery that keeps you hooked from start to finish.

All of these elements combine to create a truly engaging read, and I can’t help but highly recommend it to anyone who loves a thrilling, heart-pounding fantasy with a strong, relatable heroine!

I am convinced there is nothing Amalie Howard can't write and I was thoroughly invested from the moment Suraya gets the royal invitation. Howard's take on the "chosen one" was engaging and she understood the assignment with the romance as well.

3.5 stars! The Starlight Heir is the fantasy romance debut from Amalie Howard. I’ve read Amalie for years with her historical romances and was intrigued to see she was putting out a fantasy, so of course I had to check it out.

This one was entertaining, I flew through the story and was just along for the ride to see what would happen next with the characters and world. I liked that this was a more diverse fantasy, it has influences from Indian and Middle Eastern mythology, astrology, and chiromancy/palmistry. I liked parts of the story for sure and was intrigued with characters and things we learn a bit about. I enjoyed this probably more so than other fantasy romances I’ve read recently, but at the same time I was left wanting more. Which I’m sure more will come and be explained as the series goes on.

If you want a more diverse fantasy, then definitely check this one out. The cover is stunning and delivers on a prophecy, ancient cursed shadow gods, family secrets, soul fated vibes.

I received an audio ALC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

I really wanted to like this book, but I struggled. The contemporary slang in the dialogue and thoughts was very distracting.

Final rating is probably a C or about 3 stars. It kind of lost me at times. The world / magic system was kind of confusing but that may have been because I was having a hard time paying attention. The slang wasn’t *as* noticeable as it went on. The “sexy talk” was kind of cringey at times lol I wish it was better but I would say I’ve read worse 😅 the world is so lush and beautiful though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5 (Rounded up)
Overall:
The story itself was interesting and the main characters were easy to root for. The world building was very easy to understand, Amalie Howard going without the random information dumps that are very common in fantasy novels. The infrastructure of the different cultures within the magical world was well-thought out as well. The conflicts made my eyes go wide on several occasions and the stakes were just high enough to keep me engaged through most of the story.
The only reason I believe that last 20% fell flat for me was because of the way all the small details wrap up. I didn’t find it very satisfying and because of that the rest of the book started to feel tedious. I described it as something akin to “blowing on a dandelion to get all the seeds off and one just won’t blow away.”
But, the epilogue does set the next book up nicely.

As for spice, there is very little in the book but many references and innuendos are made. There’s about 1.5 scenes that describe anything in detail and if you prefer, they are easily skipped.

Audiobook specific notes:
* The main narrator, Anais Inara Chase, was incredible. She was acting HARD. She spoke every piece of dialogue in the emotion the author intended for the scene. Not to mention the tone shifts, making it very easy to differentiate each character from one another.
* The switch to a different point of view for a couple pages was a little random to me. We never really get context as to whose POV it is. And frankly it was a little jarring in the audiobook.

Tropes:
* Chosen One
* Slow Burn-ish (There’s instant attraction/tension)
* Strong FMC
* On the run from the royal crown

Thank you Netgalley and Avon for sending me the audiobook to review. All opinions are my own.

Suraya is a bladesmith who is one in few who is invited to the palace in hopes to find a wife for the crown prince. Turns out, it’s not courting but trials in hopes to find the Starkeeper, a rumor of a girl that harnesses the magic of the stars in her blood. During the trials, Suraya meets the crown prince’s illegitimate half brother, Roshan, that she ends up developing feelings for. The illegitimate prince has secrets of his own that lead to them on the run from the evil crown prince.

This romantasy was such a fun read. It had easy to follow world building, mythology and action. It was captivating the author wrote how the magic was created, used and manifested. The character building was written well that I felt like I knew them and could associate with their feelings. This gave me Red Queen series vibe and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! The narrator did a good job voicing all the parts. The book itself was very good as well. I would recommend to romantasy lovers, and I look forward to what comes next.

I received an advance audio code. This review is honest and voluntary.

Received an ARC and ALC from netgalley for my honest review.

This was a very 3 star rating.

The synopsis is basically the whole book. Without listing a few surprises, which weren't very surprising.

The first 30% of this book was a very different vibe compared to the other 70%. The language in the beginning was modern. For instance "resting hitch face" and "goals". With how the story setting is, such language does not fit in. If you disregard the odd language I very much enjoyed the first part of the book (first 30%). I even dropped my jaw at a certain point, and was full on ready to give a 4 or 5 star review. However this changed after a certain event, that had the book going in a different direction.

The remain 70% was just ok. While I did have a visceral reaction to a very descriptive part, honest to god loved that it gave me that reaction, the rest of the book was just ok. I didn't feel the connection with Ros and Sura. Not one bit made me feel a romantic connection.

Book was slightly repetitive.

Sura was a horney girl for a good portion of the book, Ros gave the vibes of IDGAF, random character came back at the end out of nowhere (forgot where I even saw his name).The ending was ok, no tears shed no nada. Overall it's a very ok book. I may or may not pick up the next book 🤔.


I did love the narrators for this ALC

I received the audio arc for this book. Thanks NetGalley.

I loved this book. Finished it in one day. The narrators did an amazing job. I will be looking up additional books the female narrator has done. Very clear, lovely voice, even at 2x speed.

This is a great romantacy book with a strong female lead. There are a few scenes with some spice. Someone said there was just one, but there were spicy dreams and a couple of in person interactions.

I saw a few reviews say that the modern language brought them out of the book. But why can't a romantacy have modern language? It made me laugh, but to each their own.

I desperately want the next book!

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook are. I want a fan of the narrator for this novel, and could do without the inside touches of the main character ogling every male in the book. Wasn’t a big fan of the story