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!

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.

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.