Wonderfully whimsical and magically immersive! I cannot express how much I enjoyed Georgia Summer's writing style. This is what all fantasy books should read like. The first chapter is one of the most captivating introductions I have read from a book in a long time. I entered this book knowing nothing about the plot, magic system, or world-building and I think that is the correct way to go about it.

That said, the pacing of this book is off at some points. It varies from really fast-paced action to slow-paced internal monologues that really dampens the reading experience.

The City of Stardust is a beautifully written and unique fantasy, featuring different worlds, feuding gods, secret societies, and stars walking among us.

The story follows Violet Everly, the last of the Everly family that has been affected by a centuries old curse. Each generation, one Everly must follow the mysterious and enigmatic Penelope to an unknown fate in a different world. Since her mother went missing years ago, Violet is granted 10 years to find her or surrender to their shared fate alone. Over the years, she searches for her mother, Marianne Everly, seeking help from the secretive and cryptic scholars who operate between worlds. Tentatively partnering with Penelope’s assistant, Aleksander, and her mother nowhere to be found, Violet’s time is running out. She must decide whether to accept the fate of all the Everlys before her, or try to break the curse once and for all.

I thought this was an intriguing and beautifully written story. And it was a stand alone fantasy, which is good when you aren’t in the mood to dive into a longer series. Being a stand alone story, the plot moves quickly, but like Violet, we are kept in the dark about a lot of things. There are many moving parts, and sometimes it was confusing to piece it all together. Though, upon reflection, I feel that this is intentional, as many secrets were kept from Violet and Aleksander. So we are given bits and pieces of a story that has warped and changed over time, and are left trying to figure out the truth, just as Violet must do in order to fight the curse that has haunted her family for centuries. This left the story somewhat disjointed, but I still enjoyed reading it and trying to figure it all out from the different perspectives. Penelope is an interesting villain – she is evil, and holds the curse over the Everlys, but she is also shown as sometimes kind despite her nature. This is not really a romance book, and while there are some sweet moments, the relationship between Aleksander and Violet is fraught and fragile. But they learn to lean on each other and support one another as the story progresses. The sense of adventure is paramount in this book – and it really felt like an ode to the lovers of books – those who use books to explore new worlds, or find themselves lost in their research.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, and I look forward to the release in January 2024! Thank you to NetGalley and to Redhook Books for an electronic ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book.

I’m giving this book a 3.5 star rating. I think it’s a well written book, but it just wasn’t for me. I wish it had a little more world building because I didn’t feel invested in the world at all. The prologue had me hooked but when it got to the actually story, it didn’t feel like the same story. This book was written in third person and I think that took a little bit of the story away. I felt like the author was just telling things that happened instead of it feeling like showing and actually feeling like I am apart of the story. I think a first person pov would have fit this book better, or even a multiple pov book. That way you would feel more part of the story.

Thank you to Georgia Summers, Orbit, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Violet Everly was born into a family cursed to lose their most magically inclined member every generation. For Violet, this member was her mother; however, she ran when Violet was a child and since no one has been able to find her, Violet is now next in line. Follow Violet as she delves into a world of magic and mystery as she is determined to not only find her mother, but also why her family is cursed and how to put a stop to it.

Themes: High stakes, Paying the price, The love interest
Trigger warnings: Kidnapping, Murder, Child abandonment

This book gripped me from the literal first page, the prologue was set up in a way that was mysterious while still setting up the basis of the story and introducing multiple characters. I loved the plot of this story with the mystery of the Everly's curse, why Violets mother left, and if it is even possible to prevent the curse being the driving factors that held my attention throughout this story. Despite my investment in the plot and the outcomes of this story I did find it difficult to continue reading through multiple parts throughout the book as the story seemed to stall rather than move forward for chunks at a time. While enjoyed the overall story I found the characters very difficult to connect with. I did not feel like I knew or understood any of the characters and their choices even if I could rationalize why they did it, it just did not make any logical sense based on the emotions they experienced. Despite the clear mystery plot throughout the book I also feel that we did not get many answers and many we did receive were incomplete answers. A lot of these incomplete answers were also accompanied by large plot twists that I genuinely enjoyed and were completely unexpected.

Overall I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy a slower paced mystery, can handle or like not having all questions answered, and enjoy a romance aspect in their books.

I’m just going to be frank and honest: I LOVED THIS STORY! This book was a bit different than what I usually read, and I can 100% say that I’ve never experienced a narrative like this before. It was truly such a unique story, and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything remotely like it. For me, it existed as a whimsical tale that just drew you in—it felt like this fantastical world that was also, in a way, a mystery, keeping you on the edge of your seat waiting to get that next unlock.

When I first caught on to the sort of world Georgia Summers was creating, I was a bit cautious because the world just felt so out there. However, Summers did such an intricate job in world-building—there were no sort of lore dumps, and instead, the history existed as an active mystery to move the story forward. And man, oh man, I could just RAVE for days about the writing tone. It was just so emotive, and Summers wrote the darkest emotions in a way that makes your heart drop with each move. This read more like a fairytale because dialogue was limited, but when it was used, it was endlessly effective. You don’t wait for drawn-out conversations for lore dumps; it just flows so smoothly and naturally. I'm a big fan of the writing style and the vibe it sets for the story.

I also don’t really want to get into the nature of the characters because I feel like that would be doing a disservice to the nature of the story. However, I can confidently say that each character feels unique, and you can feel every high and low—whether or not you want to like the character in the first place (s/o Penelope). I will also say that you do sort of need to push through the beginning because the pacing can feel a bit slow, but I do think it helps in building the anticipation and suspense for what happens to the characters. Overall, I really loved this book for its unique storyline, intricate writing, and plot structure. I definitely think this is going to be one of my top reads for 2024, and if anyone is looking to experience anything new or just good ol’ writing, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Redhook Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"Slip into a lush world of magic, stardust, and monsters in this spellbinding contemporary fantasy from debut author Georgia Summers.

For centuries, the Everlys have seen their best and brightest disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick - and never forgives a debt.

Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an ultimatum: Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break the curse first.

Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope's quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted - and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn.

With her time running out, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began."

Seriously, just look at that cover and dream of a world with power-hungry scholars.

I've seen this book compared to the writing of Erin Morgenstern and alike several times now and I believe this is a fair comparison. Unfortunately, this means this was absolutely not a story for me.

The writing is lyrical and fanciful. One might even call it overwritten. The author clearly took her time to craft the descriptions in the book, but to the detriment of everything else. The characters and plot suffer for it.

I found Violet to be the weakest of the cast and she's the main character. Never a good sign. Her uncles, Ambrose and Gabriel, felt more developed as people than her. Even then I doubt I think about them much longer than it takes to write this review.

The pacing of the story is horrendously slow and I found it difficult to focus on. I was simply bored while reading this.

There is a fantastical, fun, and romantic tale in here. It's just buried beneath the overdone writing

This is going to be one of the biggest books of 2024, I'm calling it now. Georgia Summer's authorial voice reminds me of a mix of J.K. Rowling and the quirkiness of a Wes Anderson film. Her writing is vivid, thoughtful and charming. Summer creates such a clear and engaging picture of the world she has built. I would not hesitate to pick this up if you are fan of V.E. Schwab and Alix Harrow. I highly recommend this book to lovers of fantasy, romance, magic and gothic tales.

Thank you to Redhook Books via NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

A cursed family. When the mother of Violet disappears her uncles end up looking after her. Keeping her a secret. There is a family curse that follows one person and that person should have been Marianne, Violets mother but when Penelope finds out of Violet’s exsistance she gives them 10 years to find Marianne or Violet will come with her. Thus starts the story of The City of Stardust.
I really ended up loving this book. I put in off for a little while becuase I knew this was goign to be a book I would enjoy and it didn’t disappoint. I loved Georgia Summers writing from the beginning and found it to be beautifully writtten. I really can’t wait to get to audio book and reread it at a later date!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. The writing was choppy, the world-building lacked depth, the characters were poorly introduced, and the POV changed frequently. The romance lacked chemistry, the magic system was confusing, and the villain was one-dimensional. The plotline about finding Marianne Everly felt pointless. Overall, I found it difficult to finish and it's not a book I'll remember.

I really enjoyed this book and the world and characters the author was able to create! The main things I enjoyed were the writing style and the aesthetic the author created. The book is beautifully written with a strong focus on the details. The characters' backstories were well thought out and explained in detail. Violet's journey and growth along the way were executed very well, and I felt her mistakes were realistic, given her upbringing. The beginning of the book was slow; however, it helped to understand the characters' backstories and thought processes and the world for the rest of the book. I would have liked for Violet to interact more with the world of the scholars. The world was very interesting and could have been explored more in the book. Another area that could have been explored more was Marianne's story. As a reader, I felt we did not get any closure on this part of the story, and it could have been wrapped up a little better. If you are going into the book wanting a romance book, you will probably be disappointed as it is more of a fantasy book with a minor romance subplot. Overall, I look forward to seeing what this author does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book reminded me of a lot of really great books like "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" and "The Starless Sea." I loved the secret societies and the different worlds and the ancient mythology. Violet was a great main character, too. It seems like this is a standalone, but I would love more stories set in this world. I do think this book fell into the trap a lot of debuts fall into, where there end up being a couple of loose ends necessary for everything to make sense that aren't explained, but otherwise the writing was great and the story was so engaging that I read it in one sitting. 4.5/5 stars

A debt is owed in blood from an ancestor that could not keep his end of the bargain. As a result, an Everly sacrifices themselves as punishment for the crime. No one knows the true story, but Marianne Everly is determined to find the answer, only to disappear, leaving her daughter, Violet, behind. Violet is the last Everly and a debt is still owed. We join Violet on her journey to discover the whereabouts of her mother, what her mother discovered, and how she can end the cycle. Many obstacles stand in her way and there are those with ulterior motives, but Violet continues to discover the truth and find the key to stop her tormentor, Penelope, who has been making it difficult for Violet to gather information and sends her assistant to discover what Violet is up to. Violet's journey takes her many places, but will she sacrifice it all, if she cannot find the key to the city of stardust? I received this novel as an ARC from net galley and the publisher, Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you, Netgalley, for the chance to read this original tale, full of magic, adventure, love, and mystery!
The story is about a curse following one family, the Everlys, and for generations, one member of the family is snatched in a dark place to pay a blood debt from a 1000 year old curse. The person of that generation should have been Marianne, but Marianne had escaped, running off for a better life free from the chains that bind her, and thus starts a mystery when a mysterious lady and her assistant approach the family in order to collect the debt. Marianne is gone, with no trace of her, and Penelope had found out about Violet, who had been previously hidden away from view. A bargain is made, ten years they would have to find Marianne, or Violet would be sacrificed to this mysterious star lady. What happens next is a quest for Violet to find her mother, and more importantly, dig up her history about her family and who she really is.
This story was very well written, reminiscent of the likes of Neil Gaiman, Erin Morgenstern, and V.E. Schwab, nevertheless had it own heart and style. I really enjoyed the fast pace and whimsical prose as we go through the mind of many characters. The plot was a little bit of a slow build, and layer by layer unravels, but trust me, it's worth the wait. I really loved Violet's relationship with her uncles, who go above and beyond to protect her from the curse. The world is a bit hard to understand at times, but you need to be patient as the puzzles come together.
For the most part, I feel like this story is about love, sacrifice, and finding what is important to you, as well as forgiveness and coming face to face with your own mortality. I enjoyed Violet as a main character and found myself sympathizing with her throughout the book. Even though Penelope was the villain, I found myself sympathizing with her too, and found that the ending was quite bittersweet as well as realistic and satisfying.
Thank you, Netgalley, and Georgia Summers, for the opportunity to review this ARC.

The prose alone will get you hooked, a beautifully written book. The vibes were immaculate and it is the Jan FL adult pick which means it has definitely piqued a lot of interest. Seeing the story unfold through various POVs sometimes is hard to get into but I found it relatively easy in this one. Definitely recommend!

I liked this debut book for the most part, there are some things that are really well done, but there are also things that didn’t quite work for me. The characters were all very morally grey, which I love, and the plot was interesting, but it is the writing that truly shines in this story of gods and curses

Violet starts out as a likable enough character. She is strong willed and has a strong moral compass, but she is very naive when it comes to other people and society as a whole. This isn’t her fault really, she was kept very isolated as a child. But she does manage to navigate her way through the world as she hunts for her mother. She becomes slightly less likable as the story unfolds, due to some of the choices she makes. She also never felt as fully fleshed out as Aleksander.

Aleksander was also likable to a point. Mostly you just feel sorry for him, as he has a well fleshed out and horrible backstory. But he too makes some bad choices, although his are a bit more understandable and he does get it right in the end. He has a very complex relationship with both Violet and Penelope. The romance between Violet and him, wasn’t really a romance. They have feelings for each other, but they are so busy with other issues that the romance part never really meshes, even when they do finally admit their feelings for each other.

Penelope was pretty evil, and was perhaps my favorite of the bunch. Her backstory was complex, and one I’m not sure I ever fully understood. There were a lot of stories told about who she was and why she needed the Everlys but none of them were ever related as the truth. I really hated how she used and manipulated Aleksander, but I’m pretty sure I was meant to. 

The author’s writing style was wonderful and it was this more than anything else that kept me going to the end of the book. There were wonderfully lush descriptions and turns of phrases that were perfect. The world building was also well done for the most part, except that there were times when I felt that things were not explained as well as they could be. The premise of the story, that there are worlds that can be accessed through doors and keys, never felt fully explored. The pacing was steady through out and sometimes lacked the excitement it needed during the few action sequences. The ending was satisfactory, but better closure for Violet and her mom would have been nice.

Overall, even with the issues, I thought this was a pretty good book. I would recommend looking at other reviews before deciding on whether to read this one or not. There are many people who really enjoyed the story and the characters, much more than I did. But I will say that I will be keeping an eye out for another book by this author. I really enjoyed her writing and her wonderful descriptions. I think this might be an author to watch as she develops her craft.

I would have given this book 3.5 stars if I could. I'm rounding up because I enjoyed it and because I think it's impressive for a debut novel.

The City of Stardust is not at all what I expected it to be. When I looked at the cover, I imagined I was being drawn into an atmospheric fantasy world filled with mystery and whimsical details. What I found is a story that explores the differences between living and surviving and the lengths to which people will go to avoid what they fear.

One of Violet Everly's earliest memories is of her mother leaving her. Marianne Everly packs what she can carry and disappears into a storm determined to break the curse that has plagued her family for generations. She leaves Violet in the care of her two brothers and with the promise that she will return when the curse is broken.

Violet grows up in the care of her doting uncle Ambrose, and while all of her basic needs are met, she longs to see and explore the world. She's raised on fairytales - stories of quests and adventures, villains and heros, magic and curses - and she wants to experience it all for herself. When she learns that the curse will demand her life unless her mother returns, Violet sets off to find her. Along the way, she experiences a series of disasters, failures, and betrayals that leave her questioning everything she believes about the world and herself.

The City of Starlight is populated with characters that are utterly and believably human. There are no heros. Outside of Violet and Ambrose, there aren't even many characters that I particularly liked, but I identified with so many of them. I see a lot more of myself in Alexander than I do in Violet, and I think that's one of the reasons I enjoyed the book as much as I did. The characters are deeply flawed, and their flaws and their humanity shape the story as much as their hopes and aspirations.

I think this book will be a really strong bookclub pick because it provides fertile ground for discussions about life, family, and what lengths we'll go to to survive.

In some ways, I feel that world around Violet - this world of scholars and Astrals and revurite and magic - is underutilized. I finished the book hungry to explore more of it. I have so many unanswered questions, because this is not a book about the fantasy or the worldbuilding. It's about the characters, but the world still has so much unexplored potential.

If you enjoyed The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue because you enjoy a female lead who is hungry for a life that is vibrant and full and who endures despite mounting adversity, you'll enjoy this book. If you like ambiguous endings, morally gray characters, and a story that will leave you with even more questions at the end than you had at the beginning, pick it up. And if you decide to read it, let's chat about it. There is so much to work through in these pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Orbit Books for providing a digital ARC of this book for me to review.

Magic keys, secret doors and stars. Fighting to find her mother and her sparse trail Violet leaves her sheltered life to break her family's curse. This was unique book, magic given to people by the stars. I loved it, it was so different.

The City Of Stardust follows Violet Everly, the youngest member of a family plagued by a curse. As her time draws near, Violet takes off on her own to find her mother in an effort to stop this from happening. Violet's journies take her to other worlds and in the path of otherworldly creatures as she fights to keep from having to repay her family's debt.

I really enjoyed the world building of this book, intertwining mortals with gods and seeing what happens when the worlds collide. I did find the pace to be quite slow and the ending to be a bit underwhelming and unfulfilled. Overall, I did enjoy the read, rating it 3.5 stars rounded down for the slow pace. If you enjoy mythology and the magic of other worlds, you may very well enjoy this book!

Thank you NetGalley, RedHook books, and author Georgia Summers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The City of Stardust does so much right. With portals to different worlds, dangerous fallen gods, and elements of dark academia (emphasis on the dark), the novel contains so much that is currently big in fantasy. Violet Everly, with her stubbornness and curiosity, is an easy protagonist to sympathize with and root for as she tries to hunt down her mother and escape her family’s curse. And the prose is gorgeous, making the beauty and horror of magic feel almost tangible in a way that reminded me of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.

Still, it doesn’t quite come together: the plot, for example, is slow to develop, fully kicking into gear a third of the way through. Scenes often interrupt rather than seamlessly sliding together. The central romance, a compellingly twisty friends-to-enemies-to-lover’s journey (I won’t tell you where it eventually ends up) seems to slide away at times. More importantly, while the novel has a very solid emotional center in Violet, it frequently jumps to side characters and side plots (sometimes close to every other scene) that don’t always satisfyingly tie back to the central conflict.

All of that said, the novel is still very enjoyable. Many of the individual scenes are incredibly impressive. I feel shivers down my spine when I recall some with the fallen gods. And it does come together for a conclusion that is emotionally satisfying and meaningful. With so much of its wonderful and horrible magic still waiting to be tapped, I would welcome Georgia Summers to return to this world.