I'm giving forward-leanind 3.5 stars to this imaginative tale that feels a little too much like other reads for it to get the higher rating I would have probably given it if I'd read this a couple of years ago.

A tale that reads like a long, dark dream, we follow Violet Everly as she grows up among secrets and the shadow of her mother's dissaperance. But there's more to her mother being gone and her uncles keeping her locked away in the crumbling family home, and it all has to do with the curse on her family and the fact that Violet is the last Everly. As time runs out for Violet, she embarks on a journey of discovery to either find a way to break the curse or find her mother, preferably both. Along the way, Violet will uncover truths that should have stayed hidden and dangers she never could have imagined. There's also the boy with the storm-gray eyes full of secrets that first showed her the magic in the world and that not everything is ever as it seems.
The fact that Summers manages to make it so there's mystery left in people and events even after making big revelations is something to be admired because it makes the world and magic of the book feel like they're truly something that can never be fully understood.
It's a solid story that has issues with pacing because things sometimes feel like they're both taking forever and happening way too fast to be believable. I think it's somewhat on purpose because it makes a stark difference in Violet's life before and after she leaves her uncles, but it's a peeve of mine in storytelling.
Overall, it's a great read that offers imaginative storytelling, but it just feels a little too much like other things I've read.

Happy thanks to NetGalley and Redhook for the magical read!

I had such high hopes for this story, and in some ways, it delivered, and in others, not so much.

We follow Violet as she goes on a quest to break her family's curse. If she doesn't, she's next on the chopping block.
We see the story unfold from three main perspectives; Violet, Penelope (the antagonist who is holder of said curse, and Aleksander (Penelope's assistant, who finds himself torn between Violet and his mentor).
Violet finds herself going all over the world, following in her mother's footsteps, as she tries to break the curse.
The world building is very interesting but feels a little incomplete,  the prose is beautiful, but oftentimes meanders. The pacing of the story felt off. In many instances,  the last 1/2 of the story went on for far too long, I felt like it could have been condensed.
It is still a solid debut effort, and I would definitely read this author again.

Lovely writing and fascinating lore - and possibly one of the best villains I've read in a long time! City of Stardust is a lush fantasy with dark undertones and multiple magical worlds. It was very easy to sink into this story and get lost in the pages.

While beautiful and atmospheric, I truly wanted more out of the adventure. Although the characters are delightful and intriguing, I felt like parts of the plot fell flat for me. The world building was darkly magical and the prose was beautiful, however. I certainly recommend picking it up.

(2.5 stars, rounded up) I had high hopes for this book, but was unfortunately let down. The overall plot was confusing to follow and it had multiple plot holes. I never felt connected to the characters and the romance subplot was severely lacking, it almost seemed pointless to add in. The pacing was off and I found myself skipping past paragraphs just to get to the end faster. I think this story had a lot of potential, but it was not for me.

3.75 stars

With this book getting compared to The Starless Sea and even The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, I went into it expecting it to be a new all-time favorite. While by no means would I say I didn't enjoy it, it unfortunately did not live up to the (perhaps unfairly) high expectations I had for it.

Definitely the thing I liked most about this book was the writing and prose itself. It had that element of mystical whimsy that really leant itself to the atmosphere the book was creating, and reminded me in some ways of the things I love most about Laini Taylor's work. I also thought the world itself was really intriguing and had so much potential. I really liked the concept of a hunt for a door to a lost world and all the implications of it, and I only wish we got to spend more time exploring the other world that we did get to see.

Really, I think a lot of what I wished I had seen from this book just comes down to the fact that this book would have worked much better as a duology than a standalone. The biggest area where this came into play for me was definitely the character development, because it simply did not feel like we got enough page time with any character in this book to truly understand their motivations or their relationship dynamics. Throughout the book, there wasn't a single moment where I actually felt at all personally invested in Violet or Aleksander themselves, and it felt like they both had a degree of depth and complexity to their personalities that we just didn't get the time to see. This book never felt rushed, per se, but it felt like there were interactions and events that were paraphrased when it really could have benefitted from letting us see those moments in full. I wanted to see how the conversations between Violet and Aleksander that led to their friendship actually went so I could feel invested in their connection and their mutual interests. I wanted to witness the moments of Aleksander's backstory so I could understand why he was making the choices he did. I wanted to see a lot more of the adventures that Violet went on when she finally left the nest so I could buy into the growth she was supposed to have experienced during that time. All of the foundation was there to make this book phenomenal, and I just wish it had been given the page time to do so.

The ending to this book was probably the only part of it that felt truly rushed to me. We spend the entire book building up to a particular occurrence, but when it finally happens, we barely get to see any of it for very long. While I liked the actual resolution itself, it didn't quite feel earned, and it didn't feel like the scene had been set for things to ultimately unfold the way they did.

Overall I think this book had a lot of potential, but it needed far more page time to accomplish everything it set out to do. I would definitely still check out whatever Georgia Summers releases next, but sadly this book didn't quite deliver everything that I hoped it would.

Thank you to NetGalley and Redhook Books for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review.

“The City of Stardust” had so much potential. The writing was great, the story started exciting and fast-paced, and mysterious keys that could transport people to different locations were pretty cool. However, the timeline and jumping between characters was sometimes confusing, the world-building felt rushed and difficult to imagine, and the character development was lacking for me to fully commit. There was enough going on in this book that I think it may have been better to turn it into a duology - that way the author could have spent some well needed time fleshing out more of the details.

Since the book is written in third person, the author jumps around between different characters in various chapters. I don’t usually have an issue with this, but this book seems disorganized at times and caused confusion for me. Also, some characters briefly came and went, so I wasn’t sure if they were important or not and was often left wondering. Much of the book is carried by dialog, so the reader is left to read between the lines and guess in many circumstances.

I really liked the main character Violet Everly for the majority of the story. She’s naïve and still has a lot of growing up to do, but she’s relatable and has something about her that’s very genuine and sweet. However, later in the book after a major event happens, she suddenly seemed out of character – filled with anger and swearing for no apparent reason. I knew this was a change for the worse with not much left of the story, and I was somewhat disappointed by how the book ended.

The saving grace for me was Aleksander. He was the dark, mysterious type with the dodgy past and questionable future, but he really cared about Violet, and I swooned over many of their interactions.

In the end, I really enjoyed the overall idea and the writing of this book. I think that some adult readers will really enjoy it. It was just missing too much for my liking, but I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

I wanted to love this beautifully written fantasy novel but this one fell a little flat for me. This book follows Violet whose mother disappeared when she was young and her uncles secreted her away to keep her safe from the curse that plagues her family. When Violet is discovered she is forced to enter a world she had been pretty naïve too she finds out she has little time left to find her mom or she will become the sacrifice.

While the premise was interesting I kept finding myself losing interest in this one. The characters were ok not my favorite I found myself not caring about quite a few but I really enjoyed the writing. The writing was dark and gothic feeling but the characters felt a little to ya for me. I also enjoyed the fairy tale feel to this story and wished there was some more of it. This is the first book I have read from this author but hopefully not my last. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I don't know... the main character was really irritating. I thought the male lead was really compelling, but I don't know if I could read a whole novel about him. It was an easy read though!

I loved the prologue! 5 stars for the prologue! But...the plot really let me down. I loved the vibes of this and the romantic subplot was good but the actual plot of the story and Violet trying to find her mom...super confusing. I love the length and the writing style, but if you're looking for a plot heavy book this is not the one for you. If you are a reading for the "vibes" person, please pick this one up!

I’ve been really sitting on my review for this one but I think my thoughts are pretty much solidified. I was so excited about this book and the premise still excites me but the execution just wasn’t there for me.

Violet Everly’s mother disappears when she is a child in search of a way to break the family curse that takes the life of one of the Everly’s every generation. When Violet’s time is up she is given ten years to find her mother or else take her place in the curse. There is a magic school, portal magic, a sort of love interest. All part of a recipe that says I should love this book but I just…didn’t.

I love flowery writing, but this was almost too flowery to the point where the plot was slowed way down and also made it more confusing. I thought the romance was sub par, and I don’t think that the magic system was fully explored well. I had to force myself to continue reading this but I think maybe it might be for some people, just not me.

The Everly family is cursed, and has been for generations, with the most powerfully magic and intelligent taken away by Penelope. She is very old, does not age, and never lets the Everlys renege on their debt.

Violet Everly was a child when her mother Marianne left her in the care of her uncles, and heads off to find a way to break the curse. Her uncles despair of their sister returning with a solution, but do their best to surround Violet with love and safety, keeping her away from other magicians, known as scholars, and their scheming, and away from other dangers in the world, such as demons and gods.

Violet meets Penelope and Penelope's abused charge Alexander when Violet is young, and years later reconnects with him at the coffee shop where she works. Violet is unaware that Penelope has forced Alexander to watch Violet for any chance of a connection to Marianne, so Penelope can use her to find the city of Stardust.

When it looks like Marianne will not reappear in time, Penelope threatens Violet, convincing the young woman to search for Marianne. Alexander shadows Violet as Violet attends scholar parties, and looks for even the smallest scrap of information about her errant mother. Meanwhile, Penelope does various horrible things to various individuals.

Violet, though naïve about much of the scholar world, and too trusting of Penelope's charge, does a credible job of finding crumbs, leading her eventually to the source of the Everlys' curse, with Alexander following, ambivalent, as his years of abuse lead him to always prioritising Penelope's needs, over his own increasing attraction and respect for Violet.

This is a heavily atmospheric novel, with lovely passages building a great sense of mystery and menace. I felt like Narnia had a bit of an influence on this story (e.g., the wardrobe in the Everly house in which Violet would sit and read).

Violet has lived a sheltered life, due to the extreme care her uncles have taken to keep her mostly hidden from all scholars, and hiding the reason behind Marianne's leaving from her. Consequently, Violet is shocked when she learns the truth from them, and discovers firsthand the lengths to which Penelope will go to get what she wants. This leads Violet to leave home and travel, finding a deep strength within herself as she searches.

Violet spends much of the novel searching for Marianne, but alters her search later for a key to open a door to the city of Stardust, and meets both interesting and selfish people on the way. She may be unfamiliar with scholars and their desires for powerful magic, but she manages surprisingly well at navigating the nastiness, finding what Penelope has spent years looking for.

I enjoyed this debut novel by author Georgia Summers; it's a bit slow in spots, but I think the author did a great job at building the suspense, with Alexander tailing an unsuspecting Violet and Penelope making regular, frightening appearances. I liked that it was not always obvious which way Alexander would choose if pushed.

I liked how Violet and Alexander's friendship developed from their childhood, and how Violet's trust in Alexander is broken after his betrayal. I was a less able to believe in a romance between them.

Penelope was an unremittingly dreadful individual, which makes her a little unbelievable, at times. My major complaint with this novel is, after all the lead-up to her characterization as incredibly powerful, evil, and seemingly one step always ahead of Violet, I found her vanquishing to be kind of anti-climactic.

As a first novel, this was good, but I did not find it as consistently compelling as I was hoping to. That said, I'm interested in what this author comes up with next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Redhook Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

The writing style was definitely not for me but overall good plot and decent characters. I probably would have DNF if I wasn’t reviewing it for NetGalley honestly

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

There were parts of this novel I enjoyed and parts that I didn't, but overall I had a good time with it. I enjoyed the world and the fairytale vibe it had. If you like plot-driven as opposed to character-driven stories, I think you'll enjoy this one! The intrigue is the real pull of this story. I feel like I have the same feelings about this as I did about the second "Shades of Magic" series book - I wish it was either split in two or 100 pages less. Other than that, I'd rent this one from your local library!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This book is beautifully written but the story ultimately fell flat for me. Though the mythology had potential, I never felt immersed in these alternate worlds, never really understood the structure of its societies or how they blended with the “real world,” and therefore had a hard time investing in Violet’s journey. She is a perfectly serviceable FMC, but several times I found myself wishing we had gotten a book about her mother, Marianne, instead. The romance was completely unnecessary and really only highlighted Violet’s naivety. I think a sequel would be even better, but I couldn’t say I’d be clamoring to read it.

I believe this to be a me thing and not the books fault. However I did not enjoy this story liked I had hoped. It wasn't easy to get into and the layout of the story didn't help. I found myself not wanting to pick it up after putting it down.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy.

This book...did not do what it was supposed to do.

The conversations was telling more of the story than the story itself...and there wasn't much to the story at all.

DNF - I was so so excited to read this, but unfortunately I just could not get into it.

The vibes were amazing and I loved the writing. The overall premise sounded really intriguing too and this would have been the ideal book for me if the characters didn't feel so flat and two-dimensional. I just didn't know what the characters motivations were or why they were attracted to each other. I just wish this book gave more.

Really sad about this one, but hoping to see some more releases from this author in the future.

Violet Everly is next up in a long line of Everly's to disappear due to the Everly curse. Violet's mother left when Violet was a baby in an attempt to find a cure when she doesn't return Violet and her uncles are left with 10 years to find her or Violet will be taken in her place. Her uncles try to keep her in the dark, but that doesn't stop Violet from picking up on things throughout her childhood. Things like magical worlds and keys that can take you anywhere. Can Violet find her mother and break the curse or will she be the last of the Everly's?

Plot:3/5
Characters: 2/5
Romance: 1/5

Plot:
The plot was fun in the beginning when Violet was a child and as she was growing up. She meets Aleksander for the first time and he shows her that "magic" is real. She learns about scholars who live in the "City of Stardust", Fidelis, the city where her mom grew up.
My favorite parts of the book are the different stories about the man and the god who fall in love and how no one remembers the true story of what happened between the two of them.
However, once Violet sets off on her own the plot drags. It took me almost a month to get through just the middle section. Violet's just spending her last free year going to parties and traveling around the world like her life isn't on the line. Meanwhile we get random POVS from Penelope and Aleksander to let us know that they're both doing a whole lot of nothing.
The ending is very unsatisfying in my opinion and I think there could have been more world building. Everything is wrapped up a little too nicely and there's never any punishment or recognition of all the children that the scholars were stealing throughout the years.

Characters:
Violet: Violet is an okay FMC if not a bit weak in that she just forgives everyone for everything they do to her. She lets Aleksander back in over and over, even though she knows he works for Penelope. She has no urgency when it comes to saving her own life.

Aleksander: Aleksander suffers from Stockholm Syndrome. He gets stolen by Penelope from an orphanage when he's a child and does everything she tells him to do with the promise of one day becoming a scholar. Even though he hates the scholars he's so desperate to become one that he betrays Violet constantly. He's so boring and whiny. He gas lights Violet by telling her she's causing him pain and asking for too much like he hasn't been ruining her life. I wish he wasn't the love interest, but I guess everyone picks a red flag at least once.

Penelope: Penelope cursed the Everly family and in doing so lost access to her home world. Now she has to feed on people in order to live, and Everly's with magic make her the strongest. Her villain motivation is revenge on the Everly's, even though they're her descendants, and to try to get back to her home world. I think her character would be better if there was something more to her than someone hurt me, so now I'm going to hurt his ancestors for hundreds of years.

Caspian: My favorite character even though he's barely in the book.

As a debut this was fine and I'll probably read her next book.