THE STARLIGHT HEIR

A royal invitation turns a talented bladesmith’s life upside down, forcing her to flee with an illegitimate prince.

Suraya Saab’s dealings with royalty usually come in the form of commissions to make weapons imbued with some of the world’s last remaining slivers of magic. Now, however, a glittering envelope arrives with a different request: King Zarek wants her to travel to the capital city of Kaldari to meet the crown prince, along with many other women. In public, the palace has positioned this event as a grand search for Prince Javed’s bride. In reality, the royal family is looking for a woman integral to an ancient prophecy, who’s rumored to hold the power of the stars. There are two distinct parts to this romance, inspired by Persian and Indian mythology. First is the fish-out-of-water depiction of Suraya navigating the capital and royal court, which her forge and her background as a tradeswoman hardly prepared her for. Joining the throngs of other women competing for Prince Javed’s hand, Suraya finds that it isn’t the crown prince who captures her attention but his illegitimate half brother, Roshan. When the event is interrupted by a rebel militia and Prince Javed tips his hand about his true intentions, Suraya and Roshan plot an escape—and with no one to rely on but each other, something else begins to take root in their unlikely partnership. The romance starts strong, with Suraya questioning whether Roshan is someone she can trust, but fizzles out once they both confess their feelings. Howard also uses some language that feels out of place in her fantastical setting, such as when Suraya talks about “book boyfriends” with her friend Laleh: “Fictional men never disappoint.” Overall, though, a lovely blend of worldbuilding, intrigue, and action keeps the momentum going.

An exciting and romantic tale with high stakes and intricately detailed mythology.