Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Starlight Heir. This book had all the elements that I would normally love and fawn over, but I had a hard time finishing this one. I started reading it and then found myself having to re-read the same page multiple times, so I switched to the audiobook. The beginning was a little slow because of the world building and then the rest of the book seemed so rushed. Suraya quickly mastered her magic with little training and quickly fell in love with Roshan. I found myself a little thrown off with the God of Night chapters and wasn’t quite sure why they were even included until the end. I enjoyed the witty banter and Suraya’s personality, but it won’t be something that I re-read.

Absolutely loved the narrators and the performance!

4.5/5⭐
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Amalie Howard, and HarperAudio for granting me the privilege of listening to this captivating audiobook ahead of its release. The Starlight Heir is a dazzling blend of romance, intrigue, and mythological magic that transported me to a world as vibrant as it is dangerous.❤️

The story introduces Suraya Saab, a gifted bladesmith whose rare talent lies in infusing her weapons with “jadu,” a dwindling source of magic. Her skill is both a blessing and a curse, thrusting her into a high-stakes journey filled with courtly intrigue, ancient secrets, and a mysterious prophecy. Unlike many typical romantasy heroines, Suraya isn’t defined by her romantic connections or her magic alone—she’s a fully realized character with grit, vulnerability, and an unyielding desire to shape her own destiny.

Roshan, the enigmatic half-brother of the crown prince, is a character who sneaks up on you. His brooding charm and layered personality provide a perfect counterbalance to Suraya’s fiery determination. The relationship between Suraya and Roshan develops at a steady, deliberate pace, avoiding instant infatuation and instead building a deep connection rooted in mutual respect and trust. Their dynamic felt authentic, which made every interaction between them charged with emotion and unspoken tension.

The audiobook narration by Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef elevated the entire experience. Chase’s voice captured Suraya’s strength and inner turmoil beautifully, while Monsef’s portrayal of Roshan exuded quiet power and mystery. Their voices were distinct, making it easy to differentiate between characters, and their performances were evenly paced and immersive. I could feel the tension, the urgency, and the softer moments through their skilled delivery, which added an extra layer of depth to the story.

What I loved most about The Starlight Heir was the world-building. Amalie Howard’s ability to weave Persian and Indian mythological elements into the narrative felt both refreshing and seamless. The descriptions of enchanted weapons, shimmering moonstones, and the intricacies of court politics brought the world vividly to life. Every scene was rich with detail, making it easy to lose myself in the story.

If I had to pinpoint a small dislike, it would be the occasional use of modern phrases in the dialogue. While not a dealbreaker, these moments slightly disrupted the immersive fantasy setting, pulling me out of the richly crafted world for brief seconds.

Overall, The Starlight Heir is an enthralling start to what promises to be an unforgettable series. The combination of lush world-building, strong characters, and a perfectly paced romance makes this a must-read (or must-listen) for fans of romantasy. I’m already counting the days until the next installment, eager to see where Suraya’s journey takes her next.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
The slight deduction is due to the modern phrasing, but it barely scratches the surface of how much I enjoyed this beautifully crafted tale. Highly recommended for those who love slow-burn romance, mythological magic, and strong, well-developed characters!

3.5 stars. This is definitely action packed and an interesting story, but at times I felt like too much was going on and got a little lost. For example, does she literally turn into that bird thing? I still don’t know. Interesting read though and unique enough that I wasn’t ever bored.

What the H@LL was that ending!! Okay, okay, let me back up…I am still reeling from that Epilogue. So much happens at the end of this book, and I am trying to decide how to sum it all up. I can’t find a more elegant way than to say WOW! At first, I was like, okay, this is such a cookie-cutter Fantasy Romance, but then…it exploded into this obsessive page-turning ride through superb world-building, fantastic character depth, Persian Mythology, a cute bastard prince, a shadow daddy Underlord, and dangerous trials. The spice was very nice. I thought it was hot but not cringy, and I appreciate that. There were some downfalls, so I didn’t give it a five. I didn’t like the temper tantrum Suraya throws mid-book, it felt like a backward slide for her character. Roshan isn’t as strong of a character as his female counterpart, and the dangerous trials end before they really get started. Also, the feeling of reading this before happened several times. However, I was impressed when Howard expanded on it, and it became something more imagined and magical. Finally, if this is a standalone, that will really make me hate this book because I can’t with that ending!! Howard, your readers need more!! Thank you to HaperAudio & NetGalley for the ALC. Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef did an amazing job bringing the characters to life with their narration.

I received this ARC on behalf of NetGalley and was very happy to get the chance to enjoy this fast paced unique magic system. The FMC is strong and intelligent who you can tell truly has felt familial love in her life. At first I thought we were going to get a Bachelor like story of a bunch of chosen women battling for the Prince’s hand but loved the quick turn this story took into Suraya finding out there was more to her background and discovering her magic and the prophecy surrounding her.

I thought the story was quick paced and did a wonderful job expanding on the magic and the history of the god wars while also weaving in the royal corruption and civilian rebellion.

It was a breath of fresh air to have a fantasy stand alone novel capture all the elements to keep you captivated while still building out the world.

I look forward to reading more from this author.

It had been a while since I have read a romantacy, and this did not disappoint. High courts, brother's fighting over the bride. One forcing her to marry, the other no. Thus is really good. 4 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperAudio Adult for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted review copy. My opinions are my own.

A fantasy written by one of my favorite historical romance authors?
With middle eastern myth roots?
And magic?
Absolutely yes please!!

Spunky bladesmith with a penchant for working with magical stone illegally, receives an invitation to compete to become a bride of the crown prince, she only accepts to see the capital city, she wants nothing to do with the royal family. I was blown away with the world building, the story and the magic. The e-book book sucked me in and I finished it in two reading sessions I loved Suraya and identified with her romance book love, but also with her curiosity and love of family. I was intrigued with Roshan and what is actually going on with him.

I am eagerly awaiting news of the next book because I want to know what on earth is going on with the the Darrius character since all we have are the few short chapters from his perspective.

The narration was incredible, I loved both Anais and Ramiz. Anais does an amazing job with Suraya’s voice, both her dialogue and her fun as hell inner monologues. Ramiz is only heard a couple of times as Darrius but I loved his snarkiness with dealing with Vena.

Overall, highly recommend!

Starlight heir is a well developed world with vibrant and in-depth religions and cultures. The plot takes our character on plot driven hero's journey through emotional turmoil and adventure. The adventure od the trials, however, far outweighed the adventure of the middle of the book. The last 20% picking up at a lightning pace. While the book is wonderful, the insta love connection and pacing issues in the midsection of the story caused me to take off stars. The romance could use more attention to bond building, as could some of the friendships. The overall plot, characters themselves, and world are delightful.

I really liked this one. I think it's a solid example of a developed romantasy. It does have some elements that I think needed more foreshadowing which is why it didn't make it to 5 stars. The characters had a lot of life and I enjoyed the growth of the romance. I really.cannot wait to see where this story is going to go.

This romantasy had me hooked! Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef absolutely shine in their narration, making the story even more engaging. Suraya Saab, a badass bladesmith, gets swept into a royal contest that’s more about magic and danger than romance. The mix of Middle Eastern and Indian mythology, thrilling trials, and a slow-burn romance kept me on the edge of my seat. Suraya’s journey of self-discovery, her fiery banter with Roshan, and the rebel attacks made this such a fun listen. The narrators really nailed the characters and brought the world to life. If you love action, magic, and a bit of romantic tension, you’ll enjoy this one. It’s the kind of audiobook that keeps you glued till the very last second. Can’t wait for the next book!

The description of this book had me believing I was going to be obsessed, and it was a fun read but not as good as I was hoping or expecting it to be. The story was fast paced and the magic system interesting, but I honestly didn't care for the love interest and the twist felt so predictable that I'm not sure how the FMC didn't see the betrayal coming. The second POV had me INTRIGUED and I honestly wish we'd gotten more from him, but my guess is he'll make the next book way more interesting to read. Thank you Netgalley for the audiobook e-ARC!

Kind of confused with the Lord of night last pov..Spoiler but if the lord of night was in Ro but im guessing he doesnt know about it. I think the Lord of night pov is definitely confusing me the most since im tryna piece together how that fits but maybe im supposed to be confused until its revealed. Besides that the book was fast paced and sucked me in! I listened to the audiobook courtesy of netgalley!
Thanks Netgalley. It really had me on the edge of my seat with the hunger games style competition. Throughout the book it made me think of Rebel of sands which absolutely loved that series. I loved the magical elements it had me wanting to hear more about it. I loved how she thought Ro was a gardener that was so funny. This book had me so damn stressed too that i felt like i had to sit down and listen. Ive read Amalie Howard’s historical romance so it was so good to see her delve into fantasy romance. The end chapters had me sobbing my eyes out and wanting to curl up into a ball. Im definitely excited about the next book.

For fans of Fourth Wing, ACOTAR, and Divine Rivals. If romantasy is your thing, you will probably enjoy this. Personally, I would say I'm lukewarm to the genre and this one was no exception. The character development and writing were good, but I found some of the dialogue grating and too modern and the overall plot very similar to every other dark romantasy that I've read. I did really enjoy the inclusion of cultural elements and found the descriptions of clothing, places, and feelings very beautiful.

The cover really sucked me in with this one and I was liking the story enough, but it just ended up not working for me in the end. For my fantasy reads, it was really hard to get past all the modern dialogue that took place. I was hoping to get past it, but my mind wouldn't let me. And the mention of Persian mythology was extremely enticing, but was barely touching the surface in the book.

Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef were really great choices for narrators! They truly brought the characters to life, I hope we'll see them again in the next book.

Thank you for the opportunity to listen to The Starlight Heir!

**Book Review: *The Starlight Heir***
*by E. V. Everest*

E. V. Everest’s *The Starlight Heir* is an ambitious blend of cosmic intrigue, ancient prophecies, and self-discovery. While it dazzles with imaginative world-building and a compelling premise, its execution sometimes falls short.

The story follows a teenager thrust into a sprawling adventure as the heir to a cosmic legacy. The richly described settings and intriguing central mystery are highlights, immersing readers in a vivid and expansive universe. However, the fast pacing often leaves little room for meaningful character development, and some secondary plotlines feel unresolved.

Everest’s prose is polished, and her vision is undeniably creative. Yet, the intricate lore and grand scope occasionally overshadow the emotional depth of the story. While the protagonist’s journey is engaging, supporting characters can feel underdeveloped, relying on familiar tropes.

Despite its shortcomings, *The Starlight Heir* lays a promising foundation for a larger series. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of space-faring adventures and cosmic mysteries, even if it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential.

**Rating:** ★★★½ (3.5/5)

A vibrant, imaginative start with room for refinement in future installments.

Thank you to HarperAudio Audit for providing the AudioArc via NetGalley for review all opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for this lovely romantasy audiobook! This review may contain slight spoilers towards the story.

Overall 3.5 star rating.

The narrators for the audiobook do a very good job. I never had any trouble distinguishing the characters from each other and the emotion placed in the narration really pulled me into the story. A story which is, overall, a romantasy through and through. I enjoyed the world we have in The Starlight Heir and it starts out what felt like might become a very redundant plot of trials to win a prince's hand in marriage. However, I enjoyed how it veers off and we have more world building, traveling, and how the romance heats up in the middle and not having to wait for the entire book. Overall a solid romantic fantasy that really hits the ground running and is fast paced enough to keep me hooked in for the entire book. It was a story that I needed and left drops of intrigue for the sequel. I look forward to seeing what comes next! There were some weaker spots in the story, a POV that I really need more from and felt it was left in for mystery but was a bit more confusing, though expecting it to be clarified more in the sequel. If you're looking for that romantasy story that has adventure, royal troubles, magic and small dose of delicious spiciness, than this is certainly one for you!

The Starlight Heir audio book was a fun listen. Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef did a wonderful job bringing this world to life. I will say that because of the lore it might have been a better story to read so I could easily turn back and reference names and lore.

While I liked the overall story and world, I felt that the timing was a bit confusing. At times the plot would escalate quickly and others it felt slow moving. The last 20% redeemed a lot of my opinions about the book and brought it from a 3 to a 4 star rating. That said, I will be reading book 2 as I'm curious to see where it leads the characters.

This book definitely got added to my recommended romantasy list! Suraya is the daughter of a tavern keeper and an apprentice blacksmith. The prince of her kingdom is looking for a bride and sends out invitations to a handful of girls across the land and one falls in her lap. Unable to refuse an invite from the royal family she attends only to find out there is a much darker plot lying under this guise of a search for a bride. With the help of Roshan she fight for her survival and her kingdom.
This book had me hooked! I loved the world building for this book since I don’t see many fantasy stories in dessert land settings. The creatures and cultures were unique but still had elements that were familiar so you didn’t feel like you were having to learn everything from scratch. The characters and interactions felt a tad YA at times but over all the story was fascinating and kept a good pace. The interactions between Roshan and Suraya made me smile at their quips and verbal battles which added to the spicy moments too. There was one or two aspects that I didn’t fully grasp and feel like loose ends but I have a strong feeling that they were build up to a second book so I can’t complain before waiting to see. All in all a great entertaining read that I would highly recommend for Romantasy readers looking for something that feels fresh and different from other stories in the genre.

This audiobook was perfection. The voices matched the characters and the narration was wonderful! I will definitely recommend to Romantasy friends.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Starlight Heir. I had high hopes for this book, and overall the story was intriguing, but there were some things that did not work for me personally. I do not enjoy modern references in fantasy books most of the time. I feel like it really takes me out of that fictional world. I also prefer more of a slow burn romance. It did not really feel earned to me, it was too quick. I thought the magic system was really interesting and overall this book was enjoyable. 3.5 stars