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A review by bondracstudios
The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard
4.5
SUMMARY
Suraya Saab, a forge-smith and daughter of small town tavern owners, receives an invitation to a ball where the crowned prince will select a bride. Despite her family’s concerns and poorly-veiled fear of the royal family, she takes the opportunity as one of the chosen few to see the world outside her village.
The selection of a bride stretches beyond a typical ball, and Suraya finds herself in a fight to the death with the other contenders. She finds she not only has the attention of the crowned prince, but his roguishly handsome, illegitimate brother.
The cover-story of finding a bride slips throughout the trials as the royal family hunts for the rumored girl who carries starlight in her veins.
The selection of a bride stretches beyond a typical ball, and Suraya finds herself in a fight to the death with the other contenders. She finds she not only has the attention of the crowned prince, but his roguishly handsome, illegitimate brother.
The cover-story of finding a bride slips throughout the trials as the royal family hunts for the rumored girl who carries starlight in her veins.
ROMANCE TROPES INCLUDED
• Enemies to lovers (briefly annoyed with each other, light on the enemies aspect)
• Secret identity
• Wedding fever
• Rejected as unworthy/emotional scars
• Different worlds
• Altar diplomacy
• Anti-hero/lovable rogue
• Secret identity
• Wedding fever
• Rejected as unworthy/emotional scars
• Different worlds
• Altar diplomacy
• Anti-hero/lovable rogue
WHAT WE LIKE
• The World Building - While influenced by Middle Eastern and West Asian culture, the city of Kaldari and its surrounding kingdom are a world of their own. Howard blends the grit of old world life with the charm of modern sentiments and powerful women who speak their minds.
• The MMC • Roshan - The forsaken prince had us drooling! His relationship with Suraya starts with the briefest enemies to lovers hue, but it would be more accurately described as minor annoyance fast tracked to steamy situationship. Their banter is so good, and there are so many points along the way that give the ‘squealie schoolgirl’ feels. It makes one nervous that it could be setting up the sequel to have a second love interest wrench thrown into the mix.
• The FMC • Suraya - She forges daggers and swords! Come on! The arm strength that would take! And it shows. She’s a buff badass who’s magnetically charming and sexy, but can also kick ass and take names. Her friendship with her bestie is the best kind of women empowering women, and we loved seeing how much influence her friend had on her even when she wasn’t with her in Kaldari.
• The Narrator - Anais Inara Chase, you husky-voiced goddess. The best compliment you can give a narrator is that, while listening, you forget it’s only one person reading all the voices. Chase manages to do just that. Giving all the characters personality and distinction isn’t easy, and we give her all the props for crushing it with every character!
• The MMC • Roshan - The forsaken prince had us drooling! His relationship with Suraya starts with the briefest enemies to lovers hue, but it would be more accurately described as minor annoyance fast tracked to steamy situationship. Their banter is so good, and there are so many points along the way that give the ‘squealie schoolgirl’ feels. It makes one nervous that it could be setting up the sequel to have a second love interest wrench thrown into the mix.
• The FMC • Suraya - She forges daggers and swords! Come on! The arm strength that would take! And it shows. She’s a buff badass who’s magnetically charming and sexy, but can also kick ass and take names. Her friendship with her bestie is the best kind of women empowering women, and we loved seeing how much influence her friend had on her even when she wasn’t with her in Kaldari.
• The Narrator - Anais Inara Chase, you husky-voiced goddess. The best compliment you can give a narrator is that, while listening, you forget it’s only one person reading all the voices. Chase manages to do just that. Giving all the characters personality and distinction isn’t easy, and we give her all the props for crushing it with every character!
REAL TALK
• The Shadow Daddy - (view spoiler)
• The Second Narrator - Ramirez Monsef narrates the brief chapters where we hear from the mysterious Shadow Daddy, and they are intense. It can be startling to go from Chase’s sultry timbre to the feral thoughts that Monsef narrates. But perhaps that shocking change is the point?
• The Second Narrator - Ramirez Monsef narrates the brief chapters where we hear from the mysterious Shadow Daddy, and they are intense. It can be startling to go from Chase’s sultry timbre to the feral thoughts that Monsef narrates. But perhaps that shocking change is the point?
BOOK DRAGON RATING
Overall, Starlight Heir gets a 4.5/5 on the Book Dragon Scale. Despite some questions about one mysterious character’s role, we have hopes that all will be spectacularly revealed in the sequel. Which we will absolutely be reading! As far as spice, it rates a 3.5/5. The slow burn between Suraya and Roshan is sexy and you definitely get the payoff in book one! There are also “dreams” that are a little wild, but it’s still very heavily Romantasy and doesn’t lean as far into the Erotica genre.
Find The Starlight Heir by Amalie Howard HERE