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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Honestly this book was pure fun, I’m not a huge fan of books that are equal or almost equal in spice and plot, but this one is an exception. I just enjoyed every moment of this book and just found it to be a book I didn’t want to put down! I’m itching to finish the series in a week, but I’m going to try and hold off because I have a few other books I need to read first, but be forewarned once you start this series you’ll likely want to finish it! Everyn is addicting as a male main character as he is mysterious and clearly is holding a dark secret from the start, but also can talk dirty like no other. I got to give it to him, I’d also fall for him rather than his brother, so I don’t blame Adara at all for risking everything for him, cause why not haha. Adara is still young and has a lot of growing up to do, and I’m curious to continue reading for her character growth and development as she accepts her fate, but also learns how to make her power work for her.
Also this book is a combo of vampire and fae and I’m in my vampire phase so naturally I’m just obsessed with this book, and have no plans on putting this series off more than a week! This is also reminding myself that I find Holly Renee’s books so enjoyable and I just need to continue reading the rest of her series!
Also this book is a combo of vampire and fae and I’m in my vampire phase so naturally I’m just obsessed with this book, and have no plans on putting this series off more than a week! This is also reminding myself that I find Holly Renee’s books so enjoyable and I just need to continue reading the rest of her series!
adventurous
fast-paced
Adara is promised to the prince and is starblessed; it is prophesied that she will help the fae kingdom or be its fall. Evren is tasked with bringing her to the prince, and it turns out the two are half-brothers. Despite being arranged to the prince, she grows closer to Evren. When the kingdom is attacked, Evren and Adara end up traveling together again. Evren is part vampyre, but who is his mother? Maybe Adara’s mate differs from the legend? Like the other Holly Renee books I’ve read, this one is short and fast paced as well; a lot happens in a small window of time. A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows is the first book in a series, so it does end on a cliffhanger.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Based on my past experience with Renee’s books, I knew going in that the ending would wreck me… but I still wasn’t prepared! I’ve officially found my new book boyfriend, Evern! He’s the ultimate shadow daddy every romantasy reader dreams of. I can’t get enough of these two, Adara with her wit and fire, and Evern with his intense, “I’ll kill for you” devotion. Their dynamic had me hooked, tugging at both my heartstrings and my core.I loved their journey and the intense connection they shared from the moment they met. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for these characters.
And that cliffhanger? Brutal. But honestly, I’m not even mad as now I have to run to dive into the second book immediately.
*Thank you to Holly Renee for the digital copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.
A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows was a fun, quick read and is a great place to start if you’re new to romantasy. Adara is a "Starblessed" human, and has been promised to Gavril, the Fae Crown prince, her entire life. She doesn’t want to marry him and be forced to serve him and his court, and is determined to find a way out of her predestined life. Evren, the Captain of the Royal Guard, is sent to her village to collect her, and she finds herself drawn to him. Her attraction only gets worse when she finds out that Evren is also a prince and is Gavril’s brother, and is tasked with protecting her. She’s surrounded by courtly intrigue, lies, and betrayals as everyone in the Fae court seeks to use her power for their own purposes, and the kingdom is in danger from the looming threat of the vampyres in the Blood Court.
I liked the concept of the Starblessed and the warring Fae and Vampyre Courts, though I would have liked more world building and explanation of the magic system. Adara is a fierce, strong protagonist, and it was rewarding to watch her discover her power and decide to fight for herself. Evren is a protective, possessive, swoony, morally grey, shadow daddy prince who will do anything for Adara, even though she belongs to his brother. The romance is the focus of this book, and Evren and Adara are instantly drawn to each other. They have immediate tension, angst, and longing due to their forbidden romance, and I would have liked more buildup to their relationship, as insta-love is not my favorite trope. However, their chemistry was off the charts.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It is more romance than fantasy, and I would’ve liked more exploration of the fantastical elements and more foundation for the romance, but it was fun and entertaining, and I’ll most likely continue with the series.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Holly Renee ARC.
📔 A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows
✏️ Author
📆 June 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨ romantasy
✨ the chosen one
✨ vampyres and fae
✨ arranged marriage
✨ fiancé’s brother
✨ forbidden love
✨ forced proximity
✨ warring kingdoms
✨ morally grey, possessive hero
✨ touch her and 💀
*Connect With Me*
https://instagram.com/shanisshelves?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
https://www.tiktok.com/@shanisshelves
I liked the concept of the Starblessed and the warring Fae and Vampyre Courts, though I would have liked more world building and explanation of the magic system. Adara is a fierce, strong protagonist, and it was rewarding to watch her discover her power and decide to fight for herself. Evren is a protective, possessive, swoony, morally grey, shadow daddy prince who will do anything for Adara, even though she belongs to his brother. The romance is the focus of this book, and Evren and Adara are instantly drawn to each other. They have immediate tension, angst, and longing due to their forbidden romance, and I would have liked more buildup to their relationship, as insta-love is not my favorite trope. However, their chemistry was off the charts.
Overall, I enjoyed it. It is more romance than fantasy, and I would’ve liked more exploration of the fantastical elements and more foundation for the romance, but it was fun and entertaining, and I’ll most likely continue with the series.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Holly Renee ARC.
📔 A Kingdom of Stars and Shadows
✏️ Author
📆 June 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
READ IF YOU LIKE:
✨ romantasy
✨ the chosen one
✨ vampyres and fae
✨ arranged marriage
✨ fiancé’s brother
✨ forbidden love
✨ forced proximity
✨ warring kingdoms
✨ morally grey, possessive hero
✨ touch her and 💀
*Connect With Me*
https://instagram.com/shanisshelves?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA==
https://www.tiktok.com/@shanisshelves
well this was definitely better than the last book I read.
This still had too much explicit content for my taste and I'm really not into the "I-hate-you-no-I-want-you-no-you're-my-enemy-but-I-want-you-oh-baby-oh-baby" if you get what I mean.
It left at such a cliff-hanger that I would've totally grabbed the 2nd book to devour if not for the fact that it's not out yet.
I was riveted by the story and the world building. I loved the tension between the 2 main characters but it got redundant with what I said above about the explicit content.
Overall I enjoyed the story and look forward to book 2
Sexual Content: heavy
Language: heavy
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
Violence: moderate
LGBTQ: none
This still had too much explicit content for my taste and I'm really not into the "I-hate-you-no-I-want-you-no-you're-my-enemy-but-I-want-you-oh-baby-oh-baby" if you get what I mean.
It left at such a cliff-hanger that I would've totally grabbed the 2nd book to devour if not for the fact that it's not out yet.
I was riveted by the story and the world building. I loved the tension between the 2 main characters but it got redundant with what I said above about the explicit content.
Overall I enjoyed the story and look forward to book 2
Sexual Content: heavy
Language: heavy
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
Violence: moderate
LGBTQ: none
this felt like i was reading every other paragraph. or even every third paragraph! also. the word princess is used 152 times and this is a 259 page book. it’s on every other page. too much.
and would it kill these characters to have a little personality?? cmon.
and would it kill these characters to have a little personality?? cmon.