i really enjoyed this!! i have never read shelia's books before, so this was a fun refreshing time!! i really enjoyed it!

✨𝒜𝐿𝒞 𝑅𝑒𝓋𝒾𝑒𝓌✨
🎧: A Legacy of Stars: The Lost God Legacies

𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱 𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵.

Stella and Teddy have their own reasons for entering into the Gauntlet Games, a deadIy trial where the victor can claim a prize from a god. But while risking their lives, they’re also risking their hearts in the process. A Legacy of Stars is a standalone spinoff from The Lost God Series and can be read alone or as a follow up to the series. See my full book review on GR and the Zon!

Tropes:
👀Dual POV
💞Accidental Heart Bond
🙅🏻‍♀️Extremely Reluctant Allies
⚔️Rising Rebellion
☠️DeadIy Magical Tournament
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒Complex Sibling Relationships
🏹Gods Playing Games
🩹Wound Tending
⛈️Storm Magic
📜Next Generation Romantasy
🌶️: moderate

I loved reuniting with these characters and experiencing this story through audio. The narrators brought each character to life and I fell deeper in love with this world Sheila has expanded on. I felt their struggles with their circumstances, their warring feelings, and their thirst for a life beyond duty. The banter, action, and burning passion are perfectly delivered.

The author explores Stella and Teddy’s growth while expanding on their complex family dynamics. With their lives so intertwined but duties vastly different, is it possible for them to find their happily ever after?

In A Legacy of Stars, Sheila pens a resplendent and achingly beautiful tale of self-discovery and the pursuit of love and freedom.

Thanks to the author and Dreamscape media for the ALC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Audiobook Review: A Legacy of Stars ️ ️ ️ ️ — Suspenseful, witty, spicy, and cinematic
Genre: Romance/ Fantasy

"I like you like this, tied up and helpless to me. There's so much I could teach you!"- Teddy Savaro

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review and I went ahead and downloaded the e-book from Kindle Unlimited so I could follow along while listening. Because when a fantasy world is this layered..... I want the full immersive experience.
This was a pleasant surprise for me. The worldbuilding is lush, the stakes are high, and the narration is super vivid. I could see the arena, feel the tension of the battles, and practically hear the gowns swishing through the parties. It played out like a movie in my head, and I was locked in.

Now let’s talk tropes: enemies to lovers. Normally, I tread lightly here. But this one? It worked. Stella McKay expects a fairy-tale bond and ends up matched with Teddy Savero who is the last person she’d ever choose. The tension is real, the banter is sharp, and I was LOL when they were explaining all of the pranks they've payed on each other from childhood til now. I was like, “Wait… what just happened?” And yet, it all comes together in a way that feels earned.

One thing I love in fantasy books, and this one delivered, is when authors include the names of all the gods, a map, and a family tree right up front. That kind of attention to detail sets the tone and helps you orient yourself in the world. It’s like the author is saying, “I’ve built something big let me help you navigate it.” And I appreciate that since this was my first intro to this world.

What really made this story shine for me was the family dynamic. Stella’s bond with her parents is warm, hilarious, and refreshingly honest. They’re exasperated by her impulsive choices, sure but they still show up for her, offering support and guidance as she faces the trials. I laughed out loud at the running joke about how hot her dad is and how everyone seems to notice. It’s those little moments that make the characters feel real.
Teddy’s relationship with his siblings is just as layered. He loves them fiercely, but there’s a quiet resentment simmering beneath the surface. None of them carry the same weight he does, literally and emotionally. As the crown prince, he’s expected to be perfect, composed, and always “on.” That pressure isolates him, and you can feel how much he bottles up just to survive. His overprotectiveness isn’t just about control, it’s about fear, duty, and the ache of never being fully seen. That emotional depth made me root for him even harder.

Writing this review was harder than I expected because I had to keep editing myself because I didn't want to spoil anything, and this story deserves to unfold naturally. There were so many moments I wanted to gush about, but I held back because it’s worth experiencing firsthand.
While this book can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone, it’s part of The Lost God Legacies series, and yes, I’m going back to devour the rest. I need the origin story. I need the deeper threads. I need more of this world.

***To Sum it Up***
Enemies to lovers=yes
Magical trials = yes
Reluctant allies=yes
Tension= Yes
Magic=Yes
Spice=Yes
Interfering Gods=yes
Hot dad=yes

A solid four stars from me, and a definite recommendation for your next immersive reading experience

I absolutely loved ALOS! This book is set in the same world as the lost god series but it can also be read independently! It's the next generation of characters and I found it a beautiful continuation of the gorgeous world built through the lost god series. There are so many quotes that stuck with me and there are many easter eggs if you get the chance to read the original series first (and approximately 1000% increased emotional impact). I loved this dual pov tale through trials, both physical and emotional, with such a range of characters. As an oldest child myself, i resonated with both our main characters quite frequently and if you're also an oldest sibling, I have a feeling you will cry before you even begin the story when you read the dedication. Sheila, thank you for sharing your stories with the world and giving us another taste of this spectacular place. I can't wait for everyone else to experience this story too, just beware of the octo-bears, I hear their many claws are sharp. I have had the pleasure of reading this book as an eARC from the author and now listening to the ALC, and the audio is so well done! I loved the voice actors and it really kept me engrossed in the story.

A Legacy of Stars is a standalone and can be read without reading The Lost God Series first BUT I feel like you will get more out of your reading experience reading TLG before you pick this book up! I just wanted to preface that first!

Sheila Masterson is one of my top five favorite authors and I will literally read anything she puts out into the world. She could share her grocery list and I would read it. There are very few authors in my opinion who can write such immersive stories where sometimes it doesn't even feel like you're reading a book! Sheila's stories are some of my favorites of all time and her characters mean more to me than she'll ever know.

I loved that this book was written about the children of the characters in TLG series. I honestly cried at the dedication and the first few chapters because of the nostalgia and the fact that Sheila gave us another story in Olney with all of my favorite characters. Teddy and Stella have so much of their parents in them but also they are so themselves ya know? Their banter is chefs kiss and I love the fact that they're both the oldest siblings. There's so much pressure in family expectations and being the sibling that has to be the role model. There were also some new characters introduced in this book and I am so intrigued about them and Sheila, I am begging, I need to know about them!!

This book made me feel all of the emotions, but I honestly wouldn't want a book written by Sheila to make me feel any other way. I am already planning a reread of A Legacy of Stars because I need to be back here.

Wow! This book had so much depth, heart, and lore. The characters were interesting and the story was laid out in a way that made the story feel full of history and setting without feeling bogged down in details. The love story was so well executed and the spice was perfectly layered into the story so that it felt very balanced. This was a great read/listen!
The narrators did a fantastic job and added a new layer to the story. Their voice acting and pacing were perfect.

A standalone enemies to lovers with games thrown in! I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I'll start this by saying I have not read The Lost God Series. I honestly hadn't heard about it, until the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy of the audiobook came about. Let me tell you, I immediately downloaded The Lost God. I don't think I missed anything by reading A Legacy of Stars as a standalone, but I know there is soooo much more to the story!

Teddy is a reluctant heir to the throne unsure of who he really is and burdened by the knowledge that he needs to put his kingdom before anything else. He enters the games to ask for the freedom to marry whomever he chooses. Stella is the child of a fairytale romance. All she wants is to find a love that would live up to the standard her parents created. Can she ever be enough to marry Prince Arden? Surely winning the Gauntlet will make her worthy of him. Teddy and Stella must work together to fend off attacks from assassins and fellow contestants. Will the challenges they face make their relationship grow from animosity to something more?

Masterson writes incredible characters. They all have their flaws, but they all have substantial personal growth throughout the book too. I suspect most of the world building happened in The Lost Gods series, but there was enough in this book to get a feel for everything. I think that's difficult for authors to do because they spent so much of the previous books doing so. Masterson didn't have any issue with it in this book! The spice was spicy! The relationships felt real and relatable. Overall, one of the best reads of the year for me.

The only reason I took off a star is because at time I felt like there was too much going on. It had a lot of tropes thrown into one story. Enemies to lovers, fated mates, one bed, games, forced proximity. I found the beginning of the book to be predictable. When it came to one bed, I thought to myself, really? Another trope?? But who really cares? They all work well for this story, and they are all tied together well!

I received an advanced copy of the audiobook, so let's talk narration. Of the two narrators, I found the male narrator to be better. I enjoyed his variety of voices for the many characters. I found the female's voice choice for Stella to be a little too airy and high. On a few instances, the chosen voice pulled me from the story because it did not seem to fit the character well.

If you love childhood friends to enemies to lovers with yearning, magic, and deadly tournaments, then read this ASAP.

This is a standalone, and I DID NOT read the previous books. But I WILL be reading them because I NEED to know Cecelia, Zander, and Rainer’s story. Although I didn’t read the previous books, it didn’t take away from this story or the development of the main characters, Stella and Teddy.

Stella and Teddy are the sweetest! The trials and growth throughout the book were so enduring and heartbreaking. They are also so relatable with their anxiety, need for control, and pressure of being perfect. I loved their ending, and I loved that they both got what they deserved— true happiness and acceptance.

I did find the magic system and Gods a tad confusing. I believe it was because I didn’t read the previous books, but it didn’t matter. I was able to figure it out as the story went on.

The narrators did an amazing job bringing the story alive. Their performance made Stella and Teddy’s emotions raw and climatic. Their voices immediately drew me in and fit perfectly with the characters I had in my head. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


Thank you, Dreamscape and NetGalley for my gifted advanced audiobook copy.
All my reviews are my own opinion. 💕

Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for access to an ARC of A Legacy of Stars by Sheila Masterson. James Fouhey and Emily Woo Zeller were good narrators and enjoyable to listen to. I thought Emily sounded familiar and realized I’ve listened to several books narrated by her.

Before requesting the ARC, I knew that A Legacy of Stars was connected to Masterson’s The Lost God series. I hadn’t read that series, but I saw a review stating that A Legacy of Stars could be read as a standalone. There were aspects of the book that would have been more meaningful if I had read the original series, but the book can still be enjoyed on its own.

I can already predict that people will say the main character, Stella, was naive and made questionable decisions. That's true, but by the end, she experienced character growth. I don’t mind an immature main character as long as they improve themselves throughout the story.

The romance was fun and chaotic. Throughout the book, Stella and Teddy were each doing the most to be with other people who didn’t even want to be with them. Watching them both struggle through their relationships with other people and each other was a bit painful (but in a fun way???).

I have mixed feelings about books with competitions (I get easily stressed). I enjoyed the competition scenes in the story. They moved the plot forward and didn’t just involve me reading page after page of fighting and stress. This story worked for me because while there was a plot, the story was very romance-driven with multiple spicy scenes.

I will be looking out for more books from Sheila Masterson and hope she adds more sequel books connected with the original series.

Read if you enjoy:
Magic love bonds
Competitions
Aphrodisiacs
Messy characters and even messier romance
Love squares

I absolutely LOVED this book ! The story was so modern but not at the same time . I love the banter between teddy and stella , the angst and tension and their their 🌶️ scenes were just sooooo good!

Ummm… Yeah, I’m gonna have to start “The Lost Gods” now ‘cause this was GOODT.
So many good tropes like, they were fr troping.
Sheila Masterson… I was unaware of your game 👑

This was beautifully done. Reluctant allies gave me everything I needed it to give me, the burn was SLOW, the trials? DEADLY. The Gods/Goddesses? MEDDLESOME AF. It was just so well rounded & I love the ending ‘cause yes. We’re healing generation trauma in a Fantasy Kingdom too, I love it.

Our MCs are both young & figuring things out, but taking the wheel of their own destiny… With a lil push from somebody. Their banter & chemistry was just so much fun, esp when everything starts making sense. I just had sm fun w/ this— Even the side characters were all such great additions & I would love to see them get their own book. Esp Alex 🤍 Give me the sapphic romance we deserve lol!!
I wouldn’t mind a bit more on Kate too. She was such a bestie, like a real one forsure. I’m sad she didn’t get much screen time, but her character def showed out.
I also loved all the siblings too, matter fact the whole family were all soooooo 🥰🥰🥰 They each deserve a story lmfao.

The Mom? She’s a MUVA. I love love LOVE their bond together. Homegirl was fr talking that ish—

“Being a parent is always wanting better for your kids, while knowing that you can’t save them from making their own mistakes.”

“We are forged from our mistakes.”

“Being a Mother is redefining fear daily.”

“Sometimes a girl just needs her Mother.”
HEAVY ON THIS OKAY!!!!
I just love her perspective so much. Such a Queen.
And the memory? Ugh. Broke my heart fr.

Now Sheila? Towards the end of that trial?
Girrrrrrl— Jail. THAT SHATTERED ME INTO A MILLION PIECES LIKE PLEASE DO NOT PLAY RN.
Fr had me balling my eyes out like pls… I can’t.

Overall, read this. And the series it’s connected to? This is a standalone, but I guess “The Lost Gods” adds more background to things??? Idk bro, I will find out soon lmfao. Emily Woo mf Zeller is THAT girl when it comes to narrating fr. Definitely one of my faves & James Fouhey? DON’T SLEEP ON HIM.
He’s fr that guy. They both did THAT..

Dual narration- James Fouhey & Emily Woo Zeller

3rd person POV

Great romantasy. I really enjoyed this story. I wish it was first person POV and duet narration however I still liked the story.

Magical and fabulous world building. The main characters are children of characters from The lost gods series tho you can read this as a standalone.

The writing is captivating and intriguing. Keeping you interested in the characters journey.

A Legacy of stars is a standalone romantasy spinoff of the Lost God series, which I have not read. Sheila Masterson does a great job with this story, providing enough background that I did not get not lost and was totally engrossed in this story. I found myself taking breaks more often so the story would not end! I loved Stella McKay and Teddy Savero. Stella and Teddy unexpectedly become heart bonded to each other and then enter the deadly Gauntlet to win the blessing of a god. Stella hopes to win the right to marry the love of her life, Prince Arden, and Xander wants to win the right to choose his own wife. Stella and Teddy become allies and need to rely on each other to survive the deadly competition. Through these trials, they begin to figure out what they really want in life and love.
Emily Woo Zeller and James Fouhey added to the reading experience and were excellent narrators for this story by Sheila Masterson.
10/10 recommend this book and I will definitely be going back and reading the Lost God series. Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Stella and Teddy are EVERYTHING! I love them. Sheila has created an absolute masterpiece. For a good portion of this book, I was either in tears at the heart strings being pulled, or at the humor within the story and its characters. The audio just brought me back to everything I loved about this book and it was so well done. Sharing links to original book review below.

5 out of 5 lobsters - would recommend.

Thank you Sheila for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book is such a fun ride. For lovers of the Lost God series, this book follows the second generation. Stella, daughter of Rainer and Cece enters a deadly competition for the right to marry the love of her life. Teddy, son of Xander and heir to the throne, also enters the competition for the right to choose his wife. Reluctant allies, Stella and Teddy have to rely on each other to survive. But through their time together make a strong connection. What if the reason they entered the competition isn't their happily ever after??

This book stands on it's own and you do not have to read the Lost God series to enjoy this book. However, you will catch so many fun Easter Eggs and nods to the past that will enhance your reading experience. I never wanted this to end.

Updated for Advanced Listener Copy. The story jumps off the page and into my ears with the audiobook. The narrators were fantastic!

I have been on Sheila's arc team since the beginning with The Lost God. Every book in the series was better than the one before it and that series is one I constantly scream about and pull the "if you love me, you'll read it". When I finished The Godless Kingdom, I was not ready to say goodbye to the world and took FOREVER to finish it because Cece and Rainer (even Xander but still certified #1 hater) were my faves and I loved their stories so much. A Legacy of Stars was everything I wanted to be and so much more. This book takes you back to the Olney with a new generation of royalty and witches.

Stella McKay, a perfect mix of her gentle father and stubborn mother, wants the fairytale love story that her parents have, the one she has heard numerous stories about growing up. Teddy Savero, son of King Xander and Queen Jessamin, wants nothing more than to be his own person and not be bound to the pressure of being King. A trip to the Goddess of Love for Stella and Teddy with their respective partners does not turn out how they envisioned, but rather they end up with a heart bond between them.

Both are given the opportunity to compete in the Gauntlet Games. Stella and Teddy start off as bitter adversaries but as the games progress, they realize that maybe they don't actually hate each other as much as they originally thought. Having to work together more than they initially anticipated and fighting through the feeling of their bond, this is a perfect "enemies" to lovers romantasy.

This book will make you giggle, cry, scream, all the feelings. Thank you Sheila for keeping me on your street team even though I won't let you live down the stabby life and for giving me an arc in return for my honest review. I already cannot wait to reread later this year.

Overall this book was very intriguing from the beginning and I highly recommend adding it to your TBR. When a book has a MMC that is resistant to follow the rules set for him and a FMC who has to have her parents perfect love story for her own, you can count me in!The plot seemed to never end and once you caight on to a certain part of the plot a new thing would be added, which just kept me intrigued. The narrators for this book did an excellent job in portraying their emotions and feelings with just their voices. The only thing I had a slight issue with was the beginning because it felt like the speaker just switched and confused me, but I would read it again. Very well written and very good imagery used to allow you to escape to their world.
I love that the book is a stand alone and that you don’t have to have any experience with the characters to completely understand the plot of the book. If you love a good forbidden romance with a lot of twist and turns and EXTRA spice, this book is for you!