This book had me from the first line — royal physician? Mad king? Murder mystery? Sign me up. Illusion of Stars is the kind of YA fantasy that feels both fresh and familiar in all the best ways. I was completely sucked into Isabel’s windswept, slightly chaotic world, and honestly, I didn’t want to leave.

Isabel is such a strong lead — clever, determined, and just the right amount of sarcastic to survive court life, a crumbling monarchy, and, oh yeah, solving a murder while dodging royal drama. The magic system is genuinely unique, and the worldbuilding is so immersive, you can close your eyes and imagine you are right there in the world.

Now let's talk about the back and forth. It’s chef’s kiss perfection. Witty, sharp, and totally addictive — the kind of dialogue that makes you grin like a fool. And the slow-burn romance - truly makes the story that more interesting. Erik is the ultimate broody shadow daddy, and I’m not even mad about it. The tension between him and Isabel is magnetic, and it builds so deliciously slow and I want more of it.

If you're into murder mysteries wrapped in court intrigue, magic, and emotionally complex romance, Illusion of Stars is an absolute must-read. Also, fair warning: once you meet Erik, you may never be the same again.

Such a unique and enjoyable fade to black fantasy read! The narrator sucked me into the story and I barely came up for air. You get a little bit of everything in this book, enemies to lovers, one horse, betrayal, magic, adventure, mystery, found family. I look forward to what happens next!

This is a must-read book I don't want to give any spoilers, but you won't regret getting this book, you won't put it down till you're done reading the whole this.

LOVED THIS. The world building and characters were phenomenal. I absolutely could not put this book down. I cant say enough good things about it.

This one was very mid for me. I found everything was resolved quite easily and quickly and there wasn't enough grit or struggle for me.

I enjoyed the authors writing and world building, I just needed a little more in the plot and tension. I found the main FMC a little irritating and immature at times, but I actually liked the little of side characters we got to see.

The overall message of "you are enough" is definitely something I appreciate and something we all need to hear every once in a while.

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an e-arc.

Illusion of Stars is a fun YA romantasy debut. Steamy, but not at all explicit (closed door), with an enemies to lovers romance trope. Also featuring spies, betrayal, secret plots, and magic. There is witty banter and the occasional silliness, which breaks up the political intrigue and sinister plots for a light read. The world-building takes a little time, but the Scandinavian-inspired fantasy setting is great. I am definitely looking forward to book 2!!

Unfortunately this one fell short for me. I was very much looking forward to it and was thrilled to be accepted for the e-arc but this one just wasn't for me. I had a very difficult time getting into it and after multiple restart attempts, I found myself unable to finish it. I think for the right person this one could be very enjoyable but I found the writing style just didn't mesh well with that which I typically enjoy reading and ultimately that led me to leave it unfinished.

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.