Steampunk and fantasy novel based upon Rossettis poem “The Goblin Market”. While this wasn’t my typical style of book I appreciated the characters and world building and the theme of the book. Fans of this genre will enjoy this.

I want to thank Bloomsbury YA and NetGalely for providing me with an e-galley of this book to read and give my honest review.
I adore A.G. Howard's writing. Splintered is one of my all time favorite series and one I would read over and over again (if there weren't so many gosh darn other books to worry about). So of course given the chance to read something from her early was a highlight for me.
It's been a long time since I read any fae genre books. I enjoy them a lot. I was excited to get back into this type of world and see where it leads.
My initial impetus to read this book came from seeing the cover. Howard's books always have stunning covers and this was no exception. Before I even looked at the summary, I knew I would want to read this just from the cover alone.
I'll say the language of the writing is great. I can't tell you how easily it flows and keeps you turning the pages. It's a joy to read it because it truly places me in the moment of the book with how descriptive it is. Howard is a genius at story telling, and that shines through with this book.
Next: the characters. I liked them a lot. Mostly because they are not perfect (all those YA books with the perfect looking characters who have no flaws drag on my nerves). Howard incorporated this so flawlessly into the book. It was not a big deal that the characters had flaws or were different from what many may consider "normal". It's what made them enjoyable and I loved the uniqueness they had.
The story line was truly interesting. I don't know much of the lore surrounding The Goblin Market as I've not read it, but I do know a bit of the fae realm, so I could follow along well. There's always this secretive world when it comes to the fae and this book captured that well. I loved how Howard was able to set the mood and tone immediately and carry that throughout the story. I loved the twist at the end and how the narration switched to a new character. I can't wait to see that character's POV in the next book.
I didn't feel the steampunk element as much as I would have liked, considering this book is tote as a steampunk fantasy. The elements were there, don't get me wrong, but it was not incorporated as well and I've seen it with other steampunk books.
The book did leave me wanting to read The Goblin Market, since it's very grounded in that text. I may have to pick it up and see what it's all about.
Overall I enjoyed this book and I'm looking forward to the next one.

3.5 stars. This was a super unique story but not 100% my cup of tea. I really appreciated the world the author built with its dark atmosphere, fairy tale vibes, and steampunk elements, and I liked that it was set around Halloween. This would definitely be a good read for spooky season. There was just something missing for me and while I liked the characters individually, I didn’t feel all that connected to the story. The thing that piqued my interest the most was the ending so I would consider reading the next one for that.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.75 rounded up to 4 stars. A tale of the Goblin Market and steampunk combined with curses and a dark legacy.

Nix is convinced her family is cursed. Halloween has taken her parents from her when she was young, and her twin sister Lark years later. She knows her curse must have something to do with the Goblin Market as her mother made sure her and Lark knew the tale. When Nix's uncle goes missing on Halloween, she must find him with the help of her best friend, Clarey. What dangers await Clarey and Nix as they search, and can they break a curse before they both become cursed forever?

A.G. Howard has a way with storytelling unlike any I have ever read before. Her Splintered series was what really reignited my passion for reading years ago. As an absolute lover of all things The Goblin Market I was beyond excited to recieve an eARC for this morsel. I myself am not a big fan of steampunk, so the wonder if the world was lost a bit on me, but knowing Howard this is the first of a series. I really enjoyed this first installment, the characters are unique and relatable and the lore is peppered throughout to keep up interest. My reason for giving 3.75 even though I really enjoyed this is the amount of steampunk description brought me out of the story. The middle of the story does fall a bit stagnant as Clarey and Nix learn to navigate a world full of dangers, both mechanical and otherwise.

A solid beginning to a series I'm sure will delight. 3.75 stars rounded to 4. Recommended for readers who love steampunk, The Splintered series, and fairy tale retellings. Age range recommended is 12+ as even adults will enjoy this world. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nix believes her family to be under a Halloween curse – her parents died on October 31st when she was young, and only three years ago her twin sister Lark died on the 31st. She feels guilty that she couldn’t save her sister, and only finds comfort in the semi-mechanical goblins and faeries she draws that belong to her make-believe world of Mystiquel. Fighting depression, she prepares for another Halloween of hiding in the safety of her home. But when her uncle stops answering his phone, she rushes to find him with the help of her best friend. What they find is more than she bargained for and could be proof that truth really is stranger than fiction.

This work of magical realism is inspired by Rossetti’s poem “The Goblin Market” and has heavy steampunk and fantasy elements. I enjoyed how unique and creative the concept was! I was a little worried since I recently read another work inspired by the same poem, but the two books are quite dissimilar.

The mood was set extremely well throughout the work, and detailed descriptions were included of the setting, costumes, and appearances of creatures that added wonderful immersion to the story. The worldbuilding was fantastic and original for the most part (there were some things drawn from the film “Labyrinth” and the Goblin Market poem but weren’t overbearing).

The characters were very well written. I highly enjoyed Nix as a protagonist, and the self-doubt and guilt she was plagued by created realistic and interesting character depth and development for her. I also thought that the author did an excellent job with the romance of the work. It was light on romance, but the friends-to-lovers was realistic and well written.

There were only a few things I disliked. The formatting was awful in the electronic copy I read, though this is an ARC so hopefully that will be fixed before publication. There were a few instances where it felt that the plot became bogged down in extraneous information, which made it difficult to have an idea of where the work was going and was a little disorienting. This work was also a little predictable for me, though the very end caught me off guard (in an interesting way!). The story is well setup to continue into another book, one that I will be highly interested in reading.

My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books for allowing me to read a review copy of this work, which will be published on September 6th, 2022. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this opinion are my own.

Shades of Rust and Ruin was a really fun steampunk twist on the Goblin Market. Our main character Nix (Phoenix) finds her twin sister Lark dead one Halloween morning exactly 11 years after her parents died. Instead of continuing her graphic novel about a steampunk Goblin world called Mystiquiel, Nix tries to pick up her sister's hobbies (inventing things) to keep her memory alive. Halloween 3 years after Lark dies, Nix's guardian, her uncle, disappears and Nix along with her best friend Clarey and his ESA dog Flannie follow him into the world she created in her graphic novels.
I am just going to say it first, this book's plot reminded me a lot of the plot of the Splintered series (also by AG Howard). I was its own book, it just really reminded me of Splintered.
I really liked both Nix and Clarey and appreciated the mental and physical health issues/differences they both had. Nix had some PTSD after her sister's death although it was never said. She was also partly albino. Clarey had a BAHA (hearing device) as well as social anxiety (I can't remember the specific word) and bad panic attacks hence Flannie being his ESA which I love seeing because I also have one in my life (though not mine). Nix was so dedicated to keeping her sister's memory alive and she really put family and friendship above a lot. Clarey was just such a good guy. He would do anything for Nix.
The first half of this book was not about the goblin world, but it set up that part of it really nicely. We really got a feel for the characters and kind of got introduced to the goblin world beforehand because of Nix's drawings. We got the why of Nix's uncle disappearing without knowing it and a lot of background information that made sense with the story before going into that world. Then we get into the goblin world and get descriptions of these crazy creatures that are part metal. I loved the ending and the trials/challenges Nix had to go through to do something I won't spoil. And then the very ending really made me want to have the second book right away!

Phoenix doesn't like Halloween. If you asked her, she would tell you her family is cursed on October 31st. When she was 3 years old, both of her parents died on this holiday. Eleven years later ... so did her twin sister. Nix doesn't know why she hasn't died, but she finds release when she draws the creatures in her imaginary Mystiquel. Unfortunately, her escape into her art doesn't satisfy her when she starts to lose her ability to see colors. It is Halloween again and now her uncle is missing. Why is Nix’s family affected by Halloween? Does Nix have what it takes to unlock the truths hidden in her artwork?

Shades of Rust and Ruin is the first book in the fantasy series by the same name. So much of faeries, fantasy, and steampunk repeats itself, yet Howard has created a new world that had me eager to learn what would happen next. This story is built upon some standard genre truths and adds new twists and turns to keep the pages turning. Goodreads has this listed as a duology and I can't wait to read the next book.

I am so excited for this book! I’ve loved everything by AG Howard, and moving into the world of the of the Fae is fabulous. That is my favorite genre. This gave me strong vibes of Kagawa’s Iron Fae series while still being unique and so good. And that ending!

This storyline is full of beautifully written characters. A cursed family and a goblin king, you will stay up all night until you reach the last page.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Shades of Rust and Ruin by A. G. Howard is a magical YA fantasy that would make the perfect Halloween read! The story revolves around Phoenix or NIx, whose twin sister Lark's death has weighed heavily on her for some time. The way that she copes is through her drawings, where draws goblins, faeries, and a whole other world. One day, Nix and Lark's ex-boyfriend suddenly become trapped in the world that she created!

Here is a captivating excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Honestly, at this point, I don't need an alarm. I've been waking up at a quarter to midnight the whole month, just like I did the past two years during October. The alarm is a precaution - to ensure the timed awakening will be as spontaneous as blinking by tomorrow night; to ensure Halloween doesn't sneak up on me and steal my heartbeats and breaths like it did my sister's.
My gaze wanders from my phone to the bookshelves on the wall. It's where I keep my goblins - locked inside sketch pads, handcuffed to paper with chains of colored ink. I used to visit them when I needed escape, when I felt vulnerable and alone. But lately, their power has been fading."

Overall, Shades of Rust and Ruin is a steampunk-infused YA fantasy that will appeal to fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas or Jim Henson's Labyrinth. One highlight of this book are the beautiful descriptions. Reading this book felt like I was walking through a dream. Another highlight of this book was how original it was. There are many creative ideas here that I haven't seen in other YA fantasy books before..

If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that sometimes I felt confused and wasn't sure where the plot was going. It all made sense by the end though, and if there's a sequel, it's definitely on my TBR list! If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA fantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!

A huge thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, Bloomsbury YA for granting me an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.

This book has suspense, romance, and magic! It has lots of plot twists with unexpected betrayal. I absolutely loved it!

Love Nix and the Goblin world. Excited for the next book in the series!

An absolute must read!

This is my second book by A. G. Howard, and from the first of hers I read what has always caught my attention by the throat and never let go of it was her prose. She has this ability to set up the mood, generally instrospective and melancholy, from the first lines, and in this book, she does it again by opening with a catchy line about the heroine finding her sister dead.

That is the core of the plot of "Shades of Rust and Honey": young teen Nix Loring tragically loses her twin sister on the night of Halloween, apparently dead due to an undiagnosed epileptic seizure. Losing the half of herself is a blow to Nix that lands her in therapy and causes a trauma-induced colourblindness that deprives her of the ability to see colours. She can't sleep, she can't stop grieving Lark, and can't find any other outlet than her artwork, which is all about goblins and fairies in a made-up place called Mystiquiel that she created. And Clarey, Lark's boyfriend that Nix is in love with. Him and her art are her only anchors to sanity. Until a few years later, on another Halloween, her famous baker uncle disappears, and Nix becomes determined to unravel the curse placed on her family that apparently kills them on Halloween, and goes with Clarey to rescue her uncle.

Who does have him? The Goblin King, naturally, and will not release him unless Nix agrees to a game. If she wins, she has her uncle and more back. If she loses, her uncle and more are done for. It's a high-stakes game, and twisty.

As someone who read Christina Rosetti's "Goblin Market," which this book retells in a steampunk-ish setting, I couldn't but guess where the plot was going, and also could clearly see the homages to the film "Labyrinth" with David Bowie, which this also draws inspiration from (for the maze in particular), but even so it still surprised me a few times. The ending, for example, I only half-guessed. Even so, the predictability is there mostly for those that know Rosetti's story (it pleased me so much that Nix's copy of the poem is the one illustrated by Rackham that I also have, though not her same rare antique edition), and in any case, what makes this so enjoyable is the writing, the characterisation, and the moods and emotions. I only wish it hadn't ended in a bit of a cliffhanger, although it's not excessively abrupt and wraps up the final scene nicely, and I'm intrigued about the continuation and what the Goblin King will do next and where Nix's story will go once the plot goes further than Rosetti's story.

What a brilliant and promising start to epic fantasy series! The Goblin market retelling and creepy, intriguing cursed family story, the breathtaking world building and amazing illustrations embroidered into the chapters truly allured me!

Nix; broken heroine grieving for her parents and twin sister Lark, finding her peace by creating a sacred world of goblins with her brilliant illustrations. Her baker uncle is the only family member left behind and Lark’s boyfriend Clarey is her close friend she’s secretly in love for a long time but she cannot come clean about her feelings because of her guilt she has been carrying about her sister’s death.

When she finally realizes the secret ingredients of her uncle’s pastries he’s selling at bakery, she can hardly believe he’s working with a fairy. But this is just the beginning of her whole world’s falling apart. On the Halloween, her uncle gets kidnapped. The family curse works again.

Only thing she has to do for saving her uncle is playing a dangerous and twisty game with goblin king. Nix realizes the enchanting world she’s created for goblins comes to life! She’s trapped in a fantasy world she’s drawn. With the support of Clarey, she has to win the game, confronting the secrets of her family.

I loved to read Nix’s inner journey and her character’s evolving. She turns into a bolder fighter who doesn’t hesitate big sacrifices to save her loved ones.

The ending cliffhanger was brilliant and I’m looking forward to read the sequel as soon as possible.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury US Children’s Books/ Bloomsbury YA for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.

Two sisters, a Goblin king, and a game at play. This is a brilliant and fantastic new retelling of the Goblin Market mixed with elements of Labyrinth. The story follows Phoenix “Nix” Loring, an artist whose twin sister died on Halloween and whose’s parents also died on Halloween.... grieving the loss of her sister Nix has lost her ability to see color. All Nix has is her twin’s boyfriend Clarey, whom Nix herself has fallen in love with but hidden her feelings for him. Nix now lives with her Uncle who runs a magical bakery... and soon she discovers that the food he’s been selling and the person who he has been working with to supply the ingredients... is an actual fairy. Nix’s only comfort is the artwork and stories she’s been working on, about goblins and faeries and a world of magical creatures, but lately she’s been without a muse and has stopped drawing. When her uncle goes missing on Halloween Day, Nix knows something is wrong and that her family curse is happening again. With the help of Clarey, Nix steps into the goblin world and discovers that all her drawings have come to life and the only way to get her uncle back is to win the game against the Goblin King... yet more secrets will be revealed and her own twisted family history will come out. Nix will find herself not only questioning who she is but what this world is, what she is willing to sacrifice and how far she will go to save those she loves while healing from the guilt of her sister’s death... yet everything is a twisted game here and soon Nix will have to make the ultimate sacrifice. This is a story filled with romance, survival, grief, friendship, family, betrayal. and magic. I absolutely adored it and I can’t wait to see where the next book goes, especially with that cliffhanger of an ending!!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books, Bloomsbury YA for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*