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rosy_posy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
I'm new to Brigid Kemmerer but I was so taken by this book, it was fantastic! I was so entrenched in the plot and wondering which side I should be aligning with. I loved all of the characters and the world she built. The relationships were developed so well, and it made me tear up at points! I will definitely be reading more by Brigid Kemmerer.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Alcoholism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
taryn_g's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood, Death, Alcoholism, Animal death, Grief, Miscarriage, War, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy and Vomit
the_ash37's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
this book was amazing. i am obsessed. it was so well written and the characters were exciting and loveable. i was hooked onto the story since the start, which rarely happens with books that are this long. i usually lose interest quickly but i was very surprised with how much i loved it. i had never heard of the book before but i saw it in a bookshop and i decided to try it. i hope that this book and all of kemmerers books get more recognition because she is a truly wonderful author. i cant wait to read her other books and fall in love with her characters again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Addiction, Death, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Animal death
Minor: Child death, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
emma_johnson_529's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Overall, I really loved all of these characters and their relationships. Especially the main one- my heart almost couldn’t take it! Those perfect sweet cinnamon rolls deserve the world!
But: there were some places where the pacing or plot lost me. And some character moments I didn’t agree with based on the previous Cursebreakers series.
In any case, if you liked the original trilogy, you are in for a TREAT.
But: there were some places where the pacing or plot lost me. And some character moments I didn’t agree with based on the previous Cursebreakers series.
In any case, if you liked the original trilogy, you are in for a TREAT.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual assault
bailey63's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I suddenly want to re-read the trilogy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Miscarriage, and Violence
Minor: Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual assault
snowwhitehatesapples's review
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
4.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
Forging Silver into Stars brings us back to the Cursebreakers ' world years after the conclusion of A Vow So Bold and Deadly . Though this time, we revisit this world through the perspectives of new characters and old supporting characters—something I greatly appreciate because although I would’ve loved to read the story in any of the original main cast’s POV again, I think this change provides an opportunity for the Cursebreakers ' world to be expanded beyond the limitations of those characters.
And, true to expectations, it did. Set mostly in Syhl Shallow, Forging Silver into Stars follows Callyn, an older sister and baker who’s in debt because of her deceased father’s actions, and Jax, a disabled blacksmith who’s also in debt due to his abusive father’s preference for drinking away their money. The story also follows Tycho, who is from the original trilogy and is now King’s Courier. Through these alternating POVs, not only did we get to learn more about the world beyond castle walls, but also witness different, realistic perspectives on the aftermath of ending a conflict between two kingdoms.
However, as the main characters aren’t the actual targets of the anti-magic faction’s schemes in Syhl Shallow, there were several instances that made the story feel convenient—all for the sake of providing those characters with more links to the main plot. Some of the events that happened between Callyn and Jax also felt ridiculous, especially since they are supposedly best friends. Honestly, I still can’t wrap my head around how (view spoiler). Like, is caring supposed to only be a one-way thing when it comes to best friends?
So yeah, you can probably tell by now that I really dislike Callyn. She’s selfish, easily manipulated and a piss-poor best friend, but she’s also undeniably human. Though, if she were real, she should thank her lucky stars that Kemmerer’s writing is too darn good for me to stay pissed off enough to DNF the book. Jax and Tycho, on the other hand, were sweethearts. I love their characters and their growth. Even so, I have to admit that none of these new main characters are as interesting as Grey and Rhen and their dynamic, or as compelling as Harper.
In fact, despite their delegation to side cast status, he few appearances Grey and Rhen made were brilliant reiterations of their core characteristics while providing more facets to who they are. I’ve seen some reviews mentioning that Grey was intentionally written in such a way so that readers would start disliking him, but I disagree. It made him a more complex character and gave him solid flaws that accompanied his strengths.
Overall, what made Forging Silver into Stars a strong read for me is undeniably the author’s enthralling writing (it’s either magic or a curse because even when I hate a character, I’m still hooked by the writing 😂). If you loved the Cursebreakers series and don’t mind any of the abovementioned negatives, give this spin-off a read.
Forging Silver into Stars brings us back to the Cursebreakers ' world years after the conclusion of A Vow So Bold and Deadly . Though this time, we revisit this world through the perspectives of new characters and old supporting characters—something I greatly appreciate because although I would’ve loved to read the story in any of the original main cast’s POV again, I think this change provides an opportunity for the Cursebreakers ' world to be expanded beyond the limitations of those characters.
And, true to expectations, it did. Set mostly in Syhl Shallow, Forging Silver into Stars follows Callyn, an older sister and baker who’s in debt because of her deceased father’s actions, and Jax, a disabled blacksmith who’s also in debt due to his abusive father’s preference for drinking away their money. The story also follows Tycho, who is from the original trilogy and is now King’s Courier. Through these alternating POVs, not only did we get to learn more about the world beyond castle walls, but also witness different, realistic perspectives on the aftermath of ending a conflict between two kingdoms.
However, as the main characters aren’t the actual targets of the anti-magic faction’s schemes in Syhl Shallow, there were several instances that made the story feel convenient—all for the sake of providing those characters with more links to the main plot. Some of the events that happened between Callyn and Jax also felt ridiculous, especially since they are supposedly best friends. Honestly, I still can’t wrap my head around how (view spoiler). Like, is caring supposed to only be a one-way thing when it comes to best friends?
So yeah, you can probably tell by now that I really dislike Callyn. She’s selfish, easily manipulated and a piss-poor best friend, but she’s also undeniably human. Though, if she were real, she should thank her lucky stars that Kemmerer’s writing is too darn good for me to stay pissed off enough to DNF the book. Jax and Tycho, on the other hand, were sweethearts. I love their characters and their growth. Even so, I have to admit that none of these new main characters are as interesting as Grey and Rhen and their dynamic, or as compelling as Harper.
In fact, despite their delegation to side cast status, he few appearances Grey and Rhen made were brilliant reiterations of their core characteristics while providing more facets to who they are. I’ve seen some reviews mentioning that Grey was intentionally written in such a way so that readers would start disliking him, but I disagree. It made him a more complex character and gave him solid flaws that accompanied his strengths.
Overall, what made Forging Silver into Stars a strong read for me is undeniably the author’s enthralling writing (it’s either magic or a curse because even when I hate a character, I’m still hooked by the writing 😂). If you loved the Cursebreakers series and don’t mind any of the abovementioned negatives, give this spin-off a read.
Thank you so much Pansing for sending me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Forging Silver into Stars by Brigid Kemmerer is available at all good bookstores.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, Torture, and Death
Minor: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Vomit, Death of parent, Animal death, and Blood
emily_reads09's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Ableism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence, Violence, War, Vomit, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
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, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Physical abuse, and Violence
Minor: Classism, Grief, and Miscarriage
More...