I have to admit, the first thing that caught my eye (literally) about The Starlit Shadow was the gorgeous cover. The masks hint at the intrigue and concept that not everything or everyone might be as they seem, as well as the main character herself — who is a courtesan for a house that deals in magic, something that is now forbidden in this fantasy world.
The two main characters should be enemies, but they find themselves with a common goal in restoring magic, as its absence is negatively impacting the larger world around them. This concept is genuinely interesting; the idea of a world where magic is dying and needs to be restored adds stakes beyond just the romance, especially when there is political tension and unrest.
However, I did have some issues with the writing itself. While the actual descriptions are good, the story struggles with character dynamics and the writing overall seemed to have an issue with telling the reader what is happening and why as opposed to showing the reader. This makes the development of some of the relationships and plotlines feel a bit lifeless.
There is definitely an insta-lust connection here, as well as many other popular romance tropes like “who did this to you,” the forbidden aspect, fated mates, etc. I’m someone who prefers a much slower burn, and this just felt rushed. I personally needed more buildup and more tension. The flip side of this is that the relationship turns out to be really supportive and non-toxic, which is honestly refreshing in this genre.
I’d recommend The Starlit Shadow for readers new to romantasy or those who especially love trope heavy fantasy romance. While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, it delivers an entertaining story that leaves you hopeful the next book in the series will build upon the political intrigue the first left off on.
Many thanks to Cranthorpe Millner Publishers for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.