4.5 stars rounded down!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, as well as the author, for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

WOW. I loved this book. The premise of it is so magical, intriguing and enchanting. Even a little dark and gruesome. It honestly just hit different. I felt some nostalgia reading this but I think every kid has dreamed of opening a door to another world haha. It gave me a Locke and Key sorta vibe which I loved. I found myself thinking about it often when I wasn't reading it. I just wanted to sit there and devour it!

I thought it was beautifully written and the world building was so good as well. There was not a whole lot of information dumping which was great. It kept me interested throughout the whole book. The writing was a medium pace but I found that it didn't make anything drag on.

There is a teeeeny tiny bit of romance, but not much. And honestly... didn't even care. I was so invested in all the other aspects of the book. The romance was just a nice little addition but it wasn't all I was thinking about. It's like a reward.

I personally liked all the different perspectives. It was easy to follow, however there were a few times where it switched and I didn't catch it so I was a tiny bit confused. But it only happened a couple times so it wasn't too bad. There are also a few time jumps, but I thought they were also fairly well done and didn't leave much confusion.

I did wish that there was more closure to Marianne's story though.

All in all, this was a fantastic read! I would def recommend this. I'm interested to see what the author writes next!

I really wanted to like this one - it has a lot of wonderful elements, but on the whole it just fell a bit flat for me. The writing is at times extraordinarily evocative and lovely - but at an equal number of times the dialogue felt somewhat stilted and unnatural. I don't know if it gets lost in its own cleverness or what, but it meanders a lot more then I wanted it to, making the story drag along in a lot of places. This pulled me out of the narrative in a way that required me to re-engage quite frequently, adding to the slow-moving feel.

I also didn't feel like the characters were very three-dimensional, I had a hard time connecting to anyone, or understanding why they were behaving as they were, which further complicated my connection to the novel overall. I think I just wasn't a good fit for this one...

special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced look at the book in exchange for an honest review.

In this novel we follow Violet Everly, curious and determined as ever, as she follows her mother’s path in order to break her family’s curse.

This book includes the following
- family generational curse
- traveling through worlds
- fickle gods
- scholars and rituals
- metal magic

The writing of this was beautiful, and almost dream-like. In the way the story unfolded and throughout the chapters, we received different characters stories and perspectives. We always got a little of the truth of the family curse but never all of it, we were along side Violet the whole time trying to uncover it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, especially the villain. The way Penelope was written was very three dimensional and we understood everything she was doing and why. It made it that much more exciting to keep reading, to learn the lore of the family curse and what it takes to break it.
I enjoyed this book so much and I cannot wait for more from this author!

Wow this was completely unexpected and I couldn’t put it down and read it in one sitting. The writing is gorgeous, the story gripped me from the start, and the tension never let up. It definitely gave me Starless Sea vibes, but this was darker and much bloodier. For a while, I wasn’t sure how emotionally connected I was to the characters, but by the end I was absolutely crying through some of Violet’s scenes with both her brothers and Aleksander. Penelope was such an intriguing villain too; I loved the different versions of her story woven throughout.
The ending was bittersweet, but with enough hope to satisfy. I will say my main complaint is that I wasn’t satisfied with Marianne’s storyline and how it was left; I definitely wanted more resolution there.
But wow, I’d definitely recommend this book.

4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced look at the book to review. All opinions are my own.

The City of Starlight was a wonderful journey of a complex world and a really interesting magic system. It took me a little to get into, and I am very happy that I kept reading.
Readers are in the dark for much of the first half of the book, as we gradually learn about the incredible magic of reveurite (a god/star- metal, that gifted ones are able to wield) through the lens of protagonist Violet.
Violet is a member of the cursed Everly bloodline. Her mother disappeared twelve years ago on a supposed journey to break the curse and protect Violet. Violet (and the reader) know little about the truth of magic and her mother’s backstory particularly during the first half of the book.
Once we gained some knowledge of the curse and the magical realms accessible via key, I couldn’t put the book down! However, personally I felt, some of this info could have come much sooner. The book felt so short for such an intriguing world, and I wanted a bit more exposition. Particularly, I would have loved more scenes early on amidst Violet’s journey. She travels across the globe for a year, on what seems to be a very eventful quest, and yet we just get snippets. I would have loved so much more!!
Similarly, I was dying for more backstory on Aleksander and scenes of the two of them. This is definitely a fantasy story first and a romance second. But since the romance does contribute to the plot, I would have loved more dialogue between Violet and Aleksander, to be a bit more engaged in their “romance.”
The last two parts of the book were my favorite, and I thought the ending provided a neat enough resolution. Overall, it was a quick paced Romantasy, and I would recommend!
Notes: I was able to review an ARC of City of Starlight, thanks to Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton!

The book is beautifully written and the descriptions will take you on an adventure. I loved the fairy tale aspect, the difference between legend and fact and how after a while the truth is lost and surviving is not living.

But there's a lot of missed potential. What is talent? Why were the astrals banished? What was Marianne actually seeking? No parents or aunts/uncles? There was just a lot missing for me to raise this book up a level. But I know some fantasy readers will absolutely love it.

4.5

“To be nothing is to be remade, after all.”

This book gave me suchhhh Invisible Life of Addie LaRue vibes in the atmosphere and writing style !! (though that’s where the comparison ends—this book is much more plot and fantasy heavy than Addie). It was whimsical yet dark with a side of employee-of-the-enemy to lovers (though the romance isn't a huge aspect).

Towards the last 20%, it did start to feel like too much was happening too close to the end. Fair warning, the conclusion is a little open-ended. But, I thoroughly enjoyed my reading experience and had trouble putting it down! Definitely my type of book.

CW: This book gets surprisingly bloody and violent. Blood, violence, sacrificial self harm, child death, child abuse.

The writing in this book is second to none. The author’s command of prose and imagery transported me into the complex and sometimes confusing universe of Gods and Everlys in a way that left me tearing through this book in almost one sitting.

I highly recommend this book for lovers of parallel tales like The Night Circus. Though I found the many changing perspectives difficult to follow at times (this might have been a formatting issue on my Kindle), the story telling in The City of Stardust is unlike anything I’ve read in a long time.

This book is beautifully written, sprinkled with insight and magic. I loved each of the characters, who, much like the world(s) this book is set in, were incredibly layered. Georgia Summers has woven a fantasy tapestry with The City of Stardust, with glimpses at world building that hold promise of much bigger things to come - and I hope they do. Much like the protagonist, I wanted to see through every door and round every corner. Meet every character. But we don’t get everything we asked for here, just a taste. It’s rare that I say that I wish a book could be longer, but here that is indeed the case. I wanted to see more of some of side characters, maybe their backstory, maybe more of the city itself. Ultimately though, the book was a joy to read, and there was payoff. I definitely recommend diving into this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook for sharing this ARC with me for my honest opinion.

This is a book about a generational curse, and the woman who is shouldering that burden. Instead of facing it, or fleeing from it, Violet Everly follows her mother's footsteps to figure out how to end it.

This book felt like being in a dream. There was a world that slowly unfolded around you, with prose that makes you slow down and meander through it. There were also so many questions, with the answers seeming just out of reach. Lending itself to the dreamlike quality were the questions driving the novel. Until the last 25% or so, it didn't feel like the main character made very many decisions, things just happened to her, often leading to more questions and few answers. It worked well, but it wasn't my favorite technique I've seen an author work.

The book seemed to change around the 2/3 mark. Gone was the dreamlike state, replaced by determination and action. The novel picked up in a way I didn't expect, but appreciated nonetheless.

This book is perfect for anyone who relates to this line: "But that peculiar time when magic fades and cynicism sets in never happens, so there's always a part of her waiting for something."

I noticed that this book is categorized as adult fiction. However, right from the start, I found the dialogue to be cringeworthy. It felt quite immature. The first instance of this occurs on the very first page when Gabriel solemnly states, "We need to talk, little brother." And due to that dialogue, the interactions didn't feel authentic to me. I'm uncertain if it's due to the book's brevity or if there were no other creative means to reveal that Gabriel is Ambrose's brother. The initial interactions between Gabriel and Ambrose resembled awkward performances, almost like poorly executed acting. I half-expected one of them to use the term "bro" at some point. I attempted to read a few more chapters, but I struggled to engage with the story.

Thank you for letting me have an ARC I really enjoyed the story telling and the different point of views in this one. Can’t wait for publication day
Magical worlds and old curses always draws me in. Romance and brooding will keep me going. I really think this could be a series furthering diving into different worlds and the magic.

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED RELEASES FOR JANUARY!!!!!!!!! I was so exited and honored to receive both physical and E-Arcs for this book. This book was so amazing and I can not wait to see what the spectacular Georgia Summers comes up with next.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was unique and held my attention. The descriptions were beautifully written. I liked how the characters had depth and we were given the opportunity to understand their actions and sympathize with them, even Penelope (the villain in the story). I wanted to like Alexsander as a love interest but then it was too hard for me to get past everything he did to fully embrace him. There were also times where the pacing seemed off and I was left a bit confused. I don’t know if the confusion was just me or what, but the way things pieced together wasn’t always as seamless as it could have been for the reader. I was left slightly unsatisfied by the ending because things weren’t tied up with Violet’s mother. All in all, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to others!

This book is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully written books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The saga of the Everly family kept me reading past my bedtime repeatedly. The ongoing theme of family, and debts to be paid was gripping, and the mixture of gods, monsters, and normal, everyday people (who were the actual heroes) was spot on. Highly recommended!!

The writing, the descriptions and the depth of the writing was beautifully done. But the plot fell flat for me. I found myself bored and just waiting for it to be over with

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book.the writing and the world building were spectacular. I have never read anything like it I'll be honest. I was engrossed in the story and wanted to find out what happened next. However, that's is exactly why I'm giving it a 4 star instead of 5 star. I feel that the book needed some polishing. Some things were left unclear to me and I wish I have the understanding of what actually has happened. I feel the ending was a bit rushed and all wrapped up after such a big revelation I expected it to be a bit more.This was it just fell a bit anticlimactic for me which I was actually really sad about.All in all magnificent book and I definitely recommend!! thank you again for the arc I truly enjoyed it.

“The end of the world looks a lot like the beginning of another.”

“The City of Stardust” by Georgia Summers, a fantasy book about Violet Everly. Violet, child of a cursed family, is left to fight for her freedom from Penelope. Penelope has cursed the Everly’s to give their most powerful child to Penelope, but when Marianne (Violet mother) disappears she makes an ultimatum to the family, they have 10 years to find her, or Violet is the one she’ll claim. Violet, not shrinking from fate goes on an adventure to find her mother.

I loved loved loved this book so much. It was written so well in every aspect. The characters are fantastic; I loved Violet, Aleksander, and Violet’s brothers. The plot was good, and I wasn’t bored for even a second. The slow burn romantic tension, though chaste, is good. It reminded me of “The Invisible life of Addie LaRue” but with magic school vibes. I gave the book 5 out of 5.

-Magic
-Kidnapping
-Slow Burn
-Multiple Worlds
-Abuse
-Abandonment
-Enemies to Lovers

I was going back and forth between a three and a four stars for this... The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning towards three, but part of that I can see being personal rather than a reflection on the quality of the book.

I'm sure this is going to be a hit when it finds the right audience, but I could see some not loving this. If you like those slow, atmospheric types of novels, I think you will love this story. If you're looking for something fast-paced with fully-developed characters and clear answers at the end, I think this should be a pass for you.

The world is expansive and interesting, and that is truly the highlight of the story. I kept wanting to learn more and explore all of it. The writing is so beautifully descriptive that it makes the environment come to life. The concept I also found very unique, and it felt fully developed.

The plot is probably where my enjoyment fizzled a little. There's always a lot going on, but at times it felt like it dragged, and it took until part 3 to hook me to the point where I couldn't put it down. Once it hit that point, I was all in. If you're okay with slower-paced stories, books that make you take your time when reading, then this will work for you.

There was something I found lacking in the characters as well. You aren't just in Violet's head, so you end up knowing more than she does, which ends up being frustrating and makes her feel a little underdeveloped. I also think the romance was rushed at the end. I liked them individually and together, but something was missing, and the ending didn't feel as earned as I wanted it to be.

For a debut, this is incredible, and I would be very interested to see what this author does next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

The City of Stardust is about the Everly family and a curse that has been passed down for centuries. Every generation an Everly is taken because of a curse that no one understands nor can stop. Marianne is an Everly, and one day she leaves her daughter Violet behind as she sets out to break the curse before it takes her. When she doesn't return Violet sets out to do what her mother has failed at before she is taken in her place. As she enters into a seductive magical underworld full of power hungry scholars and monsters bent on revenge, she has no idea the evil she is about to face while crossing worlds to find a key that could save them all.
Such a beautiful story full of dark and interesting characters, worlds of magic, and monsters that will do the unimaginable to get what they want. One of my favorite reads this year.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.