Fallen Stars (The Heavenly Bodies Series) Paperback – February 11, 2023

Where to begin, really?I discovered Miss Erriu's first novel, Heavenly Bodies, a little over a year ago on TikTok. From the very first video I saw, I was hooked. I was just getting into the fantasy genre as somebody who--a few years ago--would have labeled themselves an avid reader of anything but fantasy. For reasons I still don't fully understand, the videos I was seeing about his debut work called to me? It was an instant buy for me as soon as it hit Amazon on February 14 of 2022. After painstakingly forcing myself to keep my eyes open for an entire 24 hours, I finished HB and FELL. IN. LOVE. I was obsessed. Enthralled. Beguiled. Completely and utterly enraptured in this world Imani created. I knew then and there that anything she wrote after would be an instant buy. I don't even need to read the premise. Just give it to me.Here we are a year later. Fallen Stars is EVERYTHING. She told me in a DM recently that she was worried it wouldn't live up to HB. Imani, PLEASE put some respect on your own name! You are a mastermind. Fallen Stars was delivered to me this February 14th, and I literally could not part with it. If I didn't have a job I was required to be at, I probably would have finished FS in less than 24 hours.Enzara's story was better this time around than the first (yes, I know, it's shocking). Their love comes back in droves. You feel as though you're right there with them experiencing the highs and lows of being THE greatest couple in all of Celestia (and other places *smirk*). THE SIDE CHARACTERS. I could not get enough of Adrian. I simply live and breathe for my comedy king. Nearly every time the book had me audibly giggling was when I was reading one of his perfect lines.Can we take a moment for the PLOT TWISTS??? Gahhhhh. I always say I can't stand a book with predictable plot twists. Well, per usual, Miss Erriu takes the cake for perfect plot twists. Especially the last one. Never in a million years would I have predicted it. I was flabbergasted. Confounded. Absolutely flummoxed. I don't know how she does it, but I pray it never stops.It's hard to remember everything I wanted to say about this book, so I may need to come back with an updated review once I have it a re-read VERY soon. It truly breaks me when I finish these books and have to leave the world of Celestia AGAIN. That's how I know these books are supreme.Closing statements:FIVE STARS ACROSS THE BOARD. Immaculate. I would not change a thing. Imani if you see this, please keep the books coming. I will read anything you give me. Write my eulogy, honestly.

*4.5 Stars*Wow! I thought I was reeling with all of the implications and revelations we got from the first book but that had nothing on all of the things we discovered in this one! Now I'll admit that it had a bit of a slower start as the plot was understandably very focused on getting one thing done that had both time and location restraints. There were some interesting things that happened here and there but overall it was the perfect "break" that allowed for readers to fully process and come to terms with all of the new information that had been revealed. Another bright side? We also got to thoroughly explore Castor and see a completely new side of Eli that I immediately fell in love with! I was smitten with him the second we met him previously so getting to learn more about his past and seeing him soften towards the gang over the course of the book was so freaking precious! And chapter 78? My heart was exploding, that whole chapter was absolute perfection and broke me in the happiest way possible! 🤍But he wasn't the only character I fell hard for! We got to explore other characters we had already met and I just got more attached, particularly with Merissa and Adrian! Adrian was so freaking hilarious, the perfect comedic relief for this group but gah his love story started pulling on my heart strings towards the end! What is it with this group all having tragic love stories?! Speaking of, getting to explore the struggles and insecurities our sweet Merissa has about being "cursed in love" was great and added a lot of depth to her character. That girl deserves the absolute world and if she doesn't get a HEA with her new love interest, who I'm not at all mad about, then I shall never know peace. Now to address something I'm not proud of, the way Imani had me swapping teams for Ariete SO FAST! 🤣👏🏻 I can't say much cause spoilers but after seeing what was behind the curtain, I actually kind of like him now. He’s not completely forgiven but the potential is there and I can't wait to see where we go from here!And finally, Elara and Enzo. Still an iconic power couple with the best banter, sexual tension, and follow through if you know what I mean! 😉 They were the stars of the show and thank goodness they were solid for most of the book because I need at least one happy couple to make up for all the angst and trauma I'm getting from the rest of them! I know that there will be some rocky moments ahead but in relation to Elara's secret I'm a lot more worried about how a certain Star is gonna react. 👀All of this to say that Imani was able to successfully weave together new POVs, characters, and storylines all without making everything feel overwhelming or having it all hit at once! Since the first book set up Elara and Enzo's story, getting to explore other characters, the mythology, and the world building of Celestia brought my appreciation for this story to a whole new level! If there's one thing I love, it's when a series has me invested in the stories and relationships of side characters just as much as the main ones! But miss Imani, you have got quite a few things that need to be fixed! Specifically, that future sequence better not come to pass or I'll cry! 😭 And that thing you did right at the end too! Those points aside, the betrayal made me so excited for the next book because I have a feeling that I'm going to love Imani's portrayal of the power of the feminine rage!

I really love the premise of this fantasy series, and especially hooked on the first book but the second just doesn’t have the same magic as #1. I found myself skimming a lot of the book, and felt like it was a bit too long. Also the switch in POV characters I liked but would be good to call their names out for each chapter, and also would have preferred that view stayed with the main characters.The ending was great, and the book is good enough to continue the series, looking forward to Book #3.