Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu

When fate, war, and desire collide among the stars…

Heavenly Bodies is the first novel in Imani Erriu’s series, and it is a fantastic start to what I believe will become a well-loved romantasy. I’ve been feeling increasingly skeptical about approaching the genre lately, largely due to its oversaturation and the overwhelming hype online. Too often, trending titles feel poorly written, overly familiar, and ultimately leave me bored. That is absolutely not the case with Heavenly Bodies.

This novel elevates the idea of star-crossed lovers in a way that feels both fresh and deeply compelling—and I ate it up. With its rich astrological themes and Greek-inspired influences, Erriu had me hooked from the very first chapter. While there was one element I figured out fairly early on (the Prophecy), she still managed to keep me fully engaged and on edge throughout the story.

Elara is a well-rounded, believable protagonist—and, just as importantly, she’s genuinely likable. The supporting cast is equally strong, each character crafted in a way that makes you care about their journey. As many of you who read my reviews already know, there are a few tropes I’m especially critical of, particularly enemies to lovers—a trope I adore when done well, but often find underdeveloped or lacking a solid foundation. Once again, Erriu does not disappoint.

Elara, Princess of Asteria, and Lorenzo, Prince of Helios, hail from rival kingdoms and are forced into an uneasy alliance to take down the impulsive and dangerous Star (read: god) of Wrath and War, Ariete. Their dynamic is layered, tense, and earned—never rushed, never shallow.

Finally, this book delivers beautifully on both tension and spice. The pacing is immaculate, and there were moments when Elara’s heart was racing and I found mine doing the same. I highly recommend picking up Heavenly Bodies—and immediately diving into the second installment, Fallen Stars, before the third book releases in November. I know I’ll be more than ready when November 24th rolls around.

P.S. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Imani Erriu in person at an indie bookstore event, and it was every bit as magical as this book. If you’d like to read about that experience, you can find the full blog post linked here.

RATING: 5/5
SPICE: 3.75/5