This book read like a knock-off Caraval and utilizes practically every YA stereotype in the book: main character being The Chosen One and magically knowing how to use powers they didn’t know they had, thousand-year-old immortal in the body of a young hot guy falling for the very young female protagonist, etc. I could go on, but I won’t.

The mythology of the world is never clear; the lack of explanation could add to the sense of mystery it seems the author was trying to create but instead just frustrates and confuses. The characters all read as two-dimensional archetypes with little to no depth. For example, wicked stepmother and stepsister are evil just because; hot immortal is interested in the main character for no reason other than she’s “special”; and the protagonist is naive to the point of agony, ignoring all rules of sense as she progresses.

The premise is promising, intriguing even with its similarities to the bestselling series mentioned above. But its failure to craft a well-rounded story only makes its lack of originality all the more evident.

2 stars for hints of potential.

Content warning: blood, death, violence.

I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was very interesting and easy to follow. The characters were really good and I liked them (expect a few for obvious reasons😂) thank you NetGalley for the arc.

While I enjoyed the premise of this book, I think the execution was slightly lacking. It felt a little haphazard, and the story was difficult to follow in some places, along with there being some grammatical errors. So I liked the idea, just not so much the execution.

I am obsessed!! I love me a good retelling and this was all I wanted in a book! I am now in love with Catelyn Wilson and her writing!! I needed book 2 like yesterday

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. These Wicked Stars was a fantastic book, that just took a chapter or two to really make me feel like I was diving into the story. As others have mentioned, the story does have a feeling that is reminiscent of Caraval, or the market of Stardust, but the book is really in a league of it's own. The characters were interesting, and the story had a grasp on you in like it's own gravitiational pull. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for providing a digital ARC for this book!

This book, while not a complete disappointment, left much to be desired from its original description.
Reminiscent of Stephanie Garber’s Caraval, These Wicked Stars offers a tale of a bastard girl, Hazel, stumbling upon a fantastical world of foreign markets and curiosities after striking up a deal with a stranger from her hometown. Wanting to break free from her abusive family, Hazel is thrust into the world of Bazaar and all is not what it seems on her journey to win back treasures for the love she lost back home.

Unlike Caraval, I don’t believe this book delivers in its world building of Bazaar nor its character development with Hazel. Between making multiple sworn oaths with strangers to chapters full of bleak backdrops with little action, These Wicked Stars did not grip me with its characters nor its plot.

The added element of old gods and repressed monster was something I did enjoy as well as the book’s side quests however, it does not completely redeem the book for me

This have much potential

3 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is that special kind of story where you think you know what is going to happen from really early on, but then there is the most unexpected occurence that flips your way of thinking. A really unique and enjoyable read.

The description for this book immediately caught my attention as it reminded me of Caraval, a series I love. The description of the Bazaar sounded like it could be along the same lines, and I knew I had to read this book. I wasn’t disappointed in the sense that the Bazaar has a very similar atmosphere, but I was much more pleasantly surprised by how different the story really was and the fact that it took a very different route than I was expecting.

Hazel is an outsider in her small town due to her mother having an affair with an unknown man who is her father. She is devastated when her secret fiancé reveals he is going to be marrying her cousin instead, and believing it’s a matter of money due to his families failing business, she sets out to find a way to save their future together. This leads her to an old man who requests she find something for him in the Bazaar, for which he will give her all the money she and Linus could possibly need to be together.

However, things quickly become more than they seem as she spends more time in the Bazaar trying to find her way to the palace to find what she seeks. She becomes wrapped up in something she doesn’t understand, involved with a man who has been following her in the shadows for a while, Cassian, and the King of the Bazaar who enlists her to go to the Underworld to retrieve something important for him.

I have to say this book ended up surprising me with how good it was. I definitely wasn’t expecting to be so impressed but I ended up loving it. The part that appealed to me the most was how much darker it ended up being than I was expecting. With a journey to the underworld, soulless creatures called lotus-eaters who will devour people, a truly dark ruler who has lost all sense of morality. It was such a good read and I cannot wait for the sequel.

My favourite character by far was Cassian, I loved him right from the moment he actually started interacting with Hazel and couldn’t get enough of him. I want so badly for the next book to have his POV in it as well. Even the King of the Bazaar was intense and fleshed out as a character. Hazel, I had no real attachment or interest in per se as she didn’t really stick out as a necessarily interesting heroine but she does grow as the story goes on, but she is by no means the most interesting character or really the top five.

There were some reveals by the end of the book and it left off with enough of a cliffhanger to leave the reader wanting more immediately. I am most certainly that reader because I cannot wait until the next one comes out to see where things go, especially with the gods coming into the story by the looks of things.

A big thank you for the ARC!

I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC. These Wicked Stars blends fantasy, myth, adventure and romance in an action packed journey of self discovery. An entire world drenched in myth and mystery comes alive. You feel just as baffled, confused and mesmerized by it all.

This book takes the mythology tale of the lotus tree and it’s ability to make a person forget their home and loved ones, leaving them to only long to stay with their fellow lotus-eaters, and weaves in a story of sin, chaos and the Bazaar.

This started out as sort of Cinderella, but it’s more of a mix of that, Caraval (Stephanie Garber), the labyrinth and a dash of Hades and Persephone. I found the FMC was a little too trusting, especially of hooded men in dark cloaks offering more money she would know what to do with.

I really love this author so I was very excited to review this book! It did not disappoint and I could not put it down all day! The story was full of adventure and depth but fast paced enough that I never felt bored. I will be purchasing this book and recommending it to all of my family and friends.

There's a lot of potential and I appreciated the world building. Unfortunately I didn't care for the characters and the story fell flat.
Not my cup of tea
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Okay, firstly LOVE the cover update. This was a good, quick read. Although I was frustrated at the beginning with the way the main character was treated, through no fault of her own, it really picked up. I liked the vibe of the Bazaar, it was written in such a way that kind of made me wish it was a real place.

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
These Wicked Stars begins with Hazel, a bastard child born out of a shameful affair living with her cruel aunt and cousin. Hazel is hoping to be free of this life as she is secretly engaged and once this is announced they can sail away from all who shun her. But life isn’t a fairytale. On the night of the Alignment when all townsfolk are hidden safely indoors, Hazel is ready to reveal to all at her aunts ball her engagement and finally be accepted by society. This is where Hazels life stops going to plan and instead of being happily engaged dancing the evening away, Hazel is heartbroken and find herself in the dangerous magical Bazaar, only accessible for the 7 nights of the alignment where she must complete a mysterious and secret task in order to save any chance of the life she dreamed of.

Wilson has created an fun fantasy in the world of Hazel and the Bazaar. Where humans trade with mythical beasts in order to have what they truely desire.
We see a unique magical world where beast, immortals and humans come together to try and gain what they need.

I do wish some of the plot wasn’t so predictable. The lover who scorns the poor orphaned bastard, the forever trusting Hazel who can’t see how her perfect fiancé could be anything but that. And the mystery of why Hazel is so important to the ruler of the Bazaars took Hazel the entire novel to figure out but the reader could guess it 40% in.

Additionally a cheeky, dark, handsome General named Cassian with shadows he controls swirling around him sounds all to familiar to those who are fans uof another fantasy series. As many books

As so many books in this genre it’s not a book of prose, but despite these small issues I did enjoy reading this novel and look forward to a sequel as even though it does lead to more we weren’t left with a terrible cliffhanger (thank you Wilson!!).

I didn’t feel immediately pulled in by this book which is disappointing because based on the subject matter it’s right up my alley. The main character is on her journey through the mystical Bazaar & her encounters had me literally rolling my eyes at some points. There were times where I got bored & others when it felt like too much was going on - overall it made it hard for me to connect with the story. I didn’t find myself not wanting to finish it because though, it was just a struggle. It’s not the worst book I have read this year but it’s not one I would jump to recommend.

3.5 stars

That was quite a nice surprise because at first I’ve found it too similar to Caraval which was kind of annoying but at the same time I was still really into it.
The plot is good, the cliffhangers not surprising but well done. I liked the characters even though maybe they’re all a bit cliche. I felt like the love story was a bit too rushed but why not. Overall my reason was like : it’s cliche but my hearts was like : i’m really into it !

I really wanted to like this book. I loved the idea of a bastard child, a plot twist proposal, venturing into a magical land, but the book just didn't hit home for me. There was nothing glaringly bad about it, nothing I can conclusively point to and be like, "This is why I didn't really like this book." All I can say is Hazel never jumped out at me. There was nothing about her that made her stick out in my mind, nothing that really made me care for her in a particularly strong way, and nothing that made me hate her. Same with the plot: I didn't hate it, but it just didn't grab my attention.

Hazel is an outcast in her small island town. Infamous for the affair her mother had, she wanted nothing more than to escape. When her fiancé decides to marry her wicked cousin, Hazel is heartbroken and decides to travel to the mythical bazaar for an old man who needs help. She soon realizes that nothing is as it seems, and it will be a lot more challenging than she anticipated.

I really loved this. The mystery of the bazaar really intrigued me. I really didn't know who to trust or what was real. It definitely had some fairytale elements that I loved. I found this packed full of action and mystery. I really did not see some of the plot twists coming. Overall, I loved this, and I cannot wait for a second book. Thank you NetGalley for this early release copy!
I also reviewed on goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5018223670

Really original concept of a magical & mysterious bazaar that appears once every 30 years to entice humans with anything they could ever desire. Until one human comes along who is able to turn away from whatever fabulous thing the merchants are trying to sell. Something evil is happening in this weird Bazaar that traps humans there with promises but results in most of them losing everything that makes them human.

The plot was interesting and fairly fast-paced. I did like the characters, although at times the main female character sounded rather pouty and childish. But as the series goes on, I'd love to see her grow and change. The ending is a total cliffhanger so will be eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!

This book is immediately engrossing and never slows down. It begins with Hazel who is very much a Cinderella like character facing the most dire of circumstances. She finds herself outcast with nowhere to go when a man offers her a deal she is in no position to turn down. The beginning feels very much like a fairytale story before she makes it to the Bazaar which will find her facing her own hero’s quest and the very difficult path ahead. While there are elements that are very reminiscent of stories and even myths this book is very much it’s own. Hazel is a great narrator, though I did find her constant references to her false fiancé annoying, and her story is one you will not want to put down. It’s set in its very unique world with a great cast of characters. I was sorry to see it end and cannot wait for the story to continue. I did find myself wishing for more resolution and revenge but that’s a minor criticism to a really well done story. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shoutout to the folks over at NetGalley for the ARC.

These Wicked Stars focuses on Hazel Blackthorn, who enters the story as a Cinderella-esque character who is almost comically poorly treated by her family due to her parentage. We meet her aunt, cousin, and her fiancé, Linus. Hazel has a particularly rough night at a ball and makes a deal with a man at an inn and makes her way into the Bazaar. There, she meets some friendly faces (and some less friendly faces) as she undergoes a series of trials to help her escape the Bazaar - with both her prize and her life.

I really wanted to love this book, I promise. I love the idea of a magical portal to another world full of mystery is such an appealing concept to me. This book was frustrating to read - it feels silly to call a book "scripted" because, of course it is, it's a book - but all the dialogue and interactions felt so forced and awkward, like you're being dragged along the story for the sake of the plot rather than exploring it naturally. Upon entering the Bazaar, Hazel accepts an offered drink from a stranger that turns out to be somehow drugged, and refuses to pay part of her soul for what she took. This scene gets brought up a ton despite not feeling very important when you read it. It's touted as this sign that Hazel is "different" because she didn't pay a piece of her soul (I put in my notes #notlikeothergirls vibes)... but honestly, she was offered the drink, and I find it hard to believe that she's the first one to put up a fight when being told she has to pay her soul for what seemed to be a gift.

Afterwards, Hazel sleeps off her bad drink in the inn, wakes up to a gift from a mysterious "Zaire", and has a chat with Saskia, the innkeep, about what to do next. The dialogue feels scripted, like I mentioned before, but I could have gotten over it if not for this:

"There was a note from someone named Zaire."
Saskia's face paled. She looked towards the palace once before she slammed the shutters closed and picked up another set of glasses to wipe down. Her movements were sharp and deliberate. My stomach pooled into a tight knot.
"Should I be afraid?" I asked.
"It am sure it is nothing," Saskia said, but her eyes looked troubled.

Hazel then CHANGES THE TOPIC. Girl? A mysterious someone broke into your room and left you a present and his mere NAME puts Saskia on edge, and you ask no further questions? Oh, right, because "no one in the Bazaar can be trusted"?? How weird, because this doesn't stop her from asking everybody any other questions, only the plot-critical ones seem to be off-limits. Hazel navigates through this story uninterested in learning anything that would point you to the seemingly obvious outcome of the story. Another instance is when she is speaking to Arae, the Lord of the Underworld, who says:

"Given your blood, you should not be allowed to enter my home. And yet here you stand, alive and well."
"My blood?"
"Indeed. You are a walking contradiction. Zaire could use your abilities well."

Hazel: Oh, thanks! That clears everything up, no further questions! I would actually like to learn about the other gods now, if that's okay.

Girlie? Huh? Having Hazel being almost deliberately obtuse about who she is - we as readers know that it's obviously important for the plot - made me dislike her so immensely that, when we get to the end, she FINALLY pieces it all together, and she says "And I never made the damning connection." I said, out loud to my empty apartment, "Of course you didn't, you actively avoided knowing!"

My dislike of Hazel aside, the other characters fell sort of flat. I have fewer examples to back this up because it's more of a "vibe" for me, but we all saw Linus's betrayal from a mile away, and we saw Cassian as a shifty protector, we saw Zaire as a power-hungry ruler, and then surprise! Cassian has a twist about his loyalties that isn't really a twist and gave me the impression that it was supposed to be more dramatic than it was. Zaire, particularly, was a disappointment for me - he is introduced as this cool and calculating ruler who was always a step ahead. And yet at the very end, after Zaire has handed her the immortality well water and is once again bullying her into being queen:

[Hazel says,] "I have considered your offer," I said, forcing a sly smile onto my lips. "Perhaps you are right. I will show my family, my island, everyone, that they were wrong about me. They will fear me. Respect me."
"You see, then, the appeal of what I am offering," Zaire grinned, swiping the two goblets from the low table and setting them in front of us. "As a goddess and my queen, we will finally have the power to rule both worlds together and crush the old gods for good."

This entire interaction made me roll my eyes out of my head. She's spent this entire novel yelling that she would never be his queen, because he was a horrible murderer and she hates him so much, weh weh weh, and then suddenly in the span of a conversation she does a complete 180 and with a "sly smile" and "lowered lashes" and a "trailed my hand down his arm", he thinks she's in love with him and wants to rule? No way the man lived and ruled for a thousand years and is still an absolute numbskull. Next day's headline: Local God duped by a literal teenager doing the bare minimum.

Okay. Flat/dislikeable characters aside, this book is just... not well written. In a scene where Hazel has been running through the Bazaar trying to get to the palace, she turns around and we get this line:

The tavern stood behind me, small enough that it looked like a child's toy.

It seems innocuous, but if she's been running through the Bazaar, described as market stalls and tents, how can she still see it? I'd get it if she were running uphill to the palace, but she's very much still in the market at this point and I shouldn't be tripping up on little lines like this.

There's another couple bits, while they're in the Underworld after Finbarr gets rocked. Cassian says:

"I don't enjoy his death, Hazel. I am not a god. I cannot help him. I'm not Zaire."

Choppy sentences aside, he says this on the next page:

"...even Zaire couldn't save him."

Okay? So why bring up Zaire in the first place? The book is riddled with little instances like this that aren't cataclysmic by any means, but the were enough to make me go "wait, huh?" and it forced me out of the story and made me think about all the nonsense this book put in for the sake of ✨dramatics✨ that felt unnecessary and frivolous.

I caught two grammatical/syntax goofs in the Kindle version as well - "their ego's, you know", and "You were a traitor who to my father who made dangerous deals." Again, not world-ending but annoying to catch in a book.

Overall, two stars because it was a cool concept and it's easy to read, even if it is unpolished. I didn't hate it as much as I hated other books I read this year.