As summer is in full swing and my daily life gets busier, I decided to indulge in some light romantic reads. “The Stars Would Curse Us” was the second book on my list to help relieve the tension. To my surprise, it turned out to be enjoyable, gripping, and had an ending I didn’t see coming at all.
Book Review: The Stars Would Curse Us
- Series: Book #1 from The stars would curse us
- Author: Stephanie Combs & Valerie Rivers
- 367 pages, Kindle Edition
- First published January 10, 2024

Plot
The story features two protagonists, Aella and Arianwen, from the court of the water elves, Argenti. Aella is chosen to participate in the annual draft, where the winner will marry the Prince of Iris. Many see this as a huge opportunity to escape poverty, but in reality, being chosen is like a death sentence. Aella is forced to fight for a man she should despise. Yet, when Kal is with her, there’s no sign of the cruel Prince of Esterra.
Arianwen, on the other hand, isn’t chosen this year. Instead, she must marry a stranger selected by her family. Ari has exactly four months to complete the traditional seclusion away from the city to prepare for family life. Her life changes completely when she decides to save a complete stranger, staying true to her healing vows. What she was taught to believe as a child turns out to be a well-disguised lie.
Evaluation
I don’t mind books with multiple main characters. Initially, I was a bit skeptical about how the authors would tie the two storylines together, but they did a great job. Both heroines were equally interesting, and their stories were filled with suspense and romance.
Esterra’s world was also fascinating. I liked the idea of elemental magic, even though it’s not new to the genre. The authors did a good job of giving the races individuality through their outward features and descriptions of their possessions. For a first book in a series, I think the story has a lot of potential to develop. I was able to fully immerse myself in the world and story, and the open-ended chapters kept me eager to keep reading.
The romance in “The Stars Would Curse Us” was also well done. The two male characters were quite different, and I found it hard to pick a favorite. Up until the end, I thought Wynn would be my favorite because he was more open and showed how much he cared for Ari. On the other hand, Kal annoyed me because he lacked character, and I wanted him to show some personality. But I think that’s saved for the second book, given how the story ended.
In Conclusion
The authors did a great job of presenting and building their characters. Combined with the rising tension, this made me “devour” the story in one day. Somehow, these two heroines managed to get under my skin, but at times, I found their romance more interesting than their misadventures.
The book isn’t long, and the writing style is engaging. I was initially thinking of giving “The Stars Would Curse Us” three stars, but recent events have made me lean towards a solid four.
I recommend this book if you’re a fan of stories with “draft” elements like “The Hunger Games” and “The Serpent and the Wings of the Night,” enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romance, and forbidden love. The romance level is 🔥🔥🔥.
The Iris were sent to us from the stars, but their rule is controlling and oppressive. Every season, we send our brothers and sisters to the marriage drafts . . . but the selected never return.
Aella – My world falls apart when my best friend and I are drafted to compete for the hand of Esterra’s most eligible bachelor, the devastatingly handsome Iris prince. As an elemental fae, it should be the greatest honor, but the competition is filled with violence. I question my true purpose as we fight to survive in games rigged against us.
Arianwen – Life should be simple—go on my rite and return to marry a man I’ve never met—but when a handsome stranger falls from the sky, everything is turned upside down. Secrets and lies unravel, leading me to question everything as I find myself pulled into a rebellion. My heart longs for a better world, but am I willing to forsake duty in pursuit of it?
We both face choices:
LOVE or DUTY
LOYALTY or ADVENTURE
FIGHT or SURRENDER