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A review by hemlockvasilisa
Darkness births the Stars: an epic enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance by Sarah Lee Wohn
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Two fallen gods. A love scarred by betrayal. A choice between saving the world—or destroying each other.
Rada, the exiled Goddess of Light, is forced to face her past when her former lover, Noctis, the God of Darkness, appears on her farm, broken and near death. Torn between letting him die, turning him in to the God Council, or offering him shelter, Rada soon realizes that his enemies are not far behind. To save their village (and perhaps their entire world), they must decide if they can fight side by side, despite millennia of betrayal, love, and heartbreak.
This book is sweeping and immersive. It alternates between the present and the past, showing us not just the stakes of their world, but the tragic beginnings and endings of Rada and Noctis’s relationship. From creation itself, to endless wars, to their heartbreaking fall, you feel the weight of their history in every moment.
At first, I struggled to understand their animosity when their goals aligned, but once the past unfolded, their pain and mistrust became so much clearer. The romance and the plot are perfectly balanced—each driving the other forward.
Yes, it could have been shorter, but the length allowed their story to breathe, and by the end, I was fully invested. I ship Rada and Noctis hard, and even though betrayal seems inevitable and another war looms, I can’t help but hold on to hope for them.
Spice: 🌶🌶
Thank you @NetGalley and Sarah Lee Wohn for this ARC! You can bet I’ll be eagerly waiting for book two.
Tropes:
- Fallen gods
- Lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Second chances
- Star-crossed romance
- Betrayal & redemption
- Slow burn
- Dual POV
- Dual timeline
- Forbidden love
- Villain gets the girl
Rada, the exiled Goddess of Light, is forced to face her past when her former lover, Noctis, the God of Darkness, appears on her farm, broken and near death. Torn between letting him die, turning him in to the God Council, or offering him shelter, Rada soon realizes that his enemies are not far behind. To save their village (and perhaps their entire world), they must decide if they can fight side by side, despite millennia of betrayal, love, and heartbreak.
This book is sweeping and immersive. It alternates between the present and the past, showing us not just the stakes of their world, but the tragic beginnings and endings of Rada and Noctis’s relationship. From creation itself, to endless wars, to their heartbreaking fall, you feel the weight of their history in every moment.
At first, I struggled to understand their animosity when their goals aligned, but once the past unfolded, their pain and mistrust became so much clearer. The romance and the plot are perfectly balanced—each driving the other forward.
Yes, it could have been shorter, but the length allowed their story to breathe, and by the end, I was fully invested. I ship Rada and Noctis hard, and even though betrayal seems inevitable and another war looms, I can’t help but hold on to hope for them.
Spice: 🌶🌶
Thank you @NetGalley and Sarah Lee Wohn for this ARC! You can bet I’ll be eagerly waiting for book two.
Tropes:
- Fallen gods
- Lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers
- Second chances
- Star-crossed romance
- Betrayal & redemption
- Slow burn
- Dual POV
- Dual timeline
- Forbidden love
- Villain gets the girl