Destiny of Twilight and Stars

by Brieghanna Maye

As the princess of the Kingdom of Pyrus, Asteria was expected to be a future leader and a Queen. She knew this was her duty, and she had never questioned it. Until her father, the King, informed her that she was to be betrothed to the Prince of Solaria, Prince Stefan. He was rumored to be a cruel, wicked prince, something she knew to be true. But to make it even worse, he was also her cousin. 

As the wedding date approaches, Asteria begins to doubt her ability to fulfill her duty to her people by marrying the Prince. She couldn't believe her father had agreed to this marriage. Why him? 

Little does she know that Stefan has a secret and her father had no choice but to ensure the marriage. 

An ancient prophecy speaks of one that is supposed to return magic and power to the realm. And Asteria is the key. Prince Stefan was determined to claim her and control that power. The night before the wedding, she flees, unable to go through with the betrothal. As she escapes, she meets a man who promises freedom from her cousin. While Asteria is captivated by this man's bravery and charm, she fails to realize that she's just become his ultimate bargaining chip. But was their meeting just a coincidence, or was it destiny?

Genres: Fantasy

410 pages, Hardcover

Published February 2, 2024

Reviews

[Jenna🦇 · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️.5

“My love will always tie me to you, and the stars themselves will burn out before I lose my way to you.”


holyyyyyy shit guys, these 2024 releases did not come to play! another smash hit for a first in a series.

this book was amazing! the plot is amazing, it had me hooked from the start. the world building is very simple, but the characters are complex and we see so much growth. this book is DARKKK and i absolutely loved it. i love how strong we get to see Astra become, pushing past her traumatic past. she’s snarky, gorgeous curvy queen. im OBSESSED with her. Rae is just a rae of sunshine (😏 see what i did there), he gives so much to Astra in helping build her up, helping her rebuild after her traumas. and that mouth?? PANTY DROPPING.

i want to bash stephan’s head in with a brick 🙃 i hate him with every fiber in my being.

i am FERAL for book 2, gimme gimme gimme.

✨ dark fantasy romance
✨ prophecies
✨ shadow daddy
✨ lots of magic
✨ lots of banter
✨ fmc who’s learning to love herself again
✨ one bed
✨ one horse

tw: SA/abuse (not by mmc), torture, rape (not by mmc), PTSD, narcissistic personality (not mmc), body shaming, incest, etc

this is a DARK fantasy romance, please take care of yourself first 🖤


I received this arc in exchange for an honest review, thank you brie!

[Cassey Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Your scars do not define or diminish you. They are a testament to your strength. A star cannot shine if not for the darkness that surrounds it.”

I feel seen and heard after reading this book. I’ve been on my own healing journey and made huge strides, but I’ve never seen this representation written so beautifully. Thank you Brieghanna for writing this.

I love the thoughts Asteria deals with in her own mind and the strength she finds to continue moving forward. The way Rae shows her how to love herself reminds me of what my husband did for me in the midst of my own darkness. I highlighted more quotes from this story than in any other book I’ve read.

My only critique is some missing words or grammar mistakes, but I’m sure those will be taken care of before the book is published.

[Lacey Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book and I am honestly so glad I did. I immediately fell in love with the storyline and the FMC & MMC. The world and story building was amazing and I loved the way the story built to the end. The imagery was beyond amazing! I feel like I was honestly apart of this world and the main character herself.

Can I just have Rae to myself please. Dear god please worship me. 🔥 I would never let that man go if he worshiped me the way he did in this book.

When it comes to Stephan I just wish he would go to hell. I absolutely HATED that man with a burning passion.

I honestly did not want it to end! I honestly probably would have finished it in a day if I could have. I hope the second book is already in the works because I LOVED this book. It is definitely by far one of my favorites! 10000/5 stars.

[Summan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Rae so much and I really want him and Asteria to be endgame.

The way he worships her!! Ahhhhhh.

I also loved the writing and the fact that Asteria’s character development was a main focus. I adored that she didn’t need saving and she found the strength and courage to fight for herself. (It was much needed and shows her strength especially after everything she went through)


Stefan can go and die in a hole. In fact burn in hell! This book was so well written that it actually made me loath and despise him — genuinely, I hate the guy.

Cannot wait for the next one. I need it asap.

I received this ARC for an honest review, all thoughts/ opinions above are my own!

[Kirsten Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and finished it quickly, especially considering that I was in the middle of TOG when the ARC arrived in my inbox. This story sucked me in so quickly that I didn’t pick Heir of Fire up again until I was finished. I think that says a lot about my feelings! I’d definitely recommend this book to a friend (or all of my friends) and I will ABSOLUTELY be picking up the second book when it’s released. I recommend reading the triggers before you begin, but as long as they don’t dissuade you, I would say you should absolutely give it a try!

Quotes from the book’s MMC Rae that live rent-free in my head:
“Get. Your. F***ing. Hands. Off. Her.”
“She deserved to be loved by a man who would worship the ground she walked on, to be treated like the Goddess she was.”
“That’s a good f***ing girl.”
“The need to protect her was overwhelming.”
“It’s alright,” he said, looking at me, his eyes darkening slightly as they drug along my body. “I liked it.”

What to expect:
DARK themes and content (including SA and kidnapping)
Phenomenal spicy scenes 🌶️
Dual POV
Mystery
Arranged marriage
Politics between kingdoms (that isn’t difficult to follow)
A curvy 28 year old FMC overcoming her trauma from things like body shaming and childhood SA
A sexy, playful, supportive and very cheeky 28 year old MMC
A prophecy
Lost magic
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde vibes from the main villain
He falls first (and worships her)
Touch her and 💀
One horse
Hidden identity

Things I absolutely love about this book:
The main characters aren’t teenagers, they’re 28, and the FMC is curvy and full-figured.
The tension, spice, and banter between the FMC and MMC (Asteria and Rae) is amazing!
The political world building is easy to understand and follow.
The villain is despicable, so I hate him exactly as much as I’m supposed to.
I emotionally connected with the main characters and truly wanted Rae to come out of the book and take me on an adventure. The characters are well-written and nicely developed.
Asteria’s interest in herbs/healing and her love for animals just made me love her that much more!
I love the way Rae loves Asteria. His feelings for her and thoughts about her make me SWOON.
The MMC Rae loves to read. Who doesn’t love a man that reads?!

There were a few things about this book that kept it from being a 5-star read for me. I save 5⭐️ ratings for books that I wouldn’t change a single thing about, and this was VERY close to being a 5⭐️ read for me. If I had partial stars I would probably rate it 4.25/4.5⭐️.
- I really wanted a bit more closure at the end of the story. I feel like I still don’t know much of anything about the magic situation, which I know will probably be addressed in the second book, but I really wanted more info about that!! I also really wanted more of an ending to the storyline with Stefan, which I assume is coming in the second book. After everything he went through to get his bride, I know he’s not going down without a fight. I also feel like I still don’t understand him, his motivations, etc.

[Brandon Dollar · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time ARC reader and im happy I did. A wonderful first entry to the series with plenty of plot that doesnt overwhelm with future setup.

World building: Solid idea of the culture and what a twisted world this is. I am excited to dive deeper and learn more about the history in the world and the magic system. Leaves me wanting more but understand that for at this first book the focus is on characters.

Characters: Everyone feels real. There doesnt feel like there is any Mary Sue going on nor do interactions feel wooden. Each character feels written with purpose and the ability to capture a male and female perspective this well is a huge win.

Plot: The character driven focus was a great choice and made me feel like I was in the mind of everyone we got to see through. The level of depravity permeating the story horrified me, which made the moments of levity and the romance equally as intense. The roller-coaster of emotion was tossing my heart around and made me yearn for more from the world. The ending was perfect, a lead into future events rather than a cliffhanger that fill you with anxiety.

Spice: Impeccable to say the least, the lead up was intoxicating. Astra finding her confidence was wonderful to experience and incredibly attractive. Astraeus displaying care while in a dominant role makes for a wonderful display to all men who might read this. The understanding of tension on both sides was incredibly accurate and had me grinning with wicked delight many times.

The abuse: These scenes were tough for me to stomach, because they were written so vividly, in addition to wishing I could stop the events from unfolding. They were so horrific and brutal that I was close to tears each time. I wanted the characters inflicting it to receive the same ten times over and not recover like our main characters.

Hope for the future: More POV, flesh out the magic, interaction with the other kingdoms, Astra integrating with Asphodel and understanding their society.

[Jessica Johnstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for the opportunity at an arc read, Brieghanna! For this arc, I said I would give my honest review of the book.

RUN, do not walk to acquire this book! The first read of 2024 and I'm trying to fathom how anything could top this! I cannot wait for the next in the series!

This story was beautiful, and so definitely worth every moment of not being able to put it down! Incoming book hangover...

Astraeus, forget book boyfriend... Book Husband! Asteria, I relate to her in more ways than one! The character development between Asteria and Astraeus was well written. I would definitely say the spice range is about 3.5, I loved those chapters! Kept me on the edge of my seat, along with the journey and what would happen.

I ABSOLUTELY hated Stefan with a fiery passion! Such a horrid human!

I do have so very many questions that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book!

That epilogue! I SO know who that was!

If you need a book to get out of a reading slump or a recommendation, this is at the top of my list! Please be sure to check the trigger warnings.

[Sydney Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to be selected as an ARC reader for this book! I very much enjoyed the story!

First and foremost, please pay attention to all the triggers laid out by the author.

Okay, so weirdly enough, I kind of got some dark Tangled vibes from this story. An FMC princess coveted by several kingdoms, a kind of rogue-ish MMC with a lot of charm who helps her live up to her full potential as they go on an adventure to help her escape her current predicament. Again, it’s a stretch but it’s what my mind went to. All this to say, I really enjoyed the characters with their banter and their relatability. Rae is also just perfect lol.

The epilogue left me GAGGED. I’m now anxiously awaiting the next part to the story!

[Alexx🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My love will always tie me to you, and the stars themselves will burn out before I lose my way to you”
No, cause🫠🫠🫠

Overall rating:
⭐️ 3.8
🌶️ 6.2


First, I would like to express my gratitude to the author for entrusting me with the opportunity to be an ARC reader for her, I genuinely appreciate the privilege of being one of the first to experience her debut novel. The following is a comprehensive and 100% honest review, they are MY opinions and MY own thoughts.


Alright, let’s get into it..


In offering my honest review of this book, I find both aspects to appreciate and areas that gave me pause.

The writing style, while having its own unique flare, did not deter me from completing the book. I noticed instances where character interactions lacked detailed descriptions, leaving some scenes feeling abrupt. For example, in conversations, one moment was filled with emotion, but the transition to the next was rather swift and left me wanting a little bit more depth. However, I particularly appreciated the author's vivid descriptions during the more challenging moments for Asteria. I found myself easily stepping into Asteria's shoes, experiencing her pain alongside her. This added a unique depth to the narrative that I truly appreciated.

The incorporation of modern language and mannerisms in a historical setting struck an odd chord for me. Phrases like "my bad" felt out of place, yet in a VERY peculiar way, it added a unique touch—think Leonardo DiCaprio in Romeo & Juliet from the 90’s.

I couldn’t help but notice a lack of character self-discovery, as both Astraeus and Asteria seemed remarkably self-aware, leaving little room for substantial growth. For instance, I noticed that Astaeus consistently demonstrated a keen awareness of his mistakes, the nature of these errors, and the subsequent steps to rectify them. While I appreciate this depth of character development, it struck me as content better suited for a second installment rather than the first initial book. Their time together, although peppered with witty exchanges, felt somewhat uneventful, making it challenging to comprehend the depth of Astraeus's feelings toward Asteria.

Additionally, the details about the magic, which I assume might be explored further in the second book, felt somewhat lacking in the current novel. It left me with a sense of incompleteness, yearning for more details within the storyline.

Despite my observations, the story touches upon significant societal issues, bringing modern-day challenges to light. While the absence of major plot twists left me expecting more at the end, the overall narrative was engaging, leaving me curious about what unfolds in the sequel. While I encountered some challenges within the book, I want to express that I did enjoy it overall. I wholeheartedly support the author, I will be buying her book on launch day and I look forward to continuing my support for her future literary endeavors.

One more thing, if the red head in the epilogue is who I think it is – the author & I will be having words..🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Meghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is given unbiased as an Arc Reader.

Destiny of Twilight and Stars by Brieghanna Maye is a multifaceted tale that delves into difficult themes while also celebrating the journey of self-discovery and empowerment. While the graphic depictions of sexual and domestic abuse were challenging to read, the novel's exploration of these topics adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

One of the most compelling aspects of the story is Asteria's character development. At its core, the story follows the journey of Asteria, a curvy and resilient 28-year-old protagonist who bravely confronts her past traumas from body shaming and childhood sexual assault. Starting off as a character who obediently follows her parents' wishes, she gradually transforms into a strong and independent individual who learns to advocate for herself. Her journey of growth is inspiring and serves as a beacon of hope amidst the darkness of the abuse she faces.

I also appreciated Asteria's passion for healing and herbs, which added a layer of depth to her character. Her interests and skills not only showcase her individuality but also serve as a source of strength and resilience throughout the story.

Witnessing her and Rae’s relationship blossom over the course of their journey was a highlight of the novel. From tentative allies to trusted companions, the evolution of their bond is portrayed with authenticity and depth, adding an emotional resonance to the narrative that is both satisfying and heartwarming.

Overall the author invites readers into a spellbinding world filled with dark themes and captivating content, including elements of sexual assault and kidnapping, juxtaposed with scintillating spicy scenes. Through a dual point of view, readers unravel a tapestry of mystery, arranged marriage, and political intrigue between kingdoms, presented in a manner that is both accessible and engrossing.

[Coffeenbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

- Prophecy
- Arranged marriage
- Enemies to lovers
- He falls first
- Close proximity

"Change comes on two moons bearing the belt of Orion.
When the falling star is enraptured by twilight, Darkness will fall upon the Kingdom.
Out of the dark, a star will rise to remake the realm.
Beneath shadow and light, a new era will emerge, and power once lost will be returned.
For theirs is a destiny written in twilight and stars."

This prophecy is the focus of the book...and what an emotional rollercoaster it was!

Asteria, Princess of Pyrus, has been betrothed, quite against her wishes, to her cousin Stefan, Prince of Solaria. Asteria had past situations with Stefan that have left emotional scars. She has no idea how to extricate herself from marriage to the creep.

Astraeus, or Rae, is the Prince of Asphodel, a kingdom many believe was eradicated during the Great War between all six kingdoms. Their kingdom is barely surviving, their magic having gone dormant when they took refuge in the mountains. Rae is on a mission to find a way to restore trading routes to the kingdom. He thinks infiltrating Solaria during the royal wedding festivities will be his best chance at gathering information.

What he finds is a beautiful cloaked woman fleeing the castle. He doesn't know it, but he just met Asteria, who is fleeing from a heinous incident. Their paths cross again and he feels compelled to assist her. Their journey is not an easy one, but the two form a bond. Will they evade the princes's guards that are searching for Asteria?

This book captivated me and I found myself breathless several times. I absolutely need the second book!

Favorite quote:

"You are magnificent, Asteria. Someday, you will learn to accept that fact about yourself, but until then, I will believe it enough for both of us."

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I immediately fell in love with the storyline and the FMC & MMC. The world and story building was amazing and I loved the way the story built to the end. The imagery was beyond amazing! I feel like I was honestly apart of this world and the main character herself. This story focuses on overcoming, surviving, and learning to love yourself after trauma and sexual assault. This book doesn’t shy away from dealing with these more difficult topics, and is what makes this story so powerful. I’m fact, the FMC, Astra’s, discussions and thoughts about what she went through had me tearing up.
This first book has a plot primarily surrounding our main characters Astra and Rae, but sets up a wider plot that has me excited to continue the series. It is a slow burn romance, with a MMC who is devoted to the FMC. A quote that really showcases this is, “I am your disciple—in heart, in soul, in mind, and body. So please,” he pleaded as he kissed me deeply, “let me pray to you.”
The story is mostly from Astra and Rae’s perspectives, which is good for me because I always enjoy reading from both partners in a romance. I ABSOLUTELY hated Stefan with a fiery passion! Such a horrid human! I just wish he would go to hell. The story also has the one bed, one horse, and if you touch her I’ll kill you tropes. I honestly did not want it to end! I honestly probably would have finished it in a day if I could have. I do have so very many questions that I'm hoping will be answered in the next book! That epilogue! I SO know who that was! I hope the second book is already in the works because I LOVED this book. If you need a book to get out of a reading slump or a recommendation, this is at the top of my list! Please be sure to check the trigger warnings.

[Ashley Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't realize, I never left a review for this gem! Breighanna, was gracious enough to give me an ARC for this beautiful book, her debut novel that I fell head over heals for!

Do you like fantasy romance? What about witty banter? Or maybe a little Toucher her and Die vibes?
If the answer is yes then this book is for you. Pick it up download it to kindle give it a try!

Asteria Princess of Pyrus, is on her way to be wed off to the awful, cruel, Prince Stephan of Solaria, her cousin. While he charms his people in public behind closed doors Asteria knows the truth of his wicked ways. Against her will her parents have decided her fate with no way out, Asteria knows her duty and will follow orders for her kingdom....Until she won't.

Astraeus is on a mission to infiltrate the Solarian Palace, and kill the Prince. Only he never gets that chance after an abrupt encounter with a fleeing woman that throws a wrench in his plans. Unable to stick to his task he decides another course of action to help get him to his ultimate goal, never realizing he was going to be put right in the path of the mysterious woman that has eluded him since their run in.

Follow Astraeus and Asteria on their journey full of banter, danger, mystery, and some spice to die for.
⭐⭐⭐⭐4
🌶️🌶️🌶️3.5
"My love will always tie me to you, and the stars themselves will burn out before I lose my way to you."

-Dual POV
-Dark themes and content (including SA and kidnapping)
-mystery
-hidden identity
-Touch her and die
-prophecy
-lost magic
-FMC strong, over coming trauma
-MMC sexy, supportive, witty

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: touch her and 💀, outlawed magic, fated mates, forced proximity, betrayal, friends to lovers, slow burn.
I received this as an ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
“Careful, Princess. With such charming words, I may mistake your bite for interest”
The princess of the Kingdom of Pyrus, Asteria knows her duty to her people. Marry prince Stephen, provide an heir, serve her people. Only problem, Stephen is a cruel and wicked man, who only knows how to torture.
When Asteria flees, she receives help from a fellow traveler, Rae. Rae is holding a secret and Asteria might just be the thing he needs.
How will the secrets unravel? Did they happen to find each other at the right time, or is it a destiny written in the stars?

This is Brieghanna Maye debut novel and in my opinion, it’s one to read!
Asteria is an extremely well written character and I found myself connecting with her. Trauma she experiences is well written and her response to the trauma is very realistic.
Stephen is very clearly the villain, and not one who secretly hope gets the girl. This dude is evil incarnate and I wanted to hurt him.
Rae is the morally gray villain we need. His intentions to aid Asteria are initially to help him, but quickly changes.
The spice is appropriate for the storyline and very well written.
Overall a great start to hopefully an amazing series!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My love will always tie me to you, and the stars themselves will burn out before I lose my way to you.”

Brieghanna Maye has absolutely blown me away with her debut novel, Destiny of Twilight and Stars. Fans of fantasy romances, with tons of banter, action, and drama, this is definitely a must read.

Asteria is dealt some pretty bad cards in the beginning of the story, when she’s forced to marry Stephan. With that being said the first chapter was absolutely captivating. Asteria’s character is absolutely incredible. She becomes such a strong woman who can fight for herself, which I love!

Rae is just perfection. His original plan is changes when Asteria crosses his path. He is the most incredible boyfriend, always respecting her boundaries and making sure she’s comfortable and happy. Not to mention he 💀 anyone that touches her! And his mouth?!? Ugh! Love him! The pair together is utter perfection. There’s so much banter, romance, and love between the two of them.

The plot is super interesting! I’m a sucker for fantasy books that have a prophecy and this one did not disappoint. I need the next book immediately. That cliffhanger was absolutely brilliant.

[Ashley Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It’s my first book by the author. If you like stories that have a prophecy, a broken heroine, a charming prince to show the heroine she’s not broken this one’s for you. Check the trigger warnings before starting this book. The themes are on the dark side. Asteria is a princess. Her life is not all sunshine and rainbows. There are to many things wrong with her for her life to be wonderful. Her parents are going yo marry her off. Who is she marrying you may he asking yourself? Prince Stefan her cousin of all people. He’s not a nice man at all. Well to everyone else he seems to be. Asteria knows the truth. Unable to bear marriage to him she escapes before the wedding. She meets Rae. He’s going to help her find a safe place to be. He also shows her kindness. He helps to fix the broken parts of her. Stefan will stop at nothing to get Asteria back. He knows she’s the key to the prophecy. Will Asteria avoid being back in Stefan’s clutches? Will she figure out she’s the key to the prophecy? Will Rae keep is promise to keep her safe? Even though he is harboring a big secret of his own?

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destiny of Twilight and Stars by Brieghanna Maye and is the first book in the series. It’s also the first book I’m reading by this author and I just finished this, I’m already looking forward to more. This was an incredibly well done dark fantasy romance. When I started this book I didn’t expect to finish it in one sitting, I couldn’t put it down. The worldbuilding and plot was so good! The writing was engaging and descriptive. I was able to picture the world, the magic and the characters so easily. Speaking of the characters, Rae hands down is a favorite, the way he built up Astra was just amazing. Then there’s Asteria, related so much to her. I understood her thoughts; the representation was real and heartfelt. The rollercoaster I went on reading this was so good! I gripped my kindle so tight at points and also wanted to knock a character upside the head. Overall I really loved everything about this book! I can’t recommend it enough.

Final review:
5 out of 5 stars

[Hailie Norman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destiny of Twilight and Stars focuses on overcoming, surviving, and learning to love yourself after trauma and sexual assault. This book doesn’t shy away from dealing with these more difficult topics, and is what makes this story so powerful. I’m fact, the FMC, Astra’s, discussions and thoughts about what she went through had me tearing up, and I always books who make me cry 5 stars.

This first book has a plot primarily surrounding our main characters Astra and Rae, but sets up a wider plot that has me excited to continue the series. It is a slow burn romance, with a MMC who is devoted to the FMC. A quote that really showcases this is, “I am your disciple—in heart, in soul, in mind, and body. So please,” he pleaded as he kissed me deeply, “let me pray to you.”

The story is mostly from Astra and Rae’s perspectives, which is good for me because I always enjoy reading from both partners in a romance. The story also has the one bed, one horse, and if you touch her I’ll kill you tropes.

[Megan Eby · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Short: Dark, violent, and heartbreaking. While it is the first in a new series, this fantasy romance gives you hope at the end.

The Long: The FMC is on the run after escaping a nightmare marriage on the eve of her wedding. She wants to uncover why her family would give her to a monster who has sought control of her for most of her life, but first she needs to get far away. She's been raised in a sheltered environment as a royal but is skilled in making healing salves and tonics and teas (💕). There are secrets and betrayals, a dual POV with the MMC, training sessions, long horse rides and camping, prophecies, magic, and a lot of focus on healing for thr FMC.

I recommend this book to fans of:
👉 Dual POVs with shadowy MMCs
👉 Stories of FMCs navigating intense trauma healing to come out stronger physically and mentally
👉 Long trips across kingdoms on horseback with outdoor camping
👉 Reluctant allies slow burn with spice

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“A star cannot shine if not for the darkness that surrounds it. You are the brightest, rarest star, and most beautiful star, Asteria. You may have fallen, but you are no less desirable."

This book had me forcing myself to put it down to do other things but had me so drawn in with the attraction to the characters. I loved so many aspects of the book that brought me in, including the back stories for most of the characters that explained either the relationship between characters or the reason they would act the way they did. I fell in love with both of the main characters way before they were willing to acknowledge the love themselves and was so excited when they finally professed their feelings. The book ended with such a cliffhanger that I cannot wait for the next book to see where the storyline continues to take the characters.

[Jessica Grooms · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️She was my light, and I would protect her no matter the shadows I had to walk through. -Astraeus⭐️⭐️

Asteria was being forced to marry an evil and veil man, Stefan, to save her kingdom. One night Stefan did something unspeakable and she decided to run, not wanting to have to endure that the rest of her life. While on the run she meets a stranger named Rae who saved her from an awful encounter. He says he will help her get to where she’s going and train her along the way. The more time they spend together, the more he falls for her. But he has a secret as well. He’s actually Prince Astraeus of Asphodel, and he originally planned on using her as blackmail to save his Kingdom.

I am in love with this whole book. The banter between them, the fierce protectiveness of Rae, and strength of Asteria, this book has it all. 💜💜

[Faye Drawdy · Rating 2 out of 5]

PLEASE READ FOR RATING EXPLANATION!

OK, this book was NOT horrible it was well written, and it did have a good plot.

My issue is that there was flat-out SA on the page. And yes, it does mention it in the TW that there is sa, but that does not useually mean it's described on page.

That being said, my enjoyment was affected by the full description of the SA, not once but multiple times, on the page. Add to that the healing process of dealing with that trauma, and well, it just hit too close to home.

I did enjoy that she was able to eventually overcome her situation and that the MMC was gentle and helped her heal in her own time. I also thought that the ending was brilliant and left you wanting to know what would happen next.

The rating is a reflection of how I felt about this book but should by no means keep you from reading it if you're ok with the on the page descriptions.

[Miranda K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seriously had a hard time putting it down with it's fast pace, dark fantasy themes. You definitely need to read the trigger warnings because she does not hold back!

I was so invested in Asteria escape and the process of her healing. I absolutely loathed Stephan, especially after that one scene (which is why you need to read the triggers). And Rae, oh, he's so funny and witty, but also so kind and considerate while helping Asteria heal.

This book has:
💫 Dark, fantasy romance
💫 Dual POV
💫 Touch her & die
💫 Banter
💫 Spice
💫 Curvy FMC
💫 Magic
💫 Prophecies
💫 Process of healing from trauma
💫 One horse

I highly recommend "Destiny of Twilight and Stars". I need the next book ASAP! 😂💖

[Readingwithtiffanym · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story! I haven’t read any fantasy novels where there is an edge of darkness that may trigger some readers so do take a look at them before you dive into this!

The characters were perfect, I immediately fell in love with them and i found myself at the edge of my seat every time something wrong happened. This book was just had the right amount of spice and i loved that the key part of the relationship was trust.

What to expect:
Strangers to lovers
Secret identities
Runaway FMC
Assassin MMC
Prophecies and mystery

A huge 4 ⭐️ that cliffhanger just made me scream!! I just know that book 2 is going to be fire 🔥

[Makayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Is. Spectacular. 👏🏻

I stayed up until 2 am reading this, I was only 35% in when I started it again and absolutely could not stop. You easily love the characters, the storyline is great, I never got bored. Asteria has a quick mouth on her and I was cracking up a lot. Rae is swoon worthy. There are some dark things happening, which I absolutely loved, but be sure to check the trigger warnings! This was an amazing start to a series that I can't wait to continue.

"You, Asteria, shame all the stars with your radiance."

Thank you so much Brieghanna for allowing me to arc read for you, it was truly great! 💜

[Samantha Cross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book! This book had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end. I love the dynamic between Rae and Asteria. I really enjoyed reading how strong Asteria becomes throughout the book with Rae. Just absolutely amazing, there were some errors which I’m sure will be corrected when it’s released. It does have spice, I would say 2 1/2 🌶️

I absolutely loathe Stefan such an evil character, I can’t tell you enough of how much I loathed him, she did an amazing job writing him but still loathe him.

That cliffhanger has me wanting more I can’t wait to see what happens next. Please read trigger and content warning there are some scenes that may be triggering.

[Megan Aunkst · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review:

"A star cannot shine if not for the darkness that surrounds it. You are the brightest, rarest, and most beautiful star, Asteria. You may have fallen, but you are no less desirable"

This story was absolutely fantastic. The way all of the characters were so well developed and how they interacted with eachother was perfect. It made you truly love the ones who deserved it and then strangle some others. This book did a fantastic job and keeping me interested and not wanting to put the work down. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in this series!

[Nikki Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a cute little love story about finding who we are and who we are supposed to be. Astoria and Rae meet in a very precarious spot. She is a Princess and he is the unknown Prince, but not the Prince she is to marry. Through many trials and tribulations, Rae finally manages to gain her trust and get her to trust herself, only to lose her again. Can he find his “Little Star” in all the noise and bring her home?

I gave this story 3-3.5 stars. There were a few grammatical errors, forgotten words/thoughts. At times, it felt to drag on a bit. But over all, I’d recommend this book.

[Blanca Frappier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not get enough!

I felt so completely wrapped up in this book and would find myself hiding from everything and everyone just to keep reading it! Talk about instant chemistry with a slow burn as the perfect combination! As someone who identified with Asteria's trauma... it was written so so well and to see her slowly face it and slowly heal was beautiful . Um where can I find me a Rae! He was so kind and sweet and his playful ways just won me over fully! I neeeeed more and can't wait for book 2!

[Kristin Keele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark, intense, Engrossing. Asteria knew this day would eventually come, she was to be queen. She never expected to be betrothed to the cruel prince Stephen, he was her cousin after all. Now she needs to find a way out. Why would her parents choose him? This story is dark and heartbreaking, I was hooked on its well developed characters and twisting plot. 

Thank you to Brieghanna Maye for trusting your ARC to me, which I read and reviewed honestly.