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The City of Stardust
A young woman descends into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge to break her family's curse in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy debut.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.
Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an ultimatum: Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break it first.
To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet whose knowledge of a world beyond her own is too valuable to avoid.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt.
Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an ultimatum: Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break it first.
To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet whose knowledge of a world beyond her own is too valuable to avoid.
Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 30, 2024
About the author
Georgia Summers
1 book181 followersGeorgia Summers is half-British, half-Trinidadian, and spent most of her life living across the world, including Russia, Colombia, and the US. When she’s not doing bookish things, she’s planning her next great adventure. She currently lives in London, but she dreams of one day living in a haunted château with a ghost that cleans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,017 reviews
January 25, 2024
Out now in UK!
City of Stardust is one of the best written books I have read in a while. The prose is absolutely stunning, which worked really well to enhance the beauty of the setting. It’s a writing that demands attention and forces you to slow down to savour everything.
The plot was very interesting and fully captured my attention, to the point I was just going to read a chapter before sleeping and when I noticed the time, it was Monday 5.30 am and I haven’t slept a bit.
While I did love the book, it took me a bit to warm up to the way the story was being told. We see everything unfold through different characters perspectives, but the story is always told in the 3rd person. This made City of Stardust a bit less immersive that what I tend to prefer and made me feel I knew more about what the characters were seeing than feeling. This is more relevant for Violet’s POV than Aleksander, which despite being less lengthy, it is somewhat more fleshed out.
I have seen this book being compared a lot with The Invisilble Life of Addie Larue, and while I understand the comparison, I have found it much more reminiscent of His Dark Materials. If you enjoyed either one of them, do not hesitate to pick City of Stardust in January 2024.
I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Netgalley for the for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
City of Stardust is one of the best written books I have read in a while. The prose is absolutely stunning, which worked really well to enhance the beauty of the setting. It’s a writing that demands attention and forces you to slow down to savour everything.
The plot was very interesting and fully captured my attention, to the point I was just going to read a chapter before sleeping and when I noticed the time, it was Monday 5.30 am and I haven’t slept a bit.
While I did love the book, it took me a bit to warm up to the way the story was being told. We see everything unfold through different characters perspectives, but the story is always told in the 3rd person. This made City of Stardust a bit less immersive that what I tend to prefer and made me feel I knew more about what the characters were seeing than feeling. This is more relevant for Violet’s POV than Aleksander, which despite being less lengthy, it is somewhat more fleshed out.
I have seen this book being compared a lot with The Invisilble Life of Addie Larue, and while I understand the comparison, I have found it much more reminiscent of His Dark Materials. If you enjoyed either one of them, do not hesitate to pick City of Stardust in January 2024.
I would like to thank Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and Netgalley for the for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2024
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Publication date: 25 Jan 2024! (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 3 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I may not find this design utterly captivating, but I am impressed by how it captures the essence and genre of the story. In particular, the illustrations beautifully depict significant aspects of the world-building and the mythical atmosphere of the tale.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A smooth, picturesque writing style weaves together multiple points of view to create an atmospheric story and unique world. However, I struggled to completely immerse myself in the third-person narrative, as this put the events of the story and characters at a distance.
"heavy dreams make for heavy burdens"
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
An intriguing prologue quickly pulled me in and set the scene for the fascinating world and mystery-filled storyline that emerged. Sadly, this storyline seemed somewhat disjointed and suffered from pacing issues (especially towards the end!), so I found it difficult to remain fully invested in it.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
With her inquisitive personality, Violet Everly is an ode to all book lovers who dream of a great adventure beyond the normalcy of life. Her internal and external struggles are also well-detailed, so it was easy to root for her, but her character lacks a compelling personality to make her more memorable.
"adventure, it turns out, is a dangerously seductive word."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Despite having a relatively small cast of secondary characters, most lacked characterisation and were unmemorable. That said, Penelope and Aleksander really stood out to me as they are brilliantly used to create tension and drive the storyline.
Romance: 🌟🌟
This aspect of the story initially seemed interesting as the characters formed a cute friendship that shattered under the weight of their responsibilities and betrayal. While this did not stop their growing attraction, their relationship seemed underdeveloped following this, and I struggled to root for them.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟
Kitty Parker gives a formal narration that suits the story and its mystical atmosphere. However, the lack of emotions and vocal variety made it hard for me to find the audiobook engaging.
In essence, ‘The City of Stardust’ is a beautifully written debut that constantly impressed me but failed to keep me invested throughout. I am reminded of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and I would recommend that as a similar read, though I enjoyed this book a lot more.
Publication date: 25 Jan 2024! (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 3 stars
Cover: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
I may not find this design utterly captivating, but I am impressed by how it captures the essence and genre of the story. In particular, the illustrations beautifully depict significant aspects of the world-building and the mythical atmosphere of the tale.
Writing: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A smooth, picturesque writing style weaves together multiple points of view to create an atmospheric story and unique world. However, I struggled to completely immerse myself in the third-person narrative, as this put the events of the story and characters at a distance.
"heavy dreams make for heavy burdens"
Storyline: 🌟🌟🌟
An intriguing prologue quickly pulled me in and set the scene for the fascinating world and mystery-filled storyline that emerged. Sadly, this storyline seemed somewhat disjointed and suffered from pacing issues (especially towards the end!), so I found it difficult to remain fully invested in it.
Main character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
With her inquisitive personality, Violet Everly is an ode to all book lovers who dream of a great adventure beyond the normalcy of life. Her internal and external struggles are also well-detailed, so it was easy to root for her, but her character lacks a compelling personality to make her more memorable.
"adventure, it turns out, is a dangerously seductive word."
Secondary characters: 🌟🌟🌟
Despite having a relatively small cast of secondary characters, most lacked characterisation and were unmemorable. That said, Penelope and Aleksander really stood out to me as they are brilliantly used to create tension and drive the storyline.
Romance: 🌟🌟
This aspect of the story initially seemed interesting as the characters formed a cute friendship that shattered under the weight of their responsibilities and betrayal. While this did not stop their growing attraction, their relationship seemed underdeveloped following this, and I struggled to root for them.
Narration & Audio: 🌟🌟🌟
Kitty Parker gives a formal narration that suits the story and its mystical atmosphere. However, the lack of emotions and vocal variety made it hard for me to find the audiobook engaging.
In essence, ‘The City of Stardust’ is a beautifully written debut that constantly impressed me but failed to keep me invested throughout. I am reminded of The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and I would recommend that as a similar read, though I enjoyed this book a lot more.
January 16, 2024
this is magical and whimsical with a naive but lovable fmc and is just the perfect embodiment of ya fantasy
January 15, 2024
Publication Date: 25th Jan 2024
2.5 Stars
One Liner: Worthy premise, flat execution
For centuries, the Everlys have been paying a debt to Penelope for something no one remembers. She is ageless and ruthless, making her almost invincible and impossible to take on. Years ago, Marianne Everly vanished to find a way to break the curse, and Penelope wants either Marianne or her daughter Violet as the repayment.
Violet has been sheltered by her uncles in an attempt to keep her safe. By hiding the truth from her, they might have put Violet at a greater risk. With very little time left on their side, Violet has to either find her mother or break the curse and be free of Penelope.
But will the woman let her go? Of course, there’s Aleksander, Penelope’s assistant, someone Violet cannot help but be drawn to. Will he be her friend or betray her?
The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters (Ambrose Everly, Violet Everly, Aleksander, and Penelope) plus an omnipresent third-person.
My Thoughts:
I requested the book for the cover and the premise (since it was supposed to be an adult fantasy). Well, let’s say the results are mixed. Also, the book might work better as New Adult Fantasy (which explains why I couldn’t like it much).
The book has potential. No two ways about it. Despite the lack of structure and insufficient world-building, the writing has a sense of ethereal quality, which will work for some readers. Didn’t make an impact on me, but I can see the talent in there.
The major issue is with the main character, Violet. The plot is too big for her fragile shoulders. It’s more than okay to have a naïve lead who makes mistakes. But for her to continue being the same doesn’t help.
The side characters are like sheets of paper fluttering in the wind- so random and not rooted enough to assert themselves.
Penelope is pure evil, or so it seems. She manages to stand out and carries the book as much as possible.
The romance between Violet and Aleksander is expected. However, I couldn’t care less about the track. Never mind that Violet needs helluva growing up to do. Aleksander shows great promise with some grey shades and a tragic past, though the arc is not fully developed.
The concept of keys to the world is intriguing. The cover is perfect for the setting. Yeah, many aspects of world-building are unexplained. I think I have a vague idea (think being the operative term). It is easy to go with the flow since there isn’t much I can otherwise do.
The ARC copy doesn’t have proper formatting. There are no indicators for scene breaks. Countless times, I had to reread a paragraph to understand there had been a POV and scene change from the previous one. When the narrative jumps at random between characters, not having clear markers is a recipe for disaster.
Moreover, the present tense doesn’t help the narrative as the story weaves between the random past and the present. It gets exhausting to fit the event into the timeline, like trying to fit the puzzle pieces.
There’s an epilogue of sorts, but let’s say I did not like it much either. There is no explanation for how Violet’s growth. We have to accept it since the characters say so (and this happens throughout the book).
The pacing is inconsistent, too. The first half progresses quickly, but after that, the story goes on and on. The climax is so simple that it made me wonder if we needed all this.
To summarize, The City of Stardust has great potential but ends up as a lukewarm read with half-baked characters. It needs more development to hit the right notes. I really wanted to like this one, but it’s not to be. Do check out other reviews before you decide.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheCityOfStardust
**
I had three fantasy books for Jan and two of them tanked. Should I risk the third or postpone it to next month?
2.5 Stars
One Liner: Worthy premise, flat execution
For centuries, the Everlys have been paying a debt to Penelope for something no one remembers. She is ageless and ruthless, making her almost invincible and impossible to take on. Years ago, Marianne Everly vanished to find a way to break the curse, and Penelope wants either Marianne or her daughter Violet as the repayment.
Violet has been sheltered by her uncles in an attempt to keep her safe. By hiding the truth from her, they might have put Violet at a greater risk. With very little time left on their side, Violet has to either find her mother or break the curse and be free of Penelope.
But will the woman let her go? Of course, there’s Aleksander, Penelope’s assistant, someone Violet cannot help but be drawn to. Will he be her friend or betray her?
The story comes in the third-person POV of multiple characters (Ambrose Everly, Violet Everly, Aleksander, and Penelope) plus an omnipresent third-person.
My Thoughts:
I requested the book for the cover and the premise (since it was supposed to be an adult fantasy). Well, let’s say the results are mixed. Also, the book might work better as New Adult Fantasy (which explains why I couldn’t like it much).
The book has potential. No two ways about it. Despite the lack of structure and insufficient world-building, the writing has a sense of ethereal quality, which will work for some readers. Didn’t make an impact on me, but I can see the talent in there.
The major issue is with the main character, Violet. The plot is too big for her fragile shoulders. It’s more than okay to have a naïve lead who makes mistakes. But for her to continue being the same doesn’t help.
The side characters are like sheets of paper fluttering in the wind- so random and not rooted enough to assert themselves.
Penelope is pure evil, or so it seems. She manages to stand out and carries the book as much as possible.
The romance between Violet and Aleksander is expected. However, I couldn’t care less about the track. Never mind that Violet needs helluva growing up to do. Aleksander shows great promise with some grey shades and a tragic past, though the arc is not fully developed.
The concept of keys to the world is intriguing. The cover is perfect for the setting. Yeah, many aspects of world-building are unexplained. I think I have a vague idea (think being the operative term). It is easy to go with the flow since there isn’t much I can otherwise do.
The ARC copy doesn’t have proper formatting. There are no indicators for scene breaks. Countless times, I had to reread a paragraph to understand there had been a POV and scene change from the previous one. When the narrative jumps at random between characters, not having clear markers is a recipe for disaster.
Moreover, the present tense doesn’t help the narrative as the story weaves between the random past and the present. It gets exhausting to fit the event into the timeline, like trying to fit the puzzle pieces.
There’s an epilogue of sorts, but let’s say I did not like it much either. There is no explanation for how Violet’s growth. We have to accept it since the characters say so (and this happens throughout the book).
The pacing is inconsistent, too. The first half progresses quickly, but after that, the story goes on and on. The climax is so simple that it made me wonder if we needed all this.
To summarize, The City of Stardust has great potential but ends up as a lukewarm read with half-baked characters. It needs more development to hit the right notes. I really wanted to like this one, but it’s not to be. Do check out other reviews before you decide.
Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheCityOfStardust
**
I had three fantasy books for Jan and two of them tanked. Should I risk the third or postpone it to next month?
January 14, 2024
Despite an awesome prologue and a plot thread that has you itching to reach the conclusion, it's hard not to notice the characters' lack of urgency and a story that is mostly told through conversations.
Full review to come on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
Full review to come on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/hollyheartsbooks
January 6, 2024
CRYING WAILING SCREAMING
the writing style, the plot, THE CHARACTERS, THE MOTIVATIONS, THE IMPLICATIONS
i genuinely can’t handle this lol i feel like crying my eyes out this was utter perfection
the writing style, the plot, THE CHARACTERS, THE MOTIVATIONS, THE IMPLICATIONS
i genuinely can’t handle this lol i feel like crying my eyes out this was utter perfection
Read
June 26, 2023A story as darkly wondrous as midnight. Summers brilliantly takes our yearning to open doors to magical new worlds, and twists it into a seductively vicious dream of darkness, blood, and winged horrors. When monsters must be satiated, there is no escaping the choices between love and betrayal; survival and sacrifice. Enthralling to the last page.
October 23, 2023
girlies I can confirm that the Laini Taylor and Alix Harrow comps are valid
February 11, 2024
7.14 on CAWPILE
January 27, 2024
‧₊˚✧[dnf at page 100]✧˚₊‧
"For Violet-may the stars sing for you one day."
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book.
-Minor spoilers
I am not the type to dnf a book. Rather I have never dnf'd a book but this was not working for me, due to several reasons.
⤿ Plot:
The book revolves around Violet Everly, who is cursed for being from the Everly family. In every Everly generation, there is a tithe selected by Penelope (someone) who takes the Everly to a city named Fidelis where they learn to be a scholar. It is known as a curse because the Everly gains power to an unexpected extent. Marianne Everly, who is Violet Everly's mother, sets out one day leaving her daughter behind to try and break the curse. Since Marianne was the last tithe, this leaves Violet the new one in her place. Now Violet's 2 uncles try to hide Violet from Penelope and try to keep her for as long as they can.
At least this is what I understood
⤿ Writing:
I don't usually read Adult Fantasy. So really as a YA reader, it took me ages to read and understand this and I think thats the problem here. The prose and vocabulary were just too advanced and pretentious for me to comprehend. Which made it extremely boring because I kept searching for definitions of all the words.
The dual chapters were giving me a headache. I couldn't make it through Aleksander's chapters without yawning.
It started well. The prologue was fascinating and I was intrigued. It progressed with Ambrose and Violet and I was enjoying myself. But after Penelope's visit, I don't seem to understand what's happening and why.
The suspense was a little annoying. I mean the info dump was wild. I was rather irritated with the lack of information in the beginning. Like everything was happening but I don't know what?
The reason why I don't dnf is because I'm always thinking about the ending and all the what ifs . But for this book, the only thing I'm genuinely concerned about is what happened to all those children who were kidnapped in the prologue?
⤿ Violet:
Started good, became bratty, and then I stopped reading. She has potential. as a FMC. But to the point that I've read, it's being wasted. I find her story intriguing and one that can unravel well but I find it better if she just listens to Ambrose and accepts his apology instead of running off with Aleksander. Maybe then her mother might actually achieve something?
I get her frustration but I just hate it when characters go:
"Oh you lied to me my whole life, I hate you."
They lied for a reason? I mean she seems impatient and abrupt.
⤿ Aleksander:
Very meh. He was okay when he first appeared in the book. But then the whole scholar thing and the archives and spying on Violet was very boring. The book didn't click to me nor did the characters.
If I'm being honest I liked both the uncles better than Aleksander.
He remains in Penelope's shadow when he has the tendency to be greater and better. I didn't seem to understand that.
⤿ Penelope:
She was a no for me. I kept thinking she belonged in a Cassandra Clare book instead of this one.
She was the antagonist but it was very annoying once again. She gave me bad villain vibes. And by bad I mean the target version of a villain. I'd prefer if she was less abusive and nosy and more evil and cruel (in a twisted way). Like the parts with her and Tamlin were perfect. But then she and Violet had zero protagonist and antagonist chemistry.
This book had a lot of potential and may have picked up after from where I've read but this wasn't for me. Mostly, due to my usual reading genres and mostly because none of the characters aligned with my preference.
"For Violet-may the stars sing for you one day."
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book.
-Minor spoilers
I am not the type to dnf a book. Rather I have never dnf'd a book but this was not working for me, due to several reasons.
⤿ Plot:
The book revolves around Violet Everly, who is cursed for being from the Everly family. In every Everly generation, there is a tithe selected by Penelope (someone) who takes the Everly to a city named Fidelis where they learn to be a scholar. It is known as a curse because the Everly gains power to an unexpected extent. Marianne Everly, who is Violet Everly's mother, sets out one day leaving her daughter behind to try and break the curse. Since Marianne was the last tithe, this leaves Violet the new one in her place. Now Violet's 2 uncles try to hide Violet from Penelope and try to keep her for as long as they can.
At least this is what I understood
⤿ Writing:
I don't usually read Adult Fantasy. So really as a YA reader, it took me ages to read and understand this and I think thats the problem here. The prose and vocabulary were just too advanced and pretentious for me to comprehend. Which made it extremely boring because I kept searching for definitions of all the words.
The dual chapters were giving me a headache. I couldn't make it through Aleksander's chapters without yawning.
It started well. The prologue was fascinating and I was intrigued. It progressed with Ambrose and Violet and I was enjoying myself. But after Penelope's visit, I don't seem to understand what's happening and why.
The suspense was a little annoying. I mean the info dump was wild. I was rather irritated with the lack of information in the beginning. Like everything was happening but I don't know what?
The reason why I don't dnf is because I'm always thinking about the ending and all the what ifs . But for this book, the only thing I'm genuinely concerned about is what happened to all those children who were kidnapped in the prologue?
⤿ Violet:
Started good, became bratty, and then I stopped reading. She has potential. as a FMC. But to the point that I've read, it's being wasted. I find her story intriguing and one that can unravel well but I find it better if she just listens to Ambrose and accepts his apology instead of running off with Aleksander. Maybe then her mother might actually achieve something?
I get her frustration but I just hate it when characters go:
"Oh you lied to me my whole life, I hate you."
They lied for a reason? I mean she seems impatient and abrupt.
⤿ Aleksander:
Very meh. He was okay when he first appeared in the book. But then the whole scholar thing and the archives and spying on Violet was very boring. The book didn't click to me nor did the characters.
If I'm being honest I liked both the uncles better than Aleksander.
He remains in Penelope's shadow when he has the tendency to be greater and better. I didn't seem to understand that.
⤿ Penelope:
She was a no for me. I kept thinking she belonged in a Cassandra Clare book instead of this one.
She was the antagonist but it was very annoying once again. She gave me bad villain vibes. And by bad I mean the target version of a villain. I'd prefer if she was less abusive and nosy and more evil and cruel (in a twisted way). Like the parts with her and Tamlin were perfect. But then she and Violet had zero protagonist and antagonist chemistry.
This book had a lot of potential and may have picked up after from where I've read but this wasn't for me. Mostly, due to my usual reading genres and mostly because none of the characters aligned with my preference.
February 14, 2024
I can see why this was recommended for fans of The Starless Sea. As someone who ADORED that book, I thought this has a lot of similar vibes though it's got a lot more plot and clarity around the world-building. So this might appeal to people who weren't quite fans of Starless Sea for those reasons. I found this to be a dark, yet enchanting story of magic doors and keys, blood oaths, soul-eating goddesses, secret knowledge, and sacrifice. It swept me away and then delivered a conclusion I found to be very satisfying. I don't know if this will appeal to everyone, but I loved it.
It follows Violet Everly- a girl born into a cursed family, left behind by her mother while her secretive uncles raised her, inheriting a dark burden she is unprepared for. But she is determined to either find her mother or break the curse, and that will draw her into a darkly magical world filled with those who care only for power.
Heads up that this includes a number of references to violence towards children, some of it semi-graphic in nature.
A delight to read and I can see why someone referred to it as "Gaiman-esque". I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
It follows Violet Everly- a girl born into a cursed family, left behind by her mother while her secretive uncles raised her, inheriting a dark burden she is unprepared for. But she is determined to either find her mother or break the curse, and that will draw her into a darkly magical world filled with those who care only for power.
Heads up that this includes a number of references to violence towards children, some of it semi-graphic in nature.
A delight to read and I can see why someone referred to it as "Gaiman-esque". I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
June 24, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.25
Once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadow beside them.
Stubborn like an Everly, brave like an Everly, doomed like an Everly.
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing the arc in exchange for a review!
Violet’s family is cursed, one member in each generation doomed to be stolen away to another world.
In trying to find a way out of this fate, Violet discovers Fidelis: home of the scholars; of myth and wonder. The cradle to other worlds. Unlocked by keys owned by the scholars.
With her mother missing, and secrets wrapped up in mysterious, this enthralling, magical, lyrical stand-alone is rich in descriptions, emotions, and yearning.
In her desperation, what lengths will Violet go to uncover the truth of the curse? Of the astrals who are trapped in their world? Of the sweet boy who keeps appearing everywhere she goes, who seems so lost and alone?
Because adventure, it turns out, is a dangerously seductive word. It reaches underneath Violet's ribcage and pulls, like a cosmic string attuned to a compass point elsewhere.
This is such an ode to book lovers. Those of us who spent our childhoods (and heck, our adult lives) wishing for that hidden door, that secret cupboard, that mysterious passageway that leads… somewhere. To adventure. To something greater.
Books have always been her escape. When she couldn't leave the house, when no one would answer her questions, when she felt so very alone in the world. They have given her a way out before - maybe they can do it again.
I would recommend this to fans of A Darker Shade of Magic, Ink Blood Sister Scribe, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
Bookstagram
Once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadow beside them.
Stubborn like an Everly, brave like an Everly, doomed like an Everly.
Thank you to Hodder and Stoughton for providing the arc in exchange for a review!
Violet’s family is cursed, one member in each generation doomed to be stolen away to another world.
In trying to find a way out of this fate, Violet discovers Fidelis: home of the scholars; of myth and wonder. The cradle to other worlds. Unlocked by keys owned by the scholars.
With her mother missing, and secrets wrapped up in mysterious, this enthralling, magical, lyrical stand-alone is rich in descriptions, emotions, and yearning.
In her desperation, what lengths will Violet go to uncover the truth of the curse? Of the astrals who are trapped in their world? Of the sweet boy who keeps appearing everywhere she goes, who seems so lost and alone?
Because adventure, it turns out, is a dangerously seductive word. It reaches underneath Violet's ribcage and pulls, like a cosmic string attuned to a compass point elsewhere.
This is such an ode to book lovers. Those of us who spent our childhoods (and heck, our adult lives) wishing for that hidden door, that secret cupboard, that mysterious passageway that leads… somewhere. To adventure. To something greater.
Books have always been her escape. When she couldn't leave the house, when no one would answer her questions, when she felt so very alone in the world. They have given her a way out before - maybe they can do it again.
I would recommend this to fans of A Darker Shade of Magic, Ink Blood Sister Scribe, and Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
Bookstagram
Want to read
August 5, 2023ok so I just stumbled upon this and you don’t understand how much I. NEED. THIS. BOOK. NOW.
I swear guys when january comes and I get my hands on this, I will never be the same again.
I swear guys when january comes and I get my hands on this, I will never be the same again.
February 19, 2024
"A curse can be many things. A wish left out to spoil in the sun, putrid and soft, leaving behind only calcified desire and oxidized envy. Or a poison chalice, a mistake tattooed across an entire family tree... For the Everlys, it begins with stardust."
3⭐️
On paper, this book has all the ingredients for a perfect read for me: adult fantasy with beautiful, lush prose, a whimsical atmosphere and a tortured romantic subplot, a potentially sentient old house and portal fantasy shenanigans. For all these reasons, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024.
Unfortunately, I fear this book did not eat in the way I had so desperately hoped it would.
The Premise:
This is an adult standalone portal fantasy following the plight of Violet Everly, who has a year to break the curse that has haunted her family for generations. It-
…
The Problem:
Ah yes, we have unfortunately already stumbled upon the fatal flaw that ruined this book for me a bit. Go on, ask me to tell you more about the plot. After reading 350 pages, shouldn’t I be able to give you more details about the world-building, the development? In theory yes, but I must admit, and I cannot emphasize this enough if you put a gun to my head right now and asked you to explain a single thing about the plot outside of what I have above, I would be dead.
The plot was nonsensically hard to follow and the world-building was so underdeveloped that I found myself dragging quite early in the book, despite being so excited to enjoy this book. At the end of the day, this book had a solid premise that could have been really special and unique, but it fell flat and was executed so poorly that I could barely enjoy the beautiful writing.
The Positives:
⭐️ The Vibes: 10/10. Darkly whimsical, lush, atmospheric. I want all my books to be able to achieve this vibes check.
⭐️ The Prose: SO lovely and rich and immersive. If you love writers like Alix Harrow, I think you will also adore this author’s writing- it’s the reason I gave the book a 3-star rating even when the plot itself failed to plot.
⭐️ The Romance: This book also had a lovely little romantic subplot featuring a tortured academic who’s been pining for years, which was one of the only parts of the plot I was actually able to follow and genuinely enjoy.
TL;DR:
This was a beautifully written but poorly executed story that I so wish had been given more time to develop. If you’re all an all-vibes, no plot kind of girly, I think you will still adore this book. If you’re really in the mood for dark whimsy, you should also give it a go. But if you want to know what the FUCK is going on, stay far away.
3⭐️
On paper, this book has all the ingredients for a perfect read for me: adult fantasy with beautiful, lush prose, a whimsical atmosphere and a tortured romantic subplot, a potentially sentient old house and portal fantasy shenanigans. For all these reasons, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024.
Unfortunately, I fear this book did not eat in the way I had so desperately hoped it would.
The Premise:
This is an adult standalone portal fantasy following the plight of Violet Everly, who has a year to break the curse that has haunted her family for generations. It-
…
The Problem:
Ah yes, we have unfortunately already stumbled upon the fatal flaw that ruined this book for me a bit. Go on, ask me to tell you more about the plot. After reading 350 pages, shouldn’t I be able to give you more details about the world-building, the development? In theory yes, but I must admit, and I cannot emphasize this enough if you put a gun to my head right now and asked you to explain a single thing about the plot outside of what I have above, I would be dead.
The plot was nonsensically hard to follow and the world-building was so underdeveloped that I found myself dragging quite early in the book, despite being so excited to enjoy this book. At the end of the day, this book had a solid premise that could have been really special and unique, but it fell flat and was executed so poorly that I could barely enjoy the beautiful writing.
The Positives:
⭐️ The Vibes: 10/10. Darkly whimsical, lush, atmospheric. I want all my books to be able to achieve this vibes check.
⭐️ The Prose: SO lovely and rich and immersive. If you love writers like Alix Harrow, I think you will also adore this author’s writing- it’s the reason I gave the book a 3-star rating even when the plot itself failed to plot.
⭐️ The Romance: This book also had a lovely little romantic subplot featuring a tortured academic who’s been pining for years, which was one of the only parts of the plot I was actually able to follow and genuinely enjoy.
TL;DR:
This was a beautifully written but poorly executed story that I so wish had been given more time to develop. If you’re all an all-vibes, no plot kind of girly, I think you will still adore this book. If you’re really in the mood for dark whimsy, you should also give it a go. But if you want to know what the FUCK is going on, stay far away.
December 13, 2023
So addie larue coded <3
January 24, 2024
Whoever said that this reminds them of The Night Circus was right. But not in a good way. The same as I can't recall an ounce of The Night Curcus story, the whole plot of this book flew out of my mind the minute my eyes left each page. And it's a shame, as the writer definitely has talent and a unique style. Also, there was a potential for a good story hiding behind tons of unnecessarily long descriptions. It promised a lot and delivered nothing. I would rank this one as a perfect example of style over substance, because I swear to god, if you threatened me with a gun and demanded a summary of this book, I would be dead. It was so dull and convoluted (just for the sake of being convoluted), that I seriously can't tell you what it was about.
Violet is a totally undistinguished, default-crossover-YA-character I have seen in dozens of similar books only last year. She has zero personality and the only thing driving her is a search for her lost mother. I have no idea what the girl looks like and what are the traits of her character. No idea what the love interest sees in her too - Alexander's affections seems to be generated purely by the narrative imperative. In the end the romance here is just like the plot - boring and makes me feel nothing.
I had some hopes for the magic system, but I feel that we are deliberately told so little about it, to take lack of structure for mysterious magic. After reading the whole book, I still don't know how the magic in this world works, and therefore I was not invested in the plot.
Probably the best part of the whole thing was Penelope, as she was terrifying. Some of her scenes were too gory for me, but she was the only character that made me feed things (namely: chills). Also, I liked the concept of the gods here, described as eerie, not-so-godly creatures. It reminded me of Asian legends of deities that descended to Earth. Generally, I have a feeling that the author read Ayashi No Ceres more than once.
The audiobook version was perfectly fine though, although because the POVs switch so rapidly and without a warning, it was often hard to catch up with who was the narrator. But that's the book fault, not the audiobook's.
Violet is a totally undistinguished, default-crossover-YA-character I have seen in dozens of similar books only last year. She has zero personality and the only thing driving her is a search for her lost mother. I have no idea what the girl looks like and what are the traits of her character. No idea what the love interest sees in her too - Alexander's affections seems to be generated purely by the narrative imperative. In the end the romance here is just like the plot - boring and makes me feel nothing.
I had some hopes for the magic system, but I feel that we are deliberately told so little about it, to take lack of structure for mysterious magic. After reading the whole book, I still don't know how the magic in this world works, and therefore I was not invested in the plot.
Probably the best part of the whole thing was Penelope, as she was terrifying. Some of her scenes were too gory for me, but she was the only character that made me feed things (namely: chills). Also, I liked the concept of the gods here, described as eerie, not-so-godly creatures. It reminded me of Asian legends of deities that descended to Earth. Generally, I have a feeling that the author read Ayashi No Ceres more than once.
The audiobook version was perfectly fine though, although because the POVs switch so rapidly and without a warning, it was often hard to catch up with who was the narrator. But that's the book fault, not the audiobook's.
January 22, 2024
The City of Stardust
by Georgia Summers
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: January 30, 2024
Redhook Books
Ages: 14+
Violet's mother left her with her uncles when she was young to search for a way to break the curse that had haunted the Everly family for centuries, but Violet's mother never returned and Penelope gives Violet's uncles a deal; find Violet's mother in ten years, or Violet will be the sacrifice.
As a teenager, Violet's uncles, who have been searching since she was left in their care, continue but now include Violet whom they had left in the dark. But Violet takes the search upon herself since it is her life at stake.
This is one of those books that the blurb sounded so good; magical underworld, montsers, and curses. We fantasy nuts can't help but be drawn in. If only the writing had been as good. Even though the genres are listed as Sci-Fi/Fantasy, it read more as if it was intended for YA instead of adults.
There's not a lot of depth in this book, the characters and settings are flat, along with the dialogue. And with the plot, the characters just didn't seem to care even though a girl's life was at stake. She believed Aleksander even though he had proved how untrustworthy he was, showed how little she cared about herself. One couldn't even blame that she was 'madly in love' with him. That never came across as anything more than a crush.
There's nothing extremely violent, sexual, or 'offending' in the book that the YA audience can't see on TV or read in books specifically aimed at them, so readers fourteen and older can read this.
I wish I'd DNFed it!
1 Star
by Georgia Summers
Fantasy
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: January 30, 2024
Redhook Books
Ages: 14+
Violet's mother left her with her uncles when she was young to search for a way to break the curse that had haunted the Everly family for centuries, but Violet's mother never returned and Penelope gives Violet's uncles a deal; find Violet's mother in ten years, or Violet will be the sacrifice.
As a teenager, Violet's uncles, who have been searching since she was left in their care, continue but now include Violet whom they had left in the dark. But Violet takes the search upon herself since it is her life at stake.
This is one of those books that the blurb sounded so good; magical underworld, montsers, and curses. We fantasy nuts can't help but be drawn in. If only the writing had been as good. Even though the genres are listed as Sci-Fi/Fantasy, it read more as if it was intended for YA instead of adults.
There's not a lot of depth in this book, the characters and settings are flat, along with the dialogue. And with the plot, the characters just didn't seem to care even though a girl's life was at stake. She believed Aleksander even though he had proved how untrustworthy he was, showed how little she cared about herself. One couldn't even blame that she was 'madly in love' with him. That never came across as anything more than a crush.
There's nothing extremely violent, sexual, or 'offending' in the book that the YA audience can't see on TV or read in books specifically aimed at them, so readers fourteen and older can read this.
I wish I'd DNFed it!
1 Star
February 5, 2024
"It's the unspoken tale singing its way through her family history: once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadow beside them."
This book is glittering lost cities and stars personified and monsters hungering in the dark. It offers hidden doors and magical keys and goddesses who wear flames draped over their shoulders like a cloak. Do you like crumbling manors and family curses? Well, those can be found in The City of Stardust too. All that and so much more in the worlds spun from Georgia Summers' imagination.
Such an impressive debut. I look forward to reading whatever novel Georgia Summers publishes next.
--
I'm so eager to read this dark fantasy in which a woman must "descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters." Pre-ordered this because I NEED more magic, stardust, and monsters in my life. January 30th can't get here soon enough!
This book is glittering lost cities and stars personified and monsters hungering in the dark. It offers hidden doors and magical keys and goddesses who wear flames draped over their shoulders like a cloak. Do you like crumbling manors and family curses? Well, those can be found in The City of Stardust too. All that and so much more in the worlds spun from Georgia Summers' imagination.
Such an impressive debut. I look forward to reading whatever novel Georgia Summers publishes next.
--
I'm so eager to read this dark fantasy in which a woman must "descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters." Pre-ordered this because I NEED more magic, stardust, and monsters in my life. January 30th can't get here soon enough!
November 21, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF at 49%
I'm so sad about this one and so torn. The writing in this book is beautiful and very whimsical. Her descriptions are lovely and I can easily picture these wonderful landscapes she's describing. But all of that comes at the detriment to the development of both the storyline and the characters.
Both the storyline and the characters are all very interesting and have a lot of potential, but they're bogged down by the shear amount of descriptions and lack luster interactions.
I think that a lot of readers will really enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me.
DNF at 49%
I'm so sad about this one and so torn. The writing in this book is beautiful and very whimsical. Her descriptions are lovely and I can easily picture these wonderful landscapes she's describing. But all of that comes at the detriment to the development of both the storyline and the characters.
Both the storyline and the characters are all very interesting and have a lot of potential, but they're bogged down by the shear amount of descriptions and lack luster interactions.
I think that a lot of readers will really enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me.
December 13, 2023
The Everlys are cursed. Thousands of years ago, they made a bargain that cost a soul from every generation. In the modern day, Violet Everly is the last of the line and she searches for her mother who vanished into the night when she was just a girl. When the bargain is called in, her uncles make a deal to buy more time; Violet will live another ten years if her mother can be found. Worlds away, a library in the depths of the magical city hides a secret bought with blood. As the curse’s deadline closes in, Violet searches for her mother and uncovers a far greater secret. After all, the worlds are closer than they appear, and all it takes is a key to bring everything crashing down.
Reading The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers was like sinking into molasses. There was sticky prose, overly dramatic writing, and a plot that was as slow as it was hard to follow. Skipping across different perspectives prevented me from getting attached to any of the characters and while the imagery was certainly vivid, it was of little substance. Riddled with plot holes and characters that lacked clear motivation, I couldn’t get invested in the characters despite spending chapters following their perspectives.
Part of my lack of emotional attachment started from the beginning. The audience was introduced to Violet (the technical main character) when she was a girl but twenty pages later, she was an adult with very different characteristics than her younger self. The relationship with the Everly family wasn't explored as much as it could have been, and while I loved the concept of a cursed family, it wasn’t played up enough to be a source of internal conflict. Additionally, the story was told in limited 3rd person present tense, which didn’t reflect the agelessness of the storyline because the narrative was told as if everything was happening at once.
As for worldbuilding, once again, I loved the concept but found the execution lacking. How the city existed, why there were librarians, and why the main villain was villainous were never explained. I got what the author was trying to do with a shifting narrative that jumped around between various characters but found that it lacked emotional depth. I couldn’t get attached to the characters because I was given no reason to care about them. Essentially, I wanted what this book could have been. I wanted the story of a cursed family and the girl who dared to challenge history. I wanted magical libraries with secrets, a fantasy that spanned cities, and complex family dynamics. If that kind of story is something you want too, I’d check out The Night Circus, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Ink Blood Sister Scribe and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
An e-ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Reading The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers was like sinking into molasses. There was sticky prose, overly dramatic writing, and a plot that was as slow as it was hard to follow. Skipping across different perspectives prevented me from getting attached to any of the characters and while the imagery was certainly vivid, it was of little substance. Riddled with plot holes and characters that lacked clear motivation, I couldn’t get invested in the characters despite spending chapters following their perspectives.
Part of my lack of emotional attachment started from the beginning. The audience was introduced to Violet (the technical main character) when she was a girl but twenty pages later, she was an adult with very different characteristics than her younger self. The relationship with the Everly family wasn't explored as much as it could have been, and while I loved the concept of a cursed family, it wasn’t played up enough to be a source of internal conflict. Additionally, the story was told in limited 3rd person present tense, which didn’t reflect the agelessness of the storyline because the narrative was told as if everything was happening at once.
As for worldbuilding, once again, I loved the concept but found the execution lacking. How the city existed, why there were librarians, and why the main villain was villainous were never explained. I got what the author was trying to do with a shifting narrative that jumped around between various characters but found that it lacked emotional depth. I couldn’t get attached to the characters because I was given no reason to care about them. Essentially, I wanted what this book could have been. I wanted the story of a cursed family and the girl who dared to challenge history. I wanted magical libraries with secrets, a fantasy that spanned cities, and complex family dynamics. If that kind of story is something you want too, I’d check out The Night Circus, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, Ink Blood Sister Scribe and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.
An e-ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
December 13, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
This book had such beautiful prose, full of gorgeous magical whimsy that was truly captivating but unfortunately the plot and characters were seriously lacking. This book had such potential to be something incredible but I felt absolutely nothing for any of the characters, which was really disappointing because the descriptions of this world were so stunning.
I don’t think this book will be one I remember well over time but I will keep an eye out for this authors future work because she really does write beautifully and hopefully we can see some more memorable characters written by her in the future.
This book had such beautiful prose, full of gorgeous magical whimsy that was truly captivating but unfortunately the plot and characters were seriously lacking. This book had such potential to be something incredible but I felt absolutely nothing for any of the characters, which was really disappointing because the descriptions of this world were so stunning.
I don’t think this book will be one I remember well over time but I will keep an eye out for this authors future work because she really does write beautifully and hopefully we can see some more memorable characters written by her in the future.
January 31, 2024
3.75⭐
A dark and sorrowful story that might not appeal to everyone, but one I greatly enjoyed. It partially read like a grown-up fairy tale. One review I saw suggested a similarity with His Dark Materials series and I do think they have a similar vibe, although I wasn't a big fan of that series.
Violet Everly has been kept in ignorance her whole life, closed off from both the real world and the magical one. She is left with books and their stories, dreaming of one day embarking on some grand adventure. Then she meets Aleksandr, who shows her there is a whole different world out there to explore. Before she can even think of discovering it, she is told the truth and that she only has one year left to find her mother, or else she will pay the price of the family curse in her stead. Unbeknownst to her, Aleksandr is an assistant to Penelope. The very woman who is owed an Everly sacrifice. He has his own goal of one day becoming a scholar, a goal for which he might do anything.
I think the strongest point of this book for me was its atmosphere. There is quite a bit of tension as time is slowly ticking out. There is also a dread of what kind of fate awaits Violet if she fails. The setting is dark and sorrowful. Especially when it comes to the magical society. There is this feeling of potential for greatness that has been lost and corrupted in the chase for power. This atmosphere is in big part created by the beautiful prose and the narration's commentary.
The character work is also excellent. Violet is a strong heroine, fighting for her life and facing her fate rather than running away. Aleksandr is a lost soul, groomed by Penelope his whole life and only knowing one desire. Now his loyalties become divided as he starts feeling there might be something more to desire. The romance storyline is not really as pronounced as one might expect, yet it is also an integral part of the story. Penelope, as the villain, has a properly terrifying presence, which just grows as we learn more about her. Her backstory makes her more than just an evil villain.
There were primarily two things I didn't enjoy as much. First, I think keeping Violet in ignorance for so long, especially since we readers already knew the truth, just made the beginning too slow and tedious. Second, when Violet finally embarks on her one-year search, the narrative tells us what she did, but not really why or how she accomplished it. Throughout the entire search, we are only privy to a few key moments.
Lastly, I should mention the audiobook version. It had some volume issues in the beginning and sometimes the narrator failed to make proper pauses, but ultimately there was nothing that would have prevented me from enjoying the book. These issues might also actually be fixed before release. Otherwise, I enjoyed the narration. Kitty Parker's voice was a great fit for helping to build the right kind of atmosphere.
All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book. I felt that it was something different and original. I will look for something with this kind of vibe in the future and I hope the author will write more great stories like this one.
I received an ARC and ALC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A dark and sorrowful story that might not appeal to everyone, but one I greatly enjoyed. It partially read like a grown-up fairy tale. One review I saw suggested a similarity with His Dark Materials series and I do think they have a similar vibe, although I wasn't a big fan of that series.
Violet Everly has been kept in ignorance her whole life, closed off from both the real world and the magical one. She is left with books and their stories, dreaming of one day embarking on some grand adventure. Then she meets Aleksandr, who shows her there is a whole different world out there to explore. Before she can even think of discovering it, she is told the truth and that she only has one year left to find her mother, or else she will pay the price of the family curse in her stead. Unbeknownst to her, Aleksandr is an assistant to Penelope. The very woman who is owed an Everly sacrifice. He has his own goal of one day becoming a scholar, a goal for which he might do anything.
I think the strongest point of this book for me was its atmosphere. There is quite a bit of tension as time is slowly ticking out. There is also a dread of what kind of fate awaits Violet if she fails. The setting is dark and sorrowful. Especially when it comes to the magical society. There is this feeling of potential for greatness that has been lost and corrupted in the chase for power. This atmosphere is in big part created by the beautiful prose and the narration's commentary.
The character work is also excellent. Violet is a strong heroine, fighting for her life and facing her fate rather than running away. Aleksandr is a lost soul, groomed by Penelope his whole life and only knowing one desire. Now his loyalties become divided as he starts feeling there might be something more to desire. The romance storyline is not really as pronounced as one might expect, yet it is also an integral part of the story. Penelope, as the villain, has a properly terrifying presence, which just grows as we learn more about her. Her backstory makes her more than just an evil villain.
There were primarily two things I didn't enjoy as much. First, I think keeping Violet in ignorance for so long, especially since we readers already knew the truth, just made the beginning too slow and tedious. Second, when Violet finally embarks on her one-year search, the narrative tells us what she did, but not really why or how she accomplished it. Throughout the entire search, we are only privy to a few key moments.
Lastly, I should mention the audiobook version. It had some volume issues in the beginning and sometimes the narrator failed to make proper pauses, but ultimately there was nothing that would have prevented me from enjoying the book. These issues might also actually be fixed before release. Otherwise, I enjoyed the narration. Kitty Parker's voice was a great fit for helping to build the right kind of atmosphere.
All in all, I definitely enjoyed this book. I felt that it was something different and original. I will look for something with this kind of vibe in the future and I hope the author will write more great stories like this one.
I received an ARC and ALC for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 9, 2024
Was a fun whimsical story I just wish there was more to the romance
February 5, 2024
Don’t judge a book by its cover, but how could you not in this case? Family dysfunction, magical doors, gods, and monsters jointly make for a great fantasy. Outside of the disjointed plot distribution, this is a promising debut.
I’ve seen some comparisons to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and The Night Circus, but those only work in the sense of the writing. The comparisons don’t do Stardust’s plot justice; La Rue and Night Circus have more vibes than decisive plots. Violet Everly’s mother left her at a young age with her uncles. When a mysterious woman shows up and claims Violet’s life, she is determined to find her mother and break the curse this strange woman has placed on her family.
I’m surprised this is a debut because of how well-written this is. It takes on an ethereal quality while still being set in the real world. It seamlessly flows from actual places to Fidelis, the land of scholars and gods. The writing style is reminiscent of my favorite authors, including VE Schwab, Laini Taylor, and Adrienne Young.
While the overarching plot was interesting, the story presented oddly. As the reader, I knew more information than Violet did. While most of the book follows her journey, there are flashbacks to explain the Everly curse. These reveals came way too early in the story. Knowing Violet’s end made the book lag around the 50% mark. If we had the history explained as Violet discovers it, the twists would’ve been more impactful and meaningful in the story.
Violet was on the verge of having a personality. I got only glimpses of her character: curious, hard-working, and determined. But her character arc was too tangled in the plot to be strong. I wish I had gotten to know her better; she had the making of a great MC. The other POV, Aleksander, was far more intriguing, even though I didn’t like him. His arc was more thorough as he tried to break through the trauma and lies inflicted on him.
I should have seen the romance coming, but I’m too platonic of a person to catch on. Violet and Aleksander’s romance completely blindsided me, mainly because Aleksander was toxic and Violet was too naive. There is a slew of lies and betrayals between them that they seem to skip over in the end. What is the point of conflict if it doesn’t add tension? I also think Violet’s weak arc played a role in this. It’s hard to root for a couple if, in the end, I still don’t understand half of the pair.
I’m interested to see where this author goes. Despite my gripes, it was a lovely reading experience and a unique world. It’s hard finding stand-out fantasy worlds, but Summers managed just that. If you like any of the previously mentioned authors and crave a book both brutal and magical in equal measure, City of Stardust might satisfy your needs.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I’ve seen some comparisons to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and The Night Circus, but those only work in the sense of the writing. The comparisons don’t do Stardust’s plot justice; La Rue and Night Circus have more vibes than decisive plots. Violet Everly’s mother left her at a young age with her uncles. When a mysterious woman shows up and claims Violet’s life, she is determined to find her mother and break the curse this strange woman has placed on her family.
I’m surprised this is a debut because of how well-written this is. It takes on an ethereal quality while still being set in the real world. It seamlessly flows from actual places to Fidelis, the land of scholars and gods. The writing style is reminiscent of my favorite authors, including VE Schwab, Laini Taylor, and Adrienne Young.
While the overarching plot was interesting, the story presented oddly. As the reader, I knew more information than Violet did. While most of the book follows her journey, there are flashbacks to explain the Everly curse. These reveals came way too early in the story. Knowing Violet’s end made the book lag around the 50% mark. If we had the history explained as Violet discovers it, the twists would’ve been more impactful and meaningful in the story.
Violet was on the verge of having a personality. I got only glimpses of her character: curious, hard-working, and determined. But her character arc was too tangled in the plot to be strong. I wish I had gotten to know her better; she had the making of a great MC. The other POV, Aleksander, was far more intriguing, even though I didn’t like him. His arc was more thorough as he tried to break through the trauma and lies inflicted on him.
I should have seen the romance coming, but I’m too platonic of a person to catch on. Violet and Aleksander’s romance completely blindsided me, mainly because Aleksander was toxic and Violet was too naive. There is a slew of lies and betrayals between them that they seem to skip over in the end. What is the point of conflict if it doesn’t add tension? I also think Violet’s weak arc played a role in this. It’s hard to root for a couple if, in the end, I still don’t understand half of the pair.
I’m interested to see where this author goes. Despite my gripes, it was a lovely reading experience and a unique world. It’s hard finding stand-out fantasy worlds, but Summers managed just that. If you like any of the previously mentioned authors and crave a book both brutal and magical in equal measure, City of Stardust might satisfy your needs.
Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
February 19, 2024
“A curse can be many things. A wish left out to spoil in the sun, putrid and soft, leaving behind only calcified desire and oxidised envy. Or a poisoned chalice, a mistake tattooed across an entire family tree, with every generation promising, vowing to never sip until they do.”
The City of Stardust is the story of Violet Everly, a young woman trying to find her mother, who left a decade ago to try to discover a way to break their family’s curse. The clock is ticking and unless Violet finds her mother in time, she’ll have to pay the blood debt to a powerful creature with her own life. In her quest, she discovers a world of magical portals, scholars, secrets and fallen gods. She also meets Aleksander, the second point of the view of this story and the assistant of the dangerous woman to whom the Everly’s debt is owed.
This book began with an intriguing prologue: children disappearing without a trace and a woman leaving her life—and her daughter—behind. Add the beautiful prose to the mix, and the story had all the ingredients for a promising story. Unfortunately, the whimsical setting gave way to a plot and characters that I lost interest in as the book progressed. I was more interested in Violet’s uncles than her and I personally think that Aleksander’s point of view didn’t add anything to the plot. I have to say that I kind of liked the ending, especially considering this is a standalone book.
Overall, I just was underwhelmed by this story, but I loved the author’s writing so much that I’ll probably check out whatever she writes next.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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February 12, 2024
It was perfectly okay. I liked aleksander and penelope a lot. but miss mc was like painfully stupid which is something I can ignore in a ya novel but in actual adult novels i need even a semblance of street smarts idk
January 30, 2024
I received an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Orbit/Redhook, in exchange for an honest review.
The description for The City of Stardust captivated me as soon as I read it. Here’s what hooked me: “A young woman descends into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge to break her family's curse in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy debut.” There are so many things that grab me in that little synopsis. A “seductive, magical underworld?” Sign me up. “Power-hungry scholars?” Forever and always. Fickle gods and family curses? Yes, please. While I did get all of those things, the story itself didn’t land quite as solidly for me as I had hoped it would.
This story brought to mind a multitude of others. I was reminded of The Ten Thousand Doors of January in bits and pieces of the writing style, as well as in the key and door motifs. Strange the Dreamer came to mind in terms of tone and texture, and even the story itself. There was a whiff of The Starless Sea, a subtle hint of The Night Circus. By and large, these are books that I adore. So to say that my expectations for The City of Stardust were through the roof would be an understatement. And high expectations are always risky.
I found this to be one of those odd stories that is strongest in the middle. It got off to a bit of a slow start, and the finish felt shaky and not wholly formed. But the middle 200 pages or so were incredibly engaging. This was the quest portion of the tale, and it was well crafted and well delivered. It was here that I found our main characters, Violet and Aleksander, to be at their most compelling. The various settings were all beautifully rendered. I felt that the pacing and tension, both in terms of plot and romantic undertones, were wonderfully balanced in this section. I could have overlooked the weaker beginning had the ending not unraveled. At least, it did so in my eyes. The tension dissipated where it should have been the tightest.
I liked The City of Stardust, and there were aspects of it that I absolutely love. The descriptions of Violet’s bookish childhood was fantastic. I loved Ambrose and Gabriel, Violet’s uncles, though I actually wish they had been given more time on the page. I was fascinated by the hidden world of Fidelis, and the scholarly underworld that had found its way from that world into our own. Aleksander was a very intriguing character, and I was never quite sure where he was going to fall in terms of relationship with Violet. The mythos here was pretty fascinating, and the supernatural entities were a wonderful blend of awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Georgia Summers created something lovely in The City of Stardust, if a touch unbalanced in terms of pacing and a maintenance of tension. I might have felt a bit ambivalent about the way things wrapped up, but by and large I think this was a solid debut. If everything that comes from Summers’ pen is this lovely, I can’t wait to read whatever she puts out next!
The description for The City of Stardust captivated me as soon as I read it. Here’s what hooked me: “A young woman descends into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge to break her family's curse in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy debut.” There are so many things that grab me in that little synopsis. A “seductive, magical underworld?” Sign me up. “Power-hungry scholars?” Forever and always. Fickle gods and family curses? Yes, please. While I did get all of those things, the story itself didn’t land quite as solidly for me as I had hoped it would.
This story brought to mind a multitude of others. I was reminded of The Ten Thousand Doors of January in bits and pieces of the writing style, as well as in the key and door motifs. Strange the Dreamer came to mind in terms of tone and texture, and even the story itself. There was a whiff of The Starless Sea, a subtle hint of The Night Circus. By and large, these are books that I adore. So to say that my expectations for The City of Stardust were through the roof would be an understatement. And high expectations are always risky.
I found this to be one of those odd stories that is strongest in the middle. It got off to a bit of a slow start, and the finish felt shaky and not wholly formed. But the middle 200 pages or so were incredibly engaging. This was the quest portion of the tale, and it was well crafted and well delivered. It was here that I found our main characters, Violet and Aleksander, to be at their most compelling. The various settings were all beautifully rendered. I felt that the pacing and tension, both in terms of plot and romantic undertones, were wonderfully balanced in this section. I could have overlooked the weaker beginning had the ending not unraveled. At least, it did so in my eyes. The tension dissipated where it should have been the tightest.
I liked The City of Stardust, and there were aspects of it that I absolutely love. The descriptions of Violet’s bookish childhood was fantastic. I loved Ambrose and Gabriel, Violet’s uncles, though I actually wish they had been given more time on the page. I was fascinated by the hidden world of Fidelis, and the scholarly underworld that had found its way from that world into our own. Aleksander was a very intriguing character, and I was never quite sure where he was going to fall in terms of relationship with Violet. The mythos here was pretty fascinating, and the supernatural entities were a wonderful blend of awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Georgia Summers created something lovely in The City of Stardust, if a touch unbalanced in terms of pacing and a maintenance of tension. I might have felt a bit ambivalent about the way things wrapped up, but by and large I think this was a solid debut. If everything that comes from Summers’ pen is this lovely, I can’t wait to read whatever she puts out next!
January 8, 2024
Okay so eh as y'all can see, I am not a fan of this book. A lot of things put me off and it got so bad I had to take a break from this or I would've ended up in a reading slump🥲
I am so so sad because I was so excited for this book! The synopsis sounded SO good and interesting and the cover is so pretty😍 But the story, the characters, the writing.. all of it didn't work for me.. I really tried to love it, I really did but no, I'm glad it's over.
The story itself, it was a great concept, one that peaked my interest. I was expecting a lot of world building as there were a lot of different 'worlds' you could enter through 'keys' but I felt like it was barely explained. Like others also have said I had a problem with the whole curse and Violet's journey through it. We as readers knew a lot more than the main character which was very annoying to me because 1. It was hard to follow because I kept thinking why doesn't she know that? And 2. the plottwists were barely plottwists because you already knew they were coming...
I also couldn't keep up with all the different aspects and tbh if you'd ask me what happened in this book I couldn't even explain it lol. The world, the rules, the magic, it was so complex which made it very hard to understand everything that was going on.
Then the characters.. unlikable, especially the main characters Violet and Aleksander. I felt like they both didn't get any development and Violet was just too naive and forgiving. Their chemistry was off so I also hated the romance part in this book. There were some side characters I did like though, Ambrose, Gabriel, Caspian.. but they got barely any dialogue.
The writing? I'm in the minority on this but this writing style is not for me. When I first started reading, something felt off for me and it wasn't until I started reading reviews I knew why. People were comparing this writing style to the night circus, another book I absolutely despise. I HATE this kind of writing which caused a snowball effect of me not understanding some stuff and hating all the dialogue and the way the story flowed. It was just overly descriptive but not descriptive enough in other aspects..
I also have to note that I really didn't like the switching POV's mid chapter without a proper indication. Like, you could be reading about Violet going on about her day and the next sentence will say something like " 'I'm not sure if I should do this' Aleksander thought", y'all know how much I love multiple POV's but this one wasn't executed very well in my opinion.
So yeah this was definitely not my cup of tea although the prose sounded amazing and definitely up my alley! I do think (and know because of the reviews) that a lot of people would like and even love this book so take my review with a pinch of salt. If you like descriptive writing this book will suit you!
I am so so sad because I was so excited for this book! The synopsis sounded SO good and interesting and the cover is so pretty😍 But the story, the characters, the writing.. all of it didn't work for me.. I really tried to love it, I really did but no, I'm glad it's over.
The story itself, it was a great concept, one that peaked my interest. I was expecting a lot of world building as there were a lot of different 'worlds' you could enter through 'keys' but I felt like it was barely explained. Like others also have said I had a problem with the whole curse and Violet's journey through it. We as readers knew a lot more than the main character which was very annoying to me because 1. It was hard to follow because I kept thinking why doesn't she know that? And 2. the plottwists were barely plottwists because you already knew they were coming...
I also couldn't keep up with all the different aspects and tbh if you'd ask me what happened in this book I couldn't even explain it lol. The world, the rules, the magic, it was so complex which made it very hard to understand everything that was going on.
Then the characters.. unlikable, especially the main characters Violet and Aleksander. I felt like they both didn't get any development and Violet was just too naive and forgiving. Their chemistry was off so I also hated the romance part in this book. There were some side characters I did like though, Ambrose, Gabriel, Caspian.. but they got barely any dialogue.
The writing? I'm in the minority on this but this writing style is not for me. When I first started reading, something felt off for me and it wasn't until I started reading reviews I knew why. People were comparing this writing style to the night circus, another book I absolutely despise. I HATE this kind of writing which caused a snowball effect of me not understanding some stuff and hating all the dialogue and the way the story flowed. It was just overly descriptive but not descriptive enough in other aspects..
I also have to note that I really didn't like the switching POV's mid chapter without a proper indication. Like, you could be reading about Violet going on about her day and the next sentence will say something like " 'I'm not sure if I should do this' Aleksander thought", y'all know how much I love multiple POV's but this one wasn't executed very well in my opinion.
So yeah this was definitely not my cup of tea although the prose sounded amazing and definitely up my alley! I do think (and know because of the reviews) that a lot of people would like and even love this book so take my review with a pinch of salt. If you like descriptive writing this book will suit you!
January 27, 2024
i wanted to fall in love with this book, as it had so many elements that usually appeal to me, but i was utterly underwhelmed. a lot of potential to be found, such as the beautiful, almost ethereal writing, but for a story with poor pacing and characters who were never fully developed. 3 stars.
December 25, 2023
Just finished reading this and I'm still in a trance. The beautiful writing, the mystery, the fairytale-esque unravelling, and an enticing amount of darkness. I highly recommend this magical debut. rtc.
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