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A review by boilingintrigue
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
adventurous
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved the world in which The Starlight Heir is set, with its rich culture influenced by astrology, an interesting system of magic, and competing old and new religions. I enjoyed all the characters, and liked that women are free to express themselves and be sexual without judgement.
The writing is full of details that paint a lively picture of the world. There are so many descriptions of beautiful clothing, ornate architecture, and delicious food, I could feel the author's love for the world she's writing about.
That said, I wasn't clear on where and when the story was happening. The main character, Suraya, works as a blacksmith and helps her family run their inn in a small town that seems right out of historical fiction. But, the way characters speak and act is modern, especially when Suraya is with her best friend, Laleh. A conversation that references real-world literature hints that these events might take place in our world, in the future, but this possibility isn't expanded upon or mentioned again.
Suraya is summoned to the capital to participate in a cruel and deadly bride competion for the corrupt Prince Javed. The prince is looking for a specific person who bears the lost magic spoken of in prophecy, and guess who that is? His half-brother helps her escape an unwanted marriage, and the two develop feelings for each other while trying to avoid capture. I won't go into too much detail, but if you've read any YA novels, you'll see every major plot point coming from a mile away. The beauty the novel shows in its characterizations and detailed settings is let down by the lack of originality in plotting.
Suraya initially comes across as an intelligent, spirited woman, but as the plot rolls on, she misses so many obvious things, despite being beaten over the head with them (like the connection between the rebels and Roshan) that she starts to seem stupidly oblivious.
In the final chapters, she makes every bad decision known to YA protagonists, agreeing to marry the bad guy to save her loved ones while knowing he'll probably kill them anyway, believing the people trying to kill her are dead, but not bothering to check, and running away from the man who was by her side, fighting for her the entire book because she's angry over something unimportant. I was groaning.
I did enjoy the book overall, and I look forward to the sequel, but I hope the author is more thoughtful about developing the plot. If the events of the next book are developed with the same care and inventiveness as the worldbuilding, it could really be amazing.
The writing is full of details that paint a lively picture of the world. There are so many descriptions of beautiful clothing, ornate architecture, and delicious food, I could feel the author's love for the world she's writing about.
That said, I wasn't clear on where and when the story was happening. The main character, Suraya, works as a blacksmith and helps her family run their inn in a small town that seems right out of historical fiction. But, the way characters speak and act is modern, especially when Suraya is with her best friend, Laleh. A conversation that references real-world literature hints that these events might take place in our world, in the future, but this possibility isn't expanded upon or mentioned again.
Suraya is summoned to the capital to participate in a cruel and deadly bride competion for the corrupt Prince Javed. The prince is looking for a specific person who bears the lost magic spoken of in prophecy, and guess who that is? His half-brother helps her escape an unwanted marriage, and the two develop feelings for each other while trying to avoid capture. I won't go into too much detail, but if you've read any YA novels, you'll see every major plot point coming from a mile away. The beauty the novel shows in its characterizations and detailed settings is let down by the lack of originality in plotting.
Suraya initially comes across as an intelligent, spirited woman, but as the plot rolls on, she misses so many obvious things, despite being beaten over the head with them (like the connection between the rebels and Roshan) that she starts to seem stupidly oblivious.
In the final chapters, she makes every bad decision known to YA protagonists, agreeing to marry the bad guy to save her loved ones while knowing he'll probably kill them anyway, believing the people trying to kill her are dead, but not bothering to check, and running away from the man who was by her side, fighting for her the entire book because she's angry over something unimportant. I was groaning.
I did enjoy the book overall, and I look forward to the sequel, but I hope the author is more thoughtful about developing the plot. If the events of the next book are developed with the same care and inventiveness as the worldbuilding, it could really be amazing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Blood, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Bullying, Infidelity, Torture, Vomit, Death of parent