Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Quick little preface:

I give the book (currently) 4.5 stars with the firm belief that it has all of the makings of a 5 star book and also that I believe a series can be more than the sum of its parts and as later books come out, it’ll influence a reader’s relationship with each individual book! Nevertheless, I’m officially rating it 5 stars because I want every single person who likes fantasy to read this book.

Main review:

I. AM. OBSESSED.
I honestly devoured this book and at every point that I wasn’t reading it, I wanted to be reading it. Basically my only complaint is that there isn’t more of it.

OKAY SO, the first chapter is a flashback scene (which mark the beginning of each part of the book) and honestly, it didn’t really land. I think there needed to be a better set up for what was happening because I was left crazy confused for probably half the book. After getting into the actual story I was a litttttttle sceptical, AND THEN [insert conversation between MC and her partner] and I was having emotional reactions to their conversation. I finished the scene very much in my feelings and kind of surprised because that type of reaction is hard to elicit I think. From that point on, I literally could not put it down lol.

I love the world and want to learn more about it, the class system between humans and descendents is fascinating, the magic system seems super cool and I want to understand it better, I love August’s internal monologue and oh my god dude I’m just obsessed.

THAT BEING SAID: there’s not enough of it. The book is a bit short (303 pages in e-book form) and some of the scenes and the character relationships feel a bit rushed. There were points where I would have liked to see relationships develop in more detail between point A and B instead of how quickly they seemed to move from strangers to an established relationship.

The flashback sections I think also could have included more detail – OR, when August is doing her research, perhaps using that as a narrative device for explaining the lore and history of their world. It was like, everything made sense, all the plot points hit SO well, it kept me on the edge of my seat, and I am infinitely interested in the direction that the series is going. I just wanted more explanation, more background, and more character and relationship development.

But to be clear, this was SO FREAKING GOOD that the literal only complaint I have about it is that there isn’t more of it. I cannot express how excited I am for more!!!

Get your annotation supplies ready—Auras of the Fallen Stars will pull you straight into Celestera, and trust me, you’ll want to savor every detail!

Our badass heroine, August, is a master chef who treats food and wine like an art form, and she’s just as dedicated to her role within the brewing rebellion. Speaking of brews, don't come between this woman and her coffee. You've been warned!
When fate deals her a life-altering hand, she’s forced onto a path of new beginnings, self-discovery, and dangerous truths.

Mara has crafted an intricate world filled with magic, celestial beings, and witches—and delivers a plot twist (or two) no one will see coming. It’s the kind of story that begs to be annotated, re-read, and obsessed over. And to think, this is just her debut!

Let’s discuss a beautifully written, well thought out blend of relatable characters, their growth, world building and twists you aren’t expecting to hit you at your highest and lowest moments. What a debut novel and introduction to a new world.

I know you’re probably wondering, how in the world does a Chef lead a resistance? Well, Mara made it happen in a beautiful way.

I spent the first 70% of this book absolutely vibing and needing all the snacks because of time spent with August (or should I say the female version of Gordon Ramsey cause damn those poor assistants) in the kitchen. Filled with rich, easy world building and epigraphs to tease the senses. You spend your time asking yourself if you’ve discovered a secret or if that really didn’t mean a thing.

Then I spent the last 30% cursing and blessing Mara’s beautiful mind and ability to create with words and deliver that perfect end of book chaos to have you DYING for the next installment.

This unique world is one that I cannot wait to return to Celestera and where this story is going. If you enjoy any of the following in a story, add it to your TBR:

Found Family
Slow Burn
Political Intrigue
Complicated Characters
Forced Proximity
Complicated Relationships
Trauma

Thank you to Mara for an Arc copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

If you're looking for a Romantasy with an emphasis on the fantasy and world-building, add in a dash of romance and a heavy dollop of feminine rage, then Auras of the Fallen Stars definitely belongs on your TBR. The way I devoured this book, it's a deep diver's dream with the complex world, twists, turns and of course betrayal. And it's clear we've barely scratched the surface.

This is a quick read with an energetic writing style, pacey dialogue and plenty of banter that had me giggling out loud. And then the last 30% had me gripped as the twists were twisting and the reveals were revealing. There is a lot of world-building to set up in a relatively short book, at least by Romantasy standards, so at times I was full passenger princess not completely sure what was happening but enjoying the ride regardless. There is also plenty of foreshadowing that August may not be a reliable narrator, which can be such a fun trope when done well and leaves us readers piecing together breadcrumbs in our quest for answers. And do I NEED some answers!

I love the fact we get a different kind of strong FMC rather than the standard assassin or warrior princess. August is a sweary chef who definitely watched too much Gordon Ramsay, and she knows how to use her knives both in and out of the kitchen. The romance is enjoyable to read, but for me the female relationships are the best part of the book. We don't always get to see well-developed female friendships on Romantasy pages, so it was so nice to have a group of gal pals (and maybe a frenemy) who seem to genuinely care for each other and don't just gossip about boys. And then we have Rowan, August's sarcastically dramatic assistant who I want as my new camp bestie. Come for the romance (or romances? I'll never tell 🤫) but stay for the friendships. Cliffy says go read Auras of the Fallen Stars.