The book started a little slow, and i was wary of the 4 POVs, but the book was fantastic! Lis, Filip, Deo, and Adrian are all compelling in their own right, each with motivations that can help or hurt the others. Seeing the interpersonal relationships between the characters was complex and alluring.
Spicy, for mature audiences.

Thank you to Netgalley & Victory Editing Coop for giving me a free copy of this book for a honest review!

This book was in many ways intriguing & I enjoyed the desert atmosphere. I don't usually read 'reverse harem' so that was pretty wild!

I enjoyed the coded Judasim religion element and the desert being related to the American Southwest.

However the story wasn't able to keep my attention despite the interesting premise so it's a solid 2 stars from me.

I started this book last night and couldn’t put it down—I read the whole thing within 24 hours. It definitely hooked me from the start. While it's marketed as a fantasy romance, I’d say it leans more toward dystopian romance. The setting gave off serious wasteland vibes: scorching heat, dwindling resources, and a society clearly suffering the effects of global warming. The concept of a magical drug called Sun Rose, which enhances abilities and focus, was intriguing but not deeply explored—something I hope gets more attention in the sequel.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was its world-building. The idea of a drying, resource-scarce planet made the alliances between communities feel urgent and believable. I loved the premise of a woman inheriting a drug smuggling empire and controlling three powerful families—it was a bold and compelling setup.

The three male leads (MMCs) were all distinct and brought different dynamics to the story:

Filip had brute strength and the classic grumpy demeanor. He left me wanting more of his backstory—he’s mysterious, dangerous, and totally swoon-worthy.

Adrian was the spoiled rich bad boy with charm and looks to spare. Underneath his swagger, there’s a lot of depth and sincerity. He knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it, which made him a standout for me.

Deo was my least favorite, but mostly because of his complicated history with the female main character, Lis. Once destined to marry her, their relationship fell apart due to religious differences. His anger often felt misdirected, likely stemming from unresolved feelings he struggles to express.

As for Lis, our FMC—her journey started strong. She was bold, unapologetic, and unwilling to be controlled. But as the story progressed, her refusal to listen and accept help began to hurt her. She wasn’t ready for the role she was trying to play, and that ultimately made the story falter for me. That said, I’m really hopeful for her redemption arc in book two. I’d love to see her grow into the powerful woman she was at the beginning.

The first book in The Seven Star Empire Series follows Liseya, the arbiter heir, ready to claim her family’s rightful destiny of the Sun Rose. With it’s power to grant someone magical abilities, Lis wants her family at the center. Standing in her way are 3 rivals; all men who want to control (and tempt) her.

In this novel:
*** Dystopian world
*** Why Choose - MMMF
*** FF and MM scenes / polyromance world
*** Strong female lead
*** Political intrigue and power struggles
*** Enemies to lovers

For me, the first half of this book was too slow moving for my preference in a fantasy book. Understanding that first books in a series need to set the stage, I still felt underwhelmed and not as intrigued by the politics surrounding the Sun Rose. I powered through the rest of the novel, where it did pickup in the second half. After only reading a small handful of Why Choose novels, I don’t believe they are for me.

Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

Thank you,NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for sending a copy of this book. I actually got accepted for the ARC for book two, but you can also find this one, book one on NetGalley. It’s there to allow for readers to catch up before reading book two!

I’m glad I stumbled upon this because I am really enjoying this series so far!! I’m super engaged and I love the dynamic of this world that they’re in. Lis is a part of this like underground magical plant smuggling group. It’s called the Sun Rose and it gives people greater abilities. It’s underground because it’s actually pretty forbidden, but you know certain people have their hands in it. Lis’ grandfather passes away so then she stepped into a new role, but then she has to work with these three guys that she doesn’t really have the best relationship with. Filip, Deo and Adrian who actually all want to be with her in a way for power. Lis actually has history with Deo so it’s a little messy and then Adrian and Deo have a little something going on, so once again messy. I love all the drama between all of them, as well as those from the outside because there’s so much more that’s going on in the story. I am so excited to continue by reading the second one because this book left me wanting more!!