I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was incredibly intriguing and it kept me interested throughout the whole story. Especially the first few pages immediately hooked me. Moreover, the romance was written really beautifully-it felt genuine and came from the bottom of the heart.
It was also really easy to follow the story since the world building was not complicated at all. However, what I enjoyed even more were the connections to Scandinavian culture which were integrated by the author in such a refreshing and smart way. In connection to that, how the natural settings were being described was also really unique. Even though I unfortunately have to admit that there were some really awkward scenes, I liked the fact that the FMC is not the typical badass heroine. Instead, the reader gets an insight into her difficult past and gets to feel her range of emotions.

I really wanted to love this. But I just couldn’t connect to the story or the characters. I read about 50 pages and chose to DNF. I’m disappointed but I think it’s more of its not the book for me, rather than the book itself. Thank you for sending this to me..

This was very different to any romantasy book that I have read before. I really enjoyed it.

The world building was excellent, and the magic system is unique and well explained. The court politics is also interesting. The story had me intrigued from the start, and I thought the pacing was great.

The story follows Isy, a Physician's Apprentice. When she finds her best friend murdered, she infiltrates the Volgaard, a neighbouring island, to seek vengeance for his death. Isy is seeking information from the enemy about a deadly weapon, and the way to do this is to get close to Erik, the general's son.

Isy is smart and determined, but is also awkward, shy and full of self-doubt. She is a terrible spy and there some very funny moments throughout. It was lovely to read her find her strengths and her self-confidence.

Erik is a broody MMC, he has a hard exterior but is kind and carries a lot of baggage on the inside.

Both of them crave love and acceptance. Their relationship is funny from the start, it is heart-warming to read their connection build as they both discover that they understand eachother better than anyone else. They truly see eachother.

The rescue at the end seemed slightly too easy, I was almost waiting for something to go wrong. But I loved Erik's POV at the end, and the cliffhanger has me eager to read the next one!

It is clear how much work and passion has gone into this book, and Sarah Page's writing is very poetic. I can't wait to read more of her work.

Tropes-
🤍Found family
🤍Slow burn
🤍Enemies to Lovers
🤍Court Politics
🤍Forced Proximity

*Thank you to NetGalley and @sarahpagestories for the free copy of this e-book to review. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 stars
.5 spice (closed door)

Add this to your TBR if you want:
Healer (and terrible spy) x General’s son (did someone say Dramione?)
Enemies to lovers
Forced Proximity
Slow burn
Viking vibes
One horse
Who did this to you?

What a pleasant surprise this read was! This is going to be a real hidden gem in the Romantasy genre this year.

The enemies to lovers romance was believable, the slow burn was delish. The world building was super distinctive and well fleshed out, giving me some Nordic vibes with a unique magic system, and overall was beautifully written.

I can’t wait to find out more about their world and see what happens next after we were left on that cliff (doing the screaming thing, of course)!! Half satisfied but still left wondering, very clever..

Erik would make an excellent addition to your collection of book boyfriends. Extremely lovable MMC even though he’s no golden retriever, he’s just very real and flawed in a heart wrenchingly attractive way. As are all the characters really, they were relatable and multi-dimensional, each struggling with their own feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.

It’s so refreshing when characters in a book don’t get away with stupid shit. You know when you sit there and you’re like - no way did that ever happen, someone would have caught them. Like when a character suddenly becomes a spy with no formal training and is sent out into the world with highly trained warrior enemies and needs to get dirt on them. I looooved that every time Isabel was doing some dumbass scheme, of course Erik and Signey know what's up, and she’s a terrible spy and everyone sees through her. Legit…refreshing. Loved it!

“Illusion of Stars” is a captivating romantasy book by Sarah Marie Page.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance/spice: ⭐️ ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️Enemies to lovers
⭐️Romantasy
⭐️Failed espionage
⭐️Strong Female main character
⭐️ Slow-burn Romance
⭐️Amazing scenery & world-building

My Review:
A very nice fantasy tale about a girl trying to save her kingdom while dealing with her own trauma and trying to prove her worth. Enemies to lovers but vanilla. Loved the smart-mouthed characters and all the spying and “hide and seek”. If you are into smart narratives this is a book for you. I highly recommend it to all fantasy and romance lovers.

Description:
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 beaches, 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.
Seeking vengeance, Isabel infiltrates the enemy. Her mission? Woo Erik Lothgarson, the general’s steamy, illusion-magic wielding son, and steal the dangerous weapon. She can bring Volgaard to its knees—if she isn’t caught. 
But as Isabel dances along the knife edge of deception, the lines between truth and fiction blur, and she must wrestle her quest for vengeance against her undeniable attraction to the enemy.


Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#IllusionofStars #NetGalley

This book got me hooked, y'all! I binged this in a little over 3 hours, so it's not long but there is a decent amount of plot but it's not overwhelming and theres not much filler. I was so wrapped up in reading it, that I literally forgot to drink my morning coffee because I didn't want to put my book down.
I enjoyed so many characters, the banter was well done, the romance was light, the plot was well hashed out and I'm so sad that it ends on a cliffhanger.

An excellent debut novel, I'm really looking forward to following the author and reading the next book!

With The illusion of stars, I discovered Marie Page writing, and I have to admit, I liked it a lot!

The way she paints her characters, so very human, with their doubts, their inner wounds, their hopes, it is beautiful, and it creates a depth in the relationships I'd like to see in more books.

This book is about the feeling of being nothing, insignificant, and Marie's writing makes us deeply feel this with both Isabel and Erik.

And because of this, you cannot not love them both.

This is also a book about redemption. About fighting between what we were told is good, and what we feel.

Besides, the writing is light, poetic, but carries strong feelings, and you cannot help but to immerse yourself in the story, wondering how Isy will manage to deal her friends on one side, and the Volds on the other side.
Without even talking about the final cliffhanger...

Well, you just have to read it!

Format: E-book ARC via NetGalley & the author

I loved the plot premise of the book and overall, I enjoyed the story.

The author said this was for Dramoine fans and I can totally see that! It’s a hate-to-love romance but not heavy on the romance. It’s also fade to black so perfect for people who want a good story with a little romance w/o explicit on page content. I really liked that it was not insta love/lust-and when it happened, it felt genuine.

The world building was not complicated and nods to Scandinavian culture which was really interesting to read about.

The beginning was a little slow and the ending felt a little rushed. Still loved the ending though and am looking forward to the next book. The writing felt juvenile at times and I can see where some other readers felt some of the plot points feel a little weak. But I have high hopes for the next book!

.

I REALLY enjoyed this book!

Writing: 10/5
I will admit that when reading ARCs, it can sometimes feel like a diamond in rough situations, but I was absolutely blown away with the writing in this book. I had to look up a couple words here and there, but for the most part it was fine. The book had the right amount of politics to feel complex, but not too much that I ended up confused. It was witty, but best of all it felt raw. The emotions, the actions. It felt like I was Isy, and it's rare I read a book where the writing draws me in that much.

Characters: 5/5
Isy reminds me so much of myself, and I could relate to her self-confidence issues throughout the story. I liked that there were many different characters introduced but they all had some kind of backstory. The characters seemed very well fleshed out rather than being there as a plot device. These people had more relatable characteristics and actions which made them feel much more relatable and real to me

Plot: 10/5
IMMACULATE. No words.
I don't want to give anything away to someone who may be reading reviews before diving into the book, but just a word of advice....READ IT PLEASE. You don't regret it.

Pacing: 5/5
The story was fast paced, but it also had a slice-of-life type feel to it. I didn't mind reading the chapters that contributed less to the plot simply because I love the world and characters so much. The last couple chapters I found myself afraid of the book ending, and I am glad that the story had a little bit of closure rather than ending abruptly like I have seen in other books.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series, and I want to thank NetGalley and Shadow Forge Publishing for giving me an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This platform has been instrumental in introducing me to new titles and authors that I wouldn't have necessarily sought after or seen otherwise. I loved how this other took a common fantasy trope, young, poor, powerless girl finds herself as strong, independent and powerful; then made it into something that felt tangible and relatable. Its the same storyline readers has seen hundreds of times, but the author nailed the humanity in Isy within this supernatural world. I also very much enjoyed the touch of romance, and how it wasn't overbearing to the plot and message of the book. Isy did not need a man to make her enough, she had always been enough, she just needed a little help in opening her eyes to the possibilities. I cannot wait to recommend this book to my friends, and I hope to see another installment soon. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book, easily a favorite so far from NetGalley. Please also find a review on good reads under my name for this book.

This book was beautifully written. Sarah Marie Page created a world very different from a lot of the darker vibes of romantic fantasies that are popular today. It might be from her use of metaphors and the descriptors of the natural setting that she’s created but it always felt like I was there - in the gray, rainy, cliffside country, wrapped up in a wool sweater with the characters. I thought this read like a YA book in the beginning and honestly was a little slow at firs but as it progressed we seem some darker themes and plots, darker demons that the FMC deals with and more.

The FMC Isabel is not your typical badass heroine. She’s tasked to spy on the enemy, Erik who’s from the neighboring kingdom, but she is probably on the surface the worst candidate for the job. She’s clumsy, unsure of herself, and indecisive. Whatever physicality she lacks, Isabel makes up with her wit and mind. Everything that makes her a terrible spy though actually makes her a very relatable, realistic character.

The romance was sweet and is more YA than adult. Spice level is very minimal and it’s fade to black although the author has put out an explicit spicy chapter 👀.

The ending though was so sweet and made me love the title and cover design even more. Will be looking forward to book 2.

This is the perfect enemies to lovers romantasy book. It was Such a beautiful and magical story. Incredible world building and such thought out deep characters that you can’t help but root for. I adored Isabelle, she was the perfect protagonist. Such a likeable character, who continued to push through despite the trauma she faced. This story had the perfect blend of romance, action and suspense. The cliffhanger!!! Can’t wait for the next book. 100% recommend!

Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page is a mesmerizing blend of fantasy and romance, set against the backdrop of a looming war.

The novel shines with its rich world-building and well-developed characters. Isabel is a compelling protagonist, balancing her medical duties with her covert operations.

Page’s writing is engaging and filled with subtle humour, which adds a refreshing touch to the narrative. The pacing is well-balanced, blending moments of action, suspense, and romance seamlessly. Fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes and slow-burn romances will enjoy this book.

A sexy shadow daddy and will they won’t they romance with court politics and beautiful prose??? What’s not to love?!!! I cannot wait for the sequel!!!

This book was beautifully written! I felt like I was a part of this story, which is rare for me! Illusion of Stars is a slow-burn romantasy book, and the main characters are enemies-to-lovers who start out on opposite sides but soon both realize the other person isn't the real enemy. Experiencing them help each other heal, grow, and evolve together gave me all the good feels and I was HERE FOR IT. The banter between them was absolutely fantastic, and their chemistry was amazing. As soon as I finished this, I immediately had to look up if the author is writing a seecond book in the series, and ti my delight she is! I cannot wait to read it! Will definitely recommend this to my friends also.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC of Illusion of Stars, in exchange for an honest review.

Illusion of Stars was a really fun read. It starts off slow but picks up and sucks you in in no time. I am incredibly grateful to have received an early copy!

We follow Isabel (Isy), an apprentice royal physician on Sanok Island, a tiny newer kingdom. Her best friend is murdered while the kingdom hosts Volgaard. She is out to find out who did it and spy on and seduce the Volgaard general’s son, Erik.

The magic system was unique and the romance was swoony. Sarah does an excellent job at writing her characters. I felt what Isy felt. The anxiety and the sorrow and ahhh. It was too good. I am very much looking forward to book 2!

Thank you so much to Sarah Marie Page, Netgalley and Shadow Forge Publishing for the ARC! 5 glowing stars for me.

I'm obsessed! But that cliffhanger!

We start our story off with Isabel (our FMC) having been accused of something and required to write out her confession. As she starts to write, we go back in time into the story. She works as a physician assistant in the castle for the royal family of her island. After a devastating loss, she is given the task to spy on their enemies while the enemy explores the island. She is also told that she should seduce the enemy general's son, aka our MMC Erik, to get more information out of him. The problem? She's a terrible spy and not great at flirting either.

She is pretty smart though, talking to his men and gaining more of their trust while providing medical care. Although she did cause the initial "illness" for this very reason. While she's gaining their trust, Erik is getting more suspicious of her antics. While Isabel doesn't getting better at flirting, she is acting as a good friend to Erik, helping to lift some of his burdens while they shout secrets into the bluffs (which for some reason echo backwards). They have several more of these cute moments, including chatting in the hallway of an inn they stay at on their journey and preparing coffee in the morning. While Isabel gives us little insights into her true feelings about Erik, knowing that she cannot fall for him, it doesn't stop her little demon of jealousy from rearing its ugly head when she sees Erik kissing another girl.

We get a glimpse of Erik's true feelings for Isabel when buys a dagger for her at the market, and later when he takes an arrow meant for her. While she's been trying to get to know him (not doing well at this though), she learns quite a bit as he's healing and throwing out illusions. Once he's fully healed, it seems he just wants to put everything out there and gets her to admit that she's a spy for her people. He knows she wants him 😏 and uses this to his advantage to get her to talk. He convinces her to become a "double spy" essentially with him against a new enemy. He continues to be a flirty, flirty boy while practicing "torture" and "interrogation techniques" with Isabel.

While we know that Erik and a lot of his people practice magics (illusions, astral projection, foretelling the future), Isabel's people and island do not have magic. But we get the impression as the story moves on that this may not be true. The first glimpse of this is the strange backwards echo when shouting into the bluffs. Next is when Isabel sees the Lover's Boxes and learns they came from her people. I'm super hopeful that we'll learn more about this in the second part of this duology.

Other reveals occur when Isabel and Erik return to the castle, including who the main villains might be! Sadly we learn that more than likely, the Sanok Isles (Isabel's island) was likely never going to remain independent with this upcoming war. After Isabel gets kidnapped, we learn just what Erik did in order to get the ideal trading pieces to get her free. Stefan also reveals that Isabel was tasked with seducing Erik, which makes him second-guess all the moments they had together. If only he could know just how terrible she was at flirting, and all those moments were real!! At this point, Erik gets kidnapped while Isabel goes free. She is able to convince his sister to help her save him, along with his friends that were previously set free. At this point, Isabel's fortune that was foretold at the beginning of our story gets tied in, and she must remain behind while the rest escape. This brings us back to the very beginning where Isabel is writing out her confession. However, as she's burning the actual confession, she sees shooting stars in the sky (which we know is a sign from Erik, since her ability to see stars was taken by the Lover's Box). Then we jump into Erik's POV for just 1 chapter to confirm that he sent the shooting stars in the sky as a sign to Isabel that he's coming to save her.

As soon as I finished this story, I immediately went scouring for any bonus material that Sarah wrote for it. The bonus chapter from Erik's POV that's available just shows more how hard Erik fell for Isabel after their first night together. While this story's spice level is fade-to-black, Sarah did write an open-door spicy scene for a bookclub. I immediately joined that bookclub to gain access for it, since I cannot get enough of this story!

I loved the character growth that Isabel and Erik showed throughout the story. The enemies to lovers was perfect! Although this enemies to lovers was more along the lines of Romeo and Juliet, where it's more their people are enemies, and so they naturally must be enemies even though they are drawn to each other from the beginning. The world building was just enough, especially since Isabel hasn't traveled anywhere in our story before, so we discover everything as she does. I also loved the casual LGBTQ+ representation in this story. Nothing was overly grand but just sprinkled in as mentions, similarly to heterosexual relationships.

If you love romantasy, magic, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and one horse tropes, give this story as read through! You won't regret it!

My rating: 4.5 stars
Available now!

This book was beautiful and felt like a magical, lyrical adventure. The story had a hold on me from the very first page.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Forge Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wish all publishers would disclose the spice level of their books in the blurbs like this one did.

Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page is a fantasy novel with the perfect trope of enemies to lovers. 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 beaches, her world is ripped apart. Desperate for answers, she discovers a stash of letters that reveal a terrifying truth: the neighboring kingdom of Volgaard possesses a kingdom-shattering weapon and is poised to conquer everything in its path. Seeking vengeance, Isabel infiltrates the enemy. Her mission? Woo Erik Lothgarson, the general’s steamy, illusion-magic wielding son, and steal the dangerous weapon. She can bring Volgaard to its knees—if she isn’t caught. But as Isabel dances along the knife edge of deception, the lines between truth and fiction blur, and she must wrestle her quest for vengeance against her undeniable attraction to the enemy.

This book is just *chef's kiss* read it at your own risk though.

Classic enemies-to-lovers, but I really enjoyed the stakes of it all. The main character’s fresh grief being her main push, the way her and the love interest find a common ground in trauma and persevering despite it - definitely a fun, enjoyable read.