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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
This book was SO frustrating in so many ways. I really liked the first book but all of the characters made such dumb decisions in this one and it was very difficult to get through.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
A Dark and Hollow Star was a surprise hit for me last year. Surprise, because unfortunately the cover is a massive deterrent. I have seen this book in YA sections at book stores and honestly the cover makes it look like adult erotica, I really do hope it gets a new design as I really think it will be preventing people from getting it.
Anyway, to the actual review.
A Cruel and Fated Light did not disappoint, this time we get to experience the summer seelie court, and secrets are exposed
Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.
A Dark and Hollow Star was a surprise hit for me last year. Surprise, because unfortunately the cover is a massive deterrent. I have seen this book in YA sections at book stores and honestly the cover makes it look like adult erotica, I really do hope it gets a new design as I really think it will be preventing people from getting it.
Anyway, to the actual review.
A Cruel and Fated Light did not disappoint, this time we get to experience the summer seelie court, and secrets are exposed
Excellent!
This one was so much better than the first. Still long winded in places. Occasionally tedious. But definitely not as much of a chore to read as the first one. Quite looking forward to book 3. Although, judging by the size of them, I imagine it'll be a while.
This one was so much better than the first. Still long winded in places. Occasionally tedious. But definitely not as much of a chore to read as the first one. Quite looking forward to book 3. Although, judging by the size of them, I imagine it'll be a while.
After the events of the last few months, Arlo is looking forward to a quiet and peaceful summer, but even as Luck’s Hollow Star she can’t control all possibilities. Someone is still trying to summon the mythical seven deadly sins and Arlo isn’t the type of person to sit back and watch people die. So when she gets an Invite from Riadne, Queen of the Summer court, to spend her summer there with her son Vehan and his friend Aurelian, Arlo jumps at the chance, especially when Arlo learns she will be able to learn about her alchemical powers whilst there. But trouble is brewing between the courts, secrets kept for years are coming into the light and before long Arlo will have to rely on all the different parts of her, hidden and known to make sure her, and her friends have the safe summer they were promised.
If there is one thing Shuttleworth does spectacularly well, it’s writing characters. The main players in this book vary in age but Shuttleworth nails every single one. We get most of the same POV’s from book one: Arlo, Nausicaa, Vehan and Aurelian, but this book also gives us Cel’s POV and I was SO EXCITED because he was my favourite character in the first book. Through his POV, we get to see more of his relationship with Arlo, and his chapters are vital in uncovering some pretty hefty secrets that will impact the overall story massively. I finished this book and instantly wanted to give him a hug, he goes through such a big emotional journey and I’m excited to see what repercussions will come of it in later books. We also get little throwback snippets courtesy of Riadne, these also link in with Cel’s chapters, giving us an insight into her as a child as well as a look into how she turned out to be the vicious and deadly woman she is today.
I said it for the first book and I will say it again, this series is epic in so many ways, but at some points there’s just a little too much going on and it would be so much better with some kind of glossary or Index to make it easier to keep all the courts, different magic beings and systems together. There are Fae, Titans, Gnomes, Sprites, Reapers, I could go on and on, and they all have their own magical powers that play parts in the stories from the courts all having magic linked to their season and members of the Wild Hunt who have the ability to manipulate/remove memories among other things. I just struggled to keep who could do what straight in my head in parts, and I feel like having a glossary would make it so much easier. Through Arlo we also get a deep dive into Alchemy (although this does play a smaller part in this book) and Luck’s magic dice she got when she agreed to become their Hollow Star. Any fans of D&D will certainly love this addition to the magic system, and I have to admit it added another depth to an already intricate magic system.
Similar to book one, A Cruel and Fated light has some truly epic, WTF is going on, on the edge of your seats moments, and these are the parts that I lived for but it has this annoying habit of reaching these peak emotional moments, massive eureka moments and then just does nothing with them. We never get the aftermath, see the fall out, it just jumps ahead to something significantly more mundane & while some people might not mind that I LIVE for those moments, seeing the characters come to realisations, having them deal with the effects of them. Plus for a book which is such a chunk, there is definitely room for us to be able to delve into those moments more. But what Shuttleworth does extremely well in the slower moments is give us meaningful, humorous and sometimes steamy character interactions. Through these, they ensure that we fall in love with every single one of their characters, even those that don’t get much page time (I’m looking at you Lethe) and this ensures that when the big, emotional, impactful moments do hit, we feel them more.
The romance in this series is incredible slow burn, tension filled, humorous and all of this is thanks to how well Shuttleworth writes their characters. Arlo and Vehan are such stereotypical teenagers, fawning over their love interests, even in the moments where being distracted because of how good Nausicaa or Aurelian looks could cost them their lives… seriously though guys, I get they look hot all sword wielding and broody but check you’re not gonna get your head lobbed off before you stop and look. If you’re a fan of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, forbidden love, longing glances and meddling friends who just do not give a shit what issues you have then you will LOVE this book and both of the relationships take a slightly steamier turn in this book.
This series is truly epic and, after the absolute shocker of an ending… seriously though, I’m still not ready to forgive Shuttleworth for it yet… I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book! If you love incredibly realistic characters, yes even the badass immortal, intricate magic systems and plenty of mystery and intrigue, make sure you check this series out.
If there is one thing Shuttleworth does spectacularly well, it’s writing characters. The main players in this book vary in age but Shuttleworth nails every single one. We get most of the same POV’s from book one: Arlo, Nausicaa, Vehan and Aurelian, but this book also gives us Cel’s POV and I was SO EXCITED because he was my favourite character in the first book. Through his POV, we get to see more of his relationship with Arlo, and his chapters are vital in uncovering some pretty hefty secrets that will impact the overall story massively. I finished this book and instantly wanted to give him a hug, he goes through such a big emotional journey and I’m excited to see what repercussions will come of it in later books. We also get little throwback snippets courtesy of Riadne, these also link in with Cel’s chapters, giving us an insight into her as a child as well as a look into how she turned out to be the vicious and deadly woman she is today.
I said it for the first book and I will say it again, this series is epic in so many ways, but at some points there’s just a little too much going on and it would be so much better with some kind of glossary or Index to make it easier to keep all the courts, different magic beings and systems together. There are Fae, Titans, Gnomes, Sprites, Reapers, I could go on and on, and they all have their own magical powers that play parts in the stories from the courts all having magic linked to their season and members of the Wild Hunt who have the ability to manipulate/remove memories among other things. I just struggled to keep who could do what straight in my head in parts, and I feel like having a glossary would make it so much easier. Through Arlo we also get a deep dive into Alchemy (although this does play a smaller part in this book) and Luck’s magic dice she got when she agreed to become their Hollow Star. Any fans of D&D will certainly love this addition to the magic system, and I have to admit it added another depth to an already intricate magic system.
Similar to book one, A Cruel and Fated light has some truly epic, WTF is going on, on the edge of your seats moments, and these are the parts that I lived for but it has this annoying habit of reaching these peak emotional moments, massive eureka moments and then just does nothing with them. We never get the aftermath, see the fall out, it just jumps ahead to something significantly more mundane & while some people might not mind that I LIVE for those moments, seeing the characters come to realisations, having them deal with the effects of them. Plus for a book which is such a chunk, there is definitely room for us to be able to delve into those moments more. But what Shuttleworth does extremely well in the slower moments is give us meaningful, humorous and sometimes steamy character interactions. Through these, they ensure that we fall in love with every single one of their characters, even those that don’t get much page time (I’m looking at you Lethe) and this ensures that when the big, emotional, impactful moments do hit, we feel them more.
The romance in this series is incredible slow burn, tension filled, humorous and all of this is thanks to how well Shuttleworth writes their characters. Arlo and Vehan are such stereotypical teenagers, fawning over their love interests, even in the moments where being distracted because of how good Nausicaa or Aurelian looks could cost them their lives… seriously though guys, I get they look hot all sword wielding and broody but check you’re not gonna get your head lobbed off before you stop and look. If you’re a fan of the grumpy/sunshine dynamic, forbidden love, longing glances and meddling friends who just do not give a shit what issues you have then you will LOVE this book and both of the relationships take a slightly steamier turn in this book.
This series is truly epic and, after the absolute shocker of an ending… seriously though, I’m still not ready to forgive Shuttleworth for it yet… I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book! If you love incredibly realistic characters, yes even the badass immortal, intricate magic systems and plenty of mystery and intrigue, make sure you check this series out.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
4.5. I am really enjoying this series. It's got, like, all the great fantasy series staples but with a more mature take on them, and just a better idea of what draws people *ahem*me*coughs* in - like, Mario Party in a hospital room with your mom and people you've just hella trauma bonded to? 100% yes. And there are lot of those little moments, where it's not about moving the story forward but it is about letting the characters be. It really takes the time to form relationships, let them breathe, and keep them alive. Like, it could've kicked Arlo and Celadon's relationship aside - we've already established they're friends in book one so no need to do any more, yeah? - but, instead, this author seems to understand what basically no other YA author does: just because love interests exist doesn't mean no other relationship does and, not only that, but they all are given an equal amount of weight! I'm enjoying all the characters and dynamics a ton and I am still so on the hook about Arlo's dad, the author's doing such a good job of drawing that out! I wish nothing bad ever happened to anyone here and it's why I don't love the ending but, y'know, conflict moving plots forward or whatever, right? (I could stay in that Mario Party game for a whole book though, just sayin'.)
adventurous
dark
funny
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced