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

3.5⭐️

This was a pretty solid debut romantasy novel, but it didn’t blow me away. I listened to the audiobook and did enjoy the narrator. I know it’s hard to come up with a completely original fantasy idea with the amount of books out there, but this just didn’t feel overly original to me. It kept my interest enough that I finished it and had a good time doing so, but I was not overly invested in the story or characters. I enjoyed the first 20% or so the most. Will I continue the series? TBD

Thank you to HarperAudio for an ALC and to Avon for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

I love a well-written romantic fantasy novel and this one reads like a fever dream. The created world is one you fall right into and is described beautifully. I loved the idea of a starkeeper and the way the magic system worked. The romance had me under it's spell and I loved the banter and special moments. I listened to the audiobook narrated perfectly by Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef and had a delightful time spent with this magical book.

The Starlight Heir was such a ride! I've enjoyed Amalie Howard's historicals so I knew I was in for a treat with this book I was not wrong. Suraya (the lead of this story) is everything I love in a fantasy MC - scrappy, sassy, loyal and determined to survive any obstacle. The banter was probably my favorite part of the book. The snappy dialogue had me laughing at many points. I really appreciated how the worldbuilding had Persian and Indian influences. I'm always looking for fantasy stories that have non-European influences. I also loved how the story couldn't quite be categorized by one trope. The closest description I can find is if you loved Bash's storyline in Reign then this will probably be the story for you. The story took many twists and turns (some I suspected and some that took me by surprise) and I am so excited to see what will happen next. This was such a strong start to an intriguing new fantasy romance series and I can't wait for everyone else to read it cause I want to hear all of your theories about what is coming in book 2 👀

I enjoyed reading this with my eyes more than with my ears because the narrator's performances didn't quite connect with how I was envisioning the characters. Other people may find that the audio is exactly what they're looking for so I'd definitely take a listen to the sample to see if it might be for you because the accents the narrators did were really fun.

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!

"The Starlight Heir" by Amalie Howard is a captivating fantasy romance that swept me away.

Suraya, a skilled bladesmith with a touch of magic, is a truly compelling protagonist. Her strength, independence, and fiery spirit make her incredibly relatable. And Roshan, the enigmatic prince, is the perfect foil for her. Their chemistry is off the charts, and their forbidden romance adds a thrilling layer of tension.

I loved how this book drew inspiration from Indian and Persian mythology. It added a unique and refreshing layer to the world-building.

The world-building itself is exquisite. Howard has created a richly imagined realm with unique magic systems and intriguing political intrigue. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.

"The Starlight Heir" is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance. It's a scorching hot blend of adventure, passion, and danger that will leave you breathless.

I can't wait for the second book!

3.5 ⭐️ The story starts out strong following our MFC Suraya who is a living her life as an expert blacksmith when she gets a surprising invitation from the prince to attend a competition for the princes hand in marriage. But everything isn’t as it seems and soon we find out there is another reason for inviting our MFC to join them at the palace.

I was intrigued by the Indian mythology in the story and the cover art is really fantastic but a lot of the book fell a little flat for me. I just wanted a little more of everything. More of the romance, more of the blacksmith aspect throughout instead of just at the beginning, and I would’ve loved if the book stayed true to the fantasy dialogue instead of randomly including modern vocabulary and phrases that seem so cringy like thick thighs save lives and RBF.

The book has some great bare bones to stand on so I’m hoping as the series progresses improvements will be made and it’ll be well worth the read in the end.

Quick Summary: A mytho-blend romantasy

My Review: The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard is a novel that is scheduled to be released in January 2025. It is classified as a romantic fantasy.

About the Book: "To save the realm from eternal darkness, she’ll have to choose between the truth and the lie—stand and fight or kneel and die."

In My Own Words: A hope and a loss. An ordinary life that is not as it seems. Secrets and betrayals. Hidden agendas. Malicious plots. An unjust competition with a bride contest for the hand of the crown prince. Rebellion, action, and pursuits. Mythology. World building. Attraction and heat. Questions and revelations.

About the Characters: Diverse and colorful are the cast of characters in this novel. The contrast between the dark and the light can be seen, certainly. Who represents the good, the not so good, and the other plays into the story. Also, representation is expressed early on in the story. Another thing that can be said about this book relates to the maturity level of the players. The communication style and the choices that were made revealed much. It will be great to see the direction certain characters go in; the evolution process in the ongoing story has me considering what lies in the future.

About the Audiobook: This novel was narrated by Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef. This was my first exposure to this team. I think they communicated the story quite effectively. Their rhythm and timing worked. They expressed character emotions and feelings well. I was drawn into the story and was not put off by the delivery. All in all, I was pleased with their efforts.

My Final Say: This should be an interesting series. A foundation of sorts was laid. There were a lot of elements that made this story intriguing. Dangling threads all but guarantee that there is more to come. We shall see what comes next.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: NA/A
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Re-read: Yes
Audiobook: Yes
Series: Yes

Appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (HarperAudio Adult | HarperAudio), and to NetGalley. Thank you for providing access to an audio ARC of this title. I am most grateful for the opportunity to review this work. I look forward to reading more from this writer.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard is a story steeped in deceit, self discovery, and love against all odds. And I devoured every word, this book was spectacular!

Action packed from page one and a fast pace made this book all the more alluring. Suraya, the FMC, is thrust into a new world, very different from her life as a commoner, filled with political intrigue, secrets, and prophesized magical powers. On her path to find the truth she has to dig down deep in her soul and discovery who she really is/wants to be.

The other characters, Prince Roshan, Prince Javed, and Queen Morvarid are all very well fleshed out and add a certain depth to one of the main plot point - good vs. evil - as not everything is as it seems (or is it?)

Overall I highly enjoyed The Starlight Heir and I would recommend it to anyone who loves romantasy, choose one, quests, or banter vibes in their books!


Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for providing the ALC!