A family cursed, a mother missing, a fatal deadline.

Every so often, a book comes along that reinforces my adoration of reading. The City of Stardust is one such book.

To break her family’s generation’s old curse, Violet Everly must descend into a seductive, magical underworld to free herself from the clutches of an ageless woman known as Penelope. Violet’s mother set out on the same course a decade prior with yet to return, but Violet’s determination will propel her forward as she faces Gods, scholars, and tricksters alike. Aided by Penelope’s enigmatic assistant Aleksander, Violet soon learns that the world she knew is more perilous than it appears and monsters demand to be satiated no matter the cost.

The City of Stardust is a spectacular feet of fantasy. Captivating from the first sentence, it is a sweeping contemporary fairytale with elegant prose and unforgettable characters. As the stakes of Violet’s story increased, I couldn’t rest until I knew the outcome. Even a day after finishing, I am still sitting with the awe this book invoked. I even preordered a physical copy before I was finished because I knew it was a novel I would read again and again.

Thank you Redhook Books, Orbit, and NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I read fantasy I look for:
- Characters that I can identify with, preferably people that I would enjoy being with
- Character development. I like books about people.
- World building that is fairly clear. It can be complex but it needs to make some sense in an internal fashion.
- Backstory that has some clarity and gives a rationale for characters to act as they do
- Good vs. evil, there will be some ambiguity too of course, but there should be a definite bad path
- Setting that feels real, usually something rather rich
- Plot that fits the world building and helps drive the character development
- I prefer happy or hopeful endings, they can be ambiguous or bittersweet but after rooting for the good guys I prefer to see them win.
- A sense of wonder is nice but not necessary.

City of Stardust lacks several of these. I felt disconnected from the characters, none were appealing nor was I hoping for much with any of them. Aleksander was the one that felt the most real but I didn't much like him nor the main character.

The world building and plot seemed overly contrived, as though the goal was to build a clever machine rather than a story about people struggling (and possibly failing) to solve a problem. There was a definite problem - the curse - but it seemed secondary. to the elaborate construction.

I did not much like this and would not look for any sequels or more books by this author.

I was looking forward to this book with the lure of the title and the beautiful cover. However, once I dove into the pages, I didn't find it to be as intriguing as I hoped. Violet Everly is cursed and has been promised by her uncles to fulfill a promise her mother was intended to keep. Violet and her uncles have 10 years to turn over Marianne or Violet will be forfeit in her place. Marianne vanished when Violet was only 10, leaving her daughter in the care of her uncles Ambrose and Gabriel.

There are so many overlapping and weaving threads in this story, but we never fully understand why Marianne abandoned Violet or if the abandonment was meant to sacrifice her daughter instead of herself. The reader is told she set out to break the curse, but we only get the smallest glimpse in the epilogue as to where she is or what she may be doing. We don't find out who Violet's father is, which may or may not be important but it would have been nice to have some sort of resolution regarding that facet of family.

There were some good points and some weak points but I do think it was an enjoyable read. I simply think there was a lot going on, quite a few unanswered questions, and a general need for the reader to "accept" what was happening on blind faith without explanation.

5.0 / 5.0

The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers is beautiful, heartbreaking, and contemplative.

If you liked The Unmaking of June Farrow, The Starless Sea, Divine Rivals/Ruthless Vows, or A Sorcery of Thorns, you will probably enjoy this gothic-dark, mysterious, slightly queer story of a woman inheriting her family curse, a man searching for himself, and gods reaping a path of destruction across realms and time.

The writing in this is magical. Summers blends science with magical realism into a steampunk-esque world where star-touched mortals can pass through the veils of time and place. Her characters are deeply flawed but redeemable, and their growth from children to adults throughout the book is done without long, lambasted chapters of filler.

This is an unexpected 5 star book for me so early in the year. I am overjoyed it will be in a SE sub box so I can read it again and again. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.

Until Next Time,
MC

I received this as an ARC copy. I enjoyed the story line, characters, and even the authors writing style. What I didn't realize is that I don't like contemporary fantasy. I did not realize that until I got about 35% into this book. I've only read regular fantasy up to this point. This is basically taking regular fantasy and incorporating modern technology and places. Just not my thing. However, I really do hope this author writes more, and maybe some regular fantasy. I'd love to read one of those from her as I like her writing style.

3/5✨

I have to start my review stating that I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

From the very beginning this writing style was magically whimsy and beautiful, I could feel the tragicness of the curse and feel it coming.

The world building was perfect, so easy to imagine.

BUT, it really just felt so drawn out and boring. It was hard to keep interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Georgia Summers takes the reader on an adventurous ride through self discovery, betrayal, magical enchantment, and conundrums placed upon the character. This book is written in many POV. This can sometimes make it confusing because it will switch POV during the same chapter. I think by this token it made me harder to relate to Violet Everley. The last 25% is where it picks up speed. I thought maybe the ending was too rushed. I am wondering if there will be a second book???

Reading A City of Stardust was exactly what the name sounds like. Its a story immersed in curses, god like beings, other worlds and special keys. This story follows the FMM character named Violet, who is trying to find her mother who walked away and disappeared into the darkness seeking answers one night and no one has been able to find her after many years, but now their is a debit to be paid, and violet is running out of time.

I was immediately hooked from the first few pages of reading this story. It is told is third person so you get to experience the story from different character perspectives. The story does take a dark turn and a plot twist with betrayals. I really enjoyed reading this book from start to finish.


Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of a City of Stardust for an honest review.

3⭐️⭐️⭐️
Story is very whimsical and if you like
monsters,Gods, Underworld,family curse, enemies to lovers it’s got it
Characters could have use a bit more Character development but it’s good book overall

DNF at 17%.

Violet Everly's family is cursed, and once a generation, an Everly family member goes missing, never to be seen again. Violet's mother disappeared and has been working to thwart the curse since Violet was a girl. On the surface, this looked like such an intriguing book, and I couldn't wait to dive in and figure out what was going on, and where the curse would lead.

However, my expectations fell somewhat flat. The prose was extremely wordy and verbose, and instead of being beautiful, it felt like a bit of a slog. I couldn't connect to any of the main characters, Violet or Aleksander, and it felt as though everything was falling into place a bit too neatly — for example, Violet just stumbling across Fidelis, the city she "knew she'd heard the name of before," in an old book in her family's library within one night. The concept of the fairy tale-esqe city of Fidelis and the business of god-metal and magic was interesting, but not enough to hold my attention and keep me going.

I give a book 50 pages to hook my interest and keep me going, and I got roughly 60 pages into this one, but ultimately, this is not for me. I think it would be great for fans of The Night Circus, and actually reminded me a lot of Catherine Fisher's Incarceron, so if you liked either of those, this might be the book for you.

Dnf at 61%.
It was very slow for me. I gave it my best shot.
As soon as things would get good and we’d get into a specific part of the plot, it would change and be done. I just couldn’t read anymore.

The Everly family is cursed to lose a member each generation but when Marianne Everly disappears her daughter Violet is given 10 years before she has to take her spot. Violet must uncover the magical world of Fidelis and the role of the mysterious scholars, a world that has been hidden from her her entire life, in order to break the curse or fall to it.

This book really reminded me a combination of The Golden Compass and The Night Circus. The writing is descriptive and beautiful and the magic system is intriguing but I found it just out of reach. I didn’t really get a good grasp on the world until the very end. There is a romantic subplot that I enjoyed but I would have preferred a little more focus on the magic and the fantasy world. It’s so unique and unlike any other fantasy I’ve read before. I think this is very well written and it left me wanting more, if it had been a little longer I would have really liked it. I felt the same way with The Night Circus, the magical elements are there but it’s not really the main focus of the book, so if you liked that you’ll really enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Redhook Books and Georgia Summers for this e-ARC

The City of Stardust is beautifully written, lyrical and poetic. Similar to The Night Circus.
We follow Violet as she learns of her family's curse and what really happened to her missing mother, as well as Aleksander who is stuck in his own lies of his past.
There's multiple worlds and interesting magic but it does lack a bit of description sometimes.
It was still interesting enough to keep the reader curious how the story would unfold and who was telling lies and why.
With such a beautiful cover and elegant writing, it was an enjoyable read for sure.

Perfect for fans of The Starless Sea. This debut is full of incredibly atmospheric and lush writing with a story you can sink your teeth into. The whole history of the world was fascinating and I was kept turning to pages, wanting more from Aleksander and Penelope and the world of Fidelis.

“Hello little dreamer”✨
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My overall review was 3.5/5
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An universe filled with beauty, myths, wonder and stars that sing and whisper to those who listen. For the Everlys their story has long ago started with Stardust and a curse that has followed their family. But Violet Everly has always longed for adventure, but with the curse breathing down her neck will that longing be filled. Or are curses never meant to be broken?
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This universe was beautiful to imagine and there was a lot of world building to understand just exactly how truly magical it was. With the world building, my down fall was that it took up so much of the time throughout the book. For the longest time you didn’t really know what exactly the curse was, until almost the end when they lay everything out.
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One of the main parts of this book throughout the search and journey is never answered, which was also something hard to just kind of let go of in the end. Overall I really enjoyed the FMC and her journey throughout.
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Overall I did enjoy this book, definitely a book I would recommend to others!

Thanks to Red Hook Books, NetGalley and Georgia Summers for the chance to read an advance copy of The City of Stardust. The Everly family is cursed; for centuries they have seen the best of their family members disappear. All taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers and for a purpose no one can imagine. The person who metes out this punishment is a woman named Penelope who never ages, never gets sick, and worse she never forgives a debt.
Violet Everly was ten when her mother left to try to find a way to break the curse. She never returned home. Penelope has now issued an order that if her mother is not found in the next ten years Violet must take her mother’s turn as the final Everly sacrifice. Unless she breaks the curse first.
Violet sets out on a quest to the edge of the world where everything began and she hopes to find the key to stopping Penelope for good.
This was an exciting adventure and a great quest story. I definitely recommend this book if you like books about lost causes and quests to win the day.

“There are no heroes. There are only those of us who survive, and those who do not.”

This book is a perfect cozy and mysterious fantasy for a rainy winter day. There was a strong plot, amazing vibes, and some of the most exquisite writing I've ever seen. Filled with curses and quests, gods and legends, star-crossed lovers, and a tinge of dark fantasy The City of Stardust had a whimsical feel to it, keeping me engaged throughout.

The book starts very mysteriously as you’re observing conversations and interactions between people you don’t know or about topics you haven’t been clued in on just yet. Part of the plot was like a puzzle, determining what needed to happen to solve the Everly’s generational curse and then determine the why behind it. The pacing is relatively consistent. However, there is one point in which Violet’s character development from an innocent young girl to a determined and fierce young woman occurs over the span of a chapter, although you are observing a year in Violet Everly’s life. My only critique was that it felt a little rushed, I only wish we saw a bit more of Violet’s thought process learning this new information, rather than having it relayed to the reader through a recap of what she’s learned and done in the past year since she learned the truth. However, I might just feel that way because I was just enjoying the vibes and felt comfortable with the pacing.

Although this isn’t a critique of the plot but more the format while reading the arc edition of The City of Stardust there are a few places in which there’s no clear cue that the perspective has shifted, it just continues, and you have to use your context clues.

Overall, The City of Stardust is a fantastic fantasy jam-packed with emotion, mysteries, adventure, and at times a tiny bit of dark elements that all combined to make a great read for me. 4.25/5 stars

I loved the premise of this novel, but the execution was lacking for me. The various different fantasy elements did not feel fully developed or cohesive to me and the story read a little YA.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc and chance to read this beautiful book!

I was immediately enthralled with this darker fantasy adventure. We learn about the Everly curse while a daughter searches the world for her mother and the answers she needs to save them all. She meets a boy of the other side of her world and they are somehow intertwined despite their differences.

I loved the writing style and the search for answers that keep bringing up more questions. I also loved traveling with the characters and feeling all their longings and dreams. I highly recommend this book!

#TheCityOfStardust by #GeorgiaSummers is an intersesting combination of fairytale, folklore, and mystique.
Once there was a city called Elandriel and it was filled with Astrals. Beings that were like Gods fallen from the stars themselves, said to be the stars come to earch in a human form. But Elandriel was lost all because of two lovers ... one Astral one human.
These are the stories that Violet Everly has grown up on sequestered away in her home. She has always dreamed of other worlds where adventure is around every corner just waiting for her to find it. Hopefully too her mother will be there, hopefully she will come home to Violet and her Uncles. She knows they are keeping secrets from her and one day finds herself imagining adventure inside the wardrobe in the library when her Uncles come in and begin a heated discussion. This, this is the moment Violet realizes that there is so much more going on and to compound that she later meets an imposing woman named Penelope and her young and annoyingly handsome assistant Aleksander.
Aleksander shows her a secret that he holds in the palm of his hand and it ignites her curiousity. She meets these two just once as a child but working in a coffee shop she recognizes Aleksander and falls into friendship with him. She can tell there are things he too is not telling her but sometimes to get to the truth you have to mix with the false and ferret it out. Will the fairytales turn out to not be fairytales after all and will heroes end up to be villian?

Can love eclipse worlds, time and space or does eventually turn to rot and destroy all in its path?


#TheStardustCity by GeorgiaSummers was a great read, the first half however felt a bit slow so it took longer to read because I had to somewhat push myself through it until bang it really picked up. Either way it is a very good and very well written book that leaves you wanting to know more about the lives of its inhabitants after the story has closed.


I would like to thank #Netgalley for the oppertunity to read #TheStarDustCity by #GeorgiaSummers in return for a fair and honest review.