This debut was such a pleasant surprise. The Starwoven Song is a romantasy that balances political intrigue, forbidden romance, quiet magic, and emotional depth without ever feeling overwhelming.

Aelira is a standout heroine, not because she's a fighter, but because of her resilience and determination to shape her own future. Lioran is just as compelling, with a sincere heart and strong sense of duty. Their slow burn romance is full of yearning and tension, and the supporting cast adds real depth to the story.

The writing is clean and straightforward, which worked well here. It kept the focus on the characters and plot without distracting with overly flowery language.

If you enjoy strong character arcs, star-crossed love, and immersive fantasy worlds with high stakes and heart, this is worth picking up. I can't wait for book two.

Thank you to NetGalley, Onyx & Ink Press, and Brit Bryndell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vibes: exactly as promised (!) with
- found family and sacrifice
- on the softer side, not spicy, but still huge stakes
- forbidden romance that isn't instalove or too slow
- Romeo and Juliet star-crossed lovers vibes
- loveable main characters
- quiet (but cool) magic
- more positive/human take on fae
- political intrigue, and lots of not knowing who to trust

Verdict: pick this up if you're looking for a well-paced romantasy, with clean at times simple (not flowery) writing, a heroine whose power comes from determination and resilience (not fighting), a loveable MMC and a storm of political and ecological high stakes shenanigans

In a nutshell, this is a debut that really lives up to its promises.

So tight with no pacing issues, emotionally charged and high stakes but carefully balanced so the tension isn't too much and doesn't overpower the sweet romance as it develops. If you're looking for forbidden love with a lot of yearning this is definitely one to pick up. The writing is a bit plain at times but not unusual for a debut (much preferred to being too flowery imo!) and it doesn't detract from the chemistry at all.

Aelira is a princess who has had a lifetime of decisions made for her, and when she starts to learn things about herself and faces the opportunity to start taking control of her own life she leaps into an unfamiliar world head-first. I love that Aelira's strength is in her resilience, her desire to carve her own path, and her gentle but not weak nature - a welcome break from the more common warrior romantasy heroines.

With thanks to NetGalley, Onyx & Ink Press and the author, Brit Bryndell, for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Couldn't put it down. The pacing is fast and the dialogue feels alive, both are totally immersive. The love story between the two main characters is rich and sweet. The push and pull of their relationship and the yearning had me wanting more. I also really loved the side characters as well, like Fyn. His playful charm was great. Can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Onyx & Ink Press, and Brit Bryndell for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you SO much Netgalley and Onyx & Ink Press for an ARC of this book!!

Someone wanna ring Maury Povich and ask him if he'd like to come out of retirement for a hot second? Cause how is this a debut author??! HOW!?!?!?!?

This was so good! From the first to the last page. It's not similar to ACOTAR but I think it's safe to say it's ACOTAR adjacent, like they don't live on the same street but they definitely have the same area code. The lush , vivid world building, the forbidden love, and of course the fae. I absolutely LOVED it here and I can not WAIT for the second book!

This is my review which as of today can be found on the following platforms:
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Starwoven Song is a beautifully written, fast-paced romantasy that hooked me from the start and didn’t let go. I’m always a sucker for a fae romance, and this one delivered yearning, magic, and heartbreak in equal measure.

Princess Aelira is such a compelling heroine - torn between duty, survival, and love. Her journey is filled with secrets, impossible choices, and that perfect blend of hope and devastation that keeps you turning the pages. The romance had me swooning (and aching), and the worldbuilding was vivid and layered with detail.

This book has everything I love: forbidden romance, found family, enchanting heirlooms, and a fae prince who made me fall hard. And that cliffhanger? It has me desperate for book two already!

A stunning debut - I highly recommend this for fans of high-stakes romantasy with star-crossed love, magic rooted in emotion, and all the feels.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author for the ARC.

I feel like it’s rare to find a fantasy novel that keeps you in suspense along with the main character, but that’s exactly what this novel did. As Aelira moves throughout her new world, she is unable to distinguish up from down or right from wrong. Her instincts are rendered useless against the magic and confusion she faces. The entire time I was reading, I was trying to figure out the ending, but Brit did a fantastic job of keeping the reader exactly in tune with only what Aelira was feeling, which meant I had no clue where the story would take me. No spoilers here, but what a fantastic ending and cliffhanger for book 2 which comes out in 2026. As soon as I hear of a publish date, you know I’ll be signing up for that ARC again!

Starwoven Song - OUT NOW
Oh my goodness. What an amazing debut. Brit hit a home run with this Romantasy. The slow burn 🔥 was on fire, but the BANTER may have stolen the show. All of the characters were lovable… well except Agan, he can kick rocks (and a few other character, but I digress). The way the STARS were a focal point in this story had me in all of the feels AND the journal. This story constantly pulled at my heartstrings and had me DM’ing the author. I will go on record that I said “it’s giving ACOTAR … but BETTER!” One of my favorite quotes: “She will mend what’s broken.” Seriously, 10 of 10. Give her all of the stars. I highlighted ENTIRE PAGES. I CRIED. I kicked my feet. I squealed. I had to take deep breaths. I can’t fully convey all of the things this book made me feel, but I can say with my whole chest that this was in my top 3 ARC reads this year.



Blurb:
Woven in starlight, bound by destiny — her choice will alter the fate of two worlds.
 
Long before her heart broke, before she chose a perilous fate— Princess Aelira uncovered a dangerous secret. One that threatened everything she thought she knew.
 
A magical blight is spreading— destroying the human and fae realms.
Their survival relies on her choice.
 
Will she sacrifice her future to protect a kingdom that doesn’t care about her, or will she risk everything to step into a world that may destroy her?
 
The Starwoven Song is a character-driven story that blends the high-stakes emotion of classic romantasy with the soft intimacy of cozy fantasy.

Tropes: 
💕 Forbidden Romance
💕 Fae and Quiet Magic
💕 Strong & Resilient FMC
💕 Found Family
💕 Enchanted Heirlooms
💕 So Much Yearning
💕 Cinnamon Roll MMC
💕 One Too Many Beds
💕 Magic That Responds When She Breaks

Gorgeous cover, beautiful world, and a story full of slow-burn tension and quiet magic. I really enjoyed how the romance unfolded alongside the political intrigue, with just the right amount of angst and yearning. The found family moments and supporting cast added warmth and balance to the darker themes, making the story feel layered and alive. Aelira was such a refreshing heroine — strong in her determination and heart rather than the typical warrior mold. A strong debut that makes me excited for more from this author.

A Romantasy inspired by a Shakespeare play? Yes please! I enjoyed the world building and fast-paced plot!

If you enjoy the following, you'll enjoy this book:
-Slow Burn
-Forbidden Romance
-Unique Magic System & World Building
-Protective Cinnamon Roll MMC x Archer FMC
-Fae
-Found Family

A half-fae princess, a fae prince who found each other but cannot be together. This was a debut romantasy with Romeo and Juliet retelling except with fae and magic. The romance develops realistically (no instalove) and we follow the FMC journey in discovering her magic and sense of self. The MMC is so swoony and such a GREEN FLAG! What more can you ask for?

- romeo/juliet vibes
- land/earth magic
- one horse
- politics! war!
- resilient FMC
- caring MMC

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC!

I absolutely loved The Starwoven Song. From the very first page, it drew me into a world of magic, secrets, and destiny that felt both vast and deeply personal. Princess Aelira’s journey reminded me how heavy it can be to live in a world where your past is hidden and your choices are controlled by others—but also how freeing it is when you begin to reclaim your own story.

What I learned from this arc is that truth has a power all its own. Aelira’s discovery of her real past and the secrets surrounding her kingdom showed me that hiding from reality only delays the awakening of who we truly are. Facing the truth—even when it’s dangerous or painful—is the first step to claiming your freedom.

The story also reminded me that courage isn’t just about fighting enemies—it’s about making impossible choices for yourself and your people. Aelira had to weigh her own safety against her responsibility to others, and that tension made her journey so compelling and relatable.

Finally, the book taught me about trusting destiny without losing yourself. The bond she shares with the one fate draws to her shows that some connections are meant to guide and awaken you, but they never replace the importance of standing in your own power.

I finished this arc inspired, enchanted, and completely invested in Aelira’s journey. It’s the kind of story that lingers long after the last page, full of magic, heart, and the courage to step into your own future.