We follow Isabel here, who is a doctor in a very small kingdom and wants to become an official physician at the court. However, when her best friend is found dead, she finds herself involved in an espionage case with an enemy kingdom. She will meet Erik, the son of the enemy commander.

I really enjoyed this novel. It wasn’t a favorite, but several things make this book stand out. Isabel is not the cliché of romantic fantasy heroines; she is just an ordinary 18-year-old girl without powers or anything special who wants to succeed in becoming a court physician. Her personality develops over the course of the novel, and we discover a fragile part of her linked to her past, which I find is rarely mentioned in this type of book. Opposite her is Erik, who is much more assertive, although he too suffered in his childhood.

This book has an original magic system: magical boxes and illusion magic, making it difficult to distinguish what is real from what is not. The plot combines romance with magical and political intrigue in a pleasant way. There are, of course, betrayals, and some are predictable, but the whole is rather effective.

The enemies-to-lovers romance between Isabel and Erik develops gently, although I found some of the exchanges a bit juvenile. Toward the end of the novel, it really shifts into a more adult/new adult aspect.

There is also a strong message behind this novel: "You Matter," no matter who you are or what you do, you matter.

In the end, it was an enjoyable read, and I’ll gladly read the sequel!

Prepare to question your own worth as Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page ensnares your imagination, reminding us all that we are worth fighting for, and that we can be either be our own enemies or our own heroines.

Illusion of Stars is a captivating journey through a delicate woven tapestry of fantasy and emotion. From the very first chapter, Page invites readers into a world where magic isn’t just a force but a personal experience that shapes the lives and destinies of its characters. Isy and Erik’s journey is pure magic, grabbing hold of your imagination and refusing to let go until you’ve devoured the last page. From the very first chapter, you’re swept into a world that feels like a dream - or so you think is a dream.

Page does a good job with the world-building. The universe she creates is a mix of familiar fantasy elements and original ideas, especially the magic system. The warriors remind me of the Vikings and their brute strength when it comes to battles, living in a medieval period. Isy, the FMC, is training to become the physician’s assistant to the King of the region she grew up in, but there are issues with the neighboring kingdoms that will draw her attention elsewhere. After a tragic death and everything Isy has worked for comes crashing down, she must choose to either stay behind or become a spy to gain revenge. The intriguing story is written as a retelling of past events by Isy who discovers herself as she starts to grow her confidence. This allows the reader to see themselves in her shoes as she internally navigates her emotions of not being good enough.

The plot is well-paced, balancing action moments with quieter, more introspective scenes that allow for character growth and reflection. The twists and turns keep the reader engaged without ever feeling forced or out of place. Page’s writing style is just as impressive - there’s something almost poetic about how she describes the inner dialogues and emotions of Isy as she faces her doubts and tribulations.

The book in itself is written as Young Adult, which tends not to be something I am inclined to read often, as I like a more mature plot and spice, but the way the characters were written and the way my mind created a world from the writing, I did not notice the lack of intimacy. I enjoyed how the story itself felt more personal and seemed to hold deeper insights for viewers to experience as the journey unfolded. I loved how the main characters expressed their feelings of being lost but ultimately found their way. While fantasy often provides an escape from reality, Illusion of Stars brings real-life struggles to the forefront, allowing readers to journey alongside Isy as she confronts her pain and doubts.

The story is interesting. The meaning of finding one’s self through doubt and growth is a solid foundation to build a story. The sexual tension is there and the progression of the plot showcases a well-written story. I wish there had been more spice, but in hindsight, I can see this being a favorite of high schoolers, those in their early 20s, or anyone who does not like to read spicy scenes. The story does not need heavy doses of sex scenes for the reader to see Isy and Erik’s relationship build. And honestly, that’s a small thing compared to how much this book has to offer.


FMC: The story follows Isabel (Isy), a young woman who’s caught between the ordinary life she’s always known and a desire to prove herself once she finds others who believe in her. She’s someone you can relate to, with doubts and fears, but also with a fire inside her that grows stronger as the story unfolds. I love how I can see my own insecurities in the character throughout the trials Isy is thrown into. It reminds me of Forth Wing and how Violet questions herself but has her own internal battle to prove to those around her that she is worthy.

MMC: Erik, a Volds general and magic weilder, who is dark, brooding, and mysterious, becomes curious about Isy as they set off on travels with his warriors in tow. Erik has his own demons from his past of not belonging and parental abandonment, which shapes how he guards himself from most people. As the story progresses, he slowly lets Isy in to understand his fears and faults. Erik gives me Evren (Stars and Shadows Series) vibes from his darkness at the beginning, but his temperament becomes milder as the story progresses with Isy throughout the book.

Overall, Illusion of Stars is a great read for young adults, fantasy fans, and anyone who loves a story with heart. The ending is left with a cliffhanger. I almost feel like there should have been a few more chapters to end the story on a bigger “WTF” moment, but that being said - I will be looking forward to book 2’s release and patiently waiting to read the completion of the story.


A quick rating of the story (out of 5):
Overall Story: 3.5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐✨
Character Development: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 1 Star (making out but glossing over the sexy time) 🔥

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"Illusion of Stars" is a captivating story that intertwines themes of love, self-worth, and personal growth within a beautifully crafted fantasy landscape. The novel centers on Isy, whose internal monologue feels like an echo of the self-doubt and longing many of us experience. For readers who have ever struggled with their own inner critics, Isy's reflections will resonate deeply.

At the outset, the book's pace is gentle, which can feel slow but is essential for the world-building and details that unfold. This gradual start lays the foundation for a more engaging and rewarding experience as the story progresses. The patience required to delve into this world is ultimately justified by the satisfying evolution of the plot.

The heart of the narrative is the relationship between Isy and Erik. Their dynamic is a masterful depiction of a romance grounded in authenticity. The awkwardness and tentative steps in their burgeoning relationship are portrayed with such realism that it feels like witnessing a genuine connection. They see each other beyond superficial aspects, engaging with each other's vulnerabilities and strengths in a way that is both touching and compelling.

One of the standout features of this novel is its poetic prose. The writing is imbued with lines that linger long after the page is turned—phrases that are healing, inspiring, and filled with hope. The book's ability to convey profound emotions through elegant language is a testament to the author's skill.

"Illusion of Stars" also offers a satisfying twist on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Isy and Erik, though initially at odds, are revealed to share more common ground than they realize. This nuanced portrayal adds depth to their characters and relationship. The story is set against a backdrop of Scandinavian-inspired lore, providing a fresh and lighter take on fantasy.

Despite its lighter tone, the book does not shy away from complex themes, including self-harm, and it manages to balance these elements with humor and action. Isy's misguided attempts at stealth and her unintentional clumsiness add a layer of charm to the narrative. While the writing can be occasionally challenging to follow, it does not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Ultimately, what shines through in "Illusion of Stars" is the compelling interplay between its characters. Their development and interactions are the true heart of the novel, making it a memorable read for fans of fantasy romance.

Okay, so, first of all... the title, the meaning of it... my heart is squeezing itself so tight to try and provide what little comfort it can because when you find the meaning... Gah 🥺💔

Now, the story... It took me a little time to fully immerse myself as there's a fair bit of world building and set up at the beginning, but it all proved necessary to the story:s progression. It's not a bad thing at all, I think I just wasn't expecting there to be so much before diving in to the romance side of the romantasy and he bulk of the story, you know? That's a me issue. Not a story issue.

Once I was settled and into it, I was intooo it. I really connected with Isabel, the FMC. She felt so real and so much like me in so many ways, it was really easy to slip into her headspace. The way this is written as Isy’s inner monologue also helps massively with that. It's very... (listen, I'm not a writer so forgive me) It's very, like, thought-y. Like, it's written in a casual sorta conversational/dear diary type of way that really drew me into the story. It's well done, okay? I liked it, it worked.

I really fell for the supporting characters too - Bo, Kaspar, Tyr and Signey specifically. Big fat load of love for them all.

The magic system is really interesting too, I was really intrigued by the different illusion magics, and I want to know more about the boxes!

The cliffhanger... Woowee, it has me eagerly awaiting the next book, but content at the same time. Like, not a desperate ragey eager, but an excited comfortable eager, yano?

I think this may be a time when a book just wasn't for me! I admire the author and her absolute determination to see her book published, especially with all the issues she's had. I think it's really lovely that she's able to put her art out into the world!

I liked Isy and all the banter she had with the Vold crew members (very Shallan/bridge 4 vibes) and I really like the initial world building! The setting was super vivid.

My issues just came in with the clarity of the prose for especially the last half of the book. Just felt like we jumped around a lot and it was a bit confusing. There were lots of plot points mentioned once and then never resolved or picked up again which made the story feel a bit lost and characters ended up repeating themselves fairly often.

If you like YA romantasy (which tbf is not a genre I particularly read) then I would definitely give this a go. Supporting a self published, indie author is never a bad thing to do!

Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope in romantasy books, and this was great. It did feel a little rushed or just off at times? But it was still a great read and I’ll definitely be picking up the second!

ILLUSION OF STARS - SARAH MARIE PAGE

Oh my goodness, what a special book. I'm so glad that I read this, as its core message really resonated with me at this stage in my life. Here's what you can expect:

As the royal physician of a tiny, windswept island, Isabel spends her days trying to keep the queen from dying and the mad king from streaking naked down the halls. But when her best friend is found murdered on the beach, her world is ripped apart. Desperate for answers, she discovers a stash of letters that reveal a terrifying truth: the neighbouring kingdom of Volgaard possesses a kingdom-shattering weapon and is poised to conquer everything in its path.

If that sounds like a high-stakes fantasy, that's because it is... but this book is also entirely unique in so many ways. At its core, Illusion of Stars shows us characters who feel small and insignificant, and then follows them as they find their inner voices and strengths. This is what makes the story and the characters so relatable, because who hasn't felt this way at some point in their lives?

I would say that this book is character-driven for about 75% of its length - and I really enjoyed this aspect. You get to know the characters really well, just as they're getting to know each other too. Much of the action is concentrated in the last few chapters of the novel, which gives the Illusion of Stars an exciting, satisfying conclusion while setting the stage for the next book in the duet.

As you can probably already tell, I can't wait to read it. Sarah Marie Page writes BEAUTIFULLY, with rich, sensory descriptions that make you feel like you're standing right next to the characters. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this book.

Thank you to Sarah Marie Page, NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book.

Review score: 4/5

TW: Violence, death

There are many aspects of this book that I think people will absolutely love, however it just didn’t hook me in. This absolutely has nothing to do with the authors skill, talent or writing style, I just think for me personally, the plot and the story line didn’t feel enticing to me and I typically enjoy Romantasy’s that tend to evoke big emotions in me, which this didn’t. I can see that there are readers out there who will really enjoy this title, and another aspect of the book I found quite positive was the fact that the authors writing style was clear, concise and easily digestible!

I appreciate how hard and critical world building is in romantasy novels- but the pacing of this novel just didn’t capture my attention compared to the many others I have read in this genre. I also felt the main characters love story felt rushed and unnatural, I didn’t find myself rooting for them to get together and when they did it felt anticlimactic. I would be willing to give a second book in the series another chance because the template was there, I just didn’t find the execution successful.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I don't know what I was expecting with Illusion of Stars, but the blurb sounded interesting. It started off slow even though there was some light suspense with Isabel's best friend is murdered.

Isabel is training to become the royal physician when she is thrown into becoming a spy for her tiny island home. She quickly goes from caring for the Queen's feet and chasing the naked mad king to searching for unknown weapons and secrets of the enemy kingdom Volgaard she is traveling with.

Out for vengeance, Isabel must get close to Erik, the general's illusion welding son, and it's a task that seems to be more difficult than she expected. He's on to her. Eventually on their travels, he starts opening up. He sees her deep into her soul. They are both full of doubt and broken. They realize that although they are so different, they are exactly the same. They just want to feel accepted and worthy.

Things aren't so black and white. Lines begin to blur. Attractions are growing. Isabel has to figure out the truths within so many secrets.

I loved all the plot twists. The deep conversations that Erik and Isabel have are really well written and the emotion and heartache in them can be felt as if you were right there with them.

This story ended up being one that can be so relatable. The feeling of not being enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, and all the other self doubts that you have throughout life are so real with the way Isabel thinks about them internally. She ends up finding someone who sees the real her with all her flaws and sees the beauty in it.

I loved it! I can't wait to read book 2!

The sexy enemies-to-lovers tension of BRIDGE KINGDOM meets the snarky banter of A DAWN OF ONYX in this swoon-worthy fantasy romance.

Please note: The spice level is fade-to-black. There's some foreplay and build-up, but no on-page sex.

This is the first in a duology.

This book was sad, beautiful, self-discovering, and in some moments funny. I loved how it was a story within a story. If you get the chance to pick this one up, I strongly recommend it. It is a reminder to us all that no matter how small we feel, that feeling of being a nobody; we aren’t small we are somebody. I loved the message, and the romance was an added bonus. Make sure you get that bonus chapter as well.

This started really promising for me but then I started having a hard time developing a connection with the characters or the plot.

The dialogue and the pacing didn't feel right for me personally. It felt very choppy and gave me this weird sense that I had to hurry through the book.
I really wanted to love this as it was a nice story and I did want to know what happened but sadly I just couldn't get fully into it.

I would still recommend this books to others to try out. I'm just sad that it wasn't for me!

Thank you for opportunity to read the ARC and give my opinions on it.

The way I jumped for joy when I was approved for this ARC is ridiculous. And I'm so glad I was. This story was breathtaking and amazing. The romance had me biting my lip and trying to turn pages as fast as I could! Isy was a breath of fresh air in the "bad ass" fmc trend and I loved her all the more for it. Overall I couldn't put it down!

This was a quick, fun read!
It was refreshing to see a FMC that’s a healer and watch her struggles to balance it with her other expectations.

“Do you know puffins mate for life?” 🐧 ❤️

-Enemies to lovers
-Found family
-Fade to black
-Cliffhanger

While it did feel a bit rushed at times, I’m already excited for book 2!

This was a solid read, but I just wasn’t as invested in it as I read for some reason. I enjoyed the setting and the main character. I found her relatable. The overall plot was unique as well. I guess I feel like some parts were underdeveloped, both in the general plot and in the relationships. It didn’t make a lot of sense that she was the one sent to spy on the Vold’s. I felt like I needed more foundation to fully understand the politics going on as well. That being said, Isy is a great character and there is a lot of potential here. I liked it enough to read the second when it comes out.

3/5
I really wanted to like this book. The summary sounded interesting and the overall story was good. But the execution just didn't meet up to what I was expecting. It almost feels like the book is two different parts written by two different people. The first half felt more polished while the latter half felt hurried and used more colloquial terms.

This book was a whirl wind. It started off slow and I didn’t think I could get into it. However, I stuck through and am so thankful I did. I am definitely going to have to read the next one because I need to know what happens. Isy reminded me of myself (not just because of her name) and I really want to take her message to heart. Everyone is enough. Anxiety can be hard, but I hope people know that you are not alone. Just being yourself is enough. The book was a slow burn, and I feel like we need more Erik content. This world of magic has a lot that can be expanded on and I can’t wait to hear more about it.

💫✨ 𝓔𝓶𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓭𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓘𝓵𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 𝓫𝔂 𝓢𝓪𝓻𝓪𝓱 𝓜𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓮 𝓟𝓪𝓰𝓮 ✨💫

🐧 Did you know puffins mate for life?

The same can't be said for our characters in Illusion of Stars, where love and loyalty are as fragile as the kingdoms they live in.

In this captivating slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers fantasy, royal physician Isabel seeks revenge for her best friend's murder by infiltrating enemy lines. Her mission? Seduce Erik, the illusion-wielding son of a ruthless general, and steal a weapon that could change the fate of nations. But what happens when the line between duty and desire begins to blur?

This enchanting story weaves together the slow burn of an enemies-to-lovers romance, the intrigue of court politics, and the intensity of forced proximity, all set against a backdrop of powerful magic.

What truly made this book shine for me was the intricate court politics and the fascinating magic system. Isabel’s not-so-perfect espionage was both endearing and amusing, adding a realistic touch to her character. And let's talk about the sizzling tension between Isabel and Erik! The forced proximity and playful teasing had me hooked. I loved how real their romance felt—no eye-rolling or frustration here! The world-building was also refreshingly straightforward, making for a quick and engaging read.

Be warned, though: this book ends on a cliffhanger! I’m already counting down the days until the sequel because I NEED to know what happens next.

Despite my love for the story, I had to give it 4 stars instead of 5. Real-life distractions, like my dog’s health issues, meant I had to take breaks, which pulled me out of the story at times. But I’m looking forward to a reread when things settle down!

📅 Illusion of Stars was released on July 16, 2024. Whether you’re grabbing the ebook, heading to your local library, or buying a copy from your favorite bookstore, this is a fantasy you won’t want to miss.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Marie Page, and Victory Editing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Illusion of Stars is a wonderful book with a unique magic system and remarkable characters. The story is told from the POV of the FMC; Isabel, whose life changes when her childhood friend is murdered.

- What I did like about the book:

The magic system, the intrigue, the forced proximity, the good banter, and all that spying. It was delightful once the plot was advancing and I am so curious about what will happen in the second book

- What I didn’t like that much (but was nice anyway):

This can be very personal, but the pacing at the beginning of the book felt slow. The writing style was comfortable but the language used often felt too juvenile for my liking, especially before the big event that changed everything for the FMC. I love YA books more than anything, but those two things made it difficult for me to connect with the characters and the story until around 60% of the book


In conclusion: it was a nice read but too juvenil in some points even for YA, with all that I highly recommended it,

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced e-copy, in exchange for an honest review.