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samanthas628's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ettaviereads's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
1.5 🌶️
The first novel in the Remnants of the Fallen series, leads readers on an epic, slow burn journey with marriage of convenience, magic, hidden identities, personal secrets, fates mates and so much more.
Leitao introduces the reader to a realm where what Astra knows isn’t necessarily the whole truth of her existence and Marlak isn’t just what he is painted out to be.
Overall a fast read that made me question so many things as the plot intensifies. Though some questions are answered as the story progresses, many things are left unanswered, which makes me desperate to pick up the next book. The banter between Astra and Marlak is fabulous though their general communication could use some work since they both hide major secrets from each other the entire book.
The conclusion of this novel left me reeling with curiosity and concern for the main characters as their future is left very uncertain in the final pages. Tension, slow burn, and frustrating encounters makes this book move quickly because the reader always wants to know what will happen next.
itslorei's review against another edition
3.0
-Received an arc from the author- (UPDATED)
Took a few hours but here it is.
First things first, the premise is really interesting. That was the reason I was drawn out on this book and truth be told, it was indeed promising. A lot of great things could happen in the next book.
Let's go first on the things I liked:
1. Obviously, the promising premise. There's a political intrigue, a unique magical thing going on between the main characters.
2. Other than the unique magical system, the world verse here again could be so much more in the next book.
3. As an overall thoughts and feelings, the characters, especially the couple, there's a chemistry, I find them lovely at times.
Now, onto the things I didn't like:
1. This feels like a long prologue to me. The same thing I felt about King of Scars before. There's a review on this book that says this book feels like more telling than showing and I agree, there's not much showing on the things especially on the plot which made it feel anti-climatic and really not compelling to me.
2. The banter. I don't know, the whole banter between the couples just didn't feel right to me. It wasn't fun to experience.
3. The writing. I honestly felt that it could have been better than what it is.
4. The ending. I don't know, I honestly didn't feel that much when it happened, probably because of the writing but that doesn't mean I'm not intrigued by how it would play in the next book.
Overall, this has potential. I really hope that the next book will be more compelling in terms of writing and execution.
Took a few hours but here it is.
First things first, the premise is really interesting. That was the reason I was drawn out on this book and truth be told, it was indeed promising. A lot of great things could happen in the next book.
Let's go first on the things I liked:
1. Obviously, the promising premise. There's a political intrigue, a unique magical thing going on between the main characters.
2. Other than the unique magical system, the world verse here again could be so much more in the next book.
3. As an overall thoughts and feelings, the characters, especially the couple, there's a chemistry, I find them lovely at times.
Now, onto the things I didn't like:
1. This feels like a long prologue to me. The same thing I felt about King of Scars before. There's a review on this book that says this book feels like more telling than showing and I agree, there's not much showing on the things especially on the plot which made it feel anti-climatic and really not compelling to me.
2. The banter. I don't know, the whole banter between the couples just didn't feel right to me. It wasn't fun to experience.
3. The writing. I honestly felt that it could have been better than what it is.
4. The ending. I don't know, I honestly didn't feel that much when it happened, probably because of the writing but that doesn't mean I'm not intrigued by how it would play in the next book.
Overall, this has potential. I really hope that the next book will be more compelling in terms of writing and execution.
applejb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sarahm666's review against another edition
5.0
I knew almost immediately after starting this book that I would love it and it didn't disappoint. I love the FMC, Astra! She is fierce and brave but also struggles with a lot of self doubt. This definitely a very slow burn romance which can be a little frustrating at times but that's just the way I like it. The MMC, Marlak, is grumpy but almost instantly is a puddle a mush for Astra which I adored. All the side characters are wonderful and make you eager to learn more about them. I pretty much spent all my free time reading this book once I started, it was that good! I'm already looking forward to the second book. I would recommend this story to anyone who likes fantasy, and romance with a little bit of spice.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Day Leitao for the eARC I received in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Day Leitao for the eARC I received in exchange for my honest review.
ginevera's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was sent the ARC for an honest review.
Astra and two other girls has been training, since they were children, to be the Princess's decoy. She is an orphan and keeps her heritage and poweres hidden from others.
On one of her assignment her convoy is attacked by Prince Marlak, the disgraced fae prince. Later he comes and askes to marry her. Live as she knows it are change forever and especially since Astra has been seeing Prince Marlak in her dreams.
I really really enjoyed this. The plot was interesting and kept you guessing the entire book.
I liked the banter between them. The dreams were a fun twist. This is mostly a character heavy story. Not many plot twist untill the end. Communication isn’t what Marlak is best at and it made me yell at the story at times. You can see that they are both young in their words and actions.
This is a fast paced read and I can’t wait for book 2. Cause the ending made me mad that it stopped there.
Astra and two other girls has been training, since they were children, to be the Princess's decoy. She is an orphan and keeps her heritage and poweres hidden from others.
On one of her assignment her convoy is attacked by Prince Marlak, the disgraced fae prince. Later he comes and askes to marry her. Live as she knows it are change forever and especially since Astra has been seeing Prince Marlak in her dreams.
I really really enjoyed this. The plot was interesting and kept you guessing the entire book.
I liked the banter between them. The dreams were a fun twist. This is mostly a character heavy story. Not many plot twist untill the end. Communication isn’t what Marlak is best at and it made me yell at the story at times. You can see that they are both young in their words and actions.
This is a fast paced read and I can’t wait for book 2. Cause the ending made me mad that it stopped there.
hebberelle's review
3.0
3.5 stars. This book could have been like a third shorter if the characters had just talked to each other instead of lying, but despite that they did some nice growing as characters and are mostly likable people. World building is great, Horray Cherry Cake, and I'm interested in the next one.
lizanneyoung's review against another edition
4.0
I received an eARC and am leaving an honest review.
TROPES
🟪 Enemies to Lovers
🟪 Scary Cinnamon Roll MMC
🟪 Kindred Spirits
🟪 Connected Dreams
I really enjoyed this story. From the premise of the “substitutes” to the idea that Astra has been dreaming about this one person for so long, only to find out it isn’t who she thought it would be, everything was pieced together in a way that made me hopeful for Astra but also worried for her future.
Her banter and chemistry with Marlak are great but also force you to question what he isn’t telling her, what she will never know, and what his end goal is. Sure, we think we know what it is because he tells Astra what it supposedly is, but I can’t help but wonder what lurks underneath the surface. With this being 99% Astra’s POV, we may know more in the second book, but I don’t have my hopes up quite yet, considering the ending.
And, that ending. If we hadn’t had the last chapter, I would be torn about continuing the series. I do not love it when books end in sudden 180s, but because we had context, it worked well in this instance. I feel like I know just enough about Marlak’s thought process there that I want to see it through, how he achieves his goals, and what that means for Astra.
joanaortiz's review against another edition
3.0
We follow Astra, the FMC, into an arranged marriage with Marlak. Throughout the whole book, I found it difficult to like Astra. There were a few instances where I would start to like her and then she would act a certain way and it would take me back to not liking her. The relationship between Astra and Marlak developed slowly since it did take most of the book for them to come to terms with their feelings, but I wouldn’t categorize this book as an “Enemies to Lovers”. I didn’t feel like they were enemies at all. Marlak would show his feelings for Astra by his actions, not his words which led to a lot of miscommunication.
Miscommunication is about 80% of the book, which I understood but it was still frustrating. It was more of the way that Marlak would say things to Astra, that would annoy me, but like I said he showed his feeling through his actions. 

I had some trouble with the writing. In some parts, I would be immersed in the story but then there would be a phrase or description that would take me out of it. I would find myself rereading a lot, just trying to understand. Some details would just not make sense to me, I couldn’t visualize it.
(Attention to detail is really important for me in fantasy books because of the world-building, so I would have liked a bit more details in certain scenes.)
I believe that book one was more focused on the romantic build-up for the characters while giving bits and pieces of the plot for the continuation of the series. We learn some of Astra and Marlak’s past, but there were still many questions left unanswered.
I loved that Astra helped Marlak out with some of his past struggles and he helped her become more confident. I also love that there is a unicorn named Cherry Cake.
I will be reading the next book because I did enjoy the story. I hope to see a more badass and confident Astra use her potential.
My favorite Quote:
“What’s the point in a story that’s not real?”
“The feelings are real. There’s something about feeling them while knowing you cant truly get hurt.”
3/5
Miscommunication is about 80% of the book, which I understood but it was still frustrating. It was more of the way that Marlak would say things to Astra, that would annoy me, but like I said he showed his feeling through his actions. 

I had some trouble with the writing. In some parts, I would be immersed in the story but then there would be a phrase or description that would take me out of it. I would find myself rereading a lot, just trying to understand. Some details would just not make sense to me, I couldn’t visualize it.
(Attention to detail is really important for me in fantasy books because of the world-building, so I would have liked a bit more details in certain scenes.)
I believe that book one was more focused on the romantic build-up for the characters while giving bits and pieces of the plot for the continuation of the series. We learn some of Astra and Marlak’s past, but there were still many questions left unanswered.
I loved that Astra helped Marlak out with some of his past struggles and he helped her become more confident. I also love that there is a unicorn named Cherry Cake.
I will be reading the next book because I did enjoy the story. I hope to see a more badass and confident Astra use her potential.
My favorite Quote:
“What’s the point in a story that’s not real?”
“The feelings are real. There’s something about feeling them while knowing you cant truly get hurt.”
3/5