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mali33102's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.5
Brigid Kemmerer does it again. I love her books so much, and being able to revisit Syhl Shallow and Emberfall was great. I loved getting to see the old cast of characters once again as well as the new characters that were introduced. I also really appreciated how she sprinkled the plot of the Curse So Dark and Lonely throughout to remind past readers who may have forgotten some of it (AKA: me).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, and Miscarriage
Minor: Sexual content
littletiramisu's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect. I need the sequels, and even more sequels, and I want every single character to get their own sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Rape, and Sexual assault
joareads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I loved being back in the Cursebreaker world revisiting Emberfall and Syhl Shallow and their characters. There is some inconsistency in the book and there is that annoying character trait of being too stubborn and shutting people out which in itself causes problems, however I was totally drawn into the story and couldn't wait to read on.
We briefly get to see the characters from the original Cursebreaker trilogy and I was so thrilled to see them again and to find out what happened after because the ending to the Cursebreaker trilogy was rather unsatisfying for me. We hardly see Harper but we get a few interactions between one of the main characters, Tycho, and Rhen which is fascinating given what happened between them in the first trilogy, particularly the second book. We also see what Lia Mara and Grey are up to and I still take massive issue with Grey. He really is a character that wants his cake and to eat it too and it aggravates me! He wants to be king but to also stay with his wife and child away from his kingdom, he's gratingly stubborn and treats his friends quite poorly. I still don't like him and this book reiterates that for me - he is yet to redeem himself and his stupid decisions.
But there are some new characters introduced into the world; Callyn, Jax, Lord Alek and Nora which are welcome additions. Jax is definitely a favourite and I just loved his romantic relationship in this book. It's also great to see more disability representation in a fantasy book, as well as more LGBT+ too! I wasn't too invested in Callyn and her sister Nora to start with but they grew on me as I read on and I'm glad of their addition to the story, particularly Nora's cheeky comments.
I do have a couple of little gripes with this book (aside from the massive gripe that is Grey as a character...) but they're just little things like how Callyn is so poor she splits a boiled egg with her sister for dinner but then they have food leftover from the bakery when they don't sell enough... Surely they could consume this? Tycho is a bit tight-lipped in this story and I think the second book in the Cursebreaker triology thoroughly delved into the ramifications of miscommunication so this got a little tiring. And finally, I thought the ending was a bit rushed with the battle quickly over and the futures of the new characters swiftly wrapped up.
That being said, I can't deny that I was drawn into the story and really loved reading every chapter. I can't wait to see where it goes next, I just hope we don't get another 180 degree turn on a character's personality like with Grey... It just felt so lovely and warm to be wrapped up in this world again and I basked in it. Oh and how could I forget - this book features a cat so obviously that bumps up its rating!
We briefly get to see the characters from the original Cursebreaker trilogy and I was so thrilled to see them again and to find out what happened after because the ending to the Cursebreaker trilogy was rather unsatisfying for me. We hardly see Harper but we get a few interactions between one of the main characters, Tycho, and Rhen which is fascinating given what happened between them in the first trilogy, particularly the second book. We also see what Lia Mara and Grey are up to and I still take massive issue with Grey. He really is a character that wants his cake and to eat it too and it aggravates me! He wants to be king but to also stay with his wife and child away from his kingdom, he's gratingly stubborn and treats his friends quite poorly. I still don't like him and this book reiterates that for me - he is yet to redeem himself and his stupid decisions.
But there are some new characters introduced into the world; Callyn, Jax, Lord Alek and Nora which are welcome additions. Jax is definitely a favourite and I just loved his romantic relationship in this book. It's also great to see more disability representation in a fantasy book, as well as more LGBT+ too! I wasn't too invested in Callyn and her sister Nora to start with but they grew on me as I read on and I'm glad of their addition to the story, particularly Nora's cheeky comments.
I do have a couple of little gripes with this book (aside from the massive gripe that is Grey as a character...) but they're just little things like how Callyn is so poor she splits a boiled egg with her sister for dinner but then they have food leftover from the bakery when they don't sell enough... Surely they could consume this? Tycho is a bit tight-lipped in this story and I think the second book in the Cursebreaker triology thoroughly delved into the ramifications of miscommunication so this got a little tiring. And finally, I thought the ending was a bit rushed with the battle quickly over and the futures of the new characters swiftly wrapped up.
That being said, I can't deny that I was drawn into the story and really loved reading every chapter. I can't wait to see where it goes next, I just hope we don't get another 180 degree turn on a character's personality like with Grey... It just felt so lovely and warm to be wrapped up in this world again and I basked in it. Oh and how could I forget - this book features a cat so obviously that bumps up its rating!
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Violence
theespressoedition's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
In a mini-review I posted on bookstagram, I said, "move over, Cursebreakers, this spin-off takes the cake!" I think that pretty much sums up the majority of how I felt about Forging Silver Into Stars!
I loved the original series (primarily the first book), but I never felt the kind of connection to it that I felt while reading this book. There was something really special about the start of this new series. Not only did it continue to include disability rep, it also had queer rep, and dealt with much heavier topics like miscarriage and abuse. While those things might not entice everyone to pick it up, they were really well written, in my opinion. I appreciated the sensitive approach to the challenging elements and the way that they were handled throughout the story. It drew me to the characters and made me relate to them during so many moments.
Along with that, I loved that for the majority of the book, you weren't really sure who you were meant to root for. It seemed as though everyone was a touch morally gray, and that wound up being really appealing. Sure, it was easy to pick favorite couples or characters (at least, it was for me), but you didn't always know whether or not you should trust them. It added to the suspense of the story and had me gasping aloud on multiple occasions when certain things were revealed. The characters were truly the heart and soul of Forging Silver Into Stars and I look forward to seeing how they grow in the coming installations. It was also really special to be let into the lives of some of the beloved characters from the former series. After several years, they had matured a lot and it was comforting to witness how they had changed and grown.
The literal only issue I had with the story was the fact that one of the characters from the original series was villainized a bit in this book. This seems to be something that Kemmerer likes to do to throw you for a loop, just when you think you understand everyone. She did this in the Cursebreakers series, when Rhen became the villain in the second book, after you had completely grown to adore him in the first. Similarly, she did that with Grey in this book, making him a bit of a villain towards Tycho, despite the fact that he's always been a loved (and loving) character. Now, I recognize that for some people, this is really cool. In fact, the person I buddy-read with liked this element a lot. For me, it tends to be a little frustrating. But I can't say that it took away from how excellent the book was.
Truly, I'm just so excited to find out what happens next. That ending was fantastic and left me with a lot of questions that I hope will be answered in the sequel!
I loved the original series (primarily the first book), but I never felt the kind of connection to it that I felt while reading this book. There was something really special about the start of this new series. Not only did it continue to include disability rep, it also had queer rep, and dealt with much heavier topics like miscarriage and abuse. While those things might not entice everyone to pick it up, they were really well written, in my opinion. I appreciated the sensitive approach to the challenging elements and the way that they were handled throughout the story. It drew me to the characters and made me relate to them during so many moments.
Along with that, I loved that for the majority of the book, you weren't really sure who you were meant to root for. It seemed as though everyone was a touch morally gray, and that wound up being really appealing. Sure, it was easy to pick favorite couples or characters (at least, it was for me), but you didn't always know whether or not you should trust them. It added to the suspense of the story and had me gasping aloud on multiple occasions when certain things were revealed. The characters were truly the heart and soul of Forging Silver Into Stars and I look forward to seeing how they grow in the coming installations. It was also really special to be let into the lives of some of the beloved characters from the former series. After several years, they had matured a lot and it was comforting to witness how they had changed and grown.
The literal only issue I had with the story was the fact that one of the characters from the original series was villainized a bit in this book. This seems to be something that Kemmerer likes to do to throw you for a loop, just when you think you understand everyone. She did this in the Cursebreakers series,
Truly, I'm just so excited to find out what happens next. That ending was fantastic and left me with a lot of questions that I hope will be answered in the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Vomit
maira_h's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5 brilliant stars!
Halfway through, I was prepared to give this book 3 stars. But then, things started picking up and I was at the edge of my seat.
The first half of the book felt very domestic. We were following Jax (a blacksmith) and Callyn (a baker) who were trying to make ends meet. I'll admit, I don't really care for the first half– the romance, the domesticity etc. But their desperation to earn silver to save their homes laid down the groundwork for a lot of important keypoints in the story– their inner battle of right and wrong as well as the bigger conflict in the Kingdom of Syhl Shallow and Emberfall– the anti-magic faction.
I've read Defy The Night by the same author and quite frankly, I can't comprehend how it was written by the same author. I loved the Cursebreaker Trilogy– and now this book– because of the way the bond between the characters were written. They didn't need to say anything much to each other but the hurt, betrayal and angst oozed from the pages. I love that kind of thing in a book. I can't quite understand why Defy The Night couldn't accomplish this level of emotional maturity and intelligence but then again, I might already be biased because of nostalgia.
I said that I loved the way the bond between the characters were portrayed. The conflict between Tycho and King Grey was something that started in the previous series. I'm glad that it was finally addressed in this book and becoming something vital in the plot. And that unlikely bond between Tycho and Prince Rhen, I'm living for it. Rhen is absolutely great in this book.
I wished we got at least one perspective from the old characters, either Grey or Rhen (I mostly just want to see what the hell Grey was thinking because like Rhen said, Grey never yields), but I guess we can't all have nice things.
Can't believe I have to wait for the second book now...
Halfway through, I was prepared to give this book 3 stars. But then, things started picking up and I was at the edge of my seat.
The first half of the book felt very domestic. We were following Jax (a blacksmith) and Callyn (a baker) who were trying to make ends meet. I'll admit, I don't really care for the first half– the romance, the domesticity etc. But their desperation to earn silver to save their homes laid down the groundwork for a lot of important keypoints in the story– their inner battle of right and wrong as well as the bigger conflict in the Kingdom of Syhl Shallow and Emberfall– the anti-magic faction.
I've read Defy The Night by the same author and quite frankly, I can't comprehend how it was written by the same author. I loved the Cursebreaker Trilogy– and now this book– because of the way the bond between the characters were written. They didn't need to say anything much to each other but the hurt, betrayal and angst oozed from the pages. I love that kind of thing in a book. I can't quite understand why Defy The Night couldn't accomplish this level of emotional maturity and intelligence but then again, I might already be biased because of nostalgia.
I said that I loved the way the bond between the characters were portrayed. The conflict between Tycho and King Grey was something that started in the previous series. I'm glad that it was finally addressed in this book and becoming something vital in the plot. And that unlikely bond between Tycho and Prince Rhen, I'm living for it. Rhen is absolutely great in this book.
I wished we got at least one perspective from the old characters, either Grey or Rhen (I mostly just want to see what the hell Grey was thinking because like Rhen said, Grey never yields), but I guess we can't all have nice things.
Can't believe I have to wait for the second book now...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Miscarriage, Grief, and Classism
ode_to_readers's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
👏 what 👏 a 👏 step 👏 up 👏.
This has TYCHOOOOOO. So glad he finally got more screen time. Still adore him. Grey? Not so much lmao. I feel with every new book by Kemmerer, I end up hating who my favourite character was before. First Rhen, now Grey. Hopefully not Tycho…..
And stoppppp omg the romance was just so pure. I want more. Callyn and Jax were actually amazing additions to the story. I hope the next book delves deeper into Callyn’s history and her mom…
Also hope we get to see more of the scraver! Niisak? I already can’t remember oops.
And the title is so relevant I love it
This has TYCHOOOOOO. So glad he finally got more screen time. Still adore him. Grey? Not so much lmao. I feel with every new book by Kemmerer, I end up hating who my favourite character was before. First Rhen, now Grey. Hopefully not Tycho…..
And stoppppp omg the romance was just so pure. I want more. Callyn and Jax were actually amazing additions to the story. I hope the next book delves deeper into Callyn’s history and her mom…
Also hope we get to see more of the scraver! Niisak? I already can’t remember oops.
And the title is so relevant I love it
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Minor: Self harm and Torture
katvar96's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, and Sexual harassment
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