I really liked this book so much! Sarah did a great job and I can't wait for more books in this series.

The book started a bit slow but believe me, it's al worth it. The book is character driven and I enjoyed the banter and relationships very much. Illusion of Stars has both action and politics aswell.
It has an enemies-lovers trope but is doesn't contain any spicy chapters but the romance was very sweet.

Let's also not forget that the cover of this book is so pretty! If I found this in a bookstore I would buy it instantly without reading the blurb!


Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I love Romantasy and had high expectations from this book and it definitely didn't disappoint me. The characters are amazingly written and very loveable and the plot as well keeps the reader hooked. Cannot wait for more from the author.

llusion of Stars by Sarah Marie is everything I love in a fantasy novel! The snippet immediately pulled me in, and once I started reading, I was hooked. The world-building is immersive, the tension is perfect, and the characters kept me invested the whole way through. If you love fantasy with rich storytelling and a touch of romance, this book is a must-read!

I loved this world and these characters. The story is amazing and I cannot wait for the next installment.

# Illusion of Stars
# 2/4/2025 ~ 2/7/2025
# 5.0 / 5.0

💔😭 This book shattered me from the very beginning—in the best way. From the moment I read “No”, it gave me total Hobbit vibes, that reluctance to leave home, but the journey? Absolutely worth it.

I loved the herbalist baddie leading the way, and the magic system felt fresh and unique. The emotional weight hit hard, especially with the confession letter—I felt every word. The tension of sharing a horse, fighting to save each other, and him being so soft for her had me swooning. And just when I thought I was safe… CLIFFHANGER?!

Beyond the romance and adventure, the mental health rep was handled beautifully, adding depth to an already gripping story. This one is going to sit with me for a long time.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 🌿 Herbalist Heroine | ❤️ Soft Love | 🧠 Mental Health Rep | 🏇 Forced Proximity

When I started reading this book I was in a different mindset/emotion journey of healing. At the time this book is something I needed to read, and enjoy. I feel like this book is not for everyone, or if you are in a different part of life you may not find it healing, inspiring, or worthy. Needless to say that is okay, for me it was.

This is a slower burn romance with easy names to read, the magic system, world building is minimal but enough to get the idea of what, how its used. Isobel has common sense and she realizes that maybe not everything she knows, read is accurate and challenges what shes known which is rare in many characters. There is mystery, finding where you belong and some twists to be expected. Just overall was a nice, relaxing read.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with a copy of this book!

I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Isobel and Erik—it was well-paced and full of tension, making their dynamic so fun to follow. The characters are incredibly intriguing, and I’ve always been a fan of first-person narratives, so this book was right up my alley!

One thing I really appreciated was the inclusion of trigger warnings and a list of sexual scenes at the back of the book. It’s always great when authors consider their readers in this way. Speaking of the author—Sarah Marie Page seems like such a sweetheart! Her acknowledgments were absolutely adorable.

Beyond the romance and world-building, Isobel’s internal struggle was compelling. She has to balance her personal battles while trying to decide what’s morally right and what’s best for her kingdom, which added so much depth to her character.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read! I can’t wait to purchase a physical copy and get my hands on the second book when it releases (since it will be a duology!).

Illusion of Stars was a really fun read and I really enjoyed the story! Not a whole lot of spice, more fade to black scenes, but still, the anticipation was still worth it! I fell in love with the characters based on their personalities and the banter between them. If you enjoy slow burn, enemies to lovers, fade to black, unique magic system, and banter, this book definitely has it!

Thank you NetGalley for the ebook arc. This story was definitely a slow burn/ world building. While entertaining it didn’t really stand out to me.

While I really appreciated the concept of *Illusions of Stars*, it wasn’t 100% for me. That being said, I feel like it’s more of a “it’s not you, it’s me” situation than anything else. The book definitely has a lot to offer, but for some reason, it just didn’t completely click with me personally.

First off, the writing is solid. The author has a way with words that pulls you into the story, and I was impressed by how well the world-building and atmosphere were crafted. It’s clear a lot of thought went into creating a unique and immersive setting, and the pacing kept me engaged for the most part. The plot itself is fascinating, with twists and turns that kept me intrigued, and the premise had a lot of potential for depth and emotional exploration.

That said, I think the book’s style or tone just wasn’t what I was expecting. It felt like there was something missing emotionally for me, something that would have allowed me to fully connect with the characters and the stakes. While I enjoyed the story on a surface level, I didn’t feel the depth I was hoping for in certain key moments. Again, I think this is more about personal preference than a flaw in the book itself.

Despite that, I do think *Illusions of Stars* is a book that many readers will enjoy, especially if you like well-crafted plots with intriguing twists and engaging world-building. The writing is strong, and the concept is original, so I’d definitely recommend giving it a try. Even though it didn’t quite hit the mark for me, I can see how it would be a great fit for readers who enjoy this genre.

Banter
Enemies to Lovers
Romance
Magic
Mystery
and Characters that you will root for!

wow oh wow! The range of emotions I went through with this one! The characters had me in a chokehold! The world building is not too deep but enough that you get a sense of everything but even more so the characters were so well done and I loved watching Isy and Erik's relationship bloom.

A great first book my only negative is that book two isn't out yet!

Enemies to lovers? Slow burn? What’s not to like?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I follow Sarah Page on Instagram, and really loved her personal journey to getting this story out in the world so I was delighted to be accepted to read Illusion of Stars. Unfortunately, even after multiple tries I just could not get into it. The story starts slow and I didn’t seem to push through as a lot of other readers advised. I’m sad for it because the premise held such promise to me.

I loved this one. It was inspiring and healing, just as the author intended. What an important YA read for all ages.

I had requested this book on Netgalley some time ago, but because I ended up DNFing the book I didn't leave a full review. I honestly don't think anyone would enjoy this book and for me it rates at a solid 1 star. It was an easy DNF and I won't be trying again in the future.

I adored the magic system, the characters, and a plot line that handled hard topics in such a good way that didn't feel forced or distasteful. Unfortunately it does lose a star for me because it felt a bit juvenile with the writing at times. However I would genuinely recommend this to anyone looking for their next YA Fantasy read!

I absolutely loved this book and have been sitting on this review for far too long! I am now obsessed with the title as well 🥹😭

I love how relatable Isabel is with her awkwardness and loyalty. Very determined and smart. I like that she realizes the stories she has been told may not be true. I also love Erik and how he calls Isabel out for being the worst spy and a bad liar. Another shadow daddy. Hard exterior, soft interior. I loved that Erik and Isy make each other feel seen and feel like they both matter.

The story includes a lot of mental health references/struggles and grief was written really well. Good pacing and a larger plot line, not just romance. I found it interesting that it’s written as a confession and we find out why later. Magic system was really cool.

Loved the friendship between Erik, Bo and Kasper. True loyalty and love there, the banter was hilarious. Loved seeing Isy’s friendship with them all develop. Signey was grumpy yet cool as well, I expect to see more of her next book. TBH didn’t trust/like Stefan from the beginning. Shady. Didn’t end up loving Katrina.

I’ve purchased 3 copies now because I believe in this story so much and want to share with my friends! Cannot wait to see what happens in book 2 after that cliffhanger 😭

Not-so-sneaky-spy 👀
Snake tattoo 🐍🤭
Fade to black 🫑
Found family 🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒

Thank you to NetGalley, Shadow Forge Publishing & Sarah Marie Page for the ARC. This opinion is entirely my own.

amazing! i love the romance aspect and the world building was lovely. will absolutely be reading from this author again ❤️

DNF.
This review is heartbreaking for me to write because I was looking forward to this book so much!

I had just joined NetGalley and was looking through the "most requested" books when I saw this. The cover was beeeaaauutiful. Sarah was blowing up in the indie world too and if you know me, you know I love looking for my next Indie Gem. I was expecting to love this because there are literally FIVE people who don't like this book out of over a thousand. But I just can’t get into it no matter how hard I try. 😭😭 And I have tried. I was stunned when I read the first page.

The writing style is the problem; its choppy and suffers from a severe case of tell instead of show. It's hard to follow and is seemingly random. The characters felt dry and juvenile and almost...robotic and unnatural. I don't know anyone that talks or thinks like that. It almost reads like a middle grader tried to write an adult novel before really learning how to read and write proper English. And-I don't get it! People love this book, and I tried several times to see what they were seeing, but I just...don't. Which is crushing because everything about this book intrigued me. It should have been perfect. It was Indie, Dramoine vibes, gothic aesthetic, borders on NA. Oh yeah that's the other thing, you have to pay extra to get the spice scenes.

What? Why? That makes no sense.

The fact that I am this late for an ARC should speak for itself. Save your time with this one.

This one was so beautifully written. The character development, the tropes, the world building… it was all brilliant.
I can’t wait to read more!