Name: Heavenly Bodies
Series: Heavenly Bodies #1
Author: Imani Erriu
Publisher: Penguin
Format: Kindle
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Spice Rating: Open Door🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rating:
Synopsis: Goodreads
“You know the most dangerous kind of villain? A woman with nothing left to lose.”
In a world ruled by the cruel and merciless Stars, Elara has been cursed by fate. A prophecy promises she will fall for a Star, but that it will kill them both.
So when Ariete, Star of Wrath, War and Chaos, descends to wreak havoc on Elara’s kingdom, she flees her home—the Kingdom of Night—for the neighbouring Helios, Kingdom of Light.
And strides straight into the arms of an enemy prince.
Fearing that Ariete might turn his sights to Helios next, Prince Lorenzo is forced to train Elara as a weapon—one worthy of battling against the tyrannical reign of the Stars. But there are shadows even within the Kingdom of Light—and they threaten to reveal the darkness in Lorenzo’s past and the ancient magic that slumbers in Elara’s veins.
And with it all comes an undeniable, star-crossed pull between Elara and Lorenzo that neither can seem to resist…
Review:
Where do I begin with Heavenly Bodies? Because whilst I loved this book, it was also absolutely not what I expected. I knew very little going into this – all I knew was that there was a prophecy that said our FMC was destined to fall for a Star and it will kill them both. Because you know me – I don’t read the blurbs! So, that was all I knew.
Safe to say that not only did this book deliver on that prophecy, but it delivered on so much more. This is a Young Adult book with emaculate tension and yearning!! When this is done correctly – it’s better than any spice, I gurantee it! And Imani single handedly reminded me that this was true.
Elara, our kidnapped Queen, and Enzo our kidnapping Prince are thrown into a situation together where they have no choice but to cooperate and work together in order to train Elara to kill the star she’s fated to love and kill. And of course throughout the forced proximity we get some excellent bickering, and the aforementioned tension and yearning. But we also get some great friendships. There are some side characters that feel like they’re becoming the ultimate found family and I’m so excited to see where they go in book 2.
I am gutted I didn’t get to read this earlier in the year when the book club actually read it, but I am very glad I finally picked it up. And hey, Fallen Stars releases in November so not too long to go before I can actually find out what happens next! Because I swear the last 10% had my head spinning – that whole ending was wonderfully cruel.
There is of course some world building that does take a bit to wrap your head around (or try to ignore and hope it just starts making sense – which is my go to if the world building isn’t clicking with me) but I do think Imani handles it well. Plus she does provide a rather large glossery that you can refer to if that kind of thing helps you (it doesn’t help me, so I end up going oo nice and then never looking at it again…).
All in all, this is an excellent YA romantasy that does yearning beautifully. It was a great read, with easy writing that made it easy to fly through. I’m so glad I finally got the prompt ”read a book with stars on the cover” as I did indeed put that in the jar especially to have an excuse to read Heavenly Bodies.
“A woman can be both, you know. Soft and fierce. She does not have to choose.”
Reading With Tyler 
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