An atmospheric and romantic debut fantasy perfect for fans of Ash and The Winner’s Curse.Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile kingdoms.But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for … possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a land where magic is forbidden.
Now Denna has to learn the ways of her new kingdom while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses before her coronation—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine, sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two work together, they discover there is more to one another than they thought—and soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
Plus don’t miss the sequel: Of Ice and Shadows!
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This book was provided to me as an uncorrected digital proof by the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.
It took Of Fire and Stars a bit to catch my attention, but once it had me, I was well and truly caught. This story has well-drawn and fleshed out characters who feel like real people. They are flawed and not terribly bright sometimes, which makes them easy to relate to. The main characters, Denna and Mare, are written in such a way that both their strengths and weaknesses are laid bare. Both young women display strong character, and the struggle they face between their love for each other and the responsibility they feel toward their families and their kingdoms, only makes them more captivating. Not a lot of time is devoted to world building, but the space it is given is well used. The romance aspect is sweetly written and heart rending. I would list Of Fire and Stars among my top five fantasy reads of the year.
There is some foul language and one mildly graphic sex scene, so I would recommend this book for more mature teen readers.
Bit slow in the beginning, but it picks up, especially towards the end. Very easy to root for the characters and their relationship. Overall, pretty good LGBTQ+ read.
This book gave me a similar feel to The Remnant Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson. I quite enjoyed it over all.
Of Fire and Stars follows a split POV between Mare and Denna. Denna is a foreign princess betrothed to the crown prince of Mynaria, and Mare is the princess of Mynaria, but they fall in love, despite Denna being promised to her brother.
It contains, secret magic, war and politics, and a breathtaking slow-burn romance.
I absolutely adored Mare and Denna’s romance, and it never felt too rushed or too slow for me. The plot also captivated me. Though it was slow at times, it never dragged or bored me. The ending did feel a tad rushed and chaotic, and some things seemed to get wrapped up in a bow a little too neatly to be believable, and I saw most of the plot twists coming from miles away. None of these things particularly bothered me, though.
The one major problem I had with the book was the secondary and side characters. Mare and Denna were well developed and I had an easy time connecting with their narratives and they felt fully fleshed out and individual. The same can’t be said for any of the other characters. The only other character I formed any attachment to was Nils, and minorly, Ellaeni. Everyone else just felt as if they were there to play their role in moving the story forward and nothing more. They lacked dimension, motivation, and character. They were very shallow and two dimensional.
This didn’t take away from the story majorly for me, but I definitely think, had the side characters been fleshed out more, Of Fire and Stars would have been one of the best novels I’ve read and an easy 5 star rating.
I definitely still highly recommend it if you’re looking for a sweet, romantic fantasy, or if you’re a fan of The Remnant Chronicles.
My only complaint about this book is the length of some of the names. Not nearly as bad as a Russian novel, though, and a really trivial thing. Because everything else about this book is wonderful! There are two captivating heroines, both dedicated and determined in their own rights and totally different from each other. Mare is more earthy, more about everyday life, while Denna is practical, political, and crafty. The scenery is beautifully described, the kingdoms each have their own noteworthy aspects, and the complex plotting with magic and affinities and the Six Gods will have you wondering who’s who and what’s what. Over all of that is rich tapestry of a love story that will keep you longing. Audrey Coulthurst’s debut novel is flowing and page-turning and beautifully polished. I was so sorry to finish.
This was the perfect book to ease me back in after “reader’s block.” Original, wonderful, and, lovely descriptions!
While it isn’t that hard to guess what will happen next, this book nevertheless keeps you engrossed and wanting to continue. The characters are perhaps a bit faultless, but really, I do enjoy reading about powerful ladies who make their own way. And despite their ability, the main characters are constantly restrained by forces outside of their power, leaving you desperately wishing you could help them be who they want to be. I wish there was more, but I can’t blame the author for having a book that ends, so I will content myself with what I have.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK. There is not enough LGBTQA+ representation out there and it is especially hard to find a book about two women, a plotline that doesn’t end in heartbreak or disappointment and GREAT writing. And this book gave me exactly that. Definitely one of my favorite books out there!!!