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3.35 AVERAGE
3.35 AVERAGE
*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of The City of Stardust in return for an honest review*
3.5 Stars
I loved the concept of this book, it was very unique and interesting, which is what caught my attention. I enjoyed the addition of the stories and fairytales into the plot as well. The one thing I struggled with in this story is that I didn't really find myself invested in the characters. I felt as though we could have used more time getting to know them and understand them as individuals. I didn't feel emotionally invested in them enough to feel strongly about rooting for them. That being said, I *do* have high hopes for this author's future work. I enjoyed her writing and I believe, as with everyone, experience will only help to continue to improve it. As for a debut novel, I think she did a great job, and I will be on the lookout for her future books.
3.5 Stars
I loved the concept of this book, it was very unique and interesting, which is what caught my attention. I enjoyed the addition of the stories and fairytales into the plot as well. The one thing I struggled with in this story is that I didn't really find myself invested in the characters. I felt as though we could have used more time getting to know them and understand them as individuals. I didn't feel emotionally invested in them enough to feel strongly about rooting for them. That being said, I *do* have high hopes for this author's future work. I enjoyed her writing and I believe, as with everyone, experience will only help to continue to improve it. As for a debut novel, I think she did a great job, and I will be on the lookout for her future books.
I really wanted to like this book more than I did, but the general interesting premise gets lost in a bunch of plot threads and side characters that distracted me, especially when things got dropped entirely or there was a paragraph or two to bring it back at the end ?
I also felt like this book was a mishmash of tropes tossed in a blender.
There are plenty of interesting minor characters and some of them even show growth, but it's mostly done in a few sentences or a conversation rather than over time, because there's so much focus on Violet and Penelope and, to a lesser extent, Aleksander. And there are characters whose presence looms over the entire story, but we never get more than a glimpse of them.
All in all, I'm glad I did the library thing first. We'll see if this story lingers in my mind enough to be worth buying for a re-read.
Spoiler
such as the fact that Violet walked right through a door to Fidelis with no key near the beginning of the storySpoiler
like where was Marianne all this time and why did she suddenly give up her quest but not go back to her familyI also felt like this book was a mishmash of tropes tossed in a blender.
Spoiler
From Neil Gaiman's "Neverwhere": hidden levels under cities, people with the power to cross between said levels or worlds, an all-powerful being in exile working over millennia to get back to the home that banished them. From Narnia: a snow-covered world on the other side of doors or reachable if one had enough will. From so many other tales: a beautiful place that is slowly dying and requires the blood of innocents to be sustained because of course it does and so does the beautiful ageless queen ruling it all.There are plenty of interesting minor characters and some of them even show growth, but it's mostly done in a few sentences or a conversation rather than over time, because there's so much focus on Violet and Penelope and, to a lesser extent, Aleksander. And there are characters whose presence looms over the entire story, but we never get more than a glimpse of them.
All in all, I'm glad I did the library thing first. We'll see if this story lingers in my mind enough to be worth buying for a re-read.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
It had elements of a good book, but didn’t come together for me. It is well-written, with moments that sweep the reader into the magical world it’s trying to build.
The plot drags throughout the book. I was left wishing the editor had either trimmed it into a great short story, or pushed to fill gaps between the character development and plot. The most pressing gap to me - the protagonist is a child raised in captivity, but we are to accept that she becomes a socially well-adjusted and competent adult with an uncomplicated, loving, and devoted relationship with her uncles.
The plot drags throughout the book. I was left wishing the editor had either trimmed it into a great short story, or pushed to fill gaps between the character development and plot. The most pressing gap to me - the protagonist is a child raised in captivity, but we are to accept that she becomes a socially well-adjusted and competent adult with an uncomplicated, loving, and devoted relationship with her uncles.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
not enough worldbuilding. plot holes at the end
3.5⭐️
i really enjoyed listening to the narrator and i found the writing extremely beautiful and the pacing enjoyable and found it to be such and interesting read. i found some of the character choices a bit annoying but overall i had a good time reading this.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book the author comes out with
i really enjoyed listening to the narrator and i found the writing extremely beautiful and the pacing enjoyable and found it to be such and interesting read. i found some of the character choices a bit annoying but overall i had a good time reading this.
I am definitely looking forward to reading the next book the author comes out with
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
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