I was so excited for this book. Who doesn’t love a story about a female spy infiltrating the enemy’s camp during a magical war? Immediately sold and ready to go on an espionage adventure. Sadly, that is not what happened here.

I don’t think I have ever spent more time mentally screaming “OMG SHE IS SO DUMB” during a book in my life. Isabel spends most of the book being borderline too stupid to live, naive to the point of being dangerous, and unwilling to admit she is terrible at everything. Her internal monologue was awful and pointless. There is limited world building and the magic system is confusing/isn’t explained well. The twist is predictable.

I should have DNFed this book. I’m honestly not sure why I finished it since I spent a lot of time not enjoying the story or the characters. The one thing I did enjoy was the title reference in the last pages.

Elizabeth is tasked with helping her kingdom by becoming a spy. However she isn't stealthy or subtle, she isn't even a spy, she's an apprentice to the palace physician.

I loved Elizabeth and her journey to discovering what she stood for and fighting for her kingdom. I'm excited for the next book and seeing what happens next.

4.5 ⭐️

Illusion of Stars is a captivating blend of humor, heart, and magic that draws readers in from the start. The character development and relationship dynamics are expertly crafted, with Isabel—a strong yet self-doubting protagonist—navigating her insecurities and the weight of self-harm. Her journey is refreshingly raw, offering insights into her struggles that resonate deeply.

Erik, the soldier with a heart, is equally complex. His initial annoyance with Isabel evolves into a genuine connection as they grapple with their identities and the expectations placed upon them. Their banter is sharp and engaging, making their gradual understanding of one another both humorous and poignant.

Though the beginning felt a bit slow, the meticulous world-building sets the stage for the rich story that unfolds. The revelations and twists are expertly timed, leaving readers shocked yet satisfied as they fit the pieces together.

The writing is beautifully poetic, filled with lines that linger long after reading. Themes of love, self-worth, and the journey toward acceptance shine through, making Isabel’s inner voice resonate with many. The relationship between Isy and Erik is authentic, capturing the awkwardness and depth of their evolving bond.

With a compelling narrative and emotional depth, Illusion of Stars is a magical adventure that leaves you eager for the next installment. Fans will find themselves reflecting on the story’s healing and inspiring moments, particularly the haunting prophecy that promises more to come.

The audiobook was done very well. Good voice changes, intonation etc., I almost dnf at 25% but decided to chug through. Definitely a YA book, the plot could have been good but had so many holes that it felt a bit immature at times. Still it was worth the effort to hang in there to read the last bits of the book which was fairly exciting.

#netgalley #IllusionofStars

I wanted to like this story so much. Unfortunately, the audio was almost unbearable with overexaggerated emotion and pronunciation that the story was lost to it. The plot is a good concept, and maybe reading and not doing audio would've resulted in a better rating from me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC in exchange for my honest review of this audiobook.

DNF @ 30%. I tried really hard to get into this book, but I don't think it's for me. The worldbuilding didn't really work for me and the romance was really slow starting.

I am so, so glad I picked up this gem of a story and was lucky enough to access a copy of the audio as a companion. This was so, so beautiful!

I think this was different from a lot of the Romantasies I’ve read recently, which is saying a lot considering how many I read. Our main character is a healer, and she’s soft, she’s afraid, she’s trying to heal. She is also fiercely strong and complex and I loved everything about her. The writing is beautiful and poignant, and has just the right amount of floweriness without going over the top. It tackles some difficult mental health issues as well as grief with complete grace, and it has an incredibly interesting format from the very first chapter that sucks you in.

Also, while I did really enjoy using the audiobook as a companion and switching back and forth, I think this could have been even MORE impactful if I’d stuck with the ebook all the way through. Not because the production, narration, and quality wasn’t phenomenal at capturing such a beautiful story, but because I think some of the writing hits harder if you really SIT with it. That being said, I’m definitely not knocking anything down for that, because I think it’s a personal preference. I’m interested to see when the next installment will be; maybe I’ll do a reread fully as an ebook!

Thank you SO so much to Dreamscape and NetGalley for this audio copy. I am always so thrilled with my Dreamscape reads, and can’t wait for the next book in this series!

I loved this book! It was so fast paced, and the world was immersive. The author did a great job creating a truly believable relationship and emotional connection between the two main characters. I loved seeing them slowly getting to know each other and slowly transition from untrusting enemies to something more. There were some plot points that were questionable (like Isabel getting made a guide for the Volds?!) and the twist at the end was predictable, but the book was still really enjoyable and bingeable. Will be continuing the series! Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This was such a fun romantasy! The magic system is unique, the plot is fast paced, the characters are vibrant and lovable, and the romance is filled with banter and tension. Isy is a great protagonist. She’s studying to be the court physician, and she’s so awkward that it’s actually hilarious. She’s tasked with spying on Erik, the son of the general of the neighboring enemy kingdom, and seducing secrets out of him if possible. She’s a terrible spy, and everyone knows she’s been sent as a spy, but she’s so endearing that they all love and trust her anyway. This book had banter, humor, political conflict, secrets, and a swoony slow burn romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the next book!
✨
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️
✨
Read if you like:
▫️enemies to lovers
▫️forced proximity
▫️slow burn
▫️illusions and magic
▫️court politics, deception, and spying
▫️broody shadow daddy
✨
Thank you to Dreamscape Media, Sarah Marie Page, and NetGalley for the ALC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am absolutely enamored with Isabel and Erics story. Sarah Marie Page has pulled on all of my heartstrings and reminded me how terrifying, yet fulfilling it feels to fall in love. This was a book that I didn't know I needed, but somehow managed to completely sweep me off my feet. 
Now to be honest, the storyline in Illusion of Stars did not capture me right away. While I didn't feel like the pacing was particularly slow, the characters just didn't stand out right away and capture my heart. The more I read however, the more they entrenched themselves in my mind. The more the plot progressed, the more engrossed and invested I became in the story. After the halfway point, I completely lost my ability to put this book down. I loved the way that every piece of the story came together so beautifully at the end. The way that the plot unfolded was pure poetry and was easily on of the most satisfying endings I have ever read. The way grief and love are merged together was so beautifully done. The authors attention to detail was on a completely different level and I feel so fortunate to have been able to read her work and will be breathlessly waiting for the sequel.

Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page

I'm going to first start by saying it is rare that I write a somewhat negative review. I met Sarah in person and she is a really nice person and the cover of her book is so gorgeous. I was excited to try this one out because it sounded interesting.

Things I did enjoy:
The characters had great arcs and growth. I liked that Isabel grew so much in how she viewed herself. And I liked the messages the author was conveying.
I enjoyed Sarah's style of writing and use of descriptive language and metaphors and similes. The plot was interesting, with a bit of mystery, political intrigue with secrets and figuring out magic. The magic system is unique and interesting.

Things I didn't enjoy:
I couldn't get invested into the story as a whole enough and found myself zoning out while listening and having to backtrack many times. The cussing was very distracting to me. There wasn't enough world building in the beginning in my opinion as well.
For an enemies-to-lovers story, I was hoping for more banter and chemistry and enmity between the two MCs. Towards the end there was some.
I also didn't care for the foreplay. I don't mind fade-to-black, but prefer it with kissing only.
There was also quite a bit of innuendo.

All in all, I feel this story was not for me. I was sorely tempted several times to DNF it, but I stuck through to the end.  I do think Sarah has a lot of potential for growth in her writing. It is no easy task writing a Romantasy. I think with time, her writing will be more polished. I think if after you have read my content warnings and this review and these things don't bother you, you could enjoy it. It might be a story you would like.
I received a review copy of the audiobook from the publisher on Netgalley. All thoughts are my own.

Favorite Parts:
Enemies to Lovers
“I see you.”
Lover’s box
Unique magic
“You matter”
“How do you put pain on a page?”

Audio review: Most of the time I enjoyed the female narrator. Sometimes her voice annoyed me. I felt like she has more of a voice for a rom-com, so at times I forgot I was listening to a romantasy. I did really like the male narrator at the end they have for Eric.

Content Warnings:
Language: Heavy: multiple infrequent: b----, d---, h---, multiple frequent uses of s---, six uses of the f word
Sexual Content: frontal nudity (not sexual, not descriptive), Lesbian attraction by side character, hickeys multiple times (love mark), biting ear, foreplay/touching, steamy kisses (described with tongue), implied sex twice, nudity after implied sex
Violence/gore: Moderate: infected wounds mildly described, death and killings, dead man gets heart ripped from his chest (somewhat described), self-harm ideation (non-suicidal), on-page self-harm (non-suicidal), mentions of torture, poisoning
Substance Use: wine drinking
 Other: grief, claustrophobia, panic attack (on page), parental infidelity, discussion of parental abandonment, hazing, catcalling, on-page death of parent, friend; brief mention of sibling death, mad king

✨ALC Review✨

I love a good romantasy and I just listened to this one. First of all, @jaccipriornarrator can narrate anything beautifully, but she is like a queen for fantasy narration.

Secondly, I love that Isabel and Eric don’t begin as enemies. How refreshing for a romantasy! I mean, they don’t begin as besties either, but that’s the fun of it. They become friend and then more.

So, here’s the situation: Isabel is an apprentice to the royal physician and is trying to prove to herself and maybe everyone that she’s worth more than her father thought. Then a neighboring army sails their ships to her island and suddenly her best friend is dead and she’s recruited as a spy for her kingdom.

She travels with a company of Volgaard soldiers including their very handsome leader, Eric. She’s meant to be ferreting out secrets, but falling in love with the magically-inclined Eric comes so naturally.

There is adventure here. A lot of it. And humor. And swooniness. I’m ready for Book Two. Let’s go!

This ALC was given to me by #netgalley and @dreamscape_media. All thoughts are mine alone.

#booksbooksbooks #yafantasy #romantasy #youngadultbooks
#illusionofstars #sarahmariepage #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram

Isabel is the assistant to the royal physician on the newly independent Sanok Isles, a tiny island kingdom. All she has ever dreamed of was proving her father wrong and becoming a royal physician, but those plans are thrown into chaos when the Volds arrive. The Volds are intimidating magic wielders who come from the Kingdom of Volgaard, and the Sanok Isles' foreign minister is afraid they've come to conquer the islands once again. Isabel is chosen to join Erik Lothgarson, the son of Volgaard's general, on a scouting mission. Her true mission is to discover what mysterious weapon the Volds have and try to discover who killed her childhood friend Hans. On this mission, she, she learns more about the Volds and their magic, but she also discovers feelings she might be holding for the general's son.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting to me, but I feel like the writing style didn't totally match the story that was being told. The synopsis makes the book sound very adventurous and thrilling, but the writing was bogged down in a lot of similes and metaphors. I kept getting distracted by the descriptions, especially because a lot of the time everything was described in threes, so I was counting rather than listening. I think the story also would have benefitted from some more world building, especially in the beginning, maybe with some more history of the Sanok Isles and neighboring kingdoms and more of an exploration of the way that magic works in the world. I was also a bit confused by the central romance. It felt like it was mostly based on attraction, but I find it hard to believe someone could be so overwhelmingly attractive that a person would forget that they suspected them of killing their best friend and trying to conquer their kingdom. The story did pick up the pace in the last third and the romance was cute, even if it didn't make the most sense to me. The writing reminded me a bit of Shatter Me, so I would recommend this one to new adult or adult readers who enjoyed that series.

Isabel didn’t know her whole life was going to change when the Volgaars came to their shores.

Isabel was just a physician a girl who took care of the queens feet. But she was went out to be a guide, to spy on the Volgaard. She tried and what she learned was they were not the ones destroying her country. She felt a pang of pain and understanding with Erik, the generals seconded.in command. Thought the scouting tip Isabel started to fall for Erik. And to help him when she learned the truth. That Steffin was the source of her kings ailments and losing of his mind. But with her being inexperienced Erik saved her and willingly became the Red Kings prisoner.

Isabel would not let that stand. And cooed a rescue mission. The only down fall is she had to stay behind. And she was sentenced to death. But on her last night she looked up and seen the stars. Stars that she should not have been able to see because the lovers box took that ability.

Hmm... First of let me say that the narrators did a great job (Narrated by Jacci Prior and Rusty Mewha.) The majority of the book was narrated by Jacci Prior for our FMC 18 year old Isabel who is a royal physician.
Unfortunately for me, I did not gel with the story. Its more of a " its me not you" situation. I could not engage myself with Isabel. She came across a bit immature and there was something about the writing style that didnt work for me. My brain glossed over a lot of things and not because of the narration. It was a struggle to pick it back up after i stopped. I did enjoy the slow burn and some of the banter. But overall it was just a little flat.
Lots of fantasy romance tropes that people will love though from Enemies to lovers, slow burn, one horse and magic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape media for the ALC for review.

Illusion of Stars was SUCH a fun and engaging book. Isabel is an apprentice royal physician of Sonak Island, competing for the permanent role. Something is suddenly very wrong with the king’s mental health, and some suspicious guests from the land of Volgaard are going to find out, putting the island’s independence in jeopardy.

This story started off slowly, though I was entertained by the friendships, banter, and unique magic system as it began to unfold. About halfway through the book, the plot picked up and then I couldn’t put it down. There is a sweet slow burn romance and outstanding character growth. Sarah Marie Page's writing style is unique and filled with beautiful metaphors. I really wish I could dive right into book 2 today!

Audiobook: Jacci Prior did a phenomenal job narrating the audiobook. It was really fun to go back to this world. I adored it at least as much the second time!

4.5 Stars, steamy not spicy (fade to black)

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. The plot and writing are engaging and kept me hooked. The book was beautifully written with vivid imagery when it needed it, but the author didn't get so hung up on writing elaborate imagery that is took away from the flow or plot. That's a fine line to walk, and Sarah Marie Page managed to balance the beautiful writing, plot and flow perfectly! I enjoyed that characters, the plot was engaging and made sense, and the magic system is really interesting and there was depth to the world with history to the land and interactions with other countries. The ending left me wanting more (bit of a cliff-hanger), I can't wait for a sequel! My only complaint that kept this from 5 stars is that the romance between the two main characters felt a bit flat and forced at times. I'm also someone who prefers on-page spice.

The narrator(s) did an excellent job with unique and character-fitting voices. She kept a great pace with engaging narration that sucked me into the story. 5 star job!

An enchanting romantasy in a Nordic-inspired setting! The FMC, a royal physician, completely won me over with her knowledge of natural remedies. It definitely gave me some inspiration of things to add to my garden.

The romance was a perfect mix of light spice and steamy fade-to-black moments, featuring a classic enemies-to-lovers dynamic that kept me hooked. The playful revenge antics added a fun, lighthearted touch that balanced the story’s more serious moments beautifully. Fans of Dramione will especially enjoy the tension and banter.


🌿 FMC is a royal physician using natural remedies

🔥 Light spice, steamy fade-to-black scenes

✨ Enemies-to-lovers romantasy

🌌 Nordic-inspired setting

😂 Fun, lighthearted moments amidst deeper topics

Illusions of Stars is the first book to The Enmity of Hearts and the perfect book to start a duet with. The ending blew it out of the water! I'm so ready for the second book!
This book has incredible world-building and amazing story-telling. I was immediately immersed into Isabel's 6 understood in depth the conflicts she felt, as well as the supporting characters. I love how this book incorporated magic, romance, and both internal and external battles. There were so many moments that had me screaming "Yesss!!" but also so many that tugged at my heart. This book isn't overwhelming or too heavy, however, it does give you a lot to think about. Many of the statements made are quite mature and relatable, and the character development in almost all characters (be in positive or negative) were all amazing and well-crafted. The way the ending incorporated wonderfully into what the seer saw was genius! This book leaves us with a cliffhanger, however, it isn't one that will leave you disappointed. You will be left rooting for Isabel (and Erik, and heck, even his sister and the rest of their crew) and ready to pick up book 2!
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Sarah Marie Page for this 5-star read!

ALC Review 🎧
Illusion of Stars by @sarahpagestories ✨
Book 1 in the Enmity of Hearts duet

Illusion of Stars follows 18 year old Isabel, a royal physician who spends her days trying to keep the queen from dying and the mad king from streaking naked down the halls. But when her best friend is found murdered, with evidence pointing to the kingdom of Volgaard, her world is turned upside down. Desperate for answers, she is sent on a mission to infiltrate the enemy and woo Erik, the general's illusion-wielding son. Amazing tension and banter ensue 😍🐍 It had me kicking my feet and giggling!

The narration is SUPERB. Jacci Prior does an incredible job of evoking the emotions of the characters and story. Isabel is awkward, insecure and SO relatable and it comes through so well in the narration. Also yelling off the cliffs scenes? So, so well done. Rusty Mewha is wonderful as Erik and I'm looking forward to hearing more of him in book 2!