Book Review: The Stars are Dying by C.C. Peñaranda

A slow-burn romantasy full of tension, secrets, and emotional chaos (in the best way).

If you love morally gray characters, impossible choices, and fantasy romance that makes you feel something, The Stars are Dying (signed copy available) needs to be on your radar.

I picked this one up on a whim, and it immediately pulled me in. C.C. Peñaranda’s writing is lush without being overdone and somehow she makes every scene feel like it’s humming with tension, whether it’s a quiet conversation or a battle of wills. The worldbuilding is layered, the stakes are high, and the magic system is intriguing without being confusing.

What really sold me, though, was the emotional intensity. There’s a simmering kind of heartbreak in this book, the kind that sneaks up on you because the characters are so layered and guarded. I found myself totally invested in their struggles, especially the way the story explores identity, power, and grief.

There are also twists. So many twists. Just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, Peñaranda pulled the rug out from under me, in a way that actually worked. No twist-for-twist’s-sake here. It kept me turning the pages way too late at night.

The ending? Painfully good. Satisfying enough to not feel cruel, but definitely left me needing the next book immediately.

Final Thoughts:
If you’re a fan of slow-burn fantasy romance with sharp edges, The Stars are Dying delivers. It’s emotional, unpredictable, and just the right amount of painful. Highly recommend if you liked The Prison Healer or The Bridge Kingdom.