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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
While this is a pretty dark story, there's plenty of whimsy to balance everything out. This book has such a strong premisse and at first I thought it might be a 5 star read. It didn't end up living up to its potential completely, but I still think this is a very strong debut. I definitely want to read more from this author!
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went into this book with no expectations whatsoever, expecting just a quick entertaining read to past the time and that's exactly what I got. However I fear the book had more bad than good. It had a beautiful writing, without getting into purple prose, which is something I was glad about. It does help to get you into the magical environment. But It's not enough to distract from what little substance the book has and the worldbuilding itself.
The magic systems and worldbuilding are vague, nothing is explained properly or goes into depth. The cities are mentioned in passing, and for the book to be called the City of Stardust, we never actually go to the City of Stardust, nor get a real description of it. While the concept of the keys to open another world was interesting, there just wasn't enough of it, is not explained how the system works. Nor the scholars system. Some things about the Everly family to me, likeEver and Astridae's daughter. How did she continue the Everly lineage. Maybe I did not pay enough attention, but It wasn't quite clear to me why weren't Gabriel and Ambrose candidates for the curse.
There were a lot of questions that went unanswered.
I felt the characters to be flat, I did understand Violet's motivations but either way she did not feel like a real character to me and I couldn't connect with her. I did not understand why she fell in love with Aleksander, as they didn't really have that much chemistry to begin with. The stand out to me was Penelope, who stole every scene she was in.
Overall its a 2/5, I think the author has potential, the premise is interesting I'd just like it if there was... Well, more.
The magic systems and worldbuilding are vague, nothing is explained properly or goes into depth. The cities are mentioned in passing, and for the book to be called the City of Stardust, we never actually go to the City of Stardust, nor get a real description of it. While the concept of the keys to open another world was interesting, there just wasn't enough of it, is not explained how the system works. Nor the scholars system. Some things about the Everly family to me, like
There were a lot of questions that went unanswered.
I felt the characters to be flat, I did understand Violet's motivations but either way she did not feel like a real character to me and I couldn't connect with her. I did not understand why she fell in love with Aleksander, as they didn't really have that much chemistry to begin with. The stand out to me was Penelope, who stole every scene she was in.
Overall its a 2/5, I think the author has potential, the premise is interesting I'd just like it if there was... Well, more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Kidnapping
adventurous
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Good, sometimes beautiful. I just couldn’t quite get invested in the story and found the magic system too opaque to find intriguing. It felt like starless sea on occasion but not enough to make my heart yearn in the same way, more like the author also read that book and wanted to emulate its nostalgic vibe without understanding why it felt that way.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes