A Dark and Hollow Star by Ashley Shuttleworth, Publishing Info: eARC from Hodder & Stoughton. We dont have a new person in the world that acts as our proxy to the world. This book lists the following content warnings: anger, arson, blood/gore, body horror (minor), death of a child, depression, disownment, divorce, drug use/addiction, grief/grieving, human tracking, poverty, psychopathy, stalking, suicide (past, off page), suicidal ideation, toxic relationship/manipulation, trauma/PTSD, racism, violence/gun violence. She can be thorny (putting it very mildly) and has high ambitions for both her and her son. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. It was their chapters I was most looking forward to, and mostly because of the chemistry which was apparent from their first encounter.
A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge. Subscribe to receive weekly lists of must-watch movies and info about our exclusive giveaways! Every single character has something or someone to fight for, and while these motives may not be rational by your standards or mine, they are powerful agents, nonetheless. A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge. A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge. Yes, above all else, the world these characters live in, move through, and fight for, is very well defined, Toronto references aside. The ironborn half-fae outcast of her royal fae family. It felt like something major was missing. I like hard and fast rules. For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. It wasnt as bogged down by long descriptions and explanations, and I was able to really get into the story and enjoy the ride. Library Haul inspired by the talented @myhoneyreads. Teen Fiction > Paranormal, Occult & Supernatural, Book Cover Image (jpg): A Dark and Hollow Star, full terms and conditions and this month's choices, Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (March 15, 2022). The Casual Cinecast Explores Crimes of the Future, Bear and Breakfast: One Mans Trash is Another Bears Treasure (literally). Although I struggled to get into it at the start, once the story really got going, I was totally invested in the characters and the outcome of their investigation. Im sorry you didnt like it that much and I definitely agree with what youre pointing out, I just hope I wont feel that way about THIS book haha! Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Their friendship is pretty rocky, and since there is a sequel, is not resolved by the end of this book, but I would have liked to have seen a chapter with them after the finale.
I have to say, Aurelian and Vehan seemed to fade into the background as the book went on, with Arlo really feeling like the main character for most of the book, rather than the story being split between them more equally. Okay okay, so, Mid-week check-in! I hope Selidom appears much more in the sequel because his characters also fascinating. A little late but here's how June went for me reading wise. And honestly, most of the plot is just three teenagers whining about how they need to save the world because the adults wont do it. And because Arlo has a destiny to complete she often leaves Selidom worrying after her. (LogOut/ This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courtsuntil a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world. It felt out of place and like random name dropping to be cool. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. Nausica is my favourite character from this book, probably one of my favourite characters ever. Looking for more book reviews? The you cant put it down factor for A Dark and Hollow Star is very high, even for a somewhat lengthy book, but I think that youll find the pacing is very pleasing. Thanks!
(LogOut/ Theyre going to need it. That always somehow makes the books better. For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. Read by Vikas Adam, Natalie Naudus, Neo Cihi and Imani Jade Powers, By clicking 'Sign me up' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the. For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. Zehan, a prince of the Seelie Court of Summer, has some serious mommy issues thanks to his queen mother Riadne Lysterne. The way the world building interrupted conversations for several paragraphs made it feel disjointed and I found it hard to get into many of the early scenes as they didnt flow. Has Assassins Creed Changed For The Better Over The Years? A Dark and Hollow Star is available now, click the links below to order a copy today! Overall this story was great. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courtsuntil a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world. A Dark and Hollow Stars plot was also quite messy. Theyre going to need it. He turned out to be a total pill. While all the characters in this story are attractive, Nausicaa and Selidom are my favorites. Ashley Shuttleworth makes their debut with the remarkable A Dark and Hollow Star, a thrilling urban fantasy/murder-mystery which stuns you with ethereal world-building, high-stakes adventure, and a cast of characters you wont soon forget. Part of the reason for that is the chapter breaks, which are separated by character.
However, the magic system in this book is supposed to have rules, but were never told the rules until a character breaks them. I wanted to love A Dark and Hollow Star, with its all-queer cast and serial killer plotline. POV: You ask Apollo for help taking bookish photos. Well, one looks like a Fae teenager, but shes actually a centuries old Fury who has been banished to the mortal realm. Design by, Book Review | This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria, OwlCrate Unboxing February 2021 | Magic Unleashed , Mindwalker by Kate Dylan As for the conflict, I was only really invested around the 80% mark. Im just barely scratching the surface here as this book has all of these things plus a really fun murder/mystery plot that involves titans, the 7-deadly sins, immortals, conspiracies at all levels of the courts, and enough pop culture references to throw a Philosophers Stone at. Why did he not get a bigger part in the book? I hope this week has been treating you well. The focus on world building also meant I felt more distanced from the characters at the start, who were well-written, but felt side-lined by the world building at times in the first half. Its not hard to pinpoint whats great about this book, theres several things, but one of the big reasons is the worldbuilding and environments, which can go from as simple as describing the look and feel of a faerie caf, to a magically attuned forest (Hiraeth) disguised as pawn shop, or a massive underground monster factory that will give you nightmares. I've been chronically ill since I was a child. Back Cover Summary: The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones in this thrilling urban fantasy set in the magical underworld of Toronto that follows a queer cast of characters racing to stop a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden world of faeries to humans. Sections from the viewpoint of Hero sprinkled in were intriguing, but it did mean that there werent many surprises left for the finale, as the reader was already privy to a lot of what had been going on. Those are some of my favourite things. Illumicrate Daughter of Smoke and BoneUnboxing. If thats not bad enough, theres a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. Lets hop in! Ashleys keen sense of their characters magic and constitution as they move through this mortal world is nothing short of astounding. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Nausicaa an exiled fury with a heart full of vengeance. For centuries, the Eight Courts of Folk have lived among us, concealed by magic and bound by law to do no harm to humans. The world building is so very good, but needed to be better woven into the narrative. Unfortunately, Vehan loved him too.. I havent counted, but it seemed like there were a lot more chapters from Arlos POV than the others. In this books case, and this is not a slight whatsoever, I think the journey is more important than the destination. The first 100 pages could have been cut to get us to the mystery faster. Prize winners are announced in each Newsletter.
Tags: Fae, Fiction, LGBTQ, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult. Check out my rating system here! There is so much information crammed into the first few chapters that my brain felt like it was going to explode from trying to absorb everything. Tell us what you like and we'll recommend books you'll love.
Lara isnt the only Bad Ass sibling- A review for InadequateHeir, I finally read From Lukov with Love and am a happygal, Giving Victoria Aveyard another chance with RealmBreaker, Salt and Sugar gives Romeo and Juliet a Braziliantwist. The world building in A Dark and Hollow Star is very well done. I do think the magical die could have been interesting if they had been integrated more subtly. [Slide for a visual representation]. Not my jam but glad you got something out of it even if it was a bit disappointing. The only question is: which way? Im not going to talk about the villains because that would be saying too much, but there are many, and they all wear different faces. A Dark and Hollow Star was also mostly set up. Wish them luck. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. A Dark and Hollow Star is a brilliant debut that is both dark and full of humour, with characters you will fall in love with and an incredibly immersive world. A review of Enchanting the ElvenMage, Elves are baddies too: Review for Deal with the ElfKing. Posted March 26, 2021 by Angie in Book Reviews / 2 Comments. (LogOut/ After all of that, the book ended a bit too abruptly.
The only question is: which way? Ive heard so many good things about it, and now Im even more interested since I love slow burn too! Audiobook review - Breathe and Count Back From Ten , QOTD: Are there any books you would love to see made into a film or TV show? Even aside from the core four, every side character, no matter how big a role, gets a respect and attention not often afforded. Theyre also killing half-fae children right in public, but no one knows who it is, why theyre doing, and no one seems to care.
A Dark and Hollow Star is written in third person with the perspectives of four queer characters: Arlo, Nausica, Aurelian and Vehan. Shes the rogue character with a heart basically and as the layers come off, this sweetness is revealed in the form of her soft spot for Arlo. There are some fun ones, like indirectly quoting Twilight. I think thats wasted potential in a villain. This arrangement has long kept peace in the Courtsuntil a series of gruesome and ritualistic murders rocks the city of Toronto and threatens to expose faeries to the human world. Get ready to put on your detective cap, 2005-2022 Smart Bitches Trashy Books, LLC. The ironborn half-fae outcast of her royal fae family. Review: A Dark and Hollow Star (A Dark and Hollow Star, #1) by Ashley Shuttleworth, Review: This Side of the Grave (Night Huntress, #5) by Jeaniene Frost, Review: Burned (Fever, #7) by Karen Marie Moning, Series Report: The Nightstar Shifters #1-5 by Ariel Marie, Review: Lies My Memory Told Me by Sacha Wunsch, Review: The Obsession (The Obsession, #1) by Jesse Q. Sutanto, Review: These Violent Delights (These Violent Delights, #1) by Chloe Gong, Review: Vampires, Hearts & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston. It has an intriguing plot, fantastic world-building, and great characters. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. It was annoying. If thats not bad enough, theres a war brewing between the Mortal and Immortal Realms, and one of these teens is destined to tip the scales. My one complaint (and really an overall complaint of the book) is that its way too dense. Each of us picks books that we're interested in reading, and the reason for that interest varies widely. A kaleidoscopic narrative adds depth and drive., Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit. They currently live in Ontario, Canada, with their cat named Zack and a growing collection of cosplay swords. (LogOut/ Now, in lesser hands that could be disjointed and messy, but Ashley shows great skill here as a first timer as the book flows beautifully. The plot moves really slowly. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike. Shell do almost anything to ensure the success of her court, and that includes manipulating Zehans personal life, namely Aurelian. (LogOut/ As I said, it was really dense. If they fail, they risk the destruction of the faerie and human worlds alike.
But then actual things are named such as Playstation, Star Trek, Mario, and Dungeons and Dragons. Like a fallen Fury set on vengeance, I couldnt get enough. The DnD angle was taken even further when Arlo is gifted a special die, which conveniently lets her win at challenges.
I grew up with a lot of internalised ableism. I found myself skipping over large pieces of text because I just found it too tedious to read. A tempestuous Fury, exiled to earth from the Immortal Realm and hellbent on revenge. This makes for some incredible saccharine moments but also for some profound ones as well as the two help each other become their best selves. Four queer teens, each who hold a key piece of the truth behind these murders, must form a tenuous alliance in their effort to track down the mysterious killer behind these crimes. Thank you for signing up, fellow book lover! Sadly, its long and confusing and I wasnt motivated to read it. Change). The princes brooding guardian, burdened with a terrible secret. And there are hints of romance in this novel but not much. You can find them online at AshleyShuttleworth.com. , Audiobook Review: The Gilded Wolves by RoshaniChokshi, Audiobook Review: Breathe and Count Back FromTen, Top 10 Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases for the Second Half of2022, Follow The Last Book On The Left on WordPress.com. The focus is on this killer who is taking humans off the streets and doing who knows what to them. Theres so much going on there I dont even know where to start unpacking it, but as things unfold, it becomes clear everyone has things in their closet theyd rather not get out. A Dark and Hollow Star was just a mess to me. It was full of queer characters and it has an amazing urban fantasy setting. The different types of faerie, the Courts, and immortals, the way its all hidden alongside our world, was depicted so vividly. Beautifully written and deliciously complexI couldnt get enough. Nicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers series The Cruel Prince meets City of Bones in this thrilling urban fantasy set in the magical underworld of Toronto that follows a queer cast of characters racing to stop a serial killer whose crimes could expose the hidden world of faeries to humans.Choose your player. Sorry it didnt work that well. If you dont call me tonight, Ill just assume youve been murdered, shear off all my hair in mourning, and write lengthy poetry immortalizing that one time you beat me at Mario Kart.. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Including Prince Vehan who may or may not have posters of him in his room. Id finish a chapter, set it down, and not really want to pick it up again. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The other three are out to investigate the mysterious deaths of half-fae kids and the disappearances of humans. The ironborn half-fae outcast of her royal fae family.
Im not a big fan of soft magic systems. The ironborn half-fae outcast of her royal fae family. It took awhile for me to settle into the story because weve got five POVs, numerous side characters, and multiple locations which straddle with the Fae realm and the human realm. The only question is: which way? This isnt the first review Ive read about this book that sounded like this, honestly. He turned out to be a total pill. when characters let us down . POV: You request After Lambana from the library thinking it's going to be a cute story and you'll learn some myths and legends from the Philipines. Wish them luck. The story is in multiple POVs and third person, which just adds to the story.