Another World's Stars

Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver meets V.E. Schwab's Shades of Magic (but short)

Born with a shard of ice for a heart, supernatural circus performer Tryxan is doomed to a loveless, unfeeling life. They tour Australia with their troupe, resigned to their cold existence, until an opportunity arises: participate in a magic show that will either cure their shard – or kill them.

But the show does neither. Instead of plunging to death or salvation, Tryxan is dragged through a portal to another world, where they meet a prince who longs to dance but is cursed to never step foot in a ballroom.

Tryxan teaches the prince to dance in secret, and together, they find a peace neither thought they could have. But the magic in the prince's world is dangerous, and if Tryxan can't solve the prince's curse, they'll lose not only their newfound feelings, but possibly the love of their life.

Another World's Stars is a prequel to the Cursed Princes, a series of quick yet thoughtful reads with fractured fairy tales, subverted gender roles, atmospheric wold-building and complex politics. Each title is a standalone romance but the books are best read in order to understand the series arc.