Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst - A Book Review

Photo Credit: @ThrityOfDarkClockwork

Betrothed since her childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. This marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret - she possesses and Affinity for fire, a dangerous gift for the future queen to have in a Kingdom where magic is forbidden. 

Denna must now learn the ways of her new home whilst hiding her magic, which grows stronger every day. To make matters worse, Princess Amaranthine - called Mare - is assigned to teaching her how to ride Mynaria's formidable warhorses; she is intimidating, prickly and unconventional. Worst of all, she is the sister of her betrothed.

Reluctantly, Mare and Denna join forces when a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling. The two surprise each other as they become closer and soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more. Acting on their feelings could be deadly, and they are forced to choose between duty and their hearts. 

Of Fire and Stars treads over very familiar ground - a fantasy kingdom where magic is feared, a princess who mush hide her true powers the princess falling in love with a forbidden person. All of this would be an enjoyable read, but Coulthurst surprises us with a refreshing twist - the princess doesn't fall in love with a stable boy or the captain of the guard, she falls in love with another princess.

Here's the thing: their love is forbidden and could potentially tear the kingdom apart, but not because they are both women. Other same sex couples are casually mentioned in the book. It's Denna's sense of duty and self-doubt that stands between her and Mare. There are too many fantasy books out there in which the author falls back on existing prejudices rather than creating ones unique to their story. This book is bold enough to create a world that moves beyond the prejudices we are all fighting in our real world.

One thing that lets this book down is that most of the story is spent in a castle. It makes sense in terms of the subtext of the story, but I wanted to see Denna and Mare out on the road, free to explore more of this world. Hopefully we get to see this in the sequel! I definitley recommended this book if you are looking for a fantasy novel with LGBT+ Representation. The world's view of sexuality is extremely balances. The problem is never that there are two princesses in love, the issue is that one of these girls is betrothed to the other one's brother.

The magic system is incredibly developed for what was (at the time I read it) a stand alone fantasy novel. It was unique and well explained and I am looking forward to seeing how it expands in an extended series.

In conclusion, this is a very good book that I highly recommend. I am looking forward to reading the sequel (eventually), but if you are looking for a fantasy with a W/W romance, this is the book for you!