Beneath the Silent Stars

Celestial Court #1

by Miranda L

They want her captured. Or dead. But Astraia was never meant to bow.

Astraia has spent her life running—from her past, from her bond to an ancient power, and from the choices that left her hollow. Marked by the constellations, she is feared as a weapon, hunted as a threat, and haunted by everything she could not save.

Now, as villages burn and shadows rise in the northern reaches of Virellia, Astraia is forced to confront more than just the monsters tearing through the realm—she must face the ones still buried inside her. When a mission leads her to cross paths with a hunter who sees through her walls, Astraia is torn between the steel she’s built around her heart and the unraveling truth that vulnerability might be her greatest strength.

But some things are not so easily buried.

With slow-burn tension, morally gray choices, and a heroine who battles both blade and memory, Beneath the Silent Stars is a darkly poetic romantasy debut perfect for readers of Daughter of No Worlds, The Shadows Between Us, and Shadow and Bone.

Sometimes, survival isn’t the victory. Choosing to rise anyway is.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Booktok, Enemies To Lovers, Fiction, Ebooks

324 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Anna B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately, for me this book has been a classic case of “Tiktok made me do it”. Great marketing, but the book was not my style at all.

I liked the premise and how I saw it presented on social media, but once I started reading I could not connect with the plot or the characters at all. I pushed through the whole book because I don’t like to DNF, and I kept waiting to find that moment that will ignite the spark, and it never came.

The FMC is well, annoying. She’s angry all the time to the point were it’s the only personality trait that stands out about her…she’s just angry.
The MMC is not really memorable. After reading the whole book I can’t say one thing that stands out about him.

The book is presented as true enemies to lovers with sloooow burn and no spice so I was expecting this tension through the roof and real hate between them, so imagine my surprise at 25%-30% in, when she spills her biggest darkest secret to the guy that she barely knows and hunted her down.
And then the guy starts acting like he fell for her, way too fast and with no proper build up.

It was a flat read for me, lacking the intensity I like from a dark romantasy, and with banter that felt mostly forced.
By the time I reached the end, the twists although unexpected, didn’t make much sense either. Maybe because there is no MMC POV in the book so we don’t see behind the curtain of what goes inside his brain, but it felt like an ending that was pasted with not much to do with the progression of the book.
I don’t think I will continue the series.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one overall and had a really good time reading it. It’s a romantasy with solid pacing, an engaging road-trip style journey, and an interesting magic system that kept me curious about the world and how everything worked. The world-building was immersive, and I liked spending time in this setting.

The story focuses heavily on the two main characters traveling together, and while I would have personally loved to see more side characters and a bit of found-family energy, I still enjoyed the dynamic between the FMC and MMC. The slow burn felt more like a slow spark for me, but I did like the FMC and found the relationship easy to read and emotionally grounded. There is also a brief love-triangle moment, which added a touch of tension.

The twists at the end, even though I did predict parts of them, were still really enjoyable and made the ending exciting. The final stretch definitely pulled everything together in a way that made me immediately want to read the next book and see where the story goes from here.

Overall, this was an enjoyable romantasy with good pacing, an intriguing magic system, and an ending that makes you want to continue the series. If you like no-spice romantasy, travel-heavy stories, and character-focused fantasy, this is one worth checking out.

[BookishVibesClub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh this is an incredible romantasy 🙌🏻 Top tier, deserves to be a booktok hype!! She’s a Starborne in hiding. He’s the bounty hunter sent to collect her. Delicious slow burn filled with mystery and tension. And oh that twist!! I loved the world building, the magic system, the intrigue, the characters, and the twists! I was left staring at my book at midnight in th best kind of way!!

You get a broken but feisty FMC who is in hiding because her powers are being hunted. Her determination in both her journey to survive and to heal others brings all the best FMC feels. You also get the broody and mysterious bounty hunter who is after her but also keeps saving her. Which makes for a fun enemies to lovers to ? Kind of feel. And there are so amazing twists along the way. It has quest feels with the intrigue of trying to figure out who everyone really is and where the evil attackers are coming from. I won’t say much more than this because the twists and mysteries are fun to wonder about along the way.

First thoughts: Mysterious shadow wielders shows up on page one 🙌🏻 I’m in! I read the first half of the book over a week or so because I was really busy and the last half in two days 🤩 I loved every second but by the halfway point I was dying to know more and stayed up wayyyy past my bedtime reading.

🩵 Banter
🩵 Healer FMC
🩵 Bounty Hunter MMC
🩵 Mine
🩵 Nightmare
🩵 Twists
🩵 Slow Burn Romance
🩵 Touch them and ☠️
🩵 Battles

🫑🫑 No Spice, kisses with steamy tension

Language: I didn’t mark any language

[Stephanie MacNeill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spice- kissing only

First off, thank you to the author for allowing me to ARC read this book and congratulations on publishing your first book. I got a sneak peak at the prologue before I received the ARC and was so excited. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite hit the mark for me like I had hoped it would after reading the prologue. The character development was good; provided good flashbacks and key information to get to know the characters. The world building seemed pretty simple to understand and the epigraphs added extra tidbits. The magic system is interesting and different; I would definitely like to understand how a person truly gets chosen to be a starborne or if it just is really luck of the draw. The pacing and “slow burn” weren’t really doing it for me… Unfortunately, at times I felt that certain portions of the story could have been quicker and some parts felt repetitive in the writing. The slow burn didn’t make me feel giddy like I have in other books. One of the ending twists I didn’t see coming, but the other one, I knew was coming just not sure when or how the betrayal would happen!

“You are Starlight, Astraia. You will not fall.”

[Ivana Loustalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Miranda for letting me be part of this ARC Team ✨
I really enjoyed reading this story. The world building and magic system were amazing, although I wish there was more information about them both. Sometimes I felt a little lost about who was chosen as Starborne and why, especially if the Stars had been gone for so long.
I truly loved the main characters' interactions, their secrets, hidden pasts, and their own powers and strength 💫 But I think I also would have enjoyed the story a little more if there were more developed side characters.
The pacing and writing style were really nice, and I truly enjoyed the journey, the fights, the banter and yearning, and the small love triangle between the Starborne, the Lord and the bounty Hunter ❣️
The ending was pretty shocking, with a lot of twists! I was expecting one of them, but the others really blew my mind! 🤯 I have so many questions! Just as Astraia must've had, I'm sure 👀
I'll be waiting for the next book to know what happens next!!!

If you like these tropes you'll love this story:
✨ Crumbling Dysfunctional Kingdom
✨ Hidden Magic
✨ Fierce FMC
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Hunter - Captive
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Love Triangle
✨ Loss & Trauma
✨ Ancient Entities
✨ Secrets & Betrayals

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

With 43 uses of the word “smirk” across 343 pages, you’re averaging one smirk every eight pages. Combine that with an all-powerful heroine who’s constantly needing to be rescued, and it just wasn’t for me.

[Carly K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This magic system and world was so unique! I loved the idea of the stars/constellations being ‘Gods’ that bestowed their magic upon people in the human realm. The prologue immediately hooked me in, and then the epigraphs keep me theorizing throughout my entire time reading.

About half way through I assumed this was going to be a predictable ending, with a predictable love-interest….and boy was I wrong.

I do think that the chemistry between characters could have been deeper, and a few moments of repetitiveness, BUT as a debut, I thought this was great! I cannot wait to see where book 2 goes and what Miranda L. writes in the future beyond this series, because I already know she’s going to get better and better with each book 👏🏼

[Brandihreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book in TWO DAYS!!! The world-building is incredible, making it easy to become fully immersed and invested. I loved how it tackled depression and grief in this. As well as the unique magic system. ✨

The characters are amazing! Astraia, a fierce warrior, is haunted by her past and learning to control her bonds, all while being hunted by a tyrant king and navigating a destiny she doesn’t fully understand. And then there’s Draven, a powerful broody hunter with many secrets. He didn’t expect she would rather burn than be taken. The slow-burn tension between them is perfection! I’m totally rooting for them. Plus, the twist on the “who did this to you” trope is 👌🏼! I also wonder if we will be seeing more of Caelan in book two. 👀

That ending though… had my jaw dropping! I’m still reeling and wondering what’s next?! So many questions are swirling in my head, and I can’t wait for book two to come! 👀✨

Add to TBR if you love:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced proximity
✨ Yearning
✨ Plot twists
✨ Trauma healing
✨ No spice

Thank you to the author for the early copy!

[Ally Erickson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The only reason I finished reading this book and didn’t DNF is because I have a reading goal I want to reach before the end of the year. I knew about 45% into the book that it wasn’t going to be my personal favorite, but I made it to the end nonetheless. This book follows Astraia, who could not be more insufferable. She’s your typical fantasy FMC- chosen by the gods, magically blessed, somehow a better fighter/archer/soldier than all of the men, and stunningly attractive. There’s nothing wrong with these characteristics, but the point is that nothing stood out about Astraia, or Traia, as she’s called. She’s also insanely quick to anger. She got annoyed and aggressive over practically everything Draven said/did. Some of it seemed warranted but other times felt unnecessary. Her constant anger made her seem like an extremely immature character, and she’s supposed to be in her early 20s??

Draven, the MMC/love interest, was a flat character. He shows up at the start of the story and captures Astraia, saying he’s going to take her to king because she’s a Starborne. Draven is a bounty hunter. Next thing you know, he’s in love with her. I swear it happened within 3 seconds. He doesn’t make any declarations of love, but he abandons her and tells her it’s because she’ll be safer without him. This is one of the many things Astraia gets angry over. She can’t decide if she wants him around or not, despite the fact that he captured her and was going to give her to the evil king to be killed/locked up. Huh?

In the meantime, we met Caelen. Astraia was previously engaged to Caelen and completely in love with him. She shows up on his doorstep to ask for a favor and acts like she can’t stand him? And then on the next page she’s reminiscing about their history and realizes how much she missed him?? And suddenly she’s falling for him again even though she (somehow) has feelings for Draven??

Caelen and Astraia reconnect and end up kissing. Caelen is still head over heels for Traia. She seems to reciprocate but can’t stop thinking about Draven.

Draven eventually shows back up, claiming he couldn’t stay away and never should have left. Every sentence that came out of his mouth made me cringe. The romance didn’t feel real in any way. The foreshadowing made it clear that something was going to happen between Draven and Astraia at the end of the book, and that was one of the few things I liked about this story. The ending was twisty and somewhat unexpected. Will not be continuing the series because I’d like to imagine that Astraia remains where she is at the end of this book.

[Caroline Cardamone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great romantasy. It’s fast paced and has a unique (at times a little confusing) world with a cool magic system. There is a lot of mystery surrounding both main characters, but I enjoyed their journey together and them falling in love. There isn’t spice which I prefer - the focus is more on the emotional connection of the characters. I also loved their journey together twists at the end which made me look forward to a second book.

At times I wished the world was “built out” a little more. Like maybe more side characters with important roles and some more story happening outside Astraia’s immediate needs. I’m looking forward to more development in the next book.

[Kyla Harney · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I want to thank Miranda L for letting me be an ARC reader for her debut novel. I am so happy and excited to have gotten to read this before release and here’s my review.

The novel started out what I had immediately thought was predictable. The way the romance was unfolding was similar to other romantasy reads, however, as the story went on and plot unfolded, I was SHOCKED at the twist. The world building is very good but simple enough to follow, and the stars being the “gods” or “deities” in this book is very creative. Also, the way my emotions were played with as early as chapter 4??!!! Let’s just say there’s one character I hope Astraia gets revenge on… Now, there were two shocking pieces at the end that I NEED to know how they play out. I will be continuing this series. You know how some books by indie authors read like indie author books? I did t get that from this book at all, read it on two separate days and very, VERY pleasantly surprised and excited for the rest of The Celestial Court Series.

[Shawn Burt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for allowing me to read this arc. I really enjoyed the storyline. This arc captivated me immediately with its killer prologue and opening line. The character development was really good. Everything about this book was well executed.
Tropes

Enemies to lovers + Forced proximity
Yearning
Plot twists
Trauma healing
No spice

[Sarah K · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prologue hooked me! If only the rest of the book was written with as much emotion.

What I liked:
- Star system ✨
- Magic system
- An adult FMC (we don’t know her age but she is implied to be an adult)
- fantasy/adventure components of plot
- new approach for magical/supernatural creatures
- historical context shared as chapter headers (similar to fourth wing and provides nice foreshadowing and world building context)
- the ending 🤩
- the ebook map illustration is actually legible on kindle 🤓


What I disliked:
- repetitive use of adjectives was exhausting
- unbelievable character relationship
- writing fell flat
- timeline (less than 2 weeks for entire novel)
- not enemies to lovers
- lack of believable risk/danger for FMC who’s supposed to be the bounty hunter’s captive


High level- With all of that said, I like to support new authors and I think this one can turn this series into something great so I’ll probably give the next book in the series a shot. The cliffhanger for book 1 was fantastic and I really hope the author drags it out in book 2.



Why I didn’t like the book:
This is not a real enemies to lovers/hunter prey story. I really wanted to love this story because the star system is really cool and there is so much opportunity for the plot line. Had the characters emotions actually matched their actions, this could have become a new favorite series. Unfortunately, this new author has a lot of opportunity to invoke emotions with her writing instead of just writing the words. The plot is great but the relationships and emotions fell flat.

Please use a variety of adjectives. The FMC basically calls the MMC insufferable or a brute in every conversation throughout the entire book. Normally this repetition wouldn’t bother me, but 90% of the time the MMC was not being insufferable and there was only one instance (maybe two) in the entire novel where the MMC was actually a brute. It wouldn’t have been too distracting for the reader except him being a brute was the entire plot point for the FMC to hate him. This made it really hard to care about the story because the writing was so unbelievable. Yes he was technically a bounty hunter trying to arrest her but he spent the entire novel protecting her. We knew so little about the MMC that there was no display of risk or real danger for the FMC.

Also, be prepared for it NOT to be a slow burn. The entire book happens in less than two weeks. Enemies don’t turn into lovers in fewer than 14 days, especially when they don’t spend the entire book in each other’s vicinity! It didn’t help that the MMC calls her “mine” AND the FMC starts to fall for the MMC before the book even hits 20% (all while she reminds herself that she wants to kill him). There is enough happening in this book that the timeline could have easily been dragged out to be several weeks which would have made the forced proximity trope more believable for the reader.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this book was beautifully written. Every description of what the FMC was seeing, hearing, feeling, even smelling, was lush and vivid. It made for a lovely immersive experience.
I liked the world, the magic, and the underlying conflict and mystery of the stars being "gone". I loved the theme of fear being an enemy that can and should be defeated. It is a compelling theme that is underused in literature, so it was wonderful to find it here.
The romance did not convince me. It was instalust, in spite of the author trying to present it as enemies to lovers(?) Or at least hate to love(?). And also slow burn(?). I'm not entirely sure. The characters had no chemistry. I only knew they were attracted to each other bc the author repeatedly said they were. My favorite portion of the book was when the MC wasn't there. 😅 This had no spice, although as it's presented as slowburn, there may be spice later.
The twist at 97% was totally out of the blue as well as unnecessary. There was enough going on; I had enough reasons to root for the FMC without this completely random thing being thrown in. Ah well, I'll probably read the next book. This one definitely captured my imagination and emotions, and was a delightful read, in spite of my complaints.
If you do like a stabby FMC and lots of smack talk from a girl who never wins a fight--literally never--the MMC saves her 100% of the time, and that's not even a spoiler--then you'll probably have no complaints at all!

[revenant_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My logic and my feelings are telling me two very different things about the events that take place in this story. And I’m really not sure which one to go with. I’m going to need the remainder of this series published ASAP for the sake of my peace of mind.
Beneath the Silent Stars is a romantasy for those who love a FMC who is still figuring out her way in life. She has some heavy guilt and is slowly learning how to break down her walls. Our MMC comes across as hard to read and keeps everything on a need-to-know basis. And you, the reader - do not need to know apparently. So go into this prepared to feel everything right alongside the FMC, because her frustration is my frustration.
There are a couple pieces of the story that do feel a tiny bit repetitive but not enough that it takes away from the story whatsoever. I’d highly recommend this and can’t wait to see how these characters progress as the series goes on.
**I received this book as an advanced reader copy and will only be leaving reviews with my voluntary and honest feedback **

[Lori Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished this one and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have not given it a star rating yet, I’m still sitting with it, BUT, this was a great read, I had a really good time! This is a debut novel from an INDIE author - I wasn’t 100% sure what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised! I was interested in the storyline from the beginning and invested in Astraia pretty quickly. When we met Draven it was non stop snark, banter, and near death shenanigans and then about halfway through, ASTRAIA comes out with the “who did this to you?” And then Draven starts dropping the BEST lines - “If I had my way, I would call you my queen. I would worship you as the Constellations are worshipped.” HELLO SIR! Intrigue and adventure ensue, along with more characters and more layers to the story, needless to say, I’m impressed! Oh, and the cliffhanger we’re left on? Well…that just wasn’t even nice. Now we have to WAIT to see what happens next! This one is definitely worth the read, I think the next one will be even better.

[Sarah | TwoBestiesOneBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up.

“𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒓𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆.”

I mean that ending.. so good! The writing and the ending are what really sealed this as a 4.5-star read for me. The prose was so vivid and cinematic that I could see the story play out—especially Astraia in those intense fighting scenes.

Our FMC, Astraia, is still navigating her grief and haunted past, and you truly feel every ounce of her frustration as she tries to claw through it all. It did get a bit slower for me in the middle (some scenes felt a little repetitive), but once I hit the 70% mark—oh, it never let up.

This is a seriously impressive debut, and I’m so grateful to the author for the early read. You can feel the passion and care on every page.

✨ dystopian fantasy
✨ forbidden magic
✨ SLOW BURN
✨ tension
✨ forced proximity
✨ no spice (only kissing)

“𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒌𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆.”

I still have so many unanswered questions—and I cannot wait to see where Astraia’s story goes next in book two.

[Teish Welsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this so much! I really didn't want to put this book down. It's been a while since I've had that rapid position change - jaw dropping - flip back a few pages to make sure I read it properly - silently scream at the penny-drop moment.

I can't wait for book 2 🙌

[Katarína Suchoňová · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing for debut! Unique magic system, full of mystery and betrayal. Heroine with a depth. Enjoyed this!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
What a great start to this series! Action packed, romance, but not spicy, twists and turns. I can't wait for book 2!

[Jocelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I knew you would come. You always do.”

Astraia has been on the run her whole life, but now she js a target simply for being gifted by the Constellations. A target that a certain bounty hunter cannot let escape. Can she escape imprisonment while also fighting the monsters inside her?

Fun fact: the author, Miranda, wrote this book while battling severe postpartum depression. Writing was a way to help her cope. She used her experience to represent depression in this book. This alone made me want to read it as I have had postpartum depression myself.

This was such a unique read! I’ve never read anything involving the Constellations or “star magic” so this was new for me. It made it feel less copy and paste, which I appreciate. I think we all know how similar fantasy books can become.

First off, the FMC, Astraia, is very relatable. She is kind, loyal, cares for others at her own risk, rebellious, strong, and resilient. She pushes through her depression and grief everyday. She heals the sick even though it could lead to her getting caught. She helps friends when they’re in need. She is also very powerful and gifted in more ways than normal, which makes her coveted as a weapon.

Draven, the MMC, is fierce, mouthy, protective, and very morally grey. He works for the king and is out to arrest Astraia so he can be rewarded. I loved the banter and tension between the two. I can’t decide if Draven can be trusted or not.

The ending had my jaw on the floor! I was genuinely so surprised and did not see it coming. And it course it ends on a cliffhanger. I need book two yesterday!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The storyline was interesting, the few characters were likeable, the writing flowed well, the pacing was steady, and the tension was great!

The main thing keeping it from being a five-star read for me was the depression aspect being repetitive and the general lack of side characters. I appreciated the depression representation, but it was a very constant theme throughout. And aside from one character, Astraia and Draven were really it. Any other characters were only to advance the plot. So I’m hoping the next book will have more side characters that are involved that could add more depth. Other than that, I had no other qualms!

If you’re looking for a good dystopian fantasy with enemies to lovers, one bed, a unique magic system, political intrigue, yearning, and action, that has a vibe similar to the Crimson Moth duology, this book is for you!

[C Jolene · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The world-building was well done, there's a lot going on but the lore was dished out in bite-sized chunks so learning about it felt natural. Astraia is an appealing FMC. She's not boring by any means. She has scars and baggage, but is interesting enough to hold the story. She's not great at banter, she talks too much to truly be good at it, but she gave it some good attempts. Draven is an interesting MMC, full of secrets and depth. I'll be excited to see the layers peeled back so we can understand his true motives and feelings. I'm excited to see where the series goes. I was simultaneously satisfied with the ending (as much as one can be with a massive cliffhanger!) and unsurprised (which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it just wasn't shocking to me).

There were a few things that didn't seem to line up for me story-wise, but overall they were minor. I was not a fan of the middle, particularly Caelen. I'm not entirely sure why his character was necessary at all. I think he could have been cut and nothing would have changed. Hopefully he adds something to future books though. I also thought Astraia and Draven had too few interactions when Astraia started having feelings for him. It just felt rushed to me and unearned.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and will be waiting not so patiently for book 2. The writing and storytelling is on point, and the things that bothered me are mostly nitpicky. I'm excited to see where this world leads us.

[Julianne Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did not see that plot twist!

The whole story was quite intriguing. We have the prologue with the shattering of stars (their gods) and the reader knows the truth about what happened while the people of the land don't fully understand. People called Starborne have received gifts from the Stars in forms of being able to use their Star's power. I questioned why starborne were being hunted when it seems like they are needed, but we get to the ending, and I started to put two and two together.

A fun journey along the way of the hunter trying to capture Astraia and bring her to the king who has been hunting starborne because they have become "enemies". Of course we need to have a hunter falling for the hunted. What is unique to Astraia is that she is bonded to two stars. So she has two powers. One to heal and one of light so blinding it can kill.

Overall it was fun to read and learn more about the world and the characters, but that ending changed everything! I literally did not see it coming. There were no signs pointing to it and I loved it! Usually the author gives it away through little easter eggs here and there, but this one just flipped everything on its head.

[Denise Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneath the Silent Stars was a genuinely enjoyable read largely because of its unique magic system, which felt fresh and imaginative in a genre that often feels recycled. That said, I was disappointed to see the familiar romantasy trope resurface where the MMC takes the FMC against her will, she despises him, and then inevitably falls for him anyway. While the slight love triangle added tension and the ending absolutely made me happy, my hope for book two is that the FMC actually follows through on her anger and heartbreak. I want her to continue to hate him for his betrayal and for her and her former betrothed to be the ones who finally end him. I am honestly exhausted by the formula where the villain treats the FMC terribly and she still chooses him every time, while the good man who has loved her all along is sidelined. I want a happy ending for the good guy for once. The ending of this book was chef’s kiss, but if the sequel has her taking him back, I will be done with the series. I am craving a romantasy author who is bold enough to break the mold and tell a truly different story.

[Kelly Minnigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Available to everyone 10/28!!!

I have to say, I really liked about 80% of this book. I am super grateful to have received an advanced copy & appreciate being a part of this authors new fan club. My open, honest review….Majority of this story had me engaged & needing to know what would happen next. The first few chapters were a bit confusing and hard to follow, had to really concentrate and reread. Took a break then went back to continue. As I read on the story got clearer & the characters grew on me. Some left me frustrated though. And the ending 😖
I’m really hoping there’s a 2nd book & the end is intended as a cliffhanger and not literally the end. It was super abrupt & left me rather irritated. I feel like this was intended to leave me wanting more but honestly it just ticked me off. Everything prior to the last 2 chapters was leading me up to something emotionally brilliant & then she slammed the door in my face “THE END”
That said, if there’s a book 2 I’d still go read it cuz I need HEA.

[Celina Mlj · Rating 2 out of 5]

At the 23% mark she tells the MMC that kidnapped, chained and intends to give her up to the evil king her deepest secret/nightmare.

Huh? Where is the enemies to lovers? Why doesn’t she use the opportunities to kill him? There are more than one.

I can’t with the unnecessary and illogical use of inaction to further the plot.

[Ellie Parker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Poorly written, rushed, predictable, just another chat gpt shell of a typical romantasy. Bummer because the world had so much potential. Not even worth to read, no detail to build characters or storylines or anything it was just very surface level.

[Laura McHann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am absolutely thrilled to share my thoughts on this stunning new fantasy release! I couldn't put this book down! I read it in just one weekend!

From the very first page of the prologue, I was pulled into a wondrous adventure and a world built around a fascinating magical system. The world-building here is detailed and rich, instantly immersing you in a high-stakes setting. My only critique—and really, it's just a tease for the next book—is that I wish we knew more about the enigmatic Celestials and the powers they bestow upon the Starborne.

A Fierce Heroine and Intriguing Romance
The story kicks off with Astraia, a phenomenal Female Main Character (FMC) who is the very definition of strong, resilient, and brave. She is a truly complex blend of Feyre (from ACOTAR) and Katniss (from The Hunger Games)—fiery, determined, and a quick learner with a bow. Watching her battle her troubled past, hidden powers, and the inner turmoil of guilt and grief was deeply compelling. I felt such compassion for her story.

But what truly stole the show were the main characters' interactions! The banter, the secrets, the shared hardships, and the growth—I couldn't get enough of being right there alongside them in their adventures. And let's talk about that love triangle—it was incredibly intriguing! I found myself constantly torn between the powerful Lord and the rugged Bounty Hunter. The slow-burn romance and sizzling tension were everything I look for in a fantasy romance.

Pacing and That Ending!
The pacing of Beneath the Silent Stars was spot on. The plot came together quickly, and not once did a scene or moment feel like it was dragging. It kept my interest completely captivated, and I was constantly itching to pick it back up and dive back into Astraia's world. I loved feeling totally immersed, like I was physically right there in the thick of the action.

And the ending? Oh my Celestials, that ending was a sucker punch! It was truly shocking, delivering a mix of twists I had half-anticipated and others I did not see coming, capped off by one completely unexpected turn that has left me reeling. I have so many burning questions!

If you love a complex heroine, deep world-building, and a heart-wrenching slow-burn romance with an explosive cliffhanger, you need this book. I'll be impatiently waiting for the next installment to find out what happens to our fierce FMC!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

[Bris26 · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes survival isn’t the victory. Choosing to rise anyway is.”

That line pretty much sums up the heart of this book.

Beneath the Silent Stars is one of those stories that quietly gets under your skin. It’s dark, emotional, and hauntingly beautiful — filled with witches, hunters, and gods, but what really grabbed me was the humanity in it. Astraia, the main character, isn’t your typical heroine. She’s broken in places, scarred by her past, and still trying to find what it means to truly live after so much loss. I loved how raw and real she felt.

The romance between Astraia and Draven is a slow burn in the best way — full of tension, mistrust, and those quiet moments that make your heart ache. It’s not all sunshine and roses; it’s messy and hard, but it feels earned.

The writing itself is gorgeous — poetic without being over the top. There are lines that made me stop and reread them just to feel them again. The world-building is dark and immersive, and though there were a few slower parts in the middle, I honestly didn’t mind. It gave me space to breathe and feel everything.

By the time I finished, I felt like I’d been on this emotional journey of grief, power, and rediscovering hope. The ending left me wanting more (in that slightly tortured “I need the next book right now” kind of way).

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 for me — emotional, intense, and beautifully written.

If you love fantasy with real heart, morally gray characters, and a story that reminds you how powerful it is to rise from what breaks you — Beneath the Silent Stars is worth every page.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was an incredibly slow burn for me. It took a long time for me to feel truly intrigued and invested — probably around the halfway mark.

At the time, I didn’t realise this was the start of a series, so as I reached the end and there was still so much adventuring left to do, I felt a little deflated knowing I would need to commit to more books to get the answers. And there are a lot of questions left unanswered!

That being said, the writing is strong, the characters are complex, and our FMC is navigating grief and emotional turmoil following events in her life.

I really loved the premise of this book, particularly how much it hinges on mental health, and the idea that she can better control her powers by gaining a stronger handle on her depression and grief.
I also found the themes surrounding trust, betrayal, and the lingering question mark over the love interest really compelling. It added an extra layer of tension and uncertainty that kept me curious about where the story might be heading.

“You cannot stop the dark... It can never be stopped. And you will watch, helpless, as it consumes everything and everyone. You are a waste, a disappointment, a failure.”

“The black void of her mind.... It would be too easy, too simple, to let it consume her. For years she had fought blindly in the dark, struggling to catch her breath. She was so tired of fighting, tired of feeling empty.”

I’m still unsure whether I enjoyed it enough to continue with the series. It has a strong premise, it was just a little too slow for my personal taste.