Title: CURSE OF THE SUN AND STARS
Author: Zara Storm
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Re-readability: Yes, will likely reread before the second book is released.
Binge-Read Score: Read in 2 days! Great read!

Overall Thoughts:
Fate truly does have a twisted sense of humor in CURSE OF THE SUN AND STARS, as mentioned in Zara Storm’s description of this book.

Beautifully written and fun to read, I enjoyed the development of the plot as well as the dual perspectives of both Prince Leon and Ana. The book was everything I love in high fantasy with the Fae and I love the take that humans have elemental magic. Also, I truly enjoyed the portrayal of the friendship between Ana and Tira.

Thank you to the author, Zara Storm, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC.

(3.5 stars rounded up)

There's a lot to like in Curse of the Sun and Stars, especially if you're drawn to elemental magic, political intrigue, and found family tropes. The worldbuilding is solid, with a magic system that weaves classical elemental powers (air, earth, fire, water) together.

Morgana/Ana was intriguing, and I appreciated that she didn't magically heal from her trauma. She felt grounded and strong in her own right, even if I had trouble believing she could rule as a queen. Her character arc had emotional depth, but some moments stretched believability.

The romance was the weakest part for me. Leon (Nightmare Prince) didn't land as a morally gray love interest—I mostly found him frustrating and underdeveloped. I didn't root for the romance or feel the tension that I wanted from a dark fantasy love story.

That said, Leon's warrior inner circle had the banter, backstories, and chemistry that made their scenes enjoyable. The found family dynamic was heartfelt and a definite highlight.

While the plot was pretty predictable, religious and political tension themes helped elevate it. It may not have hit every emotional note for me, but the story had heart.

A mixed bag overall but I will read the sequel.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Morgana aka Ana has been brought up on an isolated estate and away from her parents, the only moments of sunshine she gets is when she sneaks out to the nearby village to see her friends. She decides to run, when she is but moments away from being captured, she asked a glamoured fae (who is the Prince Leon) for help but he says no and leaves her to her fate. So she is taken back to the estate, she discovers her parents have been murdered and she is the heir to the throne of Trova, raised in isolation due to her lack of magical ability. Leon and Ana's paths cross one more after he is accused of her parents murder. Leon escapes and takes Ana hostage as insurance so he can get to the border. What follows is gripping adventure of trying not to fall for someone you shouldn't.

I can't wait for book two, "sigh" we all need a Leon in our life, he was the perfect compliment to Ana and the pair had chemistry in spades. I enjoyed the world building as the author has a compelling way with words. This book was slow burn to start with but then the romance picks up around 60%, I enjoy a slow burn romance particularly when it's enemies to lovers. It's a sign of a good author when they make you care about the characters and you want to know what happens next. Overall this was a really good book and I would not hesitate to recommend.

Rating: 3.5 stars | Adult Fantasy | Includes a few spicy scenes

Morgana (aka Ana) has spent her entire life hidden away due to a mysterious weakness. But when a group of fae shows up in town (including a certain dark, broody, morally gray Nightmare Prince), everything changes. Her parents are murdered, she discovers she’s heir to the throne, and suddenly she’s on the run. The big question: who poses the greatest threat? The fae prince accused of murder? The treacherous royal court? Or the villagers ready to turn her in?

What I liked:

- A lively cast of side characters—especially unfiltered Alastar and the super-sketchy innkeeper Corrin
- The way Ana and Leon are drawn to each other (could there be more behind this down the road?)
- Their unique training method
- The layered political/religious/magical systems in Tierland
- Ana’s resourcefulness and growing strength, especially in life-or-death moments
- The mystery of Leon’s motives and the fae's broader goals
- A final twist that definitely sets up book two 👀

What didn’t quite hit for me:

- I struggled to emotionally connect with Ana, but especially Leon. Their relationship escalated quickly, and I wanted more insight into their inner worlds.
- The world-building felt surface-level. We get glimpses of different places as they travel, but none of them left a strong impression.
- A few cheesy lines here and there (to be expected in romantasy, though!).

Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read with a bit of spice, a dash of mystery, and high-stakes adventure. If you're into royal politics, forbidden magic, and powerful fae, this romantasy might be for you.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the author for the chance to read and review!

I jumped into this as soon as I got it and this did not dissapoint. I absolutely devoured this within a few hours of getting it as I was hooked and jsut couldnt put my kindle down. I am a sucker for Fae and found family so I was super exciting to get my hands on this one. The book was just so fun, I loved how Leon's inner circle had their own personalities which made the group feel so powerful and close. The banter and loyalty lightened the darkness throughout the book too which I absolutely loved. Ana was willignto risk everything for her bestrfriend which is just so pure and adds another realistic element to the book too. I however, was not prepared to be bawling my eyes out at the end of the book, it was heart wrenching but in the best way possible and now I need book 2 already as i can tell this is going to be a very very fun and promising series!

I really enjoyed this! Ana was a great protagonist. She had some trauma, and it didn't just disappear in the wake of a hot fae prince. She was very true to herself, and while she and Leon argued a lot, her stubbornness never came off annoying or over the top unnecessary (which happens in a lot of romantasies I find. The protagonist is stubborn to a fault simply to just annoy the love interest, but Every time Morgana fought against Leon, it was justified!)

A lot of the things that happened were predictable, but honestly I don't think that took away from the story for me. The pacing was really great, and the ending left me wanting the next book immediately. I can't wait to see where this story goes!

Ana is such a fierce, emotionally complex heroine, and Leon is the broody, dangerous fae love interest of my dreams (Nightmare Prince, indeed!). The tension between them? Chef’s kiss. I was screaming, blushing, and internally sobbing all at once. This book had the perfect amount of romance that made me eat up every single interaction.

The pacing was perfect, the side characters added so much charm and depth , and the magic system was fresh and easy to follow. I adored the friendships, the yearning, and the emotional growth / character development of both Ana and Leon.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

The first book in this dark romantasy series follows Morgana and her love interest, Leon. The book is written in dual POV, and offers a vivid world where fae, human and dryads coexist, each with their unique magic abilities. The book is an easy, fast-paced read packed with action and twists.

Morgana (FMC) has spent her whole life hidden away in captivity in a small village, believing she is weak and powerless. However, an attack awakens her dormant magic, and the tragic death of her parents reveals she is the rightful queen of the human kingdom. Thrust into the capital, she must navigate court politics, while confronting murderer of her parents. Morgana is fierce, strong-willed, and deeply loyal to her friends.

Leon (MMC), the brooding and dangerously handsome fae prince, is feared by humans for his nightmare magic, is sent to reinforce the alliance between the fae and human kingdoms. However, as the story unfolds, he is accused of killing Morgana’s parents, and when he flees the castle, he takes Morgana with him as his hostage believing she can help him reach the kingdom’s border safely.

During their journey, Leon begins training Morgana to sharpen her magic.
I loved the banter between the main characters, and the spice delivered. That said, I wished for a bit more yearning from Leon’s PoV—while Morgana’s inner thoughts provided enough hints, Leon’s emotions could have been explored more to deepen the tension and make their dynamic even more convincing.

The side characters were fantastic, and Alastor’s unfiltered mouth was the perfect cherry on the top. I also appreciated the presence of the common enemy —the Temple and its zealots—which added another layer to the conflict.

One suggestion for the author: including a simple map at the beginning of the book would make it easier to visualize the world, especially during the group's journey across the kingdom.

Overall, this was a strong start to the series, and I can’t wait to dive into the next book. I’ll also be checking out the author’s other works!

Thank you NetGalley and author for sending this book for review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up!

This is a very solid dark romantasy! It was filled with action and heart, plenty of plot going on while still having a strong romantic interest. Some of my favorite tropes were featured with enemies to lovers, found family, and a dash of forced proximity.

I’m definitely looking forward to the next book! I need more!! Especially as someone who loves found family, I hope we get more banter and interactions with Leon’s squad!

The writing was really well done as well. The plot was all easy enough to follow. There were maybe a couple cheesy lines but overall the dialogue flowed really well too!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!!

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️/5 (in my opinion)

Curse of the Sun and Stars is a new fantasy romance series by Zara Storm, and it did not disappoint! This book captured my interest from Chapter 1. Set in the dangerous world of Trova, there is danger, political power, magic, fae, gods, and packed with some great action that will keep you hooked from the start.

It follows Morgana (Ana), who is strong, brave, resourceful, and not afraid to speak her mind. Despite all the trials and tribulations of being kept in the dark about her heritage and being lied to her whole life, and still getting used to this new life she’s suddenly been thrust into living, Ana perseveres and becomes so strong and confident in herself, and really steps out of her shell. And Leonidas (Leon), who is a morally grey, ruthless, grumpy, and delicious fae prince, that secretly has a soft spot for his friends and Ana. It really makes you love him more when you see beneath his hard exterior. The chemistry and relationship between Ana and Leon was good, I just wish there was a touch more tension and banter sprinkled throughout to really give off a great slow burn enemies to lovers vibe and really get you hooked into their romance.

Also, the friendships in this were amazing and I absolutely loved them. Ana and Tira’s friendship was heartfelt and beautiful. Leon’s friendships with his group of warriors definitely gave off a found family vibe. They added humour (Alastor in particular), loyalty, and depth to the story.

The magic system was easy to follow and understand. The twists, while you expect them, were thought out and executed well. The writing was really good. Curse of the sun and stars had great pacing throughout, I didn’t think there was any particular part that dragged. I sped through this one so fast, the world of Trova and its characters were incredibly captivating. I enjoyed this book immensely! I can’t wait to see what awaits in book 2! Highly recommend checking this out!!

Thank you NetGalley & Victory Editing for the arc! 🫶🏻

Solid 4⭐️!
Thank you to NetGalley and Zara Storm for the eARC.

This was a great start to new series from Zara Storm. We have good mix of romantasy tropes Enemies to lovers, strong FMC, magic suppression, maybe morally gray MMC (definitely an area we hopefully get in future books is more background on Leon and the Fae in general), forced proximity.

Morgana (Ana) is human who grew up without magic and isolated her whole life only to learn that’s not true and is forced to go on the run with band of Fae led by “Nightmare Prince” Leon. I leave the story at that for the review.

I really enjoyed this book, not too long and pacing was pretty good even if I wished we got more action/events, but as start of new series it was good. None of the tropes or plot was groundbreaking but it doesn’t need to be with solidly paced story and some good tension/romance that make it a very enjoyable read.

I really like the religious zealot/cleric angle of the story and excited to hopefully learn more of history (or maybe even get more POV from clerics as story progresses.

I do wish there was little more building to the romance it did feel a little quick at times and I wish side characters got a bit more filled out but hoping for more of that in future books. Especially liked Alastor and Damia (and Barb 🐍).

One final note and this isn’t really a knock against story but I think books with glossaries should have them at the end. Having them at the beginning I think makes things more confusing as you try and remember things from that rather that let story inform you. But it can be nice to have glossary at the end to refresh memory (especially as a series progresses).

Overall, highly enjoyable read and I’m excited to continue reading the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. It's my first Zara Storm read & I loved it!

Enemies to lovers
Strong FMC
Morally grey MMC
With political elements thrown in for good measure.

If you like a high fantasy/dark romantasy this one's for you.

Curse of the Sun and Stars hooked me immediately - I finished in 2 sittings!
Rating: 4.5 stars

Ana has lived her whole life secluded from the outside world, dependent on a potion to survive. Her whole world consists of her healer, the guards, and the staff. When the parents she's never met die, she's thrust into a role she never expected, into a world she is unfamiliar with, and into the company of the "Nightmare Prince", Leon, who she's meant to hate. As she navigates her situation, she starts realizing facts from her past aren't as they seem, she is more resilient and strong than she imagined, and Leon may just be exactly what she needs.

Leon is sent as an emissary to the human realm with a chip on his shoulder and his own objectives. While trying to navigate human politics and "play nice" as instructed by his grandfather, he finds himself in a situation that calls for drastic measures and takes Ana with him while escaping. He's moody, broody, and ruthless, and you can't help but love him.

The angst, yearning, and push and pull between Ana and Leon was *chef's kiss*. I thoroughly enjoyed their dynamic, remaining true to their characters while fighting their feelings. I especially loved that neither character tried to "fix" the other - they were open and honest, leading to learning more and more about each other and themselves.

This is definitely a Romantasy that I'll be obsessing over. This book ends on a cliffhanger and I need the new one immediately! The magic system is unique and thought out - you learn details over time so you're not inundated with everything all at once. The side characters rounded out the story well, and provided grounding for both characters. Zara Storm gave us everything you want in a Romantasy - enemies to lovers, a quest, danger and betrayal, found family, and suspense. I can't wait to see where this series goes!

He’s the prince that left her to die, may be the cause of her parents death and kidnapped her, but he may be the only way to help her learn to control the power that’s emerged from within her and take back her kingdom.

She’s the bargaining chip he was going to use to get out of the human kingdom but as each day passes the tension between them grows.

This dual POV enemies to lovers fantasy romance had me hooked from the first mention of Prince Leon before we even knew he was the nightmare prince. The story follows the FMC Ana as she works with Leon and his band of fellow fae to escape those who want her dead. Plot twists and betrayals unfold as the book progresses and follows as Ana learns to wield the power she spent her whole life believing she didn’t possess. The ending has me feeling both betrayed and excited to see where this story will go next!

Thank you to both the Author and Netgally for providing me with the ARC for this book! Any review given is my own opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!
This book really hit the spot and I am anxiously awaiting the next installment!
Political intrigue, high fantasy, enemies to lovers, one horse-it has all the great tropes. Perfectly paced and full of great banter. I highly recommend this one, the blurb about other books/authors is spot on. You will enjoy this read if those are your thing too.

First time reading a book from this author but I am already adding more to my tbr. A great addictive romantasy, well paced with plenty of action and tension filled moments. The dual POV between the morally grey MMC and strong-willed FMC means you get to know both characters and the development of the story from both sides. Side characters are not an afterthought in this book either and as a reader you feel just as connected to them as the main characters. Already can’t wait to read the 2nd book in this series! Thanks to Netgalley and Zara Storm for this ARC.

First time reading this author but it won’t be the last. This is an interesting fantasy romance with a hidden princess, fae prince and horrible religious faction. There is plenty of action and suspense with just enough of a love story to make it wonderful! I love the side characters as much as the main. Love that there are a lot of relatable characters, I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

Thank you yo Netgalley and Zara Storm for this ARC

First time reading this author but it won’t be the last. This is an interesting fantasy romance with a hidden princess, fae prince and horrible religious faction. There is plenty of action and suspense with just enough of a love story to make it wonderful! I love the side characters as much as the main. Love that there are a lot of relatable characters, I am definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

If you want an addictive dark romantasy then this is the book for you!
Its got a merciless fae prince and a brave and incredible heroine who you will fall in love with.
This series is going to be so fun and addictive and I cant wait to read the next book!
Morgana is definitely my favorite character in this series, she is just a really strong and resilient fmc and she deserves all the happiness in the world especially after everything she has been through.
Then we have Prince Leon who is the broody and morally grey mmc who secretly likes our fmc......
the romance and the TENSION between them was so good I feel like I could read this book so many times and just never get tired of them.
Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!