THIS BOOK y'all, from the overall premise to that cliffhanger ending--I am OBSESSED. I absolutely loved how the author wastes zero time whisking us into the Fae realm. The action is immediate, as well as the chemistry between Sia and Lore, plus the high-stakes competition helps perpetuate the fast-paced atmosphere. I also absolutely adored the steadfast friendship between Meria and Sia; the trials and adventures they take on together were so much fascinating fun. Once I started this one, I sincerely couldn't tear myself away! This book is perfect for fans of The Folk of the Air series, and anyone who loves dark, twisted classic fairytales like Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland! Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed above are entirely my own.

The moment I found out about this book, I was immediately intrigued. Fae, royals, magical kingdoms. These are things I love to read about. Add a competition to become queen to the mix, and you make me a very happy reader. The story was fast pace and full of exciting action. I loved this world’s aesthetic, and the elements of fairytale woven into it. The romance is also off to a promising start. There’s not much yet, but the attraction is undeniable and there’s enough tension to promise amazing steam in the following books. However, I would have liked to see a bit more of Sia and Lore as individuals before the plot picked up—some moments of Sia’s life in the human realm, and something of Lore as king and his friendship with Dain. (Especially since Best Friend Dain immediately sets his eyes on Sia, too. I was missing the bromance, and therefore the drama that such a thing could have caused.) Though I loved this book’s fast pace, I felt like within all the action I didn’t really get to know Sia and Lore well enough to fully be invested yet. Thank you to the author for sending me an eARC. Opinions are my own!

A FOREST OF STARS drew me in immediately from its premise. I love fae books, and loved the idea of a competition to find a queen for the fae king. This is the perfect book for a quick binge. The pacing is quick, and the story serves an interesting plot. I was completely drawn in by the court setting (we have a ball scene! *insert screaming*) and the mystery surrounding the curse upon the fae king, Lore. I also really appreciated the exciting action linked to the challenges and the way the author wove elements of fairytales and stories, such as Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland so seamlessly into her narration. I never thought I’d obsess over the idea of a fae Cinderella, but here we are! While I’m fully invested in the world, the characters, haven’t completely won me over yet. I familiarized with Sia on certain things, such as her love of rom-coms and books, but I feel like we don’t know much else about her life before the fae court, which didn’t sell me on her motivation to return to it. I also would have liked to see her struggle more to adapt to her new circumstances, whereas Sia seems to have a natural talent for both the physicality and cunning of living with the fae. I had the same struggle with Lore. He has all the right qualities (broody, tormented, silver-haired) but I don’t feel like I know enough about him as a person. While I did enjoy the scenes with Sia and Lore and love their banter, I’m going to need more from them individually before I can become fully invested in their romance. The book ends on an incredible cliffhanger, and I think the things I was struggling with in this first installment will be addressed in the sequel, so I’m very excited to see where the story is headed!