Of Fire and Stars – Audrey Coulthurst
Book Details
A Royal Romance with a Fiery Twist
As previously stated, I am a sucker for romance, so when I found Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst back in 2021 I was pretty excited to get started. Imagine my surprise when the classic “pretty princess” was more than she appeared. Intelligent, strong, and passionate, Princess Dennaleia of Havemont (Denna) was a pleasant change to some of the dreary princesses I had read of earlier that month.
Promised to the Prince of Mynaria at the age of six, she’s been stuck in a role she never asked for. She spent her youth preparing to rule at his side, so by all outward appearances she is docile and ready to serve the crown, but a power lurks beneath her skin. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous trait to have in a world where all but one Kingdom forbids the use of magic. (To no one’s surprise, that singular kingdom is deemed the “evil” one—always has to be one, right?)
The Prince’s older sister, Princess Amaranthine—Mare for short—is the rebel princess of Mynaria. Short tempered and uninterested in her royal “duties”, she prefers wearing pants and chilling with her horse, Flicker. Snarky and strong, she shows Denna that everything is a choice and that choosing yourself can be the hardest, most fulfilling choice you can make.
“An Affinity, much like a heart, cannot be changed.”
Thoughts
The story starts with Denna’s arrival in Mynaria, meeting her betrothed (respect to him, ’cause even though this isn’t her choice, she still compliments his appearance. At least we know he’s not ugly), his Kingly father, peoples of the court, and an uninterested Mare. Nervous on the inside and calm and collected on the outside, Denna is seemingly prepared for anything this new Kingdom may throw at her—except riding horses. Kinda hard to ride horses when you’re from a Kingdom located on a snowy mountain.
So with the help of the King’s brother and steward to the crown, Casmiel (Cas) dubs the two princesses as teacher and student. Mare’s reluctance to teach Denna how to ride the famed warhorses of Mynaria is comical, but she has no choice in the matter, so the young women are forced to spend every afternoon together. (Oh noooo, the horror)
No sooner than they start does trouble brew, an assassination occurs and the kingdom is on high alert. Our lovely leading ladies begin to unravel secrets, both political and personal, and through it all they begin to admire one another for their differing traits. With further conflict brewing, and the wedding on the horizon, Denna and Mare lead readers down a path of discovery—the same path that will force them to choose between their hearts and their duty to their Kingdoms.
Sub-ratings (tiny-spoiler ahead)
While Of Fire and Stars shines in its portrayal of romance and identity, there are areas where it could use a bit more firepower. Fans of detailed world-building may feel the story lacks the punch they are looking for, but I find that the book took time to explore the characters and their surroundings sufficiently enough where I wasn’t taken out of the story. The pacing might feel slow to some readers, but I appreciated the careful crafting of each scene. And the magic system may feel a bit underdeveloped, but we get glimpses of its potential, and we know there is more to be explored in the sequel (probably/hopefully).
Though some reviewers give Of Fire and Stars a hard time for it’s world-building, I found the amount of information in the book sufficient enough to immerse myself in the story. I do agree that the author leaves some things to be desired, but I don’t think it ruins the book in any way. For these reasons, we’ve given OFaS a mid-level rating for it’s world-building. It’s no Lord of the Rings, but it’s descriptions didn’t truly affect what we thought of the story.
Audrey Coulthurst shapes the story around Denna’s journey more so than Mare’s, though each chapter bounces between the two perspectives. Denna has been training to sit in the throne beside Prince Thandilimon (Thandi) for the majority of her life, but practicing something and actually performing those duties are two different things. (TLDR; she’s a little clumsy, but she’s hella-smart, so we love her. A real Bella Swan)
She has a role to play while she attempts to show how capable she truly is, so she’s constantly fluctuating between a demure servant of the crown and an intellectually cunning queen-to-be. In classic misogynistic-fashion, the two princesses are ignored fairly often in favor of a louder voice in the room, but readers are given more than enough reason to favor their smarts over others—and not just because the ideas are more sound (AND CORRECT).
Our Age Rating rings true both in regard to the uncouth language Mare uses and when Denna and Mare begin to acknowledge their feelings for one another—particularly near the end of the book *cough cough. However, it should be noted that any intimate details used are loose descriptions and do not require an 18+ rating. I think a little common sense and reflection on our own youths leads us to remember that we likely did not wait until adulthood to read (or watch) physical expressions of love other than kissing, so we give this a 2 on the spice scale.
Coulthurst creates a setting where homophobia is virtually non-existent, though expectations for an heir and wanting to further bloodlines—royalty or not—mean heterosexual couplings are still the norm. It’s a refreshing take that feels both revolutionary and natural, especially in the fantasy genre, which often clings to our non-fantastical roots of reality.
Overall, Of Fire and Stars is a gem in the YA fantasy landscape, offering a beautiful tale of love, duty, and self-discovery. It’s a story that’ll make you believe in magic, not just the kind with spells and enchantments, but the kind that comes from accepting who you are and finding someone who loves every part of you. So grab a cozy spot, some snacks, and settle in for a story that’s equal parts heartwarming and heart-stopping. You won’t regret it.
Let us know what snacks you brought and don’t forget to come back to read our Deep Dive for spoiler filled fun and piping hot-takes on our girls!
Deep Dive: Spoilers Ahead
This novel isn’t just a fairy tale..
This novel isn’t just a fairy tale—it’s a story that unapologetically centers queer love, magic, and the tough choices that define us. From the first page, it’s easy to see why this book has been reviewed time and again by WLW romance and fantasy lovers alike.
Yes, technically the plot revolves around the betrothal of Denna and Thandi, a political move meant to strengthen alliances between their two kingdoms. But Denna’s (forbidden) magic affinity for fire almost immediately (and then repeatedly) threatens that promise. Speaking of immediately, Mare enters the story fairly quickly (more like she Spartan kicks the door down), as a bratty good-for-nothing who’s as skilled with horses as she is with breaking the rules *finger guns*. From the first moment they lock eyes, we know this is no insta-love situation, for which I am extremely thankful. Mare is a bit of a dick TBH, but it lends some character to the story that is juuuust right for my tastes. Their romance blossoms organically, with the kind of slow-burn tension that will have you screaming, “Just kiss already!”.
The absence of societal prejudice (Shoutout #2, Coulthurst, for the righteously absent bigotry we could have been given) allows the focus to be on the emotional and political stakes of Denna and Mare’s relationship—after all, it’s complicated enough that Denna is engaged to Mare’s brother and his sweaty-ass lips *gag*. The representation here feels authentic and thoughtful, providing readers with a narrative that validates queer love without the baggage of external judgment. The result? A universe where anyone could imagine themselves as a hero, loved for who they are. The cost? Priceless..-err, I mean, whatever the book costs. Or whatever a library card costs. IDK.
If I’m being honest with myself, I’m not reading the book for the world-building, pacing, or magic system. I’m here for the lesbians! (Note: the characters are not defined as lesbians, I just shout “lesbians” when two ladies do something gay, like say, fall in love for example.)
For a YA fantasy, this book does an excellent job balancing action with emotional depth. Sure, some plot points are predictable (I mean, who didn’t see that villain coming?.. I mean, I definitely didn’t incorrectly tag the incredibly sweet and thoughtful Uncle Cas before he got-GOT by that arrow.. Okay I did, but then I IMMEDIATELY pegged Kriantz), but the genuine chemistry between Denna and Mare makes up for any narrative clichĂ©s, IMO. And when it comes to the intimacy scenes? Let’s just say Coulthurst strikes a perfect balance between tasteful and tantalizing, proving that YA can handle queer romance with nuance and respect.
Speaking of intimacy, may I just say that the intimate scene between Denna and Mare was chef’s-kiss? I clutch my goddamn pearls when WLW scenes use the “reached between my legs” line, UGH! Somehow so subtle and so suggestive, it has me giggling.
The climax of Of Fire and Stars (pun intended) brings tension to a boiling point when Denna and Mare are discovered in bed together by Thandi. Thandi’s reaction is surprisingly restrained, likely due to the King banging on Death’s door, but the atmosphere is thick with unspoken emotions. IMO, I felt that Denna was too overwhelmed with shame to truly do anything while Mare and Thandi argued. Whether it was because she was finally feeling the weight of the lifelong expectations that had been thrusted upon her or from feeling true genuine happiness for the first time in her life at the expense of her familial duties.
Mare, seething with bitterness, is quick to leave (with the help of the guards hauling her out) when Thandi finally loses his temper. The scene is raw, and emotionally charged to say the least. Highlighted by Thandi breaking down in Denna’s lap, unable to find the words to express his hurt and confusion. Denna is wracked with guilt as the horns bellow the news that the King passed from his injuries.
While he doesn’t directly forbid their relationship to Denna’s face, Thandi’s silent punishment comes in the form of filling Denna’s schedule with meaningless duties and straight-up confining Mare to her room, definitively keeping the two princesses apart.
This heart-wrenching moment coupled with the loss of the King (pretty fucked up that Mare didn’t even get to see him thanks to Thandi) marks a turning point, forcing Denna and Mare to confront the reality of their situation and the sacrifices they may have to make for their love. Though Denna still debates what actions she can take, it all comes crashing down when Thandi has the Directorate vote to push up the wedding to the upcoming praise day.
As the wedding grows closer, Evil guy has his eyes set on Mare and Denna’s mom finally makes an appearance (too little too late). When tempers rise between Mare and Thandi, Mare storms out of a fancy dinner and attempts to suck the soul out of Denna via her mouth. I’ll be damned if I didn’t squeak a little when I read it.
But it was one hell of a kiss and Denna runs after Mare—who runs right into Kriantz. Queue the death of Nils, who should have had more ‘screentime’ IMO, and the chase is on! Denna knows the fastest way to save Mare is to get Thandi, but much to NO ONE’S surprise he is a little bitch about it, which means we finally finally get to see Denna lose her cool. She sets a chair on fire, (essentially) tells Thandi to “fuck off”, and takes Flicker and a gaggle of imprisoned magic users and gallops after the carriage holding her love.
The goosebumps that ensued when Denna stepped into the light of the carriage was everything to me. The best line of the whole book, “I’ve come for her.” brought a smile to my face. Knowing Kriantz was gonna get-got left me feeling soooo satisfied.
Although the ending felt a bit rushed, I still give credit to Audrey for this scene. As a reader, it gave me smug satisfaction that the last thing Kriantz did was underestimate our girl because she was a girl, a princess, and what could a princess really do in a situation like this?
Murder. That’s what she did. Sweet, sweet revenge murder. And I am here for it!
When our ladies are finally reunited a plan is made to fake Denna’s death so they can ride off into Zumorda to get her training (and so they can get some more lovin’). Thandi is put in his place one last time, and he owns up to all that he did. Thankfully, in his last moments of the book he gives the choice of what should be done to Mare. And she chooses become an ambassador to Zumorda in order to get help reigning in the Sonnenbornes and quelling any future coups they may have planned.
Denna and Mare ride off into the sunset (sunrise) together, departing for Zumorda and whatever else their hearts desire. I had a fun time reading this, and though it could have used some edits IMO I can’t begrudge it. Combine a sappy Sapphic star-crossed lovers story with some stereotype breaking and I’m a satisfied customer!
Let us know what you thought of Denna and Mare’s journey in the comments below.