The cover of this one really drew me in.

I enjoyed this story more than I was anticipating just based on the synopsis. I would describe it as similar to The Starless Sea or even a little bit of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. A bit of a love letter to Narnia.

The author combines a few elements that I happen to enjoy. Portal fantasy, otherworldly beings, a kind of secret society, an old story, a girl on an adventure.

The romantic subplot with the side character was a little meh, I almost would have preferred that it wasn't explored at all.

Ultimately, I rated City of Stardust a 4 based on my own enjoyment. I could see other readers not liking it as much based on the mythology not being very fleshed out and the ending not being as climactic as it could have been.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the ARC of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers in exchange for an honest review. I only joined NetGalley in summer, and this was the first book I requested - while I didn't get a copy the first time around, I thank Redhook for granting my wish in October.

The City of Stardust is atmospheric - both mystical and gothic. The style/setting are evocative of Alix Harrow and Erin Morgenstern - which is great company to be in. Summers has a beautiful style, and her words and descriptions are rich and evocative. I read the whole book within two sittings (stayed up until midnight last night to finish it).

That being said, I did feel like something was missing - and I'm still not sure if the story itself made sense, I think, more than anything, I was just confused when I finished it. This makes it a bit hard for me to give a really detailed review or explanation of the plot. Maybe part of the problem was that the explanation of the Everly curse itself is so vague that I couldn't figure out where the story started (I'm really confused on how Marianne was able to work and live in Fidelis if she is the sacrifice of her generation? Also, why her? Why not just take one of her brothers who can use keys? And if Marianne is so brilliant why is in-the-dark Violet more comprehending of this entire saga?). I'll also note that the description talks about a travel through worlds and portals, but about 95% of the story is on Earth or related to Earth, not a larger collection of realms.

Add to the confusion that our time with Violet and Aleksander just feels so surface level given the high intensity of the search and the dangers of Penelope - at no point did I really care about any of the characters, even when they were in danger. If anything, I felt like the characters weren't really committed to their own growth or to each other - like what we learn about Marianne and her journey was really frustrating and, at times, totally useless - The Ten Thousand Doors of January is an example of how a missing parent can better spur the momentum of a story.

I do think Summers has talent, and I think I would try whatever her next book is, but this one just didn't work for me.

Excellent book. I wish it had a little more resolution and clarity in the end but it was a refreshingly new magical concept. I loved all the characters and their uniqueness.

Thank you netgalley for this advance copy of The City of Stardust. Unfortunately this one was not for me. The descriptions were too long and the plot too slow. I finally dnf’d the book because I couldn’t make myself pick it up again. Wanted this one to be more fast paced.

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Violet Everly. Raised by her uncles, Violet is also a dreamer who finds solace in fairy tales. When a strange woman named Penelope comes to the house, her uncles are forced to reveal the Everly family curse to Violet. It’s the curse that claimed her mother and which will doom them all. Yet Violet isn’t going down without a fight. With the help of a mysterious boy named Aleksander, Violet tries to retrace her mother’s search for answers before her time runs out.

The City of Stardust is a luscious, beautiful story. Georgia Summers’ writing reminds me of Erin Morgenstern. It is transportive, magical, and so imaginative. Violet and Aleksander remind me of Celia and Marco from The Night Circus- two rivals who could easily have been true friends in another life if they weren’t held apart by circumstance. Violet is a compelling and fierce heroine who is determined to retrace her mother’s steps. Aleksander is beholden to the mysterious and vicious Penelope, who is trapped by the magic of a story long forgotten. Even as Penelope makes villainous choices, she has the air of a doomed Persephone who will do anything to accomplish her goals. I was intrigued by her story and found the ending very satisfying.

In this stunning debut, keys and curses have a great and terrible power. Summers deftly weaves together a gorgeous tale of dreamers, magic that comes with a price, and the power of stories. Once you start reading, you’ll want to cancel all your plans and stay in the magic of this world. If you love beautiful writing, imaginative world-building, and Erin Morgenstern then you will love The City of Stardust. I’m looking forward to what Georgia Summers writes next!

Thank you to Georgia Summers, Redhook Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for the complimentary e-ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

From the first lines of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers my attention was arrested, gripped in the hands of an evocative, sometimes unsettling fantasy that’s also beautifully written.

Violet Everly has grown up in the shadow of her mother’s abandonment, left in a home that feels all too much like a prison under the watchful guard of her two uncles.

She eventually learns that there is an Everly curse & either she or her mother are the next targets.

In this world, friends can become betrayers, betrayers can become friends, morally gray characters can do favors for unidentified reasons, stars can walk among humans, & family secrets can both keep people safe & at risk.

My favorite thing about this book is just the writing style, which is striking & thoughtfully wielded for maximum impact. The book balances emotion & action, keeping me invested & engaging me on all levels.

Be advised this book contains kidnapping & murder with some particularly disturbing elements.

On the whole it’s a compelling fantasy with some romantic elements—though it’s not a romance—& I’m really looking forward to the author’s next release! I get all the heart eyes for great fantasy books.

5⭐️. Out 01/30.

[ID: Jess’s white hand holds the ebook in front of a forest of trees & a waterfall in the background.]

2.5 stars. I wanted to love this book. Interesting premise but execution fell flat. It just felt like something was missing. The writing is decent but world and character development was lacking. I probably would have dnf’ed had this not been an arc. Thank you to netgalley.

First off, thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alright, let's dive into "The City of Stardust." So, here's the deal – I'm giving it a solid two stars. It's got a unique story and a magic system that is very unique. However it didn't quite stand out to me. I was really pushing through to finish the story. It took me a long time to finish.

Commendations are extended to the author for the imaginative world-building and the introduction of a unique magical paradigm. The incorporation of stardust as a thematic element provides the narrative with an ethereal quality, contributing to the establishment of a fantastical atmosphere that sets it apart within the genre.

However, despite these commendable elements, the execution of the story leaves room for improvement. The anticipated narrative depth fails to materialize, resulting in a somewhat lackluster reading experience. The plot, although conceptually intriguing, suffers from a deficiency in execution, hindering the ability to sustain reader interest.

*I added this review to my goodreads

This dark fantasy introduces some literally bloodthirsty characters, but it never satisfactorily answers what makes them that way. There are multiple worlds that can be accessed with a special series of stardust-made keys, but only the select can use them. There are many dreamers, some who become scholars of the world, but the price to become one is murder. Mistress of the scholars is Penelope, who is so much more than she appears to be. Her assistant is Aleksander, who unquestionably follows her instructions--at least at the beginning. That's mostly because he has been directed to spy on Violet Everly and find out from her where her mother Marianne has gone. Violet would like to know the answer to that as well, and spends most of the book trying to find out. Violet and Aleksander dance around each other, never really sure what to make of the other. There are stories of the past that give clues, but there is a lot of blood and betrayal before anything is answered. And a lot of questions are never answered. There is the Everly family curse that is dangled in front of the reader, and it turns out to be love that has curdled over the years. This book has a lot of promise, but unfortunately for me, it did not deliver. I give it 3 and 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Redhook Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

DNF at 49%

I'm so sad about this one and so torn. The writing in this book is beautiful and very whimsical. Her descriptions are lovely and I can easily picture these wonderful landscapes she's describing. But all of that comes at the detriment to the development of both the storyline and the characters.

Both the storyline and the characters are all very interesting and have a lot of potential, but they're bogged down by the shear amount of descriptions and lack luster interactions.

I think that a lot of readers will really enjoy this one, but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for an Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Georgia Summers’s ‘The City of Stardust’ is a spellbinding debut. The reader follows Violet Everly, a young girl trying to break a generations-long family curse, through the perils of contemporary earth and fantastical Fidelis. Throughout the novel, Violet attempts to solve the family curse, locate her long-lost mother, navigate family issues, and define a romantic relationship with her villain Penelope’s personal assistant, Aleksander.

The world of Fidelis is packed with interesting plot points. There are fallen gods, locked doorways with hidden keys, erudite scholars in a mysterious tower, and echelons of society determined by education. It is a super promising and intricate alternate world; it’s one downfall being it wasn’t fleshed out properly. Each visit made to Fidelis left me more confused than before. As a reader, I wanted to follow Violet through more of her discovery of Fidelis, its inner workings, its cultural differences, etc. Fidelis is super unique - which is hard to come by in fantasy these days - and really could have used more focus.

The curse the Everly’s are under - having to sacrifice one family member of each generation to a fallen god masquerading as a scholar named Penelope is intriguing. Violet’s mother, Marianne, running from the curse, Violet facing it head on, her uncle’s trying to protect her are all plots points for a tension filled family drama. My favourite scenes throughout the novel were ones in which Violet and her uncles banded together to stand up to Penelope. I found myself wishing they could have been more involved. Ambrose and Gabriel were such multi-faceted characters, I wanted to know more about them.

While I saw a romance between Violet and Aleksander coming, I was frustrated with the cycle of betrayal and acceptance between the two. By the end of the novel, it just wasn’t wrapped enough for me to be convinced they were right for each other.

I know the story was Violet’s and not her mother’s, but I was certainly disappointed when I reached the finish line and discovered there was no real answer as to where exactly Marianne was, considering so much of the plot was about Violet’s search. That being said, I think between the plot and the world-building of Fidelis, Summers certainly has room to write another novel about Violet’s story, or a separate standalone with Fidelis as the location.

I would certainly read future novels by Summers, and look forward to seeing where her career takes her.

I fear that me saying this will sound stupid but I honestly trudged through this book simply for the intriguing plot with violet and Marianne. The book itself was astronomically over detailed in my opinion to the point where it became a chore to keep up with the book. I will say the actual book was an amazing idea, just slightly, poorly executed.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. The City of Stardust was a fun read, I really enjoyed my time immersed in this world. It was unique, and very original, however I did find myself getting a little reluctant to keep picking it back up after around the 50-60% mark, I felt like the pace slowed down significantly. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads.

The Everly family has been cursed for generations and it is now violets turn to pay the price but she will not go down without a fight.

when I read the description for this book I was very excited to read it but unfortunately it fell flat. The characters felt very two dimensional. The world building was vague and confusing at times. I also did not like the way the pov would change in the middle of a chapter. It would just throw me off and make me disconnect from the story because I was confused on who we were following now. Violet’s character was interesting at times but some of her actions were very questionable, especially when it came to Aleksander. like I genuinely did not understand why she continued to interact with him after she found out he was telling Penelope everything she was up to. Their whole relationship was not very convincing to me. I did not feel any chemistry between at all. I felt more chemistry between Violet and Caspian and they didn’t even interact that much. I feel like the romance between Violet and Aleksander was just there for the sake of having a romance storyline in the book.

Thank you to Redhook books and NetGalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me receive a copy of this arc.

The premise sounded so intriguing and I really wanted to enjoy this book. It was difficult to stay invested in the pace of the storyline and the choppy perspectives. I had a hard time connecting with the characters as well.

The City of Stardust is a fantasy debut for author Georgia Summers and with such a striking name and intriguing premise, it promises to be a solid read. However, while Summers has a knack for detail, it seems she loses herself within it, turning the prose… well, purple.
The story is written in present tense, with a conversational, dreamlike quality that is comparable to Strange the Dreamer or The Starless Sea, which are equally disappointing in how the authors choose to focus more on their own use of language rather than the narrative. That isn’t to say this book doesn’t have potential. I managed to make it through several chapters before I set it down. Rather, its potential is lost in an endless sea of unnecessary detail, poorly rendered dialogue, coerced character relationships, and a POV character who reads no different than every other female character who dreams of journey and bookkeeping. In the few chapters I read, I gauged no more than surface-level details for the slew of characters introduced and established no real connection to any of them.
Unfortunately, due to the overly elaborate details and liquid prose, I failed to parse themes, or even, truth be told, much of the world itself. I cannot say if this is high-fantasy or portal fantasy, or if it is a blend between other genres. Neither can I attest to the character development, as the majority of the characters remained shockingly the same through nine years of growth, with the singular exception of Aleksander. On the flip side, it is a debut. As such, I am hopeful with a bit more guidance, Summers will flourish in creating captivating narratives that both invite her beautifully rendered descriptions and curate a story that is visible beyond them. Until then, this will remain a DNF.
As always, thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC.

For millennia, the Everlys have forged talent better than any other. The brightest among the scholars of The City of Stardust. But being the best also comes with a steep price. Every generation of Everly is taken, killed, and drained of their blood and magic to satiate a woman, Penelope. Penelope is a woman of wonder. She never ages, and of course, she never forgets a debt. Deals are deals after all.

Violet has always heard the call of adventure singing its song to her. Ten years prior, Violet Everly's mother Marianne left to break the curse covering her family and has yet to return. Now Violet must find her mother, or break the curse herself, because if she doesn't then she will be the one on the "chopping block".

Deep in the adventuring, Violet finds herself in a magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, and fickle gods and goddesses that will stop at nothing to get their revenge.

"Once a generation, an Everly walks into the dark, compelled by the shadow beside them."

Violet is a character who you want to be friends with. While not level-headed, she is strong. Making things happen for herself (despite the danger) while everyone around her cowers in fear. As with any character and character development, her flaws are what makes her that much more likable. Sometimes she is reserved not knowing what to do. But oftentimes, she throws caution to the wind, wanting to accomplish her task by any means necessary. Violet is naive to a fault, especially when it comes to her mother (but who could blame the girl).

The City of Stardust is not a romance-heavy novel— although there are some aspects of romance. Some may think that it would be considered a slow burn, but truly the romance is almost non-existent. Aside from some longing, there is one point where they kiss, but in retrospect, it feels like a blunt end to the romance. They kiss and the romance drops away.

Now not all fantasy novels need to have romance within the pages. Many don't. But, the way Aleksander and Violet's romance happens, it feels like an afterthought. Something to add just because the author can.

Honestly, although it is classified as an adult epic fantasy, The City of Stardust gives very much YA. There are no aspects of the novel that I would consider to be adult. Beyond the main character being freshly twenty.

"Because adventure, it turns out, is a dangerously seductive word. It reaches underneath Violet's ribcage and pulls, like a cosmic string attuned to a compass point elsewhere."

The running thread of Marianne makes her a ghost throughout the story. And, that thread, while alluded to in the end isn't tucked away at by the closing of the story. Not mentioning how or why (because that would be considered a spoiler). But, you are left wanting to know more about Marianne. Why did she leave? What she was doing? And all of the experiences that she went through.

While, I understand that this isn't Marianne's story, per se, it's Violet's. You can't satisfy that need by the end because she is such a big part of the plot. And that need gets me wondering that maybe there should be a story about Marianne. The start of the curse and how she found out. What she is trying to do on her "adventure" of trying to break it, etc.

The City of Stardust if you couldn't figure is magical realism. The overall plot and prose of the story make it incredibly engaging. As you're reading, you will want to prolong the story, due to the magical nature of the tale. You will enjoy The City of Stardust. Looking for magic in the mundane world you encapsulate.

"Stubborn like an Everly, brave like an Everly, doomed like an Everly"

Magical realism is one of those subgenres that can be all or nothing. The City of Stardust in particular is heart-pattering, thought-provoking, and an all-around good time. It is everything that you would want a story to be. Experiencing the world in your real life. To put it in perspective. It was like diving in the crystal blue waters of a lagoon in Sweden. Once you hit the water you feel the cool chill against your skin the sun hitting it just right. Everything is perfect in that moment.

So why not five stars? Why rate it at a 4? Ultimately it felt like something was missing. The puzzle pieces were all there but some are from a puzzle you did last week, never finding all the pieces when breaking it apart and putting it back in the box.

The way The City of Stardust wrapped, it is safe to say that there won't be another book. Despite this, it desperately needs to be a duology. Or at the very least 3 bonus epilogues the way A Curse for True Love has.

The City of Stardust is a book you have to experience. Perfect for fans of Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow or The Starless Sea by (the queen) Erin Morgenstern.

It is due to be released on January 30, 2024. Listen to it on Libro.fm or pick up a physical copy. Either way, add it to your TBR!

Don’t judge a book by its cover, but how could you not in this case? Family dysfunction, magical doors, gods, and monsters jointly make for a great fantasy. Outside of the disjointed plot distribution, this is a promising debut.

I’ve seen some comparisons to The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue and The Night Circus, but those only work in the sense of the writing. The comparisons don’t do Stardust’s plot justice; La Rue and Night Circus have more vibes than decisive plots. Violet Everly’s mother left her at a young age with her uncles. When a mysterious woman shows up and claims Violet’s life, she is determined to find her mother and break the curse this strange woman has placed on her family.
I’m surprised this is a debut because of how well-written this is. It takes on an ethereal quality while still being set in the real world. It seamlessly flows from actual places to Fidelis, the land of scholars and gods. The writing style is reminiscent of my favorite authors, including VE Schwab, Laini Taylor, and Adrienne Young.

While the overarching plot was interesting, the story presented oddly. As the reader, I knew more information than Violet did. While most of the book follows her journey, there are flashbacks to explain the Everly curse. These reveals came way too early in the story. Knowing Violet’s end made the book lag around the 50% mark. If we had the history explained as Violet discovers it, the twists would’ve been more impactful and meaningful in the story.

Violet was on the verge of having a personality. I got only glimpses of her character: curious, hard-working, and determined. But her character arc was too tangled in the plot to be strong. I wish I had gotten to know her better; she had the making of a great MC. The other POV, Aleksander, was far more intriguing, even though I didn’t like him. His arc was more thorough as he tried to break through the trauma and lies inflicted on him.

I should have seen the romance coming, but I’m too platonic of a person to catch on. Violet and Aleksander’s romance completely blindsided me, mainly because Aleksander was toxic and Violet was too naive. There is a slew of lies and betrayals between them that they seem to skip over in the end. What is the point of conflict if it doesn’t add tension? I also think Violet’s weak arc played a role in this. It’s hard to root for a couple if, in the end, I still don’t understand half of the pair.

I’m interested to see where this author goes. Despite my gripes, it was a lovely reading experience and a unique world. It’s hard finding stand-out fantasy worlds, but Summers managed just that. If you like any of the previously mentioned authors and crave a book both brutal and magical in equal measure, City of Stardust might satisfy your needs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the advance copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

What a stunning, beautifully written story. Filled with magic, angst, betrayal. Every's bear a curse through hundreds of years. The book winds around the family and how Marianne left her 10 year old daughter Violet to find the cure. With one of the Uncle's raising her, the other is presumably looking for Marianne. It's a compelling story I couldn't put down. With a melancholy ending, there were a few glaring omission of answers of what happened to them, and left me hanging. It still is 5 stars in spite of that. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Netgalley.

**mild spoilers**

I am not quite sure how I felt about The City of Stardust.

On one hand, for a debut it was beautifully imagined and the author writes in a very engaging way.
The first half of the book was engrossing and the story was very imaginative.

On the other…I found it hard to follow. Whether is was a quirk of the ARC or will appear in the final product, I’m not sure, but the constant jumping between POVs, even within the same paragraph, made the story almost unreadable.
Also, the characters are only fleshed out in a very surface manner. So many questions left unanswered make it almost impossible to connect with any of them.

The same applies to the plot. There are gaping holes, ones critical to understanding what is happening, that are never addressed:
Why was Penelope banished?
What is so important about the “god metal” that an entire city lives and breathes it?
What is the scholars’ actual purpose, and why are they so tied to Penelope?
Where is her actual home world? Who lives there? WHAT is she? A God?
Why are all those other Gods banished here?
What is the reason for the curse that is the crux of the entire plot (the author tells a variety of different “versions” of the origin, but never lets us know what the truth is).
Why is so much blood necessary?
If this has been going on for centuries, surely there was another in Violet’s family line that could have sufficed.
And the list goes on and on and on.

Particularly, the last 1/4 of the book is so rushed and so confusing that I was just shaking my head.

The book might have actually benefited from being a duology.

With a heavy edit, better formatting, many answered questions, and some character backstory, this could be an excellent book. But it definitely needs some work before it gets there.