Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Starlight Heir! The things I enjoyed about this book was the concept of it and I think the author had some good ideas with what she wanted to do with this book. The beginning felt a little slow for me but the pace eventually sped up. I wish I could have gotten to see a little bit more of her best friend that she was constantly talking about throughout the book so I had a better understanding of their friendship. I personally really enjoyed the ending of this book and how everything came together but I will say I am a little confused if there is gonna be a book two or not with how the final couple of pages played out. Overall I liked the narrator and the concept of the book. Thank you again to NetGalley!💕📚

Big thanks to Avon books for the arc and HarperAudio for the alc which I have voluntarily read/listened to & reviewed. All opinions are my own.

I AM OBSESSED. First of all, I love romantasy so that's no surprise but I also just love Amalie's books and have to say she killed it with this one.

I loved all the characters -- well the likeable ones obviously, but the villains are also very well crafted so I loved to hate them (: It's fast paced, full of action, magic and romance. Suraya is an easy character to love, she's strong, loyal, determined and passionate -- when she loves, she's all in. Roshan is full of secrets, but he's exactly what I want in my romantasy MMCs: hot, flirty, witty, protective, strong -- a leader who treats people with care, but also won't hesitate to do what he has to. I love the romance between these two, but we also get glimpses into a god's thoughts through a couple of the chapters and truly I need him to be a big part of the next book because while I loved the morsels of tension, connection, and hints at what is to come, I want more!

There are so many characters, but it's easy to keep track and I felt like each one had their own unique qualities and parts to play. I truly thought it was gonna be more of a trials/competition fantasy story but it's so much more than that. Sure, it starts with a competition to be King Zarek's bride, but it quickly becomes much more of an adventure that's full of action and our MCs on the run. The magic is interesting and the politics are intriguing; I truly can't wait to see how this story grows in the next book!

Narrators Anais Inara Chase & Ramiz Monsef do a fantastic job! They kept me engaged in the story to the point where I had no idea how much time was passing. Their voices are clear and the audio is well-paced and entertaining. If you prefer audio or like to listen and read at the same time like me, then I definitely recommend this one. I look forward to hearing them narrate more in the future.

10/10 - highly recommend!!! Published today 1/7/25, so go on and check this one out asap.

The Starlight Heir was a fantasy that had me intrigued from the first page, especially with the unique world building and magic.

Suraya gets an invitation to attend the palace to fight to be the wife of the noble price. Shocked, she agrees to go and learn more about the city that captured her late mother's heart. But, when she arrives at the palace she encounters trials and things that are beyond her wildest dreams, especially when it is revealed that she may be the Starkeeper that everyone is on the hunt for. On the run with the king's half brother, she is on the watch daily and nightly for those who want her powers while also trying to learn what her powers actually are.

I enjoyed listening to The Starlight Heir and felt it was a fresh voice in the fantasy world dominated by dragons at the moment. The world building was easy to understand and I could easily picture the different settings vividly in my head. I adored the quick chapters voiced by a male character at points during the book however; it also confused me as I was unsure who was actually talking and what was happening. I did feel that the author wrapped up book one in a satisfying way that kept me curious to discover what will occur in book two, truly as I have questions about the who's in book one and hope those to be answered. I would definitely recommend those wanting to read Amalie Howard's The Starlight Heir do so via audio, narrated by Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef. Both narrators kept me on the edge of my seat, anticipating what was to come next and waiting for that male narrator to drop every time it occurred.

A bladesmith blessed by the stars. A prince with a dangerous secret. A god bound in shadows."

If The Stars are Dying and Lightlark had a baby, it's this book. And I'm here for it!

Suraya, who can wield powers into the blades she creates, gets an invitation to the capital city as a candidate to potentially be the prince's wife. Little does she know that there is something dark and sinister waiting for her there, those seeking out who she really is. The prince and the queen are looking for something and she might be the key to what they are seeking. She meets the prince's illegitimate brother, Roshan, and starts to form a bond with him. Together they go on the run but soon she discovers that Roshan is also hiding his own secrets.

It's your typical FMC who has hidden star powers but doesn't know it yet, and MMC who is hiding his true identity. But what really stood out to me was how well the characters were written and the world building. I enjoyed the fact that she wasn't a damsel in distress, and that she could fight for herself and protect others. The spice was spicy but this was more plot heavy, which I do appreciate and enjoy!
The other part of this plot is that her soul is connected to another god, you get bits and pieces of information thoughout the book, which l hope, we will get more of in book 2.

I was chosen to review the audiobook and I truly believe Anais Inara Chase and Ramiz Monsef did a fantastic job with the narration. Easy and enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you, Netgalley, HarperAudio, Amalie Harper for trusting me with their work.

This is my first experience with this author, and I enjoyed it. The book was very good. I was invested from the very beginning, although I was a little bored in the middle, but the ending was great. I enjoyed both main characters and the romance. I think a lot of people will enjoy this And it’s a great Romantasy. The narrators also did a wonderful job. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 3.75 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-ARC of the audiobook!

Book Review: This is a rousing adventure of a fantasy romance. It is fast-paced and epic in scope, but everything still felt well-developed. I have many theories about where the story will go from here, but I appreciate that the author wasn’t so heavy-handed with hints that I know for certain.


Book Rating: 4.75/5
Spice Rating: 2/5

Audiobook Review: I generally have a hard time getting into audiobooks, in large part because the trend in narration right now seems to be that everything, even rote description and casual interactions, should be saturated with intense emotion and emphasis and sound seductive. I actually really enjoyed this audiobook in large part because the female narrator - responsible for the lion’s share of the book - doesn’t fall into this trap. She’s still emotive and arch and interesting, but conversational dialogue and exposition is allowed to simply be conversational rather than imbued with unwarranted drama. Sometimes a description of a room is simply meant to describe the room, and she allows us those moments to breath between the action and adventure of the story. Her MC voices aren’t distractingly strained, just pitched enough to be clear who is speaking. I will actively seek out other books that she has narrated.

The male narrator, on the other hand, was precisely the sort of overwrought and aggressively dramatic type of reading I do not like. However, I imagine that dedicated romantasy audiobook readers will love him because the man does do a deep growl with authority and enthusiasm.

Audio Rating: 4.75/5

Tropes:
- Deadly games and trials
- Hidden magic and identities
- Persian-inspired culture and mythology
- Betrayal
- Band of rebels in the desert
- Bride competition
- Chosen one
- Meddling gods and fates
- Caves (iykyk)

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the chance to listen to an advance copy. All opinions my own.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie is an intriguing romantasy that has dangerous trials, forced proximity, and a secret identity.

Suraya is a bladesmith invited to a competition to win the hand of the crown prince. However, things are not as they seem. She quickly learns that the prince is hunting a girl with magic in her blood, known as the Starkeeper. Suraya finds herself on the run with the crown prince’s half-brother Roshan.

I enjoyed the world-building and the unfolding of the magic. This story is fast-paced and filled with secrets that unravel.

The narrators in this audiobook did an amazing job bringing these characters to life.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ALC for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I was soo honored to get the ACL of The Starlight Heir on Netgally. It was a book I had on my TBR for when it came out and squealed with delight when it came to me in my emails.

The narration for the audiobook is amazing. Anais Chase and Ramiz Monsef were the perfect choice for this story.

I was enamored with their voices and they had the perfect intonation and cadence. I never wanted to press pause. I could have been lost in their voices all day if it weren’t for real adulting.

The story itself was completely captivating. I was hooked from the first chapter and loved seeing Suraya and Roshan discover each other. Both characters are interesting and complex. You can’t help but want to know more about them.

The third act drama was so anxiety provoking. Be prepared for not only some toe curling spiciness but also page turning excitement!

There is something for everyone is this book! Action, adventure, deadly trials, unique magic, court intrigue, romance and spice. This is a book that will stick with me for days to come.

[4.5 stars]

Thanks to HarperAudio for the ALC! The Starlight Heir was a fast paced, action packed romantasy with a swoon-worthy romance. It kept me completely captivated as the narrator did a fantastic job with the performance.

The world building and mythos of the story was intriguing and beautiful without being overwhelming. I’m looking forward to my physical copy as a reference for the gods and the map. I also found the twist on soul bonds to be refreshing.

Suraya was a fierce FMC and I greatly enjoyed her character. And her banter with Roshan. Though I did feel like she overlooked some glaringly obvious suspicious developments in the middle 😂. Roshan fell pretty hard for her and his devotion had me giddy. The spice was spicy 🥵.

This first book is definitely setting up for a much grander plot with bigger players yet to come to light. The way things wrapped up and that epilogue has me very eager for the sequel!

If you’re expecting a sweet, fairytale-esque romance where a girl from the slums falls for a dreamy prince… think again! Starlight Heir is anything but fluffy. This story escalates the moment Suraya steps foot in that shady palace, and it’s a wild ride from there.

Suraya isn’t just a regular bladesmith—she’s packing some serious magical power, the last of its kind in the realm. When she’s summoned to the palace alongside 99 other women to compete for the prince’s hand, you know things are about to get sketchy. And guess what? They do! Turns out, the prince isn’t your charming royal; he’s a straight-up monster hunting for the starkeeper’s magic so he can ascend to godhood. Casual, right?

But let’s talk about Roshan—the prince’s half-brother who Suraya first mistakes for a humble gardener. Their chemistry is decent, but honestly? Not earth-shattering. It’s the kind of romance that makes you go, “Hmm, cute,” but I wasn’t exactly swooning or dying to see more of them.

The world-building, though? Chef’s kiss. Amalie Howard weaves a lush tapestry of Persian and Indian mythology, and once you get the hang of the structure, it all clicks beautifully. The mix of culture and lore adds a rich depth to the story, making it stand out from other romantasies.

That said, the pacing was a bit inconsistent. I found myself rolling my eyes at Suraya lusting over Roshan at some point throughout the book… even in the middle of life-or-death situations. Girl, focus! I get it—it’s romantasy. But there’s a time and place. For me it felt like it was forced in there at random times.

Still, if you love fast-paced romantasies with a touch of mythology, dark intrigue, and a fierce heroine wielding forbidden magic, Starlight Heir is worth a read. It’s got palace drama, ancient magic, and plenty of betrayal to keep you on your toes.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
Fantasy with romance. Romantasy.
Suraya Saab receives an invitation to court in the capital city. The prince is looking for a bride. Suraya doesn’t care about the prince or becoming his bride. She just wants the adventure in the city and then she’ll come home and continue to work in the forge with her bladesmith skills.
Suraya hasn’t had any magic in the past but all that changes at court where she is provoked, forced to fight, and watch innocent people die. All in the name of the prince finding a bride. Her magic sparks when confronted by a creature that has already eaten several of the other females contenders in the ring. Now the Prince, King and Queen have their eye on her. And they won’t stand for her innocent flirting with the gardener anymore. Not that he is really the grounds keeper. Very soon, fight to the death will mean just that. For the entire kingdom.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook to read this. The narration is performed by Anais Inara Chase (the majority) and Ramiz Monsef. Both do a wonderful job of making their presence known with a compelling performance. I like a print version for visualization but an audiobook to make the characters come alive. And this does not disappoint. The terror, and rage, and lust and determination come through clearly as the fantasy progresses from a daughter and commoner going to a party to that of a god of the stars. An impressive text and narration. I’m sure I will listen to this again.
I did increase the speed to a normal conversation level of 1.5.

Breathtaking adult fantasy that simply comes alive.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher HarperAudio Adult.

This is a wonderful, fantastical story with beautiful writing and amazing magic. I loved the characters and the mystery surrounding the magic and shadows that Suraya had hidden from her. This was a beautiful story of intrigue, hidden power, sexy ire and so much more. I was hesitant going in with such intense world building and the pacing that was set but I am now sold! I cannot wait to see what happens with Roshan and Suraya next and I can't wait to see what may lurk in the shadows...

I was expecting more from this. The cover is so beautiful and I would frame it! Unfortunately the plot felt flat to me

Read this if you love: World Building, Dangerous Trials, Secrets, Forced Proximity, Magic, and Royalty. I enjoyed the FMC a bunch and absolutely loved the banter she had going on with the main MMC (there's a lot of MCs lol). There was tons of action and the storyline was well paced. One thing to note is that even though this book is a standalone(?), I think it leaves things open for the story to continue.
Thank you NetGalley and HarperAudio for the advance audiobook (ALC)! I thought the narrator did a great job and that the audiobook was engaging. - Side note, super excited to see what the Fairyloot version looks like!

The Starlight Heir is the first installment in a debut adult romantasy series. I absolutely loved the FMC, Suraya! She is feisty, brave, witty, stabby, and unapologetic. Summoned to the palace by the royal family, Sura’s whole world is turned upside down when she’s thrown into a deadly competition to become the Prince’s bride. With clearly sinister motivates, the evil Queen and the Prince are on the hunt for someone specific, someone with the power of the stars.

Suraya realizes that somehow she is their target and part of an ancient folklore prophecy. The Starlight Heir is action-packed with slow burn spicy romance, magic portals, an ancient shadow daddy dream lover, a bastard prince, hidden identities, the chosen one, secrets, and betrayal.

I totally recommend this for romantasy lovers! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

This book lives RENT FREE in my head without a doubt. I need to invent a time machine for book 2 already because I am foaming at the mouth, clawing at the bars of my enclosure for it. I NEED more

The Starlight Heir

I loved all of Amalie Howard's historical romances and I'm a huge fantasy girlie so obviously put those together and I'M IN!

Summoned to the capital city to be considered as a contestant to be the bride of the future king, Suraya expects excitement and laughs from a few fancy days at court. She doesn't expect the incredibly handsome brother of the future king, nor does she expect to discover she has powers. When the rebels attack the court, her fate is set on an adventure written in the stars, seeking refuge with the rebels and trusting Roshan, the prince's illegitimate half-brother. Adventure, magic, monsters, betrayal, sacrifice and fulfilling your destiny ensue.

The start gave me The Selection vibes with a mix of Trials of the Sun Queen and the Powerless series because there's another prince brother (smirk). Followed by a Reckless kind of adventure. This was a lot of fun, especially if you're a fan of romantasy. Towards the end, I thought it was going to be a standalone fantasy, but the epilogue will have us coming back for more in Book 2 to learn more about the mysterious dark god. And will the shadow lover with inky tendrils be back?! That's what the people need to know!!

Check this out if you're looking for:
- Adult romantasy
- Instalove/lust
- Queen trials turned into a rebellion fight
- A mysterious shadow lover that brings satisfyingly spicy dreams
- Fulfilling your destiny / chosen one

The audio narration was delightful. I absolutely adored the narration, and the occasional interlude POVs by the 'dark God' were delightfully mysterious and will keep me coming back for book 2. I highly recommend the audio if you're picking this one up!

Thank you to Dreamscape for this ALC! The Starlight Heir is on shelves January 7, 2024. My opinions are my own.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this audiobook and I want to thank Harperaudio and Netgalley for this opportunity! I didn't realize at first that this book was yet to be released because I had seen so many people posting about it on social media and book sites. After listening to it, I can definitely see why there is so much excitement!

It starts out with Suraya, small town blacksmith, who is invited to the palace in the capital city of the realm. That very quickly turns into a competition to win the crown prince's hand in marriage and eventually a flight across the realm to save herself from attacks on all sides. Don't worry! She's accompanied by the prince's attractive half-brother who wants to protect her and her new-found magic.

This audiobook was incredibly easy to listen to. There are two narrators - one male and one female, I thought they both did a great job. The pace was just right, I could really feel the emotions through the narration, and the characters each had their own distinct voice.

The author did a lot of work on world building, the writing was well done, and the story itself was interesting. The magic system was somewhat unique to me since most of the magic in the realm is contained within a special metal called jadu (isn't it lucky that our FMC just *happens* to be a blacksmith?). There are a lot of political workings, propaganda, secrets brought to light, magical guidance, and action sequences. This book left me with A LOT of questions that I cannot write here without spoiling the entire thing, but it did not really take away from my enjoyment of the story and I am keeping my fingers crossed that future books will answer those for me.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel particularly invested in the relationship between the FMC and MMC, but I think that it is less because it wasn't well done and more likely because I started this book without reading the synopsis. I expected the love story to go one way and I was a little puzzled when it ended up going the way it did. (For those readers who like to know, there are several explicit scenes where the characters are intimate. I would maybe rate this book 3/5 on a spice scale.)

Overall, I thought it was well written, easy to listen to, engaging, interesting, and a solid romantasy; especially if your tastes lean towards higher fantasy settings. I would definitely recommend. Four stars!

e-ARC & audio-ARC from NetGalley.

3.5

This was a fast-paced, entertaining read that I enjoyed. It had elements of The Selection and Rebel of the Sands with a big heaping of Powerless vibes. There are also hints of a future shadow daddy. The romantasy girlies will eat this up!

Our protagonist, Suraya, is an inn keeper's daughter who also enjoys the occasional illegal forging of weapons. She receives an invitation to the royal palace to compete for the prince's hand in marriage. This competition includes beautiful gowns, balls, and an arena death match between contestants. From the start, she does not like the prince she is there to court, but prefers the other prince, the more rugged one, with whom she can verbally spar. But, when a rebel attack ruins a banquet, Suraya finds herself on the run - from the prince who means to use her and the kingdom that has outlawed her magic. Magic she didn't know she even had.

I found the beginning of the story compelling, the middle rather slow, and the end gripping. While the novel itself was rather predictable and hit all the same beats as most other fantasy romance novels, including the training, the secret romantic rendezvous, and the underdeveloped character relationships, I think it was a solid start to a series with an ending that promises what could be an utterly unputdownable sequel.

When Suraya, a young bladesmith, is invited to vie for the crown prince’s hand, she takes the invitation as a chance to see the castle her mother once loved. The contest for the crown prince’s hand, though, is not what it seems; unrest in the kingdom is starting to crescendo; and magical forces are awakening in Suraya.

As she begins to fall for the crown prince’s half-brother and everything becomes more complicated and tangled, Suraya is left wondering who truly is in charge of her fate.

Read it for
- The verbal sparring
- The physical sparring
- Some 🔥🔥🔥 dreams
- And some 🔥🔥🔥 scenes

Be prepared for politics, political intrigue, and some gruesome descriptions. (I’m looking at you, Scavs.)

I’m curious to see where this story goes and how the gods will interfere in the next chapter.

I loved the narration by Anais Inara Chase. Her narration kept me engrossed in the story, and I would gladly listen to her narrate fantasy any day. Ramiz Monsef’s narration was more jarring to me but also felt fitting to his character’s POV.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from HarperAudio. All review opinions are my own.