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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
The story telling is exquisite, and I cannot recommend this book enough. It's been a while since I read something that felt so thoroughly unique and yet familiar, pulling me right in. I loved it and I can't wait to read more of Georgia's work.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A Shimmering Premise Lost in the Cosmic Dust
About the Book:
Title: The City of Stardust
Author: Georgia Summers
Page Length: 340
Publication Date: Janurary 25, 2024
Publisher: Red Hook
Dates Read: March 16, 2025 - May 02, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
My Review:
Georgia Summers' debut novel, The City of Stardust, promised a lush and spellbinding journey into a magical underworld, one woven with curses, stardust, and ancient grudges. The synopsis paints a compelling picture: Violet Everly, burdened by a centuries-old family curse, has ten years to find her missing mother, Marianne, before she takes her place as the target of the relentless Penelope. This quest plunges Violet into a world of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods, and vengeful monsters, all while navigating a complicated attraction to Penelope's enigmatic assistant, Aleksander.
From the outset, Summers establishes an intriguing atmosphere. Early notes in my reading journal highlight echoes of familiar favorites, like the clandestine nature of the Everly home reminiscent of Grimmauld Place and the intriguing concept of interworld travel sparking comparisons to A Darker Shade of Magic. These initial glimpses into the world held significant potential, hinting at a rich and complex lore waiting to be unfurled.
However, as Violet's journey progresses, the narrative begins to feel less like a focused quest and more like a series of atmospheric introductions. Each new location and character felt like the precipice of a deeper exploration, yet the story often moved on before truly delving into the intricacies of this world. The scholars of Fidelis, for instance, are frequently mentioned, their unique talents alluded to, but their purpose and connection to the overarching curse remain frustratingly vague. This lack of clarity extended to Penelope's motivations and the history of the astrals, leaving a significant void in the world-building. As I noted during my reading, "Each page feels like an introduction into a story."
The dynamic between Violet and Aleksander held promise, fraught with distrust and undeniable attraction. Yet, Aleksander's motivations often felt unclear, his actions seemingly driven by Penelope's whims without a strong sense of his own agency. This made his character arc feel somewhat underdeveloped, a sentiment echoed in my end thoughts where I questioned if his sole purpose was merely to chase Violet.
The moment Violet finally reaches her mother, a pivotal point the entire plot seemed to be building towards, felt abrupt and ultimately anticlimactic. Instead of providing answers or a turning point, it served as a catalyst for a new, somewhat disjointed series of events. This abrupt shift left me, and fellow readers like Abigail and Kaite, feeling as though the narrative momentum stalled just as it reached its peak. As I poignantly noted, "The whole plot led to here and then nothing. 😭😕"
Discussions with friends who had also read The City of Stardust revealed similar sentiments. The consensus leaned towards appreciating the "vibes" and the potential of the world Summers created, drawing comparisons to the atmospheric and non-linear storytelling of The Night Circus. However, the lack of resolution, underdeveloped character arcs, and the feeling that the world-building was only superficially explored left many wanting more. Kaite specifically pointed to a jarring time skip and inconsistencies in the latter part of the book, suggesting potential editing issues that further detracted from the overall impact.
Ultimately, The City of Stardust feels like a beautiful tapestry with several crucial threads left untied. The initial premise is captivating, the atmosphere is alluring, and the hints of a deeper lore are tantalizing. However, the lack of concrete answers, the underdeveloped character arcs, and the somewhat abrupt ending leave the reader with a sense of unfulfilled potential. While the journey is filled with intriguing glimpses into a magical world, it ultimately falls short of delivering a fully satisfying and cohesive narrative. It's a book that sparks the imagination with its possibilities, but leaves one yearning for a more substantial exploration of its many mysteries.
---
For Lush and Spellbinding Journeys & Intriguing Atmosphere:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (https://bookshop.org/a/112672/9780307744432
). Given the numerous comparisons in your notes and the opinions of your friends, this is an obvious recommendation. It features a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere, a slow-burn narrative focused on "vibes," and a unique magical competition.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern: Another novel by Morgenstern, it shares the same beautiful prose, intricate storytelling, and a sense of wonder, though some readers find it more abstract than The Night Circus.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber: This series offers a magical competition with high stakes, a seductive and dangerous atmosphere, and a focus on illusion and secrets.
For "Vibes" and Fans of The Night Circus: See recommendations above by Erin Morgenstern.
For Fans of Shades of Magic:
The Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin: This series features a witch hiding her identity in a world that hunts her kind, leading to a forced marriage with a witch hunter. It has a compelling romance and a magic system with its own rules and history.
For a Beautiful Tapestry of Threads and a Captivating Premise: Many of the books listed above could fit this description, particularly The Night Circus, and The Starless Sea, due to their intricate narratives and compelling central ideas.
For Alluring Atmosphere and Sparks the Imagination: Again, many of the mentioned titles excel in creating a strong sense of atmosphere and wonder. Consider Caraval.
---
Do you have a book recommendation with magical realism and whimscal fantasy? Tell me in the comments and add to my Storygraph Challenge (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenge_prompts/1c50b8a2-57f4-460e-bf57-7168f5805fcc).
You can find The City of Stardust on Bookshop.org and Support Local Bookstores (https://bookshop.org/a/112672/9780316561488)!
Disclosure: All thoughts are my own. Also: When you buy a book from the Bookshop.org links I provide, you will either provide me or an independent bookshop. I support a portion of the affiliate sales if you use them to buy a book I recommend!
About the Book:
Title: The City of Stardust
Author: Georgia Summers
Page Length: 340
Publication Date: Janurary 25, 2024
Publisher: Red Hook
Dates Read: March 16, 2025 - May 02, 2025
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
**CONTAINS SPOILERS**
My Review:
Georgia Summers' debut novel, The City of Stardust, promised a lush and spellbinding journey into a magical underworld, one woven with curses, stardust, and ancient grudges. The synopsis paints a compelling picture: Violet Everly, burdened by a centuries-old family curse, has ten years to find her missing mother, Marianne, before she takes her place as the target of the relentless Penelope. This quest plunges Violet into a world of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods, and vengeful monsters, all while navigating a complicated attraction to Penelope's enigmatic assistant, Aleksander.
From the outset, Summers establishes an intriguing atmosphere. Early notes in my reading journal highlight echoes of familiar favorites, like the clandestine nature of the Everly home reminiscent of Grimmauld Place and the intriguing concept of interworld travel sparking comparisons to A Darker Shade of Magic. These initial glimpses into the world held significant potential, hinting at a rich and complex lore waiting to be unfurled.
However, as Violet's journey progresses, the narrative begins to feel less like a focused quest and more like a series of atmospheric introductions. Each new location and character felt like the precipice of a deeper exploration, yet the story often moved on before truly delving into the intricacies of this world. The scholars of Fidelis, for instance, are frequently mentioned, their unique talents alluded to, but their purpose and connection to the overarching curse remain frustratingly vague. This lack of clarity extended to Penelope's motivations and the history of the astrals, leaving a significant void in the world-building. As I noted during my reading, "Each page feels like an introduction into a story."
The dynamic between Violet and Aleksander held promise, fraught with distrust and undeniable attraction. Yet, Aleksander's motivations often felt unclear, his actions seemingly driven by Penelope's whims without a strong sense of his own agency. This made his character arc feel somewhat underdeveloped, a sentiment echoed in my end thoughts where I questioned if his sole purpose was merely to chase Violet.
The moment Violet finally reaches her mother, a pivotal point the entire plot seemed to be building towards, felt abrupt and ultimately anticlimactic. Instead of providing answers or a turning point, it served as a catalyst for a new, somewhat disjointed series of events. This abrupt shift left me, and fellow readers like Abigail and Kaite, feeling as though the narrative momentum stalled just as it reached its peak. As I poignantly noted, "The whole plot led to here and then nothing. 😭😕"
Discussions with friends who had also read The City of Stardust revealed similar sentiments. The consensus leaned towards appreciating the "vibes" and the potential of the world Summers created, drawing comparisons to the atmospheric and non-linear storytelling of The Night Circus. However, the lack of resolution, underdeveloped character arcs, and the feeling that the world-building was only superficially explored left many wanting more. Kaite specifically pointed to a jarring time skip and inconsistencies in the latter part of the book, suggesting potential editing issues that further detracted from the overall impact.
Ultimately, The City of Stardust feels like a beautiful tapestry with several crucial threads left untied. The initial premise is captivating, the atmosphere is alluring, and the hints of a deeper lore are tantalizing. However, the lack of concrete answers, the underdeveloped character arcs, and the somewhat abrupt ending leave the reader with a sense of unfulfilled potential. While the journey is filled with intriguing glimpses into a magical world, it ultimately falls short of delivering a fully satisfying and cohesive narrative. It's a book that sparks the imagination with its possibilities, but leaves one yearning for a more substantial exploration of its many mysteries.
---
For Lush and Spellbinding Journeys & Intriguing Atmosphere:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (https://bookshop.org/a/112672/9780307744432
). Given the numerous comparisons in your notes and the opinions of your friends, this is an obvious recommendation. It features a mysterious and enchanting atmosphere, a slow-burn narrative focused on "vibes," and a unique magical competition.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern: Another novel by Morgenstern, it shares the same beautiful prose, intricate storytelling, and a sense of wonder, though some readers find it more abstract than The Night Circus.
Caraval by Stephanie Garber: This series offers a magical competition with high stakes, a seductive and dangerous atmosphere, and a focus on illusion and secrets.
For "Vibes" and Fans of The Night Circus: See recommendations above by Erin Morgenstern.
For Fans of Shades of Magic:
The Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin: This series features a witch hiding her identity in a world that hunts her kind, leading to a forced marriage with a witch hunter. It has a compelling romance and a magic system with its own rules and history.
For a Beautiful Tapestry of Threads and a Captivating Premise: Many of the books listed above could fit this description, particularly The Night Circus, and The Starless Sea, due to their intricate narratives and compelling central ideas.
For Alluring Atmosphere and Sparks the Imagination: Again, many of the mentioned titles excel in creating a strong sense of atmosphere and wonder. Consider Caraval.
---
Do you have a book recommendation with magical realism and whimscal fantasy? Tell me in the comments and add to my Storygraph Challenge (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reading_challenge_prompts/1c50b8a2-57f4-460e-bf57-7168f5805fcc).
You can find The City of Stardust on Bookshop.org and Support Local Bookstores (https://bookshop.org/a/112672/9780316561488)!
Disclosure: All thoughts are my own. Also: When you buy a book from the Bookshop.org links I provide, you will either provide me or an independent bookshop. I support a portion of the affiliate sales if you use them to buy a book I recommend!
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Violence
I really liked this book. 3.8 stars. Sure- it could’ve been expanded upon- like everything. The characters, the descriptions, the imagery, the dialogue.. but I kind of liked that it wasn’t. This was a nice standalone novel and not the typical YA fantasy.
I never found myself bored or anxious to get it over with so I could get back to my tbr pile.
I never found myself bored or anxious to get it over with so I could get back to my tbr pile.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
a LOT of jumping around
at times i felt like it was written almost like how a tv show or movie would be written?
the perspectives shifted a lot and alot of times i found myself having to go back to remember who’s perspective we were reading from
it had alot of potential just confusing at times
at times i felt like it was written almost like how a tv show or movie would be written?
the perspectives shifted a lot and alot of times i found myself having to go back to remember who’s perspective we were reading from
it had alot of potential just confusing at times
i did enjoy this but i am … conflicted on my feelings bc part of the plot was confusing and the ending was anti climatic