Oh man this book is what I want with romantasy. There is a lot about this book I like and I'm excited to see where the series goes. I liked Sura as a main character and thought her magic was really interesting. Ro was a fun, and pretty male lead. This was a great first read of 2025.

3/5 stars
2/5 spice

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an eARC of The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard in exchange for an honest review.

No book is truly unique. It is not possible for a novel to not use similar ideas, plots, etc as other works. But nowadays, we seem to be most focused on “tropes”. Many people complain that books are too “Trope-y” or that books are too similar because they utilize the same tropes. I do not personally subscribe to this. I believe that there is essentially a trope for everything, and books are bound to have similar or common tropes used. I do, however, believe that there are of course better uses of tropes and worse use of tropes. When books do not find unique ways to use tropes, or put in effort to be smart with there trope, then books can feel rather lazy. I do not say this to be unkind, but unfortunately, I found that Starlight Heir did not feel as though it was putting effort into the tropes it was using. The tropes seemed to be placed in front of me with no seasoning, no sauce, and it just seemed boring. I needed more from it.

I also felt like the pacing was confusing. The first 40% easily could have been made into its own book if we had taken more time to world-build and flesh some things out. It felt overly rushed and seemed like it had a climax that could’ve been used for the ending. Then the next 60% could have been used for a second book. Though it did get kind of slow around 50%.

It was also frustrating that the MMC kept secrets for seemingly no reason beyond to drive the plot forward. The secrets wouldn’t be a big deal and he didn’t have reasons why he was keeping them a secret, they just were to add convenience and shock value to the plot (which they didn’t really, sorry).

The first half felt very YA to me, with some lust and tension and hints of teenage horniness. But then suddenly they were having graphic sex and it completely felt out of place.

I feel bad because all of these things make it sound like I hated the book, and I really didn’t. It was a solid 3 star read throughout. Not a bad book but also not my favorite. I think it could have done with extra workshopping and fleshing out of the world and the story. And tonally could have been aged up a bit, or cut the spice to make it match. Overall, I think that people will enjoy this book because it hits a lot of the beats that are popular right now, but it may struggle to find its footing in the romantasy crowd.

If you're a fan of Amalie Howard's historical romances, brace yourself for a thrilling departure into the realm of romantasy with "The Starlight Heir." This novel introduces us to Suraya Saab, a gifted bladesmith imbued with star magic, who is reluctantly drawn into the perilous world of palace intrigue. Summoned under the guise of a bride selection for the crown prince, Suraya quickly discovers that the royal court is full of danger, deception, and magic beyond her understanding. Alongside Roshan, the enigmatic and brooding half-brother of the prince, Suraya finds herself entangled in a deadly hunt for the Starkeeper—a mythical figure who may hold the key to the realm’s salvation or destruction.

This world is a vibrant tapestry inspired by Indian and Middle Eastern mythology, with evocative descriptions of magic and culture. I also enjoyed how Suraya is tough yet vulnerable. Her journey to becoming a key player in a brewing rebellion is both gripping and inspiring. And of course Amalie Howard always writes amazing moments of romantic banter and sensual attraction.

If you’re ready to dive into a world of star magic, forbidden love, and dangerous secrets, "The Starlight Heir" is a journey worth embarking on.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I received an advanced copy (and an ALC, which was cool since I got to switch back and forth between formats!) for review. This is my own opinion.

The Starlight Heir fits right into the pantheon of fantasy offerings, and will be a brilliant was to begin the year. Perfect for those new to romantasy and those more familiar with the genre, The Starlight Heir has a little bit of everything: evil royals, magic, fated mates, secrets, and a chosen one.

When Suraya is summoned to the palace for the crown prince's search for a bride, she's reluctant to go, but has no choice. Once there, she's immediately out of her depth and discovers that the prince is...awful.

But he has a hot brother, whom Suraya is instantly attracted to. We get violence and secrets and a bit of smut.

After the ending, I'm very interested to see how the second installment of the series will play out!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and HarperVoyager for this opportunity for an early release read.

I really enjoyed the synopsis, it’s what originally drew me in to this book. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver. The world and magic system were interesting and I immensely loved certain aspects of this novel. Some parts were rushed when it should have been slowed down and some parts should have been slowed down that were rushed.

The Starlight Heir is an engaging, fast-paced romantasy that pulls you into a beautifully crafted world inspired by Indian and Middle Eastern mythology.
Suraya Saab, a bladesmith with star magic, finds herself caught between palace intrigue, rebellion, and an undeniable connection with the enigmatic Prince Roshan.
The story’s vivid descriptions bring the magic and fashion to life, immersing readers in its rich setting. The banter between Suraya and Roshan is witty and fun, and their chemistry is undeniable. While the pacing keeps the plot exciting, it occasionally moves too quickly, leaving some character and story elements underdeveloped.
Overall, this is an enjoyable and diverse fantasy with a strong heroine, a charming love interest, and intriguing mythology. It’s perfect for readers who love chosen-one stories, forbidden romance, and action-packed adventures.

Thank you so much Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review!

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4 stars - a fun time in court politics and romance, with a heroine who made her own gorgeous iconic weapon

“Stars, can’t a girl catch a sandsdamned break?”

The Starlight Heir is an entertaining and exciting fantasy romance, which I found easy to read and keep up with. The world was immediately intriguing to me, and I liked the characters. I struggled to feel properly invested in the romance between the main female character and the love interest, but I liked everything else enough that it weighed up for it and so it didn’t bother me.

I would absolutely love to see lots of art inspired by this story, as the fashion and magic are both described in stunning ways! The formal wear especially had me by the throat.

The modern phrasings occasionally took me a little bit out of the story, but once I got further in (and adjusted my expectations accordingly) it was just a fun time. The writing doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it makes for a more relaxing and fun read.

Wow! What an absolute whirlwind of a story! I am obsessed. I finished this in about a day and a half. It was so hard to put down.

This is my first Amalie Howard book, and I seriously need to read everything she writes. The world and character building were incredibly well done. The story did veer from the description, but for me, that was a good thing. I am really tired of "trials," but that ended up being a very small part of the plot. It's just enough to get the story going. Suraya is everything I want in an FMC. Powerful, protective of those she loves, strong and independent, and she was even funny, which I absolutely loved. Roshan again was everything I look for in MMCs. He was funny as well, the banter was fantastic, he was very "touch her and die" and oh so mysterious. I can't wait to learn more about his secrets. It's really exciting

This story had me gasping out loud at all the twists and turns. My heartstrings were pulled so many times, and I had to hold back tears a lot. Book should make you feel everything, and this story certainly had that. I can't wait to see what happened next!

Thank you to Netgalley/HarperCollins for the amazing opportunity for an eARC. Seriously, the best!

This was a pretty typical romantasy, reminding me a bit of Divine Rivals and Powerless. I enjoyed the long journey of the protagonist, both in on her adventure through physical space and her emotional growth. I loved the chapters in the POV of the old gods, the family and friendships, and the love story. I personally don't mind when stories are derivative of others, or when modern language is used in vaguely ancient fantasy worlds - if either of those bother you, then this might not be the book for you. I actually thought the modern banter was pretty hilarious. Overall, this was a decent read that ends perfectly poised for a sequel to pick up and start right off with a bang.

3.5 stars rounded to 4. I think I'm just not the target audience for this one. If you love romantasy like ACOTAR or Fourth Wing (the kind that include "shadow daddies" and young women learning to embrace their power), you'll want to pick this one up. I will say that the intimate scenes worked better for me than most in these specific kinds of books usually do. I also like the reference to Middle Eastern and South Asian mythology.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I will be honest. I did not finish this book. I found the plot and characters to just be, ok. But nothing was really capturing me and keeping my attention. I picked the book up and put it down a lot and felt myself really forcing myself to continue. I'm not sure what it was, but the story was just, there.

Thank you Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. DNF 33%. I thought I was enjoying this book but I realized I really wasn’t after reading 100 pages. There is random modern language sprinkled throughout the book that is very out of place. The main character is kind of whiny and acts like a teenager. This is a 24 year old woman 🙈 The crown prince is diabolical and I hate him so much everything he did was horrible. The romance was very thrown together and while they had chemistry I couldn’t tell why they had it? They had almost no interaction and they don’t know anything about each other? Overall just didn’t do it for me.

I was so excited to be given the opportunity to read an e-ARC of The Starlight Heir. This romantasy comes with a unique magic system centered around stars and seems like the ultimate fight between darkness and light. The FMC Suraya is raised in a a small desert town and has become a talented bladesmith who is able to imbue her blades with jadu (the source of magic in the world). Suraya is “requested” to attend the capital as a potential bride for the crown prince, but the real reason has a much more sinister purpose. When Suraya meets Roshan when she enters the city, it becomes clear almost immediately he is someone who will be important to her. Suraya is a strong FMC who has to really dig deep to determine who she wants to be, and what she is willing to sacrifice for those she loves. There are still a lot of questions that need to be answered at the end of this book, so. I will be eagerly awaiting Book 2.

A very wild ride indeed!

This book was a very interesting journey to take. I will be honest, it took me a good minute to actually invest myself in this book. There were a lot of things that happened in this book, so let's go through it.

Starting off with the good! I really liked the magic system. It felt unique and fresh, and I felt like I had an overall understanding of how it worked. I liked the side characters, but I wish we would've gotten more of some of them. There was a lot of heart and passion in the romance (could've gone for a little more), but overall, I really enjoyed the FMC and MMC's relationship. But honestly the magic system was the biggest saving grace for me. I found it the reason I needed to keep reading. That and the magic Night God we never really got to meet. I'm curious to see how he'll play into the next book.

Now for the cons. The pacing of this book was a little all over the map for me. The beginning was very slow, and it took a lot of energy to barrel through it. The middle portion felt like it flew by, and then the ending felt a little too chaotic. The ending felt like too much happened too fast. It was a little difficult to keep track of all the things that were happening in that last quarter of the book. Also the FMC's epiphany at the end seemed way too rushed. I felt like it didn't impact me.

Overall, I'm very split on this book. There were parts I really enjoyed, but there were also parts I really didn't. I'll be interested to see how the rest of this series will play out.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Rating: 3.5/5

This was a very entertaining romantasy!

The first 25% felt a bit like a slow burn, as a reader I couldn’t tell where the story was headed, but wow, after we hit 25% it was non stop action.

Though I figured out the big reveal very early in the book, it was still a very enjoyable read. I am definitely very curious where the author will go with the next book. I felt this one really wrapped up well, and I’m not sure my heart could handle Ro and Sura going through more.

The characters, especially Sura felt a bit young, but it did provide a really good growth arc for her in the book.

I struggled a little bit with this one. I really enjoyed the magic system, and the world as a whole has a lot of potential,, and I think the series could be really good overtime. There are lots of really amazing series that the first book got the same stars that I’m giving. This one. It does read very YA and a lot of the modern day language line “book boyfriends” threw me off. It felt just a tad insta love to me, but lots of people very much enjoy a fast paced romance, so that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m excited to read the second and see where the author takes the story.

If you like romantasy, I suspect this book will be a hit. It has all the elements of a strong central romance, defying fates, a kingdom on the precipice of war, and evil lurking within those in power. Like much of the romantasy genre, this focuses more on the romance than the worldbuilding. Tried and true fantasy readers may struggle with a lack of coherent magic system and other worldbuilding elements, whereas romance and romantasy readers will enjoy the romantic chemistry and not mind those gaps. That said, Howard's strengths as a historical romance author show through in her romantasy: the background of Suraya's world supports rather than interferes with the plot and romance threads of the book.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard is a story about a blessed blade smith, royal trials, love and mystery. I liked the pace this book kept throughout and it didn't feel like it lagged at all. The FMC was powerful but also naïve at times and you could see it as the reader and in some instances it felt a little predictable. I do wish the Death God had more chapters and wish some more questions were answered but I'm assuming there will be a second book! I did like the fmc and mmc together and the spice was good and not forced I did like that we also didn't have to go through multiple trials it was like barely through one and we could move on with the story and see more of the world which was nice. Over all i'm going to give this book 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy. You can pick up The Starlight Heir on January 7, 2025.

When I tell you I was LEGITIMATELY excited to pick this up and dive into a new, fresh, Persian-inspired romantasy story only to DNF 20 pages in... I have never had a faster 180. This world and premise genuinely intrigued me and has so much potential! Bladesmith (blacksmith) with special powers gets invited to the palace to compete for the prince's hand, and falls for the other prince... it sounds so good! But tell me why the writing style and use of modern slang IMMEDIATELY took me out of the story.

I should have known from the use of "hot as balls" that this book would not be my cup of tea. But to read "melon-sized breasts" two pages later was the last straw. Perhaps I'll pick it up again when I'm in a more generous mood, but I honestly CANNOT believe I actually read those words in a 2025 fantasy book.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books for allowing me to read an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I knew this fantasy book would probably be intense or serious because it has a very detailed map, a glossary at the end (this will be your friend!!! Refer to it often!), and an introduction to the different Houses of this kingdom. I also loved that the story reiterated things multiple times, to aid in understanding.

The book was at a 3-3.5⭐️ for the majority of my read for a few reasons. It was fast-paced, but sometimes I wanted the story to get “there” faster. On the contrary, the romance and spice were maybe too fast. I would have liked a slower burn, personally. I thought Sura, the FMC, didn’t HAVE to be a blacksmith. She could have absolutely been just a badass barkeep and innkeeper. Some dynamics between characters feel off throughout the book.

However, from the ending, I do think the second story will be wildly better! That the things Howard elaborates on in detail or mentions in this book that seem a little pointless or redundant will probably come to play important parts as the series progresses. Almost like she’s getting all her ducks in a row.

I would definitely place her descriptive writing style alongside Thea Guanzon (Hurricane Wars) and Hafsah Faizal (Tempest of Tea). I did also get hints of SJM along the way. What I’m curious about is if other readers felt hints of stories like Cinderella, Jasmine (Aladdin), Sleeping Beauty, and even… Matrix Reloaded, lol. Because I did.

Amalie Howard states in her acknowledgments that she enjoyed being able to share her Indian, Middle Eastern and Caribbean roots in this story. I’m not all too familiar with mythology in these cultures, but her creatures and verbiage were unique to me!