5⭐️ no notes. Ok a few notes.

I really liked this world. The oppressive religious overwatch reminded me of Handmaids Tale but with magic. The zealous persecution of certain types of magic when other types are permitted. The way the citizens are afraid of the Temple because they have so much unchecked power over the people. Every small town is under the thumb of religion.

“The Temple’s clerics can’t keep watch over every Trovian citizen. But they don’t have to, do they? That’s what rituals like this cleansing are for. It ensures these people keep watch over each other when the Temple can’t. Through fear and intimidation, the people of Trova do their job for them.”

This statement drew me in immediately. It sets the stage for the relationship between humans and fae, between humans and the Temple, and lays a foundation for future unrest (oh, how I hope we end up going to war again the Temple!) and the birth of a rebellion.

The characters are great! I like everything about them. Great foundation and development. The relationships between the character, both friendly and romantic, were really well done and believable. The spice was really good, and timely within the story.

The plot had some predictability to me, and the ending didn’t surprise me at all. But, even with the tiny twist at the end, I’m not upset about it. I definitely want to continue the story and see where this goes.

Now, that epilogue. I’m usually a big fan of epilogues, but this one was not good. I really hated that it was in first person. And the new perspective was icky and left me on a sour note. I feel like it could have been left off altogether. It didn’t add anything or give any clues that we didn’t already know.

This book was like a breath of fresh air. It was exactly what I needed to read. I loved the twist the magic the system of everything the building had me sitting on the edge of my seat stressed out. I love you four out of five, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next one. I will definitely be meeting the ARC for that too. The romancing this book was just a chef kiss perfect. It was just the right amount of spice too. This definitely gave me a ACOTAR vibes which I absolutely ate this book up.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this ARC! Overall, I found it an engaging read with the more fantasy than romance which is what I like the most. I haven’t read a romantasy with fae in a few months, and I was genuinely happy to see them on the page again.

I wasn't a fan of the glossary being placed at the beginning. I skipped it entirely and would have much preferred a map to help orient me in the world. I am weary of glossary at the beginning because I do not want to spoil the plot. I felt I was able to navigate the type of magic and gods just fine without it.

I really appreciated the dual points of view right from the start. It was an effective and unique way to introduce readers to the world and allowed for dynamic character development. I also liked that not every scene was shown from both POVs—it preserved just the right amount of mystery and tension.

The magic system was another highlight. I especially liked how the female main character had to work to unlock her powers—it felt earned and grounded, which made the payoff satisfying.

The romance arc was also strong. It developed believably from both sides, and I appreciated that it wasn’t too lust forward and developed because of genuine interest in each other. The tropes that stood out to me included the one horse, political intrigue, unknown magic, would did this to you, and a morally grey MMC—all of which were executed well.

⭐️ 4/5
🌶 3/5
✅ Spoiler-Free

I really loved this book. The plot felt fresh and unique, and it hooked me right from the start. It had a great mix of twists, magic, court politics, and romance. The pacing was steady, the writing was easy to follow, and I was fully invested in the characters. 

The romance was definitely a highlight. It had just the right amount of spice, and while it didn’t drive the plot, it was sprinkled in perfectly. If you’re a fan of ACOTAR or Quicksilver, this book will be right up your alley.

Overall, I genuinely enjoyed the story and can’t wait to see what happens next. Definitely recommend!

4.5✨
This series has the potential to be one of the best & and I need the next book IMMEDIATELY! I was not expecting to be so blown away & captivated by this story. I could not put it down!! It reignited my love for fantasy! The story was intriguing, the magic system unique & the characters were so likable! I believe this was a solid set up for the rest of the series! If this is on your TBR, bump it up immediately & if it’s not, add it now! I cannot wait for book two!

Thank you to Zara Storm, Relay Publishing & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading Curse of the Sun and Stars. I found Zara Storm’s writing style to be almost lyrical without being too flowery, which works especially well for the emotional and political intensity of this story. Something I really appreciated when it came to the political intrigue was that there was a real sense of consequence in the characters' decisions, especially Ana’s.

The dynamic between Ana and Leon is one of the book’s strongest aspects. The enemies-to-lovers progression feels earned, with plenty of tension and vulnerability along the way. Their chemistry is slow-burn but intense, and the romantic scenes are steamy without being overdone.

I really appreciated that Ana wasn’t immediately powerful or overconfident. Her growth was really shown and I felt more connected to her as a main character because of it.

My one note is that some of the world-building was a little dense early on, especially with the different factions and terminology, and I had to re-read a few parts to fully catch on. But it pays off later in the book when everything begins to tie together.
Overall I found this to a be a very compelling start to the series and I look forward to the sequel!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Curse of the Sun & Stars totally pulled me in…Although it did take a handful of chapters until it did. This book is full of magic, secrets, romance & drama.

Ana, the FMC starts off not really knowing who she is or how much power she has. Her entire world flips upside down when her parents are killed & she finds out she’s the lost heir to a kingdom. I loved seeing how her character goes from scared & unsure to strong & brave.

Leon, the MMC, also called the Nightmare Prince is a moody, mysterious fae who at first seems like the bad guy but is way more complicated than that. He’s grumpy, & full of secrets BUT super loyal & protective once you get past his walls.

Together they argue & challenge each other but the chemistry is undeniable. Their journey is full of danger, magic, betrayal & twists I didn’t see coming. If you love fantasy with a slow burn romance, & lots of action, you’ll enjoy this book.

✨️Thank you to Zara Storm and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review✨️

4.5⭐️ rounded up

I CAN'T WAIT FOR BOOK 2!

I liked this book so much I bought a physical copy.

TLDR; Glossary at the beginning of the book. Smart FMC. Dreamy MMC. Chemistry between main characters. Fast paced. Lovable side characters. Not 500 pages long (only 300 pages-ish). BETRAYAL! 😱

Now that I've said this, let me just continue with;

Giiiirl, do I love a smart FMC! Morgana is really smart and knows what she's doing. Sure, she needs help from time to time but she's generally quick on her feet and resourceful.

And what can I say about dear dreamy Leonidas? 😍 I rarely say I have "book boyfriends", but I wouldn't say no to Leon. 🤭

👏🏻THERE WAS ACTUAL CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE TWO MCs. 👏🏻 (I would have loved more banter though. I really loooove when there is amazing banter between the love interests and this book didn't have lots of it unfortunately). But all the rest of their scenes together was flowing perfectly and you could see the chemistry and tension.

I appreciated the glossary explaining the different types of magic. I think it helped the book to not be 500 to 600 pages long, since the author just straight out gave us the explanation before even starting the story. Which I thought was great. 👌🏻

I loooove Alastor and really hope we will see him more in book 2. He's a great side character (love me some sunshiny type characters) and I kinda hope he'll get together with Tira 🫣🤭 (Sorry Stratton).

The book was fast paced, it didn't drag and a loooot was left for us to discover later on. Which I appreciated not having everything resolved/answered in book one.

There is also some betrayals (one that hurts more than the others) and the end of the book just leave you wanting more.

I highly recommend this book, it got me out of a reading slump and I sincerely can't wait to continue this series.

Big thanks to Netgalley and Zara Storm for the eARC in exchange for a review.
This has vampires and magic and fae and spice!
Secrets and betrayal, no strings attached (maybe?) Romance and an excellent opening for the next book.

This is my type of book. I enjoyed every minute.

5 stars

Curse of the Sun and Stars is the first book in Zara Storm's romantasy series Fated to the Sun and Stars.

The story is engaging and keeps you on your toes. Morgana, Ana to her friends, has lived in a closed-off mansion all her life and was always told she’s too weak and sick. When she tries to escape one night, she crosses paths with the fearsome Fae Prince Leonidas and his band of warriors. When she tries to bargain with him, he refuses and she is hauled back to the house.

A while later, news arrives that her parents have died and that they were actually the king and queen of the country. Once again, she meets Leonidas and both of them have to flee from the palace.
The story is told from Ana's and sometimes Leon's POV. Ana is sometimes impulsive and makes some stupid decisions. I like that she grows into her powers and becomes stronger during the story and also that she’s not a Mary Sue. She argues with Leon and opposes him. Slowly they turn from enemies to lovers.

I enjoyed this novel and will definitely be checking out the second book.

I’m a little torn on this one. The plot is a solid 4 stars. The writing… hovers closer to a 3. Maybe even a 2 in some spots (I’m sorry, Zara). I’m a dialogue girly through and through, and luckily, the banter delivered—especially the FMC’s sharp, cheeky, occasionally stabby exchanges with the fae. We love to see a feral girlboss verbally sparring with creatures older than her great-grandparents.

That said, the language sometimes yanked me out of the story like an unwelcome rogue portal. I’m not anti-profanity—far from it. I actually appreciated that the FMC talked like a scrappy commoner; it fit her rough-and-tumble, non-regal backstory. But occasionally, the phrasing leaned a little too contemporary for the fantasy setting.

Now, Leon. Ohhhhhh, Leon. The ornery fae warrior prince forced into a diplomatic mission among people he can barely tolerate? Immediately obsessed. Inject it straight into my veins. And his dynamic with Alastor? Perfection. Sweet, gentle Alastor who can’t help being as honest as the truths he magically compels from others? Protect him at all costs.

Actually—protect all the fae. A group of highly lethal misfits banded together like the island of murderous misfit toys? Say no more. Their mutual love and respect was my favorite part of the story. Leon may act like the leader, but this crew runs on consensus. If he thinks he’s in charge, he’s sorely mistaken.

The romance is a slow burn—until it’s not. Somewhere around the 60% mark, someone clearly doused the manuscript in lighter fluid, because we go from “don’t touch me” to “my face is in your skirts and I live here now.” So… brace yourselves.

If you like strong female leads, emotionally constipated fae men with “I would raze kingdoms but save your pet” energy, layered world-building (three species! cosmic magic! diplomacy disasters!), and cliffhangers so steep they need a rope and an oxygen tank, this one might be your jam.

Despite a few writing hiccups, I’m in. Fully invested. Already mentally preordering book two.

Big thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Zara Storm for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ein sehr tolles Buch, ganz simpel. Die Story ist sehr erfrischend in ihrem Realismus, selbst in einer Fantasy Welt. Die Autorin umgeht viele nervige Klischees von romantasy Büchern was mich sehr positiv überrascht hat. Tolle Charaktere und ein toller Cliffhanger am Ende.

A really great book, quite simply. The story is very refreshing in its realism, even in a fantasy world. The author avoids many annoying clichés of romantic fantasy books, which was a very pleasant surprise. Great characters and a great cliffhanger at the end.

💌 Thank you to NetGalley and Zara Storm for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! 💌

This is a refreshing, enemies-to-lovers fantasy centered around Morgana, a human who’s been hidden away her entire life for an apparent lack of magic in a blatantly magical world. Yet, Morgana is not the person she’s always believed herself to be. It’s seemingly unfortunate at first that her sudden path to self-discovery is hindered by the notorious Nightmare Prince, Leon (aka her captor), but things get far more twisty and tense when her kingdom is abruptly at stake, unknown power bursts from within her and her enemy begins to look more like an ally…and love interest.

After a long break from fantasy, this was incredibly enjoyable to read and it definitely renewed my enthusiasm for the genre. I felt that the magical aspects of the book were easy to grasp, and the characters were likable. World building in fantasy novels can be harrowing, and this book succinctly covered its basics. I didn’t feel like I was spiraling to retain information. Morgana’s character specifically appealed to me as a leading lady that I believed was strong and capable. Although the generic “who…me?” refrain amongst some weak-to-ultra powerful fantasy characters gets old, I felt like I was really along for the ride with Morgana, empathizing with the genuine depth of her emotions.

The story did drag a bit in the middle and I felt myself edging towards a slump, but the sheer strength of the novel’s beginning is what kept me reading. I needed to know what happened, especially regarding some unanswered questions from earlier chapters! Additionally, shoutout to Zara Storm for perfecting a writing style that tickled my brain just right.

If you love fae, magic, and a touch of suspense, I highly suggest this as your next read!

A **deliciously tropey** romantasy! Ana’s journey from prisoner to vengeful queen and Leonidas’s brooding "left-you-to-die" fae prince archetype deliver classic enemies-to-lovers tension with spicy, feral energy. Predictable? Absolutely—but Zara Storm executes it with such flair (hostage situations! magic awakening! court betrayal!) that I devoured every page.

The worldbuilding and magic system shine, and Ana’s vengeance quest is cathartic. Leon’s smolder? 🔥 Unmatched. The rushed ending and thin court politics dock half a star, but for pure bingeable escapism? **4 stars** of addictive fun.👑⚔️ *"Leonidas, your redemption needs work... but your chemistry with Ana? Perfection."*

Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2025
This was an absolute banger, I literally read it in two days! If you are a fan of Plated Prisoner, Road of Bones, Legends of Thezmarr, this needs to be on your TBR.
We have:
Discovered Identity
Hidden Magic
Found Family
Spice 🌶️🌶️

Thank you Netgalley and Zara Storm for this criminally under hyped masterpiece. It was different, fast paced, full of magic and mystery - everything you hope to get when reading a fantasy novel. I am so excited for book two!

I love fantasy, and this was so great! A fun concept, and was so much fun to read. I highly recommend to fantasy lovers!

3.5 stars
2 chili pepper

Morgana; the sheltered girl who was locked away and given a magical potion to keep her alive because of a deadly ailment she was born with.

Leon; the prince of nightmares being forced on a diplomatic mission to the kingdom he'd rather see rot.

listen i don't care what anyone says about fae books— i love a book about a grumpy fae prince MMC and an mmc who is kind of a bumbling little guy making his life hell.

put hot fae in a book and you've already gotten my attention.

the idea for this book? immaculate. the major plot points? interesting, very fun, totally had my attention. I loved their banter; when he sees into one of her dreams and teases her about it, I was giggling. I loved the magic system and the cultural differences between the fae/humans. I'm always down for a little religious cult and i love a plot with intrigue and betrayals. and this DOES have all of that.

why did i give this 3.5 stars?

my issue was mainly with pacing and a little bit with consistency. the last 30% of this book was gripping and held my adhd brain's attention with no issues, but the first 70% was difficult for me. a lot of interesting things happened, there were important plot points, but there was a good amount of exposition and things that felt like unnecessary side plots (or really rather, they felt disjointed maybe?)

there were a couple places the writing confused me and i wasn't sure exactly what was happening- for example, why characters' attitudes towards one another seemed to suddenly change.

overall i did really enjoy this book and i am interested in her story and what is going on with Leon's secrets- especially with how this book ended. I would love to read book two, but do hope the structure will be a little easier on my adhd ^^

thank you very much to net galley and the author for allowing me to read this ARC copy!

I wish I could select 3.5-3.75, as a 3 does not feel accurate!

Anyway, I did enjoy this, especially our FMC who was layered, well-thought out and strong even after her experiences may have beaten her down. I really respect that she had her quirks and aspects that maaaay have been annoying to some, but they were more subtle! While the book was predictable, I do feel it was an enjoyable, albeit, slightly cliche read.

From the first moment we're introduced to Ana, I knew I was going to absolutely fall in love with her! She is resilient and fiercely intelligent. Although she's lived her life in secrecy due to her "illness" and lack of magic, she attempts to reclaim her life. But as things unfold you're thrown into the mystery of her parents and who she truly is. She's thrown into a new role, unprepared but she's born to lead. Then there's the broody Nightmare Prince, Leon, who is a perfect morally grey that is drawn to the woman he takes captive as he tries to desperately escape across the kingdom. A beautiful enemies to lover story, as Leon becomes protective of Ana, especially as her magic unfolds. Beautiful world-building, layered characters, and romance that electrifies, I think I've found my newest series obsession! Can't wait for the rest of this series.

Firstly a book with a glossary will always have my heart. - a map would make it perfect!

Our FMC has been held in isolation for her whole life, only ever seeing her parents from afar. The small happiness she has is sneaking out to see her friends in the nearby village. She starts to feel threatened within her life and decides to run, she is found and asks for help from a glamoured fae (Prince Leon) who refuses and she is took back. Soon after her near escapes she finds out her captive lifestyle was due to her being the heir to the throne and her parents have mysteriously just been killed and she is thrust onto the crown. She soon finds out Prince Leon was accused of the murders, when he sees her in the castle he kidnaps her for insurance and they begin a quest to get back to his lands. Along the way her once thought lacking magic appears as very rare and Prince Leon begins to help her to learn how to wield it. The banter throughout is so good… but the last chapter. UGH I DIE!

I enjoyed so much about this book my only gripe being sometimes the romance being rushed at times, but that is the princes whole vibe. He’s very hot and cold. I loved the side characters, Alastor is just 🤌🏽

Would definitely recommend and so excited for the next books!