Okay wow… I called this a 5-star read pretty early on (like 8% in) because I was just THAT impressed right from the start. The writing is gorgeous, the story pulled me in immediately, and I honestly just wanted to savor every page.

We get dual POV (Rada, our FMC, and Noctis, our MMC) plus two timelines (present and past), and it was so fun slowly uncovering what happened back then and how it all ties into now. It feels like you’re piecing everything together while also watching this relationship unfold. And let me tell you: the journey is so worth it.

My favourite part: the yearning. Oh my god! Like YEARS of it. The kind that makes your chest ache because you feel everything. It’s written so beautifully and intricately that you can’t help but get swept up in it. I was highlighting and annotating constantly because the prose was just that swoony.

The pacing is steady (don’t expect a super fast pace) but I loved that, because it let me sink into the story and the slow build between Rada and Noctis. Then toward the end, the drama ramps up and I was glued to the pages, absolutely hooked.

I’m obsessed with these characters. I need more of them, I need to know how their story continues, I need all of it. And yes… I did actually scream “I knew it!!” at the end.

Now I’m even more desperate for the next book. This feels like the start of something epic, and I cannot wait to see where it goes.

Thank you so much to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing me an eARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Darkness Births the Stars is an atmospheric romantasy that swept me away with its Nordic-inspired mythology, simmering romance, and high-stakes magic. Sarah Lee Wohn creates a world that feels vivid and dangerous, with gods stripped of their power, love twisted into betrayal, and a realm teetering on the edge of Chaos. From the first chapter, the tension and beauty of the story had me hooked.
The heart of the book lies in Noctis and Rada’s relationship. Their past is full of betrayal, longing, and heartbreak, and watching them come together again as broken versions of who they once were was absolutely riveting. Every moment between them thrummed with intensity, and the emotional pull of their connection gave the story real depth. Their romance is full of desire, pain, and the possibility of redemption, making it impossible to look away.
Beyond the romance, the themes of sacrifice, resilience, and the cost of power shine through. The looming threat of Chaos keeps the stakes high, and the combination of myth, magic, and emotional vulnerability makes this story stand out. Darkness Births the Stars is a bold and beautiful beginning to a new series, and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

5⭐
I loved both of the main characters. Rada was so tough and fierce, definitely being a warrior and an independent woman. Noctis was dark and misunderstood, and completely swoony with how much he loved and needed Rada, even after all those years apart.

I love me a good mythological fantasy romances. The worldbuilding was INSANE!!! I especially loved that we got the past as well as the present. our main characters were both fallen gods, I enjoyed getting to see what their lives looked like before they were “fallen”.I just couldn’t put this book down!!

I loved all the inner politics surrounding the gods, not just Rada and Noctis. I seriously trust no one but Rada and Noctis. They started their friendship based on wanting to get rid of the other was incredibly fun. I loved watching their chemistry go from enemies to lover to enemies to reluctant allies to lovers. I loved getting to watch their second chance come about and how much Rada struggled with allowing Noctis back into her life. I loved the insight we got into Noctis’s mind, where we knew how invested he was in Rada and their second chance for. I love him despite his many flaws.

THE ENDING 😱.... I need book 2 right now

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I ended up DNFing this one, which was a bit of a struggle for me. To be fair, it might’ve just been bad timing on my part—life was a bit hectic—so I had a hard time really getting into the story.

That said, I do plan to give it another shot down the line, since it might’ve just been me and not the book. For now, I’m giving it 3 stars. The beginning is packed with detail and it’s quite a long read, so the pacing felt very slow at first.

What happens when the divine love that once wove the fabric of a world unravels it completely—and becomes the sole, fragile thread by which it can be mended? A divine love story (but make it a messy one).

Darkness Births the Stars is proof that some gods really need to get over their exes. This book completely hooked me with its delicious blend of godly angst and forbidden romance. It’s got everything I love in romantasy: divine drama, betrayal, and a star-crossed connection that's both swoon-worthy and a little (a lot?) chaotic. Ex-lovers, Noctis and Rada, a fallen God of Darkness and an exiled Goddess of Light, find themselves on a collision course. Sparks fly—and let’s be real, so do a few world-ending threats—and the fate of everything rests on whether they can face their past (or each other.)

The world is lush and steeped in Nordic legends, but the real heart of the story for me lies in the fiery chemistry between Noctis and Rada. Their history of love and loss makes their every interaction electric. It's a high-stakes romance where the tension is so thick, you could cut it with a (god's) sword.

A brilliant debut. For fans of morally gray characters, epic romance, and stories that prove some things are worth fighting for—even if those things are your ex—you will not be disappointed. I am so excited and can't wait for book no2 (that epilogue!). Thank you to Sarah Lee Wohn and NetGalley for my review copy, all opinions are my own.

4.25 ⭐

I’m so glad I discovered this book! It had so many of my favorite fantasy elements—rich worldbuilding, a sprinkle of romance, gods, and well-developed characters.

At first, I thought the timeline jumps might be confusing, but they actually added depth to the story. We get the past, where we learn how the Golden Ones came to be and their role in shaping Aron-Lyr, and the present, where we follow Baradaz—now Rada, the Star Queen, after her banishment—and Noctis, the God of Darkness, as he tries to win her back.

This was more of a journey through their love story. Their forbidden relationship spans millennia, full of passion, betrayal, and heartbreak. It's a complicated yet loving relationship. There has been so much betrayal that fixing what they once had feels hard to do, especially for Rada. Yet, she finds it hard to walk away from him. They have a lot of passion for each other, but my favorite were the tender moments where you could see how much love they have for each other.

We go through what happened during the war and the consequences of it. Just as Rada and Noctis begin to rebuild a stable foundation, Chaos magic looms, threatening everything. I’m excited to see where the next book takes us—especially in uncovering more about the Gods and Goddesses and the sides they truly stand on.

That epilogue tho? 👀 Did not see those revelations coming. Made me that much more excited for book 2!

Take a deep breath—this book is a beautiful plunge into the heart of myth, magic, and aching romance. Darkness Births the Stars follows Rada, the exiled Goddess of Light living a quiet, mortal life on a rustic farm, and Noctis, the once-feared God of Darkness, who—wounded and desperate—finds his way back to her door. Their reunion is electric, filled with regret, tension, and the echoes of a love that never truly died.

Sarah Lee Wohn weaves a stunning tale of second chances, set in a world inspired by Nordic mythology and steeped in emotional depth. It’s romantic, sorrowful, and magical in all the right ways—perfect for fans of slow-burn love stories and gods with broken hearts.

Thank you to netgalley and Victory Editing for the chance to read this ARC. Goodreads review coming soon!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¾

Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn is an astounding debut — one that pulled me in from the first page and didn’t let go. The worldbuilding is so beautifully described, with interesting origin myths and sweeping histories that feel both fresh and timeless - mythology has always been a love of mine and I really enjoyed how this took traditional mythological concept and played with them to create Aron-Lyr and the wider world. I could picture it all so vividly even with some tough metaphysical concepts.

This story explores complicated relationships — not just between love and duty, freedom and desire, but also through dual timelines that weave together seamlessly. We watch the characters fall in love once, knowing it ends in heartbreak, and then fall in love again, learning how to trust each other anew. That tension makes it all the more powerful and stunning to read.

Usually betrayal is a tough trope for me to read, it's just something that I can find hard to buy into emotionally. It is written with so much empathy and the two POVs that I actually loved how it worked. Belekoroz’s past isn’t excusable — the things he did were terrible — but it read less like the manipulations of a power-hungry villain and more like the desperate mistakes of someone shaped by family related trauma who tumbles into an addiction. That doesn’t make it any less horrific, but it makes him more human. And through it all, Rada loved him. She loved all of him, even the parts that led him astray, and even when she separated herself to try and forget him, once Rada saw him again, she couldn't help but hope in him again and try to keep him grounded, even though it had never worked before. That core of compassion made their story so moving and so understandable despite being set in a fantasy world.

What really struck me was how much Belekoroz grows when he is forced into a mortal form. Immortality gives you endless chances; but the very real presence of death and the finite amount of time alive forces urgency and perspective. His desperation to do things differently this time, to put love above power, feels like the heart of his character arc. Becoming vulnerable is what finally allows him to truly change.

The pacing is excellent — enticing, addictive, the kind of story I wanted to keep reading forever. It’s a fantastic setup for sequels, and for a debut novel, it’s genuinely impressive. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

Thank you to Sarah Lee Wohn for the ARC, all thoughts are my own.

Darkness Births the Stars was such an incredible read! The writing was captivating from the very beginning, and the world-building had such a unique, almost haunting beauty to it.

One of the highlights for me was the Aurea — their personalities were captured so well, and I loved how distinct and memorable each one felt. Their presence brought so much depth to the story, and I found myself looking forward to every scene that involved them. It’s rare to come across characters that feel this alive on the page, and I truly appreciated the care put into developing them.

And of course, I can’t forget to mention the spice — it was absolutely on point. It added the perfect amount of tension and intensity to the story without taking away from the emotional depth or character growth.

What really stood out overall were the emotions woven into the characters’ journeys. I was fully invested from beginning to end, and the mix of tension, atmosphere, romance, and character development made this one of those books that lingers long after the last page is turned. Even though there were moments that the book felt a little repetitive, it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story overall.

This was easily a 5-star read for me, and I can’t wait to see what comes next!.

This was such a compelling and emotional read. Sarah Lee Wohn has crafted a world that feels vast yet intimate, with lore that is accessible and beautifully woven throughout. She’s created a unique storyline and world that I’ve yet to read, which is a hard thing to say in today’s Romantasy genre.

The romance between Rada and Noctis is the heart of the story: Messy gods. Forbidden love. Betrayals that cut deep. Old wounds that never quite healed. The dual-timeline structure was handled well, pulling me deeper into the characters’ struggles and making the final chapters hit all the harder. Loved it!

**Features:**

- Two fallen gods seeking redemption and each other
- Forbidden love romantasy inspired by Nordic mythology
- Dual POVs and timelines
- Complicated characters and relationships

**Synopsis:**

Once, Rada was the Goddess of Light; a queen amongst the Gods. Branded a traitor and stripped of her powers, she now lives on a secluded farm far from the other Gods and their complicated games. The pain of her past has finally started to fade until a knock at her door brings it all tumbling back. Noctis, once the God of Darkness and the reason for Rada's banishment, is grievously injured and in need of Rada's help. As the two fallen Gods try to navigate a relationship defined by heartbreak and betrayal, the forces of chaos begin to stir once more. Can a love that once threatened to tear the world apart be the thing to save it?

**Thoughts:**

If you like your relationships messy, this is the perfect book for you! Forget enemies-to-lover, Rada and Noctis are enemies AND lovers. Wohn does a phenomenal job conveying a real sense of history between Rada and Noctis from the very beginning. Their deep connection and longing for each other is accompanied by an undercurrent of tension and apprehension forged through years of heartbreak and betrayal. We unravel their story through both the present and past events that have defined their relationship with each other as well as the world at large. It is quickly clear that both characters have made questionable choices in the past and I found it satisfying to see them trying to work through some of those things together in the present.

If their relationship alone isn't complicated enough, Rada and Noctis find themselves re-entangled in the political maneuvering within the pantheon they once belonged to. This unfolds in a rich world heavily inspired by Nordic mythology. Though I recognized a lot of elements, I don't know much about this mythology and cannot speak to how closely it follows the tales and pantheon. However, it certainly maintains a mythological feel even as the characters try to tackle some very human problems.

Though I was fully engaged in this story, it still suffered from some pacing issues for me. There were certain sections, the beginning included, where the characters would start talking in circles a bit and the story would stagnate as a result. While I appreciated getting into the characters' heads, there were moments where we would linger slightly too long and/or the thoughts being shared did not add anything to the situation or our understanding of it. That being said, it was well worth getting through those slower moments and I cannot wait to see where this story goes in the next installment!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was one of my top books this year and I can't wait for more. It had lush worldbuilding, a gripping plot, lovable characters and my favorite, YEARNING. I can't get over it and I know this will be my series I buy everything for.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars) 🌟🌙🔥

“You’re in my veins… If someone were to spill my blood, scatter my very being to the winds, I suspected the remaining tatters of my spirit would still yearn for her somehow.”

This book absolutely consumed me. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into a world of fallen gods, forbidden love, and the kind of tension that makes you hold your breath. Darkness Births the Stars is the story of Noctis, once the God of Darkness, and Rada, the exiled Goddess of Light. Their forbidden love tore the world apart, and now, years later, fate throws them back together when he appears at her door—wounded, desperate, and impossible to refuse.

What follows is a deliciously emotional mix of heartbreak 💔, betrayal 🩸, and undeniable chemistry 🔥. Noctis and Rada’s relationship is everything: angsty, tender, and fiery all at once. He’s ruthless with everyone but soft only for her 🤌, and she’s a queen 👑 who refuses to bow even when her heart betrays her. Their push and pull felt raw and real, layered with regret, longing, and those moments of vulnerability that had me highlighting every other line ✍️✨.

🌌 What I Loved:
✨ Tropes galore: enemies to lovers (and back again), forced proximity (farmhouse 👀), forbidden love, slow-burn, fallen gods.
✨ World-building: Inspired by Nordic mythology, it’s lush, gritty, and dangerous. Elves 🧝‍♂️, dragons 🐉, gods ⚡—yet it never feels overwhelming.
✨ Dual POV / Dual timeline: We see both the past that destroyed them and the present that might just redeem them. The layering makes the emotional stakes so much higher.

🌟 The ending was everything I wanted and more: satisfying, emotional, and setting the stage for something even greater. And that prologue?! 😱🔥 Absolutely next-level. I closed the book with the biggest smile, already counting down the days until the sequel drops.

Darkness Births the Stars is a deeply descriptive, high fantasy novel that demands your full attention. It’s an extremely slow-paced read with rich world-building, a tangled web of characters, and layered relationships, perfect for those who enjoy annotating and immersing themselves in complex fantasy worlds.

One of the aspects I really enjoyed was the dual POV (Present and Past), which gradually unravels the connection between Rada and Noctis. Their relationship? A hot pile of chaos…. It spans years of history, betrayal, anger, and a lot of tension, and an extremely slow burn love…literally super slow. The dual timeline gives readers a deeper understanding of both characters’ motivations and emotional struggles, though it can be a lot to take in all at once.
That said, the book can feel overwhelming at times. There’s a lot of world-building, mentions of gods, intricate magic, political power struggles, and a god/mortal separation. Keeping track of everything (and everyone!) was a challenge. I even found myself flipping back a few times, especially when it came to Rada’s husband (yes, I had to double-check who he was LOL).

Overall, this is a book for readers who enjoy thinking through their fantasy, political maneuvering, godly power plays, emotionally tangled characters, and a world thoroughly described with vivid descriptions. If you’re a fan of slow, immersive reads and morally complex relationships, this one might be worth annotating and savoring over time.

I had such an amazing time reading this book. It’s the perfect blend between fantasy and sizzling romance. The plot was written amazingly well even with the back and forth time jumps it was easy to follow. Loved it!

Darkness Births the Stars is an ambitious and captivating start to what promises to be an epic fantasy series. While its slower pacing may not appeal to every reader, the payoff is undeniable once the story begins to unfold. The narrative structure alternates between past and present, layering dual perspectives that enrich both the characters and the world. At times, the flashbacks do take up more space than feels necessary, and the story could likely have been tighter without losing impact. Still, they add valuable depth and context, and when woven back into the main storyline, they build an atmosphere thick with tension and history.

The world itself is remarkable—vast, immersive, and steeped in mythology—feeling both sweeping in scale and intimate in its focus. It’s clear how much care and passion the author poured into creating the lore, and the result is a setting that feels alive and full of possibility. The balance of gods, politics, battles, and betrayals ensures that there’s always another layer to uncover, and the shifting lines between good and evil make the journey even more compelling.

What truly elevates this book are its characters. They’re flawed, complex, and heartbreakingly human. Rada and Noctis, in particular, are the soul of the story: their relationship is tangled with betrayal, longing, anger, and tenderness, and their chemistry is electric. The messy slow-burn tension between them was addictive, and I found myself thinking about them long after I put the book down.

Admittedly, the pacing can drag, especially in a book of this length, but the emotional weight of the characters and the richness of the world more than make up for it. And that epilogue? Utterly unexpected and brilliantly set up—leaving me desperate for the sequel.

If you enjoy epic fantasies that take their time, prioritize character depth, and explore the blurred lines between light and dark, Darkness Births the Stars is well worth the journey. It’s a promising, beautifully written foundation for a series that feels destined to become something extraordinary.

Thank you to the author, Sarah Lee Wohn, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

4-4.5 ⭐️

I was given the opportunity to read this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rada and Noctis were two gods, both stripped of their power and turned to humans. Rada resides on a farm, just living the quiet life and trying to live in peace when Noctis shows up at her door. He’s dying and just wants the chance to see her again.

There’s centuries of history between the two. They have been enemies and lovers and for ten years Rada has believed that Noctis was dead. They didn’t end on the best of terms, but when he shows up needing help, old feelings come rushing to the surface.

There is yearning and it was almost like Damon and Elena with the push and pull and I thoroughly was invested in their romance. And I’ll always love a story where the bad boy gets the girl.

I really loved the fantasy aspects as well and the world building. It’s easy to tell this story was made with a lot of thought, planning, and love.

The thing that keeps this from being a five star read was the pacing. Their story spans centuries so there is a lot of time jumps and so I understand why the book was as long as it was. But it took a long time into the book for the story in the main timeline to get going.

However, I did really enjoy it and encourage everybody to read. I’m very excited for book two.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc for an honest review. I just happened to see this cover and read the synopsis and was intrigued otherwise I had never heard of this book but I am glad I did because I really enjoyed this. Such a different fantasy romance, the two main characters are not allowed to be together and end up finding their way to each other. A lot of political intrigue among the gods, definitely cannot wait to read the next installment.

Definitely a slower beginning than I usually like but once I got into the flow, I was completely hooked. The world itself is fascinating, it feels both epic and intimate at the same time and I honestly loved being pulled into it.

The structure jumps between past and present, with dual perspectives layered in. Normally that kind of back-and-forth can frustrate me and here I wasn’t totally sold on it either but I didn’t dislike it. It did sometimes drag and I couldn’t help but feel like the story could’ve been trimmed down without losing any of its impact. Still, the parts that mattered kept me turning the pages.

What really carried the book for me were the characters. They’re flawed, complicated and so well-drawn that I found myself thinking about them everytime I had to put the book down. I’m a sucker for broken characters and Rada & Noctis gave me everything I wanted. Their relationship is layered with history, betrayal, tenderness, anger, longing and that messy slow-burn tension between them was absolutely addictive. Their banter was sharp, their chemistry was undeniable and their pain felt real.

There’s also a lot happening outside of the romance: political games between the gods, massive battles, deception at every turn. At times, I wasn’t sure who I was supposed to be rooting for, which honestly made it even more fun. The author really leans into that balance of light and dark, good and evil and I loved the play on who gets to be seen as the villain.

The pacing wasn’t perfect but that epilogue? I did not see it coming and it left me desperate for more. If there’s ever a second book coming, I’ll be first in line for another ARC.

Rating: 4,25/5

Now this is an epic love story.
Darkness Births the Stars by Sarah Lee Wohn is a fantasy romance book with gods and goddesses inspired by Nordic mythology.
The story slowly develops in two timelines but it keeps you really hooked, especially thanks to the love story; Rada and Noctis' chemistry was insane and the tension was impeccable.
The writing was dense and the pacing felt a bit slow at times but overall this is a wonderful romantasy with star-crossed lovers, yearning and betrayal.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!