I really enjoyed this book... The world building and character descriptions were great... This book was just as good as her other series she has written and look forward to reading more...

This book started off with a punch then slowed a bit with too much focus on the fantasy. However, it has excellent potential and a great story. I loved this author's previous series, so I will keep reading books from her.

Emily R. King is the new Andersen and Grimm of this millennium.
Her books are so attractive (and I am not only talking about the covers, but also about the characters and worlds that she has built), that readers are immersed in their reading in such a way that they reach the last page and it is up to the moment you can't keep moving forward, you realize that the story is over. And immediately you start chain-reading the next book.
Luckily, in this series I still have two books to read!

Not bad but seemed cliche. I did enjoy some of the different characters and the interactions between them at some points.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for am honest review.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I felt like there was a lot going on with the characters and the different stories. It all became muddled.

I am interested to see how the story continues in the sequel with Everley, though!

This was a fun story full of surprising twists and turns. It's quite a quick read so if you're in the mood for some fantasy but don't want to be bogged down by huge heavy series I would recommend this, especially if you prefer young adult fantasy.

(See all my Book Reviews) - Author Emily R. King (http://emilyrking.com/) published the novel “Before the Broken Star” in 2019. Ms. King has published 5 novels. This is the first in her "Evermore Chronicles" series.

I categorize this novel as “R” because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in another world. The primary character is 17-year-old girl Everley Donovan.

Donovan saw her family killed. She was attacked too but somehow survived. She lives because of a miraculous mechanical heart. She has always assumed that her uncle, a skilled clockmaker, had created the heart. She has been living for years with her uncle and hiding as his adopted apprentice.

Donovan's father had been an explorer and that is somehow tied to the family's death. Her father's former partner Killian Markham comes into the clock shop. It was he who had killed her family and attacked her. She knows she must avenge her family. Now Governor Killian Markham is leading the colony on Dagger Island.
Donovan gets charged with a crime to be sent as a potential wife to the Dagger Island colony. Dagger Island was the last place her father and Markham explored. Donovan wants to revenge the death of her family and find out why her father had to die.

First Lieutenant Jamison Callahan had first seen Donovan in the clock shop. He is the Governor's aid and is in charge of the women convicts being transported to Dagger Island. Much to Donovan's annoyance, Callahan seems to have feelings for her.

Donovan must survive the journey by ship and fit into the colony until she can take her revenge. Dagger Island has many myths and there are dangers there to avoid. She must also find a way of being consigned to an unwanted husband. 

I enjoyed the 7.5+ hours I spent reading this 294-page young adult fantasy novel. I liked the characters and the plot. This has the makings for a good series. The selected cover art is OK. I give this novel a 4.5 (rounded up to a 5) out of 5.

You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title. I will review this title at a different date.

Unfortunately I had to dnf this at 15%. The writing was good but I couldn't get invested in the story or the characters, just didn't work for me.

Emily is such a vivid world building writer. This books focuses on a girl set out to avenge her family and their death. It’s amazing that you can read this and find yourself so immersed in a world You will wish is real. From her fierce female character and the action this book is one you can’t stop reading!

A badass female protagonist! Non-stop adventure and intrigue, wrapped up in an action-filled plot! Journeys and treasure and pirate-like escapades with almost Steampunk vibes, oh my! It was unique, it was bold, and it was AMAZING.

Also, Killian is just INCREDIBLE. Period.

This book hooked me in even from its description on NetGalley, and I couldn't be more glad. It was fun, fresh and fierce, unique and incredible, and I LOVED it from page 1 to the end. Not to mention, the genre-defying historical/fantasy/sci-fi elements worked SO well together - loved it!

The premise was super interesting. I enjoyed the main character a lot and later on the pixie lol something about the story itself didn’t catch me though and it felt really rushed.

I was provided an e-arc from netgalley to read and review

I unfortunately missed the opportunity to read

As the survivor of an assassination attempt, our Main Character has already faced odd's beyond that of many others facing a same fate. Yet in this Fantasy Saga, more and more is expected of our MC, as battles ensure. Using a talented combination of language and imagery, King creates a novel reminiscent of her Hundredth King series which only leaves the reader wanting more.

This is COMPLETELY personal preference, but I had a hunch I wouldn't be a big fan of this when I met both the villain and the love interest in the first page (and knew immediately which was which). I don't generally like to be dumped into a story quite like that, and it's really hard to care about the evil things the villain did when you don't even know the MC yet. Anyway, apart from that: Emily's writing is great, and I appreciated the protagonist's sass. I love historical, steampunk-y vibe. I'm not a big fan of chapters full of travelling, though, and I didn't care for the love interest. Overall, I think I've just read so many YA fantasy books that this didn't hold a *spark* or complexity for me. Then again, I am a bit older than the target audience, so I would still recommend it to teens :)

There were so many things I liked about this book! The original mythology backstory, the plot twists, the steampunk vibes and pirateyness of it all! With so many different aspects crammed into one book, you’d think it wouldn’t work, but it does. If you crossed the world of Merlin with Pirates and The Caribbean I think these characters would exist there.

My only wish would be for the characters themselves to be a little bit stronger and with more depth to them. Their obstacles are fairly easily overcome and there could be a bit more struggle for them.

Killian is probably my favourite character, and I’d love to see what happens next in the sequel.

This book was so unique. Great heroine and overall plot. I enjoyed the magic system, the settings and the romance. I recommend it.

Before the Broken Star shows a strong young female powering herself with the need to revenge her parents' death while setting foot on an adventure as a mechanical heart ticks on her chest. This fantasy will open doors to hidden worlds, reveal shocking truths, develop a romance at a great pace, raise the stakes for readers to be hooked, and leave you interested in picking up the sequel.

🌊 adventure on an around the sea
🗡strong and fierce female main character
🏅 high-ranked male love interest
🕰 mechanical heart ticks
🔨 interesting villain
⏳ storyline around timelines
💑 marriage under desperate conditions

Fun, fantasy/steampunkish adventure filled with strong women, pirates, elves, and more! I enjoyed the more unusual world building that was different from other YA fantasy. The genre blending of historical, fantasy, and sci-fi fits right into what teens are asking me for from their books. However, it lacked depth that would've made it stand out more. I think it is good but the pacing was off and it didn't full grab my attention through to the end. Still a good genre blended read.

A beautiful and enchanting fantasy world, complimented by a strong cast of females characters. We have high seas adventures, plenty of action to keep you guessing, a mysterious island, and a healthy does of mythology. Everly's clockwork heart makes her truly unique and her character development is flawless.
The plot, the characters, the world, it all blew me away. An absolute must read for fantasy readers.