4.5*
Incredibly well written, the City of Shattered Light a treat to all YA readers. Its immersive, fast paced amd the three dimensional characters can have you switching allegiances as often as possible.

There's nothing new about The City of Shattered Light. Its the gang against the evil guys story but the execution of the idea is incredible. Riven and Asa are both characters with very distinct voices and very complex motivations and backstories. The stakes only get higher the more you read into the book and aesthetically, the book is a gem. With costume parties, beautiful cities in space, space ships and heists, it keeps you reading. I loved the queernorm and the writing style is very engaging and easy.

But a few issues that made me redact a star are that the final arc felt rushed and I would have loved to have more Riven and Asa moments in because their chemistry is sizzling. Towards the end of the book, I feel that the characters make some choices that are plot serving too.

But The City of Shattered Light is an incredible debut and Claire Winn is definitely an author I'll be watching.

Disclaimer- I received a free E ARC in exchange for an honest review from the publisher.

Thank you to the Author, Netgalley and TBR and Beyond Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Want a new, PHENOMENAL, BREATH-TAKING, ACTION-PACKED Sci-fi novel that will leave you absolutely BREATHLESS by the end?? City of Shattered Light is the book for you! With strong female characters, vivid world-building, great sibling relationships, I TELL YOU, YOU NEED THIS BOOK IN YOUR LIFE!

TOP 5 REASONS TO READ

1. The Sibling Relationship – Asa is the heiress to a powerful tech empire, trying to please her manipulative father and trying to prove herself to the world. Rule-following and obedient, all she wants is for her father to love her. Kaya is the rebellious sister, and also the prime tester for a new and dangerous technology their father is developing – Project Winterdark. Asa struggles between her desire to help her sister and free her from their father’s clutches but she also wants to believe that he isn’t as bad as Kaya thinks. She wants to prove to him that she is more. She wants to gain his love and she’ll go to any extents to do that. But Kaya is the only person in the entire world who she truly loves – her sister, her best friend, and the only family she has. So when her father uploads Kaya’s mind to an experiomental brain to change her personality and make her more obedient, Asa has to choose between living according to her father’s wishes and the future that has already been planned for her, or saving her sister and bringing back the only friend she has ever had. Basically, Asa is Scarlet and Kaya is Tella. Need I say any more? I don’t think so.

“…built speeder, its chrome pipes breathing vapor into the night, colored lights trailing by in breakneck streaks. Their only taste of freedom, of a world beyond their father’s prison.
Maybe she and Kaya would still find that world.”

2. The World Building – I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO BEGIN WITH THIS ONE! The world building is breathtakingly beautiful and UNIQUE. It is so well crafted, this intoxicatingly stunning and VIBRANT world, the descriptions and the imagery, the DETAILS and ugh, I just cannot imagine how much hardwork must have gone into creating this. The world building is so vivid and it’s so easy to get sucked up into the story. See, Sci-fi and me… We do not get along well with each other. Reading sci-fi requires precious brain cells, and considering that I don’t have any, I end up terribly confused half of the time because ~concentration~ but THIS BOOK IS JUST SPECIAL. And ohmigosh, all the technology, my soul has been blessed! Seriously, THE TECHNOLOGY! SO ADVANCED AND UNIQUE AND AMAZING

3. The Characters + Development – Even though I would have liked more development of the side characters (SAMIR AND DIEGO!) and also more development between Riven’s crew, Riven is Queen and Asa is amazing too. RIVEN IS A LIVING MARVEL AND SHE CAN SHOOT A TARGET WITHOUT EVER MISSING AND SHE’S SO BRAVE AND BADASS AND… JUST SO FULL OF LIFE. I worship her, okay? Asa, on the other hand, I love her development throughout the book, I love seeing her struggle between doing what her dad would approve of, and doing what she thinks is the right thing to do. Though she got on my nerves a couple of times, but I can understand her. AND SHE’S SO CLEVER, OH MY GOSH. I wish I had such presence of mind.

“When her time came, Riven would probably insult death itself and challenge it to a duel.”

4. The Action + Plot Twists – I loved how high the stakes were and all the tension at any given moment, I was kept at the very edge of my (shh, almost fell off the chair, but don’t tell anyone). Some parts of it were too violent, and at times I just could not. I love the action, but oh my God, I need to breathe, okay? I really would have liked at least a couple of scenes where we get to like breathe and also just… Peaceful? You know, scenes where the only thing that’s happening isn’t betrayal or… shooting? I do not make sense. I know. BUT that is just me being… me(?) ANYWAY, this is the type of book you will literally RUN through and I am not lying when I say you are not going to want to put it down.

5. The Writing – It is simple, to the point, but it is STRONG and amazing and it makes you picture EVERYTHING as its being told. It is so well written. YOU ARE GOING TO DEVOUR THOSE WORDS LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN FOOD or words in this case BEFORE. And then there’s some phrases that are gorgeous so here –
– The remains of a civilization lost to time
– Time stretched, each second an eternity of raw solitude
– As breathtaking as the edge of space
And i do not know why I’m obsessed with these, but I just am.

The beautiful cover on this book should’ve told me all I needed to know about how much I was going to love this story and our MCs. I don’t read a lot of young adult sci-fi, the last book I read being Goddess in the Machine in 2020, but I am so happy to add this to my repertoire of that genre. This story is packed with syndicate action, romance, and some friendships that are built along the way. Asa and Riven are thrown together in this journey to save the place that they call home from a terrifying villain. I really enjoyed seeing the friends that Asa and Riven make along the way and the fights that break out during their journey. The plot was well paced and characters and settings were introduced at appropriate time to ensure that you are fully grasping the info that Winn presents to you. I truly hope their is more to this story and that the journey isn’t over for our MCs. I would be so excited to see what is in store for them next.

I have to say for a debut novel this was really good. When I first saw the book synopsis I was very interested, science fiction, action, romance (and saphic too!) and finally found family, it sounded like the perfect recipe. At first I had a hard time understanding the worldbuilding, I made the mistake of starting this read right during finals and my already fried brain just couldn't cope so I had to wait until I was finished to continue.

City of Shattered light is about Asa, a heiress to a galactic tech empire who is forced to escape from home after her father tries to sacrifice her sister for an experiment. Asa is left running for her life with a biocapsule holding what is essentially her sister's brain and having to find a way to reconnect it to her body.

Along the way she encounters numerous hardships, but not only finds herself a crew she can trust, she also finds what could be longlasting love.

I definitely recommend reading it, it was a very interesting and action packed book and I particularly liked (crushed on) Riven.

I want to thank Books Forward Friends for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4290163007?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

This is an EXTREMELY ENJOYABLE high-stakes YA sci-fi that draws you in with a fast-paced plot and endearing characters. There is no time wasted in this book, jumping straight into the action from the very beginning—VERY BINGABLE. Every character is distinct without being cartoonish, and you really feel like you know and care about each character, even the villainous ones. Riven is definitely the stand-out character: sharp, reckless, full of heart, and always ready to do whatever it takes. She will be one of those characters who sticks in my brain for a long, long time. Oh, and did I mention how INCREDIBLY VIVID the setting is?! Soaked in neon lights and a constant thrumming bass, the city of Requiem is a place of excitement, danger, and crime (AND ORGAN PIRATES). It is totally immersive, making you feel like you're really there. This book is absolutely worth picking up.

WOW!

With. a cover like that, I was expecting big things, and this did NOT disappoint! Get ready for an edge-of-your-seat adventure full of cool characters and addictive writing! i really enjoyed this book, and this was perfect for what i was hoping to read at this time. The plot is a little slow but quickly picks up, and is SO action-packed!

Highly recommend!

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to author Claire Winn all about her debut, City of Shattered Light, which is described as, “As darkness closes in on the city of shattered light, an heiress and an outlaw must decide whether to fend for themselves or fight for each other.”

This video game/cyber punk inspired story is about as much fun as your likely gonna have reading a book. With a pair of very strong leads, a ton of important themes including consequentialism, class warfare, bodily autonomy, and the potential pitfalls of artificial intelligence, City of Shattered Light delivers in just about every way possible.

Steve and Claire talk about the road it took to get here, some of the great worldbuilding and themes, City of Shattered Light of course, and much, much more.

For the full interview, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/shows/everything-is-canon-city-of-shattered-light/

While I am not usually a fan of sci-fi, I did thoroughly enjoy this one. Winn has a way with words — giving description without drowning the main plot (which is amazing, btw) in colorful images.


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Thank you to Netgalley, and the publisher for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Pros: Amazing atmosphere and world-building. Definitely one of those books were you really feel like you've fallen into the story and can see it all playing out in front of your eyes.
Cons: The fact that this book was heavily marketed as a f/f romance, and then immediately turned into a love triangle focused on the male love interest. Not a great move.

sapphics and cyborgs and HEISTS !! three of my favorite things in a book. It wasn't the most outstanding sci fi book I've ever read but it's definitely better than most. I was concerned that it would be a very simple plot and that it would take me out of the story but it got more complex as the book progressed, which i really loved. If not for the fact that the characters felt a little bland, this would probably have been a really great read.

I did really enjoy this book although it is only a 3.5 stars for me.

This is a sci-fi filled with thieves, heists, characters on the run and found family.

I was impressed with the atmosphere of the planet of Requiem as I felt like I could imagine everything perfectly.

The characters were good. Asa and Riven are great main characters who’s personalities bounce off of each over really love. I also loved Ty, he’s the type of character I love as he’s mainly the comedic relief (or at least felt like it to me).

The ending was a bit all over the place (to the point don’t ask me what happened I will say IDK) but it still was enjoyable.

I will say I had my hopes up with this being a sapphic Sci-Fi and it did let me down on that aspect because it didn’t fully happen until the last 10% really (although there were tiny hints throughout) I just wish there was more but if it would have happened sooner I would have not liked a side character as much.

I am so happy that I read this though especially since I got an Arc of this book through Netgalley and didn’t read it for the book's release but at least I read it now.

A fun and fast paced story set in an engaging world. The characters are easy to love and care about, each one with their own distinct personalities.

A coming of age story set in a cyberpunk dystopian future. Asanna Almeida led a rather sheltered life and was groomed to be the heir of her father’s tech company, but when something bad happens to her beloved sister she flees her home in hope of saving her sister. On the road she encounters Riven Hawthorne, a rogue pilot who heads a crew of smugglers. Together they face all sorts of dangerous from bounty hunters to mercenaries set to bring Asa back as well as other free agents with sinister agendas.

The world building was very impressive for a debut novel. I enjoyed the non stop action, but the constant barraging of life threatening events left little room for emotional beats and character development. The romantic angle was rather redundant and underdeveloped under the circumstances, and I think I would have liked more original bad guys or at least more nuanced ones at that. All in all, a rather fun read. A 3.5 on a scale of 5.

Thanks to Netgalley and North Star Editions for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #CityofShatteredLight #NetGalley

I was really excited for this one, but unfortunately it just didn’t work for me.

I struggle a bit with working out why I didn’t enjoy this one. But there just was no aspect of the book that I really enjoyed. Didn’t necessarily care for the characters, the world wasn’t to interesting to me and also the plot didn’t grab me..

I feel like we didn’t really get to know the characters very well. Maybe if we got to know them better and also more bonding between the characters I would care for them more. And that would maybe also make the plot more interesting, because I would care what would happen to them. I especially didn’t get Riven, she kept changing her mind about Asa ridiculously often, and I just couldn’t understand her reasoning most of the time.

Also the romance didn’t do much for me, but that again goes back to me not caring for the characters. I feel like de development between them, especially the f/f relation, could have been a bit better, because I wasn’t really rooting for them. (bi-love triangle, would definitely interest readers!)

I would have liked a bit more world-building. It was now more describing vibes of places, which is okay, but I would also have liked to imagine the places our characters were at!

A good thing about it was that it was action-packed, so it went by really quick!

So after writing this, I think I can come to the conclusion that my main ‘problem’ with this books is that I don’t see the motivation of the characters for any of their actions.

The pros to this book: It's extremely cinematic; it's action-packed, and the action is described in a very visual way. It feels like this could be very easily adapted to a movie. Also: Bisexual protagonists!

The cons to the book: It almost feels like a script to a movie (with very thorough directions for the action) rather than a written narrative that gives us access to character thoughts and feelings. Characters are fairly uncomplicated, with snappy dialogue, neat character designs, and a focus on their action and abilities over any deeper characterization. So, for example: the character who is a hotheaded badass is *relentlessly* a hotheaded badass, planning to go in guns first every time -- for example, when helpless before a crime lord who she disappointed and is known to make examples of people by killing them slowly and selling their organs on market, she doesn't only not spare a single thought for herself but for her friends either; when she does eventually do so, she doesn't have any *worry*, just 'and if anyone threatens them I'll shoot them first'! I'm dwelling on this not because it's a huge problem but because it's an example of the narrative style -- it wants to focus on a sense of action and denies the characters too much complexity or interiority. Even when we get their interior thoughts, it's pretty surface and tells us them rather than shows them (very '(x) didn't trust (y), but then again, she felt guilty for what (y) was going through' vs like -- actually showing that lack of trust, or having an emotional reaction that reads as guilt instead of just telling us 'she felt guilty'). As a result, decisions or character relationships sometimes seem to come with little emotional buildup. Again, this is very much a narrative style thing -- it feels a bit like watching a Marvel movie or a similar summer blockbuster, where it's seen very much from the outside, full of action, a bit of drama, and character work that resolves around style more than depth. This isn't a problem, I love a good blockbuster, it's just not what I read fiction for -- but because it's about style, if it's not one that works great for me, it might yet work for you.

In summary: A good debut! A snappy read with a lot of action and a very visual feel, but less focus on showing character interiority as a result.

The gorgeously bright cover grabbed my attention, and the story didn’t let me go.

The cyberpunk dystopian world was well described, and not overwhelming. We got bits and pieces scattered through the story, showing us how rough things were. Starting us out with the harsh differences between Riven’s life and Asa’s was a great way to highlight the dystopian aspects of this culture. Although getting background information piecemeal made it difficult to put everything together around our main characters.

I liked the characters mostly, they were interesting and diverse. Although they act a lot older than young adult, and their actions felt like they were all over the place. I wish we could have gotten more background on the rest of Riven’s crew.

I am not a fan of love triangles, so that really hampered my enjoyment. As well as that, I didn’t like how quickly the love triangle developed while they were on the run? Who has time for that? So this might totally be someone else’s cup of tea, just not mine.

Winn’s characters and world-building were phenomenal! This sapphic, cyberpunk YA sci-fi book had me hooked from the very beginning. Heists! Found family! Beautiful cover! The only thing that took away from my enjoyment was the love triangle, but my overall feelings are very positive.

An extraordinary Science-fiction novel. This is perfect for all the fans a fantasy and sci-fi mix. Love the feminism aspect within the book! I cannot wait to get this for all my friends

A City of Shattered Light is very well written. It harnesses two main perspectives — of both Riven and Asa — to fully tell all the angles of the story. The perspectives are both in third person and are super easy to follow. I will say that I enjoyed Riven’s chapters more than Asa’s simply because Asa’s sheltered-ness throughout became a lot.

The characterization of both Riven and Asa sort of hit you right in the face. Their flaws weren’t exactly subtle, coming into play every 2 pages and being discussed over and over and over again. I feel like Winn could have had a bit more faith in the readers, showing us it rather than reminding us every 10 seconds.

That being said, I enjoyed both Riven and Asa as main characters. Could there have been more character development? Yeah, maybe. Could it have had more showing than telling? Probably. But, and this is a big one, I was so swept up in the plot and the promise of the next book that I didn’t get too hung up on that bit. I’m confident that we will see lots more growth from both main characters in the next installment of the series. So for now, I would say I’m satisfied in that regard.

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The romance wasn’t it. Like, at all. There was a love triangle, which I’m normally not a fan of. But it was a bisexual love triangle (aka the best type of love triangle), so I was willing to give it a shot. But the shot wasn’t a hole in one, instead being a massive swing and a miss (ignore my mixing of sports speak), because I couldn’t end up rooting for either of the romances.

There was absolutely no communication. They were both happening at the same time, but neither one acknowledged the other. Which felt kind of weird, but whatever, I could deal. My main gripe with the romances is that both of the potential romances felt… there. Not nearly as developed as they could have been, no decisions being made, no tension or stakes between any of them. It just didn’t work for me.

Also, I really don't vibe with the ending. The epilogue made it slightly better, but still not a fan. Given the lack of subtlety throughout the entire book, it was sort of easy to call it. And it made me really, really, really mad. Still going to read the next one though, because I am both mad and invested.

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Through a futuristic world and lots of wild tech running amuck, this one most certainly is fast and loads of fun. Within the general idea of technology, I thought the villain was really well done. They were menacing, had great motivation, and challenged the characters throughout.

3.5/5 STARS

City of Shattered Light is action packed and delightful. There is never a dull moment and the reading experience as a whole was very enjoyable. Would reccomend to fans of sci-fi or those wanted a quick read!

First of all. Thank you NetGalley and Flux for the digital arc of the book.

This is a great story. First, there’s a lot of action. Since chapter one. The characters? They have flaws, and they’re human. And it’s sapphic, and there’s a love triangle without a love triangle… hard to explain

But for the story? Picture a rich heiress running away to save her sister and having to work with a crew of outlaws in a city that would eat her if she was alone. Picture a badass chief that is a better shooter than Lucky Luck. A team that’s clearly a family. Some lgbtq+ characters. Also, a rich man destroys life and unleashes a vicious virus in a world of tech.

So you kinda have the story. But it’s better than it sounds. And I think I would totally read a volume two. I don’t want to get rid of the characters. And the feelings I had while reading this book.

So yeah, 400 pages of pure goodness