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Of Fire and Stars
416 pages
A sweeping, slow-burn fantasy romance where the sparks of forbidden magic and forbidden love threaten to burn down a kingdom.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like stepping into a classic, sweeping fantasy kingdom, but with a deeply personal, romantic core that centers the girls who are usually sidelined. The pace is steady, carefully balancing the tension of a murder mystery with the delicate, slow-burn blossoming of a forbidden sapphic romance. The atmosphere is steeped in clandestine meetings, the earthy scent of warhorses, and the crackling danger of hidden fire magic. It is an earnest and hopeful read, grounded by accessible prose that focuses heavily on the internal emotional landscapes of its dual protagonists. It will thoroughly delight readers who love court intrigue, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and stories about young women choosing their own hearts over the crushing weight of royal duty.
- Mood
- atmospheric
- tense
- romantic
- clandestine
- Tone
- earnest
- romantic
- suspenseful
- hopeful
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- duty versus desire · embracing hidden identities · forbidden love · coming of age · political intrigue
- The writing
- Accessible and emotionally driven, with a strong focus on sensory details surrounding magic, nature, and the subtle shifts of a slow-burn romance.
- The arc
- Moves from the suffocating weight of royal expectation and hidden fear to the exhilarating freedom of self-acceptance and forbidden love.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave cozy but high-stakes YA fantasy featuring slow-burn sapphic romance, courtly intrigue, and girls who ride warhorses.
Content notes
- assassination
- violence
- fire-related trauma
About the book
Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.
Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.
When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.
But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.
Description from Open Library.
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