Review by Ronny


Heavenly Bodies is an addictive and epic Romantasy that will take you on an unforgettable journey.
Favourite Quote:
“I would let the whole world burn if it kept you warm.”
Book Synopsis:
“I defy the stars.”
In a world where no entities exist but the Stars, cruel and merciless gods that watch over the world, Elara has been cursed by fate. A prophecy that promises she will fall for a Star, and it will kill them both.
But when one descends to wreak havoc on Elara’s Kingdom, she is forced to flee into the arms of her enemy in the neighbouring country.
As she learns more about her own magic, and the depth of the Stars’ deceit, she also finds herself learning more about the country she is forced to take refuge in, and the enemy prince forced to train her into a weapon.
Something dark brews within her, a power made of night and shadows that begs to be broken free.
Review:
There is nothing better than finding a new fantasy series that you are obsessed with. It’s hard to describe the high you feel realizing you have a whole new world to fall in love with, and the adventure you are about to go on is going to tug real hard on your emotions. Heavenly Bodies is my new obsession. To say that I am a little devasted that the next book doesn’t come out until the fall or next winter would be an understatement. The last few chapters in this book hit you hard and fast, and the ending just has you needing to know what will happen next. Talk about a perfect cliffhanger.
Now, I will say that the first couple of chapters are a bit jarring in the sense that I did find myself trying to get my bearings in this new world I found myself in. For the first few pages, I found myself saying, “Wait, what is happening?” But once you get past those chapters, my god, the story and the CHEMISTRY between Elara and Enzo is just so engrossing and delicious I couldn’t put this book down.
First, let’s chat about the fantasy elements in this story. Fantasy is a tricky genre to write because authors have the difficult task of ensuring that their readers have all the tools and knowledge they need to navigate through the world they have created. The world-building also has to be cohesive and interesting to its readers. I am so glad to say that Imani has masterfully created a fantasy novel that is rich with detail and so interesting. I really am obsessed with the world Imani has created. Imani drew her inspiration from astrological signs when creating this world. Humans have powers that are believed to come from the Stars (who are like gods and goddesses). The Stars have their own domains, aka Kingdoms, and are worshipped by humans. Near the end of the book, Imani expands her world even more and leaves her readers dying to explore these new, unknown parts. I devoured the rich history and myths that are woven throughout this book. Setting aside the relationship between Enzo and Elara (which I will talk about later), this story focuses on this prophecy that was told, which stated that a Star cannot kill Elara and that she was destined to kill the king of the Stars. The king from the kingdom of Helios wants to use Elara as a weapon to kill the Stars because he no longer wants to be under their control. There is plenty of deadly politics, betrayal, and intrigue woven throughout this story, which often kept me on the edge of my seat.
This is a Romantasy, which means romance plays a prominent role in the story. The relationship between Elara and Enzo is perfection. Elara is a sassy, brave, strong character and doesn’t take crap from anyone, especially Enzo. Her growth comes from overcoming past traumas that have stopped her from reaching her full potential. I really enjoyed her character. She’s not perfect by any means, but it is her flaws that make her stand out to me. Enzo was delightful and said the swooniest things. He comes across as this playboy, who is also this ruthless warrior who is feared by many. His character has plenty of depth underneath that playboy warrior exterior and I loved peeling back those layers to what is really going on in his head. This is an enemies to lovers, slow-burn romance. I adored that angry, lusty banter between Elara and Enzo. They kept each other on their toes, and I loved it when one would befuddle the other. It was catnip for my soul. There was just something about the chemistry between them that was so addictive. You can see that they are meant for each other; they are truly fated mates. This book has its spicy moments, which are delicious. Imani also is going to be tugging at those heartstrings; you have been warned.
Heavenly Bodies is brilliant, breathtaking, and an amazing start to a new Romantasy series.
Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.