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A review by theshelfarchive
Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
This had the makings of a decent fantasy romance but ultimately fell short of its potential. What started as a slow and somewhat meandering read unexpectedly drew me in around the halfway point, only to unravel into chaos by the final chapters.
The pacing of the story is uneven, with a sluggish start that eventually accelerates, though not necessarily in a satisfying way. The last few chapters were particularly disjointed, packed with twists that lacked real impact and an overabundance of dramatic turns that felt forced rather than earned. Instead of building tension, the story felt cluttered and unfocused.
The characters are likeable enough (the ones you’re supposed to like anyway), but I didn’t feel deeply about any of them. I was also baffled by some of their actions. For instance, early on, Elara plans to escape Helios, gets caught, and then ultimately decides, “oh wait, I need Enzo’s help, so I’ll stay”. Then, towards the end, Elara tells Enzo they can’t be together and then very quickly goes back on that decision. And then there’s Ariete. For someone billed as the ~formidable~ King of Stars, it’s baffling that he waits to march on Helios after learning Elara is alive. Liiiiiike, what? If he's this supposed Big Bad who really DGAF about any of the other Stars and just wants to capture Elara, why not make his move immediately, consequences be damned? Especially considering that, after the little Stars meeting was completed and he was told he couldn't enter Helios, he decides to invade the kingdom anyway. 🤨
The romance also left much to be desired. I found it difficult to truly care about Elara and Enzo’s relationship. Once their feelings for each other became clear, the back-and-forth, will-they-won’t-they dynamic was more frustrating than engaging.
Plot-wise, it’s a fairly basic story that doesn’t really deliver—there’s a significant amount of build-up that ultimately feels like it leads nowhere interesting. The writing itself is also serviceable, but unremarkable, occasionally dipping into cheesiness (e.g., Enzo kissing his own bicep in a bizarre flex that had me 🙄), and while there were some moments that hinted at Erriu’s potential as a storyteller, the execution of this book left much to be desired.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but it was far from memorable. I don’t regret finishing it, but I also don’t plan to continue the series. If you’re looking for a light fantasy romance and don’t mind some eye-roll-worthy moments, it might be worth a shot—but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.
The pacing of the story is uneven, with a sluggish start that eventually accelerates, though not necessarily in a satisfying way. The last few chapters were particularly disjointed, packed with twists that lacked real impact and an overabundance of dramatic turns that felt forced rather than earned. Instead of building tension, the story felt cluttered and unfocused.
The romance also left much to be desired. I found it difficult to truly care about Elara and Enzo’s relationship. Once their feelings for each other became clear, the back-and-forth, will-they-won’t-they dynamic was more frustrating than engaging.
Plot-wise, it’s a fairly basic story that doesn’t really deliver—there’s a significant amount of build-up that ultimately feels like it leads nowhere interesting. The writing itself is also serviceable, but unremarkable, occasionally dipping into cheesiness (e.g., Enzo kissing his own bicep in a bizarre flex that had me 🙄), and while there were some moments that hinted at Erriu’s potential as a storyteller, the execution of this book left much to be desired.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad book, but it was far from memorable. I don’t regret finishing it, but I also don’t plan to continue the series. If you’re looking for a light fantasy romance and don’t mind some eye-roll-worthy moments, it might be worth a shot—but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content