I loved this book! For this to be this authors first romantasy novel I would have NEVER guessed. The richness of the story and all of the hints to so much more in this world. I loved that the mc wasn't really all powerful. The option is there but its not grabbed. The mc is striving to learn who she is as a person and to decide what she thinks is right or wrong. I think there is so much more to see in this world and I cannot wait. The narrators did a fantastic job and this book was a joy to listen to.

I enjoyed the casting of the voice actors and felt they kept the book engaging and entertaining to listen to.

As I was able to ARC read this as well the comments below remain the same for the audiobook. Romance grabs that enjoy court competition and intrigue will enjoy this romantasy.

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 listen to it thanks to Netgalley.

This is a story that features political intrigue, deceit, love, and self-discovery. The female main character, Suraya, is extremely loyal to the people she loves. The male main character, Roshan, is the illegitimate Prince of the kingdom, and wants to protect Suraya from her brother - since she holds a power that his brother desires. Of everything in this book, I think what stood out to me the most was the worldbuilding. The way the author described the different places made it easier to picture in my head.

The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard is a fantasy novel that blends magic, political intrigue, and romance. While the premise is intriguing, with its rich world-building and diverse cast of characters, the execution falls a bit flat. The story follows a young heir navigating a world of power struggles and hidden truths, but the pacing can feel uneven, and some plot points lack depth. The romance is sweet but predictable, and the characters, though likable, don’t always feel fully developed. Overall, it’s an okay read for fans of light fantasy, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. If you’re looking for a quick, escapist read, this might suffice, but it doesn’t stand out in the crowded fantasy genre.

I will go into this review by saying I genuinely enjoyed the audio for this book, and I think that helped to give it the 3 stars it got.

As for the book itself, I really enjoyed the premise of it and while it was a fun read, it just fell a little flat for me. I found myself putting it down for days at a time which usually doesn’t happen for me with books of this genre. While I enjoyed some of the side characters, I didn’t feel like we got a good look at who anyone was, and therefore, I didn’t feel a true connection to anyone. It then made the romance feel less than believable for me and didn’t make the ending quite as impactful.

I think this would be great for someone looking for a lighter Romantasy with more modern dialogue.

I found this to be a little slow and boring. It just read like any other romantasy and at no point did any of the characters grab me. The mythology elements were really cool though.

Anything highly praised by Rebecca Yarros will get a read from me and I am so glad I gave this book a try. Most of the book was okay, but the ending was great and had me staying up late at night to read the ending.

I absolutely adored this audiobook! The plot is really something I enjoy with the high fantasy, and I think the author did a great job of world building. I enjoyed having the random male POV to break it all up and get another perspective. I will agree with many other reviews I have seen in that there were way too many modern phrases in here to give that a pass. It happened pretty frequently and was off putting so much that I would actually have a cringeworthy feeling because they were so out of place in this story. Despite that, I really enjoyed this story and the narration was fantastic!

***i received the audiobook from Netgalley****

Okay, firstly. I did get the audiobook for review and I want to say that it was really well done. I do listen at 1.75 speed normally and was the same with this one. The voices were good and engaging and didn't detract from the story at all.

Secondly. I never know how much to tell about a book going in. I also got my hardcover copy from FL and was able to follow along. But I went in blind. I only knew this was a fantasy with a romance involved.

It starts off feeling a bit like cinderella. Maidens get invited to a ball to meet the prince. He will pick one and marry her. But of course drama starts right away and we find out our main character has power. I don't want to spoil anything so I will leave it there. I very much enjoyed this book. And I'm looking forward to continuing the series when the next installment gets released.

I really loved the first 25% of this book. It has a very interesting story that hooked me instantly. Unfortunately it really dragged through the middle and I lost interest as it went on. The audio narrators are absolutely brilliant though and the cover is downright stunning. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the complimentary ALC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher!

I heard this was partly based on Persian mythology and I really REALLY wanted to love it but sadly I did not love it at all.

The relationship between the main characters was kind of fun but also a little shallow and that's where the good points end.

The main character also had very little depth to her. And the use of modern language and idioms like "Goals!" and "Princesplain" and "toxic masculinity" were so jarring.

There's also a "shadow daddy" who I assume is going to play a bigger role in other books (assuming there's going to be other books?) but in this book he literally only has a few scenes and his only purpose is to enter the main characters intimate dreams.

Unfortunately as much as I wanted to love this nothing about it worked for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard.

The book starts off strong with Suraya working as a bladesmith who has the ability to imbue her work with jadu— the last source of magic in the realm.

Unfortunately, the character arcs did not hook me in as deeply as I had hoped they would. I found the pacing of the story to be faster than I had expected and it felt as if you were rushed through the deadly trials and bride selection archetypes.

The FMCs “imagination” adds fun into the story in a unique way.

However, the redemption in this phase/first half of the story is the undeniable chemistry between our FMC Suraya and Roshan.

The prophecy arc and hidden magic are woven throughout the story but they didn't have me on the edge of my seat the way I wanted to be.

If swearing, real or made up, bothers you - I would make a note to be mindful of this story choice. On the other hand, if swearing makes you giggle or makes characters seem less "perfect" - then you're in for a treat.

Overall, the ending is a good fit - I was certainly a fan.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I personally had a hard time getting into the book and that is my reason for the three stars. I think that the author created a really interesting story, with a lot of potential, but I think that it just didn't scratch the itch for me. I have recommended this to a few other people one of which really enjoyed it!
For myself though I was unable to immerse myself in the story which caused me to take a long time to listen to it. I tried to listen to it while doing simple tasks like folding laundry but there wasn't anything that kept me hooked and eager to keep listening.

This book leaves an unsettling feeling to someone who primarily reads Romantasy/Fantasy genre. For all of the drama about other authors copying each other—there are a LOT of similarities in this book. The dialogue was all over the place with a lot of modern terms that did not fit the setting/characters. It sounded like a strong novel from reading the premise and the ideal of mythology was an immediate yes from me. It felt like a modern version of the selection—which always a novel that also had somewhat modern terms but fit the setting more?
Much like the other novel, Suraya lives with her family leading a somewhat quiet life, and is selected to participate for the princes hand. HMMM
An illegitimate brother? HMM. Although we do like Roshan.
Overall just not something I necessarily feel like I will continue.
2.5/5

Story: 4 ⭐
Spice: 1.5 🌶 There is a lot of tension but only one really open-door scene.
Narration: 4 ⭐

I loved listening to Anais Inara, her voice was beautiful and was perfect for Suraya. There was not a lot of POV for the Ramiz to narrate because it's a mysterious POV, but he has a great deep raspy voice! They really made the experience enjoyable.

I would like to note, that I've seen a lot of people mention that this is a romantasy. To me, there was a lot of plot/world building and not very much romance. It was definitely a sub-plot but not the main plot of the story. I think in the next book it will become more of a true romantasy, but this was more fantasy with romance.

If you like deadly bride trials that turn into all hell breaking loose, prophesies, forced proximity, god-blessed magic, hidden identity, but also some laugh out loud moments. Then you will want to read this book.

This is part of a series book does end on a cliffhanger but its just a small ledge.

This book looked promising, but I was a little dissapointed. What about the shadow man???? Like he had a couple chapters/scenes, but it seemed out of touch and of no importance to the book.
I liked the main character at first, especially the whole debacle with her getting introduced to the queen and the BANTER with the prince (which she didn't know it was the prince).
Overall, it was enjoyable, but it was missing something for me. It lacked a little substance. The "betrayal" by the prince didn't sit right.
I understand that this is the first in the series, so it's setting things up for later, but it ended making this first book ... lackluster.
I will not be continuing this series.
The audiobook was good though.

This was such a fun listen! I loved the FMC's vibe throughout the story and her attitude and her forbidden romance (def one of my favorite tropes). I think this was definitely more character driven for me because the plot, while it was good, has been done so many times. It's definitely up there with some of the better variations on deadly trials, but I feel like I've read this so much in romantasy. So I personally might have burnout on it, but regardless, I definitely recommend this to romantasy readers! 3.5/5 rounded up!

This Romantasy has a very engaging storyline and a great magical system that didn’t feel like anything I’d read before. The promise is definitely there. However, along with other reviewers, I have to say I was let down by a few key aspects. Suraya, the FMC, is an adult woman in her mid-twenties, in a fantastical world with great power, but spoke like a modern day teenager, which made it very difficult to stay connected to the story. Roshan, the main love interest, I think was written a little better, but a lot of their chemistry was lost in the rushing around, then all of a sudden they were going at it, which just felt awkward. Then we’d be thrown back into the action of the plot. Again, I do still think that the series has hope, as the plot and world itself could be great. A few tweaks to pacing and some maturity to the main characters and book two could be much better.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperAudio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of the book, based on Indian-inspired mythology, certainly has the potential to be captivating, especially with an intriguing romance. However, it’s understandable that the use of contemporary slang can disrupt immersion in the story. When characters use phrases that feel out of place, it can pull readers out of the world the author has created, especially if the setting is meant to feel more fantastical or culturally rich.
Additionally, character arcs that seem rushed can impact how invested a reader feels in their journeys. When development feels earned and gradual, it’s often more satisfying. The romance aspect also plays a significant role in engagement, and if the spicy scenes didn't resonate, it can leave the overall experience feeling lacking. It’s clear that these elements influenced your enjoyment of the book, highlighting how important consistency and depth are in storytelling.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audio ARC!

I’ll start by saying that The Starlight Heir is set in a lush world with a lot of complex political components that are all moving in different directions. The characters are entertaining and Sahara, the FMC, is really cool and I love that she’s a bladesmith!

This follows what is becoming the standard plot pattern for Romantasy with several beloved tropes woven throughout. I liked the magic system. I have mixed feelings about the progression of the main romance.

I will say that the accent of the female audio narrator was confusing. There were times it sounded English, times it sounded American, times it sounded Australian, and times it seemed like something else entirely. This was sometimes a bit distracting.

As this is the first book in a series, it’s natural to still have a lot of unanswered questions but I do feel like there were large components that went unaddressed that were needed before moving into book 2, particularly with the shadow god. I’m not sure if those pieces came across clearer in the written text but they were quite confusing from an audio perspective.

Overall I think I’ll give the sequel a chance.