This was a really great start to this series. I’m not sure if it will be more than a duology but there is a ton to work with when it comes to world building. I did get a little lost in the houses/areas people are from, but I assume that will solidify over time. However, while it is a bit confusing the added layers between people’s loyalties, abilities, and beliefs played well. It’s an onion of plot development – not an orange – many layers to what drives each character. The magic is also very interesting, and with how things ended I’m very curious how that develops – especially with the main characters. The pacing is good. The tension and banter between the FMC and everyone but mostly the MMC are great. Suraya is sarcastic and blunt, and I loved her. I found myself laughing out loud at a lot of her comments and some conversations between her and Roshan. The only part of the book that fell to the side for me were the God of Night chapters. I had a whole theory going only to be left at the end with more questions than answers and ultimately was a little confused by the purpose of those chapters. The ending has a lot of possible easter eggs for what’s to come, and I’ll definitely be continuing on this journey.

BLOWN AWAY.
This book was everything I needed. I took it on vacation with me and I could not put it down.
Suraya Saab Is a feisty, strong willed, and isn’t afraid of asking the hard questions.
I devoured this story, the plot was amazingly paced, the character development was on par with the pacing, the world building was there but not vast that it toed the line of a high fantasy which I can dislike. The descriptions of the world, and artifacts, and other aspects of the story were beautiful, elegant and I could truly picture what I was reading.

I highly recommend this book to anyone in need of a new Romantasy to fall in love with.

This was my first book from Amalie Howard and I really enjoyed it!! A pretty solid Romantasy debut. It was fast-paced and action packed and I never found myself bored or skimming. The world building was easy to follow. I did guess a few of the plot twists, but others completely threw me.

"𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨."

I LOVED Laleh, the FMC’s bf. She was hilarious.

"𝘿𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮?"
"𝙄 𝙗𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙠, 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮"

I absolutely ate up the slow burn between Sura and Roshan, I was squealing when I got to chapter 17.

"𝙒𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙮? 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚."

But my favorite parts of this book were the action scenes.

And the surprise POV?? WHAT A TEASE. I desperately need more!! Very interested to see how this plays out in the next book!

"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙊𝙧𝙮𝙣𝙙𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙚𝙧. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙪**𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙚𝙣𝙙."

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
💜 Fantasy Romance
✨ Dangerous Trials
💜 Prophecies
✨ Twists
💜 Persian & Indian Mythology
✨ Slow Burn

Thank you NetGalley and HarperVoyager/Avon for both the e-ARC and physical ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Starlight Heir was one of my most anticipated books of 2025 and I really wanted to love it. It was off to a great start and somewhere at 30% it flopped. It begins as The Selection meets The Hunger Games in a persian and indian inspired fantasy setting, but to my great disappointment, the "competition" is already over after the first trial; then there's a lot of capturing and escaping on repeat and then the book is over. It reads like YA for the most part, but there's some spice in it and I guess that's why it was marketed as adult romantasy.

The FMC is lusting over the MMC constantly for about 40% of the book, even when she's trying to escape dangerous situations. I get that it's romantasy, but it was too much for me. Also the FMC's internal monologue using words like "sex-on-a-stick" to describe the MMC really put me off.

The mythology and the magic system were really good and honestly this is what saved the book for me. I wanted more of that, but unfortunately it was more like an introduction to book 2. It was also pretty repetitive and there weren't any twists and turns that I didn't see coming.

Overall, I think that the story has a lot of potential and I will definitely read the sequel, hoping that it's going to be better than this one.

I would recommend The Starlight Heir to fans of romantasy who enjoy fast-paced reads with some drama and spice.

So for Amalie’s debut fantasy romance/ romantasy— I enjoyed this! Amalie’s humor and wit strike again in her latest book. I will say if you’re a romance reader dipping your toes into fantasy this would be a good introduction versus a fantasy reading looking for a little romance. Personally I would rate this book a 3.8/5 and let’s get into why:

Spoilers ahead so if you want to avoid that do not read any further.

What I liked:
-The mythology- it was intriguing to have a different and diverse mythology focus than I am used to (don’t want to tell you too much about this as that will take the fun out of it no?)
- The FMC - I love a sassy FMC — She does use a lot of modern language so I know for some that can feel jarring / throw you out of the world when it’s not an urban fantasy but this didn’t bother me too much
-The MMC - Charming and his way with words had me happy for the FMC— I feel like we got good development for the FMC & MMC
-I am a trials and stakes girlie so I loved “the invitation” concept

What I think could be improved but I’m giving grace on with it being the debut romantasy:
-I want more world building. I like the way Amalie described people, food, and action scenes— but I wanted more from this. I wanted to learn more about the mythology and more about the world they were in. At times I felt like we were “jumping” from scene to scene and this threw me off more than the modern language.
-The spice— I wanted a bit more from this— the first introduction scene was fleshed out well but the later scenes felt too rushed. Also, I think because the characters used more modern language but then the spice/smut scenes used more “historical” language to describe bits threw me off in these scenes. However, in fantasy books open or closed door romance really doesn’t make or break the book for me.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and glad I had the opportunity to arc read it thanks to Netgalley.

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 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.

Thank you so much to Avon & Harper Audio for providing me with a review copy. 💖

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 ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.

3.5 stars

We meet Suraya as she is finishing a blade in her forge and finds a letter. She opens it and it's a summons from King Zarek inviting her, among others, to the palace in an attempt for the king to find a wife for his son Prince Javed.

Suraya lives in Conan, a poor city within the kingdom. She works as a blacksmith and forges blades using a magical material called Jadu which is the last source of magic in the realm. Sometimes she dreams of a faceless figure who comforts her when she feels overwhelmed or is scared.

As she arrives at the palace, she meets a man who she assumes is a worker, and they banter back and forth a bit. Imagine her shock when she sees him at dinner seated at the royal table and realizes that he's Prince Rosham, the king's illegitimate son and brother to Prince Javed.

While all the other females compete for the attention of Prince Javed, Suraya is only there for the experience and to see where her mother, who died when she was a child, came from. She has no desire to be married off, especially to the cruel prince.

When the real reason why everyone was invited to the palace is revealed, Suraya and Rosham find themselves fighting to stay alive and joining the enemy rebellion (Dahaka) to stay safe because everyone is keeping secrets and as they are revealed, Suraya realizes that she just might be the fabled starkeeper that the Queen and Prince Javid have been searching for. With no control of her new power, she attracts more attention than she wants, especially from a dark god, so Rosham and Suarya need to fight not only for their lives but also the simmering attraction between them.

The world building was done effortlessly within the story so it flowed easily and there was no lull to explain things or dump info to the reader. You jump right in and the story just takes off! All the fantasy elements were easy enough to follow and you didn't feel like you had to go back and take notes or feel that you were missing something. I typically have a hard time following fantasy plots but I got the gist of this book right away.
It did slow down a bit when she was trying to control and learn her new power but once the attraction between the two main characters took off, so did the remainder of the story! The descriptions were stunning. I felt like I was actually in these places and I could close my eyes and see the vivid clothing the characters were wearing or the landscapes of where they were at.

An overall enjoyable book that was set in a stunning world and had good characters.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I had a lot of expectations that were not met as I read The Starlight Heir. The plot meandered so much that I felt like I was being dragged along. I didn’t love our FMC either and found her to be a very unlikable narrator. The use of modern slang constantly took me out of the story as well. The whole book felt like it was just set up for book 2, which is a bummer because I don’t plan on reading it.

A swing and a miss for me with this one, unfortunately.

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.

when I read the synopsis for this book, I was IMMEDIATELY intrigued. A chosen one with star magic?? a handsome bastard prince?? an immortal shadow god? SIGN ME UP. and let me tell you it DID NOT DISAPPOINT.

I DEVOURED this book. it grabbed and held my attention the entire way through. It was fast paced so I never felt bored, but the pace is also one of my only critiques because I wish there’d been more time for the characters and plot to develop. even still, the main characters were quick-witted, funny, and had amazing banter and chemistry (though I will say, some of the dialogue felt a bit cringe - a very minor issue but part of why this is only 4 stars for me).

the world building was effective, the magic and mythology felt unique and refreshing, and I simply NEED the next book because the POVs from a *certain someone* have left me with a million questions

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.

I like to start a book without reading much of the description, this is a new author to me and I was intrigued by the cover.
Overall this book was a good fantasy, this is my first book reading much about Indian culture in a fantasy world. The story line was interesting. I enjoyed the characters and the world building. I do wish the change in POV had more information. Those chapters were a little confusing. The way the main character acted in certain things was a bit immature, she seemed so confused and wouldn't take a second to sit back and think about things. She very much was a flight response to stress. The different sectors of secret groups was interesting and the way the twists kept twisting felt like a movie with constant interruptions and pivots to the plot. It was enjoyable but each had scene I was waiting for the pivot!
My rating is due to some of the confusion and difficulties I had following in places.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and Avon Harper Voyager for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025! 5 ⭐️ read for sure! Spice was 1.5-2 🌶️. I really enjoyed the banter and the laugh out loud humor. I got sucked into the story immediately and couldn’t put it down! The characters were very relatable and had amazing chemistry. There was a predictable twist in the story that I did expect and see coming but there was one that I didn’t see coming and my jaw was on the floor. I can’t wait for book 2! This is an immediate “purchase all versions” book for me and I can’t wait to see who does special editions of this one because I will be purchasing all of them!

This was so dang good! I loved every single part of this and am intrigued but that epilogue! The author crafted an amazing adventure that had me hooked with wonder, biting my nails with the danger elements and pulling my hair out with the slow burn! I would have wanted more of her powers developed especially with that ending, and I’m really excited to see how they will grow in the sequel.

I love Amalie's writing and this story is well written. However, I could tell this was the author's first romantasy because there were a lot of pacing issues. It felt like the author has a destination she wants the story to go, but book 1 was just about getting to book 2 and not a sufficient story on its own. There wasn't a goal for the characters. They just kept escaping danger, getting captured, escape, captured again, escape, captured again, etc. etc. After the third capture, I was so fed up.

Will I read the second book though? 100%. I am very intrigued by where this story is going.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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 draws 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 carry out a brutal strike, 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 hiding secrets of his own. And with no control of the power that seems to be stirring within her, Suraya has drawn the attention of the old gods themselves…and the interest of one dark god in particular might be the biggest threat of all.

By the time I hit 42% of the book, I still wasn’t sure if I actually liked it—which, let’s be honest, isn’t a great sign. There are some intriguing elements, like the mythology and the magic system, both of which show potential. But here’s the kicker: the FMC is starting to seriously grate on my nerves.

Sure, the banter between the FMC and MMC has its moments—it’s decent, but it doesn’t wow me. I’ve come across much sharper, more memorable dialogue in other books. And as for the spicy scenes... yikes. Let’s just say they land closer to cringe than chemistry, which is a real letdown.

At 100% I'm still not sure how I feel about this book. It didn't get better for me, but it didn't get worse either. Overall I think I would say that this book might be good for someone who is just getting into fantasy, or romantasy, but I don't think it was as engaging as it could be. There was a lot of promise in the set up of the story, but the pacing and execution just weren't there for me.

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 read a physical arc of this. 3.75

A Romantic Fantasy with Intriguing Twists

In this captivating fantasy romance, Suraya and Roshan's chemistry ignites as they navigate the dangers of being on the run. Roshan's devotion to Suraya is admirable, and their romance, while not a fast-burn, is sweet and enjoyable.

Suraya shines as a strong and complex protagonist, driven by a mix of love and hate, and grappling with inner turmoil. In contrast, Roshan's character feels somewhat underdeveloped, but this may be due to Suraya's dominant presence.

The story takes an intriguing turn with the introduction of a mysterious character, whose role is gradually revealed throughout the book. The final pages set the stage for a thrilling sequel, and I'm eager to see how this new character will impact Suraya and Roshan's journey.

Overall, I highly recommend this fantasy romance to fans of the genre. Thank you to Avon & Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy. I'm eagerly anticipating book two!t

"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!