I finished this two weeks ago and for my review I just felt a bit like screaming, which wouldn’t have been all that informative so I thought I’d wait a bit… and I still kinda feel like screaming. 🙃

This book. So many words for the characters I grew to love in ADAHS and now I finally got my mits on this sequel. We get Celadon’s POV now and I love it and it breaks my heart 🥺. I was hooked reading this from start to finish, and just hoping for all their sakes that it turns out well (spoiler: it doesnt 😭). I now need the third book now, or the reassurance everyone’s gonna be okay 💔.

The characters:

I love how we get to see Arlo and Nos’ relationship develop and they grow to trust each other more. I’m like full on falling for the sword weilding fury, who’s tragic past we get in a bit more detail. I also like Nos’ past actions arent glossed over, people were affected and now Nos lives with mortals she sees them.

While obviously all these issues occur due to supernatural creatures having supernatural abilities I feel like they work through their problems in a human way (if u get my meaning, what they do and have done, carries weight).

Arlo fits the soft and girly aesthetic but is also strong in her own way. I found her really relatable. Wants to be strong but not sure how etc . She’s just finding herself and its nice to see her grow throughout the book.

Now my boys:

Aurelion and Vehan 🙌 . The drama between these two. It kills me. And Im giving no spoilers.
- we get to see more of Aurelion’s life with his baker family and they are so cute 💜

Ive already mentioned Celadon but omg. He comes with his own heart breaking drama.

Read this book for all the fae, drama and goodness (and heartbreak) 💜!

I really loved this sequel! Ashley Shuttleworth did a fantastic job or raising the stakes and surprised me at every twist! I adored the progression of our core characters (now including Celadon!) and their relationships. And yes, I am still very much part of the Nos fan club!

Though prepare yourself for the ending: I'm still recovering several months later!

To be honest, I didn't really like the first, well, let's say 70% of this book. I absolutely adore all the characters, but the story felt really slow and I didn't enjoy it as much as A Dark and Hollow star. But then, the ending came around, and OMG I need book 3 now!!! Seriously, this ending was incredible and I can't wait to see what happens next.

This book was a ride! Never have I ever read a sequel where I was suddenly super invested in the backstory person who I believed to be the villain but AHHHHHHHH! It’s not often that I feel like a cast of characters is literal perfection and when it does happen, that author has a fan who will autobuy for life, Ashley Shuttleworth is on that list for me! Nos kept me in stitches with her curse filled insult rants and CELADON!!! I adore all of these tragic, Fae or Immortal misfits but if Celadon doesn’t get a happily ever after at the end of this I will WEEP!! Bravo, Ashley!! Can’t wait to see what magic you weave in book three! Note: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you SO much to Margaret K. McElderry Books and Netgalley for providing an e-arc of this!! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

I'm 100% obsessed with this series! It has a MASSIVE cast of characters, complex political maneuverings, and the most eclectic mashup of fantasy elements and I love it.

This fantasy is expertly crafted and I just can't get over how much I love this queer cast of characters. They are all so flawed yet so lovable.

I love how Ashely Shuttleworth builds their plots slowly throughout the book only to have the last 100+ pages be a whirlwind of action and reveals. I swear the last 2 hours of this audiobook took 10 years off my life!

If you're considering picking this series up, I highly recommend the audiobook. The full cast audio not only brings the story to life, but it makes the characters easier to distinguish (which is helpful with a cast this size)

I'm already anxiously awaiting the next book. I need it.

Following on from the story from A Dark and Hollow Star, this doesn't disappoint. But I am having WORDS with @paper.ashley because how dare they hurt our bbs in this instalment. 🥺

Each of the perspectives are definitely well written, and add to the story. There are characters I dislike, and ones I actually get sad everytime they are even scratched.

This is certainly a high-stakes fantasy, and I am so keen to read the next one!

4.5

I was lucky enough to be a part of the author's street team for the promotion of the release of this book. A Dark and Hollow Star was one of my favourite of 2021 so clearly A Cruel and Fated Light was one of my anticipated reads of this year.

The only reason this wasn't a five star read for me was because I found the beginning quite slow and it took me a bit to get into. That may be a bigger issue for some people, but frankly, I'm mostly in this for the characters which made the rest of the book enjoyable for me. It was all very character driven, looking in depth into character relationships and backgrounds and we got a new perspective with Celadon which was a really nice addition!

Once again, Ashley Shuttleworth has put me through an emotional rollercoaster with their work and left me a wreck and I could not be happier about it.

A Cruel and Fated Light, the sequel to the truly explosive queer YA urban fantasy novel, DELIVERED on ever front!
In this book we follow Arlo and her crew as they get more enmeshed in court politics - all culminating in the long-awaited solstice ball that could change the dynamics of the courts forever.

This book is less action based and heavier on the court intrigue which adds another layer of complexity to the story - and I loved that! We had our MCs dealing with court drama while also trying to untangle the secrets that followed them to this sequel from book one and I'm not gonna lie, I am SO SCARED of what book three will bring. Probably even more pain and bloodshed, since this book was far from meak, especially by the end of it.

My favourite part of this series remains the characters - our main five, Arlo, Nausica, Celadon, Vehan, and Aurelian. I would die for this group and I keep falling more and more in love with them with every installment. In A Cruel and Fated Light we watch their friendships deepen - with some romantic interludes that I was a BIG fan of (nothing like these kids getting their shit together and confessing their feelings and stuff, I STAN). Celadon shone like the brightest star in this book and I think it's safe to say he's making his way towards my "favourite" of the series. A ace fae who is questioning his gender identity and is simply drop dead gorgeous and amazing with a heart of gold? I have tears in my eyes just writing this down.

Anyway, I am getting sidetracked - A Cruel and Fated Light was the PERFECT sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star, full of court intrigue, painful yet beautiful love stories, and loads of unexpected plot twists that will keep you reeling. This book did NOT suffer the second book syndrome and I just adored it with my whole heart.

If queer fantasies are your go-to, picking up The Hollow Star Saga is a MUST! You'll be hooked in no time!!

In this explosive sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star, we pick up within days of where book 1 left off.
Arlo is invited to the Seely Summer court for summer break and is adamant that Queen Riadne just wants to help her out.
Her cousin, Celadon, ever the protector, goes with her.
Arlo is promised to learn alchemy - despite it being forbidden - under Riadne's watchful eye.

I absolutely loved this book. It was fast paced, had a wonderful amount of humour, action, relationships, and villanism.

The multiple perspectives in this book really bring the story together as a whole. Shuttleworth is incredible at being able to write from several different points of view and have each person not only have a distinct voice, but also for the story to blend seemlessly.

Even though this book was huge, it wasn't enough, and now I am eagerly awaiting book 3, especially after that cliffhanger ending!

6/5 stars from me.

I was so lucky to have been selected as a member of Ashley Shuttleworth’s street team for A Cruel and Fated Light, and I’ll be sharing my review today to celebrate the release of this fantastic sequel! Also, be sure to head over to my blog (link in bio) for a full synopsis of A Cruel and Fated Light along with other information about the book!

Spoiler Warning: A Cruel and Fated Light is the second book in The Hollow Star Saga, so before reading my review or this book, I would strongly recommend grabbing a copy of the first book, A Dark and Hollow Star!

You can get your copy of A Cruel and Fated Light right now from Margaret K McElderry Books!

I absolutely adored reading A Dark and Hollow Star, so it’s no surprise that A Cruel and Fated Light was another five-star read for me! This book took the characters I loved from the first book and pushed them to new heights (although to be honest Nausicaa could go grocery shopping and I would still want to read about it). The thing I love most about this series is definitely the different character perspectives. Sometimes, when reading a book from multiple perspectives, I find myself favoring one or two characters and almost wanting to skim through the other chapters, but that is never the case in these books! While I have my previously mentioned favorite character, I am always so engaged by the other perspectives, as they add so much depth to the story with their relationships to each other. Reading these books really does feel like entering into a perfect D&D campaign, with each character’s perspective working together to build a full cohesive story. I am so glad this series still has more books to come because I am far from ready to be finished with The Hollow Star Saga!

My Recommendation-
If you love high-stakes fantasy novels that have a great sense of humor and a wonderful cast of queer characters, you need to grab copies of A Dark and Hollow Star and A Cruel and Fated Light right away! These books would be perfect for fans of roll-playing games or other fun-focused fantasy genres!

The first book in this series was one of my favorite reads last year – it’s not often you come across an urban fantasy set in Canada – and I couldn’t wait to catch up with these characters again.

Where do I even begin? So much going on. So many secrets revealed. When Queen Riadne tosses out an invite to host Arlo at the Seelie Summer palace, you just know it’s not out of the goodness of her black heart. Riadne never does anything without it benefitting her, and being iron born and all but ignored by her extended family, Arlo is thrilled at the opportunity to finally be accepted for who she is. High Prince Celadon, her cousin and best friend, insists on accompanying her both for protection and to find out what scheming Riadne is up to. Let the games begin.

These characters stole my heart in the first book, but Nausicaa (such lovable snark) and Celadon (smarter than most in the room) continue to be my favorites. Such a diverse cast is cause for celebration with this series, as is the intricately mapped plot. This book weighs in at a hefty 640 pages, but with political machinations, alchemy, immortals, questionable motivations, a challenge for the crown, dark secrets, and sweet romances, the pages flew by for me.

The ending gutted me and leaves fates hanging in the balance along with a body count – no spoilers here. It looks like there are two more books coming in this series, and I’ve already added both on my Goodreads list. Highly recommend for urban fantasy fans!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

All the gang from book one continue along the unknown plans already laid out for them whether or not they want to!

3.5 stars

Arlo is invited to spend her summer at the Seelie Summer Palace under Queen Riadne’s care. With Nausicaa in tow, Arlo experiences the Royal treatment she has been denied all her life and begins study in alchemy. Vehan and Aurelian are stuck in their dance of pretending they don’t like each other while trying to figure out what is wrong with Vehan’s magic. Celadon, however, is quickly able to see the larger picture and is determined to stop the plots from unfolding.

Characters: 5/5
I really love this cast of characters, honestly it’s what I like most about these books. Nausicaa is every bit the sword lesbian that I love in fantasy. Each character brings something to the table, even if it is just their complete naïveté *cough* Vehan.

As for villains, Riadne is an incredible foe. It’s clear she’s the one to watch for but you really hope that she might have a change of heart at several points. But she is nothing if not cruel.

Plot: 2/5
I think the plot left a little bit to be desired. With all the perspectives, time didn’t move all that fast so not much really happened. Nausicaa probably had the most in terms of things to do, with her hunt for the stones. Arlo was there for a lot of the hunt too but it felt like she did a lot of sitting around in between. Vehan and Aurelien barely did anything outside of pine after each other. Celadon had a bit too but he only had a few chapters.

In terms of the whole arc, also a little lack luster. Something big happening at the solstice was given from the second Riadne invited Arlo to attend. I still don’t know what anyone stood to gain from everything that transpired.

Writing: 3/5
Shuttleworth definitely has a distinct style which I can appreciate and a lot of skill in their own right. I think their editor let them down a bit though. There were several points where the language was very repetitive and not in an intentional way from what I could tell at least. The descriptions they give are clear, easy to visualize, and plentiful. I think just more attentive editing will help Shuttleworth’s writing shine.

Gayness: 5/5
Every rep you could ever want found it’s way into this book in some way. Xe/Xim pronouns, transgender, gender fluid, asexuality, pansexual. Seriously all of it was there!

I honestly think this was a classic middle book lull in a trilogy and the third book will be incredible. If you read ADAHS I hope you stick with the series so we can all experience e the conclusion together.

I received A Cruel & Fated Light by Ashley Shuttleworth in exchange for an honest review. It has been such a pleasure to be part of the street team for this book, thank you so much for my advanced copy!

I remember being absolutely awestruck after reading A Dark and Hollow Star and I am so excited to say that A Cruel & Fated Light blew me away even more!

I’ve been so excited to see these characters again, I love them so much and really enjoyed seeing their development! As well as getting to see more of characters from the previous book (I love Celadon so much!)
Plus the new characters introduced fit in perfectly and I am so excited to see their stories unfold. Also I need to just say that Riadne had total Regina Mills vibes from Once Upon A Time to me!

I love Ashley’s attention to worldbuilding and how it has been expanded even more in this sequel! It is one of my favourite elements of a story and it has been developed beautifully! Plus, all of the LGBTQIA+ representation in this story is so brilliant and important. It is so beautifully queer it makes my heart swell!

A Cruel & Fated Light is an epic, action packed and delightful sequel - I am so excited to continue this series!!

Myth: 5/5

The Hollow Star cast of characters really kicks it up a notch in a Cruel and Fated Light. I lived for Queen Riadne’s backstory sections, giving us insights into the past generation’s secrets as the current players try and make sense of how the story in front of them is unfolding.

The story has a fantastically rich world of the fae courts with casual and accepted queer representation. It really makes the book able to provide a safe space for YA gender and sexuality exploration.

And if you like the immortal, scary, broody badass who is really just a softy for their love interest, but want it lesbian, then look no further than Nausicaä. I love this pairing more than I can say.



Magic: 5/5

Ashley Shuttleworth is a master at the nerd pop culture references, but to my utter delight, this was pulled into the magic system as well. There are definitely still the season-aligned powers at play, but Arlo’s new gifts take shape in a classic choose your adventure game play.

Overall: 5/5

A mess of teenage fae trying to figure out what to do next but also enjoy some summer holidays. The Cruel and Fated Light cast is a delight as they pull you in to their romantic entanglements and deadly court politics. Ashley’s storytelling keeps you hooked with a perfect balance of unfolding politics and developing romance.

4.5 stars rounded up
I really loved this book! It expands on the romance and adventure in the first book with even more twists and turns. I did like ADAHS better because I thought it was much easier to keep track of and a stronger book. However, ACAFL incorporated a million elements, all of which I loved, to make me scream and swear constantly while reading. My favorite character is Celadon and my favorite non-spoiler moment was Nausicäa and Arlo watching Miraculous together with Elyas.

*screams forever and ever and ever*

I honestly don’t have the words to describe how I’m feeling right now. I absolutely DEVOURED A Cruel and Fated Light in one sitting… This was such an amazing sequel.

I promise I'll come back and write a better review, I just honestly need to process lmfao, but thank you Netgalley, Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, AND Margaret K. McElderry Books for this amazing ARC!

A Cruel and Fated Light was an absolutely STELLAR sequel to A Dark and Hollow Star! As this is a sequel, I find it much easier to review in a bullet form if I want to avoid spoilers for others.

-This series is something like Crescent City, The Mortal Instruments and The Folk of the Air had a child, but make it filled to the brim with Queer rep!!
-Arlo and Nausicaa, our to heroine's, are SO lovable. Their chemistry is palpable and jumping off the page, and I swooned almost every time they had a romantic moment with one another, and even when they were thinking of each other.
-Nausicaa is a wildly morally grey badass of a character. She's hilarious and frightening and unconcerned with other people's opinions of her. She can take on just about any foe and it is an absolute delight to read. She also has a deeply heartbroken side that is so well portrayed and explored, even as she uses her humor to try to cover it up.
- Aurelian and Vehan. *sigh*. I LOVE these two just as much as the previously mentioned pair. Shuttleworth absolutely SHINES with relationship and character development.
-The plot of this is an absolute adventure. There is action left and right, and so many cool magic systems and hierarchies of power to explore.
-The world building makes me feel a bit conflicted. There is a LOT, like a LOT LOT, going on here. We have titans and gods and furies and all manner of faerie folk and seelie and unseelie and sidhe and lesidhe fae and SHEESH (this was the short list). I do love the inclusion of all of this, and I never thought I'd see the day where I'd want less magical creatures in a book, but I do find myself wondering whether we could have benefitted from cleaning this up just a *little* bit, because its all incredibly hard to keep up with.
-Despite that, this plot is still truly remarkable and unique. The threat really built here in a very tangible way, and certain Easter eggs, reveals and plot twists had me physically needing to catch my breath. There are so many characters that you care about in this one, and so much danger for every one of them.
-Some of the plot points leading up to some of these reveals did have quite a bit of noticeable convenience, and I definitely found myself feeling like "this is obviously not the best plan and knowing these characters, they should have been able to see that."
-THE END OF THIS STORY. HOLY CLIFFHANGER. I don't know if I'm going to survive the wait for a sequel!!

This overall gets a solid 4.5 stars for me. It was wonderful and Shuttleworth has created a world and a story that absolutely grips me. I feel so honored to have gotten a chance to read this early. Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster Childrens and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title before publishing!

Our fav cast of queers are back in the sequel to a Dark and Hollow Star! First off, I loved the title, hated this cover. Was super happy to see Celadon get POV chapters in this book. The other problem I had with this book is I only got about halfway through due to a migraine. I do not recommend ebooks over 500 pages if you get headaches, and this is 640 pages(it does not need to be this long). Looking forward to finishing it when I get a physical copy. The pacing in this book feels better than the first, and I love watching our favorite characters and their relationships continue to grow. Worth the read if you liked the first one, this won't work as a standalone. I'd also recommend this series if you like fae books!

thank you so much to simon and schuster children's publishing for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

i really enjoyed this installation -- the plot was more intricate and involved, we got to see the characters flourish as they battled inner and outer problems, and their relationships strengthened while there was supple angst. i really felt like i was on the edge of my seat for all of this, because i never knew what was coming! numerous points of the book surprised me, but in the best of ways. also gaining more of a background within the worlds was intriguing, as i feel like there was a fair amount to explain, but this was done really well. the politics were well thought out, and i really enjoyed revisiting this world and these characters. also, the book's pacing was great! i never felt bored, and thought each section was utilized in the best way possible. 4/5 stars!

5/5 amazing stars!

This. Book. Right. Here!!! This was everthing I wanted out of a sequel and more. All of our favorite characters are back. The bad*ss sword lesbian equipped with hilarious one-liners, the strong, tenacious and kind ironborn, the loving sunshine prince and the grumpy bodyguard who is honestly such a great friend. Not only that but we have new characters, a new pov and we get to know more about some characters that we saw briefly in book one.

In my review of A Dark and Hollow Star, I mentioned how I wanted to learn a bit more about Aurelian and this book delivered. I loved seeing a more vulnerable side to his character. I fell completely head over heels for Celadon in this sequel. Where as in the first book, he just popped in and out of scenes, in A Cruel and Fated Light he was more present and we learned more him and his power. Everything he did just had me so swoony haha.

I've always been obsessed with mermaids and sirens, so I was super excited to see them incorporated into the story. The way that it was explained of how a siren comes to be was so interesting.

Filled with action, backstory, twists, betrayals and friendship, A Cruel and Fated Light is a wild ride that will have you laughing, crying and swooning for days.